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 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
308
SHELBY COUNTY.
accessible to grind the grain. Hence the necessity of grinding by hand power, and many families were poorly provided with means for doing this. The "grater" was used by many, and in not a few instances the hominy block resorted to.
There was probably no mill built in the county for more than three years after the first settler came, therefore it was necessary to manufacture the bread-stuffs by the means above mentioned or return to the mills at White Water, in Franklin County, a distance of nearly forty miles. A few years later what was for many years known as Quary's Mill, was built near Moscow, Decatur County. This was extensively patronized by the people of Shelby County, until mills were built nearer home.
Going to mill says one, who spoke from experience, was quite an undertaking with the pioneers. It was, perhaps, a two or three days' journey. Sometimes a pair of oxen attached to a two wheel cart carried the farmer and his grain on his journey: but frequently he went on horseback seated on a bag of grain. This was a tedious journey, and his return was anxiously awaited by mother and chil- dren.
There are some recollections of " going to mill" that bring with them pictures of weary, watchful nights when father did not return as promised and expected. being delaved by the number of " grists" before him, or the impassable condition of the roads or traces. Those were dismal phases of pioneer life, when the darkness closed in upon the anxious mother and crying children, when the winds beat upon the rude cabin, bringing to their ears unwelcome sounds, laden with howls of starving wolves, when hunger pressed heavily upon the helpless inmates.
Soon enterprising citizens of the county began to embark in the milling business. A desired location along a stream being found, an application was made to the authorities for a writ of ad quod damnum. This would enable millers to have adjoining land offi- cially examined and the amount of damage, by making a dam, named. Mills were such a great public convenience that objections were seldom made to their location, and in many instances they were built and operated for months before a writ was applied for. According to the statements of those whose opinions deserve most credence, the first mill built within what is now Shelby County was that of J. C. Walker, on Blue River, at the present site of the Shelby Mills, in Shelbyville. This was a small frame building and was probably completed early in 1823. Nathan Johnson was the millwright. Later in the same year, Abel Summers built a mill in Marion, which stood on the same lot now occupied by the Marion flouring mill. Contemporaneous with the building of the Marion
30g
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
mill. but possibly a little later, Ira Bailey built a mill on Blue River near the present site of Freeport. Lathrop Francis was the man- ager. In the summer of the same year, 1823, a writ of ad quod damnum was procured by Isaac Drake, and the records show that a mill had been constructed and in operation some time previous to the procuring of the same. This mill was located on the northeast quarter of Section 25, Town II, Range 6, on Flat Rock River. Although there were other mills built a few years later, these were the principal early mills that supplied the settlers with bread-stuff.
To nearly all of these, saw mills were attached that supplied the people with necessary lumber for the construction of frame build- ings and repair of the old log cabin. A few years later this became one of the greatest sources of wealth. The oak, the poplar, the ash. the wild cherry, the black walnut, the maple and many other varieties indegenous to this section have yielded large quantities of lumber which have been transported to the markets of the world.
Pioneer Dress .- The dress of a people throw much light upon their conditions and limitation. The dress of the pioneer father and son was either a coon-skin cap or home-made wool hat for the head. The feet were covered with moccasins made of deer-skins and shoe-packs of tanned leather, but shoes were worn by most of the pioneers of this county, except in summer, when old and young, male and female. went barefoot a considerable portion of the time. The blue linsy hunting shirt was almost universally worn by men and boys, and says one of the pioneers, " I have never felt so hap- py and healthy since I laid it off." It was made with wide sleeves, open before, with ample room so as to envelop the body almost twice around. The pantaloons of the masses were at a very early day made of deer-skin and linsy, but to the early settlers of Shelby County cotton and jeans were most common.
As to how women's dresses were made in those early days, the following from the recollections of Aunt Susan Goodrich, given in her own language will best tell the story: " Now let me tell you how we made our dresses. When the right time of the year would come around, father, Cynthia and I would put the flax-brake on the log-sled, and haul it down near the river where there were plenty of nettles, Cynthia and I would carry nettles to father and he would brake them. It took an arm full to make a hand full when it was broken. We would work on this way until mother would say we had enough for one piece, and then we would hackle and spin it for chain: then take an equal quantity of wool cord and spin it for fill- ing. We would then dye it in different colors, by using different. kinds of bark, place it in the loom and weave it when we would have beautiful striped linsy.
