Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 48

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 48
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 48

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

or other stone could be formed. Yet even in a case of this character, the period was the same, as has been proved by fossiliferous evidences that are above rea- sonable doubt.

Before entering upon a more specific description of the glacial drift in the county, a few points will be considered concerning the underlying rock. Of course, it cannot be known with absolute certainty, without actual experiment, what strata would be met with in going downward in Noble County, after hav- ing passed through the drift. The only conclusion to be reached is an approx- imate one, from a knowledge of what rocks are found in neighboring localities. Geologists throughout the State agree in saying that the first rocks found in Northern Indiana, after passing through the drift, are, with few exceptions in localities, those of the Niagara group. The exceptions are perhaps some of the Hamilton or Corniferous limestones of the Devonian age. Excavations, such as wells, in various portions of Northern Indiana have established these facts beyond doubt. It will therefore be seen that all the formations above the Niagara group are lacking in this locality, with perhaps the exceptions above noted and probably all or a portion of the formations of the Quaternary period. Passing downward through the Niagara group, which is a member of the Upper Silurian era, the Hudson and Trenton limestones and the Potsdam sandstone, members of the Lower Silurian era, would probably be found. Next would appear metamorphic rock, which was formed by crystallization some time after its deposition from water, but usually from the cooling of the primitive surface of the earth or before the formation of strata was possible. To account for the absence of rocks above the Upper Silurian is not an easy task, if exact statements are required. All such rocks were formed from soil deposited while the surface was under water. This view leads to the conclusion that Northern Indiana, at least, was above the sea after the Silurian age, but was again sub- merged, probably in fresh water, during the Cenozoic time. There was then a long interval of ages, during which Northern Indiana, with the Niagara group on the surface, was above the water. The strata below the Niagara group found in Indiana present no unusual features where excavations have pene- trated them, and therefore that branch of the subject will be dropped to await future revelations.

We come now to a consideration of the Drift deposit. Geologists suppose that during a period called glacial, all the earth's surface, north of about 40° of north latitude, was covered sometimes to the tops of the highest mountains with a vast body of ice, that is thought to have been formed during a period of some 12,000 years, when the north pole was turned farthest from the sun, owing to a peculiar variation in the direction of the earth's axis, through a period of about 24,000 years. At least, all the evidences show that the earth's surface north of 40° of north latitude was once, and for a long period, covered with vast fields of ice, and at other periods with heavy vegetation, even as far north as the 82d degree of north latitude. The southern portions of the ice field

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

melted away under the heat of a tropical sun, and the result was that the ice farther north was forced gradually southward, pushing down the elevations of land, and slowly but surely grinding the rock into powder and gravel, and transporting them to latitudes further south. Glacial markings are found everywhere, and all indicate that the movements of the glaciers were southerly. In their movement south, the glaciers took or scooped up vast quantities of soil in northern localities, which became frozen in until the ice had reached the warmer sections and had thawed, when such soil was dropped upon the earth. This soil is now known as the " Drift " or " Bowlder deposit," and covers all Northern Indiana, including Noble County, to a depth of several hundred feet. Some entertain the idea that this soil in Northern Indiana was deposited directly upon the Niagara group, while others think that, inasmuch as just above the Niagara group are found several strata of clay, shale and sand, the northern part of the State was under the surface either of salt or fresh water, at stages succeeding the formation of the Niagara rocks. Animal and vegetable casts, found in these strata, will prove the character of the water from which they were deposited. Some geologists maintain that the " Drift " was not deposited by glaciers but by icebergs, which floated south, carrying large quantities of northern soil, and grinding over the rocks at the bottom of the shallow seas, thus forming the strice or " glacial markings." All, however, agree that the " Drift " was brought from northern regions through the agency of ice. No doubt both glaciers and icebergs were the means of transporting the soil south. The lowest formation of the Drift deposit is the " Bowlder clay," which varies in thickness from ten to one hundred feet. It is usually yellow or brown above, and blue below, and is underlaid by a water-bearing sheet of gravel and sand, cemented into an almost impenetrable hardpan. The pebbles contained in the Bowlder clay are generally small, sub-angular, scratched and planed fragments, either of indigenous or of exotic rocks, the former largely preponderating. Prof. J. S. Newberry, of Ohio, thinks that the blue and the yellow Bowlder clays were originally the same color, and that the latter is the leached and oxidized portion of the former. He also says: "The bowlder clay of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, etc., may be said to be the entire grist ground by the glacier, which, never having been screened or sorted, contains both the bran and the flour, the latter being the clay, and the former the sand, gravel and bowlders." After the deposition of the bowlder clay came a period when the surface was above the water, and when a forest of arborescent and herbaceous plants sprang into life. The piece of sound wood found a short time ago about three miles northeast of Albion, was found in drift soil, about ninety feet deep, which answers the description of the " inter-glacial forest-bed," and was no doubt brought there from some forest farther north. It is supposed that these plants grew during an inter-glacial mild period, and their remains are not usually found as far south, in any quantity, as Noble County. This inter-glacial forest period was the time when the mammoth, mastodon, giant beaver and doubtless

