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 8
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One Pete Harmon was the proprietor of four yoke of oxen and two log-sleds, which he used for hauling saw-logs to the mill. The sleds Mr. Cox attached together in such a way that a platform was built on them to accommodate the whole society, who were dressed in all kinds of fantastic style that fancy or convenience might dictate, and with everything con- ceivable that would make a loud and disagreeable noise- strings of tin cups, horns, cow-bells, drums, tin pans and ket- tles-and to the sleds the four yoke of oxen were hitched. On the near steer of each yoke was a driver, dressed in a sim- ilar manner to the performers on the platform. In this way they left the store of Mr. Jacob Landis, about nine o'clock at night, and, after visiting the various hotels and boarding- houses, where members of the Legislature did mostly congre- gate, and performing at each place upon their instruments, returned to the place of starting, where a bountiful supply of Mr. Landis' staple article, "peach and honey," awaited them.
While Mr. Blake was supervisor of the roads, he had some men at work on Meridian street, in Pogue's Creek bottom, among whom was Mr. Cox. Mr. Blake, missing him from work, sought and found him sitting in the shade on the bank of the creek, with a sewing-thread and pin-hook, fishing for minnows.
Mr. Cox was a singular and erratie man, possessed a gener- ous and kind heart, and was universally respected. He died
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Samuel Henderson.
about the year 1850, leaving a wife and a respectable family of children, all of whom yet reside in the city.
SAMUEL HENDERSON,
The first postmaster, was a Kentuckian. He came to this place in the fall of 1821. Like one or two other of the early settlers, his services were considered more valuable in any other way than at house-raisings or log-rollings. He was a large, fleshy man, and could not have been very serviceable in that way had he been so disposed.
He held the offie of postmaster until the summer of 1829, when he was removed by General Jackson, and Captain John Cain appointed as. his successor.
Mr. Henderson, in connection with Mr. James Blake, built Washington Hall tavern, in 1824, and they kept it for some time as partners, Mr. Blake selling out to Mr. Hender -. son, who kept it as sole proprietor for many years. He, in 1835, sold it to the Washington Hall Company, who built ad- ditions to it, and it was kept many years by Mr. Edmund Browning, and was the principal hotel in the place. It then changed hands and name, and was kept by General Elliott as the Wright House. It was also kept by the late Henry Achy, and others, and was always a first-class hotel for Indi- anapolis. It has been remodeled, and is now known as " Glenn's Block," or "The New York Store."
He was the first Mayor of Indianapolis, and discharged the duties quite as well as any have since at much larger salaries than he received, and with quite as much dignity and satis- faction to the public.
Mr. Henderson owned and, for a time, lived on the quarter section of land a portion of which is now "Camp Morton," or the State Fair grounds. He also owned the residence of the late Judge McDonald.
About the time the various railroads that center to this
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Early Reminiscences.
city were being built, Mr. Henderson became alarmed as to the future of Indianapolis, and sold the two pieces of property last named for less than one-tenth their present value.
I saw him in Washington City, en route for his present home, California. He expressed the opinion that the general railroad system being inaugurated would ruin this city; that the thousands of persons who passed through it would not stop long enough to get a drink of water, and that Indianap- olis would retrograde, and become nothing but a way station.
Could the worthy old gentleman see it to-day, with its sixty thousand inhabitants, its two magnificent rolling mills, its eight or ten foundrys of different kinds, its various steam establishments, how quick he would see his error.
No man that ever lived in Indianapolis was more re- spected by the old citizens than Samuel Henderson, no man ever left it more regretted by his many friends, and no per- son would meet with a more joyous welcome than he should he visit us again.
He was a man of warm feelings for his friends, and strong prejudices against those he did not like. He was a most in- veterate opponent of General Jackson, and the party that sprung up and supported the measures advocated by him. He was a time-honored patron of the two leading Whig newspapers of their day-the "National Intelligencer," of Washington City, and the "Liberty Hall and Cincinnati Ga- zette "-and would generally sacrifice any other pleasure for that of perusing these papers.
DR. JONATHAN COOL
Was a native of New Jersey, and a classmate of the late Judge Blackford, at Princeton College, where he graduated with high honors.
