USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana > Part 39
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" When the leaves on the trees are as large as squirrels' ears, the Sacs intend to invade the settlements, and kill the white settlers." Accordingly, when the Indian Agent at Chicago, Mr. Owen, in May of 1832, sent word to Arba Heald, and he had noised the rumor around that hostilities had commenced at Hickory creek, a short distance from Chicago, there was a rush for Door Village; and, when the meeting was called to order to consult as to the general safety and what was best to do to promote mutual defense, from some cause a stampede took place and about half of them started for tall timber, " tall timber in the east," and some of them did not stop until they could bathe their feet in the waters of the Ohio. (At this distance of time, this stampede seems real funny.) How- ever, 42 men remained; and these, under the direction of Peter White, a man who had some proficiency in building such works, built works for defense. These consisted of palisades, a ditch, and earth-works, 125 feet square. At two of the angles block-houses were built, which commanded the sides. These works were com- pleted in three days from the time of commencement, and then they felt secure. The ruins of this fort, as it was called, are yet plainly to be seen. They are situated about a half-mile east of Door Village, near the road.
Shortly after the completion of this fort a block-house was built about three miles to the east, on section 13. Judge Lemon super. vised the erection of this defense.
General Joseph Orr was present at the building of the fort, and reported it to the Governor of the State. He was ordered by the Governor to raise a company of Mounted Rangers, which should be ready for service should the United States officer in the North- west make a call for the militia of the State. This company he raised; and reported first to the commandant at Fort Dearborn, at Chicago, and afterward to General Winfield Scott. It was used as a kind of corps of observation, keeping up a communication between the settlements on the Wabash and Chicago. Of course they had no opportunity to display their bravery, or to reap glory in the battle-struggle, for General Atkinson, driving Black Hawk into Wisconsin, finally succeeded in capturing him, and thus ended the war.
The courage of Mrs. Arba Heald at this time deserves more than a passing notice. She seems to have been one of the very few who preserved their courage and was undismayed by the news from the seat of war, or the wild rumors of Indian depredations. With a bold defiance, when everybody else was fleeing to the fort for safety, arming herself with two rifles, two axes, and two pitchforks, she barricaded the door of her cabin-home, and declared that she would kill six Indians before they took possession, either of her or her home; and she doubtless would have given them a warm recep- tion had she been disturbed, Arouse the feline in a woman, and she is a tiger. Neither threats nor persuasions of any kind availed to induce her to go into the fort.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
When the danger was passed, the people left the fort and returned to their homes, except the stampeders; and they did not get back, . many of them, for a year.
JOIIN BEATTY AND THE INDIAN.
To illustrate how the peace and safety of a community may sometimes hang upon a trifle, the following incident is given. One day as Mr. John Beatty was out hunting in the woods of Cool Spring township, he saw what he took for a deer. Eager to secure it, he made haste to shoot it. Just in time, an Indian rose up and showed himself unmistakably; the shot was reserved. The free- dom of the intercourse that took place between the Indians and their white neighbors, for they visited freely the cabins of the set- tlers, no doubt gave this Indian confidence that if he showed him- self plainly he would be safe; so he stood up boldly in front of the hunter, and was saved. If this accident had been consummated, it is hard to tell what would have been the consequences. There can be no doubt but that the indignation of the Indians would have been aroused, and the friendly relations which subsisted between them and the settlers would have been broken off; and, if so, that many an innocent white man and family would have paid the penalty of an aroused Indian indignation,-an indignation set aflame by an accident. How subtle is the thread that suspends a human life, be he red or white.
MISS CARTER'S SCHOOL.
In a double log cabin, built on the farm of William Eahart, Miss Rachel B. Carter taught the first school kept in New Durham township. While this school was in progress, the Indians, old and young, would frequently visit it. During the hours of its work they would come noiselessly into the room, take a stand at one side and remain for hours gazing curiously at the proceedings, and never stir a limb or utter a sound. In the midst of her duties in teaching the little urchins, Miss Carter would become absorbed in her work and forget her visitors. On calling them to mind again, she would be no little surprised to find that they had stolen out and glided away as silently as they had come.
