USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 13
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The shrill whistle of the woolen mill has drowned the hum of the spinning wheel, and it is only a thing in the mem- ory of the old-timer, and but few of them are left to tell that . these were once the implements of industry. The flax break is now a thing of an age passed and gone. We doubt if there ever was a sweeter time in life than when the good old mother sat in front of the fireplace spinning, while her little ones prattled around her knee and roasted potatoes in the ashes in front of her, under her watchful and loving care. Could we be carried back to such a scene we doubt not that it would be a happy one to behold. The mother of those days, was a mother in all the word implies ; no care was too great, no labor too severe for her to undergo for her offspring; her love was as pure and as simple as the plain and unpretentious- ness of her surroundings.
In order that the wheel that played such a conspicuous part in the early times in this and other counties in the early settlement of the country, may not be lost in oblivion we have procured a photo of one of these ancient implements of labor and reproduce it here in contrast with the wheels with which the mother and daughter of to-day are wont to employ their leisure moments. The one here produced is one of the oldest
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
extant, having been made early in the present century, in Wayne county by an old wheelwright, who, almost a century ago, went to his final rest.
It was once the property of Mrs. Lydia Forkner, of Union township, who was one of the last women in Madison county to make use of the spinning wheel. She died in Au- gust, 1895, at the residence of her son Alfred, at the ripe old age of ninety-three. She was the last of a type of women the like of whom will never again live in Madison county, and we are made happy by here perpetuating her memory and to speak well of her noble deeds.
Mrs. Mary Hull, widow of the late Rev. Matthew R. Hull, a noted minister of the gospel of the M. E. Church, who for many years was a prominent figure in both church and political matters in Indiana, kindly posed for the illustration here given. She can vividly remember the days when the spinning wheel was one of the household necessities. She has for many years been a resident of Anderson, with her daughter, Mrs. R. H. Cokefair, and is one of the best known and highly respected ladies in the community.
THE OLD TIME MAIL ROUTES.
Of the four boys who carried the mail to Anderson sixty years ago, there are but two yet living, the Hon. M. L. Bundy, of New Castle, and John R. Boston, of Pendleton.
The other two, Mr. Britton Braskett and Mr. 1. E. Russell, are both dead. Mr. Russell died five or six years ago, and Mr. Braskett died in Anderson but a few months previous to this writing.
These boys, as they were then, braved the storms and hardships in all seasons of the year and made their regular trips to and from Anderson with the mail pouch on horseback.
All in after years became more or less prominent in the business affairs of the world, notably Mr. Bundy, who has filled many high and honorable positions in civil life, and was a paymaster in the war of the rebellion. He was judge of the courts in Henry county, and National Bank Examiner under Grant's administration as President. He has been very successful in financial affairs, and is now living in retirement and ease at Newcastle. Mr. Bundy has kindly furnished us a sketch of his experience as a mail boy, and other matters which we are pleased to copy. 10
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
JUDGE BUNDY'S LETTER.
"I am asked to give a description of Anderson and other villages of Madison county as well as such old-time citizens as came under my observation while I carried the mail on horse- back for a year, beginning October, 1834, and ending October, 1885, also the route I traveled. The eastern end was Center- ville, in Wayne county, and the western, Noblesville, in Ham- ilton county, and the service was once a week. Centerville was the most important town on the route, because there was a newspaper published there by Samuel C. Meredith, who at this date still lives. The great lawyers and politicians of the
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A. E. RUSSELL, WHO CARRIED THE MAIL TO ANDERSON AND PENDLE- TON, IN 1833.
White Water valley lived there, and there was an excellent dry-goods store kept by Myer Seaton. Leaving Centerville my route took in Jacksonburgh, Nettle Creek (since called Hagerstown), Boyd's, on Flat Rock, New Castle, Middle. town, Chesterfield, Andersontown, as it was then called, Pen- dleton and Noblesville. Five days were allowed in which to make the trip in each week, Saturday and Sunday being days for rest. The late William Silver, of Pendleton, but then re-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
siding at New Castle, was the contractor who furnished a horse and subsistance, with $5 a month as my compensation.
