USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 14
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ORGANIZATION OF OLD SETTLERS.
For a number of years it has been customary at intervals to have meetings in different parts of the county, of the old settlers, for the purpose of talking over old times and ming- ling together in amusement and speech making. The first meeting of this kind of which we can find any record, was one held in Pendleton in 1856. Among the prominent persons who took an active part on this occasion and made speeches were John Markle. Able Johnson. Samuel D. Irish, John H. Cook, Conrad Crossley, Thomas Silver and Isaac Busby. We
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believe that of those sturdy pioneers active in this memorable meeting, not one is now living.
In the year of 1873, another meeting was held at Alex- dria, in July, which was largely attended by people from different parts of the county.
The next meeting of importance took place in the year 1874. on the banks of White river, near the village of Perkins- ville, which was largely attended by both the residents of Madison and Hamilton counties. The meeting was called to order by Andrew Mckenzie, of Hamilton county. General J. D. Stevenson, of Noblesville, was elected president, and the Rev. J. F. Rhodes, of Perkinsville, was elected secretary. The meeting was addressed by Rev. John W. Forest, Judge Johnathan Colburn,, James Hollingsworth, Noah Waymire, H. G. Finch and Thomas L. Beckwith. A good deal of merri- ment was occasioned by the speech of Mr. Finch, who gave it as his opinion that the country would be better off without either ministers or churches. Various relics of the pioneer times of the county were exhibited, among which was an old "shot pouch " and powder horn, worn by a Mr. Fisher, who was killed by the Indians, not far from where this meet- ing was held, an account of which is given elsewhere. A permanent organization was effected for the two counties by Thomas L. Beckwith being elected corresponding secretary and General Stevenson president.
At various times since, there have been other meetings of the old settlers at different points in the county, but it seems that no attempt had been made to keep up a regular organiza- tion, and the meetings were held simply by calls being signed by different persons, which assembled them together.
One of the largest meetings held for many years, oc- curred at Chesterfield in the year 1887, at which Judge Win- burn R. Pierse, Hon. James W. Sansberry, Samuel Myers. W. C. Fleming and many old timers, delivered addresses. This meeting was on White river, north of the village, near a gas well on W. B. Bronnenberg's farm.
At a meeting held at the court house in Anderson, on the 16th of July, 1894, upon the call of Samuel Hardin, Rufus HI. Williams and others, steps were taken to more thoroughly organize the Old Settlers Association, since which time they have held annual meetings and a record of their proceedings has been kept. John L. Forkner presided, and William P. Newman acted as secretary at this meeting. It was decided
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to hold the first annual meeting at Ruddle's grove on the 80th of August, of that year. Francis Watkins was chosen presi- dent and a vice-president was elected for the association for each township in the county.
When the day of the meeting arrived a large concourse of people assembled in the beautiful grove and were welcomed to the city by the Hon. John H. Terhune, at that time Mayor. Addresses were made by J. M. Farlow, Hon. James W. Sans- berry, Dr. Ward Cook, of Pendleton, James Hollingsworth, Samuel Myers, Hon. David S. Gooding, of Greenfield, Charles Fisher, of Fishersburg, Abisha Lewis and many others whose names if recorded here would occupy too much space. The oldest married couple in the county was present in the persons of Samuel and Rebecca Stevenson, of Anderson township, they having lived in the holy bonds of wedlock for the term of sixty-three years. The Lapel brass band under the leadership of Prof. D. K. Elliott, furnished most excellent music for the occasion. The venerable Samuel Myers, in his address pre- dicted that this would be his last meeting with the association, which proved true.
