USA > Indiana > Fountain County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 24
USA > Indiana > Warren County > Past and present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Volume 1 > Part 24
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
and will be ready in a few days to march wherever required. making m all over two hundred and fifty men. This proportion all over the state would furnish over thirty thousand men. Hurrah for old Warren and the Union."
The first county relief was given in Warren county in pursuance of the act of the board of commissioners of April 30, 1861. which appropriated from the county treasury for the wants of the families of volunteers, and directed that each town should appoint a suitable committee to carroll the names of such families, to ascertain their needs and to see that the county appropriation was judiciously expended. These orders were promptly exe- cuted and from that day on until the war ended in 1865 were contimed. Warren county did nobly by her soldiers and their families.
The war proceeded, and all hopes of the three-months nien being able to subdue the rebellion were given up and new regiments made up under later calls from President Lincoln were raised and sent on to the Southland, to sacrifice nd die.
OPPOSITION AT HOME.
It must not be understood that every man was loyal in Warren county -- some, not many, "saw it the other way." This disloyal clement, of course, made trouble, hence must necessarily have their place in the annals of the Civil war, as chronicled in Warren county. As much as the author regrets that the actions of certain citizens in war days were of such a character that it were better to forever forget their deeds, yet history must be recorded faith- fully and honestly, otherwise it is misleading to future generations. This element persisted in wearing butternut breastpins on public occasions ; shouted for Jeff Davis and Vallandigham, when there was no great danger of being "called down" too hard. They asked such questions as these : "Do you want your sister to marry a nigger?" and when answered in the negative, would laugh and chuckle, as though they had answered the demand of the colored race for freedom. Many disturbances grew out of the action of the disloyal men, known as "copperheads." One of the first acts, carly in the war, was to take an avowed secessionist from his house and compel him to take the oath of allegiance. Savage, bloody fights ensued. Even the women met at lonely cross-roads to settle imaginary political insults. Eye witnesses declare that such encounters were ofttimes terrific. The air would be filled with myster- ious articles of apparel, piercing, horrid yells would resound, and the sod would be turned up as if smitten by a western cyclone. Treasonable secret so- cieties were organized, and even public mass meetings were held to denounce the administration and the war. Enlistments were by these men discouraged.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
REGIMENTS REPRESENTED.
Aside from some errors that crept into the adjutant general's reports, at the close of the war, the following will show in what regiments and com- niands a majority of the men who served from Warren county were credited and in what engagements they participated.
The Tenth Regiment was engaged at Rich Mountain, Mill Springs, Cor- inth, Champion's Hill. Chickamauga. Mission Ridge. Dallas, Kenesay, Moun- tain. Atlanta.
The Thirty-third Regiment was engaged at Wil. Cat, Thompson Sta- tion, where four hundred were captured and one hundred killed, Cumberland Gap. Resaca, Culp'- Farm, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, Chattahoochie River, Atlanta, Columbia, and Bentonville.
The Fortieth Regiment saw service at Stone's River. Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain. Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Resaca, Atlanta, Franklin.
The Sixtieth Regiment participated at Munfordsville, where seven com- panies were captured, kansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Black River, Vicksburg, Sabine Cross Roads, Carrion Crow Bayou.
The Seventy-second Regiment fought at Hoover's Gap, Rock Springs, Chickamauga, Atlanta campaign and battles. Ebenezer Church, Macon, Selma and West Point.
The Eighty-sixth Regiment did valiant service at Stone's River, Chicka- mauga. Lookout Mountain. Mission Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge. Resaca, Adairsville, Kingston, Pickett's Mills, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Lovejoy's Station, Nashville.
The One Hundredth Regiment was at Vicksburg, Jackson, New Hope Church, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain. Decatur, Chattahoochie, Jones- boro, Lovejoy's Station, Bentor ille.
The One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment participated in the battle of Blue Springs and Walker's Road, in 1863.
NUMBER OF SOLDIERS FURNISHED.
Without going into the details of different companies and regiments, it is well to inform the reader as to the number of men who served from War- ren county in that awful struggle for the preservation of the Union. . Ac- cording to the adjutant-general's report in September, 1862, there had been
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MOUNTAIN AND WARRE CONNTHE. INDIA !
up to that date 1,180 volunteers, and using this as a basi, the following credits may be considered nearly correct : 'The quota of June, 1803, was .10 meu: that of October, 1843, was try mmen, that of February, 1864, was :48 men: that of March, 120}, was og men; that of July, 180}, was 207 mich, and that of December, 1864, was 133. Adding these figures to the 1,180 up to September, 1802, and the result is a grand total of 2.096 men. .. 15 shown by other later reports, it is found that the county had a siphus of men over and above her quoty amounting to eventeen gen. Now, adding these to the last footing and the number i- 2.113 men. But, as was the case elsewhere, men's names appear in the various commands in which they screed the three months and all later re-enlistment, so that deducting such names and only enumerating them once, the actual number is believed to be 2020 indi- vidnal men who made up the soldiery from Warren county from 1861 to 1865 A proud record for patriotism and military strength.
DRAFTS IN WARREN COUNTY.
