USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 56
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Elmwood Camp, No. 31, Woodmen of the World, meets the last Satur- day of each month in Room 21, Bishop Block. The order was instituted June 17, 1893. Its present officers are John G. Freisz, Chief ; H. W. Alex- ander, Clerk ; Dr. P. H. Caney, Banker.
Court Vincennes, No. 1248, Independent Order of Foresters, akin to the three above mentioned in its beneficence and benevolence, was organ- ized February 8, 1893. Its present officers are Samuel W. Williams, Chief Ranger; E. L. Corey, Recording Secretary; H. W. Alexander, Financial Secretary ; Harry V. Somes, Jr., Treasurer. The court convenes the fourth Monday of each month in Room No. 21, Bishop Block, which is also the meeting place of Vincennes Council, No. 674, National Union, a patriotic,
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fraternal insurance order organized in 1888, of which A. M. Yelton is President, H. W. Alexander, Financial Secretary ; F. H. Hoffman, Record- ing Secretary, and J. J. Dawson, Treasurer.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
January 25, 1903, through the efforts of such men as Peter R. McCarthy, Henry Scheefers, Gerhard Reiter, William Eluerc, John Hoffman, and others, there was chartered Vincennes Council, No. 712, Knights of Colum- bus, with a membership of forty-five. While non-Catholics are not eligible as members of the order, there is nothing in the ritualistic work that per- tains to the affairs of the church. The society is simply a fraternal and social organization. Its chief feature, however, is life insurance, offered to all members under forty-five years of age, at extremely low rates. The first officers of Vincennes Council were P. R. McCarthy, Grand Knight ; Jno. D. La Croix, Deputy Grand Knight; Wm. E. Tuite, Chancellor ; Henry W. Frund, Recorder; Wm. P. Hoffman, Financial Secretary; Frank G. Reiter, Treasurer ; Robt. G. Cauthorn, Lecturer ; Andrew Berry, Advocate ; Ed. W. Soete, Warden; Aubrey L. Morgan, Inner Guard ; Michael J. Ryan, Outer Guard; Dr. P. H. Caney, Physician; Rev. F. W. Berkett, Chaplain ; John Prullage, Anthony F. Hartman, Chas. Edmonds, Trustees. The Knights have commodious and elegant quarters in the Bayard Block, and provide the best literary and musical entertainments. The present officers of No. 712 are Geo. A. Downey, G. K .; Raymond E. Reilag, D. G. K .; John E. Ramsey, Chancellor ; Thos. P. Kavenaugh, R .; Aloysius A. Arnold, F. S .; Aubrey L. Morgan, T .; John Risch, L .; John Nestlehut, A .; J. N. Zinkans, W .; Ed. Eschliemann, I. G .; John Boeckman, O. G .; Dr. P. H. Caney, P .; Dr. L. Downey, John Hartigan, Jr., John Kellar, Trustees.
The Catholic Knights of America, which have no connection, however, with the Knights of Columbus, have two local branches, which organizations have been in existence for more than a quarter of a century. St. Francis Xavier's Branch, No. 256, meets in the Bayard building every Tuesday, with the following officers : P. R. McCarthy, President ; John E. Rogers, Record- ing Secretary; Francis Murphy, Financial Secretary and Treasurer.
St. John's Branch, No. 533, meets in St. John's Hall on the third Thurs- day of each month, with the following officers: John Hoffman, President ; Benoit Fritsch, Vice President; Joe Ohnemus, Treasurer ; Frank G. Reiter, Corresponding Secretary ; Henry Scheefers, Financial Secretary.
St. Jolin's Benevolent Society is another Catholic fraternal organization which is nearly as old as the church of St. John the Baptist. Its present officers are: Jolin F. Miller, President ; Joseph Fanger, Vice President ; Ben. Fritsch, Treasurer ; Jos. Claussman, Secretary.
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN.
