USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 20
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IRON BRIDGES.
IMPEDIMENTS IN THE WAY OF IRON BRIDGES-ENERGY REQUIRED TO REMOVE THEM-THE RESULTS OF DETERMINED EFFORT- BRIDGE ACROSS THE WABASII AT PITTSBURG PROJECTED- SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY WORK IN THE PREMISES-SUPER- INTENDENT APPOINTED-EXAMINATION AND DETERMINATION OF SITE FOR THE BRIDGE-CONTRACTS LET-WORK FORWARD- ED-COST, ETC .- BRIDGE ACROSS THE TIPPECANOE AT SPRING CREEK-CONTRACTS AND WORK-SURVEY, ETC .- BRIDGES OVER MIDDLE FORK AT PRINCE WILLIAM-MARKERT'S MILL-ROCK- FIELD-WOODVILLE, ETC.
N OTWITHSTANDING the necessity for substantial bridges and other similar works to accommodate the public con- venience had long existed without being supplied, no pos- itive action in the premises was had, because it would seem that there was either an indisposition so to do on the part of those having the management of county affairs, or other- wise, a fear of their accountability to the people, in case these improvements were made at the public expense, the funds there-
for being drawn from the County Treasury without a special levy for the purpose. Whatever the cause, however, the demands for that class of public improvements were not met and the works were not constructed. It was not until 1868 that decided action was taken toward supplying the long-neglected need. At the June session of that year, the County Board, then consisting of John G. Troxell (then recently elected and seemingly taking the initiative in inaugurating a new departure in the matter of for- warding needed improvements in the county), with Preston Cal- vert and J. W. Glasscock, on " the petition of sundry citizens for the erection of a bridge across the Wabash at Pittsburg, under a tax to be levied upon the taxable property of said county to * * being sufficiently advised, ordered build the same *
that surveys and estimates be made as to the cost of said bridge, . and that the same be built in accordance with the surveys and es- timates thereafter to be approved by the Board-and that it be paid for out of the funds of the county, as the same might be appropriated by the board- - and ordered a tax of 25 cents on each $100 valuation, to be levied accordingly." To carry into effect the orders aforesaid, the board then appointed "John S. Case, Superintendent, and J. C. Lane and Joseph D. Cowden, assist. ants, to make such survey and estimates, and submit the same for the approval of the board."
In the meantime, the commission before appointed, having made the necessary surveys and estimates, reported the same on the 20th of June, ten days after the making of said order, for the consideration of the board, to the following effect: "They find the crossing from Washington street, in Pittsburg, to be most direct and the shortest, requiring a bridge of 600 feet in length, and recommend five piers and two abutments to be built therefor, which will make the spans 100 feet each; each pier an average of twenty-eight feet high, which will raise the bridge six feet above high-water mark-piers at base to be twenty eight feet wide by twelve feet thick, and at the top, twenty feet wide by six feet thick. The abutment in the west side will require to be twenty- eight feet high and base 28x8 feet-at the top, 20x6 feet, with wings on each side to protect the embankments, twenty-eight feet high-average length, fifteen feet. The east side abutment, twenty and a half feet high-base 203x8 feet thick; top, 20x6 feet; wings for same, twenty and a half feet high-average length, fifteen feet, six feet thick at the base-top, three feet- each pier to contain 224 cubic yards-all, 1,120 cubic yards; west abutment to contain 174.22 cubic yards; two wings of same, 140 cubic yards; east abutment, 107,63 cubic yards; two wings of same, 102.50 cubic yards. Total masonry, 1,644.35 cubic yards. Suitable stone obtainable at Georgetown, in Cass County."
