USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The old-time method of conducting singing- school was also somewhat different from that of modern times. It was more plodding and heavy, the attention being kept upon the simplest rudiments, as the names of the notes on the staff, and their pitch, and beating time, while comparatively little attention was given to expression and light, gleeful music. The very earliest scale introduced in
257
PIONEER LIFE.
the West was from the Sonth, and the notes, from their peculiar shape, were denominated " patent " or " buckwheat " notes. They were four, of which the round one was always called sol, the square one la, the triangular one fu, and the " diamond shaped " one mi, pronounced me, and the diatonic scale, or "gamut," as it was called then, ran thus: fa, sol, la, fu, sol, la, mi, fa. The part of a tume now-a-days called "treble," or " so- prano," was then called " tenor;" the part now called " tenor " was called " treble," and what is now " alto " was then " counter," and when sung according to the oldest rule, was sung by a female an octave higher than marked, and still on the "chest register." The " old " " Missouri Harmony " and Ma- son's "Sacred Ilarp" were the principal books used with this style of musical nota- tion.
About 1850 the "round-note " system be- gan to " come around," being introduced by the Yankee singing-master. The scale was do, re, mi, fo, sol. la, si, do; and for many years thereafter there was much more do-re- mi-ing than is practiced at the present day, when a musical instrument is always under the hand. The " Carmina Sacra " was the pioneer round-note book, in which the tunes partook more of the German or Puritan character, and were generally regarded by the old folks as being far more spiritless than the old " Pisgah," " Fiducia," " Tender Thought," " New Durham," ". Windsor," " Mount Sion," " Devotion," ete., of the old " Missouri Harmony " and tradition.
GUARDING AGAINST INDIANS.
The fashion of carrying fire-arms was made necessary by the presence of roving bands of Indians, most of whom were ostensibly friendly, but like Indians in all times, treacherous and unreliable. An Indian war
was at any time probable, and all the old set- tlers still retain vivid recollections of Indian massacres, murders, plunder, and frightful rnmors of intended raids. While target practice was much indulged in as an amuse- ment, it was also necessary at times to carry their guns with them to their daily field work.
As an illustration of the painstaking which characterized pioneer life, we quote the fol- lowing from Zebulon Collings, who lived about six miles from the scene of massacre in the Pigeon Roost settlement: "The manner in which I used to work in those perilous times was as follows: On all occasions I carried my rifle, tomahawk and butcher- knife, with a loaded pistol in my belt. When I went to plow I laid my gun on the plowed ground, and stnek up a stick by it for a mark, so that I could get it quick in case it was wanted. I had two good dogs; I took one into the house, leaving the other out. The one outside was expected to give the alarm, which would cause the one inside to bark, by which I would be awakened, having my arms always loaded. I kept my horse in a stable close to the house, having a port-hole so that I could shoot to the stable door. During two years I never went from home with any certainty of returning, not knowing the minnte I might receive a ball from an unknown hand."
THE BRIGHT SIDE.
The history of pioneer life generally pre- sents the dark side of the picture; but the toils and privations of the carly settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No; for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation, and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish them
938
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
a good hearty laugh. Among the more gen- eral forms of amusement were the " quilting- hee," "corn-linsking." " apple-paring." " log-rolling " and " house-raising." Our young readers will doubtiess be interested in a description of these forms of amusement, when labor was made to afford fun and enjoy- ment to all participating. The " quilting- bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy little inseet that " improves each shining hour " were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon ladies for miles around gathered at an appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, the hands were as busily engaged in making the quilt; and desire was always manifested to get it out as quickly as possi- Me, for then the fun would begin. " In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass swiftly by in playing games or dancing. " Corn-huskings " were when both sexes united in the work. They assem- bled in a large barn, which was arranged for the occasion; and when each gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all Imusked a good supper was served; then the " old folks " would leave, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation afforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed, and quite as innocent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture.
