USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns and biographies of representative citizens : Also a condensed history of Indiana > Part 2
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
.. 742
Cather, Rev. James
.784
Diehl, Isaac ..
785
Hollinger, John .789
Prosser, J. C. 663
CONTENTS.
TROY TOWNSHIP.
Aldrich, Roger .800 Fiaher, Abraham.
Aldrich, S. J. 800
Heller, George ... 804
Brunner, Jacob ..
801
Jenninga, Peter.
805
Burkhart, Henry.
.801
Jenninga, William
.805
Casebeer, George.
.802
Keniatrick, John ....
.806
Smith, J. H.
810
Casebeer, John
802
Leason, Thomas .. .806
Casebeer, J. F. 803
McCurdy, David .... .. 807
Everetta, G. Q.
803
Milligan, Dr. James.
.807
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Abbey, G. T
836
Garwond, D. A.
.872
Abright, Joseph
.836
Gill, Prentisa.
873
Ashleman, J. W. 837 Goodwin, Samnel. .874
Bachtel, I. O. .838 Gordon, G. W .875
Baird, Frank
839
Griswold, Hiram
.875
Bassett, Charles. .839 Grogg, Daniel 876 Ralston, S. W 921
Baughman, Isaiah .840 Baxter, C. R. 840 Groscop, J. F 877 Haqne, lesac. . .877
Beck, Jacob .. 841
Beck, Samnel ... 842
Beidler. John
Headley, D. C .. .881
Heberling, S. R 880 Roee, J. E 924
Henry, J. C ... 881
Hodge, C. P. 882
Hollieter, Sherman. 885
Hoodelmire, Leonard 885 Husaelman, Calvin 866
Silver, P. W. 930
Brandon J. 2 .. .848
Brand, Capt., J. C. 847
Brandon, Mosea. 848
Brandon, S. J. 8-18
Braun, Henry. 849 Butt, Mrs. Delia 849 850
Butt, John ..
850
Kutzner. M. S 890
Kutzner, Sylvester. 891
Chideey, Lymar
Clark, O. C. 855
Lese, H. K 892
Cool, I. N .... 856 Leae, John .892
Cooper, J. R
.857 Lese, Obe 893
Leseig, William. 894 Stroh, William 939
Crooke, Mathew.
Littlefield, J. J .895 Stongh, Solomon 940
Crooke, R. N 859
Cutter, Capt. E. B. 860
Lowman, Rev. I. W .896
Danke, Orria. 861 Lutz, John .. .896 Taylor, E. H. 942
Darby, A. B. 862 Davie, John .. 863
Dickenaon, Ezra .864
Dilla, W. H .. .864
McBride, R. W. 900
Van Anken, J. J 945
Dragoo, Jamea. .865 McCagne, J. P 901 Veley, J. C .. 946
Dunn, G. H .. 866 Eldridge, Edward. 806 McEntaffer, Abram. 904
Elaon, Richard. 867 McQuieton, W. H. :904
Eneley, Hon. Nicholaa. 868 Merica, C. M .. 905
Farrington, A S 869 Miser, Peter 906 Wioney, O. H 951
Finke, Philip. 870
Froehilch, Herman 871
Mott, Mre. Mary 908
Winelow, H. A.
950
.915 | Wolfe, George 950
WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Ackley, E. C ..
967 | Coate, C. J.
.977 ] Hablawetz, Anton 988
Aldrich, W. C. 967 Coats, Dr. Noyce 977 Hamilton, Gavin. 988 Hamilton, J. G. 990
Baxter, A. J. 968 Coffinberry, H. N. 978
Baxter, J. H. .969 Coffrin, Charles
979- Hamilton, S. L .. 990
Beechler, C. W 969
Coggawell, P. K. 979 Haskine, G. C. 991
Bennett, J. B. .970
Crane, C. H. 980
Hazlett, Jonathan 991
Bleir, W. L. 970 Blaker, Achillea. 971
Dailey, I. D 980 Hepp, C. F. 992
Demaranville, William 981 Hirschler, Isaac 992 Diehl, D. D 981 Hoae, Isaac. 992
Bond Brothera 972 Eakright, Abraham 982 Hoae, Solomon 993
Brink, F. A. 978
Foadick, E. W
983 Hunt, L. C. 994
Brundage, Hiram. 974
Foadick, E. L. 984 Imhof, Lewie. 994
Brunatetter, Morriaon 974 Campbell, J. A .. 975 Ginder, Frederick. 985
Cannon, J. W .. 975 Ginder, Jacob 985
Cantleberry, J. E. .. 976 Ginder, P. D 986 Keater, P. S 996
Chambere, Jemee .. 976 Griffin, E. A. .986 Knisely, T. J. 996
Chambere, James, Jr .977
Griffith, Lafayette 987 Knieely, D. H. 997
Rhodenbangh, Gilbert .924
Robbine, Albert. 924
Berry, Ephraim. 842 Blair, Gen. L. J. 843 844
Blodgett, J. A.