CHESTERFIELD.
In the fall of 1834, Chesterfield was probably a place of more importance than it is at this day, for Allen Makepeace had the best store and largest trade in the county, and gener- ally was recognized as one of the best merchants in the country. A man of genial address, he never failed to attract people to his store. His father, then an elderly gentleman, was the postmaster to whom I delivered the mail, and William Dilts
HON. MARTIN 1 .. BUNDY, WHO CARRIED THE MAIL. TO ANDERSON IN 1834.
had a large brick house which he used as a dwelling for his family and likewise to entertain the public, and there I stopped for dinner twice a week. I can never forget the family and the kindness with which they always treated me, though I was a mere boy.
ANDERSON,
At the time I name, might have had a population of 150 peo- ple, but the site was a great hazel thicket, through which nar-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
row roads had been cut to enable teams to pass, but on either side of which a person could hide in the bushes in a few steps, and become invisible. The physical condition of the town had not improved since the Indians left it a few years before. It had long been an Indian town, where, tradition tells us, the great warrior, Tecumseh, was born and spent his boyhood. The county seat had been removed from the thriving town of Pendleton to Anderson, but no public building had been erected, and business was transacted at the house of the public officer in 1834. I do not remember who filled the office of sheriff, but R. N. Williams was clerk, recorder and post- master, and I doubt if his compensation for all these public trusts amounted to $500 a year. The citizens of the town I best remember, because I saw them every week, were Will- iams, the postmaster ; Andrew Jackson, afterward clerk ; and Colonel Berry. Fred Bronnenberg I often saw either in Anderson or Chesterfield, the same genial companion then as now, though sixty-two years have elapsed. He is the only person then in active business that I can call to mind as now living, which shows the transitory nature of our existence.
PENDLETON, .
Which was my next stopping place, was then a thriving village, full of enterprise and gifted men. There was Palmer Patrick, Dr. John H. Cook, James Gray, and the Doctors Richmond, father and son, who would have been men of mark in any community, my landlord, Jesse Boston, who took care of me two nights each week, had immigrated from Baltimore the year before and erected a family residence and house of enter- tainment combined. Before leaving Maryland he had evident- ly caught the railroad fever, then prevalent there, because his tavern sign had painted on it the picture of a locomotive engine, which attracted much attention because of its novelty. The men of Pendleton then in active life, it is needless to say, have all passed away.
NOBLESVILLE.
I was required to go from Pendleton to Noblesville and return the same day. The country between these two towns at that time was a howling wilderness and one could travel several miles without seeing a human habitation. Much of the land was covered with water which in the winter time froze over and formed a solid bridge for miles, but in the spring of the year there seemed to be no bottom to the road. .
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Nobleville was a straggling village on White river and while it looked more like a town than Anderson, it was greatly inferior to Pendleton. The public business was transacted after the manner of Anderson, for General Stephenson was clerk, recorder and postmaster, and the emoluments of his sev- eral offices hardly exceeded those of Williams at Anderson. He was able, however, to take a Philadelphia newspaper, a lux- ury forbidden to most pioneers on account of poverty, but he did not know until I told him twenty years afterwards that his paper was read each week several times before it saluted his eye. On my westward trip the people would collect from the surrounding country at some of the offices, knowing about the time the " great eastern " mail would arrive, and clamor for the news, apparently supposing the carrier knew the con- tents and could tell them. To satisfy them I would take out Stephenson's paper and read to them for an hour the foreign and domestic news, the markets and often editorial comments on Jackson and VanBuren, Clay and Webster, besides other noted politicians, who at that time occupied the public atten- tion. This was repeated several times before reaching Nobles- ville, much to the delight of the people, because it was the only means they had of procuring information. I was young, but having been raised among the Quakers, could read well, because these people never neglect early education. If the late A. E. Russell, who was my predecessor in office, were alive, I could appeal to him for confirmation of much that I have written, and his intelligent widow, Caroline, who still survives, must be an authority on the early events of Madison county. M. L. BUNDY.