Piankashaw Tribe, No. 108, Improved Order of Red Men, was formed July 1, 1890, and its first officers were: Clinton H. DeBolt, Prophet ; Sanı
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W. Williams, Sachem; Ed. Bierhaus, Jr., Senior Sagamore; H. S. Latshaw, Junior Sagamore; Geo. H. Turner, Chief of Records; Isaac Lyons, Keeper of Wampum. "The order is fraternal and co-operative in its character, and takes its name from a tribe of Indians who founded the village of Chip-pe- ko-ke (Brushwood), where the city of Vincennes is now located. It is said these Indians were always friendly with the white people, and allotted the southern part of their village for the habitation of the early traders and missionaries. The fraternal, unselfish and noble qualities of this tribe of Indians, no doubt, suggested the name for the local lodge, Piankashaw. The order is also benevolent in its character, caring for its sick members and attending to the disposition of those who depart 'to their happy hunting ground.'" The Piankashaws very readily respond to invitations to take part in street parades arranged for gala occasions, and always present a unique and interesting feature of the same. The lodge has a very large membership and provides some very nice entertainments for its members as well as the public. The present officers are Henry La Cost, Sachem; Virgil Finifrock, Senior Sagamore; Chester La Cost, Junior Sagamore ; Geo. Osha, Prophet; Joseph Bender, Chief of Records; Fred. Long, Keeper of Wampum; Francis Murphy, Florice Tougas, Joseph Frey, Trustees.
THE ROYAL ARCANUM.
Plato Council, No. 492, Royal Arcanum, ranks foremost among the worthy fraternal insurance societies of the country, and has gained enviable notoriety for the promptness with which it pays death claims and the busi- ness-like methods it employs in discharging all obligations. Its organization dates back to May 27, 1880, when it was instituted with the following charter members: William Davidson, Victor Schoenfeld, Fred. Miller, Jesse H. Green, William Sachs, Samuel Wile, Chas. J. Agnew, F. M. Harris, John L. Green, Clint H. DeBolt, Jas. H. Shouse, Samuel Rumer, Alfred Mer- chant, L. H. Cox, W. M. Hindman, C. H. Brocksmith, Thomas Eastham, Stephen S. Burnett, George B. Henderson, Chas. A. Cripps. The mem- bership roll contains the names of nearly two hundred, and the present officers of the council are: Frank J. Boeckman, Regent ; Jas. M. Eastridge, Vice Regent; A. M. Yelton, Orator ; Edward A. Acker, Past Regent ; Geo. L. Ruddy, Secretary ; Edwin L. Glass, Coll; Wm. A. Ohnemus, Treasurer ; Wm. H. Peebles, Chaplain ; C. H. Brocksmith, Guide; John M. Mueller, Warden; Gus Lang, Sentry.
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES.
Vincennes Aerie, No. 384, Fraternal Order of Eagles, while among the younger fraternal societies, is numerically the strongest one in the city. While it is a social and charitable organization, its care for the sick is its greater feature, and in consequence of this humane provision in the laws framed for its government has many workingmen wthin its charmed circle. The local aerie was instituted May 23, 1903, and its first meeting was held
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May 29, 1903, with the following officers: Francis Murphy, Past Worthy President ; Peter R. McCarthy, Worthy President ; Ayres J. Taylor, Worthy Vice President ; Thomas Robertson, Worthy Chaplain ; Henry Ridelsheimer, Worthy Secretary ; Peter Kiefer, Worthy Treasurer ; Adolph Weisenbach, Worthy Conductor; Chas. Tanquary, Inner Guard; Geo. Thorn, Outer Guard; Dr. C. E. Stewart, Physician; E. A. Baecher, Organist; John C. Wise. John Gatton, Joseph Scheefers, Sr., Trustees. The Eagles have a "nest" in the Gimbel building. City Hall Place, formerly occupied by the Elks, which they have fitted up in regal style. The present officers of the aerie are C. W. Lauby, P. W. P .; Chas. Yocum, P .; Chas. Mayer, V. P .; Geo. Brumbaugh, C .; Herman J. Duesterberg, S .; Peter Kiefer, T .; Frank Boone, Jr., C .; E. A. Baecher, O .; L. A. Kapps, I. G .; Daniel Ryan, O. G .; John Bohna, C .; Joseph Claussman, Martin Gluck, Thomas Logan, Trustees.
