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 3
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
LIFE OF COL. KETCHAM REFLECTS GREAT HONOR -PIONEER DIED IN 1865.
Monroe County Man Born in 1782-Joined Mounted Rangers in 1813-Ap-
pointed Judge by Governor Harrison-Came to Community in 1818- Built Old Court House-Parentage Rivalled.
We are carried back to the days be- fore the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, in tracing the lives of some of Monroe county and Bloomington's early settlers. Most significant among whom was Colonel John Ketcham.
In the winter of 1865, when the terrible civil war was still raging throughout our land, the inhabitants of Monroe county, Indiana, were call- ed, most unexpectedly, to pay their last tribute of respect to this old and honored patriot, who a half-century before had participated in the strug- gles and strifes of his people, and who was familiar with all the hardship that pioneer life had held.
Late in life, Colonel Ketcham wrote an account in very brief and charac- teristic style of his own public life, which we are fortunate in being able to publish herewith. This data has been preserved as follows:
Public Record of Honor.
"In June, 1813, I enlisted in the United States service, a Mounted Ranger. In my first month's service I killed and scalped an Indian-was very proud of it-got leave to go to Kentucky to show my Daddy and Mama-I guess they thought I had done about right.
"I continued in the service two whole years-saw some hard times- was eighty-eight days from my fam- ily on one campaign, and lived sev- enteen days on seven day's rations.
"The war now being' ended, Govern- or Harrison, hearing that I was a fellow of pluck and had killed an In- dian, sent me a commissian as asso- ciate judge. I never had much to do on the bench, but was ‘Judge Ketchanı.'
Came to Monroe in 1818.
"In April, 1818, I moved to Mon- roe county, and built a mill. While mill-building we ground our meal on a hand-mill, there being no other but hand-mills in the country.
"After Bloomington was located, I was solicited to build the court house (the old court house which made place in recent years for the present handsome structure), which I did
thirty or forty years ago. It still stands firm.
"Because I had built a good court house, and had a sword and several pistols, the people thought I ought to be colonel. I was so elected, and served until I was forty-five years old. But my honors did not stop here.
"The people knew I had killed an Indian, and had decided three law suits in about forty minutes-they said I must go to the Legislature. I agreed to it.
"My popularity not high enough yet-my old friend, Dr. Foster, God bless him, who had done some service in the defense of his country, knew I had been wounded by the Indians, and killed and scalped an Indian, went to the Democratic convention at In- dianapolis, and told them what Ketcham had done, and said he must be appointed one of General Jackson's Electors. It was agreed to, and here I am yet, one of General Jackson's Electors."
Lived Long Life.
At the ripe age of 83 years, on February 7, 1865, John Ketcham, who was born on September 10, 1782, in Washington county, Maryland, arose from his favorite seat with his usual elestic step, and passed out of his house, never more to return alive.
His lifeless body was found a short time afterward by his widow and the wife of his son. The body was car- ried into the house, only to be mourned for by a large number of relatives and the whole community- for Colonel Ketcham had made a friend of every person he knew as a neighbor or fellow citizen.
At the large funeral which occurred on February, 9, two days following Colonel Ketcham's death, a long and eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev. T. M. Hopkins, extracts of which we are now able to quote as follows:
"We stand today on that line which separates the most of us from that generation of hardy and noble men which first inhabited this land. A few of them still remain, and we can clasp their hands and look into their eyes; but so few as to lead us to ask, 'The Fathers, where are they ?'
"Born of revolutionary parents, drinking in the spirit of the fathers, he was launched on the ocean of life to act well his part, and to leave a
noble inheritance to his children, and children's children after him.
Married Elizabeth Pearcy.
"In 1802, he married Elizabeth Pearcy, who survived him to mourn his sudden departure. To them were given twelve children-six being born in the state of Kentucky, and six in the Territory and State of Indiana -to them were also given forty-six grandchildren and fifteen great- grandchildren-making a family of seventy-five persons.
"In the eventful year 1811, Mr. Ketcham moved with his family to Jackson County, Indiana Territory. That being the year in which the General Government instituted meas- ures for expelling the savages from the Territory, they having become dangerous to the whites.
