USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > Historical sketches of Old Vincennes, founded in 1732 : its institutions and churches, embracing collateral incidents and biographical sketches of many persons and events connected therewith > Part 9
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BAPTIST.
There may have been, and probably was, religious serv- ices held here by the Baptist denomination at a very early date, as that denomination had a missionary in the county, the Reverend James McQuaid, who organized a church in
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Widner township as carly as 1809. No record exists that preaching occurred prior to 1861, when the Reveren I J. S. Gillespie came here. He held a series of meetings in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He returned again in 1862. leaving a prosperous church at Greencastle to organize one here, which was accomplished May 1, 1862, in the resi- dence of Mrs. Woodman, composed of the following mem- bers: Mrs. W. J. Heberd, Mrs. David Buck, Mrs. William Floro, Mrs. Eliza Wise, Miss Lou Duree, Mrs. L. Gillespie, Miss Gillespie, Christian Raller and the Reverend J. S. Gillespie. They purchased a lot on the corner of Broad- way and Sixth streets, and erected a house of worship about 1866 at a cost of $6,000, adding a bell and furnishings complete in 1868. The Reverend Gillespie resigned in 1867, and was succeeded by the Reverend L. B. Robinson, who was in turn succeeded by the following pastors in the order named : The Reverends B. F. Cavens ( in 1871), Dr. Stinson (of Terre Haute), J. Brandenburg (in 1875), J. H. Butler (1883). the Reverend Patterson, B. F. Keith, William Thomas, Thomas Wolford and W. G. Law, the present pastor, who entered upon his duties on January 1, 1901. The present enrollment of members is 234, and the pastor reports the church well organized and as enjoy- ing a good degree of prosperity.
CHRISTIAN.
So far as records show, the Christian Church (so desig- nated to distinguish it from other Protestant branches of the Christian Church Universal) was organized in Vin- cennes not before the third Sunday in June, 1833. By
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whom it was organized is not positively known, but among the initial members were Henry D. Wheeler and wife, Samuel Piety and wife and Mrs. Harriet Judah. In the early years of the church the organization possessed no house of worship and had no pastor, holding their serv- ices in private residences, the city hall and the court honse. Accessions followed in due time, with substantial God- fearing citizens, such as Doctor J. R. Mantell, Alphonso Draper and others, when a building lot was secured on Second street, between Buntin and Perry streets, and in 1846 a brick structure was commenced, but not completed and dedicated until October, 1848. For many years the church was without a regular pastor, the pulpit being sup- plied occasionally by evangelists having other churches in their charge for their support. The Reverend Alexander Campbell, the founder of this branch of the Protestant Church in the United States, once paid a visit to the Vin- cennes church, and ministered to the flock with great ac- ceptability. In 1865 this church called its first pastor, the Reverend J. J. Holton, who was followed, in 1869, by Elder W. H. Tiller, who was in turn succeeded by the Reverend J. F. Clark. The latter ministered to his people for twenty-one years-a deserving compliment to a devoted and loving minister of Christ. He was followed by the Reverend J. N. Jessup, and he by G. M. Weimer. Then came the present efficient and acceptable pastor, the Rever- end William Oeschger, March 1, 1901.
The church has prospered, having now enrolled 500 members, and will soon erect a fine massive structure on the corner of Broadway and Third streets.
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GERMAN PROTESTANT.
The St. John's Evangelical and the St. John's Lutheran Churches worshipped as one body in 1855, in a church on the corner of Eighth and Scott streets, and this union con- tinned until 1859, when a division occurred, the Lutheran branch purchasing the interest of the Evangelicals for the sum of $400, and becoming the owners of the church edi- fice.
LUTHERAN.
The St. John's Lutheran Church was served then by the Reverend Peter Senel, who was installed October 16, 1859. He was succeeded by the following pastors, in the order named: The Reverends J. D. F. Mayer, J. W. Mueller; F. R. Forman, September 26, 1869 ; C. R. W. Huge, Sep- tember 26, 1880; G. Goesswein, January 11, 1885; Carl Kretzeman, September 12, 1897, the present efficient and eloquent pastor who has for his assistant the Reverend Martin Kretzeman, who was installed as such assistant Au- gust 4, 1901.
The old church gave way to the present substantial and commodious building in 1876.
