History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 8

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803

USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 8

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1871-A. F. Armstrong, Carroll and Howard counties.

1875-D. D. Dykeman, Carroll and Cass counties.

1877-Charles Kahlo, Carroll and Cass counties.

1880-W. D. Kiser, Carroll, White and Pulaski counties.

Digitized by Google

CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.

1884-F. B. Sellers, Carroll and White counties.

1888-G. Thompson, Carroll, White and Pulaski counties. 1892-J. M. Beck, Carroll, White and Pulaski counties.

1896-Thomas O'Conner, Carroll, White and Pulaski counties.

1900-James Hedgecock, Carroll and Clinton counties. 1904-John Farber, Carroll and Clinton counties. 1908- M. McCarty, Carroll and Clinton counties.

1912-Fred Engle, Carroll and Clinton counties.

Senator J. C. Farber died in 'April, 1908. L. D. Boyd, of Carroll county, was elected at a special election held in Carroll county, ordered by a proclamation issued by Governor Hanly on June 28, 1908. M. McCarty was the senatorial successor by election in November, 1908.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

1828-Jacob Baum, Aaron Hicks, Graham Roberts. 1829-Jacob Baum, Aaron Hicks, Thomas Sterling. 1830- Jacob Baum, A. Smith, Thomas Sterling. 1831-T. Hihjt, S. Wilson, Thomas Sterling. 1832-33-J. Lenon, A. Smith, Thomas Sterling. 1834 -- J. Shanks, J. McNulty, Thomas Sterling. 1835-J. Shanks, J. McNulty, H. Graham. 1836-38-William Hance, J. McNulty, H. Graham. 1839-J. Calvert, J. McNulty, D. Martin. 1840-43-J. Calvert, B. Davis, D. Martin. 1844-J. Odell, D. Davis, D. Martin. 1845-J. Odell, B. Davis, William Hance. 1846-J. Odell, J. Crowell, William Hance. 1847-49-M. Brown, J. Crowell, William Hance. 1850-D. Crocket, J. Crowell, William Hance. 1851-52-D. Crocket, J. Crowell, A. Gregg. 1853-J. Odell, J. Crowell, A. Gregg. 1854-55-T. Smoyer, J. Crowell, T. C. Hughes. 1856-57-U. Blue, J. Crowell, T. C. Hughes. 1858-U. Blue, J. Crowell, William Crooks. 1859-U. Blue, William Love, William Crooks. 1860-62-T. Sterling, William Love, J. S. Shanklin. 1863-T. Sterling, William Love, P. Calvert.

Digitized by

Google

CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.

1864-H. Seibert, William Love, P. Calvert. 1865-H. Seibert, J. Ballard, P. Calvert. 1866-J. G. Troxell, J. Ballard, P. Calvert. 1867-70-J. G. Troxell, J. Glasscock, P. Calvert. 1869-J. G. Troxell, J. Glasscock, W. Adams. 1871 -- H. Seibert, D. Carson, W. Adams. 1872-M. Kerlin, D. Carson, A. J. Wickard. 1873-74-S. Lenon, D. Carson, A. J. Wickard. 1875-S. Lenon, D. Carson, Robert Young. 1876-Hiram Gregg, D. Carson, Robert Young. 1877-Hiram Gregg, S. G. Greenup, Robert Young. 1878-79-Hiram Gregg, S. G. Greenup, W. D. Smith. 1880-81-Hiram Gregg, J. Hanna, W. D. Smith. 1882-J. W. Kilgore, J. Hanna, W. D. Smith. 1883 -- J. W. Kilgore, A. J. Metsger, W. D. Smith. 1884-J. W. Kilgore. A. J. Metsger, W. H. Greathouse. 1885-86-J. G. Cornell, A. J. Metsger, W. H. Greathouse. 1887-J. G. Cornell, A. J. Metsger, G. W. Shanklin. 1888-S. Fouts, A. J. Metsger, G. W. Shanklin. 1889-90-S. Fouts, J. Coble, Jr., G. W. Shanklin. 1891-C. M. Paddock, J. Coble, Jr., G. W. Shanklin.

