USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County, Indiana : From the earliest time to the present > Part 21
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
of 624 feet. The central building is five stories in height and con- tains the store-rooms, offices, reception parlors, medical dispensing rooms, mess-rooms and the apartments of the superintendent and other officers, with those of the female employes. Immediately in the rear of the central building, and connected with it by a corridor, is the chapel, a building 50 by 60 feet. This chapel occupies the third floor, while the under stories hold the kitchen, bakery, employcs' dining-room, steward's office, employes' apart- ments and sewing rooms. In rear of this again is the engine- house, 60 by 50 feet, containing all the paraphernalia for such an establishment, such as boilers, pumping works, fire plugs, hose, and above, on the second floor, the laundry and apartments of male employes.
THE STATE PRISON SOUTH.
The first penal institution of importance is known as the "State Prison South," located at Jeffersonville, and was the only prison until 1859. It was established in 1821. Before that time it was customary to resort to the old-time punishment of the whipping- post. Later the manual labor system was inaugurated, and the convicts were hired out to employers, among whom were Capt. Westover, afterward killed at Alamo, Texas, with Crockett, James Keigwin, who in an affray was fired at and severely wounded by a convict named Williams, Messrs. Patterson Hensley, and Jos. R. Pratt. During the rule of the latter of these lessees, the atten- tion of the authorities was turned to a more practical method of utilizing convict labor; and instead of the prisoners being per- mitted to serve private entries, their work was turned in the direc- tion of their own prison, where for the next few years they were employed in erecting the new buildings now known as the " State Prison South." This structure, the result of prison labor, stands on 16 acres of ground, and comprises the cell houses and work- shops, together with the prisoners' garden, or pleasure-ground.
It seems that in the erection of these buildings the aim of the overseers was to create so many petty dungeons and unventilated laboratories, into which disease in every form would be apt to creep. This fact was evident from the high mortality character- izing life within the prison; and in the efforts made by the Government to remedy a state of things which had been permitted to exist far too long, the advance in prison reform has become a reality. From 1857 to 1871 the labor of the prisoners was devoted
240
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
to the manufacture of wagons and farm implements; and again the old policy of hiring the convicts was resorted to; for in the latter year, 1871, the Sonthwestern Car Company was organized, and every prisoner capable of taking a part in the work of car-building was leased out. This did very well until the panic of 1873, when the company suffered irretrievable losses; and previous to its final down-fall in 1876 the warden withdrew convict labor a second time, leaving the prisoners to enjoy a luxurious idleness around the prison which themselves helped to raise.
In later years the State Prison South has gained some notoriety from the desperate character of some of its inmates. During the civil war a convict named Harding mutilated in a most horrible manner and ultimately killed one of the jailors named Tesley. In 1874, two prisoners named Kennedy and Applegate, possessing themselves of some arms, and joined by two other convicts named Port and Stanley, made a break for freedom, swept past the guard, Chamberlain, and gained the fields. Chamberlain went in pursuit but had not gone very far when Kennedy turned on his pursuer, fired and killed him instantly. Subsequently three of the prisoners were captured alive and one of them paid the penalty of death, while Kennedy, the murderer of Chamberlain, failing committal for murder, was sent back to his old cell to spend the remainder of his life. Bill Rodifer, better known as "The Hoosier Jack Sheppard," effected his escape in 1875, in the very presence of a large guard, but was recaptured and has since been kept in irons.
This establishment, owing to former mismanagement, has fallen very much behind, financially, and has asked for and received an appropriation of $20,000 to meet its expenses, while the contrary is the case at the Michigan City prison.
THE STATE PRISON NORTH.