The amusements of the pioneers were peculiar to themselves. Saturday afternoon was a holiday in which no man was expected to work. A load of produce might be taken
to " town " for sale or traffic without violence to custom, but no more serions labor could be tolerated. When on Saturday afternoon the town was reached . fun commenced." Hlad two neighbors business to transact, here it was done. Horses were "swapped." Difficulties settled and free fights indulged in. Blue and red ribbons were not worn in those days, and whisky was as free as water; twelve and a half cents would buy a quart, and thirty-five or forty cents a gallon, and at such prices enormous quantities were con- sumed. Go to any town in the county and ask the first pioneer you meet, and he will tell you of notable Saturday afternoon fights, either of which to-day would fill a column of the Police Vers, with elaborate engravings to match.
Mr. Sandford C. Cox quaintly describes some of the happy features of frontier life in this manner:
We cleared land, rolled logs, burned brush, blazed out paths from one neighbor's cabin to another and from one settlement to an- other, made and used hand-mills and hominy mortars, hunted deer, turkey, otter and rae- coons, caught fish, dug ginseng. hunted bees and the like, and-lived on the fat of the land. We read of a land of "corn and wine," and another " flowing with milk and honey; " but I rather think, in a temporal point of view, taking into account the rich- ness of the soil, timber, stone, wild game and other advantages, that the Sugar Creek country would come up to any of them, if not surpass them.
I once ent cord-wood, continues Mr. Cox, at 314 cents per cord, and walked a mile and a half night and morning, where the first frame college was built northwest of town (Crawfordsville). Prof. Curry, the lawyer, would sometimes come down and help for an hour or two at a time, by way of amusement,
259
PIONEER LIFE.
as there was little or no law business in the town or country at that time. Reader, what would you think of going six to eight miles to help roll logs or raise a cabin? or ten to thirteen miles to mill, and wait three or four days and nights for your grist? as many had to do in the first settlement of this country. Such things were of frequent occurrence then, and there was but little grumbling ahont it. It was a grand sight to see the log heaps and brush piles burning in the night on a clearing of ten or fifteen acres. A Democratic torch-light procession, or a midnight march of the Sons of Malta with their grand Gyasticutus in the center bearing the grand jewel of the order, wonkl be no where in comparison with the log heaps and brush piles in a blaze.
But it may be asked, Had you any social amusements, or manly pastimes, to recreate and enliven the dwellers in the wilderness? We had. In the social line we had our meetings and our singing-schools, sugar-boil- ings and weddings, which were as good as ever came off in any country, new or okdl; and if our youngsters did not ~ trip the light fantastic toe " under a professor of the Terp- sichorean art or expert French dancing-mas- ter, they had many a good " hoe-down" on puncheon floors, and were not annoyed by bad whisky. And as for manly sports, re- quiring mettle and muscle, there were lots of wild hogs rimming in the cat-tail swamps on Lye Creek and Mill Creek, and among them many large boars that Ossian's heroes and Homer's model sokliers, such as Achilles, Hector and Ajax, would have delighted to give chase to. The boys and men of those days had quite as much sport, and made more money and health by their hunting excursions than our city gents nowadays playing chess by telegraph where the players ยท are more than seventy miles apart.
WHAT THE PIONEERS HAVE DONE.
