USA > Indiana > Vigo County > History of Vigo county, Indiana, with biographical selections > Part 43
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410
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
Maj. Smith retired from the Express soon after this election and then that paper went back to the republican party.
The democrats again met a Waterloo in the election for city council in May following. They elected Grace in the Fifth ward and that was all. McKeen beat Williams in First, 222; Second, Farrington beat Roberts, 131; Third, Ellis 145 over Bartlett; Fourth, Briggs 117 over Flinn; Fifth, Grace 1 over Harris; Sixth, Macutcheon 165 over Reinhardt. The national vote was only 103; the republican majority over all, 779. Council stood 6 to 6, with a democrat mayor. V. G. Dickout was elected fire chief.
Councilman Harrison in Sixth, and his colleague did not agree, and Harrison resigned. The election to fill the vacancy was hotly contested. Hon. David Phillips was the republican candidate, and Ernest Bleemel was the democrat; Phillips was elected by 82 majority. This gave the republicans control. Russell was made chief of police; Elliott, market master; Byers, street commissioner, and Hirzel, station keeper.
Porter beat Sanders for governor. Vigo county gave 272 ma- jority for Porter. The nationals had that year 783 votes in the county. The republicans elected every man on their county ticket; Pierce over Hanna, for congress, 247 votes; Smith over Anderson, for clerk, 360; Stepp over Hay, for sheriff, 142; Ray over Wallace, for treasurer, 72; Langhead over Ehrenhardt, for coroner, 99; Bichowsky over Kester, for State senator, 164; De Baum for commissioner, 412 over Bledsoe, Melroth and Morgan over Taylor, and Whitlock for legislature, 211 and 234. The pres- idential vote in November was: Garfield 4,982; Hancock 4,575; Weaver 779, a gain of 59 over the October election for the repub- licans.
As indicating the changes in city and county politics the follow- ing official list will furnish a correct index :
Congressmen .- 1868-70, Daniel W. Voorhees (D.); 1870-72, Daniel W. Voorhees (D.) ; 1872-74, Morton C. Hunter (R.) ; 1874- 76, Morton C. Hunter (R.); 1876-78, Morton C. Hunter (R.); 1878-80, Andrew J. Hostetler (D.); 1880-82, R. B. F. Pierce (R.); 1882-84, John E. Lamb (D.); 1884-86, James T. John- son (R.).
State Senators .- 1868-72, Harvey D. Scott (R.); 1872-76, Harvey D. Scott (R.); 1876-80, Isaiah Donham (D.); 1880-84, F. V. Bichowsky (R.) ; 1884-88, Philip Schloss (D.).
Representatives .- 1868-70, Isaac N. Pierce and Emsley Hamil- ton (R.); 1870-72, William Mack and Isaiah Donham (D.); 1872- 74, W. K. Edwards and P. H. Lee (R.); 1874-76, B. F. Havens and Joseph Gilbert (D.); 1876-78, A. B. Carlton and W. A. Con- nelly (D.); 1878-80, I. N. Kester and R. Van Valzah (D.);
411
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
1880-92, D. T. Morgan and W. H. Melroth (R.); 1882-84, Philip Schloss and I. N. Kester (D.) ; 1884-86, E. V. Debs and Reuben Butz (D.).
County Clerks .- 1868-72, Martin Hollinger (D.); 1872-76, Martin Hollinger (D.) ; 1876-80, John K. Durkan; 1880-86, M. N. Smith.
County Auditors .- 1866-70, William Paddock (R.); 1870-74, Samuel Royse (D.); 1874-78, Samuel Royse (D.); 1878-82, An- drew Grimes (D.) ; 1882-86, Andrew Grimes (D.).
Sheriffs .- 1868-70, W. H. Stewart (D.); 1870-72, W. H. Stewart (D.); 1872-74, J. M. Hull (D.); 1874-76, G. W. Carico (D.); 1876-78, G. W. Carico (D.); 1878-80, Louis Hay (D.); 1880-82, Jackson Stepp (R.); 1882-84, John Cleary (D.); 1881- 86, John Cleary (D.).