A parochial day school and Sunday school are conducted by the pastors. A parsonage is also erected on the half square occupied by the church and school buildings. Total voting membership of this church is eighty-two; total mem- bership, 370; total scholarships, ninety. The church has prospered greatly and is harmonious.
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ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL.
This organization separated from the Lutheran branch in August, 1859, and had for its pastor the Reverend C. Hoffmeister. They built a frame church on the corner of Fifth and Hart streets. In 1886 a commodious brick struc- ture was erected on the corner of Fifth and Shelby streets. This congregation has also more recently erected a par- sonage and parochial school building. They have had as pastors the following, in the order named: The Rev- erends F. Durlitz, William Jung, N. Burkhardt, Peter Webber, Albert Schorey, O. J. Kuss, Frederick Reller, Henry Mehl, and again Albert Schorey. The Reverend Louis Hohmann is now pastor.
The present membership of the church is eighty-eight. This church has prospered under its several pastors, and is doing a good work in the interests of Christianity.
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
This church was organized by the Reverend W. P. Quinn, at what period no record exists to show. Samuel Clark, Cornelius Sims, W. H. Stewart, James Brunswick, and Henry Ryder were the initiatory members. The first building erected was in the year 1839, on the corner of Tenth and Buntin streets. This one was replaced by a brick structure, 35x50, in 1875. The name of the present pastor is the Reverend G. H. White.
CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN.
This branch of the Presbyterian Church must have held service in this county sixty years or more ago, as they or- ganized a church in Palmyra township about that time,
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yet no record is given by the pastor of the church in Vin- cennes that preaching ever occurred here before the advent of the Reverend Henry Clay Yates in 1890, when a church was organized with a membership of twenty-one. The elmurch building was erected during the year 1890, and was dedicated in the spring of 1891. The Reverend Yates was its first pastor, continuing six years, when he was suc- ceeded by the Reverend F. A. Grant, who remained but six months, being succeeded by the Reverend J. N. MeDon- ald. The latter was pastor for four years, being succeeded by the Reverend JJ. B. Miller, present pastor, in 1901.
Total membership of Vincennes Church is 175. Total membership in the State, 3,788. Total value of property, $183,300. AAmount contributed for church purposes in 1900 was $17,370. The church seems fairly prosperons under its energetic pastor.
B'NAI ISRAEL CONGREGATION.
This church was organized in 1867, and for some years held regular meetings under the leadership of a Rabbi, but owing to many removals of its members from the city, their synagogue and priest were given up. Its members embraced some of the best business men of the city. Its trustees are Benjamin Kuhn, Myron Rindskoph and Vie- tor Schonfield; Secretary, Dan Oestricher.
Ete Chaim Lodge, No. 205. I. O. B. B., was organized 1875. J. B. Kuhn, Pr., Dan Oestricher, Secretary.
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Chapter VII.
BIOGRAPHIES-FRANCOIS MORGAN, SIEUR DE VINCENNES.
M UCHI has been written about the founder of Vin- cennes, regarding his nationality, genealogy and age, and the question may not yet be considered settled; but the presumption is that all is now known that will ever be. From the best sources of information obtain- able it may be stated that he was born in Canada (although some say that he was a native of France), but at what time is not positively known. It is recorded that he received an ensign's commission in 1699. He is believed to be the son of Louisa Bissot (the sister of Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sieur de Vincennes ), whose husband was Seraphim Morgane. According to Duboison's narrative, page 9, the subject of this sketch fought gallantly in defending the fort at De- troit from a combined Indian attack, May, 1712. He was subsequently sent West, and was at Mackinaw, and, accord- ing to Law's History, he was engaged in some service on the lakes toward St. Marie in 1725. "At what time he took possession here is not exactly known ; probably some- where about the year 1732."
On the death of his uncle, Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sicur de Vincennes, he assumed his title of Sieur de Vincennes. He worked his way west to the Posts Miamis and Ouiate- non, after which he is known to have been at Kaskaskia,
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October 20, 1727, where he and Louis St. Auge, his fel- low-officer, attended the nuptials of two of the inhabitants .*
The next recorded history of his whereabouts is that of his being at the Che-pe-ko-ke village in 1733. Law, p. 19,
says : "There are other documents there (Kaskaskia) signed by him (Vincennes) as witness in 1733-1734, among them (records) a receipt for one hundred pistoles, received from his father-in-law on his marriage. From all these proofs it is clearly evident that he was here pre- vions to 1733." That he was at the village previous to that time is positive; for his letters recently published (1902) by the Indiana Historical Society, dated March 7 and 21, 1733, Vincennes, show this. In his letter of March 21, 1733, he says, in answer to the inquiry as to his progress at the post, "I have built a fort and erected two houses, but need a guard-room and a barracks for lodging soldiers, and thirty more soldiers and an officer, as it is not possible to remain in this place with so few troops." It would seem from this statement of Vincennes that what some writers have said about the Indians here receiving the priests and French soldiers with open arms is entirely too rosy and absurd for credence. The savage Indian can no more change his nature toward the white man than a leopard can change his spots. He stated further that he was "em- barrassed by the war with the Chickasaws, who have been here twice this spring."
