USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 4
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
work the trees left standing would be deadened. and at the end of two years the ground would be planted in corn, pumpkins, squashes, beans, potatoes. etc. Of course the plowing among the roots would be difficult and imper- fect, and the hoe was the main dependence for its cultiva- tion, but so powerful were the productive energies of the virgin soil that an abundant erop was generally secured. I well remember one spring Dewey was hauling and roll- ing logs in the creek bottom: he had run a handspike under a large log and then passing his arm under it to draw the chain through ; he immediately exclaimed that there was ice under the log. and as soon as it was rolled. lo. there lay three large moccasin snakes, whose cold bodies he had mistaken for ice. Fortunately for him, there had not been sufficient heat to arouse them from their winter torpor, and it was this that enabled him to pass his naked arm with impunity on these vicious rep- tiles. Under his rough, unpolished and sometimes reck- less manners was concealed a generous and manly heart. He was ever ready to assist any one in distress from sickness or other cause. He possessed a large share of that friendly. fraternal feeling so common among the early settlers, and the loss of which we often hear be- wailed by the hoary-headed patriarchs who enjoyed its pleasant warmth in their youth. and now contrast it with the cold selfishness of the present comummity. When John Horlock came to his sad end by the fall of a tree, Jacob Dewey was among the first and most earnest to offer his services to do anything that was in his power for the distressed family. Mr. Horlock had a large num- her of hogs, which. like all others running in the woods, bad become ahost as wild and savage as the natural den- izens of the forest. These Dewey spent several days in hunting up and driving home prior to the sale, and it was about as disagreeable a job as could be imagined, and when asked his charge felt and expressed indignation that any one should think him mean enough to take pay
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
from a poor widow for a few days' work. In the bosom of this uncultivated backwoodsman, glowed as true a spirit of chivalry as ever animated the lofty paladins of the court of Charlemagne. Dewey lived in this neighbor- hood some three or four years, when it became too crowded to suit his taste, and he pushed farther west, where the clearings were not so numerous and the game more abundant. He seemed to have no desire to own land and make himself a permanent home, and I have no doubt that he lived and died a very poor but very happy man.
NATIVE DENIZENS OF THE WILD
"In the early settlement of this country there were plenty of gray foxes but no red ones; they, like the Nor- way rats, follow in the footsteps of improvement and civilization. The fierce wildcat was occasionally treed by the dogs and then shot by the hunter; if after being wounded it fell into their clutches, it fought, as long as life remained, with the savage fury characteristic of the feline race.
"Of the fur-bearing animals found here, at that date, we may mention the beaver, the otter, the mink, the muskrat, the weasel and the raccoon. These were gener- ally trapped in the winter when their fur is valuable. The remains of beaver dams I have seen in several places in Rush and Hancock counties. A spot on a swampy creek, two or three miles west of Burlington, still retains the name of Beaver meadow, because a colony of these animals once occupied it. The otters remained long after the beavers were exterminated; indeed they are occasion- ally found along Flatrock to the present day. The coun- try had been settled eight or ten years before I ever saw or heard of a polecat or skunk, but of late years they have multiplied rapidly ; and one traveling over the coun- try at night, frequently has his nostrils saluted by the peculiar and horribly disgusting odor emanating from this foul animal, when irritated or attacked. It is its
.
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
only effective weapon of offense and defense, and well does it understand its power and the unwillingness of all animated nature to encounter its overpowering mephetic stench. Often at night I have seen one coolly trotting along in the road before me, utterly ignoring my pres- ence, and refusing to turn out, seeming to understand that I would not dare provoke a salute from its terrible battery. In these cases I have justified its expectation. and if it would not, I have turned to one side, fully believ- ing that discretion was the better part of valor when you encounter a skunk. Fortunately their fur is valuable and fashionable under another name and color. The
skins are sent to France, and after being deodorized. dressed, colored and made up into muffs, boas, collars. etc., are sent back to this country, to be proudly worn by the fair dames whose noses would instinctively turn up at but there is a great deal in a name, and the observer will the very name of skunk. Men may say what they please, see this fact verified almost every day. I will here men- tion a singular fact in natural history, which I do not recollect to have seen in any work on the subject. It is that the skunk fraternizes with the ground hog, both be- ing found occupying the same den or burrow, excavated by the industry of the latter, but now jointly and sociably used by both. A trap set at the opening will in a few nights often catch both skunks and ground hogs. Whether the ground hog has voluntarily extended the hospitalities of his home to the skunk, or whether the latter presuming on the impunity of power has taken possession and holds it, in an armed neutrality, which the unfortunate ground hog dares not break, I am not prepared to say.
