USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana: A Detailed History of the. > Part 35
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
time in hunting. The second load had been placed on the wagon, when he told his father he was going to visit the dis- trict school in the neighborhood and that he would leave the gun at the wood-pile.
After having been gone some time he returned with the intention of taking the gun away, when in some manner it was discharged, the contents entering his left side, ranging upwards, passed through the heart and causing instant death.
Upon returning toward the team Mr. Harmeson was told by a smaller son that his brother George was asleep, and, hastening to the place, they found him lying dead. Coroner George Armstrong was immediately summoned and after an inquest a verdict of accidental shooting was returned. Young Harmeson was a boy well-liked by all the neighbors and was a favorite of his parents.
Thomas Harmeson and his estimable wife, the father and mother of this young man, are both highly respected citizens of the township and are living upon the farm where this occurrence took place.
ISAAC C. PENNISTEN KILLED.
On Wednesday, the 21st of July, 1880, a railroad acci- dent happened in Anderson, near the Big Four station, in which Isaac C. Pennisten, a brakeman, was killed. He was on top of a freight car at the time getting ready to couple the car on which he stood with one in front of it, when a car to the rear of the one he was on came rolling along, striking it and knocking him off. He fell on the track and was crushed by the wheels, which passed over his left arm and his breast, killing him instantly. He was about twenty-three years of age and left a family, consisting of a wife and two children. At the time of this accident he resided in Indianapolis and was well known in this county, where he had lived several years. He was a brother of Geo. T. Pennisten of Lafayette township, and also of the wife of Carl Bronnenberg, a promi- nent farmer of Union township. His wife was a daughter of 'Squire J. W. Heath, of Chesterfield. Ile had been in the employ of the company for about two years, was popular among the men along the line of the road, and generally re- spected by all his associates.
SHOOTING OF EDWARD B. CHITTENDEN.
In the spring of 1882 the Democracy of the city of An- derson placed in nomination Michael Ryan for the office of 26
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
City Marshal. The Republicans put up as his opponent, Au- gustus Heagy. The city was then very close politically, and a hard and bitter fight was made for this position which ended in the defeat of Mr. Ryan, and the election of Mr. Heagy.
On Tuesday, the 2d of May, late in the evening, after the returns of the election had come in, it was found that Mr. Heagy and the other candidates on the Republican ticket had been triumphant. Accordingly a crowd assembled upon the streets and had a jubilee over the result. As the night wore on, the boisterous spirits of the crowd concluded to have a good time, a band was brought into service, and the successful can- didates at the polls were treated to a serenade. While the band was playing near the Doxey hotel several persons were on the south veranda listening to the music and enjoying the scene. Dr. Edward B. Chittenden, then a young man about eighteen years of age, who was enthusiastic over the election of the successful candidate for Marshal, gave vent to his feel- ings by cheering loudly for Heagy. At this moment some person standing on the opposite side of the street fired two pistol shots at the persons congregated on the veranda, one of which took effect in young Chittenden's body, passing entirely through him below the pit of the stomach. Chittenden im- mediately ran into the hotel and announced that he was shot. The crowd cried out that he was merely joking or playing a trick upon them. He then stripped off his clothing and showed them the wound, after which he was taken to his home, where his father, Dr. Geo. F. Chittenden, and other physi- cians, who were friends of the family, dressed his wounds. Young Chittenden soon recovered from the shot and is yet liv- ing, and is one of Anderson's most prosperous physicians.
Suspicion at that time pointed to William Ryan, son of the defeated candidate for Marshal, as having been the party who fired the shot. He was placed under arrest for assault and battery with intent to kill, and upon trial in the Circuit Court after a hot legal battle, was acquitted. He was defended by the Hon. James W. Sansberry. The prosecution was conducted by W. A. Kittinger and the law firm of Robinson & Lovett. It was not proven on the trial that Ryan had fired the ball which pierced the body of Chittenden. Another saving clause in Ryan's behalf was that he entertained no malice or ill-will towards Chittenden, but was one of his devoted friends from boyhood. In the estimation of the jury which tried the case there was no provocation for Mr. Ryan to do this unlawful
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act. Mr. Wm. Ryan is yet a resident of Anderson, and is at this writing filling the honorable position of shipping clerk for the Indiana Box Company.
SHOOTING OF A TRAMP.