5
310
SHELBY COUNTY.
Says Dr. Robbins: The first crops raised were corn, potatoes and flax. It was deemed all-important that flax should be sown on Good Friday, and by the moon. The women and children were to pull it and spread it out to rot. Then the men would break it upon breaks, and the women would scratch, hackle, spin, and weave it into linen. They would then make it up into wearing apparel for the summer use of men, women and children. If there was any more on hand than was absolutely needed, it was sold to the mer- chant for calico for Sunday and wedding occasions.
The first wool we had was carded by hand, and then spun, wove, and made up into linsey, jeans, flannel and blankets. It was used for dresses, pants, coats, shirts, and all other necessary winter clothing. As we had no tailors or professional dress-makers, it was necessary for the women to do all work of this kind. Notwith- standing all this exertion and labor, they were just as healthy then as now. There were no more headaches, backaches, and other diseases peculiar to females in those days than now -- when they can luxuriate in their silks, satins, tiebacks and all other finery.
Time soon wrought a change, and now the cotton and woolen frocks, spun, woven and made by their own fair hands stripped and cross-barred with blue dye and Turkey red has given place to gowns of silk. The feet before in a state of nudity, now charmed in shoes of calf-skin or slippers of kid: and the head formerly unbonneted, but covered with a cotton handkerchief, now draping the charms of the female face under many forms of bonnets of straw, silk, etc. The ladies instead of walking a mile or two to church on Sunday, carrying their shoes and stockings in their hands until within a few yards of the place of worship. as formerly, now come forth arrayed complete in all the pride of dress, in fashionable equipages.
Native Animals .- The principal wild animals found in the county, by the early settlers, were the deer, wolf, bear, panther, wild-cat. fox, otter, raccoon, ground-hog, skunk, mink. weasel. muskrat, opossum, rabbit and squirrel. These animals furnished meat for the settlers for a few years, deer being used most abund- antly. The wolf was the most troublesome of all wild animals, it being the common enemy of sheep and some other domestic ani- mals. Their hideous howlings at night were so constant and terri- fying, that they seemed to do almost as much mischief by that annoyance as by direct attack. Bears and panthers were not so numerous, but were often seen and sometimes encountered as will be seen by the following :
" On one occasion, in the year 1821, one Lewis Hendricks, who lived near School Section Ford, went to a neighbor by the name of
3II
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Solomon George, who was a skillful hunter, and asked him to shoot a deer for him. George consented, and the two started upon the chase. They had not gone far when they suddenly happened upon two young bear cubs. George immediately said, 'Now we'll have some sport.' He directed Hendricks to pinch the ears of the young bears. Their loud and piteous howling soon caused the mother- bear to appear. George then took deliberate aim and fired. The bear turned back and ran: and Hendricks, confident that she had been mortally wounded, hastened to the pursuit. He had not gone far. however, before the bear turned suddenly upon his unarmed pursuer, and with great fury, threw him down. The situation was critical. But with wonderful bravery and presence of mind Hen- dricks doubled up his two fists and boldly pushed them into the mouth of the bear. In this desperate condition the intrepid George rushed to the spot, and. plunging his hunting-knife deep in the bowels of the bear, saved his friend's life. Hendricks bore the scars of this fierce encounter ever after."
Reminiscences of Dr. Milton B. Robins: " My Indian and hunt- ing experience is limited. I never saw an Indian here or killed a bear or wolf. The only bear story I have, is, that one night a bear attacked a hog near our cabin and made a meal of it. We heard the cries of the hog. but were afraid to venture into the woods. I often saw three or four deer at a time in going to the mill, but never killed one. We often heard packs of hungry wolves howling in the night. Our dogs were sometimes injured by attack- ing porcupines and getting their quills in their mouths, necks and paws. Squirrels were very numerous, and would eat almost all our corn by taking it up when first planted, but more especially eating it after the ears were formed. The early settlers formed hunting par- ties, took sides and offered premiums for squirrel scalps, the side killing the greatest number obtaining the prize.