He studied medicine, and received a diploma at one of the Eastern institutions. Hle was, when very young, appointed
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Dr. Jonathan Cool.
a surgeon in the United States army, and was for some time stationed at the barracks in Newport, Kentucky.
Dr. Cool was a man of fine native as well as acquired abil- ities, but, like many others placed in similar situations, fell a victim to intemperance. The Doctor had descended too far in dissipation to practice after he came to this place. He lived with his mother, about three miles north east of the city. When Dr. Cool first came here, in 1821, Dr. Coe was the only physician well enough to practice, the the three other doctors, Mitchell, Dunlap and Scudder, being all sick and unable to render any assistance whatever. Dr. Cool soon made the discovery that Dr. Coe gave very large doses of medicine, and it was true. Dr. Coe went on the principle that if a "little was good, a great deal was better," and acted upon that hypothesis. This fact elicited from Dr. Cool this couplet :
" Oh, Doctor Coe, oh, Doctor Coe, What makes you dose your patients so?"
There was no person better known to the citizens, from 1821 to 1840 (about the time of his death), than Doctor Jon- athan Cool. He was very fond of quoting from the poets, and ever had a quotation at the end of his tongue to illus- trate anything he said. He was, I suppose, one of the most gentlemanly drinking men we have ever had in the place, never using vulgar language under any circumstance. If he would borrow anything it would be with the understanding that it was never to be returned. His word he valued very highly, and on no occasion would he violate it. He went to a liquor store on a Saturday evening and asked for a bottle of whisky, which was given him, on condition that he would not open it until he reached his mother's spring. After arriving at the spring he cooled his mouth with water, and prepared for a "good jorum," as he expressed it, but found the bottle
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Early Reminiscences.
contained only water. After this he never went to that store again, and they lost his custom.
There was nothing they could have done to him that would make him so angry as to deceive him. He made it a point of honor never to deceive any person, no matter how much he needed a drink or anything else. Some persons, who stand high in the social scale, might have learned a les- son from him in that respect that would be valuable to them.
The old citizens will recognize in this one of his oft-re- peated quotations :
" Just like love is yonder rose, Heavenly fragrance round it glows, But underneath a briar grows- Just like love."
DR. ISAAC COE.
The memory of this man should ever be revered by the early citizens of Indianapolis, especially by those who were here or had friends here in that ever memorable year of sick- ness and death, 1821. He came to this place in May of that year, and was the only physician able to render any assistance to the people during the two months of sickness, August and September.
The Doctor had brought a large supply of Peruvian bark and wine, which was the only thing with which he could con- quer the fever and ague. Had it not been for his un- tiring services the mortality of that year would have been much greater. He could be seen at almost any time of night dodging through the woods (in his gig, and by the light of his lantern), from one cabin to another, administering to the sick in other ways as well as giving medicine.
After the sickness had abated he was prominent in for- warding and promoting the interests of the settlers in other ways. He was active with Messrs. Ray and Blake in organ-
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Morris Morris.
izing the first Sabbath-school, the first church and the first Bible society.
Dr. Coc was, for several years, one of the three fund com- missioners of the State, in connection with the late Caleb B. Smith, and Samuel Hanna, of Fort Wayne.
He was a native of the State of New Jersey, and, as above stated, came to this place in May, 1821. He first settled on the bank of Fall Creek, just below where the Crawfordsville State road crosses that stream, and lived there several years. He then bought a lot, and built a house on Circle street, about equi-distant between the "Journal " buildings and Christ (Episcopal) Church, where he remained during his residence in this city.
Dr. Coe was ever active in all benevolent or charitable as- sociations calculated to benefit the poor and unfortunate, without regard to their religion.
The few years previous to his death he spent in some por- tion of the West with his friends. His remains were brought to Indianapolis for interment, and now rest in Crown Hill Cemetery.
" Here will I rest, until the day declines, A voiceless pilgrim toward the land of song, And, like a sentinel, the herald signs Of him whose coming hath been stayed too long."
MORRIS MORRIS
Was from Carlisle, Nicholas County, Kentucky. He and his eldest son, Austin, had come to the bluffs of White River in 1821, and put in a crop of four acres of corn.
