USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 19
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 19
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struments; wove rude cloth from bark and weeds, and erected huge earthen structures of various forms and size. In Warren county, Indiana, three kinds of mounds are found as monuments to that long forgotten race of people- sepulchral, sacrificial and memorial. Within the first class are found the crumbling skeletons of this people, besides various trinkets or ornaments. Within the second class are baked clay altars upon which are heaps of ashes, charcoal, and very often burnt fragments of human bones. The sacrifices to the deity were offered on these altars. The third class contain nothing what- ever. They seem to have been erected, like our modern-day monuments, such as Bunker Hill, to commemorate some important tribal event. Mounds are found in Medina, Pine, Prairie, Adams, Liberty, Mound and other townships in the county.
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CHAPTER II.
INDIAN OCCUPANCY AND FIRST WIIITE MEN.
For a number of centuries prior to the occupancy of this country by the white race, the Indians had lived here; how much longer, cannot be deter- mined. Where and how they originated is unknown. Whether they were es- pecially created for this continent, or whether, as many have held, they came originally from Asia and were from among the "lost tribes of Israel," is still an unsettled question and is interwoven with the uncertainties of their con- nection with the so-called Mound Builders. As far back as there is any reliable account the tribe of Indians known as the Miamis occupied the following country : From Detroit south to the Ohio river; thence down the same to the mouth of the Wabash river, thence up the same stream to about the bound- ary between Vermillion and Warren counties, thence north to the southern extremity of Lake Michigan, thence east to Detroit. This is quite certain, coming as the information did, at first, from the noteworthy and highly in -. telligent Mish-e-ken-o-quah, or Little Turtle, a Miami Indian who lived in northern Indiana during the latter years of the eighteenth century, and into the nineteenth century. Warren county was thus on the boundary between the Miamis and the famous Kickapoos of Illinois. This was the condition of things previous to about one hundred and thirty-five years ago. From 1780 to the war of 1812, so great was the rush of settlers into eastern Ohio, that the Indian residents there were compelled to abandon their ancient home and seek a new one in the farther West, and thus numerous other tribes began to invade the domain of the Miamis. Soon the Pottawatomies occupied almost all of the present state of Indiana north of the Wabash river, while the Miamis retired to the south of the river. Hence Warren county was so sit- uated that Miamis and Pottawatomies and the Kickapoos were found within its borders by the early French traders who began to come up from Vincennes on the waters of the Wabash, in canoes loaded with whisky and trinkets to trade with the Indians at least as early as 1800. The Wabash had been the highway of travel for the early explorers and missionaries between Detroit and the French settlements at Vincennes, and at several points in Illinois since the latter decades of the seventeenth century, and it is not improbable that temporary trading posts were established in Warren county at a very early
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
period. But after the battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811, and the war of 1812, following that battle, which virtually opened up the Northwest Terri- tory to settlement, the Indians were all removed to beyond the confines of the territory, many being taken to the Mississippi and the far West, where rem- nants of the tribes once known to have dwelt in Warren county may still be found, partly civilized, but still a burden to themselves and the United States government.
CICOTT-A REMARKABLE CHARACTER.
Weston A. Goodspeed, a writer of United States and state histories, obtained the following account of this strange French Canadian, from Pioneer David Moffit :
"Zachariah Cicott, a French Canadian, at the age of about sixteen years came down the Wabash to Vincennes, where he lived for a number of years and then began the business of conveying boats or pirogues loaded with fancy articles and whisky up the river to trade with Indians for their furs. Nothing is known of these voyages except what he himself told, and as the information comes from various mouths and recollections, it is possible that, historically, it should be carefully weighed and taken with some degree of allowance.