In the year 1879, there was a great number of tramps roaming over the country, many of whom, in May of that year, camped on the banks of White river, in what is now known as " Mccullough Park," situated directly east of the Pan Handle railway station. These fellows made themselves offensive to the community by calling at the residences of the people and demanding food of the female occupants in the absence of their husbands, who were away attending to their daily business. One of these parties, who gave his name as John Kelly, and his residence as New Haven, Conn., came to the home of Hiram Peden on the 22d day of May, and de- manded that Mrs. Peden should give him his supper. Carrie Peden, a little daughter, informed him that there was nothing for him. The tramp then sought Mr. Peden, who was work- ing in the garden, and made a similar demand of him. Mr. Peden reiterated the statement of his daughter. At this the tramp became exasperated, and used vile and filthy language, and abused Mr. Peden unstintedly. He was ordered off the premises, but refused to go. Mr. Peden advanced toward him, and the tramp then put his hand in his pocket, and told Peden he would shoot his brains out if he came any nearer. Peden then raised a hay rake he had in his hands, and went toward the tramp, who at once turned and fled.
Mr. Peden afterward notified the marshal of the city of this affair, and in a little while Deputy Marshal Amos Coburn arrived upon the scene. The tramp had gone in the direction of the river bottoms, and Peden and the officer went thither, where they found him with five others. Kelly was pointed out to the officer, who placed him under arrest. The tramp refused to accompany the officer, who then struck him with a " billy." At this Kelly's comrades, standing near by, ad- vanced upon the officer in a threatening manner, when Coburn ordered them to halt, warning them not to encroach upon him, and at the same time drawing a revolver. The tramps seeing this, for a time desisted. Soon, however, one of them, who called himself Robert Carson, became very demonstrative and moved toward the officer, having in his hands a piece of rail about twelve feet long, which he raised over Coburn's head,
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
at the same time cursing and abusing him. Carson dared Coburn to shoot. Carson still persisted in his threatening manner, approaching the officer. Coburn seeing this, fired at him and brought him to the ground. The officer then took charge of Kelley, whom he landed in jail. A wagon was sent for, and Carson, the wounded man, was carried to the United States hotel, where he was attended by Drs. Cullen and Spann. Carson's wound was in the left side, just above the groin. He was unable to be removed for some time, but as soon as his condition permitted he was taken to the County Infirmary, where he eventually recovered.
Carson had every appearance of having at one time been a sailor, as his body was covered with tattoo marks peculiar to that class of people. On his breast was a picture of a huge monument covering nearly the entire front of his body, and on it was inscribed, "Sacred to the memory of my Mother." There were additional inscriptions upon other portions of his body. Mr. Coburn surrendered himself to the officers of the law, and demanded an investigation of his acts, and after a full and fair investigation, he was declared to be guiltless of any wrong. Carson upon recovering from his wounds, left the city, and afterward with some " pals " went to the house of an old couple near Delphos, Ohio, and, taking a lighted coal oil lamp, held it to their feet and burned and tortured them until they gave up all the money they possessed. They were afterward captured and convicted, and served a nine- years term in the State prison at Columbus, Ohio.
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CHAPTER XLVII.
RECOLLECTIONS OF YE OLDEN TIME.
AN OLD-TIME SCHOOL EXHIBITION.
In the early history of Anderson there was but very little amusement for the people outside of what they made for them- selves. There were no opera houses, no public halls or any other place in which to congregate when occasion presented itself for the assembling of the people. The old Methodist church that once stood on the corner of Eleventh and Meridian streets, immediately north of the present church, was often used for home entertainments of a moral character. One of these took place there on the 16th of March, 1855; it was an old-fashioned school exhibition, such as all old-timers remember of having witnessed in the long ago, but which is now a thing of the past. Who of the older people of Madison county does not remember with pride when the last day of school arrived, how they "spoke their piece" and how they longed for the day to arrive; how many anxious days, hours and minutes they put in committing to memory Patrick Henry's address before the Virginia Convention, "Ben Battle was a Soldier Bold," "The Mariner's Dream," and so on.
These happy moments are gone; they will never come again. The school children of to-day will never witness these scenes. Whether the present way of training the young mind is an improvement over those of the earlier period of our free school system is an open question which we do not intend to discuss in these pages. We will assert, however, that the giants of the Madison county bar, men who have proven the most successful in their professions; the old-time doctor, who battled with the ills of the Madison county pioneer, and made a mark in the world, and many of our most influential busi- ness men, have had their training in the old-fashioned way. They went to country school three months in the year, and worked the balance of the time on the farm, or in the shop. They had to speak their " pieces" on Friday afternoons.