844
Bongham, W. M.
845
Boyle, J. W .. .846
Hnaselman, D. Y. 886 Sinclair, A. J. 931
Imhoff, T. E .. 887 Sinclair, J. W 932
Kiblinger, W. H. 887 Sink, David. 932
Kimeey, J. M. 888
Sink, George 932
Smith, A. T. 933
Smith, D. T. 934
Kutzner, Calvin 890 Snyder, William 934 Somera, J. M. 935
Somere, Jacob 935 Stafford, Joseph 936
St.Clair, J. C .. 937
Stevene, Capt. A. R 937
Stroh, H. P. .938
Cowan, J, A. 858 .858
Long, E. E .. 896 Swarte, D. J. 941 Swartz, William 942
Matheny, T. G.
.897
Thomae, John.
944
Maxeon, J. F. .899 Tomlineon, T. H. 945
Maxwell, W. B. 899
Trout, Engene ...
945
McClellan, Hon. C. A. O ... 902
Walhorn, Jacob. 946
Walaworth, W. J. 947 Ward, Rev. S. B. 948
Widney, J. M ..
948
Mott, Hon. E. B. 906 Willis, M. B .. 949
Gardner, Joseph .871 | Mott, Lieut. S. E.
Ober, D. S.
917
Otto, J. F. 918
Pepple, G. W. 919
Pyle, J. H ... 920 Reinier, Joseph 920
Grogg, Jacob .876 Raub, E. D. 922 Rent, Charlee .922 Reed, R. S. S .. 923
Hartman, E. D
879
812
Boland, Michael.
Rneh, W. E. 926 Sexton, T. J ... 927 Shepherd, Z. W 928 Shoner, George 929
Kimeey, T. B 889
Kline, Michael. 889
Cagebeer, J. B
Chamberlain, J. N. 854 855 Leae, S. 893
804 | Reese, George 808
Robinett, John.
808
Rummel, Talma
809
Smiley, G. W
810
Sonder, G. B. 811
Blaker, John 972
Brigge, E. D 973 Eakright, J. J
983 Hubbell, Jaeon 993
Fralick, T. C. 984 Johnson, David 995 Kellner, C. G. 995 Keneetrick, J. D. 995
Cherry, Rev. H. W. 1028 | Gunaenhouser, Henry 987 | Kniaaly, Willlam 998
CONTENTS.
WILMINGTON TOWNSHIP-(CONCLUDED.)
Krafft, Edward.
998
Oberlin, F. W
.1007
Swertz, G. W .1020
Krontz, William.
.998
Pinchin, A. F
.1007
Topper, J. H .. 1020
Lenning, J. R.
999
Porter, Augustus
1008
Topper, W. H. 1021
Levy, Aaron ..
999
Proctor, Juling
1009
Troutman, W. V.
1021
Medden, Hon. W. H
1000
Pugsley, George
1010
Waters, A. A. 1021
Mason, A. J.
1000
Revett, James. 1010
Weamer, R. H. .1022
Mastere, E. P.
1001
Reynolde, Frank 1011
Weeks, J. M. 1023
Maxwell, David.
1001
Rose, J. W 1012 Whetsel, Henry 1024
Maxwell, Hugh
Rose, W. A. 1013 Wheteel, W. J. 1024
McNahb, D. T
1003
Rudd, Thomas
1013
Wilson, John. 1025
Mitchell, T. H .1003
Moore, A. D. .1004
Scoville, J. M.
1015
Woolpert, Rev. D. C. 1026
Newman, C. A.
1005
Smith, Andrew 1016 Wyckoff, P. Q 1026
Nimmone, P. B. .1005
Stafford, S. E 1017
Yoey, Jacob. 1027
Obendorf, Angnetne 1006
Stannard, H. E. 1017
Young, O. L. 1027
Oberlin, Benjamin
1006 Strong, A. T
1018
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Bechtel, I. O.
