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 37
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FIRST GRAND AND PETIT JURORS.
March 7, 1838, the Board of Commissioners selected the follow- ing list of grand jurors for service at the spring term of the Circuit Court: John Rose, Daniel Rhodes, William Miller, John Watson, Ira Allen, Jacob Platter, Cornelius Woodcock, John Smith, Benja- min Alton, John Holton, Solomon Showers, Henry Miller, Collin Robertson, John Blair, Nathan Wyatt, James Stanley, John F. Rhodes and Samuel Eakright. The panel of petit jurors was: Will- iam Munroe, Jesse Jackson, John P. Widney, Francis A. Wilber, Jeremiah Rhodes, Samuel Johnson, William Mathews, Dudley Thorp, James Hadsel, Ezra Dickinson, John J. Gunsenhouser, Henry Robertson, George H. Abbott, Leonard Boice, Elmer French, Peter Draggoo, Joseph Miller, Joseph Vandoler, Henry Bricker, Levi Lockwood, Stephen W. Headley, Jacob Miller, Samuel Head- ley and Christopher Hull.
At the same time a list of grand jurors for the fall term of court was chosen, comprising Daniel Strong, Daniel Moody, Andrew Surface, Samuel Henderson, Daniel Webber, Joseph Stroup, Charles D. Hendy, Peter Boyer, William Rogers, John Clemmer, George DeLong, Jacob Weinid, Peter Day, Rufus R. Lounsbury, Kneeland Abbott, John Webster, Luther Keep and Asher W. Coburn. The petit jurors for the fall term were: Michael Boyer, William Means, Alonzo Hill, Eli Welch, Roger Aldrich, Hector Blake, Frazier Bartlett, George W. Weeks, David Knight, John Miller, Henry Dove, George Babcock, Robert Work, Samuel Terney, Lot B. Coe, Solomon Woodcock, James Means, William Day, Hazzard Web- ster, Michael Knight, Levinus Abell, Joshua Feagler, Willis Bishop and David Butler.
FIRST CIRCUIT COURT.
The first term of the De Kalb Circuit Court began May 9, 1838, at the house of Wesley Park. Hon. Charles W. Ewing, of the
416
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Eighth Indiana Circuit, was President Judge; and Arial Walden and Thomas L. Yates were his associates. John F. Coburn was Clerk; Wesley Park, Sheriff, and Thomas Johnson, Prosecuting At- torney. Messrs. Woodcox, Alton, Houghton, Miller and Rhodes not appearing, the panel of eighteen grand jurors was filled by se- lecting from the bystanders J. P. Widney, Levi Lockwood, Lot P. Coe, Jacob Miller and Jeremiah Rhodes. The only business trans- acted after the organization of court was to order bail in the sum of $300 from persons indicted for grand larceny; and $25 for illegal retailing of liquor. Luther Keep was appointed County Commis- sioner in place of A. F. Beecher; Anthony Max was allowed $1.00 for services as bailiff of the grand jury, and T. J. Freeman, Joseph Miller and L. Ingman were appointed School Examiners.
CHAPTER IX.
PIONEER ASSOCIATIONS.
DE KALB COUNTY BACKWARD IN THIS MATTER .- SOCIETY ORGANIZED IN 1878 .- FIRST MEETING .- SEPTEMBER MEETING, 1878 .- FIRST OFFICERS AND CONSTITUTION. -- SECOND ANNUAL MEETING .-- FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING .- ADDRESS OF SECRETARY DILLS .- EARLY PIO- NEER FAMILIES ARRANGED BY TOWNSHIPS .- EARLY INCIDENTS AND ALLUSIONS .- CONTRASTS .- FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING .-- ADDRESS OF JAMES E. ROSE .- A PIONEER SCHOOL-HOUSE AND HOW IT WAS BUILT .- TEXT-BOOKS .- APPARATUS .- RELIGIOUS MEETINGS .- PIO- NEER MINISTERS .- MERCHANTS .- "OLD JACK."-PIONEER CUS- TOMS .- TRAVEL AND COMMUNICATION .- TRIBUTE TO THE OLD SETTLERS .- SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE COUNTY .- POEM BY REV. A. H. WIDNEY, "THE WOODS OF THE ST. JOSEPH." -MEETING AT WATERLOO, IN 1884.
