USA > Indiana > Shelby County > History of Shelby 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 23
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Archacology .- The only earthworks by prehistoric man were seen adjoining the village of St. Paul. A mound thirty-two feet in diameter, and nearly six feet high, is built on the brow of the ter- race bluff, overlooking the river in the valley and commanding a wide view toward "sunrise" between the rocky hills. When ex- plored it contained human bones, which on exposure, quickly went to dust. They were covered with flags, supported by a stone wall, indicating a national vault or grave. Several smaller tumuli, pos- sibly habitation mounds, were seen near by. Many interesting stone implements have been found scattered along the valley of Flat Rock River, evincing the taste as well as skill of the ancient inhabitants, and that if not their permanent home, this was at times a favorite hunting and visiting locality.
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INDIAN HISTORY.
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN HISTORY -EARLY TRIBES- THE DELAWARES-TREATY CEDING SHELBY COUNTY TO THE UNITED STATES --- REMIN- ISCENCES -MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
PON the first introduction of Europeans among the primitive inhabitants of this country. it was the prevail- ing opinion among the white people that the vast domain since designated as the American Continent, was peopled by one common family, of like habits, and speaking the same language. The error, however, was soon dispelled by observation, which at the same time established the fact of great diversity in characteristics, language and physical delopment, the diversity arising sometimes from one cause and sometimes from another.
The principal division known at this period is the Algonquin, embracing among other powerful tribes, the Miamis recognized as one of the most perfect types, and one of the most extensive on the continent. Next in rank to the Miamis, if, indeed, they are not entitled to precedence, are the Delawares.
The Delawares, the tribe with which the history of this county has to deal, had their homes originally, says Schoolcraft, on the shore of the Atlantic, on the Delaware and Susquehanna and their tributaries. Here it was that that peaceful hero, William Penn, found them and made his first treaty with them in 1682. They were a powerful nation. and during the lifetime of Penn lived on terms of peace with the whites. After his death things changed. Prior to 1736, the powerful confederacy of the Six Nations had waged suc- cessful war against one of the divisions of the Delaware tribe, and had compelled it to acknowledge its supremacy. Claiming that by right of conquest they had acquired the ownership, not only of the lands belonging to the conquered portion, but of the whole territory belonging to the Delaware tribe, they made a treaty without the knowledge of the rightful owners of the soil, transferring their pre- tended title to the whites.
A few years later the Delawares were driven from their homes and passing beyond the Alleghany Mountains they built their wig- wams upon the banks of the river Mahoning in Western Pennsyl-
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vania. Here they sojourned for awhile, but civilization kept up its westward march, and the sullen savages disdaining the enlighten- ment of white men retired constantly to the gloom and solitude of their native forests. The next stopping place was Eastern and Cen- tral Indiana and part of Ohio. Here they remained until by trea- ties made from time to time, they extinguished their title to all the rich domain and agreed to go beyond the Mississippi.
The last and most important treaty made with the Delawares was that of ISIS, which is as follows:
Articles of a treaty with the Delawares at St. Marys in the State of Ohio, between Jonathan Jennings. Lewis Cass and Ben- jamin Parke, commissioners of the United States, and the Dela- ware Indians.
ARTICLE I. The Delaware Nation of Indians cede to the 'United States, all their claims to land in the State of Indiana.
ARTICLE 2. In consideration of the aforesaid cession, the United States agree to provide for the Delawares a country to reside in upon the west side of the Mississippi, and to guarantee to them the peaceable possession of the same.
ARTICLE 3. The United States also agree to pay to the Dela- wares the full value of their improvements in the country hereby ceded, which valuation shall be made by persons to be appointed for that purpose by the President of the United States, and to fur- nish the Delawares with 120 horses not to exceed in value $40 each, and a sufficient of pirogues to aid in transporting them to the west side of the Mississippi, and a quantity of provisions propor- tioned to their numbers, and the extent of their journey.
ARTICLE 4. The Delawares shall be allowed the use and oc- cupation of their improvements for the term of three years from the date of this treaty if they so long require it.
ARTICLE 5. The United States agree to pay to the Delawares a perpetual annuity of $4,000, which, together with all annuities which the United States by former treaty agreed to pay them, shall be paid in silver at any place to which the Delawares may remove.