"The mink and weasel still infest our country in greater numbers probably than when it was new, for the abundance of domestic fowls supply a material on which to gratify their insatiable thirst for blood, greater than could be found in the wilderness.
"The muskrats are still plentiful along our creeks and are trapped in great numbers every winter.
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
"The raccoon still roams through our woods, forages in our corn fields, and occasionally makes a raid on the hen roost and is particularly destructive to the broods of young turkeys and peafowls. Coon hunting in early times was a favorite amusement with the boys, but is not now so attractive, from the fact that the timber has be- come too valuable to be cut to capture them, and conse- quently they are not so successful. The young coon is a very amusing pet, full of drollery, cunning and quaint anties, and generally very mischievous, a great favorite with the boys, but a continual annoyance to the careful housewife.
"Thus we see that while the larger wild animals have entirely disappeared, the smaller ones still remain in un- diminished if not in augmented numbers, from the greater abundance of food in a settled country.
THE DAYS OF THE WILD TURKEY
"In this paper I shall speak of the birds found in our woods by the pioneers. In this list, we must give the pre- cedence to the wild turkey, for its numbers, richly flav- ored flesh, graceful carriage and beautiful form, justly entitle it to this post of honor. They roamed through the forests or entered the diminutive cornfields, in vast flocks, and were frequently sought by the hunter. when his larder needed replenishing, for their delicious juicy meat, so far excelling that of the tame turkey, as all game animals excel the domestic, formed a repast that would satisfy the most fastidious epicure. And those who have only participated in the 'turkey dinners' of these later days, capital though they unquestionably are, can have no realizing sense of the exquisite and higher excellences of this most noble bird, when properly brought out by the skillful cook. In the autumn and early winter, when the young birds were grown and were fat from the abund- ance of mast and berries, many who had neither time nor inclination to seek them with the dog and gun, secured 4
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
them by a trap, simple but effective. Having selected a suitable place, a ditch was dug fifteen to eighteen feet long, five or six feet wide and was twenty to twenty-four inches deep, then it gradually sloped to the surface at the other end with, say, eighteen inches: over the deeper end was built a pen of rails or poles some three feet high, cov- ered with the same material, and inside across the ditch close to the side were laid a couple of elapboards or some bark. Some corn was scattered around the pen, and a considerable quantity was strewn in the trench extending to the end within the enclosure. Any flock of turkeys passing by, attracted by the scattered corn would gather round the pen, and seeing plenty in the trench run in pell- mell, those behind crowding those ahead of them, until half a dozen or more have entered the trap. when they immediately begin running round their prison, trying to get through the openings, not having sense enough to leave the sides and re-enter the trench, near the middle of the pen. In hunting with the gun, the dog is of great service, making them take to the trees and while their at- tention is attracted by the dog. the hunter has a fine opportunity to select and bring down his game. Another method, though only practicable on moonlight nights. in the season when the trees are leafless. is when a roost is discovered, to go out and when the moon is sufficiently high to bring the turkey in the proper range between the hunter and the moon, a good shot is obtained, and he will seldom fail to secure his bird. The turkey is not only powerful of wing and capable of extended flights. but also has swiftness of foot, which renders it difficult to secure, even after a wing is broken.
