USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 8
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with us,sufficient, as we thought, to last until after planting; but . it gaye out, and I had to pound corn in an iron pot, with an iron wedge driven into the edge of a handspike, and sift it through a basket lid .. .. We used the finest of the meal for breakfast, and the coarse for dinner and supper. We got our corn planted about the,Ist of June, and then went to mill in a pirogue, down the. Wabash, to a little, corn-cracker, near where La Fayette now stands. I was taken sick about the Ist of July, and both our . children. I shook forty days with the agne, without. cessation .. We then got some quinine, which stopped it for ten days. I got able to ride on horseback, and, while going to see John Ballard, who was sick at Mr. Odell's, my horse; became frightened, and . threw me off; and that, brought on the agne more severely than ever, and it held on to me until Christmas. I, never saw a woman except one (Sarah Odell), for three months. .. My husband was cook, washerwoman and milkmaid during that time.':' In October, :. my husband had to leave home. for three days, and I was . left alone with my two children. One night, our dog fought some .; animal near the door, which had no shutter but a quilt .... I.was- very much frightened, and our faithful. dog was alnost killed. He could not walk the next day. John. Ballard stayed at our house after that until my husband returned.
"Forty-two years have passed since those times. . I have seen our country rapidly settling and improving. There were but eleven, families in Carroll County in 1826. One generation has . passed away, another has succeeded. There are but two families Jeft wliose united, head still live -- Abner Robinson and ours. A few of the old settlers have emigrated to, distant . lands. but the greater number have passed to that bourg whence no traveler returns .: We who are left expect soon to cross the river and join .; theth in' that better land, where sickness and sorrow, pain and death. are feared and felt no more.
" FRANCES STIRI.E
In August, 1827, James Blake, subsequently, a long resident of Indianapolis, having established a factory for curing and pre- paring ginseng for market-then a standard article of commerce - on the farm of Gen. Milroy. . He commenced the purchase of that : article in large quantities, to be worked up for the trade, which . at that time was quite extensive. Mr. Blake had some time pre- . vionsly located in Putnam County, at a place afterward called Blakesburg. At that place he carried on the establishment some four or five years, from the emoluments of which he realized. a .. considerable suin of money, as did many others engaged in the collection of it for him.
:When ginseng root became scarce in the region of country: around Blakesburg, Mr. Blake sent out agents to solicit the gath -; . ering of it. and to ascertain, also, where it could be procured; in .: larger quantities. The result established the fact that it could be. found in great abundance above Wild Cat Creek, and in the vi- . cinity of Delphi, and large quantities of it were, transported by means of wagons, to Blakesburg. Afterward, he made a tour of inspection himself, which gained for him the satisfactory infor -.. mation that the best place to find it was in the Deer Creek. coun- try, the abundant supply inducing him to start a branch in this . county: '. 'Accordingly, he leased a small tract of land . from Gen. Milroyyand closed a contract with Joseph McCain for the erec- 5. tion of the necessary buildings. .. The buildings were completed .. and ready for occupancy in August following, at which time, as we have seen, he, commenced business, which, in the end, was ... quite lucrative. While he was engaged here, his brother Jesse
117
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
was superintending operations at Blakesburg. After the digging and curing season was over, he returned to Indianapolis, but at the commencement of the following season ho resumed business at his works in Carroll County. Ho continued thus to carry on the business here until the close of the year 1830-a period of four years-when his lease with Gen. Milroy expired. After- ward, he started and operated an establishment in Cass County, near Logansport, during the succeeding two years. He discon- tinued the trade, finally, in the year 1835, having, in the mean- time, realized a very large som as net profits of the business.
During the time he was located in this county, an incident occurred which Mr. Blake used to relate with no small amount of jocular enjoyment. One of the men in his employ came in and represented to him one morning that he felt very much out of sorts, and must have some whisky to set him right again. The man was told to mount his horse and go down to Mr. Baum's and get some, taking a jug along for that purpose. While returning from his sanitary mission, a black bear came cantering along pretty close to the horse, frightening him so, that he ran away. en- dangering the safety of the jng as well as the man. During the time this was going on, the men at the factory looked down the road and saw man and horse coming, Gilpinlike, with rapid strides, toward them. The amusing feature of the incident was that of witnessing the almost superhuman efforts of the rider to save the little jug containing the coveted medicine. He landed safely, however, and the jug, with its contents, became objects of interest to the overjoyed horseman.
