USA > Indiana > Jay County > History of Jay County, Indiana > Part 11
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being Principal of the Primary Department. The first term of the second year was taught by Mr. John Phipps; the rest of that year Mr. Robert Milliken was the Principal, Miss Lydia Sheller being the lady Assistant. The third year Rev. J. D. Parker and Miss M. C. Hall were the teach- ers. In 1857 N. G. Buff, Esq., was the Principal, and at different times during that year Misses Katurah Winters, Rachel Jackson and Mary Bos- worth were Assistants.
BAKER-CHICACO
FARMERS' ACADEMY.
On the 5th of July, 1858, the school was sold to the Northern Indiana Conference of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and Rev. W. F. Hemen-
207
COLD WINTER.
way became Principal, and Mrs. Hemenway, As- sistant, which position they held for two years. There was then no school until in the spring of 1864, when Rev. J. E. Erwin became the Princi- pal, and is the present incumbent. The Academy is located in one of the most beautiful groves that can be seen any where.
The last Post Office (College Corner) established in the county, was near this place, on May 30th, 1862. Jonas Votaw was the first Postmaster ;- Jacob Bosworth is the present one.
In June, 1847, the County Commissioners con- tracted with Jacob Bosworth to build the "Jay County Seminary." It was not finished until 1848. The first term of school in it was taught by Mr. Thomas T. Loomis. For the year 1850 Mr. Calvin J. Parker was the Principal, and for the two following years Rev. I. N. Taylor occupied that position, which was the last school taught in it. In 1853 the county sold the building to Elias Bromagem, who occupied it for several years, when it was forfeited to the county, who in 1860 resold it to B. W. Hawkins, who has since made it his residence.
The cold winter of 1842. and '43 will long be remembered by the early settlers of Jay and the adjoining counties. On the 12th of November, 1842, the ground was covered by a fall of snow, which did not entirely leave until April, 1843.
208
COLD WINTER.
After the Sth of January the whole country was one vast field of ice, caused by rain which fell heavily and froze, forming a thick sleety ice. On this snow fell nearly a foot in depth, and though it was partly thawed by rain, yet frost and snow again followed. The sleet prevented the hogs getting nuts and roots, or the wild turkeys from stirring the leaves; and long before spring the scanty provision made by the settlers for horses and cattle was gone, and great numbers of cattle perished. Some farmers were able to keep most of their stock by cutting down elm, linden, and other soft-wood trees, and letting the stoek take the brush. This, with a supply of salt and a small piece of salt fat pork to a cow per day, took them through ! The hogs fared still worse : thousands perished from actual starvation. Some men saved some of their hogs by killing the weaker ones and feeding them to the stronger. Deer became so poor they were easily taken, and men and wolves slew them in great numbers.
Another trying time for the settlers of Jay County was the rainy summer of 1844. All the streams overflowed the low lands many times during the season. The farmers found it impos- sible to plow or plant, and no erop was raised. Large numbers of families left their cabins and elearings, and moved back to the older settlements, most of whom never returned. Had it been pos-
209
NEWSPAPERS.
sible to have sold property, the county would have been almost depopulated.
Among the pioneers of Jay was an oddity call- ed Johnny Appleseed. His proper name was John Chapman. Many years ago he brought from Central Ohio, two bushels of apple-seed, on the back of an ox, and cleared small patches of ground on the headwaters of the Loramie, An- glaise, St. Mary's and Wabash rivers, besides va- rious other places, and planted apple-seeds. In the early settlement of this county, he was wan- dering about, from one nursery to another, camp- ing wherever night overtook him, selling trees. He had a nursery on the Wabash one mile east of New Corydon. He never carried a gun or wore a sound piece of clothing, though he possessed considerable property ; never slept in a bed, or ate at a table ; had no place he called home ; was a devoted Swedenborgian in religion, and died near Fort Wayne in 1845. He had once been a fine business man, but an accident had caused a partial derangement of his mind. The trees from his nurseries are bearing fruit in a dozen different counties in Indiana, and thousands are enjoying the fruit who never saw or heard of Johnny Ap- pleseed.
The first newspaper ever published in Jay County was The Portland Journal, issued in the summer of 1852, by Mr. James M. Bromagen,
210
NEWSPAPERS.
editor and proprietor. In politics it was neutral. The very first sheet struck from the press .was carried away in triumph by D. W. McNeal. The printing office was in the second story of what is now the Franklin House. In about two years it was purchased by John Y. Hoover, who contin- ued its publication, under many difficulties, until some time in the winter of 1856-'7, when it was discontinued. Its circulation was about three hundred copies. No complete file of it is in existence.
