USA > Indiana > Jasper County > Remington > History of the town of Remington and vicinity, Jasper County, Indiana > Part 5
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
Digitized by Google
:
50
REMINGTON AND VICINITY.
was a jovial and wholesouled fellow, always ready for fun. He is at present Deputy Warden of the Indiana State Prison, at Michigan City.
Carpenter township was organized as a civil township about the first of January, 1862. The territory of which it is composed having formerly been a part of Jordan town- ship. The original Jordan township was very large, and it was divided about in the center by a line running east and west, and the southern portion was named Carpenter township. In 1864, during the late war, Jasper county having not furnished her quota of volunteers for the army service, the various townships of the county were sujected to a draft; the quota for Carpenter township to furnish was five. Four of these who were subject to draft were sup- plied by volunteers, leaving only one to be drafted, and this place was filled by a substitute, at the cost of $750, which amount was subscribed by those of the township who might at any time be subject to conscription. These were exciting times for our people. We held meetings to devise ways and means for meeting our obligations to the country by furnishing our required number of soldiers for the service, and it was agreed that the most feasible plan was to raise money sufficient to employ substitutes for those who were drafted and could not leave home. This plan was agreed upon. The arrangements were therefore made that when a draft was made the money was ready, and the substitute hired, as soon as one could be found, which was no difficult matter. Plenty of men could be hired at Michigan City, Chicago, and in fact all large cities. Some of these new men made it their regular business, and they were known as "bounty jumpers." The following are the names of all those who were drafted from this township during the war, viz: John B. Shaffer, Joseph Jordan, John Jordan, Basil Hunt, Adolphus Irwin, Henry C. Lipprant and Lycurgus Rowles. Some of these parties were amply able to hire their own substitutes without the assistance of others, but others, especially we
Digitized by Google
51
JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA.
will mention John B. Shaffer, were not so fortunate in this world's goods, and besides, Mr. Shaffer had a large family of small children dependent upon him for support. Mr. James Welsh, of Jordan township, was also drafted, but being a man with one natural and one wooden leg, the army officials concluded to excuse him, inasmuch as he failed to pass the required medical examination. After the last draft there became a better feeling among the people, and soon thereafter the war closed by Lee's surrender at Appomatox.
Until the location of the present cemetery there was no regularly established place for the burial of the dead. The first person dying here being a Mr. Carpenter, who was buried in the grove one mile north of town. Then a Mr. Shewey, a very old settler, lost two children who were buried in the same grove. The first person who died in Remington was James Troutman, who was buried on the corner of the farm now owned by Mr. Galbraith, which was at that time owned by Lycurgus Rowles. Alfred Royalty was the second person to be buried there, during the year 1865. Mary Shaw was the third person to be buried there, and the old gentleman Patton, the father of Hon. D. H. Patton, was buried on the lot where the Remington creamery is now located. Some were conveyed to the Welsh cemetery for interment, that being a ceme- tery established, or located many years before the settle- ment of Remington or the country around about it. People had been interred there in the early thirties. After the location of the present cemetery of Remington, north of the town, many of the above mentioned deceased persons were disinterred, and given burial in the present Remington cemetery. If one will take a stroll through the Remington cemetery at this time, he will be rewarded by finding the names of many of Remington's first and best business men marked on the stones and monuments. We will;' as sug- gested by our present memory, endeavor to give the reader the names of a portion of those whose final resting places
Digitized by Google
:
52
REMINGTON AND VICINITX.
are thus marked. The oldest marked grave in the cemetery is that of James Troutman, who died in 1864, and the second one is that of Alfred Royalty, who died March 22, 1865. Then among the business men of Remington we find the names of A. D. Patton, who died in 1869; Uriah Black, who died in 1871; Giles Hathaway, who died in 1873; Osman W. Church, who died March 22, 1881; Adam Coover, who died March 18, 1882; David H. Nelson, who died in 1883; Harper W. Snyder, who died June 22, 1886; John H. Miller, who died July 25, 1886; Benjamin Spencer, who died in 1881; Christopher Hardy, who died 1891; Treat Durand, who died in 1888; George M. Morris, who died April 22, 1892.