"Finding it impossible to maintain his family in safety, he returned to Kentucky. But. not being contented to remain there long, he returned to Jackson county, to participate in the difficult task of removing or sub- duing the hostile Indians who ob- structed the progress of civilization.
Was Indian Scout.
"Shortly after his return to Jack- son county, he and one of his neigh- bors were pursued by some savages -his companion was shot and in- stantly killed, while he barely escaped by means of the swiftness of his horse, after having received a severe wound in the shoulder.
"After recovering from his wound, he enlisted for two years in the Ranger service, under command of Governor Harrison, and established a reputation as a successful scout, for which he was subsequently honored with the Colonelcy of a regiment of State Militia.
"After the settlement of Indian difficulties, and the introduction of the Territory of Indiana into the Fed- eral Union as a state, Mr. Ketcham, in the spring of 1818, removed with his family to the then County of Or- ange, in which the present County of Monroe was embraced; settling in the region occupied by the town of El- lettsville. In the fall of that year, he removed to the place where he re- sided when death overtook his earth- ly efforts, and where his body is to be laid.
Was Liberal and Prosperous.
"Coming to the county when it was sparsely inhabited, and when the peo- ple were frequently reduced to grave straits, he had repeated opportuni- ties for manifesting that noble gen- erosity for which he has always been distinguished.
"It is the testimony of a gentleman who had for many years assisted him in slaughtering his hogs, that not a year passed in which he did not set apart a liberal portion of the pork for some of his neighbors. .
"He was exceedingly kind to the early settlers who wished to enter and, especially in lending them money. On one occasion a total stranger came to Mr. Ketcham, and desired to borrow money to secure some land. The man was young and seemed quite embarrassed. Mr. Ket- cham listened to his story, and with- out answering the man's plea, showed
15
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
him to bed. But, after spending a sleepless night, the young man was relieved of his worries the next morn- ing, when his host gave him the money he had asked for. That man became an extensive land owner in Monroe county, and he said recently; '1 owe all I am worth to John Ketcham.'
Had Corn For Poor Only
"During a season of great scarcity of corn, two farmers, only, had corn- Mr. Ketcham was one of them When a man came to him with money to buy corn, he sent him to the neigh- bor who sold. But, when a man came without money, Mr. Ketcham gave him corn and sent him away rejoicing.
"Living on a public highway, at an early period, when hotels and inns were scarce, and when there were no railroads, and much traveling on horseback and in wagons, it was his uniform habit never to refuse accom- modations to travelers, and never to receive any remuneration for his trouble. All this was done without parade or ostentation.
"As a husband, he was affection- ate; as a father, indulgent and kind; as a neighbor, generous; and as a citi- zen, loyal and true. Having in addi- tion to these qualities a sound judg- ment and a clear understanding, it is to be supposed that he would be honored with positions of responsi- bility. For a number of years he was Associate Judge in this county, and was the people's choice as Represen- tative during two or three terms of the legislature.
An Honorable Character.
"Do you ask, whence this nobility of soul, and these desirable traits of character ?
"Say not they are the endowments of nature. Had it not been for more than nature bestows, Mr. Ketcham might have died a miser.
"Go back to the State of Maryland, and to that pious mother, who was a member of the Methodist church, Or go back to that pious school teacher in Kentucky, who opened his school with prayer, and whose prayers so impressed young Ketcham's mind as to lead him to seek a quiet retreat, where he poured out his soul to God, and where he supposed he experienced a change of heart, and you have the secret of his whole life.
"For then he became influenced by a religion which is 'Pure and unde- filed before God, and the Father, which is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.' "
Much has been said concerning the bravery and honorable character of Monroe County's pioneer, Colonel John Ketcham, and not enough can be said in the narrow confines of these columns. But, when we go back to the historic parentage of this re- spected Indian fighter, we may see readily, where the foundation for this wonderful character was laid, in the days before the United States be- came a Constitutional Government-
the Constitution having been adopted September 17, 1787.
The father and mother of Colonel Ketcham were natives of Maryland, who emigrated to the wild west, and fought their battles with Indians in an endeavor to conquer the vast wild- erness, and rear their children accord- ing to what they thought were God's ways.
Fortunately, at this time we are en- abled to give a little sketch from the life of Daniel Ketcham which is of much importance to people of Bloom- ington and Monroe county, as well as the whole State of Indiana.
