USA > Indiana > Rush County > History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 27
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305
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
ville, for $1,000, and was taken to Illinois. In 1860, William Gray bought of John Shawhan a three year old colt, by a horse known as Shawhan's Tom Hal, he by Bald Stocking, of Kentucky, and he by imported Tom Hal, of Canada. This famous horse, known among horsemen everywhere as Gray's Tom Hal was kept here in the Gray family for twenty-four years and was cared for during all these years by John T. Gray, who was his owner at the time of his death. This horse is the sire of Little Gypsie, 2:22; Limber Jack, 2 :1812 ; Bay Billie, 2:1334 ; Mattie Bond, 2:2714 ; Sy Alger, 2:3114 ; sire of the dam of Buffalo Girl, 2:1212: also sire of the dam of St. Dennis, 2.23. Mr. Gray also owned Henry, by Old Stockbridge, of Cincinnati. At the death of William Gray the stables came into possession of the son, John T. Here are found a rare lot of well bred stallions. Among these are Medoc Hamble- tonian and his son Dock, Jr., splendid specimens and always premium winners in their class. A son of Tom Hal, a worthy scion of his illustrious sire. At this stable are kept the horses belonging to the Shawnee Stock Association, viz .: Favory, by French Mon- arch, a son of the great Ilderim. This horse (Favory) took first prize at the World's Exposition, at Paris in 1878, and first premium at St. Louis, in 1880. Was a government approved stallion in France, and weighs 2280 pounds. Another imported Draft horse, Coco is also kept here; this horse was imported by Bridgeland & Barry, of Indianapolis. He is a well bred horse and weighs ISoo pounds. Frank Hale, an inbred Morgan horse belongs to the Shawnee Breeding Association, and is found at the Gray stables. " Within the last few years thoughtful breeders like General Withers, have been investigating the source of 'trotting instinct,' analyzing the blood that flows in the veins of the fastest and most enduring race and road horse and have made the discovery that the Vermont Morgan has contributed a greater share of it than any other branch of the trotting family. As a result of this discovery there is a re- vival of admiration for this truly great class." "Frank H." is a magnificent looking animal, in color a dapple brown with black points and a star in forehead and snip. He is the best son of Ben Franklin and has shown himself at the Rutland County Fair, Ver- mont, before 5,000 people to be eleven seconds faster than the Rut- land track was ever trotted before by a three-year-old colt, and this track has been in use thirty years. Dam of "Frank H." was by the Lapham horse, and he by Hill's Black Hawk. The sire of " Frank H.", Ben Franklin, was by Daniel Lambert, and he by Ethan Allen (record with running mate, 2:12), and he by Vermont Black Hawk.
306
RUSH COUNTY.
Old Blue Bull .- If there is anything Rush County ever made a national reputation on, it is her Blue Bull trotting stock. Until a few years ago the name of James Wilson was known on every turf in the United States as the owner of a sire of more trotting horses than any six stallions in the country, with probably the excep- tion of Rysdyk's Hambletonian. But during the last two years the performances of the progeny of this famous horse has placed him indisputably at the head of all sires of trotting horses.
The money that has been left in Rush County from the sales of Blue Bull colts can be computed by thousands. The history of this famous horse has been published as follows: "He is the Abra- ham of pacing sires, the greatest exponent, living or dead, of the power that pacing blood exerts in producing trotters. Reared in the wilds of Indiana, his early life passed in forced seclusion, gifted with marvelous speed at a pacing gait, but overtaken by the mis- fortune of a broken knee, which prevented him placing a sensational mark on the blackboard, and, greatest of all - without brithright of a long descent from some of the great trotting families, to commend him to breeders, yet, by his own intrinsic worth, he emerged from obscurity, overcame all these obstacles and placed his name first among the list of winning sires. His pedigree does not fulfil the requirements of any school of breeding -no royal blood lines to Messenger, Bashaw or Morgan are found in his veins -no mares of accepted pedigree or merit graced his harem, except the dam of Elsie Good, until towards the close of his life when winner after winner from common mares hailed him as sire and then the excite- ment ran high. Approved brood mares were sent by the car load to his home in Rush County, Ind .; and scores of buyers in quest of young Blue Bulls, were attracted to that neighborhood.