The present Remington cemetery was purchased by the. Board of Town Trustees of Remington, Ind., in the spring of the year 1870, and it is the most suitable location that could be found anywhere in this vicinity, being just north of the corporation line of town, on the east side of Carpenter's creek. The party owning this land objected strongly to selling the land for this purpose, but was finally compelled to do so through force of circumstances.
During the excitement of War times, and in the sum- mer of 1862, the people in this section of the country had a political meeting at Carpenter's Grove. The people congregated there were of all shades of political faith, and there was an immense crowd assembled .there. The speaker was a Democrat, and the Republicans were very bitter toward him, and the meeting was finally broken up by a big row. There were at least twenty to thirty men fighting all at the same time. Some of the men climbed trees and shouted: "Peace! Peace! men, let us have Peace!" The fight finally subsided, without anyone being killed, but there were several persons badly injured. The crowd then dispersed and all returned to their respective homes. The speaker did not tarry long after the mob commenced the attack, being of the opinion, probably, that he would be equally as safe at a further distance from the scene of the
Digitized by Google
53
JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA.
strife. During these times the people would fight.upon the slightest provocation, hardly knowing what they were fighting about. After the close of the war they all sought to forget the past. and those who are still living are the best of friends. During the melee at the grove, the com- batants used as weapons of war, clubs, rocks, or anything else they could get their hands on, that would injure an opponent. The women and children ran for their lives, and sought places of safety. There were several persons from Rensselaer in attendance at this meeting. This riot was probably the forerunner of the so-called "Dodd Raid,". which followed in July, 1863, at Rensselaer, or near that . place. The immediate' cause of this disturbance or riot was a speech made by one H. Dodd at Rensselaer, about the 4th day of July, 1863. Dodd was sent to Rensselaer from Indianapolis to make a Democratic speech, which he did in great shape. Among other things, he severely criti- cised and abused the Home Guards, who were on the grounds, and well armed. They sought to arrest him and take him from the stand while he was speaking, but there being too many Democrats there guarding Dodd, they failed in their efforts, but contented themselves to wait until night, when the people had all returned to their country homes. Then they proceeded to the residence of James E. Ballard, where Mr. Dodd was a guest, and there they made the arrest, under the direction of Provost Mar- shal Cicero H. Tatman. The Home Guards at once threw a line of pickets around Rensselaer to prevent any person from coming into or going out of Rensselaer to give information of the arrest of Mr. Dodd. A party, however, who had remained late in Rensselaer, succeeded in getting through the lines and immediately spread the news of the arrest. By ten o'clock the next day there was congregated in the vicinity of Rensselaer probably six or seven hundred armed men, who came from many miles around in Jasper, Newton and Benton counties, Indiana, and a goodly num- ber from Illinois, who were determined to liberate this
Digitized by Google
.
1
!
54
REMINGTON AND VICINITY.
man Dodd. Many of them were determined to march into Rensselaer without delay, but through the wiser counsels of some of the oldest and best citizens they were constrained to wait, pending the conference of a committee which had been sent into Rensselear, to confer with the United States Provost Marshal, Mr. Tatman. This committee was assured by Tatman that Dodd should receive respectful treatment, and be given a fair and speedy trial if they were unmolested. Upon this report from the committee, and through the advice of some of the older and time honored citizens, the people dispersed, and returned to their various homes. But to show how these people were taken in and gulled, on this occasion, it is necessary to state in this connection, that this man, H. H. Dodd, was acting in the interest of the Republican party. This occur- red only two or three months before the general State election, which transpired about the first of October of that year. Oliver P. Morton was at that time Governor of the State, and he had employed this man Dodd to come to Rensselaer and make one of his most bitter and incendiary speeches, knowing that it would result in advantage to the Republican ticket. This program Mr. Dodd carried out. After his arrest he was removed to Indianapolis, where he was incarcerated in the Government building with a regi- ment of soldiers surrounding it to guard him and prevent his escape. Dodd, however, only remained there about ten days when it was discovered one fine day that he had succeeded in making his escape. It was learned after the election that Mr. Dodd had been purposely liberated by the authorities, and furnished transportation to Canada, from whence he immediately went to, and located in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, and the following year (1864) he became a candidate and was elected Mayor of the City of Mil- waukee on the Republican ticket. Indiana, in 1863, elected the entire Republican State ticket. Thus, it will be seen that this whole Dodd raid affair was caused by a Republi- can scheme, with Indiana's War Governor as the leader,
Digitized by Google
55
JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA.