At the sale of land in Brookville, in July, he purchased a quarter section that lay about a mile from the donation, and adjoining the sixteenth section that had been reserved for school purposes, and on the west side of the river.
To this land he moved his family about the first of Octo- ber, and a few days before the first sale of lots. Soon after
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Early Reminiscences.
he settled in his new home his whole family were taken sick with chills and fever. This discouraged him very much, so much so that he wished to return to Kentucky, and would have done so had not Mrs. Morris opposed it, and to her In- dianapolis is indebted for what afterwards turned out to be several of its most valuable citizens. Mr. Morris brought the corn he had raised at the bluffs to within a mile of his house in a boat.
He was a candidate for clerk of the county at the first elec- tion, held in April, 1822, and was defeated by the "in yonder on Whitewater " vote, which outnumbered that of the Ken- tuckians.
He represented this county several years in the Legisla- ture, and was afterwards elected Auditor of State, and served two or three terms. He made a very efficient and popular officer.
His family consisted of six children when he first came to the new purchase, four sons, Austin, Milton, Thomas and John, and two daughters, Amanda and Julia, to which was added, after they came here, Elizabeth and William.
Austin was for many years, and up to the time of his death, in 1851, a leading man and a successful politician, and en- joyed the confidence of his (Whig) party to a great extent. I believe his first office was that of colonel of militia. He represented the county several times in the Legislature. He was an enthusiastic member of the Methodist Church, and a devoted Christian.
Milton was for several years a clerk for the late Nicholas McCarty, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Covington, Fountain County, and was quite successful. He died in the South many years since, where he had gone with several boats laden with produce.
The third son we have now in the person of Gen. Thomas A. Morris, one of our most prominent men. He was a grad-
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Morris Morris.
uate of West Point, but resigned to follow pursuits more con- genial to his taste. While he was in the army he was consid- ered one of the best disciplinarians in it, as he is now one of the most skillful of civil engineers. He was for many years employed on the public works of the State, was chief engi- neer on the Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railroad, and has had some connection with nearly all the roads centering to this city, and is at this time President of the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railway, which is being constructed under his su- pervision. In the carly part of the rebellion he rendered signal service in Western Virginia for which others got the credit. He was tendered a prominent position in the army but declined (as I understand), because the Government had not properly appreciated his services already rendered.
John D. Morris, the fourth son, has for several years been engaged in the freight office of the Cincinnati and Indianap- olis Railroad, and to him the writer is indebted for having stood by him at a very trying time, and he takes this occa- sion to return him thanks, after twenty-nine years, for the prompt manner in which he performed his part. True, he made a slight mistake at the altar in handing the minister the money instead of the legal document.
Amanda was the wife of one of our leading physicians, Dr. John L. Mothershead. She has been dead several years, and so has William, the youngest child.
Julia is the wife of Mr. Ross, formerly superintendent of the Cincinnati Railroad, but now engaged in one of the de- partments at Washington.
Elizabeth is the wife of John D. Defrees, for several years Superintendent of Public Printing at Washington, and for many years editor of the Indianapolis "Journal," and a leading Whig politician of Indiana. It is to John D. De- frees that the present Vice President of the United States is indebted for his high position, and, as the New York "Tri-
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Early Reminiscenses.
bune" remarked in regard to Grant and Rawlings, so with Colfax and Defrees: had there been no John D. Defrees there would have been no Vice President Colfax.
Mr. Morris had the faculty of holding on to the city prop- erty which he bought at an early day, and which now consti- tutes the finest business property in the city. He owned the entire square north of and adjoining the Union Depot, which made his heirs quite wealthy.
When Mr. Morris first came to Indianapolis our parents were known only as " dad and mam," or "pap and mammy," but we soon learned to call them "pa and ma," from Mr. M.'s children.
His house was ever the home of ministers of all denomina- tions, among whom was numbered, as the particular friend of Mr. M., the late James Havens. Mr. and Mrs. Morris were, from time immemorial, called, by both old and young, Pa and Ma Morris. At the time of Mrs. Morris' death, which oc- curred in 1864, they lacked but one month of having lived together sixty years-an ordinary lifetime. He died in 1867, at the ripe age of eighty-three.
