USA > Indiana > Pulaski County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 5
USA > Indiana > White County > Counties of White and Pulaski, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 5
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66
4
Monon .
99
65
5
Monon
82
80
7
Liberty.
88
56
. .
. .
Cass
45
29
Jackson .
123
121
N.
3
Jackson.
89
42
22
1
Round Grove.
22
11
Total
746
703
42
Total.
993
811
67
9
NOVEMBER, 1864.
NOVEMBER, 1868.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. DEMOCRATIC. 'Lincoln and Mcclellan and Pendleton. Johnson. :
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Grant and Colfax.
DEMOCRATIC. Seymour and Blair.
Union
146
177
Union ..
187
230
Big Creek
68
57
Big Creek
84
63
Prairie.
178
176
Prairie
229
230
West Point
61
30
West Point.
61
44
Princeton
104
37
Princeton
114
62
Monon.
81
89
Monon
111
86
Liberty .
83
77
Liberty
92
75
Cass.
33
38
Cass.
38
52
Jackson.
109
159
Jackson.
155
155
Honey Creek
50
53
Honey Creek
62
75
Round Grove
26
6
Round Grove
40
29
Total
939
898
Total
1173
1101
NOVEMBER, 1872 ..
NOVEMBER, 1876.
TOWN-HIPS
REPUBLICAN.
229
188
1
Union
255
270
3
Big Creek
83
48
Big Creek
96
78
5
Prairie.
201
240
1
Prairie.
228
262
9
West Point.
78
45
West Point
102
78
6
Princeton
161
59
6
Princeton
216
89
9
Monon.
113
75
2
Monon
115
130
4
Liberty
91
70
Liberty
113
101
2
Cass.
36
32
Cass
55
53
Jackson
167
113
2
Jackson.
167
185
5
Honey Creek
49
90
1
Honey Creek.
86
119
2
Round Grove
52
42
. .
Round Grove
69
85
5
Total
1260
1003
13
Total
1502
1450
50
DEMOCRATIC.
Hendricks.
INDEPENDENT.
and
Cary.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN.
and
Wheeler
Tilden
and
Cooper
Grant
and
Wilson.
Greeley
and
Brown.
DEMOCRATIC.
O'Conor
and
Julian.
Union.
172
168
6
.
Big Creek.
85
61 -
8
.
West Point.
42
37
3
. .
..
Liberty
62
69
1
Cass
32
51
.
Honey Creek.
49
39
5
. .
Honey Creek
40
33
and
TOWNSHIPS.
and
DEMOCRATIC.
and
and
UNION.
TOWNSHIPS.
and
Fremont
LIB. REPUBLICAN
Hayes
Union
.
ยท
. .
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MONTICELLO.
- -
BUS NE MIGRARY
ASICK LAN LAND TILDEN FOUNDATION! R
47
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
NOVEMBER, 1880.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Garfield and Arthur.
DEMOCRATIC. Hancock and English.
INDEPENDENT. Weaver and Chambers.
Union.
236
305
14
Big Creek
99
102
5
Prairie .
259
250
11
West Point
117
79
26
Princeton
233
87
27
Monon
138
130
Liberty.
110
125
Cass
52
60
4
Jackson
186
215
8
Honey Creek.
80
121
5
Round Grove.
100
117
2
Total
1610
1591
124
CHAPTER II.
BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.
THE COUNTY MILITIA-SOLDIERS OF 1812-THE CAMPAIGN OF 1846-7 -THE ELECTION OF 1860-THE FALL OF FORT SUMTER-TREASON AT HOME-THE FIRST VOLUNTEERS-CAPTAIN REED'S COMPANY- WAR MEETINGS-SANITARY EFFORTS-CONTINUED ENLISTMENT- PATRIOTISM-SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT EVENTS-ADDITIONAL COM- PANIES-THE DRAFT-NUMBER OF MEN FURNISHED-BOUNTY AND RELIEF-END OF THE WAR-LINCOLN'S DEATH-SKETCHES OF REGIMENTS-THE ROLL OF HONOR-INTERESTING NOTES.