He continued here as commandant until 1736, when his superior officer, Major de Artagette, ordered him to join his forces in a campaign war against the Chickasaw Nation in Louisiana. This wing of the army was to be
Mason, "Kaskaskia and Its Parish Records," in American History, Vol VI, p. 175.
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joined with one from New Orleans by agreement, but, owing to some blunder or unavoidable cause, a junction was not formed of the two bodies, and Major Artagette's force alone attacked the Chickasaws, and, after a bloody, prolonged battle, the French forces were defeated, and Artagette, Vincennes, the Jesuit Father, and many soldiers were captured and burned at the stake.
In relation to his death Charlevoix said : "We have just received very bad news from Louisiana and our war with the Chickasaws. The French have been defeated. Among the slain is Monsieur de Vincennes, who ceased not until his latest breath to exhort the men to behave worthy of their religion and their country."
Thus ignobly perished the hero-patriot and founder of our city. He well deserves a beautiful monument from his countrymen, whose shaft should perpetuate his noble and valiant deeds of patriotism.
Vincennes! Thy name will live in story, Whilst others, writ on brass and stone, Will lose, in passing time, a glory That round them once in brightness shown.
GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.
The subject of this sketch, being the prime factor in the capture of Vincennes in the cause of American lib- erty, occupies an important position in the annals of the old town, which would be incomplete without the mention of his noble life, character and eminent services-a life full of startling incidents and stirring events, which impressed themselves indelibly upon the early history of the great West, although only a brief notice of them can be recorded here.
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George Rogers Clark, who has been called the "Han- nibal of the West." was born in Albemarle County, Vir- ginia, on the 19th day of November, 1752, within one and one-half miles of Monticello, the celebrated resting place of President Thomas Jefferson. He was of Scotch-English descent, his mother being a lineal descendant of the cele- brated John Rogers. who was burned at the stake for his inflexi- ble religious opinions. Some members of the family, like himself. have been notable characters; one of his brothers. William. having been asso- ciated with Mr. Lewis in the celebrated ex- pedition of Lewis and ('lark to the Pacific Ocean. George did not receive a classical edu- cation, his tastes be- ing inclined to mathe- GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. matics and surveying, although he was under the tutelage of a noted educator, Daniel Robertson. and had for a time as a classmate James Madison, who afterward became President. When but nineteen years of age Clark started West with a surveying party, and was at Steubenville. O., in 1770. and also in Kentucky. Ile soon returned to Virginia. but was back
[10]
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and forth for the next few years; and, when there was an Indian outbreak, he joined a company in Ohio to oppose the hostiles. In 1775 he was engaged in surveying in Ken- · tucky, and located some lands near Frankfort. But he was also about Harrodsburg and other places, familiarizing himself with the country and the settlers. In 1776 he went to Virginia and settled up his business with a view of making Kentucky his home, and induced his parents to emigrate thither. About this time he developed into a poli- tician, as well as a military expert, and, finding the people of the settlements unorganized, he impressed upon them the need of union of action, and the importance of sending delegates to the Legislature of Virginia. At his instance two delegates, himself and Gabriel Jones, were sent, who were to impress upon the parent State the duty of caring for and helping the far-away colony. When they presented themselves at Williamsburg, the capital, the Legislature had adjourned, and the State officers could not lawfully make any advances to buy materials of warfare for the pro- tection of the settlements. Jones returned, but Clark re- mained, and pleaded so successfully with the Governor, Patrick Henry, that the latter issued an order for five hun- dred pounds of powder, to be delivered at Pittsburgh sub- ject to Clark's order. He wrote to the settlers at Harrods- burg to send for it, but the letter was lost, and later in the year he found the powder still at Pittsburgh. He had remained to meet with the Legislaure at its next session, and Jones, returning to act with him, they were then recog- nized as delegates. Learning that the powder had not yet been sent for, they took the river route home, and, having secured some boatmen, they sailed down the river and