to secure votes for the Republican candidates for State offices.
During the fall of the year of 1860, the people of this locality organized what is termed a circle wolf and deer chase, or hunt. The place selected for the different detach- ments to come together at the close of the chase, was "Mount Nebo," in Benton county, west of "Mount Gilboa" and southwest from Remington ten or twelve miles. The chase had been announced two or three months ahead so that all who wished to participate would have ample notice, and would be present. At the appointed time the people came from several different counties, and there was an immense gathering of the people. They came in companies with their captains who had been previously chosen. These captains had adopted rules to be observed by their respective commands, or men. The counties rep- resented were Jasper, White, Newton, Benton and Tippe- canoe. When these various companies had assembled at a designated point, the following order was promulgated: The formation of a circle sufficiently large, that each man could discern readily any object that might be visible between himself and his neighbors on either side of him. To thoroughly beat the territory surrounded and scare up and drive any wolf or deer, to the center of said circle. This occasion was new to most of the men engaged in the chase. The prairie grass was thick and high; wolves were plenty, and had done much damage to the sheep and poultry industries, and the people were very anxious to rid the country of at least a portion of the pests. The writer at that time resided at Black Oak, and there was a good company formed in that neighborhood, headed by Thomas Dobbins as captain. There were probably fifty members of his company. All who joined this chase were on horseback. Further rules forbid the use of fire arms, as it was consid- ered to be dangerous to those in the chase. The men were mainly armed with good strong clubs. When a wolf or deer was started it was the rule for the two men nearest to
Digitized by Google
...
56
REMINGTON AND VICINITY.
it to give it chase, the balance of the men holding their stations, whilst the animal was forced around this circle, but not allowed to escape from the circle. This was very hard to do, for the reason that the men would become excited, and being always mounted on the fleetest horses, they would frequently break away from their stations in pursuit of the game. Often they would run an animal down and capture it, but as often the animal would break through the line and make its escape; or failing in making its escape, the pursuers often had a run of many miles before they captured the game. Those not in pursuit of escaped game remained at their posts, and kept the circle complete, and awaited the result of the. outside chase before attempting to start other game. The reason for this was that in those chases fleet dogs and hounds were also employed in running down the game that had broken through the circle. This wolf and deer chasing was a very dangerous business for both men and horses, for the reasons that the grass being very tall, it concealed many stones and gopher holes, upon and into which a run- ning horse was at any time liable to step, thus throwing both himself and the rider, thereby injuring many times very seriously both horse and rider. There had been many chases here prior to the one we here mention, but this one was perhaps the most exciting of any chase ever organized in this community, and was more largely attended than had any similar hunt organized prior to this time. The company that came from Benton coun- ty had selected Uncle Henson Owens as its captain, and we believe that Mr. Owens was also selected as the general superintendent of the entire chase. Mr. Owens was at that time an old citizen of Benton county, and is still a resident of the same place. He is now a very old man. He was well posted in everything appretaining to wolf and deer hunting. On this occasion they succeeded in captur- ing seven or eight wolves and deer. One man lost his life; this man was from Monticello, in White county, and was
Digitized by Google
57
JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA.
