USA > Indiana > Biographical and historical sketches of early Indiana > Part 32
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On the ist day of June, 1883, there was a meeting of the pi- oneers of Iowa, at Burlington, which was largely attended. General A. C. Dodge presided, and on introducing General Jones to the people said :
" In early days the pioneers always estimated a workman by his chips. Here, ladies and gentleman, is the hand (grasping the hand of General Jones) that chipped Wisconsin out of Mich- igan : that chipped Iowa out of Wisconsin : that chipped for us 640 acres of land covering this original town at a mere nominal price, and to him. more than to any other man or representative. we are indebted for our railroad grants."
The evening after the celebration the pioneers had a dance. and in a description of it the Burlington Gazette says :
"The venerable statesman. General Jones, took part in the dances, and was quite as frisky as the youngest participant."
Another son of John Rice Jones, his eldest, I think, was killed
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at Kaskaskia, Illinois, in a street rencounter, before Illinois be- came a State. He was a very brilliant man, and his death caused great sorrow at the time. Thus it will be seen that the talents of the first Attorney-General of Indiana Territory de- scended to his children.
In 1786 news came to the West that Congress had, by a secret treaty with Spain, agreed to relinquish the free navigation of the Mississippi river. This greatly incensed the people, and they determined to resist it. At Vincennes General George Rogers Clark enlisted a body of men known as the Wabash regiment, and by his orders all the Spanish traders at Vincennes and in Illinois were despoiled of their property, in retaliation for simi- lar offenses alleged to have been committed by the Spaniards at Natchez, Miss. In these despoliations John Rice Jones took a leading part. He was the commissary-general of the maraud- ers, and sold such goods as the regiment could not use. This raid of General Clark came near embroiling the country in a war with Spain, but being disowned by the government, it es- caped it. Some time after this Mr. Jones removed to Missouri, where he became a leading man. He was a member of the con- vention that made the first constitution of Missouri, was after- ward a candidate for United States Senator against Colonel Benton and defeated. He was one of the first Judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri, and held the office until his death, which occurred in 1824. Like Ratliff Boon, he was a pioneer of both Indiana and Missouri, and prominent in both.
WILLIAM MCINTOSH.
In the same issue of the Western World is an article on Wil- liam McIntosh, one of the three leaders of the organization to destroy Governor Harrison's influence. The reader will note its extreme bitterness. Seldom, indeed, do we find in the press of the present day an article so personal and so denunciatory. It is from the pen of the same writer that so mercilessly criti- cised John Rice Jones in the extract previously copied. The writer says :
" William McIntosh is by birth a Scotchman. In the Rev- olutionary war he held a subaltern's commission in one of the
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temporary regiments that were raised for the protection of the King against his external and internal foes. He made his first appearance at Vincennes as a trader, but, not succeeding in this business, he took the sure road to the acquirement of a for- tune, by undertaking to act as agent for many of the French citi- zens whose claims to land were to be decided by the Governor. By magnifying the difficulty of obtaining confirmations, and other vile deceptions upon those illiterate and credulous people, he suc- ceeded frequently in obtaining two hundred out of four hundred acres for barely presenting the claim. In the year 1804 his portrait was given to the world by Mr. Parke, and crimes of the blackest hue charged upon him. The Scotchman retorted upon him some abusive language, which produced from Mr. Parke a challenge ; the acceptance of this was, however, declined by McIntosh until he could clear his character of the charges that had been made against it, and which he declared would take but a short time. To this day, however, upwards of three years have elapsed and no attempt of the kind has been made (I can safely aver), nor ever will, for two powerful reasons : The first is that his character is of too deep a dve to require even a cen- tury to cleanse it of its stains ; the other, his unutterable aver- sion to the smell of gunpowder. He surely is the veriest coward that ever bit the dust. It is not my intention to give a history of that man's iniquities, but shall content myself with the exhibition of the following documents, taken from the office of the land companies of this district." [Here follow several affidavits showing that McIntosh had obtained land from the makers by duplicity and fraud. ]
McIntosh was not only involved in a personal difficulty with Benjamin Parke on account of his opposition to Governor Har- rison, but he had an altercation with Thomas Randolph, a warm personal and political friend of the Governor, growing out of the same matter, in which the latter came near losing his life. McIntosh cut Randolph with a knife, and he lay for weeks in a most dangerous condition.
