History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 6

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284

USA > Indiana > Gibson County > History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions > Part 6

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The pioneer woman would be a curiosity to the twentieth-century lady, with her split skirts, cosmetics and studied airs. However, she would be a model worthy of emulation. Simplicity was the keynote of the pioneer woman's life. In her habits, customs, work and pleasures, she was ac- customed to the very primitive, and she desired nothing else. Little luxuries of dress, elegant habits and the trifles which we have been taught to believe are necessary to a woman's life, were unknown to the pioneer woman. Be- fore the break of dawn these sturdy women were up, arranging the cabin and cooking the food for the day. The men brought in the wild meat, and the wives, daughters and sisters prepared it. Coarse bread, Johnny-cake, greens,

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIAN.1.

mush and milk, corn, pumpkins, beans, squashes, potatoes, pot-pies, honey, and, most important, the meat of the forest, were the staple articles of food. Maple sugar was much used. Besides the general cooking, the women wove all of the clothing. Linsey-woolsey was the common cloth of the woman. The chain of this cloth was of coarse cotton, and the filling of wool. Blue, turkey-red and copperas were the favorite colors of this rather fantastic cloth. The loom was a necessary article of every household's furniture. Jeans and linsey-woolsey shirts were made for the men, and the women often gathered, ten or twelve in one home, and had a sewing-bee. Head coverings were made from the skins of small animals. Moccasins and heavy hide shoes were worn, although the pioneers were not averse to going barefooted. Quilting bees, sewing circles, corn huskings, house raisings and log rollings were about the only means the settler had for social gatherings. The church buildings were few and miles between, and no regular services were held. Each family conducted its own religious ceremonies, generally before bed- time. The father read the Bible and offered a brief prayer, and never did they partake of a meal without the blessing. This custom is not now so com- mon as it was with the pioneer.

Dancing was indulged in often, and a barrel of liquor was generally on hand, although it was never drunk to excess. Corn huskings were held after the corn had been gathered and piled in a heap at one of the homes. All the young men and young women would congregate and the race was on. The young man finding a red ear among the yellow had the privilege, if he desired, of kissing the prettiest girl present. These huskings usually ended with a dance, which lasted until sunrise. Skill in woodcraft, muscular development. accurate shooting, swiftness of foot, were athletic achievements which the young men strived for, and by these accomplishments they were judged by the fairer sex. Fights were not uncommon, but they were fights good for the soul. Two men with a quarrel to settle did not think of using anything but bare fists. They stood up and fought fairly, and after one was defeated the combatants were usually better friends than ever. The victor by custom poured water for the loser to wash the evidences of the battle away, and then the loser performed the same service for the winner.

CHAPTER IV.

ORGANIZATION OF GIBSON COUNTY.

In the beginning all was a wilderness. This wilderness was situated in the Northwest Territory. In 1784 this part of the American republic was ceded to the United States by Virginia. It remained a vast empire, as it were, by itself. The state of Indiana was organized April 19, 1816, and the following June adopted its first constitution. Gen. Arthur St. Clair was first governor of Indiana Territory; William H. Harrison, governor from 1800 to 1812, and Thomas Posey from 1812 to 1816. The first governor of the state of Indiana was Jonathan Jennings, serving from 1816 to 1822.

In March, 1813, what is now Gibson county was made a separate county organization, it having before that been a part of Knox county. Since then portions of its territory have beeen taken off and assisted in making the counties of Posey, Vanderburg, Pike and Warrick. It derived its name from Gen. John Gibson, a gallant soldier of the French and Indian and Revolu- tionary wars. By birth he was a Pennsylvanian, born in Lancaster in May, 1740, and was well educated. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. In his youth he served under General Forbes, who commanded an expedition against Fort DuQuesne, the present site of Pittsburgh. In 1763 he was captured by the Indians and was adopted by an Indian squaw whose son he had slain in battle. With them he had an opportunity to master several languages, as well as learn the customs of various Indian tribes. This made him efficient as a trader and government official. He was finally released and returned to business at Pittsburgh. It was he who later translated and put into fine English the celebrated speech made by Logan the Mingo chief, which every school boy has read and committed to memory in his school days. In 1800 he was appointed territorial secretary of Indiana, holding that office until 1816. While General Harrison was engaged in the war of 1812, Gibson was acting governor. In old age he was afflicted with an incurable cataract, and he died while residing with his son-in-law, George Wallace, at Braddock's Fields, near Vincennes, in May, 1822.

