USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnston County, Indiana. From the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 23
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In the early part of the ensning winter the settlers again turned out, supplied at convenient points in the bottom with large kettles and barrels for scalding, and while the hunters were engaged in killing, others with horses dragged the carcasses to the scalding platforms where they were dressed; and when all that could be were killed and dressed a division was made, every farmer getting more meat than enough, for his winter's supply. Like energetic measures were resorted to in other townships, so that in two or three years the breed of wild liogs became extinct.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
NATIVE ANIMALS.
The principal wild animals found in the State by the early set- tler were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-eat, fox, otter, raceoon, generally called "coon," woodehuek, or ground hog, skunk, mink, weasel, muskrat, opossum, rabbit and squirrel; and the principal feathered game were the quail, prairie chicken and wild turkey. Hawks, turkey buzzards, crows, blackbirds were also very abundant. Sev- eral of these animals furnished meat for the settlers; but their principal meat did not long consist of game; pork and poultry were raised in abundance. The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common enemy of the sheep, and sometimes attacking other domestie animals and even human beings. But their hideous howlings at night were so constant and terrifying that they almost seemed to do more mischief by that annoyance than by direct attack. They would keep everbody and every ani- inal about the farm-house awake and frightened, and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. As one man described it: "Sup- pose six boys, having six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would hear such music as two wolves would make."
To effeet the destruction of these animals the county authorities offered a bounty for their sealps; and, besides, big hunts were common.
WOLF 11UNTS.
In early days more mischief was done by wolves than by any other wild animal, and no small part of their mischief consisted in their almost constant barking at night, which always seemed so menacing and frightful to the settlers. Like . mosquitoes, the noise they made appeared to be about as dreadful as the real depre- dations they committed. The most effectual, as well as the most exeiting, method of ridding the country of these hateful pests, was that known as the " circular wolf hunt," by which all the men and boys would turn out on an appointed day, in a kind of cirele com- prising many square miles of territory, with horses and dogs, and then close up toward the center of their field of operation, gather- ing not only wolves, but also deer and many smaller " varmint." Five, ten, or more wolves by this means would sometimes be killed in a single day. The men would be organized with as mueh system as a little army, every one being well posted in the meaning of every signal and the application of every rule. Guns were seareely ever allowed to be brought on such occasions, as their use
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would be unavoidably dangerous. The dogs were depended upon for the final slaughter. The dogs, by the way, had all to be held in cheek by a cord in the hands of their keepers until the final signal was given to let them loose, when away they would all go to the center of battle, and a more exciting scene would follow than ean be easily described.
BEE-HUNTING.
This wild rcereation was a peculiar one, and many sturdy back- woodsmen gloried in excelling in this art. Ile would carefully wateli a bee as it filled itself with the sweet prodnet of some flower or leaf-bud, and notice particularly the direction taken by it as it struck a "bee-line " for its home, which when found would be generally high up in the hollow of a tree. The tree would be marked, and in September a party would go and ent down the tree and capture the honey as quickly as they could before it wasted away through the broken walls in which it had been so carefully stowed away by the little busy bee. Several gallons would often be thus taken from a single tree, and by a very little work, and pleas- ant at that, the early settlers could keep themselves in honey the year round. By the time the honey was a year old, or before, it would turn white and granulate, yet be as good and healthful as when fresh. This was by some called " candid " honey.
In some districts, the resorts of bees would be so plentiful that all the available hollow trees would be occupied and many colonies of bees would be found at work in erevices in the rock and holes in the ground. A considerable quantity of honey has even been taken from sueli places.
SNAKES.
In pioneer times snakes were numerous, such as the rattlesnake, viper, adder, blood snake and many varieties of large blue and green snakes, milk snake, garter and water snakes, black snakes, ete., etc. If, on meeting one of these, you would retreat, they would ehase you very fiercely; but if you would turn and give them battle, they would immediately crawì away with all possible speed, hide in the grass and weeds, and wait for a "greener " customer. These really harmless snakes served to put people on their guard against the more dangerous and venomous kinds.
