USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 11
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
have this small room, in order that I might be secure from the draughts and the night air that would be let into the men's saloon at night; and the canal boat agents at Terre Haute had contracted to secure the same for me through- out the length of the passage. Doctor Read had particularly insisted on this, fearing that the slightest chill would produce a return of the illness from which I was, in truth, scarcely convalescent.
"A flat roof spread over the whole of the saloons, and on it was piled the luggage; and here passengers walked up and down or sat to enjoy the view.
"The view, however, 'was nought,' as yet. The banks were low, and thick woods, in which were only partial clearings, shut us in on both sides.
"Our children wondered where they were to sleep, as there were no visible berths amid the red moreen curtains that hung around the ladies' saloon, to give it an air of comfort in this August weather. They dreaded to have to pass four nights on the floor, as they had done at Mrs. Long's hotel; but they said they were more used to hardships than they had then been; and they also drew comparative comfort from seeing a wash-hand basin and two towels, instead of that amiable woman's small, tin pie-dish. The steward, however, soon solved their doubts by hooking up some shelves to the wall, and laying mattresses and sheets upon them.
"We were summoned to tea, but after the good living at the Prairie House (Terre Haute), all complained of the bad tea and coffee, of the hot, heavy corn-bread, and of the raw beefsteak.
"After tea we all began a most murderous attack upon the mosquitoes that swarmed on the windows and inside our berths, in expectation of feast- ing upon us as soon as we should go to bed. But those on whom we made war were soon replaced by others, and the more we killed the more they seemed to come to be killed, like Mrs. Bond's ducks; it was as though they would defy us to exterminate them. At last we gave up the task as hope- less and resigned ourselves, as well as we could, to pass a sleepless night."
. (9)
CHAPTER VIII.
AGRICULTURE AND STATISTICS.
In the various lines of industrial pursuits there is none that has claimed the attention of the larger portion of the people to a greater degree than has that of agriculture. Upon this line of industry every other industrial ac- tivity is dependent. The success of the farmer contributes to the success of the merchant, the manufacturer, the mechanic, the capitalist, and the man without capital, depending upon his daily labor for a living. The race could exist for but a brief period, were it not for that which the soil brings forth, and this must be largely produced by the diligent and industrious husband- man. Some sections of the state of Indiana, as well as of many other states, have other resources which furnish wealth in abundance, but the great wealth comes from the soil and the abundant harvests which the soil produces. Of the many excellent farming communities in this state there are few, if any, that can produce better crops, one year with another, than does the county of Daviess.
RECLAIMING WASTE LANDS.
Nearly all the land in Daviess county is tillable and capable of produc- ing abundant crops. With the exception of a section in the southeastern. part of the county, the land is generally level. For the most part, this com- paratively level land was originally covered with a heavy growth of fine tim- ber, with an interspersion of prairie land. All this has been brought into a high state of cultivation by the industry of the land owners and the appli- cation of modern farm methods.
Until a few years ago there were sections of land in the western and southwestern part of the county that were covered with swamps and con- sidered of little value. No attempts were made by the owners to improve this land and it was not salable at any price. The land was covered with water the greater part of the year, the water standing from one to five or six feet deep, the habitation of frogs, turtles, and amphibious creatures of various sorts. There were also large sections in the western part of the county of deep sandy land, with a growth of small shrubbery and wild weeds, which was a favorite resort for rabbits and other small game. This land
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
was also considered of little value. As an illustration of the estimated value of this land, only a few years ago, a gentleman related to the writer his ex- perience in a real estate deal within the last five years. He said he held a mortgage for seven hundred and fifty dollars on one hundred and sixty acres of this sandy land and the mortgagor urged him to take the land and release the mortgage. He declined to do this, preferring the seven hundred and fifty dollars, which was finally paid. He says this same tract of land can not be bought now for less than one hundred dollars per acre. Another real estate experience related by this same gentleman : At an auction held on the street. in Washington, this county, one busy Saturday afternoon, a few years ago. he bid off two quarter sections of this apparently worthless land, paying five dollars an acre for the same. Before the deeds were exe- cuted, and before the purchase price had been actually paid, the purchaser was offered an advance of one dollar an acre for his bargain and he accepted the offer, realizing something like three hundred dollars profit on the after- noon transaction. This looked like "easy money" and he congratulated him- self on his lucky deal. But looking at the matter from the present stand- point, he is confirmed in the opinion that the man who paid him one dollar per acre for his bargain is the one to whom congratulations are due. That same land is now worth from forty thousand to fifty thousand dollars.