County Recorders .- 1866-70, John B. Meyer (D.) ; 1870-74, John B. Meyer (D.); 1874-78, C. R. Pritchard (D.); 1878-82, J. N. Phillips (D.) ; 1882-86, J. N. Phillips (D.).
County Treasurers .- 1868-70, Morton C. Rankin, (R.) ; 1870- 72, J. M. Sankey (D.); 1872-74, C. H. Rottman (R.); 1874-76, J. M. Sankey (D.); 1876-78, Newton Rogers (D.); 1878-80, Newton Rogers (D.); 1880-82, C. A. Ray (R.); 1882-84, C. A. Ray (R.); 1884-86, James Cox (D.).
Criminal Prosecutors .- 1870-72, Sant C. Davis (D.) ; 1872-74; R. S. Tennant (R.); 1874-76, A. J. Kelley (D.); 1876-78; A. J. Kelley (D.) ; 1878-80, A. J. Kelley (D.); 1880-82, A. J. Kelley (D.); 1882-84, John W. Shelton (D.); 1884-86, David W. Henry (R.).
Township Trustees .- 1868-70, G. W. Naylor (R.) ; 1870-72, G. W. Naylor (R.) ; 1872-74, G. W. Naylor (R.); 1874-76, Fred Fisher (D.); 1876-78, Fred Fisher (D.); 1878-80, B. J. Abbott (N.); 1880-82; Louis Finkbiner (R.); 1882-84, Louis Finkbiner (R.) ; 1884-86, John C. Reichert (R.).
Coroners .- 1868-70, David Christy (R.); 1870-72, Charles Gerstmeyer (D.) ; 1872-74, W. D. Mull (R.); 1874-76, Charles Gerstmeyer (D.); 1876-78, J. M. Boston (D.); 1878-80, Henry Ehrenhardt (D.); 1880-82, J. T. Langhead (R.); 1882-84, An- drew Drought (D.) ; 1884-86, Peter Kornman (R.).
Mayors .- 1867-69, G. F. Cookerly (D.); 1860-71, G. F. Cook- erly (D.); 1871-73, Alex Thomas (R.); 1873-75, Alex Thomas (R.) ; 1875-77, James B. Edmunds (D.); 1877, James B. Edmunds (D.), died during his term; 1877-78, Henry Fairbanks (R.), elected to vacancy and died during his term; 1878-79, Joseph M. Wildy (N.); 1879-81, B. F. Havens (D.); 1881-83, James B. Lyne (R.); 1883-85, William H. Armstrong (R.); 1885-87, Jacob C. Kolsem (D.).
26
412
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
City Treasurers .- 1867-69, Carl A. Goodwin (R.); 1869-71, Marcus Schomehl (D.); 1871-73, John Paddock (R.); 1873-75, John Paddock (R.); 1875-77, John Paddock (R.) ; 1877-79, Hugo Duenweg (R.); 1879-81, Hugo Duenweg (R.); 1881-83, Hugo Duenweg (R.); 1883-85, Charles A. Robinson (R.); 1885-87, James Fitzpatrick (D.).
City Clerks .- 1867-69, Warren Harper (R.); 1869-71, David Vickery (R.); 1871-73, Fred Schwingrouber (R.); 1873-75, Fred Schwingrouber (R. ) ; 1875-77, John B. Tolbert (D. ) ; 1877-79, John B. Tolbert (D.); 1879-81, Eugene V. Debs (D.); 1881-83, Eugene V. Debs (D.); 1883-85, George W. Davis (D.); 1885-87, George W. Davis (D.).
City Marshals .-- 1867-69, Gottlieb Reiss (D.) ; 1869-71, E. O. Whiteman (R.); 1871-73, Fred Schmidt (R.); 1873-75, Fred Schmidt (R.); 1877-79, Al Buckingham (R.); 1879-81, John H. Kidd (D.); 1881-83, John H. Kidd (D.); 1883-85, John Leedham (R.); 1885-87, Frank Morrison (D.).
