USA > Indiana > Posey County > History and directory of Posey County [Indiana] : containing an account of the early settlement and organization of the county : also a complete list of the tax-payers, their post-office addresses and places of residence, together with a business directory of Mt. Vernon and New Harmony also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
THE PIONEERS OF INDIANA.
"And now let us glance at the pioneers of Indiana in the different phases of their experience, and in the beauty and simplicity of their
*From the History of Indiana, by Dewitt C. Goodrich and Charles R. Tuttle-1875.
I8
HISTORICAL SCETCHES.
character. The journey from civilization to the forest-home was not among the least of their difficulties. The route lay, for the most part, through a rough county. Swamps and marshes were crossed with great exertion and fatigue; rivers were forded with difficulty and danger; forests were penetrated with risk of captivity by hostile Indians; nights were passed in open prairies, with the sod for a couch and the heavens for a shelter ; long weary days and weeks of tiresome travel were endured. Perchance the mother and child were seated in a rough farm wagon, urging them over the uneven ground. But they were not always blessed with this means of transportation. And, in the best cases, the journey westward was a tedious, tiresome, danger- ous one. Often the children sickened by the way, and anxious parents worried over them in a rude camp, until relieved either by returning health or by death. If the latter, a father would be com- pelled to dig the grave for the body of his only child in a lonely forest. Who shall describe the burial-scene when parents are the only mourners ? This is a subject only for contemplation. After a few sad days, the bereaved ones take up the journey, leaving only a little fresh mound to mark the sacred spot.
But these incidents were not frequent. Generally the pioneers were blessed with good health, and enabled to overcome the privations of the forest-travel. At night they slept in their wagons, or upon the grass; while the mules, hobbled to prevent escape, grazed the prairie around them. But the toils and dangers of the pioneer were not ended with the termination of his journey. Perchance the cabin is yet existing only in the surrounding trees. But he never falters. The forest bows beneath his ax; and, as log after log is placed one upon the other, his situation becomes more cheerful. Already the anxious mother has pointed out the corner for the rude chimney, and designated her choice in the location of the door and window. The cabin grows day by day; and at length it is finished, and the family enter their home. It is not a model home; but it is the beginning of a great prosperity, and as such is worthy of preservation in history, on account of its obscurity and its severe economy. But it was a home, notwith- standing ; and I venture the observation, that with all its lack of com- forts, with all its pinching poverty, with all its isolation and danger, it was often a happy home; and perhaps its growth, in this respect, is not among the greatest of its accomplishments; yet after all, it has become happier, as well as wealthier.
Next to building the cabin-home came the work of preparing the soil for agricultural purposes. This was a work of no ordinary mag- nitude. For miles in every direction, the eye of the pioneer met only a dense forest, broken here and there by rivers and creeks and small lakes. Dams must be constructed; and mills erected on these streams ;
-
19
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
and the forest must be cleared away to make room for the cornfield. For the accomplishment of these ends, the pioneer prepared his axe, and day after day he toils on. Tree after tree bows its lofty top. Log after log is rolled into the stream. Through many a long, dreary winter has the early settler pursued these elementary branches of in- dustry. Oft has he eaten a cold dinner in a stormy winter's day, with only a log to serve the double purpose of a chair and table ; but, endowed with a spirit of enterprise that knows no faltering, he toiled steadily on.
Spring comes, and he goes forth to prepare the patch of ground for the planter. The team is ready. The father takes his post at the plow ; and the daughter takes possession of the reins. This is a grand scene, -one full of grace and beauty. This pioneer girl thinks but little of fine dress; knows less of the fashions; has possibly heard of the opera, but does not understand its meaning ; has been told of the piano, but has never seen one ; wears a dress 'buttoned up behind'; has on leather boots, and 'drives plow' for her father. But her situation has changed. To-day she sits in the parlor of her grandson, whose wife keeps house through the proxy of one or two servants, and whose daughters are flinging their nimble, delicate fingers over the white keys of a charming Chickering piano, filling the home with a melody that has but few charms for the plain old grandmother. Her mind runs back to the cornfield, to the cabin home, to the wash-tub by the running brook, to the spinning-wheel, to toil and danger : and well may she exclaim, 'Oh, wondrous progress ! my life is but a dream'. Truly, our pioneer mothers were hard-working, honest-thinkingwomen. Our highest praise is a poor tribute to their worth.
