USA > Indiana > Wayne County > History of Wayne County, Indiana, from its first settlement to the present time : with numerous biographical and family sketches > Part 11
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
Jacob B. Julian next addressed the meeting. He appeared for the reason that most of the other speakers had been born away from home; and he wanted the audience to see the ad- vantages of being born in Wayne county. He was " native and to the manor born "-about fifty-four years ago. A portion of the old house he carried in the shape of a walking-stick, as a sacred memento of his father and mother. When he was born, the tax duplicate was only about $950; now it amounted to between $350,000 and $360,000. The Twelve Mile Pur- chase was then in market. Between Cambridge and the Pa- cific ocean there was not a foot of land subject to entry.
122
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
There were not, probably, one thousand white men in all that country, where there are at least ten millions to-day. When he was born, not a turnpike was thought of. Railroads had not been dreamed of. There was but one church, and no school-honse, that was not made of logs. To-day there are three hundred miles of turnpike, and $300,000 invested in churches and school-honses. What a change in one short life ! Mr. Julian then passed into a eulogium of Wayne county, and alluded to the feeling of pride and love which animated the breast of every native of the county.
Noah W. Miner, the last speaker, said he could n't attempt a speech in less than three or four hours; but if the committee would give him that length of time on some occasion, he would show them what could be done in the way of a speech. He came from the Beard's hatter shop locality, being born in the year 1800. He had seen the century in, and he knew no good reason why he should n't see it out. He had lived sixty-nine years, and if something didn't happen to him that never had happened, he would see the century out, sure. Mr. Miner told sundry interesting things about his early life corroborative of the facts related by others, and gave way about four o'clock to the museum of curious things, which was conducted by Mr. Jones with all the empressment of a regular exhibitor of striped reptiles or fat women. The following is a list :
A pewter bowl, over one hundred years old, belonging to Leah Bartlett, of Maryland, now owned by her granddaughter.
A pair of spoon molds, with spoon.
A copy of the Ulster County Gazette, of the date of January 4, 1800, with an account of the death and funeral of General Washington. Published at Kingston, Ulster county, N. Y.
Old plow with wooden mold board.
A pair of hames accompanying the plow.
A powder horn made of gourd used by the grandfather of Levi Warren in the Revolutionary war, under Gen. Benedict Arnold. As the President said, "a better gonrd now than Arnold was a man."
A pocket-book one hundred and fifty years old, made in
123
CRIMINAL TRIALS.
Germany, and brought over with German guildern of date 1709.
A lot of German almanacs, the oldest dated 1775.
A foot stove used by old German ladies when riding in sleighs.
A pair of gum shoes fifty years old.
A pewter basin from Holland, two hundred years old.
A small tea chest, three sides made of wood of the elm tree under which Penn made his treaty with the Indians.
An old frying-pan from Holland.
An old gun of the American Revolution. The grandfather of the exhibitor owned it at the time of the battle of Mon- mouth, and, it is presumed, did service in that engagement. A modern cock had been substituted for the old flint lock.
After the exhibition of these articles, the meeting closed.
CRIMINAL TRIALS.
There have been two cases of conviction for murder in this county. The first of these murders was committed by Henry Crist, in the killing of Chambers, his son-in-law. The parties lived in the township of Washington. Chambers's wife had repeatedly made complaint to her father of ill treatment by her husband. Crist went to the house of Chambers, and at- tacked him with a butcher knife. Chambers ran; and, while running, Crist seized a rifle which hung over the door, and shot him : he fell, and, in a few moments, expired without speaking. A neighbor, Mrs. Flint, was present and witnessed the deed. Crist was arrested, and put into the jail at Salis- bury. This jail was made of square, hewed logs, some of which may yet be seen lying near the house of Enoch Rails- back. The principal witnesses were his wife, a young son, his daughter [Mrs. Chambers,] and Mrs. Flint. He was found guilty, and sentenced to be hung. The people from the remotest parts of the county attended to witness the execution.
The prisoner was conveyed to the gallows in a wagon, seated on his coffin. Daniel Fraley, a Methodist minister, yet re- membered by some of the old settlers, standing in the wagon,
124
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
preached a sermon to the people. At its close the rope was adjusted around his neck, the cap drawn over his face, and the wagon drawn from under him-a mode of execution not prac- ticed at the present time. The murder was committed in the autumn of 1815, and the execution took place on the first of April, 1816.
