USA > Indiana > Knox County > Vincennes > History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 57
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Another distinguished writer, in describing the forests of this locality as they were a hundred years ago, says: 1"Forty-two kinds of trees in the Wabash valley attained a height above a hundred feet ; the tallest recorded being a tulip poplar 190 feet high. It was twenty-five feet in circumfer- ence and ninety-one feet to the first limb. Many thousands grew over the state measuring from three and a half to ten feet in diameter. Numbers of sweet gum in the more fertile ground in the southern part of the state contended with the tulip poplar in height, and in beauty and symmetry ex- ceeded it. They sometimes attained a height of 150 feet and a diameter of four feet, often preserving the same size to the first limb.
"In the oak woods there were giants, too. The red, scarlet, burr and white oaks reaching a girth of ten to twenty feet, and often a height of 125 to 150 feet. One instance is reported of a scarlet oak 181 feet high. In the southern part of the state, too, the sweet buckeye attains great size, often being three and a half to four feet in diameter, with a trunk as straight as a column, and reaching a total height of over 100 feet. One example of this species is unique. It is the tree from which was made the celebrated buckeye canoe of the presidential campaign of 1840. The tree grew in the southeast corner of Rush county, and is said to have been, when standing, twenty-seven feet nine inches in circumference and ninety feet from the ground to the first limb. Here and there, quite thickly scattered, were to be found groves of the finest black walnut the world has ever known. Some of these groves were quite extensive, containing hundreds of trees, individ- uals of which were four to six feet in diameter and 100 to 150 feet high.
"In the river valleys, along the streams, the great size of the sycamore was noticeable. This was the largest of the hardwood trees, reaching a maximum height of 140 to 165 feet and often measuring five to ten feet
*Fordham's Personal Narrative (Frederick A. Ogg's reprint), page 153.
+Dryer, Studies in Indiana Geography.
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in diameter. Keeping these company were the cottonwoods, the larger of which measured five to eight feet in diameter and 130 to 165 feet high. The beauty of all the trees in this region was the white elm. Its diameter was three to five feet and its height sometimes 120 feet or more, the am- biters often spreading over 100 feet."
In the bottom lands of Riviere du Chien (Duchee) are standing today elms and oaks of an unusual height, and sycamores having great girth. The decayed trunks of three sycamore trees in a field owned by William Bre- voort, which is skirted on the northeast side by Fausse Chenille (Fort Snye) and on the southwest by the Wabash, will measure from twenty-four to twenty-six feet in circumference.
Referring to a visit made to the Old Post in 1817, when the town was known as St. Vincennes, Mr. Elias Pym Fordham, the author above quoted, says : * "This old town, which was a settlement by the Indian traders, stands near the river on a beautiful prairie surrounded by woods and gently rising hills. Its inhabitants are Canadian and European French, Anglo-Ameri- cans, negroes and a few half-bre[e]d Indians. The French have given their tone of manners to the place. There are many Indians in the neighborhood -Delawares, Miamis and Kaskaskians. The former tribe number about 1,200 warriors and are a fierce, determined race of men. The Miamis and Kaskaskians, though excellent warriors, are more mild. They all hunt and fight with rifle and are good marksmen. I have seen a young Delaware warrior present a heavy rifle and hold it immovable without a rest for several minutes. Some of the Miamis are very fine fellows, comparatively rich. Their tomahawks and guns are beautifully ornamented. They ride blooded ponies, and some of them have handsome saddles and bridles. I received an invitation to visit a camp of Miamis, a few miles hence, and to join a hunting party. I have declined it, not being master of sufficient leisure, nor do I know enough of the Indian who invited me, to entrust myself with them. We stayed at St. Vincennes a week, then went twenty- five miles southwest to a little new town called Princetonf of about twenty houses, situated in the woods. * * * Best land is worth £600 or £700 sterling per section; further from market, £350 or £400-uncleared."