The next annual meeting was held on the 29th of August, 1895, at the same place. Francis Watkins, the president of the association, being absent, the meeting was called to order by James Hollingsworth, and IIon. M. M. Dunlap, Mayor of Anderson, welcomed the visitors in a very happy speech and extended to them the freedom of the city. The weather being very threatening, it was not so largely attended as the foriner one, but a general good feeling prevailed and a very happy time was had by those who were in attendance. Among those who addressed the meeting were Dr. William Suman, Byron H. Dyson, James Hollingsworth, W. V. Shanklin, Mrs. Lucinda Harden, Mrs. G. N. Hilligoss and Abisha Lewis. Dr. N. L. Wickersham read an original poem prepared by himself for this special occasion which contained many good points in reference to the old cabin days, which was well received and was highly entertaining to those who had the pleasure of listening to it. At this meeting a com- mittee was selected consisting of Edward Roberts, Neil Mauzy and Thomas Harmeson, to select names for permanent officers of the association for the next year, who accordingly reported for president, Samuel Hardin ; secretary, John L. Forkner, and treasurer. David Conrad. They appointed a meeting to take place at the same locality one year hence.
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These meetings have thus kept alive the spirit and enthu- siasm of the old settlers of Madison county and by keeping a record of their annual proceedings in the years to come it will be interesting to the new generation to peruse the account of their doings and sayings.
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CHAPTER XXII.
REMINISCENCES-ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS.
THE STORY OF A HAT.
Sometime during the year 1880 a mysterious stranger dropped into Greenfield, in Hancock county, and settled down in the farming community in that vicinity. He en- gaged in the occupation of school teaching. He was very reticent, and gave but little information as to his former home or whence he came. It was evident, however, from his conversation that he was an eastern man from the fact that he had the Yankee brogue plainly upon his tongue. He was very quiet and exceedingly neat and cleanly about his person. He seldom visited Greenfield except in the company of the farmer with whom he made his home while teaching school. He was thoroughly educated, and to all appearances was one who by his talents could command a much better position in life than the one he was then filling. While many who became acquainted with him wondered why such a man should have located in a country district and confined himself to the monotony of school life, there was none who had any cause to believe there was anything wrong about him.
Ile remained in that neighborhood for nearly two years, during which time he became well acquainted with the neighbors, and finally ingratiated himself into the confidence of the farmer to such an extent that he was entrusted with his business, such as drawing money on checks at the bank. This the stranger did with faithfulness, and would turn over to his host the last penny. As the result of all this, he be- came well acquainted with the officers of the banks in Green- field, who were delighted to have a visit from him. He was an interesting conversationalist, and was very suave in his manners.
One bright sunny morning he dropped into one of the banks and laid down on the counter a note for a considerable
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amount. The note was signed by his farmer friend with whom he had been living, and the stranger was anxious to have it discounted, a favor which was readily granted by the officers. Nothing further was thought of the transaction until some weeks subsequently, when the farmer by whom the note was said to be signed came to town, and on going to the bank was informed by the officials that they had pur- chased the note. Their consternation and astonishment can be well imagined when informed by the farmer that the note in question was a base forgery: that the stranger had not been at the farmer's house for quite a while, and that he had left the county.
Efforts were made in a quiet way by the bank authorities to ascertain his whereabouts, but all to no purpose. But lit- tle stir was made about it, as they did not desire the commu- nity to know they had been duped in such a manner.
Time rolled on until the year 1885, when at Rockford. Illinois, a stranger was found dead in his bed in one of the rooms of the hotel at which he was stopping. There were no papers or anything upon his person whereby his identity could be established. Ile had worn a stiff cady hat, and in the crown of this appeared the name of ".Frank Spear, the Hatter, Anderson, Indiana." Letters were at once written to Mr. Spear, but he had no recollection of selling a hat to any such personage, and could give no clue to his name or identity.
The officials of Rockford, being anxious to find his rela- tives, as he had all the appearance of being a well-to-do man. had photographs made of him as he lay in his coffin and then held the body until they had time to send these throughout the land.
Thomas R. Moore was at that time sheriff of Madison county. and received one of the photographs, which he exhib- ed to every one he met on the street, to all the business men. and to all the city officials, but no one could remember of hay- ing seen such a person. In some way. one of the photographs fell into the hands of the officials of Hancock county and was shown to the people there, and among these were the propri- ctors of the bank upon which he had committed the forgery, who recognized his features at once as the missing party for whom they had been looking. Without making much fuss or ceremony. they sent a representative to Rockford, Illinois, who after examining the body established its identity beyond 11
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doubt. Upon his person was found but little money, as he had evidently squandered it, and the bank never received any- thing to reimburse it.