In most of the counties in the Northwestern States, the old set- tlers have effected organizations for the purpose of holding frequent rennions, renewing the ties of friendship, collecting historical mementoes, and recording reminiscences, details of early history, etc. There can be but one opinion as to the certain benefits inur- ing from such meetings. De Kalb County has been a little back- ward in this particular, but it is to be hoped that a growing interest will be felt in the association which has been in existence for the past few years. After frequent suggestions and occasional discus- sions the
FIRST MEETING
was appointed for July 4, 1878, at the celebration of Independence Day, at Auburn. The committee of arrangements for this day comprised G. W. Gordon, R. H. Weamer, Henry Bashelier, John Leasure, L. J. Hopkins and T. Mills. Dr. Ford was chosen Presi- dent; T. C. Mays, Officer of the Day; and the following committee of old settlers was chosen to arouse the appropriate interest in their respective localities: Butler, Peter Simmons; Jackson, Alexander Provines and Henry Feagler; Concord, J. F. Coburn; Newville, B.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
F. Blair; Stafford, Henry Dickerhoof; Wilmington, Samuel Head- ley; Union, John Butt, S. Bassett, S. W. Ralston, Major S. W. Sprott, D. Altenburg, J. O. P. Sherlock and George Ensley ; Rich- land, James Goetschius; Fairfield, George Emerick; Smithfield, E. R. Shoemaker; Franklin, George P. Firestone; Troy, Samuel Learned; Keyser, O. C. Clark. T. D. Gross was named as Super- intendent.
A very good representation of the old settlers was present on the appointed day, and after the celebration exercises, met in the grove to organize. The meeting was called to order by T. D. Gross. James R. Cosper was chosen President, and T. D. Gross, Secretary. The following resolution was adopted:
" Resolved, That when this meeting adjourn, it will adjourn to meet at Auburn, Sept. 12, 1878; and that all who were citizens of the county prior to Jan. 1, 1846, are cordially invited to attend and participate in the meeting."
On motion, a committee of two from each township was ap- pointed, to ascertain the number of old settlers in their respective townships, and notify and induce them to attend the next meeting, and perform such other duties as in their judgment would be for the best interests of the meeting. The following were appointed: Butler, Peter Simmons and J. A. Miller; Jackson, A. D. Goet- schius and Henry Brown; Newville, B. F. Blair and John Plattner; Concord, Samuel Wasson and J. Rhodes; Stafford, C. B. Wane- maker and C. L. Thomas; Wilmington, George Egnew and Nathan Mathews; Union, T. D. Gross and Miles Waterman; Keyser, O. C. Clark and William Embra; Richland, G. Showers and Thomas Dailey; Fairfield, W. Childs and P. Gushwa; Smithfield, R. J. Daniels and Jerry Hemstreet; Franklin, John N. Clark and John Hammond; Troy, Wm. Emerson and John Stearns.
SEPTEMBER MEETING.
The adjourned meeting was duly held on the 12th of September, at Auburn. Major S. W. Sprott was appointed Chairman, and T. C. Mays, Secretary. Nelson Prentiss, Esq., of Noble County, being present was called upon to suggest a way to proceed to organize an old settlers' association, which he did after the manner followed in Noble County. He read a synopsis of the by-laws of the Noble County Old Settlers' Association, which were amended and adopted. The following persons were in attendance, and the dates of their settlement are also given:
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
419
William Smith. May, 1836
Levi J. Walsworth Nov., 1837
Samuel Wasson.
.Dec., 1833
C. Bowman. Oct., 1839
S. D. Long March, 1845
Henry Feagler. Sept., 1836
J. E. Rose
.Oct., 1836
M. Whetsel. May, 1837
Samuel Headly
Sept., 1836
John McClellan. Oct., 1844
Philip Gushwa.
