USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County, Indiana: its people, industries and institutions > Part 48
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Hon. Robert W. Miers was born in Clay township in 1845, graduated from Indiana University, was prosecutor and circuit judge at Blooming- ton and was elected to Congress on the Democratic ticket three times. He is now judge of the Monroe-Owen circuit court.
B. F. Clayton, born in Adams township about 1840, moved to Iowa forty years ago after having served as county commissioner here. He was elected to the lowa Legislature and was later president of the National Farmers' Congress. He is now a prominent banker at Indianola, Iowa.
Lycurgus McCoy, born near Greensburg in 1835, moved to lowa in 1855. He was a captain in the Thirty-third Iowa Regiment in the Civil War. Later lie was elected county treasurer at Sigourney, lowa. He became a Seventh-Day Adventist minister and moved to Battle Creek, Mich- igan, thirty years ago to become secretary of the sanitarium there. He is now chaplain of that institution.
Alvin I. Hobbs, born in Greensburg in 1835, became a minister in the Christian church, filling prominent pastorates in Cincinnati, Louisville and Indianapolis. He was president of Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, in the seventies. He held a public debate with a Universalist preacher at Des Moines and the same was later published in book form.
John A. Donnell, born near Kingston in 1838, located in Iowa in 1855 and twenty years later went to Los Angeles, California, where he was elected prosecutor and became a prominent attorney for many years prior to his death in 1913.
Edmon Hez Swem, born in Greensburg in 1858, was educated at DePauw University and became a Presbyterian minister in 1882. In 1886 he changed his affiliation to the Baptist church. He was pastor of the Ninth Street Baptist church in Washington, D. C., for twenty-five years, and is still preaching in that city.
Elias R. Monfort, son of Rev. J. G. Monfort, was born in Greensburg in 1840. He served in an Ohio regiment in the Civil War with the rank of captain. He was department commander of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic : was prosecuting attorney here in 1871 to 1873, and served as postmaster at Cincinnati, from 1899 to 1915.
William H. Carroll, born in Greensburg in 1842, served in Wilder's battery. He was a candidate for sheriff on the Democratic ticket in 1866. He moved to Marion in 1870, served as circuit judge there, and is still practicing law at that place.
Dr. Lora M. Henry, born near Springhill in 1856, graduated from
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Monmouth United Presbyterian College, studied medicine and became a medical missionary at Assiut, Egypt, where he has been for fifteen years.
Platt Wicks, born in Greensburg about 1837, served as prosecutor just before the Civil War and was a prominent attorney during the sixties. He later moved to Harlan, Iowa, where he was elected to the Legislature. Still later lie moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where he was a prominent barrister up to the time of his death, about ten years ago.
Jacob G. Collicott. born in Salt Creek township in 1874, graduated from the State University in 1896. He was principal of the high school at Elwood and Evansville and city superintendent at Tacoma, Washington, before becoming superintendent of the city schools of Indianapolis three years ago.
Floy Gilmore was born in Greensburg in 1877 and graduated from the local high school in 1895. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1899 with the degree of Bachelor of Law. She was assistant attorney- general of the Philippines, 1901-03; later she took a post-graduate course at Columbia University and was appointed professor of economics at Welles- ley College in 1913.
Wilbur W. Woodford, artist, died at Lawrenceburg, March 19, 1882. He was born at St. Omer, January 8, 1851, and followed his father, Capt. Charles Woodward, as fifer in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty- third Indiana Regiment, when a lad of twelve years. His father was elected sheriff in 1866, and the family moved here from St. Paul. Wilbur showed marked art talent while in our city schools, and in 1870 began a study of art in the School of Design in Cincinnati. When he died he was a profes- sor in that school. He spent two years in Paris and won many honors there. He was buried at Spring Grove cemetery, in Cincinnati, a proces- sion of students escorting his body to the tomb, where ex-Governor Noyes, former minister to France, spoke feelingly of his acquaintance and friend- ship for his deceased friend.
THE ODD FELLOWS' HOME.
Greensburg is justly proud of the beautiful state Odd Fellows' Home which adjoins the city on the east. The cardinal principles of Odd Fellow- ship are friendship, love and truth, and it is due to the practical working of these three virtues that the Odd Fellows of Indiana erected this beautiful home fifteen years ago. It was the generous impulses of this great frater- nity in Indiana which made possible a home which seeks to provide the
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proper care for all its unfortunate members. Here may be found a com- fortable home for the brothers and sisters on whom time has laid heavy hands and to whom good fortune has passed by on the other side. Here prattling childhood, robbed of kindly home and parents, finds its nearest substitute.
