Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, Part 23

Author: Clifton, Thomas A., 1859-1935, ed
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 672


USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 23
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 23


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The court officers were as follows: James T. Saunderson, judge, Fowler ; John F. Ritenour, clerk, Williamsport; William Cowgill, sheriff. Williams- port; John J. Hall, prosecutor, Williamsport : Robert Swan, stenographer. Fowler.


INTERESTING INCIDENTS.


A laughable incident occurred during the May term of court in this county in 1835, when a slander case was being tried-the first in Warren county. The jury had heard the evidence, received its charge from the judge and were ordered to retire. The sheriff was called to find a suitable place and to appoint a bailiff to conduct them to the place for deliberation. The log school house was selected and a Mr. Clark was chosen as bailiff. The bailiff locked the jury in the building and went to a nearby saloon to get a chink of "white whisky." Later. he returned to the jury room and demanded that the men proceed at once to find a verdict and said that if they did not he would kill every man of them by throwing stones at them.


The foreman ordered him to be quiet, saying they would attend to their own business. This remark enraged the bailiff and, going outside he gath- ered up rocks and commenced to bombard the building, windows and doors. The noise reached the ears of the sheriff, who came to the rescue of the jurors and discharged the bailiff.


Jack Stinson, whose real name was John Stevens, was one of the most eccentric men who ever lived in Warren county. He settled here about 1827 and his odd ways soon gained for him a peculiar notoriety. He possessed a fair English education, could read and write well and always carried, tied to his side, an ink-horn and pen and note-book. He styled himself the "Christ- ian Philosopher of the Nineteenth Century." He had gained some knowl- edge of the law, by attending courts, and was very anxious for the coming of the sessions. as much as if he were an attorney in fact. He would always insist on taking a seat among the members of the bar and upon any dispute


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arising he would jump to his feet and offer volunteer information upon the question at dispute. This contempt of court usually landed him in jail for the remainder of the day. At one time Jack had been confined in jail three days. und sought retaliation by hitching a yoke of heavy oven to the stairs leading to the trap door over the jail and drawing it away.


In 1833, Judge Jolin R. Porter, one of the best judges the state had ever had to that date, was fond of card-playing and out of office or court hours used to spend much i ue at the game. This greatly displeased Isaac Naylor (later Judge Naylor ). accordingly, one evening, when the attorneys and judge were playing cards he went to the window of the old school house where they were, and watched them and finally heard Judge Porter say, "! have high, low, jack and the game."


By the time the Judge had fairly seated himself in court the next morn- ing, ready for the trial of a case, the grand jury had found a bill of indict- ment against the Judge for card playing. The good Judge soon had to vacate the bench and take his seat as a common criminal. The associate judges soon assessed a fine of twenty dollars against him. He paid the fine, adding that "This is only lent."


A few evenings later, the Judge announced that the court and lawyers had been invited out to spend the evening and have a banquet. Naylor had been invited with others of the bar, and when the drink of the evening was passed around it was seen that he was quite fond of wine, so, through a slight of hand on the part of Judge Porter the glass containing Naylor's wine was partly filled, each time round, with strong brandy. Each glass it was stronger, until he was fairly drunk-indeed so much so that he fell to the floor, whereupon Porter and others assisted him to the open air, when they commenced to yell. "Fire, fire, fire," and then "Murder, murder, murder." This brought the whole village out and men came running with abated breath, asking, "Who is killed. What's the matter, etc." The Judge remarked to the crowd, "Oh, nothing, but Naylor is drunk, that's all." Then turning to Nay- lor, he said: "When you get sober enough, go and inform on me again for card-playing."


CHAPTER VIL.


NEWSPAPERS OF WARREN COUNTY.


Ever since the introduction of the printing press, the civilized world has been advanced by the intelligence brought to the heartlo tones of its com- minities, through the medium of the weekly and, in later years, the daily news- paper, filled with the latest information of all that is going on in the great, busy world. The introduction of the modern telegraph and telephone sys- tems has again improved the news-gathering facilities to a wonderful degree. Nothing of much importance is omitted. The social life and the sporting world, from an army drill or parade, in any part of the world, to the score of the ball games of twenty-four hours ago in foreign lands -- all come in to make up the contents of the daily paper of the twentieth century. By this. the common people have become well versed in almost everything, and today are taking a more intelligent view of the political, religious and scientific world. Of books and periodicals, there is now seemingly no end. Every trade, profession and calling has its own special class journal, in which the best thoughts of the thinking world are penned in graphic style, at once in- structive and entertaining.


