USA > Indiana > Pike County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 44
USA > Indiana > Dubois County > History of Pike and Dubois counties, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 44
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The Anderson Valley Mining Company has been organized many years to work the various ochers, paints, Tripoli powder, etc., found in the vicinity of Ferdinand. J. B. Gohman, John Baunline, W. A. Bindewald and Dr. Kempf began the work on Section 34, Township 3, Range 4. The following is the section at their early mine:
Slope.
Shaly soapstone "steatite" paint.
10 3
Dark and light "butternut" paint, and dark and light "Bismarck brown" paint.
Bituminous limestone with Productus punctatus, P. lon- gispinus, P. coraz, Spirifer cameratus. S. lineatus, S. Kentuckienseis. Nautilus decoratus, Cyrtoceras, Ten- bratula brenidens, Athyri's subtilata, Hemipronite: crassa, Aniculo-pecten procidenses, Fusulina cylindri ca.
3
Limestone changing into "coral earth," with beautiful plates and spines of Archacidare's mucronatus, A. Wortheni, Crinoid stems, plates and arms; stems and crushed plates of Pentremites and other mountain limestone animals.
"Terra de Sienna" and yellow ocher
Coal K.
Bituminous shale, "dark umber"
"Yellow ocher"
1}
Fire clay with stigm trial roots 3
Potter's clay, "Dubois cream" or "'stone color" 4
Bedded sandstone, etc., to water. 75
Feet.
The supply of the paints named and others is so great around Ferdinand that it is practically inexhaustible. The company now offers for sale in larg. quantities the following paints with prices
474
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
attached: Butternut, light and dark. 2} cents per pound; Bis- muck brown, 4 cents; Bismarck red, 5 cents: ocher No. 1. : cents; ocher No. 2, 13 to 12 cents : raw umber, 4 cents; burnt um- ber. 5 cents; metallic fire-proof maroon, red. light and dark, 21 to 23 cents; raw sienna, 2 cents; burnt sienna, 23 cents; Dubois stone. 2 cents: Dubois coach black. 4 cents; American Tripoli. 5 to 10 cents. A discount is made to the trade. The paints and polishing powder have the highest endorsements of those who have used them, rivaling and often surpassing any others of this or foreign countries. This enterprise cannot be spoken of too highly, and reflects much credit on the patience, industry and intelligence of the company.
In the vicinity of St. Henry, Coal A has been worked exten- sively and is about three teet thick. On farther west, Coal K becomes visible and workable. Its limestone roof is often filled with the finest fossils, named above. At Holland Coal K is good, as are also its accompanying iron ores. Many excellent beds of the latter are found in this vicinity. Fine beds of ocher are often found in digging wells. North of Holland the " massive " sand- stone and its accompaning "rock-houses " appear. Remains of animals and human bones have been found in the latter. North of Huntingburgh the finest potters' clay is found. At the town, Coal A is below the surface from fifteen to twenty feet. It may be said in general that Dubois County is not surpassed by any other in the State in point of mineral products. It has the finest coal, sandstone, limestone, ochres, polishing powders, fire clays, iron ores, sands for glassware, springs of good water. etc., besides a valuable soil and timber.
47:
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
CHAPTER II.
SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTY-COMING OF THE PIONEERS-THEIR TRIALS IN THE WILDERNESS-ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS OF INTEREST- INDIAN CESSION TREATIES-LAND ENTRIES-OTHER ITEMS OF IN- TEREST.
I "N fixing the dates of early settlements in any locality there is much liability to err. Especially is this the case where the first settlers came at a time considerably removed into the past. It is generally believed that the earliest settlers came to Dubois County in 1802. There is not much testimony to impeach this general belief, but when it is considered that about one century had elapsed since Vincennes had been settled by white men, it seems almost improbable that none of them should have pene- trated so short a distance into the surrounding country. The set- tlement had continued to grow from the time of its beginning and the population was getting to be numerous in that locality.
One thing is certain, that at the time when what are usually deemed the first settlers came, there was a well-known and fre- quented route passing along the northern portion of the county, leading from Vincennes to Jeffersonville. It was popularly known through this section as the "Mud hole trace," on account of some mud holes that were situated near Portersville, and rendered the way almost impassable. White men had been here before 1802, but a doubt exists whether any remained to effect a permanent settlement. In that part of the county where this "trace " was is where the location by white men was made.