During his residence in Hancock county he gave his name as Blanchard, by which name he was known at that place, but nothing of his history, or his former life, or who he was, ever became known, and is to this day a mystery. One thing is certain and that is, that he was a very slick rogue, and that he laid his plans in the most artful and cunning manner and car- ried them to successful ends. When making his escape from Greenfield, he no doubt passed through Anderson, and here purchased of Frank Spear the hat by which he was identified after death. .
The bank officials have to this day kept the secret of this affair to themselves, and there were very few outside of their own circle who knew anything about it. .
DARING ESCAPE OF A CRIMINAL.
The following story was related to F. T. Luse by Will- iam B. Allen, late of Anderson and Ex-Sheriff of Madison county. There are yet living in this county many persons who remember the occurrence. The world admires a hero, or deeds of daring; the more astonishing the achievements, the greater the admiration. The men in our late civil war who excited the greatest interest were those who took the greatest risks, resulting in the most unexpected terminations, but whether a man be facing the cannon's mouth, or engaged in any other work, if he has accomplished his undertaking, attention is at once directed to him, and his name for a season is upon many tongues.
Criminals have often won praise for their daring. One of the most remarkable cases of this kind took place in Madi- son county many years ago. A man of the name of William Harris, who was a noted criminal, displayed the most won- derful nerve and daring to secure his freedom, and it was the theme of conversation in every circle for many months. Mr. Harris had, like many other wayward men, in his childhood, a good father and mother to guide him, but he gave little heed to them. Soon after reacl.ing his majority, he began to associ- ate with men of bad reputation, and was finally arrested by William B. Allen, Sheriff of Madison county, during the summer of 1841. on the charge of passing counterfeit money, and on his trial he was proven guilty.
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In relating this story, it might not be inappropriate to state that other persons whose names have never been given up were known to have been engaged in this most nefarious business, but escaped implication.
The old log jail that stood in the court house yard was insecure and unfit for use, and the cupola, or belfry of the court house was improvised into a prison for keeping crimi- nals, there being but one way of access to the cupola, and that was by the stairway leading from the hall of the court house. In the case of Harris it was not deemed necessary to watch him at any other place about the building than at this point. No one but his wife and the Sheriff and deputies vis- ited him in his elevated confinement.
On the night of August 12, 1841, about 12 o'clock, the prisoner set himself at work to make his escape. The night was one long to be remembered by those then living : great torrents of rain fell from about 10 o'clock until daylight next morning. The rain was incessant, and was accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning from all points of the heavens. The thunder was terrific and appalling in the extreme. What time more fitting than this for a man to liberate himself from imprisonment? Harris determined to go through the shutter to the lightning rod, and let himself down to the roof of the court house, then continuing his hold on the rod to descend to the ground, a total distance from the starting point of about forty-five feet.
The wife of the prisoner, who had been admitted to his place of confinement, was with him upon this occasion, and between them the attempt to escape by this means was de- bated long and earnestly. Liberty was sweet and life precious, Net while undertaking to secure the one he might lose the Other. The desire to proceed with the undertaking was about equally balanced by the resolve to abandon it. Finally, over- Coming all fear, he bade farewell to his wife and started out zamidst the drenching rain and the blinding flashes of the light- ning to the rod which was to lead him to liberty. He could hear, as he afterwards stated, the lightning skip along the rod. At the west end of the cupola a portion of this rod was discernable as long as the old court house stood in the public square.
Harris seized the rod and proceeded sailor fashion, hand over band, and soon reached the roof. So far so good, and yet only a small portion of his journey had been accomplished.
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The fear that the electric current passing down the rod might injure him seemed to deter him ; the belief that the guard in the hallway might hear his movements caused his heart to flutter ; but the die was cast, and he could not now retrace his steps. Seizing the rod once more he crawled cautiously down the roof, over the cave of the house, and stepped off the roof on to the sill of a window on the west end of the hall. A glance at the other end of the hall, as the lightning illumin- ated it, satisfied him that the guards were asleep, and that his journey thus far had been safely accomplished. It was six- teen feet from the window to the ground, and once on terra firma he departed as speedily as possible from the locality.