The following incident will illustrate the readiness which Miss Carter possessed in making the right response at the right time. On one occasion, "Twin Squaw," an Indian woman, told Miss Car- ter that when the corn was knee high the Indians intended to kill all the whites everywhere. Without betraying any of that tradi- tional nervousness supposed to be inherent in a woman, she instantly, without any degree of hesitation, replied; "The white people are already well aware of the intentions of the Indians," and taking up a handful of sand continned to say, "Soldiers are coming from the East as numerous as the sands in my hand to
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IIISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
destroy the Indians before the corn is ankle high." The result of this speech was, the next morning there was not a trace of an Indian about anywhere; and for several months they made no return.
A CASE OF INDIAN JUSTICE.
Government among the Indians, as all know, is tribal and paternal. Their ideas of justice are sometimes unique; and some- times it would be well that their ideas of justice were carried out among those who claim a higher civilization, at least so far as the forms of, and the means of obtaining, justice are concerned. The following incident shows to what extent their ideas of justice, as pertaining to exemplary punishment in order to secure justice, went.
During pigeon time, an Indian had cut down a tree in a pigeon roost in order to obtain the young pigeons, which were just then in their "squabby" condition; and, when it fell, it killed a pony belonging to another one of the tribe. The matter was brought before the council, the highest court known in the Indian judiciary, and it sat with a great deal of wisdom on the case. After that due deliberation and consultation which mark all Indian transactions of importance, the following decision and verdict was reached: "On account of the carelessness of the offender, the aggrieved party is entitled to receive two ponies in the place of the one killed." This judgment was respected, and its terms complied with. This offender was made to pay 100 per cent. as "exemplary damages" for his carelessness; and, as the State needed no great sum to bear its expenses, these " damages" were awarded to the original sufferer from the accident. If such a code prevailed among their white brethren, many of them would seek for such accidents that they might double their possessions.
THE LAST OF THE RED MAN.
The flood of that on-swelling tide that was sweeping with a resistless flow to the West, was fast covering up the remnants of that people which it found in possession when it banked itself up along the shores of the Atlantic. This people was being swept on before it farther and farther to the West, only now and then a remnant being left.
During the year 1835 a large body of Indians, probably 500 or more, encamped on the Kankakee marsh; but they did not remain very long, passing on to the West; and in the following year, a similar body of perhaps 600 encamped in the neighborhood of Westville. They too remained but a short time, and passed along. From this time on nothing but scattering parties were seen in the county until their final moving to their lands west of the Missis- sippi river.
This was finally accomplished in the year 1838. It was in this year that the St. Joseph's band was carried off by troops to a large
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
tract of land which had been assigned them on the Missouri. On this trip there was a loss of 150 by death and desertion out of 800. This tells with what aversion they left their former homes. See also page 131.
With this removal the Indians relinquished to the whites the possession of all this country, and the process of supplantation was complete.
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CHAPTER VIII.
CIVIL ORGANIC HISTORY.
ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE ESTABLISHING TIIE COUNTY.
The first settlements, as formerly stated, were made in the years 1829, 1830 and 1831. At the expiration of that time there were more than 100 families in the territory; but it was without organ- ization, and the public business was done only in a general way. On the 1st day of April, 1832, it took its place among the counties of the State under the following fact of incorporation, passed by the State Legislature and approved by the Governor, January 9, 1832:
" AN ACT TO INCORPORATE LA PORTE COUNTY."
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That from and after the first day of April next, all that tract of country included in the following boundaries shall form and constitute a new county, to be known and designated by the name and style of La Porte county, to-wit: Beginning at the State line which divides the State of Indiana and Michigan Terri- tory, and at the northwest corner of township number thirty-eight north, range number four west of the principal meridian; thence running east with said State line to the center of range number one west of said meridan; thence south twenty-two miles; thence west, parallel with said State line, twenty-one miles; thence north to the place of beginning.