" Howe'er it be, it seems to me, 'Tis only noble to be good ;
Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood."
DR. SAMUEL G. MITCHELL
Was the first physician who came to Indianapolis, in April, 1821. He was from Paris, Kentucky. He first built a hewed log house on the southwest corner of Washington and Tennessee ssreets, where the State offices now stand. He then bought the lot, and built a frame house, on the north- west corner of Washington and Meridian streets, where the " Bee Hive " store now stands. At the latter place he lost his wife and only child. This bereavement he never got over until his death. He was a large, fleshy man, and, like that
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Jerry Collins.
kind of men generally, was very good-natured. He possessed many fine traits of character, and was noted for his hospital- ity and liberality. I do not think he was considered as good a physician as either of the other three physicians of that time.
He brought with him the first colored person that came to Indianapolis, a boy about fifteen years old, named Ephraim Ensaw. This boy took advantage of the Doctor's good na- ture and kindness, and became so bad that the Doctor had to get rid of him.
The Doctor had a stroke of palsy, and became paralyzed. He was taken by his friends to Ohio, and there died about the year 1837. He was a brother-in-law of Samuel Henderson, the first postmaster, and father-in-law of Henry Porter, a prominent merchant of his day.
JERRY COLLINS,
Or "Uncle Jerry," as he was familiarly called by the lovers of the ardent, and especially by his immediate customers, kept a small whisky-shop on the southwest corner of Wash- ington and Meridian streets. He also kept other refresh- ments for his lady customers, such as ginger cakes, smoked herring and spruce beer.
Uncle Jerry was not permitted by law to sell whisky in a less quantity than a quart, and that not to be drank upon his premises. Being a law-abiding man, and to accom- modate his many customers, and more especially those from Waterloo, he had a pump placed on Meridian street, just around the corner from his front door, which could not be construed to be upon his premises.
For the information of those who were not acquainted with Indianapolis at that time, I would say that Waterloo was that portion of the county and river bottom lying between the
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Early Reminiscences.
bluff road and the river, commencing about three miles from town and extending about five miles south.
In Waterloo there were about twenty adult male inhabit- ants, viz : the Mundys, Snows, Tharps, Fanchers, Paddocks, Pressers, and last, but by no means least, were the Ste- phenses, among whom was "Rip-Roaring Bob," as he called himself.
When Waterloo came to town their headquarters was Uncle Jerry's pump. Soon after their arrival you would see one of them go into the shop, and soon return to join his comrades with a quart measure (filled with whisky, the price of which was twelve and a-half cents) in one hand and a small tin cup in the other. The quart cup would make the trip to the shop and return about every half hour, and continue until each and every one had accompanied it at least once, by which time each one would have drank his quart of whisky and contributed his shilling. On public occasions the trips were made in more rapid succession, and about two to each person, when the quantity drank and the money expended would be doubled. It is proper here to say that while the quart measure is making the various trips to and from the shop, if feminine Waterloo should be in town, they would be seated in the shade of the house regaling themselves with ginger cakes, smoked herring and spruce beer.
Then would begin their gymnastic and other performances, under the direction of their leader, "Rip Roaring Bob," and they were generally kept up until the small boys would re- turn from school, and the young men had quit their several avocations for the day. Waterloo would then be invited to leave town, and were generally accompanied on their forced march down Meridian street to the limits of town, and often some distance south of "Pogue's Creek." To accelerate their movement and to assist them along, eggs, brickbats, boulders and other missles were brought into requisition by the assail-
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Hugh O' Neal.
ing party. When the eggs began to fly " fast and furious," and the boulders fell like hail around them, they would re- tire in a very disorganized and demoralized condition. "Rip Roaring Bob " was generally in the rear keeping back the as- sailing party, and covering the retreat of his comrades, while Garrett Presser would be far in advance of his retreating friends, going at the rate of "two-forty" on his little black mare, and Jonathan Paddock would be close at his heels, with his umbrella hoisted to keep off the flying missiles. On one occasion a young man of the town party was some distance in advance of his friends (who had stopped pursuit). "Rip Roaring Bob" was some distance behind his party, and, with his quick perceptibility, soon saw the true situation, and "made for " the young man, who barely escaped Bob's clutches, receiving in his back on his retreat some of the same missles thrown by his own party at Waterloo.
