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 9
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Just a little further southwest a youth by the name of John Padgett, was found dead in the woods, cause of death unknown. And down Lick creek a little way, Frederick Windell shot himself accidently. A full account of this matter will be found elsewhere in this work. He was highly respected by all who knew him. It seems that cas- ualities of this kind have been much greater in this neigh- borhood than in other localities in this county.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., August 19, 1874. (Midnight.)
S. HARDIN, EsQ.,
Markleville, Madison county, Ind. :
DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 14th instant is before me, and contents noted. By it I am informed that you are hunt- ing up materials for a history of Madison county. In it you solicit me to contribute something for your proposed work.
I can sincerely assure you it gives me very great pleasure to comply with your request, and should I, by my fceble pen, contribute any thing which may add any interest to your forthcoming book, I shall feel myself most happy thereby.
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HISTORY OF
I now proceed to give you a short biographical sketch of my versatile carcer :
First : I was born on Saturday morning, November 13th, 1813, in Knox county, then in the territory of Indiana (now Sullivan county, taken from Knox), in a very small log cabin in a little " picket fort " erceted to defend the whites against the hostile Indians.
I was born of poor but respectable parents. My fath- er's name was Friend Lemon, born in Virginia. My moth- er's maiden name was Mary Hansbrough, daughter of Peter Hansbrough, for whom I was named. My parents came to the then territory of Indiana, and settled near Vincennes, My father was by profession a miller and a farmer. His farm is located on Willard's prarie, Gill township, Sullivan county, four miles north and west from Carlisle. He was born March 10th, 1782, died August 17th, 1862, aged eighty years, tive months and seven days. My mother died when I was only some three or four weeks okl.
I was bred on the farm, and worked on the farm until I was seventeen years of age when, September, 1830, 1 went to learn the blacksmith trade in Carlisle, with Alonzo Coulton. The volcanic art proved too hard for my physical powers, so I abandoned it and turned my attention to books. The old log school house, common in this country in that early day, was the kind in which my first ideas were "taught to shoot." I mastered Webster's American Spelling Book, Pike's Arith- metic, the English Reader, and Introduction to the same by Lindley Murray, and with the old goose quill I had learned to write a tolerably fair hand. Thus far finished in my education, in the spring of 1832 I began the ocenpation of a pedagogue, taught a nine months' school near Bruce- ville, Knox county. In the spring of 1833 I went to Vin- cennes and went to school to the Rev. Henry Moore Shaw, an educated Episcopal clergyman. With him I learned the art and mystery of "speaking and writing the English lan- guage with propriety," according to Murray. In 1834 I taught a school in Palestine, Crawford county, linois, and commenced reading medicine with Dr. Norton, became
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MADISON COUNTY.
dyspeptic, and to enre the same farmed it in 1835. In 1836 went to Alabama and lived with an uncle, who was a law- yer. Studied law, was licensed April 10th, 1839, at Merom, Sullivan county, Indiana. July 4th, 1874, was the "orator of the day " at Merom. I forgot to mention that on the 26th of March, 1839, I was married, in New Lebanon, Sullivan county, Indiana, to Miss Sarah Ellis, danghter of Jesse Ellis, of Madison county. Left Merom March 8th, 1841, for Madison county, Indiana, moving in a two horse wagon. Arrived at Alexandria, Madison county, on March 17th, 1841. Delivered the Fourth of July ora- ation at Alexandria. Practiced law. Left Alexandria for Anderson May 5, 1845. In 1848 edited the True Dem- ocrat, published by the brothers, John Q. & Wm. Howell. In 1849, with Dr. Townsend Ryan, bought the printing press and started the Weekly Democrat. "Busted up."
Now as to my office holding: I was elected Justice of the Peace for Anderson township in September, 1847, for five years. Re-elected, in 1852, for four years (new Constition). In October 1855 was elected Clerk of the Madison Circuit Court. My opponent, was the late Judge James N. Starkey, at that time the deputy Clerk for JJames Hazlett, Esq., my predecessor. Judge Starkey was a Democrat, but ran inde- pendently. The Whigs ran no candidate for Clerk that year. I served my term out. Was not a candidate for re-election.
Removed from Anderson to Indianapolis October 24th, 1863, so that my life spent in Madison county was a little over twenty-two and a half years -- four at. Alexandria and eigh- teen and a half in Anderson.
It is a sad pleasure to me, as I to-night have hurriedly brought up to my recollection, the many trying scenes and the struggles with poverty and adversity, through which I passed in Madison county. But when memory reverts to those scenes, and to the dear old friends-many of whom have passed off the stage-with whom I so long mingled, and by whom I was honored, I feel pleasure commingled with sadness.
