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 30
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Necessity Lodge No. 222, I. O. O. F., was instituted Nov. 21, 1860, with ten charter members. The first officers of the lodge were: C. Free, N. G .; John Heagy, V. G .; R. H. Cree, Sec. ; S. B. Harriman, Treas. This is the only lodge of any order in the county that owns a cemetery. The beauti- ful burial ground in the south-east part of the city was pur- chased and laid out as a place of sepulture by Necessity Lodge.
The I. O. R. M., K. of P. and Knights of the Maccabees are all in a flourishing condition and constantly increasing their membership.
THE PRESS.
The city has four newspapers proper mention of which is made elsewhere in these pages.
PROMINENT CITIZENS.
The following are the names of those who have served the county in an official capacity from this township :
William Wilson, Commissioner, from 1844 to 1885 ; Fred- rick Black, Representative. from 1867 to 1869; Dr. Joseph Pugh, Treasurer, from 1867 to 1871 ; J. F. Mock, Representa- tive, from 1869 to 1870; D. K. Carver, Sheriff, from 1870 to 1872; Robert H. Hannah, Clerk, from 1871 to 1878; T. J. McMahan, Sheriff, from 1876 to 1880; R. H. Cree, State Senator, from Madison and Delaware counties, from 1875 to 1877; Morton H. Downey, Surveyor, from 1894 to 1896 and re-elected and is the present incumbent of that office.
ORESTES.
A few years ago Orestes was a mere hamlet ; now, owing to the discovery of natural gas, it is an incorporated town with an estimated population of 450. The town is situated on the L. E. & W. railroad, two miles west of Alexandria, and possesses certain advantages which give it a degree of
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
prominence as a business point. It has two large factories, the Powell Tile works and the United Window Glass factory, the latter being one of the largest establishments of its kind in the country.
The school enumeration for the present year shows that there are 211 persons.of legal school age within the corporate limits. Two school buildings are required for the accommo- dation of pupils and three teachers are employed.
Orestes is surrounded by a fertile farming country ; its people are enterprising and thrifty, and taken altogether the town is fairly prosperous. It was incorporated in 1894.
OSCEOLA.
. This village is situated in the north-west corner of the township and was laid out in 1855. It derives its name from the celebrated Seminole chief and at one time promised to be- come a place of considerable importance. A post-office was established here and E. M. Trowbridge, the first merchant in the place, was appointed postmaster. The office has long since been abolished. A large steam saw-mill was once operated here and a great deal of lumber was manufactured, but with the disappearance of the more valuable timber the industry ceased to be profitable and the mill was removed. The first physician here was Dr. Eppard, who was succeeded by Dr. Cyrenus Free. The first blacksmith was David Perry, and the first shoemaker Absolom Webb. A school-house ample for the needs of the community is located here.
ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS, REMINISCENCES AND SKETCHES- THROWN . FROM A BUGGY AND KILLED.
Jacob Schwinn was, in his lifetime, one of the most in- fluential farmers of Monroe township, in which he had a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was well known throughout the county, being prominent, not only as a busi- ness man, but also as a politician. He took an active part in the political campaigns .of his. party, being a stanch Repub- lican.
On the 21st day of November, 1874, Mr. Schwinn, at an carly hour in the morning, arose and started for Anderson, in a buggy, to which he had one horse hitched, and was leading another behind. His son, Evan, rode with him for nearly a mile, until he came to the cross-road leading to Osceola, where he was engaged in teaching school. After parting with his
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
son, Mr. Schwinn drove south about eighty rods to a small bridge, which he passed over safely, but just after crossing, his horses became frightened at some obstacle on the road side and began to run. They had gone about thirty rods when the buggy was upset and the occupant thrown out, striking his head against the fence with such force as to canse his immedi- ate death. Mr. Thomas Bell was within 100 yards of the ac- cident, and Mr. Hankins but a short distance away. They both hurried to the place, but before reaching Mr. Schwinn, he had breathed his last.
A few minutes after leaving the buggy, Evan Schwinn, the son, heard a noise in the direction of the bridge, and fear- ing there was something wrong, hurried back, finding his father in the embrace of death. The body was examined by Drs. J. W. Perry and Cyrenus Free, who found that his inju- ries were caused by a shock to the spinal column and the breaking of internal blood vessels.
