USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Bloomington > Historic treasures: true tales of deeds with interesting data in the life of Bloomington, Indiana University and Monroe County--written in simple language and about real people, with other important things and illustrations > Part 10
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
Mrs. Clark was then asked if she remembered anything important in the life of W. P. Rogers. a Bloomington man who made a great name after leaving this city. He was the hus- band of a sister of the Rev. Thomas J. Clark, and son-in-law to William Clark.
"Yes. I knew him well, and I believe Bloomington never had a more noble citizen. He came from Brown county, out of a home of true worth-where a noble father and mother had loved and reared him, He came to Bloom-
40
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
ington seeking a higher education, for which he had longed. Before his graduation from Indiana University he became a teacher, and his students still speak lovingly of him. He grad- uated from the law school of the Uni- versity, and practiced his chosen pro- fession in Bloomington, later becom- ing dean of the law school of Indiana University.
"I recall that when he was ready to begin practice as attorney-at-law in Bloomington, the young man had either $1.50 or $3 in money, and spent half of this sum for an office table. He became noted as one of the best and cleanest lawyers in the city-a man who was kind and helpful to others, one who helped to make the community a better place in which to live. He was one of the early pro- moters in the development of the stone industry in Monroe county. The last project in which he was active was the organization of the National Stone company, which is still a pros- perous concern.
"Later, Mr. Rogers became dean of the Cincinnati Law School, a position formerly held by ex-President Taft. While in Cincinnati, he became an active worker in the famous "Peace League" movement, just before the world war. After giving up the dean- ship of the Cincinnati school, Mr. Rogers became interested in oil pro- jects, while practicing law in that city. In these oil ventures he was successful, amassing a fortune rated over $1,000,000.
"Much stress is laid on men's suc- cess in making money, but this seems to be but a small thing in the life of W. P. Rogers, compared with his
nobility of character and the good he has done in the world. He died in the Presbyterian hospital of Chi- cago, October 9, 1921, after months of suffering, from which city his body was taken to Cincinnati for burial.
"The success of W. P. Roger's true Christian life may well be an inspir- ation to any young man."
A poem, by Thomas C. Clark, Indi- ana University, '99, son of the late Rev. Thomas J. Clark, '72, and Mrs. Emma R. Clark, '73 (surviving widow whose interview appears above), was read at a meeting in the City Temple of London, England, on November 1, 1918, as "A Message from America to the Allied Nations of Europe." The poem is as follows:
"We are America's men, Strong, forceful, and free. We are America's men, Children of liberty :
Ready to march at the trumpet's call. Ready to fight, ready to fall- And ready to herald, 'Peace for all!' We are America's men,
"We are America's men. Brave, dauntless and true,
We are America's men, Ready to dare and do: Ready to wield the sword with might, Ready the tyrant's brow to smite- And ready to sheathe the sword for Right! We are America's men.
"We are America's men, Loathing the despot's rod. We are America's men, Under the rule of God: Ready to battle giants grim, Ready to fight till day grows dim, But ready to sheathe the sword for Him ! We are America's men.
(Mr. Clark is on the staff of the Christian Century, of Chicago.)
LARGEST MAN IN COUNTY LIVED IN BEAN BLOS- SOM TOWNSHIP-VAN BUSKIRK FAMILY IN EARLY HISTORY
The largest man in Monroe county, and probably in the whole State of Indiana, was David Van Buskirk, and also the tallest. man, as he stood six feet ten inches in his stocking feet and weighed 390 pounds. He was one of the first to enlist in Com- pany F, 27th Indiana Infantry, in July 1861, under Captain Peter Clapp and
Colonel Silas Colgove, who organ- ized the company in Monroe county for the war of Rebellion.
He was engaged in the battle of Winchester, where he was taken pris- oner, being confined in Confederate prisons for about three months, and finally sent to Annapolis, Md., and exchanged. Then he saw action in
the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, besides numerous skir- mishes. Having gone into service with the rating of Second Lieutenant, he was made First Lieutenant upon his return from the southern war prison, his captain having been killed while he was being held prisoner; then, after the battle of Antietan, David Van Buskirk was made captain.
In the fall of 1862 his command was transferred to General Thomas's division, and he continued in active service until April 26, 1864, when he was forced to give up his commission on account of physical disability for further military duty, and returned to the farm in Bean Blossom town- ship, where he again took up farm- ing.