1892-C. M. Paddock, J. Brewer, G. W. Shanklin. 1893-94-C. M. Paddock, J. Brewer, R. Lane. 1895-C. M. Paddock, C. Coble, R. Lane. 1896-C. M. Paddock, C. Coble, M. G. Haun. 1897-H. Wagoner, C. Coble, M. G. Haun. 1898-H. Wagoner, W. F. West, M. G. Haun. 1899-1902-H. Wagoner, W. F. West, J. Nevin. 1903-J. B. Clark, W. F. West, J. Nevin. 1904-J. B. Clark, A. L. Burkholder, J. Nevin. 1905-J. B. Clark. A. L. Burkholder, J. J. Draper. 1906-E. A. McFarland, A. L. Burkholder, J. J. Draper. 1907-08 -- J. B. Clark, A. L. Burkholder, J. J. Draper. 1909-J. B. Clark, A. L. Burkholder, P. Johnson. 1910-11-Fred Engle. William Kearns, P. Johnson .. 1912-Fred Engle, William Kearns, J. W. Kerlin. 1913-15-W. G. Million, William Kearns, J. W. Kerlin.

Digitized by

Google

OFFICIAL ROSTER. The following is a complete list of state representatives and county officials from the organization of Carroll county to the present time:

Year Representatives

Clerk

Auditor

Treasurer

Recorder

Sheriff

Surveyor

Coroner

Prosecuting Atty.

D. F. Vandeventer

Daniel Baum.

D. F. Vandeventer

A. Dewey

D. Baum.

B. Baxter __

1. Ingram Edward Hannegan

Wm. George __

J. M. Pinkston __

J. Robrabaugh _.

N. Wilson ___

J. T. Hopkinson ..

M. Bonesteel _.

1833

Gillis McBean -- Chancy Carter _. Gillis McBean __

J. HI.

Stewart __-

J. H. ..

Stewart ___

J. H. Stewart ___

S. D. Gresham __.

Jones __

1836 1837

A. G. Hanna __ Samuel Milroy __

W. H. Buford __.

J. F. Armstrong __

1841

A. L. Robinson_ :

G. W.

Pigman __

N. G.

Gillam.

E. Rinehart_

Josiah Brown __

Stewart

1845 H. P. Tedford ..

Palmer

Milo Dibble.

J. S. Case-

[ .. M. Graham ___

J. C. Applegate

1849 Samuel Weaver_

W'm. Potter

1850

T. Thompson ...

L. S. Dale -.

1852

J. B. Milroy __.

1853

J. T. Gwinn ____

J. S. Case.

J. Barnett __

4. Merrett ..

R. P. Dehart

1859

M. Simpson -. ..

E. R. Davis __

J. H. Barnes ...

J. M. Sterrett __.

J. Sidenbender __. ..

M. L. Kidd

1861

1862 J. B. Milroy --- 1863

W'm. Crooks_ ..

John Lenon _.

J. Sines _.

T. C. Whiteside

C. Richardson ____

James Odell _.

H. Orwig __. ..

1835

W. H. Buford.

1838 1839 1840

H. B. Milroy .. James McCully_

Wmn. Simpson-

Tipton

1843 1844

Stewart

1846 A. G. Hanna __. 1847 1848 T. Thompson .. James Odell __

H. P. ..

T. B. Helm- T. H. Thnoles ___.

J. R. Finley __

Harlan

Matt. Simpson ...

J. Barnnett _. ..

J. M. Sterrett ____

G. Bolles __ ..

St. John

H. M. Wright ..

Win. Guthrie ___.

J. Sidenbender __

- Parish

1858 N. Black __

1860

T. Thompson ___

M. R. Graham ---

E. Hedge.

M. D. Wilson_

1854 1855 1856 1857

B.F.Schemerhorn

J. B. Milroy

1851

A. G. Hanna __

Digitized by

Google

Garrett _.

H. M. Wright __.

1834

T. C. Hughes ..

E. A. Hannegan Perry

Wilson

1842

1828 Robert Taylor __ 1829 John Beard __. 1830 A. Claypool ____ 1831 Walter Wilson __ 1832

W. W. Wick

H. B. Milroy_ Miller ___. J.

Tedford __

A. Slane _. ..

A. Benham _.

1864 J. B. Milroy ____

J. W. Fawcett ____

1865

I. Farneman ...

1869

1870

A. P. McFarland

J. B. Milroy ..

J. K. Fry_

1871

James Odell_

J. A. Cartwright_

J. W. Fawcett_

W'm. Guthrie __.