On the 2d of July, the Board, having on the previous day ex- amined the premises reported, being fully advised, they accepted the report and recommendations of the Commission, ordered that notice be given for proposals for the construction of the masonry for said bridge as above reported-to be received from the 15th to the 31st of July and opened August 1, 1868 -- payment there- for to be made one-third, June 1, 1869, 1870, one third, and the remaining installment, June 1, 1871, with iuterest at the rate of 7 per centum per annum. August 1, all bids for masonry were reported, and, on the 3d, the proposals presented for the building of an iron superstructure were examined by the board. August 4, the contract was awarded to D. H. and C. C. Morrison, of Day- ton, Ohio, for the building of said superstructure on the plan of "Morrison's Wrought-iron Truss "-the bridge to be eighteen feet wide in the clear, with a four-foot sidewalk on one side with
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
wooden hand-rails; 600 feet in length, consisting of four spans of 150 feet each, and, when completed, to sustain a weight of 1,000 pounds per lineal foot, besides its own weight, without pro- ducing a strain of more than 8,500 pounds on the arch-all ma- terials to be first quality-for $20,000, for length of 600 feet, and $34 per foot for each additional lineal foot-$6,666.66ยง when bills of iron are presented, payable June 1, 1869, interest at 7 per cent-the balanee in two like installments-when completed. The contract for furnishing materials and building two abutments and three piers was awarded, August 7, 1868, to John Ball and Henry S. Mayor, of La Fayette, Ind., at $1.50 per cubic yard for excavation above and below water mark, and $12.75 per cubic yard for stone work-all to be completed January 1, 1869.
An estimate for work done by J. Ball & Co., on contract for masonry, was made October 30, 1868, for $9,739.45, for which a warrant was drawn upon the Treasurer. On final estimate and acceptance of the work, October 6, 1869, they were allowed $14,- 347.50.
Upon the completion of the abutments and piers, the iron su- perstructure was erected without unnecessary delay, according to the plans, specifications and contract on file in the Auditor's office.
At a meeting held on the 14th of December, 1860, the Board of Commissioners of Carroll County, upon due consideration of the matter, declared its willingness to unite with White County in building a bridge across the Tippecanoe River, at Springboro, on the county line between White and Carroll Counties, as by the statute provided. An adjourned meeting was held on the 23d of the same month, when action was had on the petition of A. H. Bowen, James P. Dugan and others, with reference to the same object. It was then and there "Ordered-provided the Commissioners of White County concur-that B. F. Schermer- horn be appointed to make a survey and estimate of cost of bridge, plans and specifications"-of which proceedings the Auditor of Carroll County was directed to notify the White County Board. The latter board, at a meeting held on the 6th of January, 1870, concurred in the proceedings of the former, ratified the appointment made and suggested a joint meeting of the two boards at Springboro on the 9th of February for final deliberation and action in the premises. The suggestion being accepted, such joint session was held, at which the report of Mr. Schermerhorn was accepted, and a bridge ordered to be built --- the superstructure to be of wood-to be paid for by the two counties jointly, according to the proportionate value of taxable property in each. A subsequent joint meeting was held on the 30th of March, 1870, when the proposition for a wooden bridge was rejected, and an iron one substituted, to be composed of three spans of 140 feet each, and paid for-695-1126 by Carroll County and 431-1126 by White County. Plans and specifications were presented and accepted. The bid of W. Winslow for the erection of an iron bridge, and the bid of Morrison, Mitchell & Morrison for the masonry, were accepted, and the contracts award- ed accordingly -- the mason work to be completed by the 1st day of October, 1870, and the superstructure of iron and the flooring of said bridge, to be placed upon said abutments and piers within sixty days after the piers and abutments are ready to receive the same; said abutments and piers to be 128 feet apart, from center to center. As compensation, the contractors were to receive for their work $9,996.98, in three equal installments, one third in one year, one-third in two years and one-third in three years from the date of completion and acceptance of said work, the
contract to take effect on filing bond in the penalty of $15,000. The bond was filed and approved May 20, 1870.
The superstructure was contracted to be of the pattern of King's latest improved patent, wrought-iron tubular, or channel arch bridge. Whole length, 512 feet, consisting of four spans of 128 feet each; the roadway, sixteen feet wide; depth of arch at the ends to be twelve inches and in the center from nine to ten inches-all to be capable of sustaining 2,000 pounds per lineal foot; Lake Superior iron of the best quality, and the work to be thoroughly done within forty days from the time the abutments and piers are ready to receive the same-the contractors to recieve for said superstructure $24.50 per lineal foot, payable one-third in one year, one-third in two years and one-third in three years from the completion and acceptance of the same. The whole work was completed and accepted within the period prescribed.
