USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 3
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Soon the South saw their great blunder and tried to have the compact re- pealed. In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee of which John Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance was a compact and opposed its repeal. Thus it stood, a rock in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavery.
The Northwest Territory, of course, included Indiana, and Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was elected by Congress as its territorial Governor, and he proceeded to organize a form of government, beginning at Marietta, Ohio, to perform his duties. He sent out messages to all the leading Indian tribes to get their opinion of matters and feel of their temper towards the new-born white man's government. These messengers were not well received and war was declared by St. Clair, who led his own army against the Indians, but failed in accomplishing results, indeed was surrounded and badly cut to pieces. Men and women were horribly killed and all seemed dark. But after he wisely re- signed his command. Gen. Anthony Wayne ("Mad Anthony") took the troops and after drilling a long time in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, October. 1793, with a army of three thousand six hundred men, he moved westward to Fort Washington. The Indians insisted on the line between their lands and that of
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
the United States should be the Ohio river. Engagements took place at De- fiance and many other points in Ohio. The army remained three days and nights on the banks of the Maumee, in front of a field of battle, during which time all the houses and cornfieldls were consumed and destroyed for a long distance bclow Fort Miami, as well as within a pistol shot of the British gar- rison, who were compelled to remain idle spectators to the destructive warfare.
September 14. 1794. General Wayne commenced his maich toward the deserted village of Miami, arriving October 17th, and the following day the site of Fort Wayne was selected. The fort was completed November 22d, and garrisoned by a strong detachment of infantry and artillery, under Colonel Hamtramck. He gave the name to Fort Wayne. A new fort was built there in 1814. General Wayne marched with Federal troops to Greenville, and there took up his headquarters for the winter. There, in August, 1795. after many months of negotiation, this gallant officer succeeded in concluding a gen- eral treaty of peace with all the hostile tribes of the Northwest Territory. This treaty opened up a flood of immigration that continued many years, and even- ttially caused the mighty states of the Northwest.
In the latter part of 1796 Winthrop Sargent went to Detroit and or- ganized the county of Wayne, forming a part of the Indiana Territory until its division in 1805. when the Territory of Michigan was organized.
CHAPTER II.
TERRITORIAL HISTORY OF INDIAN.A.
On the final success of the American armies under Gen. Anthony Wayne and his diplomacy with the warring tribes of red men in 1796, the chief town of the territory was Vincennes, then comprising about one hundred and fifty houses, all presenting a thrifty and neat appearance. Each house was surrounded by a fence of poles, and peach and apple trees were found growing nicely in almost every enclosure. Garden vegetables of all kinds were being cultivated with great success, while corn, tobacco, wheat, barley and cotton grew in the fields around the village in great abundance. During the last decade of the eighteenth century the condition of society at Vincennes had im- proved wonderfully.
Besides Vincennes there was a small settlement near where the town of Lawrenceburg now stands, in Dearborn county, and in the course of that year a small settlement was effected at "Armstrong's Station," on the Ohio, within the present limits of Clark county. Then smaller settlements were found here and here within the bounds of Indiana Territory, as now understood.
The territory of Indiana was organized by Act of Congress. May 7, 1800. the material parts of the Ordinance of 1787 remaining in force : and the inhabi- tants were invested in all rights, privileges and advantages granted and secured to the people by that ordinance. The seat of territorial government was fixed at Vincennes. May 13, 1800. William Henry Harrison, a native of Virginia, was appointed Governor of the newly made territory, and on the next day John Gibson, a native of Pennsylvania, and a famous western pioneer (to whom the Indian chief Logan delivered his celebrated Indian speech in 1774), was appointed Secretary of the territory. Soon afterwards William Clark, Henry Vanderburgh and John Griffin were appointed territorial judges.
Secretary Gibson arrived at Vincennes in July, and commenced in the absence of Governor Harrison the administration of government. Governor Harrison did not arrive until January 10, 1801, when he immediately called together the judges already named, who proceeded to pass such laws as they deemed necessary for the present government of the territory. This session began March 3. 1801.
