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 21
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McHolland was famous as a hunter, and his wife (who lived to a very old age) always boasted of having baked the first corn pone in Monroe county, and probably was justified in her boast.
The McHollands cultivated an acre or two of ground upon which they squatted, and after a few years went to the northwest part of the county, where they lived for many years.
Colonel Ketcham built a grist mill on Clear Creek as early as 1818, which, for many years, was famous to all the surrounding country.
The Taylors probably sent the first flat-boat loaded with pork, grain, etc., down either Clear Creek or Salt Creek, from Monroe county. They built their own boats and knew how to manage them on their way to New Orleans and the Southern market.
Colonel Ketcham and the Chamber brothers were also about as early shippers with their flat-boats, loaded with pork, grain and lumber.
Later, Elias Bruner shipped cherry and other finer varieties of wood down the creeks to the outside world.
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Old Court House of Monroe County, which Colonel Ketcham built, as it appeared before making place for the present building-The fish on the weather van was transferred to the new building.
MONROE COUNTY COURT OPENS FOR FIRST TERM AT BLOOMINGTON, IN 1818-SESSION HELD IN HOUSE OF ABNER BLAIR
Honorable Thomas H. Blake Was President Judge, and Joseph Berry and Lewis
Noel Were Associate Judges-Suit for Damages First Case to Come to Trial, "Teague vs. Nicholson"-Dudley C. Smith Attorney for Plaintiff: John F. Ross Represented Defendants.
The first. term of the Monroe County Circuit was held on the first Monday in June, 1818, at the house of Abner Blair, by Hon. Thomas H. Blake, President Judge, and Joseph Berry and Lewis Noel, Associate Judges.
The first act of the court was the issuance of a writ of "ad quod dam- num" for the benefit of Robert Ham- ilton to ascertain what damages would be caused by his erection of a grist and saw mill and a dam on his land-on Sec. 24, Twp. 8 north, Range 2 west, on Clear Creek.
Nothing further than this case seems to have been done until the September term, at which the first case came to trial.
The first case to come to trial in Monroe County was "David Teague vs. Leonard Nicholson, trespass on the case of words being spoken damages laid at $1,000.
Before suit was begun, the defend- ant stated that if the plaintiff would
desist from further prosecution he would pay all costs thus far; this proposition being accepted by the plaintiff, the defendant was dis- charged.
Attorney for the plaintiff, was Dudley C. Smith, and for defendants John F. Ross.
The court convened this term in the new log court house.
Many of Names Now Familiar.
The following men constituted the first grand jury in this court: Jona- than Nichols, William Anderson, Ed- ward Armstrong, John Treat, David McHollen, Thomas B. Clark, Abner Blair, Julius Dugger, John Tullen, James Ellege, John Storm, Joseph Cox, Joseph Baugh and Joseph Gil- bert.
This jury was sworn, sent out, and soon returned with the following "true bills": State of Indiana vs. James Green, larceny (stealing a rifled gun owned by John W. Lee.)
John Law was Prosecuting Attor-
ney at this time (probably the first). The defendant plead "not guilty" to the charge, and the following first petit jury was impaneled to try the case: Joseph Perisho, John M. Sadler, Isaiah Wright, James Thompson, George Parks Sr., Jonathan Gilbert, Granville Ward, John Wakefield, Solomon -, David Scott, and John
Jury Returns Verdict.
The evidence was heard and the jury returned a verdict as follows: "We of the jury do find the trans- verser guilty."
Defendant's counsel moved an ar- rest of judgment, which was granted until the next day, upon which oc- casion the reasons for an arrest of judgement were filed.
The court overruled the motion and rendered judgement as follows: "The defendant to pay to John W. Lee $30, to pay a fine of $30, to pay costs of prosecution, and to stand committed until sentence be complied with.
The first court of the character of Probate Court in Monroe County was held at Bloomington, Indiana, on August 31, 1818, by Joseph Berry and Lewis Noel, Associate Judges.
The first act was as followss:
Orphan "Bound Out."