It was the practice in some sections of the country to turn out in companies, with spades, mattocks and crow-bars, attack the princi- pal snake dens and slay large numbers of them. In early spring
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the snakes were somewhat torpid and easily captured. Scores of rattlesnakes were sometimes frightened out of a single den, which, as soon as they showed their heads through the crevices of the rocks, were dispatched, and left to be devonred by the numerous wild hogs of that day. Some of the fattest of these snakes were taken to the house and oil extracted from them, and their glittering skins were saved as specifics for rheumatism.
Another method was to so fix a heavy stick over the door of their dens, with a long grape-vine attached, that one at a distance could plug the entrance to the den when the snakes were all out sunning themselves. Then a large company of the citizens, on hand by ap- pointment, could kill scores of the reptiles in a few minutes.
SHAKES.
One of the greatest obstacles to the early settlement and pros- perity of this State was the " chills and fever," " fever and ague." or " shakes," as it was varionsly called. It was a terror to new- comers; in the fall of the year almost everybody was afflicted with it. It was no respecter of persons; everybody looked pale and sallow as though he were frost-bitten. It was not contagious, but derived from impure water and air, which are always developed in the opening up of a new country of rank soil like that of the Northwest. The impurities continue to be absorbed from day to day, and from week to week, until the whole body corporate became saturated with it as with electricity, and then the shock came; and the shock was a regular shake, with a fixed beginning and ending, coming on in some cases each day but generally on alternate days, with a regn- larity that was surprising. After the shake came the fever, and this " last estate was worse than the first." It was a burning-hot fever, and lasted for hours. When you had the chill you couldn't get warm, and when you had the fever you couldn't get cool. It was exceedingly awkward in this respect; indeed it was. Nor would it stop for any sort of contingency ; not even a wedding in the family would stop it. It was imperative and tyrannical. When the ap- pointed time came around, everything else had to be stopped to at- tend to its demands. It didn't even have any Sundays or holidays; after the fever went down you still didn't feel much better. You felt as though you had gone through some sort of collision, thrashing-machine or jarring-machine, and came out not killed, but next thing to it. You felt weak, as though you had run too far after something, and then didn't Catch it. You felt languid, stupid and
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sore, and was down in the mouth and heel and partially raveled out. Your back was out of fix, your head ached and your appetite crazy. Your eyes had too much white in them, your ears, especially after taking quinine, had too much roar in them, and your whole body and soul were entirely woe-begone, disconsolate, sad, poor and good for nothing. You didn't think much of yourself, and didn't believe that other people did, either; and you didn't care. Yon didn't quite make up your mind to commit suicide, but sometimes wished some accident would happen to kuock either the malady or yourself out of existence. You imagined that even the dogs looked at you with a kind of self-complacency. You thought the sun had a kind of sickly shine about it.
About this time you came to the conclusion that you would not accept the whole Western country as a gift; and if you had the strength and means, you picked up Hannah and the baby, and your traps, and went back "yander " to "Old Virginny," the " Jar- seys," Maryland or " Pennsylvany."
" And to-day the swallows flitting Round my cabin see me sitting Moodily within the sunshine, Just inside my silent door, Waiting for the ' Ager,' seeming
Like a man forever dreaming;
And the sunlight on me streaming Throws no shadow on the floor ;
For I am too thin and sallow To make shadows on the floor- Nary shadow any more!"
The above is not a mere picture of the imagination. It is sim- ply recounting in quaint phrase what actually occurred in thousands of cases. Whole families would sometimes be sick at one time and not one member scarcely able to wait upon another. Labor or exercise always aggravated the malady, and it took General Lazi- ness a long time to thrash the enemy out. And those were the days for swallowing all sorts of roots and "yarbs," and whisky, etc., with some faint hope of relief. And finally, when the case wore out, the last remedy taken got the credit of the cure.
EDUCATION.