"The ruffled grouse, pheasant or partridge, as it is variously termed in different sections of our country, were very numerous, harboring in the densest thickets and swamps, when early in the morning or in the evening their peculiar drumming could often be heard. They were very easily shot, which caused their number to de-
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
crease rapidly ; their flesh was delicious. The quail was also common, though not very numerous. In the spring and fall many varieties of wild duck visited our waters, and occasionally a pair remained through the summer, rearing their young. I recollect a pair of beautiful crested ducks made their nests in the hollow of a gigantic syca- more, for two succeeding seasons, and I frequently saw them flying in or out. I once saw the old ones bring their unfledged offspring from the nest, in their bills, care- fully placing them in a pool in the creek ; there were some six or eight of them. Cranes were numerous and were daily to be seen flying along the creek, standing at the riffles quietly watching for their finny prey, or wading in the ponds ever and anon, impaling with their javelin- like bills an unfortunate frog. The headquarters of the cranes was an extensive swamp, from which originated the main branch of Ben Davis creek; it was in Fayette county, about a mile from the Rush county line ; the land now belongs to Richard Nash, Matthew Hastings and oth- ers. Here eight or ten pairs usually made their nests, consisting of a large pile of sticks slightly hollowed along for the eggs, and built in the tops of the lofty burr oaks or water elms, the usual growth of such a locality. From this, their home, they foraged the country far and wide, on tireless though leisurely wing, seeking food for their noisy offspring.
"The bald eagle was often seen by the settlers, and was always a tempting mark for their rifles.
"The raven was often seen perched on the topmost branch of some dead tree, near a stream, and its hoarse gutteral cry was heard echoing through the forest. Mr. Horlock once presented me with one whose wing was *
broken. * * The raven is no longer found in this country. I do not think I have seen or heard of one be- ing here for the last thirty-five years.
"Crows gave serious offense to the farmers by pull- ing up their young corn.
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
"The large hen hawk, two or three varieties of the blue and the sparrow hawk were all native to this country.
"The large and powerful horned owl. the common cineritious or gray, and the diminutive screech owls all found happy homes in the hollow trees and often made night vocal with their peculiar, and to those not cognizant of the mysteries of owl language, melancholy cries. These cries no doubt really express the tender pleadings of love. the bold defiance or the joyful triumph.
"In early times a large variety of the woodpecker was very common, which has long since become extinct in this part of the country. It was as large as a small pigeon, with a powerful bill three inches long, a red crested head, its general color black. with a white ring around its neck, some white bars across its wings and some marking of the same across its tail. It would fre- quently, in the winter, dig through one or two inches of solid green wood to reach a colony of large ants or other insects, hid away securely against everything, except the unerring instinet of this prince of the woodpecker family. All the other varieties that we now have were then found in much greater numbers, such as the common but beau- tiful red headed and white and black dressed depredator of the cherry orchard. the yellow-hammer or golden winged, the Virginia and the various sap snekers and climbers.
"Thrushes, robins. jays, black birds, cardinals, orioles, doves, flax birds, king-fishers, several varieties of swallows, the martin. for whose hospitable entertain- ment boxes were placed on poles and over tavern signs, cat birds, wrens and the richly hned and dashing hum- ming birds, with several other kinds of small birds. which I do not now remember. Our list of birds would not be complete if I did not mention the wild pigeon. which though not native to this section, yet in those years when a bountiful yield of mast crowned our beech and oak, visited us in countless thousands. When large flocks
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
suddenly rose from the ground the noise of their rushing pinions was like the sound of distant thunder and could be heard to a great distance. Of course everyone, men or boys, enjoyed rare sport at these seasons, for every- thing that could carry shot was in requisition. With an old long-barreled ducking gun given me by my Uncle Isaac, I have killed as many as thirteen at one shot. The most favorable chance for a successful shot was when the ground was for acres and acres covered, to get ahead of them, hide behind a tree or log and wait until the living and fluttering wave was sufficiently near and then just as they rose, to fire into the almost solid mass of birds. When here they select some wild hilly spot as remote as may be from settlements, where they congregate nightly, occupying hundreds of acres of timber to its utmost capacity. At the break of day they begin their flight to their feeding grounds, fifty, seventy-five or one hundred miles away, but with their swift and powerful wings they soon travel the distance. Like an invading army, when they have exhausted the supplies of one district they move to another. At their roosting places they are destroyed by wagon loads, many of the sportsmen coming from a distance, and the heavy firing through the night would make a stranger suppose a fierce battle was in progress. I have often regretted the wanton destruction indulged in on these occasions, the hogs in the neighborhood becom- ing fat on their flesh.
