USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 27
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That same day Paul Habig, Jake Kolb and Bob Kirkman were out in this part of the country looking after some cattle to supply their meat market in Princeton. In the bunch they were driving to town was one wild, untamed steer that manifested an unwillingness to be separated from his accustomed grazing grounds. The cattle buyers had been chasing this wild steer for hours and had managed to get him as far as this woods about the time of the approach of the bridal procession. He was a hundred yards or so from the road when the horn blowing and the loud apparel of the passing show at- tracted his attention and he at once made a wild dash in that direction. Down
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through the thick underbrush came this wild beast of the forest, with head erect and tail extended, bawling as he came. It is not difficult to imagine the effect of this terrifying spectacle. Horses were panic stricken and so were the occupants of the gaily bedecked vehicles. Fear and consternation ruled where but a moment before there was joy and hilarity. The screams and shrieks of the women, the shouts of the drivers of vehicles, as they tried to control the terrified horses, and, withal, the bawling of that wild steer as he came flying through the brush, constituted a scene that lacked nothing for excitement. Nothing like this had been seen and heard in these woods since the Indians left.
Many of the horses became unmanageable and broke away through the woods, dashing buggies against trees and seriously injuring the occupants. Fortunately none of the injuries were serious. The most serious of the casualties was in broken harness and wrecked vehicles. Some of the horses, finding themselves free from harness and other incumbrance, made a bee line for home, leaving their owners to get out of that scrape the best they could.
Things are never so bad but what they might be worse. It was so in this case. The procession finally got itself together again. Those who were disabled in body, or in wreck of family carriage, were sent to their homes and the remnant proceeded on their way to the place of ceremony. But the remainder of the journey was without pomp or hilarity. That untamed steer had put a crimp in all that, but it was some satisfaction to know that his glory was short lived. He was finally driven to town and to the slaughter. But this escapade in these woods had one good result-it ended that fashion of foolishness on wedding occasions. This was the last of that kind in that neighborhood.
Standing on this hill, which is now our viewpoint for what follows, with the aid of a field glass, we can see the farms and farm houses on the hills beyond Patoka river, in Washington township, as we look toward the north. Looking to the east, we get a view of the lands in Columbia township, and on a clear day can see the smoke from manufacturing industries in Oakland City. This is a fine viewpoint for all the country, for eight or ten miles around, a country of fine farms and fertile fields now, but largely covered with unbroken forest of much fine timber at the time in which my memory dwells. But it is a retrospect of this immediate neighborhood that interests me most just now. From this viewpoint I can easily locate the homes of those who were the pioneers in this neighborhood, and it is of these that my story will deal.
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CHARACTER SKETCHES-VISIONS OF THE PAST FROM A HILL-TOP.
Looking down the slope of this hill, as we face east, the house that is first in view is on the site of the old homestead of John Carithers, who came with his family from Tennessee in 1836. He was a man of sturdy principle and rather above the average in intellectual attainments in those days. His education was sufficient to qualify him for teaching school and he engaged in this occupation part of the time after coming to this state. Like most of those who settled in this neighborhood, Mr. Carithers had left his home in the South because of his opposition to slavery, and he hesitated not to declare his convictions as to that blighting evil in his Tennessee home. Coming to Indiana, he brought his principles with him. Here he manifested his oppo- sition to slavery and the slave traffic, not only in preaching, but also in prac- tice. In the days of the "underground railroad" his house became one of the stations, and his sympathies and efforts were actively enlisted in behalf of bondmen seeking freedom. The old barn that stood on the site we now have in view has harbored many a black man trying to escape to the land of liberty. His place was always under suspicion, and often visited by the slave-hunters, but they seldoni found what they were looking for. This was before the days of wireless telegraphy, but these "underground railroad" stations had a system that enabled them to operate their lines under a code of signals equal to any of the modern methods of communication. By some secret code or sign, which was well understood by the runaway slave and those aiding him, he was passed along from one station to another until he reached Canada, the land of freedom. No man, of whatever color or con- dition, ever came to the home of John Carithers seeking food or shelter and was sent away unsatisfied. He was a grand Christian man, whose life and influence was a blessing and a benediction on the community in which he lived. The only members of this family now living are Mrs. Jane Reid, Morning Sun, Iowa, and Mrs. Louise Peoples, Princeton.