In 1859 the first steps toward the erection of a prison in the northern part of the State were taken, and by an act of the Legis- lature approved March 5, this year, anthority was given to construct prison buildings at some point north of the National road. For this purpose $50,000 were appropriated, and a large number of convicts from the Jeffersonville prison were transported northward to Michigan City, which was just selected as the location for the new penitentiary. The work was soon entered upon, and continued to meet with additions and improvements down to a very recent period. So late as 1875 the Legislature appropriated $20,000
241
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
toward the construction of new cells, and in other directions also the work of improvement has been going on. The system of government and discipline is similar to that enforced at the Jeffer- sonville prison; and, strange to say, by its economical working has not only met the expenses of the administration, but very recently had amassed over $11,000 in excess of current expenses, from its annual savings. This is due almost entirely to the continnal employment of the convicts in the manufacture of cigars and chairs, and in their great prison industry, cooperage. It differs widely from the Southern, insomuch as its sanitary condition has been above the average of similar institutions. The strictness of its silent system is better enforced. The petty revolutions of its inmates have been very few and insignificant, and the number of punishments inflicted comparatively small. From whatever point this northern prison may be looked at, it will bear a very favorable comparison with the largest and best administered of like establish- ments throughont the world, and cannot fail to bring high credit to its Board of Directors and its able warden.
FEMALE PRISON AND REFORMATORY.
The prison reform agitation which in this State attained telling proportions in 1869, caused a Legislative measure to be brought forward, which would have a tendency to ameliorate the condition of female convicts. Gov. Baker recommended it to the General Assembly, and the members of that body showed their appreciation of the Governor's philanthropic desire by conferring upon the bill the authority of a statute; and further, appropriated $50,000 to aid in carrying out the objects of the act. The main provisions con- tained in the bill may be set forth in the following extracts from the proclamation of the Governor:
" Whenever said institution shall have been proclaimed to be open for the reception of girls in the reformatory department thereof, it shall be lawful for said Board of Managers to receive them into their care and management, and the said reformatory department, girls under the age of 15 years who may be committed to their custody, in either of the following modes, to-wit:
"1. When committed by any judge of a Circuit or Common Pleas Court, either in term time or in vacation, on complaint and due proof by the parent or guardian that by reason of her incorrig- ible or vicious conduct she has rendered her control beyond the power of such parent or guardian, and made it manifestly requisite
242
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
that from regard to the future welfare of such infant, and for the protection of society, she should be placed under such guardianship.
"2. When such infant has been committed by such judge, as aforesaid, upon complaint by any citizen, and dne proof of such complaint that such infant is a proper subject of the guardianship of such institution in consequence of her vagrancy or incorrigible or vicious conduct, and that from the moral depravity or other- wise of her parent or guardian in whose custody she may be, such parent or guardian is incapable or unwilling to exercise the proper care or discipline over such incorrigible or vicions infant.
"3. When such infant has been committed by such judge as aforesaid, on complaint and due proof thereof by the township trustee of the township where.such infant resides, that such infant is destitute of a suitable home and of adequate means of obtaining an honest living, or that she is in danger of being brought up to lead an idle and immoral life."
In addition to these articles of the bill, a formal section of instruction to the wardens of State prisons was embodied in the act, cansing such wardens to report the number of all the female convicts under their charge and prepare to have them transferred to the female reformatory immediately after it was declared to be ready for their reception. After the passage of the act the Governor appointed a Board of Managers, and these gentlemen, securing the services of Isaac Hodgson, caused him to draft a plan of the proposed institution, and further, on his recommendation, asked the people for an appropriation of another $50.000, which the Legislature granted in February, 1873. The work of construc- tion was then entered upon and carried out so steadily, that on the 6th of September, 1873, the building was declared ready for the reception of its future inmates. Gov. Baker lost no time in proclaiming this fact, and October 4 he caused the wardens of the State prisons to be instructed to transfer all the female convicts in their custody to the new institution which may be said to rest on the advanced intelligence of the age. It is now called the " Indiana Reformatory Institution for Women and Girls."
This building is located immediately north of the deaf and dumb asylum, near the arsenal, at Indianapolis. It is a three- story brick structure in the French style, and shows a frontage of 174 feet, comprising a main building, with lateral and transverse wings. In front of the central portion is the residence of the superintendent and his associate reformatory officers, while in the
243
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
rear is the engine house, with all the ways and means for heating the buildings. Enlargements, additions and improvements are still in progress. There is also a school and library in the main building, which are sources of vast good.
October 31, 1879, there were 66 convicts in the " penal " depart- ment and 147 in the " girls' reformatory " department. The "ticket-of-leave " system has been adopted, with entire satisfaction, and the conduct of the institution appears to be up with the times.
INDIANA HOUSE OF REFUGE.