A COLORFUL SNAKE STORY
"Having spoken of the beasts and birds found by the pioneer in our forests, in this number I will speak of that most repulsive and dangerous class of animated be- ings, the reptiles, for I wish to give as clear an idea as possible of all the surroundings, for good as for evil. that gave coloring to the every-day life of the early settlers.
"The rattlesnake, both the brilliantly hued and his more modestly colored brother, the black, were quite
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
numerous. The coloring of the yellow is beautiful. espe- cially when he has just cast his old skin and his glossy back of alternate gold and black squares casts a shimmer- ing light as he glides with gentle, undulating motion over the ground, or throws himself into the coil, with head erect and quickly vibrating tail prodneing the rattle. giv- ing fair warning that he is prepared for the deadly spring. We must confess that this sounding of his battle note before beginning the work of death, is an honorable trait in his character, as it gives the intruder an opportunity to retreat ere the venomous fangs enter his flesh. The peculiar sharp, metalie rattle when once heard can never be forgotten, and even when heard, for the first time, by one ignorant of its origin, strikes a chill and an instinctive terror to the heart. Thus it is that kind nature, not only in this, but in very many other instances, implants an intuitive recognition of danger in the bosom of her chil- dren. The rattle differs in size according to the age of the snake; the first year it has no rattle, but simply a horny protuberance at the extremity of its tail called a button. Every subsequent year gives it one section of the rattle, so that its age is always apparent. They are, when ummolested, long lived, frequently being found with twelve, twenty and thirty or more sections. Their size is in proportion to their age, they are large in proportion to their length : five feet is a very large one, and its cir- cumference at its greatest girth would be about nine inches. In the uninhabited regions they have no natural enemies that ever seek their destruction. though occa- sionally the deer attack and destroy them. They do this by running some distance at the top of their speed, spring- ing high in the air and alighting with all their feet to- gether on their victim, then quick as the lightning's flash bounding away to return again and again, until the ser- pent is ent all to pieces by their sharp hoofs. But in a level, fertile county like this, the stroke of the woods- man's ax is the death knell of the rattlesnake, not merely
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
because he will receive no quarters at his hands, but be- cause he is accompanied by an animal, an insatiate de- stroyer of the race, and one peculiarly fitted for the task by possessing a complete immunity from all ill effects from the bite of the terrible reptile. I mean the hog. The bite of the rattlesnake, so fatal to all other animals, has no effect whatever on the hog.
"The rattlesnake was not the only venomous snake to be feared; the copperhead was equally poisonous and really more dangerous, because it gave no warning, but the stroke of the terrible fangs was the first indication of its presence. Its color was a dirty brown, slightly marked with spots of a darker color. It was smaller than the rattlesnake, seldom being over thirty inches in length. It had the same peculiar flat head common to all the pois- onous reptiles.
"The water snakes were very numerous, finding safe homes in the numerous drifts that obstructed our creeks. I have seen ten or fifteen big fellows in one pile, twisting and writhing around each other in a way anything but pleasant to look at, and enjoying the grateful warmth of the noonday's sun.
"The agile and glossy blacksnake or racer, as they are sometimes termed, were frequently seen gracefully and rapidly gliding through the woods, their heads ele- vated from eight to ten inches and their bright eyes glanc- ing in every direction. They were frequently from four and one-half to six feet in length, though occasionally one was killed still larger. They are not poisonous, but be- long to the constrictor family, destroying their enemy by crushing it in their powerful folds. They will not attack a man unless terribly enraged by injuries. ¥ * * They generally go in pairs and are apparently very strongly attached to each other. They climb trees readily and hunt for the nests of birds, eating the young and they also destroy the young squirrels. Sometimes fierce war is waged by the parent birds in the defence of their off-
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spring, but the contest invariably ends in favor of the invader.