March, 1845
J. H. Ford. Nov., 1844
S. B. Ward.
.Jan., 1842
A. Blodgett. Aug., 1842
William Carr. .Feb., 1839
J. D. McAnnally
Sept., 1840
N. H. Matthews.
.Oct., 1839
David Weaver. Aug., 1838
C. P. Coleman .Dec., 1842
A. S. Casebeer. Sept., 1837
R. Culbertson. Oct., 1843
R. G. 1)aniels.
Jan., 1837
Abraham Eakright. .Sept., 1836
N. Griffith. April, 1839
J. C. Somers. Aug., 1841
James Draggoo.
.Oct., 1841
S. W. Sprott .July, 1840
A. D. Goetschius. June, 1836
T. D. Gross.
March, 1841
Paul Long .. .Feb., 1841
Guy Plum.
.June, 1843
John Hogue June, 1842
Henry Willis.
Oct., 1843
D. McDaniel.
June, 1843
Charles Gillett.
.Oct., 1843
Isaac Deihl.
June, 1843
Cornelia P. Cole
June, 1842
A. J. Ralston. Dec., 1842
Sarah Bowman.
Eliza Wason. March, 1841
James Johnson. Aug., 1844
Sept., 1837
N. Ensley. .Oct., 1841
Caroline Whetsel.
. Sept., 1841
J. E. Shilling April, 1845
M. J. Husselman. Oct., 1845
G. W. Gordon. .Oct., 1841
Anna McDaniel. . May, 1843
Henry Clark. .Oct., 1842
Mary Siebert .. Aug., 1836
O. C. Clark. . Oct., 1842
Maria Ingman. Aug., 1836
J. C. Wells. June, 1844
Almira Martin. .May, 1836
D. Altenburg. Nov., 1837
S. A. Griffith. Nov., 1839
R. B. Showers. Feb., 1839
Anna Kline. . Aug., 1841
W. Jacques.
.Oct., 1845
Mary McClellan Aug., 1841
Thomas D. Daily
March, 1841
Rachel Treesh. Oct., 1842
ORGANIZATION COMPLETED.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Presi- dent, Elder S. B. Ward; Vice-President, P. B. Nimmons; Secre- tary, W. H. Dills; Treasurer, Cyrus Bowman: Biographer and Li- brarian, J. E. Rose. An executive committee was chosen consisting of one from each township: Butler, John Hogue; Keyser, O. C. Clark; Jackson, William Carr; Concord, R. Culbertson; Newville, B. F. Blair; Wilmington, Samuel Headley; Auburn, T. D. Gross; Waterloo, John Butt; Richland, N. Griffith; Fairfield, Philip Gushwa; Smithfield, R. G. Daniels; Franklin, R. N. Keep; Troy, William Emerson; Stafford, Henry Wanemaker.
The following articles of association were adopted:
" I. This association shall be called the Pioneers' Association of De Kalb County, Ind.
" Il. The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Biographer and Librarian, and an executive committee, consisting of one from each township, who shall hold their offices for one year and until their successors are elected.
" III. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meet-
Peter Treesh. .Oct., 1842
Henry A. Shull. Sept., 1844
G. W. Husselman . May, 1845
P. B. Nimmons Aug., 1844
D. Z. Hoffman. May, 1845
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ings of the society, and in his absence the Vice-President shall preside, and in the absence of both the society shall elect a Presi- dent pro tem.
"1V. The Secretary shall procure at the expense of the society a substantial book in which he shall record these articles of associ- ation, and the proceedings of all meetings, annual and special, to- gether with all written and printed addresses, delivered before the annual meetings, and all biographical sketches of such members as shall die during each year, and shall conduct all correspondence of the society, and perform such other duties appertaining to his office as the society may direct.
"V. It shall be the duty of the Biographer to present to the society at each annual meeting the names of all such members as have died since the last annual meeting, together with sketches of their lives.