The first building was dedicated on May 16, 1900, and a second build- ing on May 17, 1905. These two buildings have a total capacity of two hundred and fifty, while the hospital will accommodate twenty-eight more. The grounds comprise one hundred and thirty-five acres of beautiful roll- ing ground. This land was the gift of Decatur Lodge No. 103 and the citi- zens of Greensburg and vicinity. At the time the grand lodge was looking for a location for the home, many cities in the state offered sites, but the present location has shown the wisdom of the final choice. The farm and buildings are now valued at three hundred thousand dollars.
The institution, which is incorporated as the Odd Fellows' Home Asso- ciation of Indiana, is maintained by a direct per capita tax of thirty-two cents on each subordinate, fifteen cents on each Rebekah and ten cents on each encampment membership, respectively. The total receipts in 1914 were about thirty-eight thousand dollars from these sources. The operating expenses of the institution, including administration and maintenance, were twenty-nine thousand one hundred and forty-one dollars and forty-two cents, an average per capita cost per meal of eighteen cents.
Since the home was opened in 1900, five hundred and eighty-nine guests have been cared for. In June, 1915, there were one hundred and fifty in the home, as follows: Men, sixty-nine; women, forty; boys, thirty- two; girls, nine. The ages of the guests range from two to ninety-two years. Since the home was opened in 1900 two hundred and fifty-four children have been received and one hundred and ten of this number have later been returned to their parents. Ninety-three children have been placed in good homes in various parts of the state. A striking evidence of the care of these children is shown by the fact that not a single child has ever died in the home. During the past year ten adults died, four children have been placed in homes and nine other children returned to their parents.
The home is managed by a board of three directors-one selected by the grand lodge, one by the grand encampment and one by the Rebekah assembly. This board serves for a term of three years. The vice-presi- dent of the assembly is ex-officio president of the board of directors. The present directors are as follows: Florence McGregor, president ex-officio;
THE OLD SEMINARY. GREENSBURG.
RAILROAD YARDS, GREENSBURG.
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W. H. Bradshaw, vice-president; Mrs. Kate E. Barnett, secretary; W. E. Longley, treasurer. The present superintendent of the Home is Charles E. Lockhart and his wife serves as his assistant.
As the result of agitation which had its inception in an address before the Rebekah assembly by Charles E. Lockhart, superintendent of the home, soon after he assumed charge, the graves of twenty Odd Fellows in South Park cemetery are now honored by a massive handsome monument. This monument is a gift to the home from the lodges of the state, which contrib- uted fifteen hundred dollars for its erection. The monument is seven feet four inches by four fect six inches at the base and stands six feet and two inches in height. It is of Barre granite, hammer finished and has the gen- eral style of a sarcophagus. The monument was dedicated on May 19, 1915. On that day fourteen hundred and thirteen members of the grand lodge and Rebekah assembly went by two special trains from Indianapolis, where they were in session, to participate in the dedicatory services and attend the unveiling of the monument. Addresses were made by W. H. Leedy, Charles Warren Fairbanks, Ella M. Clark and Mary A. Poths.
TIIE OLD SEMINARY.
During the seventies and eighties James G. May wrote a series of articles for the local papers on the old seminary, an institution of which he was the head for several years. He speaks of whipping six boys on October 26, 1836, and three of them were sons of preachers. The boys were from twelve to fourteen years of age and had been guilty of defacing some of the outbuildings of the seminary at night. The old professor says his pupils did good work for him "in spite of these little diversions." In August, 1836, fourteen of his pupils signed a challenge which read: "We challenge at the close of the session the most rigid examination in all our studies," and laid it on his desk. It was signed by Cynthia Ann Free- man, Margaret Jane Bryan, Eliza Jane Ewing, George G. M. Craig, Saph- ronia Hazelrigg, Magdalene Uttinger, Camilla A. Thomson, Eliza A. Han- way, Orville L. Thomson, Tabitha O'N. Craig, Tamson Church, Mary E. Reilley, Mary Kendall, John H. Sanders.
