USA > Indiana > Madison County > History of Madison County, Indiana, from 1820 to 1874 : giving a general review of principal events, statistical and historical items, derived from official sources > Part 8
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The most rational and natural divisions of the existence of the earth are, first, when it was purely mineral, in its second stage it was mineral and vegetable, the third, min- eral, vegetable and animal, the fourth, mineral, vegetable, animal and man. There is no discrepancy of opinion as to the advent of man, being the last introduced upon this planet. But the time of his introduction has puzzled arch- æologists, both saered and profane, in all ages of the world. The Mosaic chronology has been tortured by skepticism and the rationalists for the last two hundred years. Every advantage of its weak points has been taken by its enemies, by giving a literal interpretation to the six days of erea- tion. Enough to say, the literal six thousand years, since all things were chaos, and disembodied nonenity is no longer considered tenable by educated men anywhere. It, perhaps, marked a very important revival in the history of man, in which he began to record the traditions of his ancestors.
But to say that man has had an existence on earth coex- istent with its first ineeption and development, and that the planet was habitable in a short week, and that this infant child
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and his mate were fitted for the duties of their station, and that all created things were of the same age, belonged to the same epoch, and started together in this early morning of time, taxes our credulity beyond endurance. It suits our purpose to accept the Mosaic chronology as an elucida- tion in part of the historic age. Geology has a record in the rocks, in the drift, in the change of season, as indicated in tropical flora preserved in immense beds of carbon, all over the country. Palaeontology, or the science of fossils, shows a succession of living existents in each physical change or revolution, that the material substance of the earth past through, from the Paleozoic period to the present time. Animal forms, belonging to certain stratum of the earth, and not being found in older deposits, and their continued existence arrested in newer formations, we are led to sup- pose that the conditions upon which life depended, no long- er existed, and death was the result.
Such is the trlobite found at the falls of Fall creek, imbedded in the solid rock. This little three lobed animal properly belongs to the upper and lower Silurian. None are known to exist at the present, and the rocks are the sole record of their being. The stratum is thus named from its eropping out in Wales, the ancient seat of the Silures, who gave the Romans, under Julius Cesar, so much trouble to conquer. Their name, almost forgotten, comes up in geo- logy, and by it, is immortalized.
This little creature is much sought after by students at school, as a representative of the long distant past. Untold ages have roled away since a tropical sun warmed the lagoons in which they dwelled. We introduce them here as they onee had a home in Madison county, with hundreds, perhaps thousands of other fossils, the names of which are known only to those who make their remains a study. The trilabite dwindles into insignificance when compared with another fossil of our county, found in the limestone depos- its, plentifully distributed in the vicinity of Anderson.
Orthoceratite, thus named from two Greek words, signi- fying a straight horn, is found in fragments as they are gen-
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erally broken in disengaging them from their firm stony case. It is remarked by M. Figuier, that they were the tyrants of the ancient seas. Their epoch is more recent than the trilabite. Their burial place is principally in limestone rock, secure from everything save the rude violence of man. It has never been our fortune to come across a complete fos- sil of this fillibuster among reptiles. The head and poste- rior extremity is generally wanting. What were its habits, its food and its social relation with the monsters of its day, are questions that will remain unanswered. It suited the divine economy of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, to bring into life the lowest order of animated nature, first, and from this, build the pyramid of creation, placing man at the top, as the completing capstone and perfection of his work. Did man and the higher order of animals make their appearance on earth as soon as vegetable existence? We think not for many plausible seasons. The igneous period of earth's history had disengaged so many noxious gasses that it would have been impossible for an air-breather to perpetuate an existence in such a medium. It is an