" VI. The Librarian shall take charge of all relics and memen- toes of the early settlement of De Kalb County, and of all books and papers deposited with him, and shall carefully preserve the same; and shall record in a book kept for that purpose all such relics, the name and residence of each donor and the date of the gift.
"VII. The executive committee shall have a general super- vision of the affairs of the society, seven of whom shall constitute a quorum. They shall have power to call special meetings when in their opinion the interest of the society shall demand, and ar- range the programme of proceedings of regular meetings, procure speakers, and see that a suitable place is provided for holding the meetings; and in addition to their general duties it shall be the duty of each member for his respective township to report to the biographer the names of such members as shall die during each year within ten days after each death; such information to give the name, date and place of birth, time of settlement in Indiana, date of death, and such other facts as he shall deem of importance.
"VIII. The annual meetings of the society shall be held on the third Thursday in June in each year.
"IX. All persons who were residents of Northern Indiana prior to Jan. 1, 1846, and who are residents of De Kalb County, shall be considered members of this society.
"X. Amendments to these regulations may be made at any regular or called meeting, by a vote of a majority of the members present, provided that no change shall be made at a special meet- ing, unless notice of such proposed change be given in one or more
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of the newspapers of De Kalb County, not less than thirty days before such meeting."
It was decided to hold the next meeting at Anburn; and each member of the executive committee was requested to take the names of all old settlers in their respective townships, who settled in De Kalb County prior to January, 1846, and report them, with the date of their arrival, to the secretary of this association.
SECOND ANNUAL MEETING.
The first regular meeting under the constitution was held on Thursday, June 19, 1879, in the grove on Ensley avenue, between Auburn and Auburn Junction. All the officers of the association were present, and there were between 3,000 and 4,000 citizens of De Kalb and adjoining counties. After a call to order by President S. B. Ward, and prayer by Rev. John McCurdy, of Troy Town- ship, Hon. John Morris, now of Fort Wayne, but formerly a resi- dent of this county, was introduced and addressed the meeting in an eloquent, entertaining and pleasant manner for an hour. This was followed by a recess until half past one, for refreshments, which interval was most agreeably occupied by nearly all in social greet- ings, pleasant renewal of old acquaintances, the formation of new ones, and in the partaking of the abundant supply of provisions which nearly every family present brought with them, while a large number retired to the village to partake of the hospitalities of the citizens of Auburn.
After reassembling, Hon. Andrew Ellison, of Lagrange County, agreeably entertained the meeting for half an hour. The reports of the secretary were then read and approved. The biographer then read the list of names of the old settlers who had died since the meeting of September previous, as follows : Hannah Flint, born Sept. 7, 1807, became a resident of De Kalb County in March, 1839, died Oct. 25, 1878. Lewis Tiffany, born in 1806, became a resident Feb. 17, 1842, died Oct. 21, 1878. Charles H. Wanemaker, born June 14, 1827, became a resident in October, 1844, died Jan. 1, 1879. Henry Brown, born in 1811, became a resident in Septem- ber, 1837, died March 18, 1879. Peter Simon became a resident in March, 1835, died Nov. 3, 1878. Jane Jones, born May 26, 1839, became a resident in 1844, died Jan. 22, 1879. Hannah M. Hathaway, born in 1802, became a resident in 1844, died Jan. 25, 1879. Richard Parnell, born June 23, 1790, became a resident in October, 1842, died Aug. 28, 1878. John Parnell, born April 6, 27
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1826, became a resident in October, 1842, died Jan. 31, 1879. James Campbell, born Oct. 2, 1810, became a resident in 1842, died Feb. 28, 1879. Hannah Campbell, born Sept. 23, 1814, be- came a resident in 1842, died Feb. 20, 1879. John F. Coburn (first County Clerk), born July 26, 1806, became a resident in March, 1836, died April 8, 1879. Jesse Hadley became a resident in 1837, died in February, 1879. Jane Barney became a resident in 1840, died April 22, 1879. Arial Rude, born Jan. 7, 1810, became a resident in 1836, died May 3, 1879.