CHAPTER XIII.
PIONEER REMINISCENCES-CONTINUED.
DR. J. M. EWING'S REVIEW OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN CARROLL COUNTY-RETROSPECT OF MEN AND THINGS DERING THE PE- RIOD OF HIS RESIDENCE HERE -STATEMENT OF FACTS AND IN- CIDENTS-SOME OF THE FIRST OFFICERS IN THE COUNTY-NAT- URAL ADVANTAGES POSSESSED BY THE COUNTY-DIFFICULTIES AND PRIVATIONS ENCOUNTERED AND ENDURED, ETC.
A T a meeting of the old settlers of Carroll County, on the 4th of August, 1855, Dr. John M. Ewing, one of the very early settlers here, being called upon, gave a brief narrative of his ex- periences in the early days of our county's history, from which we glean the following items of interest to the surviving few of those who were participants in or cognizant of the incidents related:
"In the year 1827, when I first landed on Deer Creek, there were but forty families living in what now forms Carroll, White and Cass Counties. Where the town of Delphi now stands was a hazel and blackberry thicket. Where the town of Logansport stands, everything was in a state of nature, except a trading house on the point, occupied by a Mr. MrKeen. What is now the city of La Fayette Had then but six log cabins, and a one-story hewed- Jog house, occupied as a tavern.
"There were then no roads, except one that was opened by Father Robinson in December, 1824, his being the first family that crossed the Wild Cat. Traveling had then to be done in Indian trails and deer paths. The face of the country was then covered with a growth of nettles, which were, in the upland, as thick as a crop of flax, and about as high, and on the river bottom, as high as a man's head, on horseback.
"There were then no rabbits, uo partridges, larks, thrushes, or other variety of birds that followed civilization. Frogs were abundant. I have traveled for days without ever getting out of hearing of their croaking music. Snakes were also plenty. espe- cially the large rattlesnakes. The settlers watched their dens in the spring, and killed them when they came out to sun themselves. I have killed as many as five at one time. Wolves were also plenty -the large gray wolf -and, like the Indians, they sur- rendered their rights to the country with reluctance. I have seon them walk off with a snarl and a growl. looking at me as though they thought ine an intruder on their domain.
"Indians were not very numerous in what is now Carroll County. A few came to the settlement occasionally to trade. The principal Indian trade was established at Logansport. It was the Indian trade that mad: Logansport what it is, by bring- ing men of capital and enterprise there, and also the Indian agency. The location of the Michigan road also gave it a per- manent advantage over Delphi. That road would have been located throngh Delphi. on a much better and nigher ronte, if any person here had taken the time to show the Commissioners the route. They came to this county for the purpose, and were sent to Cass County, where they found men that were willing to spend the time to gain this important thoroughfare.
" Henry Robinson was the first Justice of the Peace elected in Carroll County, commissioned by Gov. Ray July 14. 1825. The first court held in the county was at the house of Daniel Baum. Sr. The first Postmaster in the county was Abner Robinson. The first apples grown from the ser 1 were on the farm of Hemy Rob. inson.
" The natural advantages of Carroll County in regard to the fertility of soil. the facilities for water-power, and good springs. were not surpassed by any county on the river. It was the head of steamboat navigation on the Wabash. Boats could always ascend to Delphi, at any time they could come to La Fay- ette. Nature did all for Carroll County that it has ever done for any place: and the early settlers depended on its natural advan- tages bringing in an enterprising population and building them a town. They used no efforts of their own, so that business and capital concentrated at La Fayette and Logansport: and Delphi, with all its natural advantages, was left in the rear.
"There were comparatively few difficulties and privations experienced by the first settlers of Carroll County. Provisions were generally plenty in the lower connties on the river, and the settlers soon raised enough to supply themselves, and a surplus for coming emigrants. They were not molested by the Indians, as was so often the case with new settlements. They liad nothing to do but to go to work, open their farms, and receive a bountiful return for their labor. fu a small prairie near Delphi (now Manary's Addition), Mr. Mahart raised 110 bushels of corn to the aero. The labor of the Inshandman was bountifully rewarded in the luxuriant productions of the soil. In the opening of farms and id rnising cabins, there was a ittiion of effort and harmony of feeling, in which all joined. I have spent as many as four days in the week at log-rollings and cabin-raisings: have walked at the end of a handspike from morning till night. with some of the stontest men in the county, or shoved np the end of a log after carrying it on a spike; always trying which end could beat. The . Hurrah! onr end best!' or . Up with your switch end!' would surely be heard at the pushing up of every log.