"Rip Roaring Bob" moved from Waterloo to Hamilton County, and became a respectable man, and accumulated a considerable property. The balance of Waterloo has been scattered upon the broad prairies of Missouri, Iowa and Illi- nois, and have no doubt often related to their neighbors their many hair-breadth escapes from, and daring adventures with, the early settlers of Indianapolis.
Jerry Collins and Cader Carter dug the grave of Daniel Shaffer, the first person buried in the old graveyard, in Au- gust, 1821.
Uncle Jerry died of cholera in 1852, and left a fine prop erty to be divided between his nephews and other relatives, he being an old bachelor.
HUGH O'NEAL.
When I attempt to write a short sketch of the career of this noble and generous-hearted young man, and my early schoolmate, the involuntary tear drops on the paper. I am
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Early Reminiscences.
carried back many years to our schoolboy days and childish sports, before our selfish natures had assumed entire control of our actions, and when, if we had a vein of good feeling running through our thought it would not be crushed out by what society would think of our action if we took some fallen young man by the hand and gave him an encouraging word. How many young and promising men have been ruined and lost for the want of some such friend, who undeterred from doing their duty by what society would think of them, instead of frowning upon them for their offense and shunning them as they would a leper, would "con- demn the fault and not the actor of it," and thereby let them know 'twas their fault and not their person they shunned.
Could they only know the heart and secret workings of the tortured mind of those they condemn, how different would they act.
Hugh O'Neal came to this place when a boy, in the year 1821. His father, Thomas O'Neal, lived on and owned the first eighty acres of land north of and adjoining "Camp Mor- ton," where are now the State Fair grounds. He was poor, and could do but little toward the education of his children.
Hugh, being industrious and very energetic, managed to acquire a fair English education, studied law and rose to a respectable position in his profession. No young man in the State bid fairer to rise to eminence and distinction than he did. When the California mania was raging, in 1849, his ambition prompted him to risk his chances for fortune in that golden region, and it was there he fell a victim to that destroying demon (intemperance) that annihilates all that is good and virtuous in our natures, and sends us to an early grave unhonored and unsung. After his return from Califor- nia he did but little business. True, he was successful in some very important cases intrusted to his care, but the love of drink and a disappointed ambition brought him to an early
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Hugh O' Neal.
grave, with but few relatives, though many friends, to drop the sympathetic tear upon his coffin.
In his case I would reverse the quotation so often used from Mark Anthony's oration over the dead body of Cæsar, which reads: "The evil men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." I would say, " The good men do lives after them; the evil is oft interred with their bones." So let it be with Hugh.
Some of the new and present citizens of Indianapolis may ask who was Hugh O'Neal? To such I would say, he was the peer in social standing and superior in talent to many who now stand upon the top round of the ladder in this refined society. He was very irritable, and frequently let his passion get the better of his judgment, and would often make harsh and uncalled for expressions to those he had intercourse with, but was always ready, when the momentary ebullitions of passion were over, to make reparation for anything said or done.
On one occasion he and the late Governor Wallace were op- posing counsel. The Governor rather got the advantage of Hugh, which made him very angry, and he was quite abu- sive, to which the Governor paid no attention, knowing that it would soon be over. After court adjourned, the Governor was passing by the door of a saloon. Hugh was some dis- tance behind. He called out to the Governor to stop. After Hugh came up he said, " Let's take a drink." "Certainly," said the Governor ; " that is the only sensible remark I have heard you make to-day." And all was as well with them as though nothing had happened.
" The social glass I saw him seize, The more with festive wit to please. Daily increased his love of cheer ; Ah, little thought he death was near. Gradual indulgence on him stole ; Frequent became the midnight bowl.
5H
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Early Reminiscences.
'Twas in that bowl the headache placed. Which, with the juice, his lips embraced. Despair next mingled with the draught; Indignantly he drank and laughed."
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