HARMLESS AND USEFUL SNAKE
"There was one beautiful, perfectly harmless and really useful snake, which was quite numerous, and in its energetic effort to benefit man, at the same time that it secured its own dinner, it frequently made its appearance in a manner calculated to startle weak nerves. This was the house snake, the milk snake or the wampum snake. It was usually between four and five feet long, very slen- der : indeed the smallest in diameter in proportion to its length of any that I am acquainted with. Its marking was small alternated diamond-shaped spots of milk white and black shaded with brown. The glossy shining coat, with its bright colors and delicate shading. I presume won for it one of its synonyms-that of wampum snake. from the richly ornamented wampum belts made by the In- dians from bright hned beads. The pioneers were all familiar with the appearance of these and borrowed the term to characterize their humble friend. the house snake. This graceful reptile was the unrelenting enemy of rats and mice, and as these vermin soon acemulated about the homes of the settlers, they were vigorously hunted by their persevering foes, who easily followed them through all the labyrinths of their hiding places, destroying great numbers and creating such a panie in the remainder that they would incontinently leave the premises, so that in a few days after the advent of a pair of these snakes, not a rat or mouse could be found. The humane and consider- ate never killed these industrious and innocent creatures, recognizing their undisputed right to enjoy the boon of life, bestowed by the beneficent Creator of all, and that po man has a right wantonly and uselessly to take this life, unless for the profit or protection of himself and family. But there are others who possess such an undis- criminating hatred of all this reptile race. that they never
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fail to gratify their destructiveness though it be at the expense of these most beautiful and harmless of creatures. "The first homes of those olden times were simple and rude, making no pretensions to the conveniences and graces that adorn our modern mansions; the rough log cabin, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof, loose clap- boards on the joist overhead, and perhaps some of the same nailed over the chunk and daubing on the inside. These, of course, were very accessible to the house snake and afforded it grand hunting grounds. Sometimes a pair would in succession visit a dozen houses in a neigh- borhood, clearing out the rats, but causing some annoy- ance to the household.
"The garter, was then as now, the most common as well as numerous variety of the snake family and might be seen of a summer day, rapidly pursuing the leaping frog through the waving grass, with indefatigable tenac- ity, until it captured its unfortunate prey, when it would begin the tremendous but always successful performance of swallowing alive, a creature greater in diameter than itself. Frequently I have witnessed the chase, the seizure and the commencement of the labored deglutition, but I must confess, that in these cases, my sympathies were with the unhappy batrachian, and that by the time the snake had swallowed the hind legs, the frog uttering piti- ful cries during the process, I have invariably come to the rescue and by a blow across the back forced the snake to disgorge its living victim, which would then hop away at its best speed toward some pool or creek, where it might cool its lacerated haunches and rest after the fa- tigue of its terrible adventure, for to be swallowed alive is a terrible fate for any living creature.
"The snake has its especial enemy also. How often have I seen the hawk suddenly pause in its circling flight over the meadow, swoop down, and with its squirming prey in the grasp of its strong talons, soar to etherial heights, and then seek the dead top of some lofty tree, where it could discuss its meal at leisure !
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HISTORY OF RUSH COUNTY
THE FOREST PRIMEVAL
"Having devoted sufficient space to the description of the animals found here by the early settlers, I propose in this to give a brief sketch of the sylva or forest trees. In doing this I shall speak of them by their common names and shall not load my pages with a scientific no- menelature and classification. This country was very heavily timbered; indeed I have no recollection of ever having seen in my travels, anywhere, so many large, tall trees standing on an acre as could here be found. Not only the number and size of the trees, but also the kinds of timber found here proved the strength and richness of the virgin soil which they shaded. The growth and kinds of timber indicate with infallible certainty to the observant traveler, the quality of land over which he may be rushing at railroad speed. This is essentially a beechen country, for this variety largely predominates over any other, and where it grows, as it does here, large and lofty. with but few horizontal branches and dividing into large wide spreading limbs to form the top. it shows a strong and fertile soil : but where it grows small with roots widely spreading over the surface, and a multitude of side branches, the top running to a point, and it perhaps dead. you may conclude that the land is cold and wet and poor. and by no means desirable for agricultural purposes.
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