"I have experienced more real satisfaction and pleasure at log- rollings and house-raisings, in the first settlement of the county,
118
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
than I ever have at any social party or gathering since. The country that has ever been settled. They had all the substantial social, friendly feeling which existed caused the work to appear like play. Then the appetite which it created for the bounteous repast, prepared by the no less industrious matrons and their. blooming and rosy-cheeked daughters, was a feast good enough for a king.
"It is union of feeling and harmony of effort that form the basis of all true happiness. Such union and harmony then ex- isted to a far greater extent than it has since; and there was more real happiness then than now. Then, there was harmony in schools, harmony in churches, harmony in politics, harmony in all the social and domestic relations of society. But these fond recol- lections are among the things that were. That real. friendly feeling which then manifested itself, in being interested in the welfare and prosperity of others, is now concentrated in a spirit of acquisitiveness and selfisliness, prevented only from trespass- ing npon the rights of others by legal restraints. Civil laws were then unnecessary; now they are not sufficient to restrain the in- ordinate selfishness of society. Why the difference in the pri- mary and present condition of society ? Are the people any wiser or better now than they were then? Or does the change in their social, civil and political relations render them any happier now than they were then ?
"In the fall of each year, for a number of years, there was considerable sickness. My practice then embraced the whole of the population north of the Wild Cat. I have often visited fam- ilies in which one was not able to give another a drink. In many instances, I have cooked for them, and left their medicine so that each one could get it and take it without disturbing the others. I have often visited and prescribed for as many as fifty patients in a day, riding day and night. I charged from $5 to $10. For like services a physician would now charge $50, and get his pay. I never calculated on getting more than half what I charged, and in one-half the cases I never charged anything.
" In the first settlement of Carroll County, the people lived as well, and suffered as few privations and hardships, as any new
necessaries and many of the luxuries of life, such as sugar, coffee, toa, etc. Though they were deprived for a few years of apples, peaches and pears, they had plenty of wild fruit-crab-apples, plums, grapes, gooseberries, blackberries-and these were excel- lent. I have gathered many a mess of blackberries where the court. house, public square, churches, business, houses and resi- dences now stand, in the town of Delphi.
" In conclusion, I will just say that no man labored more for Carroll County than Henry Robinson. He put up the first mill, at a time when it required more labor and capital than it would now, and the profits were not sufficient to keep up the repairs. His labor and money were appropriated more for the benefit of others than for himself. In establishing churches and schools, he was ever foremost. In giving a correct tone to moral and relig- ious sentiment, the influence of his example was always on the side of virtue. He was a most indefatigable opponent of idleness and vice of every description, and hesitated not to reprove it whenever and wherever it came under his notice, regardless of the opinions or censures of men. Had all the old settlers labored as much for the benefit of Carroll County as did Father Robin- son, Delphi would have been a different town to what it is 1. now."
The late Dr. James H. Stewart, in his " Recollections of Car- roll County," states that: "In the spring of 1830, Delphi could boast of three stores: Gavin Black, who kept where Anthony Foust has since held forth in the blacksmith line; Judge Griffith, in a little frame across from the Market House; and Isaac Martin, on the lot occupied by Dewey and C. E. Bolles, in a one-story frame, afterward removed down Franklin street and turned into a pot- tery, and since owned by ----- Kaufman. About the Ist of July, 1830, McCarty & Morris opened a stock of goods in the house now owned by Spears, Case & Co .. and formerly occupied by Capt. Gist. In the spring of 1831, Robert C. Gist opened a store in the house on the corner above Bowen's brick, formerly occupied by Daniel B. Daggett as a cooper-shop."
119
HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
PERIOD OF ORDER AND LAW.
CHAPTER I. ORGANIZATION.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS-ACTION OF THE SETTLERS TO- WARD THE ERECTION OF A COUNTY JURISDICTION-PETITION PREPARED, SIGNED AND SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE- AN ENABLING ACT PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE GOV- ERNOR-ORDER FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR FIRST OFFICERS -THE ELECTION - VOTERS THEBEAT -OFFICERS CHOSEN -- COUNTY ORGANIZED-MEETING AND REPORT OF COMMISSION- ERS APPOINTED TO SELECT SITE FOR AND LOCATE THE COUNTY SEAT, ETC.