When the last day came the school trustees and parents were present. A lawyer and a minister proceeded to examine the class and found them equal to their profession. When it came to examining then on six books of Caesar the lawyer explained that he was "kind o' rusty" on the classics, and told them to examine themselves. One of the class took charge and,
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of course, was easy on the others. During the 1836 term there were one hundred and thirty-four pupils enrolled.
A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL.
Probably the greatest religious revival ever held in Greensburg and throughout the county occurred during the winter of 1869-70. The Stand- ard, in its issue of March 10, 1870, says: "The spirit of revival continues in the churches throughout the county up to this date. More than one thou- sand have come to Christ and united with some division of our Lord's army. In this city the number added to the churches, as far as we have ascertained, is as follows: First Methodist, R. M. Barnes, pastor, 137; Centenary Meth- odist, G. L. Curtis, pastor, 82; Third Methodist, J. Tarkington, pastor, 6: Presbyterian, J. C. Irwin, pastor, 90; Christian, D. R. Van Buskirk, pastor, 70; Baptist, J. Green, pastor, 8; total, 393."
A BAND TOURNAMENT.
A band tournament was held in Greensburg, November 1, 1882, when a crowd, estimated at from ten to twelve thousand, was present. Eight bands competed for prizes : Jonesboro, Seymour, Lawrenceburg, Franklin, Rushville, Thorntown, Milton and Aurora. The judges were Roll Adams, of Greensburg; James A. Nunn, of New Castle, and F. N. Myers, of Indi- anapolis. The first prize of one hundred and twenty-five dollars went to Franklin; the second, seventy-five dollars, to Thorntown, the third, fifty dollars, to Milton; the fourth, twenty-five dollars, to Lawrenceburg. It
seems, from the account in a local paper of that week, that various kinds of running races were held on this day. John B. Kuhns, of Irvington, won a ten-dollar prize in a running race and Fred Boyle won five dollars as second. In a walking match for men over seventy. Joseph Patterson, of Waynesburg, won first and six dollars, and John S. Campbell, of Greensburg, took second and received four dollars for his efforts.
SARTOR RESARTUS.
The lost-and-found column in the early Greensburg papers was fully as interesting as any other part of the sheet. The editors had a keen sense of humor and sometimes used language which would hardly be thought in good taste at the present time. The loss of a part of some woman's rai-
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ment gave the editor of the Greensburg Standard (June 25, 1842) a chance to get off the following witticism: "Found on the streets of Greensburg, a live, full grown, sawdust, bran, straw or rag bustle. Owner can obtain same by applying at this office."
A VERSATILE PREACHER.
Versatility was one of the marked characteristics of the old pioneer preachers, and it is probable that no early preacher in the county could turn his hand to more things than Rev. David Douglas. He was born in Mont- gomery county, Ky., in 1781, was married there in 1801, and came to this county in 1825. His father was killed in 1805 by the Indians in the battle at Stroud's station. Mr. Douglas settled in Clay township about five miles west of this city, on land now owned by Nelson Mowrey. He was known as "Davy" Douglas, and for nearly forty years his voice was heard as a plain, simple, earnest preacher of the Gospel, in the woods, in the cabins, in the school houses and occasionally in the churches. He could make a plow, shoe a horse, do any kind of farm work, and he did it. He was called to settle disputes, estates, etc., and was everywhere respected as an honest, God-fearing man. He was what was called a "New Light," believed in Christian union without any frills, insisted on Bible names and the throw- ing aside of all human-made creeds. He went to his reward at Milroy in January, 1861, just as the mutterings of the approaching Civil War were being heard.
A RECORD-BREAKING PIONEER.
It is probable that Decatur county had in the person of Henry H. Tal- bott not only a man who held office for a longer period than any other man in the county, but in the state as well. He was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, in March, 1800. He had become a resident of Greensburg in 1821. When the county was organized in April, 1822, he was elected county clerk and recorder, a position he held continuously until 1841. During this time he was also county auditor, a period of twenty years. For thirteen years following 1841 he was auditor and recorder and for four years there- after he was clerk, making thirty-seven years clerk, thirty-three years recorder and twenty years auditor. He would have served longer, but a new law made him ineligible. Practically all of the early public records were writ- ten by this man in his well-known clear, legible handwriting. He married Eliza Hendricks, December 20, 1824; she died in 1860. The following
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tribute is paid him: "In all his business transactions he was scrupulously honest, and he leaves a history for honesty unparalleled in the history of the county." He died at Indianapolis, July 21, 1872, where he had gone to take treatment.