"If Cicott's statements were correct, he came to trade with the Pottawat- omies and Kickapoos at Independence, Warren county, as early as 1802. So profitable became his trade, especially when he succeeded in getting the In- dians under the influence of liquor, that he became what was then known as a very wealthy man. Interesting stories, without limit in number, could be told regarding these trading voyages. Many times Cicott's life was in extreme danger, but he was watchful and brave, and managed to secure the confidence of some of the Indians, who speedily informed him of all plots involving dan- ger to his person or interests. Mr. Cicott was a swarthy man of average size, was quick, very wiry and very strong for his weight, and possessed a consid- erable skill and bravery and an iron constitution. He married a squaw of the Pottawatomie tribe, by whom he had two children. . They were John Bat- tiece and Sophia. At Independence, there were two or more natural springs of excellent water, which circumstance had caused that point to become a great place for the Indians to encamp. Cicott, in nearly all of his voyages, found it profitable to stop there to trade, although he frequently went up to Hackberry island or stopped to trade with the Kickapoos at the mouth of Kickapoo creek, there being quite a large encampment of the tribe there. He erected a rude building, probably before the war of 1812, and usually occupied it while trading. On one occasion, just before the war of 1812 broke out, he found
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. the Indians so savage and threatening that he thought prudent not to unload his liquor from the pirogue, but moored close to the bank, where he dealt out . the liquid for the valuable furs which were handed him from the bank. Finding that his liquor was sure to be consumed before all the furs had been secured, he instructed his companion to cautiously pour water into one end of the barrel, while lie dealt out the mixture from the other end. In this shrewd way he got all their furs and had considerable liquor left. But the Indians became clamorous and violent and demanded more whisky, and were refused because they'had no more furs and were without money. One savage looking fellow, half frenzied with intoxication, drew a huge knife and shouted that he must have more whisky or he would murder the trader, and made preparations to put his threat into execution; but Cicott also drew his knife and swore that the Indian could have no more unless he were the better man. A collision seemed inevitable. Several hundred Indians were present, swarining like maddened bees on the bank, and most of them were drunk, and all were nfore or less infuriated at the loss of their furs and ready to wreak vengeance on the trader, who was careful to keep on his pirogue and out of their reach. The old chief Parish came forward and bought the remainder of the whisky and, taking the barrel on his shoulders, carried it to the top of the bluff, knocked in the head, and told the Indians who crowded around to help themselves, which they quickly did. Cicott saw this was his opportunity to escape, and quickly and quietly pulled out into the middle of the stream and began rapidly rowing down the river, his departure being greatly favored by the approach of dark- ness. . About a mile down he stopped under the shade of the opposite shore to listen. He could distinctly hear the savage revelry behind him, and finally heard his own name shouted from scores of throats, 'Se-e-cott, Se-e-cott.' He did not return, but kept going on down the river.
"A short time before the war of 1812, Cicott received a communication from Gen. William Henry Harrison at Vincennes, directing him to go im- mediately to that point and prepare to become a scout for the government of the United States, whose army was about to march on the Indians. The trader had noticed that the Indians of Warren county were in a state of great excite- ment, and soon became aware that some great disturbance was on foot, as they were holding war and scalp dances and were arming themselves, and orna- menting their faces with red and black paints. The above note was no sooner received by Cicott than he began making hurried preparations for his depar- ture. Secretly, he packed everything of value that he could possibly take in pirogues, then, unknown to the Indians, left Independence at night, pulling rapidly down the Wabash. His confidential Indian was left on shore to drive
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about forty ponics around through Warren county on the way down to a place of safety. This the faithful fellow succeeded in doing. though all the cattle, sheep and hogs were killed. Upon his arrival at Vincennes, Cicott was se- lected as a scout for the army, which soon afterward passed northward to invade the Indian country. The plan of the Indians was to bring on an en- counter in the ravines and timber, where their mode of warfare would be greatly favored, one of the places being on Big Pine creek between eight and ten miles from its mouth ; but Harrison was too prudent and experienced to be caught in that manner, and in his march sought the open country, but kept near the timber, occasionally passing through detached portions of the wood- lands. His army entered the county in the southwestern part of Mound town- ship, thence passing northeastward through Kent about a mile east of State Line City, thence on through Steuben township and southeastern Jordan, and so on in a diagonal line through the center of Liberty township, crossing the Bfg Pine creek about a mile and a half northeast of Carbondale, at a place known as 'Army Ford,' thence through Adams and Medina townships and into northern Tippecanoe county, where, on November 7, 1811, the Indians were subdued in the bloody and ever memorable battle of Tippecanoe. Judge Isaac Naylor, Cicott and a number of others who afterwards lived in this county, were with this army on its march and at the battle, and afterward, when the county was settling up, went over the route, or trail, of the army and identified its camping places and related many incidents connected with the same. The army encamped in Warren county first in Kent township, in a detached grove, where two or three men died and were buried. Later the spot was known as Gopher Hill cemetery. Much of the route of the army lay along an old Indian trail, and as it was afterward traveled considerably, it was worn deep and could be easily traced in the county for about a dozen miles. In the dooryard of G. H. Lucas, a mile east from State Line City, the trail in 1880 was at least a foot deep, and five to six yards wide. The army also camped on the east bank of Big Pine creek immediately after crossing the stream. A few traces of this old military trail were yet visible when the country was first settled.
