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 28
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the name of Goodrich, who, it was reported, had been a captive among the Indians in her youth, upon hearing of the difficulty directed a couple of young men to cut down a young hickory tree. They then peeled off the bark in sheets about two feet long, and tied up the ends in such a manner as to form a dish large enough to hold a saddle of venison. She next showed them how to sharpen their knives, using one as a steel to whet the other.
I remember well on that memorable day, riding through the beautiful fertile bottom, now owned by Messrs. Gordon and Senour, upon a horse, fifteen and a half hands high, carrying a stick in my hand to keep the nettles out of my face. There is one other inci- dent of that day which has left a deep impression upon my mind. It was this: Some fifteen persons formed a circle, one of them had a violin. It was passed round, each one playing a tune: after which we dispersed and all went home, well satisfied and contented. This was the first celebration of the Fourth of July in the newly organ- ized county.
· Old Settlers' Association .- Meetings of the old settlers have been held at various places and at irregular periods for more than a score of years. Within the last few years they have been of more frequent occurrence, and more largely attended. A joint as- sociation, composed of Shelby, Johnson, Rush and Bartholomew counties, was organized a few years ago with a regular meeting place at Riverside Park near Flat Rock in Shelby County. These meetings are attended by thousands of people from the counties composing the association, and much interest is manifested, not only by the old settlers themselves, but by the generation of younger people who are now reaping the rewards of the industry of their fathers, and lose no opportunity to make their declining years pleasant. These exercises consist of addresses by some of the most distinguished men of the county and State, and reminiscences of the pioneer days, portraying in their own language the trials and hardships encountered in order that they might lay the foundation of homes, the blessings of which their children might enjoy.
Reminiscences of Rev. Eliphalet Kent, who came to the county as a missionary in 1829, and is now upward of eighty-eight years of age:
" It is now more than half a century ago since I came to Shel- byville. I had left the Theological Seminary in 1829; and, feeling that it was important for a minister to be suitably married, upon my return home, I turned my attention in that direction. I met my first wife and proposed successfully. Her father's favorite maxim upon the subject of marriage was that daughters should be married off and not on. When my wife and I were ready to start for our
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Home Mission field in the then Far West, it seemed as if his daugh- ter had been married too far off. The trip to Indiana at that time was an immense affair. an undertaking of far more magnitude than a journey to Europe would be in our day. It was a sad leave- taking, and we parted with many tears. We came down the Ohio River on a steamboat, and arrived at Madison at night. I preached for the Rev. James H. Johnston, the Pastor of the church, for two Sabbaths, while he went off on a missionary tour into the country. I purchased a horse, saddle and bridle, paying the sum of $35. My wife rode in the stage. In this way we reached Bartholomew County. Thence we entered Shelby County, and reached the house of Mr. John Conover. While there, Mr. James Hill, the grand- father of Mrs. Teal, sent his son James with a horse for my wife. This family was better off than most of the early settlers, for they
had a log cabin with two rooms. From there we went to Shelby- ville, to the house of Maj. Hendricks. We were well received everywhere. I was now upon my field of ministerial labor, and engaged boarding in the house of Dr. S. B. Morris. There were two rooms in his residence, and one of them, IOx16 in size, became the parlor, study and bed-room of my wife and self. After three months, we moved into a small two-story brick building, just finished, which stood opposite where the post office now is. In the lower room my wife immediately opened a school, and we lived up-stairs. "I remained in this field till 1835, and then received a call to Greenwood, where I continued my ministerial labors five years.
"As I stand here to-day and look back, I feel that it is very dif- ficult to realize the changes that have taken place within this time. The limits of the town then were very small. From Hendricks Street to Franklin, and from Tompkins to Pike was all there was of it -and that small space was occupied by but a few cabins. At some seasons it was extremely muddy. From where I now live it was often impossible to reach town on account of the bad roads.
"Once, a young minister, Mr. Danforth, and I, had been preach- ing in the country. Upon our way back we were overtaken by night. It was so very dark, and the creeks were so high, that we concluded to remain in the woods overnight. So we hitched our horses and entertained ourselves the best we could; and if I have ever in all my life danced, it was that night - danced to keep my- self warm. Early in the morning we started, not knowing what direction to take, but soon found a pig path, which led us to the house of Mr. Curran, who had been at our meeting the day before; and he piloted us to Shelbyville.
