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 44
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was stopped at once and backed to the place where he had jumped off. He was taken handcuffed to Danville, but the man upon whom he had committed the forgery, being an uncle of Mrs. Clinton, declined to prosecute him. He was afterwards arrested in Cincinnati for swindling a liquor firm out of a considerable sum of money. but his friends secured his liberation. From here he went to Philadelphia, where he was arrested on the charge of stealing a valise. In this trans- action Clinton made the grandest mistake of his life. He was supposed to have shadowed a man who was said to have in his valise a large sum of bonds, and in getting off of the train Clinton snatched the valise in which he supposed the valu- ables were, and through a mistake he got hold of the wrong one, which contained an ordinary suit of clothes. Upon this charge he was incarcerated eighteen months in the Moyamen- sing prison, Philadelphia, and after the expiration of his term went to Baltimore, where he renewed his acquaintance with his former pals. They rented a room on the ground floor adjoining a national bank and opened a real estate office. . 1 large map was hung on the wall next to the side of the safe of the bank and a high obstruction was erected in front to con- ceal the debris they took at night out of the wall behind the map.
One Sunday night they got to the safe and pried out one side of it, the lock was displaced, thereby giving them admis- sion to the vaults, from which they purloined about $70,000 in currency and a large amount of securities, with which they made their escape. The bank officials upon entering the room found the safe door unlocked, but thought nothing of it at first as there was no outward indication of robbery. It was almost noon before they discovered that they had been the victims of a theft. This robbery was traced to Clinton, and he was again placed under arrest. but by some means got off without being imprisoned, the supposition being that he and his friends had refunded a large portion of the money upon a compromise for his release.
He was also at one time incarcerated in Sing Sing for some offense, but after having served a few months, through the influence of some friends a pardon was granted him by Governor Samuel J. Tilden. He was at that time known under the alias of Robert Clark. Tilden, in his comments upon the case in his report to the New York Legislature, stated that "Clark" had been granted a pardon, he being
-
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represented as an erring and unfortunate, but really very worthy sort of person, whose pardon was recommended by Governor Letcher, and that Clark had a chance, if liberated, of becoming connected with one of the most influential news- papers of the South.
It is supposed that nearly all the letters of recommenda- tion, and many of the petitions, sent to Governor Tilden, were the handiwork of Clinton.
We are indebted to the Bulletin for an article appearing in its columns several years ago for the facts contained in this statement. Mr. Clinton is said now to be a resident of Wash- ington City. For many years he held the position of guard in one of the departments of the Capitol, and is, seemingly, thoroughly reformed. Whatever may be said of Mr. Clinton, there is no gainsaying the fact that he knew how to be a gentleman, for no more courteous, dignified or clever man ever lived in Madison county than he, and many of his charitable deeds to the poor who needed assistance will long be remem- bered by many of those who were the recipients of such favors.
DAVID B. SIMMS, ONCE CORONER.
David B. Simms, of Union township, late deceased, is on the list of old-timers. He was not a resident of Madison county all his life, but came from " in yonder " so long ago that he was always considered by the old settlers as one of their number. He was a son-in-law of old Uncle Billy Johns, who died a few years ago, near Chesterfield. Mr. Simms was a jolly, good fellow, large and portly, making rather a good appearance among men. He was one of Madison county's best and most prosperous farmers, which occupation he fol- lowed all his life, save a very short period which was diverted to politics. Ilis political career was as brief as it was brilliant. David was naturally a Democrat, and always stood by the guns of that party in a fight, with one exception. In 1874 the Granger party came up like a mushroom in the night, bloomed like a big sunflower for a day, folded up its leaves and died in the twinkling of an eye.
Among the many Democrats who strayed away in that year and followed the new party, was David B. Simms ; glib with his tongue and naturally a little slick in his ways, he soon became a "leader." The county convention came on and Simms was placed on the ticket for the high and responsible position of Coroner. The Democrats had previously met in
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convention and placed W. W. Jackson on their ticket for this position.
