USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 18
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As you pass along view the rude cooking utensils, see the johnny cake on the hearth, the striped venison hanging to the joist, the iron crane in the big chimney, and then look around and see the crooked stick for a plow, wooden teeth for a harrow and the man with a hoe. The old flint-lock gun on forks over the door, the well-sweep, the old oaken bucket that hangs in the well, and see the "elm-peeler" hog running at large getting fat on acrons- and you have seen a primitive home of some of your ancestors.
Now, don't be ashamed of them. They made this land to blossom as the rose. They laid the foundation for a greater civilization, for a better christianity, for greater education, for the greatest government on the face of the earth. It all sprung from the old log cabin.
In 1828 Carroll county was organized and Delphi was established as the county seat. Located between the Wabash river and Deer creek, built on a solid rock-as are its present business men-and it is our town, our home; why not herald it as the best place on earth ?
Observe, as you pass along, the beautiful scenery along the stream made immortal by Indiana's greatest poet, and you will be impressed that "the beautiful banks of Deer creek are good enough for me."
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TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEERS.
BY MES. ELLA HIGGINSON.
Would God that we, their children, were as they :
Great souled, brave hearted and of dauntless will;
Ready to dare, responsive to the still, compelling voice
That called them, night and day,
From this far West, where sleeping greatness lay,
Biding her time.
Would God we knew the thrill
That exquisitely tormented them, until
They stood up strong and resolute to obey.
God make us like them, worthy of them; shake
Our souls with greatness;
Our dull eyes set
On some high star whose splended light will wake
Us from our dreams, and guide us from this fen
Or selfish ease, won by our father's sweat.
Oh, lift us up-the West has need of men.
THE GREAT NORTHWEST.
The following extract, taken from the Western Gasetteer, published by Samuel R. Brown, of New York, in 1817, will be, no doubt, interesting to many readers :
"Volumes have been written about the Great Northwest, principally from the government reports. At that time millions of acres of land had been already procured by our government from the various tribes of Indians. The states of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana when admitted into the Union, were practically clear of the Indians. They had been forced to go farther west, and the tribes that lived in the East, many of them joined the tribes of now, the Central West, and spread over a vast empire, embracing territory comparatively unknown to the Americans. This vast territory was divided up among the various Indian tribes, as by mutual agreement. The Indian nations already in possession were large and numerous, and possibly may have been the descendants of prehistoric man.
"The expedition of Lewis and Clark, in 1803, sent to explore the country to the Pacific, by President Jefferson, furnished the government with some idea of the vast possessions destined to become the garden of
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the world. The vast domain was divided up into territories, and a sem- blance of civil government therein established. Almost an innumerable number of Indian tribes occupied large possessions in these territories and Indian agencies established, with the view of ultimately obtaining their lands. The savages could not understand why they should relinquish their hunting grounds, and as a consequence the history of the West is one of war and massacre. One of the most warlike and most powerful of the Indian nations was the Sioux. They were monarchs of all they surveyed and were feared by the weaker nations. The reservation allotments by the govern- ment served to hold in check their spirit of warfare, and has tended towards their civilization.
"It is apparent, however humane the Indian policy, that the perpetua- tion of the red race is doomed to failure. It is only a question of time when pure Indian blood will be obliterated. Observation, experience and history will confirm this prediction.
"This history is largely traditional. They moved, step by step, from the East to the West, the grandest and richest country in natural resources in the world, fell into the hands of a people, as if divinely appointed to open the way to the over-crowded eastern hemisphere and to the oppressed of every land. This great national boom has not come without great sacrifice.
"As evidence of the spirit of gain and conquest, the hardy trappers and fur dealers were the forerunners; they were soon' followed by the restless adventurers intent on facing the perils of a new life in an unbroken wilderness. They found towns and villages, a hundred years and more old, at various points, where the indominable Frenchman had settled. The great rivers were their highways. Innumerable swamps dotted the country, and the dense forests made overland traveling unsafe."