then the deputy sheriff of White county. His name was Jules Orton. He was mounted on a very fleet horse, and thought he had the fastest horse on the ground; but fast horses sometimes get men into difficulties, as it proved to be the case in this instance. An animal had been started, and under the rules it became the duty of James and George Hemphill, of White county, to give chase, which they did. Mr. Orton disobeyed the rules, and proceeded to give chase also, by breaking ranks and trying to cross through the lines of others whose business and exclusive right it was to make this chase. They had started a deer, and James Hemphill, who had the lead and also the right, with his brother George, next to him, were in hot pursuit of the animal, when Mr. Orton came dashing in, quartering and attempting to pass through between the two Hemphill boys, but the horse that Orton rode came suddenly in contact with the horse ridden by James Hemphill, which threw Mr. Orton's horse, Orton falling under the animal, which rolled over him, crushing him in a shocking manner; when he was reached he was unconscious, but lived five or six hours after the accident; the horse was not injured any by the fall. This accident put an end to the sport for that day. The party was at a great loss to know what to do with the dying man. They were fully seven miles from the nearest human habitation, and out in the wide open prairie. They finally concluded to carry him to the residence of Voss Dobbins, who then lived about two miles south of Wolcott, in White county, on the Kendall farm, a distance of six or eight miles from the place where the accident happened; this they did. The reason that this chase was brought off at " Mount Nebo " was that the country there is high and rolling, and such places are more frequented by wolves than the lower lands, and besides this, those lower lands were generally covered with water, and were therefore not much frequented by the game sought after on this occa- sion.
John Swan, an old citizen, was there, and still is the
Digitized by Google
58
REMINGTON AND VICINITY.
proprietor of a good farm in the vicinity of "Mount Nebo." The injured man, Mr. Orton, was finally placed on a horse blanket, and carried by the men, who took turns, until they reached the home of Mr. Dobbins, where the victim died. They did not reach their destination until after dark. The men were all very sorry for this sad ending of the chase, and it had the effect to put a quietus on this manner of wolf and deer chasing. James Hemphill still pursued the deer, and he finally captured and killed it, before he returned and learned how badly Mr. Orton was injured. It was generally conceded that there was no one to be blamed for this accident, excepting Mr. Orton himself, for he had disobeyed the rules of the chase, and forced him- self into the position where he met his fatal injury. Men through their excitment often rush into dangerous places, but do not discover their errors until it is everlastingly too late. One of the parties attending this wolf and deer hunt, came from near the Brook Mills, on the Iroquois river, in Newton county. There was also a large company that came from the vicinity of the Battle Ground, in Tippecanoe county. The company that came from Black Oak had in their charge three hounds, two of which were the property of William H. Haver, and the other belonged to Mr. Thomas Dobbins. Mr. Orton had come up from Monticello the day previous and stayed over night with Mr. Haver, and had charge also of his hounds, when he was injured. He was about twenty-two years of age, and had many friends.
Black Oak is not a town, village nor hamlet, as might be inferred, but takes its name from the circumstance that there is a considerable amount of black oak timber growing on the sand ridges in this early settled neighborhood. The question is often asked why the early settlers located at Black Oak in lieu of settling on the prairie where the soil is much more fertile. The answer, it appears to me, is for the reason that timber which could be used for fuel was plentiful and convenient, that the prairie lands were nearly always submerged by water, and that it was much more
Digitized by Google
59
JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA.
healthy, being freer from miasma on those sand ridges in the timber, than it was on the lower prairie lands, which were nearly always covered with stagnant waters, which were constantly breeding diseases and death for those who had the termity to settle on them in the early times. Horses were very scarce in this country in the earlier years of its settle- ment, and our people during those times did their hauling, plowing and visiting with oxen; they were perfectly satis- fied with this means of locomotion and all were apparently contented and happy.
