USA > Indiana > Madison County > Historical sketches and reminiscences of Madison county, Indiana : a detailed history of the early events of the pioneer settlement of the county, and many of the happenings of recent years, as well as a complete history of each township, to which is added numerous incidents of a pleasant nature, in the way of reminiscences, and laughable occurrences > Part 10
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From the list of prizes drawn upon that occasion we give the following : One horse, "Pete ;" one horse, " Bill ;" one horse, "Sam ;" one mare, "Kit;" one mare, " Jane;" one mare, " Sis ;" one mare, " Betty ;" one buggy, one double set of harness, one bed and bedstead, one single sleigh, one sad-
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dle, one cutting box, one buffalo robe, one hog, one sow and pigs, one lever watch, one bureau, one iron kettle, one break- fast table, one bar of soap, one Colt's revolver, one milch cow. Besides the above articles, there were about 300 num- bers each of which drew a one-dollar greenback. It was advertised that every ticket holder would be presented with a picture, which turned out to be the likeness of Abraham Lin- coln, which was engraved upon the back of the ticket.
Some laughable incidents occurred during the drawing. The writer, who was one of the anxious spectators expecting to draw a fortune, was the recipient of a bar of Shultz's Star soap, while Nolly Walden, a colored barber who sat at his side, drew a fine horse. A lady who sat a few feet in front of him drew a sow and pigs, and a minister of the gospel who resided a short distance in the country, drew a cutting box. One man drew a grain cradle, and Enoch M. Jackson, a prom- inent citizen of Anderson, drew an iron kettle.
Mr. Pence is yet living in Anderson, where he has a host of friends.
DR. ABSALOM PARRIS.
Dr. Absalom Parris was an old-timer, who died near An- derson about 1875. He was a doctor of divinity as well as a doctor of medicine. He practiced medicine during the week and preached in the country churches on Sunday. While he was not a thoroughly educated man, he had a fair knowledge of things in general. He had an excellent flow of language, and could preach and pray in a way that would make the hair stand on end, and perfectly amaze his hearers.
He would grow eloquent in prayer, and use some language that was really beautiful. The writer will always remember hearing him wind up a prayer in the Presbyterian church in Anderson. He prayed that when he was to be removed from this "mundane sphere, that he might be wafted forth on angel wings, and conveyed to that beautiful and shining shore. where sickness, sorrow and death never dwell, and be per- mitted to rest his head on the bosom of the beloved Jesus, and breathe his soul out sweetly there."
He was one of the politest old gentlemen in the country, and always in a good humor. Ile was a sterling Democrat, always taking stock for his party in the campaigns as they came around. In his practice of medicine he had some few remedies that he prescribed in nearly every case. His head-
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quarters were at Henderson's drug store. The Hendersons used to think a great deal of him, and made much over him when he went into their store, always welcoming him with an " eye-opener " behind the prescription case. You could hear him smack his lips clear across the room as he would re- mark, " Bub, that is excellent, excellent."
One of his favorite remedies was " hydrastis canadensis." Ile always called Charley Henderson " Bub." After being seated at the stove, properly warmed and "tuned up," he would turn to Charley, rubbing his hands, and say: " Bub, have you any of the hydrastis canadensis, known among we medical men as the Golden Seal - among the commonality of the peo- ple as yaller root? "
Charley always had some of his favorite prescription ready for him at a moment's notice. Dr. Parris was one of those old- school fellows whom you don't meet in the present day. He could be religious, and at the same time mix in the pool of politics, take a light drink with the boys and then leave it alone. In fact, a good drink of old rye made him, if anything, more religious. He could give expression to his scriptural views with more vigor and use language not to be found any- where in the dictionary, when he was keyed up.
He lived west of the city for many years, and died in 1875, leaving a memory behind him that will remain green as long as the old-timers around Anderson survive. He also had a brother, William Parris, who was a doctor, and who figured quite extensively in these parts about that time. William was said to be better up in the medical profession than Absa- lom, but as a preacher and exhorter he could not " touch him," neither could anyone else. Absalom Parris stood without a rival in that line.
ANDERSON'S MONUMENTAL LIAR.