axiom in philosophy, that matter is inannihilable ; what has become of those noxious gasses? They have been crys- talized in the imm nse vegetation, that in aftertime consti- tuted the coal beds that underlie so much of the surface of Indiana, and formed carbonates and carburets with other simples, until the gasseous fluid surrounding the earth was so far freed from carbon, that the lowest order of air- breathers could begin to exist. Nature makes no mistakes ; life was introduced as soon as the physical conditions of the universe would admit of it. Well may we suppose, and prove by parity of reasoning, that a low order of physio- logical conditions proved an unperfected state of physical conditions; that progression and gradation in one, prove the same in the other. But to take Mr. Weeks' experiment of developing animalcula from vegetable albumen, that they, in turn will overleap the type of their organization, and in time become a fish ; that the fish will become an air-breath- ing reptile; that the reptile in process of time, develops wings
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and feathers, and assumes all the characteristics of a bird; that the feathers of the bird is changed into hair and the wings into feet, and this aeriform animal drops to earth as a quadruped ; that this quadruped learns the habit of walk- ing on its posterior extremities erect, and that the front feet are developed into hands, and assumes the station of man. We are prepared for many wonders in nature, but do not urge those extreme opinions of the law of development, or else, our credulity, being overtaxed, might revolt. Palæon- tology fails to furnish those links by which all created living things are thus rendered homogeneons ; one and the same ; but, ouly, in different stages of development. Type of being has its law, and, in the present state of our knowl- edge, the bonds have not been broken and the line of demarkeation swept away. The hog has never become an elephant, neither has the lion ate grass as the ox. Yet this does not argue that man is a mechanical machine ; that he is the same, mentally, that he was during the Lacustrin settlements in Switzerland, the formation of the Kitchen- middens of Denmark, or during the period of Mound-building in America. He was unpolished, ignorant and unrefined then, but, nevertheless, he was man. He is a " little lower than the Angel," still. His improvement is mainly due to the civilizing influences of society, the habitual exercise of mental pursuits, and the accumulated experience of untold ages. It is as improbable, for one type of existence to invade another by assumption of form and character, as it would be for man to become a God. The idea may be illus- trated by a diagram. Each type of animated existence is a point within a circle. It has a play from center to circum- ference, but never passes the bounds of the circle, neither does one circle encroach upon another.
With regard to man three opinions are prevalent in the world. The first is that he was created an angel and fell to be a devil. The second that he was originally a devil and that he has been growing better ever since. The third is that he is now, what he always has been, with the modify-
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ing influences of his surroundings, about midway between angel and devil.
It is the opinion of the most eminent archiaeologists that man antedates the Glacial epoch, that he was cotemporary with the cave bear, the mammoth, the mastadon and many other extinct species of animals that ceased to exist during this transition state. Speculation is not historical fact and much of the investigation on this subject has failed to con- vince either for or against the extreme antiquity of man. The era of man's existence on earth is divided into three ages. That of iron, covering a period of four thousand years; bronze, that of two thousand years, and the stone age seven thousand, in all thirteen thousand years. What length of time man wandered in the infancy of his exist- ence before he became a worker in stone implements none have ventured to guess. Sir Charles Lyell, when he visited the United States in 1846, gave the subject of the co-existence of man and the mastadon on this continent a careful investigation. He expresses himself guardedly by saying that in "other parts of America, which I myself have not visited, I have not as yet been able to obtain authentic proofs of the co-existence of man with the masta- don, though it is highly probable that such proofs will even- tually be brought to light. Professor Whitney, indeed, points out that, 'amid the foot hills of the Sierra works of man have been frequently found among the recent deposits of auriferous gravel, in close connection with the bones of the mastodon and elephant,' but I have not yet had an opportunity of examining fully into the evidence."
Dr. B. Dowler described a human skeleton exhumed in the delta of the Mississippi, to which he ascribed an antiquity of fifty thousand years. Figures are easily made, but it is another thing to estimate their numerical value. He failed to give enough of the thread of his reasoning to enable us to judge of its accuracy. Four superimposed for- ests were interlocked above the remains, which had a depth of sixteen feet beneath the surface.