The first attempt at journalism in Warren county was in 1844, when Enos Canutt, with a small quantity of printer's material and the old style hand-printing press, began issuing a small sheet at Independence, known as the Wabash Register. It was a five-column folio, having a subscription price of two dollars a year. He soon had a circulation of three hundred, a portion of which subscribers resided in northern Fountain county. Late in 1845 Mr. Canutt moved the paper to Attica, which already gave fair promise of be- coming the best town in this section of the state. The name was changed to that of the Attica Journal. About half of his circulation, after his moving to that side of the Wabash river, were from Warren county. Business took another shift, and Williamsport seemed destined to be the best commercial point of the two. There was a growing demand for news from the seat of government, and slavery and debates along that line in Congress, including the Wilmot Proviso, created much excitement and all thinking, reading peo- ple wanted a paper giving the news.


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The paper consequently was removed to old Williamsport and the plant was sold in December, 1854, to A. S. Foster, who issued the first number of the Warren Republican, a seven-column folio. For several weeks the col. umus of this newspaper carried the following at its head : "The first number of the paper will be issued on the 6th day of December, 1854. in the town of Williamsport, Indiana, and will supersede the Wabash Commercial, a publica- tion by Enos Canntt, which will be suspended ; the und signed having bought the printing establishment of that office and will add a new press and material necessary to print a large paper. The size will be a double-medium, or the same size as the Lafayette Courier. Fountain Ledger or any other paper on the Wabash. The price will be the same as the other papers, viz. : $2.00 per year in advance. Will you sustain us in this enterprise? We think you will. "ALONZO FOSTI .


"Williamsport, Indiana. October 28, 1854.


In June, 1855, Isaiah Whinery became a part owner with Foster and. on the death of the latter in 1855, continued alone until February, 1856, when Delos Warren purchased the interest formerly Mned by Foster. In September, 1856. the veteran editor and proprieto Ir. Canntt, bought Whinery's interest, and in May, 1857, bought Warn. s interest, becoming. again sole owner of the paper. Political interest was becoming greater cach campaign. The largest assembly ever seen to tl. . date in Williamsport was during the presidential campaign of 1856, when many men of learning and eloquence spoke in Williamsport. In September, 1856, when the owner's age was far advanced and his duties multiplied, he employed W. P. Rhodes, a brilliant young lawyer and forceful writer, to furnish his paper with regular articles on leading topics of the day. When the Whig party went out, and the Republican came in, this paper went with the new formed party and sup- ported Gen. John C. Fremont for President. This paper laid the foundation for the future Republican majorities in Warren county. In 1860 Rhodes ceased his editorial writings on the paper and Canutt went on alone until his lamented death, in September, 1861. The paper fell to his heirs and his son, John A. Canutt, assumed control, and W. P. Rhodes was secured to write for the paper, editorially. Henry F. Canutt became associated with the paper in 1863, and in March, 1864, Orin Harper bought the office. and Jesse Harper became chief editor, giving the paper a decided religious and moral tone, that built it up as nothing else could have done. in the territory in which he naturally circulated. In 1866 the office passed to the control of a company consisting of William C. Smith, W. P. Rhodes and W. H. Thomas.


FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA


Rhodes officiated as editor and Smith as business manager. The company paid one thousand seven hundred dollars for the office, and employed (. . ). Canutt to publish the paper. In June, 1867. the office was again sold for one thousand six hundred dollars to G. A. and 11. F. Canatt, who published the paper and employed Dr. G. F. Richardson to edit it. In 1876 John Gregory. son of Benjamin F. Gregory, of whom : is said no better man ever lived in this county, purchased the office and contumed to conduct it until his death in Into. when it was sold to its present proprietor. Elmer E. Rogers, of the Progressive party.


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Upon the sale of the Republican in 1870, to Gregory, the Cantift brothers located in Kansas, where they published a paper twelve years. In 1882 the elder brother died, while Henry F. returned to Williamsport, where he estab- lished the Wabash Commercial, reviving the old name bestowed upon the first paper published by Enos Canutt, the father, at Williamsport in 1848.