Among the other great things Madison county has pro- duced in its time, is a number of very handsome, well-trained and well-developed prevaricators. It is not supposed that there is now, or that there ever was a man in Madison county who would willfully lie to hurt a fellow-man, or even to en- hance his own interests, but for your spinning yarns and big story telling, she has had some " hummers."
There was at one time, many years ago, perhaps as far back as 1850, a man who lived here by the name of Blodgett, who was a blacksmith. He had his shop on the lot where
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Charles T. Doxey's residence now stands, where he used to do work for the farmers, shoeing their horses, setting their wagon-tires and " upsetting " their axes, etc. When not at work he put in the time chaffering and giving the farmers and his customers in general big talks and large snake stories. James Mohan tells of a story that Blodgett related to him once when he was a boy.
He was sent to Blodgett's shop for some repair work. While he was waiting for his job, Blodgett told him about a barefooted fellow stepping on a piece of hot iron. He said :
" I was cutting some bars for the purpose of making horse shoes, when a big, gawky fellow from the back woods came in barefooted ; he had gone barefooted so long that his heels where perfectly calloused. I had just cut off a piece of a bar of iron, which fell on the dirt floor and the fellow, with out seeing it, stepped on it with his heel. Ile stood there for several minutes without moving. I watched him closely, but said nothing. Finally the grease began to run out on the floor ; a terrible smoke and smell arose ; at last I said, 'Stranger, do you know you are standing on that hot iron and likely to get burnt ?' About this time the heat began to penetrate the ball of his foot. He made a leap straight up in the air, com- ing down with a whoop like an Indian. I dropped my work and went to him, catching him around the waist as he again started to jump up in the air. I carried him to the ' slack ' tub and soused him in, feet foremost. Such a sizzing and fry- ing you never heard ! The steam filled the shop so full that nothing could be seen. The horses that I was shoving became frightened and stampeded, tearing every thing before them.' His foot was so hot that the water in the tub was entirely ab- sorbed before it was cooled off. By holding him in the water so long it entirely drew the fire out. When I let him out, he sauntered out in town as if nothing had happened, not even thanking me for my aid in his troubles. It took me all after- noon to hunt up the horses that had run out of the shop dur- ing the excitement."
James Mohan, James Battreall, Robert Titherington and several other old-timers vouch for the above, not for the truth of it, but that Blodgett really related it as a fact.
THE WAY A SHOWMAN TOOK A SHERIFF'S BREATH.
In 1870, O'Brien's menagerie gave an exhibition in Ander- son. It was one of the largest aggregations of living won-
.
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ders ever produced in this part of the country. During their stay they got into trouble with John A. Harrison about the ground upon which they showed. A general fight ensued in which Harrison got badly worsted. He had the show party arrested and fined for assault and battery. An execution was at once issued and placed in Thomas J. Fleming's hands, as Deputy Sheriff, for collection. Ile repaired to the show grounds and inquired for Mr. O'Brien, the proprietor, who immediately came to the front, and in a very genteel manner listened to the reading of the writ; after which Mr. Fleming demanded payment. O'Brien explained that he had had at very hard season and was scarce of cash, but would turn out property until the Sheriff was satisfied. This was all he could ask. They entered the tent and walked around in front of a large cage of hyenas,
Mr. O'Brien called one of the attendants and said : "Jim, open that cage door and let this gentleman have those two hyenas. Open up that next cage of Bengal tigers and-"
" Hold on, hold on," said Tom, "d-n your tigers and hyenas. I don't want them."
" But do I not have a right to turn out such property as I choose to satisfy your execution?"
"Yes, but I believe if I was in your place I would ap- peal this case to the Circuit Court. I think you can defeat it. I'll go on your bond if you will take an appeal," said Fleming, all the time keeping an eye on the cages for fear the animals would get out.
O'Brien went up town and appealed the case. It was carried up to the Supreme Court, where it hung along for years. Finally it was decided in O'Brien's favor. After that time you could not hire Tom Fleming to tackle a showman with a legal process of any kind.
HOW THE BOYS " WORKED" AN OLD MAN.