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
The institution of this lodge, almost an extinct organization to-day, oc- curred on March 9, 1878, and it was chartered September 4, 1878. Its first officers and a partial list of its charter members were as follows: William Davidson, P. D .; James H. Shouse, D .; Jos. H. Bernstein, V. D .; Wm. Sachs, A. D .; Sam. W. Williams, C .; O. C. Fairhurst, F. S .; Chas. H. Brocksmith, T .; Chas. J. Agnew, R. S .; S. Schoenfield. G .; James Stokes, G .; Sam Louis, S .; members-Thomas Eastham, Chas. W. Brocksmith, C. W. Jones, George Hanes, Jacob Weisenbach, John T. McBride, E. W. Miller and Jasper J. Dawson. Mr. Dawson is the only charter member that did not withdraw from the order, which has decreased numerically from nearly two hundred to eight-the number from which as financial secretary he now receives dues. In 1896 the local lodge advocated the secession of the Grand Lodge of Indiana from the Supreme Lodge, and would have succeeded in carrying its point had it not been for the fact that Evansville lodge had such a large membership that its vote in opposition to the measure was greater than that cast by the balance of the subordinate lodges. The revolt was brought on by a desire on the part of subordinate lodges to pay their pro rata assessments (calculated on State instead of United States basis) to the Grand, and not to the Supreme Lodge, by which method, it was claimed, the amounts could be greatly reduced. The big slump in membership came in 1906, when the Supreme Lodge issued a mandate, not only increasing the amount of assessment over the former rate, but making it obligatory on each member to pay two extra assessments. Rather than submit to this ruling the majority of members ceased to longer affiliate with the order.
KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF HONOR.
The Knights and Ladies of Honor organization will have attained its thirty-fourth year in September, 1911. Since its organization it has dis-
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bursed among the widows and orphans of deceased members more than $30,000,000. It was the first secret society to adopt the policy of insuring lady members, and hence is entitled to the distinction of being the mother of fraternal life insurance for females. During the year 1900 its ranks were disastrously diminished by the withdrawal from membership of 40,000 Belgians, the major portion of whom lived in Illinois, who shortly after formed a new society, adopting a name so much like the Knights and Ladies of Honor that the latter appealed to the courts for redress, with the result that the "style and title" of the order were to remain in possession of the original organizers. Review Lodge, No. 362, K. & L. of H., was instituted September 20, 1880. Its first members were William Davidson, Solomon Schoenfield, Henry Heidenreich, W. F. Hinds, B. F. Tomlin, E. W. Miller, Louise Tomlin, Samuel Louis, Hannah Louis, E. W. Miller, Mattie Miller, Samuel Tietelbaum, Samuel W. Williams, Yette Schoenfield, A. M. Childs, Mamie Childs, Fred Miller, Peter Pomil, J. S. Carson, Adolph S. Laue. Mr. Laue was Grand Secretary of the order for thirteen years. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and its affairs are at present in charge of the following corps of officials: Mrs. Rose Ewing, Protector ; Mrs. Letta Mil- ler. Vice Protector ; Mrs. W. S. Bicknell, Past Protector; Miss Ada Hollo- well, Chaplain; Wm. E. Wood, Financial Secretary; Isaiah Townsley, Corresponding Secretary ; Mrs. Ella Wood, Treasurer; Geo. A. Miller, Sentinel.
KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF SECURITY.