Allsono Prentiss

ALBION

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

many other animals, appeared upon the earth. Above these deposits, come various layers of sand, clay or gravel, intermingled with bowlders of various shapes, sizes and compositions. Geologists differ regarding the causes of the billowy appearance of the surface soil of Northern Indiana. Perhaps the most reasonable conclusion is, that such soil remains in much the same condition as when it was first deposited by the melting glaciers or icebergs. Such process would heap the soil in some places, while in others great cavities would be left unfilled, which afterward becoming filled with water would form the numerous lakes. The best authorities agree in saying that the great mass of the drift was deposited principally from indigenous rocks by means of glaciers ; but that icebergs also, more especially at the close of the glacial period, transported from the Canadian highlands a considerable quantity of soil, and large numbers of bowlders, which lie above the laminated clays, deposited previously by glaciers.

This brings us to the more specific description of the physical features of the county. The number of depressed portions covered with water seems fab- ulous, and the quantity of swamp land is much greater than supposed, though both are being decreased rapidly by natural and artificial means. The effect of so much stagnant water and decaying vegetation is perceptible to those, more especially, who have not become acclimated to the influences of malaria and its kindred ailings, as engendered in the county and vicinity. Extra effort has been made from the earliest time to drain the water from the swamps, to fell the timber, and to let in the healthful and cheerful light and heat of the sun. The proceeding has been met with marked effect, as large numbers of the drier swamps have not only been thoroughly drained, but have been sub- jected to cultivation, and there is found no better farming land in the county.

From the following statement may be learned, by townships, the number of lakes and large permanent ponds in Noble County : Perry, 4; Elkhart, 6 ; Orange, 13; Wayne 21; Sparta, 15; York, 14; Jefferson, 7; Allen, 3; Al. bion, 1; Washington, 16; Noble, 22; Green, 20; Swan, 3; total, 145.

It is very difficult to correctly estimate the quantity of swamp land in the county. Some have placed it as high as 15 per cent of the county lands, but probably 10 per cent would come nearer the truth. Many of the smaller and shallower lakes are slowly filling by means of mosses, rushes, weeds, lily-stocks, ctc., and undoubtedly some, which now are simply low lands, have been sub- jected to this fate. In several places in the county, some of which have been cultivated, there is found quite a dry soil for several feet on top; while under- neath the earth is an impure vegetable mold, and, in some cases, farther down there is found water, often in a considerable quantity, proving that the spot was once a lake or pond, which had been overgrown with a heavy and springy vegetation, which had likewise become covered with the surface soil by wash- ings through long periods of years. Every lake that has been examined in the county is underlaid with a more or less perfect stratum of bog iron ore, some being so rich in metal as to be of no trifling commercial value. None of these