THE old militia system which had prevailed from the organ- ization of White County until the Rebellion of 1861-5, and which had done such excellent service during all the Indian border wars years before the county had any existence, was permitted to run down and almost die out, owing to the long continued peace. It is stated that a militia company was organized at Monticello and vicinity about the year 1840, and that for a few years annual musters were enjoyed, but no definite information on the subject has been obtained. About the year 1852, the Legislature enacted that the militia of each Judicial District should be thoroughly organized, and in response to this, one company was formed at the county seat. In December, 1856, the County Com- missioners through their agent, J. D. Cowden, Auditor of White County,
48
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
requested Governor Wright to send by rail to Reynolds Station the quota of arms due the county under the existing law. The guns were accordingly received and distributed to the members of the " White County Guards." The company was required to execute a bond in the sum of $500 that the arms would receive proper care, and be returned to the Auditor under specified conditions. After this for some time the musters were greatly enjoyed. These arms were in the county when the Rebellion broke out, but were then sent to Indianapolis by order of the Governor, under the protests of the citizens of the county, as will be' learned farther along. No other organization of the militia was effected until 1881, when the Independent Artillery Company was organized at Monticello with Henry Van Voorst, Captain ; Isaac Price, First Lieu- tenant ; E. P. Roberts, Second Lieutenant. Two pieces of ordnance were obtained from the east at a cost of $50, both being unmounted.
War of 1812 .- Quite a number of the early settlers were no doubt ex- soldiers of the war of 1812-15, and it is possible that a few participated in the earlier struggle for independence. The writer has learned the name of one soldier of the war of 1812, who became a prominent citizen of White County and was one of the first Board of Commissioners. The following explains about all that is known of his military services.
Ira Bacon, a private in Captain Van Meter's company of Ohio Militia in the service of the United States, has faithfully performed a six months' tour of duty, and is hereby honorably discharged from the service at Fort Meigs this 22d day of February, 1815.
JACOB LINN,
JOHN RUSSELL,
Sergeant, Major Ohio Militia, Commanding Ft. Meigs.
The Mexican War .-- Three men only went from White County to serve the Government in the war with Mexico. These men were William F. Ford, U. H. Steele, and Beveridge McCormick, all three going from Jackson Township, and joining Captain Tipton's Company E of the United States Regiment of Mounted Rifles, rendezvoused at Logansport. The boys enlisted on the 6th of June, 1846, for a term of five years, and were first ordered to Cincinnati, thence to St. Louis, where they were mounted and fully equipped. Soon afterward they moved to New Orleans, and then, in November or December, 1846, took shipping for Point Isabel, where they arrived the 24th of December. After a short time spent along the Rio Grande River, the regiment was shipped to Vera Cruz, losing on the way all their horses in a heavy storm on the Gulf. The regiment participated in the bombardment of Vera Cruz in March, 1847. After the capitulation on the 27th, the march along the great National road toward the Mexican capital was begun. Cerro Gordo was reached and assaulted, but here the fortune of war turned against the
49
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
White County boys. In the first day's fight William F. Ford received a severe saber cut on the left thigh just above the kuce, but the wound did not incapacitate him from participation in the second day's fight. On this day, however, while in the hottest of the fight, his right leg was taken off just above the ankle by a cannon ball. He also received a lance thrust through one wrist and a pistol ball through the other, be- sides a bayonet thrust under the chin, the point coming out at his mouth, knocking out several teeth on his lower jaw and shattering the bone. Notwithstanding all this he is yet living at Monticello, in the enjoyment of reasonable health. He wears a fine bronze badge cast from some old cannon. At the battle of Cerro Gordo, the Mexican commander, Gen. Santa Anna, was compelled to fly so hastily that he left behind his wooden leg, besides many other valuable personal effects. Mr. Ford, while lying wounded and almost helpless, managed to purloin an epau- lette belonging to the uniform of Santa Anna, a portion of which he yet has and values very highly. He draws a pension