" In the early days the settlements were all on the low bottom lands, and we dreaded the fever and ague and bilious fever as we would now the cholera if it made its annual visit. This was before the days of quinine. Then the woods were one dense forest, the undergrowth being nettles and pea-vines, often so thick you could scarcely penetrate them. Having no grain to feed our horses, they were compelled to run out at night in order to obtain food; they would have to be hunted in the mornings when the dew was on the vegetation, and a man would get perfectly wet chasing them, and then go to work plowing in his wet clothes and keep them on until they dried out towards noon.
"I have oftened wondered how a community could live with as little money as we had. The country was mostly settled by Ken-
312
SHELBY COUNTY.
tuckians and Ohioans. with a few from Tennessee, Carolina and Pennsylvania. It being just after the Indian war and war of 1812-'13, there was no foreign demand. We had nothing to sell, no one had anything with which to buy. Everything bartered; one dollar then would go farther than five or six now, but then it was merely nominal as we rarely handled a dollar.
" What little wheat was raised, was cut with sickles, it being before the days of cradles and reapers. We thought this never would be a wheat country, as the ground was so rich that the grain would fall down. After we began to raise more wheat than was needed for home consumption, the nearest market was Lawrence- burg; consequently they brought their grain from midway between Lawrenceburg and Michigan City-this way to the Ohio, and the other way to Lake Michigan. The old Michigan road would be lined with wagons containing from ten to fifty bushels of wheat drawn by one yoke of oxen and one horse: by two horses, and by three and four horse teams. They would be on the road ten days or two weeks, take their horse feed and provisions along with them, and bartered their wheat for salt, leather, cotton, yarn, coffee, etc. Hogs were driven the same way, either to Michigan City or Cin- cinnati. The number of grain wagons in the fall, and hogs in the winter, was astonishing, as the hogs from the north as far as Craw- fordsville and Greencastle were driven through here to Cincinnati."
Snakes .- In the pioneer days of Shelby County, snakes were numerous and consisted of many varieties, viz. : rattlesnakes, vipers, adders, milk snakes, garter, water snakes, black snakes, etc. Many of these varieties were venomous and exceedingly dangerous. It. was the practice in some sections for the settlers to form themselves into companies, and with stick mattocks and crowbars attack the principal dens and slay large numbers of them. An incident of this kind is given by Mr. James Smith, an early resident of the county, who says: " While en route home from Edinburg in the summer of IS34, near the present site of the Baptist Church, in the Scott neighborhood, my attention was attracted by a noise in the leaves near the roadside. I stopped suddenly, and soon discovered that it was a combat for life between a rattlesnake and a black snake. Drawing near, the black snake became frightened at my presence, and quickly disappeared in the brush. The rattlesnake after a few seconds of apparent rest crawled slowly away to the base of a small cliff near the creek bank. Following but a few paces behind, and as I came near the cliff, I discovered what ap- peared to me at first sight to be hundreds of those venomous rep- tiles. I immediately repaired to the nearest house, and with the father, sons and dogs, we returned to the spot armed with various
313
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
implements of warfare, where we killed many rattlesnakes of all ages and sizes."
