USA > Indiana > Boone County > Early life and times in Boone County, Indiana, giving an account of the early settlement of each locality, church histories, county and township officers from the first down to 1886 Biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and women. > Part 13
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ner, and in the upper story of this frame building was fitted up one of the handsomest lodge rooms in the state at that time. It was in fact a blue lodge, the walls being beautifully frescoed in blue, upon which were painted all the symbols of the order, and with its starry, decked ceiling and light in the east it truthfully represented a lodge of symbolic Masons. Here they remained until this building was destroyed by fire, in which most all the property of the lodge was lost. In the spring of 1866, with a membership of worthy citizens, at this time they determindd to build a lodge room, and accordingly made arrangements with Silas A. Lee and David Kenworthy, who were then proposing to build on the lot owned by them on South Lebanon street, to add a second story, which was done, and they have now one of the best arranged and fur- nished lodge rooms in the state. Dr. John L. Smith is be- lieved to be the only surviving charter member of this lodge as instituted at Thorntown. James Coombs is the oldest con- tinuous member of Boone Lodge, No. 9, being made a Mason Jannary 5, 1855. Among its prominent members were Har- vey G. Hazelrigg, Wm. Zion, R. G. Dormire, L. C. Daugh- V erty, Alijah Robison, F. M. Busby, Channcy King. Major Hazelrigg was for nearly twenty years Worshipful Master of the lodge and retired only when he refused to serve any longer. In 1862 he was elected Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge. In 1863 and 1864 he was elected Deputy Grand Master, and in 1865, '66 and '67 was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. He was also at one time Eminent Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of the state. In the work of the order he was very proficient, and few ever excelled him. His knowledge of the Masonic law was such that his decisions were quoted in other jurisdictions as authority and he occupied a very prominent position in the order. This lodge has experienced a revival and now has a membership of about 140, composed of active and prominent citizens. Thorn- town Lodge was chartered May 30, 1851, and now has a mem- bership of about seventy. Zion Lodge was chartered May 28,
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1846, and has at present about fifty members. The lodge has lately had the misfortune to lose, by fire, their finely furnished lodge room, but they are now making preparations to build a room of their own. Hazelrigg Lodge was chartered May 26, 1857, and now has a membership of about fifty. Celestial Lodge was chartered May 23, 1876, and now has a member- ship of about twenty-five. Rosston Lodge was chartered May 23, 1875, and has a membership of about thirty-five. Of Royal Arch Masons there is but one chapter in Boone County, and that is at Lebanon. It has a membership of about sixty- five, composed of prominent and influential citizens of the county. They meet in the hall of Boone Lodge No. 9, and have lately purchased an elegant outfit for its purposes. There is also but one council of Cryptic Masonry in the county, and it is located at Lebanon. Several residents of this county are also Knights Templar and Scottish Rite Masons. Accord- ing to an ancient and well-established rule of the order ladies can not become Masons, (although there is no objection to their becoming wives of Masons) and for the good of the brethren, their wives, mothers and daughters, the beautiful order of the Eastern Star was organized, and of this there is a chapter in this city, lately re-organized, and which is now in a prosperous condition and is a source of profit and pleasure to all who have obtained the privilege of looking npon the star in the east.
RED MEN.
There is a great lack of correct information concerning the Improved Order of Red Men. The order is a confraternity for the promulgation of principles of true benevolence and charity, and for the establishment of friendly bonds among men. The order had its origin, as is believed, in the days of the revolution, but the written record begins from the year 1812-13, when it was organized by Lieut. Williams, in Fort Mifflin, on the Delaware River, and was intended and did suc- ceed in rendering a divided garrison a unit for the Republic. When the close of the war its original object of existence
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ceased, but a few years later, shorn of its political character, it was revived, and to-day exists on the principles above stated. It is now the oldest American society extant of the class known as secret societies. The order is beneficial, protective and reciprocal; it is pre-eminently moral, just and pure; it is founded on principles of pure benevolence ; it recognizes as a principle the right of man to freedom of thought and con- science. It believes in any proper means or bonds which will establish between men, otherwise strangers and aliens to each other, the faithful bond of reciprocal friendship. The order is represented in every state and territory in the United States and is extending to foreign nations.