Looking a little to the left, about a quarter of a mile distant, we have in view the place where Josiah E. Carithers, son of the above mentioned, . built a log house in the woods and started keeping house, more than half a century ago. He had taken for his wife and help-meet Elizabeth Lockhart. whose family home was about half a mile east. Here he continued to live. clearing out the forest, adding cultivated acres to the original homestead, until he had one of the best farms in the neighborhood. Owing to declining health, he removed to Princeton about three years ago, where he died in
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January, 1914, at an advanced age. He was the last of the early settlers to leave this neighborhood.
On the hill directly east of where we are standing is the place where William Murphy lived for about two generations. It was not much of a farm that Mr. Murphy owned, but he managed to live on it and reared a large family. He had the finest blackberry patch in the neighborhood in early times. He also had some excellent apples in his orchard, as some of the boys of that time could testify. These same boys could also testify to the fact that extreme caution was necessary for the trespassers in the Mur- phy orchard, on account of the Murphy dogs, that kept faithful watch over the same. Very often the incautious trespasser found it necessary to climb a tree to avoid a controversy with these dogs, and he was compelled to remain there, regardless of the weather, until the dog watch was relieved.
Looking toward the southeast, we can see the old homestead of Mathew Clark, and also that of William Clark, both early settlers, who came in with the Tennessee colony. In later years the Mathew Clark farm came into the possession of Clarence A. Buskirk, who planted it in fruit trees and made it a fine fruit farm. Still further east we get a view of the places where Samuel Lawrence and William Lawrence, respectively, founded a home when they came to this county from Ohio. A little to the right we locate the farm and homestead of Dustin Mills, who was probably one of the earliest settlers. He came from Maine and located here in 1816. He was among the best farmers of his time. His farm, fences, house and other buildings were al- ways kept in good repair, and everything about the premises was remarkable for neatness and good taste.
ESCAPADE OF BOYS WHO ESCAPED THEIR JUST DESERTS.
Just beyond the Samuel Lawrence place are the William Harbinson acres. Mr. Harbinson was a South Carolinian, a gentleman of the old school. He was the most neat and dressy person in the neighborhood, and every- thing about his place conformed to his personal appearance. Nothing slov- enly nor untidy was permissible in his person or possessions. And this re- minds me of an episode, or an escapade, that may as well be related here.
As has been stated, Mr. Harbinson was very particular to have everything about his premises neat and attractive, and, in accordance with this dispo- sition, he erected a very fine gate, opening into the driveway from the public road, leading to his house, which was located in a grove a few hundred yards from the road. This gate was made by Mr. Harbinson himself, who
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was a fine carpenter. It was of fine black walnut, and painted white, the pride of the maker and the admiration of all who passed that way. It at- tracted the attention of a bunch of boys, returning from the Lawrence school- house, one cold, rainy winter evening. They also admired the gate, but manifested their admiration in a rather scandalous way. Some satanic spirit, that sometimes gets possession of boys, suggested that this gate needed some- thing further in the way of decoration, and this suggestion immediately took active form. In the muddy road they found an abundance of decorating ma- terial to their liking, and they at once proceeded to apply it. With hastily made paddles, with bare hands, and with an industry and energy unusual for boys engaged in legitimate work, they soon had that gate thoroughly daubed and plastered. It was a sight to make angels weep, and these boys would doubtless have been engaged in a similar tearful exercise if the owner had happened along before the job had been completed and they had made their get-away. That night it turned cold, and the mud on that gate, and every- thing else, froze hard and tight. Thus the owner found it when he essayed to drive out the next morning. That beautiful gate would not stand ajar, however much he might jar it, so he found it necessary to open a gap in the fence until the weather moderated sufficiently to thaw the mud on the gate. Mr. Harbinson was somewhat gifted in the use of a vigorous and expressive vocabulary, and it is not at all unlikely that he exercised that gift to the fullest when he discovered the condition of things.
