USA > Indiana > Tipton County > History of Tipton County Indiana > Part 4
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
Digitized by Google
47
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
which many tile ditches drain. In the early settlement of the area the native grasses were cut from these soils and used for hay, but at present most of this land is under cultivation and used chiefly for general farm crops, such as corn, oats and hay.
Corn will produce an average yield of fifty to sixty bushels per acre. and oats forty to sixty bushels. Some very heavy yields of oats have been obtained, but the grain makes a rank growth of straw which becomes lodged so that harvesting is difficult as well as damaging to the crop. This condition may be partially remedied by the liberal use of mineral fertilizers. Corn fre- quently "burns" or turns yellow on this soil and does not mature. Timothy is easily set and makes a rank growth, but it usually "burns" at the ground, and the hay is lighter than that grown on other soils. Alsike clover is well adapted to this soil and should be grown in combination with timothy. The crops grown on this type are subject to injury from early and late frosts. It is often necessary to replant corn two or three times, and early frosts some- times prevent the corn from maturing. If the seed bed were made firm with a heavy roller the movement of the soil moisture would be so regulated as to lessen the danger from frosts. Applications of potash salts and phos- phatic fertilizers are very advantageous to these soils. Coarse barnyard manure and lime are also beneficial.
This soil is seldom used for the crops to which it is best adapted, includ- ing celery, onions, cabbage, Irish potatoes, beets, turnips, cauliflower, and other garden products. Such crops have been successfully grown upon this material in northern Indiana and adjoining states, but for the cultivation of such special crops the accessibility of city markets and rapid transportation must necessarily be a matter of consideration, except in those cases where grown for local consumption.
MEADOW (GENESEE MATERIAL).
The term meadow, as here employed, denotes a generalized type or classification embracing the narrow strips of first bottom land lying along certain minor stream courses of the county, such as Irwin, Turkey, Little Wild Cat, Nixon, Jericho, Wallace and Prairie creeks. These bottoms are subject to periodic overflow, but they are not particularly swampy, the drain- age of much of the soil being fairly good between overflows. There is wide variation in the color, composition, and texture of the soil, as also in local drainage and surface conditions. The predominant material is a heavy silt loam, dark brown in color, and resembling the Clyde and Genesee soils.
Digitized by Google
48
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
The subsoil is a mottled drab or grayish silty clay. Near the stream channel the soil may be lighter in texture, but throughout most of the area the sediments are fine and the soil is rather heavy. Deposits are being added repeatedly, each successive overflow bringing in new deposits and spreading them over the bottom lands.
The areas of meadow are ordinarily too wet for cultivation. yet they are not permanently swampy. By straightening and deepening the stream chan- nels much of this poorly drained land has been reclaimed, like the Genesee silty clay loam, for agricultural purposes. Corn is the chief cultivated crop upon such areas, and when proper means of drainage are employed the yields are excellent. Where the valleys are deeply cut and narrow and the land fre- quently interspersed with shallow depressions or marshy places its chief value is for pasturage. Complete drainage of the meadow lands is not essential when they are used for this purpose.
The greater portion of meadow in this county is being used for pasture, the native forest growth generally being allowed to remain as shelter for stock. It also affords a supply of timber for domestic use, chiefly for fence posts and rough lumber.
Silver maple, white elm, sycamore, and red oak are the trees commonly found on such areas.
Digitiżed by
Digitized by Google
CICERO CREEK, NEAR POTTS' PIT.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER III.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
INDIAN TREATIES.
Before the Indians had entirely relinquished their title to the northern portion of what is now Tipton county, the southern portion was placed in the market for the white men. It has been previously stated that the territory now comprising the county was formerly the hunting grounds of the Miamis, and at some period during the latter part of the eighteenth century the Dela- wares acquired a claim to that portion watered .by White river, as is shown by the second article of the treaty of Fort Wayne, September 20, 1809, be- tween the United States and the Delawares, Pottawatomies, Miamis and Eel River Miamis. The article is as follows: "The Miamis explicitly acknowl- edge the equal right of the Delawares with themselves to the country watered by the White river. But it is also to be clearly understood that neither party shall have the right of disposing of the same without the consent of the others, and any improvement which shall be made on the said land by the Delawares, or their friends, the Mohecans, shall be theirs forever." By the first article of the treaty of St. Mary's, between the United States and the Delawares, on October 3, 1818, such tribe relinquished their claim to all lands in the state of Indiana. Thus it seems that all that portion of the county watered by White river became the possession of the United States in 1818, two years after the organization of Indiana as a state. Three years later, in 1821, the government survey occurred.