Mr. Schwinn was born in Bendenkirschen, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darmstadt, September 21,1816, and immigrated to this country when twenty-one years of age. He landed in Baltimore, where he remained a short time working at the tailor's trade. From here he went to Pittsburg, Penn., and remained a short period and thence to Indianapolis. He final- ly settled in Yorktown, Delaware county, where he formned the acquaintance of N. E. Tomlinson and became very warmly attached to him. In the year 1842 Mr. Tomlinson moved to Alexandria and engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Schwinn soon followed him and worked at his trade, when he gave it up for the more congenial occupation of farming. In the same year Mr. Schwinn, being prominent in the counsels of the Whig party, was placed in nomination for the office of Representative for Madison county. He made a bold and creditable fight in his canvass, but owing to the overwhelming Democratic majority was defeated at the polls. In 1866 he took a leading and active part in organizing the first Masonic lodge at Alexandria, of which he continued to be a leading member until the time of his death. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and took a prom- inent part in the affairs of that organization. Being industri- ous and economical he had amassed quite a little fortune and left his family in easy circumstances. His remains were in- terred at the Deadman cemetery, two miles north of Alexan- dria, the ceremony being conducted by the Masonic order.
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HISTORY MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The funeral was one of the largest that ever occurred in Mad- ison county. The older citizens of this county will pleasantly remember the subject of this sketch, and will long mourn his death.
SUICIDE OF JOSEPH CROSS.
Joseph Cross was a bachelor, who for many years lived alone about two and a half miles southeast of Alexandria. He was found dead in his bed on Sunday, the 17th of August, 1884. He had been missing since the previous Thursday even- ing, and the evidence adduced at the Coroner's inquest tended to show that about that time he took arsenic with suicidal in- tent. A quantity of the drug on a teaspoon was found on the table near the bed on which he was lying. When the body was discovered it was in an advanced state of decomposition, so much so that it was almost impossible to make a post mor- tem examination. He was an inoffensive citizen, though somewhat dissipated. Despondency was the cause of the act. He was possessed of considerable property, being the owner of the farm upon which he resided. His remains were taken in charge by a brother and other relatives and interred in the Alexandria cemetery.
He was a brother of Lafe Cross, a once prominent Ander- son druggist, and also of Worth Cross, a painter, who still resides in or near Alexandria, and Absolom Cross, a promi- nent farmer of Monroe township.
SAD DEATH OF WINFRED WALKER.
On the 15th of July, 1879, Winfred Walker, one of the most influential farmers of Monroe township, left his home to go to Alexandria, four miles distant, for the purpose of get- ting a hay rake which he had purchased. He hitched his horse to the rake without " hold-back straps " and started for home. On the road the horse became frightened at some object and started to run, and Mr. Walker was killed. No one was pres- ent to witness the occurrence, and how he came to his death is simply a matter of conjecture. It is supposed the rake ran upon the horse's heels and scared him, which started him to run. He was found in a dying condition near the farm of James Wilson, about two and a half miles east of Alexandria. He was unable to speak and unconscious, and lived but a few minutes after he was found. His body was mangled in a frightful manner and had every appearance of a great struggle in his vain attempt to extricate himself from the " tines" of
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the rake while the horse was wild with fright and running at the top of his speed.
The scene at Mr. Walker's residence as his lifeless body was carried home is easier to imagine than describe. The Walker family had been peculiarly unfortunate. One of the daughters, before this accident, had lost her arm in a cane mill.
Mr. Walker enjoyed the respect of the community in which he lived and was a practical agriculturist. He was a man of about fifty-three years of age, of very strict integrity, and one who prided himself always upon making his word good, and for his promptness in discharging any financial obli- gation.
Marshal Walker, son of Winfred Walker, is still living in Monroe township. One of his daughters married a son of the Hon. Robert H. Cree, ex-Senator from the counties of Madi- son and Delaware.
LOST HIS FOOT.
