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 29
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Soothed by the music, you could enjoy the graceful and rythmical movements of this now obsolete employment. It was nevertheless hard work and few could spin their dozen cuts (a day's work) without absolute fatigue. The women of the present generation, when they with retrospective glance, view the multiform labors of their mothers, and compare them with their own, must feel grate- ful that they were not born in the early years of this century. Now abundant means supply their wants; handsome, convenient well
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furnished houses are their homes, provided with all the appliances of taste and literary culture, and where the cooking stove has superseded the huge fire-place, the sewing machine hand sewing, and the music of the organ or piano has taken the place of that of the spinning wheel. In short they live in the enjoyment of all the benefits of all the wonderful discoveries and improvements, that have characterized this nineteenth century, tending to lessen labor and promote comfort.
Amusements. - The early settlers were not without their amuse- ments, but some of these would now be considered work instead of recreation. The corn husking might be classed under this head. A farmer would pull his corn and throw it under sheds, near the cribs. Then when everything was ready invitations would be given to the young men of the neighborhood to come some night to the corn husking. The young lassies were also invited to assist in cooking and by their presence and their smiles to encourage the young men in the labors of the evening. They generally chose a moonlight night, but if this was not the case, the glare of torches lit up the scene. The flashing light of the torches added much to the wild and picturesque interest of the occasion.
The first thing to be done was to choose two captains to lead the rival bands of workers. They were selected with reference to their known skill and prowess in this business. Then these two chose alternately from those present until a division was made. Then the corn pile was divided as evenly as possible. This was fairly done, for the one who made the division, had to let his oppon- ent have the choice. Then each party sprung to their work, striv- ing to complete their task the first, and be the victors in the excit- ing and friendly contest. The captains strove by their example and by every means in their power to stir their side to redoubled exer- tion. The merry tale, the jokes, laughter and roaring funj ruled the hour. The young men stimulated by the presence of the r lady loves and encouraged by their kind words, felt no fatigue, needed no rest, until their task was done. The young women moved about among the huskers to encourage them and often had to pay the penalty of their friendly interest in the contest, for it was the law, that the young man who found a red ear was entitled to a kiss of the lass he loved the best, if he could get it, and here came in the fun, for frequently the woman did not riciprocate the feeling of her ardent admirer, and would refuse to pay the penalty, run- ning away and if caught, resisting vigorously. This was exciting fun and made the hours pass swiftly by, and presently one of the great piles of corn was husked and the triumphant shouts of victory rang the midnight air, and all joined in finishing the remainder. Then
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came the old fashioned hearty supper, which was keenly enjoyed by all, with appetites sharpened by labor. After supper there was generally some rural plays indulged in by the young folks. And finally in the wee sma' hours they scattered to their several homes, the gal- lant youth and tender maiden as happy and contented as the par- ticipants in the grand and fashionable balls of our great cities. And why should they not be? for while human nature is the same in every clime and condition, the hearts of the young are alike sus- ceptible to the tender passion and capable of realizing all the ex- quisite pleasures of love's young dream.
Another amusement of the young was the chopping and quilt- ing frolic. Some settler, anxious to get some ground cleaned, and also to afford an opportunity for enjoyment to his friends, would give an invitation to the young men to come with their axes and spend the day in felling the trees of the forest, while his good wife would invite the young women to come and with their nimble fin- gers and sharp needles to assist her in completing the ornate and beautiful work of the quilt. The music of the axe swung by stal- wart arms, accompanied by the frequent crash of falling timber, continued through the day, and in the evening, the quilt being fin- ished was taken out of the way, and the play and the dance took place, which amply repaid the labors of the day.
The Singing School was another institution of early times. The teachers were generally itinerants, who traveled through the coun- try organizing schools in every neighborhood, which they visited at stated times, and strove to train the voices to melodious sounds. These primitive singing schools were the cause of as much enjoy- ment as are the concert or the opera of the present day. The most popular and able teacher of olden times in this country was a col- ored man, known far and near as " Old Gabe." What his name was besides Gabriel is not now remembered. He was tall, gaunt and ungainly in appearance, but was skilled in his business and was liked as a teacher. His home was on the White Water.
