USA > Indiana > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Indiana, from its earliest settlement by the "pale face," in 1818, down to 1882 > Part 10
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Lorenzo Dow was in many respects a most remarkable
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man. Though physically slender and frail, his indomita- ble will and wonderful zeal spurred him on to the accom- plishment of more work than is seldom ever allotted to one man to perform. Though he was a public preacher less than forty years, it is probable that more persons heard the gospel from his lips than from any other divine since the days of Whitfield. He traveled extensively in England and Ireland, and repeatedly visited almost every portion of the United States. He wrote a number of books and lectures, and particularly a history of his own life, so singularly eventful and full of vicissitudes. He would have a thousand appointments out at one time. On a cer- tain occasion he was speaking from a pine stump, I think. in North Carolina, when he announced that in one year from that day, at that hour, he would (God permitting) preach from the stump on which he was standing. Time rolled on, and when the appointed hour arrived, notwith- standing a thousand appointments were to be filled in the meantime in accordance with promise, he was standing on the identical pine stump preaching to a large audience.
Dow was a Methodist in principle, and though not a member, was held in high esteem by many who knew him best and acknowledged his loyalty to truth and honesty of purpose. He was exceedingly conscientious, and though very poor and often wanting for the necessaries of life he repeatedly refused handsome sums of money tendered him by his admiring hearers and children in the gospel for fear of its being a stumbling block in his way, and thereby retarding the progress of the gospel. He was very eccen- tric in dress, manners, and style of preaching, which attracted much attention, while his shrewdness and quick discernment of character gave him a wonderful influence over the masses that daily assembled to hear him. Some supposed him possessed of supernatural powers, even to the discernment of thought and the " raising of the devil." It is recorded of him that at one time, when he was travel- ing in the south, he asked permission to remain over night. The woman of the house informed him that, as her hus-
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band was not at home, she could not accommodate him. As was unusual with him, he insisted, as there were no houses near, the country being sparsely settled. But she positively refused till he told her that he was a preacher, and would sleep in the stable, if he could do no better. This information, together with his long hair and odd dress, suggested to her who he was, and she inquired if he were not Lorenzo Dow. Being answered in the affirma- tive, she waived her objections and decided that he might stay ; probably more out of fear that evil might befall her than through any real desire to have him in the house. Mr. Dow put up with her for the night, and at the usual hour retired in a back room, where he had not long been till he heard a man arrive, whom he soon discovered was not the woman's husband. A series of jokes passed between the two, which continued with a good deal of pleasantry till about midnight, when a rap at the door announced the arrival of the husband. Surprise, alarm, and consternation followed. There was but one door to the rude house, and at it stood the husband seeking admit- tance. To be caught there at that unseasonable hour of the night, without a valid excuse, would possibly create suspicion, and at least secure him a sound threshing. To escape seemed impossible. Just at this critical juncture, when the boasted ingenuity of man failed, the quick per- ception of woman, as in most cases of emergency, found an expedient. Near the foot of the bed stood a large gum half full of raw cotton, in which she hurriedly buried the visitor ; then, as composedly and calm as a June morning. turned around and admitted her husband. But his lord- ship had been to the grog-shop, and, in his own conceit, was wise and wiry. "Hush, hush," said the wife, as the husband blundered in and roared out: "Thunder and potatoes, Mag, and why didn't you open the door?" " Hush, my dear, hush ! Lorenzo Dow is in the house." " Oh, blood and tobacco ! and is it Lorenzo Dow, the man who raises the devil?" "Sure it is ; and why don't you be still?" " Oh, by Saint Patrick, he shall come forth,
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and you shall see the devil before you sleep!" So, blun- dering into the bed-room, Mr. Dow was compelled to come forth ; and nothing would satisfy the husband but that Lorenzo must raise the devil. Mr. Dow protested, and urged his inability to perform such wonders : but no excuse would satisfy the determined, uncompromising hus- band. He had heard that Dow could raise the devil. and now, that he had him in his house, nothing would satisfy him but that he must do it. Finally, Mr. Dow consented on the condition that his lordship " stand at the door and deal him a few good thumps as he shall pass forth, but not so hard as to break his bones." This his lordship agreed to do, and stationed himself accordingly. All things now ready, Lorenzo, taking the candle in his hand and walking up and down in the room, touching it quickly to the dry cotton, said : " COME FORTH OLD BOY !" when out jumped the hidden sinner all in a blaze, and breaking for the door, a living mass of fire, made good his exit ; but not without a sound blow over the shoulder from the husband's cudgel. The job was now complete. Lorenzo had raised the devil, and the husband thought it a supernatural perform- ance by the eccentric Yankee preacher.
