History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 29

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901

USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 29
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 29

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

LIFE IN THE WOODS.

The experiences of these hardy settlers form a story of trials, priva- tions and sufferings, and a picture of heroism and triumph, which never has been and never will be adequately portrayed. While distant from their native homes and out of reach of every civilized comfort, they trans- formed patches of woodland here and there into bearing fields, and yield- ed to nothing but protracted and blighting disease and death. The rude log cabins in which they lived were utterly devoid of ornament or adorn- ment. The half of one side of the only room was devoted to the fire- place, at which the members of the family toasted their shins, the good wife meanwhile cooking the simple meal of corn cakes and wild meat at the same fire. The one room was the parlor, kitchen, dining-room and bed-room; and, in the coldest weather, some of the few domestic animals were kindly given a night's shelter from the storm.

The furniture consisted of a few splint-bottomed and bark-bottomed chairs of the plainest and roughest sort, made by the use of a hatchet, auger and jack-knife; bedsteads and table of a light character, and a scanty set of cooking utensils, the most important of which were a skillet and a pot. There were no pictures on the walls, no tapestry hung at the windows, and no carpets were on the puncheon floors.

The ornaments of the walls were the rifle and the powder horn, bunches of beans, medicinal herbs and ears of corn for the next planting, suspended from pegs driven into the logs of which the walls were com- posed. The windows needed no curtains, as they were made of a mate- rial which not only kept out the strong sunlight and the fierce winds of winter, but admitted a sufficient amount of the former for all practical purposes. In this matter, the pioneers displayed an amount of ingenu- ity that could be called forth only by the mother of invention-necessity.

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Sheets of paper were procured and soaked in hog's lard, by which process they became translucent, and these, pasted to some cross sticks placed in the opening for the purpose, constituted the window of the early log cabin. Puncheon floors were a luxury not to be found in every house, as in many the native soil was both floor and carpet. The long winter evenings were spent in conversation over some personal events of the day, or of recollections of events of the old homes in the East or South from which they had emigrated. The sunshine of literature did not cir- culate, very freely. The whole library consisted of a Bible, an almanao, and a few school books. A tallow dip afforded the only artificial light. In 1830, a clock or watch was a novelty, and the pioneer marked time by the approach of the shadow of the door to the sun mark, or the cravings of the stomach for its ration of corn bread and bacon.

Daytime was devoted to labor, and great was the toil. The shouts and exclamations of the gangs as they rolled and piled the logs prepar- atory to burning could be heard for miles around. Corn huskings, grub- bings, flax-pullings, and other gatherings were also sources of enjoyment. Night brought its compensations in the form of the social gathering when all the neighbors would crowd into a narrow cabin to crack jokes and tell stories, while the voiceful catgut gave forth enlivening strains of music, and four and eight-handed reels even round till the break of day.

The fields of the first settlers were not very extensive, and consequently their crops were not very large. In fact, during the first few years they had no incentive to raise more than was required for home consumption, as there was no market for surplus products. The flail was the first im- plement used to thresh the grain with, but was not so popular as that of tramping it out with horses, which method was adopted later. The grain and chaff were separated by the wind, or by a sheet in the hands of persons. The four-horse ground hog, as it was called, eventually sup- planted the old methods. It was a rude affair in comparison with the improved machines now in use.

OLD METHODS OF FARMING.

The mowing scythe, hand rake and wooden pitchfork were the imple- ments of the hay harvest. The grain scoop was not known for several years. In cribbing corn, it was either thrown with the hands or pushed out of the end of the wagon-bed with the foot. Iron scoops did not come into use until emigration set in from the East. In the cultivation of corn, the hoe was largely used. "Plow shallow and hoe well " was the prevailing rule.

We might continue our description of early modes of farming, cus- toms and habits to almost an endless length; suffice it to say that, in all the departments of life, a corresponding simplicity was the rule. How different we find things now! It is useless to attempt to enumerate all .-

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the comforts and modern conveniences now in use. Things unthought of by the old pioneers abound everywhere. Industrious hands and active brains have been at work, and we behold on every hand a wonderful, a rapid, a happy change.