Shooting matches were alike popular with the old and the young. All were familiar with the use of the rifle and prided them- selves on their skill. The matches were made by a number of persons uniting to buy a fat steer or heifer for beef. The animal was then divided into five shares, the four quarters and the hide and tallow. The best shot had the first choice, the next the second choice, until it was all taken up. At other times there would be but one prize, perhaps a rifle, or an axe, or a cow or a calf would be shot for. These contests were always interesting, not only on account of the value of the prize, but also the glory of the victory. Shooting at a mark even when there was nothing to be won, was a
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constant source of amusement, and was greatly appreciated by the frontiersman, and indulged in on all public gatherings, such as mus- ters, elections, etc. The skill of many with the rifle was indeed wonderful. Snuffing the candle with their ball was a feat that re- quired the greatest tact and coolness. After night a candle was lighted and placed against a tree, say forty or fifty yards distant, and then the object was to cut the lighted wick off, without strik- ing the candle itself. Edward Swanson, afterward famous as the murderer of Elisha Clark, and as being the only man in this county who has ever expiated his crime on the gallows, was the champion in this feat. His skill with the rifle was something wonderful, his sagacity as a hunter and woodsman could not be excelled. He was a typical frontiersman and Indian fighter, cool, crafty and courageous.
The migration of squirrels, which was of frequent occurrence in the early settlement of this country, was a great injury and annoyance to the settler who had his little corn field, of two to five acres, almost ready to be gathered. The invasion of the countless hosts of squirrels was in the autumn, and the course southward. No obstacles arrested their march or could stay their progress; they swam rivers, even the Ohio. They destroyed all the mast, and would have consumed all the grain in their course, had not the settlers at once organized for the defense of their fields. A call for a meeting was given, which was promptly responded to by all, for all were alike interested. Here the extent of the territory to be hunted over was defined; by subscription, prizes were raised, to be awarded to the two or three having killed the largest number; judges were selected to count the scalps -the scalp was the skin from across the head with the ears attached; these were strung on a strong linen thread with a needle at one end. After the settling of these preliminaries, every man hastened home to prepare for the grand hunt of the next day. Bullets were cast, patches cut, wipers prepared, flints picked, and everthing necessary for success made ready. Bright and early on the eventful day each man, with his driver, generally a boy, entered the forest. Soon the sharp, almost incessant, crack of the rifle, on every side, told that the slaughter had begun. This went on without intermission until evening, for every man carried his lunch of corn bread and dried venison or something else in his pocket, so that no time should be lost. At the time and place agreed on, they met with their scalps, the trophies of their skill, to be counted and the work of the day summed up. Some would bring their hundred scalps, so that the aggregate of the hunt would run into the thousands. This re- lieved that neighborhood of its pests. Among all these multitudes not a fox squirrel was found. They were the gray, with a few
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black among them; they were the aborigines of this country. The fox squirrel came in later. No one ever saw a fox squirrel in this county until after 1842; now they have almost entirely superseded their gray congeners.
Hunting and Trapping .- Many of the early settlers, not only the squatters, but many of those who bought land were, by choice, hunters and trappers and enjoyed the free life of the wilderness, and had but little liking for the steady labor of opening a farm and cultivating the crops. These kept their tables well supplied with venison, wild turkey, pheasant, quail, squirrel and other game. The deer skins were tanned and made into hunting shirts and pantaloons, which were more durable than anything now to be found in the shops of our merchant tailors. They would often sell their game to their neighbors or exchange it with them for corn or other neces- saries or commodities which their families required. In the winter they spent most of their time trapping fur bearing animals, such as the beaver, the otter, the mink, the muskrat, the raccoon, etc. The skins of the first three, even in those days, brought good prices and enabled these men to provide for their families as well as many of their neighbors, who spent their time in clearing land and in agri- cultural pursuits. But when the opening of the country had driven the game away, they became discontented as their favorite avoca- tion was gone, sold their possessions and went westward toward the setting sun. But nearly all the early settlers were lovers of the chase and enjoyed its pleasures as often as they could do so, with- out neglecting their regular business.
