USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 41
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Nearly every section of Knox County is made melodious with the notes of song birds. The mocking bird, and cardinal, the brown thrush, jenny wren, robin, bobolink and cat bird, (not to apply the more technical Latin terms) are very much in evidence for the reason that there seems to be a tacit understanding among the people here, not so apparent in other locali- ties, not to disturb the feathered songsters. Mongolian pheasants, recently introduced in different parts of the county, are afforded ample protection, and arc multiplying steadily. There are a goodly number of prairie chick- ens yet to be found in certain localities ; and quail are quite plentiful, con-
*Cochran, Pioneer History of Indiana, p. 428.
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sidering the relentless manner with which they are pursued in season. Rabbits are numerous, and squirrels are to be found in limited quantities in all parts of the county.
There are a great many people who are not aware that at one time par- rots in great numbers, were a familiar sight in Knox County-little green parrots, better known as paroquets. This bird is now nearly extinct, and is only found in small numbers in Florida and a few favorable localities from there to northeastern Texas and Indian territory. They were formerly very plentiful in Indiana, and did not make their disappearance entirely from Knox County until about a half century ago. * In the White Water valley, in 1835, they were last reported from Brookville. They were common in Switzerland County in 1838-9 and were last noted in Clarke County in 1844. Their disappearance from Vermilion County occurred in 1844; Parke, 1842; Marion, 1835; Monroe, 1836; Morgan, 1840; Owen, 1845; Daviess, 1857; and the latest date is Knox. 1859. The haunts of the paroquets were in the valleys of streams and the vicinity of ponds, where they were found in flocks ranging from six to a hundred or more. Their favorite food was "cackle-burrs" for which, it is said, they would leave any other food. Sometimes they would gather in numbers upon a stump and shell out the kernel, leaving instead a pile of empty burrs. Wherever they were found they showed a decided preference for this food next to which they preferred hackberries. In the spring they were very destructive in orchards, eating the leaf-buds, blossoms and young fruit. Early apples were often eaten by them, and in the fall they fed upon apples, grapes and grain. They also ate cherries, persimmons, black-gum berries, haws, beechnuts, acorns and pe- cans. One authority says they split open the apples and ate the seeds, dis- carding the fruit. After eating what they wanted they would tear the apples off the tree, and, after taking a bite, throw them to the ground. They also tore off the heads of wheat just for the sake of throwing them on the ground. They were easily tamed and made interesting pets. In their wild state they were very affectionate, and it is said when one of a flock was wounded the others gathered about, regardless of danger, and made every effort to render the cripple assistance.
Athletic, sporting, hunting, fishing and outing clubs have existed in Vin- cennes from time immemorial-since the earliest days, when the French and Indians were wont to indulge in games and feats that, for daring and prow- ess, were worthy of Olympian fields. Foot racing and wrestling were for- merly the most fascinating pastimes of the village, and were encouraged to a greater extent than horse races, especially among the younger class of people. The latter sport, however, had its full quota of devotees who were respon- sible for many exciting turf trials, which became quite the rage towards the close of the civil war. One of the race courses, which consisted of two parallel paths made by skimming the soil of tufts of grass and weeds, was
*Amos W. Butler, The Birds of Indiana.