D RAWN westward by the current of public opinion, and. charmed by the inducements held out, inviting settlement in this new and fertile region, pioneers from the East and from the Sontli-where the density of population afforded no opportu- nities for persons of small means to invest their stinted capital in landed estates of sufficient dimensions to justify the appropria- tion of their individual labor to the cultivation of the soil ---- and found pleasant homes with abundant opportunities for the exer- cise of thrift on their own account, for the benefit of themselves and their families. Thus it was, that a little time after the treaties of 1826, in which the Pottawatomies and Miamis parted with their rights to the soil of a portion of Carroll County. settlers were sufficiently numerous to cause a movement to be inaugurated that would, in due time. cnhininate in the perfection of a county organization.
The result of this early agitation was, that, a few weeks prior to the meeting of the Legislature, in December. 1827, the ques- tion having been thoroughly discussed, and hence definitely un- derstood, a petition, setting forth the wislies of this isolated peo- ple, and their desire to become vested witli the rights of citizen- ship before the law, as guaranteed by the charter which should authorize the erection of a separate jurisdiction. was freely circu- lated and very generally signed. This petition was forwarded to the law-making Representatives of the people for their consid- eration and action. After brief legislation on the subject matter of the petition, a bill was framed embodying the distinctive feat- ures essential in such an instrument, defining boundaries and providing for the perpetuity of its functions, and passed without delay, the Governor affixing his signature in approval of its pro- visions, on the 7th day of January, 1828. These provisions can- not be more concisely set forth than in the language of the act itself, which reads as follows:
AN ACT FOR THE FORMATION OF THE COUNTY OF CARROLL.
' miles to the southeast corner of Section 16 [ Township 26], Range 1 west; thence north. three miles, to the township line dividing Townships 26 and 27: thence west thirteen miles to the section line dividing Sections 4 and 5. Range 3 west; thener south, with said section line, twelve miles, to the northern boundary of Tippecanoe County; theuce cast, four miles, to the place of beginning-shall form and constitute a county, to he known and designated by the name and title of Carroll, in honor of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, the only surciting signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence, and the boundary line of the county of Tippecanoe, on the east and north, so far as it divides that county from the county of Carroll, is hereby established and to be deemed and taken as mualterable, unless hy common consent of the boards authorized by law to transact county business, in the counties of Tippecanoe and Carroll, respectively.
Sec. 2. The said uew county shall, from and after the 1st day of April next, enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdiction, which to separate and independent counties, appertain.
Sec. 3. That Samnel Jessup. of Hendricks County, Asa B. Strong, of Marion County, Frederick Moore, of Montgomery County, Enos Lowe, of Putnam County, and Josiah Bryant, of Fountain County, are hereby appointed Commissioners for the purpose of fixing the seat of justice in said new county, agreeably to the provisions of an act entitled an act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties thereafter to be laid off. The Commissioners above named, or a majority of them, shall convene at the house of Heavy Robinson, in said new conuty, on the second Monday in May next, and shall proceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Montgomery County to notify the Commissioners herein above pamed, either in person or hy writ- ten notification of their appointment, on or before the 10th day of April next; and for such service the Board of Justices, or persons doing county Isiness of the said new county, shall allow him a reasonable compensa- tion ont of the county treasury thereof.
SEC. 5. The Circuit and other courts of said new county shall be held at the house of Daniel Baum, or at any other.place therein. to which the said courts may adjourn, until suitable accommodation can he had at the seat of justice thereof, when the courts shall adjourn to meet at said county seat.
Sec. 6. The Agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the county seat of said new county of Carroll, shall reserve 10 per centinn out of the proceeds thereof, and also 10 per centum out of all do- nations to said county, and shall pay the same over to such person or per- sons as may be appointed according to law, to receive the sune for the use of a county library for said new county.
Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the qualified voters of the county of Carroll, at the time of electing a Clerk, Recorder and Associate Judges, to elect three County Commissioners, agrecably to the provisions of an act entitled. "An Act to establish a Board of County Commissioners," ap- proved. January 30, 1824, who, when elected and qualified, as prescribed by said act, shall have all the powers, and perform all the duties prescribed by said act, which act is hereby revived, and to be deemed and taken as in full force, as relates to said county of Carroll: and, also, said Board of Commissioners shall have all the powers and perform all the duties pre- scribed by law as relates to Boards of Justice- in the several countries. i Said Commissioners shall have power to hold special sessions, and to do and perform any duties required at any previous regular session. This act to take effect and be in force from and after the 1st day of April next.