From the last named date to 1810 the principal subjects that attracted the attention of the people of Indiana were land speculations, the adjustment of land titles, the question of negro slavery. the purchase of Indian lands, the extension of the rights of suffrage, the division of Indiana Territory, the
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
movements of Aaron Burr, and the hostile views and proceedings of the Shawnee chief, Tecumseh, and his brother, the Prophet.
Up to this time the article, sixth in number, of the celebrated Ordinance referred to before, that was passed in 1787, prohibiting slavery in the North- western Territory, had been somewhat neglected in the execution of law, and many French settlers still held slaves, in a manner. In some instances, accord- ing to the rules prescribed by territorial legislation, slaves agreed by indenture to remain in servitude under their masters for a certain number of years; but many slaves, with whom no such contacts were made, were removed from the Indiana Territory either to the west of the Mississippi or to some of the slave- holding states. Governor Harrison convoked a session of delegates of the territory, elected by a vote of the people, who petitioned Congress to declare the sixth article of the Ordinance of 1787, prohibiting slavery, suspended : but Congress never consented to grant that petition, and many other petitions of a similar import. Scon afterwards some of the citizens began to take colored persons out of the territory for the purpose of selling them. Governor Harrison, by a proclamation of April 6, 1804. forbade it, and called upon the authorities of the territory to assist him in preventing such removel of persons of color.
During the year 1804 all the country west of the Mississippi and north of the thirty-third degree of latitude, was attached to Indiana Territory by Con- gress, but in a few months was again detached and organized into a separate territory.
When it appeared from a vote of the people in the territory that a major- ity of one hundred thirty-eight free-holders were in favor of organizing a General Assembly, Governor Harrison. September II, 1804, issued a procla- mation declaring that the territory had passed into the second grade of govern- ment, as contemplated by the Ordinance of 1787. and fixed Thursday, Janu- ary 3, 1805, as the time for holding an election in the several counties of the territory, to choose members of a House of Representatives, who should meet at Vincennes February Ist, and adopt measures for the organization of a territorial council. These delegates were elected and met according to the proclamation, and selected ten men from whom the President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, should appoint five to be and constitute the legisla- tive council of the territory, but he declining, requested Mr. Harrison to make such selection, which was accordingly done. Before the first session of the Council, however, was held, Michigan Territory was set off, its south line being one drawn from the southern end of Lake Michigan directly east to Lake Erie.
THE FIRST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATURE.
The first Territorial Legislature in Indiana met at Vincennes July 29. 1805. The members of the House of Representatives were Jesse B. Thomas,
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHIELBY CO., IND.
of Dearborn county ; Davis Floyd, of Clark county : Benjamin Parke and John Johnson, of Knox county: Shadrach Bond and William Biggs, of St. Clair county; George Fisher, of Randolph county. July 30th the Governor de- livered his first message to "the Legislative Council and House of Representa- tives of the Indiana Territory." Benjamin Parke was the first delegate elected to Congress. He had emigrated from New Jersey to Indiana in 1801.
FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED.
The "Western Sun" was the first newspaper ever published in Indiana and was first commenced at Vincennes in 1803. by Elihu Stout. of Kentucky, and first called the Indiana Gazette, and July 4. 1804, was changed to the Western Sun. Mr. Stout continued to edit this paper until 1845. amid many discouragements, when he was appointed postmaster at that place. after which he sold his newspaper. At the date of establishing this newspaper. it was the only publication in what is now the great states of Indiana. Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, and the second in all that vast country known as the "North- west Territory."
INDIANA IN 1810.
The total population was in the year just named at the head of this para- graph was twenty-four thousand five hundred and twenty: there were thirty- three grist mills; fourteen saw mills; three horse mills: eighteen tanneries : twenty-eight distilleries; three powder mills; one thousand two hundred and thirty-six looms; one thousand three hundred and fifty spinning wheels ; value of manufactures-woolen, hempen and flaxen clothes, one hundred fifty-nine thousand and fifty-two dollars. Of cotton and wool spun in mills, one hundred fifty thousand dollars: of nails, thirty thousand pounds; of leather, tanned. nine thousand three hundred dollars; of distillery products, thirty-five thou- sand nine hundred and fifty gallons, valued at sixteen thousand two hundred and thirty dollars : of gunpowder, three thousand six hundred pounds, valued at one thousand eight hundred dollars ; of wine from grapes, ninety-six barrels, valued at six thousand dollars : fifty thousand pounds of maple sugar.