The character of the pioneers of Indiana is properly within our range. They lived in a region of exuberant fertility, where nature had scattered her blessings with a liberal hand. Their liberties, the vast- ness of their inheritance,-its giant forests, its broad prairies, its numerous rivers,-the many improvements constantly going forward, and the bright prospect for a glorious future in every thing that renders life pleasant combined to deeply impress their character to give them a spirit of enterprise, and independence of feeling, and a joyousness of hope.
The rough, sturdy and simple habits of the early pioneer of Indiana, living in that plenty which depends upon God and nature, have laid broad the foundation of independent thought and feeling. The wedding was an attractive feature of pioneer life. For a long time after the settlement of the Territory, the people married young. There was no distinction of rank, and very little of fortune. On these accounts, the first impressions of love generally resulted in marriage. The family establishment cost but little labor-nothing more. A description of
20
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
a wedding in the olden time will serve to show the progress made in society, as well as preserve an important phase in history. The marriage was always celebrated at the house of the bride; and she was generally left to choose the clergyman. A wedding, however, engaged the attention of the whole neighborhood. It was anticipated by both old and young with eager expectation. In the morning of the wedding day the groom and his intimate friends assembled at the house of his father, and, after due preparation, departed enmasse for the 'mansion' of his bride. The journey was sometimes made on horseback, sometimes on foot and sometimes in farm wagons or in carts. It was al- ways a merry journey, and, to insure merriment, the bottle was taken along. On reaching the house of the bride the marriage ceremony took place ; and then dinner or supper was served. After the meal, the dancing commenced, and generally lasted till the following morning. The figures of dances were three or four-handed reels, or square sets and jigs. The commencement was always a square four, which was fol- lowed by what the pioneers called 'jigging', that is, two of the four would single out for a jig and were followed by the main couple. The jigs were often accompanied with what was called 'cutting out'; that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation, the place was supplied by some one of the company, without interrup- tion of the dance. In this way the reel was continued until the musician was exhausted."
THE FIRST SETTLERS IN POSEY COUNTY.
When the post at the mouth of the Wabash river was abandoned by the French, (1763,) the control of the county passed wholly into the hands of the Indians, who maintained virtual supremacy until 1810. The first white man who settled in the county after the final treaty between England and France, was an Irishman, as has been stated, by the name of Thomas Jones, who, doubtless to strengthen the confidence of the aboriginees, was wedded to one of their squaws according to the usages of the tribes. The exact period of his ad- vent cannot be ascertained, though it is generally supposed by those who knew him, that it was in the year 1794, and it was from him that the necessaries and " luxuries" of life were obtained, as he was the proprietor of the only place of trade, which increased very rapid- ly when the tide of settlers, soon afterwards, turned its course to this very remote frontier country. He continued in business until the year of his death, which was in 1826. His place of business was lo- cated on the banks of the Wabash, near the mound called "bone bank," and during his lifetime he held a vast number of acres of land bounding the Ohio river from Pittsburgh to the Wabash, which he ac-
2I
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
quired through his dealings with the red men. In speaking of this adventurous, but enterprising Irishman, Gen. Hovey, in his historical sketch of Posey County, published in 1876, says: "Nearly all of his supplies, when he first arrived, were obtained at what was known as the 'Old Fort,' ' Fort St. Vincennes,' now the city of Vincennes, Ind., or in perogues from Pittsburgh. Several cargoes of salt were sent to Jones, and taken over the ' trail ' to Vincennes. Salt was also brought from the " Saline,' in Gallatin County, Illinois. Jones made several trips to Pittsburgh on horseback, returning with his perogues laden with stores. There is an Indian trail or road still visible, where the hands have not destroyed it, leading from Vincennes to the mouth of the Wabash and Shawneetown, Ills. An anecdote was for many years current among the settlers as to Jones' manner of dealing with the Indians. He sold them beads, tobacco, whisky, blankets and other small articles for their peltries and whatever they desired to bar- ter. He had a rude pair of scales but no weights, and when he pur- chased from the Indians he would place his hand in the scales, which, he said, would weigh one pound-both hands, with the force he thought proper to use, two pounds. With this his customers were content, but when Tom made three barrels of whisky out of one, it was a little too much for the red man. The Indian, after emptying his gourd of fire-water in two or three swallows, would say, 'Waugh ! Tom, whisky muchee Wabosh !'" The same writer, elsewhere in his sketch says: "The hardy and brave pioneers who settled in these Western wilds deserve a glowing page in the history of the county. The women themselves were often compelled to battle with the savages who surrounded them. Polly McFaddin, whilst in a blockhouse with other women and their children, shot an Indian who was in the act of stealing the horses in the corral. She lived in this county many years, and died at an advanced age, leaving Wm. Hendricks and his sisters, Mrs. Martin Pritchett and Mrs. John Patterson, as her survivors." These three are still living.