VILLAGE OF SOLSBERRY.

Solsberry is situated south of the central part of the township, near the southern boundary line, and on the water-shed separating the waters of Richland Creek on the north from those of Beech Creek on the south. It is also nearly equidistant on the main thoroughfare from Bloomfield to Bloomington. It was named in honor of Solomon Wilkerson, who had the site divided into town lots. It is a pleasant little village, having a population of about 100, and is noted for the intelligence and sobriety of its citizens. Prior to the civil war, it was a center for political agi- tation. The question of slavery was discussed pro and con, and much bitter feeling was engendered. The leader of the anti-slavery element was George Richey. He emigrated from Ohio, and soon became an agi- tator. He founded the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Solsberry, and soon began to bid defiance to all the minions of darkness. When in the pulpit, he assailed the great evils of Southern society; he declaimed against drinking, gambling. horse-racing and slavery. This provoked dangerous opposition, and bis life was threatened. But he was as bold as a lion. With Christian intrepidity, he sent his appointments to those who awaited his coming with vengeance in their hearts, never failing to meet his engagement at the stated hour, nor to utter with unshaken firm- ness his daring sentiments. He did what he conceived to be his Mas- ter's will, and counted not the cost. He finally returned to Ohio. After an absence of several years, be came back to pay his friends a visit. It was soon discovered that he was an anti-Mason. The downfall of slavery being an accomplished fact, he seemed to consider it his duty to assail secret organizations, particularly the Masonic fraternity. He denounced the institution in the most scathing terms. Many of his statements were so extravagant that they bordered on fanaticism. Within a few weeks, 'the effect of his teachings were plainly visible. Religious intolerance became a disturbing element in the Methodist and Congregational Churches. The anti Masonic sentiment predominated. Resolutions were adopted declaring that no church member should be an adherent of any secret organization. This caused several members to sever their connection with the church. Some left the Methodist Episcopal Church and connected themselves with the Congregational Church and vice versa.

In the spring of 1874, a select school was organized by Prof. R. A. Ogg, a graduate of the State University. There were twenty-seven stu- dents in attendance. The next spring, Prof. Ogg began a second term of

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school, with fifty students in attendance. During both terms the stu. dents came mostly from within a radius of two miles. He who is ac. quainted with the character of the school cannot find words to describe adequately its real worth. The time through which the school extended was indeed a very fruitful period. Great influences were set in motion. This was due to the fact that the elements brought together were snited to accomplish this. The teacher was deeply in earnest, and the students went there with a zeal, not simply for what the teacher could give, but for .what they could get; not simply for knowledge but for power. Hence they worked and the teacher had but to supplement their work and harmonize their efforts. Free thought and free expression of it was the law. On the sultry days, the study was largely a discussion under the trees in the school yard. Frequently all would go to the class heated with arguments. There was no effort at compulsion in study; none was needed. While work was thus done, the hours for recreation were not disregarded. The various games were entered into with wonderful zeal, attesting the hearty spirit of those engaged. The literary society must not be forgotten. It was remarkable for the effort ont forth by many, especially in debate. When a question of policy arose, the struggle for the mastery would have done credit to an assembly of far greater pre- tensions. At the close of the second term, each member of the school planted a tree in the school yard. Many of these are alive and thrifty.

Of the students who have reflected honor upon the school, much could be said. Trained to be intelligent and good, they have discharged their duties as citizens wisely and well. Prof. Ogg is entitled to the proud satisfaction of reflecting that his was the influence that gave strength to their mental activities and guided their tottering footsteps along the pathway which conducted them to honor and success. "The farmer is pleased in contemplating his growing crop, or the fruit of his industry well harvested; the mechanic experiences a just pride in gazing upon the results of his own workmanship; the artist feels a thrill of joy as he communes with the forms of beauty he has traced upon the dull canvass, or the beating pulse and heaving bosom he has evoked from the cold, dead marble; but none of these can realize that high pleasure which the teacher enjoys who properly educates men and women and sends them out to bless mankind." Of Prof. Ogg it can be said that

"He, where'er he taught, Put so much of his heart into his act, That his example had a magnet's force, And all were swift to follow whom all loved."