The personal friends of the Governor were enemies of Mc- Intosh. and did what they could to drive him out of the Terri- tory, but without success. His intelligence and wealth gave him
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an influence that could not be entirely destroyed. When Gov- ernor Harrison left Vincennes to take command of the North- western army he turned over the executive affairs of the Ter- ritory to John Gibson, its Secretary. During General Gibson's term as Acting Governor McIntosh was a large contractor for supplying the army with rations. General W. H. H. Terrell. of Indianapolis, has in his possession a manuscript letter of McIntosh, which I have been permitted to copy. It is as fol- lows :
" SIR-At Vincennes the contractor has not any quantity of flour in store, and for several days I have been entirely supplied from the country. Measures have been taken by him to import from the State of Kentucky a quantity sufficient to meet the several requisitions which have been made, but I am as vet without information of the time in which any part of it may ar- , rive here. Of meat, whisky and the other component parts there is a sufficiency at my disposal to comply with the requisitions.
" I have the honor to be. sir, your most obedient servant,
" WILL MCINTOSH. for the Contractor.
" Vincennes, September 25, 1812.
". GENERAL GIBSON."
The letter has never before been published, and is valuable in showing the condition of the commissariat, and the kind of articles then believed to be necessary to support an army in the field.
On the 4th of July, 1883, I had a very interesting interview with Mrs. Adeline D. Wolverton, of Vincennes, and obtained from her much valuable information. Mrs. Wolverton is a daughter of Dr. Elias McNamee, and is the widow of Dr. Wol- verton, both of whom were prominent in early Indiana history. She remembers William McIntosh well, and says he was a rich Scotch merchant, of elegant manners and good social position, notwithstanding the fact that he had a negro mistress, by whom he had a family of children. McIntosh was an infidel, and he and Beaubien, Currie, Flowers and Burbeck-all European Free-Thinkers-purchased a large body of land on the Illinois side of the Wabash river, upon which they located a city and
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called it " Mount Carmel." McIntosh removed to Mount Car- mel and lived there until he died. Rev. Aaron Wood. in a re- cent publication, thus speaks of McIntosh and his death :
. It is well known that the infidel, W. McIntosh, of the Grand Rapids of the Wabash, was the father of illegitimate mulatto children by old Lydia, his black housekeeper. I saw him car- ried to his grave, and Lydia, her two daughters and one son were left poor, and others got his land. His son became a dis- tinguished preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, for it is due to Colonel McIntosh to say that he gave him a good education in the English and Latin languages and mathematics, so that he was, in his time, among the few educated men of his church."
The education given the mulatto boy did much to atone for the lax morals of the infidel, as it enabled the former to assist in elevating the race to which his mother's blood allied him.
William McIntosh was nearly related to Sir James McIntosh. a distinguished English philosopher and statesman, and had he not become involved in a quarrel with Governor Harrison must have risen to the front rank in power and influence in the new Territory. His antagonism to the Governor put him under the ban of those who controlled the affairs of the Territory, and prevented him from reaching the position his education and talents entitled him to. He and Jones, and Bachus, charged the Governor with having cheated the Indians out of their lands, and the Governor determined to sue McIntosh in a court of law for slander. believing that would be the best way to vindicate himself and show the correctness of his conduct. Dawson, in his life of General Harrison, goes into this matter with partic- ularity, and asserts that in instituting the suit the General was governed solely by a desire to protect his reputation from slan- . derous assaults. Dawson says that McIntosh had been for many years hostile to the Governor, and was not believed to be very partial to the government of the United States.
It appears by a deposition made in 1811 by Colonel John Small, that prior to the year 1805, McIntosh had been upon the best terms with Governor Harrison, but that, in that year, the Governor gave him great offense by his advocating and pro-
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moting the measure of the Territory going into the second grade of government ; from which circumstance Mr. Small believed, and asserted on his oath, that McIntosh bore the greatest en- mity towards Governor Harrison.
