USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 2
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420
Decatur County's Creation
73
Distilleries
101
Distinguished Citizens of County-
513
"Donnell Rescue Case"
400
Downeyville 105
Dripping Springs Garden
533
Dry Fork Baptist Church
241
E
Early Elections in County 470
Early Greensburg Libraries
527
Early Mail Facilities
98
Early Ministerial Experiences
219
Early Murder Trials
280
Early Rural Schools 182
Early Settlement of County 69
Eccentric Pioneer
521
Editorial Difficulties
366
Education in Decatur County
182
Educational System of Indiana 61
Edward Eggleston
504
Eighty-third Regiment. 455
Election in Civil War
476
Elections, First in County
74,76
Episcopal Church
268
Estray Pound.
524
F
Farmers Club of Springhill
385
Farmers Institute.
386
Fifty-second Regiment
453
First County Election
74, 473
First Free School.
187
First General Election
76
First Highway Petition 390
First Lawyer in Greensburg
521
First National Bank Failure
305
First Presidential Election
472
First Railroad in County
393
First Sunday School in County
529
First Threshing Machine
379
First Township Elections
474
First White Men in Territory 33
Forest Hill
132
Fortnightly Club 336
Fredonia United Brethren Church
266
French and Indian War
35
Fugit Township-
-
Boundaries
119
Churches
128
Clarksburg
129
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Fugit Township-
Early Schools 125
Kingston
128
Land Entries
122
Settlement of.
120
Spring Hill
129
St. Maurice_
129
When Laid Out
119
Fugitive Slave Law
406
G
Geology of Decatur County 63
German Lutheran Church 268-270
German M. E. Church 270
Germans and German Influence
464
Government, Representative Stage
of
42
Governors of Indiana 58
Graded Schools 187
Grand Army of the Republic. 455
Greensburg-
Associated Charities
173
Business Directory 161
Business Men's Association 169
Chautauqua
171
City Hall.
160
City Officers
181
Commercial Club
167
Early Growth
157
Fire Department
159
Improvement
Association
166
Incorporation
158
Location of County Seat
156
Merchants in 1844
157
Municipal Statement
180
Newspapers
367
Original Plat
155
Police Department
159
Postoffice
174
Prices for First Lots
156
Public Library
176
Queer Regulations
158
Sewerage System
161
Song of an Inland Town
155
Street Paving
160
Union Depot
395
Water Works
160
Young Men's Christian Ass'n
177
Greensburg B. and L. Association ... 302
Greensburg Baptist Churches 237
Greensburg Christian Church 258
Greensburg Department Club 329
Greensburg National Bank
300
Greensburg Presbyterian Church
250
Greensburg Regimental Band
428
Greensburg's Foremost Citizen
290
Gunpowder Plot
531
H
Harris
148
Haymakers' Association
326
Home-made Apparel
99
Hospitals for Insane
61
I
Immaculate Conception Parish
274
Improved Order of Red Men
324
Independent Order of Odd Fellows 319
Indian Lands
50
Indian Struggles
41
Indiana, Boundary of.
47
Indiana Capital, Changes in 54
Indiana Territory
44
Industries of Decatur County
497
Iroquois Indians Hostile
34
J
Jackson Township-
Alert
132
Early Settlement 131
Forest Hill
132
Present Officers
131
Primitive Schools
131
Sardinia
133
Waynesburg
132
When Established
130
Jail History
83
Justices, Board of.
88
K
Kappa Kappa Kappa
331
Kingston
128
Knights of Pythias
315
Knights of St. John
328
Knights of the Golden Circle
407
HISTORICAL INDEX.