"To me it is very pleasant to look back upon those days gone by. I felt that I was the happiest of men. My wife, too, enjoyed
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the missionary labor we were engaged in, and on her dying bed said she never regretted coming here. The Presbyterians were anxious to have preaching of their own faith, and treated us with the greatest of kindness. I would often take my wife with me on Saturday to my preaching places. We always found the latch string out. It is true there was generally but one room in the house. When we suggested perhaps it would not be convenient for us to stay all night with them, the invariable reply was, it would be entirely convenient. At bed-time, the one bed would be made into three or four, and then the task was, how to get in. This was a little mortifying to my young wife at first, but after a time we got used to these unavoidable inconveniences of a new country."
Shelby County is second to none in almost everthing that goes to make a prosperous community and a happy and contented peo- ple. But the people of the present generation must know that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who opened up the avenues that have led her to such a condition. Energy and preseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands, and changed from a wilderness to gardens of beauty and profit, where but a few years ago the barking of the wolves and the screaming of the panthers made night hideous with their wild shrieks, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. On the spot where but little more than a half century ago the savage pitched his tent, now rise the palacial dwellings, school-houses and church spires. The transformation has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the aspirations of such noble men and women as make any country great.
There are but few of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shore of time as connecting links of the past with the present. Their trials, their privations and hardships were many, and they bore them without a murmur; of burdens, they have borne their share, and now as they are fast passing far down the western de- clivity of life, they should be cheered up, revered and respected, for beneath those rough exteriors beat hearts as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast.
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CHAPTER V.
MILITARY HISTORY -- MEXICAN WAR -CAUSES OF TIIE CIVIL WAR-PUBLIC OPINION IN SHELBY COUNTY-THE BOGGS- TOWN RESOLUTIONS -NEWS FROM FORT SUMTER - FIRST COMPANY FOR THE FRONT-FLAG PRESENTATION-OTHER COMPANIES-CHANGE IN SENTIMENT- THE COUNTY'S EARLY RECORD - DEMOCRATIC RESOLUTIONS - RENEWED VOLUN- TEERING-SWORD PRESENTATION-THE 100 DAYS MEN -- THE MORGAN RAID-PUBLIC OPINION IN 1863-4-MEN FURNISHED FOR THE WAR- INDIANA LEGION-BOUNTY AND RELIEF-ROLL OF HONOR.
NATION'S wars form the most interesting of all its chapters in history, and its combats on the field of battle are often struggles for existence and independ- ence. This very contest for life itself, is sufficient to create the absorbing interest with which a people watch the country's warlike movements. But when feats of daring heroism, inspired by the most exhalted patriot- ism, are added there is an additional halo thrown around the scenes of these conflicts and they become consecrated to the cause that was victorious. The deeds of the heroes live in song and poetry; and the Nation bows in reverence at the shrine of its illustrious warriors.
The first war of any consequence that engaged the attention of the United States after the organization of Shelby County, was the campaign against Mexico. In that war Shelby County did its full share. Two companies were organized in the county for the Mexi- can service. The first of these started for the front in June, 1846. It was company H, in the Third Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. Its officers were Voorhis Conover, Captain; Samuel Mckinsey, Ist Lieutenant; William Aldredge, 2nd Lieutenant, and Jonathan Keith, 3rd Lieutenant. It was a full company and served for one year. The only battle of consequence in which it took part, was that of Buena Vista. In that engagement a few in the company were wounded. At the expiration of its service it returned home where it arrived in July, 1847. Another company was at once organized by Lieutanant Mckinsey, who was chosen Captain of this second company. But little can now be learned of the inci-
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dents through which these men passed that were engaged in the Conquest of Mexico.
The Civil War in the United States, was of such gigantic pro- portions, and was brought about by so long a train of circum- stances that have an exclusively national bearing, that a review in this place would be impossible and impertinent to this work.