.839
Hartman, Lenard.
597 | Mott, E. B.
906
Benge, Heman
722
Hemetreet, Jeremiah. .
.613
Buchanan, John
.563
Hemstreet, M. M.
.614
Butt, John 436
Butt, Delie .. 437
Hieroglyphice of the Mound
Builders
29
Pioneer Dwelling.
179
Casebeer, J. B .. 851
Putte, George 277
Chamberlain, J. N. 469
Clerk, Geo. Rogere 53
Darhy, A. B. ,501
Early Explorere of Ind. Ter. 25 Feurot, Randal. 533 Leighty, J. D 709
Shilling, S
341
Tecumseh .. 109
Fountain, William
.548
Matheny, T. G.
.896
The Shawnee Prophet. 88
Fountain, Mre. William
.. 549
Grogg, Jacob ..
.980
Map of DeKalb County
.245
Timberlain, D.
405
Mercer, W. M.
. 741
Vertical
Section
of
the
Goshwe, Philip.
1000
McBride, R. W.
.828
Rocke
252
Heller. J. F.
581
McClellen, C. A. O
.813
Mott, Mrs. E. B. 907 Mott, Lient. S. E. 914 Opening Ind. Forest 123
Hunting Prairie Wolvee. ... 191 Indians Attacking Front- iersmen 43
Jones, Harrieon
661
Kelham, E.
677
Reinoehl, David. 309 Scene on the Ohio. 233 Scene on the Wabash 145
1002
Sandere, T. J 1014 Woode, J. D. 1025
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
FORMER OCCUPANTS.
PREHISTORIC RACES.
Scientists have ascribed to the Mound Builders varied origins, and though their divergence of opinion may for a time seem incom- patible with a thorough investigation of the subject, and tend to a confusion of ideas, no doubt whatever can existas to the compar- ative accuracy of conclusions arrived at by some of them. Like the vexed question of the Pillar Towers of Ireland, it has caused much speculation, and elicited the opinior:s of so many learned antiquarians, ethnologists and travelers, that it will not be found beyond the range of possibility to make deductions that may suffice to solve the problem who were the prehistoric settlers of America. To achieve this it will not be necessary to go beyond the. period over which Scripture history extends, or to indulge in those airy flights of imagination so sadly identified with occasional writers of even the Christian school, and all the accepted literary exponents of modern paganism.
That this continent is co-existent with the world of the ancients cannot be questioned. Every investigation, instituted under the auspices of modern civilization, confirms the fact and leaves no channel open through which the skeptic can escape the thorongh refutation of his opinions. China, with its numerons living testi- monials of antiquity, with its ancient, though limited literature and its Babelish superstitions, claims a continuous history from antediluvian times; but although its continuity may be denied with every just reason, there is nothing to prevent the transmission of a hieroglyphic record of its history prior to 1656 anno mundi, since many traces of its early settlement survived the Deluge, and became sacred objects of the first historical epoch. This very sur- vival of a record, such as that of which the Chinese boast, is not at variance with the designs of a God who made and ruled the universe; but that an antediluvian people inhabited this continent.
18
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
will not be claimed; because it is not probable, though it may be possible, that a settlement in a land which may be considered a portion of the Asiatic continent, was effected by the immediate followers of the first progenitors of the human race. Therefore, on entering the study of the ancient people who raised these tumu- Ins monuments over large tracts of the country, it will be just sufficient to wander back to that time when the flood-gates of heaven were swung open to hurl destruction on a wicked world; and in doing so the inquiry must be based on legendary, or rather upon many circumstantial evidences; for, so far as written narra- tive extends, there is nothing to show that a movement of people too far east resulted in a Western settlement.
THE FIRST IMMIGRATION.
The first and most probable sources in which the origin of the Builders must be sought, are those countries lying along the east- ern coast of Asia, which doubtless at that time stretched far beyond its present limits, and presented a continuous shore from Lopatka to Point Cambodia, holding a population comparatively civilized, and all professing some elementary form of the Boodhism of later days. Those peoples, like the Chinese of the present, were bonnd to live at home, and probably observed that law until after the con- fusion of languages and the dispersion of the builders of Babel in 1757, A. M .; but subsequently, within the following century, the old Mongolians, like the new, crossed the great ocean in the very paths taken by the present representatives of the race, arrived on the same shores, which now extend a very questionable hospitality to them, and entered at once upon the colonization of the country south and east, while the Caucasian race engaged in a similar move- ment of exploration and colonization over what may be justly termed the western extension of Asia, and both peoples growing stalwart under the change, attained a moral and physical eminence to which they never could lay claim under the tropical sun which shed its beams upon the cradle of the human race.