L
Land Surveys, Present System of __ 39
La Salle's Explorations 33
Lawyers of an Early Day 283
Legislative Council
48
Legislature, First Territorial
43
Letts
147
Liberty Baptist Church
235
Lincoln in Greensburg 528
Liquor Question in 1847
510
Literary Club of 1914
337
Literary Glimpses
479
Little Flat Rock Baptist Church 234
Local Option Election
511
Lone Tree Chapter, D. A. R
462
Long Overland Trip
525
Lower
Union
United
Brethren
Church
267
Loyal Order of Moose
327
Lynching in 1879
5.29
11
Mails, Early
98
Mapleton United Brethren Church_ 266
Marion Township-
Churches and Schools
134
Millhousen
135
Settlement of
134
Other Villages
136
Married Ladies' Musicale 338
Masonic Order in Decatur County_ 307
Medical Profession
341
Medical Society
363
Methodism in Greensburg 209
Methodist Episcopal Churches 208
Methodist Protestant Church
215
Mexican War
419
Middle Branch M. E. Church 227
Milford
116
Milford M. E. Church 225
Military History of Indiana 55
Military Record
408
Millhousen
135
Modern Woodmen of America 322
Morgan's Raid
439
Morgan's Raiders Defied 407
Mother's Circle
333
MIt. Aerie Baptist Church
2.4.4
Mit. Carmel M. E. Church 222
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
233
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
241
Mt. Pleasant Church
223
Mowrey Chapel
262
N
Natural Resources of Indiana
60
Naturalized Citizens of County
466
New Pennington M. E. Church
228
Newpoint
141
Newpoint Christian Church
264
Newpoint M. E. Church
227
Newpoint State Bank
302
Newspapers of Decatur County
365
Ninetieth Regiment
455
Normal Schools
189
Northwest Territory, Census of
4.4
Noted Robbery Conspiracy
505
O
Odd Fellows' Home
515
Officers in Civil War
420
Official
Roster
87
Ohio Company, The
35
Old County Seminary
517
Old-Time Debating Society
526
One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Regi-
ment
439
One
Hundred
and
Thirty-fourth
Regiment
438
One Hundred
and
Twenty-third
Regiment
438
Opposition to Slavery
398
Opticians
364
Order of the Eastern Star
313
Ordinance of 1787
39
Organization of Northwest
Terri-
tory
42
Organization of the County
69
Organization of Townships
124
Orthographic Contests
528
P
Pap Thomas Post, G. A. R
455
Patrons of Husbandry
387
Pension Board
364
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Pentecost Church 267
Physicians of Decatur County 341
Pigeons Eclipse Sun 520
Pioneer Churches. 205
Pioneer Cold Storage
5.30
Pioneer Industries
497
Pioneer Schools 101
Pioneer Trails and Wagon Ways 390
Poets of Decatur County
479
Political History of Indiana 57
Politics in 1842.
524
Pontiac's Conspiracy
36
Population Statistics 508
Presbyterian Churches
246
President Judges 278
Presidential Election of 1860 478
Primitive Conditions 98
Private Schools.
187
Progress Club
334
Q
Quebec Act, The
36
R
Railroad Statistics 396
Railroads of Decatur County 393
Rattlesnakes Abundant 100
Record for Office-holding 519
Red Ribbon Club
510
Relief for Soldiers' Families 445
Religion 206
Religious Revival in 1869-70
518
Representatives 92
Research Club 336
Revolutionary Period 36
Revolutionary War Veterans 408
Roads and Transportation 390
Rock Creek Baptist Church 245
Rockville, First Town in County 106
Rossburg Baptist Church
242
S
St. Clair's Defeat
34
St. John's Parish at Enochsburg
275
Sent Bill for Prayer
532
St. Maurice
1.29
St. Maurice's Parish
273
St. Omer-
Aspirations Blasted 104
Churches 103
First Building. 102
Missed hy Railroad 102
Schools
103
St. Paul-
"Big John" 112
Churches and Schools 108
Disastrous Fires. 111
First Mill in County 107
First Paul Cabin 107
Founder of 106
Industries and Commerce 109
Railroad Booms Town 107
St. Paul Bank. 301
St. Paul Christian Church 264
St. Paul M. E. Church 225
St. Paul Schools
201
St. Paul's Catholic Church
275
Salem Baptist Church 237
Salt Creek Township-
Boundaries 140
Last Laid Out 140
Newpoint 141
Present Officers 141
Settlement of.