Somehow the boys who engaged in this decorative art managed to get by the school teacher ( Arthur Trimble), who held a court of inquiry in re- gard to the matter the next day, and it so happened that their respective parents overlooked a stern duty. But the information came that the owner of that gate had secured the names of the boys, and that he had registered a vow to give to the leader of that bunch, especially, what was coming to him, on sight. So, the leader, being apprised of this duly registered vow, and being fully persuaded that the indignant owner of the gate meant what he said, decided that, whatever there might be coming to him, he would just as soon wait; that, in order to avoid unpleasant consequences, it would be the part of discretion to keep himself out of sight.
In pursuance of this policy, by cutting across fields, and an occasional dodging behind trees, as the owner of this gate would be seen from a dis- tance driving along the road, this undesired interview was avoided and the registered vow was never fulfilled. It was some years after this that the outlawed transgressor first met Mr. Harbinson, face to face, as he was driving out from town. Then the boy had on the uniform of a soldier and he had
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then no inclination to avoid a meeting. But it was not necessary, as Mr. Harbinson was in a friendly frame of mind now. He manifested it by get- ting out of his buggy and, extending his hand to the young soldier, congratu- lated him on his having enlisted in the army, and expressed a wish for his success and a safe return home. A suggested apology for past indiscretion was met with a laugh by Mr. Harbinson, remarking that no apology was necessary for that boyish freak, especially since the boys who engaged in it were now enlisting in the service of their country. With friendly counsel and admonition, Mr. Harbinson bid the young soldier farewell and godspeed -and thus, unconsciously, administered a more effective punishment than the one threatened years before.
Turning again to view the landscape o'er, looking toward the northeast, across Lost Creek valley, we recognize the old home of Thomas Wallace, an- other Tennesseean, who did his full share of the work that converted these forests into fruitful fields. He lived in that house, and labored in these for- ests and fields, for more than two generations, and here he died, a few years ago, at an advanced age. There were never better neighbors, nor a more kind-hearted people, than Uncle Tom Wallace, and his faithful wife, who preceded him to the grave but a few years.
Within a stone's throw, almost, looking toward the north, is the place where James Stormont established a home, and where he lived for forty years or more. Still further, looking in the same direction, is the old home of William Stormont. About 1836 he settled there, in the woods, on a small tract of land and built a small log house. Year after year he added acre to acre and, by hard and patient labor, changed forest into cultivated field, until he owned in one body a fine farm of over three hundred acres. He continued to live on this farm until 1873, when he sold it, removed to Prince- ton and bought another farm near the town. He continued to devote his attention to his farming interests up to the time of his death, which occurred January I. 1894, at the age of eighty-six years. William and James Stor- mont were of the tribe of Stormonts who came here from South Carolina in 1832, because of their opposition to slavery. The father of the tribe settled on the hills, half a mile east of where we are now standing, where David, the youngest of the tribe, lived for the greater part of his life. James Stormont, the father, died in the old home in 1862, at the age of eighty-nine years.
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MEMORIES OF A HOME AND A MOSS-COVERED BUCKET.
Almost within speaking distance is the place where Andrew Carithers settled when he came here from his Tennessee home. This was the home of a revered grandfather and a sainted grandmother, a place of sacred mem- ory to the writer of this sketch. Here they lived their full measure of days, and then passed on to their place in that house not made with hands. The only member of this family now living is Mrs. John Dunlap, whose home is now in Chicago. In that loved spot, which my infancy knew as grand- mother's home, there is nothing that fond recollection presents to view more vividly than the old well, with its old-fashioned well-sweep, and the moss- covered bucket, that brought from the well's pebbled bottom the purest and sweetest water that nature can yield. I fancy that it was a well, with an equip- ment like this, that inspired Woodworth's "Old Oaken Bucket". How often, in after years, especially in the years of army service, has the memory turned to the refreshing, sparkling water in that well. In the days of long, dry and dusty marches, with scant supply of water, often obtained from stagnant pools, or muddy creeks, the thirsty soldier would longingly think of that moss-covered bucket, dripping with coolness as it rose from the well. With slight variation, and with an apology to the author, these lines from Wood- worth will express the thought :
Far removed from the loved situation, The tear of regret would intrusively swell, And fancy revert to grandmother's habitation, And sigh for the bucket that hung in the well, The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, The moss-covered bucket, that hung in the well.