On motion of Eli Lee, it was "or- dered that William Dorsey, infant son of Joseph Dorsey (deceased) and Sarah Dorsey, born January 24, 1811, be bound unto Eli Lee and Sarah Lee until he arrives at the age of 21 years, to learn the art of agriculture;
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whereupon the said Eli Lee and Sarah Lee, together with William their security, entered into bond in the penal sum of $500, con- ditioned that the said Eli Lee and Sarah Lee learn (teach) him, the said William Dorsey, reading, writing and arithmetic as far as the rule of three; and also to find him a whole- some diet, washing, lodging and clothing, and to deal with him in all cases as an apprentice ought to be dealt with, and to find him upon be- coming of age, the sum of $10 and a good suit of clothes."
At this time, also, Dorcas Dorsey, infant daughter of Joseph Dorsey, deceased, was bound out to George Hedrick.
This was the only business per- formed at the first session of the court.
In vacation, letters of administra- tion were granted to David Cham- bers upon the estate of James Shef- field, deceased.
Inventory of Estate.
At the March term, 1819, David Chambers, administrator of the es- tate of John Henson, deceased, re- turned the following inventory of sales of such estate, as shown on the old records of that date, along with other court business, and the list is given here to show what personal property our first settlers may have possessed.
It may not bear close inspection under the critical and aristocratic eye of the present generation, but it is an honest record that speaks in volumes of self-denial of early times:
"One kettle, 50c; one kettle, $3; one kettle, $3; one pot, $2.75; one pot, $2.621/2; fire dogs, $2; one shovel, 621/2c; one plow (spelled plough), $4.40; leather, $1; one steel
trap, $3; one plate, $1.25; three hoes, 50c; one basket, 3114c; one churn, 61/4c; one cutting knife, $1.6614; smith tools, $5.87%; one curry comb, 54c; one ladle, 1216c; one reeler, 21c; one pair of steel yards, $2.3614; two chairs, 6212c; three pair of cards (for wool), 50c: sheep shears, 52c; tobacco, $2.02; one keg, 48c; one barrel, 75c; one note, $20.25; one note, $2.25; one hackle,
$4; one reed and gears, $1.18%; one reed and gear, 50c.
First Grand Jurors.
The first Grand Jurors of Monroe County were selected as follows: Dudley Carl, William Chambers, David Chambers, John Scott, John Mercer, Thomas Grimes, John Berry, William Newcomb, Jesse Tarkington, Solomon Green, Jonathan Nichols, George Sharp, Sr., Coleman Pruitt, Eli Lee, Willion Hardin and Henry Wampler.
The Sheriff, in attendance, John W. Lee, was ordered to notify the above named men to mest at the house of Abner Blair.
The Traverse Jury was then select- ed as follows: William Matlock, John Thompson, George Birdrick, Samuel Scott, Thomas Clark, Jonathan Rains, John Storm Jr., John Couch, John Matlock, John Cutler, Joseph Pee- shaw, David Sears, Elijah Morgan,
James Wright and James Matlock.
Jonathan Rogers, Robert Russell and Samuel Scott were appointed Road Supervisors for the new county of Monroe.
First County Road.
The first petition for a county road came from William Hardin and others, and was to extend from Bloomington to Scotty' Ferry on Salt Creek, and thence to the Lawrence county line. William Jackson, John Scott and William Craig were ap- pointed viewers. This road was ordered built and was the first con- structed wholly at the expense of the county. (The New Albany Railroad -"Monon" now-was built in the fifties to Martinsville -- finished by Gen. Burnside after the war.)
Between 300 and 400 volcanoes are known to be active at the present time.
PIONEERS OF MONROE COUNTY DRANK WHISKEY THROUGH NECESSITY OF FIGHTING DISEASE
Free Liquor Was Kept on Counters by All Merchants in Early Days-Taverns Sold "Spirits" -- Orchards Started First "Temperance" Hostelry in Bloom- ington-Other interesting Facts Recalled.