It is seldom that the earliest inhabitants of any portion of a new country succeed in perpetuating their names as such. The first comers are nearly always squatters, and many of them remain for a time and then move away. But however many such there may have been in this county. the present work has nothing to do with those things that are based upon supposition alone. Reliable facts will be dealt with and such statements will be made as have a strong probability in their favor. What few records could be
476
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
found have been carefully examined, and where none could be oh- tained the oldest and most reliable of the early settlers have been interviewed. Among these Mr. Bazil B. Edmonston, who has been a resident of the county since the year 1818, and one of its best known citizens, deserves special mention for his willingness to assist in giving information.
Boone Township has the reputation of being the scene of the first white settlement in Dubois County. This was made by two brothers, John and William MeDonald, near the "mud holes," in 1802. John McDonald is said to have built the first house erected by a white man in the county. The time was in the early part of 1802, or more than eighty-three years ago. What a fruitful subject for contemplation is the change that has taken place in our affairs since that time. The United States had not yet be- come owners of any part of what now constitutes Dubois County. The Indians owned and inhabited the whole country in this portion of the State. But most of the county was purchased from the Indians by a treaty made at Fort Wayne on the 7th of June, 1803. and was included in what is known as the Vincennes Tract. The balance of the county was bought in August of the following year at Vincennes. By this it will be seen that all those who settled in the county prior to June, 1803, were living on Indian lands, and after that time, up to 1807, the date of the first land entry. they were upon "Congress" land. As soon as the Government had purchased the land immediate preparations were made for having it surveyed. This was done as follows: Range 3 west, by Levi Barber, and Range 4 by Nahum Bewl, in September 1804; Range 5 by David Sandford and Range 6 by Stubbs & Fowler in October of the same year. Not long after this the land was placed on sale at Vincennes. But the people were not disposed to wait on the owners of the soil for an invitation to locate in any particular lo- cality. Whenever and wherever they wanted to go they went. It was something of this spirit that caused the trouble with the Indians in 1811. A list of those who were the first to purchase land in Boone Township is here given, with the year the land was bought. Of course many of these men had lived in the county some time prior to the time of buying real estate on which to make their future home: James Fenis, 1810; Peleg R. Allen, 1818; Jacob Lemmon, 1814; Samuel Smythe, 1814; Nicholas Harris, 1817 ;
$77
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
Thomas Hope, 1818; John Thompson, 1814; Ebenezer Smythe, 1816; David Wease, 1814; John Coley, 1815; Jacob Harbison, 1>14; Anthony McElwain, 1817; Joseph Stubblefield, 1814; Adam Hope, 1812; Arthur Harbison, 1807; Richard Hope, 1818; Tou- saint Dubois, 1807; John Sherritt, 1817; James Harbison, 1816; John and James Niblack, 1817; William Kelso, 1824; Samuel Brown, 1818; William Green and George Armstrong, 1817; Dan- iel Harris, 1826. These are all the entries made up to the close of 1830. Among other early settlers may be named John De- Motte; James McElwain; John, Solomon, George and Joseph Daffron : Jacob Lincus, Lemuel and Andrew Kelso, Robert D. Dixon, Stephen Dixon, Thomas Anderson, Charles and Raughley Horton, Samuel Kirkland. Hamilton McKain, John Abel and Josiah Reader.
The McDonalds were not long alone, for they had scarcely completed their cabin ere others began to dot the forests. The Indians were troublesome then, and for protection a block-house was built near the "mud holes," to which they all might go in times of unusual danger. These houses were generally built by the united efforts of all the people in a community, and were con- sidered much as common property. Not long after John McDon- ald came to Dubois County, he was deprived of his life-chosen partner, and his wife's grave was the first to close over a white person in the county. She was buried on the Sherritt farm. By some it is said McDonald's first house was built near this same place, but it is probable that it was built farther north, and on the farm now owned by Louis Weaver. He seems to have built several cabins in this neighborhood. He did build a house-a double log, and most likely his second-near the grave of his wife. This was occupied by him and the family of his brother William, while the Indians took possession of the first cabin. Not long after that the Indians became hostile, and they were compelled to take their families back to Jeffersonville on pack mules. They returned to take care of their erops. During this time they were beginning to have white neighbors, and a portion would stand on guard during the day while others worked in the fiells. White River was constantly watched, for the savages were expected to make an outbreak at any day. After the fear had somewhat subside.l, and no danger being apprehended, the fami
478
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
lies were again brought to the forests. Gen. Harrison, a ver' few years later, came through this section. He changed the "old mud hole trace" in several places, and it was ever after know, as the "Governor's trace." The house of William McDonald was a usual stopping place for travelers then, and there are sev- eral stories still told of incidents connected with Gen. Harrison's stay there. One of these has for its gist the fact that his daugh- ter, who accompanied him, while drinking from a gourd, stood leaning over the water pail, and for this her father reprimanded her and gave her a considerable slap. On another of these trips the future President lost his gold watch, and was unable to find it. Several years later it was found and sent to Indianapolis as a relic. A few years later the Indians again broke out, but this time the settlers concluded not to take their families away, but to defend them. For this purpose they built the fort before spoken of, and which was known as the McDonald Fort for several years.
