USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > Biographical and historical record of Vermillion County, Indiana : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of the state of Indiana; portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Vermillion county, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the county and its villages > Part 21
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THOROUGHIFARES.
In addition to the account we have given of the railroads, we should note the advance made over the rest of the territory. At first the Wabash River constituted the only outlet for the exports of the county, and henee flat- boating was a prominent pursuit, many of the old settlers having made twenty to fifty trips to New Orleans. James L. Wishard onee inade the return trip on foot, but generally the voyagers returned by steamboat. Will- iam Swan and Wesley Southard each made about sixty trips to New Orleans.
In the fall season goods were brought from Evansville and Cincinnati by wagon. The men often went in companies for mutual pro- teetion and assistance, with five or six horse teams. One of the lead horses always wore a set of bells. If a team got stuck in a mud- hole or on a hill, it was the eustom for any teamster with the same number of horses to make an effort to pull the wagon out. In ease of snecess the bells changed ownership. In this way the bells were constantly changing from one to another. In a few years the
river boats superseded this expensive mode of shipping.
The surface of Vermillion County is natu- rally far more favorable for wagoning than most counties in the State. In addition to this, the enterprise of the citizens has added the following well-finished turnpikes: One from Newport to Walnut Grove and Eugene; Newport to Quaker Point; from a point on the latter to Dana; from Dana to Clinton; from Clinton to the State line, on the Paris road; Clinton to the county line, on the road to Terre Haute; from Perrysville southwest about eighty miles.
EDUCATION.
Vermillion County is confessedly ahead of most others in this latitude in the character of her publie sehools. As the people " take pride " in this institution, so do the teachers. Institutes and normals have been faithfully attended and zealously and profitably eon- ducted.
Helt, Eugene and Highland townships have graded sehools, while Vermillion Town- ship united until recently with Newport in sustaining a graded school, and the town of Clinton has an excellent graded school, to which the pupils of the township are some- times admitted.
Arrangements have been made by the school board for a uniform length of school session throughout the county. The per eent. of enrollment was raised from 78 in 1882- '83, to 85 in '1883-'84, and the per cent. of attendance correspondingly inereased. In 1874 it was reported that 418 children who had attended school could not read. The number has been growing smaller each year until none are so reported by the last en- meration, although there are probably a few.
The last log cabin school-house was super-
226
HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
seded many years ago. The respective town- ships now have the following:
Brick.
Clinton,
3
Frame. 9
Helt,
3
20
Vermillion,
1
12
Eugene,
1
7
Highland,
1
11
9
59
Estimated value of school-houses and lots, 859,000; of school apparatus, globes, maps, etc., about 84,000. Number of teachers em- ployed in the county, about eighty-five. The enumeration of school children (six to twenty- one years of age) for September, 1886, was 4,291, and the enrollment 3,467, or about eighty per cent.
The county seminary at Newport was built in early days, under the general law appropriating a fund for the purpose. The same building, with an addition, constitutes the present "public-school " house.
The earnestness of the teachers in seeking professional knowledge is shown by their large attendance at the various normal schools of the State, their general habit of reading educational journals, and the wide-spread in- terest taken in institutes and associations. The townships principals appointed to preside over and superintend the township institutes are expected to organize and direct the work of the "Teachers' Reading Circle."
At one of the institutes the following in- genious poem was read, which deserves a place in this work:
A PEDAGOGICAL POEM.
Written for the Hoosier State, by C. W. Joab.
I'm with you here, my teachers dear, To read a little poem. I often have some queer ideas about the calami- ties and Misfortunes in the teacher's sad career,
An' I thought you'd like to know 'em,
We tug and sweat, with care we fret, In this vacation toiling.
Now just give me your undivided attention while I speak of some misfortunes
With which our pathway is beset : To do so, I am spoiling.
For years we toil, in constant broil To get an education ; And after many disappointments, Burdened with anguish and turmoil, We get a situation.
1
The most of men consider then That we from care are free, sir; But I'd have you understand that I've The business tried, time and again : We're in up to our knees, sir.
With all our might, from morn till night, Our weary brain we rob, sir; For when you manage a house full of little sav- ages In a village school, you're right, -- You "have no idle job," sir.
You'll meet with scorn, sure as you're born; Some men will be your foes, sir.
Yes, some old fogies can not digest the solid kernel of truth; they hanker after husks and chaff
And small potatoes and soft corn ; I've met with such as those, sir.