In the happy days of the old court house the boys around there used to have a great deal of fun. There was no formal- ity in the mingling of men of those times. The court house was the center of gravity. When the country people came to town, as soon as their trading was done they went over to the court house to visit the officers awhile and exchange sto- ries with them. In those days the jury was generally selected from among the farmers in the country. It was like the meet- ing of a small legislature, and was looked forward to with
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great anxiety, especially the winter terms. In the long even- ings the jury generally congregated about some of the county offices, where they told jokes, sang songs, ate apples, cracked hickorynuts, drank cider, and enjoyed themselves until late bed time. One occurrence of those good old days comes to mind. During a term of the circuit court an old man from near the Tipton county line came into court, asking a divorce from his wife. He stayed around, waiting for his time to come, for several days. He wanted his divorce so badly that he was nearly "frozen." He was not the most intelligent human being in the world, and did not know much about courts and their modes of procedure. Isaac Forrest was on the jury that term. He noticed the old man staying around, and finally inquired of him what he wanted. The old man related his "tale of woe." Ike told him that if he would come up to the court house that night he would get his case tried. The old man was delighted and was on hand at the appointed hour. In the meantime, Ike had informed the boys. who were all promptly assembled at the court house after sup- per. Some one of the jurymen was selected to act as attorney for the plaintiff. Forrest presided as Judge. The case was tried, which took until nearly midnight. The evidence was voluminous and of a rich character. The old man charged adultery as his cause of action. Ilis testimony was given at full length, in his own way, whereupon " Judge" Forrest took him through a severe cross-examination. It was one of the funniest proceedings that ever transpired in the old court house. " Judge " Forrest finally granted the old man a de- cree of divorce, with the provision that he should never marry again and should at once leave the country. The decree did not exactly suit him, so the next morning he tackled Judge Craven about it and wanted it amended. Craven did not understand it. After awhile it leaked out. Judge Craven was hot about it, and came very nearly bringing the boys over the coals. The old man had an actual case pending in court, and thought he was really divorced. A side lecture from Judge Craven taught the boys that it was not just the thing to " monkey " with cases on the court docket in sham trials.
THOMAS J. FLEMING AND THE COLORED PREACHER.
Along about 1869, or '70, Thomas J. Fleming was deputy clerk of the court of Madison county. Ile was one of the clev-
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erest men in the world, but about that time he was exceed- ingly so, from the fact that he was a candidate for clerk, which caused him to get in his best licks. During this time a negro preacher came along, and engaged the court house to hold " meetin'" in, there being no colored church here at that time. The sheriff, Mr. James H. Snell, rather objected, as he did not want to be detained to look after the house and close it up at night after services. Fleming had an eye to getting the colored vote, so he volunteered to act as sexton. The hour ar- rived for services. Fleming rang the bell that adorned the cupola of the old temple of justice. The deacons, and brothers and sisters, and dusky maidens of all sizes came to church. The preacher was one of the old-fashioned, hard-shell Baptists -a regular " Hepsidam" orator, whose voice could be heard for a mile distant. Fleming concluded that he would kill two birds with one stone ; while the meeting was going on he was behind his desk making up court records. There was but one lamp in the house, which was one of those large-sized coal oil burners. It was arranged on one corner of the judge's stand, where it served to give light to the preacher, and also to Flem- ing at his work. A familiar hymn was sung and "meetin' " broke loose in earnest. The preacher took a text from away back, where it took " monstrous" hard " preechin'" to sift it down. Ile preached and preached at the top of his voice, till he got his hearers all shaken up. Ile swayed back and forth, ripped around, and pawed the air with his fists, winding up his sermon by saying: " My beloved bredern, I'se cum all de way down from Randof county, ah, I'se left my wife as a widder and my childun as offens, ah ! to preach de gospel to a lost and ruined congreation, ah!" Making a mis-lick at this point, he struck the lamp with his fist and upset it, spilling the oil over the desk and clerk's books, leaving the audience in total darkness. Fleming flew around like a chicken with its head cut off until he got matters straightened up. The sisters screamed and the deacons raved like animals. At last, quiet was restored, and the minister wound up his sermon in the dark by saying : " My bredern, as I said afo', I'se preachin for de good ob de soul, and not for money : but if any ob de bredern have any ole close to spab, I wouldn't mind takin' a few of 'em." After singing the doxology the meeting was dis- missed. This was the last colored meeting held in the old court house.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
OLIVER C. DAVIS AND HIS PECULIARITIES.