We have somewhat wandered from the purposes of this
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article, but to preserve a logical connection, it may be remarked that the co-existence of man with the mastadon is relative to the subject as the bones of the latter have been found in Madison county in two or more places. Human remains have never, in this locality, claimed any great antiquity. Two thousand years ago the bones of this fossil elephant was as much of an enigma as they were to the workmen who brought them to light on the farm of Mr. John Harmason in the year 1871. While constructing a ditch to drain a marsh of several miles in length, the workmen came upon the huge bones of an extinct species of animals belonging to the class called puchidenus, or thick skinned animals. The word mastadon is a compound of two Greek words signifying nipple-tooth. When did these huge monsters rove in herds in Madison county, shaking the solid foundations of the earth with their tread? Ask the everlasting hills and they are silent ; inquire of the for- ests, and the answer will be that a hundred generations have passed away since one of these browsed upon its branches ; interrogorate the marshes in which they are found, and the silence of death that reigns there gives no information of the rolling years and cycles of time that bars us from the date of their existence. The winds have no pen to record, or tongue to tell of the thousand ages that have passed in the dim twilight of the early morn of time, when the mas- tadon, monarch of the land, shook his hoary mane in the wintry wind. Fossil remains of several species of this huge beast have been exhumed in all countries of the known world except in southern India and Africa, the home of the living elephant. There may be a relative proportion existing between the size of the teeth of an animal and the animal itself. If this rule is even proximative, and in the vicinity of truth we attain all that is expected by the com- parison. We have in our possession a tooth of an ox that had a living weight of eighteen hundred pounds. As the ox's tooth is to its living weight so is the mastadon's to its live weight. The rule, if correct, makes the weight of the living mastadon, whose bones were found as aforcsaid in
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the vicinity of Anderson, forty thousand one hundred and twelve pounds. It is not claimed that there is any great degree of accuracy in the calculation, but as good as any from the kind of material we have to reason from. The workmen that found the bones in question informed us that there was also a reddish brown hair mixed with the muck, but it was carelessly thrown aside and we failed to find any of the clothing of the beast on the day following the dis- covery. If man, on this continent, ever beheld a living mastadon, it is so far in the distant past that the physical records of time have grown illegible. The Indians have a tradition that goes back to the epoch of the mastadon, but it is not trustworthy. It is too silly to recapitulate, but nevertheless it might amuse. It is related that once upon a time the Great Spirit felt himself much aggrieved by the sad havoc committed by the mastadon on the deer, elk and buf- falo that were created for the Indian ; that he resolved to destroy them, and for that purpose seated himself upon a high hill and hurled thunderbolts at them until they were all destroyed save one old bull, who, facing the divine wrath, shook off the electric fluid as it fell on his forehead, until failing to catch and turn it aside, he was wounded in the side, when, with a mighty roar, he bounded across the Ohio and the great lakes in the north, and at last took up his abode in a far distant country, where he is living to this day.
Their bones are much larger than those of the elephant, the hight of some skeletons, about thirteen feet, with body much longer in proportion to hight. They seldom have more than eight teeth in use at one time, thus, 3 3 . The front grinder is about two-fifths smaller than the one back of it. Its food was plainly vegetable, as proved by the remains of twigs, leaves and other vegetable matter found between its ribs. It was probably like other pachydenns, fond of vis- iting marshy places, in search of more abundant food, where it became mired in the place where its bones are so frequently found. About thirty species of mastadon have been described by palæontologists. Those wishing further
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information on this subject are referred to the works of Dr. Warren.
Madison county, like every other point in the State, presents its relies of a by-gone age. Flint arrowheads, spearheads, scrapers, mullers, rollers, and many other stone implements are found, the uses of which, we at this distant time, can scarcely guess at. It is thought that no metalic substance of high antiquity has been found. These things have the impress of a European origin, and in no wise attributable to the ancient inhabitants of the country. In Mexico and Peru the civilization at the time of the con- quest, had advanced to the bronze epoch, while in Europe that point had been passed four thousand years before. In the northern part of North America, there is no satisfactory evidence that bronze implements had ever come into gen- eral use; that they were at least six thousand years behind their European neighbors, allowing four thousand years for the age of iron, and two thusand for that of bronze. Stone implements found here belong to the two ages of stone-the rough, and the polished. There is not a vestige of evidence that would prove the existence of man in the central parts of Indiana over two thousand years ago.