On the 20th of February, 1856, Rev. I. N. Tay- lor issued, at Liber, The Liber Lamp, a small, four-column weekly paper, devoted to the general interests of the College. It was first printed in the basement of the College, and had about four hundred subscribers. Its emblematical head was "Science, Religion, Liberty," and its motto, " Semper Liber, Neuter Nunquam." In this form it passed through the first volume. The second volume, which closed its career, was published by R. S. and W. J. Taylor, and the size reduced to a sheet two columns wide and just seven inches long, issued monthly.
In November, 1856, Mr. William McCormick started The Jay County Democrat. In May, 1858, Mr. George H. Moore became a partner in the ownership of the paper. It had about three hundred subscribers, and was discontinued Octo. ber 26th, 1859.
211
JOHNNY APPLESEED.
The Jay County Republican was first issued in March, 1858, by Hon. J. P. C. Shanks and L. M. Morrison. In a short time Mr. Morrison sold to William S. Jones, and on the 13th of April, 1859, the last number was issued.
The Jay Torch-Light was first issued Septem- ber 8th, 1859, by M. W. Montgomery. The printing office was first in one room of the then abandoned old brick Court House; but fearing the crazy old building would tumble down and extinguish the light, the office was moved to Mil- ler's building. The first few weeks it had three hundred subscribers, but before the close of the volume the number had increased to five hundred and seventy-five. On the 18th of July, 1861, R. C. Harper became one of the proprietors, but re-sold to Mr. Montgomery April 17th, 1862. At the close of the third vol- ume Mr. Montgomery sold the paper to Mr. P. S. Loot bourrow, who is the present proprietor.
The Jay County Times was issued August 1st, 1860, by George H. Moore, and discontinued in the following spring.
It is not certainly known whether The Jay County Clipper ever reached an actual existence or not. However, one number made its appear- ance in December, 1862, issued by Jacob Sim- mons, and three or four more numbers followed semi-occasionally during the winter, in one of
212
THE FIRST JAIL.
which it was hinted that the establishment would freeze out if some one did not bring some wood- and the paper has not been seen since.
On the 8th of October, 1863, Mr. C. C. Morical commenced the publication of The Democratic Review, but in a few weeks abandoned it, since which time it has been conducted by Dr. T. J. Lafollet. It has about six hundred subscribers.
In May, 1862, the County Commissioners opened sealed bids for building a new jail. The bids were as follows :
Augustus Bosworth,. .$4,200
M. A. Reeder, Winchester,. 4,000
Crowell, Conkel and Denney,. 3,960
W. H. and M. W. Montgomery,. 2,237
The latter firm having bidden $1,663 lower than the others, was awarded the contract. They completed the building by the following Decem- ber. The iron cells were made and put up by Macey, Rankin & Co., of Cincinnati. The total cost of the jail was $6,600.
In 1861, Jonas Votaw, Esq., was appointed a member of the Board of Directors for the North- ern Indiana State's Prison, which position he held for two years.
Jay County has, as yet, no completed railroad. Four tracks, passing through the county, are pro- jected ; on three of them much grading has been done. The map shows their names and routes.
213
GENERAL ITEMS.
In 1864 the County Commissioners purchased John Williams' farm for four thousand dollars for the use of the paupers of the county.
Jay County still has its hunters. Quite a com- pany of old hunters are in the habit of making yearly visits to Paulding County, Ohio, for the purpose of hunting. John Williams, probably, goes more frequently than others. He is a hunter of considerable note, though he did not settle in the county in those early days when the hunters had undisputed possession of the territory. In the winter of 1863-4, he and O. Mckinstry killed twenty-one deer.
The census of Jay County was taken, for 1840, by Morrison Rulon, for 1850 by J. M. Haynes and N. B. Hawkins, for 1860, by J. N. Templer and Ira Denney.
The population, in 1840, was not taken by townships, and is reported in total at 3,863. Dur- ing that year 16,018 pounds of maple sugar were made in the county.
POLULATION IN 1850.
Richland, 349
Knox, 271
Penn, .. 710
Jefferson, 717
Green,. .. .362
Jackson, .575
Pike,. .
.786
10*
.
214
POPULATION.
Wayne,. ..
705
Bear Creek,. 737
Madison,. 645
Noble,.
745
Wabash,.
.345
Total,
.7,047
POPULATION IN 1860.
TOWNSHIPS.