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located in what is now Brevoort field, on the east side of the Cathlinette road, just south of the city ditch. During the fall of 1864 William Shannon and Dr. C. S. Hurd owned jointly a very speedy gray gelding that had been entered against all comers on the day of which we speak. The horse was being ridden by Abe Decker, and was going down the line in a fair way to win the third race, when a dog ran across the track, causing the horse to stumble and throw the driver over its head. In the fall the horse was unin- jured, but Decker was instantly killed, having sustained a broken neck, After this occurrence the habitues of this track temporarily transferred their operations to a course that had been previously laid out on the commons, extending from Busseron to Hart street, through which Thirteenth street has been opened. Here's where the valuable stable of horses owned by Bob Flanders-notably "Silver Tail" and "Fanny"-got their first train- ing, and where "Bull Pup," Owen Pinkstaff's famous running horse, was bested in a series of contests by "Silver Tail," before she became noted in the annals of the western turf. Long after these men and horses became only memories, the late James B. McCarthy, of this city, and William Neal, of Washington, Indiana, got possession of a work horse which they sub- sequently dubbed "Flora Belle." and early in the eighties went east with their equine prodigy to lower the colors of the proud "Buffalo Girl," "Brown Jug" and other favorites of sterling worth at Sheepshead Bay, and succeeded in breaking all the records these blooded "Flyers" had ever made. "Cora Lee." a gray mare owned by the late Jack Ayers, was another fine specimen of horseflesh that went with the "top-notchers" in many impor- tant brushes in the western circuit, and brought fame to her home town. George Bonnell, at a later date, took a "swing around the circle" with a string of horses owned by Vincennes parties, dividing honors and shekels with his competitors on nearly every track in the middle west. Subsequently he acquired a small number of thoroughbreds of his own and six years ago changed his base of operations to California for the purpose of showing the track followers of the Pacific slope some new stunts in twentieth century "hoss racin'." The late James Gatton, father of John Gatton, was among the early admirers of horseflesh of which Vincennes boasted, and owned a string of good running horses in the palmiest days of Bob Flanders, as the latter frequently found out, sometimes to his sorrow. Charlie Theriac, who was considered one of the best jockies in the west in the sixties, with Jim Gatton a close second, generally rode in all the races where Gatton was interested. There was a race pulled off one day in which he didn't ride, when Gatton took his mount. The event occurred at the same course where Decker met his untimely death, and the circumstance precipitating the acci- dent, which caused Gatton to retire from the turf with a broken leg, was very similar to that which cost Decker his life-a dog running across the track caused the horse to stumble and throw the rider. John Monical, a prosperous farmer of Orange County, formerly of Knox, Dr. M. M. Mc- Dowell, James D. Williams, James House, Dr. Norman E. Beckes, Dr. Wm.
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Jones, Will Tewalt, Adolph Meyer, Dr. M. T. Scott, D. C. Langdon, Richard Cox, and others, are among the prominent people who have been responsible for developing good track and superior road horses in Knox County.
Sixty years ago race courses for trials of speed of human and equine sprinters formed borders on three sides of the town, and the meets were almost of daily occurrence, not excepting Sunday. Liquid, as well as solid refreshments were served to the assembled multitudes by the enterprising merchants, who generally carried in stock beverages of higher proof than spruce beer. It is said that the late William Burtch, who was considered the merchant prince west of the Alleghanies early in the nineteenth century, made considerable money in supplying the wants of the "inner man" at pioneer race course meetings, and that anybody who had the price was wel- come to his wares. However, he amassed quite a fortune, although he died a poor man. During the zenith of his mercantile glory, whenever the native citizens desired to convey, by comparison, some idea of an individual's great wealth, instead of using the name of Croesus, they would paraphrase a familiar quotation by saying he is "as rich as Billy Burtch."
The articles wagered on foot races were marbles, home-made tobacco pads, black navy plug, French, Spanish or American coins, of large or small denomination, as the occasion required. While there were no races made against time, the real object of the game being for one adversary to beat the other, there is no doubt that some of the Creole sprinters, who were as fleet- footed as Indians, frequently broke the pre-eminent speed records of today.
Pedestrianism, lifting, jumping and other feats requiring skill, strength or endurance were companion pieces, as it were, to the running races, and afforded no end to the amusement of the spectators, besides furnishing them with marvelous exhibitions of physical force. These various athletic stunts gave rise to general conversation regarding the prowess of some individual who was capable of performing herculean tasks, and Old Man Black was generally the hero of every story told, so numerous had been his escapades. Mr. Black was not a myth, although to hear some of the older French citi- zens recount many of his adventures, one would naturally think so. He lived, however, many years ago, about two miles below the city, on a farm now owned by Isaac N. Henderson. He was a peaceable man so long as he abstained from strong drink, but when under the influence of liquor the very demon seemed to take possession of his mental as well as physical nature, and he became a Sampson and a Goliath at the same time. To jerk with one hand a heavy door from its hinges was one of his favorite pastimes when in his cups. A stout man in his hands was manipulated with the same ease that a ventriloquist handles his puppets; and he always preferred to fight a house full of men instead of one man. According to the writer's informant, Black's strength was never tested, and he himself never knew how strong he was. Without an effort, apparently, he could walk away with a heafty hog under each arm, and had frequently carried whole beeves on his back which two men could not lift. It is related that one day he
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came to town and purchased a barrel of salt, which he was toting home on his shoulder, when he met a friend on the river road, about midway between town and his house, who engaged him in conversation for three quarters of an hour, during which Black never shifted his load.