In 1871 an independent paper was established as a Republican paper, however, and it was of short duration; it was known as the Warren Leader. The Warren Review of Williamsport was established January 1, 1891. by Thomas A. Clifton, now proprietor of the Republican at Covington, who successfully conducted the same until 1897 when it was sold to J. H. Letcher. The paper then changed hands frequently, having been conducted by Mr. Clif- ton, who was connected with it twice, and finally the property was sold by him to John F. Judy, and he sold to Hon. Fremont Goodwine, who sold to Traverse and Stephenson in 1903. Traverse withdrew in a year or so and Stephenson has since conducted and owned the property. The Review is a bright, newsy local journal, seeking to build up the county and city in which it is located, and at the same time stands for Republican political princip'es.


WEST LEBANON NEWSPAPERS.


Probably the first paper issued in New Lebanon was the Patriot, during the time of the Civil war, and whose second owner was Andrew Hall. Next came a seven-column folio sheet, called the Advance, edited by S. P. Conner. The first issue of this was about 1871. It was later owned by Dr. A. C. Walker, Joseph Tinkler and P. W. Fleming, and Doctor Walker was its editor. After two years the Advance became defunct. Its successor was the Gazette, conducted by a Mr. Bloomer, and he was followed by Mr. Rosenburg, and its name changed to the Times. A Methodist minister named Morgan con- ducted it a short time, and he changed the name to the Commonwealth, after which Doctor Walker again edited the paper, with Rufus Fleming as partner.


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Shark & Edmunds, of Illinois, also conducted it a few months, but were fail ures. Doctor Walker's son then took hold of the enterprise and soon after the name was changed to Statesman. William Olds then leased the paper and conducted a creditable sheet for eighteen months. A. W. Baker edited it a year and a half, when the office was removed to Waynesville, Illinois. Thus it will be seen that early journalism at West Lebanon was made up largely of changing ownership, changing of names and finally quit- ting. None of the earlier papers were a financial success, but many of their editors were excellent men, good writers and gave the subscribers all they could for the money the small subscription list wouldl afford them to.


PRESENT NEWSPAPERS.


Warren county has, in 1912, the following newspapers: The two at Williamsport, the Republican and the Warren Reviews, the former a Pro- gressive (an organ of the "Bull Moose" party ) and the latter a straight Republican paper, of no uncertain sound.


At West Lebanon there is published the Gazette. a stanch Republican paper. It was established in 1883 by James Souden, who operated it but a short time. It was subsequently owned and edited by Ashly R. Cadwallader, followed by John M. Mavity. For the past twelve years this paper has been owned and edited by S. G. Pomeroy, who makes a live up-to-date newspaper.


At Pine Village, there is a Democratic paper, known as the Sentinel- News.


CHAPTER VIII.


MILITARY SERVICE OF WARREN COUNTY. -


To know of the patriotism of a people one must needs read the history of their actions and devotion in time of war, and not judge by the display made in times of peace, for such is ofttimes shallow sentiment and not always bravery or loyalty to the flag. The shot and shell of the enemy is what tries the temper of one's patriotism. The territory now known as Warren county possibly had no men among its pioneer band who fought in the Revolution ary war, but since then it has taken a hand in quelling every other strif when war clouds appeared in the horizon of the nation. The war of 1812-14, with England; 1846-7, with Mexico; the Civil war, 1801-05, and the late Spanish American war of 1898, have all aid soldiers from Warren county.


Before the Civil war, the opening gun of which was heard at Fort Sumter April 12, 1861, the old militia system obtained in this county. It had done good service in all the Indian border wars, but after the Gnal retirement of the red men and when the whites had become well established, there was bist little use for "training days"-for fife and drum and all that used to be of service to train men for the defense of their homes. Yet there were many places in Indiana that still kept up the militia par: des and held their organiza- tions together. In the fifties arms were secured from the government of the state. A company of younger men filled the ranks of home commands, which were assembled at stated times, more for exercise, frolic and fun than for military training or fighting. Among such companies was one known as the Milford Blues, organized in July, 1856, with officers: Elihu A. Saunders, captain; J. A. Heigh, first lieutenant; A. J. Ryan, second lieutenant; B. F. Magce, ensign.


BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.


It has been stated that there were no Revolutionary soldiers who lived in Warren county, which is believed to be true, and if there were such their names are unknown in the early annals of the county, pension rolls, etc. Quite a goodly number, however, had served in the second war with Great Britain in 1812 and among the number are known to have been these: David Mc- Connell, Mr. Perrin, Seth St. John, who was at Hull's surrender; Andrew


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Pierce, Peter C. Hall, John Williams, Jacob White, William Oder, Permi Kent. Aaron Spiser served in Captain Brown's Company C. Battalion of Mounted Rangers, during the Black Hawk war of 1832-3.