FIRST WHITE MEN.
If any white settlers located within the present bounds of Tipton before 1830, that is, permanent settlers, the fact is not on record. Hamilton county received emigrants as early as 1819, or within a year after the Dela- ware title to the soil was destroyed, and so rapid was the settlement that, during the session of the state Legislature in 1822-23, the act was passed
(4)
Digitized by
50
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
creating the county of Hamilton. The lands of Hamilton were subject to entry at Brookville, and later at Indianapolis. The lands of Tipton county, those south of the old Miami reservation, were subject to entry at Fort Wayne, and remained thus until about the year 1848, when the land office was removed to Indianapolis. The settlement of Tipton county was postponed until about twelve years after the creating of Hamilton county, and this was an unbroken wilderness during that period, while the county on the south was enjoying rapid and permanent settlement. Hunters, traders and trappers often crossed the county of Tipton on their journey from north to south or east to west, traveling over the various Indian trails which wound through the unclaimed country. Wild animals were found in great abundance, especially along the streams, where impenetrable swamps existed and which afforded an excellent refuge for the pursued animals. Old settlers claim that bears were plentiful along Cicero creek, and this locality was a favorite hunt- ing ground for the Miamis. Deer also were plentiful, but it was not long before they, with the bruins, had to leave under the assiduous quest of the trapper.
CICERO CREEK.
The name of Cicero creek was derived from the following incident: In 1821, during the survey under Judge William B. Laughlin, of Brookville, the Judge's son, Cicero, leaned over the stream one day to drink, but while in a stooping posture, lost his balance and plunged headforemost into the water. This amused the father so much that he then named the creek Cicero. This occurred in Hamilton county.
FIRST ENTRIES.
Among the first purchases of land in Tipton county are the following. in 1829 and up until 1835: Nicholas McCarty, section 29; also a duplicate entry by McCarty; Absalom Sumner, section 31 ; P. W. Shaffer, 30 and 31; James Beeson, 32 ; James Goodpasture, 25: Absalom Sumner, 36; Eli Wright, 29; Henry Etchison, 29; Henry Hill, 25 ; Samuel King, 24; George R. Kelley, 25; John Wade, 11 and 12; Humphrey Stevens, 13; G. R. Kelley, 25 ; Samuel King, 19; Henry Ward, 30; D. J. Wood, 36; Charles Teal, Jr., 13; John Frazier, 17; A. J. Redding, 19; William Bishop, 25: John Emehiser, 14 and 15: Elias Overman, 32; Newton J. Jackson, 19; Zadack W. Darrow, 32; Samuel Darrow, 32.
Digitized by Google
-
51
-
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
LATER SETTLEMENT.