And, speaking of pedestriansism; it was featured in a novel way here in 1879, and proved the means of stimulating the "walking habit" to a very great extent. Mr. William Lake, pedestrian, was the gentleman responsible for its introduction, and the novelty of his scheme lay in the fact that the contest was one in which there was but one contestant, as paradoxical as that may sound. But, to be brief with explanations, Mr. Lake-who was a handsome fellow with the symmetrical proportions of a Roman gladiator -proposed to walk 500 miles in as many consecutive hours, and he did. The merchants were led to believe by the pedestrian that it would be a good advertising scheme and contributed quite liberally towards the cause. Mr. Lake's quarters were at the LaPlante House, (now the big department store) and as regular as the hour came around he would emerge therefrom to go on a mile jaunt, passing up Main street as far as Eighth, and return- ing over the same route to the hotel, the distance covered between the points named being considered a mile. Up and down the line, by day and by night, he was greeted by throngs during the protracted season required to complete his task. The young ladies were rivals for his smiles, and went into ecstacies over the manner in which his seductive eyes cast knowing glances, which they encouraged and sought to provoke by showering him with bouquets and other evidences of their infatuation. At the conclusion of his herculean task Mr. Lake left town, taking away the hearts of many poor, deluded fair ones, but leaving a beautiful daughter to receive the motherly care of a betrayed maiden.
Forty years ago, Sunday, with the sporting fraternity, was a day devoted largely to cock fighting. Easter, especially, was set apart for the exclusive indulgence in this barbarous practice, the annual recurrence of which was permitted, with no effort at legal restraint, for many years. The penchant for the sport has been inherited by the descendants of its original promoters. who are quite numerous, and whose love for the main is shown in the large quantity of handsome game birds to be seen in poultry yards about town.
Fistinia, under Marquis of Queensbury rules, had many admirers, and the bloody battle of Skinner and Murray, fought at Nine Mile island, in the Wabash, in May, 1869, attracted hundreds of people to the ring side. In this engagement both men underwent terrible punishment, and the heads and faces of the belligerents were horribly lacerated by blows from ungloved hands. The steamer "Advance" made trips to and from the battleground and when the trim craft landed at the foot of Broadway to discharge its last cargo of human freight, the motley crowd which assembled on the bank to greet Jack Skinner, the victor, saw Tom Murray, the vanquished, car- ried ashore on a stretcher, more dead than alive. The presence of Tom Allen in Vincennes was the incentive for this fight. Allen, who wore for
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many years upon his placid brow the laurel wreath of pugilistic supremacy, came here to train for his forthcoming bout with Mike McCool, which was pulled off on an island in the Mississippi river, near St. Louis, three months later. McCool was a big burly fellow employed as mate on a Mississippi steamer at the time he fought Allen, and his friends became so incensed over the severe drubbing he received at the hands of the affable Tom that they threatened to take the latter's life. Allen was accompanied by his wife during his sojourn in Vincennes, and made the home of Bob Flanders his place of abode. He mingled quite freely with some of the best people, dressed in the height of fashion, always wearing a silk hat, and accompanied Mrs. Allen to a fashionable church every Sunday morning. In his day Allen was considered the.most gentlemanly fellow among the short-haired fra- ternity and associated with quite a few men of prominence and respectability.
Pugilism, as well as all other athletic sports, has received a new impetus in Vincennes in recent years, and some very fine exhibitions of the manly art of self defense have recently been given in the squared circle at Lake- wood Park by scientific generals having high rank in the army of Fistinia. Clifton Gosnell, one of the fathers of the Kitty Base Ball League, and to whom all lovers of the national game are indebted for encouraging good ball,* is responsible for awakening new interest in wrestling, boxing and kin- dred sports, which have been the means of developing high-class amateur talent. The university and high schools have admirably taken up the idea of encouraging and promoting athletics by organizing, respectively, foot- ball and base ball teams which are capable of making a good showing on any gridiron or diamond. The handsome high school building, recently en- larged to twice its original size, has been equipped with an up-to-date gym- nasium, and calisthenics are taught in all departments of the school, from the kindergartens up to the eighth grade, in order that the gradual strength- ening of the youthful bodies of pupils will better enable them to exercise and develop their youthful minds.