MALE
FEMALE TOTAL
Richland,
368
318
686
Knox,
282
246
528
Penn, ..
674
640
1,314
Jefferson,
631
585
1,216
Green,.
371
363
734
Jackson,.
386
344
730
Pike,. .
629
635
1,264
Wayne,. .
583
507
1,089
Bear Creek,.
567
518
1,085
Madison,
548
517
1,065
Noble,.
506
448
954
Wabash,.
383
351
734
Total,.
5,917
5,461
11,339
NATIVITY OF POPULATION.
Born in the United States,.
5,709
5,292
11,001
Born in Foreign Countries,.
219
174
393
On the night of the 4th of February, 1862, the Treasury of Jay County was robbed of four thousand six hundred dollars, of which one hundred belonged to Doctor E. R. Sheffield, and about two hundred dollars to B. W. Hawkins. County
215
TREASURY ROBBERY.
Treasurer, Joseph P. Winters, Sheriff, J. E. Lotz, and Auditor, W. G. Sutton, immediately set to work to ferret out the perpetrators. They „man- aged, with great ingenuity and skill, spending most of their time and employing some profes- sional detectives. On the 6th of March, 1862, William Brandon, of Union City, who was for many years a merchant in Portland, and John Barker, Samuel P. Johns and William Blackburn, of Dayton, were arrested, brought before Judge J. M. Haynes, and held to bail in the sum of $12,000 each. The county having no efficient jail at the time, Barker was taken to Muncie, Johns and Blackburn to Winchester, and Brandon was kept in Portland at the Jay Inn, and guarded by the citizens. In a few days Blackburn escaped. The prisoners desired a change of venue, and were sent to Muncie, Indiana, where, on the 30th of April, 1862, the trial opened. The attorneys for the State were Hon. J. M. Haynes, J. N. Templer, and J. R. Perdieu, of Portland, Hon. Walter March, of Muncie, Judge Jer. Smith, of Winches- ter, and J. F. Bowden, of Bloomfield. Attor- neys for the defendants were Hon. F. E. Cuppy, Dayton, Hon. David Kilgore and William Broth- erton, Muncie, Judge James Brown and John J. Cheney, of Winchester.
Barker was tried first. William Brandon turned State's evidence, was released from trial,
216 4
TREASURY ROBBERY.
and became the chief witness for the prosecution. The testimony which was phonographically re- ported for The Jay Torch-Light, by M. W. Mont- gomery, developed the following facts :
Johns planned the robbery, Barker and Black- burn did the robbing, and Brandon piloted them. They got the keys of the treasurer's office and safe from Mr. Winter's house. Barker's trial lasted five days and resulted in his conviction, and a sentence of three year's imprisonment. Johns' trial also lasted five days, and he was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary.
Barker and Johns were immediately taken to the Michigan City penitentiary. John's case was taken to the Supreme Court, on the point that, though one of the accomplices in the larceny, he was not, at any time, in the State of Indiana, and, therefore, could not be tried in this State. The Supreme Court sustained this view-a decision which, though perhaps constitutional, is certainly a very dangerous one-and in a few months he was released.
In May, 1862, Blackburn was again caught and confined in the Muncie Jail, from which he soon escaped. He was, however, retaken in a few months and placed in the new jail at Portland. From this he also escaped by sawing off the iron bars in the windows. He was now retaken the third time and tried at Winchester in September,
217
TREASURY ROBBERY.
1863, and sent to the penitentiary for seven years-just half long enough. Thus, by the most skillfully-planned and well-executed strategy, and praiseworthy perseverance on the part of the county officers and the attorneys of Portland, the perpetrators of the greatest robbery ever commit- ted in the county were brought to trial and con- victed. The county never recovered any of the lost money, and expended nearly $2,000 more in the catching and prosecution of the thieves.
For several years a lawsuit, resulting from a horse-trade, had been in progress between Mr. Elias Bromagem and Samuel Emery, a man of bad character. During this time some one shot at and slightly wounded Mr. Bromagem, who then lived near Hill Grove, Ohio, and Emery was accused of the crime. In May, 1862, William Bromagen being at home from the army, on fur- lough, met Emery on the street in Portland, and after some words, Bromagem drew a revolver and fired three shots at Emery, all of which took ef- fect-one in the left arm, and two entering his back, passed through his body. He ran through R. Kirschbaum's store and up stairs in Miller's building, and while endeavoring to shoot Broma- gem from the window, fell and rolled down stairs out into the street. He died May 31st, 1862. Bromagem immediately returned to the army.