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landed at a point near where Maysville, Ky., is located, and there hid the powder, finding that they did not have enough force to transfer it to Harrodsburg. On their re- turn home a company was sent for the powder, and suc- ceeded in delivering it at its destination. Clark had so endeared himself to the settlers that he was looked up to as their leader, and he proceeded to organize them, thus form- ing the foundation for the great commonwealth of Ken- tucky. Having formed the male portion of the little com- munity into a militia, he equipped them with material for defensive warfare, and his ambition then went out in a desire to take the offensive against the English, who held certain points, and gave encouragement to Indian out- breaks. He, as a preliminary, sent out two spies to visit Kaskaskia and Vincennes posts, and to learn their strength and the temper of the French people living at these places. The messengers returned with encouraging news, but, as he had no anthority to make an aggressive move, nor the means to sustain him if he did, he determined to lay his scheme before the Assembly, and, accordingly, returned to Virginia. He presented his plans to Governor Henry, who, being favorably impressed with them, called in coun- sel Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe and George Mason, to consider the matter. This eminent triumvirate, in conn- cil with the great Governor Henry and the dashing young hero of the West, Clark, proved themselves worthy of the task of evolving the magnificent scheme that brought to Virginia's door the gift of the Northwest Territory. The counselors readily adopted Clark's plans, and he was supplied with £1,250 and authorized to raise seven com- panies of fifty men each to further the scheme, trust-
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ing to the Legislature to legalize their action. The Gov- ernor issned two sets of instructions to Clark for his guidance, one of a secret nature and the other for the pub- lic .* The one for the public merely anthorized Clark to raise seven companies of militia in any county of the State and proceed to Kentucky, they to be under the orders of Clark. The secret order was to advance on Kas- kaskia or Vincennes, and set forth in detail as to pro- cedure and advice as to his actions with any conquered enemies and friends joining the American cause. Gather- ing his troops together at the Falls of the Ohio, he consoli- dated them at "Corn Island,"+ which he fortified. Having supplied himself with boats for descending the river, the day before his departure he, for the first time, informed his troops of their destination. Captain Dillard's com- pany at once mutinied, and about thirty of them escaped that night to the Kentucky shore. Clark sent troopers after them, with instructions to capture or kill the desert- ers. Only ten were returned to the fort: the others reached Harrodsburg after enduring hardship and suffer- ing. The news of their desertion having preceded them, they were denied admittance to the fort for some time. The troops had been promised by the Governor, Jefferson, Wythe and Mason that if they were successful they would be given 320 acres each of land in addition to their salaries. This promise was faithfully kept, and 149,000 acres of land were set apart for these soldiers and officers. These lands were located in Clark, Floyd and Scott counties, and were known as "Clark's Grant." All things being in readi-
For the plans of Clark to succeed, perfeet secrecy was necessary, and hence the matter was not placed before the legislature.
+ So called because it is said that corn was first raised there in Kentucky.
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ness, on the 24th day of June, 1778, the boats ladened with cargo and 175 troops started. Clark says: "We left our little island and ran about a mile up the river in order to gain the main channel, and shot the falls at the very mo- ment of the sun being in a great eclipse." This circum- stance was calculated to add solemnity to the occasion, and awe and forebodings to the superstitious. He had first con- templated an attack upon Vincennes, but, learning it was well garrisoned, he steered down the river, with Kaskaskia as his objective point, and, after a four days' run, he landed on a small island at the mouth of the Tennessee river. While resting there they captured a boat containing six hunters who had left Kaskaskia eight days before, and who gave much information and expressed a desire to join ('lark's force, which offer was accepted, after a consulta- tion. Hiding their boats up a creek, the next morning they started for a hundred-and-twenty-mile tramp through the wilderness, prairie and swamps. On the third day of their journey one of the new accessions, a man named San- ders, who essaved to guide them, got bewildered and got off the right course, and the suspicion was at once formed that he was playing traitor. Clark gave him one hour to find the road or be shot as an alternative. After circling about some time, he succeeded in finding the road, and then all went well. The man proved to be a true patriot and was of much value to the army. On the 4th day of July the army got within three miles of Kaskaskia, and, after night- fall, they marched up the Kaskaskia River one mile to a farm house, taking the family prisoners, who informed Clark that the garrison was not expecting an attack, and no sentries were out. Finding plenty of boats, the soldiers
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soon crossed the river in silence. Clark says: "I divided my little army into two divisions and ordered one to sur- round the town. With the other I broke into the fort, se- cured the Governor, Mr. Rochblave, in fifteen minutes, and had every street secured; sent runners through the town, ordering the people, on pain of death, to keep close to their houses, which order they observed, and before day- light had the whole town disarmed."* Thus ended the splendid, though hazardous, campaign of Clark's little army, which was but the earnest of the more brilliant achievement that was to culminate in the overthrow of the British army in the Northwest Territory, and give to Virginia a small empire, in the capture of Vincennes, seven months later.
