History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Crist, L. M. (Leander Mead), 1837-1929
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 592


USA > Indiana > Boone County > History of Boone County, Indiana : With biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Volume I > Part 35


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).


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This list might be extended to fill a volume as large as this and still not have exhausted the subject. Since beginning to investigate along these lines, I have unearthed an astonishing amount of beliefs, superstitions, magic and witchcraft, all having to do with the supernatural. There are plenty of peo- ple in Boone county today who believe in witches. There are a number of people of my acquaintance and of yours, my reader, who will risk a conjurer sooner than the best schooled doctor in the state. The desire of the fledgling to fly is proof of its ability to fly. Man's desire for immortality is a proof of the immortality of his soul. I wonder if all this superstition isn't a mani- festation of the same thing?


Under this head I must not neglect to mention Indian doctors. An Indian medicine-man, Buck-on-ga-helas, was largely engaged in the practice of the healing arts in Fort Wayne in 1804. He was chief medicine-man and surgeon to Little Turtle, the great Miami chieftain. He acquired a great reputation in the cure of bites of poisonous snakes, but more particularly from poisoned arrows then used among the Indians. His practice was not confined to the Indians, but was quite extensive among the white settlers. There isn't much doubt but that this medicine-man had a few patients in and around what is now Thorntown. There is some slight reason to believe that another medicine-man called Ma-te-a (who) practiced his art in this county.


These Indian doctors were sharp, shrewd Indians, well acquainted with all the medicinal qualities of herbs, especially as applied to the treatment of snake bites, poisoned arrows, and the diseases incidental to savage life. By far the greater part of their practice consisted of incantations and juggleries. The doctor would usually dress himself in the most grotesque manner, with face painted to inspire fright, then with a great variety of contortions of the body approach his patient. He would breathe on him, blow in his face, squirt medicine into his mouth and nose; rattle beans or pebbles in a dry gourd over him, at the same time keeping up the most horrid gesticulations


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


and noises to frighten away the disease. After thus making his professional visit, he would retire to await the result of his effort. Doctor Kemper, in his Medical History of Indiana, tells us that the Indian doctor would compound his potion and then drink it himself in order to cure his patient. If our present-day doctors practiced this, would it have any effect on the taste of the potion? Longfellow, in a few of the closing lines of Hiawatha's Lamenta- tion, has set out the rules of practice of the Indian when he tells us :


"Then the medicine-man, the Nudas, The magicians, the Wabenos, And the Jossakeeds, the prophets, Came to visit Hiawatha


Built a Sacred Lodge beside him,


To appease him, to console him,


Walked in silent, grave procession,


Bearing each a pouch of healing,


Skin of beaver, lynx, or otter, Filled with magic roots and simples,


Filled with very potent medicines.


Then a magic drink they gave him, Made of Nahana-wusk, the spearmint,


And Wabeno-wusk, the yarrow,


Roots of power, and herbs of healing ;


Beat their drums, and shook their rattles;


Chanted singly and in chorus,


Mystic songs. *


Then they shook their medicine-pouches O'er the head of Hiawatha,


Danced their medicine-dance around him; And upstarting wild and haggard,


Like a man from dreams awakened, He was healed of all his madness.


1


As the clouds are swept from heaven,


Straightway from his brain departed All his moody melancholy ; As the ice is swept from rivers.


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


Forth then issued Hiawatha,


Wandered eastward, wandered westward,


Teaching men the use of simples, And the antidotes for poisons, And the cure of all diseases. Thus was first made known to mortals


All the mystery of Medanim,


All the sacred art of healing."


SOME PIONEER PHYSICIANS.


I feel justified in giving herewith a few sketches of the lives of some of our pioneer physicians. I think this is advisable for several reasons : (1) These men lived in times which "tried men's souls." (2) That they should be remembered for what they were as well as what they tried to do, for the record of the physicians of Boone county has been a creditable one; few moral delinquencies have existed. They have been observant and industrious. Our death rate has not been excessive even in the face of serious epidemics, which, in the past, have stolen upon us like thieves in the night.


Dr. William N. Duzan was born in Tennessee, in 1809. With his father, Rev. William Duzan, he came to Clarkstown about the year 1836. He commenced practice as a country doctor in the east part of Boone and the west part of Hamilton counties, his father's farm being on the line just east of Clarkstown. Late in life he married a lady in Indianapolis, and about the year 1856 removed to that city, where he mostly resided, except a short stay in Arkansas and California.