One of the oldest members of the bar of this county says
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
that his early training in that direction has been a great help to him in his practice. But leaving all of this to be settled by those whose business it is, we return to our subject.
In 1855 the Anderson schools were under the able man- agement of Professor I. N. Terwilliger, one of the most com- petent instructors of his day. He evidently believed in the custom of teaching the students to speak in public, as is evi- denced by an old programme that has been unearthed, which tells the story of one of those enjoyable occasions that took place in the Methodist church.
Many who took part in the exercises are now dead ; some have filled high and honorable positions in civil and military affairs ; some are yet living in Anderson, and look back to this occasion with joy and pride. The programme given below tells the story better than it is possible for one not there at the time to attempt to describe it. It is as follows :
PROGRAMME
OF THE
EXHIBITION OF THE ANDERSON SCHOOL TO COME OFF IN THE METHODIST CHURCH NEXT TUESDAY EVENING.
Introductory Speech.
Jasper Myers
MUSIC BY THE ANDERSON BAND.
American Eagle
Miss Mary Myers
African Chief.
E. M. Roach
Old Bachelors
Thos. O'Neal
Speak Gently
Sarah Snelson
The Flowers
Mary Antrim
Marco Bozzaras.
C. Webster
SINGING.
Billows.
By Several Misses
Music on the Melodeon
Miss E. Allen
Prisoner for Debt. Miss Pierson
Traveler at the Nile
Mary Roach
Comic Piece. David Harris
To Arms. C. H. Davis
Charnel Ship .S. D. Makepeace
Lochinvar
Wm. R. Myers
MUSIC BY THE BAND.
Declamation
Wm. Snelson
Sailor Boy
Cassa Lemon
Dialogue.
Misses L. Makepeace and S. McGraw
Dialogue. Misses N. J. Roach and Almira Pierson
All is Action
Albert C. Davis
.Horace E. Jones Weep On
Landing of the Pilgrims . T. Snelson
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
SINGING.
Rockaway. Misses Hudson and Allen accompanied by melodeon
Napoleon at Rest. Oliver H. Smith
Duties of Americans. .John W. Pence
Fortune Telling-Dialogue
Myers, Blacklidge and Misses Allen
The Isles of Greece.
. Oliver C. Davis
Truth Telling-Dialogue
Misses Jackson, Allen and others
The Grave.
liss A. Craycraft
The Birds Let Loose Miss Almira Pierson
Take Thy Banner. Miss Mary Myers
Ambition
T. Snelson
Music on the Melodeon Miss E. Allen
The Homes of the Earth . Misses Craycraft, Myers and others
Dialogue about School. Almira Pierson and Mary Myers
Dialogue on Fashion
Misses E. Allen and Mary Myers
Contrasted Soliloquy
Miss Esther Allen
He Never Smiled Again
O. H. Smith
Yankeeism-Dialogue.
.George Hughel and Jesse Neff
Remorse
J. R. Reasoner
French Aggression .C. H. Davis
MUSIC BY THE BAND.
Dialogue. .O. L. Pierson and J. W. Pence
Ben. Battle
. Geo. Hughel
Name in the Sand
Miss Nancy Jane Roach
Orator Puff
. D. Snelson
Soliloquy.
J. R. Reasoner
American Indians
C. Webster
SINGING.
Do They Miss Me at Home Miss Hudson and girls
Dialogue on Laughing. Misses Holt, Blacklidge and others
Old Ironsides. .Almyra Pierson
Sukey Smith.
. Wm. Myers
School Promotes Happiness Misses Davis and Robinson
Character of LaFayette.
J. C. Myers
Ambition
F. N. Pence
Declamation Martin Roach
MUSIC BY THE BAND.
Cassius and Brutus. . E. M. Roach and Wm. R. Myers
Old Arm Chair Miss C. Myers
I'm With You Again. Miss Samantha Kindall
Niagara-an Allegory . Win. Snelson
Responsibleness of America . H. B. Makepeace
Declamation
W. H. H. Vernon
SINGING.
Home Again. Miss Hudson and girls
Doctor and Patient .. . Reasoner and several girls
Truthfulness and Honesty Misses McGraw and Titherington South Carolina
John W. Pence
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Massachusetts.
.O. L. Pierson
Edward and Warrick Myers and Pierson
MUSIC BY THE BAND.