LETTERS FROM PIONEERS.
"Richmond, Indiana, August 1, 1899.
"Hon. J. C. Odell-Dear Sir: Yours is at hand, and I hasten to reply. It would certainly afford me great pleasure to be with you at the old people's reunion. Not only because I am somewhat advanced in years myself and would expect to meet other old people, some of whom I knew many years ago and loved them dearly, but I have a strong desire to visit the ceme- teries where the bodies of my parents, brothers, sisters, and many dear relatives and friends repose. Indeed, old Carroll still has charms for me.
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If there has ever been anything in my life that has been of any consequence to the people where I have lived, it had its beginning in old Carroll. The weather is so warm, and I am not strong, so I think I had better not go-I might not be able to speak if I should go. I still preach occasionally, but that is in the church, and not so hard as in the grove. Please give my kind regards to old friends. With kindest regards, I remain yours very truly, "NELSON GILLAM."
LETTER FROM REV. CORNELIUS MCCAIN.
"Mr. J. C. Odell-Dear Sir: In answer to your request I will call to mind the early events and persons of 1826 and a few years following. My father and mother, Daniel and Magdalena McCain, came to Carroll county, then a territory belonging to the Crawfordsville district of public lands, from Ohio, in the year 1826, settling on a tract of land entered by my father, east of Delphi about one mile.
"There were but seven families in the county when we came. Henry Robinson was the first white man to come who laid the foundation for a splendid local civilization. I attended religious services at his house. I was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1823. I will give the names of the first settlers I recall for the first five or six years: James Odell, Sr., Henry Robinson, Benjamin D. Angel, Daniel Baum, David Baum, Gen. Samuel Milroy, Aaron Burntrager, Doctor Ewing and J. H. Steward. James Odell, Jr., was my first school teacher in the summer of 1833. General Milroy lived on an adjoining farm and had a good library, which I had the privi- lege to enjoy. We were taught to say, 'Mr.' and 'Mrs.' to older people.
"The doctors who administered to the sick were Doctor Ewing, Doctor Steward, Doctor Allen, Doctor Grimes, Doctor Blanchard and Doctor Dewey. Nearly everybody had the ague in the fall of the year and the doc- tors were busy waiting on the sick and acted as nurses when the whole family were down. Our means of crossing the Wabash river was by a ferry owned by the Sampson family. A. F. Martin and Louis Martin, Mr. Tweed and G. W. Pigman were merchants. A. H. Bowen, J. P. Dugan, N. B. Dewey and William Bolles were prominent business men, and Dunkle and Kilgore manufactured wagons and plows.
"Looking back seventy-five and eighty years, I feel as if I can see the band of early pioneers passing before me in a long, solemn procession, look- ing perfectly natural; while I am spared to tell of their deeds, and assure (14)
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their descendants and the rising generation that a more faithful, honest, upright and worthy generation of men and women never lived. All are gone, and the changes wrought by their successors are so great, the pioneers would not know the places that once knew them so well, if permitted to return to their old, primitive homes. C. McCAIN."
COUNTY FAIRS.
About the year 1851 the system of farming was undergoing a radical change in the form of farming utensils. The primitive system from neces- sity existed until practical experience taught the farmers that better methods of tilling the soil must be adopted to obtain adequate returns from the soil.
Carroll county soil was found to contain certain ingredients which had been partially wasted, from want of knowledge to preserve them. How- ever rich the soil naturally, it was found it could be exhausted by continuous cropping without rest, and some essential fertilizer. This fact led to inquiry and led up to agricultural organizations having for their object not only a comparison of products, but to learn new ideas as to proper tillage of the soil.