Doctor Duzan followed nature's methods of healing, being guided by experience in his large practice. He was very successful in business and made a host of friends. In person he was of medium size, auburn hair, small piercing eyes, indicating a quick, nervous temperament. In politics, he was an unflinching Democrat. He died at Indianapolis, August, 1886; buried at Crown Hill cemetery.


Dr. Jeremiah Larimore was born in Fayette county, Indiana, in 1825. His father, H. G. Larimore, was his tutor; he also was a physician. When but a lad, he came with his father, in 1834, to Eagle Village, where he re-


6


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


ceived the best training the common schools afforded. At twenty-one, he went to Missouri, where he attended medical school, married in 1845, and practiced for several years. He then returned to his former home in Eagle Village, where he found more work than he could well do. After four years of continuous practice, he sought recuperation in California for the next three years. Returning to his old home, he soon regained his prac- tice, and when Eagle Village declined he went to Zionsville and practiced several years, then to Whitestown, where he also prospered in his practice. In the early eighties he died in Indianapolis and is buried at Mt. Run ceme- tery.


Dr. Samuel K. Hardy, one of the early doctors of Northfield, was born in Virginia, married Miss Sarah Larimore in Fayette county, Indiana. He commenced the practice of medicine in Northfield, Boone county, in 1844, where he remained a number of years and built up an extensive practice, subsequently removing to Zionsville, where he continued at work until his death. In personal appearance Doctor Hardy was tall, rawboned, of rather angular build, dark hair and complexion. He is the father of Dr. J. S. Hardy, of Whitestown, this county.


Doctor Pressly was one of Northfield's pioneer doctors, away back in the thirties. So long ago not much can be learned about him. No doubt he was highly esteemed and appreciated and filled the community's needs.


Dr. A. J. McLeod was also an early doctor of Northfield, where he came prior to 1850. He was a Baptist, which is about all that can be ascertained of him at this late date.


Dr. Rodman was born in Ohio about the year 1820; came to Boone county when twenty-one years of age; read medicine with Dr. W. N. Duzan, of Clarkstown, Indiana. In 1845, he commenced practice at Eagle Village, where he was married to Martha Rose in 1847. He built up a fair practice in Eagle Village and remained there until 1853, when he removed to Zions- ville. He practiced here some fifteen years, when his wife died. He re- married this time, Mrs. Beemer, and moved to Washington territory in 1887. Doctor Rodman was a noble hearted man, full of human kindness, first, last and all the time. In politics, he was a Jacksonian Democrat. At one time he and Dr. George W. Duzan were partners at Zionsville.


Dr. George W. Duzan, Sr., was born in Tennessee in 1812; came with the Duzan family to this county in 1834. He read medicine with his brother,


380


BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


W. N. Duzan, and practiced with him for years in and about Clarkstown, their early home. In 1850 he was married to a lady near Augusta, in Marion county, and there removed and practiced for several years. Finally he went to Indianapolis and died near there in May, 1886, and is buried in Crown Hill cemetery. Doctor Duzan was a strong Methodist and at one time an able preacher. During his study he overtaxed his eyesight from which he never fully recovered. He will long be remembered by many to whom he has ministered physically and spiritually. The Duzans were all kinfolks.


Dr. George L. Burk was born in Kentucky. His parents moved to this county in 1836-37, and settled in the wildwoods of Jefferson township. His father died soon after, leaving his mother with small means and a large family.


The subject of this article, while young, went to Gosport and read medi- cine with Doctor Taylor. In the spring of 1844, he began the practice of his profession in Montgomery county. During that year he moved to James- town, Boone county, where he has resided ever since. Here he went into a large and lucrative practice. None were so poor as not to be able to com- mand his services. Doctor Burk started in the world under any but flatter- ing circumstances, poor and comparatively uneducated; yet, by his force of character, his zeal and industry, he reached a prominent standing in the community and county, an honor to his profession and state.


Dr. John J. Nesbit came to this county in 1836 and began his pro- fessional life in Thorntown. Soon, however, he moved to Lebanon, where he had a fair practice and enjoyed the undivided confidence of the people. He was an excellent physician, but his health failing he moved back to Preble county, Ohio, where he died of consumption in 1864, lamented deeply by all those who had the pleasure to make his acquaintance.


Dr. Jesse S. Reagan was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1831, is, consequently a Buckeye, but, he came to this county in 1852 and began the practice of medicine at Reese's Mills in 1854. He made this his home. Here he has enjoyed the fullest confidence of the people and on account of his strict integrity and great energy and industry, he was elected clerk of the circuit court in November, 1886.