At a special session of the board, held on the 14th of July, 1870, four similar bridges were proposed to be erected-one across the Middle Fork of Wildcat Creek, near Prince William; one across Wildcat Creek, at Markert's Mill; one across Rock Creek, near Rockfield, and another across Rock Creek, near Woodville. The contract for the bridge near Prince William was let July 15, 1870, to R. W. Smith, for Wheelock's Patent Iron Abutments, for $3,420; the excavation for 43 cents per cubic yard, and 30 cents per cubic yard for the filling. The super- structure was let to D. H. & C. C. Morrison, for Morrison's Wrought-iron Arch Bridge, of one 100 feet span at the rate of $26.40 per lineal foot.
The contract for the Markert Bridge was let to John McCarty, for the abutments, which were to be of Georgetown stone, at $13 .- 25 per cubic yard ; also for the excavation for 95 cents per cubic yard, and filing at 294 cents per yard. The superstructure to R. W. Smith, to be of wood, covered and weather boarded and painted, at the rate of $21.50 per lineal foot, the span to be 150 feet in length.
The Rockfield Bridge to be of iron, was let, also, to R. W. Smith, at $2,060 for the abutments; for the excavation at 23 cents per cubic yard, and fill at 30 cents. The superstructure was let to Winslow & Co., a 120 feet span, of iron, at $23.50 per lineal foot.
For the construction of the Woodville Bridge --- to be of wood -the contract was let to R. W. Smith & Co .- for patent iron abutments, at $2,025; for excavation, at - cents per cubic yard, and the superstructure, for a span of eighty feet in length, at $14 per lineal foot-the abutments to be completed by October 1, 1870, and the superstructure within sixty days thereafter. These, with other bridges, since constructed, constitute the bridge system of Carroll County.
CHAPTER XXII.
OLD SETTLERS' SOCIETY.
THOUGHTS ON THE PROPRIETY OF ANNUAL RE-UNIONS OF OLD SETTLERS-ORGANIZATION CONSIDERED-NOTICE OF A MEET- ING TO FORM A SOCIETY-ANNUAL RE-UNIONS AGREED UPON -- ORGANIZATION PERFECTED-REVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS ON THE OCCASION -SURSEQUENT MEETINGS NOTICED - AB- STRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS HAD FROM TIME TO TIME-NAMES OF MEMBERS. THESE RE-UNIONS BECOME HOLIDAY GATHER- INGS-NOTICES AND COMMENTS-INCIDENTS-BRIEF MENTION, ETC.
H ROM a very early period in the history of the pioneer settlers of Carroll County, the disposition was manifested, as if by a common impulse, to frequently meet together and recall the in-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
dividual and common experiences incident to the first settle- ments, and renew the friendships of other days, cementing more firmly, if need be, the bond of union acknowledged among them as an inseparable obligation which should be transmitted to their children and to coming generations. The natural consequence of this prevailing sentiment was a desire to perpetuate in some form, the memory of events connecting them with the past-when this county was almost in a state of nature, ready to emerge from the trackless wilderness; when the few adventurous spirits, fresh from the haunts of civilization, came and settled here in seeming defiance of the inclemencies of, winter, and of the hardships and privations-the sure attendants upon pioneer life; when, during more advanced periods, the germs of civilization brought from the homes of the advance guard away toward the region of the rising sun and planted in this goodly soil, had begun to develop into forms of hopeful progress consecrated to patient toil, and the forest wilds to be transformed into cultivated fields decorated with the emblements of successful husbandry; and again, when the remnant of that band of brave, self-sacrificing spirits, who had been instrumental in conducting the revolution of the pre- vious third of a century in Carroll County, were rapidly descend ing the hillside of life. This desire, strengthened by the obliga- tions to their posterity and to the community in which they mingled, prompted them to cause the organization of a society of the old settlers, as a means whereby those laudable purposes would assuredly be accomplished. Accordingly, the following notice was published in the newspapers of the county:
OLD SETTLERS MEETING.