SEC. 2. That the new county of La Porte shall, from and after the said first day of April next, enjoy all the rights and privileges, benefits and jurisdictions which to separate and independent coun- ties do or may belong or appertain.
SEC. 3. That Samuel Lewis of the county of Allen, Isaac Col- man of the county of Fountain, Andrew Ingraham of the county of Clinton, Levi Thornton of the county of Tippecanoe, and Merritt S. Craig of the county of Ripley, be, and they are hereby appointed, Commissioners agreeably to the act entitled "An act fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid off." The Commissioners aforesaid shall meet on the second Monday in May next, at the house of David Pagin, in said county of La Porte, and shall immediately proceed to the discharge of the duties assigned them by law. And it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of Carroll county to notify said Commissioners, either in person or by writ- ing, of their appointment, on or before the first day of April next.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
And for such services he shall receive such compensation as the Board doing county business in said county of La Porte may, when organized, deem just and reasonable, to be allowed and paid as other county claims.
SEC. 4. The Circuit Court and the Board doing county business, when elected under the writ of election from the Executive Depart- ment, shall hold their sessions as near the center of the county as a convenient place can be had until the public buildings shall have been erected.
SEC. 5. The agent who shall be appointed to superintend the sale of lots at the county seat of the county of La Porte, shall re- ceive ten per centum out of the proceeds thereof, and pay the same to such person or persons as may be appointed by law to receive the same, for the use of a county library.
SEC. 6. The county of La Porte shall be attached to the county of St. Joseph for representative purposes.
SEC. 7. The Board doing county business may, as soon as elected and qualified, hold special sessions, not exceeding three, during the first year after the organization of said county, and shall appoint a Lister, make all necessary appointments, and do and perform all other business which might have been necessary to be performed at any other regular session, and take all necessary steps to collect the State and county revenues, any law or usage to the contrary not- withstanding.
Under the authority of this act, the Executive Department of the State issued a writ of election; and Chapel W. Brown, Jesse Morgan, and Elijah H. Brown were elected Commissioners of the county, George Thomas, Clerk, and Benjamin McCarty, Sheriff at said election.
On May 28, 1832, the Commissioners met and organized by elect- ing Chapel W. Brown as President of the Board, and George Thomas, Clerk. After thus organizing for business, they appointed William Clark, Surveyor; Aaron Stanton, Treasurer, and Jesse Morgan, Lister of taxable property.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY INTO TOWNSHIPS,-1832.
At the first session of the Board of Commissioners, the county was divided into three townships. All of that part of the county which lies east of the line dividing ranges two and three was desig- nated as a township, and named Kankakee. All of range three in the county was designated as another township, and named Scipio. All of range four in the county was designated as another town- ship, and named, in accordance with the wishes of Mrs. Miriam Benediet, New Durham, this being the name of the place in New York from which the family had emigrated. Each of these town- ships, in the order named, was also designated as a Commissioner's District. Thus, at the session of the Commissioners' Court in May, 1832, the county was put on its feet so far as organization
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IIISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
was concerned. We are now to trace those various changes which have taken place until we find the county in its present form and organization.
MICHIGAN TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1833.
On September 4, 1833, at their regular term, the Board of Com- missioners made the following order:
" Ordered that New Durham . township be divided by the line dividing townships 36 and 37, and that all of that traet of country lying in townships 37 and 38 constitute a new township, to be called Michigan township."
CENTRE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1833.
Again, at their regular term, November 5, 1833, the Board of Commissioners made an order in the following words:
" Ordered that the township at present known by the name of Seipio be divided by the line dividing townships 36 and 37, and that all north of said township line compose a new township, to be called Centre township."
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1834.