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

beds, with few exceptions, one being in York Township, has been worked. Iron can be obtained cheaper. Many curious natural formations are found, some of which have been incorrectly referred to the Mound-Builders. There are also many places in the county where beavers have thrown up embank- ments of surprising extent and appearance. Some lakes in the county are in the first stage after being filled with vegetation, one of these being beautifully situated near the residence of Michael Bouse, Washington Township. It is about six acres in extent, and has no known outlet, and over the surface the marsh moss, Spagnum, has become so heavily matted that persons find no trouble in walking over the marsh to gather the cranberries which usually grow there in profusion. There are many places in the county where these excellent berries are found, but they seem to grow most abundantly in the southern part-in the Tippecanoe swamps. This berry is a member of the Heath Family, and is known to botanists as Oxycoccus macrocorpus. The plant is a creeper, or trailer, with slender, hardy, woody stems and small ever- green leaves, more or less white underneath, with single flowers borne on slen- der erect pedicles, and having a pale rose carolla. The berries, which get ripe in autumn, are red, with some yellow, and are very acid. The stems are from one to three feet long, and the flowers are lateral, rendering easy the gather- ing of the berries. The conditions for the possible life of the plant are being slowly destroyed, and the berries are becoming less numerous. The moss, the name of which is given above, has the property of slowly dying at the extremities of the roots, thus making it possible for deep lakes to become filled with it.

It seems proper in this connection to notice a few circumstances regarding the meteorological condition of this part of Indiana. The prevailing direction of the wind is from the southwest, and from that direction the greater number of heavy storms come. The annual mean barometer is close to 30 inches, and the annual mean temperature is not far from fifty-four degrees. The annual mean relative humidity is about sixty-seven degrees, and the total annual rain- fall, including melted snow, will exceed forty inches. The quantity of rainfall depends upon the direction of the wind, and upon the relative humidity of the air. A heated atmosphere will contain more moisture than a cold one, and is therefore more likely to precipitate rain, owing to the probability of meeting condensing currents ; while a cold atmosphere is likely to be dry, from the fact that it has probably passed through the state requiring a discharge of rain or snow. As the atmosphere in any locality becomes warm, the probability of rainfall is increased, for the wind containing rain-clouds is likely to set in toward that quarter. If the atmosphere is cold and growing colder, the proba- bility of rain is decreased, as clouds bearing rain must leave for warmer places. These facts are all relative, depending upon the season of the year. Of course in winter, the atmosphere being cold everywhere, will contain an amount of moisture which would be immediately precipitated in heavy rain in summer,

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

and vice versa. Every farmer should have the means of telling the probable condition of future weather.

Before entering upon the description of the ancient earth and stone works in Noble County, it seems proper to take a general and summary view of the evidences of a pre-historic people, who undoubtedly inhabited all this country in times which antedate all known records. According to the prevailing opinion among archæologists, the Mound-Builders* were a race of people who occupied more or less of this continent prior to the advent of the Indian. The latter knew nothing of the Mound-Builder, save what few evidences were derived from his works, and, in consequence, his time is placed back, perhaps several thousand years, or contemporaneous with that of the ancient Assyrian and Egyptian nations. Several eminent writers maintain that the Mound- Builders were the descendants of Asiatics, who found their way to this country when civilization was yet in its infancy. This could easily have been done, either in boats or on the ice across Behring's Strait. Perhaps this view is as rational as any. The truth will probably never be known, as all we have from which to judge of their history, habits, modes of life, degree of civilization, knowl- edge of the arts of peace and war, mental and moral progress, etc., are the numerous earthworks and implements which have been found.

The earthen structures or mounds have been divided and subdivided as follows :

Sepulchral. Scrificial. Templar.

MOUNDS PROPER.

Memorial. Monumental.

Observatory.

Animal.

EARTHWORKS.

EFFIGIES

Emblematic.

Symbolical.

Military.

Defensive.

INCLOSURES.

Covered.

Sacred.

Festival.