When he was put in prison he had been manacled with handcuffs and chains upon his ankles. It is said that his wife in entering his room had taken with her an old case knife, which served the purpose of sawing in two the chains between his hands and between his feet, and that she also furnished him with a shawl which she had worn on that occasion and wrapped his legs for the purpose of protecting them from the rod as he climbed down over the roof.
When the morning arrived and the Sheriff and his guards came to get their prisoner great astonishment and chagrin seized them when they discovered that their bird had flown. The unlooked-for manner in which he had escaped filled them with confusion and shame which it is impossible to describe.
Harris had been originally arrested in Henry county and had escaped from the officers and fled to Madison county, where he was concealed by some friends for a time. He was . arrested by Sheriff Allen and detained in confinement in the old court house, as described, until such time as he could be safely returned to New Castle and delivered to the officers of the law. He was recaptured and brought from Cincinnati to New Castle. He was there convicted of the crime for which he was arrested, and was thence taken by the sheriff and his deputy to the State's prison at Jeffersonville, Ind., in a two- horse wagon, taking several days to make the trip. Ilere he served a term of two years, the period for which he was sentenced.
Harris never returned to this part of the country to live. In the year 1863, some Madison county soldiers of an Indiana regiment, while on detached duty in Kentucky stopped for a brief season near Cynthiana, and in mingling with the citi- zens, one of them became acquainted with an old, gray-haired
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man, stoop-shouldered and slow of conversation. After a brief interview, the old man asked the soldier if he was from Madison county. On receiving an affirmative reply, he made himself known. It was Harris, the man who had, over twenty years before, on that dark, stormy night, made his successful escape by the lightning rod. He related the particulars of his escape to the soldier ; how he had retreated on the night in question. and had gone to the residence of a brother who lived north of Anderson, who assisted him in relieving himself from his handcuffs and chains, and that they were hidden in an old hollow stump on his brother's farm. On his release from the State's prison he had gone to Kentucky, where he had made his home ever since. He said that he had sown his wild oats and had settled down to be a sturdy and steady citizen ; that he had reared a respectable family and had accumulated a competency for the remainder of his days. He said he en- joyed the respect of the community in which he lived. Har- ris died about the close of the rebellion. His relatives in Mad- ison county were all highly respectable people. He had a brother who at one time represented the county in the Indiana legislature.
James Hollingsworth was then deputy sheriff of Madison county and stood guard around the court house the night that Harris made his escape.
HELD THE FORT.
In the year 1856 Peter H. Lemon, once a prominent cit- izen of Madison county, was elected clerk of the Madison cir- cuit court, and served four years. Shortly after his election the question was raised as to his eligibility. He was elected as a Democrat and it seems that the Anderson Standard and a number of the leading Democrats of the county were of the opinion that he was not eligible. The Standard of May 8th, 1:57, says in relation to the matter : " A rumor, to which we at first gave little attention, has within a few weeks been gain- ing currency in some parts of the county. particularly the most southern townships, to the effect that the present in- cumbent of the clerk's office, Peter II. Lemon, is said to be constitutionally ineligible. The Republicans will now secretly nominate a candidate and 'vote for him, consequently if there is no opposing candidate he will be elected and will then pro- ceed to oust Mr. Lemon. We therefore deem it prudent and right to warn the Democracy of the danger by stating the real
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facts in the case. The constitution of the state of Indiana has the following provision : 'No person elected to any judicial office shall during the term for which he shall have been elected be eligible to any office of trust or profit under the State other than the judicial office until his commission expires.' Mr. Lemon having been elected Justice of the Peace and his commission having not expired at the time of his election as Clerk the classification in the constitution makes him clearly ineligible." It seems that the editor of the Standard had no feeling against Mr. Lemon other than stated in his editorial article with the belief the opposite party could under the constitution name a candidate at the next election who could claim the Clerk's office by right of the provision of the con- stitution above quoted.