MODERN METHODS APPLIED.
All this increase in the value of these lands has been due to the appli- cation of modern methods of farming, and the science, skill and industry of the educated farmer. The swamp lands have been dredged and drained and brought into a high state of cultivation, producing from fifty to one hun- dred bushels of corn per acre. The sandy lands have been cleared of the useless growth of wild weeds and brush, and, figuratively, made to "blos- som as the rose." This is not altogether a figurative expression, either, for on these sand lands are produced some of the choicest cantaloupes and the juciest watermelons to be found. The development of the melon industry within the last few years has been a boon to the owners of sandy lands in Daviess county, as well as in other counties in this section of the state. Some have sold their land at what would have been considered a fabulous price a few years ago, others have engaged in the melon industry with profit, where intelligence and business principles were employed in the industry.
Daviess county is well adapted to the raising of all the staple products common to other counties in this section of the state. The productions are
132
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
so varied as to warrant the assertion that drouth, or excessive rains, or over- flowing of the lowlands, or other unusual occurrence of any season, or any year, can not so seriously affect conditions that the husbandman will be completely disappointed in his expectations of a fair return for his labor. While Daviess county will not rank as high as some of the adjoining coun- ties in the production of wheat, it stands well toward the head of the list in the production of corn, a yield of one hundred bushels per acre being not an unusual production for this cereal. There is also a good deal of attention being given to stock-raising, the eastern part of the county being especially well adapted for that industry.
STATISTICAL ITEMS OF INTEREST.
From the biennial report, 1913 and 1914, of the Indiana state bureau of statistics, the following items are gleaned :
Number of square miles in Daviess county, 433. Number of farms, 2,587. Number of acres, 269,678; valuation, $6,569,045. Average valua- tion per acre, $24.36. Number of families in Daviess county, 6,231 ; number of dwellings, 6,144.
Population of Daviess county in each decade since the organization of the county, as shown by the United States census report :
1810 (estimated)
300
1870
16,747
1820
3,432
1880
21,552
1830
4,543
1890
1
1
1
1
1
1 26,227
1840
6,720
1900
1
1
1
1
29,914
1850
1
1
1
10,352
1910
1860
I 1
13,325
DAVIESS COUNTY PRODUCTIONS.
From the state statistical report for 1912 the following items are gleaned regarding the principal productions of Daviess county farms :
Acres.
Bushels. Average per Acre.
Wheat
-34,892
473,957
13.58
Corn
50,956
1,455,742
28.55
Oats
10,118
I 36,608
13.50
Rye
1,107
17,813
Buckwheat
IO
500
1
1
1
1
1
27,747
1
1
1
1
1
1
L
I
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Acres.
Bushels.
Barley
II
IIO
Potatoes
I
48
1,103
Tomatoes
378
*2,160 tons.
Timothy
- 16,036
13,285 tons.
Alfalfa
I
1
1 1
91
85 tons.
Clover
4,091
4,140 tons hay,
1,316 bu. seed.
* Not excelled by any county in this section of the state.
Value of cattle sold in 1912, $137,956. Value of cattle on hand, Janu- ary 1, 1913, $219,483.
Value of hogs sold in 1913, $309,715. Value of hogs on hand, January I, 1914, $148,452. Hogs died of disease in 1913, 2,326.
Value of sheep sold in 1913, $13,379. Value of sheep on hand, January I, 1914, $10,265. Wool clip, 19,190 pounds; selling value, $3,983.
Value of horses and colts sold in 1912, $70,110. Value of horses and colts on hand, January 1, 1913, $545,646.
Value of mules sold in 1912, $55,617. Value of mules on hand, Janu- ary 1, 1913, $181,898.
FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S REPORT.