of $18 per month. McCor- mick lost his left arm at Cerro Gordo by a ball which ranged across his breast from right to left. The wound was so near the shoulder that it was found necessary to remove the humerus from its socket. The poor fellow was unequal to the emergency, and soon died from the effects of the wound. Steele was taken sick at or near Chepultepec, and finally died of a severe attack of diarrhoea. Among the ex-soldiers of the Mexican War, who have lived in the county, are the following : Roy D. Davidson, who served in a Kentucky regiment, and was in the battle of Buena Vista ; Michael Austin, of an Ohio regiment, who was also at the battle of Buena Vista ; Thomas Cooper, who served in the same regiment as Mr. Ford ; Mr. Conkling, a cousin of Senator Conkling's, who served in the First Indiana Regiment; John Wright, who fought at Buena Vista in a Kentucky regiment ; Mr. Penny, who was also in the battle of Buena Vista ; Andrew Robinson, also in the First Indiana and at Buena Vista.
After the war with Mexico, nothing occurred to disturb the peaceful pur- suits of the citizens. The political campaigns were bitterly fought, and many began to intimate that the country was on the brink of dissolution or of a great civil war. The Presidential campaign of 1856 was conducted with a spirit unknown before in the history of the county. It was realized that a grave responsibility rested upon the shoulders of the President, and that to idly select men for that high position might involve the country in disaster, front which it would never emerge. Events were anxiously awaited.
The Campaign of 1860 .- The Presidential campaign in White County during the autumn of 1860 was of the most exciting character. Almost
4
50
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
every township had its company, or companies, of " Wide Awakes "; and scarcely a night passed without public speaking and noisy and enthusias- tic demonstration. The clubs of Democracy uniformed themselves with hickory suits, erected flag poles, and flung the names of Douglas and Johnson to the breeze. Torch-light processions and vociferous cheering disturbed the drowsy air of night. The emblems of the Republican clubs were " rails " or " mauls and wedges," and the name of " Honest Old Abe " was shouted with a power that will carry it echoing down the coming centuries. When the returns were all in, and Lincoln's name was on every tongue, and when the Southern States one after another began to enact ordinances of secession, and even the air seemed freighted with treason, all wiser heads saw that the conflict had come. The slavery question must be settled either to the satisfaction of the North or the South ; no evasion would answer. The Spectator and the Democrat began a bitter discussion of the questions of slavery, State rights, secession, etc. The Spectator said, in answer to a question from its rival :
The Democrat wants to know if we think a State can peaceably secede. Yes, with the consent of a majority of all the other parties interested. This should be given to South Carolina. The reasons by which we arrive at such conclusion are these : Whenever our form of government becomes burdensome to any member of the Confederacy, failing to protect and perpetuate it in its rights of person and property, such State can no longer respect the association, being in fact already alienated by a peculiar and inherently right- ful, though not moral, view ; and after she has asked, as in the case of South Carolina, to dissolve the company and mutually withdraw from the partnership, our interpretation of the meaning and intent of the Constitution does not lead us to conclude that her appeals should be regarded with insult, and the blessings of liberty forced upon unwilling subjects by coercion at the cost of war, bloodshed and treason.
Many prominent Republicans throughout the county argued in a simi- lar strain. The country had been educated to believe that the Govern- ment was a mere compact, and that any State could leave the Union when the terms of the compact were violated, or even at will; but the education was the result of southern artifice, the wily " fire-eaters " of the preceding half century neglecting no care or avoiding no issue that would instill the poison of the hateful heresy into the public heart both North and South. Men did not fully know their own minds. A revolution in thought on the subject of State rights, secession, slavery, etc., was ensu- ing, and the public mind was buffeted around by every breeze of senti- ment or fancy or even folly. Here and there arose some clear intellect, head and shoulders above its fellows, and looked down with the impartial eye of a philosopher upon the true and ominous state of the country. To such men the hearts of all turned anxiously for relief. When Mr.