The Republicans met soon afterward, and made no nom- ination, but indorsed David B. Simms and ordered his name to be placed on their ticket. This gave him double advantage over his opponent, and after a long struggle the votes, when counted, showed Simms to be the winner. He was the only one on either the Republican or Granger ticket who was elected. Soon after the election was over the Democrats concluded they would have a ratification meeting to properly ratify the grand triumph over the two other foes in the field. The time was set. the band engaged, bonfires were built, a store box was placed in front of where the National Exchange bank is now located for the speakers. All was in readiness, and the fun soon began. Colonel Pierse gave the crowd one of his most powerful and interesting addresses. Colonel W. C. Fleming for an hour held the audience in dilating upon the grand victory. Gus McCallister preached the funeral sermon of the Republican party, as only Gus could do. David B. Simms was present, and although it was not exactly his "funeral" he was glad to be "in it." Ilis Democracy was stirred up by the oratory of his old comrade and friend who had just spoken. Stephen Metcalf, who was then editor of the Anderson Herald, the Republican organ, was in the crowd. He thought it would be a good joke to get Simms up to make a speech, supposing. of course, that as he was elected in oppo- sition to the Democratic ticket, he would give the Democrats the devil and cause a rupture in the meeting. He urged Simms up to mount the box. Finally a time presented itself and Simms got up. His head towering away above the crowd, his long. flowing whiskers dangling in the wind, he sailed in. Stephen drew closer to the box to catch the words of oratory as they escaped from the speaker's lips. lle didn't stay long. Simms took his text back in 1854, the time of the "bornin'"' of the Republican party. giving the party and all its acts from that time up to date the devil. He spoke until the bonfires went out, the crowd wearied and Metcalf was home in bed. The band chimed in with a tune occasionally to shut him off, but a brass band was no place beside Simums' voice. He could be heard above everything.
When he subsided he was wringing wet with perspira- tion, and his face was as red as a turkey gobbler's wattle. During Simms' incumbency as Coroner, John W. McCallis-
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ter, the Sheriff, died. By virtue of his office Simms became Sheriff until another could be chosen. It was in the times when the Sheriff's office was a " snap," there being many large foreclosures and sheriff's sales, the Sheriff being allowed five per cent. on all sales. The deceased had many sales adver- tised before his death that the Coroner and ex-officio Sheriff had to complete, thereby entitling him to the per cent.
The day of sale came around. Simms knew about as much about what he was to get for his services as a ten-year- old boy. Ile got one of the Deputy Sheriff's under the deceased Sheriff to help him out. The sales were made, and the returns properly filed with the Clerk. His assistant, coming into the Clerk's office, handed Mr. Simms the magnificent sum of $65.00.
" What is this for?"
" Your fees."
" Fees! What do you mean, young man? "
" Why. your fees for making those sales."
" See here, young man ; I want you to understand that I will have no crooked business about this matter. I am an hon- est man and won't stand any robbery in this business."
" Well, sir ; that is your legitimate fees for your services to-day." " Great God ! You don't tell me : $65.00 for a half day's work."
From that moment forward, as long as David B. Simms fived, he was a candidate for Sheriff, but died before he reached the goal of his ambition.
WILLIAM JOHNS, AN OLD-TIMER.
William Johns, late of Union township, was one of the old-timers who helped to make Madison county. He came here in an early day, locating in the neighborhood where he died in 1888. He was one of the men who lived for all life was worth. He came as nearly having a good time every day in the year as any man who ever lived in Madison county. He was an extraordinarily good story-teller, and always kept a lot of good " yarns " on hand.
It was his custom to come to town every Saturday to do his family trading and learn a new joke to take home with him. He was originally an old line Whig, until the formation of the Republican party, when he switched off and became a Demo- crat.
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After attaching himself to the Democratic party, he be- came one of its leaders in his neighborhood. His counsel was always sought in every political campaign. He was one of the best workers in the party in Union township. While he never cared for office himself, he glorified in the success of his friends. Uncle Bill, as he was familiarly called. was one of the old-time fellows in his ways-built on about the same gauge as the late Colonel Berry, Joseph Howard, and such men as they, who came here about the time he did.