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HISTORY OF
I may again return to Madison county, and then, when my time comes, "draw the drapery of my couch around me, and lie down to pleasant dreams " by the side of my son and two daughters who now rest in the beautiful little cemetery near Anderson.
Yours very truly, PETER H. LEMON.
ADDENDA .- I omitted to mention that I became a mem- ber of Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 77, Free and Accepted Masonsat Anderson, in 1851, I believe. Served as Secretary, of said Lodge, some two or three years. I became a Royal Arch Mason in Muncie Chapter No. 30, in 1857, I think. In 1858, I believe, I became a Royal and Select Master, in Indianapolis Council, No. 2.
During the late rebellion, I enlisted in the forty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was appointed by Col- onel James R. Slack, Commissary Sergeant served ten months, when I received my discharge on account of disa- bility from chronic diarrhoea.
A CHAPTER ON SPIRITUALISM.
BY ROBERT CREE.
HOME, July 29, 1874.
AFTER so long a time I attempt to give you a sketch of spiritual manifestations which occurred about the year 1852. The facts we find about as follows : A man by the name of Oliver Branch, an old bachelor, who possessed a considera- ble amount of money, unceremoniously left for parts unknown. After being gone some time it was whispered about that he had been foully dealt with; that one Henry Huff was suspected of being guilty of the crime. The neighbors became excited to a considerable extent, placing
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MADISON COUNTY.
Mr. H. in a precarious situation. He, however, cleared the matter up by procuring evidence from Fort Wayne that Mr. B. had there sickened and died a natural death. This set the matter at rest until Spiritualism was introduced into the neighborhood, led by one Ward MeNear, who professed to be a medium ; and at a meeting of persons of this faith the spirit of Mr. Branch was said to be present, confirming the first suspicion that Mr. B. had been murdered, and that Huff was the guilty party. The indignity of the people was now aroused to its highest pitch, and preparations were made for investigation. The spot had been located through the medium where the bones of the murdered man could be found. The day was set ; tools were prepared, including picks, shovels, grabing hooks, etc. Headed by McNear some forty or fifty persons began the work in earnest, labor- ing all day. Late in the evening Wilson More pointed out the exact spot in the edge of a small branch. By this time the day had closed; the water coming in to the excavation operations were suspended until pumps and other necessa- ries were procured. In the mean time, however, the num- ber had increased from fifty to seventy-five persons, the excitement running higher and higher. Thus prepared with these necessaries work again commenced. Finally by dint of hard labor bones were actually found. Now the excitement became intense, but to any rational mind not wrought up by this delusion it was readily decided that they were the bones of the deer, so admitted by this deluded set, who had been led by designing men into this foolish move without anything whatever save the sudden disappearance of Mr. B. to found their suspicions of crime upon. Here ends this little narrative. The spot is to this day called "The Bone Diggings," traces of which may be seen near the southeast corner of Van Buren township.
The author was induced to insert this merely to show how far, from the most trifling occurrence, human folly can be led. This, however, has been the case from time imme- morial, and there is but one way of successful escape, and that is through a proper education, which is a safeguard to
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HISTORY OF
all classes. It will serve to keep down superstition and bigotry ; it will act as an cqualibrium to thought an action, and will develop to our natural understanding what some have been pleased to call mysterious. Spiritualism is either a grand humbug or a grand science. If the former, let it be hoped it is exploded forever; if the latter, it will in time result in good, when God in his own good time, through His agent, man, will see fit to commit it to us. In the case referred to above by Mr. Cree these deluded folks were doubtless led by some crazy brain with selfish ends in view, who would have them believe something was about to be ushered in regardless of science and natural laws.
THE PRESS.
SOME one has said that the Press is a mighty lever, the truthfulness of which is conceded on all hands. Since this is so, how important that it should be wielded in the right direction and by men of principle, who are not looking and waiting to float out on some popular idea that may seize on the people who do not do their own thinking. This evil might be to some extent avoided, if our press was more independent and outspoken, and not so much of the bread- and-butter order. A free, independent press, fearlessly edited, is certainly a power in the land, if not edited by a secular or a one idea man, who looks no farther than his own sanctum.
