History of Jackson County, Indiana, Part 24

Author: Brant & Fuller
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 759

USA > Indiana > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Indiana > Part 24

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).

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followed the rule never to re-pronounce a word), until it was spelled correctly. If a speller on the opposite side finally spelled the missed word correctly, it was counted a gain of one to that side; if the word was finally corrected by some speller on the same side on which it was originated as a missed word, it was " saved," and no tally mark was made.

Another popular method was to commence at one end of the line of spellers and go directly around, and the missed words caught up quickly and corrected by " word-catchers," appointed by the captains from among their best spellers. These word-catchers would attempt to correct all the words missed on his opponent's side, and failing to do this, the catcher on the other side would catch him up with a peculiar zest, and then there was fun.

Still another very interesting, though somewhat disorderly, method, was this: Each word-catcher would go to the foot of the adversary's line, and every time he "catched " a word he would go up one, thus " turning them down " in regular spelling-class style. When one catcher in this way turned all down on the opposing side, his own party was victorious by as many as the opposing catcher was behind. This method required no slate or blackboard tally to be kept.

One turn, by either of the foregoing or other methods, would occupy 40 minutes to an hour, and by this time an intermission or recess was had, when the buzzing, cackling and hurrahing that en- sned for 10 or 15 minutes were beyond description.

Coming to order again, the next style of battle to be illustrated was to "spell down," by which process it was ascertained who were the best spellers and could continue standing as a soldier the longest But very often good spellers would inadvertently miss a word in an early stage of the contest and would have to sit down humilia- ted, while a comparatively poor speller would often stand till nearly or quite the last, amid the cheers of the assemblage. Sometimes the two parties first "chosen up" in the evening would re-take their places after recess, so that by the "spelling-down " process there would virtually be another race, in another form; sometimes there would be a new " choosing up " for the " spelling-down " con- test; and sometimes the spelling down would be conducted with- out any party lines being made. It would occasionally happen that two or three very good spellers would retain the floor so long that the exercise would become monotonous, when a few outlandish words like " chevaux.de-frise," " Ompompanoosuc " or "Baugh-

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nangh-claugh-ber," as they used to spell it sometimes, would create a little ripple of excitement to close with. Sometimes these words would decide the contest, but generally when two or three good spellers kept the floor until the exercise became monotonous, the teacher would declare the race closed and the standing spellers ac- quitted with a " drawn game."

The audience dismissed, the next thing was to " go home," very often by a round-about way, "a-sleighing with the girls," which, of course, was with many the most interesting part of the even- ing's performances, sometimes, however, too rough to be com- mended, as the boys were often inclined to be somewhat rowdyish.

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 ot 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 " " Missonri 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 Durham," " 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."

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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 amnsements 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 enormnous 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 312 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 otlier 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.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GOVERNORS.

Arthur St. Clair was born in Scotland in 1734, a grandson of the Earl of Rosslyn; educated at the University of Edinburgh; studied medicine under John Hunter; inherited a large fortune on the death of his mother; entered the British army as an ensign, May 13, 1757, and the next year he came to America; became distinguished under General Wolfe at Quebec; married at Boston, May 14, 1760, Miss Phoebe Bayard, half-sister of Gov. James Bow- doin; resigned his commission in 1762; settled in Pennsylvania, in 1764, erecting a fine residence and several mills; held many offices, civil and military, and during the Revolutionary war was eminent in his services; was a member of the Continental Con- gress 1785-'87; became the first Governor of the Northwestern Territory February 1, 1788; made the treaty of Fort Harmar with the Indian tribes in 1789; fixed the seat of the Supreme Court for the Territory, Jannary, 1790, at a point which he named Cincinnati, after the society of which he was an officer; became Commander- in-Chief of the U. S. army, March 4, 1791, which position he resigned, May 5, 1792; made an unsuccessful expedition against the Indians of the Miami and the Wabash, but was vindicated from all blame by a Congressional committee of investigation; was removed from the post of Governor, by Jefferson, Nov. 22, 1802, when he settled in a log house on the summit of Chestnut Ridge. near Greensburg, Pa., where he passed his remaining years in poverty and fruitless efforts to effect a settlement of claims against the U. S. Government, but receiving small pensions, both from the National and State Governments. He died near Greensburg, Aug. 31. 1818. In 1812 he published a "Narrative of the Manner in which the Campaign against the Indians in 1791 was condneted."

William Henry Harrison was born at Berkeley, Virginia, in 1773. In 1801 he was appointed Governor of the Territory of Indiana, which position he held more than ten years. In 1811, in the hard- fought battle of Tippecanoe, he defeated the Indians under the command of the " Prophet." In 1812, was made Brigadier General;

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and in March, 1813 was made Major-General. In 1824 he was elected to United States Senate from Ohio. In 1836 was defeated by Van Buren for President. He again became the nominee of the Whig party in 1840, and was chosen President by an overwhelming majority. He was inaugurated March 4, 1841, but died just one month afterward, and his remains now lie near the old homestead at North Bend, Ind.