A company was raised in Fountain county for service in the war with Mexico and it was joined by a few from Warren com The captain of the company was R. M. Evans. Quite a number of the ex soldiers of that way located in this county, in the forties and fifties.


THE BLACK HAWK WAAR SCARE OF 1832.


Weston A. Goodspeed, a writer of Indian history, in 1882 permed the following concerning the alarm caused by the Black Hawk war, in 1832. and we quote from him such items as concero the annals of Warren and Fountain counties :


During the spring of 1832 all the Wabash valley was thrown into a fever of consternation by the reports that the Indians of the Sac and Fox nations on Rock river, Ilinois. led by the implacable old chief, Black Hawk, had taken up the hatchet and were sweeping eastward, murdering and torturing the whites without limit or discrimination. Fugitives on horses and on foot scoured the country with wildly exaggerated account confirming the reports that fifteen persons had been cruelly murdered at the Hickory Creek settlement in Illinois, and about the 18th of May the report spread like wild-fire down the western side of the Wabash that a large body of hostile Indians had killed two men within fifteen miles of Lafayette. About half the settlers in War- ren county west of the river hurriedly packed their handiest valuables and fled across the river, where rude forts and blockhouses were quickly prepared and guarded. Companies of militia were immediately organized to scour the country for signs of danger and to check the advance of the Indians upon the villages and neighborhoods where the women, children, helpless and cowards assembled. A small company of about twenty-five men was formed in War- ren county. Col. James Gregory was elected captain, and the men, thoroughly armed and provisioned, started northwestward on a scouting expedition. 1 few families in the county did not leave their farms nor neglect their daily work; still fewer, in isolated places, knew nothing of the reports until the alarm was over, when they had their scare. The company went as far as Hickory Creek settlement, in Illinois, remaining in that vicinity for a few days, when they returned, the apprehension of danger having been quieted. It was purely another case, among frequent ones, where the white settlers had become frightened at flying rumors which, in fact, had no foundation of


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truth. But it is not to be wondered at that people were alarmed, for, remem- ber, it had not been many years before the war whoop had resounded in the Wabash valley in earnest, and the settlers had not forgotten those fearful out- rages.


THE CIVIL. WAR.


It was reserved for a later generation than the pioneer period, in War- ren county, for men to be called from plow, profession and shop to partici- pate in the greatest of all civil wars this world has ever seen, the Rebellion of 1861-65. The political campaign of 1860 was especially animated and in- teresting to every thinking American citizen. All the cunning and skill of statecraft could not shatter the war cloud that was rapidly concentrating, ere long to burst upon the country with all its awful fury and destruction of life and loss of property. Ultra politicians occupied every grove, school house and church in the land, and spoke in bitter terms, one against the other. The North was arrayed against the South, and the North in sections was broken in its politica porty lines. The Wide-awakes, with gandy oilcloth caps and capes of red, white or blue, in long lines of flaming torches, paraded the street at night. The stirring notes of fife and drum quickened the step aud fired the blood of old and young alike. Many saw gloom and disaster in the near future. At last Lincoln was elected President by the infant Republican party, over the Democratic party which had held sway for so many decades. Lincoln was not understood, even by his own party- he was greater and wiser and more thoughtful for human rights than all others of his day. Even an open and concerted rebellion in the North was barely averted by prudent acts of the incoming party. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was received all sectional strife and petty differences at the North were, for the time, laid aside. The rural districts were depopulated and many business pursuits were practically suspended. All were engaged in earnest search for news from the seat of war. Neighbors gathered at every cross-road to dis- cuss the awful situation and encourage one another with cheering and hopeful words. But the intense feeling that had so suddenly seized upon the people soon gave place to prompt and thoughtful action and invincible manifestations of true and unalloyed loyalty to the Stars and Stripes. The Williamsport Re- publican of April 18, 1861, contained the following leader :


"TO ARMS .- We think the time has come for all true patriots to act in defense of their country, her institutions and her laws. We have been overrun by a swarm of Southern Tories, both in Congress and out of Con- gress, for years, and it is now time for free men of the North-peace-loving,