In 1867 the Legislature appropriated $50.000 to aid in the formation of an institution to be entitled a house for the correction and reformation of juvenile defenders, and vested with full powers in a Board of Control, the members of which were to be appointed by the Governor, and with the advice and consent of the Senate. This Board assembled at the Governor's house at Indianapolis, April 3, 1867, and elected Charles F. Coffin, as president, and visited Chicago, so that a visit to the reform school there might lead to a fuller knowledge and guide their future proceedings. The House of Refuge at Cincinnati, and the Ohio State Reform school were also visited with this design; and after full consider- ation of the varied governments of these institutions, the Board resolved to adopt the method known as the " family " system, which divides the inmates into fraternal bodies, or small classes, each class having a separate house, house father and family offices, -all under the control of a general superintendent. The system being adopted, the question of a suitable location next presented itself, and proximity to a large city being considered rather detrimental to the welfare of such an institution, Gov. Baker selected the site three-fourths of a mile south of Plainfield, and about fourteen miles from Indianapolis, which, in view of its eligibility and convenience, was fully concurred in by the Board of Control. Therefore, a farm of 225 acres, claiming a fertile soil and a most picturesque situation, and possessing streams of running water, was purchased, and on a platean in its center a site for the proposed house of refnge was fixed.
The next movement was to decide upon a plan, which ultimately met the approval of the Governor. It favored the erection of one principal building, one house for a reading-room and hospital, two large mechanical shops and eight family houses. January 1, 1868,
244
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
three family houses and work-shop were completed; in 1869 the main building, and one additional family house were added; but previous to this, in August, 1867, a Mr. Frank P. Ainsworth and his wife were appointed by the Board, superintendent and matron respectively, and temporary quarters placed at their disposal. In 1869 they of course removed to the new building. This is 64 by 128 feet, and three stories high. In its basement are kitchen, laundry and vegetable cellar. The first floor is devoted to offices, visitors' room, house father and family dining-room and store- rooms. The general superintendent's private apartments, private offices and five dormitories for officers occupy the second floor; while the third floor is given up to the assistant superintendent's apartment, library, chapel and hospital.
The family houses are similar in style, forming rectangular build- ings 36 by 58 feet. The basement of each contains a furnace room, a store-room and a large wash-room, which is converted into a play-room during inclement weather. On the first floor of each of these buildings are two rooms for the house father and his family, and a school-room, which is also convertible into a sitting- room for the boys. On the third floor is a family dormitory, a clothes-room and a room for the " elder brother," who ranks next to the house father. And since the reception of the first boy, from Hendricks connty, Jannary 23, 1868, the house plan has proved equally convenient, even as the management has proved efficient.
Other buildings have since been erected.
PART II.
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
EDITED BY THOMAS B. HELM.
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER I .*
GEOLOGY-GENERAL FEATURES-CONDITION AT THE CLOSE OF THE GLA- OIAL EPOCH-ROCKS OF CASS COUNTY-SECTION OF THE STRATA-THE SILICO MAGNESIA LIMESTONE-SECTIONS AT VARIOUS POINTS-LIME BURNING IRON MANUFACTURING, ETC.
C YASS COUNTY is situated in the north central portion of In- diana, and at the close of the glacial epoch was probably a level plain. Since that time the Wabash River and its tributaries have eroded a very considerable amount of clays and bowlders de- posited by the great ice flow, forming a valley in this natural plain several miles wide, and ranging from 100 to 200 feet deep, and cut- ting their channel down into the underlying rocks about ninety feet. Hence, a great variety of soil is found to exist, ranging from the stiff clays of the bowlder drift to the ancient and modern alluvial loams which are found on the terraces along these rivers. The Wabash River flows from east to west, near the center, and Eel River, from the northeast, enters the same at Logansport. Along these streams there is a large area of alluvial soil of great excellence, upon which large crops of wheat and corn are raised. The county was originally covered with a dense growth of timber, considerable quantities of which yet remain.
The rocks of this county are of the upper Silurian Age, with out- lines of lower Devonian. It is probable that the latter prevails in the southern portion of the county, although generally buried be- neath the drift. The following is a connected section of the county strata:
*Adapted from the State Geological Report for 1872.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Feet.
Soil 2 to 10
Modified drift 10 to 20
Bowlder drift 120 to 30
Devonian black slate (reported).