As long as any person lives in Anderson who knew Oliver C. Davis his name will be perpetuated. Ile was a friend as true as steel. His word was his bond. If he owed a dollar he was as sure to pay it on the day it fell due as the st rose and set on that day. If he made a bet he held it as sacred as the most binding obligation. If he lost, the money was forthcoming without a sigh or a groan. He would give it up so gracefully that it made one feel good. If he won he expected prompt settlement, and he everlastingly hated the man who would not pay his bets. He had a very droll way of expressing his approval or disapproval of things going on around him, but always nailed the center when he "remarked."
One time he was coming down town on a very hot sum- mer day, and passed a house where a man was sitting in the shade of a house, while his wife was out in the yard splitting wood. Oliver stopped, took off his hat, wiped the perspira- tion from his face, and said : " Well, I have seen many and many of a lazy man, but you had ought to bin a Injun."
lIe bought land for taxes. A good old farmer came in one day and wanted to get him to assign a certificate to a piece of land on which the farmer had a lien. " Very well," said Oliver, " I will assign it for $25." That took the old man's breath. It was too much, so he walked out. The next day the old man returned, and called on Davis and told him he had concluded to take the assignment. " All right," said Oliver, " it will take $50."
.
" Why, gracious! Oliver, you said $25 yesterday."
" Yes, but that was yesterday," said Oliver.
" Well, make it out right away before it gets any higher," chimed in the old man, drawing his purse and settling at once.
HOW "UNCLE BILLY" MYERS AWOKE HIS SLEEPING GUEST.
We have mentioned Uncle Billy Myers several times dur- ing the writing of this work, but he did many things that will long be remembered by old settlers, when called to mind. Hle kept such an extraordinary good house, it was so clean and nice in all its departments, that it was a pleasure for the weary . pilgrim on the road to reach Uncle Billy's, and lodge with him. He prided himself on always being on hand to do all that was in his line to be done to make his guests comfortable. HIe boasted that he never let a lodger over-sleep himself, but
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always got him off on the proper train. One time a drummer went there, who had important business at Logansport, and must go on the 1 :30 train that night. Ile was afraid to go to bed for fear of missing his train. About 9 o'clock, Uncle Billy came into the bar room, where he found the fellow snoozing and nodding around, dead on his feet for sleep. " Why in the devil don't you go to bed?" asked Uncle Billy. " I am afraid of missing that night train. I wouldn't miss it for a hundred dollars."
"Go to bed. You must think I keep a devil of a hotel. I never let a man miss a train in my life ." With this assurance the man retired and was soon oblivious to all the world around him. Uncle Billy concluded he would lie down on a buffalo robe and quietly snooze along until all the trains got out. He was soon snoring the plastering off the house. After awhile the shrill whistle of the engine back of his house brought him to his feet. The 1 :30 train was passing. Up stairs he flew, rapping and thumping on the drummer's door until he awak- ened every one in the house. " Why don't you get up, you d-n fool, the train's been gone fifteen minutes." The man informed bim that if the train was gone, it was no use to get up, and he turned over and went to sleep again.
THE FALLING OF THE STARS IN 1866.
In 1866, it was predicted by some cranks, or crooks, as you may please to call them, that on a certain night in November the stars would fall. Great excitement prevailed in Anderson as well as throughout a large part of the United States. The people of the town remained up all night to witness the grand spectacle. A man of the name of Winters kept the United States Hotel then, and had a choice set of young gentlemen boarders, such as Albert C. Davis, Ilampton Ellis, George Darrow and many others. Winters was just from the coun- try, and in his first experience as hotel proprietor was so green that the cows bawled at him. The boys persuaded him that a grand dance and banquet was just the thing for this occasion, so he employed an orchestra, prepared a sumptuous feast, and the merry dance was about to begin, when some one threw some stones upon the roof of the house and they came down through the skylight with a great crash. The old bell on top of the house began to ring and the guests commenced flying in all directions. Enoch Roach made his appearance on the scene about this time and informed the people that the grand
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spectacle was now on. There was another shower of stones and the landlord flew, even deserting his family. A young man by the name of Riley, who was clerking for him, fled to the country and never came back. Al Davis, Hampton Ellis, and others, cleared the table of all the roast chicken, duck and everything else that was good to eat, and carried it back into Swank's grocery, where the boys assembled and had a boun- tiful feast. The dance was " busted " up. Winters, in a few days tumbled to the fact that all the stars that fell landed on his hotel. The boys " roasted " and " guyed " him so much that he shortly afterward sold out to Fred Cartwright, who kept the United States Hotel as long as it was run as a place of lodging.