Indiana is a grand State, in many respects second to none in the Union, and in almost everything that goes to make a live, prosper- ous community, not far behind the best. Beneath her fertile soil is coal enough to sup- ply the State for generations; her harvests are bountiful; she has a medium elimate, and many other things, that make her people contented, prosperons and happy; but she owes much to those who opened np these av- ennes that have led to her present condition and happy surroundings. Unremitting toil and labor have driven off the sickly mias- mas that brooded over swampy prairies. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands, and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit. Where but a few years ago bark- ing wolves made the night hideons with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. Only a half century ago the will whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rum' ling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the prodnets of our labor and soil. Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and school-houses and church spires of civilized life. How great the transforma- tion! This change has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and auxions hearts, and the noble aspirations of such men and women as make any country great. What will another half century accomplish? There are few, very few, of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connecting links of the past with the present. What must their thoughts be as with their dim eyes they view the seenes that surround them? We often hear people talk about the old fogy : ideas and fogy ways, and want of enterprise
200
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
on the part of the old men who have gone the accomplishments of life, are as far ad- vanced as are the inhabitants of the older States. Schools, churches, colleges. palatial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well-eulti- vated and prodnetive farms, as well as cities, townsand busy manufactories, have grown up, and ocenpy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians. and in every direction there are evidences of wealth. comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old land-marks. Advanced civilization and the through the experiences of pioneer life. Sometimes, perhaps, such remarks are just, but, considering the experiences, oducation and entire life of such men, such remarks are better unsaid. They have had their trials. misfortunes. hardships and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western declivity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and laugh and sneer at the simplicity of their ways? Let us rather cheer them up, revere ! progressive demands of revolving years have and respect them, for beneath those rough obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, un- til they are only remembered in name. exteriors beat liearts as noble as ever throbbed in the liman breast. These veterans have In closing this section we again would impress upon the minds of our readers the fact that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who pioneered this State, which can be but partially repaid. Never grow unmindful of the peril and adventure. fortitude. self-sacri- fice and heroic devotion so prominently dis- played in their lives. As time sweeps on in its ceaseless flight, may the cherished memo- ries of them lose none of their greenness, but may the future generations alike cherish and perpetuate them with a just devotion to gratitude. been compelled to live for weeks upon hom- iny and, if bread at all, it was made from corn ground in hand-mills, or pounded np with mortars. Their children have been des- titute of shoes during the winter; their fam- ilies had no clothing except what was carded. spun, wove and made into garments by their own hands; schools they had none; churches they had none; afflicted with sickness inci- dent to all new countries, sometimes the en- tire family at once; luxuries of life they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inven- tions and labor-saving machinery of to-day MILITARY DRILL. they had not; and what they possessed they In the days of muster and military drill, so well known throughout the country, a specimen of pioneer work was done on the : South Wea prairie, as follows, according to Mr. S. C. Cox: obtained by the hardest of labor and individ- nal exertions. yet they bore these hardships and privations without murumring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospect of realization.
As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful. It has been but three-score years since the white man began to exercise dominion over this region, first the home of the red men, yet the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the country, could scarcely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of 2,000,000 people, who, in all
The captain was a stout-built, muscular man, who stood six feet four in his boots, and weighed over 200 pounds; when dressed in his uniform, a blue hunting-shirt fastened with a wide red sash, with epaulettes on each shoulder, his large sword fastened by his side, and tall plume waving in the wind, he looked like another William Wallace, or Roderick Dhu, unsheathing his claymore in defense of his country. His company con-
201
PIONEER LIFE.
sisted of about seventy men, who had reluc- tantly turned out to muster to avoid paying a fine; some with guns, some with sticks, and others carrying corn-stalks. The Captain, who had but recently been elected, under- stood his business better than his men sup- posed he did. He intended to give them a thorough drilling, and show them that he understood the maneuvers of the military art as well as he did farming and fox hunting. the latter of which was one of his favorite playing cards, and sometimes drinking a little too much whisky. During the session of a certain court, a man named John Steven- son, but who was named "Jack," and who styled himself the philosopher of the 19th ceninry, " found out where these gentee! sportsmen met evenings to peruse the "history of the four kings." He went to the door and knocked for admission : to the question. " Who is there? he answered. "Jack. " The in- ;siders hesitated; he knocked and thumped amusements. After forming a hollow square, | importunately; at length a voice from with- in said. " Go away, Jack : we have already four . Jacks' in our game, and we will not consent to have a . cold one ' wrung in on us. "
marebing and countermarching, and putting them through several other evolutions, according to Scott's tactics. he commanded his men to - form a line." They partially complied, but the line was crooked. Ile took his sword and passed it along in front of his men, straightening the line. By the time he passed from one end of the line to the other, on casting his eye baek, he dis- covered that the line presented a zig-zag and unmilitary appearance. Some of the men were leaning on their guns, some on their sticks a yard in advance of the line, and others as far in the rear. The Captain's dander arose; he threw his cocked hat, feather and all, on the ground, took off his red sash and hunting-shirt, and threw them, with his sword, upon his hat; he then rolled up his sleeves and shonted with the voice of a stentor, "Gentlemen, form a line and keep it, or I'll thrash the whole company." In- stantly the whole line was straight as an arrow. The Captain was satisfied, put on his clothes again, and never had any more trouble in drilling his company.