THE MAKEMSON HOME-OLD LOG SCHOOL HOUSE.
On account of the intervening hills we can hardly see it, but memory easily fixes the place, directly north, which was the old home of Andrew Makemson, an earnest Christian man, a patriarch, of my boyhood fancy. This home was on the hills overlooking Patoka river bottoms. It was a log house, of the primitive type and primitive furnishings, with the wide, ca- pacious fire-place common to those times. As I remember it, the walls of the interior of that house were always neatly papered with copies of the Cincinnati Dollar Times, a family news and story paper, of which Mr.
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Makemson was a regular subscriber. This interior decoration is fixed in memory by impressions made in attendance on the neighborhood prayer- meetings, which were frequently held at this house. On such occasions it was the custom to have benches around the room, next the wall, for the boys to sit on. There were usually enough chairs to accommodate the older people. They had long prayers at these meetings, all kneeling. But the boys, who faced the wall in this kneeling position, never wearied on account of these extended supplications, unless, perchance, some of the newspapers on the wall should be pasted upside down, so that they could not read the stories which the paper contained. How long Mr. Makemson lived in this house I have no knowledge, but I recall a boyhood fancy that he lived there longer than was necessary; that he was fitted for glory sometime before he was called from that home on the hill to one that was higher and more enduring.
On another tract of land, adjoining, was the home of a son, Joseph Makemson. He hewed the logs and built the house in which he lived during his lifetime. Another son, Anderson, grew to manhood in the old home, and lived there for several years after his father's death. As one of the younger generation, he contributed his full share of the hard work incident to farm life in those early times. Anderson Makemson is still living, a respected citizen of Princeton, and he is the lone survivor of those who lived and worked with the early settlers of this neighborhood. The only other men- bers of the Makemson family living are John, who lives in lowa, and Mrs. Millis, better known as Mag Makemson in the times of which I am writing, whose home is in Kansas. Near the Makemson home was the old log school house, where the youth of the neighborhood received such education as was afforded in early times. One of those who attended school here was James Makemson, an older member of that family, as is evidenced by the follow- ing certificate. This certificate was found (as this manuscript was written) in an old family Bible of James Stormont, Sr., where it has evidently been for over seventy years. Just why this certificate came into the hands of the owner of this Bible, and why it was so carefully preserved during all the years the book was in daily use, is not explainable. Anyhow, this old docu- ment has lain in its hiding place long enough to entitle it to a place in this story, without explanation or apology, and a copy is here given :
"I, Francis Borland, teacher of the school district No. 2. in Patoka town- ship No. 2 south, and range No. 10 west, in the county of Gibson, do certify that James Makemson, of district No. - , of township No. I south, and
(19)
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range No. 10 west, in said county, has attended at this school since the 26th day of March, A. D. 1842, amounting in the aggregate to 29 days.
"Given under my hand and seal, this 4th day of August, A. D. 1843. "FRANCIS BORLAND (Seal)."
"State of Indiana, County of Gibson, ss :
"Personally appeared before me, a Justice of the Peace, for the county aforesaid, Francis Borland, the within named teacher, who subscribed the within certificate, before me, and, being duly sworn, says the within certifi- cate is true.
"Given under my hand and seal this 4th day of August, A. D. 1843. "A. C. MILLS, J. P. (Seal.)"
THE OLD CROSSWAY LEADING TO KIRK'S MILL.