As a further illustration of his influence over the people and their firm faith in his supernatural powers, we will give. in brief, the story of the " Cock and the Dinner Pot." One night after Mr. Dow had retired to bed after a hard day's travel in Virginia, a crowd assembled in the bar- room of the inn to enjoy their revelries, as was the custom in those times in that part of the country. Toward the " wee small hours" of the morning it was announced that one of the company had lost his pocket-book, and a search was immediately proposed. Whereupon the landlord remarked that Lorenzo Dow was in the house, and that if the money was there he knew he could find it. Accord- ingly Lorenzo was rudely called forth from his warm bed to try his powers in finding the lost treasure. He first inquired if any of the party had left since the money was lost ; and being informed in the negative, then said Lorenzo
IO
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to the landlord: " Go and bring me your large dinner pot." This created no little surprise ; but as supernatural powers were universally conceded, his directions were unhesitatingly obeyed. and the pot was brought and set in the middle of the room. " Now." said Lorenzo, " go and bring the old chicken-cock from the roost." This was accordingly done, and the pot was turned over the cock. " Now," said Lorenzo, "let the doors be locked and the lights extinquished." Which being done, he said : " Every person in the room must now rub his hands hard against the pot, and when the guilty hand touches the cock will crow." Accordingly all came forward and rubbed, or pretended to rub, the pot ; but no cock crew. "Let the candles now be lighted," said Lorenzo: "there is no guilty person here." " If the man ever had any money he must have lost it some place else. " But stop," said Lorenzo, when all things were prepared, "let us now examine the hands." This was the essential part of the arrangement. An examination was instituted. when it was discovered that one man had not rubbed against the pot. The others' hands were all black with the soot of the pot. as proof of their innocence. "There." said Lorenzo. pointing to the man with clean hands. " there is the man who picked your pockets!" The guilty one seeing his detection, at once acknowledged his crime, and gave up the money.
Numerous other interesting circumstances are related tending to show the ingenuity of the man and his insight into human nature, but we will not take time to rehearse them. Much of the oddity and eccentricity of Dow was the result of necessity, especially that part belonging to his dress : much of it was natural and in accordance with constitutional make, and a part was, doubtless, designed. and aided in the accomplishment of his great object in life. He lived to be fifty-seven years old, thirty-nine of which he spent in the public ministry.
Hancock county may well be proud in claiming him as one of her citizens, and the reader may reasonably
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excuse the writer for occupying a little extra space in giving this biographical sketch.
Since the above was written, we have received an interesting letter from Judge Hector H. Hall, of Indian- apolis, formerly of this county, in answer to a letter of inquiry in reference to various disputed points pertaining to Dow, which we insert in full.
"INDIANAPOLIS, November 23, ISSI. "". MESSRS. KING & BENFORD-
" Gentlemen: I received your letter of inquiry in reference to Lorenzo Dow, and in reply I send you a copy of his will, taken from the records of New London county, Connecticut.
" I bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from Lucy Dow, second wife of Lorenzo Dow. Peggy Dow was his first wife. Dow never lived on the land, but had twenty acres deadened. I had the twenty acres grubbed after I bought it, the first work done by me. Dow built no mill that I ever heard of. In the same section a man by the name of Lawson lived one winter, and slept in one half of a hollow log. Lawson afterwards traded the land for a saw-mill on Sugar Creek. near Philadelphia, subsequently called Black's Mill, I believe. Many of these books of which you speak (L. Dow's works ) I under- stood were in the possession of John Givens, of Indianapolis. now deceased. Givens paid the taxes on the land before I bought the same ot Lucy Dow.
".L. Dow' was marked on the beech trees near the four corners of the land. I think it was the only land owned by him in the west at the time of his death. The trees have all since died or been cut down.