We are inclined to think that there are but few of this class, and to-day the press throughout the country is taking high moral grounds. The press of our county seems no exception to this rule. We have three weekly papers pub- lished in the county ; there are two at Anderson and one at Pendleton. In style, tone and mechanical skill they will compare favorably with other papers throughout the State. We are proud of them. Long may they continue their
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MADISON COUNTY.
usefulness. Their circulation is about as follows : Herald, 1,200; Democrat, 1,000; Register, 800-making 3,000 copies issued weekly, two-thirds of which remain in the county. The Anderson Democrat and the Pendleton Regis- ter are both partially printed at Chicago. The department printed at Chicago contains general news ; that part printed at the offices is composed principally of local news. The Anderson Herald is entirely printed at Anderson. The Herald and Democrat are published at two dollars per annum ; the Register at one dollar per annum.
As to the early history of the press of the county, we have only been able to get a vague account. In fact, it has been the most difficult task connected with this work to get anything like a respectable chain. The first press intro- duced at Anderson was about the year 1834, when a small paper was issued, called the Western Telegraph. Its editor was Charles D. 'Henderson. It is hardly necessary to say that this was a small, dingy sheet, and would illy compare with the city papers of to-day. It, however, served its day of usefulness, when it gave place to a paper called the Atheneum. This was in the year 1837. Its editor was Thomas Sims, who is represented to have been a man of fine attainments. His paper was mainly devoted to the science of phrenology, which at that day was not very well understood in Madison county. He was in advance of the times, and we at this day perhaps occupy about the same ground the paper advocated at that time. The people at the time were illy prepared to receive what to them appeared of doubtful existence. Their minds were more occupied with matters of more immediate importance, and his paper did not prosper, and was discontinued in the course of a few years.
Soon afterward, Dr. Ryan started a paper, the name of which we have been unable to obtain. He was assisted by Peter H. Lemon. Just how long this paper was conducted we are not able to say.
About the year 1850 the Anderson Gazette was published by Mr. Osborn, of Muncie. It was afterwards conducted by J. F. Henry. It continued to the year 1854.
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HISTORY OF
In 1855 the Democratic Standard was started by Thomas W. Cook, of Huntsville. A year later Ira H. Cook became associated. This firm continued up to November, 1856, when Charles I. Barker undertook the management of the paper for about two years. It was afterwards conducted by O. C. Willets, F. M. Randall and Fleming T. Luce, in whose hands it ceased to exist in 1872.
In 1868 the Anderson Plain Dealer was started by Wil- liam E. Cook. It was afterwards conducted by Edwin Schlater, George D. Farrer and William C. Fleming.
In 1870 the Anderson Democrat was started by William C. Fleming. It was afterwards conducted by Charles Zahn and M. Y. Todysman. It is now under the management of Todysman & Pyle.
About the year 1860, J. F. Henry again became associ- ated with the Anderson press, and continued about two years, when J. C. Hanson took charge of the paper. It soon passed into the hands of J. O. Hardesty, and assumed the name of the Anderson Herald, which has become a household word in the county. It was conducted by him for about three years, when Stephen Metcalf became associ- ated with the firm. This firm continued one year, when Mr. Hardesty retired, in August, 1873. Mr. Metcalf is now sole owner and proprietor. 3
Since the above was written, the following, from the pen of P. H. Lemon, was received :
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 17, 1874-2 o'clock A. M. S. HARDIN, EsQ.,
Markleville, Madison County, Ind .:
DEAR FRIEND: Your favor of the 25th ultimo was received by me some days ago, and but for my vocation, which has required my entire time, should have answered yours at an earlier moment.
In reference to your inquiry for information in regard to the history of the press in Madison county, I will furnish you (from memory alone, as I have no written memoranda. to aid me) all that I can in the case, namely :
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MADISON COUNTY.
In March, 1841, when I settled in Madison county, there was being published at Anderson a weekly newspaper, called the Atheneum, edited by a Mr. Sims. It was a literary paper, I remember, and advocated the science of Phrenol- ogy, which at the time was "agitating the public mind" somewhat. I recollect it was publishing a series of letters, from the pen of Prof. Samuel K. Hoshour, a minister of the gospel and teacher at Cambridge City, Indiana, then in his prime. Said letters purported to be written " by a friend in the Orient to a friend in the Occident," and nearly every word in which they were written was a "jaw-breaker." The object of the Professor was to attract the attention of his readers to the use and meaning of words in our language. He is now living in this city, and, although advanced in years, is one of the Professors in the Northwestern Christian University.
But excuse my digression. The Atheneum was short- lived. It was in advance of the civilization in Madison county in those pioneer days, and for want of sufficient pat- ronage it died early.
About the same time, I think, there was a small weekly newspaper published in Anderson, called the Madison County Journal, by one Gardner Goldsmith, a very little man in stature, a printer by trade. I can not, at this dis- tant day, vouch for what I have said of such a paper.
