USA > Indiana > Porter County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 8
USA > Indiana > Lake County > Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 8
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The following returns of October, 1854, show the superior strength of the new (Republican) party :
PARTIES AND CANDIDATES.
Centre.
Union.
Washington.
Westchester.
Morgan.
Liberty.
Pleasant.
Porter.
Portage.
Essex.
Pine.
Boone.
Aggregate.
Majority.
For Congress:
Schuyler Colfax (R).
248 78 59 64 202 11 21 25
30 53|21 19 74 40 92 39 18 56 54 19
9 6 52 8 20 39
753 604
149
Norman Eddy (D).
Prosecuting Attorney:
243 78 58 64 204 11 22 25
28 50 19 19 67 40 92 43 21 56 61 19
8 20 33
615
......
Martin Wood (R).
140 76.57 64 291 13 23 25
29 49 19 19 66 40 92 43 21 56 61 19
9 6|50
8 20 41
713
109
Representative:
A. V. Bartholomew (R).
E. E. Campbell (D).
229 76 57 64 212 10 21 24
32 55 20 19 69 39 10 6 51 90 37 20 57 63 18 7 20 37
727 617
......
....
M. H. Weir (R) ..
9 6|52
733
118
D. J. Woodward (D) District Attorney:
604 ....
J. A. Thornton (D).
..
Robert Stewart (L)
2
2
10
.
1
E. E. Campbell (D)
378 314 6
A. Freeman (D) ..
9
39 7
Jackson.
-
110
35
306
74
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
PARTIES AND CANDIDATES.
Centre.
Union.
Washington.
Jackson.
Westchester.
Morgan.
Liberty.
Pleasant.
Porter.
Portage.
Essex.
Pine.
Boone.
Aggregate.
Majority.
County Commissioners:
John Hardesty (R) ..
239 78 55 64 204 11 23 25
27 47 19 18 68 40 92 46 20 57 61 19
9 8 6|51 20 39
720
94
Philip Hall (D).
Collector and Treasurer:
268 76 55 63
29 39 19 17 62
40
6 2 51
727
95
William Wilson (D) ... Sheriff :
181 18 25
25
92 53 22 58 68 19
11 21 39
632
T. G. Lytle (R)
250 75 49 61
22 49 17 17 58 39
10
652
705
77
A. W. Rose (D) Surveyor:
191 14 27 27
99 42 22 55 66 20
7
20 38
628
...
John Garis (R).
241 67 59 64
21 52 22,17
72 35
11
3 50
714
73
T. C. Sweney (D).
204 22 19 25
100 40 18 55 58 34
6
20 40
641
...
Coroner:
R. W. Burge (R)
237 78 58 63 205|11|20 25|
11 49 17 19 70 40 111 43 24 55 61 19
9 6,50 8 20 39
707 641
.....
(R), Republican ; (D), Democrat.
The following continuous exhibit illustrates the political situation in the county from 1836 until the present time, and shows the electoral vote at each Presidential election since the organization of the county, except where the same was unobtainable :
NOVEMBER, 1836.
NOVEMBER, 1840.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG. Harrison and Tyler.
DEMOCRAT. Van Burn and Johnson.
Centre
149
137
Union
3
19
Jackson
11
9
Liberty
7
Pleasant
11
6
Westchester
20
13
Boone
19
10
Total
220
194
NOVEMBER, 1844.
NOVEMBER, 1848.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG.
Fillmore.
DEMOCRAT.
FREE-SOIL.
Van Buren
and
Adams.
Centre
75
100
2
Union
30
30
3
Union
29
33
9
Washington
36
38
Washington
36
43
3
Jackson
18
16
8
Jackson.
28
16
22
Liberty
13
10
...
Portage
22
16
...
Portage
19
16
5
Westchester
10
24
...
Pleasant
11
33
...
Porter
39
40
3
Porter
33
55
21
Boone
43
40
Boone
38
39
10
Morgan
25
11
...
Morgan
34
29
5
Total
311
305
14
Total
343
401
77
59
45
Jacob Wolf's
14
George W. Turner's
...
William Clark's
14
6
Total
87
Frelinghuysen.
DEMOCRAT.
Polk and
Dallas.
LIBERTY.
Birney and
Morris.
Centre
62
57
...
Westchester
12
14
...
Pleasant
17
33
..
Liberty
24
13
...
HOUSES WHERE HELD.
WHIG. Harrison and Granger.