The following items of interest are taken from the annual report of the county auditor, for the year ending, December 31, 1914:
Number of miles of gravel and macadam roads in Daviess county, com- pleted and under repair, about three hundred and twenty-five miles. Aver- age cost, per mile, $3,037. Total amount of bonds sold for the construction of gravel roads, $987,176.55. Total cost of repair of gravel roads in all the townships for 1914, about $31,174.01. The total amount of outstanding indebtedness for the construction of free gravel roads in the county, which is against the townships that are constructing the roads, was, on the 31st day of December, 1914, $427,389.24.
The total valuation of the real estate and personal property in Daviess county, less the mortgage exemption, is $14,430,160.
The total amount of current taxes charged in 1912 was $435,673.66; in 1913, $427,290.91 ; in 1914, $419,131.03.
Expenditures, 1914 : For poor expense, $4,438.84 : for orphans, $872.34; for bridges, $16,990.85.
1
I
I I 1
1
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
SOCIAL STATISTICS.
A glance at the statistics relating to matrimonial alliances in Daviess county discloses the fact that a considerable number do not prove to be satis- factory to the contracting parties. Covering a period of six years, the num- ber of divorces granted averages about ten per cent of the number of licenses issued, as appears in the following exhibit :
Licenses Issued.
Divorces Granted.
Licenses Issued.
Divorces Granted.
1906
254
24
1909
-242
14
1907
231
24
1910
236
22
1908
1
265
26
I9II
.234
34
LOCAL OPTION ELECTIONS.
The question of the regulation of the liquor traffic, and of the prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquor, by vote and remonstrance, has been agitated by the people of Daviess county, as it has by the people of about every other county in the state. Under the provisions of the county option law, enacted by the Legislature in 1908, the question was submitted to a vote of the people of Daviess county, at an election held on May 26, 1909. The result of this election was a vote of 1,456 against, and 683 in favor of the sale of intoxi- cants. a "dry" majority of 773. By virtue of this action, Daviess county was without a licensed saloon for two years. In the meantime a succeeding Legislature repealed the county option law and enacted what is known as the Proctor law, which gave to cities, incorporated towns and townships the ex- clusive right to vote upon this question. Under this law an election was held in the city of Washington, this county, March 29, 1911, resulting in a "wet" majority of 328. On the same date Elmore township voted "dry" by 160 majority. On March 28, Barr township voted "dry" by 33 majority ; and Madison township gave the same expression by a majority of 123. A "dry" majority of eighty was given by Barr township at another election held on March 28, 1913.
RISE AND FALL OF THE DAVIESS COUNTY FAIR.
As early as the year 1855, an agricultural society was organized in Daviess county, the first annual fair being held in that year. For several
I35
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
years thereafter annual fairs were held and were quite generally patronized by the farmers, among whom there was a spirited rivalry as to which one could produce the biggest corn, the best wheat, oats, potatoes and the biggest pumpkins. Among the stock raisers there was an effort to excel in the ex- hibit of cattle, horses and hogs; those who could show imported and fancy breeds of stock being most conspicuous in these annual exhibits. That was the time when the manufacture of wagons, buggies, plows and other farm implements was strictly a home industry. These were all strictly "home made," and the maker took especial pride in the exhibition of his skill and workmanship at the annual county fair. And the ladies, who were adept in the art of cooking, needle work, painting and the domestic arts generally, exhibited that in which each was most proficient and interested. The result was that the exhibits and displays, at the annual fairs for several years, were attractive and instructive, and the fair was popular and a financial success.
Eventually the Civil War came on, and the diversion of the public inter- est and attention, incident thereto, affected the Daviess county fair, as it did all other county fairs in the state. The patronage of the fair was not suffi- cient to meet the expenses of the associatiton. In order to cover this deficiency, the association had recourse to means of raising money by the introduction of horse-racing, cheap shows and the like. Concessions were secured by fakirs, mountebanks and nondescripts, with various gambling devices, all of whom sought the nimble coin of the unwary, reaping rich harvests from the pockets of their dupes. All these things militated against the annual county fair, as such things always do. The attendance became less each year until, finally, the fair was discontinued for want of financial support.