" But Blue Bull's career is a special study. He is not a pen- sioner on birth-place, breeding, opportunities or circumstances, for his fame, present, and to come -nothing seems to check the speed producing elements of his nature, which descended in a remarkable degree through all kinds of dams. Wilson's Blue Bull was foaled in IS58, and is described by one who knew him well as a dark chestnut horse 1512 hands high, star in forehead and one white hind foot, sloping, heavy muscled shoulders, extraordinary strong loin, powerful quarters, the very best of legs except a broken knee, high headed and stylish, a silken coat and in general appearance and conformation, as fine as a thoroughbred. He was bred by Elijah Stone, of Wheatland, Ind., and got by Pruden's Blue Bull, son of Merring's Blue Bull, commonly known as Ohio Farmer. It has been well said of the great and good in the human family that
307
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
they had generally good mothers. As the stock of Blue Bulls progenitors was of decidedly common stamp, attention should be turned to his dam in summing up his superior merits. Mr. Wallace says she was by a horse called Truxton; but those who were inti- mately acquainted with the history of this horse, George and Louis Loder, Daniel Dorrell and the Wilsons, stoutly maintain that she was by Blacknose, the thoroughbred son of Medoc. Passing on to a consideration of what Blue Bull has accomplished we find that Purity was the first to attract attention. She was sold for $3,000, and bid fair to trot in 2:20. Ella Wilson, $7,000; Mila C., record 2:2614, then sold for $10,000; St. Dennis, $5,500; Silver- ton, $6,000; Mamie, $5,000; Richard, $7,500; Bertie, $7,500; Ethel, $9,000; Elsie Good, $5,000. Five of his colts have trotting records under 2:20."
Samp Wilson, a son of the well-known James Wilson, of Blue Bull fame, one of the greatest drivers of horses in the country, has a stable of fine blooded animals at the old Wilson farm in this county. Among these we mention Lord Harold, by Harold, sire of Maud S. and Beaumont.
R. J. Wilson, son of the late James Wilson, and one of the most successful and prudent horsemen in this county, has on his farm the following well-bred stallions: Wallkill Prince, Kinder- garten and Athlone.
Mr. R. J. Wilson, in the fall of 1886, purchased a rich-blooded colt at Glenview Stock sales in Kentucky, viz .: Cherrywood. For this colt Mr. Wilson paid $3,025, the highest price ever paid for a weanling. Cherrywood is by the famous horse Nutwood.
Prominent among the owners of standard animals we mention Oliver Posey & Son, owners of Pau and Russia, crossed closely with the best trotting strains in the country. These colts must be speed producers or horsemen must lose confidence in pedigrees.
Mr. W. A. Jones, the well-known trainer and breeder, of Rush- ville, the owner of Elgin Boy and Raven Boy, has purchased the fashionably bred horse Chesterwood, for $5,2So. He is a splen- did representative of the great Nutwood, and a trotter himself.
Legal Tender, Jr., owned by J. M. Amos in Rush County, is one of the finest horses in this section of Indiana, and has endowed his progeny with wondrous speed. He is the sire of such well- known trotters as Lowland Girl, 2:1912 : Wonderful (a pacer, 2:24), Lady Elgin, trotter, 2:25 14 ; Davy Crockett, pacer, 2:26; Legal R., trotter, 2:30; Bob Ingersoll, 2:30; Laura J., 2:2714; Legal Star, pacer, 2:26; Mattie H., trotter, 2:2714. Legal Tender, Jr., is a standard horse, and has a record to his credit of 2:27. He is by Legal Tender (1784), sire of Red Cloud.
308
RUSH COUNTY.