Citizens of the present day have seen the passing away of the legiti- mate manufacture, sale and use of whiskey in our great country, through the prohibitive enactments of our law-makers.
In the past fifty years, people al- lowed the use of alcoholic liquors to take such hold upon them that the traffic became deplorable, and was looked upon as one of the causes of the lowest forms of degredation and crime in all walks of life.
Was Not So In Early Days.
When all the great forest covered what is now Bloomington and Mon- roe county, Indiana, swamps and cli- matic conditions were considered the worst enemies to the pioneer settlers of the then new country, and whisky
had a prominent part in the life of the early settlers.
One of the most noteworthy fea- tures of the town of Bloomington in the early days was the liquor traffic. The most prominent merchants kept whisky on their counters free for their patrons, and a tavern or inn which did not keep it at the bar, was a rarity, probably unknown in the early history of the city.
In those early times of hardship and endurance, whisky was considered a necessity among the pioneers, as all of this vast territory was ever pro- ducing perils to the settler's health, and each settler was his own physi- cian.
Had No Drug Stores.
There were no "drug stores" and very few doctors in those days. Whisky was not alone used as a cure- all, but was taken as a preventative for anything which might be sus- pected of attack upon the human be- ing's health.
Among the liquor sellers were some of the best citizens, morally and tem- perately. During the decade of the twenties the following men sold liquor: William Hardin, Clem Dickens, George Henry, John Borland, Notley Baker, in 1827; Robertson Graham, Isaac Brown, Albert Literal, in 1828; Jacob Kelley, W. D. Mccullough, John Owens, John H. Berry and Barton Byers, in the year 1829.
A man named Jordan manufactured liquor in Bloomington about this de- cade, although not very extensively. Mr. Thacker (mentioned elsewhere) also distilled a good grade of whisky and wild cherry bounce, if the judg- ment of old timers is to be credited. As some of these old timers were na- tives of Kentucky, no attempt can be
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made to controvert their opinions.
Tavern keepers during the early years, in the twenties, were: William Hardin, Dr. E. C. Moberly, William Noland, A. F. Morrison, John Sheets, George W. Hardin, Francis Taylor, Thomas Nesbitt and Mary Stockwell, J. O. Howe, Hannah Sheets and W. D. Mccullough.
Orchards Start New Idea.
The Orchards kept the "Temperance House," where, it is said, liquor was not "on tap."
This old hotel business was a land mark in the city of Bloomington for many years, and is still remembered by many people now living.
During the decade of 1830-40, there arose a growing sentiment, which gradually increased in strength, all over the country, against the general
use of liquor, and many merchants ceased to tolerate it on their counters.
Among the liquor sellers of that period were: Notley Baker, George and John Hardesty, James Cochran, and among the tavern keepers were: Asher Labertew, Aquilla Rogers, Dan- iel Deckard, S. P. Seall and others.
(This is the last date of which the writer cares to furnish data concern- ing liquor dealers, as the business be- came a moral issue from this date down to the present).
During the decade of the forties the temperance struggle in Bloomington and Monroe county was prosecuted with such relentless vigor that nearly all the liquor dealers were induced to take up other lines of business or were driven from the town, mainly through pressure of public opinion.
EARLY POLITICAL RECORDS OF MONROE COUNTY NOT PRESERVED-DATA PIECED TOGETHER INTERESTING
Campaigns Hotly Contested by Old-Time Politicians, as Shown by Evidence
Collected-Facts and Figures of Presidential and State Elections-Subjects of Interest at Present Touched Upon in Early Times.
Unfortunately, owing to the fact that the election returns were not pre- served in the office of the County Clerk, the details of early elections cannot be given. But from private sources, such as old letters, books, and through inquiry we are able to com- pile a number of fairly substantiated facts.
One thing is certain, however, that the county was substantially Demo- cratic. If any innovation was made in this rule by any other party, such fact is no longer remembered. Ref- erence is made to the ticket in general.