To the foregoing statement, principally taken from Rev. Wm. C. Smith's book, before referred to, we subjoin the fol- lowing :
When Crist's son, a youth of about fifteen, was called to the witness' stand on the part of the prosecution, Crist said to him: "Now, son, tell the truth, though it may convict your father." It is said this son, after the execution of his father, took charge of the body, and conveyed it home on a sled, in the night, and alone, through the woods, a distance of ten or twelve miles.
An account of the second murder trial and execution, was written for the Indiana True Republican, in 1867, which is in substance as follows :
Hampshire Pitt was tried in November, 1822, for the murder of William Mail. Both parties were colored men. The mur- der occurred on the farm now owned by Thomas C. Straw- bridge, about four miles north of Richmond, on the Newport turnpike. Says the writer: "Pitt lived with a woman osten- sibly his wife, between whom and Mail he suspected an im- proper intimacy. His suspicions were thought to be well founded, and there was for him, on that account, considerable sympathy. Though a bad man, he was a smart, plausible old fellow. He was a tinker by trade, and therefore a useful man. Traveling, as he did, among the people, mending their old pewter ware, and supplying them with new plates, basins, &c., and withal making himself agreeable, he had become quite a favorite. A large part of the bone and muscle of the young Hoosiers of that day is made up of mush and milk partaken from basins of his manufacture. For one, I am ready to ac- knowledge the full extent of my obligations in this respect."
Pitt meeting Mail, and being greatly enraged, cried out to him as he advanced, " You are there, are you ? Bill Mail, you have been in the habit of calling me old man; my name is
125
CRIMINAL TRIALS.
. Hampshire Pitt, or General Pitt; and if you call me old man again I will put this through you!" flourishing at the same time a dagger, with which he almost instantly stabbed him to the heart. He was promptly arrested and confined in the old log jail at Centerville, which stood immediately east of the place where the present jail stands.
He was tried and found guilty; but Associate Judges Mc- Lane and Davenport, over the objections of Judge Eggle- ston, granted a new trial. The next jury rendered a similar verdict.
The day of execution was a very unpleasant one; yet thou- sands of men, women, and children flocked to witness the scene. A rude scaffold was erected, under which the doomed man was driven in a cart. There was no trap-door or other ar- rangement to give him a fall, thereby breaking his neck and shortening his suffering. The rope was adjusted and the cart drawn on, leaving him suspended until he was dead.
Before the day of his execution, Pitt engaged another colored man, by giving him his horse, to take charge of his body and see it interred. Having got the horse, the colored man sold the body for ten dollars in advance, to two physicians for dissection, and left the country. Pitt having been informed of the fact, sent for Christopher Roddy, who promised to take charge of the body after the execution, and keep it from the physicians. At the execution, Roddy was present with a cof- fin on a sled, and the physicians with a wagon without a coffin. After the body was cut down, a struggle for the body ensued, and Roddy prevailed. He conveyed the body in the coffin to his home in Salisbury, and guarded it through the night, and buried it the next day. But fearing the body might be found, he disinterred it the next night, and, it is said, carried it on his shoulder, without the coffin, some seven miles and buried it in the woods. The next day he felled a number of forest trees across the grave ; and the doctors never got the body.
Roddy is reputed as having been an intemperate, profane, and very wicked man. But he seems not to have entirely lost his sense of honor, having faithfully fulfilled his engagement with Pitt. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and had served during the whole period of the war.
126
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Allusion was made [page 25] to the criminal code of In- diana territory, which authorized whipping for certain crimes. The writer in the True Republican, who, in the winter of 1866, from his review of the recorded proceedings of " The Courts in the early times in Wayne County," has furnished most of the information respecting the two cases of murder, informed us also that whipping, as a punishment for crime, was legal, as late as the year 1820. The following was the judgment of the court in the case of a conviction for larceny : "It is considered that the defendant do make his fine to the state in the sum of five dollars, and that he restore to said the said one dollar and fifty cents, in silver, and one ten dollar note on the Lebanon Banking Company, of the value of ten dollars, and that he receire on his bare back fire lashes." This part of the penalty, however, was remit- ted by the governor.
WAR HISTORY.
Public Meetings: Enlistments.