141
Smith's Crossing 143
Villages of
143
Sand Creek Baptist Church
229
Sand Creek Township-
Boundaries of 143
First Settlers. 144
Harris 148
Letts 147
Present Officers 145
Sardinia Crossing 150
145
Westport
139
Sandusky
Sandusky M. E. Church
221
Sardinia
Sardinia Presbyterian Church 253
Sardinia United Brethren Church. 267 Schools of Greensburg 192
Schools of the Pioneers 101
Secret Societies and Fraternities 307
Senators, State. 91
Settlement of the County
69
Seventh Regiment
424
133
HISTORICAL INDEX.
Seventy-sixth Regiment
436
Sheriffs.
89
Sidelights on History of County
504
Sixty-eighth Regiment
436
Slavery, Rejected in Indiana
50
Slaves Held in Decatur County
407
Smith's Crossing
143
Social and Literary Clubs
329
Soil of Decatur County
64
Soldiers of Civil War
424
Soldiers of the Revolution
408
Soldiers of War of 1812
411
Soldiers of War With Mexico
419
Spelling "Bees"
528
Spring Hill.
129
Spring Hill Community Church
256
Squatters
96
State Politics at Early Date.
470
State Pride
62
State
Representatives
92
State Senators
91
Stock Breeders
380
Supervision of Schools
191
T
Tax Payers in 1862.
507
Teachers' Gatherings 188
Teachers, Qualifications of
184
Tecumseh
33
Temperance Movement
509
Territorial Delegates to Congress
49
Territorial Government
46
"The Hoosier Schoolmaster"
504
Third National Bank of Greensburg 299
Thirty-seventh Regiment
433
Tomato-growing Industry
382
Topography of Decatur County
63
Tourists' Club
335
Towns and Townships 95
Township Schools
195
Townships and Towns
95
Trained Nurses
363
Treaty of Paris.
33
Tree on Court House Tower
81
Turnpikes
391
U
"Underground Railroad"
398
Union Baptist Church
245
Union Trust Company of Greens-
burg
303
United Brethren in Christ
265
United Presbyterian Church
254
V
Vincennes, Capture of
37
Vincennes, Oldest Indiana
Settle-
ment
38
War of 1812
411
War-Time Convention
441
Washington Township-
Boundaries
150
Center of County
151
First Settlers
152
McCoy
154
Present
Officers
154
Quarry Switch.
154
Washingtonian Organization
509
Water Transportation
392
Wayne. Gen. Anthony
34
Waynesburg
132
Waynesburg Christian Church
264
Waynesburg Farmers' Club
385
Wesley Chapel.
220
Westport
145
Westport
Baptist Church
241
Westport Christian Church 262
Westport High School
199
Westport National Bank
301
Whig Barbecue of 1844
525
Wild Game.
101
Williamstown
140
Wolves Troublesome
100
Woman's
Christian
Temperance
Union
511
Woman's Club
335
Woman's Relief Corps
458
Workingmen's B. and L. Ass'n
304
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
A
Ainsworth, Charles 1. 688
Alexander, Clay 952
Alexander, Frank S. 1109
Alexander. John H., M. D. 632
Alley, Jonathan L.
1008
Allison, Francis M. 747
Anderson, Hamlin 1160
Anderson, Nicholas 1143
Anderson, Robert 1067
Angle, William M.
752
Annis, James N. 693
Apple, Solomon 1045
Ardery, David A. 572
Armstrong, Alfred M. 842
Armstrong, Francis D. 856
Askin, Clifford G.
943
Aultman, Henry M.
575
B
Ballard, Daniel J., M. D. 756
Ballard, Harry W. 1207
Beck, John W. 703
Bentley, Alexander 1126
Black, Jacob
1162
Black, John C. 1071
Blackamore, David M. 552
Blackmore, Lawrence O. (deceased) 1010
Blackmore, Lawrence O. 1015
Blankman, Bernard H.
728
Blankman, Henry
1196
Boicourt, William T.
1042
Boling, Albert 800
Boling, George W. 771
Boling, Walter T. 767
Bonner, Judge Samuel A. S51
Bonner, Walter W.
