USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Early reminiscences of Indianapolis, with short biographical sketches of its early citizens, and a few of the prominent business men of the present day > Part 10
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The guests had began to arrive, and while the landlord was in "t'other house," as the second cabin was called, my father (having been educated in a different school of etiquette from that of Mr. Wyant) thought it but politeness to invite Mrs. Wyant with him to open and put the ball in motion, which she gracefully accepted, and they were, with others, going it in fine style when the landlord returned. He at once com- manded the music (which was being drawn from the bowels
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of a dilapidated looking fiddle by the late Colonel A. W. Rus- sell) to stop, which order was instantly obeyed.
Mr. Wyant said, that " as far as himself and wife were con- cerned, they were capable of and able to do their own dane- ing, and that he thought it would look better for every man to dance with his own wife; those that had no wife could dance with the 'gals.'" This order, as far as Mr. and Mrs. Wyant were concerned, was strictly adhered to and faithfully carried out the balance of the night. When the guests were ready to leave, at dawn of day, Mr. and Mrs. Wyant were still " bobbing around " together, oblivious to surrounding circumstances, and seemed highly delighted with each other's society.
The second marriage in the "new purchase " was early in the year 1822, that of Uriah Gates to Miss Patsy Chiun, daughter of Thomas Chinn, Esq. Mr. Chinn lived on the north bank of Pogue's creek, near the residence of the late Governor Noble; he lived in a " double cabin," one of which was very large, the other was of the ordinary size, about eigh- teen by twenty feet square. In the latter room was a dirt floor; in this room the dinner table was made the day preced- ing the wedding. The table was made by driving forked poles into the ground of sufficient height and number; on these upright poles others were laid the length of the room ; on these last poles puncheons were laid crosswise, which cou- stituted the table.
The invited guests began to arrive on the morning of the wedding about nine o'clock ; the large cabin was being pretty well filled ; the elder ladies came for the purpose of assisting Mrs. Chinn in the culinary department, the younger ones for dancing, so soon as the marriage ceremony should be per- formed. As the two rooms were already occupied, the bride had to make her toilet in the smoke house, where she re- ceived the bridegroom and his retinne.
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Incidents of 1821 and 1822.
About half past ten o'clock they were seen winding their way up the bank of Pogue's creek, and met the bride and her next friend in the house indicated above.
About eleven o'clock, and after it was known that the 'Squire had arrived, they came forth from the smoke house and went to the large cabin, where they were made man and wife with the shortest number of words the 'Squire had at his command to perform the ceremony.
Then the older guests and the bride and groom were invi- ted to the dinner cabin. As I was more deeply interested in this part of the programme I went along as a spectator and to reconnoiter, and to take a peep at the good things in store for me at the proper time.
On either end of the table was a large, fat wild turkey, still hot and smoking as when taken from the clay oven in which they were roasted ; in the middle of the table and midway between the turkeys was a fine saddle of venison, part of a buek killed the day before by Mr. Chinn expressly for the occasion. The spaces between the turkeys and venison were filled with pumpkin, chicken and various other kinds of pies ; from the side-table or puncheon Mrs. Chinn, assisted by the old ladies, was issuing coffee, which was taken from a large sugar-kettle that was hanging over the fire; by the side of the tin coffee pot on this side table was a large tin pan filled with maple sugar, and a gallon pitcher of delicious cream.
Although there was no great display of silver or China ware on that rude table, there was all that the most fastidious appetite could desire, and even at this day it might be con- sidered " a dainty dish to set before a king." The dessert and pastry was got up without the aid of a "French cook." Such was the first fashionable wedding-dinner in Indianapolis.
While the first party invited to the table were engaged in stowing away its contents and complimenting the bride and
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Early Reminiscences.
groom, those in the marriage room were "tripping the light fantastic toe " to the tune of " Leather Breeches."
After the bride and groom had left the table they were in - vited to join in (as Beau Hickman would say) the festivities of the occasion. The bridegroom excused himself, as he had no "ear for music or foot for dancing, but was ready for fun in any other shape that might be offered."
The dancing was continued for two days and nights after the wedding. I remember that my father and mother came home after daylight the second day, slept until the afternoon, then went back and put in another night.