There is but one church edifice in the town, and that is used by the Methodists and Congregationalists. The two societies have connected with them a Union Sunday School, which is in good working order. This school is said to be the best in the county. Its attendance is remarka-

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ble. Every Sunday the young folks hold a prayer-meeting. It is well attended and has accomplished much good. There is also a temperance organization, which does much to aid the cause of Christianity. A rad- cial temperance sentiment has prevailed for several years. Soon after Rev. George Richey came to the county, he delivered a temperance lect- ure on the site now occupied by the church edifice. This was in 1854. The doctrines proclaimed by the enthusiastic advocate of temperance fell upon his auditors like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. They were struck with astonishment at the boldness of the speaker and the strange doc- trine he taught. Astonishment gave place to anger, and threats of vio- lence were boldly uttered. At that day, the use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage was a prevailing custom in almost every family throughout the township, hence temperence lecturers were regarded as disturbers of the peace.

VILLAGE OF NEWARK.

Newark is a village of over 100 inhabitants, and is situated west of the central part of the township. John Edwards had its site surveyed by Thomas Axtell, who named the village after Newark, Ohio. After the close of the war, it became a good trading point. Crawford & McIntosh sold large quanities of dry goods, and were engaged in pork packing. A large flouring mill was built, and other improvements followed. For awhile, business was rather brisk. There are now three dry goods stores, owned respectively by Young & Shields, McIntosh & Sons, and Oscar McDonald. Above the store of Young & Shields is the hall occupied by the I. O. O. F. The lodge is in fair condition. There are two church houses, and a schoolhouse, containing two apartments. The town is on the mail route between Solsberry and Freedom, and has daily mail.

MURDER OF OSBORN AND BICKERS.

The most notable events that have transpired in its history are two murders. The first occurred in 1862. Baws Blankenship, a soldier at home on a furlough, was in town on the day citizens were enlisting as volunteers. The war feeling ran high. Thomas Osborn, an impulsive individual, shouted for Jeff Davis as he was crossing the street. He was followed by Blankenship, who struck him with a dog-wood club. The wound inflicted proved fatal. Blankenship fled to the army and thereby escaped punishment.

The second murder occurred in 1871 or 1872. Daniel Sickers, of Cleveland, Ohio, had been in town several months spending part of his time with his relatives, the Corneliuses, and the other part was engaged in manual labor. He had a quarrel with a Mrs. Rose over some neighbor- hood gossip. When the son of Mrs. Rose returned home, be learned of the difficulty and felt that his mother had been mistreated. He at once resolved to resent the insolence of Mr. Sickers. It was not long until

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he performed the rash act. Mr. Sickers was attacked by John Rose, who struck him on the head with an ax, fracturing his skull. Sickers was carried to the house of his friends, where he lingered two or three days and died. Rose was arrested in Greencastle and taken to Bloomfield and placed in jail. When his trial was heard, he was convicted and sentenced to pass the remainder of his life in the penitentiary. He did not remain there long, as he secured a pardon.

LYNCH LAW.

About one year prior to this, another notable event occurred.' James Pickard, druggist, took a trip to Orange County, where it is alleged that he assisted in the robbery of Mr. Fisher, a wealthy farmer. Lewis Ton- gate, who lived near Newark, was with Mr. Pickard. Soon after their arrest, they were taken by a mob and suspended from a bridge across Lost River. Isaac Pickard, brother of James, witnessed the appalling sight, and remained at the bridge the rest of the night.

In the spring of 1877, Theodore Jackman, a farmer living south of town, committed suicide. He had been attending a Methodist protracted meeting at Newark, and had become impressed as usual. He was an en- thusiast on religious matters. Being financially embarrassed, his mind was so burdened that he concluded to take his own life to escape the sor- rows of this world. His body was found suspended from a leaning sap- ling. His funeral was preached by Rev. L. S. Knotts.

McVille, a small village in the northeastern part of the township, and named in honor of Squire McHaley, has a post office. But little business has ever been done there.