"After the termination of war, Cicott in a few years resumed his trade with the scattering tribes of Indians up and down the. Wabash. He erected a large log house just cast of Independence, on a reservation that had been granted by the government to him. This was located on sections 13, 14, 23 and 24, township 24, range 7 west. There Cicott lived and finally, in 1850. died, aged over eighty years, and was buried in the cemetery at Independence, near the spot made so historic by his own energy and daring deeds."
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
THE GENERAL HARRISON TRAIL.
When General Harrison left Vincennes in November, 1811, to proceed against the Indians in what is now Tippecanoe county, and which campaign resulted in the triumphant battle of Tippecanoe, on the morning of November 7, 18Ir, he took between eight and nine hundred soldiers of the United States
HARRISON TRAIL THROUGH WARREN COUNTY, ON WAY FROM VINCENNES TO TIPPECANOE BATTLEGROUND, NOVEMBER, 1811
PRAIRIE
PINE Rainsville
ADAMS
MEDINA
· WARREN
JORDAN
LIBERTY
Independence
Williamsfort
WASHING . WE TON a
STEUBENY (2)
7 PIKE
WABASH
NOTES:
State pty Line
KENNT
FIGURE 1 denotes first encampment in Warren county, now known as "Gopher Hill Cemetery.' FIGURE & denotes large bowlder on the Hunter farm
MOUND
FIGURE 3 denotes camp east of Big Pine creek, known as "Army Ford."
FIGURE 4 fourteen miles, north of east. to Tippecanoe Battleground.
army and marched under the guide and trusty scout, Zachariah Cicott. He entered what is now known as Mound township, Warren county, thence passed northward through Kent township, encamping first (in this county) in a small detached grove, and there on his return trip, after the battle, buried two (14)
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
or three soldiers who had been wounded at Tippecanoe. Their resting place is at what is now called Gopher Hill cemetery, about two miles to the south- east of State Line village. From that point the army resumed their march northeast and passed by the huge bowlder, which until recent years stood in the highway, on the old Hunter farm, between sections 19 and 30, township 21, range 9 west. This was an immense granite bowlder and if it had not thoughtlessly been blasted and removed would doubtless today have a suitable inscription on its rustic surface, making a permanent landmark for all gen- erations to come, showing just where Harrison and his army passed. The second encampment in the county was made just across the Big Pine creek, east, and "about eleven miles from its mouth into river Wabash." This is known now as "Army Ford" and there seems to be two theories as to where the army really did cross this creek, but the generally accepted one is that his crossing was made above where Honey creek comes into Big Pine creek, and in the center of section 9, township 22, range 8 west, on lands now owned by Scott Brier, a descendant of one of the first settlers, and who, with his neigh- bors, has always called this the crossing place of the army. It is in Liberty township. This seemed to be the belief of Judge Isaac Naylor, who wrote on this theme many years ago, and he was with Cicott after the war of 1812 and went over the trail and noted the camping places.
The other theory (we give it for what it is worth) is that it was in the southwest quarter of section 4 in the same township and range, less than a mile to the northwest. But there seems little good evidence that this is correct.
From that point-"Army Ford," wherever that may have been-the line of march was taken up and pursued in a northeastern direction, directly to where the battle was fought in Tippecanoe county, passing through the corner of Pine township, diagonally northeast through Adams township, cutting the northwest corner of Medina township, thence on into Tippecanoe county. (See outline map, with descriptive notes attached.)
It should be added that on the march back irom Tippecanoe to Vin- cennes, Harrison lost a man named Drummond, who was buried near the camping place on Big Pine creek. The grandsons of pioneer settlers remem- ber the grave well and frequently tell strangers of its loneliness at an early day. This soldier, with probably the three buried at what is Gopher Hill ceme- tery, were the only ones who died from wounds en route to Vincennes, and to their graves there should be placed an appropriate tablet or monument, either by Warren county or by the general government, for the brave men cer- tainly are deserving of such recognition, even at this late day.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
THE FIRST WHITE SETTLEMENT.