This order was established about fifteen years ago, and has an insurance feature similar to the Knights and Ladies of Honor, and its social and benevolent features are akin to the latter, yet it is in no wise identified with the K. & L. of H. The local branch of the Knights and Ladies of Security was organized June 16, 1905, and the following is a roster of its first officers : WVm. J. King, President; F. A. Wassman, First Vice President; Walter McCord, Second Vice President ; Mrs. Hannah Hastings, Prelate; Miss Ealine Ingram, Corresponding Secretary ; Thos. J. Rogers, Financial Secre- tary; John Hurst, Treasurer; Robt. Kissick, Guard. The society meets in the castle hall of Corner Stone Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and has a large membership. Its persent officers are Charles Richardville, P .; Wm. Brown, ist V. P .; Mrs. Ella Reed, 2d V. P .; Mrs. Laura Shick, P .; Wm. M. Van Metre, S .; W. J. King, F .; Mrs. Helen Rice, C .; John H. Newton, G.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
The Jeff C. Davis Post, No. 16, Grand Army of the Republic, was or- ganized March 26, 1880, with the following charter members: Wm. N. Denny, Jas. C. Beeler, James Ostrander, John R. Callender, Elder Cooper, George G. Reily, Joseph Roseman, Baptiste Dofar, John W. Nelson, George Eller, David Agnew, John Hack, Wm. D. Lewis, J. J. Cunningham, John S. Little, E. W. Ecker, J. H. Thornton, J. H. Smith and J. W. Clark. There
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was a division in the post about twenty years after its organization, when quite a number of members withdrew and organized under the title of George G. Reily Post, the name being adopted out of compliment to a worthy citizen and gallant soldier. The present officers of Jeff C. Davis Post are Joseph Roseman, Commander ; George Sparrow, Senior Vice Commander ; S. E. Horbeck, Junior Vice Commander ; Jere Hershey, Adjutant ; John C. Watts, Quartermaster ; James T. Keith, Chaplain. The officers now in charge of George G. Reily Post are Simon F. Johnson, C .; Thornton McCoy, S. V. C .; Thomas Blevins, J. V. C .; Wilfred F. Blatherwick, A .; Benjamin L. Walker, Q .; Elias Lloyd, C. While the two posts are divided, on Deco- ration Day and other occasions set apart for honoring the old soldiers, liv- ing and dead, both organizations are as one, and march to the music of the Union, as they were wont to do in "the dark and bloody days."
The people of Vincennes and Knox county make no distinction between Union soldiers because they happen to belong to different fraternities; and that is the reason that when the county commissioners decided to build a $50,000 monument to the "boys in blue," and appropriated that sum for the purpose, there was not a dissenting voice heard in the whole community. Proud, indeed are old Knox and Vincennes of the large number of soldiers who went forth from here during the days of the rebellion, and prouder still of the true, brave and loyal spirit displayed by these men as participants in all the bloody engagements fought by the Fourteenth. Twenty-first, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-third, Fifty-first, Sixty-fifth, Eightieth, Twenty-eighth and One Hundred and Twentieth regiments. In all the wars, including the Revolution, the battle of Tippecanoe, the war of 1812, Black Hawk war, Mexican war and Spanish-American war, the city and county have provided their full quota of soldiers. In 1898 Vincennes furnished two companies for the Spanish-American war-Company A, I. N. G., and the Vincennes University Cadets. The latter was the first volunteer company to offer its services to the governor of the state and the only full company of cadets sent by any state educational institution in the country to engage in the Spanish war. As a part of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, the cadets, who had received careful military training at the University from a regular West Point instructor, attracted much favorable attention on account of their soldierly bearing and deportment. Although having seen a year of pretty hard service, the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment and Company A, owing to the speedy termination of the war, did not have an opportunity to go to the front.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Old Post Assembly, No. 4058, Knights of Labor, was organized on August 26, 1885, with the following charter members: Daniel M. Lynch, John J. Lynch, Ed. B. Dean, Daniel Sides, Frank Boone, Ed. Thing. Henry Kleinklaus, Robt. Capsadell, John Slawson, Andy Akin, John F. T. Downs, Joseph Hans, Wyley Thorne, Ed. Howard, Frank Weber, Wm. O. Elwood,
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Joseph Striley, J. W. Asbury, Joseph Antleitner and Henry Esch. Under the leadership of Daniel Lynch, a great agitator, who was elected several terms from the Fifth ward as a member of the Common Council, the order, soon after its institution, began to wield a political influence, and in 1887 elected a member of the organization to the state legislature. During the same year the assembly put in the field at the general election a city ticket, the head of which was Dr. J. C. Bever, as a mayoralty candidate. The name of Henry J. Boeckman also appeared on the same ticket, for city treasurer. Neither of the gentlemen named were members of the organiza- tion, and made no effort, apparently, to secure the offices for which they had been listed.