In 1848, John Q. and William L. Howell, brothers, brought a press from Marion, Grant county, Indiana, and began the publication of the True Democrat. Both these gentlemen were printers, but neither of them could edit. They employed me to write their editorials ; I was, in fact, the brains of the paper, if it could be said it had any of that ingredient. My name did not, however, appear "at the head of the editorial column ;" the " publishers and proprietors " stood responsible for all libelous matter that might drip from my prolific pen. But no lawsuits, per consequence, were ever instituted.
The next year, 1849, Dr. Townsend Ryan and myself purchased of the above named the aforesaid press, fixtures,
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HISTORY OF
etc., together with the " good will " of the proprietors, which last was a good deal ("in a horn"), as the sequel subse- quently verified.
We threw our Democratic banner to the breeze, under the firm name of "Lemon & Ryan,"-the Doctor, however, simply being a nominal party, to give prestige and credit to the concern. We changed the cognomen of the paper from the True Democrat to the Weekly Democrat, and set sail on the great political ocean, with our sails all spread, antici- pating a prosperous and profitable voyage. But, alas! we little dreamed that in one short year our noble and gallant craft would be doomed to shipwreck on the rocks and reefs of the political archipelago!
The Democracy of Madison county being at that period in the majority, and having the only "organ," we got along swimmingly for a time. Politics ran high, and as editor I fanned the flame that made the political cauldron boil and bubble. I kept our political opponents in a constant broil; said many things I now would be glad I never had said. When we gained a Democratic victory, I would display our rooster and cannon in the paper, with doggerel and com- ments calculated to irritate and worry the Whigs. I remem- ber the canvass of 1848 (when I was editing the True Democrat). Evan Ellis was pitted against Robert Newell Williams for the House of Representatives of our Legisla- ture. Ellis was the Democratic candidate and Williams the Whig candidate; Ellis a farmer and Williams a lawyer. The race was bitterly contested. Ellis, however, finally triumphed, but with only thirty-two majority. Still, it was a victory, and I put my game chicken at the head of a " double leaded " column, and began my doggerel chant in this wise :
"Let Chanticleer proclaim the day from every towering hight,
That Democracy has gained the day and put Whiggery to flight," etc., etc.
Horace Greeley never felt larger than I did when occupy-
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MADISON COUNTY.
ing the " tripod" of the True and Weekly Democrats. I see the matter in my old days in a different light, without such vanity.
In 1850 the Weekly Democrat died of a broken heart, and I ceased to be a "little one-horse country editor." The Anderson Gazette followed, edited by Dr. James W. Mendenhall, a young man of some parts. It was neutral in politics. Afterwards one J. Fennick Henry, I believe (the ugliest man in town), took the Gazette and turned it into a Simon-pure Democratic sheet. Then afterwards I think it was bought by Charles J. Barker, who run it some time under its old name in the interests of the " unterrified Democracy" of Madison county. Following the Gazette sprang up the Democratic Standard, under the auspices of a cracked-brained fellow by the name of Thomas W. Cook. Not long from that time the Whigs, or " People's Party," started the Madison County Republican, under the management and editorship of Mr. Wm. H. H. Lewis, a practical printer and very clever gentleman. Then later the Plain Dealer appeared, but had, as I learned, a very brief existence. I was living here when it was running. I believe I have omitted another paper, the exact name of which I have forgotten, published by one Luse, in the inte- rest, also, of the Democracy. The Herald, also, I had omitted to mention, started and edited by one John O. Hardesty, alias " Red Hot," who sold it out and came to this city and started the Sun. Hardesty was a violent ." Black Republican." The Sun, as to him, has risen and set for the last time.
This hasty and imperfect sketch, now already too long, is all I can think of in relation to the "Press" of Madison county. In many particulars you may be able to justify it from other sources. I did hope to find time to write you up some other matters-" incidents and anecdotes" of the early judiciary of your county, but business will prevent. Hoping you may gather from all sources enough to make-
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your " History of Madison County" an interesting volume to the reader, I remain, with esteem,
Yours truly,
PETER H. LEMON.
SYNOPSIS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
BELOW we give a glance at this organization. The time has been when the propriety of Sunday Schools was doubted, and some contended that they were not only useless, but productive of harm. That day has passed; and we now point with pride to their noble work. The Church may well say, " These are our helpmates ; these are our nurse- ries," in which are prepared and trained vines that will flourish and adorn our vineyard in the future.