51
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Lincoln took the reins of government, speedy relief from public gloom and embarrassment was expected; but as time slipped away, and effective action was masked by broad generalizations, and the course of the Ad- ministration was clouded with apparent doubt and hesitancy, many of the best Union men lost heart. The friends of disunion looked upon the hesitancy as a practical acknowledgment that the Government could see no way under the Constitution of a settlement of existing differences. But when the blow at last fell upon Fort Sumter, and all pacific over- tures from the Administration even to an avowal that no established insti- tution of the South should be interfered with, were haughtily rejected, the mask of peace was thrown aside, and the call to arms sent a thrill of joy and hope to thousands of loyal hearts. In view of the darkness which enveloped the country at subsequent stages of the war, when it seemed certain that masses in the North would compel a cessation of hostil- ities and permit the Southern States to go out of the Union, the tran- scendent wisdom of Mr. Lincoln in throwing upon the South the responsi- bility of commencing the rebellion, even in the face of the most abun- dant promises, undoubtedly saved the country from hopeless disruption.
Opening Scenes .- In the issue of the Spectator of April 19, 1861, was published the following letter :
EDITOR SPECTATOR :- Let me call your attention to the necessity of organizing in various parts of this county efficient committees to attend to those persons who openly declare themselves against the Government.
Yours, etc.,
The Spectator said :
The above letter was received through the postoffice several days ago. It is from a responsible and influential farmer of this county ; and while we would not wish to encour- age a spirit of intolerance in politics or anything else, in view of our national troubles, we think the majority of law-abiding citizens regard expressions like the above as purely loyal, and in many cases absolutely necessary to be complied with. * * * A few gentlemen about this town and throughout the county may find it wholesome to hecd the caution in Judge Test's charges [referring to the punishment for treason ] and our cor- respondent's letter. War has been levied against the Government, and " giving aid and comfort to its enemies " consists in more than enlisting and fighting under the rattle- snake banner. Revolutionary Tories were roughly dealt with for no less crime than they are guilty of every day.
The Call to Arms .- In the same issue of the paper a call for volun- teers was advertised by W. M. McCarty, of Shelbyville. Also the call of President Lincoln for 75,000 State militia to put down the rebellion. There also appeared in the same issue the following :
About one hundred men, residents of this county, have enlisted in their country's
52
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
defense, some of whom joined Col. R. H. Milroy's company from Rensselaer. Of these J. G. Staley, Watson Brown, Martin Cochell, Francis Sweet, Lewis Murray, Edward Neff, James Stevenson and brother, went from this place. Twenty-five were from Bradford, and twenty from Reynolds. The fervent prayers of our citizens go with them.
Thus it was that within four days after the fall of Fort Sumter, and within two days after the call of the President for 75,000 volunteers, the county of White responded with one hundred resolute men. This excel- lent beginning was but a specimen of the responses with which White County honored, through all the succeeding years of war, the calls of the Government for troops. The Spectator of April 26th, said :
PATRIOTISM IN MONTICELLO.