R. Mitchell.

E. Heistand __

J. W. Brown __

1879

W. H. Weaver __

C. Pigman_

S. U. Highland __

C. Williams.

Wm. Porter

C. Smith_

W. C. Smith

1886 Charles Harley __

1887 1888 1889

Charles Harley --

E. Walker. ..

I. Reynolds ..

N. Vangundy ..

T. J. Chissum __.

G. Doane.

M. A. Ryan

1890 J. L. Johnson --- 1891

J. O. Bear __

Jordan ___

J. W. F. Thomas_

E. Pcard_

J. A. Bridge __ W. L .. Roach ..

E. E. Kirkpatrick

G. F. Marvin

1900

1902 Charles Harley __

Fred Engle.

1 . Brown-

D. S. Albaugh __

A. E. Carney __ G. I .. McNeil __

1904 1906

E. E. Pruitt .. C. E. Scholl.

M. G.

Haun -.

Blue- ..

S. S. Doty __

C. M. Kennedy _.

1910

1912 J. P. Davis __. J.

G. C. Long _.

Y. Leslı.

M. Buck .. G.

191+ Perry Rule __

Note: Henry Good was elected in 1914, as auditor, and will take his office January 1. 1916.

Note: From 1828 to 1830, Inclusive, the counties composing the representative district were Montgomery, Tippecanoe. Putnam and Carroll. In 1831. the district was composed of Carroll and Cass counties. From 1836 to 1906, Carroll county was one district. From 1900 to the present. the representative district is composed of the counties of Miami. Howard and Carroll.

Google

Digitized by

1866 A. HI. Evans ____ 1867 1868 R. W. Fairchilds ----

J. W. Jackson ---

J. B. Kane ---

L. M. Grabam D. H. Chase T. Rollins D. H. Chase Alex. Hess J. M. Justice

C. R. Pollard

1876 J. L. Johnson __ 1877

John P.

Hanee.

E. H. Gresham.

E. McFarland ___.

1878 C. E. Scholl ____ . --- G. W. Pigman __.

H. Dunkle

E. Heistand.

J. F. Thompson-

I. R. Kennard ..

H. Kerlin.

J. J. Shultz _.

1880 1881 1882 1888 1884 1885

W. H . Weaver __ J. A. Cartright __

W. E. Steward __

Wm. Bushnell

Wm. Guckin _____

G. W.

Thompson_

W. P. Thompson-

F. P. Lyons ..

G. F. Marvin

1892 Charles Clauser_ 1894 1896 ..

A. L.

M. Ellridge -. Hall

T. B. Wilber J. C. Odell

1898 M. McCarty.

J. F. McCormack_

E. E. Pruitt

Harry Reed.

HI. Butz. ..

Wm. Pullen __ ..

E. D. Wagoner __.

W. C. Thomas C.

1908 J. P. Davis __

F. Sanderson .. ..

E. Cowger W. Taylor

Wm. Lesh

E. B. Flora ..

M. M. Popejor ___

' E. E. Quinn __

H. T. Brockway ..

II. Dunkle ..

1872 J. T. Richardson 1873 - 1874 J. L. Johnson __ 1875

J. H. Wallace

J. W. Sines __- .. J. F. Barnard _.

J. C. Smock

J. Harter __.

W. H. Galbreth __

J. Sonnenfelt _____

---

J. Sidenbender ... ..

J. Garrison _.

S. T. Noland. Parish_

J. H. Wallace Robert Gregory F. P. Hench

Reeder.

CHAPTER V.

THE FORESTS -- SAW-MILLS-WATER COURSES-WABASH RIVER-WABASH AND ERIE CANAL-INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS-GAS AND OIL-

PIONEER TRANSPORTATION-JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP MOUND.

THE FORESTS.

When the white people invaded this part of the Wabash valley, nearly one hundred years ago, they found a grand, magnificent forest, standing as nature made it. It was unsurpassed on the American continent. It may be interesting to state some facts which are of record pertaining to the extent of forest land. In 1880 Indiana had 4,325, 161 acres of land covered with timber. It contained one hundred and nine species of timber. The tower- ing yellow poplar grew to the height of two hundred feet. Some of the oaks were a good second. The forest supplied the first settlers, not only with lumber and wood, but it furnished fur-bearing animals which were a source of profit and aided in paying for the land.