DEMOCRAT. Van Buren and Johnson.
William Walker's .
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG.
Clay and
-
-
-
626
O. J. Skinner (R).
66
Isaac Hutchins (D) ..
18
69
...
Taylor and
Cass and Butler.
75
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
NOVEMBER, 1852.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG.
Scott and
Graham.
DEMOCRAT.
Pierce and King.
FREE DEMOCRAT,
Hale and Julian.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG.
Scott and
Graham.
DEMOCRAT.
Pierce and King.
FREE DEMOCRAT Hale and Julian
Washington
33
46
3
Porter
46
54
10
Jackson
30
13
30
Boone
32
40
14
Liberty
15
17
3
Morgan
46
30
...
Portage
21
13
...
Pleasant
13
44
...
Total
236
257
60
NOVEMBER, 1856.
TOWNSHIPS.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN.
Fremont
Dayton.
DEMOCRAT.
Buchanan
Breckenridge.
AMERICAN.
Fillmore
Donelson.
Centre
270
204
Porter.
110
57
Union
121
23
3
Boone
86
71
3
Washington
65
60
4
Morgan
86
47
Jackson
91
16
Pine.
24
18
Essex.
19
17
Portage
73
23
Westchester
69
123
Total
1054
712
10
NOVEMBER, 1860.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Lincoln and Hamlin.
DEMOCRAT. Douglas and Johnson.
DEMOCRAT. Breckenridge and Lane.
Bell and Everett.
Centre
412
313
5
1
Union
160
44
Washington
77
36
Jackson
125
13
2
Liberty
72
44
2
Portage
84
40
1
Westchester
117
92
15
1
Pleasant.
54
42
5
Porter
124
93
Boone
127
72
Morgan
112
56
1
Pine.
39
30
Essex.
26
14
Total.
1529
889
28
5
REPUBLICAN.
Fremont
Dayton.
DEMOCRAT.
Buchanan
and
Breckenridge.
AMERICAN.
Fillmore
and
Donelson.
and
Liberty
Pleasant
40
53
UNION.
and
and
and
NOVEMBER, 1864.
NOVEMBER, 1868.
REPUBLICAN.
DEMOCRAT.
TOWNSHIPS.
Lincoln and Johnson.
DEMOCRAT. Mcclellan and Pendleton.
TOWNSHIPS.
Grant and Colfax.
Seymour and Blair.
Centre
424
300
Centre ...
546
406
Union
152
30
Union.
144
57
Washington.
65
33
Washington
77
49
Jackson
139
63
Jackson
175
69
Liberty
80
42
Liberty
109
72
Portage.
81
40
Portage.
105
48
Westchester
110
101
Westchester
201
106
Pleasant
50
54
Pleasant
78
81
Porter
106
77
Porter
133
88
Boone
116
91
Boone
167
147
Morga
107
43
Morgan
92
44
Pine
18
45
Pine.
43
69
Essex
21
17
Essex
22
28
Total
1269
936
Total
1892
1264
NOVEMBER, 1872.
NOVEMBER, 1876.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN.
436
345
3
Centre
582
539
Union.
122
44
Union
152
53
Washington.
55
42
Washington
105
72
Jackson.
144
54
Jackson
168
114
Liberty
105
44
Liberty
107
92
Portage
105
30
Portage
140
65
Westchester
257
83
Westchester
233
133
Pleasant.
64
53
Pleasant.
113
95
Porter
117
57
Porter
131
93
Boone.
147
111
Boone.
196
154
Morgan
97
39
Morgan
97
45
Pine ..
23
59
Pine.
33
95
Essex
13
17
Essex
25
37
Total
1685
978
3
Total
2082
1577
NOVEMBER, 1880.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Garfield and Arthur.
DEMOCRAT. Hancock and English.
GREENBACK. Weaver and Chambers.
Centre.
666
567
5
Union
173
70
1
Washington
108
71
3
Jackson.
180
84
12
Liberty
105
74
21
Portage.
136
59
7
Westchester
249
125
64
Pleasant
112
94
...
Porter.
148
93
...
Boone
202
169
...
Morgan
119
83
...
Pine
45
89
4
Total
2243
1578
117
REPUBLICAN.
and
Wheeler.
DEMOCRAT.
Tilden
and
Hendricks.
Grant
and
Wilson.
LIB. REPUBLICAN
OR DEMOCRAT.
Greeley and
Brown.
DEMOCRAT.
O'Connor
and
Adams.
