USA > Indiana > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 57
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John McCormick was accompanied by his brothers, James and Samuel, also nine other men who assisted in cutting the trail. They literally "hewed" their way through the wilderness, landing on the banks of White river on February 26, 1820. Indians were the only human inhabitants of the locality, and there was an Indian's camp at that time on the banks of the creek where the Union railway station now stands.
MEN BEGAN WORK ON CABIN.
Immediately after they arrived the men set to work felling trees, which were to be used in building a cabin. The wagons were used for shelter and protection until the cabin was completed and ready to be occupied.
Huge log heaps were kept burning to make it as comfortable for Mrs. McCormick and the children as possible. There were seven children in the McCormick family at the time of their removal to their new home in the wilderness. After the cabin was completed the brothers of John McCor- mick with the nine men returned to Connersville, leaving the family with no other neighbors except the Indians, and they frequently made the state- ment in later years that they did not see the face of a single white person, except the members of the family, until the return of James McCormick sometime during the month of March.
The Harding, Wilson and Pogue families came in a short time, which gave a feeling of security to the first arrivals.
OPERATED FERRY BOAT.
John McCormick built and operated a ferry across the river, near where the new bridge spans the stream on West Washington street. The old book in which he kept a record of his business is still in possession of a member of the McCormick family.
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He later built a mill on the river near the present site of Crown Hill cemetery and operated the same until his death, which occurred in 1825.
Mrs. McCormick, wife of the "first settler," is remembered by the younger members of the family as the champion story teller of the McCor- micks. She used to sit by the hour and tell of the incidents of the pioneer days. The early annals of the country abound in incidents and anecdotes illustrating fortitude under suffering, and heroism in scenes of peril among the wives and mothers of the early pioneers.
INDIANS OFTEN DANGEROUS.
On one occasion a well-known and desperate Delaware called "Big Bottle" had come to the opposite bank of the river and demanded to be brought over. Mr. McCormick not being at home, his wife refused to take the canoe over for him, knowing he wanted whisky, and when drinking was very dangerous. He placed his gun against a tree and swam across. The cries of Mrs. McCormick brought the neighbors, as the Indian was preparing to cut his way through the door with his tomahawk. He was taken across the river and told not to return. He became very angry and flourished his scalping knife, intimating that he would take her scalp, but he never did.
After the death of John McCormick the widow married John King in 1828 and moved near the bluffs of White river, near Waverly, where she continued to reside until the death of Mr. King. She then took up her resi- dence with her daughters, living at Arcadia, Indiana, where her death occur- red January 28, 1874, in her eightieth year.
REMINISCENCES.
A writer, styling himself "Rambler", published at intervals the follow- ing reminiscences in the county press during 1870, a series of recollections of other days that will no doubt prove interesting to students of Fayette county history :
While standing in the rear of the school building, taking a view of the landscape there presented, the past comes in view to the memory, and many incidents of schoolboy days that occurred forty years ago, come fresh to my mind, and changes are visible at every turn.
The road leading east from town was then on the high ground north of Conwell's mill, then down by the old saw-mill directly east, crossing the river a short distance below the railroad bridge, and intersecting the present road at the old McCann homestead.
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The first grist-mill in the county was erected by John Conner. below the house named, and about three hundred yards east of the present mill. Conner sold the mill to DeCamp, and he to Conwell, who ran the same until it was worn out. That old mill was familiar to all the pioneers for many miles around. Going to mill was a task In those days, and often a trip of forty or fifty miles on horseback. Each grist was num- bered, and frequently was several days awaiting its turn, while a number of the ens- tomers would be in camp close by. The Saturdays of our boyhood days were spent in ramblings, and as a guest of Lafe Conwell, our schoolmate at that time, that old mill was examined with boyish curiosity, and its mysteries solved. In after years, when there with grists, we were more interested in seeing the miller manipulate the toll dish. The honesty of the miller is proverbial, but they were sometimes absent-minded, and would repeat the operation of taking toll, and have been known to forget that important proceeding, as I have received, as the product of a grist, a range of from twenty-eight pounds to forty-six pounds of flour to each bushel of wheat at that same old mill.