While the whole country is in a blaze of righteous indignation at the giant proportions of treason, Monticello is not far behind her sister towns in expressing an emphatic dis- approbation of secession madness. Already a respectable deputation of her inhabitants has enlisted for battle, and many more are ready to march when their services are demanded. Pursuant to the call issued by Thomas Bushuell, Auditor of this County, for the organization of military companies to retain the United States arms in our midst, and serve as home or reserve guards, a number of our citizens met at the court-house last Tuesday. Ransom Mcconahay was chosen President, and Johu J. Barnes, Secretary of the meeting. Before taking his seat, Mr. Mcconahay male a telling Union speech, which was loudly applauded, and followed by others in like lofty strains-all resolving to forget political differences and fight for common interests, to sink the partisan in the patriot, and not inquire why the present war was brought about, but how to best protect our homes, put down treason, and honorably sustain our once glorious Union. After these mutual and hearty pledges had been given on all hands, a committee consisting of Thomas Bushnell and Lucius Pierce was delegated to report an article or oath to be signed by all who wished to form themselves into a reserve guard, and drill preparatory to any call the emergency of public safety may render necessary. This being submitted and adopted, some thirty men, old and young, subscribed their names to it before the meet- ing adjourned. John C. Brown and Daniel D. Dale were appointed another committee to wait on our citizens and solicit signers to said document. The meeting then adjourned to assemble again that night, when there was a much better turn-out. Peter S. Rader was called to the chair, and Oliver S. Dale made Secretary. At this meeting several patriotic speeches were offered, and after considerable debate as to the propriety of organizing for immediate action and proffering the services of a picked company to the Governor, or as had been determined at the first meeting, the latter course was agreed to. The company then adjourned till the next (Wednesday) evening, when the organization was perfected by the adoption of a constitution and the election of the following officers : Alfred Reed, Captain; J. C. Brown, First Lieutenant; D. D. Dale, Second Lieutenant. Last night the company had another meeting and adopted by-laws for their government. We under- stand they are to be regularly uniformed and commence drilling in a few days. It is very desirable this organization, and as many more as can be set on foot, should be kept up. Such companies are greatly nee led to fit our men for service, and since the quota of volunteers called for by the President has been more than complied with, they pre- sent the only capacity left us through which to act wisely as soldiers for the defense of the Stars and Stripes. Let all who can possibly join, or help those who do patron- ize it.
The First Sacrifice .- It was stated in this issue that, while Captain
53
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
Milroy's company was en route for Indianapolis, a young man named John Brown, a grandson of Gen. Simon Kenton, and a resident of White County, who had been one of the very first to enlist, was accidentally killed by the cars at Clark's Hill. The corpse was brought back and buried near Miller Kenton's residence, three miles west of Monticello. This was the first sacrifice offered by the county for the suppression of the slave-holders' rebellion. In this issue were also interesting letters from two of the White County boys, who signed themselves "Jeems" and "W. S." They stated that all the boys from this county could not stay in Cap- tain Milroy's Company, which was full to overflowing, and that all the Monticello boys had been transferred to the company of Captain Charles Smith. The boys were reported in excellent spirits, their bill of fare being bread, meat, potatoes, and beans. This issue of the paper (April 26th) contained the following :
UNION MEETING AT NORWAY.
At a Union meeting, held at the school-house in Norway, April 24, 1861, R. L. Harvey was called to the chair, and James A. Mcconahay elected Secretary. R. Mcconahay, F. G. Kendall, and William Orr were appointed a committee to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the meeting. A series of ten resolutions was adopted, two of them being as follows:
Resolved, That we, the citizens of Norway, do most heartily respond to the call of the President for the purpose above specified, and no other (for enforeing the laws, not for conquest or invasion-ED.); and we pledge him our support and countenance in the ex- ecution of all his constitutional duties.
Resolved, That, as the patriotic ladies of our village have this day in our presence hoisted the flag of our common country, we hereby pledge to them our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor, that no foeman's hand shall drag it down if in our power to prevent him.
Short and patriotic speeches were delivered by F. G. Kendall, Dr. R. Spencer, R. Mc- Conahay, A. Dike, Aaron Fleming, W. H. Parcels and James Graham. The meeting then adjourned to meet on the 4th of May, at early candle lighting, for the purpose of organizing a military company. All are invited to attend.
JAMES A. MCCONAHAY, Secretary.