PRESENT COUNTY OFFICERS.
Circuit judge, Hon. William Mack; superior court judge, Hon. James M. Allen; clerk, John C. Warren; deputies, Philip B. O'Riley, Charles T. Noble, John N. Volkers and Will N. Hamilton; prosecuting attorney, James E. Piety; deputy prosecuting attorney, Samuel M. Huston ; county attorney, George W. Faris; auditor, Frank Armstrong; deputies, John D. Bell and George Seeman; recorder, Levi Hammerly; deputies, Joseph Polk and Charles Denny; treas- urer, Gustav Conzman; deputies, John L. Walsh, James Bell, George R. Wilson, Charles Orth; surveyor, Frank Tuttle; deputy, Walter Phillips; coroner, Dr. John Hyde; commissioners, First district, Levi Dickerson; Second district, Louis Finkbiner; Third district, Sandford S. Henderson.
The popular vote of Vigo county for governor in 1856 was as fol -. lows:
Willard. 823
Morton.
Harrison.
885
Honey creek.
111
139
Prairie creek
113
104
Linton.
102
37
Pierson
114
50
Riley .
106
85
Lost creek.
109
109
Nevins
106
59
Otter creek.
33
111
Fayette.
124
115
Sugar creek
160
97
Total
1,901
1,811
413
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
ELECTION, 1884.
James G. Blaine (R.), First ward, 680; Second ward, 507; Third ward, 556; Fourth ward, 564; Fifth ward, 489; Sixth ward, 523; Fayette, 198; Harrison, 227; Nevins, 173; Sugar creek, 231; Otter creek, 184; Honey creek, 167; Riley, 176; Pierson, 144; Prairieton, 109; Prairie creek, 178; Linton, 127; Lost creek, 220 -total 5,464.
Grover Cleveland (D.), First ward, 448; Second ward, 370; Third ward, 539; Fourth ward, 555; Fifth ward, 531; Sixth ward, 522; Fayette, 223; Harrison, 297; Nevins, 208; Sugar creek, 245; Otter creek, 112; Honey creek, 145; Riley, 233; Pierson, 202; Prairieton, 118; Prairie creek, 165; Linton, 224; Lost creek, 187 -total, 5,324. Butler (N.), 536. John P. St. John (P.), 10.
For Congressmen, Eighth District .- James T. Johnston (R.), 5,463; John E. Lamb (D.), 5,683; Dr. A. D. Tomlinson (P.), 10.
Judges of Circuit Court, Forty-third District .- George W. Faris (R.), 5,414; William Mack (D.), 5,684.
Prosecuting Attorneys .- David W. Henry (R.), 5,464; Samuel R. Hamill (D.), 5,626.
Senators .- Dick T. Morgan (R.) 5,240; Phillip Schloss (D.) 5,582; Joseph H. Allen (P.) 473.
Representatives .- F. C. Donaldson (R.) 5,318; Frederick Lee (R.) 5,370; Eugene V. Debs (D.) 5,603; Reuben Butz (D.) 5,378; John McClintock (N.) 474; Benjamin Perkins (N. ) 443.
Sheriffs .- W. H. Fisk (R.) 5,325; John Cleary (D.) 5,512; J. H. Sonenfield 405.
Treasurers .- Samuel T. Jones (R.) 5,286; James Cox (D.) 5,647; Louis Guerineau (N.) 361.
Coroners .- Peter Kornman (R.) 5,399; Fred W. Shaley (D.) 5,381; Thomas Halloway (N.) 501.
Surveyors .- Frank Tuttle (R.) 5,417; Charles C. Brown (D.) 5,403; C. N. Demorest (N.) 481.
Commissioners First and Second Districts .- Levi W. Dicker- son (R.) 5,443; Lawrence Heinl (R.) 5,414; Carlton C. Belt (D.) 5,403; Asa N. Black (D.) 5,434; Samuel Coltrin (N.) 478; Henry D. Christy (N.) 457.