" I sold the farm to Spencer Huntington about eight years since.
Yours truly, II. II. HALL."
We give below, as a matter of literary, legal and his- toric interest, a copy of the will above referred to, taken direct from the records in Connecticut more than forty years ago. The will bears an indorsement, showing that it was " presented for record 19th March, 1834."
WILL.
" I, Lorenzo Dow, of Montville, in the county of New
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London, and State of Connecticut, considering the uncertainty of life, do make and ordain this as my last will and testament.
"I direct, in the first place, that all my just debts and per- sonal charges be duly paid and discharged, and all the residue of my estate, both real and personal of every nature and kind, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Lucy Dow, to be- at her disposal as she may think fit, including my patent family medicine; and I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife, Lucy Dow, sole executrix to this my last will, hereby revoking all former wills by me made, and ratifying this, and this only, as and for my last will and testament.
"In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of April, A. D. IS25.
" Signed, sealed, published, and performed by the testator as and for his last will and testament.
" LORENZO DOW. | Scal. ] " In presence of us, the subscribers:
" RALPH HURLBUT,
" MARIANN DOLBEARE,
" ELIZA MILLER.
"NEW LONDON COUNTY, SS .: " MONTVILLE, March 14, 1834.
" Personally appeared Mariann Minard, late Mariann Dol- beare, and being duly sworn, did depose and say that she saw Lorenzo Dow, the testator, sign the above written will; that she, as a witness, subscribed her name thereto in his presence and in the presence of Ralph Hurlbut and Eliza Miller, the other witnesses, and that in her opinion the said testator was, at the time of making said will, of a sound disposing mind and memory, and that we saw him declare the same to be his last will and testament.
" Sworn before me:
RALPH HULBUT, " Justice of the Peace.
" Recorded from the original by
"J. ISHAM, Clerk."
CHAPTER X.
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
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MAP OF CENTER TOWNSHIP.
SHOWING THE SECTIONS, TOWNSHIP AND RANGES OF WHICH IT IS COMPOSED.
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This township derived its name from the central loca- tion which it occupied. Being partially bounded by all the townships save Brown, it was very appropriately named Center. The original Center township was named and organized in the year 1831, just three years after the organization of the county.
At the date of organization Center was composed of eighteen sections, being in extent six miles east and west and three miles north and south, and was, therefore, the smallest township in the county .* In the year 1835 Cen- ter township was increased from eighteen to twenty-four sections, by taking one tier of sections from the north of Brandywine and adding to the south of Center. This size it retained for eighteen years, or till the year 1853, at which time Harrison township and a part of Union and Worth were added to it, bringing it up to its present size of fifty-four sections, and making it by far the largest township in the county. From 1853 to the present there has been no change in the geographical outline of the township.
In extent it is eight miles north and south and seven miles east and west, and would, therefore, contain fifty-six sections were it a perfect rectangle : but the two sections wanting in the south-east corner to make it such belong to Blue-river. It is bounded on the north by Vernon and Green townships, on the east by Jackson and Blue-river, on the south by Brandywine and Blue-river, and on the west by Sugar-creek and Buck-creek. It is located in townships fifteen and sixteen north and in ranges six and seven east. Township line sixteen passes through the court-house, and township line seventeen forms the northen boundary. All that portion south of the court-house is in township fifteen north, and the remainder of the township . in sixteen north. Two tiers of sections on the western portion of the township are in range six east, and the remainder in seven east. Range line seven, which thus
*See map on p. So for size of Center from 1831 to 1835.
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divides the township, is located at the second cross roads west of Greenfield, and divides the M. T. Willett farm, and is found in the center of the first road west of the S. T. Dickerson farm.
Surface, Soil, Drainage, and Productions .- The sur- face is generally level, and especially in the central north- ern and central eastern portions and several sections north- west of Greenfield. Along the streams in places it is slightly hilly, and for a short distance back undulating.
This township once contained considerable third rate land as well as first and second : but since being cleared. ditched and cut up with good roads there is reported but little third rate land.
For the last few years much attention has been given to tile ditching, and under the recent ditch laws a number of public ditches have been put through the flat, swampy portions, whereby hundreds of acres have been reclaimed.