Henry Fry, of Union Township, a well-known breeder of trot- ting horses, is the owner of Wilson, a son of old Blue Bull, dam Queen, by Gray's Tom Hal, and Falmouth, by Ajax.
J. M. Gwin, the well-known horse man of Rushville, has done much to advance the interests of our people in this particular line. He is now the owner of Alwood, a young horse of most excellent form, carriage and color, a beautiful chestnut sorrel, foaled July 3, ISS3. He is by the great sire, Almont 33.
Mr. Gwin's first stallion was John Dillard, an excellent young horse, afterwards Tom Brown, Jr., by Tom Brown, he by Crazy Nick. Subsequently, Mr. Gwin kept Morris' Almont, a famous horse, that has left some good blood lines in our county.
Flying Dutchman, by Flying Dutchman, brought from Ohio by G. T. Aultman in 1874. He was a fine pacer, and left valuable blood in the county.
Joe T. Johnson owns the following popularly bred horses : Nut- gold, by Nutwood; Brussels, by Blue Bull; Vulcan, a heavy draft Percheron, and one of the best horses ever brought to America, is closely related to the finest animals which are the recognized heads of popular Percheron families.
J. F. Gosnell, owner of Commander, by Blue Bull. Mr. Gos- nell has several fillies and young horses, the get of this stallion, which are recognized as very promising.
Gus Glidden, of Raleigh, one of the great drivers and trainers of the country, now has several, among which we mention: Almont Brunswick, by Almont Chief; Samuel I, by Grand Sentinel. He was the owner of Forest, for which he received $16,000; sold Grafton for $15,000.
Cloud Mambrino, owned by Alfred Loder, of Raleigh, a valu- able horse of Rush County, died eight or ten years ago. Sire of Little Alfred, record 2:20; Billy Lambertson, 2:2814. Mr. Loder is now the owner of Gold Edge, a Hambletonian of fine promise and standard. He also owned Sam Patch, a son of old Blue Bull by an Archie mare. He was the owner of Lowland Girl, 2: 191/2, and developed this wonderful mare.
R. W. Rich, of Falmouth, Indiana, and Charles E. Rich, of Raleigh, are the owners of Swisher, a splendid specimen of the horse family, by the great Hambletonian Tranby. These gentle- men are also owners of several excellent youngsters which prom- ise well for the future.
W. M. Cook, of Glenwood, is the proprietor of Glenwood stock farm. He owns Gloster, the best son of Blue Bull. The dam of Gloster is by old Jerry, dam, a messenger mare brought from Kentucky. There seems to be no reason to doubt
309
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
that this horse will sire race horses. Mr. Cook has a six-year-old gelding by Gloster, who paced a mile in 2:2414, with a few days' handling. He also has colts by Wallkill Prince and Blue Vein.
A horse known as Archie Lightfoot, about 1858-59, was kept at John L. Legg's (Raleigh) ; this horse was the sire of the first native Rush County horses ever trained for speed in the county. Among these we name: Topsey, Belle Loder, Brown Dick and Bob Lindsey. He was subsequently the property of William S. Hall and Thomas Legg. At this same place Mr. Brook Legg keeps the well-known standard bred horses Ajax and Artemus. Mr. Legg is a horseman of large experience and is regarded as a first-class horseman.
There are many other breeders of more or less importance within the county. Indeed, there are but few of the most progres- sive farmers that do not give much attention to the breeding of the best class of all kinds of stock.
Avenues of Travel .- The roads traversed by the pioneer settlers of Rush County were first the Indian trails, which were the only avenues of travel established by the Delaware tribe, which inhab- ited this county at the time of the coming of the first settler. These were succeeded by neighborhood roads until the organiza- tion of the county, when county roads were established according to the demands of public convenience. The primitive roads were little more than a path " blazed out," by which travelers might with some degree of confidence, go from one settlement to another with- out fear of losing their course. These roads often traversed low, wet land and marshy districts, and in order to make them passable were cross laid with logs and rails, and were generally known as " corduroys," which, according to an eminent American humorist, " has decreased the length of many a spinal column." When the necessities of enlarged travel became apparent, the demand for better constructed roads became quite universal, and in response to this demand state roads were surveyed and located at the expense of the state.