The greater number of these earthworks are found constructed of earth, a few of stone, and fewer still of earth and stone combined. Sepulchral mounds are usually conical, and some of them, notwithstanding the lapse of time, are seventy feet in height. The prevailing altitude is from three to eight feet. This class is most numerous, and was undoubtedly erected in which to bury the dead. They always contain one or more skeletons, often with implements or ornaments, supposed to have been placed there when the individual was buried for use in the spirit land. It has been conjectured that the magnitude of these

* Of course the natural name of these people is unknown. That such a race once inhabited this country was first made manifest by the large number of earthworks or mounds, and, since then, scientists have united in calling such people Mound-Builders.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

mounds bears some relation to the prominence of the persons, in whose honor they were erected. Ashes and charcoal are often found in proximity to the skeletons under conditions which render it probable that fires were used in the burial ceremony. With the skeletons are often found specimens of mica, pot- tery, bone and copper beads and animal bones. Ordinarily but one skeleton is found, though in one case in Hardin County, Ohio, three hundred crumbling skeletons were taken out, and the mound opened by the writer in Elkhart Township contained twenty-eight, and the one in Washington sixteen. Templar mounds are few in number, and are ordinarily circular. They are invariably truncated, and are often surrounded with embankments, inclined planes or spiral pathways or steps leading to the summit. They are found round, square, oblong, oval and octangular, and rest generally upon a large base, but have a limited altitude. It is supposed that these elevations were surmounted with wooden temples, all traces of which have been removed by the ravages of time. They are thought to have been erected for religious purposes. Sacrificial mounds are ordinarily stratified, with convex layers of clay and loam above a stratum of sand. They generally contain ashes, charcoal, igneous stones, cal- cined animal bones, beads, stone implements, pottery and specimens of rude sculpture. Altars of igneous clay or stone are often found. Evidences of fire upon the altars yet remain, showing that various animals and probably human beings were immolated to secure the favor of the Great Spirit. These mounds infrequently contain skeletons, together with implements of war; mica from the Alleghanies ; shells from the Gulf of Mexico ; differently colored varieties of obsidian ; red, purple and green specimens of porphery, and silver, copper and other metallic ornaments and utensils. Memorial or monumental mounds are of that class of tumuli intended to commemorate some important event, or to perpetuate the memory of some distinguished character. Most of the stone mounds belong to this class, and usually contain no bones, for the supposed reason that they were not used for sepulchers. They were similar in design to the Bunker Hill Monument. Mounds of observation were apparently designed for alarm towers or signal stations. Some writers have fancied that they " occur in chains or regular systems, and that many of them still bear traces of the beacon fires that were once burning upon them." They are often found built like towers from the summits of embankments surrounding inclosures.

Effigies are elevations of earth in the form of. men, beasts, birds, reptiles, and occasionally of inanimate objects, varying in height from one foot to six feet above the surrounding soil, and often covering many acres of land. Mr. Schoolcraft expresses the belief that this class of mounds was designed for " totems " or "tribular symbols ;" while Prof. Daniel Wilson and other writers of distinction hold that they were erected in accordance with the religious be- lief of the various tribes of Mound-Builders, who worshiped or in some way venerated the animals or objects represented by the elevations.