The Vincennes Gun club, which was organized about thirty-five years ago, had for its first president the late Edward M. Kellum. It still retains among its membership some of the best trap-shooters in the country. Col- lectively and individually the club has won distinction on many fields, notably in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Harvey McMurchey, a traveling representative of the L. C. Smith Gun Manufacturing Company, Jack Wins-
*The first base ball club of prominence in Vincennes was organized in the early seventies, and Charley Jones, who was one of the best players in the Cincinnati team in after years, was a member. The club was appropriately named Excelsior, and the boys never met with defeat. Among the players identified with the organiza- tion during the first few years of its existence were Herman Peck, Will Wise, Wm. K. and Richard T. Dawes. Virgil Sinclair, who afterwards played with the Cincinnati Reds, Horatio Nelson, P. R. McCarthy, Emmons Wise and Jack Murphy. It is said that in a game with the Rockport club Murphy hit the ball so hard one day that it could never be found.
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ton, now living at Washington, Ind., Perry Tindolph and the late Henry H. Hackman, all members of the Vincennes club, by scores made at St. Louis, Cincinnati and Louisville outclassed many of the trap experts. Dr. Car- ver, Bogardus and Captain Stubbs have been pitted against the gentlemen named above and, in more than one instance, have only been enabled to come out second best. The club holds its regular shoots at the fair grounds, and at present is officered by Perry Tindolph, president and captain, and William Elnere, secretary. In 1884 Tindolph was awarded a handsome gold medal at Evansville as the champion trap-shot of the state.
There are quite a number of clubs in the city, some private and some pub- lic, which make hunting and fishing features of the outing season. In this class, however, are not to be included Camp Dexter or "Mohawk." The former generally pitches its tents for a fourteen-day's outing on the banks of the Wabash river, near the mouth of Maria creek, and keeps "open house" for all who choose to come and partake of its comforts and joys. The guests are allowed unlimited privileges, which are eagerly exercised by hundreds every year. Camp Dexter was founded about thirty years ago by the late Dexter Gardner, George Fendrich and several other gentlemen, and in its name many Lucullus feasts have been given. The "Mohawk" is an elegant steamboat, having a handsome and commodious barge, lighted with acetylene lamps and equipped with a powerful searchlight. It is the property of the Sycamore club and is commanded respectively by Captains John N. Bey, William Propes, Hugh O'Donnell, Joe Risch and other mem- bers of that organization. The crew generally selects Nine Mile island whenever an outing, just for the sake of being out, is suggested, although having access to many places both up and down the river. The owners of the boat are not a whit selfish, and just because most any one can have the craft for the asking is the reason that it is often the scene of many social gatherings, balls and parties, and the means of transportation by which anglers and hunters frequently go up and down the Wabash to and from the fish retreats and game preserves.
The Wabash, that classic stream of whose matchless beanty, romantic scenery and historic glory poets have sung and historians have written, has ever been a source of pleasure for sportsmen. Its straight stretch at the feet of the city, uninterrupted by bends for two miles, either up or down, affords the finest course for regattas to be found on any island stream in the country. This fact appealed to quite a number of enterprising young men many years ago, and resulted in the formation of the Tecumseh Boating club, which has not only been instrumental in developing unlimited numbers of oarsmen and athletes. but has made possible many delightful trips for the young and old of both sexes upon the placid bosom of the beautiful river. To recount the legends of the Wabash would fill a volume almost as voluminous as that required in which to enter all the vows of tenderness and love that have been uttered above its moon-lit wimples. And that these Vol. 1-22
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declarations of devotion have been made in more than one tongue is evi- denced by the many different names by which the Wabash has been known, of which the following are only a few: Ouabache, (We-bo), Ouabouski- gou, Agonassake, Ouabou, Ouabouskiagou, St. Jerome. Waba-skik-kah and Wabache.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KNOX COUNTY.