WILLIAM JOUNS.
HIe despised a dude or a fop ; he was not opposed to neat and tidy dress, but any thing that bordered on foppishness disgusted him. He not only enjoyed joking others, but if it came on him it was all the same. He used to relate an occur- rence that took place with him when he was a young man. that he would laugh over heartily.
According to his story, he was rather a wild young man, not very bad, but full of fun. Among the young people with whom he associated, was a dashing belle, with sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. with whom he was in love. He was her escort to all the apple-cuttings, husking-bees, log-rollings and wool-pickings. His love was fully reciprocated by the fair one, but like all cases of true love, it did not run smoothly. Her father was a local preacher. He knew Uncle Billy's short-comings and wild disposition. He seriously objected to
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his attentions to his daughter and so notified Billy. He was warned not to come about again, but the girl clung to him and they would meet at the gatherings in the neighborhood, in spite of the objections of the stern parent.
Things went on in this direction, until at last they reached a climax. One Sunday the two lovers met at a country meet- ing. After the services, Billy concluded he would boldly take his girl to her home, meet her angry father and take the con- sequences. So they strolled up the road, as lovers naturally would, until they came in sight of the house. They saw the preacher out on the wood-pile in front. Billy made up his mind that he would play the old man a big game of " bluff." He did not mention it to the girl, but marched squarely up to the preacher. staring him in the face and said :
" Now, sir, you have indulged in a great many inuendoes about me, and have forbidden me to come to your house. I am here to say that I am as good as you are in every respect. I owe you nothing. I care nothing for you, but I like your daughter. I have come to give you the d-dest licking you ever had."
Billy began to make motions to take off his coat, but he never got it off. Something like a cannon ball struck him between the eyes. and the stars immediately came in sight. When he came to, he was on the opposite side of the road, with the preacher rubbing him back to life. Billy said if a mule had kicked him it could not have killed him any deader for the time. If lightning had struck him he could not have been more surprised. He supposed that when he tackled the preacher for a fight, he would either knuckle to him and apol- ogize, or run, but in this he was mistaken.
Billy's motto ever afterward was, " Never tackle a coun- try preacher for a fight." Billy and the preacher afterwards became good friends, but he and the girl " fell out " and never married. All old-timers will remember Uncle Billy Johns.
A SKETCH.
Dr. Valentine Dunham was one of the old-fashioned coun- try doctors, who lived in Union township for many years, and practiced the profession of medicine among his neighbors. Instead of going to a drug store and having his prescriptions prepared, he carried an old time pair of leather saddle-bags which he threw across the back of his horse, and rode astride of them through sunshine and storm, night and day, healing
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the sick and afflicted, who appealed to him for medical service. He was not a graduate of any medical school, but had an extraordinary amount of old fashioned common sense.
Ilis father, who was also a physician, died in 1850, and left his medical books and surgical instruments to his son, from which he gained all that he ever knew about the science of medicine, having no instructor whatever.
He died at his home in Union township, on the 22d of January, 1882, at the age of sixty years. Of a family of twelve brothers and sisters he was the last with but one exception, Ex-Mayor Dunham, who is now a resident of Anderson, and a Justice of the Peace. He was married in 1852 and raised a large family, his wife having died in 1873.
Dr. Dunham was engaged in the practice of medicine for nearly forty years, and in his neighborhood was looked upon as being the father of medicine. Although he was not an educated man, his general good sense gave him about the right idea what to do in any ordinary case of sickness. He was quite successful in his practice, and enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his brother physicians throughout the county. who upon the occasion of his death met and passed resolu- tions of respect to his memory, the committee consisting of Drs. William A. Hunt, Horace E. Jones and . Jonas Stewart.
Dr. Dunham was a frugal man in his habits and had amassed quite a fortune, being one of the largest land owners in his locality, and at his death left his family a snug compe- tency, which they at this time fully appreciate and enjoy.
DEATH OF A PIONEER.