Dr. H. G. Larimore, one of the pioneer doctors of Boone county, came to Eagle Village in the year 1836, where he practiced medicine for over forty years as an old time doctor. He was a strict Methodist, full of old time


381


BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


vim and fire. In politics, he was a Whig. In 1860 he moved to Fayette county, Indiana and died there in his ninety-first year. He was the father of Dr. Jeremiah Larimore, Thomas J. Larimore, Mrs. Eliza Imbler, G. W. Larimore, Mrs. Sarah Hogan, Mrs. G. A. Titus, Mrs. Mary --- , for- merly, Miss Mary Larimore. Doctor Jerry is buried at Mt. Run cemetery.


Dr. W. P. Davis was an Ohio man. Came to Thorntown in 1837; re- moved to Lebanon in 1840. Was a man of more than ordinary ability, positive in his convictions and politically and radically a Whig. Afterwards he became an intense Republican. He died in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1878.


Dr. William M. Simpkins was born in Ohio. Came to Lebanon in 1839. Was as fine a specimen of manhood as any country produces, full of energy and industry; no man was ever more interested in his patients. Owing to hard work, exposure and sleepless nights, he cut short his pro- fessional career which only lasted ten years. He took consumption and died lamented by all in 1849.


In Dr. A. G. Porter can be summed all that has been said of the other Boone county physicians. Lebanon was the home of his youth, his man- hood and his old days. He is honored and respected by all and as a doctor had no superior in Boone county. Always ready to go to the bedside of the sick and dying whether there was any money or not in the visit, how could he be otherwise than loved .. He has always acted in the Democratic party and was the nominee for county recorder in 1886, but was defeated by a few votes, by F. M. Moody. He had a fine practice in Lebanon where he is universally respected and loved.


THE PIONEER DOCTOR.


The "Medicine Man" was here long before the white man; practicing his incantations and soothing with herbs and roots. It is not of him we wish to write, but of his brother the paleface. Just as soon as the white man came with his ax, gun, spade and grubbing hoe, the doctor came with his pill bag. It was a case of necessity. Just as sure as the country was full of game and dense woods and required the gun and the ax, so also, was it full of fever and miasma. In that age, the people were in blissful ignorance of microbes and bacteria so there was no need of the bacteriologist or microbiologist, to ex- patiate upon these infinitesimals that were so dangerous to the peace and


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


health of man. All the doctor of that day had to do, was to drag himself through the woods and over the miserable roads on horseback with his sad- dlebags until he would find a cabin. Having discovered the domicil of his patient in the thicket, he would dismount and tie his faithful horse to a "sap- lin." He would shoulder his medicine bag and enter the cabin. If it was cold or rainy, he would approach the glowing hearth-stone with his great coat and gloves and warm himself. After this precaution he would quietly approach the bedside of his patient, and question cautiously and carefully all the while looking very wise. Of course, he had to feel the pulse and test the tongue. He would then open his bag of medicine, look over his vials of quinine, calo- mel and the edges of his lances. At the same time he would scratch his head behind the left ear, appear in a brown study and all of a sudden brighten up, take out his bottle of quinine or calomel or lance as he had determined be- tween blood letting, salivation or shaking up the fever. You need not smile, that was the best they could do in that age, and it answered the purpose. Some of his patients recovered, in spite of the doctor and his calomel and blood letting, and the friends were rejoiced and praised the doctor and his medicine. What else could they do? We do the same thing in our day and the world smiles on just the same.


Other patients passed away and there was mourning for loved ones gone, and there were tears, neighbors with neighbors and the grave was opened and the loved one placed in the cold earth. Among these early physicians were Jonathan Jones and John M. Steel Smith, of Marion township; George N. Duzan and S. W. Rodman, of Eagle; J. E. Anderson, L. J. Davis and E. S. Woody, of Sugar Creek; J. S. Hardy and Milton Lane, of Worth; John F. Sims, J. M. Abston and Levi J. Sticklemier, of Clinton; A. M. Bennington, of Jefferson; J. L. F. Garrison, M. H. Bounell, A. G. Porter and Abijah Robison, of Center township, and many others in various parts of the county that were classed among the pioneer doctors of the county. Each of these gentlemen could a story unfold of the hardships and difficulties of the prac- tice of medicine in the early days of our history. The labor of these men ceased long ago, and they have been gathered with their fathers. Their work was well done, and they labored against great difficulties in their day and generation.