The political campaign in 1860, exceeded any of its predeces- sors for excitement and interest, and few, if any, have since equaled it. In Shelby County, the contest was most vigorous, and the en- ergy displayed by the politicians and partisans of the different sides was but a reflex of the larger national contest. The fact that Thomas A. Hendricks, who was then a resident of Shelbyville, was a candidate for Governor on the Democratic ticket, gave addi- tional zest to the contest. Speeches were made here by a number of the leading men in each party. Rallies were held in all parts of the county. Nearly every township had its organization of " Wide Awakes " for the Republicans, and a "Hickory Club " for the Democrats. Night after night was disturbed by the fitful glare of torch-light processions, and the hoarse shouts of partisans. In the State election in October, Hendricks received a majority in the county of 242, over Lane, the opposing candidate. The general result showed the election of Lane by nearly 10,000 majority. From that time on the fight was more bitter than ever. In November, the result in the State was still more disatrous for the Democrats. In this county, Douglas received 2,047 votes; Lincoln 1,900; Breckenridge, 43, and Bell, 25. Douglas' major- ity over Lincoln was 147, and over all, 79. This shows a falling off in the Democratic majority from October to November, while in the State the Republican majority was increased to more than 20,000. Lincoln was elected, having received 180 electoral votes out of a total of 303. Then came the news of the seces- sion of the States, and many stout hearts began to fail and doubt the final outcome.
In this community nearly every phase of the leading public questions found ready advocates. The Shelby Volunteer, then edited by R. Spicer, in its issue of December 13, 1860, says: " The excitement and secession turmoil in the South gives no indi- cation of abatement and even the most skeptical Unionists, north and south, have made up their minds to look upon the secession of some six or eight of the Southern States as inevitable and it is hardly probable that any terms in the way of compromise can re- tain them. They have fully made up their minds (the politicians who control the States, we mean), to go out of the Union and out they will go. It appears to be the general opinion that the wisest
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and best plan is to let them and trust to future events, or the return of the sober second thought, to get them back, probably repent- ant." On the 27th the same paper at the close of a long editorial with the heading. " Coercion - Is it Policy?" has this paragraph : "The true policy of the north is to assume and maintain a conserv- ative and non-interference policy and act on the defensive: and that when her territory is invaded. This policy it is believed will induce the border States to remain in the Union, and eventually pave the way for a re-uniting of the dissevered fragments on a lasting basis, and at the same time preserve the feeling of brotherhood existing between the two sections."
These of course, are only the opinions of one man - the edi- tor- but it is fair to presume that they were that of a large portion of the party he represented in this county.
On Saturday, the 19th of January, 1861, there was a Union mass meeting held by all parties in the court house at Shelbyville. The control of the convention was in the hands of the Republicans. Speeches were made by James M. Sleeth, James Harrison and Thomas A. Hendricks on behalf of the Democrats, and by Capt. Brandywine and Jasper H. Sprague on the part of the Republicans. Two sets of resolutions were presented to the convention, one by each of the two parties, but a dispute in reference to them ended by an adjournment without the adoption of either, and the first effort of a movement "irrespective of party" in Shelby County, was a failure.
The Famous Boggstown Resolutions .*- The meeting of the cit- izens of Sugar Creek Township, that assembled at the school-house in Boggstown, on Saturday. the 16th day of February, 1861, was the most notable one that ever met in the history of that township. It had been well advertised throughout the township by written notices posted up in all public places the week before, and a general turn- out of the citizens was secured. The school-house was full and overflowing. The evening was mild, but cloudy and threatening, somewhat in keeping with the disturbed condition of the country at that time. The meeting was promptly organized at 1 o'clock P. M., by the selection of W. C. E. Wanee for president or chair- man, and Wm. R. Norris as secretary, both citizens of Shelbyville now, but who were then residents of "Old Sugar Creek." At this time Sugar Creek Township possessed more debating talent to the square inch, and a better knowledge of parliamentary rules and usages, than any other township in the United States. Debating had
*This article, describing the proceedings of the Boggstown Convention, was written by Mr. Wm. R. Norris, who was the secretary. It is the most complete account ever printed of this famous meeting.