The chief productions are corn, wheat, oats, flax, hogs, horses, cattle, Irish potatoes, and the products of the forest and factory. In 1880 she produced 113,004 bushels of wheat, 163.625 bushels of corn, and 10,740 bushels of oats : being on an averave per acre equal with the best in wheat and corn. and excelled in oats only by Sugar-creek and Blue-river. For the same year she reported 1.669 tons of hay, 1.140 bushels of Irish potatoes, and 7.000 pounds of tobacco. Center produces more tobacco than all the rest of the county.
Streams, Names and Location .- Sugar Creek enters the township on the north line, about one and three-fourth miles east of the north-west corner, and flows south by south-west, passing out through section twenty-six, about three and a fourth miles north of the south-west corner.
Brandywine enters the township on the east line. one and one-half miles south of the north-east corner, flows south-west a half mile ; then north-west one and one-half miles ; thence south-west to the south-west corner of sec- tion sixteen ; thence south, running east of Greenfield, and passing out of the township on the John Hinchman farm.
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Little Brandywine rises near the center of section four- teen, in the central eastern portion of the township, and flows south-west and empties into Big Brandywine a half mile west of the bridge spanning it north-west and near Hinchman's old residence.
Little Sugar Creek rises in the south-west part of the township and flows south, passing out about a mile east of the south-west corner.
Swamp Creek, which is simply a slough, enters the township on the east half of the north line of section four and flows nearly due south two and one-half miles, and is. for the time, lost in Brandywine.
First Entry and Early Settlers .- The first entries of land in Center township were in the south-east part, in sec- tions four and nine, by Platt Montgomery, Robert Burton. Isaac Roberts, and David Vangilder. The first entry was made September 12, 1821, by Platt Montgomery, being the east half of the south-east quarter of section nine, in township fifteen north, in range seven east, and is now owned by Levi Elsberry's heirs and Abram Hackleman. The second entry was the eighty-acre tract on which Wesley Addison lives, entered by Robert Burton May 10. 1822. The third entry, by Isaac Roberts, on July 12. 1822, forms a part of the Marion Steele farm. The fourth was by David Vangilder, the west half of the north-west quarter of section nine aforesaid.
The first settlements in this township by the whites were made about the year 1819, from one to two miles south-east of where Greenfield now stands. Among the first settlers were Platt Montgomery, Corda Glandon, Samuel B. Jack- son ; Moses, David, and Abraham Vangilder ; Jeremiah Meek and his two sons, Cornwell and Joshua ; John and William Carr, Benjamin Spillman, Elisha Chapman, Jared Chapman, Joseph and Henry Chapman ; Morris, Harry and Ovid Pierson ; John and William Justice, Lydia Jones, James Hamilton, and John Wingfield. Samuel B. Jack- son was the first tavern-keeper, holding forth in a log house said to be the same house now standing south of the
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flax factory. He left the country under a cloud of suspi- cion, being accused of killing one of his guests, who was traveling through the state on the National road, supposed to have considerable money, and was never seen nor heard of after stopping with Jackson. Jeremiah Meek is said to have been the first settler in Greenfield. Cornwell Meek was a stock trader and dry goods merchant. Joshua Meek was recorder for twenty years. Joseph Chapman was a prominent public man, a fuller account of whom appears elsewhere. James Hamilton was a prosperous merchant, the father of Moses W. Hamilton. John Wingfield and Benjamin Spillman were two of the donors of the original plat of Greenfield.
First Preacher, Birth, Death, etc .- The first preacher in the township was Moses Vangilder, a Methodist exhorter. The first physician, Jared Chapman. Jared C. Meek was the first child born in Greenfield. The first death in Greenfield was a daughter of Benjamin Spillman. The first blacksmith was William Rice. The first church was the M. E. The first grocery store was kept by John Justice, and the first general store was kept by W. O. Ross.
Mills and Factorics .- The first mill in the township was built in 1825, by William Pierson, on Sugar Creek, five miles north-west of Greenfield. It ground corn and wheat, and had a bolt to run by water. This mill burned down in I846.
The next mill in the territory under consideration was built by William Curry, six miles north by north-east of Greenfield, in the year 1835, and was used to grind corn and wheat, and had a bolt worked by hand.