BRUIN BOOSTS BUSINESS.
Mr. Conwell had a tanyard not far from the grist-mill, and for a while furnished quite an object of interest to the boys, as well as to the "children of larger growth" who frequented the place. A pet bear was utilized and labored faithfully by working a tread- mill, thereby pumping water to fill the vats. These incidents may not interest youths of the present day, or the stranger who may be taking a view of the surroundings, as all traces of the old grist-mill, the saw-mill, the tanyard, the bridge across the race and the ford are gone, but there are some persons left in the vicinity [in 1870] to whom the statement will call up pleasant memories.
The incidents of early days, as related by the original pioneers, always created a lively interest and often a happy thought. I remember of hearing old Alex Hamilton tell about a sneaking, thieving Indian who was regarded as a nuisance. and while out hunting on the hill northwest of town one day, he got sight of the fellow and tracked him into a pond in the vicinity of Cal Burton's. But he never could find any tracks whither the Indian enme out, and from the comical expression as he finished his story, we inferred that he helped the Indian to make those traeks as last seen.
Colonel Frybarger ean tell about having witnessed a savage encounter with a wolf by several men and dogs, and the wolf was killed on the street, about opposite Frank Dale's property. That happened about the year 1828.
I have heard Jonathan John, Sr., tell about when he came to this county. discouraged and heart-sick; they remained in camp for three weeks without unloading their mov- ables, intending day after day to start back to old Kentucky. Finally they became more reconciled and settled ou the hill northwest of town, and never had cause to regret the choice. The excellent spring at the foot of the hill, below John's house, was the induce- ment to create the famous camping ground in the vicinity, and one of the principal Indian trails leading to the northwest passed by there and in the direction of Harrisburg. The principal trail from Cincinnati and Brookville came up the east fork from Brook- ville to Fairfield, then up Ellis Creek, through by Everton, and crossed the river at the ford south of town, and on as stated. Those Indian trails were used by the early settlers, and improved for wagon roads until the lands were surveyed and enclosed. The present generation ean form but little idea of the unbroken forest, especially in the low lands, where it was almost impenetrable, so thick were the timber, bushes and vines. There was an important trail up the valley with a camping ground on the Larkin Sims place, near the excellent spring of water there.
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THE STAGE COACH ARRIVES.
I remember when we boys watched down street for the stage coach coming as evening approached, and listened for the notes of the bugle horn. Sometimes we would go down and meet the coach at the ford of the river opposite where Root's foundry now stands, and persuade the driver to let us get up with him to ride into town.' He was a good fellow, and how we envied him, and wished we were big enough to drive stage, as he sat so proudly on his seat. The driver prepared for a sensation after he pulled up out of the river and rested his team, then let them up lively as he came across the commons, turned into the main street where Jimmie. Mount's corner is, then dashed up street and halted at the postoffice, delivered the mail to Major Tate, at the recorder's office, which served a double purpose, as it stood on the southeast corner of the court house yard and fronted close on the street. It cost twenty-five cents postage on a letter then. The next point was across to the old tavern kept by Tom Hamilton, which was burned down about twenty years ago, and is now the Huston block.
The stage route passed Cincinnati, then left the main road at the cross roads, over by Swift's and Orr's, and came in by old Sol Claypool's, then across the strip of woods in the river bottom to the ford. The bridge across the river being built where it now stands, caused the short route by Claypool's to be abandoned. That was about 1840 .. Alas! What changes in many ways since that date. There was a woolen factory and a saw-mill on the edge of the river, east side, just across from Andy Turner's residence. The power was supplied by a mill-dam and feeder race. The mill burned down, and the floods have removed every vestige or sight of this once important improvement-the pride of the owner-and, except, perhaps, a few timbers or brushwood that show where the dam was located. The property was owned by Asher Cox, who is yet alive [1870] and lives with his son-in-law near Indianapolis. He can tell many incidents in connection with the old mill, which eventually broke him up financially, and caused him to. "go West and grow up" again.' The old man is remarkably lively and full of vim; is rather small in stature, quite grey, and expects to meet some of his old friends at the next Fayette county fair.