Trade and Commerce .- In pioneer times, the transactions of commerce were generally only neighborhood exchanges. Money was little known and seldom seen among the early settlers. Indeed, they had but little use for it, as they could transact all their busi- ness about as well without it, on the " barter " system, wherein great ingenuity was sometimes displayed. Peltries came nearer being money than anything else, as it came to be the custom to es- timate the value of everything in coon skins. Even some tax col- lectors and postmasters were known to take peltries and exchange them for money required by the government. The surplus pro- ducts of the farm that did not find a market at home were taken to Lawrenceburg, by way of the old state road, or to Madison, by way of the Michigan road. These were two important thorough- fares, and it is said that processions of a score or more of wagons were often seen en route to one of these points. January 26, 1824, Flat Rock was declared to be a navigable stream and public high- way from its mouth to Little Flat Rock, and Blue River was de- clared navigable to the north line of Shelby County. January 28, IS28, Sugar Creek was declared navigable to Manan's mill, in Moral Township, in this county, and William Dobble was made commissioner to keep it free from obstructions. Blue River was the first of these avenues of commerce used. The Goodrich Brothers, in the latter part of the twenties, built a flat-boat, loading it with various kinds of produce, launched on the placid waters, headed for New Orleans. This boat was a large one, and to get over the dam on Driftwood River, near Rockford, was a matter that gave the boatmen much concern. On this occasion Mr. Nathan Goodrich accompanied his father as far as the dam; there he left the boat and returned on foot. A man by the name of Isley, launched a boat laden with produce, probably the next year. Will- iam Farris and a man by the name of Vanasdol, sent two boats from near Freeport. John C. Walker built and sent two from Shelbyville. Another was sent from Wolf's mill, and still another, with a cargo of lumber, from the mouth of Brandywine. It is claimed by those best informed, that at least ten boat-loads of pro- duce were shipped to New Orleans in this way.
Gathering's and Amusements .- The people of to-day might im- agine from the nature of the surroundings, that the pioneer settlers seldom engaged in any kind of social intercourse. However strange it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that the opportunities were greater then than they are to-day. The log-rollings, house-raisings, corn-huskings, bean pickings, wool pickings, quiltings and apple-
314
SHELBY COUNTY.
parings, while attended with hard labor, were never without their social elements. The "corn-husking" was engaged in by both sexes. They usually assembled in a large barn, but not unfre- quently in the field: each gentleman would select his lady partner and then the husking would begin. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. It is related that at such a gathering held in the barn of one Mr. Hunt, an early settler of Brandywine Township, there were present a young lady of the neighborhood and two gentlemen admirers, each of whom had most diligently sought her favor. Early in the work one of them found what each had so persistently searched for -the red ear. He immediately sought the privilege that his prize guaran- teed, but was confronted by his rival, and a fight ensued which re- sulted in the maiming of one of the combatants for life. Such proceedings, however, were of rare occurrence. The night follow- ing these gatherings were usually spent by the young folks in dancing. Such social gatherings were known as the "frolic" or " shindig," and not the german or ball. The young gallants would gather in for miles around and bring their "gals," and it was not uncommon for them both to ride on the same horse. When a suf- ficient number had gathered, the voiceful fiddle would send forth its inspiring strains and the dance would begin. Some would dance the "double shuffle" while others would "cut the pigeon wing " or other high vaulting figures. David Calclazier, who lived near Marion, was the most famous of all the pioneer "fiddlers" of the county, and his services were in demand wherever he was known. Those happy days are gone, and with them many of the old forms of amusement, which for true enjoyment far surpassed the formal social gatherings of to-day.
The pioneer wedding, which was one of the interesting features of pioneer life, is described by one who often attended the festivi- ties in the following langr. ge: For a long time after the first set- tlement the people married young. There was no distinc.ion of rank and but little of fortune. consequently the first impression of love generally resulted in marriage. The marriage was generally celebrated at the house of the bride. In the morning of the wed- ding day the groom and his intimate friends would assemble at the house of his father, and after due preparation departed for the mansion of the bride. The journey was some irres male on horse- back, sometimes on foot and sometimes in a farm vagon or cart. It was always a merry journey, and to insure merrime it .he bottle was taken along. After the marriage ceremonies were performed, supper eaten, dancing commenced and usually lasted till morning.