A WILD-PIGEON ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.
Wild pigeons which, years ago, went the way of the great auk and other now extinct forms of animal life, were at one time very common in Decatur county, and many of the older residents can remember when they flew so thick and close together as to obscure the sun. The largest flock of wild pigeons recorded to have passed over Decatur county migrated in 1860. The immense flock of pigeons, which extended in all directions as far as the eye could reach, passed over Greensburg, February 1, 1860. It is said that the sun was completely shut out and the city in darkness for more than an hour.
A STORY FOR MEN ONLY.
There have been all kinds of clubs in Greensburg, but the Bachelor's Club, which flourished more than thirty-odd years ago, was probably the most unique club the city has ever had. Many of the members of this club are still living and, as far as the historian has found out, not one of them has lived up to the principles which he took an oath to observe. One of the local papers, in its issue of September 1, 1882, says, "they met at 'Jim Polk' Ewing's office, just across from Fromer's, and marched through the alley to Ross Look's depot dining room, where they sat down to a sumptuous feast. The affair was in honor of Warren Wilson, who was just depart- ing for Chicago." The following worthies are reported as being present : W. H. Goddard, J. K. and George Ewing, J. S. Throp, Grover Stevens, George Holby, Jolın Jarrard, J. C. McQuiston, P. A. Doyle, Joe Witten- berg, Joe Davidson, M. D. Tackett, J. E. Mendenhall, Robert Hazelrigg, Cash Lowe, Todd Wright, Dick Warthin, John Batterton, Professor Run- yon, Frank Bennett, Ed Kessing, Lou Samuels and Dola Cunningham. How long this club lasted or just why it was finally relegated to oblivion the historian leaves to the reader, but it is fair to presume that there are many women in Greensburg who could explain its disappearance.
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A STORY CONCERNING GREENSBURG'S FIRST LAWYER.
The Cincinnati Enquirer several years ago told a story on James T. Brown, the first lawyer of Greensburg, who came here in the year 1822 and remained until 1838. Brown was a bachelor and a humorist of the first water. The story relates that when he was about to die at Lawrenceburg a preacher was called, and knelt in prayer by his bedside. The prayer had not proceeded far until Brown reached for his trousers and got a ten-dollar bill and shook it close to the parson's ear. The minister stopped, looked up and remarked that he did not make any charge for his services. "Don't you?" gasped Brown. "Well, I'll be d-d if I'd make such a plea as you've made for less than ten dollars."
DODDRIDGE ALLEY, AN ECCENTRIC PIONEER.
Concerning Doddridge Alley, who represented the county in the Legis- lature in 1826 and again in 1831, a large number of good stories are still told. Alley was a chronic office-holder, was very illiterate and stuttered. Some of the stories preserved are true, and some are not, but all are worth relating.
Alley introduced a bill giving sheriffs authority to perform marriage ceremonies, giving as his reason that "ministers were scarce in some localities, but that sheriffs were found everywhere." The bill was actually passed, but was never given a place in the statutes.
He came in for a considerable amount of ridicule later, upon introduction of one of his bills, providing for annexation of eighteen sections of Shelby county to Decatur county, for the reason that "Shelby county was unhealthy and some of its people wanted out of it." In regard to this bill, his fellow legislators, who made him the butt of their rough humor, were rather unfair. Ten citizens of Shelby county had asked for the introduction of this bill. They were only eight miles distant from Greensburg, while, in order to attend muster, they were compelled to travel eighteen miles to Shelbyville, through a wet and unhealthy country. The measure never reached a vote.
Alley once expostulated with his son-in-law because the latter had pur- chased a pistol. "Well, a man is apt to need a gun, sometimes," said the young man in defense of his act. "Yes, and a man is apt to be a d-d fool sometimes," retorted his father-in-law.
Once, when a candidate for some office. Alley gave an immense barbecue, which was attended by several hundred voters. The cooks neglected their work and the meat was served half raw. To this culinary mishap, Alley
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afterwards attributed his unexpected and overwhelming defeat. Alley was an old-fashioned, stump-speaking, bushwhacking campaigner, and in one elec- tion polled every vote in Clay township.
BOUND BOYS.