The secession of South Carolina, the firing on the " Star of the West," and the attempted interference with the journey of the President-elect to the Capital for inauguration, caused tremors of excitement in this as in all other communities. But northern people were little inclined to believe that the South meant war; nor is it likely that the southerners them- selves anticipated its extent and result.
The news of the bombardment of Fort Sumter fell unex- peetedly upon our citizens ; but it did not find them unde- cided what to do. In Richmond a public meeting was called on Monday, April 15th, the day on which the news was re- ceived, to be held in the evening. The citizens met on the corner of Main and Marion streets. The meeting was large and enthusiastic, and composed of men of the different par- ties. It was opened with prayer by J. W. T. MeMullen. John A. Bridgland, Bell-Everett candidate for elector in the recent campaign, was chosen President of the meeting. William A. Bickle, Democratie candidate for Congress the
127
WAR HISTORY.
year previous; Judge Wm. P. Benton, John Yaryan, John C. Whitridge, Mr. Bridgland, and John H. Popp, addressed the citizens.
The next day, Governor Morton's call for six regiments for three months was received, and Judge Benton opened an enlist- ing place at Justice Lyle's office, on South Pearl street, near Main. IIe was the first to sign the enlistment paper. Before the next day closed, one full company, [eighty-four men,] was enrolled, and forty-five more men were obtained. On the morning of the 18th, about sunrise, the volunteers began to assemble, and marched to the depot, accompanied by a vast concourse of citizens. They were transported free to In- dianapolis, being the first company to arrive at that city.
The excitement during these two days was equally intense elsewhere. At Centerville and Cambridge City, parts of com- panies were enlisted. Volunteers came in from other town- ships. These volunteers left for Indianapolis the day on which those from Richmond went. All from this county formed part of the Eighth Infantry Regiment, commanded by Wm. P. Benton, who was commissioned Colonel.
Volunteering continued in Richmond. Another company was in readiness at the depot on the next Monday [23d]. But the requisition upon the state was already full; and while at the depot, a dispatch was received directing this company to go into camp on the Fair ground, south of the city. The state decided to raise six regiments for one year ; and this company was sworn into the state service. The Fair ground was established as a camp, and named "Camp Wayne:" and preparations were made for organizing and in- structing a regiment there. Companies from several coun- ties came, and were mustered in as the Sixteenth Regiment. This regiment remained in camp until July 23d, when, having been transferred to the Federal service, it proceeded to the seat of war. It was with the first body of troops that marched through Baltimore after the assault on the Sixth Massachu- setts Regiment in April.
On Thursday of that week, [25th,] the Sixth Indiana In- fantry, returning from West Virginia, passed through Rich- mond. The citizens, apprised of its coming, prepared a
128
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
breakfast as a welcome to the soldiers of their state. The next day the Eighth Regiment was banqueted in a similar manner.
The summer of 1861 was an exciting season. Meetings were frequently held throughout the county to secure volun- teers. An infantry company was raised for the Nineteenth Regiment, by Wm. W. Dudley; two for the Eighth, (three years' term,) by Alex. J. Kenny, at Richmond, and F. S. Wysong in the western part of the county, and several parts of companies for other regiments and cavalry. New regi- ments were raised in each congressional district; and in Au- gust companies began to arrive at Camp Wayne for the formation of the Thirty-sixth Regiment. George Hoover, of Richmond, and John Sim, of Cambridge City, commanded companies from this county. This regiment remained in camp until October, when, being full, it left under the com- mand of Col. Wm. Grose.
Preparations were immediately begun for the organization of another regiment. Rev. J. W. T. McMullen and Rev. Frank A. Hardin were commissioned, and proceeded to raise recruits for this regiment, which became the Fifty-seventh. John S. McGraw and John Hunt, of Richmond, Joseph F. Stidham, of Centerville, and Cyrus W. Burket, of Hagers- town, commanded companies raised in this county. Cold weather coming on, the soldiers in camp prepared their quar- ters for winter. They remained until the 10th of December, when they were sent to the field.
Relief of Soldiers' Families.