During 1810 a Board of Commissioners was established to assist in look- ing after a tangled up lot of land titles. Their work was indeed a hard task. They met designing land speculators under oath and it was up to these com- missioners to set things right, hit who it might.
In closing their work and making their final report they spoke in the fol- lowing forceful language :
"We close this melancholy picture of human depravity by rendering our devout acknowledgment that, in the awful alternative in which we have been placed, of either admitting perjury testimony in support of the claims before
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
us, or having it turned against our characters and lives, it has as yet pleased the divine providence which rules over the affairs of men, to preserve us both from legal murder and private assassination."
From 1806 to 1809 the question of dividing the territory was agitating the minds of the people. During the year last named Congress erected the Territory of Illinois, to comprise all that part of Indiana lying west of the Wabash river and a direct line drawn from that river and Post Vincennes due north to the territorial line between the United States and Canada. This occasioned some confusion in the governmental affairs of Indiana, but in due time the new elections were confirmed, and the new territory started off on a journey of prosperity which this portion of the United States has ever since enjoyed.
For the first fifty years after settlement had been made at Vincennes, but little progress had been enacted. The whites lived in peace with the Indians, each seeming to have charity and sympathy, one for the other. The govern- ment was a mixture of civic and military. There was but little to inspire or incite to enterprise. But few could read and less could write their names legibly. There were no speculations. The general character of the settlers was for honesty and simplicity. Peltries were the general standard for values. Public spirit was an unknown quantity during this first half century of the set- tlement of what is now one of the most enterprising and advanced common- wealths within this great union of sister states.
The battle of Tippecanoe, fought November 7. 1811. and a long train of Indian difficulties took up the time and attention of Governor Harrison during that never-to-be-forgotten period just before the opening of the War of 1812 against Great Britain. The glorious victory at Tippecanoe was but to be over- shadowed by the last war with the mother country. That war was legally de- clared June 11, 1812. after which the Indians again commenced their diaboli- cal depredations in Indiana. The war was fierce for two years, coming to a termination December 24, 1814. A treaty made between this country and Great Britain required that this country put an end to hostilities with all tribes or nations of Indians with whom they had been at war. Tecumseh was killed at the battle of Thames, October 5, 1813, by a Mr. Wheatty, notwithstanding General Johnson had usually had this distinction conferred upon him.
After repeated petitions to Congress, Indiana was finally empowered to elect the members of the Legislative council by a popular vote. This Congres- sional act was passed in 1809, and defined what was known as the property qualification of voters. These qualifications were abolished by Congress in 1811, which extended the right of voting for members of the General Assembly and for territorial delegates to Congress to every free white person-male- above the age of twenty-one years, and who had paid a county or territorial tax, was a resident of the territory and had resided in the territory for one year.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
In 1814 the voting qualification in Indiana was defined by Congress, "to every free white male person having a freehold in the territory, and being a resident of the same."
The House of Representatives was anthorized by Congress to lay off the territory into five districts, in each of which the qualified voters were empow- ered to elect a member of the Legislative council. The division was made, one to two counties in each district.
At the session of August. 1814. the territory was also divided into three judicial districts or circuits as they were called, and provisions were made for holding courts in the same. The Governor was empowered to appoint a pre- siding Judge in each court, and two associate judges of the Circuit Court in each county. Their compensation was fixed at seven hundred dollars per anılum.
The same year the General Assembly granted charters to two banking in- stitutions, the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank of Madison, and the Bank of Vincennes. The first was authorized to raise a capital of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, and the other five hundred thousand dollars. On the or- ganization of the state, these banks were merged into the State Bank and its branches.
PEACE AND PROSPERITY.