It may be proper to say that farmer Tom Johnson was conspicuous among the guests at this wedding, and never did his curls that hung down on his cheeks, and his white linen pantaloons with black ribbon drawstrings at the bottom, tied in a bow knot, appear to a better advantage than they did on this occasion ; although Tom had not yet seen a " Purranner," he seemed to enjoy the music and dancing.
Mr. Gates died but a few years since ; he was the father of Mr. John Gates, the well known and popular blacksmith of our city.
On the morning of the fourth of July, 1822, my father's family was aroused before daylight by persons hallooing in front of our door. It turned out to be Captain James Richey, who lived near the Bluffs, and a young man and lady that had placed themselves under the Captain's charge and ran away from obdurate parents for the purpose of being married. Mr. Richey was not slow in making known to my father what they wanted, and intimated that, "what it were well to do, 'twere well it were done quickly." He and my father soon found the county clerk (the venerable James M. Ray) at Carter's Rosebush Tavern, and procured the necessary legal document, and the services of Judge Wm. W. Wick, and before break- fast the two were made one.
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Incidents of 1821 and 1822.
They had scarcely arose from the breakfast table before the young lady was confronted by her angry father. Captain Richey informed him that he was just a few minutes too late, and that he had not lost "a darter," as he supposed, but had gained a son, and that when old Jim Richey undertook to do anything, he did it with all his might, and accomplished his object.
The parties were reconciled and invited to attend the bar- becue and ball that was to take place that day, which they did.
This was the first fourth of July celebration in Indianap- olis ; the barbecue was in the middle of Washington street, just west of the Canal. A fine buck had been killed the day before by Robert Harding, and was roasted whole, and was partaken of by the entire population of the town and sur- rounding country.
After dinner the people were entertained by a teamster from Dayton, Ohio, who dressed himself in fantastic or clownish style, singing comic songs and in various other ways amusing the people. This was the first clown that performed in pub- lic in this place, although we have had them by hundreds since in our legislative halls, courts of justice, and political conventions.
Soon after the clown was through with his performance the dancing commenced in a large, unfinished frame building on the north side of Washington street, near where the barbecue was, and continued until some time on the fifth. This was the first public dinner and ball in Indianapolis.
In writing these incidents my object is to show the great difference, and contrast the customs of the early citizens of this place with those of the present day, and the variety of character found among the early citizens.
I have recurred so often lately to those early scenes in the history of this city, that it has led me to ask myself the ques-
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Early Reminiscences.
tion and inquire where was there contentment and true happi- ness found if not in the pioneers of Indianapolis ?
There was no finely decorated halls then as now, no cornet or fine string bands to pour fourth their melodious strains of music, no fine carriages, with drivers in livery, to take the ladies to the dance, no kid gloves or paper-collared gentlemen to help them in and out of the carriage, no white-aproned servants to hand them the iced custards and creams.
They were content then to dance in the log cabin, on a pun- cheon floor ; were glad of an opportunity of listening to the musical strains of Champ Helvey, drawn from a three-string fiddle ; were happy to be able to walk to the place barefoot and save their shoes for dancing; they were rejoiced to meet Tom Johnson there with his beautiful curls and white pants ; and when they were hungry were able to help themselves to the chicken pie or roast venison.
Then, when merry autumn came with its profusion of mel- low richness, its luxuriant and happy associations, and above all, the bountiful supply of the productions of the soil to gladden the hearts of man and beast, would the hardy pio- neers assemble together, and, with their families, celebrate the end of the summer's toil and labor in the manner des- cribed in this sketch.
These cabins were scattered over a radius of two miles, and their location was only known to the weary traveler as he journeyed along the lonely Indian trace, by the slowly and lazily rising wreaths of blue smoke that here and there curled above the trees of the dense forests that once stood where now stands this beautiful city. This was all that marked the presence of man.
I would ask the " old settlers " of Indianapolis, especially those that were here at the time I am writing of, were not these primitive their happiest days in this city ?
Since I commenced writing these sketches I have been, in
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Wilkes Reagan.
imagination, carried back so often to those days that I have wished myself a boy again.