30
Devonian limestone. 20 to 10
Silurian yellow limestone, local.
11
Fire-stone.
12
Fine blue limestone. 20 to 40
Silico Magnesia limestone. 10 to 40
Total 203
An outcrop of the Devonian limestones occurs on the Cincinnati road, and southeast from Logansport another bed was seen near the southern bank of the canal, three miles east of the town, rich in beautiful specimens of fossils. Near the lime works, four and a half miles east of the town, there is a still richer Devonian coral reef, about ten feet thick. In this locality a large amount of lime has been made and shipped. It is a good quality, and is known by masons as a hot lime, begins to set quick, but requires several days to thoroughly harden. At these mines strata containing petroleum are seen, and occasionally a cavity is broken into containing several pounds of bitumen. On the land of William Dunn is found a bed of snow-white sandstone suitable for making glass, and also a thin stratum of lithographie stone.
Below the lime rock is a thick deposit of buff-colored rock, often locally called "freestone," termed in Owen's report "silico magnesia limestone." It contains little or no limestone, but in position, color and mode of occurrence is similar to the famous buff-colored stone obtained at Anamosa, Iowa. At the weathered outcrops this stone does not present a favorable appearance, but may improve as it is uncovered, deeply protected from atmospheric action. The follow- ing section at the head of Cedar Island shows some massive bands worthy the attention of quarrymen:
Feet.
Inches.
Roughly weathered white limetone.
4
6
Irregular and amorphous stone.
14
0
Thin bedded "silico magnesia"
4
6
Heavy bedded " silico magnesia"
11
6
Banded limestone, with petroleum and tar.
1
6
-
-
Total 36 0
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
The Wabash River here flows over a solid floor, a part of which indicates good quality for building purposes. "Rostrum Rock," on the Indiana Reservation, on the south bank of the river, is a trun- cated pillar, standing alone in the forest. On the canal, half a mile west of Lewisburg, is a very extensive bed of gravel, about twenty feet in depth.
One mile south of Logansport is an outerop of stone, principal- ly thin bedded, known as the "Fire-stone Quarry." This stone has, in an extraordinary degree, a capacity for resisting the effects of heat, and has successfully and profitably been used for back-walls in fireplaces in houses and the parts exposed to excessive heat in furnaces.
The "silico magnesia," or buff-colored limestone, mentioned as occurring at Cedar Island, passes entirely beneath the bed of the Wabash at Logansport, but on the west this rock is soon found above the surface, and within a few miles attains a thickness of from ten to forty feet. This stone was used in the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad bridge across the Wabash, and seems to weather well. Still further down the river, and on the south bank, there is an ex- tensive outcrop that has been worked on a large scale. The follow- ing section is given at La Rosa & Nash's quarry:
Feet. 40
Inches.
Gray porous limestone.
0
Shelly buff silico magnesia limestone.
4
6
Solid buff silico magnesia limestone.
12
0
Compact brown silico magnesia limestone.
15 6
Hard blue limestone, with odor of petroleum, and streaks
and masses of tar in partings and crevices to water line.
? ?
Total
72 0
North of the Wabash, and near the Logansport & Peoria Rail- road, this stone is well developed and has been worked on the lands of Maj. Dunn and Mr. Watts. Calvert's quarry, two and a half miles east of Georgetown, gives the following section, which shows the blue limestone unconformably deposited upon the silico magne- sia, with a small parting of clay. This parting is general, and is often drilled to some twenty or thirty feet below the surface, at Lo- gansport, for a supply of water:
250
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
Feet.
Inches.
Gray limestone.
10 0
Clay parting. 2 to 10
Irregular bedded limestone. 1
0
Clay band filling inequalities on surface of the Argo. magnesia limestone. 1 ft. to 1
6
Silico magnesia limestone
15 4
Total 28 8
North and west from Calvert's is Rechester's quarry, from which is obtained the stone known as the "Georgetown stone," used so ex- tensively in the construction of abutments, piers and copings along the canal and river and different railroads. A good test of the qual- ity of this stone is seen in the walls and columns of the county court house, built nearly forty-five years ago. About sixty acres have been exhausted, but the supply is inexhaustible. A stratum from two to four inches thick of lithographie stone is also found here, which experts declare to be of a good quality.