That mysterions people who, like the Brahmins of to-day, wor- shiped some transitory deity, and in after years, evidentiy embraced the idealization of Boodhism, as preached in Mongolia early in the 35th century of the world, together with acquiring the learning of thie Confucian and Pythagoreau schools of the same period, spread all over the land, and in their numerous settlements erected these raths, or mounds, and sacrificial altars whereon they received their
19
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
periodical visiting gods, surrendered their bodies to natural absorp- tion or annihilation, and watched for the return of some transmi- grated soul, the while adoring the universe, which with all beings they believed would be eternally existent. They possessed religious orders corresponding in external show at least with the Essenes or Theraputæ of the pre-Christian and Christian epochs, and to the reformed Theraputæ or monks of the present. Every memento of their coming and their stay which has descended to us is an evi- dence of their civilized condition. The free copper found within the tumuli; the open veins of the Superior and Iron Mountain copper-mines, with all the modus operandi of ancient mining, such as ladders, levers, chisels, and hammer-heads, discovered by the French explorers of the Northwest and the Mississippi, are conclu- sive proofs that those prehistoric people were highly civilized, and that many flourishing colonies were spread throughout the Missis- sippi valley, while yet the mammoth, the mastodon, and a hundred other animals, now only known by their gigantic fossil remains, guarded the eastern shore of the continent as it were against sup- posed invasions of the Tower Builders who went west from Babel; while yet the beautiful isles of the Antilles formed an integral portion of this continent, long years before the European Northman dreamed of setting forth to the discovery of Greenland and the northern isles, and certainly at a time when all that portion of America north of latitude 45° was an ice-incumbered waste.
Within the last few years great advances have been made toward the discovery of antiquities whether pertaining to remains of organic or inorganic nature. Together with many small, but telling relics of the early inhabitants of the country, the fossils of pre- historic animals have been unearthed from end to end of the land, and in districts, too, long pronounced by geologists of some repute to be without even a vestige of vertebrate fossils. Among the collected souvenirs of an age about which so very little is known, are twenty-five vertebræ averaging thirteen inches in diameter, and three vertebræ ossified together measure nine cubical feet; a thigh-bone five feet long by twenty-eight, by twelve inches in diameter, and the shaft fourteen by eight inches thick, the entire lot weighing 600 lbs. These fossils are presumed to belong to the cretaceous period, when the Dinosaur roamed over the country from East to West, desolating the villages of the people. This animal is said to have been sixty feet long, and when feeding in cypress and palm forests, to extend himself eighty-five feet, so that he may
20
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
devour the budding tops of those great trees. Other efforts in this direction may lead to great results, and culminate probably in the discovery of a tablet engraven by some learned Mound Builder, describing in the ancient hieroglyphics of China all these men and beasts whose history excites so much speculation. The identity of the Mound Builders with the Mongolians might lead us to hope for such a consummation; nor is it beyond the range of probability, particularly in this practical age, to find the future labors of some industrious antiquarian requited by the upheaval of a tablet, written in the Tartar characters of 1700 years ago, bearing on a subject which can now be treated only on a purely circumstantial basis.
THE SECOND IMMIGRATION
may have begun a few centuries prior to the Christian era, and unlike the former expedition or expeditions, to have traversed north- eastern Asia to its Arctic confines, and then east to the narrow channel now known as Behring's Straits, which they crossed, and sailing up the unchanging Yukon, settled under the shadow of Mount St. Elias for many years, and pushing South commingled with their countrymen, soon acquiring the characteristics of the descendants of the first colonists. Chinese chronicles tell of such a people, who went North and were never heard of more. Circum- stances conspire to render that particular colony the carriers of a new religious faith and of an alphabetic system of a representative character to the old colonists, and they, doubtless, exercised a most beneficial influence in other respects ; because the influx of immi- grants of such culture as were the Chinese, even of that remote period, must necessarily bear very favorable results, not only in bringing in reports of their travels, but also accounts from the fatherland bearing on the latest events.