Thomas Posey was born in Virginia, July 9, 1750; received an ordinary common-school education; removed to Western Virginia in 1769; participated in expeditions against the Ohio Indians, and in many battles of the Revolution, after which he resided for a number of years in Spotsylvania county, Va .; was appointed Brig- adier-General, Feb. 14, 1793; moved soon afterward to Kentucky, where he became Lieut .- Governor and Major-General in 1809; was U. S. Senator from Louisiana, 1812.'3; succeeded Harrison as Governor of Indiana, in 1813, and became Agent for Indian affairs in 1816. He died at Shawneetown, Ill., March, 19, 1818.

Jonathan Jennings, first Governor of the State of Indiana, 1816- '22, was born in Hunterdon county, N. J., and died near Charles- town, Clark Co., Indiana, July 26, 1834; he was a member of Con- gress, 1809-'16 and 1822-'31, and in 1818 he was appointed Indian Commissioner by President Monroe.

William Hendricks, the second Governor of the State of Indiana, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., in 1783, and settled in Madison, Indiana, in 1814, where he died May 16, 1850. Besides that of State Executive, he filled many important offices. He was Secretary of the Convention which formed the present Constitution of Indiana, was a Representative in Congress, 1816-'22, and U. S. Senator, 1825-'37.

Noah Noble, Governor, 1831-'7, was born in Virginia, Jan. 15, 1794, and died at Indianapolis in February, 1844. During his term as Governor occurred the Black Hawk war, the inauguration of the great "internal improvements" of so much notoriety, the hard times of 1837, the last exodus of Indians from the State, etc.

David Wallace was born in Philadelphia, Pa., April 4, 1799; graduated at West Point in 1821 as Lieutenant of Artillery, which position he resigned June 1, 1822; removed with his father's family in 1817 to Brookville, Ind .; studied law and acquired an extensive practice in Franklin county; was several times a member

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of the Legislature, once a member of the State Constitutional Con- vention, Lieutenant-Governor, 1837-'40, member of Congress, 1841-'3, and Judge of Marion county, 1856-'9. He died Sept. 4, 1859.

Samuel Bigger was born in Warren county, Ohio, about 1800, graduated at Athens University; studied law at Lebanon and com- menced practice in Indiana, attaining eminence in the profession; was a Representative in the State Legislature, 1834-'5, and afterward Judge of the Circuit Court. He was elected Governor of Indiana in 1840, on the Whig ticket, and served his term acceptably. By his recommodation the Indiana Hospital for the Insane was estab- lished. He died in 1845 at Fort Wayne.

James Whitcomb was born in Stockbridge, Vt., Dec. 1, 1791, educated at Transylvania University; Jan. 1, 1824 he established himself in the practice of law at Bloomington, Ind .; in 1826 he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for his district; was State Senator, 1830.'5, and a leader of the Democratic party; in 1836 he was appointed Superintendent of the Land Office; resumed prac- tice at Terre Haute in 1841; was Governor, 1843-'8, when he was elected to the U. S. Senate. He died in New York, October 4, 1852.

Joseph A. Wright was born in Pennsylvania, April 17, 1810; educational advantages limited; early in life he settled in Indiana; admitted to the Bar in 1829, and rose to eminence as a practitioner; member of the Legislature in 1833, and State Senator in 1840; member of Congress, 1843-'5; Governor of Indiana, 1849-'57; Min- ister to Prussia, 1857-'61; U.S. Senator, 1861-'2; U.S. Commissioner to the Hamburg Exhibition in 1863, and Minister to Prussia again, from 1865 until his death, at Berlin, May 11, 1867.

Ashbel P. Willard was born in Oneida county, New York, the son of Erastus Willard, sheriff of that county, 1832-'5; gradnated at Hamilton College in 1842; was Governor of Indiana, 1853-'8; died at St. Paul in October, 1860.

Henry S. Lane, brother of Gen. James H. Lane, was born in Montgomery county, Ky., Feb., 24, 1811; received a good common- school education and some knowledge of the classics, studied law, moved to Indiana and was admitted to the Bar; elected to the Legislature in 1837; to Congress in 1841; was Lieutenant-Colonel of volunteers in the Mexican war, 1846-'7; elected U. S. Senator, 1859, but denied the seat; elected Governor of Indiana in 1861, but in a

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History of Jackson County, Indiana, Part 24

Author: Brant & Fuller Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 759

Author: Brant & Fuller
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 759