Albert Chaplain, residing a short distance north of Alex- andria, on the farm of his father, John Chaplain, met with a serious accident on the 25th of July, 1879, by which he had his left foot taken off. He, with his father and-brother were mowing grass in the meadow near the family residence. The machine was stopped and Albert was engaged in removing a piece of stump that was in the way. He came behind the mower and put his left foot over the sickle bar when some bumble-bees in the grass frightened the team. His foot was caught in the sickle and he was dragged fifteen or twenty feet. His foot was found to be cut almost off. Dr. J. W. Hunt, who was then a resident of Alexandria was summoned and in company with Drs. Sullivan, Runyan and Sharp the foot was amputated. He also suffered other injuries, having one of his fingers badly cut. He was only about fourteen years of age when this accident took place.
FATAL ENDING OF AN OLD FEUD.
Gilman is a small station on the I. E. & W. R. R., eight miles east of Alexandria. On Monday evening, the 28th of March, 1881, Coroner Michael Ryan, of Anderson, received the following dispatch :
" A man shot and killed at Gilman this evening.
JOHN W. HUNT."
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The John W. Hunt who signed the dispatch was Dr. J. W. Hunt, now of Anderson, who at that time resided at Alexandria. Coroner Ryan took the 9:12 train north on the C. W. & M. R. R. to investigate the matter and to hold an inquest over the body of the deceased. The news began to spread, and it was evident that a terrible tragedy had occurred. Rumors of all kinds were afloat, but as to the real facts, they were greatly exaggerated. Among the residents of the vil- lage was one Ira Miller; a single man of twenty-three years of age, who kept a small store in the place. Seth Mckinney also lived there and was a cousin of Miller. Mckinney had no particular occupation, but worked in the saw-mill in the village for a while, and was then engaged in the patent right and lightning rod business. A misunderstanding arose between Mckinney and Miller, the direct cause of which seems to have been uncertain, as several accounts of the same were given, none of which seemed to agree. It is said, however, that at one time during the summer previous to the shooting, McKin- ney made a drawing for a gate which he intended to have patented. A portion of his territory was traded to a gentle- man near Muncie by some one representing himself as a part- ner of Mckinney. The man who traded for the territory was looking about with a view to manufacturing the gate. When Mckinney learned of this transaction he went to him, showed him his plates and drawings, explained that the person who had traded off the gate did so without authority. The out- come of the affair was that Mckinney received a fine young horse in compromise of the unauthorized purchase of the ter- ritory, to quiet the matter.
Ira Miller learned of this transaction, and believing the gentleman who had purchased the right of the gate had been swindled, so stated to parties in Muncie. This reached the ears of the purchaser, who went to see Miller and Mckinney at Gilman. Some trouble arose between Mckinney and the purchaser, Miller being the instigator, by the statements he had made to the parties in Muncie. Thus these two men were dragged into a trouble which resulted in making them deadly enemies.
Another theory was that the difficulty really arose over a woman Mckinney had been living with by the name of Reeder, who came from Tipton county. Her character, it is said, was not of the best. It is said that Mckinney lived with this woman as his wife. When Coroner Ryan arrived at the
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
scene of the tragedy he found the body of Mckinney in the house where he lived with this woman. Mckinney and Miller had quarreled several times and mutual threats had been made. On the evening of the shooting the quarrel had been renewed and Miller charged Mckinney with stealing $700 where he had hid it at one time when they were on a spree together. On the evening of the shooting they were in front of Miller's store, as the 5 o'clock train on the L. E. & W. railroad was coming in. Mckinney told Miller that he had a notion to take a pitch-fork handle, standing by, and mash his mouth for the way in which he had abused him. Miller answered, " Damn you, I told you if you ever crossed my path I would kill you !" He raised his revolver and shook it at him several times. A farmer standing by took hold of Miller's arm and requested him not to shoot. When the farmer had released his hold and was on the way to the train Miller shot Mckinney, who walked about thirty feet, when he fell over dead.
According to the testimony of witnesses, no revolver was found on Mckinney's person. Miller went to his stable, sad- dled a horse and went north at full gallop. The horse re- turned to Gilman the next morning.
Mckinney had relatives in Tipton : at one time he had also lived in Michigan. Sheriff Randall Biddle, of Madison county, had received a letter from the Sheriff of Clinton county, Michigan, where he was wanted for grand larceny. He came from Ohio to Muncie and from there to Gilman. It is claimed that he had a wife and children living in Ohio. He did not enjoy a good reputation and the fact that he was living with a woman to whom he was never married, would seem to confirm the belief that he was not of good character.