American Flag Miss Craycraft
Ice Voice
.J. Neff
Doctor and Patient .C. H. Davis and C. Webster
Starlight on Marathon
. Miss Pierson
Soliloquy . J. R. Reasoner
Declamation
Caroline Jackson
The Mariner's Dream
Elizabeth Allen
Speech of Patrick Henry
O. L. Pierson
Declamation
.J. W. Pence
Declamation
Chas. Webster
Declamation .Wm. R. Myers
Declamation
Enoch M. Roach
MUSIC ON THE MELODEON.
Young Holland.
Jasper Myers
MUSIC BY THE BAND.
Maud Muller
Mary Myers
Speech.
SINGING.
March 16, 1855.
The above long programme was gone through taking until quite late in the night to complete it. The house being small it was impossible for the entire populace to witness the exhibition, so it was determined by the management to repeat the performance the next evening. The audience that greeted the second production was even greater than the first. Many were turned away, who could not gain admission. There were a great many funny incidents that occurred in connection with this affair, as there naturally would be in such an enter- prise. There were some of the " stars " who, it seems, wanted to monopolize the whole business, and go outside of the pro- gramme, so to speak. This caused the Professor a great deal of trouble and annoyance. Among the number who was per- sistent in making himself " promiscuous," was Enoch M. Roach. He was one of Anderson's bright young men, and was a leader among the boys of his day. Enoch concluded that the audience was dying to hear him speak again, after he had had his turn, and insisted on going before the curtain with W. R. Myers, and repeating the quarrel of " Brutus and Cassius." To this Professor Terwilliger strenuously objected ; warm words ensued, and it was no time until Roach and the Professor were mixed in a fight. This came near breaking
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
up the show. Order was at last restored behind the curtains, but there was much excitement out in the audience ; the people were anxious as to what was going on behind the scenes. Mr. J. R. Reasoner, prided himself on his great ability as an orator. He insisted on going out in front and rendering one of his "fiery pieces," in order to divert the attention of the audience from the affray that was going on among the actors. He had to be sat down upon by some one before he would subside. Finally, when all was quiet and serene, the show went on, and the programme was completed, and this passed into history, as one of the great events in Anderson. It has never been forgtton by those who took part in it as well as those who witnessed it. It never will pass out of their mem- ory. It was one of the occasions that one always treasures up, and looks back to with happy thoughts. Time has caused sad havoc in the ranks of those whose names appear on this old musty programme. Many have gone to their long homes. Those who yet survive, are scattered from the lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
Among the number who have distinguished themselves in the affairs of life we mention Hon. W. R. Myers, who has been a member of Congress, and thrice elected Secretary of the State of Indiana.
John W. Pence, ex-Postmaster of Anderson, now cashier of the Citizens' Bank of this city.
F. N. Pence, once City Clerk of Anderson.
Albert C. Davis, once Recorder of Madison county, and lately assistant door-keeper of the National House of Repre- sentatives.
Jasper Myers, for many years a Captain in the Regular army, now a farmer in California.
Thomas H. O'Neal, a prominent newspaper man.
William Snelson, a prominent doctor, now of Iowa.
H. B. Makepeace, a prominent business man of Indian- apolis.
H. E. Jones, one of Anderson's noted physicians.
George Hughel, one of Anderson's leading tailors.
Miss Esther Allen is now the wife of J. C. Lord, of Fort Worth, Texas.
Miss Caroline Jackson is now Mrs. E. C. Bliven, of Anderson.
Miss Nancy J. Roach is now Mrs. B. B. Campbell, of Anderson.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Miss S. Kindall is the widow of the late Major Isaac M. May (now deceased).
Miss Elizabeth Allen is now Mrs. A. J. Wilcox.
Many of the others are yet living, but have passed out of the remembrance of the old-timers, as to their present abiding places.
ANDERSON BRASS BAND OF 1854.
It has been said by the bard of Avon that " music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." The saying is true. Music will sometimes have the effect to quell a riot, stop a run on a bank, or bring order out of chaos on a field of battle.
In the history of Anderson, like all towns, villages and cities, she has had her share of musical talent.
In the good days past and gone, when Anderson was but a small speck on the map of Indiana, known scarcely a hun- dred miles away, she had her gallant young men and dashing belles, just as at the present day.
No town of any importance was considered up with the times that did not have a " brass band."
We find that on the 23rd of November, 1854, the young men of Anderson met at the court house and organized a band composed of the following members :
Geo. W. Kline, Horace B. Makepeace, William Barrett, Z. M. Atherton, Alonzo I. Makepeace, James L. Willets, Abram B. Neff, Theo. H. Myers, James Vanort, James H. Jackson, James T. Sparks ; Samuel D. VanPelt later on be- coming a member.