TOWNSHIPS.
Hayes
Centre
REPUBLICAN.
77
RECAPITULATION OF TAXES IN PORTER COUNTY FOR THE YEAR 1880.
TOWNSHIPS.
No.
Acres.
Value of Lands.
Value of Im- provements.
Value of Lands and Improve- ments.
Value of Lots.
Value of Lots and Im- provements.
Value of Railroad Property.
Value of Personal Property.
Total Value of Taxables.
Polls.
Number of Male Dogs.
Number of Femnlo Dogs.
Centre
1
18128.77
$3.17275
$109945
$457220
$7415
$10845
$152875
$122710
$743650
168
118
10
Union.
2
18977.66
266695
63030
3297:25
2370
7765
149290
68890
555670
143
75
6
Washington
3
18699.93
317865
39175
357040
315
1600
176600
49470
584710
112
55
Jackson
4
17140.88
287900
48735
336635
20
20
90495
65355
492505
142
97
1
5
15861.48
192445
18285
200730
50185
41990
302905
145
88
6
6
21883.22
217280
40895
258175
775
775
255155
81815
595920
122
89
4
Westchester
7
19955.51
148060
50095
198155
14395
48760
336415
93090
676420
224
151
14
Pleasant.
00
36062.51
194570
29400
223970
1840
10195
67330
58765
360260
135
71
3
Porter.
9
28413.55
387240
72330
459570
25610
78205
83295
100270
548480
216
80
1
11
28782.21
343975
57510
401485
385
1905
142925
33000
311950
86
81
7
12
16709,91
113225
22800
136025
332760
790200
41025
401075
1232300
450
63
5
Total
262791.55
$3056310
$599130
$3655440
$385885
$950270
$1545590
$1295400
$7446700
2222
1129
62
TOWNSHIPS.
State Tax.
School Tax.
State House Tax.
County Tax.
Township Tax.
Road Tax.
Township Special School Tax. Tuition Tax.
Dog Tax.
Total Amount of Taxes, 1880.
Delinquent Tax, 1879, and Former Years.
Total, in- cluding De- linquents.
Centre
8975 39
$1272 87
$148 74
$2760 21
$446 20
$1115 50
$785 18
$785 18
$138 00
$8127 27
$1562 21
$9989 48
Union
738 24
960 48
111 12
2071 72
388 93
833 42
1146 98
869 17
87 00
7207 06
692 64
7899 70
Washingion.
757 65
991 54
116 94
2160 96
175 42
877 06
320 36
1080 49
55 00
6535 42
523 56
7058 98
Jackson
661 80
858 71
98 46
1843 35
295 39
738 48
809 49
246 16
99 00
5650 84
539 84
6190 68
Liberty
435 99
557 16
60 58
1162 98
393 78
454 37
339 17
793 53
100 00
4297 56
812 32
5109 88
Portage.
776 06
1014 41
119 18
2006 19
238 36
893 82
685 97
924 32
97 00
6955 31
625 19
7580 50
Westchester
923 78
1194 38
135 30
2347 36
338 26
1014 74
2817 93
338 27
179 00
9489 02
1450 64
10939 66
Pleasant
499 80
643 90
72 05
1364 41
180 13
540 38
754 27
430 04
77 00
4561 98
1153 23
5715 21
Porter
748 81
971 24
111 22
2083 42
278 04
834 12
874 88
1152 92
85 00
7139 65
405 98
7545 63
Boone
766 25
985 67
109 70
2082 76
548 54
822 81
1205 09
1316 51
82 00
7919 33
1638 47
9557 80
Morgan
641 05
835 40
97 17
1807 15
291 51
728 86
612 04
709 21
86 00
5808 39
320 49
6128 88
Pine ..
417 35
542 13
62 39
1166 01
187 18
467 94
333 46
208 68
95 00
3480 17
420 39
3900 56
Valparaiso.
1703 73
2196 62
246 46
4661 20
739 37
2196 62
73 00
11817 00
5180 15
16997 15
Total
$10045 90
$13024 51
$1489 31
$27917 75
$4501 11
$9321 50
812881 44
$8854 48
$1253 00
889289 00
$15325 11
$104614 11
10
22172.72
239780
46930
286710
82130
485820
116
82
2
Pine ...
Valparaiso ..
V
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
Liberty
Portage
96540
556110
163
79
3
Boone.
Morgan
78
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
CHAPTER III.
BY REV. ROBERT BEER.