Occasionally, no doubt, a rival can- didate on an opposing party ticket sometimes stepped in through some local sentiment or prejudice; but the Democratic ticket as a whole was in- variably elected. Little attention was paid to national political questions un- til the memorable Presidential cam- paign of 1840.
West Becomes United.
Indiana came forward with her idol, William Henry Harrison, and the new West united forces and means to elect him. An important feature of the election was the newly born preju- dice existing between the eastern and western portions of the country.
The log cabins and hard cider of "Indiana" were the butt for Eastern ridicule, but the friends of Mr. Harri- son accepting the terms, conducted the campaign with a rush that was never before known in the history of the nation.
At every political gathering the Whigs' barrels of hard cider and min- iature log cabins were the battle cries. Gen. Harrison's military record was the pride of his friends, and another battle cry was "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too."
Famous Political Song.
A famous political song of that campaign, set to the air of "Rosin the
Bow," was sung on all occasions. One verse was as follows:
"And if we get anyways thirsty, I'll tell you what we can all do: We'll bring down a keg of hard cider, And drink to 'Old Tippecanoe.'"
The result of this election can be given of only three townships, but may be taken as a measure in degree of the full vote.
Democratic (Van Buren and Johnson)
Whig (Harrison and
Tyler) 541
Bloomington 587
Salt Creek 11
Bean Blossom 117 50
Totals 715 591
Harrison Trumphant.
Mr. Harrison was triumphantly elected and the East was for the first time compelled to bow to the Wild West. The county of Monroe did not cut much of a figure in the general results, but she fully established her- self with an unfailing Democratic ma- jority.
As the Presidential election of 1844 approached it became apparent that Texas, which had gained its indepen- dence of Mexico a few years before, would apply for admission to the Union. The South was gratified, as that meant an increase of slave terri- tory; but the North determined to pre- vent the admission, if possible, in or- der to limit the Domain of slavery.
The Democrats put forward James K. Polk, and the Whigs, Henry Clay. Considerable activity was developed in Monroe county in this campaign, and the election resulted as follows:
.
November, 1844.
Democratic (Polk and Dallas), 1,118; Whig (Clay and Frelinghuy-
sen.), 721. Polk's majority in the county, 397.
Results of no other Presidential election can be given until 1856, at which the new Republican party ap- peared. The campaign in Monroe county was pretty warm, with the fol- lowing results:
November, 1856.
Democratic (Buchanan and Breck- enridge), 1,191; Republican (Fremont and Dayton), 498; American (Fillmore and Donalson), 392.
During the next four years, people even in the North, were almost on the brink of open war. In 1858, the South began to make preparations to leave the Union. The result in 1860 of Mon- roe County's presidential vote cast: was
November, 1860.
Northern Democracy (Douglas and Johnson), 716; Southern Democracy (Breckenridge and Lane), 395; Re- publican (Lincoln and Hamlin), 1,198; American (Bell and Everett), 64.
This was a remarkable election. The noticeable feature was the heavy vote for the Southern Democratic ticket. The Democratic party in Mon- roe county was "all broke up."
Vote For Governor.
The Gubernatorial vote in the coun- ty the same fall (1860) was: Henry S. Lane (Rep.), 1,195; Thomas A. Hendricks (Dem.), 1,168.
The vote for Governor of Indiana in 1856 had been: Oliver P. Morton (Rep.), 801; A. P. Willard (Dem.), 1,133. The Democratic majority was broken down between 1856 and 1860, but it rallied again during the war. In 1858, the vote for representative in congress was, James Hughes (Dem.), 964; W. M. Dunn (Rep.), 1,075. The vote for Secretary of State in 1862, was: W. A. Peele (Rep.), 1,021; J. S. ' Athon (Dem.), 1,333. It will be seen by this that the Democratic party of the county had recovered, but by 1864 the Republican began to creep up again, the vote for Governor being: Morton (Rep.), 1,224; McDonald (Dem.), 1,220. (Rather close race in the county.) The Presidential vote was as follows:
November, 1864.
Democratic (McClellan and Pendle- ton), 1,210; Republican (Lincoln and Johnson), 1,202.