734
Bostic, James M. 1111
Bostic, Watson 983
Bowman, Henry C. 806
Boyd, Harry 543
Bracken, John Locke 544
Braden, Luther D. 618
Braden, Richard J. 587
Bruns, Benedict
906
Buckley, Daniel 914
Burney, John W. 799
Bush, James N.
773
Bussell, Smith B.
741
Byers, James M.
999
C
Carman, Ira C. 986
Clark, Ira 711
Clark, Samuel 894
Cline, James 978
Cobb, Jasper
640
Collicott, Rev. John 1029
Collins, John R. 885
Cory, Joseph 792
Cory, Walter B. 615
Corya, John W. 1018
Crawford, George S., M. D. 784
Crisler, Will J. 547
Crist, Scott F.
1204
Cuskaden, John T.
789
D
Davis, Daniel 695
Davis, Edward W. 880
Davis, James B. 782
Davis, James G. 992
Davis, Robert J. 1098
Davis, William 1014
Day, Thomas E. 1031
Deem, John W. 709
DeMoss, John W. 824
Denham, Benjamin F. 1123
Deniston, John H. 1194
Deniston, William H.
1117
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Deupree, Clarence C. 1174
Deupree, Everett L. 1037
Deupree, Thomas M. 1175
Dietrich, Otto F. 779
Donnell. Edwin D. 1079
Douglas, Dilver E., M. D. 930
Draping, Henry .1. 974
Duffey, Thomas 642
E
Eckhart, Leroy .1. 1075
Eddelman, Edgar 1119
Elder, Oliver C. 698
Elliott, Daniel W. 1138
Elliott, Marion M. I131
Elliott, Theodore 993
Emmert, Harry 730
Emmert, Jacob 749
Emmert, Len J. 550
Erdmann, George E.
559
Evans, John G. 960
Evans, Milton E. 1133
F
Fear, John 1085
Fear, William S. I097
Fee, Edwin S. 933
Foley, Gen. James B. 568
Foley, John J. 560
Ford, Lafayette 597
Fry, Henry 831
Fulton, Samuel D. 1129
G
Galbraith, Francis I. 1215
Garrison, Joseph W. 608
Gartin, John G. 1088
Gaston, J. Minor 936
Gibson, Estill A. 1012
Glass, Jacob C., M. D. 834
Goddard, William 661
Greeley, Clarence E. 797
Grover, Dr. Charles B. 816
Guthrie, John G. 924
Habig, Anthony 727
Ilahn, Valentine 920
Hamilton, Chester 1170
Hamilton, Everett 610
Hamilton, Frank 656
Hamilton, James F. 738
Hamilton, Luther D. 1183
Hamilton, K. Ray. 941
Hamilton, Robert C. 570
Hamilton, Thomas E. 878
Hamilton, Thomas M. 907
Hanks, Samuel B. 991
Harding, James L. 864
Harrod, Cecil G., M. D. 984
IIarwood, Cyrus D.
759
Flays, John C. 948
Heger, Michael 82I
Hess. George L.
1210
Hill, Clarence L. 1156
Ilillis, Alexander 975
Hite, Edgar E. 818
Hitt, Sherman B., M. D. 596
Hoeing, Bernard A .. 918
Holcomb, Daniel Wesley 912
Holcomb, John W. 840
Holmes, Mrs. Dorcas E. ( McLain) 581
Holmes, Webster H. 950
Hopkins, Harry S., D. D. S. 1047
Howard, James 1017
Hudson, Millard A. 690
Hughes, Jason B. 696
Hungerford, Walter 874
Hunter, John 1004
I
Isgrigg, William H.
814
J
Jackson, Edward A. 988
Jackson, Samuel L. 636
Jackson, William E. 1034
Jameson, Barton W. 1137
Jenkins, Myron C. I164
Jewell, Allen 100I
Jewett, Israel D. 1053
Jewett, Lorin A. 1059
Johannigmann, Mathias 93I
H
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Johnson. John 788
Jones, Clifford F. 677
Manlief, Omer T. 884
Meek, Adam 658
Meek, George M. 763
Meek, John T. 1185
Meek, Robert S 576
Menzie, George 721
Messler, Cornelius
714
Metz, George W.