In humor grum, they will not come, To see the order there, sir, And witness the fact that some pupils Are stupid, lifeless, deaf and dumb, And view the subject fair, sir.
But all they know about the show Is what by chance they hear, sir. They are ever ready to catch all tales of scandal and idle gossip As the children homeward go, Believing all, I fear, sir.
Some say that you will never do: The pupils do not mind, sir. They plainly tell you to give the little yonkers regular old Sam Hill, And just to put them through, And not to be too kind, sir.
f
{
227
MISCELLANEOUS.
But when, forsooth, you flog a youth, His pa comes in to beat you. "See here! what right had you to whip my boy ? I know the facts in the case : My children tell the truth."
And that's the way they treat you.
Day after day, for little pay, We work, with few vacations; And bear all this meanness and abuse In a good-natured, Christian way,- Iu never-ending patience.
COUNTY SOCIETIES.
Vermillion County Medical Society .- In July, 1869, a meeting was held at Newport, comprising James MeMeen and William C. Eichelbarger, of Engene; Iliram and Lewis Shepherd, of Quaker Point; Henry C. Eaton, of Brouillet's Creek, and M. L. IIall and C. Leavitt, of Newport, -for the purpose of organizing a county medical society. They adjourned to meet again a week or two after- ward, but we find no account of further meetings until 1873, when they organized, electing Dr. I. B. Hedges, of Clinton, presi- dent. The membership subsequently attained twenty-two in number, but the association was permitted to " run down " in the course of about four years.
Western Indiana Scientific Association .--- The scientifie spirit of William Gibson, then of Newport but previously of Perrysville, led him during the summer of 1875 to call a meeting of the friends of science with the view of organizing for efficient work. In August, that year, a preliminary meeting was held at Newport, comprising, among others, Professor B. E. Rhoads, William Gibson, M. L. Hall, William L. Little, Jesse Houchin. P. Z. Anderson and Samuel Groenendyke,- the last two, however, sending letters of regret for their absence.
At the next meeting, August 30, they or- ganized as the " Western Indiana Historical
and Scientifie Association," with a con- stitution and by-laws, "for the purpose of promoting discovery in geology, archaeology and other kindred sciences; for our mut- ual improvement therein, and for securing a cabinet of natural history and a collection of minerals and fossils as will illustrate the resources and wealth of Vermillion and ad- joining counties in these respects." The con- stitution was signed by John Collett, William L. Little, William Gibson, II. H. Conley, M. L. HIall, S. B. Davis, M. G. Rhoads, Jesse llon- chin, W. C. Eichelberger, Samuel Groenen- dyke, B. E. Rhoads and P. Z. Anderson. Mr. Collett was elected President, M. G. Rhoads, Vice-President; William L. Little, Treasurer; II. HI. Conley, Corresponding Secretary; M. L. Hall, Recording Secretary, and William Gibson Librarian and Curator.
But the association, like most others of the kind, forgot to provide (or perhaps could not) for longevity by finding successors for the most active man. Mr. Gibson, the moving spirit, after fitting up and filling a neat little building with specimens, moved away: the soul gone, the organism was of course dcad.
The Patrons' Mutual Aid Society, or Ver- million County Fire Insurance Company, was organized in the summer of 1879, by the Patrons of Husbandry, and is still flourishing.
The County Bible Society, with auxillary societies in the respected townships, and the County Sunday-school Association, similarly organized, are still at work, the latter quite vigorously. These, especially the former, are old institutions.
A county temperance organization, as a result of the " blue-ribbon movement, " was effected February 16, 1882, at Newport. The meeting was called to order by Capt. R. B. Sears, of Newport, a member of the State or- ganization. Dr. E. T. Spotswood, of Perrys- ville, was chosen temporary chairman, and E.
228
HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
H. Hayes, of Clinton, 'secretary. The per- manent officers elected were, William Gibson, President; Thomas Cushman, Secretary; C. S. Davis, Treasurer. Vice presidents were appointed for the various townships, and an executive committee. Mrs. Emma Molloy, a noted temperance lecturer, was invited to make a canvass of the county. The con- stitution of the grand conneil was adopted. The members adopted resolutions to vote for none but temperance men for offices, and favoring a prohibitory liquor law for the State. Not being a religious or a secret society, of course it died.
THE COUNTY POOR FARM, OR INFIRMARY.