Improved implements were being introduced, new labor-saving machinery invented, and the people were inclined to "try all things and to hold fast to that which was good." The sickle and grain cradle answered their purpose when a farmer had only a few acres of wheat; but a crop of forty or fifty acres could not be saved properly by the old method of reap- ing. Those who remembered the first harvesters used, can now realize what advancements have been made in saving grain and a saving of cost.
No improvement has excelled the progress in threshing of grain. The saving of time, saving of expense and quick returns for labor have been the chief aim of inventors. Every new device was patented. This kept up the prices on machinery. It became evident that success in farming could be obtained only by an intelligent application of the means to the end. Since there is safety in a multitude of counsel, it dawned upon the people that an organization, having in view the interests and welfare of the agricultural classes, would be beneficial.
The people of Carroll county took an advanced step along these lines in 1851. A society was organized, officered by men of experience, money raised and premiums offered. The first fair, held in this county in 1852, was represented by Thomas Thompson, president; William Hance, vice- president : Isaac Jackson, secretary; Thomas Sterling, treasurer; and one
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director from each township. The fair was held in October, 1852, in A. H. Bowen's grove-which is now occupied by the public school buildings and residences. The highest premium offered was five dollars. There were forty premiums offered, ranging from five dollars to fifty cents. Diplomas were given for certain articles. The fair was a success financially and otherwise.
The second fair was held at Camden, in October, 1853. The ground was enclosed in a high board fence. The premium list was increased, and higher prizes offered. As the best corn raiser, Adam VanGundy carried off the prize. He raised one hundred and nine bushels of corn per acre on the Wabash river bottoms. A. Sanderson, on upland, raised one hun- dred and six bushels per acre. In 1853 the products shipped from Carroll county were in value, $385,889.13.
The third fair was held at Camden in 1854. The fourth fair was held at Delphi in 1855. The fifth fair was held at Delphi in 1856. No fair was held in 1857. The sixth fair was held in Delphi in 1858. The grounds at Delphi were one mile south of town. The fairs were well attended. There was one fair held at Pittsburg.
In 1870 a new Carroll County Agricultural Association was organized. Adam VanGundy was the president and R. L. Higginbotham, secretary. There were six fairs held by this organization, to the year 1881. Horse speeding took prestige over everything else. The fair grounds became a course for horse-racing, which drew large crowds; and the agricultural side collapsed.
Several attempts to revive interest in farm and stock displays in the way of "Street Fairs" were made which attracted immense crowds to Delphi; but they vanished when the farming element lost interest. The efforts put forth brought results, however, as the farms and stock show a high standard of perfection.
LOCAL OPTION.
The Legislature of Indiana on the 25th of September, 1908, enacted what was called the "Local Option Law." The county was the unit. Upon the filing of a petition signed by twenty per cent. of the votes cast at the last general election for secretary of state, the board of county commission- ers was authorized to order an election in such county to determine whether the sale of intoxicating liquors, as a beverage, should be prohibited.
The Legislature at its session in 1911, and on the 2d of February, 1911, amended section I, of the former Act, making the unit to apply to
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incorporated cities, and within the territory embraced within any township in such county, outside of and exclusive of the territorial limits of all incorporated cities in such township.
An election was held in Carroll county under the provisions of the Act of 1908.
At the February term of the board of commissioners of Carroll county, 1909, a petition, signed by W. C. Smith and others, was presented to the board, praying for an election to be held at the several voting precincts in said county, to determine whether the sale of intoxicating liquors as a bever- age should be prohibited. As the petition was signed by more than twenty per cent. of the voters of said county, as shown by the aggregate vote of the last regular election preceding, the board granted the prayer of said petitioners, and ordered an election to be held in the various voting pre- cincts of said county on the 26th of February, 1909.
The election was held accordingly, and at the March term, 1909, the board of commissioners examined the certificates of the election commission- ers on file, and found that the total vote cast at said election was 3,966, of which number 2,954 votes were cast in favor of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said county, and 1,012 votes were cast against prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said county. As the result of this election all the saloons in Carroll county went out of business in ninety days thereafter.