1886.
Lieutenant-Governors .- Robert S. Robinson (R.) 5,411; John C. Nelson (D.) 5,209; Edward S. Pope (G.) 122; Jesse M. Gale (P.) 64.
Congress .- James T. Johnston (R.) 5,705; John E. Lamb (D.) 4,901; T. E. Ballard (P.) 83.
Prosecuting Attorneys .- David W. Henry (R.) 5,474; Harry Donham (D.) 5,122.
414
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
Representatives .- Wesley Glover (R.) 5,503; Henry C. Dick- erson (R.) 5,343; Cornelius Meagher (D.) 5,336; Isaac N. Kester (D.) 5,071; Martin Rhoads (P.) 65; Andrew T. Harman (P.) 9; Dr. Taylor (G.) 31.
Joint Representatives .- Decatur Downing (R. ) 5,257; James M. Allen (D.) 5,474.
Judges Superior Court .- Henry C. Nevitt (R.) 5,257; James M. Allen (D.) 5,474.
Clerks Circuit Court .- John C. Warren (R.) 5,498; James W. Stout (D.) 5,195; B. Holmes (P.) 62.
Sheriffs .- Albert D. Weeks (D.) 5,363; Ranson B. Brotherton (R.) 5,331; Nathaniel McFerrin (P.) 62.
Auditors .- Frank Armstrong (D.) 5,712; James V. Mattox (R.) 5,001; George Mills (P.) 58.
Treasurers .- Franklin C. Fisbeck (R.) 5,312; James Cox (D.) 5,412; Noah Evinger ( P.) 46.
Recorders .- Levi Hammerly (R.) 5,465; Perley D. Bell (D.) 5,234; George W. Bennett 57.
Coroners .- Peter Kornman (R.) 5,276; William W. Haworth (D.) 5,285; Joseph W. Halloway (G.) 72.
Election, 1888 .- Elijah V. Brookshire, for congress, was elected over James T. Johnston, for re-election, by the following vote:
Brookshire's majorities were:
Sullivan county. 1,451
Clay county.
63
1,514
Johnston's majorities were:
Parke county. .
607
Vigo county 184
Montgomery county 261
Fountain county. 114
Vermillion county. 298
1,464
In Vigo county the republicans elected James E. Piety, prose- cuting attorney; F. V. Bichowsky, senator; William H. Berry and Marion McQuilkin, representatives; Frank Tuttle, surveyor; Levi W. Dickerson, Louis Finkbiner and Sandford S. Henderson, com- missioners. The democrats elected Albert D. Weeks, sheriff; Gus A. Conzman, treasurer, and W. W. Haworth, coroner. The Pro- hibition party cast 51 votes for Fiske, and the labor party 160 for Streeter. E. A. Lacey, democrat, beat W. F. Wells for joint rep- resentative from Vigo, Vermillion and Sullivan counties, over 700 votes.
Harrison's (R.) vote in the county, 6,262; Cleveland (D.), 6,101.
415
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
Congressmen, Eighth District .- Brookshire (D.) 6,107; John- ston (R.) 6,291; Myers (P.) 42; Johnson (L.) 154.
Prosecuting Attorneys .- Piety (R.) 6,267; Patterson (D.) 6,187.
Senators .- Bichowsky (R.) 6,173; Grimes (D.) 6,145; Wood- ruff (P.) 51.
Representatives .- Berry (R.) 6,354; Meagher (D.) 5,995; Mc- Quilkin (R.) 6,183; Van Hook (D.) 6,099.
Sheriffs .- De Baur (R.) 6,130; Weeks (D.) 6,179.
Treasurers .- Fisbeck (R.) 6,162; Conzman (D.) 6,229. Coroners .- Hyde (R.) 6,004; Haworth (D. ) 6,156.
Commissioners .- First district, Dickerson (R.) 6,310; Scott (D.) 6,073; Rankin 204; Second district, Finkbiner (R.) 6,251; Holmes 56; Third district, Henderson (R.) 6,289; Ryan (D.) 6,029.