Ira Miller, who did the killing, was about twenty years of age, a son of Jacob Miller, an old and highly respected farmer of Harrison township, in Delaware county, who lives just across the line from Madison county. He had a great many friends that came to his and his son's relief in the investiga- tion of this unfortunate affair and it is said that it was due to his father's influence that Ira escaped the consequences of the law. Parties who were well acquainted with both men in the case and the trouble which existed between them, testified that Miller was justified in his actions from the fact that Mc- Kinney had on several occasions threatened to take the life of Miller.
54
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
Miller was placed under arrest and a preliminary hearing had before a Justice of the Peace of Monroe township. After a full hearing he was acquitted upon the ground of jus- tifiable homicide, it being proven that when Mckinney ap- proached Miller, on the platform at the station, that it was in a threatening manner. Miller knew that Mckinney was a desperate man, and felt that he was justified in shooting him in order to save his own life, or himself, from personal injury.
A TRAVELING MAN ASSAULTED.
At the station of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad at Alexandria a most brutal and unwarranted attack was made on Frank M. Richardson, a drummer for a wholesale boot and shoe house of Cleveland, on the 8th of December, 1882, by Frank Cleary, of that place, in which Richardson was terribly cut in several places on his body, one gash over his eye and one clear across his face, cutting nearly through his cheek and leaving a horrible scar which Mr. Richardson will carry with him to the grave.
There seems to have been but little provocation for the attack, for the reason that Mr. Richardson was an unobtrusive and quiet man who had gone to the station to await the arrival of the out-going train upon which he was about to take pass- age. Clearey was in an intoxicated condition, and for some cause commenced taunting Mr. Richardson, calling him names and inviting him out of doors to fight. Richardson endured this until his patience was worn out, and told Clearey and some companions who were with him that if they did not desist some of them would get hurt, and then started out of the doorway. However, before reaching the door, Clearey drew a knife and made an assault upon Richardson, with the above result. Besides cutting him in the cheek he was se- verely wounded in other portions of his anatomy.
It was thought for awhile that Richardson would die from the loss of blood, but, after being taken care of by physicians, he was able in a few days to go on his way.
Clearey was placed under arrest and gave bond in the sum of $1,000, with Robert Hannah as security, for his ap- pearance at the next term of the Circuit Court. Clearey justi- fied himself by stating that. Richardson had commenced the disturbance himself, but it was not generally believed that this was the fact.
Richardson was a tall, handsome man, and prided him-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
self greatly upon his personal appearance, and the mortifica- tion which he experienced from the wound in his cheek sank deep into his heart. He grieved over it very much. Some time after this assault he was in Anderson consulting Mr. Kittinger, who was then Prosecuting Attorney, in relation to the case against Clearey. Upon coming down on the street in front of the lawyer's office he unexpectedly found himself face to face with his late assailant, and, without a moment's warning, drew his pistol and fired. The ball took effect in Clearey's person, and felled him to the ground, but did not prove fatal. A crowd soon gathered, Clearey was taken off the street, and friends surrounded Richardson who persuaded him to return to Mr. Kittinger's office.
Richardson was placed under arrest for assault and bat- tery with intent to kill. Thomas J. McMahan became security for his appearance to answer to the charge. The case against Richardson hung in court for a long time, without being brought to trial, but finally through public sentiment, which was largely in his favor, or for other reasons unknown to the writer, Mr. Richardson was never tried for his assault upon Clearey. In the meantime Clearey was tried in the Madison County Circuit Court, was convicted of the charge of assault and battery with intent to kill, and sentenced to the State's prison for a short term. Mr. Clearey served his time in prison and returned to Alexandria, where he yet resides.
KILLED IN A SAW-MILL.