218
GENERAL REMARKS.
A distinguished historian has said, " Blessed is the nation whose annals are tiresome." Those pages of a nation's history are most interesting which record events that caused the nation to weep and bleed-when the ship of State has been convulsed by mutinies or endangered by raging storms, or the attacks of enemies. But when she sails quietly, upon smooth seas, her crew loyal, her flag honored in every port, the pages of her history grow tedious. The historian delineates not the peaceful, prosperous life of the nation, but lingers about those great crises in her history, from which she rises to a more glorious renown, or falls into the pit of ruin. The history of Jay County, likewise, decreases in interest as we re- cede from those trials and incidents which cluster around her early settlement, and enter upon the prosperous quarter of a century which followed her organization in 1836. During these years her progress, though not rapid, has been steady and healthful. The long delay in the completion of the railroads contemplated through her bor- ders, has greatly hindered the accumulation of wealth and development of her resources. There are few events in these years prominent above the monotonous routine of civilized life. How gladly would we drop our record here :
" But there's a divinity that shapes our ends,"
219
GENERAL REMARKS.
and the next chapter must recite the arousing of the people of Jay County from their peaceful pur- suits, to participate in the great struggle for na- tional life.
CHAPTER XVII.
JAY COUNTY AND THE WAR.
The attack of the rebels upon Fort Sumter-in- augurating the most gigantic contest the world has ever seen-and President Lincoln's procla- mation of April 14th, 1861, calling for seventy- five thousand volunteers to put down the rebel- lion, was received by the people of Jay Connty with one mind. Traitors had appealed from the peaceful court of the ballot-box, to the bloody ar- bitrament of the sword and bullet, and were ruth- lessly waging war upon the nation. The people saw no way to preserve the honor and institu- tutions of the country but to crush the rebellion by force of arms. The contest soon assumed proportions so vast as to astonish the world. Yet
221
CHARLES E. BENNETT.
they did not swerve from their loyalty, and gave to the authorities a hearty support. This unanim- ity of sentiment was illustrated at the fall election in 1861. Political parties hushed their bickerings on former disputed questions, and patriotically di- vided candidates and all voted one ticket. Since the first year of the war this bright example has not been followed. Parties, and their accompa- nying strifes, mar the unity of the people in sup- port of the holy struggle which has called forth to the battle-field nearly one thousand of her patri- otie sons.
Being distant from railroads and daily papers, the people of the county did not so early awaken to the realities of the war as those centres which more quickly felt the heart-throbbings of the wounded and bleeding country. For this reason no full company was raised for the three months' service ; but many went and entered companies forming in other counties.
The first citizen of Jay County to volunteer was CHARLES E. BENNETT. 3 He was a young man, and student at Liber College. When he read the call for troops he told President Tucker that he was going. He went to Winchester, joined a company there, but was rejected. But, determined to serve his country, he went to Indi- anapolis, joined company C, Sth Indiana regiment, and by hiding his glasses for his near-sightedness,
222
THE FIRST COMPANY.
was accepted. He served his time out, and was discharged. In 1862, when the rallying cry was,
" We are coming, Father Abraham, Six hundred thousand more,"
he again enlisted in company F, 75th regiment Indiana volunteers, and this time gave his life for his country. He died of disease while the compa- ny was at Castillian Springs, Tennessee, about the 1st of December, 1862. He was a kind-hearted, honest young man, and had been raised a Quaker.
The first effort made to raise a whole company in Jay County, for the war was in July, 1861. Quite a number from different parts of the county had already gone-hastening, at the first clash of arms, to the scene of conflict. Meetings were held at several places in the county, at which Judge J. M. Haynes, J. N. Templer and others addressed the people. But at first volunteers were slowly obtained, because the people had not yet become warriors, and, beside, it was then con- sidered by many as preposterons to think of rais- ing a whole company in the county. But after the first thirty men were obtained no more diffi- culty was experienced.
Those most actively engaged in enlisting the company were Messrs. C. II. Clark, S. L. Wilson and Nimrod Headington. On the 6th of August they were ordered to report at Indianapolis at
223
THE FIRST COMPANY.
once. Messengers were dispatched to all parts of the county to notify the members of the compa- ny. It was a very busy season ; but the mem- bers of this company held their country's call paramount to every other interest. The unmeas- ured calico was left upon the counter; the plow remained in the furrow, and the scythe was left to rust in the unmown meadow. The blessed implements of peaceful industry were thrown aside for the musket and sword. All hearts were more than ever turned toward 'the war, and es- pecially the brave boys who were hurrying into the conflict. On the morning of August 9th a great crowd of citizens assembled in Portland to bid farewell to the first company Jay County sent to the war for the Union. It was a trying hour to the nnwarlike people of Jay. They had been reared to love the arts of Peace; but they loved their country more, and now began to lay their sons by hundreds upon her altar.
