USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 18
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Having thus got under way, they next turned their attention to obtaining members and devising means to defray the expenses of their meetings. It was therefore agreed that each man should bring a man, and every one should pay 25 cents upon becoming a member, and 123 cents monthly thereafter. The next debate was as to the name they should give their society. A number were proposed, among them that of Jefferson, when it was finally agreed that the President and Secretary should be a committee to
. " Great and wonderful were the results destined to flow from the ' Washington Temperance Society,' thus started from those six inebriates in the city of Baltimore. At their second meeting they had two new members; but, in a comparatively short time, the society increased so much that it became a question how they could employ their time so as to make their meetings interesting. The President thereupon suggested that each member should rise in his place and give his experience, and, by way of com- mencement, he arose and told what he had passed through in the last fifteen years, and the advantages he had derived from signing the total abstinence pledge. This was the origin of that most . popular and efficient method which the Washingtonian Society and all its auxiliaries adopted for giving interest and effect to their gatherings. Signers were thus obtained and the attention wise might not have been affected by the labors of those other good men who had, for so many years, been engaged in promot- ing temperance in a different way."
By Christmas in 1840, the reform had become so popular that thousands had flocked to its standard and enrolled themselves as the friends of temperance. The wave had swept onward and tidings of the great reformation reached distant cities. On invi- tation from New York, for a delegation of five men to hold expe- rience meetings twice every day for one week in that city, . Messrs. Hawkins, Pollard. Shaw, Casey and Mitchell, proceeded to that place and there held the first Washingtonian missionary meeting ever known in the United States. . It was a type of that success which was to accompany this new system in behalf of temperance. for, during each of the speeches, multitudes came forward and signed the pledge, and, taken all together, such a scene had never before been witnessed in New York. But the most powerful among all the advocates of Washingtonian reform was Mr. John H. W. Hawkins, who rose from the very gutter of of reform, and with prodigious success.
The peculiar circumstances of his history had an almost overpowering effect of his own feelings whenever he spoke, and his audiences listened now breathlessly and anon with uncontrol- lable demonstrations of enthusiasm. He was a, man of plain good common sense .: with a peculiar sincerity about him and an easy way of working up his hearers to a state of sympathy with him. He would at one time assume the melting mood, and picture the scenes of a drunkard's home-and that home his own-and the fountains of generous feelings, in many hearts, gushed forth in tears; as he related some ludicrous story, those tearful eyes glis- tened with delight, sighs changed to hearty shouts and long faces were convulsed with broad grins and glorious smiles. Drunkards and outcasts of the worst type that swam in the festering purlieus and penetralia of New York, were reclaimed, and such was the overwhelming power of the movement, that, finally, immense meetings were held in the park. In Boston, too, the old 'Cradle' of Liberty rocked with tumultuous enthusiasm for independence from the tyrant of strong drink."*
The popularity of this new organization, as shown by the in- fluence exerted by it in checking the progress of the current of intemperance so disastrous to life and life's purposes in the cities
*First Century, pp. 395, 398.