He may have been here ten thousand, but the evidence of this high antiquity is not present. Flint implements have no date, they leave no record; the time of their use is shut out by the dead ages of the past, without leaving their marks on the wings of time. The mounds near Chester- field, the work of the ancient inhabitants, present many features that are interesting as food for reflection. Their regularity suggests the idea of mathematical accuracy. The circuit of the larger is about three hundred paces. The length of one step is a unit of measure, with all rude or uncivilized people. Why three hundred; did they have the use of the Arabic numerals ? Perhaps not, but they had the same suggestive idea of the Semitic races, in count- ing by tens, on the digital extremities of the hands. The pace made a unit of measure, and the fingers suggested its multiplication by tens.
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Those who have given the mounds the greatest attention in trying to decipher their object and uses, have divided them into three classes : First, military or defensive ; second, that for the interment of the dead ; and third, that for adora- tion or worship. Our principal mound at Chesterfield comes underthe denomination of the latter. The ditch is on the inner side ; the elevation of carth in the center is what is usually denominated the sacrificial altar ; the opening in the embank- ment, frontng the south, may have reference to the sun at meri- dian hight, and an object of worship by almost all nations in a certain stage in their civilization. The ancient Egyptians were worshippers of the sun, and the Incas of Pern called themselves the children of the sun and the Aztecs of Annihuac adored that linninary and poured ont libations of praise to the other hosts of heaven. There is too much sper- ulation in the whole subject to say positively what the com- plete object was in the minds of the architects. The work, as well as the people that did it, is a mystery that time will never unfold. Whence came they, whither have they gone, how long did they remain, and what were the causes of their taking off? This ancient people, the Mound Builders, might have been destroyed by war and conquest; famine is more terrible to a half civilized people than it is to an enlight- ened nation ; pestilence folows in the train of other disasters. War, famine and pestilence are the three principal causes of the destruction of all the ancient States. When they had filled the measure of their existence, and their purposes and objects were complete, it would not bother the mind of the INFINITE to get rid of them. When knowledge and virtue walk hand in hand, the prosperity of the people is seeure ; when these become stationary, prosperity is on the retrograde ; when knowledge and virtue decline, the spectacle becomes contemptible, and the blot is generally wiped out with the the existence of nationality. If the Mound Builders once had an existence in Madison county, there was a purpose in it. If they had fulfilled the objects of existence, they would, no doubt, be here to-day; but wherein their
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shortcomings consisted is a mystery locked in the prison- house of the past.
If some of the pioneer views of the antiquity of man are objectionable, I ean apologise better by making a quotation, a saying of Prof. Agassiz, " that whenever a new and startling fact is brought to light in science, people first say, 'it is not true,' then that ' it is contrary to religion,' and lastly, 'that every body knew it before.'"
If the foregoing article suits the character of your book, it is respectfully submitted, asking the patient indulgence of the publie.
Respectfully yours, W. A. HUNT.
Anderson, Oct. 26, 1874.
THE BIG LICK.
THE author is indebted to Mr. John Boram for the fol- lowing account :
The source of Lick Creek, proper, is what is generally called the Big Lick. Many an incident occurred here which gave much merriment and laughter among the old settlers, then living in this part of the county. It was a great place of resort for the wild game of the woods at that time, especially deer. (My informant states he saw seven one morning before breakfast, a pretty fair sight on an empty stomach indeed,) which would come and sup of the water that oozed from the sides of the low banks, water which seemed everlasting, and many an one was shot down by sporting men who then lived in this vicinity. Scaffolds were built in the branches and forks of the trees which sur- rounded the basin or pool. Then at night or at early dusk ascend the tree, conceal themselves, having a little fire on some boards covered with dirt. Here would each one sit on his own tree, with his old flint lock in hand awaiting the
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arrival of the deer, which would generally soon make their appearance, not suspecting their enemies who were perched above them. When the man nearest the deer, would brighten up his light with some dry kindling, which was always prepared for that purpose, the light would blind the deer, then a charge was let loose from the old trusty gun , then a general charge was made by the entire party often killing several. Crippling on such occassions was not con- sidered a good shot.