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law-abiding citizens of our country. Ye, who stand upon the glorious plat- form of our Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws, and who have borne and forborne with traitors in arms against you until for- bearance has ceased to be a virtue, the crisis is now upon you. The fort upon whose defense your hearts were with an intense and all-absorbing enthusiasm fixed has been surrendered to traitors, and the flag of beuity and glory, at the sight of which every true American heart swells with pride, ha been struck to those whose sworn duty it was to uphold it against foreign an1 domestic enentes. Is there a man worthy the name american whose soul does not bin with indignation deep at this insult to the sacred emblem which he has beca taught to love and honor? This damning blot upon our national escucheon must be wiped out with blood. Treason must be crushed with the strong arm of this government, and the majesty of the laws vindicated, if need be, by a million men at the point of the bayonet and at the cannon's mouth. The time for appeal, argument, conciliation, has gone with the surrender of Sumter. Let the toesin now sound, and from every hill and valley, from lake and river, from mountain and prairie throughout all the loyal states, Jet patriots rally to the call of their country, resolved in this that the stain upon our flag shall be atoned for, that the supremacy of the Union shall be maintained and the laws shall be enforced. be the consequences what they may. Woe be to those who shall attempt to withstand the tempest of the nation's wrath."


It will be understood that these eloquent and patriotic word. were penned by the editor of a Warren county newspaper just six days after Fort Sumter was fired upon by the rebels of South Carolina. Next came President Lin- coln's call for seventy-five thousand men as volunteers, to quell, if possible, this uprising in the South. Hundreds in Warren county tendered their serv- ices. Mothers were seen encouraging their sons, wives their husbands, sis- ters their brothers, and sweethearts their lovers; old men, long past the mer- idian of life, insisted on enrolling their names with those of sons and grand- sons, and called it an insult when refused by the enrolling officer. There was not a town of any consequence in Warren county where indignant mass meet- ings were not held and where the patriotism of the people did not find pro- longed utterance.


Immediately after Lincoln's call for troops, the citizens of Williamsport and vicinity were summoned to meet in mass meeting at the court house to consider how the crisis should be met. A large crowd assembled on April 16th, and B. S. Wheeler was appointed chairman and Levi Miller, secretary. Will- jam P. Rhodes called the meeting to order and stated the object of the mect- ing, and then, amidst the wildest enthusiasm, Colonel Bryant was called out.


FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA. 1 251


He delivere a thrilling speech, reviewing the great issues before the country. insisting that the South was wholly in the wrong, and that it was the duty of every loyal man to assist with all his might in preserving the union of states. Next volunteers were called for, Colonel Bryant, D. F. M. Tebbs, James Park and I. P. Downing preparing the paper. Twenty five men signed the roll of volunteers. A committee was appointed, consisting of B. F. Greg ory. Sammel F. Messner and I. R. Pomeroy, to sobeit aid and care for the equipping of the "Warren Company" for the field.


The second war meeting assembled at the court house April 17. 1801. and there the enthusiasm doubled the former occasion. A select glee club sang the stirring national airs and the martial band executed "Yankee Doodle" in a manner that brought upon them the thunderous applause of the house. The company was increased to sixty men. Another niceting hav- ing been held, six days after Lincoln's call, the company was filled and com- pleted and the men were soon on their way to Indianapolis to offer themselves to the governor. The Republican was authority for the statement that the company numbered one hundred and seventy-seven men and its officers. Be- fore leaving home they met at the old court house and elected the following officers: James R. M. Bryant, captain; Dickson Fleming, first lieutenant; Levi Miller, second lieutenant. A beautiful banner was then presented to the company by Miss Hannah Johnson on behalf of the ladies of Williamsport and vicinity. She made a brief, touching speech and was responded to by Captain Bryant, who pledged the lives of his comp ny to the last man to prevent the flag from being trailed in the dust. The company was then drawn up in line and each member presented with a copy of the New Testa- ment. They marched to the depot, accompanied by the whole population. Short speeches were made in the open air until the train came. The next day they were in Indianapolis and reported for duty. There were but few, if indeed any, counties the size of Warren in Indiana that mustered full com- panies into the three-months service. The pride of the local newspaper-the Republican-caused its « ditor to pen the following paragraph May 2, 1861: "OLD WARREN AHEAD .- We doubt if any portion of the state has been more prompt to respond to the call of the President for troops than this county. Other countries have furnished more men, but few, if any, have done it with a greater degree of willingness and contributed more in proportion. Of the volunteers that left last week, one hundred and thirty remain in the service, and thirty more left Independence and Pine Village this week to complete the two full companies. Another company of rifles is now forming, (17)




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