This sketch is taken from a sketch made by the Rev. T. M. Hopkins, who was the officiating minister at the funeral services in Bloomington, of Colonel Ketcham, in 1865.
Father Locates in Kentucky.
In 1784, when John Ketcham was only two years of age, his father, Daniel Ketcham, emigrated, with his family, from Washington county, Maryland, in search of a place to start their home, afresh, away out west.
They traveled overland, sometimes having to hugh the way through the brush, and then by boat down the rivers, to the Territory of Kentucky. They landed at Louisville in May of that year, finding that city composed of just one house-a "block house." They moved east about forty miles, and settled in a region which after- ward constituted Shelby county, Ken- tucky, and purchased land about six miles from Boone's Station.
Three men were killed on his farm by Indians, and on two occassions Ketcham had to seek protection at Boone's Station. Ultimately, in 1792, the father of John Ketcham was cap- tured by some Tawa Indians, who kept him through many months. This exciting episode is too rare to be lost, and we give the details briefly, as follows:
Capture and Escape.
He was pursued by the Indians one day, and his horse was shot from un- der him; he ran forty or fifty yards and was overtaken by one of the In- dians with a tomahawk in hand. He immediately surrendered, giving his hand to the captor, who took his overcoat and draned it about his ownl body and led Ketcham to the com- pany of Indians. The company of eleven Indians and the prisoner took un a line of march for the North. After many hardships the band crossed the Ohio river at Madison, Ind., the prisoner being compelled to carry a pack like a horse as long as his endurance held out. They camned on the Miami river a while and then proceeded to near what is supposed to be the location of Detroit.
Ill Treatment by Indians.
It seems that the exposure had caused Daniel Ketcham to have a se- vere attack of rheumatism, which so crippled him that he could scarcely trudge along with his captors. After having been convinced that their un- fortunate captive was not feigning sickness, the Indians were disposed to be a little more merciful, and did
not compel him to carry any burdens.
Ketcham soon recovered from his attack of rheumatism, but it was greatly to his interest to conceal the fact. Unfortunately, one day, while crossing a creek on a log, he forgot to limp. This being observed by one of the Indians, they burst into a hearty laugh, and from that time they loaded him down to the limit of his strength.
1
When the party reached their des- tination, which proved to be an In- dian village, one of the villagers, an old Indian man, fastened his eyes on the captive, advanced, offering his left hand with a very gracious smile; while with his right fist he gave Ketcham a vicious blow on the side of the head which felled him. When Ketcham recovered, a similar saluta- tion was given him, only more vi- cious. A French trader informed him that he was fortunate if his initiation was no worse.
On a favorable day the whole com- munity assembled, and Ketcham found himself the center of attrac- tion. He was blackened all over, and given a mirror to look for the last time upon his poor mortal being. He was then securely tied to stakes and preparations made to burn him.
Second Pocahontas Comes.
Just as the fire brand was being applied, a daughter of the chief in costly attire, appeared bedecked with at least 500 silver broaches, and made a long speech, with rapid fire of ut- terance.
At the close of this speech, she ad- vanced to Daniel Ketcham, Pocahon- tas-like, and released him. Two wom- en, Honwonika and Quinmakoons, then took him to the river to wash the black off him and the white blood out of him, that they might adopt him in their family, as a re- spectable Indian.
After this ceremony the two Indi- an damsels took Ketcham to their tent and introduced him to his "mama," who in the kindness of her heart offered him her hand, but she was so drunk she tumbled from her seat. He was compelled to carry wood for all the villagers, and only got the skim from their soup as food.
Soon he realized that he could not exist long on this fare, so gathering a handful of corn and a small piece of squash, he departed from the vil- lage in the night. The Indians pur- sued hotly after the fugitive when daylight showed his absence. But, with the aid of French settlers, he was enabled to elude the Indians, and after many perils finally reached De- troit, where he hired to a French priest, who paid him with an old beaver hat, a second-hand scarlet vest and $2 in money. With this liberal ( ?) financial aid, he succeeded in reaching his native land, Washington county, Maryland, and after resting he managed to finally reach his fam- ily in Kentucky.
Strong Faith of Wife.
As an instance of strong faith, it may be recorded that his pious wife, the mother of Colonel John Ketcham,
16
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
never once despaired of her husband's return.