Winnebago Tribe, No. 36, was organized in this city on the night of May 15, 1873, with the following charter members : L. V. B. Taylor, John M. Scott, W. O. Buryhill, W. O. Dar- nall, C. S. Riley, W. P. Parr, S. S. Daily, R. W. Matthews, W. A. Kenworthy, C. W. Scott and Ben. A. Smith. The mem- bership at this time is over one hundred, and is increasing rapidly. Two members of Winnebago Tribe have passed through the offices of the Great Council of the state, E. G. Darnall and T. W. Lockhart, the former having represented the state at the sessions of the Great Council of the United States held at Atlantic City, N. J., in 1883, and at Springfield, Ill., in 1884, and the latter is now representative to the Uni- ted States Great Councils to be held in 1887 and 1888. Since the organization of Winnebago Tribe, the members have expended over $3,000 for sick and funeral benefits. The reg- ular meeting night is Wednesday of each week. A new and well arranged hall is being fitted up in Neal's building on Lebanon street, where the weekly meetings will be held after January 1st.
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
There are in Boone County the following organizations of the Knights of Labor: Boone Assembly, No. 2,214, at Leb- anon ; Jackson Assembly, at Jamestown ; Redemption Assem- 11
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bly, Thorntown; Enterprise Assembly, Advance. The Leb- anon Assembly was organized September, 1882, with eighteen charter members. In the early history of the assembly it was very difficult to get additions to its membership from various causes, chief among which was the numerous strikes and troubles arising between the employees and employers of the the country. It was believed the organization was founded and instituted for the purpose of encouraging and supporting strikers, notwithstanding the fact is the constitution and laws of the order teach men, who are disposed to be fair minded, that it was the object and purpose of the order to substitute arbitration for strikes. Another reason was the opponents of the order would constantly assert that it was political and intended and designed for political purposes. These and many other false statements so prejudiced the people against the order, that for the first three years after the organization of Assembly, No. 2,214, weakened by desertions from its ranks, it was with difficulty that the organization was kept up; but by untiring zeal and determination on the part of a few of its remaining members, unjust and uncalled for criticism has in a great measure been silenced, and public opinion, heretofore bitter and unrelenting in opposition, has been changed, if not into actual advocates of the principles and methods of the Knights of Labor, at least into a quiet submission and allow- ance of the assembly to exist and to go on with its good deeds. Jackson Assembly was organized February 6, 1886, with six- teen charter members. She, too, has passed the critical period ; her membership now runs up into the hundreds, and is com- posed of the very best and most energetic citizens of Jackson Township. Redemption Assembly was the next to fall into line, being organized February 10, 1886, with seventeen char- ter members, and has established herself in the affection of the people of Sugar Creek Township so that applications for mem- bership and initiations are too numerous to mention. Enter- prise Assembly was organized February 1, 1886, with sixteen charter members of the best mechanics and farmers of Whites-
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town. This assembly is very prosperous and rapidly increas- ing in numbers. Advance Assembly was organized July 8, 1886, with nineteen charter members. The order in the county is in a prosperous condition. When the ultimate results of this order shall have been accomplished in the world, then shall the sword be beaten into " plowshares " and neither swords nor implements of death shall be used forever.
VARIETY CHAPTER.
In the following chapter will be found some incidents and reminiscences not of sufficient importance to form separate articles. We have concluded to group them in one chapter, forming, as we hope, one that will be of interest :
The bear fight at " Dye's Mills" in the year 1847 was one of the largest gatherings, up to that time, perhaps ever assem- bled in the county. The Dye boys had a few months pre- vious captured two cub bears out in Howard County, kept them until about eighteen months old, when it was proposed to have a shooting match bear fight. The time finally arrived for it to take place. The result was a big crowd; the people came far and near-sporting men from Indianapolis and many other places were there with their best guns and dogs. Not less than three thousand persons were present. The shooting match came first, and you may guess there was some good marksmen on hand with their pieces in the best possible trim. The result was, first, second and third choices went in different directions. After which came the dog or bear fight. The dogs of war was turned loose; it became apparent soon that bruin was on top every time, and one or two dogs were killed outright. Notwithstanding this large, mixed crowd, there was no serious trouble. The bears were dressed and awarded in parcels, satisfactory to all as far as I know. The writer had a piece for dinner the next day, and it was the best bear meat he ever ate, for it was the only.