The first county road ordered to be viewed was described as beginning at the east line of Rush County, at the corners of Sec- tions 21 and 28, Town 12, Range II: thence on a due west line to the western boundary of said township. The second one viewed commenced where Whetzel's Trace crossed the west line of Fayette, running thence west, the nearest and best route to the house of Richard Thornbury; thence in the same direction to the east line of Shelby County. These routes were, in the opinion of the viewers, practicable, and would be of great public utility and convenience, and were accordingly laid out.
310
RUSH COUNTY.
After many years of experience with dirt roads, which until 1850, were the only public thoroughfares in the state, it was thought proper to authorize by legislative, enactment, as many older states had done, the construction of roads whereby the products of the farm might be transported to meet the demands of trade. In response to this demand the general assembly of 1849, authorized the incorporation of stock companies for the construction of plank roads. In all but few of the counties of the state such roads were built and operated, but after a few years were abandoned as im- practicable.
Since 1860, there have been constructed on all the principal thoroughfares leading out of Rushville, as well as on many of the cross roads in various parts of the county, gravel roads, of which the following is a list of the most important: Rushville and Vienna, Rushville, Raysville and Knightstown, Rushville and Milroy, Fal- mouth and Lewisville, Fayetteville and Andersonville, Fairview and Fayetteville, Fayetteville and Rushville, Hamilton Station, Rush- ville and Smeltzer's Mill, Rushville and Arlington, Lewisville and Raleigh, Charlotteville, Rushville and Shelbyville, Rush and Henry, Moscow and Rushville, McDaniel and McBride, Carthage and Northwestern, Oldham and Sharon, Rushville and Mull, Shelby- ville and Mull, Arlington, Carthage and Knightstown, Hilligass, Miller, Rushville and Moscow, New Demreith, Simon Martin, Big Blue River, Carthage and Walnut Ridge, Ogdon, McMillin.
With but a few exceptions these are toll roads, and were built long before the enactment of the law authorizing the construction of free gravel roads. In the last few years a number of free roads have been built and now the total miles of the toll and free roads is equal to the best counties in the state.
Presidential Elections. - The following tables will show the re- sults of the presidential elections in Rush County, from 1824 to the present time.
NOVEMBER, IS24.
TOWNSHIPS.
Adams and Crawford.
Clay and Sanford. 58
Jackson and Calhoun.
Rushville
13
56
Orange
5
15
Noble
8
32
Richland
2
16
14
Union. .
0
21
2
Tota
15
IOS
119
-
Archibald Mo. Kennedy
313
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
NOVEMBER, 1828.
TOWNSHIPS.
Jackson and Calhoun.
Adams and Rusk.
Noble
52
13
Washington.
35
5
Richland
58
53
Orange
S4
32
Ripley
34
35
Union
23
13
Rushville
362
194
Total
649
345
NOVEMBER, 1832.
TOWNSHIPS.
Jackson and Van Buren.
Clay and Sergeant.
Rushville
364
356
Washington.
69
30
Walker.
30
16
Richland
31
92
Anderson
54
45
Orange
IO6
45
Union
90
67
Center
14
22
Noble
51
43
Ripley
53
69
Total
927
796
NOVEMBER, 1836.
TOWNSHIPS.
Harrison and Granger.
Van Buren and R. M. Johnson.
Richland
94
20
Noble
73
14
Union.
I7
14
Walker
10
5
Anderson
IOS
48
Washington
37
62
Posey .
3S
39
Center
42
12
Orange
117
94
Ripley
IOS
30
Rushville
524
407
Total
1167
747
5
314
RUSH COUNTY.
NOVEMBER, 1840.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG. Harrison and Tyler.