Isaac Willett built a mill on Sugar Creek, near Cedar Grove church, four miles north-west of Greenfield, in 1838. This was a grist-mill with a bolt to run by water. It con- tinued in operation till after 1850.
The first steam saw-mill in the township was built in the year 1848 by Captain J. R. Bracken and John Tem- plin, and located in the eastern part of Greenfield, a few rods south-west of the Hancock Flouring Mills. The first
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engineer was Major A. K. Branham. In 1852, the weather- boarding and roof were burned off. The frame was saved. This mill cut a quantity of the lumber for the plank road in 1852. It was a sash saw-mill.
Benjamin Cox erected, in the southern part of Green- field, about 1860, a steam saw-mill, which is still in opera- tion ; but recently removed to the south-west part of the city.
About 1862, a circular saw-mill was erected south-east of the old depot, which was run a few years and then moved away. About the same date was erected a steam circular saw-mill about three miles east of Greenfield, on the railroad, which did an extensive business for a number of years.
In 1869 G. W. Curtis & Bro. erected a steam saw-mill two and one-half miles from Greenfield, on the Lysander Sparks farm, which was run about three years, when it was moved three and one-half miles north of Greenfield. on the west side of the Greenfield and Pendleton pike. Here it was burned down and rebuilt in 1878, where it is still in operation.
Aaron Little, a few years since, built a circular saw- mill six miles north-west of Greenfield, which has recently been moved to Buck-creek.
The first tanyard in the township was erected by Henry Chapman, in the bottom north of the stone culvert on the National road, in the east part of town, in the early his- tory of the county. It did an extensive business for the time. Chapman sold to Samuel Henry, who soon formed a partnership with Nathan Crawford, who, after running it successfully for a time, sold to A. T. Hart. Hart con- veved to Randall & Milton. Randall sold to Milton, in whose hands it went down. HI. B. Wilson, P. M .. run a tannery in Greenfield from 1865 to 1873.
In 1855 there was erected in Greenfield, in the south- west part, a steam flouring mill by Nathan Crawford, Samuel Longinaker and Freeman H. Crawford, which continued in successful operation till about 1860, when it
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was burned down. After a lapse of a few years it was rebuilt by a Mr. Chaney. It soon passed into the hands of Hiram Woods, during whose ownership it was burned in July, 1869, and soon rebuilt. It is now owned and run by Alexander, New & Boots, and has recently been refitted and supplied with the modern improvements and adapted to the manufacture of the " new process."
In 1872 Joseph Boots, J. B. Fouch, and Samuel E. Gapen erected a steam flouring mill, now known as the " Hancock Mills," owned and run at present by Nelson Bradley and W. G. Scott under the firm name of Scott & Co. Gapen sold his interest to the other two partners, Boots and Fouch. After a time Fouch sold to Smith and Hogle, and they to Nelson Bradley in 1874. Boots con- veyed his interest to W. G. Scott in 1878.
The steam planing-mill and furniture factory of Wil- liams Brothers & Hamilton, located in the south part of the city of Greenfield, was erected in 1870, by II. J. and A. P. Williams, and run for a time. when Moses W. Ham- ilton bought an interest, and the new firm continues the same to this date.
In 1876, the desk factory and planing-mill of G. W. Puterbaugh was erected by A. E. Teal and George W. Puterbaugh, in the south-west part of the city, and run for three years under the firm name of Teal & Puterbaugh, when Teal conveyed to Puterbaugh. the present proprietor.
F. M. Gilchrist, in 1876, built, in the south-east part of the city, a desk factory and planing-mill. which he oper- ated till 1879, when he conveyed to J. E. Brown, the pres- ent proprietor. During the present summer Brown was burned out ; but has recently rebuilt, with an addition of a saw-mill.
In 1875 Cammack & Sons started a flax factory in a two-story brick building in the eastern part of the city, erected through the enterprise of William S. Wood, and owned and controlled by the Hancock Manufacturing As- sociation. This factory, like nearly all others ever started in the county, met with the misfortune of being burned :
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but was soon rebuilt, but not to its former height. It is now owned and controlled by Henry L. Moore & Son.
Gordon & Son, about 1877, built a steam saw-mill in the south-west part of Greenfield, which is still in operation.
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