It thus appears that the Governor's exertions to improve the condition of the Territory by giving it a representative govern- ment had drawn down upon him the enmity of McIntosh, who strictly adhered to the declaration he had made to do the Gov- ernor all the injury in his power.
Suit was brought against McIntosh in the Supreme Court of the Territory, and was, from its character, well calculated to draw the attention and excite a strong interest in the minds of the people of the Territory. Of the three judges, one was a personal friend of the Governor, and another of McIntosh. Both these gentlemen, when the suit was called, left the bench. and the Hon. Waller Taylor, then recently arrived in the Terri- tory, was left to preside alone in the suit. To insure an impartial jury the court named two elisors, who chose forty-eight citizens as a panel from which the jury was to be taken. From this forty-eight the plaintiff and defendant each struck twelve, and from the remaining twenty-four the jury was drawn by lot.
" Before a crowded audience the trial was continued from 10 A. M. till I o'clock at night. Every person concerned in the Indian Department, or who could know anything of the circum- stances of the late treaty at Fort Wayne, was examined, and every latitude that was asked for or attempted by the defendant in the examination permitted. Finding that the testimony of all the witnesses went to prove the justice and integrity of the Gov- ernor's conduct, the defendant began to ask questions relating to some points of the Governor's civil administration. To this the jury, as well as the court, objected, the latter observing that it was necessary that the examination should be confined to the matter at issue. But, at the earnest request of the Governor, the de- fendant was permitted to pursue his own course, and examine the witnesses upon every point which he might think proper. The defendant's counsel, abandoning all idea of justification, pleaded only for mitigation of damages. After a retirement of one hour the jury returned a verdict of $4,000 damages. To pay this sum a large amount of McIntosh's lands were exposed
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to sale, and, in the Governor's absence in command of the army. was bought in by his agent. Two-thirds of this property he afterward returned to McIntosh, and the remaining part he gave to some of the orphan children of several distinguished citizens who fell in the war of 1812."
The writer in the Western World, from whom I have already quoted, closes his article with this scathing notice of
ELIJAH BACHUS.
" From the specimen which Mr. Bachus has exhibited of his principles in the short time he has resided in the Territory, there is every reason to believe that, if the history of his previous life was as well known, that it would be found to contain as many acts of perfidy as that of his worthy coadjutors. To say noth- ing of his official conduct, which has been severely arraigned. he has been convicted, by a gentleman of respectability, of the most egregious falsehoods and as vile a swindling trick as ever was committed by a man who professed to be a gentleman.
" The sole intention of this publication, Mr. Editor, is to show the world the real characters of those who, to gratify their ma- lignant dispositions, have attempted, under the mask of patriot- ism, to undermine the character of Governor Harrison by the foulest aspersions."
The fight against Governor Harrison, as the reader must know. resulted disastrously to his assailants. It served to draw his friends the closer to him, as it always will when one is unjustly attacked. He was afterward elected President of the United States, the highest office in the world, and the history of his country makes honorable mention of him as soldier and states- man. But few there are who know anything about John Rice Jones, William McIntosh, or Elijah Bachus. In assailing the Governor they made it impossible for them to reach a high posi- tion among a people who loved and revered him, and the only one of the three who ever held office afterward was Jones, and to attain it he had to leave Indiana and go west of the Missis- sippi river.
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BENJAMIN PARKE.
Ix Drake's Dictionary of American Biography is this notice of Benjamin Parke: "Parke, Benjamin, jurist ; born in New Jersey in 1777 ; died at Salem, Ind., July 12, 1835. A Western pioneer. He settled in Indiana about 1800 ; was a delegate to Congress in 1805-8 ; was soon after appointed by Mr. Jefferson a Judge of the District Court, and held the office until his death. President Indiana Historical Society."