Besides those whom we have enumerated in a preceding page, and who settled in the county. while Indiana was a territory, there were John, Roley and Aaron Burlison, Aaron Williams, William Wear and his sons, John and James, (who came in 1806,) Cornelius Bradley, (who was a revolutionary soldier and whose wife, while they, with others, were moving to one of the blockhouses in Kentucky, was scalped by the Indians and left for dead, but she recovered, went to the blockhouse, two miles away, and afterwards bore and raised Hiram, John and David Bradley, who have since died, but have left offspring,) Rev. Samuel Jones, (honored as being known as the first Christian minister) ; Absolom Duckworth, John Duckworth, called " Particular John," because he was very punctilious in everything,
22
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
James Duckworth, (Major,) Paul and Samuel Marrs, Jesse Y. and Wm. W. Welborn, Paul and Thomas Casselberry, James and Jacob Winemiller, Wm. Todd, Hugh Todd, James Black, Ezekiel Black, Samuel Black, Wm. Black, Thomas Black, John Black, John Dixon, Samuel Dixon, Robert Dixon, Aaron. John, James and Barton Moore, John Greathouse, (father of Sampson and L. D.,) John, Christopher and Nathan Ashworth, Wm. Downen, James and Wm. Stewart, Robert Berger, (who was a substitute for James Black in the battle of Tippecanoe,) Stephen Hendrix, Johnathan Robinson, the Byrds, John Carson, (first sheriff of the county,) Aaron Bacon, Zahab Parkhurst, John Ridenhour (who came to the county in 1811, who is now eighty-four years of age and who is living near New Haven, Ills,) Yelverton and Wm. Finch, Wm. Curtis, the Hendersons, Robert Jeffries, Reese Knowles, David Mills, Fieldon N. Mills, Felix Mills, Hugh Allison, James P. Drake, Nathan and Edmond Blount, Wm. Kincheloe, Samuel, John, Ezekiel and Reuben Aldridge, (who enter- ed homesteads in 1810,) Samuel, Shubal and Eli York, James Thomas, (father of George W. Thomas, Esq., of Mt. Vernon,) and Thomas and Wm. Goad. These occupied the southern portion of the county, residing in Marrs and Black Townships. "Slim" Andy McFad- din made himself famous by firing the first gun at the battle of Tip- pecanoe, fought on the 8th of November, 1811 ; and " Tiddle-de- dum " McFaddin, notwithstanding exposure and privations, became a centenarian before he died. He acquired his nickname through the fact that, when alone, he was incessantly repeating those words, sup- posed to have been a part of a song. The Stallings, Dann Lynn, the Wilsons, Wm., Thomas and Turner Nelson, John and William Graddy, Elias Altizer, Thomas and Alexander Hindman, the Wiggins' Wm. Macadoo, James and Jacob Taylor, Thompson and Robert Randolph, John Schnee, John Crunk, Matthews', Rogers', Greshams', Pitts', Thomas Owens, Josiah Elkins, Henry Coburn, John Dunbar, Seth Hargraves, Joseph Spaulding and David Love, located in the center part of the county previous to 1816, that part embracing Lynn, Cen- ter and Robb townships as they now exist.