Previous to the meeting of the Legislature by which Gibson county was organized, the people had considered favorably the formation of a new

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

county and had appointed a committee to attend the Legislature for that pur- pose. These things were all taking place an even hundred years ago, and, really, no other century in the world's history has compared in any degree to this for its achievements. Within this century-the lifetime of Gibson county-the submarine telegraph was placed on the vast ocean's bed and transmits news from continent to continent; McCormick invented the mowing and reaping machine, that has revolutionized agriculture the world over; the Atlantic and Pacific oceans have been connected by highways of steel and iron; great cities have been reared on the wilderness plains of the then un- known West.

LEGAL ORGANIZING ACT.

The legislative act creating Gibson county was, in the main, in the fol- lowing words :

"That from and after the passage hereof all that part of Knox county which is included in the following boundaries, shall form and constitute two new counties, that is to say, beginning at the mouth of the Wabash, thence up the same, with the meanders thereof to the mouth of White river, thence up White river with the meanders thereof to the forks of White river, thence up the east fork of White river to where the lines between sections number 20 and 29 in township No. I north, of range No. 4 west, thence with said line of Harrison county, thence with the line dividing the counties of Har- rison and Knox, to the Ohio river, thence down the Ohio river to place of beginning.

"Be it further enacted that the tract of country included within the aforesaid boundaries be and is hereby divided into two separate and distinct counties, by a line beginning on the Wabash river and known and designated by the name of Rector's Base Line, and with said line east until it intersects the line of Harrison county and that from and after the 5th day of April, 1813, the tract of country following within the southern division thereof shall be known and designated by the name and style of Warrick. And the northern division thereof shall be known and designated by the name and style of the county of Gibson. That the said counties shall severally enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdictions which to separate counties of the territory do or may properly appertain and belong. Provided always that all suits, pleas, plaints, actions and proceedings which may before the 5th day of May, 1813. have been commenced, instituted and pending within the present county of Knox, shall be prosecuted to final judgment and effect in .

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the same manner as if this act had never been passed. And provided also that the territorial and county levies which are now due within the said bonds of the said new counties shall be collected and paid in the same manner and by the same officers as they would have been if the creation of the said new counties had not taken place.

"Be it further enacted that so soon as the place for holding the courts for the said county of Gibson be established, the judges of the courts of com- mon pleas in said county shall within six months thereafter proceed to erect the necessary public buildings for the same, in such place in the same manner as is required by law in respect to other counties, and after the public build- ings are so erected, the courts of the said county shall adjourn to the said place at their next term after the same shall have been completed, which shall be and the same is hereby declared to be the seat of justice of the county of Gibson. Be it further enacted that until the public buildings of the said new county shall be completed the court of common pleas for the county of Gib- son shall be held at the house of William Harrington, in said county. Pro- vided also that all officers, both civil and military, in the bounds of the said new county shall continue to exercise the functions of their respective offices as officers of the said new county until some other legal organization shall take place in same manner as if the formation of the said new county had not taken place.

"JAMES DILL, "Speaker of the House of Representatives. "JAMES BEGGS, "President of the Legislative Council. "Approved March 9, 1813. "JOHN GIBSON, "Secretary of the Territory."

COUNTY DIVIDED INTO TOWNSHIPS.

The first term of the court of common pleas convened at the house of William Harrington, Monday, May 10, 1813. This house was one mile and a half west of the present city of Princeton. It was a double log house. It was blown down in June, 1814, by a terrible hurricane. The building was roofed with clapboards, which were held in place by weight poles, and when the building fell one of Mr. Harrington's daughters was crippled. The house was immediately rebuilt. Those present at this term of court were William Harrington, Isaac Montgomery and Daniel Putnam, all judges.