Of course, after what has been already recorded concerning the French Canadian, Zachariah Cicott, it will not be disputed that he became the first white settler within the borders of what is now Warren county, he having been here as a permanent settler and erected his large log house in 1817, after having been here as a trader among the Indians many years prior to that date. It is not known that another settler came in until 1822, when a few made their entrance into the county. The first entries of land were made in the county as follows: December 16, 1820, the west half of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 2, township 21, range 8, by William and Jonas Seaman; September 11, 1822, the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 14, township 23. range 7, by John Blind; September 15, 1822, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 29, township 22, range 8, by Benjamin Landon : November 15, 1822, the east quarter of the northeast quarter of section 33, township 20, range 9, by James Barnes ; John Black, Thomas Cunningham, Thomas Wright, Samuel Watkins, Samuel Green, William Newell, Silas Hooker, James Mc- Cune, Lewis Collyer, Lewis Evans and Enoch Farmer all entered lands before December 31, 1824, in townships 20, 22, 23 and 24, of ranges 7, 8, 9 and 10.
In 1825 the following made entries of land: Thomas Bowyer, township 23, range 6; William H. Mace, same location ; James Bidwell, John S. Reid, John Cox, John McCord, Jonathan Cox, Samuel B. Clark, Nancy Maudlin, Henry Coons, Thomas Lewis, Lewis Evans, Benedict Morris, and possibly a few others.
In 1826 the following entered land in the county, at various locations : Isaac Shelby, John Stanley, Jeremiah Davis, Samuel B. Clark, John Rhodes, David White, William Kendall, William Worthington, Henry Wetchell, Levi Osborn, Abel Oxford, Joseph Thomas, William Henderson, Joseph Foster, William White.
After this, beginning, the settlement was much more frequent and rapid, some coming in from neighboring counties and others direct from Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states. Four reasons are assigned for the pioneers settling in the timbered portion of this county: First, because all had been reared in a timbered country, and hence knew nothing of a prairie country, and thought the soil too poor for the production of large crops, arguing that because this land did not grow timber that it must of necessity be poor land. Secondly, they thought it impossible to survive the cold winters in such an exposed situation. Thirdly, they preferred to remain where wood was abund- ant. Fourthly, they concluded to locate near some water course, which was
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
then a great commercial highway-an outlet to markets and the outside world. Hence it was that early settlers in Warren county sought out the timbered lands in which to make homes for themselves; locations where firewood and springs abounded ; where they might ere long have a mill near home to saw lumber and grind grain. But some of the first band of settlers who developed the county had already been apprised of the fertility of the prairie soil, and bravely pushed out onto the treeless lands, with the determination of getting rid of stones and stumps. Many of those who first came to the county had to raise a crop before they could pay the entry fee on their lands; others had barely enough for this, but not a dollar left to run on till a crop could be har- vested. There were, however, a few who had abundant means with which to purchase land and improve the same-these were fortunate mortals. The sad- dest ones were those who came in with a family and after a year or so were compelled to return to the East, from whence they had emigrated, not having been favored by a good crop and perhaps having sickness in the home; hence, wearily they wended their way homeward, not giving any too good an account of the "land of promise" which to them had proven a dismal failure.
The comparative demand and supply regulated the prices of everything. A yard of calico was worth so many pounds of butter or dozen of eggs; a deer skin was worth so many pounds of tea or coffee; an axe was worth so many bushels of potatoes. Tanneries supp: d leather for the family to have made into boots and shoes. Sheep were early introduced into Warren county, and those that escaped the hungry wolves were made to supply the wool, which was frequently taken by the backwoods mother, and washed and cleaned, rolled, carded, spun and then woven into cloth with which the family were clothed in winter time. Everywhere the ox team was seen. Young men went courting with oxen; many a couple went off gay and happy in an ox-team wagon to the favorite justice, "the Squire," to get married, driving a fast young yoke of oxen. If fortunate in owning a horse, both would mount the animal and away they would canter, followed by old shoes and horseshoes and some- times rice. The first marriage in the county was after this fashion. It oc- curred January 1, 1828, between Noble Owens and Catherine Coons, Nathaniel Butterfield, associate judge, performing the ceremony. The second marriage was in June, 1828, the contracting parties being James Perrin and Cassandra Clarke, Lemuel Boyd, justice of the peace. Dances were usually had on such occasions and it was indeed a sight to behold the gay dancers whirling about in the rude log cabin. "As the fiddler touched the string, some youngster cut the pigeon wing." The new country had no "stuck-ups;" there was no such thing as caste, all being on an equality, if respectable and moral. Hospitality
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
was the one prevailing rule-the latch string was ever hanging out and the total stranger was a welcome guest. The only question was, "Can you put up with our fare?" The answer was always, "Certainly and be only happy to do so."