The farm, about two miles south of New- port, near the Clinton road, and comprising a quarter seetion of land, was first entered by Wilbur and Davis from the Government; sub- sequently Peter Smith became the owner, and upon it as security he borrowed a sum of money from the county; failing to pay, the land became the property of the county, and many years ago was made a resort for the helpless poor. The land is valued at $35 an acre. The buildings hitherto used being almost valneless, the county this year (1887) is having erected a magnificent briek build- ing, to cost $15,750. It includes a depart- ment for the insane. The plan for this structure was drafted by Mr. Bnntin, an architeet of Indianapolis. The building is two stories high, with basement under the whole ground area, which is 40 x 108 feet. Can be heated with either steam or hot air. There are thirty-two rooms for inmates, six of which are finished for occupation by the insane. Five rooms are set apart for the superintendent and his family. The contract for the erection of this building was let March 30, 1887, to Moore & McCoy, of Danville, Illinois. The present superintend-
ent is Joseph Conrad, who has had the office since the spring of 1881. His salary is $600. Average number of inmates, about twenty.
POSTOFFICES.
The postoffices of Vermillion County, enumerating from Clinton northward, are as follows:
Clinton.
St. Bernice, at Jonestown, in the northi- western portion of Clinton Township.
Summit Grove, on the C.& E. I. R. R., iń IIelt Townihip.
Toronto, at or near Bono, Ilelt Township. IIillsdale, in IIelt Township, at the crossing of the C. & E. I. and the I., D. & S. R. Rs.
Dana, in the northwestern portion of Helt Township, on the I., D. & S. R. R.
Newport.
Quaker Hill, at a place sometimes ealled "Quaker Point," eight miles west of New- port and in Vermillion Township.
Cayuga, in Eugene Township, at the crossing of the C. & E. I. and the T., St. L. & K. R. Rs ..
Eugene. Perrysville.
Gessie, on the C. & E. I. R. R., in the western portion of Highland Township.
Rileysburg, on the same road, two miles northwest of Gessie.
Walnut Grove, Brownton, Highland, Atla, Opeedee, etc., are names of other points in the connty where there are no postoffices.
NOTABLE METEOROLOGICAL EVENTS.
The winter of 1818-'19 was so mild that bnt one light snow fell, which was on the night of February 18. Livestock of all kinds wintered well without being fed.
November 18, 1842, the Wabash River, although full, was trozen over, and remained
!
229
MISCELLANEOUS.
so until April 2. The day preceding the break-up a man with four yoke of oxen hauled saw-logs upon a wagon across the river at Perrysville.
In August, 1875, and in February, 1883, and also in February, 1884, the floods of the Wabash rose unusually high and swept away
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property.
COUNTY WALL MAP.
. A good wall map, 3 x 6 feet, of Vermillion County was published in 1870-'72, by James Tarrance, County Auditor, who afterward moved to Terre Haute and then to Texas.
16
230
HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
t
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
.
EARLY SETTLERS.
OIIN VANNEST, the first settler of Vermillion Coun- ty, located on section 9 of this township, in 1816. See a previous chapter for par- ticulars. The second settler in the county, John Beard, also located in this township, building the first house in the town of Clinton, and in 1819 or 1820 the first mill in the county, afterward known as Patton's Mill, three and a half miles southwest of Clinton. He was also the first justice of the peace in the county.
William Hamilton came in March, 1818. His son John is the oldest living resident of the county, and very frail. William, another son, died about 1878.
Nelson Reeder, deceased, was but two years old when his parents came from Ohio and settled here in 1818.
Judge Porter, from New York State, set- tled here in 1819. His son Charles, born in 1816, was a good citizen, but ended his life by suicide.
Jolin J. Martin, who died about three years ago, was in his second year when his parents immigrated to this township in 1819.
The same year Daniel McCulloch, who was born in the State of New York in 1797, settled in Clinton Township, upon a farm five miles southwest of Clinton, where he died a number of years ago. W. B., his son, who was born in 1830, is still a resident here.
John Wright, Sr., now an undertaker at Clinton, was born in New York State in 1818, and in 1820 his parents brought him, in emigration, to this county. George Wright came in 1832, and died many years ago. Ilis wife Mary, who was born November 13, 1805, in New York, came to Indiana in 1817, settling near Terre Haute, and in 1832 came
231
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
to this county, where she died December 18, 1882. Her only surviving child, William Wright, has been county commissioner.
Major Chunn, an officer in the regular army, came here from Terre Haute some time previons to 1820, and was an efficient soldier in driving away the Indians; was also a participant in the battle of Tippecanoe. He was a justice of the peace here for many years. His son Thomas is still a resident of this township.