315
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
At the proper time for retiring a deputation of young ladies would steal off the bride and put her to bed. This done, a depu- tation of young men would escort the groom to the same apartment and place him snugly by the side of his bride. A romantic incident of a marriage of pioneer days as written by Rev. George Sluter, is of sufficient interest to be inserted here:
"Abel Summers, who built the first mill at Marion, in 1823, em- ployed a man by the name of Cory, from Fayette County, to frame his mill. This millwright brought with him his three sons, Whitman, Stephen and Alınan. Now, it so happened that at that time one Samuel Endsley lived just across the river from where the mill was in process of construction. His family consisted of a wife and six children, the oldest of whom was an unmarried daughter of eighteen. It seems that Alman Cory soon became enamored of this young lady and determined to marry her. His suit being suc- cessful, he obtained leave of absence from his father to go home after clothing suitable for the occasion. There he was detained several days longer than he had intended, without being able to ex- plain the matter.
His brother, Whitman Cory, who had been his rival, thought this the time for him to speak. So he told the young lady that Al- man had no intention of returning, and that he himself was very much in need of a wife. He artfully insinuated that as he was a widower and had known what wedded bliss was, he was far more lonely than one who had never been married. He put the case so strongly that Polly told him, if those things were so, then the sooner he got his license the better.
Of course, Whitman was in great haste for fear his brother should return before he had secured his prize. So having bor- rowed a suit of clothing from James Carr, who lived in Marion, late in the evening, he crossed the river in a canoe, accompanied by Carr and Squire Kennedy. Mrs. Carr had kindly agreed to set her house in order for the reception of the bridal party, as soon as the two were made one. They arrived at the bride's residence in due time. The ceremony was soon over. And, after partaking of some ginger and whisky to keep out the cold, the bridal party started for Marion. But, upon reaching the river, the canoe was gone. They searched diligently, but it could not be found. Their embarrassment was great. It was no laughing matter to them. They were compelled to return to the log cabin they had left but a short time before. It was a rude structure, only sixteen feet square, with round poles for joists, so low that a man of ordinary size could hardly stand erect under them, and two-thirds of the space of one end taken up by the huge fireplace. This would be
316
SHELBY COUNTY.
considered a scanty accommodation in our day, for so large a num- ber as were now beneath that roof. No supper had been prepared for the unexpected guests. But the crisis was only momentary, for the father of the bride came to the rescue. He seized his mat- tock, made an opening in the turnip-hole, and said: "Come, gen- tlemen, help yourselves : here is plenty."
The next day the canoe was discovered, and the wedding party brought over to Marion, it is said, "with shouting and great joy." And some time afterward it was found out that William Wilson and William Michael, two young bloods of the neighborhood, had actually swam the river through the mush ice in order to bring the canoe to the opposite bank, and concealed it about half a mile above the landing in the bushes.
First Independence Day. - On the day upon which the Legis- lative Commissioners arrived at a decision-the Fourth of July, IS22-there was the greatest gathering that had yet been had by the early settlers, at a barbecue, immediately north of our present Fair Grounds. The selection of the seat of justice was there an- nounced and received with general applause, and the occasion was long and pleasantly remembered as important and memorable.
Mr. Isaac H. Wilson, who participated in that festivity, gives the following interesting account of the proceedings:
There were present about 200 persons on that occasion, hailing from half a dozen different settlements - Marion, Freeport, Wray's Settlement, Tucker's, Handpack and some five or six families from the immediate vicinity. We had a delightful day, and enjoyed our- selves as well, probably, as the same number of persons ever did in the same length of time. We had provisions in abundance, such as beef, pork, mutton, deer, bear, turkey and fish. The bread was excellent, and plenty of it, and all donated. No one thought of asking pay for anything that was furnished. Nimrod Gatewood, a brother of Peter and William, was chief cook. Our meats were barbecued, over a ditch that had been dug for the purpose, and filled with live coals. John Cherry went out that morning, killed a four-pronged buck and brought him in as his contribution. Mother Young furnished a loaf of raised corn bread about the size of half a bushel, which had been baked in a Dutch oven, and I defy you to produce anything equal to it, baked in the stoves of the present day. Our tables were hastily gotten up by driving forked sticks in the ground: poles were then put crosswise, and upon these were placed slabs.
When all things were ready to be put upon the table, we were brought to a dead stand for the want of dishes upon which to serve our meats. But our delay was only momentary. An old lady by
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.