The purchase of land and the settlement in the southern portion of the · county continued quite extensively during the years 1836, 1837 and 1838, so that in 1839 it was found expedient to make some provision for the taxation of the settlers and for the administration of justice. Accordingly, by an act of the General Assembly, approved February 16, 1839, the boundary of the county of Richardville was formed, the Miami title to the old Miami reserva- tion having been destroyed in 1838, though the tribe was not to be removed nor molested until 1842 or 1843, so that no organization of such county could occur until 1844. A portion of the county of Richardville, as thus defined, now belongs to Tipton county, as may be observed by the following: Sec- tion 2 of that enactment attached all of the Miami reservation south of Cass county and north of the line dividing townships 22 and 23 north, to Cass county. These sections were 3, 4, 5 and 6, in township 23 north, range 3 east, now in the extreme northwestern part of Tipton county. Section 3 of the enactment attached all of the reservation south of Miami county and north of the line dividing townships 22 and 23 north, to Miami county. Thus, sec- tions 1, 2 and perhaps 3, in township 23 north, range 3 east, sections 1, 2, 3. 4, 5 and 6 in township 23 north, range 4 east, and sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 in town- ship 23 north, range 5 east, now forming a portion of the northern tier of sections of Tipton county, were attached to Miami county. Section 4 of the enactment attached all of the reservation east of the eastern boundary of Miami county, and north of the line dividing townships 22 and 23 north, to Grant county. The territory thus attached to Grant was sections 5 and 6 in township 23 north, range 6 east, and sections 1 and 2 in township 23 north, range 5 east. Section 5 of the enactment was as follows :
"Section 5. So much of said reservation as is north of the county of Hamilton and south of the line dividing townships 22 and 23 north, is hereby attached to the said county of Hamilton for judicial purposes ; and the said counties to which the said territory is hereby temporarily attached shall exer- cise all the rights, privileges and jurisdictions in and over said territory that to said counties belong according to law in other cases, and when the popula- tion in such attached territory will warrant shall form the same into town- ships and order the election of justices of the peace and other township officers; and the inhabitants of such attached territory shall be entitled to and exercise all the rights and privileges that other citizens of said counties are entitled to."
Digitized by Google
52
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
· RICHARDVILLE COUNTY.
All of this territory, or all of the Miami reservation referred to above, was created a's Richardville county, which was not to be organized until the Indians were removed and the white population warranted. In the mean- time, the land was attached to the surrounding counties, as above stated. It is evident, then, that all of the Miami reservation now in Tipton county was, by this enactment, included within the boundaries of the old Richardville county. There seems to have been no direct provision made for that portion of Tipton county south of the Miami reservation. An indirect reference seems to have been made to it in the first part of section 5 of the enactment of 1839, quoted above, as the reservation south of the line dividing townships 22 and 23 north could scarcely have been attached to Hamilton county, unless that portion of Tipton county south of the reservation was attached at the same time, or had been before. But it was not attached before, and subse- quent references render it conclusive that section 5 above quoted provided that all of the present Tipton county south of the line between townships 22 and 23 north should be attached to Hamilton county. Whether the southern por- tion of the county, that south of the reservation, was included within the boundaries of the county of Richardville, fixed by the enactment of 1835, can- not be certainly stated, though that seems to have been the intention.
FIRST TOWNSHIPS.
The commissioners of Hamilton county no sooner became aware of the passage of the enactment of 1835 than, in January, 1839, they ordered "that all of the territory north of White river, Jackson and Adams townships, the northern tier of townships of Hamilton county, to the reservation, be attached to and form a part of said townships, and Allen Cole is ordered to obtain all of the field notes for the territory north of White river, Jackson and Adams townships, to the reservation." At the session of March 5, 1839, the same commissioners divided the same territory on the north into the following townships : Cicero, beginning at the southeast corner of section 32, town- ship 21 north, range 6 east, thence north twelve miles, thence west ten miles, thence south twelve miles, to the southwest corner of section 35, township 21 north, range 4 east, thence east to the place of beginning. Jefferson, beginning at the southeast corner of section 34, township 21 north, range 4 east, thence north twelve miles, thence west ten miles, thence south twelve miles, to the
Digitized by Google
53
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
southwest corner of section 31, township 21 north, range 3 east, thence east to the place of beginning. The two townships, Cicero and Jefferson, were made to include all of the present Tipton county, except the tier of sections on the northern boundary, such tier having been attached to other counties, as previously stated. For Cicero township, an election of two justices of the peace was ordered held at the house of James Goodpasture on the first Mon- day in April, 1839, and Dempsey St. Clair was appointed inspector of such election. An election of two justices of the peace in Jefferson township was ordered held the first Monday in April, and John Deal was appointed in- spector. Immediately after this and possibly before the election was held, the commissioners of Hamilton readjusted the boundaries of Cicero and Jefferson townships, and created the new township of Madison, giving each the following boundaries : Jefferson, beginning at the southwest corner of the county, thence east eight miles, thence north as far as the jurisdiction of Hamilton county extended, which was to the line dividing townships 22 and 23 north, thence west eight miles to the western boundary of Tipton county, thence south to the place of beginning. Cicero, beginning at the southeast corner of Jefferson township, thence east six miles, thence north as far as the jurisdiction of the county extended, thence west six miles to the northeast corner of Jefferson township, thence south to the place of beginning. Mad- ison, beginning at the southeast corner of Cicero township, thence east six miles to the southeast corner of Tipton county, thence east, north along the eastern boundary as far as the jurisdiction of Hamilton county extended, thence west six miles to the northeast corner of the Cicero township, thence south to the place of beginning. Not another change was made until the county of Tipton was created. The settlers continued to pour into the southern portion of the county, and in the northern part many tracts of land were pre-empted by families that became actual residents and by speculators who hoped to hold the land until the price had mounted sufficiently for them to sell and thereby make a handsome profit. Every inducement was offered to men seeking homes in this new country and the sale of land and town lots in the few villages that were laid out was advertised far into the East to lure actual residents to the county and hasten the improvement of the new county, increase the population and promote improvements.