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been assiduously cultivated at Boggstown as the central point of the township for years and years, until everybody that would talk or wanted to talk, could talk. All the questions of the day current in debat- ing societies had been discussed time and again by the debating society that flourished at Boggstown permanently, and it took in the entire township. The consequence was that the old farmers and their boys were all debaters. and all took a pride in extempo- raneous speaking. Hence a lively time was expected, as it was anticipated that the last resolution would provoke bitter opposition from the Republicans present, and there was a general turnout of them as well as the Democrats, who were in a large majority in the township, being then about three to one.
On motion, W. C. E. Wanee. Dr. J. W. Smelser and Wm. R. Norris, were appointed a Committee on Resolutions. The com- mittee retired behind the school-house for consultation. Dr. Smelser drew from his coat pocket the Resolutions "cut and dried" already written out. they had been prepared by him and a cousin of his. Mr. Fullalove, of Louisville, Ky., who had been visiting his, Dr. Smelser's. family for some two or three weeks, and who was very desirous to have them adopted by the meeting, that he might take them back home with him as the popular expression of the true sentiment of the people in a township like Sugar Creek, situ- ate in the heart of Central Indiana. The debate was opened by Dr. Smelser, who read the resolutions and supported them in a speech of probably fifteen or twenty minutes. Smelser was a good speaker, well informed and thoroughly posted on the political news of the day, and as he eloquently urged the passage of the resolu- tions, especially the last one, the attention of the audience was intense, you could have heard a pin drop, the silence was so com- plete: he was followed by Norris who advocated the resolutions likewise and urged upon the meeting the propriety of adopting them entire and especially the last one as the most important of all. Mr. Wanee, the chairman of the meeting then rose, and drawing from his pocket a small book, said: "My friends, we are all met here to-day for a common purpose, not as party men, but for the consideration of the great questions that now disturb our common country and threaten this lovely land with all the horrors of civil war. I will thereby read you some extracts from this little book I hold in my hand, which is a laconic work, on the horrors and ter- rors of war. I think the writer so much better expresses and describes the horrors and evils than anything that I myself could offer, that I will read it to you, his essay on war." He then read from the book an exceedingly well written description of the calam- ities caused by war. This occupied about ten minutes, as Mr. Wanee
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read very slowly and impressively, he being an excellent reader. Three speeches had now been made in behalf of the resolutions, and all of them by the Committee on Resolutions, and it begun to look like there would be no opposition to the passage of the reso- lutions, but at this juncture Dr. Wm. G. McFadden, a young physician and Republican, who then lived about two and a half miles north of Boggstown, on the old McFadden homestead, the Doctor is now and has been a well known citizen of Shelbyville for many years, arose from his seat in the audience and requested the secretary to re-read the resolutions and particularly the last one, as he thought that he had some objections to the last one. The sec- retary complied, reading the resolutions deliberately and the last one very slowly, word by word.
Dr. McFadden then proceeded to state his objections to the last resolution, saying, that he thought it inexpedient in the present dis- turbed condition of political opinion, and in view of the heated and exasperated feelings of the southern people, especially the slave holders, to pass such a resolution, as it would in his judgment already add fuel to the flame so fiercely burning in all the states south of the Ohio River. That it would encourage them and make them believe that they had abundance of sympathy and support right here in Indiana, and it might be the cause of precipitating a dissolution of the Union, they expecting in that event that Indiana and other western states would go with them, and form a new con- federation that would embrace the Southern States, the Western States, New York and Pennsylvania, and would leave the Yankee or New England States out in the cold. That for his part he pre- ferred keeping all the states together and not permitting any divis- ion of the Union, and that, if necessary to keep them in, he should be in favor of the government using coercion, much as he depre-
cated war, and civil war above all wars. The young Doctor's speech made a profound impression, and was received with many marks of approval by the Republicans present, whilst the Democrats looked somewhat uneasy for fear the resolution would encounter decided opposition. At this point, Secretary Norris sprang to his feet and commenced a rapid argument in favor of the resolution, enumerating the many geographical, commercial and business ad- vantages that would enure to our people by going with the South in case of a dissolution of the Union. He said amongst other things that the whole Mississippi valley should go together, that God Almighty and nature designed them to be one and indivisible, that as waters of our State flowed to the Mississippi, and the Mis- sissippi to the Gulf-nature herself had pointed out our destiny- that as for his part he was born with southern blood in his veins,
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that he could never go back on his native State, old Kentucky, that he had lived as they were all well aware, for more than two years quite recently, in the Land of the Border Ruffians, Western Missouri, right in the hot-bed of negro slavery, where they all owned slaves -that to his certain knowledge western Missouri was a perfect nigger's paradise, that the slaves were well treated, many of them better than they deserved. That from his knowledge of southern slave holders he would much prefer going with them if they did secede and leave the Union, to allying himself to the hypocritical, cunning, crafty, foxy, blue-bellied Yankees of the New England States and a great deal more was said by the secretary in the same vein.