In the month of January. 1814. about one thousand Miamis assembled at Fort Wayne for the purpose of obtaining food to prevent starvation. They met with ample hospitality, and their example was speedily followed by others. These, with other acts of kindness, won the lasting friendship of the Indians. many of whom had fought in the interests of Great Britain. General treaties soon followed, and the way was opened up for the improvement and settlement of the lands.
POPULATION IN 1815.
The following is the list given by the official returns of the Legislature of Indiana in 1815, and is the number of male voters at that date, as well as the total population :
Counties.
Voters.
Total Pop.
Wayne
1,225
6.407
Franklin
1,430
7,370
Dearborn
902
4.224
Switzerland
377
1.832
Jefferson
874
4,270
Clark
1,387
7,150
Washington
1,420
7.317
Harrison
1,056
6.975
3
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
Knox
1.39I
8.068
Gibson
1,100
5.300
Posey
320
1,619
Warrick
280
1,415
Perry
350
1.720
Total
12.112
63.897
This closes the history of the Territory of Indiana.
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CHAPTER III.
INDIANA ORGANIZED AS A STATE.
The last regular session of the Indiana Territorial Legislature convened at Corydon in December. 1815. The executive was Governor Posey, who at that time, in his message, congratulated the territory upon the grand results of its early settlement period and its legislative enactments. December 14th of that year Congress was memorialized by Indiana territory, praying to be admitted into the Union, after having the privilege of forming a fitting con- stitution on which to be admitted. On April 28, 1816, the President of the United States approved the bill and accordingly, May 30th, following, a gen- eral election was held for a Constitutional Convention, which body met at Corydon June 10th to 29th. Jonathan Jennings presiding, and William Hen- dricks acting as secretary.
The author of "Dillon's History of Indiana" says concerning this im- portant event :
"The convention that formed the first constitution of the state of Indiana was composed mainly of clear-minded, unpretending men of common sense. whose patriotisin was unquestionable and whose morals were fair. Their fa- miliarity with the theories of the Declaration of Independence, their territo- ria! experiences under the provisions of the Ordinance of 1787, and their knowledge of the principles of the constitution of the United States were sut- ficient, which combined. to lighten materially their labors in the great work of forming a constitution for a new state. With such landmarks in view, the labors of similar conventions in other states and territories have been com- paratively light. In the clearness and conciseness of its style, in the comprehen- sive and just provisions which it made for the maintenance of civil and re- ligious liberty, in its mandates, which were designed to protect the rights of the people collectively and individually, and to provide for the public welfare. the constitution that was framed for Indiana in 1816 was not inferior to any state constitutions which were in existence at that time."
On the first Monday in August. 1816, the first state election took place. and the result was the election of Jonathan Jennings as Governor and Christo- pher Harrison. Lieutenant Governor. William Hendricks was elected to repre- sent the new state in the House of Representatives of the United States.
The first General Assembly elected under statehood and the new constitu- tion. began its session at Corydon, November 4. 1816. John Paul was called to the chair of the Senate pro tem, and Isaac Blackford was elected Speaker of the House.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
The first session of the State Legislature elected James Noble and Waller Taylor to the United States Senate: Robert A. New was elected Secretary of State ; W. H. Lilly, Auditor of State, and Daniel C. Lane. Treasurer of State. The session adjourned January 3, 1817.
With the close of the war of 1812-14 there was a great rush for entry of lands within Indiana. By 1820 the state had more than doubled her popu- lation, having at this time one hundred forty-seven thousand one hundred seventy-eight. and by 1825 nearly doubled this number again, that is to say. in round numbers a quarter of a million people inhabited Indiana in 1825. This, it is believed, is the most excessive increase in population of any portion of this country, since its discovery by Columbus.
From 1825 to 1830 was also another prosperous half decade in the history of Indiana. Accompanying this large influx of population. however, there were many paupers and indolent. worthless people drifted in and really threatened to become burdensome to the honest toilers. In his annual mes- sage Governor Ray called the attention of the law-makers to this fact, but no action was taken, as it was then, as it has ever been, a serious question to know how best to provide for this unfortunate and almost helpless class of citizens.
INDIANA AND THE MEXICAN WAR.