I remember what a strife it was to locate the site for the bridge across the river. Colonel Hankins and others wanted it placed at the end of Third street, that faces out from Rushville road. Uncle Abe Conwell offered extra inducements for the present location. The strife was intense and bitter feeling was engendered. Silas Woodcock, that good and venerable old gentleman we all remember so well, built the bridge, which was a marvel of immensity to us boys, and we wondered how the old man could get the timbers so straight, with his head to one side as caused by affliction.
PIONEER DAYS IN FAYETTE COUNTY. Written by Samuel Little. in 1879.
To recount the toils of the past, enumerate the privations and note the pleasures of pioneer life in Fayette county, and contrast the "then". of the past with the "now" of the present, must produce a glow of honest pride in the breasts, of the aged few who yet remain to recount the past and survey the present.
Each of you for yourself can look at the present as it lies before you,
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and I will not attempt to picture it, but hope to recall somewhat of the con- ditions of the county in 1833, when I located among you.
That portion of the county lying east of the old boundary line being settled ten years earlier than the west side, had nearly passed the stage of the log cabins. Every farm had its occupant, many had comfortable frame or brick dwellings, and some had barns and fruit-bearing orchards; but nearly all of the improvements on our western border were of a primitive character, and it is mainly of this part of the county, in which I lived for forty-three years, I would speak.
Farms ranged in size from a forty-acre tract to a quarter section and nearly all of them had some improvement. The log cabin was the prevail- ing dwelling, and it was almost always surrounded by a cleared patch, or deadening, ripening for the fire, by whose agency it was cleared for the plow. So dense was the forest that the only evidences of other occupied farms near by was the sound of the ax, the crowing fowls or barking watch dog.
Paths leading from cabin to cabin passed around large trees or logs and over streamlets, led us through the tangle of spicewood or pawpaw in our neighborly visits, and highways were marked out and corduroy bridges bore us over streams on our way to market, public worship, or to mill in our wagons, up hill and down the same, and through streams, which were all without bridges. The stumps, roots and logs gave the beaten track a ser- pentine direction, which required great skill in the teamster. If Levi Con- well were here he could tell you all about it, or if you ask Uncle Billy Simp- son how he used to freight A. B. Conwell's whiskey and flour to Cincinnati and return with a load of store goods, he can describe it better than I can. Pork and the articles named were our staple productions. Cincinnati was our only market. Our pork was driven on foot, requiring an average of eight days to reach our destination, three to close out the sale, and two more to return.
The entire trip consumed about two weeks' time. Wheat sold in Cin- cinnati in 1834 at fifty cents per bushel, flour for two dollars and seventy- five cents per barrel, and Uncle Abe can give you the price of whiskey ; as I did not handle it, my memory is at fault. We got but little money, and we spent but little. Our food grew on our farms, and our clothing was mostly home-made, growing in the flax patch or on the sheep's back, and in manufacture was mostly domestic. The flax-pulling and wool-picking were frequently done by combination or neighborhood frolics, and were occasions of 'great social pleasure. There are mothers present who could tell how
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they raced with their sweethearts at the flax-pullings, and some of them recollect how the points of their fingers ached after pulling the burs and stick- tights out of the wool. Yes, and how they enjoyed their trip on foot to the spelling-match or singing-school with their beaux by their side, just to help them over the fences and mud holes. Or, perchance they rode behind on the same horse, so that, if the horse stumbled they could both hold on. I can answer for the other sex that a girl behind me on a stumbling horse was rather awkward, but not at all unpleasant.