Hardly had the war broken out, before efforts began to be made for the assistance of soldiers' families, the relief of the sick and wounded, and for the sanitary needs of those in field and hospital. While the first volunteers were at the depot, Jesse P. Siddall responded to a call for a speech, by recom- mending the appointment of a committee, that the soldiers might feel assured that their families would be cared for. Lewis Burk, J. A. Bridgland, and Rev. J. W. T. McMullen were appointed. A public meeting was held on the evening of the 19th of April, in Starr (now Phillips) Hall. Commit-
129
WAR HISTORY.
tees were appointed to urge upon the city council and county commissioners the necessity of providing means for the relief of such as needed it. The council met in called session the next day, and heard the petition of the citizens' meeting. Resolutions were adopted providing the needed assistance, and authorizing the Mayor to advertise for contributions of pro- visions ; authorizing money immediately needed to be drawn from the treasury; and ordering all city work except repairs to be suspended. W. E. Wilcox and Phil. E. Wiggins were appointed to ascertain the number of needy families. J. M. Paxson was appointed to solicit for provisions, wood, etc., among the farmers. Mayor Finley issued a call, and the back room of the Warner building became, for a while, the depos- itory for the relief provisions. The county commissioners took proper action, and, during the following winter, seven hundred dollars were dispensed weekly, chiefly in the form of orders on the county. These orders were given to the persons needing assistance, and readily accepted by merchants and provision dealers.
On the 10th of April, 1862, a public meeting was held in Starr Hall, at which was chosen a "sanitary committee" for Wayne township. Lewis Burk, J. M. Paxson, John W. Grubbs, John M. Gaar, John Roberts, John P. Smith, Stephen R. Wiggins, and Christopher C. Beeler, composed this committee. Five hundred and twenty-two dollars were subscribed that even- ing. The committee issued an appeal for contributions, and requested other townships to co-operate. Several townships responded, sending money, clothing, and food for hospital use. Washington township was among the first, and sent a large contribution. On the 28th of May, 1862, the sanitary com- mittee published a report, showing that $1,166.66 had been paid in, besides clothing and provisions. Fourteen packages had been shipped on the 25th of April to Nashville; thirty- three to Pittsburg Landing on the 25th of May; and eighteen furnished the State Sanitary Commission on the 12th of May.
The ladies of Richmond had previously formed a "Soldiers' Relief Circle," which, together with the sanitary committee, continued labors during the war. Several of the churches formed aid societies among their respective memberships.
130
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
The Social Circle of Union Chapel M. E. Church turned its attention to sanitary work, and grew into the largest aid so- ciety in the city. Persons not members of the congregation co- operated. Much of the money used by these organizations was raised by suppers and amateur concerts given by citizens. The comfort of the soldiers in Camp Wayne, especially of the sick, was constantly attended to by these organizations.
Calls for More Troops.
In the summer of 1862, calls were made for large numbers of troops. The Sixteenth Regiment returned from its one year's service May 23, and most of its members re-enlisted. Early in July, Wm. A. Bickle received a commission as commandant of Camp Wayne, with instructions to raise a regiment in the Fifth congressional district. He proceeded immediately to that work; and, as good inducements were offered, and the vic- tories of the previous spring had an inspiring effect, volunteer- ing was brisk. The county commissioners appropriated $20,000 for bounties. The Nineteenth Battery was recruited in the western part of the county, by S. L. Gregg, W. P. Stackhouse, and others. It went into camp at Cambridge City until August 11, when it left for Indianapolis on the way to Kentucky. A large crowd bid it farewell at the Cambridge depot. A cavalry company was raised by John S. Lyle, Moses D. Leeson, and W. C. Jeffries. On the 14th of August, they reported to Col. Bickle, and shortly afterward went to join the Fifth Cavalry Regiment at Indianapolis. In a short time, more companies than were necessary for one regiment were reported. One regiment, the Sixty-ninth, was organized, and the remaining companies went into camp as the nucleus of an- other regiment, numbered Eighty-fourth. John H. Finley, of Richmond, and Joseph L. Marsh, of Williamsburg, com- manded companies in the Sixty-ninth, which were raised in this county ; and Wm. A. Boyd, of Centerville, was captain of one in the Eighty-fourth.
In August of 1862, the Confederate Gen. Kirby Smith en- tered Kentucky, and threatened Louisville and Cincinnati. Unparalleled activity was displayed by Indiana. Troops were hurried forward for the defense of the border. The Sixty-
131
WAR HISTORY.
ninth Regiment was ordered to Indianapolis for arms. It left Camp Wayne on the 18th of August, and on the 30th took part in the disastrous battle of Richmond, Ky., where the Union forces were compelled to face overwhelming numbers of the foe. This regiment suffered terribly in killed and wounded; and nearly five hundred were taken prisoners. These prison- ers were paroled, and returned to Indianapolis. Meanwhile the Eighty-fourth had been organized by Col. Bickle, and though not full to the maximum, it was sent to Cincinnati, where it was armed and equipped. It left camp September 10th, under Col. Nelson Trusler.