ARTICLE +6. The United States agree to provide and support a blacksmith for the Delawares, after their removal to the west side of the Mississippi.
ARTICLE S. A sum not exceeding $13.312.25. shall be paid by the United States, to satisfy certain claims against the Delaware Nation. %
ARTICLE 9. This treaty after it shall be ratified by the Presi- dent and Senate, shall be binding on the contracting parties.
In testimony the said Jonathan Jennings, Lewis Cass and Ben- jamin Parke aforesaid, and the chiefs and warriors of the Dela-
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ware Nation of Indians, have hereunto set their hands at St. Marys, in the State of Ohio, this 23d day of October, 1818.
Signed :
".JONATHAN JENNINGS, " LEWIS CASS, " BENJAMIN PARKE."
Although under the provisions of the treaty the Delawares were permitted to remain in the territory ceded, for three years, there were but few here at the expiration of that time. Those that re- mained were peaceable and gave the settlers no trouble. Indeed, so short a time did they remain after the first white settlers came, that but little may be said of them in connection with the settlement of the county. The following reminiscences of the venerable Isaac Wilson will serve to show some of the remarkable character- istics of the noble red man and to what extent they were associated with them during their brief stay:
"By the terms of the treaty of October, ISIS, the Indians re- served the right of hunting and trapping in the New Purchase for the space of three years. And during that period there were occa- sional encampments of the red men in the various parts of what is now our county. Near Marion, James Wilson established a trad- ing-post, and exchanged coarse cloths, blankets, flints, knives, etc., for the furs they brought in. Sometimes as many as 100 up to 150 would come to the post in a single day. As a gen- eral thing, they were quiet and honest neighbors, and gave lit- tle trouble or uneasiness. During the entire winter of 1819-20, two Indian families remained encamped within half a mile of Mr. Wilson's home. Their names were Pishan Quenum and Captain Canam. Their households consisted only of themselves and their wives. The latter, having but little to do during the hunting season, often called on Mrs. Wilson. On one occasion, they and their hus- bands were invited to tea and to spend the evening. The ladies arrived first, mounted on handsome ponies and seated upon per- fectly beautiful side-saddles. The horns of the saddles and also the neat slippers in the stirrups, were literally covered with graceful silver bands of their own workmanship. Their toilets consisted of colored calico chemise, with ruffles upon the neck, bosom and wrists, brick-cloth leggins, moccasins highly ornamented with beads and porcupine quills, together with the indispensable blanket. Their arms, both above and below the elbow, were encased in sil- ver bracelets three-fourths of an inch wide: upon their bosoms they wore brooches nearly as large as an ordinary saucer. At the table, they and their husbands handled the tea-cups and knives and forks in a most civilized manner. In the conversation, but one at a time took part. A little baby boy of Mrs. Wilson's was the object of
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much caressing to the Indian ladies. When they were about to de- part, after spending a pleasant evening. one of them took her hus- band apart, and, after talking and laughing a little. sprang toward the little baby boy, clasped her hand around the instep of his foot, then placed the heel between her thumb and forefinger, and ex- tended her hand lengthwise of the foot, at the same time calling the attention of her husband, who gave a sort of a grunt, as if to say, 'all right!' Not long afterward, when she visited Mrs. Wilson again, she caught up the babe and put upon its tiny feet a beautiful pair of moccasins, fitting as neatly as a pair of kid cloves. This pleasant incident indicates not only the friendly relations that ex- isted, but also a degree of refinement we do not look for among the aborigines."