846
Metz, John H. 624
Kessing, Edward 1200
Ketchum, Francis G. 1191
Ketchum, William S. 1064
Kincaid, Gilbert G. 662
Kirby, Henry C. 1077
Kitchin, Guy E. 626
Kitchin, Joseph B. 826
Kitchin, Thomas J.
639
L
Lathrop, Harry 910
Lathrop, James B. 724
Lawson, William A. 1000
Layton, Jephtha 977
Lee, Orlando 1052
Link, Albert 964
Littell, Mrs. Benjamin F. 1028
Littell, George S. 539
Littell, Sam V.
699
Logan, Aaron 1203
Logan, Aaron L. 686
Logan, George A. 889
Logan, Henry H.
832
Logan, John 844
Logan, John H. 765
Logan, Will W. 859
Lowe, Arthur J.
584
Lowe, Edward C.
674
Mc
McCoy, Curtis 904
McCoy, Sutherland 592
McCoy, William M. 604
McCracken, Hugh T. 634
McKee, Harley S., M. D.
902
Mclaughlin, James C. 648
M
Kanouse, John R. 774
Kelly, Samuel 1145
Kennedy, Simeon H. 1198
Kercheval, Clarence .F., M. D. 562
Kercheval, James T.
862
Miers, Morgan L. 760
Miers, Willard A. 981
Miers, William H. 946
Miller, Charles P. 1166
Minor, Joseph S. 966
Mires, John . 1006
Mobley, William H. 794
Moenkedick, Joseph 980
Moor, George W. 1082
Moore, Huber C. 804
Morrison, Clyde C., M. D. 1211
Mount, Harry H. 716
Mowrey, Nelson 732
Mozingo, Henry 972
Mulford, Fred E. 876
Mulroy, Anthony B. 780
Myers, Judge David A. 1213
Myers, George M. 1101
Myers, James A.
646
Myers, John T.
1003
N
Nesbitt, Charles M.
1187
O
Oldham. Eber J. 916
Ortman, Bernard 901
Osborn, John E.
768
Owen, John S.
1140
P
Patterson, Joseph 603
Pavy, John T. 776
Perry, Dan S.
606
Perry, George S.
823
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Pleak. Ezra L. 1056
Pleak, Strauther Van 1170
Porter, Alexander 1152
Porter, Edward A., M.D. 1105
Smiley, Thomas K. 736
Smiley, William 650
Smiley, William F. 620
Smiley, William G. 668
Smith, William S. 564
Spears, John W. 1024
Stark, Randolph 891
Stevenson, Thomas H. 644
Stewart, Samuel H. 718
Stott & Company, W. T. 745
Stott, Richard T. 802
Stout, Frank C.
647
Styers, Jesse H. 836
Styers, William G. 1094
T
Talbott, Abram H1. 672
Taylor, Albert G. 1061
Taylor, Isaac H. 940
Taylor, John W.
1072
Templeton, Charles S. 1048
Templeton, Nelson M. 652
Thomson, Henry 707
Throp, James B.
808
1
Throp, Wesley
810
Thurston, Jacob L.
1141
Townsend, Henry 1107
Travis, Louis O. 1206
Tremain, John W. 1115
Trimble, Oscar B. 928
Turner, Rev. James W., A. M., D. D. 969
Turner, Rollin A.
600
S
Sands, Linton W. 670
Scheidler, George M. 820
Schroeder, John H. 882
Scott, Robert
629
Scott, Walter 629
Sefton, George W. 705
Shafer, James H.
1146
Shafer, Wilson M. " 854
Shaw, Col. Benjamin C. 997
Shaw, Jolın J. 1134
Shaw, Thomas N. 754
Shera, Isaac 848
Shortridge, James M. 786
Shuperd, George W. 1065
Smalley, Reuben 701
Porter, James 654
Power, Ernest D.
