History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 26

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

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SINGING-SCHOOL.

Next to the night spelling-school the singing-school was an occa- sion of much jollity, wherein it was difficult for the average singing- master to preserve order, as many went more for fun than for music. This species of evening entertainment, in its introduction to the West, was later than the spelling-school, and served, as it were, as the second step toward the more modern civilization. Good sleighing weather was of course almost a necessity for the success of these schools, but how many of them have been prevented by mud and rain! Perhaps a greater part of the time from November to April the roads would be muddy and often half frozen, which would have a very dampening and freezing effect upon the souls, as well as the bodies, of the young people who longed for a good time on such occasions.

The old-time method of conducting singing-school was also some . what different from that of modern times. It was more plodding and heavy, the attention being kept upon the simplest rudiments, as the names of the notes on the staff, and their pitch, and beating time, while comparatively little attention was given to expression and light, gleeful music. The very earliest scale introduced in the West was from the South, and the notes, from their peculiar shape, were denominated " patent" or "buckwheat " notes. They were four, of which the round one was always called sol, the square one la, the triangular one fa, and the "diamond-shaped " one mi, pro- nounced me; and the diatonic scale, or " gamut " as it was called then, ran thus: fa, sol, la, fa, sol, la, mi, fa. The part of a tune nowadays called " treble," or " soprano," was then called " tenor;" the part now called " tenor " was called " treble," and what is now "alto " was then "counter," and when sung according to the oldest rule, was sung by a female an octave higher than marked, and still

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on the " chest register." The " old " " Missouri Harmony " and Mason's "Sacred Harp " were the principal books used with this style of musical notation.

About 1850 the " round-note " system began to " come around," being introduced by the Yankee singing-master. The scale was do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do; and for many years thereafter there was much more do-re-mi-ing than is practiced at the present day, when a musical instrument is always under the hand. The Car- mina Sacra was the pioneer round-note book, in which the tunes partook more of the German or Puritan character, and were gener- ally regarded by the old folks as being far more spiritless than the old " Pisgah," " Fiducia," " Tender Thought," " New Durhanı," " Windsor," " Mount Sion," "Devotion," etc., of the old Missouri Harmony and tradition.

GUARDING AGAINST INDIANS.

The fashion of carrying fire-arms was made necessary by the presence of roving bands of Indians, most of whom were ostensi- bly friendly, but like Indians in all times, treacherous and unreli- able. An Indian war was at any time probable, and all the old settlers still retain vivid recollections of Indian massacres, murders, plunder, and frightful rumors of intended raids. While target practice was much indulged in as an amusement, it was also neces- sary at times to carry their guns with them to their daily field work.

As an illustration of the painstaking which characterized pioneer life, we quote the following from Zebulon Collings, who lived about six miles from the scene of massacre near Pigeon Roost, Indiana: " The manner in which I used to work in those perilous times was as follows: On all occasions I carried my rifle, tomahawk and butcher-knife, with a loaded pistol in my belt. When I went to plow I laid my gun on the plowed ground, and stuck up a stick by it for a mark, so that I could get it quick in case it was wanted. I had two good dogs; I took one into the house, leaving the other out. The one outside was expected to give the alarm, which would cause the one inside to bark, by which I would be awakened, hav- ing my arms always loaded. I kept my horse in a stable close to the house, having a port-hole so that I could shoot to the stable door. During two years I never went from home with any certainty of returning, not knowing the minute I might receive a ball from an unknown hand."

Waterman Clife

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

THE BRIGHT SIDE.

The history of pioneer life generally presents the dark side of the picture; but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No; for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation, and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish them a good hearty laugh. Among the more general forms of amusements were the " quilting-bee," "corn-husking," "apple-par- ing," " log-rolling" and "house-raising." Our young readers will doubtless be interested in a description of these forms of amuse- ment, when labor was made to afford fun and enjoyment to all par- ticipating. The "quilting-bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy little insect that " improves each shining hour " were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon ladies for miles around gathered at an appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, the hands were as busily engaged in making the quilt; and desire as always manifested to get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass swiftly by in playing games or dancing. ".Corn-huskings " were when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a large barn, which was arranged for the oc- casion; and when each gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all husked a good supper was served; then the "old folks" would leave, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation afforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed, and quite as innocent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture.