Several leading Democrats, prominent among whom was Samuel W. Hill, who was at that time a practicing attorney, upheld the position taken by the Standard, and in several communications in that journal advised the party to make a nomination and run a candidate in the next election to fill the office. Many of the Republicans sided with Mr. Lemon, prominent among whom was John Davis. A continual war- fare was kept up until the election had passed by and Mr. Lemon safely held his office. Peter H. Lemon was not the sort of man who could be scared by a small matter like this. Ile was considerable of a factor in politics himself, and wield- ed a ready pen. It will be seen by the files of the newspapers of that day that he took ample care of himself in the contest. It was secretly passed around from mouth to mouth by many of his political opponents that a candidate would be placed in the field and elected to take his place before his term of office expired, which never came about, owing largely to the shrewd kind of warfare which Mr. Lemon made. It may be here further stated that Peter H. Lemon and Albert J. Ross were the only two persons ever elected to an office in Madison county, who filled their terms, being clearly ineligible at the time. Mr. Ross was elected sheriff of the county in 1872, under the provision of the constitution similar to that of Mr. Lemon. He had been elected but a short time prior to his nomination as Sheriff, to the office of Justice of the Peace of Duck Creek township, and had resigned the office, and but one or two persons in the county gave the matter a thought, and but little was said about it until Mr. Ross' term of office
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as Sheriff had expired. The question was never raised by his political opponents during his term.
AN INDIAN REMINISCENCE.
In rummaging among a lot of old papers, hunting dates and material for this work, the writer unearthed a story told by some old settler over the name of " T.", in which he re- counts the tragic end of an Indian near the city of Anderson on the ground now occupied by the beautiful suburb of Shade- land. The details of this narrative are as follows: In the spring of 1827 four Indians, three of the Miami and one of the Pottawattamie tribe, left their homes upon Eel river, north of Logansport, for a hunt on Big Lick, a stream meandering through the southern part of Madison county, in the neigh- borhood of Fall Creek and Adams townships. Deer, raccoon, squirrel and other game were very plentiful in those days, and the work of the hunter was generally well rewarded. At this season of the year, when the leaves were about the size of a squirrel's ear, and the spring was just ready to don its green coat of verdure, hundreds of hunters, both white and Indian, would betake themselves to the streams for hunting and fishing.
Two of the Miami Indians above named were designated as " Jim " and "George Buckwheat." On the way to the hunting ground the party stopped at " Andersontown" and purchased ammunition and fire water, the latter article being more familiarly known among the pale faces as whisky. They then proceeded leisurely south to their intended hunting place and remained two weeks, during which they enjoyed the sport of hunting, not forgetting at the same time to indulge in lib- eral potations of " fire water."
These four Indians became involved in a quarrel, which ended in blows and a general fight. A taunting remark was made by George Buckwheat to the Pottawattamie, who con- sidered his character as being slandered, and immediately seiz- ing a tomahawk struck Buckwheat a blow on the head which knocked him lifeless to the ground. This act soon brought the two remaining Indians to a condition of sobriety, and a feeling of rage took possession of Jim Buckwheat when he saw the dead body of his brother. A grave was dug, into which the body was lowered, and after tobacco and a toma- hawk had been deposited with it, was covered up, and the
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three Indians mounting their ponies departed quietly in the direction of their homes.
The quarrel between Jim Buckwheat and the slayer of his brother was, however, kept up with much bitterness for several hours along the route of their return. Gradually it began to dawn upon the mind of the Pottawattamie that he had done wrong, and the only way to appease the wrath of the Miamis, which was then the leading tribe of the Northwest, and to preserve his honor as a brave warrior among his own, was to offer up his life as an atonement. He accordingly concluded to do so at once. The party reached a strip of woods where the Ben Thomas farm is now situated, about one mile west of Anderson. Here, the Pottawattamie, after sing- ing a death song, and offering up a prayer to the Great Spirit, folded his arms across his breast, and requested Jim Buck- wheat to shoot him. Pacing off some fifty steps, and taking deliberate aim with his rifle, Buck wheat fired and the Potta- wattamie fell to the earth a corpse. The deed was done, and Indian honor avenged, according to the aboriginal idea, by the death of this warrior.
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