Reader, isn't this the first time you ever heard of Benjamin Parke? And yet he was a leading man in Indiana under both the Territorial and State governments, and a county on the Wabash bears his name. If Benjamin Parke is so soon forgot- ten, what hope for earthly immortality have you or I? I have not been able to learn anything about Benjamin Parke's boyhood, further than that he obtained a good common school education. When twenty years old he emigrated to Kentucky and settled at Lexington. He soon afterward entered the law office of James Brown, once Minister to France, and in due time was admitted to the bar. Between him and his preceptor a friendship was formed which lasted while they lived.
In 1801 Judge Parke and his young wife came to Indiana, and took up their abode in the town of Vincennes, then the cap- ital of the Territory. He opened a law office, and was soon appointed Attorney-General of the Territory-the second one appointed. He was a member of the first Territorial Legislature, which met in Vincennes July 20, 1805. The Legislative Coun- cil and House of Representatives elected him a delegate to Congress, and he served in that capacity from that time until 1808, when he was appointed by President Jefferson a Terri- torial Judge. He remained in this office until Indiana became
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a State. He was a member of the convention that met at Cory- don on the 10th day of June, 1816, to form a State constitution, and took a leading part in its deliberations. On the admission of Indiana into the Union President Madison appointed him United States District Judge, with circuit court powers, a posi- tion he held until his death.
But it was not only as a legislator and magistrate that Judge Parke endeared himself to the people of Indiana. When the savage warrior, with tomahawk and scalping-knife, marched against the defenseless settlers of the frontier, Judge Parke raised a company of dragoons and went to their relief. He was in the bloody battle of Tippecanoe, and greatly distinguished himself for bravery. When the gallant Major Daviess fell Cap- tain Parke was promoted to the majority and became com- mander of the cavalry. General Harrison thus speaks of him as a military officer : "He was in every respect equal to any cavalry officer of his rank that I have ever seen. As in every- thing else which he undertook, he made himself acquainted with the tactics of that arm, and succeeded in bringing his troops, both as regards field maneuvering and the use of the saber, to as great perfection as I have ever known."
During the Territorial government, for several years Judge Parke acted as Indian agent, and acquired great influence over the savage men of the forest. He was peculiarly fitted for the duties of this position, by reason of his knowledge of the Indian character, and his patience, fortitude and bravery.
The late Hon. John I. Morrison many years ago conducted, at Salem, a seminary of a very high grade. Judge Parke took great interest in this school, as he did in everything that was calculated to make men wiser and better. Mr. Morrison fur- nished the author the following beautiful and touching tribute to the memory of his early friend and benefactor :
" KNIGHTSTOWN, IND., Jan. 23, 1882.
. William Wesley Woollen, Esq .:
" DEAR SIR-In the spring of 1827 I became acquainted with Hon. Benjamin Parke. Sarah B. and Wm. Barton, his only children, both of whom he survived, were pupils of my first
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school in Salem, Washington county, Indiana. In person the Judge was tall, nearly six feet, but spare in habit, and of a rather delicate frame. His dignified appearance impressed me with awe and reverence. He looked so much like a philosopher -like my ideals, Socrates and Plato-I fancied I might admire him as I was wont to admire them, but concluded I could never love him. What a mistake! I soon felt that I had found a second father, one whom I could not help but love and vener- ate. In all matters pertaining to my school he manifested the liveliest interest. If I had been his own son he could have done nothing more. He never failed to invite his distinguished guests from abroad, who frequently shared his hospitality, to visit the school. Among the number I remember well Governor William Hendricks, Governor Jonathan Jennings and General William Henry Harrison. On such occasions the Judge showed a singular partiality for the class in Colburn's mental arithme- tic, and seemed unwilling to withdraw before his friends had an opportunity to witness the drill of his favorite class. I wondered many a time what there could be in operations so simple and practical to interest the mind of a jurist so learned and profound.
"At home and abroad he spared no pains to present the claims of the seminary to the public, and to his active efforts and potent influence justly belongs a large share of the success achieved in former days by that institution.
" He was ever on the lookout for opportunities to do good, especially to the young, the poor, and the wayward. What made other people happy seemed to increase his own happiness, and if ever there was a man who performed works of disin- terested benevolence he surely was the man.