The man for whom Dubois County was named appeared upon the scene about that time. His full name was Tousaint Dubois, and he had been for some time living at Vincennes. As his name indicates, he was a Frenchman. He bought the land of the Government that theMcDonalds had been living upon and partly improved. There was always great strife in the early days for the best land. At nearly the same time Arthur Harbison entered a piece of land in the same vicinity. These two were the first men to buy land in the county, and both were honored by the later settlers. There is some doubt whether Dubois ever lived in the county that now bears his name. It was then Knox County, and continued to be until 1813. In the meantime he earned the special mention of his general in the memorable field of Tippecanoe.
Going a little further north in Boone Township, and in the neighborhood of Portersville, the country was rapidly filling with people. In that section James Ferris was an early settler. On the farm now owned by Thomas Ferris, near Portersville, another block-house was built, and it continued to stand until the trouble with the Indians was entirely removed. Ferris came as early as 1508, and several others came about the same time. The land where Portersville is now located was entered by Jacob Lemmon, in 1814. When the place was chosen for the county seat it was
479
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
covered with large forest trees. A "deadening" was near the log court house, and people from the farther portions of the county would come and camp out there while their causes were being disposed of. Sometimes they would remain for several days, and during the time they would have a jolly time, and engage in various pastimes common in their day.
Hon. William E. Niblack, at present judge in the Indiana Su- preme Court, who was born in Portersville in 1822, has kindly fur- nished some of the following facts: His father, John Niblack. moved to Dubois County in 1817, only a short time after it had been established. He was a native of Fayette County, Ky. Im- mediately after coming to Indiana he was appointed agent of Dubois County to complete its organization ; he laid out the town of Portersville and conducted the sale of the town lots: he also built the first court house and jail. These were both hewed log structures. The court house was two stories high with a brick chimney at each end. Tho lower story constituted the court room and the upper story was divided into smaller rooms for jury purposes. The jail was also two stories high. The lower story was constructed with double hewed log walls and was called "the dungeon." being used to confine criminals of the worst class. The upper story had a single wall of hewed logs and was called the "debtor's prison"-imprisonment for an ordinary debt being then allowed by law. The old jail has long since disappeared, but the old court house, though in a somewhat dilapidated condition. still stands and is used as a store-house for grain and other farm products. John Niblack was one of the earliest and most active friends of education and other progressive measures of his day. and always took an active part in local public affairs. He never sought an office for himself, being only for a short time a few years before his death an associate judge of his county.
At a date nearly, if not quite, as early as the first settlement in Boone Township, there came to what is now Madison Town- ship, several white families. One of these was that of Josiah Risley, a man who disputes with John MeDonald the priority of settlement in the county. It was a short distance southwest from Ireland, on Section 25 that Risley built his first house. By some this is thought to have been the first one erected in this county, but the probabilities are in favor of the MeDonald house.