MILITARY HISTORY OF THE COUNTY-SOLDIERS OF THE EARLIER WARS- WAR OF THE REBELLION-POLITICAL SITUATION IN 1860-CALLS FOR TROOPS-FALL OF SUMTER-WAR MEETINGS-NEWSPAPER COMMENTS- VOLUNTEERS-THE BOYS IN THE FIELD-DRAFTS-FACTS AND FIGURES -MUSTER ROLL-PUBLIC FEELING AFTER THE CLOSE.
THE territory comprised in this county has been, within historic times at least, the scene of no invasions, sieges or battles. Its settlement having been begun nearly fifty years after the close of the war of the Rev- olution, not many of the survivors of that war could be expected to find homes or end their days here. So far as known to the writer, the only soldiers of the war of Independence who have ever resided in the county were Henry Battan and Joseph Jones. Of the personal history of these but little is now known. The name of the former is found on the poll books of an election held at City West not long after the organization of the county, from which it is inferred that he was a resident of Westchester Township at the time. From the records of the Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso, it appears that he was received as a member of that church at its organization, on the 3d of July, 1840, and upon evidence of his good standing in the Presbyterian Church in the State of Virginia. Sev- eral of the old citizens of Valparaiso remember him as a Revolutionary pensioner residing here with a daughter, but have no recollection of what he may have said as to his services. From the records of the same church, it appears that he died on the 1st of February, 1845. His pas- tor, Rev. Dr. Brown, in an anniversary sermon preached in November, 1859, speaks of him as " Old Father Battan, at once a soldier of the country and of the cross. At ninety-four he gained the victory and the crown."
Of Joseph Jones only these things are known, viz., that before com- ing to this county he had resided for some time in Holmes County, Ohio ; that he was married to the grandmother of the present Mayor of Val- paraiso, the Hon. Thomas G. Lytle ; that in the spring of the year 1841, he removed to this county and settled at Boone Grove ; that after a few years he died at a very advanced age and was buried in the Cornell Grave- yard, where his place of repose is unmarked by any monument.
Mrs. Susannah Fifield, the widow of a Revolutionary soldier, came to this county from Enfield, N. H. The writer is able to state only this,
79
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
that she was received by letter into the Presbyterian Church of this place August 22, 1852, and that her pastor says of her in 1858: "Out of her Revolutionary pension, she annually gave me $10 for Foreign Missions. A godly woman, at an advanced age, she recently crossed over Jordan."
Isaac Cornell and Robert Folsom, soldiers of the war of 1812, were buried in the Cornell Graveyard. John Curtis, who went from the State of New York as a farrier in the same war, came to this county in 1836, settled near Wheeler, and died there in 1865. Eliphalet D. Curtis, an- other soldier of that war, enlisted in New York, came to this county in 1838, settled near Porter Cross Roads, and died in the spring of 1865. Myron Powell enlisted in Vermont, moved subsequently to the Western Reserve in Ohio, came to Porter County, Ind., and died here in 1865. The only soldiers of the Black Hawk war who ever resided in this county, as far as learned, were Ruel Starr and James M. Buel, the former now deceased, the latter is a resident of Chicago.
No company was organized in this county to serve in the Mexican war, but Joseph P. Smith, of Lake County, at the time holding a county office, resigned and enlisted a company to serve in 1846. After the ex- piration of their term of service, they re-enlisted to serve from 1847 to 1848. About thirty persons from Porter County enlisted in that com- pany, among whom were William Unruh, Ezra Wilcox, Peter Mussel- man, two men named Aley, two named Patterson, Mr. Brown, Mr. Risden, Mr. Preston, Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Wells. It is believed that the only survivors of that company, now in the county, are William Unruh, of Tassinong, and Jacob Aley, of Hebron. It was the duty of this company, while in Mexico, to guard wagon trains, and the climate proved to be very deadly in its influence upon them, as out of 119 men who went out, only thirty-six returned. In addition to these, Samuel Meekam, now of Valparaiso, Clinton Frazier, a man named Briggs, an- other named Hesser, and still others from this county, were soldiers in that war, but in what organization they went out is not known.