An Indian Captive. .. In the last incident we saw how amiable the relations of the Indians to the first settlers were. We will now narrate a few instances of hostility. Although they were peaceable and honest generally, vet occasionally they were a little tricky and disposed to take advantage of the new-comers. It is said that when they had been unsuccessful in the chase, the first pig that came into their way would be seized as a lawful prize. One in- stance of the kind is told which resulted advantageously to the white settler. Richard Thornbury, who had settled on the east bank of Big Flat Rock, where Whetzell's trace crossed that stream, had a fine lot of hogs ranging in the woods on the opposite 'side of the river. Finding their number gradually decreasing. he at length suspected his red neighbors, who were encamped in the same neighborhood. He therefore concluded to keep watch over his herd of swine. In a few days his suspicions were proved well founded. While on guard in the woods, not more than half a mile from his cabin, he suddenly heard the crack of a gun and the squeal of a hog. Approaching the spot from which the noise came as cautiously and noiselessly as he could, he found an Indian upon one of his hogs, trying to cut its throat. The hog had made such a loud noise that the Indian had not perceived the approach of Thorn- bury until the latter had secured the Indian's gun, which was lean- ing against a tree near by. The noble red man was talking to the hog when Thornbury approached. He would use the English tongue and then the Delaware in his eager efforts to persuade the hog to make less noise. The instant he found the white man near, he sprang up and would have fled; but Thornbury bade him stay, reminding him that he had both the guns. Upon this the brave began to beg for his gun: he assured Thornbury that this was his first offense, and that it should be his last; that he was really in want and had taken no meat for three days, or he would not have
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INDIAN HISTORY.
done this. " No," said Thornbury, "you must stay until I show you how to stick a hog." After doing this, he made the Indian take it upon his shoulders and carry it across the river upon the ice, and place it in the dooryard of his cabin. The Indian obeyed sullenly, and then said. "Now me go." "Not yet," said Thorn- bury, .. you must stay until I show you how to clean a hog without skinning it as you do." So, he had to remain and assist in the scalding and cleaning. After it was duly hung up, the red man again modestly interposed. " Now me go." ". No," said the imper- turbable Thornbury, "you must stay and see me cut him open." After this part of the operation had been performed, the captive again interposed. .. Now me go." Again the white man replied, ".Not vet," and deliberately split the hog in two, right in the mid- dle. He also commanded the Indian to lash the one half upon his back. He then returned his gun. and in a pleasant tone bade him go back to his camp and get his squaw to cook some pork for sup- per. The Indian was overcome with this kindness and presence of mind, and afterward tried to show his appreciation and gratitude."
Christian Indians .- ". One day a settler, whose cabin was near the banks of Sugar Creek, where the Indians had come to hunt, went to them for the purpose of trading dogs. It was the morning of a beautiful Sabbath day. As he approached their camp, he was surprised to see them all collected together, sitting upon the ground in a circle, in the center of which one of their number was reading out of a book. That book proved to be a New Testament, in the Delaware language. The settler felt much rebuked when he found that they were hallowing the Christian Sabbath by the worship of God.
.. Their ideas of Christianity were few and simple, but they were firm and steadfast in their faith, and stated that they had been con- verted through the labors of a missionary by the name of McCoy.
"Sometime after the Indians had all gone a family of fifteen or twenty returned, and camped on Lewis' Creek, five miles below Shelbyville. My recollection is that it was in the fall of 1825; and as they were some distance from any white man's cabin, and peaceable, they were permitted to remain and trap raccoon and muskrat. While there the following occurence took place: One Lewis Buskirk who had entered and settled on what is now the Guy Johnson farm, purchased a horse at Lebanon, Ohio. The animal escaped from its new master and returned to Lebanon, pur- sued by Buskirk on foot and alone. After he had been gone sev- eral day his friends became alarmed because of his continued absence, and at once concluded that the Indians had killed him. A company was at once raised consisting of John C. Walker, then
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Sheriff, William George and James Goodrich. J. M. Young, William Morris. James H. Lee, Nimrod Galewood, and perhaps others, all well armed, and marched to the Indian camp on Sabbath morning. To their great surprise they found the red men engaged in religious worship. They stopped a short distance from where the worship- pers were congregated. where after the services had concluded they were greeted by the aboriginal minister who inquired of them why they carried their arms on Sunday.
" This no good," said he.
" The white men told the Indians there was a man missing, and that it was the supposition that they had murdered him, and fear- ing the result they had come to advise them to leave, which they agreed to do if allowed three days for preparation. Before the time had expired they had struck tents and departed for the far west. Buskirk returned with his horse in a few days, but not un- til the innocent band of red men were far on their journey west- ward. Near the house of Esquire Wells, in Marion Township. is the grave of one of this noble race. and tradition tells that it is the last resting place of one of the distinguished warriors of the Delaware tribe. At each recurring anniversary of the death of this celebrated war chief (if such he was), the remnant of the tribe that inhabited this section would gather at this consecrated spot, and the exercises are described by Mr. Wilson as he saw them in the spring of 1819, and again in 1820.