CHAPTER XXVI.
TERRE HAUTE.
B Y an act of the legislature of the State of Indiana, entitled "An act for the formation of a new county off the County of Sul- livan," approved January 21, 1818, Elisha Stout, Marsten G. Clark and John Allen were appointed commissioners for fixing the seat of justice for Vigo county. Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt, Jona- than Lindley, Abraham Markle and Hyacinthe Lasselle, proprietors of Terre Haute, in consideration of said town having been selected for the purpose aforesaid, obligate themselves in the sum of $30,000, to convey to John Hamilton, Isaac Lambert and Ezra Jones, com- missioners of Vigo county, and their successors in office, forty- eight lots in the said town, numbered 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 57, 62, 68, 74, 80, 86, 92, 98, 104, 108, 111, 117, 126, 132, 138, 143, 150, 155, 158, 163, 168, 174, 180, 186, 192, 198, 204, 210, 213, 218, 224, 230, 236, 242, 248, 256, 262, and 268, in fee as soon as patents from the general government shall be obtained for east fractional Sections 21 and 28, Town 12 north, of Range 9 West, and further obligate themselves to lay off five additional blocks on the south side of the said town to contain forty lots, and to convey in fee to said commissioners twenty-two of said lots, also to convey to the said commissioners the public square, equal to eight lots near the center of said town; signed and acknowledged March 21, 1818.
416
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
In addition to the lots enumerated as given in consideration of the location of the county seat, the company gave $4,000 in cash, this money to be used in erecting court-house and other public buildings. The money was thus spent and other amounts in build- ing the first court-house on the public square and the first jail which was due south of Dr. Charles B. Modesitt's dwelling, which was built on the lot on which is the present jail.
The five additional blocks were laid off and John Owens, agent for the proprietors of Terre Haute, and the county commissioners selected from said blocks lots No. 269, 271, 272, 274, 276, 278, 280, 282, 284, 286, 288, 290, 292, 293, 294, 296, 298, 300, 302, 304, 306, and 308, for the purposes mentioned in said agreement. Lu- cius H. Scott appointed agent for the county of Vigo.
John Hamilton, Isaac Lambert and Ezra Jones, commissioners of Vigo county, release and quit-claim to Lucius H. Scott, agent for said county, the lots above mentioned, said agent to convey in fee said lots of land.
The land office records show that on September 13, 1816, Joseph Kitchell entered east fractional Section 21, Township 12 north, of Range 9 west, 416-4% acres, and the next day, September 14, the same party entered the east fractional Section 28, Township 12 north, of Range 9 west, 461-24 100 acres. This is the land on which the town was laid out.
These lands were purchased of Kitchell September 19, 1816, by the Terre Haute Town Company, whose names are given above. In the purchase from Kitchell were these two fractional sections and other lands, thirteen tracts in all, with the following interests: Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt, two-twelfths; Jonathan Lindley, four- twelfths; Hyacinthe Lasalle, three-twelfths; and Abraham Markle, three-twelfths; and they agree to pay the balance of the purchase money due to the United States in proportion to their respective interests. Abraham Markle assigned to Eliakim Crosby one-fourth of his three-twelfths, and another one-fourth each to Messrs. Har- low & Trimble, Markle then retaining one-fourth of his three- twelfths.
October 25, 1816, Joseph Kitchell, agent of Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt, Jonathan Lindley, Abraham Markle and Hyacinthe Lasselle, proprietors of the town of Terre Haute, filed a plat and made oath that it was a true copy of the original plat of the said town of Terre Haute.
This plat shows that part of Terre Haute bounded on the north by Eagle street, east by Fifth street, south by Swan street, and on the west by Water street. It comprised thirty-five blocks, one of which was reserved as a public square, one-fourth of one was marked " reserve for church," and one-fourth of another marked "reserve
417
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
for seminary." The balance was divided into 268 lots, known as in-lots. The plat does not show the location of the town further than that it is situated on the Wabash river. In fact the south one- half of the south line of blocks is on the north part of east frac- tional Section 28, Township 12 north, of Range 9 west, and the bal- ance of the town on the south part of east fractional Section 21, Township 12 north, of Range 9 west.