DEMOCRAT. Van Buren and Johnson.
Walker
42
71
Ripley
177
57
Union
36
64
Richland
144
38
Center
68
91
Anderson
95
46
Orange
161
151
Jackson
46
64
Washington
74
115
Posey
57
79
Noble
78
33
Rushville
548
361
Total.
1526
1170
NOVEMBER, 1844.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG. Clay and Frelinghuysen.
Birney and Morris.
DEMOCRAT Polk and Dallas.
Rushville
414
I
329
Noble .
184
58
Richland
149
57
Anderson
124
I
71
Union
107
83
Ripley
146
21
82
Center
96
4
119
Washington
66
154
Jackson
24
64
Walker
56
6
Orange
155
162
Posey -
59
So
Total
1580
1362
NOVEMBER, 1848.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG. Taylor and Filmore.
DEMOCRAT. Cass and Butler.
FREE SOIL. Van Buren and Adams.
Anderson
178
87
4
Center
99
IOI
4
Jackson
50
105
2
Noble
167
So
S
Orange
138
170
3
Posey _
5S
76
16
Richland
156
71
6
Ripley
102
III
37
Rushville
236
211
I
Union.
125
99
Walker
67
128
6
Washington
66
153
-
Total
1442
1391
S7
315
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
NOVEMBER, IS52.
TOWNSHIPS.
WHIG. Scott and Graham.
DEMOCRAT. Pierce and King.
FREE SOIL. Hale and Julian.
Anderson
173
Center
127
132
Jackson
52
IOI
Noble
145
76
2
Orange
130
177
3
Posey
62
SS
17
Rushville
2SI
2.46
3
Richland
147
63
4
Union.
143
94
I
Walker
72
138
IO
Ripley
118
II3
68
Total
1507
14SI
119
NOVEMBER, 1856.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Buchanan and Breckenridge.
REPUBLICAN. Fremont and Dayton.
FREE SOIL. Filmore and Donelson.
Anderson
116
161
10
Center
13S
148
S
Jackson
III
57
4
Orange
I68
140
2
Noble
IO7
148
5
Richland
73
167
3
Rushville
320
256
2I
Ripley
95
2.41
13
Union
IIO
127
Washington
168
51
Walker
172
57
Posey
107
91
Total
1685
1644
83
NOVEMBER, IS60.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Douglas and Johnson.
DEMOCRAT. Breckenridge and Lane.
REPUBLICAN. Lincoln and Hamlin.
UNION. Bell and Everett.
Anderson
90
21
171
7
Center
94
41
I4S
7
Jackson
36
47
72
Noble
26
.
65
155
Orange
38
139
Posey
69
85
170
Richland
58
6
137
Ripley
58
8
227
Rushville
197
64
266
Union .
93
16
132
Walker.
27
78
Washington
120
58
61
Total
476
1757
35
-
124822
I
Washington
57
165
87
6
316
RUSH COUNTY.
NOVEMBER, 1864.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. McClellan and Pendleton.
REPUBLICA.N. Lincoln and Johnson.
Anderson
90
236
Center
172
145
Jackson
90
S3
Noble
94
173
Orange
147
155
Posey
161
156
Richland
89
149
Ripley
49
238
Rushville
276
294
Union
115
136
Walker
171
64
Washington
226
52
Total.
1680
ISSI
NOVEMBER, 1868.
TOWNSHIPS.
DEMOCRAT. Seymour and Blair.
REPUBLICAN. Grant and Colfax.
Anderson
II2
235
Center
157
113
Soldiers' Home
7
SI
Jackson
99
78
Noble
85
164
Orange
169
177
Posey
194
200
Richland
98
134
Ripley-
71
256
Rushville
352
360
Union
167
161
Walker
198
103
Washington
224
53
Total
1933
2115
NOVEMBER, 1872.
REPUBLICAN. LIBERAL REPUBLICAN.
TOWNSHIPS.