The instruments were purchased personally by the mem- bers with the exception of a few small donations, made by enterprising citizens, who helped the boys along, John P. Barnes, the hardware merchant, being one of those who do- nated.
This became one of the famous bands of Indiana. Each and every member of the aggregation was a musician. There was not a drone among the lot. Their reputation spread abroad and they were often called to adjoining towns to play for the Fourth of July celebrations, Masonic picnics, and agri- cultural fairs, often going to New Castle, Tipton, Noblesville and many other places.
Geo. W. Kline, who yet lives in Anderson, was the leader. He played one of those old-fashioned key bugles, the present day cornets with piston or rotary valves not having come into use.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
It is said that George held the championship of that day for street playing. He had but few equals and no superiors as a bugler. The first teacher of this band was Prof. William Lybrand, of Ohio. He conducted the band for awhile and gave instructions until they were able to go it alone, when he left Anderson. The boys played by themselves for quite awhile, until an old circus band instructor came along in the person of Prof. Ruhl, whom they employed for awhile to instruct them. He did not remain long with them, and from the time he left they were alone under Geo. W. Kline as teacher and leader.
Of those who were members of this musical organization there are but three yet living in Anderson : George W. Kline, Alonzo I. Makepeace and S. D. Van Pelt. H. B. Makepeace lives at Indianapolis and is trustee of Center township.
They were all men of more or less prominence in the days in which they lived in this city.
Alonzo I. Makepeace was Sheriff of Madison county from 1886 to 1888 and is now a prominent merchant in Anderson.
Geo. W. Kline is in the grocery trade, where he has been for nearly half a century. Theo. H. Myers and William Barrett live in Iowa.
ANDERSON'S FIRST EXCURSION TRAIN.
On the 4th of July, 1851, the first railroad train that ran into Anderson made its appearance. It was an excursion train from Indianapolis over what is now the Big Four road. It was then known as the Bellefontaine road, and later on as the Bee Line.
That was the day this division of the road was formally opened for traffic, and it was a big feather in Anderson's cap. The train was not one of those swift-flying luxurious affairs that are the pride of so many great railway corporations of the present time. It consisted of three plain, unvarnished coaches, about which there was a decided absence of show or ornamen- tation. The seats were not upholstered in satin or plush but were ordinary bench-like affairs. The opening of the road for travel was an event that had long been looked forward to by the people, and when at last an excursion was announced to be run from Indianapolis, the town made preparations for a grand, gala day. Many people through this section of the country had never seen a railroad train, and so anxious were they to get a glimpse of the curiosity that for two days before
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the Fourth, they rolled into town, some of them coming long distances. All the boarding house and hotel accommodations were readily taken, after which strangers began to camp about town waiting the arrival of the train.
At the old ford, where the iron wagon bridge now spans White river, at the Anderson cemetery, there was quite a settlement of sight-seers camped, waiting for the big day to roll around. The curiosity to see the train was not confined to country people alone, for the " town folks " were equally as anxious for the appearance of the " covered cars." A number of Andersonians who were acquainted with the lay of the country walked out as far as Omaha, now known as Mc- Cullough's gravel pit, between this city and Pendleton, in order to get the first glimpse of the great curiosity. When the steam engine puffed into sight, sizzing and snorting under the load of excursionists, many lookers-on viewed the huge iron horse with wonder mingled with distrust. Suddenly the engi- neer gave a few vigorous yanks at the whistle, which re- sponded promptly in a shrill voice, and that settled the curi- osity of the sight-seers scattered along the track. There was a general stampede to the hazelbrush and swamp grass, and it is related of one man who was more frightened than the others, that he never stopped running until he got to Ander- son. The train was received in Anderson with all the "pomp and circumstance " of the times, and after the curios- ity of seeing a train of cars had worn away, people all joined hands and had a big celebration.
On July 4, 1855, the first train over the Pan Handle rail- road reached Anderson. It was an excursion from Richmond, which at that time was the leading city of this section of the country. The train consisted of four cars, all well filled, and that occasion was another big day in Anderson. There was a big celebration at which speeches, foot races, wrestling matches and jumping contests were the chief features. A " sheepskin band " was procured for the day, and the plunk- ing of the players sounded just as musical in the ears of the old pioneers as the piano-like strains of the most expert band of the present day. For several days before the arrival of the excursion, the hardy backwoodsman and his family kept roll- ing into town to join in the festivities, and it is safe to say that nearly everybody in this immediate section of Indiana was in Anderson that day.
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