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
of the East, having traversed the vast fields there, presented and lifted thousands from the slough of degradation into which the habitual use of alcoholic beverages had thrown them, gradually moved Westward conquering and to conquer. The first intro. duction of the order into this portion of Indiana was about the year 1843, some three years or more subsequent to its most auspicious commencement in the Monumental City. Here, as elsewhere, its introduction was hailed by the friends of good order and reform with heartfelt satisfaction; by those, however, who, from a fear of being deprived of the freedom guaranteed by the great Charter of American Liberty, marshaled themselves in the ranks of the drunken and dissolute of society, with defiant sneers or silent indifference. Notwithstanding some of those adverse manifestations, the meetings were well attended and the number who signed the prescribed pledge in their own behalf and for the benefit of others, was great, compared with the aggregate of the population. The societies organized here continued to flourish, exerting an influence for good for a number of years. the effects of which are observable in the manners and characteristics of our
" There being now the constituted number of Patriarchs and Associates to form the Grand Division proper, January 9, 1843, the organization existing under the resolution of New York Di- vision, No. 1, above referred to. was dissolved, and the Grand Division of the State of New York duly organized. The follow- people to-day. Though the societies so formed, in the course of : ing were the officers elected: Daniel H. Sands, G. W. P .; John time, through a want of the vitalizing energy consequent upon continued success, disbanded, yet the spirit of the teachings re- mained and the good results obtained continued also-tangible evidences that the work had not been in vain-monuments mark- ing the former existence of a movement destined to humanize mankind. SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
The work thus forwarded by the molding hands of the Wash- ingtonians constituted a safe foundation of an order possessing less of the public promiscuous enthusiasm characterizing the earlier organization, but promising and foreshadowing a working system not subject to the gaze of the outer world, with secrets behind the vail of the most attractive significants -- beautiful symbology representing the prime virtues-" Love, Purity and Fidelity." The beneficent order was known as the Sons of Tem- perance. It was a legitimate outgrowth of the Washingtonian system preserving most or all of its attractive features, omitting those not well received, and adding new ones calculated to inter- est and sustain the members, while cultivating temperance as the cardinal element, embellishing the ceremonies with the chaste and elegant lessons of Christian duty and obligation. A brief reference to the date and circumstances of its origin and develop- ment will not be out of place in this connection. Touching this matter we copy the following from the report of Luke Hassert, Grand Scribe of the National Division of the order, prepared and submitted by him pursuant to a resolution of that body, on the 17th of June, 1844:
"On the 29th of September, 1842, sixteen persons engaged in the temperance cause, believing that an institution was called for, based upon the strictest virtue, morality and sobriety, affording mutual aid in seasons of sickness and distress, met at Teetotalers' Hall, 71 Division street, New York, and organized the order of the Sons of Temperance, adopted a constitution and took other preliminary measures to commence active operation. So well pleased were they with the plan proposed that they. entered into it with an ardor seldom witnessed.
"The constitution and principles were extensively circulated through the country by means of The Organ (a newspaper de- voted to the good cause of temperance), and an application for a charter to open a division in the city of Newark, N. J., was re- ceived ere our order was a month old. As there were not a suffi-
cieney of brothers legally constituted to form the Grand Division, and, as the power to grant charters, and perform other functions appertaining to that body was called for, New York Division, No. 1 (the original, and, at that time, the only Division of the Order), appointed a delegation, consisting of Daniel H. Sands, E. L. Show, John W. Oliver, James Bale, Thomas Edgerly, Evan Griffith and Francis W. Wolf, to act as a Grand Division, pro tem. Thus constituted, that body went into operation, December 10, 1842, on which occasion the charter for Newark Division, No. 1, of New Jersey, was granted, and, on the 15th of the same mouth, the Division was instituted by the Grand officers. On December 15, a charter was granted for Union Division, No. 2, and, on the 30th, a charter for Friendship Division, No. 3, both of New York City.
P. Jeraleman, G. W. A .; John W. Oliver, G. Scribe; Alexander Young, G. T .: Evan Griffith, G. Chaplain; A. L. West, G. Con- ductor: William Tate, G. Sentinel." From Jannary 9, 1843, to January 8, 1844, twenty-eight other Divisions were instituted in and in the vicinity of the city of New York. At that date, the Grand Division of the State of New Jersey was chartered by the Grand Division of New York, acting as the Grand Fountainhead of the United States, and was regularly instituted by the Grand officers on the 25th. Between that time and the 17th of June, 1844, thirty-seven other charters were granted, including those for Grand Divisions in the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Vir- ginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. At the date last named, the Grand Division of the United States was constituted, holding its session in the hall of the Grand Di- vision of the State of New York in the city of New York.
"On the 11th of May, 1845, under the authority of the National Division, P. G. W. P. White, of Pennsylvania, organized the Grand Division of the State of Ohio, from which body the fol- lowing subordinate Divisions-Indiana, No. 1, Wayne, No. 2, Clark, No. 3, Christal Fount, No. 4, Unity, No. 6, Fayette, No. 7, Madison, No. S, and Washington, No. 10, in the State of Indiana, received charters empowering them to work. These charters were granted to those Indiana subordinate Divisions in the winter of 1845-46.