A FAMOUS WINDOW SHUTTER.
In the summer of 1868, John (). Hardesty came to An- derson unheralded and unannounced. He purchased the ma- terial of the " Loyal American," a newspaper published by John C. Hanson and ex-postmaster H. J. Brown, and started the Anderson Herald, a " red hot " Republican sheet. It was but a little while until the people knew that he was in town, especially the Democratic part of the community, as he com- menced a warfare at once on the ramparts of the Democratic camp.
Hardesty was then a young man, full of vigor and vim. Ile knew where to shoot, and never failed to hit the mark.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
He caused the Democrats more trouble than any one who ever published an opposition paper in this county.
When the annual statement of the receipts and disburse- ments of that year came out it was disclosed that the expenses
THE $37,000 WINDOW SHUTTER.
incurred by the County Board, footed up to the snug sum of $37,000, not an extraordinary amount for a county like Mad- ison, but the figures looked big, and sounded large to the tax- payers.
Hardesty took this exhibit for his text for the campaign that was soon approaching, and the way he handled it was a caution to the old settlers.
Of course the amount expended included all paid out for every purpose, including the courts and the officers salaries, and the keeping of the poor ; but in looking over the list of vouch- ers, Hardesty discovered that the only money that had been
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
paid for improvements of the public buildings was an item for putting a new shutter on the court house. This was enough for him, and he at once began an agitation of the sub- ject through the columns of his paper, and week after week alluded to the thirty-seven-thousand-dollar window shutter, until he had all of the Republicans, and half of the Democrats in the county believing that it actually cost that amount.
He had a full sized cut of it in his paper standing during the entire campaign, and the papers in the neighboring towns took it up and it became a topic of general talk over the State that Madison county had a shutter on its court house that cost $37,000. . In the street parades, at political meetings, wherever the Republicans had speakings, the window shutter was on hand ; some one always brought up the rear with a transparency with the shutter printed on it.
This shutter was finally taken off the court house and carried in a procession at Indianapolis at the " State rally " that year, and caused an endless amount of mirth.
The Democrats wished many times before the election came around that the shutter was in hades, and Hardesty close by, but the shutter was still there ; it would not down.
Whilst the agitation on this subject did not defeat the candidates of that year, on the Democratic ticket, it " laid the egg" for a grand cleaning out in the election in the next cam- paign.
In the year 1870, the succeeding election for State and county officers, but two of the Democratic candidates were elected, the Clerk of the courts and the Coroner, and they had no opposition, or they would probably have fared the same as their running mates.
To John O. Hardesty, more than any other person. is due the credit of turning the tide in a county with a solid majority of 800 against his party, and landing the candidates of his political complexion in the best offices in the gift of the voters in the community.
The window shutter, and the way it was handled by Hardesty, was a play that was hard to beat, and one that argument would not serve to change.
We doubt if Mr. Hardesty is fully appreciated by the newer and younger members of his party, from the fact that he at one time moved away from the county, and for a time lost his identity, but the old-timers well remember his strug-
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gles against what seemed a hopeless cause, and the window shutter and the part it played in this memorable political fight.
SOME SEVERE TORNADOES.
The first tornado or cyclone in Madison county known to the old settlers occurred in 1828, about three and one-half miles south of Anderson. It was one-half mile wide, the effects of which were for a long time known as the " Fallen Timber," having felled the forests in its track. The next was in 1843. It commenced a little northwest of Pendleton, passed east through what is known as the " Dismal " to the north of Huntsville, then up the gravel ridge just south of Anderson, ending about where the Big Four and Pan Ilandle railroads cross. Along the ridge or hill road to Huntsville large trees were blown out by the roots. Little mounds of earth still show . where it swept through.