Elected County Treasurer.
Mr. Buskirk (it seems that the family dropped the prefix Van in some manner during the latter part of the nineties) was elected treasurer of Monroe county in 1866-68, on the Republican ticket, and in 1876 made a hot race for election as state treas- urer of Indiana, but was defeated in this campaign, which was the last time he ran for any public office.
David Van Buskirk, was born No- vember 23, 1826, on the farm in Bean Blossom township, Monroe county, which is known as the Buskirk home- stead. He was the oldest of ten child- ren born to James and Mariah (Camp- bell) Van Buskirk, natives of Ohio and Tennessee, and of German and Scotch-Irish descent, respectively. David was reared on this farm, and received a fair education for that early day.
On March 16, 1849, David Van Bus- kirk married Lucy Ann Buskirk, a daughter of Isaac and Patience (Stil- well) Buskirk, of German lineage. By this marriage, six children were born, D. C., J. I., Cinthy (Ridge), John, Thomas and Gety Van Buskirk, On March 16, 1866 the first wife passed from the earthly habitation to the great beyond.
David Van Buskirk next married Mrs. Martha Able, a widow, of Mon- roe county, daughter of Madison and Sarah (Wilborn) Stephenson. To this union two children were born, Mi- chel and Mary Ann Van Buskirk. Again Mr. Van Buskirk was left a widower, his second wife having died February 22, 1873.
Mary Able, sister-in-law to the se- cond wife was taken by Mr. Van Buskirk in marriage on October 26, 1874, as his third wife, to share with him the fruits of life in his last years.
Gave Children Education.
Having never lived at any other place than the farm upon which he was born and reared, except when he was in service, Mr. Van Buskirk proved to be one of the most prosper- ous and progressive citizens of the pioneer days, and took great pride in giving each of his children a college education as well as substantial finan- cial support in starting life. He never completely recovered the rugged health he had enjoyed before entering
41
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
the Civil war, although he was a very large man.
The grandfather of David, named Isaac Van Buskirk, was a soldier of the Revolution, and an uncle, John Van Buskirk, was wounded in the battle of Tipecanoe, during the war of 1812, and his son, Isaac, was killed in the battle of Chancellorsville, hav- ing been a lieutenant in the United States army during the Mexican war, and in the Rebellion.
All these soldiers and their wives are resting in the old family grave- yard, situated on a hill east of the old house on the David Van Bus- kirk farm, and from this spot one may gain a view of the entire sur- rounding country. In late years some have designated this old burying ground which is northeast of Stine- ville, in Bean Blossom township as the "Arlingon Cemetery."
Many descendants of these people are citizens of Monroe county, and traces of the Van Buskirk and Camp- bell blood run in the veins of the most cultured and worthy families of the state at the present time.
IT WAS HARD TO BE GOOD.
Blue laws were more abundant in Connecticut and other New England colonies than anywhere else. Here are a few of the more notable ones:
Married persons must live together or be imprisoned. No man shall court a maid in person or by letter without first obtaining consent of her parents. Five pounds penalty for the first offense, ten pounds for the second and for the third imprisonment during the pleasure of the court.
Whoever sets a fire in the woods and it burns a house shall suffer death. Persons suspected of this crime shall be imprisoned without benefit of bail.
The judge shall determine controver- sies without a jury.
No one shall cross a river, but with an authorized ferryman:
No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath or fasting day.
To pick an ear of corn growing in a neighbor's garden shall be deemed a theft.
Every reliable person who refused to pay his proportion to the support of the minister of the town or parish shall be fined £2 sterling and every parish quarter £4 until he or she pay the rate to the minister.
Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion shall pay a fine of £5 sterling.
No one shall make minced pies, dance, play cards or play on any in- strument of music except the drum, trumpet and jews' harp.
Every male shall have his hair cut round according to a cap.
If any child above sixteen years old shall curse or smite his, her or their parents such child or children shall be put to death, unless it be proved that the parents have been unchristianly negligent in the education of such child.
If any person be a witch he or she shall be put to death.
AUSTIN SEWARD WAS PIONEER AXE MAKER IN EARLY DAYS-STARTED BUSINESS IN 1821 WHICH LIVES TODAY
Built Log House at Seventh and Walnut Streets in Bloomington-Moved Family By Ox-Team to New State of Indiana and County Seat of Monroe County -- Business Celebrates Centenniel Anniversary.