John Clover, from Ohio, located in Clinton Township in 1821, with his son Joseph A., who is yet living six miles west of Clinton.
Joshua Dean, who was born in Virginia in 1801, settled liere in 1822, and died about ten years ago.
A family named Andrews located in this township the same year, in which were sey- eral sons.
Henry and Eli Shew, natives of North Carolina, were boys when they became resi- dents of Clinton Township. The former was born in 1815 and came in 1825, and the latter, born in 1819, was brought liere in 1823.
Captain William Swan was born in Penn- sylvania in 1802, settled in Clinton Town- ship in 1823, was a member of the first jury in the county, followed the river, making over sixty trips to New Orleans on bothi rafts and flats, was a Universalist in his religious be- lief, and a Freemason, and died January 29, 1887, at Clinton.
Washington Potter, still living, was about eight years old when, in 1823, he was brought to this township. He is a native of Ohio, and a carpenter by trade.
Silas Davis, a cooper and farmer, now living in Kansas, was born in Ohio in 1818, brought here in 1823, and lived here many years.
The parents of William and Israel Wood
came in 1824. The latter are still residents here.
John W. Hedges came also in 1824. His son, Dr. I. B. Hedges, was born October 30, 1819, died February 24, 1883, and was buried in Clinton Cemetery. He was a re- spectable, well known physician, of many years' standing in his native county.
In 1824 came also Mr. Crabb, father of Walter G., who was born in Fayette County, Ohio. The former moved into Parke County.
James II. Allen, of Clinton, born in Ohio in 1822, has been a resident here since 1827.
John Payton, an early merchant of Clin- ton, was born in Ohio in 1818, and settled here in 1828.
This year also came James Clark, Sr., from Ohio, where he was born in 1798, became a farmer a mile and a half west of Clinton, and is now deceased.
Samuel Davidson, also deceased, was born in Ohio in 1817, and settled in this township in 1830. Martin M. Davidson, born in Ohio in 1829, was brought here in 1832, lived here many years, and is now a resident of Terre Hante.
George W. Edwards, of Clinton, was born in this State in 1827, and became a resident here in 1830.
Andrew Reed, born in North Carolina in 1820, settled here in 1830.
Thomas Kibby, who was born in this State in 1810, came to Clinton Township in the fall of 1830, and is still a resident here.
Benjamin R. Whitcomb, born in Vermont in 1798, and his cousin and business partner, John Whitcomb, came in 1828, settling in the village of Clinton, where they were among the first merchants, pork packers, etc. John died August 29, 1830, aged forty-one years. Benjamin R. died April 23, 1861, and his wife, Anna S., died May 21, 1860,
232
HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
at the age of fifty-five and a half years. John R. Whitcomb, another merchant, born in Ohio in 1804, first settled in Edgar Conn- ty, Illinois, in 1832, and in the village of Clinton in 1834. IIe died in March, 1873, leaving a widow (third wife), who is living a half mile west of town. His first wife, Eunice, died May 15, 1832, aged only twenty- three years.
Scott Malone, who married Miss Sarah, one of the twin daughters of John Vannest, came from Ohio, and resided here until his death a few years ago.
Simeon Taylor, born in Indiana in 1818, settled in this county in 1831, and died a few years ago. Ilis brother, John F., born in Ohio, in 1816, came in 1833, and is yet living.
In 1832 there settled in Clinton Township, Thomas G. Wilson, born in Virginia in 1804; William J. Noblitt, born in Tennessee in 1825, and still living here; Benjamin HIarri- son, born in Virginia in 1805, was justice of the peace many years, and is still living: his wife died this year (1887); their son Robert, born in the " Old Dominion" in 1831, is still a resident of this township.
Robert Il. and Adaline (West) Nichols, came in 1835. IIe died here in 1872, aged fifty-five years, and she in 1874, aged sixty- five.
Huram B. Cole, John Ferral and John Marks were early merchants of Clinton. The latter went Sonth. Ferral died February 25, 1832, at the age of thirty-six years.
In 1836 came William Payton and Philo Harkness, who are still living here. Payton was born in Kentucky in 1814, and Harkness in New York in 1816.
In 1837 came Reuben Propst, and the next year Isaac Propst, natives of Virginia, but finally moved away.
Aquilla Nebeker, born in Delaware in 1815,
located in Clinton Township in 1837. 1Ie was a man of liberal views, a good citizen and a kind neighbor. IIe died February 10, 1880, after a long period of illness. Ilis widow died in January, 1881, an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Jesse Spangler, born in Pennsylvania in 1807, settled here in 1837, and died about 1881.