Short addresses were then listened to from Colonel I. B. Mc- Donald, of Whitley County; Major S. W. Sprott, of Auburn; Samuel Wasson, of Concord, and J. W. Jeffords, of Waterloo. For the ensuing year, the officers chosen were : President, S. B. Ward; Vice-President, P. B. Nimmons; Secretary, W. H. Dills; Treasurer, Cyrns Bowman; Biographer and Librarian, J. E. Rose.
As a part of the proceedings of the day, there were called to the stand and introduced to the audience the following persons : Mrs. Margaret Cummins (a daughter of the late John Honlton, first settler of the county), the first white child born in the county, April 7, 1836; Mrs. J. R. Moody (daughter of the late Abraham Fair), the second white female child born in the county, April 17, 1836, and James Platter, the first white male child born in the county, in October, 1836. There was also presented to view the surveyor's compass and chain, nsed and owned by the late Hon. R. J. Dawson, in the original survey of the public lands in North- eastern Indiana, which were recognized by Samuel Wasson, then a chainman. Mr. Wasson is the oldest living settler in the county at present. J. W. Jeffords, in his remarks, exhibited the ax used in chopping the timber for the first house erected in the county, which was John Houlton's, of Franklin Township. The ax now weighs six and a half pounds, but originally its weight was between eight and nine pounds. He also showed a field hoe which he made forty-two years before, at Hamilton, Steuben County.
The association adjourned to meet at such place as the executive committee might appoint, in 1880, but no meeting was held that year. The presidential campaign and two soldiers' reunions seemed to prevent sufficient interest on the part of the leading citizens.
FOURTH ANNUAL REUNION.
The association met June 16, 1881, in the private grove of Mrs. O. C. Houghtou, at Auburn. There was a reasonable attendance
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423
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
of old settlers, who, with others present, made a very respectable meeting in point of numbers. Under General Blair, of Waterloo, as Marshal, and headed by the Corunna Band, the old settlers formed in line at 10:30 A. M., at the court-house square, and marched to the grove, where, after vocal and instrumental music, an address was delivered by W. H. Dills, Secretary of the associ- ation, so replete with interest that certain portions are here given:
" Between thirty-five and forty years ago, the period in which the people we recognize and designate as ' old settlers' first settled in Northern Indiana, during that time when we met and became acquainted, that meeting was had and acquaintances made almost invariably, not as we meet to-day, under the beautiful trees set out and cultivated by the hand of man for his profit, but it was be- neath the towering forms and broad branches of the giant trees of the native forest, planted, nurtured and reared by the hand of God for his Divine purpose. Instead of enjoying the sweet perfume of domestic plants and flowers placed around us by hands of youth and innocence, we met amid the aroma of the wild flowers of the forest. Then we met by twos and threes; now by the thousand- a fitting and beautiful contrast of this country to-day and as it was then. * * *
" It is sad, very sad, my friends, to reflect that many of the noble souls who have heretofore attended our meetings will not be pres- ent to-day or at any of our future meetings. Their bodies have returned to mother earth. Their work and toil and labor is past. They cleared away the heavy forests, they built for us homes, planted orchards, built school-houses, churches, highways, bridges; raised children and devised unto them honorable names; and per- formed every duty toward their country and their race. They have passed away forever, and we know them now only by the kindly remembrances that are placed upon the tablets of our memories. * *
"These persons to whom I have just called your attention, and you who are here to-day, members of this society, are heroes in the true sense of the term. Not military chieftains, nor those who from ambitious motives for place and power are overturning poli- cies and dynasties; but they and yon songht and determined to and did conquer and subdue a wilderness to found a colony which to-day smiles with civilization and enterprise, peace and plenty, nurtured and fostered by your and their hands, and those who fol- lowed in the track which you and they had broken.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
"We can very well remember seeing these early settlers and their families, with their white-covered wagons, the wife or daughter driving, the father and boys following, and driving, with the aid of a dog, a cow or two, sometimes a few sheep-all wending their way toward the setting sun or plunging into the forest, and hauling up or stopping upon a tract of land upon which not a tree had been cut, and where for ages the rays of the orb of day had not pene- trated, amidst the chorus of the feathered songsters of the grove and the silence of the night, disturbed only by the hootings of the owl, or the indescribable howlings of hungry wolves. There you, or the fathers of you who came in early times, halted their wagons, which contained all they had on earth; and there to-day you will find comfort, luxury and ease.