Dress .- When it is remembered that nearly every article worn by man or woman was of home manufacture, the product of toil- some labor, it will not be surprising that utility and not fashion guided the hand that made the garment. The mother who broke and hackled the flax, spun and dyed the thread, wove the cloth, cut and sewed the garment, did not put in more material than was really necessary in her daughter's dress. The same thing would control the shaping of the winter garments; the hand that carded the wool, spun and dyed the thread and wove the cloth could not afford to sacrifice to fashion. All the materials for their clothing were intended for service and comfort. The pride of dress was then unknown, it was only on Sunday that the woman or man wore their " store clothes," that is, she wore a calico dress, and he a cloth coat and pants. The buckskin breeches and the hunting shirt, a loose blouse worn with a belt, were well adapted for getting through the woods, as they would not tear, even if caught on broken limbs or brush.
The manners of the backwoodsmen were frank and kind. With-
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out the polish given by literary culture and intercourse with the po- lite and refined, they possessed a hearty sincerity and evident kindness that made a favorable impression on the stranger as well as on their immediate neighbors. True politeness is the expression of that respect for the feelings, rights and wishes of others, which we ourselves desire and expect from them. It is not a mere pol- ished verbiage that signifies nothing. It is only the carrying out of the divine precept to do unto others as you would have others do unto you. When tested by this standard, the pioneers were a po- lite people. There was one most pleasant feature of social inter- course in those days, and that was the universal respect shown to the aged. The hoary head of the grandsire was everywhere wel- comed with kindly attention and reverence. This was a most-pleas- ing trait of character, and reflected honor on those practicing it. Truth compels the statement that there has been a great decadence in this particular in this country since those early days.
Hospitality .- This was one of the common virtues of those times, indeed, it was universal. The helpful, fraternal spirit, that prompted a man to help his neighbors, from twelve to twenty days every season, in house raising and log rollings, caused him to welcome the stranger and the newcomer to the comforts of his home, looking for no compensation beyond the consciousness of having done a humane and Christian act. They felt that they were simply doing their duty and they would not be satisfied to do less. Besides this innate princi- ple of action, they all felt that they were dependent on the help of others in many things, and consequently cheerfully gave needed assistance to their neighbors so as to merit and receive the same in return. When a man had made a successful hunt he divided his game with his neighbors, or if there was some poor, unfortunate or sick man, he was kindly and bountifully remembered.
Trade .-- In the early days, before the farms were cleared up enough to produce a surplus, money was extremely scarce, and the business of the country was done by traffic or trade. For in- stance, a man wanted some clearing done and offered a cow and calf, a sow and pigs, or a horse, as the price for a certain number of acres. This would suit some stalwart neighbor, who had more energy and industry than pecuniary resources. The work was done and both parties were satisfied with the trade. A hunter had some fine dressed buckskins, which some one else wanted to make clothes for his boys, and gave him a certain number of days' work for them. One had twenty-five or fifty bushels of grain to sell, another made so many pannels of fence for it. A man took his dried venison hams, his otter or coon skins to the store-keeper and traded them for goods indispensable in his family. Thus
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much of the business of the country was transacted without money. As the farms became cleared up there was a surplus produced be- yond the wants of the neighborhood. For this there was no mar- ket nearer than Cincinnati. The man who had thirty or forty bushels of wheat to sell loaded it in his wagon and started for mar- ket, traveling by routes, by courtesy called roads, he took his pro- visions and horse feed with him, and when night overtook him, camped for the night near some spring or creek, fed his horses, cooked his supper and slept in his wagon, which had a cover. In this way he proceeded for three or four days, when he would reach the city. Here he disposed of his load at the great tall five-storied stone mill, on the Ohio River bank, near the foot of Sycamore Street, for from 40 to 50 cents per bushel. With his hard-earned money he bought his salt, iron, groceries and dry goods. If he had hogs, he united with several of his neighbors, to take their stock to market. To drive fifty or one hundred wild elm peelers seventy or eighty miles, through an unfenced country was a heavy contract, for it implied the necessity of frequent races, after those that would make a break for liberty or home, the tramping through deep mud, wading of rivers and exposure to inclement weather. But there were always plenty of boys and young men ready and willing to go for their board and small wages, for their curiosity had been excited and their imaginations fired by the reports of the wonders, the pleasures and the wealth of the city. The hogs were sold for from $1 to $1.50 net weight. It was considered a good lot that averaged 125 pounds. Corn was worth from 10 to 15 cents per bushel. With these modes of marketing and these prices, it is readily understood that economy was a necessary virtue.