Don't you grandames recollect how the flyers of the flax wheel hummed whilst your gent sat by you, or how your bare feet tripped over the puncheon floor to the sound of the big wheel as you drew out those long threads of yarn which were to be converted into the winter's wear. I assure you it was a pleasure to sit by whilst the shuttle flew from hand to hand as that yarn grew into cloth. The wheel and loom did not sound so refined as the organ and the piano, but their product was more useful. Most families were thus clothed. We used but little tea or coffee, and the sugar camp furnished our sweets. Our log-rollings, house-raisings and harvesting cultivated a social spirit and placed us all on an equality, as we were mutually dependent. Men and women did their own work with but little hired help. Wages were low ( from ten to twelve dollars per month), but money was scarce. I reaped with a reaping hook, in the harvest of 1834 for sixty-two and a half cents, a day, and cradled the following harvest for a dollar per day. Our farm, tools were quite simple, but cost but little money. We used the "bull" plow with wooden mould-board and iron share for turning the soil, and the single-shovel plow for cultivating the crop. This, with a swingle- tree and harness, trace-chains and back-band, furnished out our rig. We had no cultivators, single or double, nor riding plows. We had never seen a reaper, or mower, nor could we have used them among the stumps. Nor had we any threshing machines. Our small grain was threshed by flail or tramped out by horses on an earthen floor prepared for the purpose, and cleaned by a fanning-inill with wooden cogs. The fall season was mostly occupied in burning. off the rubbish of our deadenings, and keeping our "niggers" busy in preparing the logs for rolling in the spring. Our logs were rolled into heaps and burned in the spring, the rails or fencing having been made during the intervening winter. Stormy days and winter nights were used to make and repair the family shoes from leather tanned in our country, and largely made by the farmers at their own firesides, which were wide and warmed by a bountiful supply of fuel. If some of you old folks
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will mentally take an inventory of an average dwelling of those days, you would find as a part of those appendages a shoe-bench, with needed tools; spinning-wheels for flax and wool; the hand loom and warping-bars; the washtub, in which the clothes were cleansed without even a washboard; the Dutch oven, in which the corn-pone and chicken-pie were baked, and by its side, a dinnerpot, skillet and teakettle. but no cook stove. A Bible and some school books, added to some furniture of home make, almost complete the picture. The active men and women here today were born and reared in just this kind of a place. Our streams were bridgeless ; our commerce had neither turnpikes nor railroads; our business was done without telegraph, and we talked without telephones, and when you take a survey of your sur- roundings, the present generation, your offspring, your rich and beautiful farms, villages, cities and their manufactories, together with all your moral, social and religious advantages, don't you think that we did well, and don't you join me in the wish that our children may do better ?
EARLY CONNERSVILLE BUSINESS MEN.
In a letter to the Connersville Times and News, dated Muncie, Indiana, March 27, 1905, C. C. Meeker, a member of one of Fayette county's pioneer families, contributes the following valuable addition to pioneer reminiscences :
"I feel very much interested in the work your school superintendent, Mr. WV. S. Rowe, has undertaken and I feel willing to aid him in the work if I can. I think he has struck the right key and if he can get his scholars interested in the struggles, trials and sacrifices that the pioneers of Fayette county met with, in making it what it is today, he will have accomplished a great work for his scholars and for future generations. I often wonder that the children of today don't take more interest in the early history of their own state and county, where they were born, which give them every convenience and luxury that heart could wish for, and especially in matters of education. I well remember when I was a boy I would leave my young comrades at play to hear old men and women talk about old times and the troubles and trials they had in getting a home started, in what was then a dense wilderness.
"I presume that most of the readers of your paper know that Connersville was laid out by John Conner, in 1817, and that he had the first store. Before he came to Connersville he had an Indian wife, but when he came to settle in Connersville he married a white woman. This Indian wife used to come to his store once or twice a year and he used to give her what goods she wanted. In
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1833 Connersville had five hundred people. I think about the next general store was owned by Clark & Lewis. It was on the southwest corner of Fourth street and Central avenue.