"The representatives of these eight Divisions, working under the aforesaid authority, met at the town of Brookville, Franklin Co., Ind., on the 2d of May, 1846, at which time J. C. Vaughn, G. W. P., of Ohio, vested with power as Deputy Most Worthy Patriarch, organized the Grand Division of the State of Indiana. The following were the Grand officers elected and installed on that occasion: E. H. Barry, G. W. P .; John Pritchell, G. W. A .; J. R. Goodwin, G. Scribe; William B. Smith, G. F .; James A. Nelson, G. Conductor; Anselm Butler, G. Sentinel. At the time of the institution of the Grand Division of the State of Indiana, there were ten subordinate Divisions represented whose charters had been granted by the Grand Division of Ohio. From the time of the institution of the Grand body, charters were granted for the organization of subordinate branches of the order in most parts of the State, wherever the situation seemed to make the or- ganization an important element in the advancement of the tem- perance cause. At a quarterly session of the Grand Division,
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
held in January, 1847, thirty-seven subordinate Divisions were reported as being in active operation, and, at the quarterly ses- sion, held in April following, three months later, sixty-six Divis- ions were reported by the Grand Deputies as being actively en- gaged in their important mission and accomplishing much good within their respective jurisdictions. During the session, the Appropriate Committee reported favorably on applications for ten additional Divisions and granted charters.
In July, 1847, ninety-two Divisions were reported with a membership of 3,040, among whom but fifty violations had been reported, of which number twenty- five had signed over. During the quarter preceding, a charter was granted to Cascade Division, No. 88, at Delphi, and it entered at once upon a successful career, including in its membership some of the most influential cttizens of the placo. In July, 1848, on petition, a charter was granted to Pittsburg Division, No. 172, at Pittsburg. For the quarter ending March 31, 1849, Cascade Division reported a contributing membership of fifty-six, including eighteen initiated and one admitted, the Division being represented by Aquilla Jones; Pitts- burg Division reported a contributing membership of seventy- thrce, twenty-eight having been initiated during the quarter and one admitted by card; Benjamin Winans was the representative. A charter was also granted to Lockport Division, No. 199, in March, and to Camden Division, No. 218, in April, 1849, and to Burlington Division, No. 234, in June of the same year, making four subordinate branches of the Order in Carroll County. For several years subsequent to the organization of these Divisions, the temperance movement was very popular, exerting a good in- fluence to the discouragement of indulgences in the use of intoxi- citing drinks, and in strengthening those who needed encourage- ment in their efforts to free themselves from the slavery to which the use of intoxicants had long subjected them.
During the years 1851, 1852 and 1853 especially, the current of public opinion was largely in favor of the cause, manifesting itself very decidedly in the choice of officers to discharge the im- portant duties imposed by law upon the public servants of the people, in the affairs of county and State. The greatest activity was generally observable in the neighborhoods where Divisions of the Sons of Temperance were located and operating most success- fully. But the greatest zeal and the most effective work was not always confined to the membership of the order, as might be in- ferred, many persons in no way connected with it, often proving themselves leaders and directors of public sentiment in this regard.
At later periods, when these Divisions, having subserved their purpose for the time being, surrendered their charters and ceased to work, the Good Templars, and finally, the spirit of the Blue Ribbon or Murphy movement came to the front, each in its par- ticular sphere, educating the people so as to qualify them for the responsible duties of citizenship, in giving character to society as it should be-worthy the example of coming generations. To- day, notwithstanding intemperance is tolerated, sometimes, in high places, and wields a powerful influence for evil, the sober second thought of the fathers and mothers of our community is .on the side of temperance and good order.
CHAPTER VIII. RAILROADS.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS IN TILIS COUNTY-MEETINGS OF CITIZENS HELD-PROPOSITIONS FOR ROADS-SURVEYS MADE-LOCATION OF THE CAMDEN EX- TENSION OF TIIE RICHMOND & NEWCASTLE ROAD-LAKE ERIE, WABASH AND ST. LOUIS RAILROAD-LOCATION AND CON- STRUCTION-LOGANSPORT, CRAWFORDSVILLE & SOUTHWEST- ERN-INDIANAPOLIS, DELPHII & CHICAGO-NARROW GAUGE- PEOPLE'S AID IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS, ETC.