Among the physicians of our day may be named the following, viz. : Carter H. Smith and son, Delaski, G. K. Hurt, W. H. Williams, J. R. Ball,


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


L. M. Beaven, Herman A. Beck, H. L. Baker, H. N. Coons, James H. Black, Mary VanNuys, Guy Shultz, O. C. Higgins and Dr. Armstrong, of Lebanon. C. R. Armstrong, E. L. Brown, Clancy Basett, G. M. Owsley, Luella Masters, and J. S. Shields, of Thorntown ; J. C. Purdy, of Terhune ; C. D. Umberhine, of Mechanicsburg; Thomas Bounell, of Jamestown; J. E. Tucker, of Eliza- ville; O. A. Nelson, Dr. Fall, of Advance; Isaac N. Cotton, Nelson Duzan, Drs. Brendel and son, Johns, and Millikan, of Zionsville; P. B. Little, and Dr. Taylor, of Whitestown. These men and women are keeping pace with the age, and administering to the ills of the people of Boone today, with all the skill of the science of medicine up to date. There is a great change not only in the system of practice, but in the conditions and facilities to do the work. All of the inconveniences of the early day have been removed. In- stead of taking two days to communicate with the out townships it can now be done inside of five minutes.


PASSED CENTURY MARK.


That Boone county is a healthful county, is the conclusion reached by Dr. J. N. Hurty, secretary of the State Board of Health, from two reports which he has received from that county. Hugh Wiatt, who lived in Sugar Creek township, Boone county, was, at the time of his death, 109 years, two months and two days old. He was born in Kentucky, and age caused his death. Miles Carrigan, who lived at Lebanon, was more than 101 years old when he died. He was born in Ireland, and his death was due to senility and brain anemia.


CHAPTER XV.


BANKING INTEREST.


There was no need of banking institutions in the early days of Boone county, because the people did not have any money. In those days the people lived happily without money. Like the Red man, the White man bartered such things as he had to his neighbor for his goods in exchange. It was a long time before the people had money to worry them enough, to desire some one to take care of it for them. About the first banking institution of which any one has any recollection, was rather a private institution owned by indi- viduals. They were not even incorporated, and as a usual thing there was but one stockholder in the institution. The safety vault consisted of a blue yarn sock into which the coin was placed and carefully secreted in some outaway place in the cabin. If the deposit became too large for the recep- tacle, vessels were used, and some were buried in an outaway place, where no one would think of looking for such treasures. There were not very many of these banks necessary to accommodate the depositors of that age, for the wealth of this county for two or three decades did not consist of filthy lucre. The wealth of the county consisted of farms of woods, principally woods in- terspersed with little cleared spots, with bogs here and there, a few cattle and hogs and lots of wild game. The first wealth that began to accumulate was rosy-cheeked boys and girls; for all this class of wealth that we term banks in this age was not in demand. The banking business, for a long time after it was felt necessary to have any person to look after the surplus wealth of a few persons, was conducted like schools, churches, and other social interests, by private individuals as mere care takers. If a merchant progressed far enough in business to require an iron safe to secure his valuables from plun- der or fire, some of his customers would be sure to request the privilege of depositing some valuable treasure for safe keeping. Business run in this way for a few years, and the merchant would have to get a larger safe and other merchants would put in safes. In this way a real demand grew up for the banking business, and when the Wild-Cat money flooded our state, its


ID


FIRST NATIONAL BANK-LEBANON.


-Daily Reporter.


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


value changing three or more times a day, and not of the same value in any two cities, everybody wanted a banker. In those days it was more difficult to take care of money than it was to earn it. By the use of the sock, the private bank and the state bank, the people of Boone county worried along as best they could until after the Civil war. After the war was over and the Nation got on its feet again ready for business, the banking business became more stable and taking care of money became a real business. The National bank was instituted and we had private, state and national banks.


The first bank in the county, of which we have record, is one organized in Lebanon, just before the outbreak of the Civil war and titled "The Boone County Bank." This institution was established under the old banking law, and proved by its conduct that the law was insufficient to protect the public safety. This first bank in the county was a bank of issue and authorized to put out sixty thousand dollars in bills of its own issue. A. W. Spooner, of New York, was its president. In the state auditor's report of the early sixties, found in the public library at Indianapolis, is found a report of this "First Bank of Boone" which is not very flattering. It states that there was an attempt to fraud. The printers had printed three or four times as many bills as the bank was authorized to put into circulation. This act was de- tected in time, and on investigation the bank was suspended, and the Fletcher Bank at Indianapolis was appointed to close up its business. It is stated that some of the promises of this bank to pay found their way to the soldiers of Boone in the army during the Civil war and that they were about as valuable as the Confederates' promise to pay at the close of the war. This, in brief, is a dark picture of the first effort at banking in Boone county. It had much to do with correcting the imperfections of the law, which made business more stable and more secure to the people.