During the siege of Cincinnati Richmond was alive with ex- citement. A public meeting was called by the mayor, to be held at Engine Hall, No. 2, on the 3d of September. But the crowd being so large the meeting adjourned to the Public Square, now occupied by the First Ward Public School. Judge James Perry presided, and Rev. J. H. Goode acted as secretary. It was decided to proceed immediately to the formation of military companies for drill. A company of Home Guards, popularly known as the "Silver Greys," because composed of men over the age for active service, had been previously or- ganized, and was commanded by Daniel B. Crawford. Three other companies-one composed of Germans-were formed. By proclamation of the mayor the places of business were closed at four o'clock P. M., and the citizens repaired to the several places of rendezvous for drill. The principal drill- ground was a vacant square, now occupied by the Friends' meeting-house and school-house, between Eighth and Ninth streets, north of Main. This arrangement was continued for several weeks until the danger was past. The broken ranks of the Sixty-ninth Regiment returned to Camp Wayne, where they remained until released from their parol and recruited, and on the 18th of November, again left camp under the com- mand of Col. Thomas W. Bennett.
Extraordinary Contributions.
The winter of 1862-63 was a severe one upon many families, whose support and providers were fighting for their country. The Aid Societies made frequent appeals to the citizens for as-
132
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
sistance, and were thus enabled to alleviate much suffering. One morning in January, 1863, twenty-five wagons loaded with wood, and one with flour, meal, potatoes, &c., suddenly and un- expectedly made their appearance on the streets of Richmond. They were from the farmers in the neighborhood of Middle- boro', and were for the " aid and comfort " of soldiers' families. A band of musicians volunteered their services, and, hoisting the national flag, the donation was paraded through the streets, and then delivered where needed.
On Saturday, February 14th, a delegation came from Boston township, bringing more than sixty cords of wood, three thousand pounds of flour and meal, besides other provisions. A spirit of rivalry in this good work was soon developed, and the various neighborhoods in the vicinity of Richmond vied with each other in contributions of this character. On the 28th of Feb- ruary, the farmers residing along and near the National road east from town, brought, in a large procession, ninety-two cords of wood, over two thousand pounds of flour, forty bushels of corn meal, six bushels of potatoes, &c. The procession filled Main street for a distance of eight blocks! The following Monday the rival procession of farmers residing along and near the National road west from town came in. It has never been decided which of these contributions was the largest. Both parties claimed the palm.
The Middleboro' farmers having started these generous out- pourings, concluded to put a finishing touch to the work for this season. So on the 28th of March, they came into town with a train of wagons nearly a mile long. Residents of Hills- boro', [now Whitewater,] joined their neighbors of Middle- boro'. The farmers along the Liberty turnpike also brought in a contribution. A new feature attended this demonstra- tion. Fresh beef and poultry were brought in, sold on the streets to citizens, and the proceeds given to the aid fund. One hundred and ninety-two dollars were thus realized. One hundred and twenty-eight cords of wood, overtwo thousand pounds of flour, and seventy-fire bushels of meal, besides other pro- visions, were contributed. The whole donation amounted in value to nearly thirteen hundred dollars. The citizens had prepared a reception. The procession was halted on Main
133
WAR HISTORY.
street. Hermon B. Payne made the welcoming speech ; short speeches by Elihu Cox, of Middleboro', Israel Woodruff, of Franklin township, and others. The citizens invited the generous farmers to dinner, and the day was one of general rejoicing. The influence of these acts extended to other towns. Centerville, among others, received a large donation on the 19th of March.
This commendable practice was revived the following au- tumn. On the last day of October the " Middleboro' patriots" came into Richmond with sixty cords of wood, and a large quantity of provisions. The value of this contribution was over five hundred dollars. Gov. Morton was present by in- vitation, and addressed the farmers and citizens. Generals Benton and Mansfield followed in short speeches. The wood was delivered to the care of Wm. Parry, the township trustee, who distributed it among the needy. On the following Mon- day and Tuesday, some fifty young men of Richmond formed a "Saw-buck Brigade," and sawed and split the wood for use.
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.