On March 3, 1834, the Board of Commissioners passed the fol- lowing order:
"On motion of William Holmes, Kankakee township is divided by the line dividing townships 36 and 37, all that part south of said line to constitute and form a new township of the name of Pleasant."
WILLS TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1834.
At the same time with the organization of Pleasant township, the Board of Commissioners made also the following order:
"On motion of Henry F. Janes for a division of Kankakee township and to form the township of Wills in the northeast corner of said county, bounded as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of seetion 33, township 37 north, range 1 west; thence north with the county line to the northeast corner of La Porte county; thence west with the county line to the section line one mile west of the range line dividing 1 and 2 west; thence south with said seetion line to the south side of township 37; thence east to the place of beginning."
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1835.
On June 6, 1835, Springfield township was organized by the Board of Commissioners making the following order:
"On petition of Judah Leaming, et al., it is ordered by the Board that all the territory in range 3 west, in the county of
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
La Porte, and north of sections number 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, in township 37 north, in said range, shall compose a new township to be called and known by the name of Springfield township."
GALENA TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1S36.
On March 9, 1836, at its regular March term, the Board of Com- missioners set apart the territory of Galena township in the following order:
" Ordered that Kankakee township be divided, and that part of said township lying in township 38 north, in range 2 west, form a judicial township to be known by the name of Galena."
CLINTON TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1836.
On the same day with the organization of the Galena township, March 9, 1836, the Board of Commissioners made the following order organizing the township of Clinton:
"Ordered that New Durham township be divided by the line dividing Congressional townships 35 and 36 north, range 4 west, and that all that part of said township formerly comprising Congressional township 35 north, range + west, form a new township for judicial purposes, to be known by the name of Clinton township.
NOBLE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1836.
And at the same time at which the two preceding townships were organized, March 9, 1836, the Board of Commissioners made the following additional order, organizing Noble township:
" Ordered that Scipio township be divided by the line dividing townships 35 and 36 north, range 3 west, and that all that part of said township formerly comprising Congressional township number 35 north, form a new judicial township, to be known by the name of Noble township."
COOL SPRING TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1836.
March 9, 1836, seems to have been township day; for on that day the Board of Commissioners made the additional order, organ- izing Cool Spring township, and the fourth on that day, as follows: " Ordered that Michigan township be divided by the line dividing townships 37 and 38 north, range + west, and that part of Michigan township comprising township 37 north, range 4 west, form a judi- cial township, to be known by the name of Cool Spring township."
HUDSON TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1836.
On May 11, 1836, the Board of Commissioners being in session, the following order was made, organizing and naming the territory
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
of Hudson township, cut off from Wills township, and now the northeast township of the county:
" Ordered by the Board that all that tract of country formerly belonging to Wills township that lies in township 38 north, range 1 west, in La Porte county, constitute a township for judicial pur- poses, to be known by the name of Hudson township."
UNION TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1840.
On March 4, 1840, the Board of Commissioners being in regular session, the following proceedings were had by which the township of Union was organized :
" On the petition of sundry citizens of the townships of Pleasant, Scipio, and Noble, for the formation of a new township, it is ordered by the Board that a new township be formed by taking off a part of the above named townships, to be known by the name of Union township, and to be bounded as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the center or half mile stake on the north side of section 26, in town- ship 36 north, range 3 west, on a road; thence sonth along said road on the open line of sections 26, 35, 2, 11, 14, 23, 26 and 35, to the south line of township 35; thence east along said township line to the sontheast corner of township 35 north, range 2 west; thence north on range line to the northeast corner of section 25, township 36 north, range 2 west; thence west on the section line to the place of beginning."
AN INCREASE OF TERRITORY,-VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP,-1842.