"Quite a number of Indians came to my father's cabin one bright, spring morning and borrowed of my mother a coffee pot. into which they poured a quart of whisky. They then proceeded to the grave, forming a circle thereabout. with the spokesman at the head. He lifted the coffee pot to his mouth as if in the act of drinking, and then passed it around the circle three times, each one pretending to drink of the contents. This having been done they folded their arms and stood for minutes in the attitude of solemn meditation or silent prayer. The leader then emptied the con- tents of the vessel at the head of the grave of the dead hero, after which the band dispersed."
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COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
CHAPTER III.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION -- ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE -- FIRST TOWNSHIPS - LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT -SALE OF LOTS -EARLY ACTS OF THE COUNTY BOARD - REORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS- EARLY JAILS-COURT HOUSE -- FINANCES- COUNTY POOR -ROADS -- RAILROADS - - ELECTIONS-COUNTY OFFICERS-MEDICAL SOCIETY -COUNTY FAIRS -- LOCAL IN- DUSTRIES.
LITTLE more than a quarter of a century after the colonists had declared their independence of the mother country. and five years after Indiana became a part of the Union. the Legislature passed an enabling act whereby Shelby County was organized. The man in honor of whom the new county was named was Isaac Shelby. the first Governor of Kentucky, a gallant soldier, a patriotic citizen, and a pure and just man. The fol- lowing act was passed and approved in December, 1821 :
AN Acr for the formation of a new county north of Bartholomew County.
SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, that from and after the first day of April next. all that part of Delaware County. contained within the following bounds shall form a separate county, viz .: Beginning at the south- east corner of Section 33. in Township II north, Range S east, of the second principal meridian: thence north twenty-four miles, to the northeast corner of Section 4. Township 14 north. of Range S east : thence west seventeen miles, to the southwest corner of Section 2. Township 14 north, of Range 5 east; thence south twenty-four miles to the north boundary of Bartholomew County: thence east seventeen miles to the place of beginning.
SECTION 2. The said new county shall be known and desig- nated by the name of Shelby County, and shall enjoy all the rights, privileges and jurisdiction. which to separate and independent coun- ties do and may properly appertain and belong.
SECTION 4. The circuit and all other courts of the County of Shelby, shall meet and be holden at the house of David Fisher, in said County of Shelby, until suitable accommodations can be had
*
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at the seat of justice; and so soon as said county are satisfied that suitable accommodation can be had at the county seat they shall adjourn their courts thereto, after which time the courts for the County of Shelby shall be holden at the county seat of Shelby County.
* Signed :
SAMUEL MILROY, Speaker of House of Representatives. RATLIFF BOON, President of Senate.
Approved December 31, 1821.
JONATHAN JENNINGS, Governor. Commissioners' Court. - The first term of commissioners court was held at the house of David Fisher, near the Town of Marion, on Tuesday, April 9, 1822. Richard Tyner, Joseph Davison and David Fisher having presented certificates of election. received the oath of office. and immediately organized by electing Richard Tyner, President. Hiram Alldredge was appointed Clerk of the Board, and William Davis, County Treasurer, for the term of one year. The first regular business of the board was the division of the county into the following townships: Union, Marion, Hen- dricks and Noble. An election was ordered held in each town- ship on the 27th day of April, for the election of a Justice of the Peace, the following places being designated as polling places : Union Township, at the house of Cyrus H. Stone: Marion Town- ship, at the house of John Summer: Hendricks Township, at the house of Eli Adams, and Noble Township, at the house of Samuel Drake. After the appointment of Election Inspectors, the board adjourned sine die. The second special session was held May 13th, of the same year. Benjamin Hodges was appointed ~ lister " for the year 1822. A superintendent was appointed for each school section of the county, after which the time of the board was occu- pied in hearing the petitions for the establishment of county roads. These petitions were signed by - divers and sundry " citizens, and set forth in very convincing terms the public utility of the proposed lines. The prayer of these petitioners was always granted, and viewers accordingly appointed to survey and report as to the prac- ticability and convenience of the proposed route.