On March 25, 1819, John Owens, agent for the proprietors of the town of Terre Haute, filed an amended plat of the town, and made oath that it was a true copy of the original plat of the said town of Terre Haute.
This plat shows an addition of five blocks, forty lots, on the south, to the original plat filed October 25, 1816.
September 11, 1820, the Town Company appointed Moses Hoggatt their true and lawful attorney to sell and convey lots in Terre Haute.
John Badolett, register of the Vincennes district land office, certifies, that on October 17, 1820, final certificate No. 2210 was granted to Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt, Jonathan Lindley, Hya- cinthe Lasselle and Eleazer Aspinwall as assignees of Joseph Kit- chell, for east fractional Section 21, Township 12 north, of Range 9 west, and that on the same day final certificate No. 2211 was granted the same parties as assignees of Joseph Kitchell, for east fractional Section 28, Township 12 north, of Range 9 west.
By his will, which was probated November 24, 1820, Eleazer Aspinwall bequeaths to his wife, Eliza, Lot No. 1 in Terre Haute, giving all his other real estate to his brothers, Chester and Lewis Aspinwall, and his sister Roxa Campbell.
On May 20, 1825, Moses Hoggatt and Robert Sturgus, as trust- ees for Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt, Jonathan Lindley, et al., filed a plat dated October, 1821, and acknowledged it to be a cor- rect plat and survey of the town of Terre Haute and the out-lots adjoining thereto, made before the sale of lots and lands in 1821.
This plat shows the whole of east fractional Sections 21 and 28, Township 12 north, of Range 9 west, divided into 308 in-lots, which are 74 feet 7 inches front by 141 feet 2 inches deep, except Nos. 118, 123, 142 and 147, which are 66 feet 7 inches front by 141 feet 2 inches deep, and 72 out-lots of various sizes, Out-lot No. 3 is a donation for a burying-ground. The streets in general are 65 feet wide, except Third street, which is 99 feet, and Water, First, Sec- ond, Wabash (afterward Main, now Wabash avenue) and Ohio streets, which are 81 feet 62 inches.
James Boord assisted William Hoggatt, who was the surveyor that surveyed and laid off the original town. Not only that, but he selected the site. He was in the employ of the town company,
418
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
and had been sent to look up the best location on the company's land line along the river. William Hoggatt lived in Orange county, Ind., a civil engineer, and was county clerk when requested to come and help in locating the new town. James Boord lived with William Hoggatt at the time. Mr. Boord in his old days tells how this particular spot became Terre Haute. Mr. Hoggatt had been sent in advance two days, and he rode over the ground between Fort Harrison and old Terre Haute, and then made his selection. Jonathan Lindley was a Quaker, and a very pious man. When he arrived, and Hoggatt had explained to him his selection, he said to his engineer; " William, don't thee think that thee hast made a mistake ? Don't thee think that thee should have selected Old Terre Haute or Fort Harrison?" Hoggatt replied and gave the Quaker his rea- sons, showing him that while Fort Harrison was a beautiful place, but there the river takes a bend to the west, the bottom runs out below the fort, and therefore it was not a good place to build a town. While Old Terre Haute stands on a high bluff, but there again the river bends to the west, and the bottom encroaches on the east side. But where he had selected the river runs straight. The land is high, and rises from the river. It is a beautiful place for a town, and then told him if built where he had selected it would some day be a great city. "Well, well," said the Quaker, " William, thee is an engineer and thee should know," and it was thus settled. Did Terre Haute ever have a truer or wiser friend than William Hog- gatt?