The earliest travelers, and later the geographers and historians, pre- dicted that Vincennes, located as she was in the heart of a marvelously fer- tile country, was destined to become a great metropolitan city ; and, judg- ing from the giant strides she has made in this direction within the last quarter of a century, they reckoned well. The old town, before the days
*Fordham's Personal Narrative (Frederick A. Ogg's reprint), pp. 96, 97, 98. Princeton is situated about thirty miles from Vincennes, within two miles of the Patoka river and ten of the Wabash. The first settlement in the vicinity was made as early as 1800. In 1813 Gibson county was erected and Princeton became its seat. Town lots were first put on sale in 1814. The place received its name from William Prince, an Indian agent who located there in 1812, subsequently a member of Congress.
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of steamboats or railroads, was of greater importance commercially than any of the places which have since grown to be the leading municipalities of the middle west. As early as 1705 more than 20,000 skins and hides were shipped from the section of the Wabash valley of which Vincennes is the center. In 1746 six hundred barrels of flour were taken out of the same locality to New Orleans, besides large quantities of hides, peltries, tallow and bees-wax. This is the view taken by an eastern compiler of the place at the beginning of the nineteenth century: "Vincennes,* upon the left bank of the Wabash, is the oldest and largest town in the state, having been built by the French from Canada; most of the inhabitants are of French extraction. The site of the town is level and when in its natural state was an extensive prairie. The lands are fertile in a high degree. In a commercial point of view, the position of this town is very advantageous, and must advance rapidly. Standing upon the limit of two territorial divi- sions, Vincennes cannot ever again become the seat of government-a loss more than compensated by a favorable situation for agriculture, and the transport of produce to New Orleans, Pittsburg, and indeed to the entire western and southern parts of the United States. The population of Knox County in 1810 was 7,965."
Vincennes is located on the east bank of the Wabash, a distance 150 miles from the point where the river converges with the Ohio. It is 192 miles west of Cincinnati, Ohio; 151 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri; 236 miles south of Chicago; 117 miles southwest of Indianapolis; 51 miles north of Evansville; 56 miles south of Terre Haute. Thet United States government in 1883 made an accurate geodetic survey of the United States. Vincennes was selected as one of the stations for observation. The station here was located near the geographical center of the town in the court- house yard, off the northeast side of the courthouse, and is marked by three stones set in concrete, the center one nearly flush with the surface and bear- ing an "X" mark. Latitude of the station point, 38º 40' 39". Longitude west of Greenwich, 5 hours 50 minutes .0888 seconds, or 87º 31' 28".
The description and location of the Old Post have been so admirably set forth by Mr. Cauthorn in his History of Vincennes, that they will permit of reproduction in this volume: "Vincennes is situated on high ground be- yond the possible reach of inundation, and is bounded on the northeast and southwest by beautiful and fertile prairies, and on the southeast by a pic- turesque range of hills covered in part by forest trees and presenting, from the city, an attractive and pleasing landscape view. The location is pecu- liarly fortunate and safe, occupying as it does a level depression surrounded on most sides by elevated grounds and hills which protect it from the chilly blasts of winter and the destructive storms of summer so prevalent and desolating in portions of the west. The surrounding hills operate as a
*Darby's Emigrant's Guide (1818), page 213.
H. S. Cauthorn, A History of Vincennes, page 11.
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bulwark to divert and elevate the course of passing winds and thus shield and protect it from their fury, so that during the long period of time the site has been the home of civilization, no occasion for alarm has been fur- nished and not the least damage has been done to life or property within its limits on this account. It has numbered among its structures, steeples and towers, insecurely anchored but which stood for years unharmed and until removed by design.