" When bright dreams of my childhood, fair scenes of my youth, So laden with visions of friendship and truth ; And when come the dark hours of sadness and pain, There memory illumes my pathway again."
WILKES REAGAN
Was the first man that essayed to carry on the butchering bu- siness in Indianapolis, or to offer fresh meat for sale in a pub- lie market. His slaughter house was on the bank of Pogue's Creek, between New Jersey and East streets; it was without floor, roof, or sides, and consisted of two posts, about twelve feet long, planted upright in the ground, and about seven feet apart; two others running from the top of the first to the ground, slanting or obliquely ; between these posts he would kill the bullock or beef, and when ready for hoisting, with the aid of two forked poles and his neighbors, would push it up the slanting poles for cooling preparatory for market.
Mr. Reagan slaughtered but once a week, and in the sum- mer time would have to select very small animals, lest a por- tion should remain on hand, after the market was supplied, and spoil; the hide and tallow was the only portion that would command cash ; the fore quarter was sold at from one to one and a half cents, and the hind quarter at from one and a half to two cents per pound on credit, and the way those bills were paid was in stock for slaughter, such as the custo- mer might have to dispose of; for instance, if a bill should be seventy-five cents or one dollar, it would require a sheep to liquidate the debt; if from one fifty to two dollars and fifty cents, it would take a good sized, fat hog; if from three to four dollars, a young steer or heifer; and if it should have run up to six or eight dollars, a large cow or bullock " would fill the bill."
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Early Reminiscences.
In this way did Mr. Reagan carry on the butchering busi- ness for several years, using less money in one year than either H. D. Davis, of the Union Meat Market, Andy Gass, Richard Essick, or the Messrs. Roos would in one day at the present time.
In the winter season he would have shooting matches. The beef would be put up at so much a shot for first choice of the quarters, there being five quarters to a beef, the hide and tal- low constituting the fifth, and always the first choice. A win- ner would often put up the same quarter to be shot for again, unless it should be the fifth ; and not unfrequently after shoot- ing all day for a beef, the butcher would have the largest por- tion of it at night ready for the morning market, and would appear with it at his shed on the northwest corner of Wash- ington and Delaware streets, with his books, ready to supply his customers on credit, at prices and payable as above stated.
In after years the worthy butcher added to his business that of magistrate, and dispensed justice with as much alac- rity as he ever dispatched a bullock, never failing to find so much for plaintiff, and costs, as was the wont and practice of our early justices of the peace, thereby increasing litigation and business for themselves-unlike my Teuton friend and magistrate, Charles Coulon, in assault and battery cases fine both parties, and costs accordingly.
Mr. Reagan removed from this place to Evansville, where some of his children yet reside.
JOHN W. REDDING
Was a large, fine-looking man, and a pompous Kentuckian, full of braggadocio, frequently using language that neither himself nor any one else understood the application he in- tended, although found in the English "vocabulary."
He was a candidate for clerk of the county at the first elec - tion in 1822, and was a standing candidate for years for any
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John W. Redding.
office that might be to fill by the people ; he was a member of the Baptist church, and would not think he was violating any of his religious obligations if, on public occasions, he should take " a drop too much," and would frequently do so when the occasion was not so public.
Doctor L. Dunlap had a patient at his house, which was directly at the south-east end of Virginia avenue. The Doc- tor had visited his patient late in the evening and had almost despaired of his recovery, but requested Mr. Redding to call at his office in the morning and let him know how his patient was.
Accordingly, Mr. Redding called at the Doctor's office the next morning and said that " after he left the evening before the patient threw up from the concavity of his stomach a concave three inches in length, and from that moment he re- lapsed and was much better, and that his body congealed sweat until the bed was wet with the water that was exhausted from his system."
Mr. Redding was among the first to volunteer in the defense of his country in that terrible campaign of the " bloody three hundred " in 1832, and afforded a great deal of fun for his comrades by his high-flown language in military parlance.
As far as the acquaintances of Mr. Redding were concerned they were willing to bury his faults with him; they were ra- ther of the head than the heart, and there were none to har- bor malice against him after death.