George Rapp, founder of the town of Harmonie (now known as New Harmony), and associates, Wm., David, James and Thomas Robb, sen., (after whom Robb township was named), Nathaniel Ewing, John P. Phillips, Leander Defur (the last three being the first to enter in that part of the county), Joshua Overton, James Anderson, Eliacum An- derson, Simon Reeter, Benjamin Venable, Langston, Drew, Phil- lip Amech, Robert Downey, Joseph Price, Gillison Price, Samuel and James Murphy, Wm. Hunter, Peter Jones, Abner Coates, Vicissi- mus K. Phar, John McReynolds, Wm. and Robert Smith, the Hords, the Leavitts, Thomas Alman and Adam Fisher (both of whom received
23
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
wounds at the battle of Tippecanoe), Isaac Rogers, John Waller, John Wallace, John Cox (known as "double-head" because of the peculiar formation of his craneum), Thomas Rogers, Max Jolley, Samuel James, (who entered land in 1813), John and Peter Shivers, Arthur Durley, Wm. Casey, Jas. Carter, Thomas Cavitt, Benjamin Carter, Jas. Calvin, Reddick Cartwight (now living in Cole County, Ills., aged 82 years), the Fitzgeralds, Enoch R. James, (born in the County, July 4, 1800, was appointed a constable when only 18 years of age, who, in later years, became a banker in Mt Vernon, where he died August 4, 1863, and who during the war of the Rebellion was Colonel of the First In- diana Legion, a regiment of militia organized for home protection), Isaac James, Ezekiel Kight, Thomas Kight, and Wm. James, who served from 1831 to 1845 as Sheriff of the county. These were the original settlers of the Northern portion of the county, embracing Smith, Robb and Harmony Townships as they are now bounded. A great many of the persons named in the foregoing list were in the county before the close of the Eighteenth century, a number of whom lived to see the termination of the late civil war and to rejoice over the defeat of the conspiracy to overthrow the magnificent institutions of the grandest and most permanent Republic the world has ever had. In speaking of one of the above list, General Hovey has this to say : "James Duckworth was Ensign in Captain Warrick's Company, in the battle of Tippecanoe. The gallant Captain, with his Lieutenants, was soon numbered with the slain, and one of the aides of General Harrison, riding up to their position, enquired who was in command ot their company and was informed that their officers had all fallen. 'Who is the next in command?' The young ensign, stepping forward, answered for them. The command was soon given for a charge, and the young officer, being placed in a new position, and not exactly understanding military language, shouted at the top of his voice, 'Come, boys, let's give 'em h-ll,' and they did something very much like it. The ensign, on his return home, was soon promoted and be- came Major of the militia, which, in those days, meant a little more than sunday drill. The Major died a few years ago, surrounded by a large family and relatives, and was respected and mourned by all who knew him." In his letter to the Secretary of War, written ten days after the battle described, Govenor Harrison corroborates the above statement by declaring that "nineteen-twenthieths" of his soldiers "had never been in action before, but who behaved in a man- ner that can never be too much applauded." Thomas Alman, who, as previously stated, received a wound at that engagement, is still a resident of the County and is now in the 93rd year of his age. Ezekiel Kight, at the same battle, was made famous by the fact that fourteen balls passed through his coat, which is regarded as a great
24
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
curiosity and which is still kept as a memento of the event by his descendants, who live near Stewartsville. There were thirteen others from Posey County in the battle of Tippecanoe, besides those named, among whom were Wm. Todd, Hugh Todd and John Black, who received a mortal wound in the head, the ball passing through a wool- en hat he wore, which was brought back by his comrades, and which was worn by his mother until her death, several years afterward, in respect to his memory. They equipped themselves at their own ex- pense and marched to Post Vincennes, where they joined the Militia, who were reinforced by the Fourth regiment of United States infantry, commanded by Col. John P. Boyd. From Post Vincennes these forces took up their march on September 26th, 1811, and on October 3rd, reached the present site of Terre Haute, where they constructed a fort, finishing it October 28th, which they named Fort Harrison. On the day following the troops resumed their march and on Novem- ber 6th, reached the battle-ground, which lies seven miles in a north - easterly direction from the present city of Lafayette. On November 17th, the troops were discharged at Bosseron Creek, near Vincennes, and those who were able to do so returned to their homes, where, for many winter evenings, while sitting by the glowing fire in the old fashioned chimney place, the stories of their experiences were listened to with manifest interest, and the trophies they gathered and brought home were objects of great curiosity. Thomas Givens, (who was wounded in that engagement.) Robert Jeffries, (who died in 1876,) Thomas Duckworth, (who died in 1877) and Timothy Downey, (who came to Posey County in 1807,) were also at the conflict with the Indians at Tippecanoe. The last named gentleman was killed, in 1828, by a runaway horse, and was a brother of David, Judge, Josiah and Job Downey, all of whom came to the County with him.
COURTS OF THE COUNTY.
THE FIRST COURTS AND THE FIRST JUDGES-THE FIRST GRAND JURY AND PROSECUTOR -THE LOCATION AND REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEATS -THE OLD AND NEW COURT HOUSES-THEIR COST OF CON- STRUCTION- THE FIRST PRISONER-TROUBLE WITH FAMILIES -THE FIRST SECRET SOCIETY-A PERILOUS PREDICAMENT.