The amusements of the pioneers were peculiar to themselves. Saturday afternoon was a holiday in which no man was expected to work. A load of produce might be taken to " town " for sale or traffic without violence to custom, but no more serious labor could be tolerated. When on Saturday afternoon the town was reached, " fun commenced." Had two neighbors business to transact, here it was done. Horses were " swapped." Difficulties settled and

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free fights indulged in. Blue and red ribbons were not worn in those days, and whisky was as free as water; twelve and a half cents would buy a quart, and thirty-five or forty cents a gallon, and at such prices enormous quantities were consumed. Go to any town in the county and ask the first pioneer you meet, and he would tell you of notable Saturday-afternoon fights, either of which to-day would fill a column of the Police News, with elaborate engravings to match.

Mr. Sandford C. Cox quaintly describes some of the happy feat- tures of frontier life in this manner:

We cleared land, rolled logs, burned brush, blazed out paths from one neighbor's cabin to another and from one settlement to another, made and used hand-mills and hominy mortars, hunted deer, turkey, otter, and raccoons, caught fish, dug ginseng, hunted bees and the like, and-lived on the fat of the land. We read of a land of " corn and wine," and another "flowing with milk and honey;" but I rather think, in a temporal point of view, taking into account the richness of the soil, timber, stone, wild game and other advantages, that the Sugar creek country would come up to any of them, if not surpass them.

I once cut cord-wood, continues Mr. Cox, at 31} cents per cord, and walked a mile and a half night and morning, where the first frame college was built northwest of town (Crawfordsville). Prof. Curry, the lawyer, would sometimes come down and help for an hour or two at a time, by way of amusement, as there was little or no law business in the town or country at that time. Reader, what would you think of going six to eight miles to help roll logs, or raise a cabin ? or ten to thirteen miles to mill, and wait three or four days and nights for your grist? as many had to do in the first settlement of this country. Such things were of frequent oc- currence then, and there was but little grumbling about it. It was a grand sight to see the log heaps and brush piles burning in the night on a clearing of 10 or 15 acres. A Democratic torchlight procession, or a midnight march of the Sons of Malta with their grand Gyasticutus in the center bearing the grand jewel of the order, would be nowhere in comparison with the log-heaps and brush piles in a blaze.

But it may be asked, Had you any social amusements, or manly pastimes, to recreate and enliven the dwellers in the wilderness? We had. In the social line we had our meetings and our singing- schools, sugar-boilings and weddings, which were as good as ever

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came off in any country, new or old; and if our youngsters did not " trip the light fantastic toe " under a professor of the Terpsi- chorean art or expert French dancing-master, they had many a good "hoe-down" on puncheon floors, and were not annoyed by bad whisky. And as for manly sports, requiring mettle and muscle, there were lots of wild hogs running in the cat-tail swamps on Lye creek, and Mill creek, and among them many large boars that Ossian's heroes and Homer's model soldiers, such as Achilles, Hector and Ajax would have delighted to give chase to. The boys and men of those days had quite as much sport, and made more money and health by their hunting excursions than our city gents nowa- days playing chess by telegraph where the players are more than 70 miles apart.

WHAT THE PIONEERS HAVE DONE.

Illinois is a grand State, in many respects second to none in the Union, and in almost every thing that goes to make a live, prosperous community, not far behind the best. Beneath her fertile soil is coal enough to supply the State for generations; her harvests are bountiful; she has a medium climate, and many other things, that make her people contented, prosperous and happy; but she owes much to those who opened up these avenues that have led to her present condition and happy surroundings. Unremit- ting toil and labor have driven off the sickly miasmas that brooded over swampy prairies. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands, and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit. When but a few years ago the barking wolves made the night hideous with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. Only a half century ago the wild whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rumbling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the products of our labor and soil. Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and school-houses and church spires of civ- ilized life. How great the transformation! This change has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor ot thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the noble aspira- tions of such men and women as make any country great. What will another half century accomplish? There are few, very few, of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connect- ing links of the past with the present. What must their thoughts

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be as with their dim eyes they view the scenes that surround them? We often hear people talk about the old-fogy ideas and fogy ways, and want of enterprise on the part of the old men who have gone through the experiences of pioneer life. Sometimes, perhaps, such remarks are just, but, considering the experiences, education and entire life of such men, such remarks are better unsaid. They have had their trials, misfortunes, hardships and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western decliv- ity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and laugh and sneer at the simplicity of their ways? Let us rather cheer them up, revere and respect them, for beneath those rough exteriors beat hearts as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast. These veterans have been compelled to live for weeks upon hominy and, if bread at all, it was bread made from corn ground in hand-mills, or pounded up with mortars. Their children have been destitute of shoes during the winter; their families had no clothing except what was carded, spun, wove and made into garments by their own hands; schools they had none; churches they had none; afflicted with sickness incident to all new countries, sometimes the entire family at once; luxuries of life they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inventions and labor-saving machinery of to-day they had not; and what they possessed they obtained by the hardest of labor and individual exer- tions, yet they bore these hardships and privations without mur- muring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospect of realization.