The forest, with which Carroll county was originally densely covered. abounded in game of all kinds and the meat obtained by the pioneers served the purpose of keeping the "wolf from the door." Skins of animal, dressed, went current as money among traders. There being in those days no market for timber products and it being necessary to clear the land in order that crops could be raised, it can be understood why this mighty forest fell before the axman. Boat timber, stave timber and heading used part of it. Houses and barns took some of it. but the fire consumed much of it in log heaps. Pork packing and whiskey made use of much of it. Railroads used much of it for ties. Great quantities for vehicles, furniture, wagons and plow manufacturing. called for the best varieties.

In recent years some of the walnut trees which were saved are now worth each a hundred dollars. The mast from the beech. oak and hickory trees fattened the hogs. Manufactured products from wood in this state went to foreign countries, as did the raw materials. The stumps in later years were utilized because of their value for special articles.

Digitized by Google

CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.

A man who now can boast of a primeval forest has a bonanza. The attempt to reforest the waste places will be slow work, but slow as it may be, it is the only way left to reinstate Nature and to retain the beauty which man, in his eagerness to gain wealth, has obliterated.

SAW-MILLS.

Lumber being a necessity for building purposes induced the building of saw-mills soon after the first settlements were made. The first saw-mill erected was by Henry Robinson, in 1826, just east of Delphi, on a small branch. The mill was operated by an overshot wheel. The next mill was built in the bottoms, now known as Manaries' addition to the town of Delphi, supplied by water leading from Deer creek at a point above, by its own fall.

An early mill was built on the south bank of the Wabash, a short dis- tance below the steamboat locks, the water was obtained from above the dam. This was run by a turbine wheel. Mr. Platt, the father of United States Senator Moses F. Platt, was the second owner of the mill in the early forties. The senator was born in a two-room frame house near the mill and it is still standing, which the senator, a few years ago, when here on a visit, readily recognized as the place of his birth.

Other mills were built in various townships when the population justi- fied it. The people would haul logs to the mills during the winter on sleds, and usually the lumber was shared in the nature of "toll." The best walnut and poplar lumber was used in the building of houses, some of which in later years has been utilized in the building of our most modern homes.

WATER COURSES.

Few counties in the state of Indiana can surpass Carroll county for abundant pure streams of water flowing through her borders. On the western border the far-famed Tippecanoe river runs; a stream about an average width of five hundred feet, with small valleys of rich, sandy loam, with high precipitous bluffs, heavily timbered.

Pleasure resorts are located along this river and during the outing seasons hundreds of people, from far and near, occupy these places and live in tents and club houses. The water is pure and clear. Many fine springs, some of them possessing good medicinal qualities, are found the entire length of the river through this county.

Engineers have investigated the water power of this river, and pro-

Digitized by

Google

100

CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.

nounce it superior to any found elsewhere for electric power. The time will come when it will be utilized.

The Wabash river runs through the county a little north of the center. Its average width is six hundred feet. Large bottoms on this river are unsurpassed for raising corn, the soil being alluvial deposit from frequent overflow. This river furnished the water for the Wabash and Erie canal. It is a government stream and classed as a navigable river. It is entitled to that distinction from Lafayette to its mouth. The bluffs are very high. The current is somewhat sluggish and much of the time the water is cloudy. Small steamboats ascended this river in early days to Delphi and two or three ascended as far as Logansport, one of which never got back. Along this river one hundred years ago, Indian towns dotted its banks. This river was known as far back as four hundred years, and was the main highway of travel from the Great Lakes to the Ohio river, by missionaries and French fur traders. Since the country adjacent to this river has been cleared and the lands drained, this river has extended out its banks and thereby lessened its former depth. In some places levees have been erected to confine its waters in times of freshets. The highest stage of water known was in March, 1913, when the river covered all the bottoms, including the lands levied. When very high the water backs up Deer creek, until all the lowlands adjacent to Delphi, are covered many feet in depth. This river, whose name is of Indian origin, is noted even in song; the Legislature of 1913 adopted a song for the state of Indiana, entitled, "On the Banks of the Wabash Far Away." It follows :

'Round my Indiana homestead wave the cornfields. In the distance loom the woodlands clear and cool. Oftentimes my tho'ts revert to scenes of childhood, Where I first received my lessons Nature's school.