Military or defensive inclosures are irregular in form, and are always on

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

high ground, in positions difficult of approach by a savage foe. "The walls," says the American Cyclopedia, "generally wind around the borders of the elevations they occupy, and when the nature of the ground renders some points more accessible than others, the height of the wall and the depth of the ditch at these weak points are proportionally increased. The gateways are narrow and few in number, and well guarded by embankments of earth placed a few yards inside the openings or gateways, but parallel with them and projecting some- what beyond them at each end, thus fully covering the entrances, which, in some cases, are still further protected by projecting walls on either side. These works are somewhat numerous, and indicate a clear appreciation of at least the elements of fortification, and unmistakably point out the purpose for which they were constructed. A large number of these defensive works consists of a line of ditches and embankments, or several lines carried across the neck of peninsulas or bluff headlands formed within the bends of streams-an easy and obvious mode of fortification to all rude peoples." Sometimes the embankments are miles in extent, reaching an altitude of more than twenty feet in some places. Covered ways or parallel walls are often found, either connecting dif- ferent inclosures or portions of the same. They were undoubtedly designed to protect those passing back and forth within. There are large numbers of sacred inclosures in the form of circles, squares, hexagons, octogons, ellipses, parallelograms and others, many of which were designed with surprising geometrical accuracy. They are sometimes found within military inclosures, and very likely were connected with the religious rites and ceremonies of the people, as small elevations are found within them, which were evidently used for altars upon which sacrifices of various kinds were offered. Some archæ- ologists maintain that many of the so-called sacred inclosures were intended and used for national games and celebrations, and it is probable that those with- out the altar were used as such.

The mounds and their contents afford abundant opportunity to speculate as to the character and customs of the ancient people, of whom nothing is left save their crumbling habitations. They were a numerous people, as is clearly proved by the magnitude and elaboration of their works. Their presence here, beyond question, antedates the coming of Columbus, and very probably extends back a thousand years or more. Many interesting and important considera- tions, too lengthy to be narrated here, have been discovered in comparing the customs of the Mound-Builders with those of ancient people in the East. The Mound-Builders were unquestionably subservient to rulers or superiors, who had power to enforce the erection of gigantic structures, which, considering the semi-barbarous condition of the people, their lack of suitable implements of labor and their imperfect and insufficient knowledge of mechanical principles, are surprisingly vast in extent and ingenious in design. Their works indicate that the people were warlike; that they were familiar with many mathematical and mechanical principles; that they were religious and probably idolatrous; that they were skilled in the manufacture of bone and metallic ornaments and

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

pottery; that they had attained no little degree of perfection in the working of metals, and that they were essentially homogeneous in customs, pursuits, religion and government. They, of necessity, were an agricultural people, being too numerous to live by the chase alone. They offered burnt and other sacrifices and oblations to both good and bad spirits. Dr. Foster says they worshiped the elements, such as fire, air and water, also the sun, moon and stars, and offered human sacrifices to the gods they worshiped. Yet many of these considerations are speculative, and have but little substantial evidence upon which to rest, and authorities are widely at variance in their views. But little can ever be known of the history of these people; yet throughout all the future the civilized world will look with awe upon the decaying remnants of their works and weave the bright fabric of romance about their mysterious lives.

This much has been given on the authority of Schoolcraft, Wilson, Pid- geon, Smucker, Foster and the American Cyclopedia, to prepare the way for the classification and detailed description of the ancient earth and stone works in this county. No effort has been made in past years to gather together the pre-historic history of Noble County. No importance or value has been at- tached to disclosures of skeletons, the majority of citizens throughout the county regarding them as belonging to the Indians, and, consequently, the mounds which have been opened in years past in different parts of the county were not carefully examined, and no doubt much interesting, and, perhaps, val- uable, information has been hopelessly lost. The works and their contents can- not be too closely scrutinized, as very often nothing short of careful inspection will avoid overlooking important facts. About twenty-five years ago, a large mound situated on the old Jones farm, in northeastern Elkhart Township, was leveled down, or nearly so, as it was in the way, and several bones were found, which the owner supposed to belong to animals. Nothing further was discov- ered. They were, beyond doubt, the bones of Mound-Builders. On Section 2, Elkhart Township, on what is called Sanford's Point, there are several mounds, one of which was opened some eight or ten years ago by the neighbors, who expected to unearth some valuable trinkets. Quite a number of bones were found, and these were scattered around on the surface of the ground, where they were left. No trinkets were found. An inferior maxillary bone found is said to have been remarkably large and sound. The reader must remember that these are the bones of Mound-Builders, not Indians, and were certainly placed there at least five hundred years ago, and very likely longer.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 48

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ; Number of Pages: 962

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962