JACK, " THE PHILOSOPHER OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY."
Indignant at this rebuff from gentlemen "from whom he had expected kinder treatment, The left, muttering vengeance, which eveited no alarm in the minds of the players. At I first he started away to walk off his passion, but the longer he walke I the madder he got, and finally concluded that he would not " pass " while he held or might hold so many trumps in his hands, but would return and play a strong hand with them. Accord- ingly he gathered his arms full of stones a little larger than David gathered to throw at Goliath, and when he came near enough he threw a volley of them through the window into the room where they were playing. ex- tinguishing their lights, and routing the whole band with the utmost trepidation into the street, in search of their curious assailant. Jack stood his ground and told them that that was a mere foretaste of what they might expect if they molested him in the least.
Next day the pugnacions Jack was arrested to answeran indictment for malicious mischief, and failing to give bail, was lodged in jail. ILis prosecutors langhed through the grates of the prison as they passed. Meanwhile Jack " nursed his wrath to keep it warm." and
In early days in this State, before books and newspapers were introduced, a few law- yers were at a certain place in the habit of | indieted a speech in his own defense. In due
18
262
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
time he was taken before the court, the in- ; afterward considered " trump."-Settlement dietment was read. and he was asked what he of the Wabash Valley. pleaded to the indictment. "Not guilty," he answered in a deep, earnest tone. - Have " TOO FULL FOR UTTERANCE." you counsel engaged to defend yon, Mr. The early years of Indiana afford to the inquirer a rare opportunity to obtain a glimpse of the political and even social re- lations of the Indianians of the olden time to the moderns. As is customary in all new counties there was to be found, within the limits of the new State. a happy people, far Stevenson?" inquired the judge. " No, please your honor, I desire none. With your permission I will speak for myself." " Very well." said the judge. A titter ran through the crowd. After the proseent- ing attorney had gone through with the evidence and his opening remarks in the removed from all those influences which tend case. the prisoner arore and said, " It is a lamentable fact, well known to the court and jury and to all who hear me, that our county seat has for many years been infested and disgraced. especially during court time, with a knot of drunken. caronsing gamblers, whose Bacchanalian Levels and midnight or- gies disturb the quiet and polinte the morals of our town. Shall these nuisances longer remain in our midst, to debauch society and lead our young men to destruction? Fully impressed with a sense of their turpitude, and my duty as a good citizen to the com- munity in which I live, I resolved to .abate the nuisance,' which, according to the doc- trine of the common law, with which your honor is familiar, I or any other citizen had a right to do. I have often listened with pleasure to the charges your honor gave the grand jury to terret ont crime and all man- ner of gaming in our community. I saw I had it in my power to ferret out these fellows with a volley of stones, and save the county the cost of finding and trying a half a dozen indictments. Judge. I did ' abate the mui- sance,' and consider it one of the most merito- rious acts of my life."