After his death, which occurred about the year 1836, his family returned to Kentucky. The farm he owned has lately been sold for near one thousand dollars per acre, which was purchased by Wm. S. Hubbard and others, with the intention of making an addition to the city.
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Early Reminiscences.
OBED FOOTE.
This eccentric gentleman was a native of the State of Dela- ware, a lawyer by profession, though he did but little in that line after he came to this place, except as a justice of the peace. He became a citizen of Indianapolis late in the fall of 1821. He was then a single man, but on the bachelor order, and kept " Bachelor's Hall " for some years. He re- sided on the north side of Washington, east of the alley, be- tween Delaware and Pennsylvania streets.
Soon after he was eligible he was elected a magistrate, which office he held until he died, September, 1833.
On one occasion he was ploughing in his corn field, in the north part of the donation, when a couple came to him and wished him to go to his office for the purpose of uniting them in marriage. He inquired if they had the license with them, and being answered in the affirmative, he called a man who was ploughing in an adjoining field as a witness ; he then or- dered the bride and groom to stand up in the fence corner, and there he performed the ceremony; after which he gave instructions to the groom more pointed than classic.
Mr. Foote was a man of more than ordinary native, as well as acquired ability, and possessed a large fund of general in- formation.
His first wife was the eldest daughter of Luke Walpole ; they had one child, a son, who is named for the father ; he now resides in Paris, Illinois. His second wife was a widow Davis. They also had one child, a daughter, who is now the wife of Mr. Frederick Baggs, a gentleman well known in the business and social circles of this city.
Mrs. Baggs is the half or step-sister of Mrs. McCready, wife of James McCready, once the Mayor of this city.
Mr. Foote died in the prime of life, and long before this city assumed to be anything more than a country village.
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Hon. William W. Wick.
IION. WILLIAM W. WICK,
The first judge of the Fifth (this) Judicial Circuit, was a Pennsylvanian by birth and education, but had lived a short time at Connersville, in Fayette County, previous to coming to this place in February, 1822.
Judge Wiek was a tall, fine-looking man in his younger days, as straight as an arrow, firm, elastic step, large, full eye, hair as black as a raven, dark complexion, very neat in his dress, his whole contour was that of a gentleman, and denoted intelligence of a superior order.
As a judge he was popular with the bar, and they are sup- posed to be the proper judges of that qualification. As a law- yer he also stood high; and as a man, was respected by his neighbors and acquaintances.
He served several years as judge of this district, during which time he was elected Brigadier General of the State Mi- litia, then Prosecuting Attorney, one term as Secretary of State, and to represent this Congressional District in 1840, and it was during the delivery of a speech while a member of this Congress he pledged himself to eat a horse should Indi- ana vote for General Harrison-this pledge he never kept, as the writer of these sketches won a fancy horse on that elec- tion and tendered the judge for the purpose of redeeming his pledge ; but he declined, as the kind I offered was not in- tended by him, being rather tough.
He was also a member of Congress during the last two years of Mr. Polk's administration, and Postmaster of this city during the entire term of President Pierce, which I think was the last official position he held. The last few years of his life he resided with his daughter at Franklin, in Johnson County, where he died in the year 1868. He left many friends throughout the entire State, and no enemies. In all the rela- tions of life Judge Wick was kind and affable.
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Early Reminiscences.
HARVEY BATES,
The first Sheriff of Marion County, was a native of Cincin- nati, Ohio, born in that place when it was called Fort Wash- ington, in the year 1795. His father was "Master of Trans- portation," during the Indian War, under Generals Wayne and Harmar, and chiefly engaged in forwarding provisions and munitions of war from the frontier posts to the army in the wilderness.
At that time it was an unbroken wilderness from " Old Fort Washington " (now Cincinnati) to Detroit, in Michigan Ter- ritory.
When Mr. Bates was quite young, not more than five or six years of age, he lost his mother ; his father married again' and he, failing (as most children do) to find a true one in the person of the step-mother, left the paternal roof and launched his bark npon the broad ocean of life, as it were, without sail or rudder.
At the age of six years he went to Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, where he met with friends and received a fair English education, at least sufficient to fit and qualify him for the or- dinary pursuits of life at that early day.