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

The forefathers of the people of Beech Creek Township had a high regard for religious interests, and held Christianity as the great civiliz- ing power, without a recognition of which the country would not be fit to live in. Consequently, we find on their arrival they began holding services of public worship, such as they had been taught and trained up in in the part of the country from which they had emigrated. They early secured the services of the pioneer preachers, those grand old characters whom nothing daunted while in pursuit of their mission, and to whose teachings and labors must be attributed the present state of religion and morals. The pioneer preachers were Revs. George Burch, Sammy Doty, Joseph Wilson and Elder John Wilson.

In the early days of the township, there was no system of public in- struction; the means for acquiring an education were very limited and discouraging. Then a few settlers joined together and erected a log cabin, in which was a fire-place extending several feet across one end. In this the fire for warming the house was built of logs its entire length,

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requiring several boys to carry each log into the house and place it in position. A log was sawn out of each side of the building, and the spaces were closed with paper, which had been oiled with lard; this oiled paper served as windows. The seats were of logs split into halves and supported by round sticks; the writing desks were of similar pattern, and the door was constructed of split logs, fastened together with wooden pins, and hung with wooden hinges. In the construction of these pio- neer seminaries, not a nail was used. It was not unusual for boys to travel three or four miles through dense woods to school, blazing their way the first time going over the route. Those seats of learning are now gone, and the recollection of them is rapidly fading from memory. Won- derful, indeed, are the changes and advances made within the last sixty years. The township has now a system of free schools of which any people should feel proud. It is divided into fifteen districts, and in each is located a comfortable and substantial schoolhouse.

Among the pioneer teachers may be mentioned James M. Gaston, Benjamin Williams, Jonathan Stamper and William H. Corlett.

Those who have served as Trustee since the present school has been established are James M. Gaston, Thomas Axtell, Jonathan Stamper, James Crawford, Andrew Raper and Joseph G. Smith.

CHAPTER XVII.

FAIRPLAY TOWNSHIP-NAMES OF SETTLERS-THE INDIANS-BEAR HUNTING BY INDIANS-THE SWEAT-HOUSES-INDIAN SCALP DANCES-OTHER IN- TERESTING EVENTS-VILLAGE OF FAIRPLAY-PLEASANT HILL AND DIXON STATION-LEARNING-CHURCHES-THE GERMAN SETTLEMENT.

TE THE township of Fairplay, in many respects, possesses the most in. teresting history of any portion of Greene County. At first it was included in old Richland Township, which extended westward across the river to the western boundary of the county; but in 1828, in the month of May, all west of the river in Township 7 north, was constituted Dixon Township, named for the well-known family of that name, and included, of course, the present township of Fairplay. In August, 1828, Dixon Township was divided into Black Creek and Fairplay Townships, the latter having the following limits, as quoted from the records of the County Board: " Beginning on White River on the township line dividing 6 and 7; thence west to the section line dividing 2 and 3, Township 6 north, Range 6 west; thence north to Smith Township; thence east to White River; thence down the same to the place of beginning." The township

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thus created was named for the old town on White River within its boundary.

NAMES OF SETTLERS.

It is said that the first settler in this township was old John Latta, who built his log cabin on Latta's Creek, near where the old canal crosses the same, early in the year 1817. He was the first settler in that vicin- ity, and the creek upon which he located took its name from him. He was a noted hunter and trapper, and spent much of his time in quest of game, the hides and carcasses netting him more than he could make in any other way. Within the next few years, the following settlers arrived: Solomon Dixon, John Fields, Samuel Fields, Dr. Patton, Daniel Ingersoll, Sam- nel Dixon, Seth Fields, Dr. John A. Pegg. Elias Crance, Martin Wines, Leonard Wines, Wickliff Wine;, Mr. Dilley, Phillip Shintaffer and others. Rude log houses were erected into which large families were packed, and a few acres were cleared for the coming crop. Many others came in later, and in 1825 the cabins were scattered through the township.

THE INDIANS.