The prairie fires are entitled to notice also in this record. From the time the grass would burn, which was soon after the first frost, usually about the first of October of each year, until the surrounding prairie was all burnt over, or, if not all burnt, until the green grass in the spring had grown sufficiently to prevent the rapid progress of the fire; the early settlers were continually on the alert, and as they usually expressed the idea, they "slept with one eye open." When the ground was covered with snow, or dur- ing rainy weather, the apprehension was quieted, and both eyes could be safely closed. A statutory law forbade set- ting the prairie on fire, and any one doing so was subjected to a penalty, and liable to an action of trespass for the damages resulting; but convictions were seldom effected, as proof was necessary and difficult to obtain, though there were frequent fires. Those started on the leeward side of an improvement, while dangerous to property to the lee- ward, were not so to property to the windward, as fires progressing against the wind are quite easily extinguished, and the temptation to start one of these fires for some trivial purpose was often quite irresistible. Various means were resorted to for protection. A common one was to plow several furrows around a strip several rods wide, outside the improvements, and then burn out the inside of this strip, or wait until the prairie was on fire, and then set fire on the outside of this furrowing, reserving the inner strip for a late burn, that is, until the following summer, and
Digitized by Google
-
60
REMINGTON AND VICINITY.
about July burn both old and new grass. The grass afresh immediately, and the stock would feed it closely in prefer- ence to the older grass, and subsequent fires could not pass over it in the autumn, there being no grass left to burn. This process repeated would, very soon, or in a few years, run out the prairie grass, which in time became replaced by blue grass, which will not burn to any serious extent. But all this took time and labor, and the crowd of business on hand to a new settler, of which a novice has no conception, would prevent him doing what would now seem to be a small matter; and even when accomplished, all such pre- cautions often proved futile; a prairie fire driven by a high wind would often leap such barriers and seem to put human efforts at defiance.
A prairie fire when first started, goes straight forward with a velocity proportioned to the force of the wind, widen- ing as it goes, but the center keeping ahead; it spreads sideways, but burning laterally it makes but comparatively slow progress, and if the wind is moderate and steady, this spreading fire is not difficult to manage; but if the wind veers a point or two, first one way and then another, it sends this side fire beyond control. The head fire, in dry grass and a head wind is a fearful thing, and pretty sure to have its own way unless there is some defensible point to meet it. A contest with such a fire requires such skill and tact as can be learned only by experience, and a neighbor- hood of settlers called out by an exigency, at once put themselves under the direction of the oldest and most ex- perienced of their number, and go to work with the alacrity and energy of men defending their homes and property from destruction. The usual way of meeting advancing fires was to begin the defense where the head of the fire would strike, which was calculated by the smoke and ashes, brought by the wind along in advance of the fire; a road, cattle path, or furrow is of great value at such a place. If there was no such, a strip of the grass was wetted down if water could be procured, which was, however, a rather
Digitized by Google
1
JASPER COUNTY, INDIANA. 61
scarce article at the time of the annual fires. On the side nearest the oncoming fire of such a road or path, the grass is set on fire, which burns slowly against the wind until it meets the coming conflagration, which latter stops, of course for want of fuel, provided there has been sufficient time to burn over a strip that cannot be leaped by the head fire as it comes in. This is called "back firing"; but in this method great care must be exercised to prevent the fire getting over the furrow or path, or whatever is used as the base of operation. If it gets in the rear of this and once under way, there is no remedy but to fall back to a more defensible position. The head of the fire successfully checked, the force of fire fighters divide, part going to the right and part to the left, and the "back firing" continues to meet the side fires as they come up. This must be continued until the fire is checked along the entire front of the premises endangered, and the sides are secured. Various imple- ments were used to put out a side fire or back fire, or even the head of a fire in a moderate wind. A fence board, four to six feet long, with one end shaved down for a handle, was very effective when struck flat upon a narrow strip of fire; a bundle of hazel brush, a spade or shovel were often used with effect. The women frequently lent their aid, and dexterously wielded the mop, which, when thoroughly wet, proved an efficient weapon, especially in extinguish- ing a fire in the fence; when the fire overcome all opposition, and seemed bound to sweep over the settlement, a fear of personal loss would paralyze for the moment every faculty, and as soon as the danger seemed iminent united effort ceased, and each one hastened to defend his own as best he could. It is due to historical truth, to say that actual losses were much less than might have been expected, though fre- quently quite severe. The physical efforts made in extin- guishing a dangerous fire, and protecting one's home from this devouring element, were of the most trying nature, not unfrequently resulting fatally. The premises about the residence and -yards being trampled down by the family
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.