AMBITIOUS ASSOCIATION TOILS.
In May, 1884, the Daviess County Agricultural, Mineral, Mechanical and Industrial Association was organized. The objects of this association, as set forth in the articles of the association, were, "the encouragement, pro- motion and improvement of the agricultural, horticultural, mechanical, min- ing, manufacturing and industrial interests of Daviess county." It might appear that the name of this association was rather top-heavy, and somewhat expansive, but the objects of the association were also expansive, worthy of the name, and of the highest ambition of the enterprising promoters.
The capital stock of the association was fixed at ten thousand dollars, in ten-dollar shares, and thirty directors constituted the board of control. The first meeting of the stockholders was held, June 14, 1884, for the purpose of
I36
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
electing officers of the association. Zack Jones was elected president : Henry Walter, vice-president; Charles W. Thomas, treasurer, and Ed F. Meredith, secretary. The first fair was held on the grounds of the association, west of Washington, from October 6 to II, inclusive. The grounds consisted of forty acres of land, on which was a beautiful grove, an abundance of water and a fine half-mile race track. The fair had an auspicious beginning and the annual meets continued for several years, with gratifying success. But interest in the exhibits, after a time, grew less; the racing and other attrac- tions began to decline, because of the competition of larger attractions else- where, and the enterprise was finally abandoned. The association went out of existence several years ago, and the fair grounds went to another owner- ship.
CHAPTER IN.
THE "UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" IN DAVIESS COUNTY.
One of the interesting topics of the early history of Daviess county, and other counties adjoining, is that of an organization known as the "under- ground railroad." This was a secret system by which slaves, endeavoring to escape from their masters in the slave states, were afforded protection and transportation on their way to Canada. There was a line of "stations," ex- tending from several points on the Ohio river, and the escaping slave was transported from one station to another, under the protection of friends en- listed in the cause. Those who engaged in this business incurred great risks, and many narrow brushes with death, in their desire to assist and protect the escaping bondman. Not only from the slaveholders, in pursuit, did the "station masters," and those assisting the runaways, have cause to fear ; but there were men in all the border counties ready and willing to aid the cause of the slaveowner in the apprehension of his "property," for the liberal reward that was offered. These men acted as spies and were of great service in giv- ing information to the slaveowner, being ever ready to assist in the appre- hension of the runaway.
The fugitive-slave law. that was enacted by Congress, in 1850, gave the slaveowners, or those hunting their runaway slaves, the power to organize a posse in any place in the United States to aid them in the reclamation of their slaves. Under this law, a great impetus was given to the hunting of fugitive slaves in all the free states bordering on the slaves states, and in no section was there greater activity in this line of industry than in the counties of southwestern Indiana. This law was taken advantage of by many men who never owned a slave, or who had never lived in a slave state. The kidnapping of free negroes was a common occurrence in those days. It was no trouble for a man. well advanced in moral degeneracy, and inclined to take another step in that direction, to seize upon a free negro, take him before a compliant justice of the peace, present a description of the alleged runaway-a descrip- tion that had been previously obtained by co-conspirators-and the rights of the alleged slave owner were fully established. By a decision of the highest court, a negro had no rights that a white man was bound to respect.
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
GREAT RISKS WERE INCURRED.
Those who were engaged in the operation of this "underground railroad" system not only incurred great risks in the personal danger to life and prop- erty, but also subjected themselves to the severe penalty prescribed by the fugitive-slave act. That law imposed a fine of one thousand dollars and imprisonment on any one harboring, or in any way aiding fugitives in escap- ing. As the courts were constituted in that period, a very small incident was easily construed as "aiding and harboring" fugitives.
In Daviess county, as in the other counties in this part of the state, the greater porton of the early settlers came from slave states. Some had come in order to get away from slavery and its blighting influence, and they had strong convictions as to the evils of that institution. Others, who found a home in this county, brought with them the views of the community from which they came, as to the slavery question. The prevalent opinion was that slavery was right, and that the slaveowner's right to his slave was as legiti- mate as was his right to any other of his chattels. Slavery had existed in all the settled sections of the Northwest Territory for several years after Indiana Territory was organized, and at the time of the passage of the fugitive slave law, in 1850, there was but little open opposition to slavery. This was true of Daviess county, especially. But when the abnoxious fugi- tive-slave law came in force so many brutal and unjust acts were committed by conscienceless kidnappers. that a great change in sentiment resulted. There was a rapid growth of anti-slavery sentiment in Daviess county, and the activities of the "underground railroad" system were greatly enlarged.