Grant and Wilson,
Greeley and Brown.
DEMOCRAT. O'Conner and Julian.
Anderson
224
107
I
Center
105
151
Soldiers' Home
34
6
I
Jackson
92
93
Noble
172
74
Orange
161
152
Posey
199
201
2
Richland
135
79
Ripley
336
S6
Rushville
413
344
Union.
159
143
Walker
72
197
Washington
56
201
I
Total
2158
IS34
5
317
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
NOVEMBER, 1876.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Hayes and Wheeler.
DEMOCRAT.
Tilden and
Hendricks.
INDEPENDENT. Cooper and Cary.
Ripley
408
95
Posey
204
240
4
Walker
98
218
Orange
IS5
175
Anderson
258
145
I
Rushville
509
453
2
Jackson
94
106
Center
134
I86
Washington
64
222
I
Union
190
163
Noble
176
96
Richland
148
104
Total.
2468
2202
6
NOVEMBER, 1880.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Garfield and Arthur.
DEMOCRAT. Hancock and English.
INDEPENDENT. AMERICAN. Weaver and Chambers.
Posey
218
251
3
2
Walker
II3
237
Orange
186
178
Anderson
272
148
3
Richland
157
104
Noble
195
99
Union
195
172
Washington
57
255
Center
119
IS3
Jackson
II2
109
Rushville
666
500
I
Ripley
387
88
22
3
Total.
2677
2326
52
5
NOVEMBER, 1884.
TOWNSHIPS.
REPUBLICAN. Blaine and Logan.
DEMOCRAT. Cleveland and Hendricks.
NATIONAL. Butler.
PROHIBITION. St. John.
Ripley ..
¿ Precinct No. 2.
189
50
2
13
Posey
Precinct No. 2.
120
131
2
7
Walker.
Precinct No. 2.
59
104
4
Orange
§ Precinct No. I.
II7
79
Anderson ..
Precinct No. 2.
139
83
I
Precinct No. I.
258
132
5
I
Rushville ..
Precinct No. 3-
I13
108
I
Precinct No. 4-
115
S6
Jackson
106
II2
I
Center
129
IS3
I
Washington
71
2S4
3
Union.
§ Glenwood.
93
80
94
4
Noble
I86
102
2
Richland
120
106
I
Total.
26Sz
2334
50
41
§ Precinct No. I.
166
42
9
IO
Precinct No. I
S8
94
Precinct No. I.
54
127
172
164
I
Precinct No. 2.
312
208
3
2
-
I
Gings
318
RUSH COUNTY.
County Officers - Commissioners .- Amaziah Morgan, Jehu Perkins, John Julian, Daniel Stiers, Daniel Smith, Samuel Jackson, Samuel Culbertson, Peter Looney, John Walker, George Mull, John W. Barber, Martin Hood, O. H. Neff, T. M. Thompson, H. B. Hill, James R. Patton, John Carr, Richard J. Hubbard, Daniel Wilson, Joseph Peck, W. Markey, Elisha Prevo, John A. Boyd, William Roberts, David Sutton, John Blacklidge, Daniel Q. Spahn, I. W. Irvin, Joseph Amos, John Hinchman, Jabez Reeves, Perry Boys, Joseph Florea, Hiram A. Fribby, James Innis, Joseph Over- man, James Hinchman, James A. Rankin, John T. Gregg, H. H. Elwelle, Eli Buell, A. Miller, Robert A. Hudleson, James B. Kirk- patrick, Robert H. Hinchman, John Terree, Andrew B. English, Henry Hungerford, William L. Walker, Benjamin L. McFarlan, Samuel R. Patton, William H. Posey.
Recorders .- William Junken, 1822; Chas. H. Veeder, 1825; Job Pugh, 1829; Finley Bigger, 1847; Isaac Conde, 1850; A. Stone, 1859; Daniel Kinney, 1866; John H. Brown, 1874; J. H. Os- borne, 1878; C. O. Nixon, 1886.