Up to this time Kaskaskia was the New France, and was, to the French in America, what Paris was to France. In 1721 the Jesuits erected a monastery and college there, and it was the center of gayety, and fashion, and happiness. "For many years," Governor Reynolds of Illinois, in his history, says, "Kaskaskia was the largest town west of the Alleghany mountains, and was a tolerable one before the existence of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati or New Orleans," and was the capital of Illinois during its territorial exist- ence, after its capture by the Americans."
"It is marvelous that the town, being so well fortified," says Major Bowman, "and able to have fought successfully a thousand men, should be so easily captured by less than two hundred half-starved and foot-sore soldiers." The gar- rison on that night must have given themselves over to revelry, as they were taken wholly unawares, which con-
* Clark's letter to Mason.
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dition of affairs, through luek and boldness, Clark happily took advantage of. Having been taught by the British that the Americans killed all prisoners, the people were in despair, and offered to become slaves to their captors if their lives and those of their families would only be spared. To meet the exigency and to disabuse their minds, Clark ordered the assembling of all the principal men of the town who were lamenting their misfortune, and explained to them the object of their mission, and that it was not to enslave them, but to win their zeal and attachment to the cause of the Americans, and that they could enjoy their property and be protected in their liberty if they gave their allegiance to Ameriea. "No sooner had they heard this than they fell into transports of joy that surprised me," says Clark, "and they told me that they had always been kept in the dark as to the dispute between America and Great Britain, and had been prejudiced against the Americans : that they were now persuaded that they ought to, and did that night, espouse their cause, to the number of 105, by taking the oath of allegiance to the States." Before starting on his campaign to Vincennes Clark captured Cahokia. Ilis advance on Vincennes and its capture by him are nar- rated fully in another chapter of this work .*
Immediately after the capture of Vincennes, General Clark coneeived the desire to advance on Detroit, and the great importance of sneh a move caused him to at once commence preparing for it, but there were so many ob- stacles in the way that the scheme was finally abandoned. His troops were worn out, money became depreciated, the failure of promised additions to his army and a strengthen-
* See Chapters III and IV.
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ing of Detroit's defenses, all tended toward an abandon- ment of the project. On August 5, 1779, he issued an order establishing his headquarters at the Falls of the Ohio, and soon moved the garrison there to the mainland, on the Kentucky side, and drew a plan for the town of Louisville, then took up his quarters there.
The Indians having made frequent raids from Ohio into Kentucky settlements, Clark got together about 1,000 men and moved to the mouth of the Licking river and started for an Indian town, Chillicothe. The Indians having been apprised of his coming, fled and Clark destroyed the town and crops and moved on to Piqua, where he fought a battle, defeating the Indians, when he burned their huts, de- stroyed their crops and retreated, having taught the sav- ages a lesson. He soon afterwards went to Virginia to advocate an attack on Detroit. While.he was there Benedict Arnold made a raid into Virginia, but was compelled to retreat by Clark, at the head of a company, with a loss of seventeen. He was a Brigadier-General of the State troops, but he did not like it because the State officers did not have equal rank with those of the Federation. His com- plaint was of no avail, and he was compelled to remain under State orders. He again made an appeal to Wash- ington for aid to carry out his plans against Detroit, but, owing to the stress of money matters and the dearth of troops, the President could lend no aid, but joined Gov- ernor Jefferson in approval of the plan. The Governor was anxious for Clark to make the trial and issued orders for troops and supplies, but, instead of 2,000 men, only 400 reported at Pittsburgh. He started down the river with these, hoping that some others would follow ; one com-
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