In the Anderson Standard of June 24, 1858, we find the announcement of the death of one of the carliest settlers of Madison county, as follows :
" Died in Chesterfield in this county, of an affection of the heart. Betsey Makepeace, wife of the late Amasa Makepeace, aged seventy-four years.
" The subject of this notice was born in Norton, Massa- chusetts. June 3, 1774, where she was married about the year 1800, and shortly afterward, with her husband, moved to Ches- terfield. N. H., where they remained until the year 1818, when, being unfortunate in business, they concluded to seek a home in the far West. Accordingly they packed up their goods and with a large family started for the headwaters of the Ohio river, which they reached after a long and tedious journey.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
They made the journey by means of their horses, traveling in a wagon until they reached the Ohio river, when they con- structed a raft, making their way to Cincinnati, which was then but a mere village. From Cincinnati they went to Leba- non, Ohio, where they remained two or three years, when they removed to Madison county, Indiana, where they remained until the time of their death. The husband's death preceded that of his wife by ten years, having lived together nearly fifty years. Mrs. Makepeace had therefore shared the toils and troubles of a pioneer's life. She was one of the first settlers of the county, the red man holding possession of the forests when she first beheld them.
" May her memory be still fresh in the hearts of those who have received many a kind word and encouraging coun- sel from those lips that are now cold in death."
The Mrs. Makepeace above referred to was the mother of the late Allen Makepeace, who for many years lived at Ches- terfield. and died there in the year 1872. Chesterfield was a mere Indian trading point at the time of the arrival of this worthy couple at that place. Mr. Allen Makepeace was a merchant in that village for nearly half a century, and amassed an immense fortune, which he left to two children who survived him, the eldest of whom is Elvira 1. Corwin, wife of John E. Corwin, former President of the Madison County Bank, but now residing at Middletown, N. Y., and their son, Quincy Makepeace, who yet resides near the old homestead in Chesterfield.
CHAPTER LXXIX.
VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized March 4, 1837, and named in honor of the eighth President of the United States at the suggestion of George Moore, one of the earliest residents of the territory comprising the township.
The township originally contained all of the territory lying in Congressional Township 22, Range & cast. The rec- ord for its organization is as follows :
" On petition filed, and due deliberation thereupon had, it is ordered by the Board that Congressional Township No. 22. north of Range 8 east, in Madison county, be organized into a township. to be known and designated by the name of Van- Buren township. And it is also ordered that they hold an election in said township at the house of Hiram Palner, therein, on the first Monday of April next, for the purpose of electing township officers and one Justice of the Peace. And it is ordered that the elections in said township be held at the house of said Hiram Palmer until otherwise directed. And it is ordered that Hiram Palmer be and he is hereby appointed Inspector of Elections for said township until a successor shall be chosen and qualified."
The township contains twenty-five square miles and is situated in the north-east corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Grant county, on the east by Delaware county, on the south by Monroe township, and on the west by Boone township. The topography of the township is similar to that of the other northern townships of the county , being generally level, well watered and originally heavily timbered. The soil is principally black loam and well adapted to the cultivation of cereals, particularly corn and wheat, large crops of which are produced annually, especially of corn.
According to the best information obtainable the settle- ment of the township began about the year 1820, when Thomas Gordon, Jacob Davis and Hiram and John Palmer emigrated from Virginia and settled in the county just north of the pres-
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA.