Dr. Smelser followed with an earnest appeal in behalf of the South, stating that he had been in slave states, that he knew the con- dition of the niggers in Kentucky was much preferable to that of many poor white men in the North, and a thousand times better than the condition of the overworked and underpaid operators in the factories of the Yankee States. That he would prefer, infin- itely prefer, a union with Southern slaveholders to a union with the hypocritical Pharisees of New England, the cold-blooded calcula- ting Yankees, whose only God was money, who first stole the nig- gers from Africa and sold them to the south, and who now wanted to free the niggers, so that they could get them to come North and work for them, and wait on them for little or nothing, pay them off in old clothes and cold victuals, whilst pretending to be their friends - they would rather steal a nigger from a good comfortable home where he was well treated and taken care of, than to pay some poor white man good living wages to do their drudgery. The Yankees were nearly all Abolitionists, and he hoped that Caleb Cushing, Ben Butler and all such good Democrats, who were will- ing to stand by the south in protecting their rights to their slave property would move out, and go to the south or west, where the people would welcome them with warm hearts and open hands. The Doctor said much more in a similar strain, advocating the pas- sage of the resolution with vehement eloquence. He sat down and Dr. McFadden undertook to reply, by saying that he had no love for the Yankees nor the Abolitionists, but he thought the resolu- tion was premature and imprudent in view of the excited condition of the public mind both north and south, that it might hasten a dis- solution of the Union much sooner than we anticipated, etc.
At this stage of the discussion, Homer Palmeter, an old man, and a Jackson Democrat, who read the New York Day Book, an ultra fire-eating, Democratic paper, morning, noon and night, took the floor. He was an old man whose soul absorbing passion was. 6
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politics, and who kept posted on its every kaleidoscopic phase. He said amongst other things, "Mr. President, we hear much said about coishun (coercion ) in the papers, they're full of it, both Dimekratic and Rippublican. I say Mr. President, let's bring it right home to ourselfs. How would you, Mr. President, like to be coished (coerced, he meant). I know you wouldn't. We all know you wouldn't. Now if it isn't right to coish ( coerce) a man, it ain't right to coish (coerce) a State. What's right between man and man is right between States and States. 'Do as you would be done by,' is the golden rule of Holy Writ, laid down by Christ himself. and don't undertake to coish (coerce) our Southern brith- rin." He then launched into a philippic against the Abolitionists for agitating the slavery question and disturbing the harmony of . the people and the States.
Speeches were also made by many others, as the Secretary per- sisted in calling on every one present for an expression of opinion. The two brothers, Washington and John McConnell, made tem- perate and logical speeches in favor of the resolutions. Young Robert McConnell, eldest son of John McConnell, warmly endorsed the resolutions. Armstrong Gibson advocated them in an impul- sive manner. David Smith earnestly favored their adoption and thought it was high time to cut loose from the meddlesome and accursed Abolitionists of the Yankee States. He was followed by Adam Smith, his brother, who has distinguished himself of late years in advocating the theory that the earth stands still and the " sun do move " around it, in numerous debates with some of the scientific men of the age. Uncle Adam said: "Gentlemen, I have been much interested in the discussion of the resolutions, and I for one, am emphatically in favor of their adoption. If it comes to a sepperation of the States I prefer to go with the Southern nigger drivers all the time to agoin' with the Blue-Bellied Yanks. By Griddy them's my sentiments, gentlemen."
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