But one thing there is missing in the picture, Without her face it seems so incomplete-

I long to see my mother in the doorway. As she stood there years ago, her boy to greet.

Chorus-

Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash. From the fields there comes the breath of new-mown hay, Through the sycamores the candle-lights are gleaming, On the banks of the Wabash, far away.

Many years have passed since I strolled by the river, Arm in arm, with sweetheart Mary by my side; It was there I tried to tell her that I loved her- It was there I begged of her to be my bride. Long years have passed since I strolled thro' the churchyard, She is sleeping there, my angel Mary dear-

I loved her. but she thought I didn't mean it.

Still I'd give my future were she only here.

Digitized by Google

-----

Digitized by

Google

I i

DEER CREEK DAM. DELPHI IND.

PHOTO By "Vara

A PICTURESQUE LANDMARK.

Digitized by

Google

IOI

CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.

Wild Cat creek has three branches, known as the South, Middle and North forks, all merging together before it leaves the county, and runs through the south part of the county. It is a very crooked stream and fre- quently overflows its banks.

DEER CREEK.

Deer creek takes its rise in Howard county and runs almost due west through the center of the county. It is largely made from numerous springs of pure water and was noted for fine fish in former days, before poisonous substances were permitted to enter it from straw-board factories. This creek is further noted from the poem written by Indiana's great poet about thirty-one years ago when on a visit to a friend in this city. James Whit- comb Riley, on a stroll up the banks east of town, caught the muse and wrote the following verses:

On the banks o' Deer Crick! There's the place for me; Worter skidin' past ye jes' as clair as it can be; See yer shadder in it, and the shadder o' the sky, And the shadder o' the buzzard as he goes a-lazin' by ; Shadder o' the pizen-vines, and shadder o' the trees- And I purt' nigh said the shadder o' the sunshine and the breeze !

Well-I never seen the ocean nor I never seen the sea-

On the banks o' Deer Crick's grand enough for me !

On the banks o' Deer Crick-mile er two from town- 'Long up where the mill-race comes a-loafin' down- Like to git up in there 'mongst the sycamores- And watch the worter at the dam, a-frothin' as she pours; Crawl out on some old log, with my hook and line, Where the fish is jes' so thick you kin see 'em shine As they flicker round yer bait, coaxin' you to jerk, Tel yer tired ketchen' of 'em, mighty nigh like work!

On the banks o' Deer Crick ! Allus my delight Jes' to be around there take it day or night. Watch the snipes and killdees foolin' half the day- Er these-'er little worter-bugs skootin' every way- Snake-feeders glancin' round, er dartin' out of sight ; And dewfall, and bullfrogs, and lightnin'-bugs at night. Stars up through the tree-tops er in the crick below, And smell o' mussrat through the dark. clean from the old by-o!

Er take a tramp, some Sund'y, say 'way up to "Johnson's Hole," And find where he's had a fire, and hid his fishin' pole;

Have yer "dog-leg" with ve. and yer pipe and "cut-and-dry"- Pocketful o' corn-bread, and slug er two o' rye. Soak yer hide in sunshine and waller in the shade-

Like the Good Book tells us-"Where there're none to make afraid." Well-I never seen the ocean ner I never seen the sea- On the banks o' Deer Crick's grand enough fer me!

WABASH RIVER.

The Wabash was first named by the French and spelled by them "Ouabache." This river was known even before the Ohio, and was navi-

Digitized by Google

102

CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.

gated as the Ouabache all the way to the Mississippi a long time before it was discovered that it was a tributary of the Ohio ( Belle Riviere). In descending the Mississippi the French explorers thought they passed the mouth of the Ouabache instead of the Ohio, and in traveling from the Great Lakes to the South, the French always went by way of the Ouabache or the Illinois. The Wabash river had much to do in directing immigration to these fertile regions. As would be expected, the stream is not noted in chronicle or legend as remarkably salubrious or eminently conducive to longevity, and it may be set down as a fact was never mistaken for that fountain of per- petual youth whose rejuvenating water the early Spanish explorers endured so many hardships in seeking. But away back in the dim past, when France held dominion from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, it is invested with romantic interest as being part of the great line of communication between Canada and the military posts in the Southwest, by which the hardy trader embarking in his pirogue at Quebec made nearly the entire journey to Post Vincennes by water. A journey of one of these voyages would be immensely interesting to the dwellers along the Wabash of today. The French explor- ers and missionaries of two hundred years ago spoke in letters and journals, of the Maumee and Wabash, as routes of communication between the lakes and the Mississippi, and from that time until the country came into pos- session of the United States and was opened to white settlement, those rivers have been used for a like purpose by the traders and others having inter- course with the many Indian tribes living in their vicinity.