The Knights of Labor was the first organization of federated labor in- stituted in Vincennes. Its life was of short duration, and after a few years of uncertain existence it was merged into the American Federation of Labor, of which the following local unions are branches :
Bartenders' Union, No. 350-Harry Joice, President ; Joseph P. Duester- berg, Secretary and Treasurer.
Local Union, No. 52, Brewers' National Union of the United States- Emil Biester, President ; Chas. Yocum, Secretary ; Geo. Wagner, Treasurer.
Bricklayers' and Masons Union, No. 32-Chas. Vatchett, President ; Robt. C. Fries, Secretary and Treasurer.
Cigarmakers' Union, No. 399-Bernard Scheefers, President ; Julius E. Yunghaus, Secretary.
Central Labor Union-John C. Mayes, President; Wm. S. Massey, Secretary.
Electrical Workers' Union-Louis Mominee, President; Henry Mom- inee, Secretary.
Iron Moulders' Union, No. 400-Arthur Esch, President ; Wm. Massey, Secretary.
Journeymen Barbers' Union, No. 170-Wm. Corrie, President ; Henry Geons, Secretary.
Musicians' Union-Wm. F. DeJean, President ; Harvey E. Danes, Sec- retary and Treasurer.
National Window Glass Workers-John B. Schmidt, Preceptor.
Painters', Paperhangers' and Decorators' Union, No. 373-Fred. Neiders, President ; John Brewster, Secretary.
Licensed Union League-Francis Murphy, President; Jos. Scheefers, Vice President and Secretary ; John Murphy, Treasurer.
Street Railway Employes Union, No. 251-Clifford E. Moore, Presi- dent ; Wm. Fisher, Secretary.
Tailors' Union, No. 254-Robt. Schofield, President Cecelia Simon, Secretary.
Typographical Union, No. 395-Alvah W. Pringle, President ; James P. Ryan, Secretary.
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United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Union No. 274-Edward Zinkans, President; Edward DeLuryea, Secretary.
Vincennes Lodge A. A. of I. S. and T. W., No. 12-E. E. Stockhouse, President ; Geo. Brumbaugh, Secretary.
Weiler Lodge A. A. of I. S. and T. W., No. 3-W. A. Davis, President ; Albert Prosser, Secretary.
Iron Workers Relief Association-E. E. Stockhouse, President; W. A. Davis, Secretary.
Knox County Farmers' Union ; Shoemakers' and Cobblers' Union ; Plas- terers' Union ; Hod Carriers' Union.
CHAPTER XXVI.
OLD AND NEW VINCENNES.
INCIDENTS IN THE HISTORY OF ITS SHADOWY PAST AND EVENTS OF THE LIVING PRESENT-AARON BURR'S VISIT TO THE OLD POST, AND THE PROMINENT MEN WITH WIIOM IIE HELD AUDIENCES-SLAVERY IN EARLY DAYS-FOR- MATION OF TIIE BOROUGII-ITS FIRST OFFICERS-TIIE COMMONS LANDS- BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OF TIIE PAST AND PRESENT- PUBLIC LIBRARIES-THE PUBLIC PRESS-MUNICIPAL MATTERS OF TO-DAY-EARLY MERCHANTS-OLD LANDMARKS-MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AND COM- MERCIAL ENTERPRISES OF MODERN VINCENNES-THEIR LARGE VOLUME OF BUSINESS-THE CITY'S PRESENT ADVANTAGES AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES -- PUBLIC UTILITIES.