Republicans Gain Control.
In 1866, Monroe county became Re- publican by a majority which had held supreme, with one or two exceptions, up to 1884. In 1866 the vote for Rep- resentative in Congress was M. C. Hunter (Rep.), 1,589; H. W. Harring- ton (Dem.), 1,397.
November, 1868.
The result for Governor in 1868, was: Conrad Baker (Rep.), 1,484; Thomas A. Hendricks (Dem.), 1,402.
In the presidential race, the same year, the figures show the vote cast in Monroe county as:
Republican (Grant and Colfax), 1,496; Democratic (Seymour and Blair), 1,369. .
Democratic in 1870. In 1870 the county again went
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slightly Democratic, according to the following figures:
Secretry of State-Norman Eddy (Dem.), 1,462; M. F. A. Hoffman (Rep.), 1,457. Representative in Con- gress-Vorhees (Dem.), 1,471; Dunn (Rep.), 1,442.
Republicans Again Win in 1872.
The Republicans again showed more strength than the Democrats in 1872, as shown in the following:
For Governor-Thomas M. Brown (Rep.), 1,698; T.
A. Hendricks (Dem.), 1,527.
November, 1874
The result in Monroe county of the Presidential contest of 1872 was as follows:
Republican (Grant and Wilson), 1,597; Democratic (Greely and Brown), 1,359; Bourbon Democratic, 5. November, 1876.
The Presidential election of 1876 resulted as follows:
Republican (Hays and Wheeler), 1,667; Democratic (Tilden and Hend- ricks), 1,559; Independent (Cooper and Cary), 125.
Still Republican in 1878.
The result for Secretary of State
in 1878, follows: John G. Shanklin, (Rep.), 1,601; Isaac S. Moore (Dem.) 1,560; Henry James (Ind.), 288.
In 1880, the result for Governor of Indiana, as cast in the county, was: Albert G. Porter (Rep.) 1,770; Frank- lin Landers (Dem.), 1,613; Richard Gregg (Ind.), 199.
The Presidential election in this year resulted as follows:
November, 1880.
Republican (Garfield and Arthur), 1,780; Democratic, Hancock and Eng- lish), 1,682; Independent (Weaver and Chambers), 165.
Still Republican in 1882.
In 1882, the vote for Secretary of State was as follows: E. R. Hawn (Rep.), 1,751; William R. Myers, (Dem.), 1,625; H. B. Leonard (Ind.), 144.
Owing to the familiarity of the ma- jority of people living at the present time with conditions and happenings from 1880-1884 down to the present time (1922), the writer feels that it is not necessary to detail further, as the records and data are easy of ac- cess to all.
WILLIAM MATHERS, SOLDIER OF REVOLUTION, IS RESTING IN CEMETERY AT CLEAR CREEK
Was Left an Orphan in Ireland, and "Put Out" as "Bound Boy"-Came To America Before 1774-75-Served in Continental Army-Settled in Ken- tucky-Came to Monroe County With Son and Grandson, and Was Buried on Farm in Perry Township-Work of D. A. R.
A man whose name was William Mathers, who was born in Ireland, and becoming an orphan-lived the life of a bound boy-came to America prior to the Revolutionary war of 1775-76. He fought in the Continen- tal army against King George's armies in that war and is buried in the cemetery at Clear Creek.
After the Constitution of the United States was firmly set up and the United States became a permanent fixture, this man settled in what was then the "wild west," Bourbon coun- ty, Kentucky.
There, a son named James was born and reared, and this son married a maiden named Susana Nesbit, and this union bore forth ten children, to the home which James had established in Nicholas county, Kentucky.
Grandson Weds.
The fifth child of this family of the second generation was born in Nich- olas county, Kentucky, February 28, 1821, and began doing for himself long before maturity, and in the year 1841 this man, whose surname was Thomas N., married his own cousin, Miss Mary E., and they settled in Perry township, Monroe county, In- diana, and through economy and per- severance by the "sweat of the brow," this man managed to become quite in- fluential and financially comfortable, on his well-improved farm.