This was then the northern part of Sullivan county, and it was therefore not made a town site simply to have a county seat. The men who conceived the project, therefore, were looking at it solely as to its natural position to build a town, and at first could not have anticipated that it would ever have the advantage of being a county seat. Terre Haute is two years older than Vigo county. From the first time that the white man's eyes beheld the place there was a strong presentiment that if this country were ever settled there would be a town on the river either where Fort Harrison stood, or at some point in the six miles of river bank below the fort. Its name of Terre Haute (high land) had been given to it nearly one hundred years before it was platted and christened Terre Haute. The Indian made here his wigwam village; the couriers des bois saw that this was a natural gathering place of men; the hunters and trappers and fur traders came to recognize it as a rendezvous, and resorted here to barter and traffic; the soldier came and built his fort, and placed in it armed men as sentinels on the borders between the savage and civilization, and the land-hunting pioneers looked upon it, and as the panorama unfolded before their eyes they pronounced it rich and beautiful, and coveted it. There was not another spot in the
419
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
entire northwest where nature and man were so completely in ac- cord as to the future of the place. At your feet ran the river Wabash (from the Indian, meaning White), the natural artery between the north and the south-the lakes and the gulf bearing the commerce of nations-the world's greatest civilizer.
William Hoggatt's good sense anticipated for all time the wel- fare and true interests of the generations of busy men who were to come and make their homes in Terre Haute. Here the river runs straight, nearly north and south, and while the town site lies sixty feet above the waters of the river, yet there are no bluffs, hills or deep gullies and hollows, and yet a natural system of drainage that never was surpassed. In the entire system of street railroads that artery the whole city, and now extend east to the fair grounds, there is nothing more then a gentle rise, a slow incline on any part of the lines, and yet the whole city is high, airy and commanding in views and distant landscapes. From the foot of nearly all the streets pointing east or south you may behold as lovely views as were ever seen, and it is then that you for the first time realize that the city is upon a commanding position. You look down upon the open country as far as the eye can reach, the beautiful farms, orchards, meadows and waving fields in the smoky distance blending with the low horizon. The corporation limits are on a high and level pla- teau, on the east bank of the Wabash river, and geographically is in latitude 39° 28' north and longitude 10° 20' west from Wash- ington, and forms the hub or center whose spokes run in every direction southward to Louisville, east to Indianapolis, west to St. Louis and north to the lakes as the natural supply point. Naturally a great commercial and manufacturing point, it was the head of navigation on the Wabash-the gateway from the northern lakes to the great system of rivers of the west and south. In the heavy hardwood timber, with water and coal in never- ending abundance at its door, were some of the works of nature for Terre Haute, that were inviting intelligent men to come and wel- come. To the east lay the rich rolling prairie, and hence it was long familiarly called the "Prairie City," and by this title it was known far and wide.
The town company was formed by articles dated September 19, 1816, the land purchased and the town immediately platted. The country had hardly yet settled into quiet from the war of 1812-15, and the two log cabins had hardly been erected that was the beginning, before the whole hereabouts was stricken as with a plague of sick- ness. There may be said to have been for the following two years no advancement made in the settlement of the town. Dr. Charles B. Modesitt's and Henry Redford's, with perhaps one or two other cabins, were about all there was of it. So far the immigrant
420
HISTORY OF VIGO COUNTY.
came, and instead of stopping at the town where all was yet so primitive that they would have had to get out and hunt up the town after they had reached it, they went on to Fort. Harrison al- most invariably. There were far more the appearances in and about the fort of a town than there were at the town proper. Nothing oc- curred to change this state of affairs until the year 1818, when tbe good news came that Vigo county had been formed and the com- missioners were coming to hunt out a place for the county seat. The entire population was deeply excited. New hope and new life were in this news for the town. The proprietors of the town saw the golden opportunity, and they were eagerly backed by the peo- ple. When the county seat commissioners came they were not neg- lected by the company or the sparse population. They had to entertain them at the fort, and then put them on saddle horses and ride down to Terre Haute. They wrestled with these men, and every round increased their bid, and when it was up to the figures given above the bargain was closed, and Terre Haute became the county seat of Vigo county, where it has remained without a pos- sible rival or dissent ever since.
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