The work within our county has been successful. Schools have multiplied and increased until we have sixty schools in good working order, with an aggregate attendance of three thousand two hundred, whose merry voices are heard in songs of praise every Sabbath day. Let no one say that this is not better than hunting, fishing, and desecrating God's holy day.
Beside the above schools we have a "County Sunday School Union," which has been organized over five years, and has held quarterly, semi-annual, and now annual meet- ings, which have been universally attended with interest. Their influence for good has gone out, and to-day the work of the Sunday School is not regarded as an experiment, but a living test of what was at one time regarded as of little or no importance.
The mode of teaching has been improved until it is almost reduced to a system. With the " Uniform Lesson Leaves," teachers' meetings, and other helps that have been introduced as the times have demanded, the work has been made more efficient and successful.
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MADISON COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION
OF THE
MADISON COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
IN JUNE, 1869.
The Indiana Sunday School Union met in Convention at Richmond.
When the delegates from this county were called upon for a report, they answered " that Madison county had no organ- ization, but that it should be organized," and to aid the same the delegates then elected J. W. Bomgardner, President, and R. C. Stone, Secretary, of the embryo organization. Arrange- ments were perfected and a Convention called at Anderson, September 8th and 9th, 1869, which proved successful beyond the expectation of the most sanguine. The Union was organized and the following officers elected :
President-R. N. Clark. Recording Secretary-W. R. Myers.
Corresponding Secretary-H. D. Thompson.
Treasurer-S. C. Martindale.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Anderson township-J. T. Smith, Mrs. James Hazlett, Mrs E. B. Holloway and Mrs. Wm. Brown.
Adams-Morris Gilmore.
Boone-D. G. W. Smith.
Duck Creek-D. H. Clymer.
Fall Creek-J. W. Hardman.
Green-Burrell Williams.
Jackson-T. L. Beckwith.
Lafayette-Edward Ross. Monroe-N. O'Bryan. Pipe Creek-Wm. Suman. Richland-John Mattus.
Stony Creek-Wm. V. Shanklin.
Union-John E. Corwin.
Van Buren-Mr. Williams.
1
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HISTORY OF
LIST OF DELEGATES.
ANDERSON
M. E. Sunday School.
R. N. Clark,
J. T. Smith,
W. R. Pierse,
Edward Bowden, Belle Mattox, A. J. King,
J. C. Lucas (colored),
Mrs. W. R. Pierse,
Rebecca Hoff,
E. B. Holloway,
R. H. Sparks,
Annie Conwell,
Annie Cain,
Mattie Cross,
Mrs. Edgerly,
1. Taylor,
Katie Clark.
Presbyterian Sunday School.
Mary Myers,
Lue Silvers,
J. R. Silvers,
Mrs. James Hazlett,
Mrs. Geo. Nichol, Jennie Robinson,
A. S. Reid.
PENDLETON.
M. E. Sunday School.
J. W. Bomgardner,
E. M. Baker,
A. B. Corroll,
M. Corroll,
J. W. Hardman,
Laura Brathane,
Jennie Ebright,
M. J. Carter,
S. B. Adkins,
H. Beans,
M. Chapman, jr.,
Della Clark,
A. M. Bomgardner,
W. A. Bomgardner,
W. P. Baker,
I. N. Zenblin,
E. O. Chapman,
R. R. Hollowbash,
Joseph Stephenson,
Josephine Stephenson,-
A. S. Hardman,
James Silver,
Mrs. Hienes,
Mattie Cottey,
Nora Chapman,
Deda Walker,
Sallie Huff,
Fannie Beans,
J. II. Hicks,
Ward Cook,
Jennie Silver,
Lou. McKee,
J. C. Wiseman,
J. O. Hardy,
E. S. Hardy,
J. W. Lewark,
M. Todd .!
Union Sunday School.
Amanda Silvers, John Lindsay, J. T. Jones,
O. W. Brownback, Mrs. Darlington, David Bausman,
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MADISON COUNTY.
PLEASANT VALLEY. M. E. Sunday School.
Dora Baker, Clara Kerr, N. Anderson, J. V. Kerr, M. E. Kerr,
Sarah Baker, Mary Shanklin, Ross Anderson, W. A. Baker, Lou. Shanklin.
WEST UNION.
Union Sunday School.
William Huntsinger,
Sarah Prather,
- Prather,
James Prather,
James Huntsinger, Rebecca Prather, Andrew Samuels, James Foster,
N. Samuels. Friends' First-Day School.
Benjamin Rodgers, Jno. Samuels,
W. V. Shanklin. FISHERSRURG. M. E. Sunday School.
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