ELECTION IN THE CITY OF DELPHI.
At the regular term of the commissioners' court of Carroll county, held on February 6, 1911, a petition was presented, signed by Madison Arnot and others, praying for an election in the city of Delphi, for the purpose to determine whether intoxicating liquors should be sold as a beverage in the city of Delphi, which petition was found to comply with the provisions of the local option law as amended, and the board ordered an election to be held in the several wards of said city on the 28th of February, 1911, to determine whether intoxicating liquors should be sold as a beverage in said city. The election was held accordingly, and on the 6th of March, 1911, the election commissioners filed before the board their certificates, showing the total vote cast of 623, of which number 340 votes were cast in favor of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in the city of Delphi. Carroll county, Indiana, and 283 votes were cast against the prohi- bition of the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in the city of Delphi.
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ELECTION IN MADISON TOWNSHIP.
An election was held, pursuant to an order of the board of commis- sioners of Carroll county, in Madison township, on the 23d of May, 1911, and at the June term of 1911, the board examined the certificates on file and found that the total vote cast was 180, of which number 118 votes were in favor of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said township of Madison, in said county and state, and 62 votes were against the prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said town- ship of Madison, in said county and state.
ELECTION IN MONROE TOWNSHIP.
At the June term of the board of county commissioners, 1911, a peti- tion was presented to the board, signed by John Wilkinson and others, praying for an election to be held in Monroe township, in said county, and the board found that the petition contained the requisite number of the legal voters of said township, as shown by the vote cast at the general election last held in said township, and ordered that an election be held at the several precincts in said township on July 1, 1911, to determine whether intoxicating liquors should be sold as a beverage in said township. The election was held accordingly. At the meeting of the board of county commissioners in July, 1911, the certificates of the election commissioners on file were examined and the board found that the total vote cast was 622, of which number 349 votes were cast in favor of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in Monroe township, in said county and state, and 273 votes were cast against prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said township, in said county and state.
ELECTION IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
At the September term, 1913, of the board of commissioners of Carroll county, a petition was filed before the board signed by William A. Kleckner and others, praying for an election to be held in Jackson township, in said county, to determine whether the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage should be prohibited in said township; and the board finding that the said petition was in compliance with the law. granted the prayer of said petition- ers, and ordered an election to be held in the several precincts in said town- ship, on the 27th of September, 1913. The election was held accordingly,
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and at the October term, 1913, of said court, the certificates of election on file were examined and the board found that the total vote cast was 351, of which number 237 votes were cast in favor of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said township, and 114 votes were cast against prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said township.
ANOTHER ELECTION IN DELPHI.
At the March term, 1913, of the board of commissioners of Carroll county, a petition was filed before the board, signed by Harry Shigley and others, for an election to be held in the several wards of said city, to deter- mine whether the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage should be pro- hibited in the city of Delphi, in said county and state; and the board finding that said petition conformed to the requirements of the law, granted the prayer of the petitioners and ordered an election to be held in the several wards of said city, on the 25th of March, 1913. The election was held accordingly and on the 7th of April, 1913, the board in session examined the certificates filed by the election commissioners, and found that the total vote cast at said election was 534 votes, of which number 348 votes were cast in favor of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in the city of Delphi, in said county and state, and 186 votes were cast against prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in said city of Delphi, in said county and state.
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CHAPTER XII.
TRAIL OF THE RED MAN-THE MIAMI NATION-PIONEER SOCIABILITY- ABDUCTION OF LUELLA MABBITT-A LEGAL EXECUTION.
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TRAIL OF THE RED MAN.
The history of the settlement of the Northwest territory is full of great events. The period before the War of the Revolution is one of great inter- est to the student of history. Military expeditions went out into the vast territory lying west of the Ohio river, then unknown and unexplored by the white people, to protect the frontier settlements which were menaced by the savages and where many were massacred. Military forts were established at various points and garrisoned by a few companies of soldiers. It was in a sense, a war of conquest.