The third was in the west part of the county, in 1853. Its course was just south of Perkinsville, east and northeast. It took the second story off of Daniel Wise's brick house, an account of which appears elsewhere. It passed south of Flor- ida. Some men who were building the grade for the Pan Handle railroad, seeing the storm approaching, took shelter in a log house close by. One man, probably more timid than the others, huddled down in one corner and said : " Now, Billy," meaning the wind, " see what you can do; do your best." The words had scarcely left his lips when the house was blown from its foundation. Another man ran out and caught hold of a small bush and was terribly bruised and shaken up. Ile, so far as reports go, was the only man hurt by the tornado.
In June, 1880. a fourth severe tornado passed over this county. It commenced in Hamilton county, literally sweep- ing the town of Cicero, injuring quite a number of people. It came into this county about Perkinsville, and in its eastern course took off for the second time the roof of Daniel Wise's house. The repaired walls show the extent of the damage. It did considerable damage in its course, striking very hard in the west side of the Joseph Groff farm, four miles northwest of Anderson. where it completely demolished about twenty acres of timber ; farther east it did but little damage. Bolts of dry goods were found in its track, probably from the wrecked stores at Cicero.
The first to result in the destruction of human life passed
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
over the north part of the county, about half way between Frankton and Elwood, May 12, 1886, striking with terrible force the old Caleb Canaday homestead, destroying the house and barn and doing other damage. The house was all blown away except a room occupied by the family. The " nigger head " corner stone of the barn was turned out of its place. James Legg's residence, close by, was made a perfect wreck, killing his son John, breaking an arm and leg for his wife and otherwise injuring her. The balance of the family escaped with less serious injury. Its ravages extended through the county. This, so far as now can be ascertained, was the only fatality.
THE COLORED MAN BARRED.
Prior to the civil war there were but few colored people in Madison county, and but little respect was paid to the few who did live here. In fact, they were not looked upon as human beings by most people. The only ones who had any sympathy for the colored brother were the Abolitionists, who were but few, and confined to the Quakers and their descend- ants.
A striking illustration of how the colored man was held, by his white brother is to be found in the record of deeds at Anderson, where there is recorded a deed to a piece of land in Monroe township, in which the land is conveyed to the . " State of Indiana for the purposes of a burying ground so long as the same may be used therefor, provided that no 'nigger ' shall ever be buried therein, in which case the land shall revert to the owner and his heirs." The name of the donor is withheld, as it is useless, at this late day of enlighten- ment, to stir up the old feeling that at that time existed, be- sides. no doubt, the one who conveyed the land has long since relented, and has a warm place in his heart for the sons of Ham.
QUILTINGS AND WOOL PICKINGS.
While the pioneer, farmers had their fun and frolics at the log rollings and house raisings, the good old mothers did not miss their opportunities to have an entertainment once in awhile.
In the spring of the year after the flock had been sheared and the fleeces washed, they invited in the neighbor women and indulged in a " wool-picking, " which consisted in picking the " burrs " and .. Spanish needles " from the wool, so that it
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
could be prepared for market, and for the spinning-wheel. These gatherings were what the ladies now term " hen par- ties," no men being allowed to take part in the proceedings.
They in a like manner invited their friends occasionally to take a hand in a quilting match.
The guests parceled out to themselves a task of quilting, while the hostess prepared a sumptuous repast which was served after the day was spent. While these gatherings were a help among the neighbors, with their many labors, they also served as a pastime, and to lighten the path of life through the wilderness in which they lived.
The stories told of the wool-pickings and quilting-bees, by the old ladies who took part in them would make an inter- esting book. There are but few left now who can relate per- sonal experiences in these scenes of long ago.
The loom and the spinning-wheel are things that repre- sent an age gone by, and there is just here and there one who remembers the days of their usefulness.
DAYS OF THE CLEARINGS AND LOG ROLLINGS.