"The training and education of his own children claimed much time and attention. The result was, they were regarded by all as model pupils in deportment and scholarship.
" He never permitted his son to leave school without first ob- taining leave of absence, even when failing health required his presence and watchful care while court was in session at Ind- ianapolis.
" Judge Parke could not endure anything like arrogance and pride. He was very careful to guard his son on this point. He
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encouraged him to ring the seminary bell, and associate, at stated times, with the children of a very poor neighbor, who came from the country to enjoy the advantages of the seminary. Thus did he strive to crush out any false notions of superiority which might be entertained on account of his father being a Judge of the United States Court.
"Judge Parke was a hard student. He had a large library of very select books, not wholly confined to the law, but well supplied with standard works of history, philosophy, and clas- sical literature. The Judge was scrupulously exact in all his dealings and engagements.
" He never failed to attend the regular sessions of this court, so long as he was able to make the journey to Indianapolis on horseback.
" He was not long confined to his bed. His last hours were calm and peaceful, and as I stood by his bedside and watched his last pulse, and closed his eyes when he ceased to breathe. my heart bled for the loss of my dearest friend and constant benefactor.
Yours truly, JOHN I. MORRISON."
Honorable Barnabas C. Hobbs was for many years an inmate of Judge Parke's family. He has great reverence for the dead jurist's memory, and in a note to the author gives this graphic description of the Judge and his family :
" His wife's maiden name was Eliza Barton. They were married at Lexington. Parke was an intimate of Henry Clay. He took his wife to Vincennes when he entered upon service, that being then the chief town in the State and the residence of Governor Harrison. While there a great intimacy existed between his family and the Governor's. He was on the Gov ernor's staff in his treaty with Tecumseh and in the battle of Tippecanoe, and could relate some very interesting events in connection with this service. He traveled on horseback during all his judicial service. His last saddle-horse was a magnificent fellow, presented to him by his son-in-law, Abram Hite, a mer- chant of Louisville, Kentucky. He reached Wayne County Court by a circuitous journey along the Ohio river to Law- renceburg, and then up the Whitewater valley. His first case
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in Wayne county was a criminal case. He sat on a log, the court being held in the forest. The case was a theft. A young man had stolen a twenty-five cent pocket-knife from John Smith's store. Judge Parke rode all the way from Vincennes to try this case, the only one on the docket.
"Judge Parke was honest and generous to the core. He scorned all subterfuge, dishonesty and hypocrisy. While at Vincennes he was induced to unite his fortunes with two other men in the organization and management of a bank. He, of course, was busy with professional duties, and left the manage- ment of the bank and his own fortune to the other partners. They found a desirable time and way to let the bank break and to hide its resources, leaving Judge Parke to attend to its liabili- ties. These reverses made him bankrupt for life, or nearly so. All who knew him knew his honesty and integrity, and admired his patience and resignation to his fate. After Governor Har- rison left Vincennes Judge Parke moved to Salem, in Washing- . ton county, a place at that time more central. He took an inex- pensive house, and year by year used all his savings to cancel his bank indebtedness. He closed it all out a short time before he died. He was for years afflicted with tubercular consump- tion, and must have struggled with much infirmity while steadily and faithfully performing his judicial duties. He suffered also from paralysis of his right side, so that he could not use his right hand in writing. He overcame this disadvantage by learn- ing to write with his left hand, which he used with elegance and dispatch.
" He had two children, a daughter and a son. He took his daughter with him to New Albany-being a delicate and beau- tiful maiden of fifteen-to join in his country's welcome of La- fayette, in his visit to America, in 1825, when Abram Hite, an accomplished young merchant of Louisville, became fascinated and afterward married her. She died young, leaving a little son, whom the grandmother claimed and took to her Salem home.
" Barton was the son's name. He was a delicate but talented boy, and accompanied his father very often in his rides into the country. He was a student in the county seminary, and was making good progress in a preparation for college when, in
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1833, the town of Salem lost one-twentieth of its citizens by cholera. Barton and his sister's little boy were both taken, and Benjamin and Eliza Parke were left childless.
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