The house of Absalom Duckworth, about five miles North of Mt. Vernon, was where the first Court in the County convened, which was on the 20th day of March, 1815, over which Isaac Blackford, with Thos. E. Casselberry and Dann Lynn, associates, presided. The first panel of grand jurors was composed of Nathaniel Munsey, Wm. Wagnon, Jas. Robertson, Wilson Butler, Alexander Mills, John Staple-
25
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
ton, Adam Albright, John Aldredge, Samuel Aldredge, James Black, Seth Hargrave, Ezekiel Jones, John B. Stephenson, David Thomas, John Crunk, Mathew Adams, Peter Wilkeson, Wm. Boid and Wm. Barton, the last three named failing to serve, for which they were fined, but when they gave satisfactory reasons for their absence, the fines were remitted. Wm. Prince, on the day the court convened, was appointed prosecuting Attorney, a position he held until 1817, when he was elected as Judge, succeeding David Raymond, who was the second Judge of the circuit court held in Posey County. Davis Floyd succeeded Wm. Prince as prosecutor.
On the 21st of October, 1816, the first Court under the State law convened at the town of Blackford, which remained the county seat until May 20th, 1817, when the Board of Commissioners, composed of Samuel Marrs, Thomas Robb and Abner Coates, formally ordered that it be removed to and be "known and designated by the name and style of Springfield." This order took effect, after Isaac Mont- gomery, Hugh McGary, Adam Hope and John Brazelton, Commis- sioners appointed by an act of the Legislature to fix a permanent seat of justice of Posey County, met at the house of Elias Altizer, on Febuary 22, 1817, and, "after being first sworn, proceeded to examine and explore the said county in different directions, and received pro- posals in donations in land from different persons, and having maturely considered their several advantages and situation, together with the extent of the county, the advantages of the soil, the weight of the present as well as the prospect of future population and future divi- sions, selected one hundred acres of land, a donation made by Fred- erick Rappe, on which to fix the permanent seat of justice for said county, it being the Southeast quarter of section thirty-three, in town- ship five, range thirteen West, lying on the South side of said quarter section from corner to corner of the same, it being near the center (of the county) and an eligible situation for a town." Rappe, for the fulfillment of his promises to "make or cause to be made a good and sufficient title to said land" was "held and firmly bound unto John Carson, Sheriff of said County, or his successor in office, as agent of said County, in twenty thousand dollars good and lawful money of the United States." Springfield remained the "permanent seat of justice" until June 10, 1825, when it was again removed to Mt. Vernon, such trans- fer being allowed by law on condition that the payment of amounts of damages sustained by the consequent depreciation of real property be made by the residents of the County. The aggregate amount of damages paid on these terms was $1,313. Mt. Vernon is still the county seat, where, in 1876, a handsome temple of justice was erected by James C. Norris, contractor, Vrydaugh & Clarke, architects.
The building is 105 feet in length from north to south and 75 feet
26
HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
from east to west. The base of the building is built of stone brought from Bedford, Ind., while the cappings and sills used in ornamenting the windows and doors are from the same locality. The first story contains the county offices, is made entirely fire proof by the use of incombustible materials and rests upon a system of arches which afford it a most substantial foundation. The court room is located on the second floor and is reached by two flights of stairs. The room is in the form of an eliptical circle, with a gallery surrounding its entire extent. Its accoustic properties are said to be perfect. The building is of the Romanesque style of architecture, its roof being covered with slate and copper and surmounted by a handsome dome, whose apex reaches 119 feet above the foundation. The chances of destruction by fire from the outside are lessened by the use of Clarke's patent self- coiling steel shutters, a feature that renders the use of vaults for the records unnecessary. Genl. Hovey had the honor of laying the first brick, a feat performed on the 30th day of May, 1874, at 2:30 p. m. The building was completed January 1, 1876. Including the iron fence which encloses the square, the cost to the county was nearly $95,000, a sum which was considered remarkably low, and which, of course, gave universal satisfaction to the tax payers of the County.
In 1877 the contract for the jail and residence of the jailor was let, and in 1878 the building was completed, at a cost of $17,000. The prison is built of heavy limestone, and the roof is composed of iron and slate. There are fourteen cells, separated into five wards, the doors being made of grated prison iron and they are made secure by the celebrated patent May lever locks, the levers all terminating at the main entrance to the prison from which place they are operated, thus securing the jailor from any surprises. The prismatic plates used for admitting light obstruct the vision from either side. The front of the building, intended as a residence for the Sheriff, is of brick, sur- mounted by a mansard roof. Well might a captive, doomed by the majesty of the law to be confined within its walls, say: "He leaves hope behind who enters here!" The Court House at Blackford was a small one built of logs, and the benches were of very rude construction, while the jail, built by Samuel Jones at a cost of $422, was constructed of the same material. Prisoners were guarded by sentinels paid by the county. The first prisoner confined in that primitive jail was a man by the name of Edward C. Fitzgerald, arrested on the charge of larceny.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.