SECTION 1. Beit enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana. That, from and after the 1st day of May next, all that part of the county of Wabash, contained within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning Pursuant to a notice issned by James B. Ray, Governor of the State of Indiana, attested by William W. Wick, Secretary of State, an election was held, by the qualified' voters of Carroll County. for election of the necessary judicial and civil officers, to exercise at the northwest corner of Township 24 north, Range 2 west, of the Sco ond Principal Meridian; thence sonth nine miles to the center of Town- ship numbered 23: thence cast seventeen miles to the western boundary of the Great Miami Reservation: thence north, with said boundary, eight- een miles, to the center of Township numbered 26; thence west eight ' the corporate powers of the people, for the time being, in per-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
fecting the organization of the county, on Monday, the 28th of April, 1828, and seventy-six votes were cast, as follows:
1 Benjamin Baxter.
39 Moses Thompson,
John E. Metcalf.
40 Moses Stanley.
3 William Cardy.
41 Moses Scott,
4 Moses Tullis.
49 Eli C'ofner,
5 Thomas Burk.
43
Joseph McCain,
6 William Price.
Jeremiah Ballard.
45
John Adams,
8 William McCord.
46 Henry Bingaman,
9 Abner Robinson.
47 Ingh Manary.
10 Ilenry Robinson,
48 John Kistler,
49 Isaac Griffith,
12 David Hamilton,
50 Daniel MeCain,
13 Richard Chabart.
51 John Phillips,
14 Thomas Hamilton,
52 Peleg Baheock,
15 Coleman Robinson,
53 William Siers.
16 Christopher McCombs,
5-4 Daniel MeCain,
17 William Ines,
55
Nathan Rose,
18 Daniel F. Vandeventer,
19 David MeCombs,
57 Jacob Baum,
20 Stephen Miller,
58 Aaron licks,
21
Henry Baum.
59
Jacob Underhill,
22 Stephen Guile,
60
William Hicks.
23 John Crook.
61 Graham Roberts,
21 Nathaniel Hamilton.
62 Daniel Ban,
25 David Baum,
64
Samuel Wells.
27 Moses Hicks,
65
John M. Ewing,
28 John Surface,
66
Sammuel Milroy,
29 Mannel McCombs,
67 Andrew McCoy,
30 John Little,
68 Thomas Stirlen,
31 Hlenry B. Milroy.
69 Thomas R. McCain.
32 John Carey,
70 John Odell,
33 John Mixwell,
71 William Wilson.
34 George J. Banm,
72 John Ballard,
35 Elisha Brown,
73
James Odell,
36 David Lucas.
74 Isain Atkinson,
37 Joshua Whistler,
Levi Sagers.
38 John Givens,
76 Aaron Dewey.
Ths foregoing seventy-six votes were cast for the following persons. for the offices named, to wit: For Associate Judge, Henry Robinson received 32 votes: Isaac Griffith, 65 votes, and Christopher MeCombs, 42 votes; for Clerk and Recorder, John Carey received 9 votes; Daniel F. Vandeventer, 42 votes, and John M. Ewing, 22 votes; for County Commissioners, Jacob Baum received 47 votes; Thomas Stirlen, 36 votes; Daniel McCain, 31 vates; Graham Roberts, 40 votes, and Aaron Hicks 44 votes.
Upon canvassing the votes cast as above, Isaac Griffith and Christopher McCombs were declared duly elected Associate Judges for said county; Daniel F. Vandeventer, Clerk and Re- corder; and Jacob Baum, Aaron Hicks and Graham Roberts, County Commissioners for 'said county. Henry B. Milroy had previously been appointed by the Governor Sheriff of Carroll County, to serve as such until the next general election, on the first Monday in August, 1828.
The first session of the Board of Commissioners for Carroll County, as prescribed by the foregoing act of organization, met at the house of Daniel Baum, "at the hour of 11 o'clock, on Mon- day, the 12th day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight:" present, the Commissioners aforesaid. The following were the principal proceedings had on that day:
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