To this union was born nine chil- dren, who have become a part of the substantial citizenship of Monroe
county and Bloomington at the pres- ent time.
Come To Monroe.
The grandfather, William Mathers, who first came from Ireland and was a revolutionary soldier of the Con- tinental army, and his son, James, came to Monroe county when the grandson and his bride, whose name was Thomas N. Mathers, settled in Perry township, and they died and were buried in Monroe county, as was the wife of Thomas N. Mathers. who gave up the ghost after a long Chris- tian life, in 1880.
Mrs. J. L. Fowler of East Second street is a daughter of Thomas N. Mathers, and Prof. F. C. Mathers is a grandson.
The above stated facts have been picked up and pieced together by the writer, in an endeavor to further es-
tablish the fact that a soldier of the Revolution is actually buried in Mon- roe county. Descendants of Thomas N. and Mary E. Mathers, now living in Bloomington and Monroe county can probably further prove the facts above stated.
In a conversation, Mrs. J. L. Fowler, the great-grandchild of William Math- ers, who is now 74 years of age, stated that the body of the Revolutionary soldier had been at first buried on the farm of Benjamin Mathers, her uncle, in Perry township, Monroe county, south of Bloomington, and later the body was exhumed and placed in the Clear Creek cemetery beside that of her grandfather, James Mathers, and later the body of Thom- as N. and Mary E. Mathers, her grand- parents, were laid to rest in the same plot.
Marking Graves.
The Bloomington D. A. R. chapter held its November 1921 meeting at the home of Mrs. John Nichols, East Fourth street. Mrs. H. C. Legge, Miss Alice Bowers, Mrs. Ward Johnson and Mrs. W. T. Breeden were the assist- ing hostesses. After the regular busi- ness Mrs. Fred Finley read a very interesting paper on the life of Johnny Appleseed.
Miss Eura Sanders of Gosport was a visitor at the meeting and she brought to the attention of the mem- bers the work being done by the S. A. R. (Sons of Amer. Rev.) of the state, that of marking the graves in the state of all soldiers who served in the Revolutionary war.
As this is one line of work the Bloomington chapter of D. A. R. has carried out in Monroe county, the members voted their hearty co-opera- tion.
The grave of Henry Sanders which is located a few miles west of town has been selected by the S. A. R.'s as the first grave to be marked. D. A. R. will assist the S. A. R.'s in remarking those graves in the county, which they previously marked and give their aid in seeking out new ones.
The following article was published in The Daily Telephone of Blooming- ton in response to a call for infor- mation of Revolutionary war soldiers buried in Monroe county.
Liberty Cemetery.
In the little cemetery, known as Liberty in the Mt. Tabor neighbor- hood, lies buried soldiers from the war of 1775 to the World War, 1914- 18. Their names follow:
Michael N. Weir 1775. John Burton-1812.
John Campbell-1846.
James Campbell-1846. Isaac Van Buskirk-1860.
James Campbell-1860.
Capt. John Campbell-1860.
Frank Gable-World War.
Also in the Arlington cemetery, bet- ter known to older residents as the Buskirk cemetery, which is on the David Buskirk farm, northeast of Stinesville, in Bean Blossom township are:
Isaac Van Buskirk, Sr .- 1775.
Isaac Van Buskirk, Jr .- 1812.
Isaac Van Buskirk, No. 3-1846 and 1860-65.
Capt. David Van Buskirk-1860-65.
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FIRST MILITIA REGIMENT OF MONROE COUNTY ORGANIZED IN 1819
John Storm Was First Colonel of 20th Indiana, Followed by Colonel Ketcham -Muster Day Once a Year-Later Became Holiday as Danger From
Indian Attacks Disappeared-Two Companies Sent to War With Mexico in 1846-1847-Four Local Men Lost Lives in Land of Montezumas.
Although Monroe county, from the very first, has been more active than most counties of the State of Indiana in educational affairs, ever looking to the welfare of future generations still early history of the county shows a rather notable military record.
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