Thongh struggling through the pressure of poverty and priva- tion, the early settlers planted among them the school-house at the earliest practical period. So important an object as the education
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of their children they did not defer until they could build more comely and convenient houses. They were for a time content with such as corresponded with theirrude dwellings, but soon better build- ings and accommodations were provided. As may readily be sup- posed, the accommodations of the earliest schools were not good. Sometimes school was taught in a room of a large or a double log cabin, but oftener in a log honse built for the purpose. Stoves and such heating apparatus as are now in use were then unknown. A inud-and-stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen hearth and a fire-place wide and decp enough to receive a four to six-foot back-log, and smaller wood to match, served for warming purposes in winter and a kind of conservatory in summer. For windows, part of a log was cut out in two sides of the building, and may be a few lights of eight by ten glass set in, or the aper- ture might be covered over with greased paper. Writing desks consisted of heavy oak plank or a hewed slab laid upon wooden pins driven into the wall. The four-legged slab benches were in front of these, and the pupils when not writing would sit with their backs against the front, sharp edge of the writing-desks. The floor was also made out of these slabs, or "puncheons," laid upon log sleepers. Everything was rude and plain; but many of America's greatest men have gone ont from just such school-houses to grapple with the world and make names for themselves and re- flect honor upon their country. Among these we can name Abra- ham Lincoln, our martyred president, one of the noblest men known to the world's history. Stephen A. Donglas, one of the greatest statesmen of the age, began his career in Illinois teaching in one of these primitive school-houses. Joseph A. Wright, and several other statesmen of the Northwest have also gradnated from the log school-house into political eminence. So with many of her most eloquent and efficient preachers.
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SPELLING-SCHOOLS.
The chief publie evening entertainment for the first 30 or 40 years of Western pioneering was the celebrated "spelling-school." Both young people and old looked forward to the next spelling- school with as mneh anticipation and anxiety as we nowadays look forward to a general Fourth-of-July celebration; and when the time arrived the whole neighborhood, yea, and sometimes several neigh- borhoods, would floek together to the scene of academical combat, where the excitement was often more intense than had been expect- ed. It was far better, of course, when there was good sleighing; then the young folks would turn out in high glee and be fairly beside themselves. The jollity is scarcely equaled at the present day by anything in vogue.
When the appointed hour arrived, the usual plan of commeneing battle was for two of the young people who might agree to play against each other, or who might be selected to do so by the school- teacher of the neighborhood, to " choose sides," that is, each con- testant, or "captain," as he was generally called, would choose the best speller from the assembled crowd. Each one choosing alter- nately, the ultimate strength of the respective parties would be about equal. When all were chosen who could be made to serve, each side would "number," so as to ascertain whether amid the confusion one captain had more spellers than the other. In case he had, some compromise would be made by the aid of the teacher, the master of ceremonies, and then the plan of condueting the campaign, or counting the misspelled words, would be canvassed for a moment by the captains, sometimes by the aid of the teacher and others. . There were many ways of conducting the contest and keeping tally. Every seetion of the country had several favorite methods, and all or most of these were different from what other communities had. At one time they would commence spelling at the head, at another time at the foot; at one time they would " spell across," that is, the first on one side would spell the first word, then the first on the other side; next the second in the line on each side, alternately, down to the other end of each line. The question who should spell the first word was determined by the captains guessing what page the teacher would have before him in a partially opened book at a distance; the captain guessing the nearest would spell the first word pronounced. When a word was missed, it would be re-pronounced, or passed along without re-pronouncing (as some teachers strictly
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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 cateh him up with a peculiar zest, and then there was fun.
Still another very interesting, though somewhat disorderly, method, was this: Each word-eateher would go to the foot of the adversary's linc, and every time he "catehed " a word he would go up one, thus "turning them down " in regular spelling-elass style. When one catcher in this way turned all down on the opposing side, his own party was victorions by as many as the opposing eatcher was behind. This method required no slate or blackboard tally to be kept.
One turn, by either of the foregoing or other methods, would oceupy 40 minutes to an hour, and by this time an intermission or recess was had, when the buzzing, eackling and hurrahing that en- sned for 10 or 15 minutes were beyond deseription.
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 wonid become monotonous, when a few outlandish words like " chevaux de-frise," "Ompompanoosuc " or "Baugh-
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naugh-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 teaelier 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 effeet 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 condueting 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 "buekwheat " 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; nouneed 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 oetave 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, fu, 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 Missonri 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 qnote 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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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
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 thiem 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 matchı.
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