"Before reaching that final resting pl: ce weeks and months had passed in reaching the goal, following Indian trails scarcely wide enough to admit of the passage of a wagon, no bridges, dangers to be encompassed on every side, the early settler was of necessity his own sentinel, and upon himself relied for protection and safety. The trails would sometimes seem to run out-come to an end. Sometimes they would divide and create doubt as to the course that should be pursued. He had no compass and could not tell the cardinal points, but by an examination of trees he could tell the north side of them by the heaviest growth of moss or bark, and thereby determine his course. When night came ere he reached his destination, by the side of the trail, where water and grass were sufficient, he would build a fire, without the aid of matches, by the side of some huge log, and there prepare their meal, his wife and little ones retiring to sleep in the wagon, and he, wrapped in a blanket, on the leaves under it, with his faithful dog on one side and his trusty rifle on the other, there seek repose and rest, with as much confidence of safety and exemption from injury as you did last evening upon your downy couches, within bolted doors.
"After reaching his land, purchased of the Government at $1.25 per acre, or from some speculator for $2.00, $3.00 or $4.00 per acre, the pioneer finds for a time that his neighbors are few and far between, like angels' visits. There he could not hear his neighbors' chickens crow, their dogs bark, or their dinner bell or horn. With difficulty he at last succeeds in building his rude little cabin and in clearing off a few acres, by cutting down all the trees eighteen inches or less in diameter, and girdling all the others, which will give him a short supply of corn and vegetables. As for
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
meats, he has none, except as he depends upon the chances of tak- ing game from the forest, and then eat it, very often, without even salt or bread.
"The privations of the early settler were great, but often their perils were still greater. Diseases, indigenous to a new country, of which he had previously no knowledge or experience, and gener- ally malarial in their character, were certain to overtake him and his family. The massive foliage of the giant trees through which the sun scarcely penetrated, and the black soil vegetation, and the decayed vegetable matter everywhere abounding, generated vast volumes and columns of miasma. No physician or drug store was probably within twenty miles, and himself and family were racked almost to death with the shakes, or scorched with raging fevers. Until acclimated by a residence of from two to five years, and sometimes longer, the early settler was yearly visited with attacks of fever and ague, and felt thankful, indeed, if in the fall seasons he did not have an attack of bilious or intermittent fever. Snake bites, broken or cut limbs, and rheumatism from his frequent ex- posure were of frequent occurrence, and no medical aid at hand. Indeed the hearts of these men and women were brave.
"A man may stand unmoved at the month of a cannon, yet the pitiful moans of a sick wife, the delirious tossing and crying of his children with consuming fevers, without medicine or a doctor, or even sympathizing friends or neighbors within miles, would, no doubt, draw a tear, that would rush down the sunburned face, and would fill his very soul with the deepest sorrow and solicitude. So, too, it would be, if it were possible, tenfold more sorrowful to the wife should the husband and protector be stricken down. Even in health their privations seem almost incredible to us. Lumber was not to be had at any price; mills were distant, and what roads there were, were almost impassable. A journey of weeks, sometimes, leaving the wife and children, was necessary to obtain the neces- saries of life. Families were almost driven to the verge of starva- tion, living for weeks on potatoes, wheat bran, and I have heard, on beach-bark and milk. The private history of the sufferings, privations and heroic endurance of many families in early times in this county has not been, nor will it ever be, written. Many, nearly all, of those who have suffered and endured as I have stated, have gone where the weary are at rest, and there is no land to clear, no cabins to raise, no sufferings, no solicitude; the grave has put its seal on their history. Peace be to their ashes. * * *
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