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

The court at once proceeded to set off civil townships, in the following order : All that portion of the county east of Congo's creek, lying in the bounds of Gibson county, form one township to be designated by the name of Madison township, and that tract of country west of Madison township, and lying between White river and Patoka ( spelled in the record erroneously "Pattoco") river, Pike county, form a township known as White River township, and the tract of country lying between Patoka river and Anderson's creek, from the mouth thereof and up the same to where John Barber now lives, thence due south to the line of Warrick county, form a township known as Patoka. Ordered that all that tract of country lying between Anderson's creek, the Wabash river and Black river, up to the plantation of James Mutes, thence due south to the line of Warrick county, form Montgomery township; that portion of country south and west of Black river, and in the bounds of Gib- son county, to form and be known as Black River township.

Thus were five sub-divisions of Gibson county set off by the first court. Commissioners for assessment were appointed by the judges as follows: In Madison township, Hosea Smith; in White River, Jonathan Gulick; in Patoka, John Barker; in Montgomery, John W. Maddox, and in Black River township, Thomas Robb. Thus was the county's first machinery set in motion.

LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT.

At a special session of the court of common pleas held February 14. 1814, with Judges William Harrington, Joseph Montgomery and Daniel Put- nam in charge, matters of great importance came up, including the locating of a seat of justice for Gibson county. It was at that date the locating com- mittee appointed by the territorial Legislature. 1813, made their report. They reported that they had fixed upon the northeast quarter of section 7. in township 2 south, range 10 west, one hundred and sixty acres, which was purchased of the United States government, and it was ordered by the court that the first payment, eighty dollars, be made. Henry Hopkins had pre- viously donated eighty acres adjoining the above purchase. Upon request of the commissioners Robert M. Evans, as county agent, entered the afore- said quarter section and afterward transferred it to the county. The com- missioners who located the county seat were William Prince, Robert Elliott. Abel Westfall and William Polk.

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

TOWN IS NAMED.

The court then adjourned until Wednesday, February 16th, at the home of Henry Hopkins, and it was at that session that this action was recorded, the name for the seat of justice having been hit upon by drawing of lots among the commissioners, Captain Prince winning.

"The court took into consideration the propriety of establishing some suitable name for the seat of justice for Gibson county ; whereupon ordered that the seat of justice in and for the county of Gibson be hereafter known and designated by the name and style of Princeton.

"The court then went into the consideration of a plan for the town of Princeton.

"Whereupon the following plan was adopted, viz: The publick square and seat for the publick buildings is to be laid off in the most suitable manner so as to include as near central as convenient a certain stake to be set up by the judges of the court; the said publick square is to be laid off eighteen poles square, making two acres and four poles; the town, both in and out lots, to be laid off from the publick square in such manner as to leave each street in said town sixty feet wide, and the in lots to be laid in squares of eighteen poles each way; each square is to be divided into four equal squares, so as to make each in lot nine rods square containing one-half acre and one square rod each. The out lots to be laid off in such manner as may be thought most suitable by the agent when the same comes to be sruveyed.

"There shall be four streets laid out, two on each side of the square of lots on which the publick square lies, extending from the north to the south side of the town tract-the said lots to be sold on the following terms, viz: One-third of the purchase money to be paid within six months from the day of sale, the balance in twelve months from the day of sale, the sale to com- inence on the fourth Monday of March next, and continue three days, viz : from ten o'clock in the forenoon until three o'clock in the afternoon of each day."

However, at the next session, March 10, 1814, at the Harrington home, some alterations were made so that each lot should contain one-half acre and one square rod. Meantime action relative to the public buildings was being taken.