PRIOR to the year 1850, there had been in Indiana but little agitation on the subject of railroad construction. True, during the existence of the internal improvement whirlwind, ca- nals, railroads, and almost every other species of improved thor- oughfares, were suggested, proposed, projected, or partially con- structed, connecting the principal towns and villages of the State in a common network of avenues for the transportation of farm products, and for travel; but, many of the schemes being almost visionary, and the capital expended in those directions worse than thrown away, in the course of time there was a decided re-action in the current of public opinion touching the policy of canal and road construction, and the new movement looking to the intro- duction of a better road system required the experience of the many years intervening to give the enterprise a healthy impetus. The appointed time came, however, and the available opportuni- ties for securing railroad connections were utilized, and county aid proposed to insure desired locations. In this particular, the people of Carroll County were alike affected by the prospects of a better outlet for the products of their farms and shops than was afforded by the slow-moving canal-boat. The prospective oppor- tunities were subjects of frequent converse, and there was little or no adverse comment-anxiety was everywhere manifested. In Angust and September, 1851, and in October following, when the Logansport extension of the Newcastle & Richmond was in pro- cess of construction to the south bank of the Wabash River, and a further extension of the road through Carroll County in a south- westerly direction, to intersect the road afterward known as the New Albany & Salem Railroad, below, at or above La Fayette, was proposed, the people made common cause in the movement, and strove earnestly to secure the coveted prize. On the 16th of September, 1851, a public meeting of the citizens of Pittsburgh was held for deliberation on the subject. A like meeting was held at Delphi, on Saturday evening, September 20, to consider the importance and practicability of connecting Delphi with one or more of the railways in actual or contemplated construction -- particularly the extension by way of this point-of the proposed road from Newcastle to Logansport. An adjourned meeting was held a few days later, when steps were taken to raise funds to defray the expenses of a survey through the county, inviting the co-operation of other parts of the county for the same purpose. On the 4th of October, a general meeting was held in Delphi, when the committee appointed by the citizens of Pittsburg re- ported the entire willingness of the people of that locality to pay their proportion of the costs of the proposed survey of a railroad route, and expressed great interest in the furtherance of the proj- ect. A meeting held at Delphi on the 11th of October appointed a committee to make a survey of the different proposed routes through the county, and make a map of the same, consisting of John Barr, Hiram Sampson, T. B. Helm, Henry P. Tedford and Christopher C. Greenup. A map was subsequently drawn exhib-
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HISTORY OP CARROLL COUNTY.
iting the direction of the several projected routes. A few days later, the Directors of the Richmond & Newcastle Railroad or Democrat, 84 for and 30 against - in the aggregate. 201 for and dered the survey of a route through Delphi. On the 6th of No. ' 93 against- - a majority of more than three to one --- and the ap. vember, the engineers of that company, accompanied by William. i propriation was wade accordingly. Subsequently, the rights and franchises of the road were sold, end the corporation became the Logansport, Crawfordsville & South- Western Railroad Company. since which time the road has been operated nuder that name. It traverses the eastern portion of the county, and, since its com- pletion, bas enjoyed a comparatively herative trade, increasing with the increased demands of trade along its route. von Wright, President, wero engaged in making the survey through Delphi and Pittsburg, to be coutiuned so as to connect with the Now Albany & Michigan rond above La Fayette. A meeting was held on the evening of that day, which, being largely attended, was addressed by Williamson Wright. Esq., in which be stated that the amount necessary to secure the location of the road through Delphi would be $40,000, which sum was afterward guaranteed. A further meeting to consider the matter was held INDIANAPOLIS, DELPHI & CHICAGO. nt Camden, on the 6th of January, 1852. aud the question thor- oughly discussed. The result of these several surveys was the