When Thomas P. Miller kept the postoffice in Eagle Vil-
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lage, back in the forties, a young man dropped a letter in the office without her name on the back-that is, his best girl that "lived in Yander." Mr. Miller noticed it and called the young gent's attention to the fact, who, it seems, wanted to do his correspondence on the sly. He was told it was out of the question to deliver the letter without her name on it. " Why," said he, " I guess her name is on the inside."
Austin Davenport built the first brick house in Eagle Township on the Michigan road in the year 1835.
George Stephenson was killed in Clinton Township in 1835 by the falling of a tree. This was the first tragic death in Clinton Township. He was the son of Robert Stephenson, one of the pioneers of this locality.
James M. Larimore was the first Odd Fellow in Boone County, initiated at Indianapolis in 1846. He died in 1849 and is buried at the cemetery in Eagle Village.
Noah Burkett, one of the pioneers of Eagle Creek, was killed by the cars near Whitestown about the year 1865.
A son of John Wolf, aged eighteen years, was drowned in Big Eagle just above the old Dye farm in 1848. He was crossing a foot log. His body was found a day or two after by his father.
A daughter of John King, aged ten years, was killed in Eagle Creek Township, in the year 1828, by the falling of a tree.
William Lane had a son killed by a log, in 1829, in Union Township. He was six years of age.
Nancy Cruse, daughter of Benjamin Cruse, was killed by lightning in 1830, on Eagle Creek and on the old John Johns farm. She was about sixteen years of age.
. In 1840, L. M. Oliphant and Alexander Miller shot and captured a bald eagle near Eagle Village. It measured nine feet from tip to tip. It was only crippled and was taken to the Tippecanoe Battle Ground at the great meeting of 1840, where it was the admiration of all.
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William Duzan's dwelling was burned. in Clarkstown, in the year 1842. Also the house of Oel Thavers at the same place.
The present court house was built, at a cost of $40,000, in 1856.
William Feely was frozen to death in Clinton Township, about the year 1840. He was out hunting, became lost, tried to make a fire, failing he became stupefied, and finally fell and was frozen when found.
Mrs. Margaret Evans, wife of Jonathan Evans, was killed with an ax in Union Township in 1883, on the farm now owned by W. O. Cary. Her son was supposed to have done it in an insane fit.
The records of the county were burned October 12, 1856.
Thomas J. Cason is the only resident of the county struck by congressional lightning, having served two terms, repre- senting the counties of Boone, Tippecanoe, Clinton, Carroll, Benton, Warren, Fountain and Montgomery. The first time his opponent was Gen. M. D. Mason. The second time, Hon. Leander McClung was his opponent.
A son of David Ross was killed by the falling of a tree in Washington Township, 1842, aged thirteen years.
A daughter of George Harness, aged fourteen years, was killed near Thorntown in 1829, by falling off a fence.
A daughter of the widow Buffinger was killed in Wash- ington Township in 1859, by falling of a tree. She was aged about twelve years.
Ruben Crose was killed by falling of a tree in Sugar Creek Township, aged forty-five years.
George Groves was killed in Thorntown by Wm. Wenship.
In 1864, Franklin Imler, of near Zionsville, found a pack- age of greenbacks under the railroad bridge just south of town. The owner never called for it.
The present jail was built in the year 1878. It is a good structure, with residence attached, and all the modern prison
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attachments, making it one not only ornamental to the city, but durable and safe. The entire cost was near $20,000. Located immediately north of the court house and where its predecessors stood (log structures) in early times.
A creamery was first started near Lebanon, on the Lafayette pike, just in the edge of the city, in 1886. It is a stock company.
Jacob Kernodle was among the first to build a brick dwell- ing in the county on his farm, one and one-fourth miles east of Lebanon, now the property of John H. Spahr. This was built about the year 1846.
The opera house in Lebanon was built in 1885-6, by J. C. Brown, Wm. Richey and Henry Brown ; cost, $20,000; located on West Main street.
Harrison Raridon was thrown from his buggy on the night of the 12th of April, 1875, and died on the 16th of same month, at the age of forty-five years; supposed to have been robbed and killed.
Levi Thompson was drowned in Sugar Creek, near Thorn- town, in 1870.
In 1856 a daughter of Noah Chitwood was burned to death in Harrison Township, aged six years.
A son of Wm. D. Lane, aged nine years, was killed by the falling of a tree, in 1842. He was killed in Harrison Town- ship.