The prosecutor made no reply. The judge and lawyers looked at each other with a sig- nifieant glance. A nolle prosequi was en -! tered. Jack was acquitted, and was ever
to interfere with the publie morals; they possessed the courage and the gait of freeborn men, took an especial interest in the political questions affecting their State, and often when met under the village shade trees to disenss sincerely, and mostentationsly, some matters of local importance, accompanied the subject before their little convention with song and jest. and even the cup which cheers but not inebriates. The election of militia offi- cers for the Black Creek Regiment may be taken for example. The village school boys prowled at large, for on the day previous the teacher expressed his intention of attending the meeting of electors, and of aiding in building up a military company worthy of his own importance and the reputation of the few villagers. The industrious matrons and maids --- bless their souls-donued the habili- ments of fashion, and as they arrived at the meeting ground, ornamented the scene for which nature in its untouched simplicity did so much. Now arrived the moment when the business should be entered on. With a good deal of urging the ancient Elward Tom- kins took the chair, and with a pompous air, wherein was concentrated a consciousness of his own importance, demanded the gentlemen entrusted with resolutions to open the pro- ceedings. By this time a respected elector brought forward a jar and an uncommonly
263
PIONEER HIER.
large tin cup. These articles proved objects of very serious attention. and when the chairman repeated his demail. the same elector filled the eup to the brim, passed it to the venerable president and bade him drink deep to the prosperity of Indiana, of Black Creek, and of the regiment about to be formed. The secretary was treated similarly, and then a drink all around the thirty electors and their friends. This ceremony completed. the military subject melted into nothingness be- fore the great question, then agitating the people. viz .. .. Should the State of Indiana accept the grant of land donated by Congress for the construction of the Wabash and Eric Card. from Lake Erie to the mouth of Tippe- canoe River?" A son of Esenlapins, one Dr. Stone, protested so vehemently against entertaining even an idea of accepting the grant, that the parties favorable to the ques- tion felt themselves to be treading omn totter- ing grounds. Stone's logie was to the point. unconquerable; but his enemies did not sur- reisler hope; they looked at one another, then at the young school-teacher, whom they ulti- mately selected as their orator and defender. The meeting adjourned for an hour, after which the youthful teacher of the young ideas ascended the rostrum. His own story of his emotions and efforts may be acceptable. He says: "I was sorry they called upon me. for I felt about . half seas over ' from the ! free and frequent use of the tin enp. I was puzzled to know what to do. To decline rostrium for me to speak from. Two or three mon seized hold of me and placed me upon the stand. amidst the vociferous shouts of the friends of the canal, which were none the less loud on account of the frequent circula- tion of the tin and jug. I could scarcely preserve my equilibrimin, but there I was on the tub for the purpose of answering and ex- posing the doctor's sophi-tries, and an aux- ions auditory waiting for me to exterminate him. But, strange to say. my lips refused utterance. 1 . saw men ats trees, walking.' i and after a long, and to me painful pan-e, I smote my hand upon my breast. and said. . I feel too ful! for nttoranee.' (Imeant of whisky, they thought of righteous indig- nation at the doctor's etfrontery in oppos- ing the measure midler consideration.) The raw worked like a charm. The erowl shouted: . Let him bave it!' I raised my finger and pointed a moment at the doc- tor. The audience shouted, . Hit him again.' Thus encouraged, I attempted the first stump speech I over attempted to make; and after I got my month to go off (and a part of the whisky in perspiration). I had no trouble whatever. and the liquor dispelled my native timidity that otherwise might have embarrassed me. I ovenpied the tnb about twenty-five minutes. The doctor, boiling over with indignation and a speech, mounted the tub and harangued us for thirty minutes. The young school-master " was again called for, and another speech from him of about would injure me in the estimation of the twenty minutes closed the debate. A fine neighborhood, who were strongly in favor of care vote of the company was taken, which the grant: and, on the other hand. if I at- resulted in twenty-six for the grant and four against it. My two friend- were elected Cap- tain and Lieutenant, and I am back at my boarding-house. ready for supper, with a slight headache. Strange is it may appear, none of them discovered that I was intoxicated. tempted to speak and failed from intoxication, ; it would ruin me with my patrons. Soon a fence-rail was slipped into the worn fence near by, and a wash-tub, turned bottom up- ward, placed upon it and on the neighboring rails, about five feet from the ground, as a Lucky for me they did not. or I would doubt-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.