480
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
Madison Township is one of the best agricultural districts in the county, and it was doubtless this that attracted the early settlers to that region. The record of land entries shows that no other portion of the country was more eagerly sought after by the men then settling the country. Up to the year 1830 the following is a complete list of the purchasers of land of the Government. Edward Wood, 1814; John Stewart, 1816; Richard Wood, 1817; James and Samuel Green, 1816: Jesse Corn, 1816; Edward Green, 1814; George Armstrong, 1817; John Niblack, Jr., 1817; Henry Lacefield, 1814; Hugh Redman, 1815; John Anderson, 1817; Ashbury Alexander, 1815; Robert Stewart, 1816; John Green and John Cantrell, 1817; Isaac Alexander, 1815; George Hankin, 1818; William Closson, 1819; Elward Mosby, 1825; John McMahon, 1818; John Anderson and Eli Thomas, 1820; Jonathan Walters (probably Walker), 1816; John Payne, 1817; William Hurst, 1816; James Kelly, 1817; James Payne, 1816; William and Thomas Anderson, 1815; T. J. Wethers, 1817; John Walker, 1814; William Shook, 1814; Andrew Anderson, 1817; Jesse Lindsey, 1820; Joseph Kinman, 1818. This is a total of thirty-two entries made by thirty-six persons and nearly all of them were in their teens. None of them came in less than seven years after the first of Boone Township.
In Madison Township no family was more prominent than the Armstrongs, and some of them were long identified with every public affair of this locality. Ashbury Alexander and some of the Greens were also foremost among the early settlers. Many were of Irish descent and hence the name of the town in that township. Lacey and James Ritchey who came very early had been slaveholders in the South and upon coming to Indiana are said to have brought their negroes with them. This was no uncom- mon occurrence in the early settlement of southern Indiana, but the vigorous policy of the Territorial and State governments soon rendered the maintenance of human slavery within its borders both impossible and impracticable.
Another thing that attracted settlers to this portion of the county was the facilities afforded by the Patoka. In times of high water it was utilized as a means for transporting whatever produce might be on hand. But the use for which it was most available and most beneficial was as a water-power. Several early
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
mills were erected along its banks and afforded the people milling advantages superior to those of most early settlements. The Risleys kept one of these mills for several years and did a large trade.
One of the prominent characters of the early days was Jona- than Walker. He was one of those large, robust, pngilistic fel- lows who attract attention in any crowd on account of physical vigor. His fighting ability was of the highest order and he lost no opportunity for exhibiting it. In fact he was rather quarrel- some and sought opportunities to display himself. He was known from Vincennes to Louisville along the "trace" that crossed Dubois County. About the year 1\40 he was indicted and tried for the murder of a shoe-maker at Huntingburgh, but was ac- quitted.
Harbison Township is the middle of the three northern town- ships, and is bounded on the north by the east fork of White River and Martin County, on the west by Columbia Township, on the south by Marion and Bainbridge Townships and on the west by Boone Township. It is now inhabite.l by a considerable num- ber of Germans, indeed there are but few families besides them in the township. It is named for Arthur Harbison, an early settler and the first associate judge of the county. The Vincennes trace passed through this township, and in early times it brought some intercourse with the world. A majority of the first settlers were from North Carolina and brought with them most of the ideas of life that prevailed in that section of the country at the opening of the century. Many of them were poor and found it nearly impos- sible to flourish in a land where human slavery prevailed. The poor freemen were in a worse condition than the slaves. They determined to abandon their native country and found a home in the great West. Indiana was then upon the very verge of civil- ization, and hither they flocked in large numbers. The whole southern end of the State was settled by people from the South- ern States.
In the very early days a few came with slaves. Up to and in- cluding the year 1830, the following is a complete list of the pur- chasers of land in what is now Harbison Township: B. B. Ed- monston, 1818; Moses Kelso, 1818; Edward Givin, 1817; Samuel Nichols, 1822; John Lemon, 1824; Richard Hoper, Sr., 1818;
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
William Edmonton, 1515 : Andrew F. Kelso. 1-29: Joseph Kelso, 1\16: Samuel Kelso. 1-17: Reuben Mathias, 1.17: Thomas Patton. 1816; Samuel McConnell, 1807: Joseph I. Kelso. 1424; Willis Hays, 1815: James Hope, 1814: Joseph Stubble- field, 1814: Joseph Little. 1817; John Lemon. 1816: James Jack- son. 1815. Many of these had been in the county some time be- fore purchasing land. The Kelsos were the most prominent family in the township in early days and they were leaders in all public affairs in this portion of the county. Willis Hays took au active part in the doings of the earlier days and he was for a time associate judge. For him the village of Haysville was named. Dur- ing the decade from 1810 to 1920 a man named John Butler kept a small store, about one and a half miles southeast of Haysville. on the farm of Anna Hoffman. These early traders all bought furs of any kind that they could dispose of, and many were the jokes that would be played upon them. It is said that often people would fasten a coon's tail to a possum skin and sell it for coon skin, which brought a high price. It was near this place that an Indian was killed on account of some threat he had made while partly intoxicated. Butler sold whisky too, and the Indians came here frequently for that article, and would drink and dance in their savage fashion. Between Butler's place and Haysville a block-house was built on the farm now owned by John Hebner. The people resorted to that in case of danger, or when any fear was entertained from the Indians. This house did not long stand after the Indians had been driven from this part of Indiana.