In the short but decisive war with Mexico, Indiana furnished her quota. five regiments of troops, numbered one, two, three, four and five. The fact that companies of the first three named regiments served at times with the men of Illinois, the New York Volunteers, the Palmettoes of South Carolina. and the United States marines, under Gen. James Shields, makes for them a history. Because the campaigns of the Rio Grande and Chihuahua, the siege of Vera Cruz, the desperate encounter at Cerro Gordo, the tragic con- tests in the valley at Contreras and Churubusco, the storming of Chapultepec. and the planting of the stars and stripes upon every turret and spire within the conquered City of Mexico, were all carried out by gallant troops under the favorite old general. and consequently each of them shared with him in the glories attached to such exploits. The other regiments, under Cols. Gorman and Lane, participated in the contests of the period under other commanders. The Fourth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, comprising ten companies, was formally organized at Jeffersonville, Indiana, by Capt. R. C. Gatlin, June 15, 1847, and on the 16th, elected Maj. Willis A. Gorman, of the Third Regi- ment, to the colonelcy: Ebeneezer Dumont, lieutenant colonel, and William McCoy. major. June 27th the regiment left Jeffersonville to the front and later were assigned to Brigadier-General Lane's command, when they com- prised a battery of five pieces from the Third Regiment, United States Ar- tillery, the battery of two pieces from the Second United States Artillery.
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
the Fourth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers and the Fourth Ohio Regiment, with a squadron of mounted Louisianans, and detachments of recruits from the United States regular army. The troops of this brigade won signal honors at Passo de Ovegas, August 10, 1847: National bridge, on the 12th: Cerro Gordo, on the 15th : Las Animas, on the 19th, under Maj. F. T. Lally, and later took part in the siege of Puebla that began September 15th and terminated Oc- tober 12th. They also served at Atlizco, Tiascala, Matamoras, Guerrila Ranche, Napaloncan. The Indiana Fourth Regiment performed gallant service, and carried the campaign into the following year, representing the state at St. Martin's, February 27, 1848; Cholua, March 26th: Matacordera, February 19th; Sequalteplan, February 25th : and on the cessation of hostilities reported at Madison, Indiana, for discharge. July 11, 1848: while the Fifth Indiana Regiment, under Col J. H. Lane, underwent a similar round of duty with other brigades, and gained some celebrity at Vera Cruz, and with the Illinois troops, under General Shields at Chapultepec.
This war cost the United States sixty-six million dollars. But this large amount was not paid for glory : there was something else at stake, and the territory was added to our possessions larger than all of France and was a just defense of the great Lone Star state, through the rightful humiliation and chastisement of a quarrelsome people known as Mexicans.
INDIANA'S PART IN THE CIVIL WAR.
In 1850 a block of native granite was sent from Indiana to be placed in the great monument then being erected in honor of George Washington, the same now overlooking the Potomae at the National Capital. Governor Wright had inscribed on the face of this stone this inscription : "Indiana Knows no North. No South, Nothing But the Union."
Within a dozen years thereafter. this state demonstrated to the world that her patriotism was of the practical, true and uncompromising type. How- ever, in keeping with his sentiments. Governor Wright indorsed the compro- mise measure of Congress on the slavery question, remarking that Indiana takes her stand in the ranks, not of Southern destiny. nor yet of Northern destiny ; she plants herself on the basis of the constitution and takes her stand in the ranks of American destiny.
The Civil war broke out and that noble "war Governor." Oliver P. Mor- ton, Republican, flashed over the wires, on the early morning of April 15. 1861 (the day after Ft. Sumpter had been fired upon by the Confederacy ), the following message :
Executive Department Indiana.
Indianapolis. April 15. 1861 :
To Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States :- On behalf of
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CHADWICK'S HISTORY OF SHELBY CO., IND.
the state of Indiana, I tender to you for the defense of the nation, and to uphold the authority of the Government, ten thousand men.
(Signed) OLIVER P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
This was the first official act of the newly seated Governor of this state. The state was not financially well prepared for such warfare, but the General Assembly knowing that ten thousand dollars would cover all the funds in the state treasury. yet at once appropriated sums as follows for the carrying on of this war for the Union :
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