The Commissioners, George Bently, Benjamin Blythe, Amos Boardman, Joshua Cobb and Abenezer Ward, appointed by the Legislature to locate the seat of justice of Shelby County, met at the house of David Fisher on the first Monday in July, 1822. They proceeded to examine the several proposed sites, namely: First,
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Marion, which was the geographical center of the county; Second, the farm of Isaac Lemaster, who offered a donation of forty acres; Third. the present site of Shelbyville, where seventy acres were offered. Major John Hendricks, forty acres; James Davison, twenty acres; and Hon. John Walker, ten acres. After four days of ar- duous labor. the offer of Messrs. Hendricks, Davison and Walker was accepted, and the present site selected. The decision of the Commissioners was announced on the Fourth of July, and was re- ceived by the patriotic citizens of the county who had gathered to celebrate that glorious day with shouts of applause, accompanied by expressions of regret by those who had been disappointed. The wisdom of the selection was questioned. and the action of the com- missioners openly criticised by many. At that time, and for many years subsequent it is said, that the present site of Shelbyville was covered with water for a considerable portion of each year, while the other proposed sites were nearer the geographical center and comparatively dry.
The Board of County Commissioners met in special session on July 5th, and accepted the report. which defines the boundaries of land donated in the following language, to-wit .: "Commencing at a stake dividing Sections 5 and 6, in Range 7 east, of the second prin- cipal meridian. Township 12 north: thence east on Township line dividing Townships 12 and 13. along the northeast quarter of Sec- tion 5, township and range aforesaid, supposed to be 160 rods, more or less: thence south, to inclose twenty acres. Also twenty acres on the southeast quarter of Section 31, Range 7, Township 13. lving as follows: Commencing at the southeast corner of sec- tion aforesaid: thence running north to Blue River: thence down Blue River to make twenty acres. Ten acres in Section 31, Range 7, Township 13. as follows: Commencing at the southwest quarter of section aforesaid, at the southwest corner; thence east across said quarter section; thence north to include ten acres, and that the said site hereby located shall be known by the name of Shelbyville."
After accepting the report of the Locating Commissioners, the Board ordered the claim of said Commissioners, amounting to $135, to be allowed, and that the same be paid out of the first money re- ceived by the treasurer. Hon. Abel Cole was appointed County Agent, and directed to have all the west half of the Hendricks and Walker donation laid off into town lots, streets and alleys. The first sale of lots was advertised for September 23, and the terms of sale fixed as follows: One-twelfth in cash, the balance payable in three annual installments, "with interest from date if not paid at maturity." The price of lots was from $10 to $50, depending on location. The cash proceeds from the first sale of lots was $15.75, 3
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of which amount $1.75 was expended for whisky to be used on the day of public sale, and it is said by one who was in attend- ance that it was not drunk as a beverage, but as a preventative of the malarial diseases that " flesh was heir to " in those days.
At the January term of the Commissioners Court, the Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff were each allowed $22 for their services for one year, which, in comparison with the amount paid at present, is a very meagre sum. The rates adopted for the reg- ulation of taverns were : for each meal of victuals. 25 cents; for bed, 614 cents: for horse, at hay. 1212 cents: for each gallon of grain, 121/2 cents: for each half pint of whisky, 10 cents, and for one- half pint of brandy, 25 cents. At the same time the county agent was ordered to sell to the lowest bidder. January 1, 1825. a con- tract for the building of a pound, said pound to be 50x50 feet, post and rail fence six feet high, with gate five feet wide. The south- east lot of the public square was designated as the location of said pound, and Benjamin Williams appointed keeper of the same. The board then adopted the following described seal: To be in the form of a circle. around the edge of which were the words. Shelby County Seal, Indiana. In the center of the circle is an eagle perched upon the head of a lion.
At the September term, 1826, the board made an allowance of 371/2 cents for whisky furnished the county by Smith Wingate, and ordered that the same be paid out of any moneys in the treas- ury not otherwise appropriated. The price of whisky. as estab- lished by the board, was 10 cents per pint, so it may be seen that neither the quantity used nor the amount expended was excessive. A second allowance was made November. IS27; this was 75 cents, and brandy was used at that meeting instead of whisky.
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