When Daniel Ketcham was cap- tured, she insisted that the neighbors should not pursue, lest the Indians might tomahawk her husband, for she believed that God in His providence would bring him back to her.
When the neighbors who had de- pended on Ketcham to stack their wheat, began, as harvest drew near, to ask what they would do, she would ever make answer, "Never mind, my stacker will be here."
And, sure enough, that year, as formerly, Daniel Ketcham stacked the wheat of his neighbors who had no barns.
With such parentage, we can in a way understand how it was that John Ketcham could be possible, as the per- sonification of honor, energy, cour- age and resoluteness for that which he considered right.
OLD SALT WORKS AT EARLY DATE BECAME ONE OF LEADING INDUSTRIES OF MONROE COUNTY
When Monroe county, and in fact, all of the territory of Indiana was in wilderness, and only the very neces- sary necessities of life were consider- ed luxuries, salt-that common ar- ticle-was considered one of the most important of things to be thought of by the pioneer settlers.
If it is remembered that at that time salt was a scarce and costly article in the woods, made so by the great cost of transportation, the value of an excellent salt well will be readily understood.
Salt At Door Is Asset.
It is not necessary to inform old settlers of the commercial value of good salt works within from one to
THY
-
Summer or Winter, Spring or Autumn, Nature's Artistic Touch is to be Seen in Views Most Pleasing on Indiana University Campus.
fifteen miles of their doors. And Bloomington, along with the sur- rounding community, felt rather well off when it was discovered that salt could be manufactured within the very limits of the county_at their very door.
Salt Creek took its designation from the numerous salt springs along its course, which were discovered at a very early day, by the great resort made of them by wild deer, which came to them to drink.
These springs became famous in times as "deer-licks" where, as long as the animals were found in abun- dance in Monroe county, they could be killed by the hunters.
Some of the salty localities showed such evidence of strength in salt that it was resolved to evaporate the water-and thus began the busi- ness of manufacturing salt in Mon- roe county.
Bored Salt Well in 1822.
We find that as early as 1822 or 1823, Henry Wampler, Thomas Lit- eral and several others bored a well on Section 12, Township north, Range 1 east (now a part of Salt Creek township, Monroe county), and found an abundance of excellent brine.
These men erected "shanties", pro- cured several large iron kettles, and began the work of converting the salt water into salt. They received a wide patronage from the start, and soon increased their output by ad- ding more kettles and employing men to help refine the salt.
The salt works were conducted for a number of years, and it is said by older settlers, more than 800 bushels of excellent salt was made in one year at this plant. Exact figures cannot be given at this late period, as most of the information has come through word of mouth and part hearsay.
Petition for Road.
Travel by settlers to the salt works became so great-even from the start- that the owners and others (shown by old records) petitioned the county board in 1823 to construct a road from Bloomington, the county seat, to the salt works. The road was constructed as petitioned for.
In later years other wells were sunk in the township, one being near the iron bridge which now crosses Salt Creek. This early manu- facture of salt was before the settle- ment of the township, and in 1825 the township received a separate ex- istence, and was named from the works which made the Salt Creek lo- cality famous in that day, and is now known as Salt Creek township.
Although Salt Creek township, in Monroe county, has added considerable to the growth of the county life by its old salt works, the township can boast of no towns in the domain of its boundary lines.
17
Historic Treasures, Compiled by Forest M. "Pop" Hall
Remarkable Letter Written From Bloomington to Friends in Chard, England, About 1833, by Prof. Pering
¡Addition to Historical Literature of Indiana and Monroe County Unheard of Until 1909-Describes With Wonderful Detail Life, Manners and Customs in 1833-Half of Lines Written Over Other Half To Save Space.
By stage and by boat to New York, and then on the long slow journey across the Atlantic went this remark- able letter to "S. Edwards, Esquire, Chard, Somerset, England," there to rest among musty papers for seventy- six years before its unexpected re- turn to the country and state, and even to the town from which it had been sent.
The original copy is now in the possession of Alfred E. Pering of Bloomington, who has preserved it under glass. Mr. Pering is a grand- son of the author of the letter and feels rather proud of his ancestor's old letter, which gives us a picture of life in early Indiana as complete and as vivid as the most exacting his- torian would desire.