As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful. It has been but three-score years since the white man began to exercise dominion over this region, erst the home of the red men, yet the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the country, could scarcely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of 2,000,000 people, who in all the accomplishments of life are as far advanced as are the inhabi- tants of the older States. Schools, churches, colleges, pala- tial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well-cultivated and produc- tive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up, and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old landmarks. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are only remembered in name.

CHAPTER III.

CIVIL HISTORY.

ORGANIZATION OF HENRY COUNTY .- THE STATE COMMISSION .- CHOICE OF A COUNTY SEAT. - THE FIRST ELECTION .- OFFICERS CHOSEN .- THE FIRST COURTS .- EXTRACTS FROM THE RECORDS .- THE EREC- TION OF COUNTY BUILDINGS .- THE PRIMITIVE COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL .- OTHER PUBLIC BUILDINGS .- THE PRESENT COURT-HOUSE AND JAIL .- THE COUNTY ASYLUM .- STATISTICS. - JUDICIAL AND CIVIL OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY FROM 1822 TO 1884.

By an act of the Legislature passed in February, 1821, "the south part of Delaware, commencing at the southwest corner of Wayne County, thence running westward twenty miles, thence northward twenty miles, thence eastward' twenty miles, thence southward to the place of beginning," was formed into a new county, henceforth to be "known and designated by the name and style of Henry County," and from and after the 1st day of June, 1821, was to enjoy all the rights and privileges of an independent and separate county.

By the same act a board of commissioners was appointed to locate the county seat, and for this purpose were to meet at the house of Joseph Hobson in said county of Henry on the first Mon- day in July, 1821. These commissioners were Lawrence Brannon and John Bell, of Wayne County; John Sample, of Fayette; Rich- ard Biem, of Jackson; and J. W. Scott, of Union. It was further enacted that the sheriff of Wayne County should notify the above- named commissioners of their appointment, for which service the county of Henry should pay him a reasonable compensation .*

The State Commissioners fixed upon the present site of New Castle, almost in the exact center of the county, as the location of the future seat of justice. They were induced to make this decis- ion through the liberality of several public-spirited citizens who

* Elias Willetts was then Sheriff of Wayne County. To reach the commission- ers, who lived in four different counties, he was obliged to travel at least 250 miles. That his charges were extremely reasonable is evinced by an order passed by the first board of county commissioners that he be allowed the sum of $15 in full payment for the service mentioned.

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donated about 100 acres of land for the use of the county, on con- dition that the land should become the site of the county-seat.

The first act in the way of supplying the new county with civil officers was made by Governor Jennings on the 1st day of Janu- ary, 1822, at which date he commissioned Jesse H. Healey Sheriff of Henry County, and instructed him to issue a warrant for an election to be held at an early date for the purpose of choosing county officers. There is no record of the date of this election or of the number of votes cast which can be found at the present day. Tradition states, however, that it was held at the house of Joseph Hobson, which stood on the Stephen Elliott farm, about two miles southwest of New Castle, and that it took place about the 1st of June, 1822. The officers chosen at this election received commis- sions dated July 5, 1822. Jesse H. Healey was chosen Sheriff; Rene Julian, Clerk and Recorder; Thomas R. Stanford and Elisha Long, Associate Judges; Alan Shepherd, William Shannon and Elisha Shortridge, Commissioners.

THE FIRST COMMISSIONERS' COURT.

The act creating Henry County provided that the Circuit Court and all other courts should meet at the house of Joseph Hobson until suitable accommodations could be provided elsewhere. The act also provided that the court might remove to a more suitable place if deemed advisable. The commissioners met at Hobson's house on the 10th day of June, 1822. The record of this fact (the first record of an official character ever made in Henry County is in these words:

" Fune Term for the year 1822.

"At a meeting of the Board of Commissioners in and for the county of Henry, State of Indiana, on Monday, the 10th day of June, A. D. 1822, present, * Alan Shepherd and Samuel Goble, Esqrs., who produced their respective certificates and were sworn into office by Jesse Healey, Esq., Sheriff of the county afore- said, as is required by the Constitution and laws of this State."

The board appointed Rene Julian as its Clerk and adjourned until the next morning at ten o'clock. During the second day quite a large amount of business was transacted. William Shan- non was appointed Treasurer and John Dorrah, Lister of the county; a poll tax of 25 cents was levied for county purposes; Dudley,

* Elisha Shortridge, one of the commissioners, did not appear until the July term, when he presented his credentials and was sworn into office.