EARLY HOMES.
Were one of the first rude log houses erected in this county in existence today, it would be a source of wonder and admiration ; of wonder as to how
Digitized by Google
54
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
the pioneers contrived to spend one lonely day after another within the bare and restricted interior, and of admiration of the hardihood and courage of the men and women and children who braved the inconveniences and struggles which were prime factors in pioneer life. The settler driving his ox team and covered wagon into the primitive country built his log home as the first requisite to his habitation. Perhaps a rude canvas shelter would be erected for the first night, but on the following morning, before daybreak, the father was up and hewing the logs to form the foundation of his future home. Occasionally the settler would have the good fortune to have the assistance of some of his neighbor settlers, and in this case the rough cabin might be erected between the time from sunrise to sundown. The later pioneers gen- erally had a house raising when they entered, but the first comers had to toil alone.
Of course, the first move on erecting a home would be to choose a high and dry spot, and if necessary clear the timber and underbrush from the spot. The logs used in the placing of the walls of these pole cabins, so called, was made of rough, unhewn logs, with the ends projecting from six inches to two feet at the corners, the crevices between them being plastered with clay or mud, and the whole structure covered with clapboards rived from a nearby oak tree, and held in places by weight-poles. The same kind of boards, fastened to cross pieces by wooden pins driven into gimlet holes, constituted the door shutters, generally made to swing outward. The floor, when any was present, was made by laying parallel hewn puncheons, either fitting closely together or not, as the case may have been. A wooden latch, raised by a string, served as a fastening for the door. A small hole through the wall at the side of the door was used to insert the string, so that anyone coming in from the outside might unlatch the door by pulling the string. Thus the old phrase emblematic of hospitality, "the latch string is always out."
A large, open fireplace at one end of the room, built of mud and boulders, and an outside chimney of the same material or branches of trees, kept the cabin warm, and served as a place to cook.
The furniture of these cabins was crude, but adequate. Wooden stools were used for chairs, until the latter could be procured. The tables and bed- steads were of the simplest kind, made of puncheons. Many of the beds were made by boring two holes in the wall with a large auger, six or seven feet apart, into which pieces of wood were driven, having the opposite end of each inserted into an upright post. the whole making sort of a framework, to be covered with clapboards and used for a bed. The modern articles of
Digitized by y Google
55
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
luxury in the way of household furnishings were scarce indeed, and even the clothes were hand-spun, such weaves as hornespun and linsey-woolsey being the most popular, generally adorned with a coon or fox tail. The animal skins were used in large numbers to adorn the interior walls, as rugs for the bare floor, and as covers. Strange it is that today skins like these for such uses are considered luxuries. The handiwork of time is marvelously strange!
The projecting ends of the logs at the corners of the cabin served the place of hooks whereon to hang kitchen utensils and clothes, hoes, rakes, bridles and harness.