How many hundred years Old Vincennes was a place of human habita- tion prior to the beginning of the eighteenth century seems to be even be- yond conjecture. As has been shown, a prehistoric race, populous, indus- trious and not without knowledge of agriculture and the arts, had their abode here; but the hieroglyphics and other works they left behind in the shape of mounds, implements, articles for use and personal adornment, re- veal neither the dates of their coming nor departure; nor whither they went. Away back in the remote past it is evident from the numerous monuments of these mysterious people, this locality was an attractive spot, and Old Vincennes was the seat of government of a large community of them, if it was not the capital of the tribal nation .* It is contended by some his- torians, notably O. F. Baker, that following the advent of the Mound Builders, the Fishers were inhabitants of the place, and that evidences of their presence have been found in heaps of shells, some of which were from the seashore, and in skeletons unearthed occasionally along the banks of the Wabash. The Indians, therefore, were the third race preceding the Caucasians, to be drawn, as if by nature's magic, to this inviting locality- but whether they came simultaneously with the departure of the Fisher- men, or at a date much later, has never been clearly shown by those who have lifted the veil of the mildewed past. It is known, however, that the
*William Henry Smith, Vincennes, the Key to the Northwest.
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red people who founded on the present site of Vincennes the populous vil- lage of Chip-pe-ko-ke (Brushwood) for at least a century preceding the coming of the Frenchmen and other Europeans, had their central habitation here ; and when the white man came, they generously gave him a large share of their domains in the vicinity of the Old Post, and even permitted the earlier Canadian trappers to make their homes within the confines of the Indian village. Chip-pe-ko-ke was established by the Piankashaws, who suffered the Miamis, Delawares, Kaskaskians and Muscoutins, friendly to the whites, to dwell therein. Long after Chip-pe-ko-ke ceased to be a tribal habitation ,the Indians lingered in and around the Old Post ; and it was not until the summer of 1830 that the last remnant, about one hundred in num- ber, took their final departure for the Illinois country, crossing the river ten miles below town, on horseback. The inhabitants had no fear of vio- lence from a Piankashaw Indian unless he was greatly under the influence of fire water. When in this condition his whoop was terrorizing, and taken as a signal by the frightened housewife to bar the cabin door, as she was wont to do against hungry wolves whose approach was announced by their howls. Commandant St. Ange introduced as early as 1736 stringent regu- lations regarding the sale of liquor to Indians; following the examples of a milder type which had been set by his predecessors. The commandants of the post who came after him always had more or less trouble with the Indians and those who supplied them with fire water .* In July, 1793, the judges of Knox County were called on to enforce the law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors to Indians; and Henry Vanderburgh, Francis Vigo and Robert Buntin were appointed a committee to take charge of the business, and to supply Indians visiting Vincennes such quantity of spirits as should seem to them proper.
The desirability of Vincennes as a dwelling place for the "children of the forest" and their white brethren who established a habitat here early in the eighteenth century, is spoken of thus by the most interesting of historical writerst : "There must have been something attractive about this spot on the Wabash, for after the Mound Builders deserted it and the red men came to occupy the land, they, too, selected it for the site of one of their principal towns. No one knows what tribes have dwelt here, but when it was first visited by white men the Pi-ank-a-shaws, one of the lead- ing tribes of the great Miami confederacy, organized to drive back eastward the Six Nations, occupied it as the principal village and called it Chip-kaw- kay. As the red men depended upon the forests and streams for both food and clothing, this was for them an ideal spot. The finest forests in Amer- ica were here filled with buffalo, bear, deer and other game; while the Wabash furnished them fish and gave them a highway easily traversed, by which to visit friends in other sections, or to make raids on hostile tribes.
*The St. Clair Papers, Vol. ii, page 323.
+ William Henry Smith, Vincennes, the Key to the Northwest.
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The traditions of the Pi-ank-a-shaws indicate that they occupied the site for more than a century before the coming of the whites."
The woods were certainly not the least inviting feature that appealed to these primitive people and induced them, as well as the first travelers from the northern lakes, to locate in this "garden spot" of the Northwest wilderness. The pristine beauty and magnitude of the primeval forests, and the immensity of their giants are conveyed in a description penned by an eminent English traveler and author, who visited this locality at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and wrote as follows: * "It is seldom that a view of 200 yards in extent can be caught in Indiana. The woods west of the mountains are not, as Mrs. W. says in the Wrongs of Woman, 'clustering forests of small trees.' It is a long time before an English eye becomes accustomed to their size and grandeur. The live poplar or tulip- bearing tree, of which canoes are made, the sycamore, the walnut and the white oak, grow to a prodigious size."
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