On the 15th of August, 1884, Henry Pritchett, an off- bearer in Enos Rutledges' saw-mill at Gilman, was caught by a log on the carriage as it was being taken back from the mill and dragged onto the saw ; he was instantly killed. His right leg was cut off at the knee joint and he received a gash across the breast puncturing his vitals and almost cutting his body in twain ; he never spoke after the accident. He was about twenty-four years of age, married, and left a wife to survive him. Dr. B. F. Spann, Coroner of Madison county, was called and an inquest was held and a verdict of accidental kill- ing was rendered, exonerating the owner of the mill from any blame whatever. The body was conveyed by friends to the Whetstone cemetery, south of Anderson, for interment.
A TRAGEDY.
Albert C. Carver, a Madison county boy, ex-Prosecutor of the Pleas of the State of Indiana, was born and reared in
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the vicinity of Alexandria, where he is at the present time enjoying the highest esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens. Mr. Carver is a very quiet man, has never dealt in epithets or offered insult to his fellow men, but he is made of such material that when approached in a menacing way, he will defend himself to the bitter end.
On the 9th of August, 1879, Mr. Carver became engaged in an affray at Alexandria, his native village, in which he was assaulted by a mob, prominent among whom was William Cox, during the course of which it became necessary for Mr. Carver, in defense of his person, to use such force as to cause the death of his assailant.
Mr. Carver was in the act of boarding a C. W. & M. train for Anderson, when he was attacked by three men who commenced beating him in a merciless manner. William Cox and Carver clinched, when some one, believed to be Cox, cried out for help from the others, saying that they should kill Car- ver and at the same time calling him vile names. At this juncture. Carver seeing there was no possible escape, either from being killed or badly hurt, drew a pistol from his pocket and shot twice in rapid succession ; both shots taking effect in the body of William Cox, killing him almost instantly.
When it was known that Cox had been shot his accom- plices immediately retreated ; Carver boarded the train and asked protection from several traveling men on the train, who responded. Conductor Albert Johnson took in the situation at once and pulled out with his train, and thereby avoided further bloodshed as Carver's assailants were in an ugly mood and prepared to do further deeds of violence.
Carver was placed under arrest and in the custody of the Sheriff of Madison county, but several persons from Alexan- dria went upon his bond for his appearance at court. Michael Ryan, the Coroner, was summoned, and held an inquest the day after the shooting. The verdict was, that William Cox came to his death from a pistol shot fired by Alfred C. Carver, in defense of his own life. Mr. Carver had a preliminary ex- amination before Lewis C. Burke, Justice of the Peace, at the Mayor's office, in Anderson, on the following Monday, and after a full and impartial hearing, he was acquitted of any criminal action.
The direct cause of the unhappy event was attributed to a feud that had existed between the parties for some time, growing out of some trivial matter, which kept on growing
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
until it had culminated as before stated. It was contended by some that the fact that Carver had been pushing suits in the Circuit Court, involving the title to a large amount of real estate on which the town of Alexandria is situated, he had incurred the displeasure of a portion of the citizens of that place.
No one knowing the circumstances of the case ever held Mr. Carver responsible for any thing criminal in this transac- tion, as he simply did what every other citizen has a right to do-defend his person against bodily harm.
Mr. Cox was a young man of about 26 years of age. His father, it is said, was killed several years before this affair, in Texas, by also being shot in a row. Since this unfortunate affair, Mr. Carver has lived in Madison county and has been a just and upright citizen, having been elected by his constituency to the high and honorable position of Prose- cuting Attorney for this District, which office he filled with credit. He now resides in Alexandria, is engaged in the prac- tice of his profession and is one of the leaders at the Madison county bar.
POST OFFICE ROBBED.
On the 29th of August, 1891, the post office at Alexan- dria was robbed in a most thorough and complete manner. The robbers entered the building by the rear window and opened the money drawer in Postmaster Tomlinson's desk, he having no safe in the building. About forty dollars in money. some small change and a considerable number of stamps were taken. The burglars then proceeded to a butcher shop close by and plundered that place, receiving but little for their trouble. There was no clue to the robbery. The authorities at Washington were notified and detectives were put to work, but no discovery was made as to who the guilty parties were.
A STRANGE HOMICIDE.
Joseph Frazier and Sylvester Hupp were neighbors liv- ing near Alexandria, and no enmity or bad feeling had ever been known to exist between them. On the 11th of May, 1884, the community was startled by a report that Frazier had in cold blood murdered Hupp.
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