The surveys had been made by Ebenezer Buckingham and John Breathitt and on the date in March when sale opened the first lot was sold to Alexander Devin for sixty-one dollars and fifty cents, at the southeast corner of the

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

public square where the Shoptaugh drug store now is. Mr. Devin also bought other lots at smaller sums. April Ist James Stone bought a lot for sixty-one dollars and fifty cents and A. Donnell got one for fifty-three dollars. The next day Joseph Stoker paid one hundred and fifty dollars for one on the square, and William Barker bought a number of lots. . Barker went in for speculation, and lot business was real lively for a while.

The county commissioners made the following statement concerning the selection of the new county seat :

"In making the selection for the seat of justice for Gibson county your commissioners have had due regard to future divisions of said county, as well as the present, and future prospects of population and the country that will admit population. Previous to fixing any site your commissioners ex- amined that district of country acknowledged by all to be the most central as well as the most eligible point for the seat of justice of Gibson county Al- though the point fixed upon is not the very spot on which the center will fall (taking into view a future division), yet your commissioners were of the opinion that local advantages would justify their receding a mile or two from the very center itself. In giving your honors a view of the inducements which led to this point as the proper site for the seat of justice, it may not be im- proper to show that in the opinion of your commissioners the future division of the county of Gibson will be by the range line which divides ranges 7 and 8, and if so, the place now fixed upon will ever remain the permanent seat of justice for that part which lies west of the contemplated division line.

"In ascertaining whether the northeast quarter of section 7, township 2 south, range No. I west, could be procured it was necessary to prevent specu- lation that some one in whom your commissioners could confide should be consulted on that subject. They, therefore, consulted Robert M. Evans and Isaac Montgomery, Esqs., from whom they learned that that quarter section could be secured at the United States price for the county. Colonel Evans now informs us that he has made the entry and paid the deposit for the quar- ter section and is ready to transfer it to any person whom the court may appoint for that purpose. The bond of Henry Hopkins for the conveyance of his donation, with the exception therein specified, as also the offers of donations which we received, are herewith submitted."

The court then appointed Gen. Robert M. Evans agent for the county. It was this Evans for whom the city of Evansville was named, when later organized by him. Agent Evans gave two thousand dollars bond for the faithful performance of his duties, James McClure and William Lathom being his bondsmen.

GIBSON COUNTY, INDIANA.

Concerning this organization of Princeton the following item published in the l'incennes Sun, March 12, 1814, will be of interest here: "A notice of the first sale of lots in Princeton, Indiana, to take place on the fourth Mon- day in March, 1814, described Princeton as situated in Gibson county, on Richland creek, a beautiful and never failing system, about three miles from Sovern's ferry, on Pattoco, and about four miles from Columbia, on the same river, at each of which places there is an excellent mill site, where nothing but labor is wanting to the erection of good saw mills. Princeton being situ- ate about central between the mouth of Big Pigeon and Vincennes, at a place where nearly all the public roads leading through the county will naturally concentrate, cannot fail to become a flourishing and populous town."

A perusal of this prospectus of Princeton, and the advantages of its lo- cation, issued by a prophet a hundred years ago, will cause a smile by people of Princeton today, especially when they think of the advantages afforded by the location on the beautiful and never failing stream of Richland creek, which is now the very insignificant town branch.

CHAPTER V.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

Counties, like states and nations, have a government peculiar to them- selves. Of recent years the county commissioners, or supervisors, are the men who are entrusted with the affairs of the county. They see that proper buildings, roads and bridges are provided; also see that taxes are levied and collected according to law and that the schools are kept up by appropriations and that the unfortunate poor within the county be well cared for, when they become county charges. These and a score more duties devolve upon the several commissioners who set their own time for meeting in sessions and are really the head of the county government.

Gibson county has been under various forms of local authority since its organization in 1813. First the business of the county was in the hands of the court of common pleas, which lasted until the change was made to the county commissioner system, which existed until 1824, when a change was effected by which the affairs were in the hands of persons known as justices of the peace for the county, one from each civil township in the county. These were known as boards of justices, the first of which met September 6, 1824. Their last meeting was July, 1831, after which was inaugurated the present system of county commissioners. But, not content with "letting well enough alone," the lawmakers again changed and there was again the board of justices. From 1836 on the commission system has obtained in Indiana, and well it is, too. While it is doubtful whether or not the system is as per- fect as in other commonwealths, yet the present system has few faults.