ent site of Summitville. on Section 20. Between the years 1830-36 quite a number from Virginia settled in the township. among whom were John and William Kelsey, who located on Section 8 : Thomas Cartwright and James Blades, who located on Section 31 ; John Cree, who located on Section 17; Samuel Fenimore, who located on Section 20. The latter came from Ohio, and chose as a location for his future home a spot on the Fort Wayne trace, where he erected a log house, which he subsequently converted into a tavern for the accommoda- tion of hunters and travelers over the trace. This was the first inn, or tavern, in the township. The locality was after- wards known as " Old Wrinkle." In the fall of 1836 John Moore, of North Carolina, settled in the same neighborhood, also Robert Robb. of Johnson county, Indiana. They were soon after followed by Ephraim and Madison Broyles, John Shields, David Culberson, John M. Zedeker, Harrison Allen and Zachariah Robinson. Many of the first settlers after- wards removed to Illinois and Iowa, particularly the latter, when those states were organized, believing that better oppor- tunities awaited them in the " prairie country." This disposi- tion to follow the " star of empire" was not peculiar to the early settlers of this township alone, it may be observed, as many of the first comers to nearly all of the townships in the county afterwards " pulled up stakes " and went farther west. Occasionally one would return and settle permanently, but not often. They preferred a country where it did not require so much labor to prepare the land for a crop.
From 1839 immigration to the township increased year after year. School-houses were erected and churches organ- ized. In every township but this it has been an easy matter to ascertain when and where the first school-house was erected. But in this township there is so much diversity of opinion on the subject among the old-timers and their descend- ants that but little definite or satisfactory information can be learned about the matter. It is sufficient to say, that a small log school-house was erected at an early day, about a mile and a half north of where Summitville now stands. The name of the school teacher was George Doyle. In 1858 the number of school children in the township was 256; in 1874 it was 386. and at the present time the school enumeration shows that there are 516 children eligible to the privileges of the public schools. There are eight school buildings in the township, including Summitville, and ten teachers are employed. The
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Summitville schools are graded and compare favorably in every respect with the schools of other towns in the county.
CHURCHES.
The early settlers in the township enjoyed religious serv- ices, without regard to their denominational predilections, long before a religious society had been organized. Itinerant preachers, during the pioneer period, would visit the township from time to time, when word would be sent out to the set- tlers that religious services would be held at a certain private cabin or log school-house. During the winter of 1859-60, a Christian minister of the name of George Newhouse visited the township and held a number of meetings, which resulted in the organization of a society composed of about sixty mem- bers. A log church was afterwards erected, about one mile north of the present site of Summitville. Samuel Moore, Pleasant Victory, John Beck and Philip Cramer were among the most active members of the society.
STATISTICAL.
The population of the township in 1850 was 406: in 1860 it was 672; in 1870 it was 874; in 1880 it was 1,691, and in 1890 it was 1,979, including the town of Summitville.
The total value of lands, as taken from the tax duplicate of the present year. is $416,595; value of improvements, $975,065 ; total value of taxables, $639,930.
SUMMITVILLE AND VICINITY.
The original name of this town was " Skipperville," but was afterwards changed on account of its proximity to the " cone," or summit level, of the State, a point two miles north of the town, from which the waters of Mnd creek and Black creek flow in opposite directions, the former emptying into Pipe creek and the latter into the Mississinewa. Aquilla Moore, the oldest living inhabitant of the township, came to this part of the county and settled in the neighborhood of where Summitville now stands in 1836.
On his seventy-seventh birthday, the writer sat beneath the shade of a spreading cherry tree in the grounds surround- ing his residence, and elicited from him much information in relation to the town and its surroundings.
Mr. Moore is an exceptionally bright gentleman, and has a wonderful memory for a man of his advanced years, being
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDLIN.1.
able to go into the minutest details of the happenings of the long ago.
John Palmer and Isaiah Davis were the first settlers, and came to this vicinity in the year 1835, and located about two miles north, having removed from the State of Virginia.
Robert Robb. the father of Mrs. Aquilla Moore, came here from Johnson county in the year 1837, and started the first store in this part of the country, north of Summitville about two miles.
Aaron M. Williams was among the early settlers, and erected the first and only tannery in this neighborhood, which he operated together with his farming interests for a good many years, and was for a long while engaged in the dry goods and merchandizing business, and kept a place to lodge. the weary traveler. He sold the first town lots in the place, and was really the founder of the village. No regular plats of the lots were laid off, but when a man purchased one, Mr. Williams would stake off the amount and size of an ordinary town lot and describe it by metes and bounds. This manner of proceeding has since given the assessors and county officials much trouble in assessing the real estate in the place.
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