In the early history of the county the law provided for the "binding out" of children who were thrown upon the county for support. The children were let out to the highest bidder, the one getting them agreeing to furnish them with food, clothing and shelter and give them such educational advantages as the schools of the neighborhood provided.
The following communication to H. H. Talbott, first county clerk, is preserved in the public library at Greensburg :
"Sir: I want you to draw a piece of writing, certifying that Stephen has served his time with me and is now a free man, and put the county seal thereon in order that he may not be interrupted in another state.
"October 14, 1824.
JOSEPH HENDERSON."
It is difficult to judge whether Stephen was a slave or had merely been "bound out." For the reason that he is designated merely by his first name, as was customary with slaves, and since his master feared that he might be stopped when he left home, it is possible that he might have been a negro slave. But so far as positive information is concerned no slaves were ever held in Decatur county.
The first recorded instance of a boy being "bound out" or apprenticed until he attained his majority is that of Warren Jackson. It is contained in the following court record :
"Return of William Ross and John Gageby, overseers of the poor for Washington township, 1825. Bound to John Springer, Warren Jackson, aged five in July, 1825, to learn the art and mystery of a house joiner."
It seems that not all boys were satisfied with the treatment they received at the hands of their masters and the incident below related is probably only one of many similar cases. This advertisement appeared in a Greensburg paper in 1846 :
"FIFTY CENTS REWARD .- Run away from the subscriber, living in Greensburg, Decatur county, Indiana, Silas F. White, an indented apprentice to the tanning and currying business. Said apprentice is seventeen years old, in February last, and was bound to me until he reached the age of twenty years. All persons are forewarned from harboring or trusting him, as I will
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pay no debts of his contracting; all persons are forewarned from employing him or paying him wages, as I am entitled to his services, and I shall look to them for pay for his services. The above reward and no charges will be paid to any person returning him to me.
"May 27, 1846.
CHATFIELD HOWELL."
The guardians of apprenticed boys had to enter into a written agreement to do certain things, as is shown by the following agreement, taken from the court records of Decatur county :
"Greensburg, Indiana.
"This indenture, made the second day of August, 1830, Witnesseth that Merit Duncan, aged eleven years, eleven months and twenty-four days has by and with the consent of James Floyd, guardian of the said Merit Duncan, and of his own free will hath placed and bound himself apprentice to Samuel Hood, wheelwright, of the county of Decatur and the state of Indana, which trade the said Samuel Hood now useth, and with him as an apprentice to dwell, continue and serve from the day of the date hereof until the full end and term of nine years at which time the said Merit Duncan will be twenty- one years of age, fully to be completely ended during which time the said apprentice his said master well and faithfully shall serve, his secrets keep, his lawful commands gladly do and obey ; hurt to his master he shall not do nor willingly suffer it to be done by others, but of the same to the utmost of his powers shall forthwith give notice to his said master; the goods of his said master he shall not embezzle or waste, nor lend them without his consent to any ; at cards, dice or other unlawful games he shall not play; taverns or tippling shops he shall not frequent, fornication he shall not commit, matri- mony he shall not contract ; from the service of his said master he shall not at any time depart or absent himself without his master's leave but in all things as a good and faithful apprentice shall and will demean himself and behave toward his master during said term.
"And the said Samuel Hood in the art trade or mystery of a wheelwright. which he now useth with all things thereunto belonging, shall and will teach and instruct or cause to be well and sufficiently taught and instructed after the best way and manner that he can; and shall and will find and allow unto his said apprentice meat, drink, washing and lodging and apparel, both linen and woolen and all other necessaries fit and convenient for said apprentice during the term aforesaid, and shall also cause the said apprentice within such term to be instructed to read and write and cypher as far as the single rule of three direct inclusive, and at the end of said term to give to said apprentice a good suit of Holy day clothes of broadcloth, a good hat, shoes, etc.
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"In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals on the day and year above written.
"JAMES LOYD His "MERIT DUNCAN-X "SAMUEL HOOD (mark)."
"Attest: H. H. Talbott.
THE ESTRAY POUND.
In the early days, before there were newspapers, in which advertisements could be run, to locate lost stock, the estray pound, or "stray pen," as our fathers called it. was used for the purpose of impounding all stock found run- ning at large. Then when the owner missed his property, all he had to do was to look for it in the pound, pay the proper charge and take the animal or animals home.
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