The letter by Cornelius Pering, a cultured Englishman, who had just settled at Bloomington, Monroe coun- ty, Indiana, to become the principal of the Young Women's Seminary (In- diana College at that time accepted only men), was sent to an old friend at his former home in Chard, Eng- land, who had asked that he give his observations of the new country.
Unusual Recovery.
In 1908, the English government sent John Alexander Gunn, of Chard over to Canada on business, and he took the opportunity to visit a rela- tive, Dr. Gunn, living in Springville.
While the Englishman was at the home of Dr. Gunn, he met Mrs. Char- lotte Short, of Springville, and in their conversation she mentioned that her grandfather had come to this country from Chard. (Mrs. Short now lives in Bloomington.)
This led to more talk, and Mr. Gunn promised upon his returned to Chard to send some papers that would be of interest to her. Several months later, Mrs. Short received a pack- age containing this valuable letter, written to "S. Edwards" by her grandfather, Prof. Cornelius Pering, and also a letter which her grand- mother had written at the same time to Mrs. Edwards.
Several other descendants of Prof. Pering live in Bloomington and Mon- roe county, besides Mrs. Short and Alfred E. Pering, Mrs. Ella Blewett and Clifton Pering the grandchildren.
It has never been learned just how it was that this old letter was pre- served all these years, but we may well guess that the remarkable artis- tic value made the letter a treasure, or keepsake.
Wonderful Letter Writer.
The letter, which was written on the thick, heavy paper used in that day, is yet well preserved. It was written in the peculiar criss-cross style adopted to economize space. Aft-
er the page was filled one way it was turned and then filled again by writ- ing across the other lines. This was done on both sides of the sheet. The sheet was then folded to form its own envelope, a space being left for the address. In this way Mr. Pering got several thousand words into his letter, all to be sent for 25 cents. But he did even more, for with rare ar- · tistic skill he painted in a small space about two and one-half inches by three inches, in the center of one side of the sheet, eight pictures illustrat- ing places and scenes he had de- scribed. His color effects, especially in the Hudson and Ohio River scenes, remain remarkably good even yet. The other paintings, including the first buildings of the Indiana State University at Bloomington, the first Monroe County Court House, a typi- cal Hoosier grog shop of the early day, a "temperance" inn, typical farmhouse and a brick residence are all of exceptional historical value for their faithful portrayal of buildings preserved to this generation in no other way.
Studied at Cambridge.
Cornelius Pering, after studying at Cambridge and then pursuing his art education on the continent, found himself, in 1832, face to face with the problem of earning a livlihood, though yet with some money to in- vest. He turned toward the land of opportunity, whither others of his relatives had preceded him. It was a year later, after traveling slowly across from New York to Kentucky and visiting there, and then settling temporarily at Livonia, this state, that he decided to take charge of the "Monroe County Female Seminary," rather a preparatory institution to the "Indiana State College." His chief interest was in painting, but one could not live by painting alone in the rural commun- ity that Bloomington then was. He remained in Bloomington until 1846 or 1847, when, his wife having died in 1845, he left the home of sadness and went to Louisville to fulfill his long- cherished desire to establish a school of art. This he continued to teach un- til his death in 1881. His body was brought back to Bloomington for bur- ial.
Daughter Continues Work.
The art school which he established is still in existence, now being in charge of his daughter, Miss Cornelia Pering, who inherited all of her cul- tured father's rare artistic talents. She is still active with her brush, although 81 years of age, and is among the noted residents of Louis- ville, Ky., at the present time.
Many of the observations made by
Cornelius Pering in his letter were truly those of a man gifted with pro- phetic judgment. He had been in the Western wilderness but a year when he wrote, "I am convinced that it (America) will one day be the most powerful, the most prosperous and the most happy community in the world.
Predicts Great Future.
And again, he said of the State Uni- versity, which then had hardly a score of students: "It (the building) will remind you more of Mr. Rister's factory than the princely halls of Ox- ford and Cambridge, but I nave no doubt as good scholars will be turned out from that humble edifice as from the more celebrated seats of learning in England." Indiana was fortunate, indeed, in gaining a cultured citizen of such warm and generous sympa- thies to leave his impress at that for- mative period of its life.
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.