With the idea of a second and important exodus there are many theorists united, one of whomn says: "It is now the generally received opinion that the first inhabitants of America passed over from Asia through these straits. The number of small islands lying between both continents renders this opinion still more probable; and it is yet further confirmed by some remarkable traces of similarity in the physical conformation of the northern natives of both continents. The Esquimaux of North America, the Samoieds of Asia, and the Laplanders of Europe, are supposed to be of the same family; and this supposition is strengthened by the affinity which exists in their languages. The researches of Hum-
21
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
boldt have traced the Mexicans to the vicinity of Behring's Straits; whence it is conjectured that they, as well as the Peruvians and other tribes, came originally from Asia, and were the Hiongnoos, who are, in the Chinese annals, said to have emigrated under Puno, and to have been lost in the North of Siberia."
· Since this theory is accepted by most antiquaries, there is every reason to believe that from the discovery of what may be called an overland route to what was then considered an eastern extension of that country which is now known as the " Celestial Empire," many caravans of emigrants passed to their new homes in the land of illimitable possibilities until the way became a well-marked trail over which the Asiatic might travel forward, and having once entered the Elysian fields never entertained an idea of returning. Thus from generation to generation the tide of immigration poured in until the slopes of the Pacific and the banks of the great inland rivers became hives of busy industry. Magnificent cities and monuments were raised at the bidding of the tribal leaders and populous settlements centered with happy villages sprung up everywhere in manifestation of the power and wealth and knowl- edge of the people. The colonizing Caucasian of the historic period walked over this great country on the very ruins of a civil- ization which a thousand years before eclipsed all that of which he could boast. He walked through the wilderness of the West over buried treasures hidden under the accumulated growth of nature, nor rested until he saw, with great surprise, the remains of ancient pyramids and temples and cities, larger and evidently more beauti- ful than ancient Egypt could bring forth after its long years of uninterrupted history. The pyramids resemble those of Egypt in exterior form, and in some instances are of larger dimensions. The pyramid of Cholula is square, having each side of its base 1,335 feet in length, and its height about 172 feet. Another pyramid, situated in the north of Vera Cruz, is formed of large blocks of highly-polished porphyry, and bears upon its front hiero- glyphic inscriptions and curious sculpture. Each side of its square base is 82 feet in length, and a flight of 57 steps conducts to its summit, which is 65 feet in height. The ruins of Palenque are said to extend 20 miles along the ridge of a mountain, and the remains of an Aztec city, near the banks of the river Gila, are spread over more than a square league. Their literature consisted of hieroglyphics; but their arithmetical knowledge did not extend farther than their calculations by the aid of grains of corn. Yet,
22
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
notwithstanding all their varied accomplishments, and they were evidently many, their notions of religious duty led to a most demo- niac zeal at once barbarously savage and ferociously cruel. Each visiting, god instead of bringing new life to the people, brought death to thousands; and their grotesque idols, exposed to drown the senses of the beholders in fear, wrought wretchedness rather than spiritual happiness, until, as some learned and humane Monte- zumian said, the people never approached these idols without fear, and this fear was the great animating principle, the great religions motive power which sustained the terrible religion. Their altars were sprinkled with blood drawn from their own bodies in large quantities, and on them thousands of human victims were sacri- ficed in honor of the demons whom they worshiped. The head and heart of every captive taken in war were offered up as a bloody sacrifice to the god of battles, while the victorious legions feasted on the remaining portions of the dead bodies. It has been ascer- tained that during the ceremonies attendant on the consecration of two of their temples, the number of prisoners offered up in sacri- fice was 12,210; while their own legions contributed voluntary victims to the terrible belief in large numbers. Nor did this horrible custom cease immediately after 1521, when Cortez entered the imperial city of the Montezumas; for, on being driven from it, all his troops who fell into the hands of the native soldiers were subjected to the most terrible and prolonged suffering that could be experienced in this world, and when about to yield up that spirit which is indestructible, were offered in sacrifice, their hearts and heads consecrated, and the victors allowed to feast on the yet warm flesh.
A reference is made here to the period when the Montezumas ruled over Mexico, simply to gain a better idea of the hideous idolatry which took the place of the old Boodhism of the Mound Builders, and doubtless helped in a great measure to give victory to the new comers, even as the tenets of Mahometanism urged the ignorant followers of the prophet to the conquest of great nations. It was not the faith of the people who built the mounds and the pyramids and the temples, and who, 200 years before the Christian era, built the great wall of jealous China. No: rather was it that terrible faith born of the Tartar victory, which carried the great defenses of China at the point of the javelin and hatchet, who afterward marched to the very walls of Rome, under Alaric, and
23
G
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
spread over the islands of Polynesia to the Pacific slopes of South America.