R. L. HARVEY, President.
The citizens of Norway and vicinity had erected a huge ash pole, and a fine banner which had been made by the ladies was run up amid a storm of cheers from the assembled crowd. Afterward eloquent speeches were delivered by prominent citizens present. Much loyalty was manifested at Norway. James H. Douglass had three sons who enlisted at the first call to arms. Other men who went out in the three months' service, in addition to those already named, were Abram Wickersham, John Kellen- barger, Mr. Snyder, John Arick and James Hess.
In the issue of the Spectator, May 3d, it was stated that the company formed at Monticello (Monticello Rifles) held a meeting, and voted to
54
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
offer its services to the State. This was done, and the company continued vigorously drilling, to be in readiness when called out. A large Union meeting was held at Hanna Station on the 25th of April. The principal speaker was Thomas Callahan, a " Douglas Democrat," who delivered a very long, eloquent address, reviewing the political situation, and urging upon all, without regard to party lines or prejudices, the necessity of sup- porting the administration of Mr. Lincoln. At the conclusion of his speech three rousing cheers were given for the Union, and three more for the Stars and Stripes. Captain Herman, of the Union Home Guards, of Burnettsville, was present, and secured some twenty volunteers. Ladies were present, who fully appreciated the ominous state of affairs, and whose loyalty was as pronounced and emphatic as that of their husbands, brothers or sons. The occasion was enlivened with splendid singing, and the stirring notes of fife and drum. On the 9th of May the Monticello Rifles learned that their services would not be required, and an order came from the Governor to forward immediately the guns in their possession. The members felt so indignant over the matter that they passed a series of resolutions regretting the non-acceptance of the company. Two of the resolutions were as follows:
Resolved, That White County feels that her interest in the preservation of the Union and the honor of the Stars and Stripes is equal to that of any other county in the State or United States, and she should have the opportunity of manifesting it on the field of battle.
Resolved, That we will still maintain our organization and keep alive the tender of our services to the State at any time they may be required.
Those resolutions were a true index to the determined loyalty prevail ing in the county. Here were men angry because their services could not be accepted, and in the face of a positive refusal to accept them they determined to maintain their organization in the hope that eventually they might be permitted to avenge the insult to the flag. It is no won- der that White County, with such men, became one of the fifteen coun- ties in the State to clear herself from the draft of October, 1862, by vol- untary enlistments. It is a pleasure to put the record of such a county in permanent form. And this state of things did not end as soon as the novelty of going to war had worn off. It continued unabated until Appomattox was reached, and the gallant armies came trooping home amid the plaudits of their fellow citizens and the glories of hard-earned victories on hundreds of bloody fields.
Loyalty .- About this time the ministers of Monticello began to preach war sermons. Rev. William P. Koutz was the first, preaching from the subject, "The National Crisis, and Our Duties as Christians and Pa- triots." Others followed his example. It seems, also, that Monticello
55
HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
was just working itself into a fever of loyal enthusiasm, and was destined to have another revival of intense interest in war matters as was had when the news was received that Sumter had fallen, only on a larger scale. Handbills were published and circulated that a Union meeting would be held at the court house Tuesday evening, May 14th. On that occasion Major Levi Reynolds was called to the chair, and Thomas D. Crow was made Secretary. The President announced that the object of the meeting was to take into consideration the state of the Union, and made an eloquent speech, deploring the fact that party lines were still drawn, and declaring that there should be but one party when the country. was in peril. Great enthusiasm prevailed, and the following gentlemen were called out and spoke amid loud acclamations and thundering cheers : R. W. Sill, W. A. Parry, G. O. Behm, Thomas Bushnell, D. M. Tilton, James Wallace and others. J. C. Brown moved that a committee of five be appointed to consider the propriety of organizing a vigilance committee at Monticello, which motion, after some discussion, was carried, whercupon the following persons were appointed such committee : James Wallace, J. C. Brown, A. Reed, Dr. W. S. Haymond and Zebulon Sheetz. The following resolution was then read, vociferously cheered, and passed with vigorous unanimity :
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