"There are on the southeast side of the city three beautiful mounds, the most noted and picturesque evidences of the work of the mound builders to be found anywhere. These mounds overlook and are in full view from the city. They add much to the physical appearance and beauty of the location, and are, in fact, a handsome background; and from their summits the best view of the city can be obtained. And when viewed from their heights, the city, located as it is upon a level plain, and the streets on either side ornamented with shade trees, appears to advantage, and seems as if located in one large, unbroken forest. There is a fiction connected with these mounds that General Clark, when he approached the place in Feb- ruary, 1779, marched his troops around one of them in a circle many times to impress the inhabitants with the magnitude of his force. No such per- formance ever took place. General Clark says in his account, that he did not wish to surprise the people. He met two Frenchmen of the village when he was at Warrior's Island, two miles below the place, and by them sent a message to the inhabitants of the town to the effect that he did not wish to surprise them, and warning all who were friendly to the 'hair-buyer' general, as he called Hamilton, to join him in the fort. Warrior's Island in the prairie two miles below Vincennes was in full view of the town, and his force could be seen and numbered there, and any such performance as marching around one of the mounds to create a false impression of his force would have been detected and inspired merited contempt and disgust. This alleged performance may be credited to many others designed to mag- nify the exploits of Clark and invest them with colors of romance akin to the deeds of chivalry. General Clark himself says in his report, that when he sent his message to the inhabitants of the town by the two Frenchmen from Warrior's Island, that he knew that the French inhabitants were friendly to him, as was also Tobacco's Son, the most powerful Indian chief in the country. It seems cruel to spoil this romantic story, but regard for truth compels it to be done.
"The streets of the city are all level and graded with gravel containing a cohesive substance which when first taken from its bed is of a dull red color, but upon exposure to the air soon cements and makes a hard and substantial roadbed, and also bleaches and presents a bright and shining appearance, and gives the city streets the appearance of threads of silver winding through shaded avenues. The sidewalks are as level as a sheet of paper, and when improved with granitoid, of which many miles have already been constructed and many more miles are being added each year,
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gives the city sidewalks that cannot be surpassed anywhere, and but rarely equaled.
"The site of Vincennes has always been admired and praised by all trav- elers who ever visited the place. Count Volney in his account of his travels refers to it as a garden spot, reminding him of some of the vine- clad provinces of France. It was in 1796 when he visited the place, and he says the village on all sides was surrounded by the most luxurious vine- yards from which abundance of the purest wines were made by the vil- lagers, and that the prairies adjoining the village were covered with the finest fruit orchards he ever saw. This condition as to the fruit orchards continued in the lower prairies until within the memory of men still living. But the vineyards and orchards have now disappeared and their places have been given up to the cultivation of wheat and corn. Mr. Scott, in a gazetteer, published in 1793, says that a pleasant wine was made here of old.
"In 1765 Colonel Croghan came here to treat with the Miami and Illi- nois tribes. In his report he praised Vincennes as 'one of the finest situa- tions that can be found.' . He praised the soil as very rich, 'producing wheat and tobacco; and that the tobacco raised here is preferable and superior to that of Maryland and Virginia, and that Post Vincennes is a place of great importance for trade.'
"William H. English, when he first visited the place in 1891, thus speaks of it in his History of the Northwest: 'In addition to its early settlement and the multitude of interesting incidents connected with its history, its location and surroundings are so attractive that one can readily understand why it was a favorite of the Indians in the earliest times, and subsequently of the French and others of the white race. There are few places where life at all periods has been more thoroughly and philosophically enjoyed than at the 'Old Post,' St. Vincents, the modern city of Vincennes.' "
Vincennes is destined to become one of the leading cities in Indiana notwithstanding her age, as indicated by the new growth she has developed in the past decade. In 1900 her population was 10,249; in 1910 it was 14,- 895-a healthy and substantial gain. The first census of the town was taken in 1769, when the number of inhabitants was reported at sixty-nine. In 1777 Lieutenant-Governor Abbott stated that the permanent population was 250. The federal government in 1880 reported the number of people living in the Old Post at 714-373 males; 333 females ; 8 slaves. In 1810, according to Dr. Smith's figures, the population was less by forty-four souls than it was in 1800, and embraced 336 males, 329 females, and 5 slaves. The census of town and county for three decades were taken jointly, the town being estimated at one-fifth of the total population, and shows the following figures: In 1820 the total number of inhabitants in the entire county was placed at 5,315-town estimated at 1,029; in 1830 the whole county contained 6,557 souls-town estimated at 1,311; in 1840 county was 10,657-town estimated at 2,131. For the seven subsequent decades the town's census, separately taken, shows that in 1850 the population was
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2,070 ; in 1860 it was 3,960; in 1870 it was 5,438; in 1880, 7,680; in 1890, 8,850 ; in 1900, 10,249; in 1910, 14,895 .*
PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
In early times, while the population of Old Vincennes, as has been shown, was homogeneous in its make-up, there came to the place not a few of refined and intellectual people, whose general knowledge of affairs and letters led them to provide means for their fellow citizens to acquire information from book lore; and, consequently, libraries were made ad- juncts of the first schools. At the beginning of the year 1808, following the establishment of the Vincennes University. the Vincennes Historical and Antiquarian Society was organized. For a number of years this so- ciety flourished, and during its existence many valuable books and paleonto- logical specimens were accumulated. At a period when the university was on the eve of building up and fostering an institution, at that time second to none west of the Alleghany mountains, the newly-organized state of Indiana, presuming that everything within her borders belonged to the state, confiscated the property which had been given by congress to the university, and gave the proceeds therefrom to the Indiana College at Bloomington. This unwarranted and unprecedented action on the part of the Hoosier commonwealth not only killed for the time being the Vincennes school, but it dealt a death blow to the Historical and Antiquarian Society, which was to work hand in hand with the university. In the accumulation of exhaustless volumes of rare books and specimens of great value and his- toric interest, it had established a treasure house of information affording pleasure for both the learned and unlearned. But pernicious legislation severed the cord that bound it to the old school; and after a desperate effort for existence, it finally succumbed to the inevitable, having been sep- arated during the struggle from much of its property. After many years the few remaining shares of stock were bought by a younger generation, who conveyed for a very small consideration the remnants of the society's belongings to the rejuvenated university, which institution is still the proud possessor of the library and specimens of antiquity. The latter have not been added to very materially, but the acquisition of books has increased the number of volumes in the library to nearly 7,000, to which the general public, by proper application, has free access.
The Cathedral library, of which mention has been made in a preceding chapter, attained no great distinction until the advent of Bishop Brute, who came here in 1834. There is, however, evidence tending to show before the
*This figure would be numerically larger by four or five thousand had the enumerators been more experienced in their work. According to the enumeration of school children, which has just been completed-if five were used as a multiple, ac- cording to custom-the population would be nearer to twenty thousand than fourteen thousand. The last census shows that there were 4025 children of school age in Vincennes.
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acquisition of this learned and pious man's collection, the church had ac- cumulated a large number of books-probably as early as 1785-treating on religious and secular subjects. One who has never visited the library and inspected its thousands of quaint and curious volumes can form no idea of the multiplicity of their numbers or the interesting matter that is set forth on their age-stained pages. During cach year this establishment is an objective point for hundreds of pilgrims within the city's gates.
The McClure Working Men's Library was an institution that flourished for many years before the establishment of the present city library. The last days of its existence its remaining volumes, which diminished instead of increased in numbers with the passing years, were kept at No. I fire engine house on Fourth street. Its organization was unique and philan- thropic, and was brought about in this way: In 1849 or 1850, a Mr. Mc- Clure, from whose philanthrophy Mr. Carnegie probably got inspiration for his beneficent bequests, bequeathed to each county in the state of In- diana a fund of $500 to form a basis for a library therein to be called the McClure Township Library. Under these conditions sixty years ago a library was formed at Vincennes ; but as no special provision was made for its maintenance, aside from that afforded by assessments levied on the Firemen's Benevolent Association, after a long series of years, during which many of the books became scattered, its usefulness waned. Before it became entirely worthless, however, the trustees of the school city of Vincennes took charge of its remaining assets and put them into the city library, which they established in 1889, acquiring for the purpose through the common council rooms on the third floor of the city hall. This library now contains about 8,000 volumes, and is open to the public day and night, Sundays included. Its collections embrace the choicest of literary works- history, romance, fiction and current literature, of which Miss Lillian Trimble and Miss Ella Davidson, two of the most agreeable and competent librarians in the country are custodians. Its suite of rooms are well ven- tilated, perfectly lighted and heated, and are visited annually by more than 12,000 patrons, who are accorded the most courteous treatment by those in charge. The last monthly report shows that the library's circulation was 3,000 volumes, and that the rooms had been visited by nearly 1,000 people.
Just a few short months ago the trustees of the public schools accepted the second offer of Mr. Carnegie to appropriate $50,000 for a public library. The site for the building has been selected, and before the end of the pres- ent year another library will be added to the number of desirable institut- tions of this character noticeably in evidence, and which form interesting companion-pieces to the lecture bureauis maintained by social and religious societies.