Agriculture .- This was rude and difficult; after the land was cleared, the number of stumps and the multitudinous green tough roots rendered the work of the plough difficult and imperfect, and it was necessary to supplement it largely with the hoe. But in spite of these disadvantages, everything planted grew luxuriantly, stimulated by the wonderful fertility of the soil. Their farm- ing implements were of the most primitive description. The old "Bull Tongue " plough would now be an object of curiosity and ridicule. The wheat was sown broadcast and harrowed in by a rude harrow or by heavy brush dragged over the ground; when ripe, it was cut with the sickle or reaping-hook. This was a slow process, the reaper grasped a handful of the grain, and by a quick drawing motion it was cut off and laid on the ground and other handfuls added until there was enough for a sheaf, when it was bound. After many years, the cradle was introduced, which was a
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great improvement on the sickle. The cradle had a handle and scythe blade, like an ordinary mowing scythe, but it had also an upright perpendicular to the blade of the scythe, and into this were fastened curved pieces of hickory called fingers; the use of these was to catch the grain cut by the blade and enable the cradler to throw the grain in a heap ready to be bound. Every swing of the cradle cut a space some six feet long and two to three feet wide. A good cradler would cut down four to five acres a day, but it was extremely hard work to swing this instrument from early morn to dewy eve. The thrashing was done by the flail or was tramped out on a barn floor by horses ridden and led around by boys, some one with a fork continually throwing the sheaves in their place, to be tramped. This was much more expeditious than the flail. When the grain was thrashed, next came the cleaning or winnow- ing of the grain. The primitive mode was for two stout men to take firm hold on either end of a sheet, and while a third poured slowly from a half bushel or something of the kind, by a quick violent shake to create such a strong current of air that it swept away the chaff while the grain fell to the ground ready for the mill. This was hard and slow work. What a change fifty years has wrought. Now with improved ploughs, rollers and harrows, the ground is prepared, and with a two horse drill the seed is evenly distributed and covered so as to ensure the germination of every grain. When harvest time comes, the farmer hitches his horses to the self-binder, drives into the field and cuts and binds from ten to fifteen acres a day, with no more labor than it requires to guide the horses, as he rides on the machine. Now when the grain is ready, the steam thrashing machine comes into the field and thrashes and completely cleans from Soo to 1,000 bushels in a day. What a triumph of skill and ingenuity! What a saving of human labor!
Land Entries .- No land was or could be entered, before the first Monday in October, 1820, when the land office at Brookville, was opened for the sale of the lands of the new purchase, as all that territory was designated, lying west of the boundary line of the twelve mile purchase, said line being about four miles west of . Connersville. In the three months of 1820, there were 168 per- sons made entries of land in what was afterward Rush County, some of only forty acres and others of varying amounts, from eighty to 640, but there were more of eighty and 160 acres than any other amounts. In 1821, there were 278 persons made entries. In the succeeding four or five years the land was taken up still more rapidly. In the beginning there were several nuclei of settlements. Men found it to their advantage to settle near others for mutual
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assistance. Thus there were a number settled in what is now Noble Township, Jehu Perkins, Isaac Williams, Conrad Sailors, Isaac Stevens, Jacob Starr, John Pogue, James Logan, Aaron Lyons, John Laforge, John Beaver, Peter Looney, Henry Myers, Lewis Smith, Jacob Sailors, George Taylor, Aaron Wellman, Solomon Bowen, Elias Poston, Robert Stewart, James Wiley, John Gregg, John P. Thomson, Abraham Hackleman and his two sons, Elijah and Abner, Thomas and Stephen Lewis, and many others of note in early times, and who are represented by their descendants. In what is now Union Township, Ben Davis' Creek, or as it was called by the Delaware Indians, Mahoning Creek, seemed to be the center of attraction. Among the very earliest were John Arnold, John Houghton, Rans Byrd Green, Thomas Sargeant, John Horlock, Amaziah Morgan, George and Michael Hittle, Samuel Danner, Samuel Newhouse, John Nash, John and Richard Blacklidge, George Nipp, Isaac Arnold, John McMillen, Wills Buzan, Jacob Virgil, Elisha Clark, Peter Shafer, Edward Swanson, George and Matthew Zion, John Clifford, Sam- uel Durbon, John Morris, Obadiah Seward, Philip and Richard Richee, Isaac Sparks, David Looney, Samuel Bussell, Lawrence Aspy, Conrad Hilligos, James and John Hinchman, John Brown, Thomas, Henry and James Logan, John Garrison, Isaac and Abraham Fleener, David Low, Hiram Kindall and Robert Groves.