PROCEEDINGS OF EARLY COURTS AND COMMISSIONERS.

After attending to the matter of setting off and organizing the first five civil townships in this county, the attention of the law-making body was called to that of the appointment of Jesse Emerson and William McCormick. trustees, to manage the reserve sections of land for the use of schools.

At the May, 1813, term a tavern license was granted to Gervis Hazelton upon the payment of a fee of four dollars per year. The rates to be charged were as follows: One meal of victuals, twenty-five cents ; one gallon of corn, twelve and a half cents; one-half gallon oats, twelve and a half cents; one

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night's lodging, twelve and a half cents; horse at hay, twelve hours, twenty- five cents.

On May II, 1813, the matter of providing for the first laid-out road in the county was taken under advisement. The recorded proceedings show the following: Joseph Decker, of White River township, presented a petition that a road fifteen feet wide be cut out (it must be remembered by the reader that in 1813 that section of this county was densely timbered) from Decker's ferry, on White river, to Severns' ferry, on Patoka river, thence to intersect the Saline road at or near the plantation of Robert M. Evans. And it was also ordered that Abraham Decker, Robert Falls and James Robb be ap- pointed to view and mark out the road. The court also appointed Robert Crow supervisor of the above road with authority to call on all the working hands in White River township to assist in making the same, and was also ordered to keep the road in repair when made. This thoroughfare was the first county road built and maintained after the organization of the county. Jeremiah Harrison was appointed supervisor of the road from Hogan's ferry, on Patoka, to Richland creek, near the residence of William Harring- ton, also from Severns' ferry, on the Patoka, to where the road intersects the Saline road. Azariah Ayers was appointed supervisor of the road from Richland creek to Anderson creek, and was fully authorized to call on all the able-working men between those two creeks in the bounds of Patoka town- ship (except those residing on the waters of Pigeon) to maintain and keep the same in good repair. The court appointed Joshua Embree supervisor of the road through Montgomery township, from Anderson's creek to opposite John Hunter's. All residents east of Hunter's place were required to assist in maintaining this road. And for the Saline road, from opposite John Hunter's to Black River, Robert Anderson was appointed supervisor and the residents west of Hunter's, in Montgomery township, were required to assist in keeping the road in repair. John Waller was appointed supervisor for that part of the Saline road which lies in Black River township. Probably the most important road projected in this time was from the south end of Robert M. Evans' lane to the line of Warrick county, there to intersect with a road then opening from Anthony's Mill toward Patoka. Elias Baker was appointed supervisor. It was required that the road be cut twenty feet wide and the residents living in the two Pigeon settlements were to aid in making the road and for so doing were to be exempt from working on any other road. James McClure was appointed supervisor of the road from the south end of Robert M. Evans' lane to where the new road leaves the old Red Bank road and he was authorized to summon the hands living between Richland

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creek and Patoka, together with those on the south end of Richland creek, within one mile of said road to assist in keeping the same in good condition. In all there were eight road districts made by this court and each was pro- vided with a supervisor.

It was about this date that a second inn or tavern license was granted. this one to Eli Hawkins, of Columbia, which was changed in name to Patoka, the first town in Gibson county platted after the organization had been per- fected and Princeton had been laid out.

FIRST CONSTABLES IN THE COUNTY.

The county court appointed the following as the first set of constables in Gibson county : Madison township, Abraham Pea; White River township, James Crow, Jr .; Patoka township, William Scales; Montgomery township, William Stewart; Black River township, Pater Jones A set of overseers for the care of the county's poor was also selected at this session in 1813.

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History of Gibson County, Indiana : her people, industries and institutions, Part 6

Author: Stormont, Gil R Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen Number of Pages: 1284

Author: Stormont, Gil R
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F.Bowen
Number of Pages: 1284