THE ANDERSON "WIDEAWAKES."
In the campaign of 1860 the Republican party made a great hit by organizing what they named the "Wideawakes." It was a semi-military organization, uniformed with oil-cloth capes, caps and a coal-oil lamp or torch. They flashed it on the country at a given period simultaneously all over the United States. It was a winning card. Many young men were carried into the Republican ranks by this gandy mili- tary array. Many first voters were lured into it who are now veterans in the Republican cause. The Democrats tried to counteract its influence by organizing the " Douglas Guards," umiformed with yellow oil-cloth capes, caps and coal-oil ยท lamps. They were mounted on horseback. Their organiza- tion came too late, however. The young blood had caught fire in the Wideawake camp. Nothing could turn the tide.
Anderson was no exception to the general rule. She had her Wideawake company, a fine organization of the best men of the town, old and young. Many who belonged to that com- pany are now gray-bearded veterans. Many are beneath the sod in a southern clime, where they lost their lives in the real battles of the country, not as Wideawakes, but as defenders ' of the flag of the Union.
A. B. Kline was the captain of a company, and was as " brave a lad as ere commission bore." He was a young man of fine appearance, stately as the sturdy oak, handsome and gallant, having the respect of his command, boasting of the finest Wideawake company in Indiana. He took his com- pany far and near to the Republican gatherings that year, making a fine impression wherever it made its appearance.
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Time drifted on, the election came and passed, resulting in the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. The war soon followed, and the young men of the country responded to the call in vast numbers. Nearly all who had been members of the Wideawakes drifted into the army. They had had a taste of military life, enough to give them a desire to go into the real scenes of army service.
Nearly all of Kline's company enlisted. He was at that time one of Anderson's best and most prosperous young busi- ness men and had a business he could not well leave, so he did not join them.
George Nichol, Colonel M. S. Robinson, Lon Makepeace, Captain Allen, D. F. Mustard and many others of Kline's old friends went to the front. George Nichol faced the booming cannon as a quartermaster. Mustard was a musician.
One night while in camp, around the blazing fire, crack- ing jokes, singing songs, writing letters to loved ones at home, the minds of the party settled on Kline, and his many virtues were discussed. Finally some one suggested that they have some fun at his expense. So they went to work and whittled out a long sword made of pine, stained it from end to end with red ink and finished with the inscription : " Presented to Captain A. B. Kline by his comrades-in-arms for chivalrous and meritorious conduct during the late Wideawake cam- paign." It was sent to him by express but no name disclosed the donors. It was a secret among the boys and a mystery to K line.
Years rolled on, the war was over. Kline became cash- ier of the First National Bank of Anderson; George Nichol was auditor of Madison county, and Mustard was acting as deputy treasurer. Nichol's office was a kind of headquarters for the old-time boys to gather in and chat, tell stories of the army days, etc.
One afternoon a party had gathered in, among whom were Captain Allen, Mustard, Nichol, Captain Anderson and Kline. The subject of the war soon came up. During the conversation the subject of the wooden sword was brought up. It leaked ont that Nichol and Mustard were in the scheme. Kline immediately "caught on."
" Well," he said, "I never knew of a quartermaster or a musician that was killed in the army."
Captain Allen spoke up: " Yes, Al, I know of one quartermaster that was killed in my brigade."
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" Well, they must have been doing hell-fired good shoot- ing that day," responded Kline.
This brought down the house. Kline closed the argu- ment on the army subject. His response was in keeping with his usual run of wit. He hardly ever missed a center when he shot off his mouth. Many of Captain Kline's old sayings will live in Anderson as long as the name of Kline lives. His friends who knew him in his better days have the same love and admiration for him dead that they had for him alive.
A FAMOUS RESORT.
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