The parting scenes were thus sketched at the time by The Jay Torch-Light, more vividly than they can be at this distant date :
" Early on Friday morning the 'reveille' summoned the soldiers together at Camp Ross, and a march around town was the order. This the boys performed with the greatest enthusiasm. They marched in front of each house where any of them had been boarding, and gave them hearty cheers. By this time the people from all parts of the county began to assemble, to witness the departure of the volunteers and bid them farcwell.
224
TIIE PARTING.
" The town was soon crowded. Everything and everybody was in motion; and as the afternoon approached, many coun- tenances were serious and sorrowful. But the volunteers seemed in the highest spirits and full of enthusiasm at the prospect of an early chance to fight for their country and slay rebels. The farmers of the county had tendered their services with their teams, to take the boys to Winchester, so freely that more teams were on the ground than could be used. About one o'clock, P. M., the soldiers were drawn up in line, the wagons and carriages brought out, and preparations were being made to start. This was the last opportunity to say ' Farewell' to the brave fellows who were now going to the war, perhaps never to return ; and it was well improved. It is useless for us to attempt a description of the scenes and incidents of that parting. The streets were filled with men and women crowding around the volunteers, shaking hands, speaking words of encouragement, giving the parting charge, and bidding farewell.
" It was an affecting scene. Few indeed were the eyes not wet with tears at that hour. The volunteers met the occasion like soldiers: they wept, as good soldiers always can, but they swerved not a moment in their purpose to go forth and fight for the maintenance of our glorious Government."
Amid loud cheers and the waving of hats and handkerchiefs, the long train of wagons and car- riages started, carrying two hundred persons, over one hundred of whom were a citizens' escort. At Winchester the citizens gladly entertained the soldiers, and the next day they reached Indiana- polis; were sent to Camp Morton, and on the 11th were sworn into the United States service for three years. Here they remained nearly one month, when they were assigned to the 39th reg-
225
IN CAMP.
iment Indiana volunteers, company C, and were then transferred to Camp Harrison, named in honor of their gallant Colonel, Thos. J. Harrison, who has been with them in all their meanderings upon the theatre of war. Here and at Camp Morton they were visited by many of the citizens of Jay. They were constantly drilled until Sep- temper 21st, when they marched Dixieward, ar- riving at Louisville the next morning. Here they were cordially welcomed by a sumptuous dinner, and addressed by a member of the Kentucky Legislature, who complimented them as being the first regiment from Indiana to cross the Ohio River in response to Kentucky's call for help against traitors, many of whom were those of her own bosom. On platform cars they were at once taken to Muldraugh's Hill, nearly fifty miles south of Louisville, which was then considered "the front." At Rolling Fork, on Salt River, they pitched tents, put out guards and pickets, passed their first night in the south. The next morning, gleeful at having marching orders, they were early equipped and on the march. They soon reached a stream, which they were ordered to wade, after taking off their " pants." This was fine sport, several things occurring which created great merriment.
That was the first hard march experienced by company C. Only those who have performed
226
IN CAMP.
similar marches ean fully appreciate the hard- ships of the soldiers during the remainder of the march that day. The sun beamed down its most scorching rays, the dust was several inches deep, and the least stir in the air whirled it in suffocat- ing clouds around them. They were heavily burdened with knapsacks, haversacks and accou- trements ; but by constant rallying they reached their destination about sunset. They were filed off into an open field, where they were compla- cently enjoying their rest, when a strange sound started them to their feet with an inquiry of alarm upon their countenances. It was the "long
roll," beat upon a false alarm. Their ears have long since become familiar with that sound, yet it never fails to start their blood and bodies in quicker motion. Upon outspread blankets they passed the night in such a sleep as only wearied soldiers know how to appreciate.
On the 10th of October they "struck tents " and marched to Camp Nevin, twelve miles far- ther South. The force collected at this camp was the nucleus of what afterward became the grand "Army of the Cumberland." It was near this camp that the first blood of the Rebellion which fell upon Kentucky soil, was shed. Forty picked scouts (Jefferson Sewell and W. H. Blowers, from company C,) were sent out under Lientenant Colonel Jones against a marauding body of two
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