EARLY DAY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
When the early settler came into Warren county, the first few days, possi- bly weeks, the family had to live in the covered wagon. When the cabin was finished all moved in, feeling happy in that they had the good fortune to have a roof over their head. In cases, they moved in long before the good husband and father could provide a floor or even a suitable door and quilts and blankets were then brought into use. Greased paper served for glass in a number of Warren county cabin homes in the twenties and thirties. Finally the chimney and the puncheon floor were made and if in the autumn time the great back- logs were rolled in and the dry wood placed in shape on the andirons. The family were then comfortable and the light of the cheerful fire made the chil- dren and parents supremely happy. To draw the string of the latch inside, was a signal that no one was "at home," at least that no one must try to enter. Hence the saying, "the latch string is out." Next came the clearing of a patch of timber land, so that a crop might be raised. Men would cut timber all day, and way into the night when the moon and stars would light up the heavens sufficient. The women and older children would burn the brush and smaller trees. Those were actually happy sunshine days in their long lives, and as the twilight of age came swiftly on, it was joy to hear the fathers and grandfathers relate these experiences to children and grandchildren. They tell of the frosty evenings when all hands would bundle up and walk two or three miles to a neighbor's place and there spend the evening hours and of a late supper served in a style fit for a king or queen to partake of, yet served on the rudest kind of dishes and cooked without a "cook book" to refer to, as nowadays.
Indeed there is an inspiration in the thought of those pioneer days. We see the pioneers building their log cabins hard by some babbling brook or ceaseless flowing spring. We hear the axmen felling the giant trees of the early forests of the county. We see the blazing fire from burning brush and the sky filled with the glare of burning heaps of logs, and the sun is darkened with blinding smoke; we hear the sturdy pioneers shouting to their oxen as they roll the logs or turn the tough sod of the virgin soil. We seem to again hear the sound of the maul's blow as the rails were split; we see men and women planting corn with hoes and weeding pumpkins and potatoes among .
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the roots and stumps. Autumn comes and the ripened corn is husked and the large potatoes dng and planted away in the nearby cave. The evening comes and with it the ding-dong of the cow-bells -- for the cows have returned from the outlying prairie land and stand down at the bars, with distended sides, waiting to be milked. The chores are done and night has thrown her curtain upon the peaceful earth, and the long drawn, mournful howl of the hungry wolf, and the weird hootings of the owl are heard down by the swamp. Now the scene is changed. The crops are gathered, the corn is cribbed, the potatoes are buried and the great yellow pumpkins are covered with hay and vines to protect them from the frost, the prairie hay is cut and stacked and great heaps of logs have been hauled into the door-yard for winter use. The boys and girls have bright new suits of home-made linsey, or the old faded ones have been nicely patched by a kind, thoughtful mother's hands. Each child, with a new pair of cowhide boots or shoes, which "must last you a year," is getting ready · for the winter school term in the new log school house. The windows are made with insertions of greased paper; the benches are plank or slabs; the floor is mother earth and the fire-place is a large one. There is the sedate, dignified school master with hickory rod in hand. There stand the larger scholars toed up to a mark, with hands folded and the master is pronouncing words from the old Speller. Noon comes-all are hungry and the pails and , baskets are well filled with Johnny cake and venison, and a large piece of pumpkin pie, "such as mother used to make." What fires! How they roared and snapped those cold winter nights! There sits father smoking his pipe of clay, while mother is knitting socks for the family, as the girls are making music on the spinning wheel. Some of the boys are "working sums" hard to solve in their arithmetics, while others are cracking hickory nuts and popping corn.
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