SLAVERY IN DAVIESS COUNTY.
Before entering upon a further review of the underground railroad, and some of the exciting incidents connected therewith, it will be of interest to give some of the experiences of early settlers who brought their slaves with them to Daviess county, and for some time held them in slavery. An old history of the county is authority for the following statements :
So far as it can be established, Eli Hawkins, who came from South Carolina, in 1806, was the first to bring slaves to what is now Daviess county. He had two slaves, Jake and Ann. James C. Veale had one slave, named Sam; and William Ballow brought four to the county, namely: Buck, Isaac, Ralph and Mary. John Coleman had one, known as Cornelius Simms. William Hawkins had four : Peggy and her three children, David, Henry and
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DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Judy ; and there was a boy by the name of Dish, residing with J. Forden, but belonging to the Flint family. William Ballow sold Isaac to Eli Hawkins, who thus became the owner of three slaves. All these, with one exception. remained in servitude until after the death of Mr. Hawkins.
Mrs. Catherine Hawkins, widow of Eli, married a Mr. Merril, who had some difficulty with Isaac and Jake, a part of his matrimonial inheritance, and Jake and Isaac proceeded to "start something" that was probably in the nature of a surprise. They instituted proceedings to determine the legality of their being held as slaves in a free territory. They had for their attorney Amory C. Kinney, one of the first lawyers in the county, and the case was tried before the associate judges of the county, Philip Burton and Ephraim Thompson. The decision of the court was that the slaves, by law, were free, and from this decision there was no appeal. No other action of this kind was taken by any of the other slaves, and there was no need of such action. By this decision slavery in Daviess county was automatically abolished. The freed slaves remained in the county and some of them acquired property and established homes of their own. The success of Lawyer Kinney in obtain- ing freedom for these two colored men aroused a considerable amount of prejudice against that race, among a number of the white people. Numerous threats and suggestions of violence were made against the negroes and the lawyer who had been instrumental in securing their freedom; but none of these threats was ever carried into execution, and the bitter feeling and vindictive abuse gradually died away.
AN EARLY KIDNAPPING CASE.
The first case of kidnapping that occurred in Daviess county, of which there is any record, occurred in 1824. That this was more than twenty-five years before the enactment of the fugitive-slave law is evidence that kidnap- ping did not have its origin in the enactment of that obnoxious law. The victim of this kidnapping affair was a colored man by the name of Sam, who was claimed as the property of a family living near Vincennes, by the name of McClure. The affair occurred on a Sunday, in the summer of the year mentioned, when most of the people of Washington were out of town, some engaged in hunting or fishing, and a large number attending a camp-meeting south of the village. The McClures were anxious to get possession of their alleged property, but did not dare to come to Washington, themselves, to accomplish their purpose; thence they engaged Richard Palmer to deliver Sam to them, the place of delivery to be on the west bank of White river, in
140
DAVIESS COUNTY, INDIANA.
Knox county. Palmer met with considerable opposition in attempting to carry out his part of the scheme, but he finally succeeded in delivering the "goods" at the place agreed and the McClures were there ready to receive the same. They straightway bound Sam securely with a stout rope and started with him on their way to St. Louis. On the second night of their journey Sam managed to free himself from the rope that bound him and got away. When his captors discovered his absence, Sam was far on his way towards. Indiana, and he was getting farther in that direction very fast. He man- aged to elude his pursuers, one of their horses, which Sam had appropriated for this occasion, aiding in his rapid progress. A few days after his unwill- ing departure, Sam came riding into Washington, swinging his old hat and making such demonstrations of joy as he was justified in feeling. Palmer was prosecuted and fined for his part in the affair, and he attempted no more kidnapping after that experience.
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