The pioneer's table was as simple and rough as his home. The standard food was naturally the meat of the forest game, which he had killed with his own gun. Vegetables and wild fruits and berries were had, and very little flour and grain. The bread was black and coarse, but these first Hoosier families could have digested nails and glass. Light was supplied with a tallow dip, or in winter from the large fireplace.
WOLVES.
Wolves were numerous in the territory of Tipton county, and were a source of great annoyance and danger to the settlers. Stock had to be tightly penned at night in order that they might not be slain by these gaunt ravagers. During the cold winters, the animals became especially voracious, and many tales are told of their depredations. Dogs were not equal in combat with the wolves, owing to the greater number of the latter. At night their mournful howlings rose above the wind, and intensified the chill and loneliness of the settlers' cabins. An old pioneer relates that upon one occasion the wolves surrounded his house in such numbers as to cause great uneasiness by their continued barking and howling. Thinking to frighten the animals away by shooting among them, he cautiously opened the door, but before he had time to bring his gun to bear, his favorite dog leaped into the midst of the pack and was torn to shreds in an instant. The report of the gun failed to in- timidate the animals, and the pioneer closed the door just in time to keep them from entering the house. All that night the family lay awake listening to the snarling and howling of the brutes as they ran around the house and scratched upon the door. The improvement of the country and the increasing number of occupants drove these animals away, and it has been several years since one has been seen.
Digitized by Google
,
56
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
A FIGHT WITH WOLVES.
Minor L. Thomas came to Tipton county in 1838, and in that year located in Cicero township, about one mile west of the present site of Tipton city. He erected a log house, and cleared a patch of ground around it for planting. He became known as an expert hunter, and his larder was always well stocked with choice meats of the forest. At shooting matches Thomas was always the winner, for "Dirty Camp," as his rifle was called, was one of the best in the state. It was an aged flintlock handed down to him from the Revolution- ary period by his grandfather, and which, because of its dirty and rusty ap- pearance, he gave it the name "Dirty Camp."
Less than one-half mile from where Thomas located was a large pond which was a great resort for game early in the mornings, especially deer. So one morning at break of day Thomas took down "Dirty Camp" as usual, and cautiously groped his way to the pond and there concealed himself among some low bushes and waited with fond expectations for a good shot. He did not see any deer, but after waiting a good while he heard a noise behind him, and on facing about noticed a large timber wolf skulking around, also ap- parently in search of meat for breakfast. Thomas had but one spare load, and that he had put in his ancient rifle and he did not care to waste it on such a worthless animal as a wolf, but after his patience had been well nigh ex- hausted by not seeing any chances for venison he concluded to shoot at the prowling wolf and did so. He had either made a miscalculation, or the old gun failed to do its duty, for the shot only wounded the animal, and it at once set up a terrible howling, nor could the hunter get near enough to dispatch it.
Its cry was immediately answered by a score of others which seemed to be lurking near that vicinity with the hope that something would turn up, and on they came to the rescue of their wounded companion. No sooner had they discovered the cause of their comrade's sorrow than the entire pack rushed towards Thomas, showing their teeth and snapping most viciously. Thomas wisely concluded that it would not be safe to turn and flee, as he would at once be overtaken, and fall a victim to his savage enemies, so he faced the wolves, using his gun as a club, and succeeded in killing the leader of the gang, crushing its skull with a powerful blow. For a moment its com- panions weakened and fell back, but again they rallied and returned to the attack with double fury. The hunter retreated, going backwards slowly and using his gun weapon with telling effect. Reaching the trunk of a decayed tree which had been broken off four or five feet from the ground, the upper
Digitized by Google
-
GUNNING PIT.
Digitized by y Google
Digitized by
--
57
TIPTON COUNTY, INDIANA.
portion still resting on the stump, by a spring the hunter planted himself on top of the trunk, with the hope of being out of their reach. But no sooner had he gained his new position than the wolves surrounded him from all sides and leaped at him from almost every quarter. But as often did he beat them back with terrible blows, yet his strength was fast failing. The stock of his gun had been shattered to splinters and there was nothing left to fight with except the barrel. With this, however, he succeeded in disabling several of the animals, though he was bitten in numerous places and some of his clothing torn in shreds.
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.