TIIE PUBLIC PRESS.
In war, civil government, letters, education, law and medicine, Vin- cennes was not a lesser pioneer than in journalism. The first newspaper
ELIJIU STOUT
The accompanying portrait is made from a photograph after the only of painting of Clark from life said to be extant, in possession of the Vincennes University. Prof. E. A. Bryan, former president of the University, in the Magazine of American History, Vol. XXI, p. 387. is authority for the statement that the painting is the only one in existence. It was, of course, executed several years after the capture of Vincennes.
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in the Northwest Territory was the Western Sun, established at the Old Post one hundred and seven years ago. Its founder was Elihu Stout, grand- father of the late Henry S. Cauthorn, who was a practical printer, working in 1803 on the Kentucky Gazette at Frankfort, and who came in that year to Vincennes, when the place was the seat of government of Indiana Terri- tory. The first number of the paper was issued July 4, 1804, nearly a year being required to transport on pack horses the material necessary for its publication. The route followed was along the old Indian trail from Louisville, over which Mr. Stout came alone on horseback. From the date of the first issue the paper was published regularly every week for a period of nearly two years, when a destructive fire swept away every vestige of the office. Undaunted by the disaster, the enterprising publisher set about securing a new outfit, which he procured from Kentucky, and on July 4, 1807, issued the first number of the resurrected paper. The name of the paper when it made its initial appearance was the Indiana Gazette, the title of Western Sun not having been applied until it was resurrected from the ashes, so to speak. George C. Smoot became a partner in the concern on August 1, 1807, but retired on November 17th of the same, his interest be- ing purchased by James Jennings, who retired December 23, 1808. Mr. Stout continued at the helm of the paper alone until December 6, 1817, when the name was changed to Western Sun and General Advertiser. In October, 1819, John Washburn became a partner, retaining a half interest in the publication until September 20, 1820, when he retired. On January 19, 1839, Henry Stout became a partner in the paper, which was published under the name of E. Stout & Son. Elihu Stout remained the head of the firm from the first issue of the publication until November, 1845, when he was appointed postmaster at Vincennes, and sold the paper to John Rice Jones. In 1847 Mr. Jones took into partnership his brother, William A., and the firm continued the publication of the paper until 1848 or 1849, when it failed for want of support, and John Rice Jones went to Washington City to accept a government position. On his return from the national capital he started Jones' Vincennes Sentinel. This paper, after a brief and unprofitable career, suspended and was followed by the Vincennes Indiana Patriot, published by James J. Mayes. The Patriot was established in 1853, shortly before J. & M. A. McClaugherty had launched the Courant ; and in October of the same year hoth papers passed into the hands of the last named firm, and were consolidated as the Courant and Patriot. The paper bitterly opposed the doctrine of Know-Nothingism, and strongly ad- vocated Buchanan's candidaey for president. In 1856 the Courant and Patriot suspended publication, or, rather, fell into the hands of George E. Greene, Sr., who renewed the old name of Western Sun, and continued its publication up to the time of his death, in October, 1870. Reuben C. Kise was the next editor of the Sun, and continued as its sole proprietor until January, 1871, when he took Andrew J. Thomas into partnership in the management of the eoneern. On the death of Mr. Kise, in 1873, Alfred
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Patton bought of the heirs the stock owned by Mr. K., and the firm became known as A. J. Thomas & Co. Royal E. Purcell, the present proprietor, became the owner of the paper on November 1, 1876, when it was a semi- weekly ; and in 1879, in addition to publishing a twice-a-week edition, began the publication of a daily. The paper is the democratic organ of the county, is splendid paying property, and ably edited. The centennial edition of the Western Sun, issued July 4, 1904, was a worthy publication, teeming with interesting historical matter, a great variety of local news, and con- taining quite a number of able editorials on timely topics. The old files of the Western Sun, printed while Elihu Stout was editor, were sold by the late Henry Cauthorn several years ago to the state for $1,000 per volume, and today are an important part of the historical collections to be found in the Indiana Library at Indianapolis.
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