682
Powner, James L.
995
Powner, John C. 685
Pulse, William C. 612
Pumphrey, Cyrus W. 1026
Pumphrey, Edward 1022
Pumphrey, Francis M. 956
Pumphrey, James A. 1021
Puttmann, John J. 898
R
Redelman, George F. 888
Redelman, Henry M. 958
Reed, George N. 678
Remy, Charles E.
953
Riley, Eden T., M. D. 557
Riley, Hon. Zachariah T. 1039
Risk, Charles F.
1073
Robbins, Charles C.
1157
Robbins, John E. 1120
Robbins, John E.
535
Robertson, John F.
1103
Robertson, Josiah W. 967
Robertson, Lafayette 1062
Robertson, William W. 1050
Robison, James B. 704
Ruhl, Max
812
Russell, Albert C. 579
Russell, John F.
554
U
Updike, William G.
743
Urich, Rev. John A.
720
V
Van Pleak, Strauther
1170
Venner, Abram F.
1086
IV
Waits, Isaac D.
1068
Walker, Elmer E.
922
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.
Wallingford, John N. 617
Woodfill, William C. 622
Weadon, Frank M.
926
Woodfill. William S. 627
WVeadon, George A.
1190
Woodruff, John H. 1100
Welch, Oliver F., M. D.
1192
Woodward, Charles W. 594
Welsh, Glanton G.
664
Worland, Charles W. 896
White, Isaac W.
692
Wright, Caleb S. 1148
Willey, Andrew S.
680
Wright, Londa
791
Williams, Andrew 1113
Wright, Wilbur B.
1168
Williams, Richard A.
1178
Wynkoop, Isaac N.
1092
Willoughby, Andrew M.
566
Wood, James M., M.D. 1083
Z
Wooden, Elmer E. 588
Zoller, Charles 583
HISTORICAL
CHAPTER I.
RELATED STATE HISTORY.
The first white men to set foot upon the Northwest Territory were French traders and missionaries under the leadership of La Salle. This was about the year 1670 and subsequent discoveries and explorations in this region by the French gave that nation practically undisputed possession of all the territory organized in 1787 as the Northwest Territory. It is true that the English colonies of Virginia, Connecticut and Massachusetts claimed that their charters extended their grants westward to the Mississippi river. However, France claimed this territory and successfully maintained posses- sion of it until the close of the French and Indian War in 1763. At that time the treaty of Paris transferred all of the French claims east of the Mississippi river to England, as well as all claims of France to territory on the mainland of North America. For the next twenty years the Northwest Territory was under the undisputed control of England, but became a part of the United States by the treaty which terminated the Revolutionary War in 1783. Thus the flags of three nations have floated over the territory now comprehended within the present state of Indiana-the tri-color of France, the union jack of England and the stars and stripes of the United States.
History will record the fact that there was another nation, however, which claimed possession of this territory and, while the Indians can hardly be called a nation, yet they made a gallant fight to retain their hunting grounds. The real owners of this territory struggled against heavy odds to maintain their supremacy and it was not until the battle of Tippecanoe, in the fall of ISII, that the Indians gave up the unequal struggle. Tecumseh, the Washington of his race, fought fiercely to save this territory for his people, but the white man finally overwhelmed him, and "Lo, the poor Indian" was pushed westward across the Mississippi. The history of the Northwest
(3)
34
DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
Territory is full of the bitter fights which the Indians waged in trying to drive the white man out and the defeat which the Indians inflicted on general St. Clair on November 4. 1792, will go down in the annals of American history as the worst defeat which an American army ever suffered at the hands of the Indians. The greatest battle which has ever been fought in the United States against the Indians occurred in the state of Ohio. This was the battle of Fallen Tinibers and occurred August 20, 1794, the scene of the battle being within the present county of Defiance. After the close of the Revolutionary War the Indians, urged on by the British, caused the settlers in the Northwest Territory continued trouble and defeated every de- tachment sent against them previous to their defeat by Gen. Anthony Wayne at the battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. Although there was some trouble with the Indians after this time, they never offered serious resistance after this memorable defeat until the fall of 1811. when Gen. William Henry Har- rison completely routed them at the battle of Tippecanoe.