September 14, 1921, marked the 100th anniversary of the establish- ment in Bloomington of the firm of Seward & Co. The business has been in the same family continuously for one hundred years and is now con- ducted by Fred and Austin Seward who are of the fourth generation from the founder, Austin Seward, with Paul Seward of the third gener- ation as foundry foreman.
The grandfather of these young men was born in Middlesex County, Virginia, Nov. 22, 1797, and, when twelve years of age, moved with his parents to Richmond, Kentucky. In the spring of 1821, he visited Bloom- ington, then a struggling frontier village, with a view to locating here- He was so well pleased that he re- turned for his family and arrived by ox-team September 14, 1821, and at once erected a three-room log cabin for his family on what is now the southwest corner of Seventh and Wal- nut streets. Just across the street from his home he purchased the fron- tage running from the alley north to Seventh street and on this land erected his first long shop and started business.
Expert Tool Maker.
Austin Seward was an expert edge- tool maker as well as an "allround" mechanic in metals. Cutlery, guns, kitchenware, stoves and in fact, prac- tically everything in the line of steel, iron and tinware was turned out in the little shop. He was famed for the wonderful rifles he made and set- tlers would come for fifty miles to
Austin Seward.
purchase these guns. Big game was then plentiful in this region and was the principal meat supply of those early pioneers. There are still quite a few of the old rifles in use in the county. They were said to be noted for their accuracy and each gun was tested personally by the maker.
His shop grew with the business and later covered a considerable part of the site he had selected. Part of the original brick building still stands on the old place and marks one of the oldest structures in Bloomington, as well as one of the oldest buildings in the state, having been used for manu- facturing purposes. A foundry was soon added and here the castings were made for practically every article in iron or brass used in this section of Indiana. The pig iron was hauled by ox-team from New Albany, where it was unloaded from flat boats coming down the Ohio river from Pittsburg. Charcoal was first used to melt the iron and later coke, which was also brought overland from the Ohio. The building of the L. N. & C. (now the Monon R. R.) made the transnurta- tion of these commodities much more easy.
Was Leading Citizen.
Austin Seward was soon recognized as one of the leading citizens of the who came in contact with him. It was new town and was beloved by all said of him that no man ever turned away from his shop because of lack of money to pay for his needs and doubtles thousands of dollars worth of charge accounts on his books were never pressed for payment. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church and one of its constant attendants and supporters. He took an active part in all civic matters but was never a seeker after office. In an early book of Bloomington and Indiana Uni- versity, written in 1855 by Prof. Hall, ("The New Purchase"), he was given the name of "Vulcanus Allheart," and a chapter was devoted to his reputa- tion for work in iron and steel, which was widely known in this district.
During the progress of the Civil war, while two of his sons were in the Union Army, he devoted a great part of the facilities of his foundry in turning out bomb-shells and cannon for the army. Thousands of dollars worth of war material was sent out from his shop to the forces operating in Tennessee and other southern states, for which he never asked or received a dollar from the govern- ment .
All of his sons, of whom there were seven, worked in the shop and many of these as well as Austin Seward, the founder, will be remembered by the older residents of Monroe county. His
42
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
sons were, John, James, Bryson, Wil- liamson (usually referred to as W. B.), Irvin, Robert and Albert. His only daughter was Almira, who was mar- ried to Finley Mccullough in 1848. Austin Seward is buried in the old Dunn cemetery-"God's Acre"-in Jordan Field on the University grounds.
None of his children are now living, but their descendants numbering more than a hundred, are now living -mostly in Bloomington and vicinity.
In the 80's a large part of the busi- ness of Seward & Co. was the manu- facture of chilled plows, but this was discontinued as unprofitable after a few years. The present plant of the firm is located on West Eighth street and the Monon tracks, where it was moved some fifteen years ago, when the former owners decided to sell the old site on Walnut street for business purposes. Here may be seen many of the old patterns of articles made in the old shop, also some of the tools.
HOOSIERS MADE FINE RECORD IN WORLD WAR
Sixty-two counties in Indiana have completed histories of the part the citizens of the counties played in the world war, according to the annual report of John W. Oliver, director of the Indiana historical commission, covering the activities of the com- mission in the last year. "It is the plan of the commission to have every county in the state compile its his- tory before the close of another year," the report says.