Up to the year 1842, the southern line of the county was the township line dividing the several townships 34 from the several townships 35 in the ranges in which the county was situated. The tract of country which was lying between this line and the Kankakee river belonged to Starke county. On account of the difficulty of getting to the county seat to do business, a petition was sent to the State Legislature to be attached to La Porte county. In accordance with this petition, the Legislature passed the following act, which was approved January 29, 1842, entitled
"AN ACT FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF A PART OF STARKE COUNTY TO THE COUNTY OF LA PORTE."
" SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that all that part of Starke county which lies north of the Kankakee river be, and the same is hereby, attached permanently to the county of La Porte.
" Sec. 2. This act to be in force from and after its passage."
By this act, this territory became a part of La Porte county; and as it had been known as Van Buren township while it was a part of Starke county, it still retained this name.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
ADDITIONS TO NOBLE TOWNSHIP,-1847.
In the matter of changing the boundaries between the townships of Union and Noble, on June 10, 1847, the Board of Commissioners made the following order:
" It is ordered by the Board that section 36, township 35 north, range 3 west, in Union township, be detached from said township and attached to Noble township, and that it hereafter constitute a part of Noble township."
CASS TOWNSHIP ORGANIZED,-1848.
On June 12, 1848, the Board of Commissioners provided for the organization of Cass township by making the following order:
"It is ordered by the Board upon the petition of sundry inhabit- ants of Van Buren township that said township be divided by running a line north and south upon the range line dividing the ranges 3 and 4 west, and that the part west of said line, and south of the line dividing townships 34 and 35 north, and in La Porte county, be called Cass township, and to be numbered 16 on the Tax Dupli- cate."
VAN BUREN TOWNSIIIP ATTACHED TO NOBLE TOWNSHIP,-1850.
On March 9, 1850, Van Buren township was merged into Noble township, and ceased to exist as a separate township, on account of the following order made by the Board of Commissioners on that date:
" Now come sundry citizens of Van Buren township and present their petition to be attached to Noble township. It is ordered by the Board, therefore, that the said Van Buren township be at- tached to the said Noble township, and that the boundaries of said Noble township shall be as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of section 6, township 35 north, range 3 west, and running sonth on the range line to the Kankakee river; thence up the said river to the township line between townships 34 and 35 north; thence west on said last mentioned township line to the southwest corner of section 35, township 35 north, range 3 west; thence north to the township line between townships 35 and 36 north; thence west on said township line to place of beginning."
FURTHER ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY,-1850.
By an act of the State Legislature, approved January 14, 1850, the country described as follows was attached to La Porte county: " Beginning at the northwest corner of section 22, township 37 north, range 1 west; thence east with the north line of said section and that of section 23 to the northeast corner of said section 23; thence sonth with the section line until it shall strike the Great Kankakee river; thence with said river to the present county line."
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IIISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
DISPOSITION OF THE ACQUIRED TERRITORY.
On July 10, 1850, in making disposition of the territory recently attached to the county by act of the Legislature, the Board of Commissioners made the following order:
" It is ordered by the Board that that part of said territory which lies north of the township line dividing townships 36 and 37 north, be attached to and form a part of Wills township; and that that part of said territory which lies south of said township line be, and the same hereby is, attached to and made a part of the township of Pleasant, upon the conditions specified in said act."
ADDITIONS TO PLEASANT TOWNSHIP,-1850.
On September 2, 1850, in the matter of change in the boundary line between Union township and Pleasant township, the Board of Commissioners made the following order:
" It is ordered by the Board that section 25, township 36 north, range 2 west, be taken from Union township and attached to Pleasant township; that said section 25 shall hereafter constitute a part of Pleasant township for all purposes."
ADDITIONS TO GALENA TOWNSHIP,-1856.
On March 7, 1856, in the matter of arrangement of territory between Hudson township and Galena township, the Board of Com- missioners made the following order:
" It is ordered by the Board that the fractional section 12, and sections 13, 24, 25, and 36, in township 38 north, range 2 west, be taken from Hudson township and be attached to Galena town- ship."
ADDITIONS TO SCIPIO TOWNSHIP,-1856.
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