It seems that Fairplay Township was once the site of various Indian villages of considerable note. On the site of the old town of Fairplay, a flourishing Piankeshaw village had stood in former years before the white man came to disturb the rude lives of the aboriginal barbarians with the arts of the social organism. Scattered over the ground there, especially in early years, were the rude implements of warfare and of domestic usefulness, and in various places were tracts of land from which the brush and sod had been cleared, and upon which the former inhab- itants had grown their crops of corn, and perhaps vegetables. The village had contained several hundred wigwams, judging from the extent of open ground where it stood, and the statements of the earliest white settlers. The Indians were still abundantly numerous in the vicinity in detached bands under sub-chiefs, though they were nomadic, wandering up and down the streams, and locating for short periods where game was abun- dant. They often came to the cabins of the first settlers for ammunition, whisky or articles of food, and brought with them to barter furs, wild meat and carious trinkets of their own manufacture. Poor Lo! When in his native element, untrammeled by the arts of the superior race, was noble, with the strictest notions of honor, proud of his brave ancestry, happy to die for his race with a stoicism that chal- lenges admiration, and boastful of his deeds in the chase and on the cruel fields of barbarous war. He has passed away, and will soon become extinct, though he will leave his blood flowing in the veins of some of the proudest white families of the land. On the old Dixon farm had been a village of twenty or more families of Miamis, and on this spot was a clearing of six or eight acres where their crops had been raised-

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by the squaws. The braves were too proud to work-that drudgery was placed upon the women-and spent their time in hunting. Upon this site were the remains of old wigwams and several sweat-houses.

THE SWEAT-HOUSES.

The custom with the sweat-houses was as follows: A pile of stones was heated very hot by fire built over them, and while in this condition was surrounded by a tight wigwam, leaving room to move around the pile of stones next to the sides of the structure. The fire was of course removed before the wigwam was erected. The wigwam was placed there while the stones were yet glowing with heat, and immediately the braves want- ing a sweat-bath entered the sweat-house, and while some of their num- ber repeatedly dashed water which had been prepared upon the hot stones, the remainder, stark naked, danced around the steaming stones. The braves were, of course, instantly thrown into a profuse perspiration, which cleansed their skins, and toned up their systems. When each felt that he had had enough of the sweating and exercising, he went into an ad- joining tent, where he was wiped dry and dressed in warm buck-skin or fawn-skin. In September, 1820, the large body of the Indians was re- moved West to the reservation prepared for them. Just before their final departure they assembled in large numbers in Fairplay Township, on the western bank of White River, about west of Bloomfield, to hold their farewell ceremonies on the site of their old home, before their de- parture forever for lands beyond the Mississippi. Several hundred as- sembled, and remained there four or five days holding war, scalp, peace, funeral and ceremonial dances and powwows. At times, they were very quiet, as if sorrowing over their fate of having to leave the graves of their fathers, but at other times they were so wild, vehement and de- monstrative, that a rumor spread out through the neighboring settlements that they contemplated an attack, and a few of the nearest families left their cabins temporarily, going to their neighbors for advice and pro- tection. No attack was meditated, however. The Indians were simply reviving the cherished customs of their tribe for the last time in their old home.

THE SCALP DANCE.

Their scalp dance is thus described: A pole is planted in the center of an open piece of ground, upon which or around which are bound the captives taken in war to be burned at the stake. Each brave participat- ing in the dance is provided with a sharp pole, upon which are strung the scalps he had taken. When all is ready, the fagots around the cap- tives are lighted, and the dance is begun. The scalps are lighted, scorched and burned, and thrown in the faces of the tortured captives, and the poles are lighted, and while burning are thrust repeatedly against their burned and blackened bodies. The braves move slowly around the

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fire, dancing up and down, first with a short hop upward with one foot while the other is raised as high as the knee, and then with the otber, interspersing all with a wild succession of scalp halloos, made at first by a quavering motion of the hollowed hand upon the lips, but ending with a force that made the forest ring. In this instance, on the bank of White River, as they had no captives nor scalps, they danced in imagin- ary joy around a stake where a fire had been built. Immediately after their farewell ceremonies, they left for the West, and after that only stragglers were to be seen, who had come back to revisit the scenes of their childhood and the graves of their dead.

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History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana, Part 29

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Number of Pages: 901

Author: Goodspeed Bros. & Co.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 901