·
That "it is doubtful whether an- other state in the Union can claim so many honors as can Indiana for the part her people played in the great world war," also is set out in that part of the report covering the com- mission's activities in the collection and compilation of the official war history of Indiana.
"It was an Indiana boy, James Bethel Gresham, of Evansville, that was first of the American forces to give his life on foreign soil after the United States started its drive against the enemy," the report shows. "It was an Indiana boy, Sergeant Alex- ander Arch, of South Bend, who fired the first shot from the American forces into the German trenches.
The Greatest Hero.
"The greatest hero of the world war was an Indiana boy, Sergeant® Samuel Woodfill, of Bellevue, Jeffer- son county.
"It was a Hoosier soldier, Major- General Omar Bundy, of Newcastle, who as commander of the 5th Ameri- can army corps stopped the German drive at Belleau wood in the Chateau Thierry sector in June, 1918. In General Bundy, "the hero of Belleau wood," Indiana has its greatest fight- ing soldier since the days of General Lew Wallace.
"Three thousand three hundred and fifty-four sons and fifteen daughter's from Indiana paid the supreme sacri- fice in the world war.
"It was to Indiana that official credit was given by the adjutant general of the United States army for
having supplied in proportion to its population more volunteers to the United States army-24,148-than any other state in the Union.
Cited for Bravery.
"Three hundred and forty-six Hoo- siers were cited for bravery in action -for the performance of extraordi- nary heroism while in line of duty. One hundred and twenty-three Hoo- siers received the Distinguished Serv- ice crosses; 213 received Croix de Guerre citations while ten others re- ceived decorations from other foreign governments. An examination of the 346 citations granted shows that not a few received as many as three medals for bravery.
"Indiana men and women loaned the government $498,000,000, ap- proximately $500,000,000; ($451, 000,000 for the purchase of Liberty bonds, and $47,000,000 for the pur- chase of War Savings and Thrift stamps), as their share in financing the war.
"And it was a Hoosier lad, Earl Capper, of Decatur county, who, when the war was over and when the terms of the peace treaty drawn up be- tween the allies and the German na- tion was ready for signing, sent forth the message on the morning of June 23, 1919, to all the world announcing that Germany had signed. Young Capper, together with two other Hoosier soldiers, Claude M. Herr, of Castleton, and Paul R. Stephenson, of Indianapolis, were attached to the 29th service company, signal corps, in the office of the Commercial Cable Company, Le Havre, France.
When the plenipotentiaries announced that the articles of the treaty of peace had been signed, the honor of ticking out the message on the tape which was carried by the cable and telegraph to all points of the world fell to the three Hoosier lads who were stationed in the cable office. It was they who sent forth these glad tid- ings to the war-weary people in the four parts of the globe.
Of the seventy-eight congressional medals of honor awarded by the United States government for distin- · guished service in the world war, there are fifty-five survivors who possess the coveted medals, the high- est award of bravery.
Thirty-Two Counties.
That the movement for the organi- zation of county historical societies has taken on renewed interest in the last year also is set out in the report by Mr. Oliver. Societies have been organized in thirty-two counties of the state. The Southwestern Indiana Historical Society, representing eight "pocket counties" also was organized in the last year.
"It is the plan of the historical commission to continue the work of organizing local county historical so- cieties in the state and it is the hope that ultimately every county in In- diana will have a local historical so- ciety organized and on the job col- lecting and compiling its county his- tory," the report states.
Dr. Frank B. Wynn is president of the commission, Samuel M. Foster is vice-president and Harlow Lindley, of Richmond, is secretary.
ALONE, IN THE MYSTERY OF DEATH, WILL SLEEP AMERICA'S UNKNOWN
Special Niche Carved Out for Him in Terrace of Great Amphitheater, But Notable Company Lies About Him in the Near Distance .- America's Unknown Soldier Fittingly Honored November 11, 1921.
High on a wooded ridge beside the Potomac America's nameless hero will sleep bivouacked with the brave of many wars.
Everywhere about his simple tomb, over the swelling slopes or in the shaded canyons of Arlington national cemetery in the District of Columbia, stand monuments and headstones on which are engraved names that also are written imperishably in the pages of glory that make the nation's his- tory. There too, are stones, amid the long rows, to mark other unknown dead of other wars, and the bulk of the monument above the single grave where rest the unknown of the war between the states, gathered from many battlefields.