The War of the Rebellion .- The political campaign of 1860 waxed warm in this county. The great majority of the Democrats voted for Mr. Douglas, though there were some votes cast for Breckenridge. On the one hand it was charged upon the Republicans that they were responsible for all the dangers that threatened the country, and on the other that the Democrats were in sympathy with Southern secessionists. In reality, until the Southern States began to pass their ordinances of secession, none really believed that the issues between the two sections of the country were to be tried upon the field of battle, much less that four years of blood and horror were soon to follow. After the election of Lin- coln, when the alarm had become general at the threatened insurrection
80
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
in the South, when conservative men of the North and South were en- deavoring to avert the calamities of war by timely compromise, the gen- eral opinion of the Republicans in this part of the country, as evinced by the press, was decidedly against any compromise which might bind more closely the fetters of the slave or recognize the institution of slavery as National in its character. The Republic of that day, then published in Valparaiso, was very decided in opposition to the Crittenden and all other compromises, the tendency of which would be to surrender any vantage- ground that had hitherto been gained in rescuing territory from the domination of the peculiar institution. All who are old enough can remember the peculiar feelings which prevailed at that time. There was a class of politicians at the South called fire-eaters. They had always been given to bluster and hifalutin. The people of the North had become accustomed to threats of the dissolution of the Union, and they had list- ened to that kind of talk until they supposed it might go on ad infinitum, and nothing ever come of it. Yet things were certainly looking more serious than ever before. South Carolina had seceded. Mississippi had seceded. It looked as though all the cotton States would go out. They did go out, one after another, in rapid succession. Men who had been elected to the legislatures of their several States as Union men were either persuaded or terrified into voting for secession. Twiggs proved a traitor and turned over his forces so far as he could to the cause of disunion. Pensacola and Mobile, with their fortifications, fell into rebel hands. But still the feeling was strong in many minds that all this had been done by a sort of collusion with the administration for the purpose of terrifying the North into compromises which would forever perpetuate the slave power in the Union, and set it in unassailable control. It was believed there were too many friends of the Union in the South ever to suffer the fire-eaters to sunder the bonds of the States. The old Whigs, who had no sympathy with that sort of thing, would assert themselves, and the sober second thought of the people would be for bearing their present ills rather than to fly to others which they knew not of. And then, suppose they did rebel ? What of it? The North is stronger than the South, and whatever may come we will not submit to have slavery enthroned over the whole land. We will not suffer men to bring their slaves into the free States and there hold them. So the Republic, voicing the feelings of one party, said emphatically, "No compromise." The opposition paper, on the other hand, was saying in effect : "See how mad you have made the Southern people by your abolitionism. We always told you this was what you would bring the country to. The only way now to escape dis- solution and the horrors of war is to submit to what the slaveholders demand for their security, and let us take charge of affairs. It is no
Nelson Barnard
83
HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
wonder that the South should rebel at the election of an Abolitionist for President." But when the memorable day came, after all the uncer- tainty and suspense about the Star of the West, and about what would come of it all, that the flag was fired upon and that the South had invoked the arbitrament of war, all the talk of compromise ceased. The great majority of all parties said, The Union must be preserved. Over the wires came the proclamation of the President for 75,000 men to serve three months. In the South it was received with derision. There it was known far better than here that 75,000 raw volunteers would not be able to put an end to a conspiracy so vast. With the Mississippi River, Gal- veston, New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, Savannah, Charleston, Wil- mington and Richmond in their possession, and with sympathizers in Kentucky and Maryland and Missouri, it was childish to suppose it could all be ended in ninety days and by soldiers the majority of whom had never smelled gunpowder in their lives. But who can describe the thrill of patriotism with which that message was received in the North ? Sev- enty-five thousand men ! They would overawe all opposition. When the South saw that the North would fight rather than surrender all, that would end the matter. Each volunteer then felt strong, and with the almost unanimous current of feeling it was thought by many that they would have a kind of holiday, would play at war for awhile, and then return home when the Union had been restored to receive the plaudits that would await them. It was an era of hallucinations. None foresaw the future, none in the North and none in the South. The Southern fire- eaters had utterly miscalculated the spirit of the North, and the terrible earnestness of the Southern fire-eaters was not understood in the North. On Sunday, April 14, the telegraph carried the news of the firing on Fort Sumter. On Monday afternoon, the 15th, the following call was issued for a meeting at the court house.
Americans ! Union Men ! Rally. The war has begun. Fort Sumter has fallen ! Our flag has been insulted, fired upon and struck to traitors! A Pelican and Rattlesnake banner floats in its stead ! Let it be torn down and the stars and stripes float in its place, or let us perish in the attempt. Davis, the traitor, says that next the Secession flug shall wave over the Capitol at Washington! Shall it be so ? A thousand times No ! Then to- night let us rally at the court house, burying all party names, and come to the rescue of the Republic against its mortal enemies. We are beaten at Sumter, but not conquered, and must rally to preserve the inheritance left us by our fathers. Come one, come all who love their country ! To-night let us pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor to the defense of the proudest flag that ever waved over a free people !