THE PRODUCTS OF THE SOIL-FIRST COURTS AND JUDGES-FORMATION OF FIRST TOWNSHIPS-FIRST JAIL AND COURT HOUSE-MURDER OF THE DE BUSSIERES AND JULIUS KLUCK-LYNCHING OF CANFIELD AND EPPS-LAST LEGAL HANGING-BURNING OF COUNTY RECORDS-BUILDING OF SECOND COURT HOUSE-THIE BECKES-SCULL DUEL-PRESENT COURT HOUSE-ORPHANS' HOME-POOR ASYLUM-IIIGHLAND ORPHAN ASYLUM-GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL-GRAVEL ROADS AND RAILWAYS-EARLY AGRICULTURAL AND MED- ICAL SOCIETIES-BRILLIANT LAWYERS AND DOCTORS OF THE PAST AND PRES- ENT-MEMBERS OF TIIE BAR TODAY-NAMES OF MEN WHO HAVE HELD OF- FICIAL POSITIONS IN COUNTY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION TO DATE.
Knox County, which has been appropriately called the "Mother of Indiana Counties," was first established in July, 1790, by Winthorp Sargent, secretary of the Northwest Territory, who came liere at the request of Gov. St. Clair in January of that year, for that purpose, vested with all the powers of governor and commander-in-chief. The name of Knox was given in honor of General Henry Knox, secretary of war. The territory of the county at this period in- cluded all the states of Indiana and Michigan. Before the end of the year 1798 Wayne County had been formed, with Detroit as the county seat, and comprised the greater part of Michigan and a portion of northern Indiana. By an act of congress, passed in 1800, as has already been shown, the territory embraced in these states was divided into two separate and distinct terri- tories with Vincennes the seat of one and William Henry Harrison as its governor. In the year 1802 Clark and Randolph Counties were formed, and in 1805 Dearborn County was acquired. At a still later date of the year last named Michigan was made a separate territory, and Illinois, which had been a part of Knox County, in 1809 was made a distinct territory.
At the date last named there were only four counties in the Indiana terri- tory-Knox, Clark, Dearborn and Harrison-and Knox embraced nearly half the territory now constituting the present boundaries of the state of Indiana. During the year 1810 Jefferson and Franklin Counties were established and in 1813 Gibson and Warrick were organized. Sullivan was added in 1817. and Greene in 1820, which reduced Knox County to its present limits.
"Old Knox" has an area of about four hundred and fifty square miles, and is situated pretty well towards the southwestern part of the state. It is bounded on the north by Sullivan County, on the west by the Wabash river,
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on the south and a greater part of the east by the White river, which separates it from Gibson, Pike and Daviess Counties. It is traversed by many smaller streams, which afford abundant water for stock and furnish inviting sites for mills and other manufactories.
THE SOIL AND ITS PRODUCTS.
The bottom lands, extending along the banks of the Wabash, White and Duchee rivers, ranging in width from one to three miles, are covered with a growth of fine timber, the density of which has been materially lessened in recent years, but of which there yet remains a good supply. The trees to be found in greater or lesser quantities in different locations, are: sycamore, cottonwood, sweet gum, soft maple, white oak, white ash, hackberry, black walnut, white walnut, poplar, elm, lind, cherry, catalpa, mulberry, hickory and black oak. The immense size attained by primitive forest trees, suit- able for building, manufacturing and cabinet purposes, has given Knox County an enviable record as a timber producing locality. A few giants of the forests yet remain, but their numbers are fast disappearing. Sycamores have been felled in this locality with trunks twelve to fifteen feet in diameter, and some, it is said, were even of the dimensions of twenty feet. Cotton- wood, walnut and poplars, with trunks sixty feet long and from six to eight feet in diameter, a number of years ago were not considered uncommon. In 1873 James E. Baker, who was county surveyor in the seventies, measured a sassafras tree four feet in diameter, and a pecan tree, near Sandborn, eight feet. The durability of Knox County mulberry and catalpa has been the least bit remarkable. In 1871 a catalpa fence post, which it is said had been set up near a cabin on river Duchee in 1780, was cut down and showed very little evidence of decay. When General Harrison was looking after his presiden- tial fences here in 1840 he called attention to posts set out and a picket fence built in 1801, which were in a very good condition. In the latter part of the sixties these were removed, and the posts (mulberry and catalpa) were yet comparatively sound. Posts which were set by General Harrison in 1808 in 1870 were taken up and reset, and the fence which was placed around Judge Parke's house in 1809 remained in good service until the old homestead was torn down ten years ago.
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