The next effort at banking was at Thorntown, just after the Civil war, when "The First National Bank" was established, with a capital of $25,000 and Dr. John Boyd as president. This bank lived out its charter of twenty years of honorable life, serving the people faithfully and closing its business.


The second bank in Lebanon was "The Lebanon Bank," organized soon after the close of the Civil war, with a capital of $60.000. It continued in business under the above title until 1882, when it was reorganized into the (25)


386


BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


"The Lebanon National Bank" and increased its capital to $80,000. It con- tinued successfully until 1911, when it went into liquidation in the hands of "The First National of Lebanon," after squaring up all obligations, leaving a surplus to be divided among its stockholders.


We will submit here a brief mention of the Banks, Trust, Loan & Build- ing institutions now operating in the county.


THE UNION TRUST COMPANY, LEBANON.


This company was organized February 15, 1912, with a capital stock of $50,000.00, with the following officers: M. C. Long, president; S. R. Art- man, vice-president ; A. W. L. Newcomer, secretary-treasurer; G. A. Miller, assistant secretary-treasurer. Directors: M. C. Long, S. R. Artman, J. W. Brendel, M. H. Roberts, C. F. S. Neal, J. C. Brown, D. S. Whitaker, J. P. Staley, A. W. L. Newcomer.


Statement of condition at the close of business, October 24, 1914.


RESOURCES.


Farmers' State Bank


$5,365.35


Merchants' National Bank.


11,754.00


Indiana Trust Co.


643.27


Cash


1


8,178.83


Total Cash


25,941.45


Loans and Discounts


123,815.48


Overdrafts


21.60


Furniture and Fixtures


3,970.07


Expense-Current


1,317.45


Expense-Interest Paid


1,134.54


Real Estate


21,000.00


Total


$177,200.59


.


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


LIABILITIES.


Individual Deposits


$38,388.27


Certificates of Deposit.


66,034.46


Trust Deposits


10,952.43


Savings Deposits


7,926.43


Total Deposits


123,301.59


Capital Stock


50,000.00


Exchange and Discount


3,649.00


Surplus


250.00


Total


$177,200.59


The present officers are as follows: M. C. Long, president ; C. O. Brown, vice-president ; J. W. Witt, secretary-treasurer ; C. L. Lindsay, assistant secre- tary-treasurer. Directors: M. C. Long, J. W. Witt, C. O. Brown, James Shera, C. F. S. Neal, J. C. Brown, D. S. Whitaker, J. P. Staley, A. W. L. Newcomer.


FIRST NATIONAL BANK, LEBANON.


This institution was organized soon after the Civil war, with a capital stock of $100,000. This is the oldest bank in the county and has had a steady growth from the start. Late in 1914, a new home was erected which is a credit to the institution, city and county.


The officers are as follows: W. J. DeVol, president; J. W. Pinnell, first vice-president; A. Wysong, second vice-president ; J. A. Coons, cashier.


RESOURCES.


Loans and Discounts $612,154.04


United States Bonds. 100,000.00


Bonds, Securities, etc. 13,218.09


Banking House and Fixtures


15,492.60


Due from Approved Banks


63,587.56


Checks and Cash Items


8,086.03


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BOONE COUNTY, INDIANA.


Notes on Other Banks


7,750.00


Cash in Bank.


33,700.00


Redemption Fund U. S.


5,000.00


Other Items Making Total


$865,060.91


LIABILITIES.


Capital Stock $100,000.00


Surplus Fund


100,000.00


Due to Banks 10,548.46


Due to Trust Companies 15,492.60


Individual Deposits


344,628.70


Demand Deposits 167,947.30


U. S. Deposits and P. O. Stamps.


1,650.68


Banking House


11,500.00


Other Items Making Total of


$865,060.91


THE FARMERS' STATE BANK, LEBANON.


Organized December 30, 1900.


Capital stock, $30,000.00.


Certificate of authority issued January 2, 1901.


Opened for business March II, 1901.




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