War Meetings and Enlistments .- The court house was crowded early. The following are the official proceedings of the meeting. "On motion of R. A. Cameron, M. D., editor of the Republic, Dr. E. Jones was called to the chair, Messrs. E. R. Chapin and Alanson Finney chosen as Vice Presidents, and J. F. McCarthy, Esq., and J. A. Berry, editor of E
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HISTORY OF PORTER COUNTY.
the Starke County Press, chosen as Secretaries. The object of the meet- ing having been fully stated, on motion of Dr. Cameron, a committee of five (Messrs. Cameron, S. S. Skinner, J. N. Skinner, Jacob Brewer and M. L. De Motte) were appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The Committee retired, and after a short absence re- turned and reported the following preamble and resolutions, which were received amid deafening applause. (Here follow preamble and resolutions of the most patriotic character.)
" The meeting was addressed by Messrs. De Motte, Cameron, Lytle, Jones, Rock, Pierce, Putnam and others, Democrats and Republicans, who, heretofore differing widely politically, were a unit on sustaining the Government, protecting the honor of our flag, and rebuking the thieves, murderers and traitors of the South. At the opening of the meeting, two American flags, emblems of our nation's glory, were brought in and suspended over the stand occupied by the President and Vice Presidents, which were hailed with long, loud and enthusiastic raptures of delight by the large audience present, to which additional excitement was added by the presence of the Union Band, that discoursed a number of national airs, such as 'Hail Columbia,' 'Marseilles Hymn,' etc. At the close of the meeting, an opportunity was given those who desired to register their names as volunteers, when a number of gentlemen came promptly forward, enrolled their names, expressing the sentiment that it was not for glory, but to fight."
The same number of the Republic contains general orders numbered one to twelve from Lewis Wallace, Adjutant General in regard to the organization of military companies, a proclamation of Gov. Morton call- ing for the organization of troops, the account of the bombardment of Sumter, and also a proclamation from Gov. Morton convening the Legis- lature in special session on the 24th of April.
The following number of the Republic (April 25) was issued with the name of E. R. Beebe as associate editor, R. A. Cameron having gone to Indianapolis with his company, and the first editorial correspondence, dated at that place, appears. Henceforth, correspondence from the scene of active operations made up a large part of each issue. Letters poured in, not only from the editor, but from Gil Pierce, who even then wielded the pen of a ready writer, De Witt C. Hodsden, J. F. McCarthy and numerous others. On Thursday, April 18, a meeting had been called at the court house (in the afternoon), to which the citizens came en masse, without distinction of party. Joseph Peirce was Chairman, G. Bloch, Secretary. Speeches were made by Messrs. Morrison, Hodsden, W. Bartholomew, J. N. Skinner, Rev. Gurney, M. L. De Motte, I. C. B. Suman, Charles Gurney and G. Bloch. Among the resolutions adopted,
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was this : " That if it is found that there are Secessionists in our midst, we will not encourage violence and bloodshed at home, but we will with- draw from them our social relations, and if business men, we will not favor them with our patronage." After the adjournment of the regular meeting, those who had signified their willingness to volunteer for the defense of the stars and stripes, whenever and wherever called, remained to organize and elect officers. The following were elected officers : R. A. Cameron, Captain ; Lieutenants-First, I. C. B. Suman ; Second, G. A. Pierce ; Third, O. H. Ray ; Ensign, J. F. McCarthy, etc.
On Friday, the excitement was still unabated. Numbers enlisted, and the office of the Republic, where the lists were opened, was crowded most of the day. In the evening another meeting was called at the court house, presided over by T. G. Lytle. Some 200 blankets were donated by the citizens for the use of the soldiers, and $40 were raised for the purchase of a flag for the company. On Saturday afternoon, the Union Band presented, through M. L. De Motte, their beautiful flag, which had a short time before been presented to them by the ladies. Speeches were made in behalf of the company, by Cameron, McCarthy and Rev. S. C. Logan. On the Sabbath, a sermon was preached to the company by Rev. A. Gurney, and on that evening the company took the train for Indian- apolis, many of the citizens accompanying them as far as Wanatah.
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