This road was originally projected by a company organized ouder the net of the Legislature governing such corporations, in location of the extension from Logansport to Camdop, which was ! the spring of 1869. On the H6th of June, 1869. petitions were soon after put under contract, and the road bed, bridges, etc. substantially completed, when the work was abandoned. After. ward, however, the route was utilized by the location of the Lo- gansport, Crawfordsville & South-Western Railway along its right 1 of way. filed by citizens of Clay, Deer Creek, Tippecanoe. Jefferson and Madison Townships, freeholders and legal voters in said town. ship, asking the board to take under advisement and order notice of an election in each of said townships to determine whether an appropriation of 2 per centum on the taxabh- WABASU, ST. LOUIS & PACIFK". property of the several townships named should be made, to aid The first and principal line of railroad passing through Car. roll Connty, and which wrought the greatest change in the com mercial interests of the county, but particularly of Delphi, was the Lake Erie, Wabash & St. Louis, now known as the Walsh, St. Louis & Pacific. The company which constructed this road was originally organized in 1852. The line was surveyed and located in 1853, when work on the east end of the road was com- the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad Company to cou- struct its road through the aforesaid townships. The board, con- sidering the work one of public utility, which ought to be on- contaged, ordered that an election for that purpose be held in several townships on the 20th day of July then next succeeding. on the question whether the said board should assess and levy, upon all the taxable property in the district named. 1 per cent. menced, and forwarded with the greatest activity. In 1856, it for a period of two years as an appropriation for the purpose was completed to Logansport, and the first train arrived on the 20th of March of that year. A few months later, the work of con- ! struction commenced within the limits of Carroll County, and the work was so far completed that the first train was announced iu Delphi June -, 1856. From that time forward until the present. a continued stride of improvement has marked the progress of this road in the facilities for travel and for transportation in gon. eral it affords, the quantity and quality of the rolling stock, coaches, etc., which it maintains.
LOGANSPORT, CRAWFORDSVILLE & SOUTH - WESTERN.
The Logansport, Camden & Frankfort Railroad. which subso- quently became the Logansport, Crawfordsville & South- Western, was organized in the spring of 1860, and adopted, through the greater part of its route, the road-bed and right of way of the Camden extension of the old Newcastle & Richmond Railroad. At the June session, 1869, of the Board of Commissioners of Car- roll County, petitious were filed by citizens of Jackson. Mourne and Democrat Townships, asking the board to authorize the earnestness and untiring industry were manifested on the part of holding of an election by the legal voters of said townships to determine whether a majority of such voters were willing the bridges, etc. In ING and 1876, a considerable portion of the work; township should be taxed to the amount of 1 per cent on the val- ; on the rente between the White County live and the Wabash River nation of property in those townships, payable in one and two years, for the purpose of aiding said company in the coustrnetiou of its road through their territory. The board, considering the work one of public utility, and one that ought to be encouraged. ! ordered that an election be held on the 20th day of July. 1869. ! on the question presented in said petitious, whether or not the Commissioners shonld assess and levy upou all the taxable prop- erty of said three townships, I per cent, for a period of two years, as an appropriation to said railroad. The result of that election was as follows: Jackson Township cast 150 votes for and
: 36 against the appropriation: Monroe, 27 for and 7 against:
aforesaid, pursuant to the act of the Legislature approved May 12, 1869. The election was held accordingly. a very large ma. jority of the votes cast in the several townships, except Jefferson, : being in favor of the proposition. In Jefferson Township, a see. ond vote was had; 88 of the 151 votes cast for the appropriation. i The assessment and lovy were subsequently made in conformity with the prayer of the petitioners. Again, at a special session of - the board, held on the 16th day of August, 1871. on application, a further election was ordered to be held in the townships of lof forson, Tippecanoe, Deer Creek, Madison and Clay, on the 20th of September, 1871, to determine, as in the previous instance, whether a lavy of | per centinn on the taxable property, for a pe. riod of two years, to further aid in the construction of said railroad. Notice was given, and the election held pursuant thereto. the ag I gregate vote in the several townships being 784 votes for the ap. propriation out of the 852 votes cast on that occasion. The prog- i ress made in constructing the road during several years succeed ing the transactions just outinerated was not rapid, though great those having in charge the construction of the road-bed, culverts.
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