This place is somewhat noted in other respects. It was here that Bacy's trace crossed; the first emigrant train that passed through this part of this country, traveling west. In fact this route was taken by the traveling public for some time, emigrating West. Also much had been said in refer- ence to mineral deposits here.
Iron ore exists in small quanties. It was thought by some that the Indians made salt here at one time. It is said that a man by the name of Tigaret in the year 1850, made some experiments in reference to the discovery of salt. But it was a grand failure. My informant states that he came with mattock, spade, pumps, etc., and to work he went, where tradition had pointed out, as he said, the exact spot for operations. His first part of the work was to sink a shaft if possible to the briny liquid. It was soon found impossible to continue this part of the work successfully, unless a curbing of some kind to keep out the falling mud could be procured. Consequently a large sycamore gum was obtained, about ten feet long and four feet in diameter. At last the gum was placed in position, the salt man did the work of excavation and again commenced in earnest. By this time the gum is lowered, only leaving about one foot above the ground. In a short time the men above became some- what discouraged, but a few words of encouragement from the man below set them to work with renewed energy ; for they had now reached a place where the precious liquid lay awaiting the removal of the alluvial deposits, which was now almost done. Great anxiety was now manifested by the intent party, and others of the neighborhood who had 8
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assembled to witness that which was to give untold wealth to these men, and a new impetus to business in this part of the country.
As the anticipated depth was about reached, where treas- ure would be revealed, all eyes were strained to their utmost to eatch the first view of what would perhaps make this day memorable for generations to come; and to give advan- tages here of which few places could boast. Sure enough just at this moment the vein is tapped ; all is excitement above and below ; it is rising rapidly up the legs of the man below. He is in danger of being submerged before relief can be afforded him. But our faithful friend above was equal to the task. All was now safe and each ready to test, by tasting the relative qualities of the new discovery, which was by this time flowing over the top of the gum in great sluees. " Sulphur," says one, " coperas" says another," iron " says a third. Now we can not imagine the surprise and disappointment of these men when they found this fluid to be merely good drinking water, perhaps only slightly impregnated with iron. The water has been flowing over the top until recently. The flowing over of the gum caused the filling up with sediment.
This place is one and one-half miles north of the line between Madison and Hancock counties, and two and one- half miles west of the Henry county line. A great change is observed in the vicinity of the spring compared with its appearance forty years ago. It has lost much of its wild and romantic scenery.
It was near this place where Mary Ann Atford was killed by lightning in the year 1855. And on his farm, lying a short distance west of the spring, is where John Slaughter becoming weary of life took the fatal dose of mor- phine, which terminated his existence in about forty-eight hours. He was a German by birth, had moved from Penn- sylvania in the year 1834, where he settled in the woods and cleared up a large farm and accumulated a great deal of wealth; the management or control of which seemed to give him much trouble, hence he sought relief by his own
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efforts to free himself of the turmoils of life. In the year 1833 or 4, Mrs. Surber, wife of James Surber, hung herself in her own house, cause unknown. This house stood but a short distance west of the Big Lick. In the same neigh- borhood, still a little farther west, Josephus Poindexter committed suicide by cutting the jugular veins of his neck with a razor, causing almost instant death. This occurred in 1858. He was much respected by all who knew him. He had been Justice of the Peace for several years; was fifty years of age. He had raised a large family of children which had grown up to respectability. In 1858, Thomas Shelton an old citizen of this neighborhood was found dead on his own premises. The decision of the Jury was that he died of apoplexy.
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