The undersigned hereby request all the citizens of Carroll County who settled here prior to the year 1831, to meet at the court house in Delphi at 10 o'clock A. M., on the 9th day of June next, for the purpose of spend- ing a social day in reviewing the scenes of the olden time; and also with a view of forming a society to perpetuate the early history of this county. All persons who have been inhabitants of this county prior to the time above named, are requested before the day of meeting to reduce to writing the history, so far as they may remember it, of this county, up to the 1st of January, 1831, and, particularly, anecdotes of the early settlement, and incidents calculated to throw light upon the early history of the county:
ABNER ROBINSON,
J. R. BALLARD,
W. B. GIVENS,
JAMES ODELL,
A. W. GILLAM,
C. M. D. WILSON,
JAMES ALDRIDGE,
G. C. SAUNDERSON,
DANIEL BAUM, Sr.,
H. M. GRAHAM,
THOMAS STIRLEN,
JOSEPH KUNS,
WILLIAM McCAIN,
ENOCH STANSEL.
Pursuant to that notice, a large meeting of the old settlers of the county assembled in the court house, when, for the purposes of preliminary organization, Hon. James Odell was called to the chair and James H. Stewart appointed Secretary. When the meet- ing had been called to order, the President, in stating the objects for which they had assembled, among other things, said that the details of the early history of this county were now known to com- paratively few persons, and none, save the participants in them, were aware of the trials and hardships to which the early settlers had been subjected, and none, perliaps, would be likely to remember them with greater particularity; hence, as a means of preserving from oblivion many of the facts and incidents which, in their time, made up the essentials of what are now the leading and most in- teresting features of our pioneer history -it is proposed to organ- ize an association, composed of the old settlers of Carroll County. In many of the other and older counties of the State, the pioneers of those localities have held meetings of this kind to organize societies, and through that agency collect material for local his-
tory. To accomplish what is desired in this direction, it is neces- sary to meet together, as we have done, and have an accurate, complete record made of what is said and done, and, from time to time, publish the same for the benefit of the rising generations, who would be astonished at the recital of what the early settlers liad endured. For the purpose, therefore, of gathering together and perpetuating the recollection of the incidents connected with our early history, this meeting has been called. It is recom- mended that a committee be appointed to collect facts, and any person might write down such incidents as he might be in pos- session of, and hand the same to the committee. In this way important facts could be collected and recorded in proper form to be preserved.
To carry out, in part, the recommendation of the President, un motion of James H. Stewart, it was
Resolved, That the old settlers present give the Secretary their names, place of birth, age and date of arrival in Carroll County.
In compliance with the terms of this resolution, old settlers to the number of thirty-one came forward and signed the roll as prospective members of the society in process of organization. A nearly complete list of the names of members at that time and subsequently enrolled will be found in an appropriate place.
On further motion, a permanent committee, consisting of James H. Stewart, Abner Robinson, James Odell, Thomas Stirlen and John M. Ewing, was appointed to collect historical and other facts connected with the early settlement of the county. Subse- quently, an opportunity having been afforded for the purpose, several of the old settlers gave brief statements of their experi- ences as pioneer men in this locality, interspersed with numerous anecdotes, incidents and trials, illustrative of what was done, seen and endured by these representatives of a past age.
Abner Robinson, who appears to have been not only the oldest settler present, but best prepared, for a strict compliance with the terms imposed upon the committee, then gave a carefully prepared review of his own career and that of his father and family, which, under the head of "Reminiscences," has been given almost in its entirety, as a fair recital of the occurrences that form the basis of a large proportion of our early history.
Mr. Robinson had all his life been a close observer of men and things, and hence was well qualified to take the initiatory step in presenting, for the consideration of those present, an ex- ample of what might be reasonably expected from the others.
William McCord was next called, and, after corroborating the statements of Mr. Robinson, added that he had been a resident of the county for about one year prior to the removal of his family hither; that there were then only twelve heads of families in the entire area of Carroll County; in July, 1827, there were about seventeen.
Remarks were severally made by James Odell, Thomas and John M. Gillam, Thomas Stirlen and others, the substance of whose statements have been already given in previous chapters. As a concluding portion of the proceedings of this first stated meeting of the "Old Settlers of Carroll County," Abner Robinson was chosen President of the society for the ensuing year. He was afterward, however, made President for life. The meeting then adjourned until the 4th day of August, 1855, with the suggestion that at the next gathering, each person bring his family and a basket of provisions in anticipation of enjoying a grand re-union. A speaker, also, was provided for the occasion.