The quarry on the Dunn homestead was extensively worked in former times. On the opposite side of the river from La Rosa's quarry the stone is of the same color, and may be quarried in large blocks. Stratigraphically this is the most elevated expanse of the sil- ico magnesia limestone seen in the county. From this point the strata dips in every direction, and rapidly to the north and north- east. The hill is capped with eight to twelve feet of gray lime- stone, with an expanse of quarry rock thirty feet thick. On the same farm there is a tract of more than five acres in extent, where the solid rock is rent by fissures from one to two feet wide, and ten to thirty feet deep, having a direction generally from northeast to southwest. The same ground is also pierced with round holes two to three feet in diameter, reaching perpendicularly down to an un- known depth. This singular phenomenon probably owes its origin to the corroding action of rain, or rain-water charged with carbonic acid gas.
Adjoining this farm, and one and one-half miles from Logans- port, an extensive business is done in burning and shipping lime. The product is highly caustic, and has been used by the gas compa- nies at Peoria, Pekin, Logansport and Lafayette exclusively for several years as a deodorizer. It is a good plaster lime when well slacked, and makes a hard, compact wall, not liable to "pop" from
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
subsequent exposure to the air. A section at the Talbott Mine is here given:
Feet. 1
Soil.
Fire-stone. 1 to 2
Gray limestone, with pockets and seams of calc spar, a strong odor of petroleum, and partings and masses of bi- tumen. 12
Same, more compact, as found in test fire. 48
Total 63
The stone is compact, free from chert, obscurely laminated, and well adapted for burning.
R. S. J. Green & Co. established iron works four miles east of Logansport in the year 1856 or 1857, at the canal lock, using water leased from the canal for motive power. The company used bog ore from White County, which was roasted, sifted and heated in a Catalan forge, and then hammered into blooms by machinery. The ore, by analysis, was at least 60 per cent, but by this process the product only averaged 37 per cent. The forge was in operation about a year and a half. The maximum product for a single month was 100 tons. The enterprise was not profitable because of the great expense of long transportation of the ore from White County in wagons.
CHAPTER II.
BY T. B. HELM.
INDIANS-THE ABORIGINES, THEIR DIVISIONS AND CLASSES-TRIBES; THE MIAMIS, THEIR HISTORY AND FAMILY RELATIONS-THE POTTAWATO- MIES, THEIR ORIGIN-MIGRATIONS-NOTED CHIEFS AND WARRIORS, -TREATIES-BATTLE AT OLD TOWN, ETC.
U PON the first introduction of Europeans among the primitive inhabitants of this country, it was the prevailing opinion among the white people that the vast domain since designated as the "American Continent" was peopled by one common family, of like habits and speaking the same language. The error, however, was soon dispelled by observation, which at the same time estab- lished the fact of the great diversity of their characteristics, lan-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
guage and physical development, the diversity arising sometimes from one cause and sometimes from another. Especially within the past century the subject of ethnological investigation has acquired new interest, the unfoldings of the period adding largely to the stock of knowledge appertaining thereto. These investigations, in many instances, have elicited facts of great moment by the consid- eration, in the light of the present age, of observed conditions as consequent upon causes before unknown to science. As a result, therefore, it has been ascertained that there are certain radical divis- ions in the Indian race at large into which, by common consent, the race has been separated.
The principal of these divisions, as known at this period, is the Algonquin, embracing, among other powerful tribes, the Miamis, recognized as one of the most perfect types, and in past ages one of the most extensive on the continent. Next in rank to the Miamis, if, indeed, they are not entitled to precedence, are the Delawares, or Lenne Lenapes, and the Shawanoes. The Miamis were early known as the Twa'twas', Omes and Omanees. Next were the Peorias, Kas- kaskias, Weas and Piankeshaws, who, collectively, were known as the Ilinese, or Illinois Indians. Then, the Ottawas. The Chip- pewas and Mississauges were interchangeably known as Nipersin- ians, Nipissings, Ojibwas, Santaux and Chibwas. After these were the Kiskapoos, or Miscoutins; the Pottawattomies, or Pouks; and the Sacs (or Sauks), and Foxes (or Reynards). The Munsees was another name for the Delawares. This is Schoolcraft's classifica- tion and arrangement, as given in his history of the "Indians of North America."
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