Treasurers. - James McManis, 1822; Reu Pugh, 1829; Will- iam H. Martin, 1837; Samuel Davis, 1839; Thomas Wallace, 1842; G. W. Brann, 1844; B. B. Talbott, 1851; Reu Pugh, 1854; J. F. Smith, 1858: Jacob Beckner, 1861; E. H. Berry, 1866; John B. Reeve, 1870; William Beale, 1872; Francis Gray, 1874; John Fleehart, 1876; William Gordon, ISSO; John C. Humes, 1882; Nathan Weeks, 1886.
Auditors. - Mathew Smith, 1841; Jesse D. Carmichael, 1846; A. Kennedy, 1851; Alexander Posey, 1861; James M. Hildreth, I865; Benjamin F. Johnson, 1866; E. H. Wolfe, 1868; Alexander Posey, 1874; J. K. Gowdy, 1882.
Clerks. - Robert Thompson, 1822; J. L. Robinson, 1843; Pleasant A. Hackleman, 1848; George Hibben, 1856; John S. Campbell, 1860; B. F. Tingley, 1864; James W. Brown, 1872; Jetson Smith, 1874; James W. Brown, 1879; James M. Hil- dreth, 1884.
Sheriffs. - John Hays, 1822; N. W. Marks, 1823; William Bussell, 1826; Alfred Posey, 1830; Greenberry Rush, 1834; George W. Brann, 1836: Alvin N. Blacklidge, IS38; Nehemiah Hayden, 1842; Walter Brown, 1844; Harmony Laughlin, 1848; Nehemiah Hayden, 1850; James M. Caldwell, 1852; Harmony Laughlin, 1854; Samuel Caskey, 1856; Harmony Laughlin, I858; Samuel S. McBride, 1864; Alexander McBride, 1866; J. H. Cook, 1868; J. K. Gowdy, 1872; George W. Hall, 1874; Harrison S. Carney, 1876; George W. Wilson, 1880; John W. Tompkins, 1884.
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EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
BY JOHN ARNOLD, M. D.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN RUSH COUNTY -- SQUATTERS - FIRST PERMANENT SETTLERS - EARLY STRUGGLES FOR LAND- CHARACTER OF THE PIONEERS - LIFE IN THE WOODS- BUILDING THE CABIN - BLUE GRASS - WORK OF THE MEN WILD GAME - WORK OF THE WOMEN - AMUSEMENTS - HUNTING-TRADE-AGRICULTURE-LAND ENTRIES - EARLY INDUSTRIES-OLD SETTLERS' MEETINGS-REMINISCENCES, ETC.
HE people of Rush County have a laudable and earn- west desire to learn all they can of the early settlement of their country. They want to know something of those bold pioneers, who, leaving all fear behind them, pushed forward into the unbroken wilderness, leaving civ- ilization and all its comforts, to enjoy the wild, adventurous life of the frontiers. They braved the dangers of a prime- val forest, from savage beasts and venomous reptiles, and what was still more to be dreaded, the hatred of the early and re- vengeful Indian, who regarded the white man as a trespasser and an usurper of his rights. The natural terrors of the wilderness were but a part of the evils to be met. The deprivations, the hardships, the exposures, and the unceasing labor that had to be endured to open up a home and rear a family in the grand old for- ests, that once shaded every acre of the fertile fields of Rush County, can not now be understood or realized. But these gallant spirits feared no dangers, they cheerfully labored in unremitting toil to open up a farm, where their loved ones should in the dim fu- ture enjoy a home and all the happiness that this word implies. Actuated by such noble incentives to action these men were invinc- ible, they were the best and bravest men of their times; no coward or sluggard sought the dangers and labors of the wilderness. They were the advance guard of civilization, the pioneers of progress. The present generation wishes to know something of the every-day life of these fathers, mothers and young people of the olden times; something of their dwellings, their food, clothes, amusements, fur- niture and those things appertaining to the inner and social life.
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