Many other things of interest come to mind in looking over the country from this viewpoint, but we will leave them for the present and move to an- other point, a mile or more to the northeast, to a hill beyond the Page school house. From this hill, looking north and east, we see marvelous changes that have taken place since the time of boyhood memory. Then, all this country was a vast swamp, an impenetrable wilderness, inhabited by snakes, frogs, lizards, mud turtles and various kinds of wild animals. Now, this same coun- try is a great cornfield, as far as the eye can reach, and comprises some of the most valuable and most productive land in the county. The greater part of these productive acres, looking to the north and west, are the lands of Alfred Mauck and Thomas Carithers, respectively. On the hill, to the left of where we are standing, is the old homestead of William Morrow. Here he lived for more than half a century, and here he died a few years ago, at an ad- vanced age. At the foot of the hill is the site of the old homestead of Mrs. Hannah Mills, or Mrs. Dillon, as she was known in later life. Starting from near her home was the old "crossway," as it was called, which was the road that led through the forest and swamp to Kirk's mill, a mile and a half dis- tant. This thoroughfare was constructed with logs, laid crosswise, and it was the only connection between the hills, on the one side of the swamp, and Kirk's mill, and the country beyond on the other. This "crossway" was an exceedingly rough road to travel, but it was much traveled in pioneer times, not for pleasure but because of necessity. This was the only way for the people on this side to get to Kirk's mill, which was the main dependence for corn meal, and corn meal was the staff of life in those times.
In the early fifties there began quite an increase in the emigration from Ireland and Scotland. A great many of these emigrants came to Gibson
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county, and most of them to this neighborhood. This emigration was in- duced, largely, by Rev. Dr. John Stott, who came from Ireland about that time, and became pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian church ( Old Side) in Princeton. Most of those who came with him, or followed soon after, were Dr. Stott's parishioners in the old country. These Irish people were all of industrious habits and a good class of citizens. Some of those who came to this neighborhood had sufficient means to buy land and establish a home, but most of them came with small means and depended on day labor for a living. But they were ready and willing for any kind of work and they found no trouble in getting employment. In a few years, by thrift and economy, they were all able to purchase land and engage in farming on their own account. Many of them became quite well to do. Some of the best farms in this neighborhood were made by these Irish settlers, who started from a small beginning, and the development of this part of the county is largely due to their enterprise and industry. Among these early settlers who contributed their part to this development, and whose farms are within a half mile of where we are now standing, are the following: William Morrow, whose location has already been mentioned; John Mooney, the Mahans, Samuel, James, John and Hugh ; James Morrow, James Boal, Henry Greer. Robert Dixon, William Lawson, and others. The Andersons, who came about the same time, settled on a good farm, on the State road, about four miles south of Princeton. All of these, and their descendants, were among the best citizens of the county.
RELIGIOUS HABITS OF THE COVENANTERS.
Taking them as a whole, the people of the neighborhood, over which we have taken this retrospective view, were above the average for intelli- gence and moral integrity. It was a strictly religious community, in the days of which we write. The people were nearly all of the Reformed Presbyterian faith, better known as "Covenanters". Some were "Old Side" and some "New Side", but whatever side they were on each and every one adhered strictly to the faith. While their religious habits were more pronounced on the Sabbath, it was not a "Sunday religion" that they practiced. Every day in the week it was exemplified, especially morning and evening, when the old family Bible was brought into service, and the old Psalms were sung and the long prayers were made. At this service, not only the children of the house- hold were required to be present and take part, but also the man-servant, the maid-servant, and the hired hands, and the stranger that happened to be .
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within the gates. The hired hand, perchance, might be the man who drove three yoke of oxen during the day, and freely used expressions incident to such occupation, but that did not exempt him from singing psalms at the morning and evening worship. Everybody about the house knew when the Sabbath came, even the household dog understood that it was different from other days. Whatever inclination he might have to frisk and play on other days of the week, he learned, by instinct, that the frisky disposition should be suppressed on this day. No need of printed cards inviting everybody to "go to church today." Everybody went, by force of habit and without per- suasion, and they remained for the two long sermons, with a short interval between for the cold biscuit refreshments. Unless the occasion was unusual, they got home by three or four o'clock, ready for the simple meal, the most of which had been prepared the day before. The rest of the afternoon and evening was occupied in reading the Bible and such religious literature as Baxter's "Saint's Rest," studying the catechism, etc., closing the day with answering questions in the catechism by all, old and young, followed by the usual family devotions. And this is the way the Sabbath was observed by the Covenanters who peopled this community. Quite a contrast between this and the modern way, with the Sunday baseball and other amusements. There may be those who are of the opinion that the modern manner of Sabbath observance is more conducive to good citizenship and higher ideals of char- acter and conduct, but the truth of history, and a comparison of the past and present citizenship, does not sustain that opinion.
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