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Wayne, Henry and Prairie townships were created, and provision was made for holding an election in each; an inspector was appointed for each township, and William Shannon, Dilwin Bales and Abraham Heaton were appointed Superintendents of the school sections in the townships in which they resided. The board then adjourned until the 1st Monday in July following.

The board met in June, July, August and November, 1822. The record of all their transactions during this time is comprised in eighteen pages of writing. Yet they wielded an important influence. They established townships and fixed their limits; appointed constables, supervisors, listers, collectors, agents, sur- veyors, etc .; fixed the rates of taxes; granted tavern and mercantile licenses, and even declared what should be the prices of meals, lodgings, liquors, etc., in the taverns of the county.

At the July term, Ezekiel Leavell was duly appointed agent of Henry County, in accordance with the provision of the act of the Legislature establishing the county. Among his duties were the receiving of donations of land for county purposes, the letting of contracts for public buildings, the sale of town lots in the then incipient town of New Castle, etc.

BOARD OF JUSTICES.

The Board of Justices, performing the duties hitherto devolving upon the commissioners, was organized Sept. 6, 1824, in obedience to an act of the General Assembly passed Jan. 31, 1824. At the first meeting the following justices were present: James Johnston (who was chosen President of the board), William Shannon, James Gilmore, Samuel Bedson, Samuel Louthain, Robert Thomp- son, James Wadkins and Abraham Heaton.

The board was required to meet five times per year-in the months of January, March, May, July and September. Three members constituted a quorum, except at the May and September terms, when at least five members must be present. The clerk of the Circuit Court and the sheriff or his deputy were also required to be in attendance upon the meetings. The Board of Justices ceased to act after Aug. 1, 1827.

Among the records of their doings the following is to be found:

January term, 1825 .- " On motion of James Johnston it is ordered by the board that a capitation tax cannot be recovered of any justice of the peace in and for the county of Henry." Also ordered, the same term, "That a quetus [quietus] is granted to

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John Anderson, Collector of Henry County, for the sum of four dollars for a capitation tax of justices of the peace in said county for State purposes." From which it would appear that they thought better of the matter and decided to pay their taxes like other people!

THE CIRCUIT COURT.

The first record upon the first order-book of the Circuit Court is a copy of the official bond of Rene Julian, Clerk of the court, written upon the fly leaf. The first minute recorded in the book is as follows:

" At a Henry Circuit Court, begun at the house of Joseph Hobson, agreeable to an act of the Legislature of the State of Indiana passed on the 31st day of December, in the year of our, Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and adjourned to the house of Charles Jamison in the county aforesaid, on Mon- day, the 13th day of September, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and twenty-two; present, Thomas R. Stanford and Elisha Long, Esqrs., Associate Judges of the Henry Circuit Court," etc.

The commissions of the associate judges, bearing the date July 5, 1822, were solemnly received and recorded. On the back of each commission was a certificate (also recorded), of which the following is a specimen:

" STATE OF INDIANA, "HENRY COUNTY, Iss.

"Be it remembered that on the 7th day of August, A. D. 1822, personally came before me the within-commissioned Elisha Long and took the oath against dueling, the oath to support the Consti- tution of the United States, and the oath to support the Constitu- tion of this State, and also the oath of office as Associate Judge of the Henry Circuit Court. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of August, 1822.

"JESSE H. HEALEY,

" Sheriff of Henry County."

Sheriff Healey next came forward and

"Returned into this court the writ of venire facias heretofore issued out of this court, with the following panel to serve as grand jurors the present term, to-wit: Daniel Heaton, whom the court ap- points as Foreman, Joseph Watts, Ezekiel Leavell, Absalom Har- vey, William Bell, David Bailey, John Baker, Jesse Cox, Samuel

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Dill, John Dougherty, Jacob Parkhurst, Richard Parsons, William Riden, Dempsey Reese and William Thompson, good and lawful men, and householders of the county of Henry, who, being duly sworn, and by the court charged, retired to their room* to deliber- ate."

Lot Bloomfield and five others are then granted permission to practice as attorneys in the court, and Mr. Bloomfield is appointed prosecuting attorney.

The above is a record of all the business done the first day of court, except the fining of Andrew Shannon $2 for "swearing two profane oaths in the presence of the court."

On Tuesday morning the first business that engaged the atten- tion of the court was the following :

" Ordered, That the permanent seal for Henry County shall be engraved on brass, with the vignette of an eagle and stars equal to the number of the States in the Union; the surface of the seal to be about the size of a dollar, and around the margin of the seal the words, Henry Circuit Court."

Until such a seal could be provided "an ink scrawl with the words Henry County inserted therein " was to be used instead.

Henry Burkman, hitherto a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, next came before the court and declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States.

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 26

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996