Not far from the line between Boone and Harbison Town- ships, Arthur Harbison killed an Indian. It is told of him that on account of some relative, said to have been his father, having been killed in Kentucky, he entertained a bitter hatred for the Indian race, and that he lost no opportunity for revenge. These early Indian tragedies were but few in Dubois County. Fousaint Dubois had been employed by Gen. Harrison as a messenger to the various Indian tribes, and with them he is said to have had great influence for good. It may be that he had something to do with the good feeling that prevailed in this county. It will be remembered that he was a und owner here, and had some per- sonal interes in the spirit manifested between Lu red men and the whites. The same authority for Harbier . also says that he
48:
HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
was accompanied by William Curry, and that each of them killed an Indian. The red men had cut a bee tree and were busy gath- ering the honey when they were shot. This report is given for what it is worth.
CHAPTER III.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY-ACT OF CREATION-THE COUNTY BOARD-FORMATION OF TOWNSHIPS-THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION- PUBLIC BUILDINGS-THIE POOR-NEW TOWNSHIPS-COUNTY OFFI- CERS-RAILROADS-AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES-OTHER EVENTS OF VALUE.
I "N 1805, when Indiana was first organized as a Territory, the land
now composing Dubois County was a part of Knox. Thus it remained until the formation of Gibson County, in 1813, when most of it was embraced in the new county. In December, 1816, by the formation of Pike County out of Gibson, Knox and Perry Counties, it was included in Pike. It remained as a part of Pike but one year, when it was organized into a separate county. The act of the Legislature creating Dubois County, reads as follows: AN ACT FORMING A NEW COUNTY OUT OF THE EASTERN END OF PIKE COUNTY, APPROVED DECEMBER 20, 1817.
SECTION 1 .- Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana. that from and after the 1st of February next, all that parcel or tract of country lying in the eastern part of the present county of Pike, shall be formed into a new county to be called and known by the name of Dubois County, to wit. Begining at a point on the bank of the east fork of White River, at which the center line of Range 6 shall intersect said fork of White River; thenee running south with said center line until said center line intersects the present line divid- ing Warrick and Pike Counties; thenee east with said line to the line dividing Perry and Pike Counties; thence with said line dividing Orange and Pike Counties until it shall strike Lick Creek; thence meandering with said creek until it empties itself into the east fork of White River; thence meandering down said river to the place of beginning.
SEC. 2. That Gen. W. Johnson, of Knox County; Thomas Polke, of Perry County; Thomas Montgomery, of Gibson County; Richard Palmer, of Daviess County; and Ephraim Jordan, of Knox County, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed commissioners to meet at the house of William McDaniel, near the "Mud Holes," on the second Monday of February, 1818, and proceed to select a site for the seat of justice for said county under the directions and provisions of an act passed in the year 1813, entitled "an act providing for the permanent fixing of the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be established."
SEC. 3. That all suits, plaints, actions and proceedings which may before
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HISTORY OF DUBOIS COUNTY.
the said 1st dav of February next, have been commenced, instituted, and pend ing in the new county of Pike, shall be prosecuted to a final judgment and effect in the same manner as if this act had never passed. And whenever the seat of justice within the county of Dubois shall have been established, the person or persons authorized to dispose of and sell the lots at the seat of justice. shall reserve 10 per centum on the net proceeds of the whole sale, for the use of a county library in said county, which sum or sums of money shall be paid over to such person as may be authorized to receive the same in such manner and in such installments as shall be authorized by law. And until suitable ac- commodations can be had in the opinion of the circuit court, at the seat of justice of said new county, all the courts of justice of said county shall be holden at the house of William McDaniel, near the "Mud Hole," in said county. After which time the circuit courts necessary to be held at the county seat, shall be adjourned to the same. And the county commissioners shall within twelve months after the site of the said seat of justice shall have been selected, pro- ceed to erect the necessary buildings thereon.
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