Able Lane was killed in Jefferson Township, in 1868, by the falling of part of a tree top.
Joshua Hazelrigg was drowned in Sugar Creek, near Thorntown, in 1856. He was the son of the late H. G. Hazelrigg.
Commenced boring for gas March 10, 1887, at Lebanon.
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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE PRESS OF BOONE COUNTY FROM THE FIRST UP TO 1887.
BY JOHN W. KISE, ESQ., LEBANON.
Some one has said that the press was a mighty lever, the truth of which no one doubts; and when wielded in the right direction certainly is a blessing to any country. Thirty or forty years ago only an occasional paper could be found on the tables of the people of this country. The times have changed and the reverse is the truth-only a few can be found but have on them the dailies or weeklies of the day. The press is cer- tainly an educator; its appearance in our homes weekly is hailed with delight, especially our local papers, They come laden with the news fresh from all parts of the county. No well-regulated family or county can dispense with those valna- ble weekly visitations. Let ns encourage them and try as patrons and correspondents to raise higher yet the standard of our papers. Boone County has kept pace with other parts of our state in this enterprise, and all the time, from first to last, has had weekly issues that will compare favorably with the best. Following will be found a somewhat imperfect sketch of the press, but it is the best that can be obtained at this writing :
THE PIONEER.
In 1851 The Boone County Pioneer was started at Lebanon, with Henry Hill as editor and proprietor, which was the first paper published in Boone County. The editor was a practical printer, but like most printers of that day was not a practical business man. He continued the publication of the above paper as the organ of the Democracy for something like four years, when his calls for financial aid upon the party leaders became too numerous, and he was induced to sell out. He was succeeded by the late Dr. James McWorkman and Col. W. C. Kise, who became editors and proprietors. Under the management of Messrs. McWorkman & Kise the paper pros-
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pered, and in a short time (perhaps about the beginning of the memorable campaign of 1856) it was sold to a young man who afterwards became famous as its editor-George Wash- ington Buckingham, from Newark, Ohio. " Buck " contin- ued as its editor and made it a "red hot " Democratic paper until the close of the year 1860, when the party having re- ceived a Waterloo in the nation and state, he retired, and was succeeded by James Gogen, who continued the publication for a short time, when the great war breaking out, and the publi- eation of a Democratic paper in the county being attended with a financial loss which he could not well stand, its further publication was discontinued.
After a sleep of seven years it was resuscitated by the party under the management of the now notorious Jap. Turpin, whose career as an editor was " short and sweet," and he was succeeded by Lafe Woodard, " the terror," who also made but a short stay with the people of Boone.
Gen. R. C. Kise then assumed the management of the paper, and edited the same with distinguished ability and great financial success, until the year 1869, when he was succeeded by Henry S. Evans. This gentleman managed the paper un- til the campaign of 1870 opened, when he was replaced by that " prince of good fellows," Ben. A. Smith. This gentle- man surrounded himself with the best local writers of the party, and made a good paper of the Pioneer until 1874, when he disposed of the entire office to Dr. T. H. Harrison, its present editor, who has continued the publication of the Pioneer to the present, and has spared no pains to make it an acceptable medium of news to the party and the people of the county. Long may it live.
In the year 1854 the Boone County Ledger was started in Lebanon, as the organ of all voters opposed to the then tri- umphant Democracy. The paper was published by a stock company, with Volney B. Oden and David M. Burns as its first editors. They were afterwards succeeded by one Edward
.
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Bell, a practical printer and a forcible writer. Mr. Bell made a satisfactory paper to his party, but managed the business department in such a way as to make himself a costly " Inxury," and in a short time the entire office was sold to. parties in Danville and removed to that place, where its pub- lication was continued as the Hendricks County Ledger, also publishing an edition known as the Boone County Ledger to fill out the time of all subscriptions to the Boone County concern.
The next paper published in Lebanon by the Republicans was the Expositor, which flourished for about three years, under the management, first of W. H. Smith, then of Asa P. Taft, a scholarly gentleman.
About the year 1860, Joseph W. Jackson, who had been publishing a paper at Thorntown (the Thorntown Evening Mail), removed his office to Lebanon and published it as the Indiana Mail, which he continued to edit for some two or- three years, when, if the writer is not mistaken, what was left of the defunct Expositor and Mr. Jackson's paper, were pur- chased by John H. and James Hendricks, who adopted the name of the Lebanon Patriot for the paper they published.