But for the newcomer from France among this fellowship of valor a spe- cial place of honor has been made. He will sleep in a narrow crypt, hewn out of the live stone that forms the terrace of the memorial amphitheater erected to consecrate the memory of men everywhere who died for the flag. Above his coffin a massive
block of stone, carved with the brief legend of a nation's tribute to all those others who sleep unknown in France, will be placed. On it also will go the long list of honors the nation and the great powers of the world have lavished on the soldiers who gave their identity as well as their lives on French battlefields.
Above the great stone towers the marble pillared facade of the ampni- theater, crowning the ridge and look- ing down over a sweeping vista of quiet hills and peaceful countryside to the wide waters of the river. Be- yond stands Washington city in the haze of distance. Over it, dimly vis- ible, looms the great figure of Free- dom on the dome of the Capitol; far- ther down Washington monument thrusts a slender gray finger to chal- lenge attention of the very sky to the deeds of peace and war it commemor- ates; closer still looms the square white bulk of Lincoln memorial at the river brim, sealing a people's tribute to a martyred leader.
Fold on fold, the calm hills drop away from the terrace, where the
43
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
sleeper from France lies honored but unknown. At his feet a sculptured marble balustrade sweeps out on eith- er side, marking the wide, graceful curve of the footway that drops down to the grass grown slopes where, day by day, many a gallant comrade from France is finding his last resting place. Down there the new head- stones gleam in countless variety. There is hardly an hour of any day when sorrowing relatives are not moving slowly among the new graves, giving loving care to flowers on the low mounds. On the headstones are cut the names, the dates of birth and death of the dead, and names of French villages where they made their great sacrafice. Man by man, their record is written for all to know and honor.
He Died in France.
But for the nameless one, asleep on the terrace above, there are no rela- tives. He lies alone in the mystery of death. Laden with honors beyond any of his fellows below, there is none to tell the way of his life and his death, of whence he came or of what he was, save that he died in France, at the nation's call. The American people are his next to kin. He alone may sleep there within the great monument to all the nation's honored dead.
Everywhere about the amphitheater are monuments cut with names that touch memory to life, that bring ech- oes of the thunder of guns from old far-off battle scenes. There lies Sheri- dan; there lies Porter and Crook and Doubleday and yonder lies Dewey. Over the peaceful slope, row on row, march the headstones of hundreds of humble servers in the ranks like the sleeper up there on the terrace, or again, dimly seen through the trees goes another long column of soldier headstones, graying with time. But officers and men, generals, admirals, privates or the last bluejacket to join the ship before the battle, they are all sleeping here in honored graves. Gath- ered they are from Mexico, from all the far plains where emigrant trains fought their way westward, from storied fields of the civil war, from Cuba and the Philippines, from Haiti and from France.
Just beyond the amphitheater rises the slender mast of the old Maine, brought from Havana to mark the resting place of her dead soldiers and sailors and marines. It is their last muster and for them all has been raised the great marble pile wherein the unknown sleeper from France keeps his vigil.
The pure white outline of the struc- ture, as yet unstained by time and the shifting winds that sweep unchecked through its stately colonnade, or its vast roofless gathering place, rises amid a setting that nature paints with new beauty as the seasons come and go. It stands atop the ridge, footed among the evergreens and the native Virginia woods that set it off in changing shades in summer; deck it with the myriad tints of autumn as the year wanes and wrap it about with the delicate tracery of snow laden, leafless branches in winter.
To form the colonnade, a double row
of great marble pillars march around the circle wherein the marble benches are set. Facing the benches and with its back to the terrace where stands the tomb, is the sculptured hollow of the apse where the solemn rites for burial takes place. The structure has the lines of an ancient Greek temple, a fitting resting place for the honored unknown soldier who is its only occupant.
And Over the Ridge.
Over the ridge beyond the amphi- theater are seen the grass-grown ram- parts of old Ft. Myer with the dead clustering about them. Farther along, the pillared portico of the old Lee mansion thrusts out through the crowding woods to look down over the vista of hills and river to Washington. And just over the road stands the army post of Ft. Myer, its garrison flag a fluttering glimpse of color over the quiet scene, the roar of its sunrise and sunset guns waking the echoes among the graves of the dead; the faint, far call of its bugle singing also for these sleeping warriors, rest- ing in their last encampment .- The Indianapolis News.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.