The Indians yielded their possession reluctantly. As a rule they respected the terms of their treaties. To some extent the Indian tribes acted as a democracy. The chiefs represented the sentiment of their tribes. They knew the law of self-preservation. How long this vast country they gave up had been held by the savage hordes found by the white people, is unknown. The source from which they sprang is conjectural. Their extinction from the face of the earth is only a matter of a few more years.
The attempt to civilize and Christianize the Indians is a failure, with a view of the perpetuation of their true characteristics. Some of the American Indian fighters became noted generals and statesmen, Gen. Winfield Scott, Gen. F. Taylor and Gen. W. H. Harrison. The two latter served as President.
While the red man disputed the onward march of civilization, the government had its hands full with Texas and Mexico, and many national problems that prevented a stern policy towards the savages, for want of means and sufficient soldiery. But the campaign of 1811 and 1812 was conducted in a way to suppress the vengeance of the warring tribes, and brought treaties by which this vast territory was surrendered and the red man went farther west on reservation.
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.As late as 1832 the last remaining Indians along the Wabash were con- ducted to their western homes. Thus the early settlers of this part of the country came to find it free of the claims of the aborigines, although a few remnants of the tribes that dwelt here were seen passing along the trail along the Wabash river during the year 1825. At that date the entire Northwest, embracing all that country of the mountain region and the Pacific slope was unexplored, and especially the Pacific slope was a bone of con- tention with foreign nations which were seeking a foothold by discovery which would establish their claim.
The expedition of Lewis and Clark sent out by Jefferson, was just in time to establish the claim of this government of an empire that served to make the Pacific ocean the boundary on the west. With these accessions came out the hidden wealth and supplied homes for millions of people, who have converted a desert into fields of golden grain and poured into the mar- kets of the world their overplus, thus making the United States one of the world's granaries.
THE MIAMI NATION.
All the lands in this part of the country were owned by the Miami tribe of Indians. These lands were ceded to the government by various treaties. The treaty of 1818 secured a large domain containing nine hun- dred and thirty thousand acres, embracing the lands along the Wabash river, and extending to the eastern boundary of the state.
Various reservations were made for the Indians who desired to remain, who were willing to acknowledge the superiority of the government. The title to many of these reservations passed to the government, and later to individuals, very few of the Indians remained permanently. There are a few of the descendants living in Miami and Allen counties. There were one hundred and seventy-seven thousand acres of land ceded to the govern- ment and by the government granted to this state for the purpose of aiding in the construction of the Wabash and Erie canal. The lands obtained by the government cost less than two millions of dollars.
The Miami tribe was one of the largest and most powerful of all the Indian tribes. Their chiefs were men of power and influence, and displayed great ability in protecting their nation when it came to surrendering their hunting grounds. The last regularly elected chief was Francis LaFontaine. who died at the age of thirty-seven, in Lafayette, in 1847. His weight was three hundred and fifty pounds.
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PIONEER SOCIABILITY.
The social qualities of the pioneers were proverbial. There was a genuine interest taken by everyone in the welfare of each other. Privations were common to all. Sickness was a marked feature of pioneer life. Liv- ing among trees and decaying vegetation conduced to malaria, and a disease called "ague." For many years no household escaped the ague, which was not fatal, but very. undesirable.
Life among the various environments of the early settlers had its com- pensations. As population increased, the introduction of amusements dis- pelled the monotony of the daily routine. Every farmer had his log roll- ings, barn and house raisings; the wives had their quilting bees, wool pick- ings and apple cuttings, and occasionally a dance. Singing schools and spell- ing matches were not uncommon. Church services were held at the resi- dences on Sundays; the minister was known as a "circuit rider." Some one was selected as song leader, who led the singing, and as hymn books were scarce the hymn was lined by the minister.
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