EARLY AND SUBSEQUENT EXPLORERS.

Among other explorers of the Wabash, as compared with Henne- pin and LaSalle, who made the earliest mention of it, are Capt. Druett Richardville, father of John B. Richardville, who for fifty years up to the time of his death, in 1841, was principal chief of the Miami tribe of Indians; Capt. Jocko Godfrey, father of Francis Godfrey, a distinguished war chief of the same tribe, who died in this country in 1845 and whose children still live here; Gen. Hyacinth LaSalle, the first white child born at Ft. Wayne; Captain Wells, killed in the massacre at Chicago, and Joseph Bar- ron, who in 1810 was sent by General Harrison from Vincennes to the prophet at his town, near the mouth of the Tippecanoe, with a message con- cerning the trouble which afterward led to the battle of the Tippecanoe. Barron was interpreter at most of the Indian treaties for the fifty years preceding his death, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren are among the citizens of this valley today. These men followed in the wake

Digitized by Google

103

CARROLI. COUNTY, INDIANA.

of the first explorers and missionaries and are prominent in the history of this region from about the period of the Revolutionary War to the time of their death. They were generally engaged in trade with the Indians, made their headquarters at Ft. Wayne and Vincennes, and in the requirements of their business used the Wabash as a highway between these points.

.THE WABASH AND ERIE CANAL.

The Congress of the United States, on March 2, 1827, granted to the state of Indiana a quantity of land equal to one-half of five sections in width, on each side of a proposed canal, connecting the waters of the Wabash river with those of Lake Erie and reserving each alternate section to the state. These lands were at the disposal of the state Legislature, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of the canal.

The Act of the General Assembly of the state of Indiana, approved on January 5, 1828, accepted the grant of land from the United States govern- ment and provided for the appointment of canal commissioners, defining their duties. One of their duties was to locate the canal. The Act of the General Assembly, approved on January 23, 1829, more fully laid out the duties of the commissioners, and required them as soon as the land granted by the general government was surveyed, to select said land agreeable to the intent of the Act of Congress, omitting the reservations made by treaties with the Indians, and to make maps of the same and file them with the secretary of state.

The cost of the canal was estimated by a competent corps of United States engineers at the sum of $1,081,970. The sale of the canal lands and other resources composed the canal "fund." Bonds were sold to raise money to construct this mammoth undertaking, and the history of this enterprise would make a good-sized volume. The canal commissioners were given almost unlimited power. They could get their material where they pleased, erect bridges, dams and other works necessary for their purposes, and the law provided for the payment of damages. Eighty thousand acres of land had been sold at private sale by the first of the year. 1834. The canal was being constructed from 1834 to 1843.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

In 1832 and 1833 the people of this state became convinced that a system of internal improvements would attract emigrants from eastern states, and with great unanimity had the Legislature adopt a system for

Digitized by Google

104

CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.

improvement of transportation. Canals and highways were planned, com- missioners and trustees appointed. The question of cost cut but little figure. The Wabash and Erie canal was the most stupendous undertaking. This water-way, commencing at Terre Haute and ending at Toledo, was ten years in construction. A large grant of government lands was given to the state to enable the state to carry on the work; every sixteenth quarter sec- tion was reserved for school purposes.

This colossal undertaking is said to have cost fifteen millions of dollars. The canal was declared open for commerce and travel in 1840. About the time of its completion, the money of the state consisted of bank notes; the state was flooded with "wild cat" paper, "blue dog and bull pup." Much of this paper was worthless. The state credit became impaired and the canal commissioners were unable to borrow money. The people found that they had undertaken work that would, sooner or later, bankrupt the state. Prior to 1840 politics had not intervened to disrupt the legislative plans, but in 1840 one of the most spectacular political campaigns came on. The Whigs were in power in the state. Harrison and Van Buren were competitors for President. The fight almost set aside the work in progress, discontent arose, and rank repudiation of the debts was advocated.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 8

Author: John C. Odell Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages: 803

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803