These gentlemen were succeeded by T. H. B. McCain, as editor, whose entire office was destroyed by fire in March, 1886. Rising from the ashes, the Patriot was continued by Mr. McCain for a short time, when he disposed of it to D. E. Caldwell, who introduced many " city airs," such as a steam press, etc., into the office of his valuable paper. The Patriot has since been edited by various parties, prominent among whom may be mentioned M. M. Manner and W. O. Darnall, J. A. Abbott and S. L. Hamilton, J. A. Abbott and D. H. Olive, W. C. Gerard, Charles E. Wilson, Jacob Keiser, and its present thorough-going and aggressive editors and propri- etors, Messrs. S. J. Thompson & Son. May it continue to prosper and lend its influence toward building up the best of conuties, glorious old Boone.
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OTHER PAPERS AT LEBANON.
Numerous other newspaper efforts have been made at Leb- anon, such as the Jaw Breaker, Night Hawk, and Swamp Angel, which each flourished for a time, by R. C. Kise, when he was as a boy serving his time on the Pioneer ; also the Daily Times, by John C. Taylor, which he published for a short time while he was engaged on one of the other leading papers. After the Pioneer went to sleep, during the late. war, W. A. Tipton and some other parties started the Democrat and tried to make it go, but it never succeeded beyond infancy. Ben. A. Smith returned to Lebanon in 1875 or '76 and started a paper called the Democrat, but as the party refused to recognize any paper as organ outside of the Pioneer, he was soon compelled to remove his paper to another field.
About the year 1878, the " National," or "Greenback " party started an organ in Lebanon, known as the Greenbacker, which was successfully edited by C. M. Wyncoop, H. H. Hacker, Charles Norris and Charles Calvert, the latter chang- ing the name of the paper to the Lebanon Bee, and finally removing the office and all.to Kansas.
Three years since, E. G. Darnall founded the Lebanon Mercury, an "independent " newspaper, with which he con- tinued dosing this people for eighteen months, when he sold out paper and good will to Rev. C. B. Mock who continues gathering in the shekels from the same.
About the year 1858, Joseph W. Jackson started a weekly paper, The Thorntown Evening Mail, at this place, which he continued for some two years, receiving a liberal support for most of the time ; but thinking there was a good opening at Lebanon for his paper he removed his office to that place.
F. B. Rose started a paper, we think the Thorntown Com- mercial, about the year 1872, and continued its publication for a very short time. He was succeeded by L. B. Kramer, who edited the Register until some time in 1873. His successor was N. C. A. Rayhouser, who ran the Messenger for a season. F.
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B. Rose edited the Independent, and was followed by Messrs. Gault & Runyan, who made their paper, the Leader, an ac- ceptable medium of news to that enterprising people.
S. W. Fergusson edited the Argus, and being of a fiery na- ture the paper soon partook of his disposition ; it was dis- posed of to Messrs. Darrough & Crouch, and they were soon followed by C. W. Hazelrigg. Charlie published a good paper while he was editor.
F. B. Rose succeeded Mr. Hazelrigg and continued the Argus about two years, when he sold out the concern to Rev. C. B. Mock, who remained as editor nearly two years and then disposed of the office to F. B. Rose, who now has the Argus established upon a solid business-like basis and is enjoying a fine patronage.
The Zionsville Times has been edited by the following named gentlemen : A. G. Alcott, who made it very newsy ; W. F. Morgan, afterwards County Recorder ; John S. Grieves, a young printer, who was well qualified for the position, but could not content himself long in one place, and the present enterprising editor, Cal. Gault, who is publishing one of the best papers our county possesses.
John Messler and Will Eagle started the Commercial about the year 1872, and made a very sprightly paper of it for a short time, but were stranded on a chattel mortgage and com- pelled to surrender the office to their sureties. F. B. Rose followed them as editor for a short season, and then took the office to Thorntown.
G. W. Corbin edited Nip and Tuck, the Northern World and Temperance Tribune. A. S. Clements was editor of the Tribune; also W. C. Brown made a newsy paper of the Trib- une, but it remained for the present editor, that veteran jour- nalist, G. W. Snyder, to bring order out of chaos, and make a really first-class paper at Jamestown. Such is the Tribune of to-day.
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