The first thing the early settler did after entering his land * from the government, was to " deaden " several acres of the dense forest covering his possessions. In the course of a year · the timber would die and become sufficiently dry to be easily · burned. The trees were felled with axes and prepared for the log heap. The process of getting the logs in proper lengths was generally by building fires across them at different places and " niggering" them off by throwing one log across another and firing them, then it would not take long to burn them in twain. The owner of the land and his family consisting of male and female members, would spend days and nights in the clearing, and through smoke and fire, would work without cessation until several acres were prepared for the " log roll- ing." Then the neighbors for miles around were invited and a rolling "bee " was indulged in.
While this was a hard job, it was also a time for great joy and merriment. It was the time for all to congregate and exchange greetings, and between the hours of labor and re- freshments give themselves up to story telling and merry making, the whole ending at night with a dance where young and old enjoyed themselves in boundless mirth.
Many lifting matches at the hand-spike were indulged in at the log rollings. The logs were placed on large sticks
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
shaved and prepared for the purpose, called " hand-spikes," generally from four to six under each log. The men would pair off in twos, one at each end of the spike and there's where the " tall lifting" set in. A man would rather be buried alive than to be "lifted down." The logs would be carried to some favorable spot and piled in heaps ready to burn, and when the rolling was over the heaps were fired. The fires in the clearings were a beautiful sight to behold at night, lighting up the skies for miles around.
At these rollings whisky was always furnished in copious quantities. Some would become hilarious, while others would get "full," but good feeling generally prevailed, although there have been cases where old grudges were settled between enemies by hand-to-hand fights when they happened to meet in the clearing.
The men of those days generally dressed in homespun clothing, consisting of a hunting shirt made of " linsey " with pants, coat and vest of blue jeans. In this rough garb their hearts beat with honest pride as they toiled for their future wealth and greatness.
In those days at the log rollings many used oxen to assist in bunching the logs for the heaps. Many of the present gen- eration have never seen a " yoke " of oxen. They were not only beasts of burden fifty years ago in the woods in logging, but served as a means of hauling wagons upon the roads.
An early scene along the old National Road, and the road leading to Strawtown, was one of a continual stream of ox wagons, moving the pioneers to the wilds of their new homes in the far west.
The yellow hound was also an accompaniment to the ox wagon. He generally brought up the rear of the procession, keeping faithful watch over the children and the family cow that followed behind.
At the log rollings and barn raisings there was as much formality and etiquette in some respects as prevails among the " swell " society people of to-day. When a new comer made his advent into a neighborhood he was the recipient of all favors, and made the guest of honor on all occasions until he was duly initiated into the ways of the new home he had sought in the wilderness. If he proved true, and was made of the proper material, he soon was one of the community in all its meaning ; if not, he was in a very short time dropped. It did not take the neighbors long to form an opinion of the
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new settler, and when public sentiment was formed there was no reversing it.
The fellow who always had fault to find with the ways of the country and was continually comparing the mode of pro- cedure with the way they did "in yander" where he came from, and making unfavorable comments of this sort, was set down as an ass, or what we would in this day say, a " smart Alec," and the people had but little use for him.
In the days of " the cabin in the clearing ," of which the Ilon. Ben. Parker, of Newcastle, has so sweetly sung, the "Johnny cake " cut quite a figure. To bake a "Johnny cake" was an accomplishment that any woman was proud to possess. The cake was made of corn meal and water, being well mixed with lard for " shortning ." and laid on a board and set up in front of the fireplace, which generally occupied one whole end of the cabin, and was baked by the heat thrown out from the fire of huge logs rolled in by the sturdy pioneer. Some times a good fat opossum was served with the " Johnny cake " with an abundance of "sop" for the children. A person who did not like that kind of eating was at once set down as not being properly "raised."
Who ever sat in front of one of those old-fashioned fire places and looked into the flaming fire as it threw out its warming rays, and listened to the lullaby of the mother's even- ing song, that does not wish that he could wander back to those scenes of simplicity, and for a time live over again the happy moments thus spent ?
It would not be exaggeration to say that a million dollars worth of timber has been burned in log heaps in Madison county. Many handsome walnut trees have thus been de- voured in order to get them out of the way of the plow, that would now be worth at least one hundred dollars each.
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