The proceedings of this meeting have been given with greater particularity of detail than otherwise would be deemed necessary,
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
for the reason that it was the first, and gives, perhaps, a better conception of the spirit that moved these men and their families to lay the foundation of a society, the most popular and enjoy- able of its kind, without doubt, in the entire State. In its sub- sequent history will be found inuch valuable and interesting inatter, which, but for the existence of this peculiar organization, would have, erelong, been swallowed up in the great ocean of oblivion. A second meeting was held, pursuant to adjournment, and was, indeed, an occasion of great social enjoyment, and was participated in with almost religious zeal. A prepared address was delivered on the occasion by Dr. J. M. Ewing, elsewhere given at length, which was followed by the personal narratives and memory sketches of John B. Milroy, George Royster, James McDowell, Daniel Baum, Sr., Thomas Smith, James H. Stewart and some others, many of them reciting incidents of like tenor, all interesting and well calculated to revive the half-forgotten memories of the participants concerning transactions of the past, cansing them to live over again, in fancy, at least, the realities of pioneer life. The third and fourth meetings of the society were held on the second Saturday in June, 1856 and 1857. Sub- sequently, the second Saturday in Angust of each year was fixed as the day for the annual meetings, which regulation since that time has been generally observed, though varied occasionally by adverse circumstances. To attempt a connected review of the proceedings of these meetings severally, would be unnecessary, since, in many instances, they presented a sameness of matter and method that would mar the enjoyable variety imparted by changes of scenery. In what may be said hereafter of the doings of the society, it will be the purpose, chiefly, to mention trans- actions of special interest and the occasion that called them forth.
In this connection an important item of history is presented, which settles a question of fact concerning the occupancy of the " Old Trading House " on the Wabash, a little way above the month of Rock Creek, in this county. Some time in the fall of 1820, Col. John B. Duret, then recently from Detroit, established a trading-post at that point. In his relation of the matter of his early business career, he states that, in August, 1820, having been employed as clerk in an extensive "Fur Company," he left Michilimackinac with goods for the purpose of trading with the Indians on the Wabash. Transporting his goods from that island by means of pirogues along the southern shore of Lake Michigan to the mouth of the St. Josephi's River, he ascended that stream to the trading-house occupied by Alexander Coquillard, an Indian trader of considerable notoriety, at the present site of the city at South Bend, Ind; and thence he conveyed them by Indian pack-horses to Fort Wayne. At this point, he remained a short time only, and, in the fall of the same year, he descended the Wabash and erected his trading-house on the left bank of the river, a little above the mouth of Rock Creek. Just across the Wabash and a little below, there was quite an extensive Potta- watomie village, which, with some others more remote, furnislied him a very lucrative trade, supplying him with furs and peltries in exchange for such commodities as were most in demand by them. He was very popular among the natives and won their confidence by his fair dealing and characteristic suavity of man- ner, continuing in trade there during the three years succeed- ing. Leaving this point, he abandoned the Indian trade alto- gether returned to Fort Wayne and remained there until the spring of 1828, when, upon the removal of the Indian agency, he went to Logansport, at the instance of Gen. Tipton, then in
charge of the agency, and became the principal clerk of the agent. Subsequently, upon the organization of Cass County, he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, and continued to hold that position until the time of his death, on the 5th of December, 1855.
The fifth annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Society, was held on the 14th of August, 1858, on the bluff of Deer Creek, near the Milroy mansion. Upon the meeting being called to order, the President announced that all persons who had come to Carroll County prior to the 1st day of January, 1835, and desired to be- come members of the society, should come forward and enroll their names as such, when thirty three persons availed themselves of the opportunity-among them some of those who were of the first settlers of the county, but had hitherto neglected to become members. At this meeting, Abner Robinson, the oldest settler of the county, having been annually chosen the President of the society, was again elected, and the succeeding meeting, held on the 20th of August, 1859, he was elected President for life.
From 1862 until 1866, during the existence of the war, the regular meetings of the society were suspended. On Saturday, August 4, 1866, however, these annual re-unions were renewed, and again the spirit that actuated the movements of the pioneer fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, in the early days of our county's history, manifested itself with accustomed vigor. Since that time meetings have been held with almost uniform regularity, continually enlarging the area of social enjoyment among that class of settlers especially in whose interest the society was or- ganized, that the memory of the part taken by them in the devel- oping process that had been going on in the laboratory of time during the long years preceding, might always be kept fresh and vigorous in the minds of the present and succeeding generations.
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