"I think about the next general store, after Clark & Lewis, was started by Meredith Helm, who came with his father, Judge Helm, in an early day, and settled in Fayette county. They came from Kentucky. Philip Mason, I think, had the first drug store. He came from New York state. All the people I shall name in this article came to Connersville over seventy years ago. John McCormick was among the first settlers. He came from Preble county, Ohio. I think the first term of court held in Fayette county was held at his home. He was the father of Lewis McCormick, who was sheriff of the county and whose children still reside there. John Willey was another early settler and sheriff of the county. The house he lived in is still standing and is used by the Connersville Buggy Company for an office. When it was built, it was out of the town limits. Samuel W. Parker edited a paper there over seventy years ago. It was called the Political Clarion. George L. Fearis probably came there nearly eighty years ago.
"In the year 1830, Matthew R. Hull edited the Indiana Sentinel and at that time there were but thirty papers published in the state, and two of them in Fayette county. One at Philometh, in Waterloo township, called The Star and Sentinel, published by S. Tizzard. These persons are a few of the first settlers of Connersville. There are many more I could name who came only six or eight years later and who could be classed as early pioneers and who aided in laying the foundation and building up of Connersville to take a place second to no city of its size in the state.
"For some of my information, and especially as to dates, I am under obligation to my old friend, William Tyner, who has not lived in Connersville for a great many years, but who was born about two and a half miles north- west of the city, six months before Indiana was admitted to statehood. He learned his trade of harness-making with George L. Fearis, about seventy years ago, and worked at it until about one year ago. He has always lived in this state; and I doubt if there are many born in the state who never lived in any other besides him."
THE OLD SINGING SCHOOL.
In these days when vocal music is taught in every school in Fayette county the opportunity to learn the rudiments of the subject is within the reach of every child who attends the school. There was a time, however,
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when music was not taught in the public schools of the county, and it was in those days that a unique school for the teaching of music alone was in vogue in some parts of the county. It is not known how many of these old singing schools were in operation in the early history of the county, but there was one which attained a reputation which extended far beyond the limits of the county.
This famous singing school was located at Lyons Station, now Lyons- ville, in the northern part of Jennings township. In this neighborhood there lived in the latter part of the sixties and the forepart of the seventies a Luthe- ran minister of the name of Keller, who was very much interested in music and whose daughter was quite a musician. To these people is given the credit of starting the singing school at Lyons Station that was eventually to become the most noted in the county. A man of the name of Smith, or, as he was commonly known, "Old Smith, the singing teacher," was secured as the instructor. He brought with him a little melodeon, a novelty to the people at that time. He was a very successful leader and during his stay in the community accomplished well his purpose. Subsequently came another music teacher, Frank Boylen, who taught several terms. The rudiments of music were drilled into the pupils until they were able to read "by sight" and the wayfarer who might have passed the old church on any night the class was being conducted would have been met with a medley of sounds in which he could have discerned do, ra, me, fa, etc. Two sisters, Phoebe and Sallie McMullen, who lived north of Lyons Station in the Dodridge neigh- borhood, taught vocal music in the latter seventies and early eighties and were very successful.
Sometime after the singing school was started in the early seventies, it began giving concerts not only in the local church, but in other parts of the county. The "old singing-school class" attended school celebrations far and near and sang at "musical congresses" at Milton and at College Corner for many years. Thus it is impossible to estimate the value of the old singing school to the community where it held forth during the early seventies and extending into the eighties.
Many of the singers of the old school kept up their interest in the musical field and one in particular, B. F. Miller, now of Rushville, Indiana, who has made a national reputation as a tenor singer. The interest in music was responsible for many an organ being sold in the community and for many years Lyons Station had the deserved reputation of being the musical center of the county. Rosella Riggs, of Connersville, Elias Scholl (deceased) and others received their first inspiration in music as a result of this old singing
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school. An organ was early installed in the Lutheran church at Lyonsville. The first organist was Nancy Simpson, now Mrs. F. M. Riggs, of Lyonsville.
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