D. F. Fawcett came from Virginia in 1833, settling near Goshen, Vigo County, and then, in 1837, in this county, near the southwest corner. He died in 1845, in Jasper County, Illinois. Mrs. Fawcett died in 1837, in this township.
Many others we could mention who came in pioneer times, resided here many years, becoming prominent citizens, and died in honored old age, or are still living.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
The opening of the iron mines and build- ing of the " Indiana Furnace," in section 27, township 14, range 10, Clinton Township, commenced in 1837. In 1839 the furnace was in full blast. Stephen R. Uncles was the chief owner and superintendent. Asso- ciated with him were Hugh Stuart and Ches- ter Clark, the firm name being, Uncles & Co. Years later, the lands and works passed into the hands of Stuart & Sprague, and still later to E. M. Bruce & Co., the Co. being David Sinton.
In 1859, George B. Sparks, now a resi- dent of Clinton, bought a controlling interest, and under the firm name of G. B. Sparks & Co., the business was continued until 1864. Captain Jolin Lindsey, who still resides near the site of the old Furnace, was many years its superintendent. He relates that of the hundreds of men employed then, all but one, a pattern-maker, voted regularly the Demo- cratic ticket, and jokingly says, no others
233
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
could get employment. The company's office and large general supply store, and a score or two of cabins of more or less pretensions, made quite a village. Castings of nearly all kinds, largely stoves, were turned ont. Pig iron in large quantities were also produced.
. The works were among the early enter- prises of the Wabash Valley, and distributed a large amount of money among the early settlers as well as furnishing employment to all comers-of the right political faith (ac- cording to Captain Lindsey)! The 1,700 acres of land connected with the plant is now owned by George B. Sparks, and devoted to agricultural purposes, and all that remains to indicate the site of the old " Indiana Fur- nace" is here and there debris of rotting and rusting machinery, and one or two log cabins.
The " Norton Creek Coal Mines " are lo- cated on the line between Clinton and Helt townships, on section 5 of Clinton Township, and section 32 of IIelt Township. Their de- velopment commenced in December, 1884. F. A. Bowen was the proprietor, and Charles P. Walker, of Clinton, the superintendent and manager. In the spring of 1885, under the general laws of Wisconsin the " Norton Creek Coal Mining Company," was organ- ized, with a paid up capital of $40,000, with its general office at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. II. M. Benjamin, of that city, is the presi- dent of the company, and Charles P. Walker, of Clinton, superintendent and treasurer, and general agent for Indiana. Connected with the property are 255 acres of land. The inines are about two and one-half miles west of the " Eastern Illinois Railroad," and con- nected by a spur track. The company also own the old " Briar Hill " mines, on section 9, Clinton Township, but they are not now operated.
located the company's large mercantile estab- lishment and local office, which, with twenty- seven tenement houses, constitutes quite a "village, called "Geneva," named in honor of a daughter of Superintendent Walker. The sales of coal in 1886 reached $160,000, and and the mercantile establishment 842,000. Near the mines are several tenement houses, and at the Briar Hill mines cleven houses. All are occupied by employes of the com- pany. The business is increasing, owing to the excellent quality of coal produced. Com- mencing with the winter of 1887-'88 an average working force of 300 men are em- ployed.
In Clinton Township there are three or fonr saw-mills, besides two in town, and one grist-mill.
One of the chief business interests of Clinton Township is the immense stock farm of Claude Mathews at Hazel BInff, on Brouil- et's Creek, some three miles from Clinton.
It is said that in early day crime became so prevalent in the southern part of Vermillion County that a vigilance committee was organ- ized, who executed a lynching or two and thus effectually checked the evil.
Some years ago the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company talked some of run- ning a track through this portion of the county, but no subscriptions were taken. When the Cleveland & St. Louis railroad was projected via Clinton, a little effort was made for it, but nothing accomplished. Now the Anderson, Lebanon & Paris Railroad is pro- posed, by way of Clinton, and A. V. Brown is the leading citizen of the place working for it, in conjunction with Rockville. Sec- tions of this line, in other counties, are already built and used.
In this township, outside of Clinton, Henry C. Eaton, of Bronillet's Creek, has been the
On the southeast portion of section 5 is | principal practicing physician. Rev. S. S.
234
HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
Simns is a United Brethren minister residing also on this creek. Bethel United Brethren Church is located five miles southwest of Clinton, and the "Union Class," of the same church, worship at a point six and a half miles southwest of Clinton.
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