In what is now Richland Township, a nucleus of settlement was formed in IS20 by George Brown, Jesse Morgan, James Hender- son, John Ray, John Enrick, Joel Craig and James and John Gregg. In what is now Ripley Township the settlement was begun in 1821, by Thomas, Nathan and Jonathan Hill, Dayton Holloway, Nathan White, Benjamin Snyder, Andrew Thorp and Benjamin Cox.
The settlement of Rushville Township began very early; Richard Thornberry was a settler before the sale of the lands, buying the pieces on which he had squatted. In 1820, Judge W. B. Laughlin, Stephen Simms, Christian Clymer, Houston Morris, Lot Green, Daniel Smith, David Morris, Elijah Lewark, Wesley Moffett, George Mull, John Parson, Cuthbert Webb, Andrew Gilson, Sam- uel Jackson, John Hale, Sampson Thomas, Simeon Cassady, James McManus, Presby Moore, John Phillips, Thomas McCarty, John Oliver and many others located here. These were the princi- pal points of the very early settlers, but the other parts of the county were rapidly filled up in the next three or four years.
Early Industries .- Judge W. B. Laughlin built the first grist mill in the county, in 1821. It was south of where the town of Rushville stands, on the land now owned by Aaron Frazee, the dam was where the south bridge now crosses Flat Rock. This was a
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great convenience to the pioneers of this county as they had to go heretofore to Connersville to do their milling. But some two years later a season of unprecedented amount and fatality of, sickness devastated the young town of Rushville. The citizens excited and alarmed attributed this to the damming of Flat Rock, and consider- ing it their right and duty to abate the fatal nuisance, rose en masse and destroyed the dam. But this did not materially lessen the ma- larious elements generated by the exposure of a damp soil teeming with decaying vegetable matter to the direct rays of the sun. At this time Jehu Perkins had a distillery on his farm and a horse power tread mill for the grinding of corn. Some years later he built a mill on Little Flat Rock, near where the Pleasant Run Bap- tist Church now stands. William Robinson built a steam mill on the farm now owned by Abijah Hunt; these were in what is now Noble Township. At an early day John Woods put up a mill at Mos- cow, built of round logs, he also had a still-house there, as had Joseph Owens. These with their old fashioned copper stills amply supplied the spirituous wants of this, then notorious, town and its vicinity. Robert Hill built a saw mill in 1827, and one year later a grist mill, at the place now known as Carthage. Dayton Hollo- way built the next mill in that neighborhood.
In Union Township John Smelser built the first grist mill in 1822 or '23, on Flat Rock, which was for very many years the best and most popular mill in the county. A few years later he erected a large distillery at the same point, and also a saw mill. But Peter Shafer erected the first saw mill in this township, on Ben Davis' or Mahoning Creek, on land now belonging to George Gray, south of J. W. Looney's farm. Some years later Jonathan Bishop built a saw mill on the land now owned by Marshall Blacklidge, and a Mr. Lewis put up a grist and saw mill on land now owned by Mrs. Emily Coleman, and Reuben Roland put up a grist mill on the farm be- longing to the Hon. A. M. Kennedy. These were all on the same stream.
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