About the time that he had attained his majority he came to Brookville, Franklin County, where he met with and was married to Miss Sidney Sedgwick, a cousin of General James Noble, United States Senator, and the late Governor Noah Noble, and thus far, like John Anderson and his worthy spouse, have have glided down the stream of time together. At Brookville, in 1816, he cast his first vote for a delegate to form a constitution for the new State of Indiana.
Soon after Mr. B.'s marriage he removed to Connersville, where he remained until February, 1822, when he came to where this city now stands.
Jonathan Jennings, who was the first Governor after the
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Harvey Bates.
State was admitted into the Union, had appointed William W. Wick President Judge of this (the fifth) Judicial District, and Harvey Bates Sheriff of Marion County, which then em- braced several of the surrounding counties for judicial pur- poses, investing Mr. Bates with the power of putting the ne- cessary legal machinery of the county in motion.
This he did by issuing a proclamation for an election to be held on the first day of April for the purpose of electing a clerk of the court and other county officers, which was the first election of any kind held in the " new purchase."
At the October election Mr. Bates was chosen and elected sheriff for the regular term of two years, after which he re- fused to be a candidate again. He did not seem to partake of the love of office, or had not the taste for public prefer- ment thas was peculiar to others hailing from the same sec- tion he did.
After the term of office for which he was elected expired, he entered into mercantile and other pursuits more congenial to his feelings. In all his business enterprises he brought great energy and industry, which is very nearly always re- warded by success, as was the case with him. He seemed to think with Richelieu, and acted upon the principle that "In the bright lexicon of youth there was no such word as fail." He possessed in an eminent degree the main springs to pros- perity and success-integrity, industry and economy-without which but few succeed.
Mr. Bates was the first and for ten years President of the " Branch of the State Bank," located in this place, and no institution of the kind, either in or out of the State, was more successful, not only for the bank, but beneficial to the busi- ness and trading part of the community while under his man- agement. Indeed it was through the help and assistance of the Bank that most of the surplus produce of this and several of the adjoining counties was able to reach a market. I have
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Early Reminiscences.
known that bank to withhold discounts from our merchants and best business men of the city that they might be the more able to accommodate the produce dealers, and thereby assist the farmer, keep the money in the hands of our own citizens and benefit the whole country. This wise and judicious course of the bank, of which he was the principal, was a lasting ben- efit to the producers of the county, which should long be re- membered by them.
He was instrumental in getting up the first insurance com- pany, a stockholder in the first hotel built by a company, the first railroad that was finished to this place, the first and only gas light and coke company, and indeed nearly every public enterprise of the city.
In 1852 he commenced, and afterwards finished, that large and palatial hotel, the " Bates House," at that time one of the finest in the West. This house was built at a cost of sixty thousand dollars, subsequent improvements making the whole cost seventy-five thousand dollars, and could not be built at this time for much less than double that amount.
There are many other business and private buildings scat- tered throughout the city that own their existence to the en- ergy and means of Mr. Bates.
He has ever been a liberal contributor to our religious and benevolent institutions ; was a warm friend of Henry Ward Beecher during his residence in this city and in his less pros- perous days.
He is now in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and is yet quite active for one of his years, retaining a great deal of his youthful vivacity and sprightliness, and manifests a disposi- tion to make all about him feel the same way.
A few months since he and his estimable lady celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, or "Golden Wed- ding ;" may they live to celebrate the seventy-fifth, or " Dia- mond Wedding," is the sincere wish of their numerous friends
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Douglass Maguire.
and acquaintances, and "may I be there to see " them, like John Anderson and his worthy lady.
" Now we maun tother down, John, but hand in hand we'll go, And we'll sleep thegither at the foot, John Anderson, my Jo."
DOUGLASS MAGUIRE,
In connection with Harvey Gregg, started the second news- paper in this place, in March, 1823. He had come out from Kentucky the year before, and in the spring the first number of the " Western Censor and Emigrant's Guide " was issued from a house belonging to Mr. Gregg, on the west side of the alley on the north side of Washington, between Meridian and Pennsylvania streets.
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