TERRITORY NORTHWEST OF THE OHIO ( 1670-1754).
Ohio was the first state created out of the old Northwest Territory. although Indiana had been previously organized as a territory. When the land comprehended within the Northwest Territory was discovered by the French under La Salle about 1670, it was a battle ground of various Indian tribes. although the Eries, who were located along the shores of Lake Erie, were the only ones with a more or less definite territory. From 1670 to 1763, the close of the French and Indian War, the French were in possession of this territory and established their claims in a positive manner by exten- sive exploration and scattered settlements. The chief centers of French settlement were at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Fort Crevecour and at several missionary stations around the shores of the great lakes. The French did not succeed in doing this without incurring the hostility of the Iroquois Indians, a bitter enmity which was brought about chiefly because the French helped the Shawnees, Wyandots and Miamis to drive the Iroquois ottt of the territory west of the Muskingum river in Ohio.
It must not be forgotten that the English also laid claim to the North- west Territory, basing their claim on the discoveries of the Cabots and the subsequent charters of Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut. These charters extended the limits of these three colonies westward to the Pacific ocean, although, as a matter of fact, none of the three colonies made a settle- ment west of the Alleghanies until after the Revolutionary War. New York
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DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
sought to strengthen her claim to territory west of the Alleghanies in 1701, by getting from the Iroquois, the bitter enemies of the French, a grant to the territory from which the French and their Indian allies had previously ex- pelled them. Although this grant was renewed in 1726 and again confirmed in 1744, it gave New York only a nominal claim and one which was never recognized by the French in any way.
English traders from Pennsylvania and Virginia began in 1730 to pay more attention to the claims of their country west of the Alleghanies and north of the Ohio river. When their activities reached the ears of the French the governor of French Canada sent Celeron de Bienville up and down the Ohio and the rivers and streams running into it from the north and took formal possession of the territory by planting lead plates at the mouth of every river and stream of any importance. This peculiar method of the French in seeking to establish their claims occurred in the year 1749 and opened the eyes of England to the necessity of taking some immediate action. George II, the king of England at the time, at once granted a charter for the first Ohio Company (there were two others by the same name later organ- ized), composed of London merchants and enterprising Virginians, and the company at once proceeded to formulate plans to secure possession of the ter- ritory north of the Ohio and west of the Mississippi. Christopher Gist was sent down the Ohio river in 1750 to explore the country as far west as the mouth of the Scioto river, and made several treaties with the Indians. Things were now rapidly approaching a crisis and it was soon evident that there would be a struggle of arms between England and France for the disputed region. In 1754 the English started to build a fort at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, on the site of the present city of Pitts- burgh, but before the fort was completed the French appeared on the scene. drove the English away and finished the fort which had been begun.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (1754-63).
The crisis had finally come. The struggle which followed between the two nations ultimately resulted in the expulsion of the French from the mainland of America as well as from the immediate territory in dispute. The war is known in America as the French and Indian War and in the history of the world as the Seven Years' War, the latter designation being due to the fact that it lasted that length of time. The struggle developed into a world-wide conflict and the two nations fought over three continents, America, Europe and Asia. It it not within the province of this resume of
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DECATUR COUNTY, INDIANA.
the history of Indiana to go into the details of this memorable struggle. It is sufficient for the purpose at hand to state that the treaty of Paris, which terminated the war in 1763, left France without any of her former posses- sions on the mainland of America.
PONTIAC'S CONSPIRACY ( 1763-64).
With the English in control of America east of the Mississippi river and the French regime forever ended, the Indians next command the attention of the historian who deals with the Northwest Territory. The French were undoubtedly responsible for stirring up their former Indian allies and Pontiac's conspiracy must be credited to the influence of that nation. This formidable uprising was successfully overthrown by Henry Bouquet, who led an expedition in 1764 into the present state of Ohio and compelled the Wyandots, Delawares and Shawnees to sue for peace.
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