THE TARTARS
came there, and, like the pure Mongols of Mexico and the Missis- sippi valley, rose to a state of civilization bordering on that attained by them. Here for centuries the sons of the fierce Tartar race con- tinued to dwell in comparative peace until the all-ruling ambition of empire took in the whole country from the Pacific to the Atlan- tic, and peopled the vast territory watered by the Amazon with a race that was destined to conquer all the peoples of the Orient, and only to fall before the march of the arch-civilizing Caucasian. In course of time those fierce Tartars pushed their settlements northward, and ultimately entered the territories of the Mound Builders, putting to death all who fell within their reach, and causing the survivors of the death-dealing invasion to seek a refuge from the hordes of this semi-barbarous people in the wilds and fast- nesses of the North and Northwest. The beautiful country of the Mound Builders was now in the hands of savage invaders, the quiet, industrious people who raised the temples and pyramids were gone; and the wealth of intelligence and industry, accumulating for ages, passed into the possession of a rapacious horde, who could admire it only so far as it offered objects for plunder. Even in this the invaders were satisfied, and then having arrived at the height of their ambition, rested on their swords and entered upon the luxury and ease in the enjoyment of which they were found when the van- guard of European civilization appeared upon the scene. Mean- time the southern countries which those adventurers abandoned after having completed their conquests in the North, were soon peopled by hundreds of people, always moving from island to island and ultimately halting amid the ruins of villages deserted by those who, as legends tell, had passed eastward but never returned; and it would scarcely be a matter for surprise if those emigrants were found to be the progenitors of that race found by the Spaniards in 1532, and identical with the Araucanians, Cuenches and Huil- tiches of to-day.
RELICS OF THE MOUND BUILDERS.
One of the most brilliant and impartial historians of the Republic stated that the valley of the Mississippi contained no monuments. So far as the word is entertained now, he was literally correct, but
24
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
in some hasty effort neglected to qualify his sentence by a refer- ence to the numerous relics of antiquity to be found throughout its length and breadth, and so exposed his chapters to criticism. The valley of the Father of Waters, and indeed the country from the trap rocks of the Great Lakes southeast to the Gulf and south- west to Mexico, abound in tell-tale monuments of a race of people much farther advanced in civilization than the Montezumas of the sixteenth century. The remains of walls and fortifications found in Kentucky and Indiana, the earthworks of Vincennes and throughout the valley of the Wabash, the mounds scattered over Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Virginia, and those found in Illi- nois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, are all evidences of the univer- sality of the Chinese Mongols and of their advance toward a com- parative knowledge of man and cosmology. At the mouth of Fourteen-Mile creek, in Clark county, Indiana, there stands one of these old monuments known as the "Stone Fort." It is an unmistakable heirloom of a great and ancient people, and must have formed one of their most important posts. The State Geolo- gist's report, filed among the records of the State and furnished by Prof. Cox, says: "At the mouth of Fourtecn-Mile creek, and about three miles from Charleston, the county-seat of Clark county, there is one of the most remarkable stone fortifications which has ever come under my notice. Accompanied by my assistant, Mr. Borden, and a number of citizens of Charleston, I visited the 'Stone Fort' for the purpose of making an examination of it. The locality selected for this fort presents many natural advantages for making it impregnable to the opposing forces of prehistoric times. It occupies the point of an elevated narrow ridge which faces the Ohio river on the east and is bordered by Fourteen-Mile creek on the west side. This creek empties into the Ohio a short distance below the fort. The top of the ridge is pear-shaped, with the part answering to the neck at the north end. This part is not over twenty feet wide, and is protected by precipitous natural walls of stone. It is 280 feet above the level of the Ohio river, and the slope is very gradual to the south. At the upper field it is 240 feet high and one hundred steps wide. At the lower timber it is 120 feet high. The bottom land at the foot of the south end is sixty feet above the river. Along the greater part of the Ohio river front there is an abrupt escarpment rock, entirely too steep to be scaled, and a similar natural barrier exists along a portion of the northwest side of the ridge, facing the creek. This natural wall
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.