Here, as in most Indiana counties, the draft had to be resorted to in two instances in order to fill up the quota of men called for. The draft ob- taine here first in October, 1802. The reports show at that date that there had been sent to the field from here 1.18o volunteers, and this left 1.189 men subject to draft, but by an energetic spirit among the people, this draft did not take place. as was expected in September. 1862. But in 1864 another draft was made in order to fill the quota under the call for five hundred thousand more men. In that draft the figures are as follows: Mound town- ship, twenty men; Warren township, fifteen men ; total, thirty-five men. The county sent in that one cail, including these drafted mea, 641 soldiers, which was in excess of what was needed by thirty-one men, when finally mustered into government service.
BOUNTIES AND RELIEF.
Warren county not only sent forth her sons by companies and regiments, but she also cared for her soldiers' families and paid large sums for bounties to induce men to leave home and enter the army. Every township in this county had committees and sub-committees out raising funds and securing every article needed in field and hospital. The women worked as faithi .. lly as' the men. In response to a call by Governor Morton, in 1862, in April an aid society was formed at Williamsport, with B. S. Wheeler as president, and S. F. Messner, secretary. Physicians and nurses were appointed to go to the field if needed, to care for the wounded sons of Warren county on the bloody field of Pittsburg Landing. Contributions ran high, some up to $600.
FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTERS, INDIANA.
Washington township raised $03: Pike, $28: Adans, 851. and others their due proportion. Washington township alone forwarded eighty eight roll- of bandages, eighty live pillow sacks, eight boxes of Ime linen lint, twelve dozen smill bandages, twenty-seven bed sacks, thateen flannel shirts, Twenty- four pairs of drawers. one large box of lint, one large case of undershirts. with an endless amount of canned goods, strawberries, blackl. rries, rasp- berries, cherries, tomatoes, etc. Not less than $1,500 in cash and go ly were sent out at this one time. Eloquent sermons, lectures, festivals, and : doen more things were had in order to raise the necessary funds.
In July, 1862, ten dollars bounty was paid each volunteer. in the. 1863, the county bought $5,000 worth of state bonds that Governor Morton was compelled to issue, to carry on the e peuses of the state. Under the call of October, 1863. for 300,000 men, the county offered Spo bounty to cach volunteer. In February. 1804, the county raised the bounty to Sico each. The commissioners of this county were obliged o issue $5,150 in bonds to incet the demand for money paid as bounties. for the year ending May, 1864. $10,966 had been paid to war families and $11.970 to volunteers. In December, 1864, women were paid five dollars a mouth and children two dollars per month. During the last two months of the war the county paid a bounty of $400 to each recruit. For the year ending May 31, 1865, the county bounty paid was $37,476 and the relief, $14.407. Prior to the year 1868 the county bad paid out a total bounty of $73-450. and in relief funds, $39.081. During the same period all the townships paid out what was known as the "township bounty" to the amount of $48,530, and relief funds amounting to $7,371. Thus Warren county paid out, in bounty and relief, the grand total of $168,439.08. Ponder on these figures. Think of the two thousand men, the best flower of the county's manhood, being in the field and their families at home, the wife being known as a "war widow" and the child as a "soldier's child." Then it will dawn upon one what was the sacrifice made by those who remained at home and tilled the soil and eared for the sick and aged. Yet outside of all these duties, the county found means to pay the large sum above named.
THE SURRENDER OF LEE.
General Lee, Confederate leader, surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia, to Gen. U. S. Grant on April 9, 1865, when the joy of the people knew no bounds. Every township, village and neighborhood had its meet- ings of rejoicings. Everything was forgotten -- dignity, age. sex -- all were
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDEMN \.
forgotten in the joyful demonstrations. These demonstrations were carried on several days in many communities in Warren county.
But this demonstration was domned to be short, for it was but a day or two before news flashed over the wire to this county that "President Lin- coln was shot at Ford's Theater last night." The sorrow was such as the generation then waxing had never experienced .. All business was suspended. flags put at half mast and draped in heavy mourning. The court house was the assembly room where hundreds met and heard enlogies on the dead President. The Methodist church at Williamsport had another immense memorial meeting. Resolutions were adopted as follows:
"Resolved, that we look with detestation and horror on the awful crime of treason, which baffled in its aims, has sated its revenge in the blood of the chosen ruler of the nation.
"Resolved, that, while we mourn over the untimely end of our late President, we recur with pride to his noble traits of character, kindne -. of heart and sympathy for the oppressed, which will inscribe his name on the page of history as the friend of the people and the benefactor of mankind."
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
Aside from the hostilities carried on with the Indians in the far West, and the campaigns necessary to quell their outbres , the United States had peace within her borders and with the workl at large from 1865 to AApril, 1898, when this country was compelled to punish Spain for many things for which she had been criminally guilty as a nation for hundreds of years, espe- cially for her inhuman treatment of her subjects on the island of Cuba, near our southern borders. The starting of this war with Spain really was the sink- ing of one of our great battleships, the "Maine," off the coast of Havana, Spain being charged as the cause of that great life and property loss to this country. This was one of the shortest and yet most decisive and far-reach- ing of all modern wars. It was largely a naval warfare, and resulted in the sinking of many of the war vessels of Spain at Santiago, Cuba, and in Manila bay, in the far-off Pacific waters, and in the turn of affairs and final adjustment of matters this country took to herself, partly through purchase and partly otherwise, the numerous Philippine islands, uow a part of our possessions. This war gave Cuba her freedom and has given the United States a higher place among the nations of the earth than she ever huid before.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA.
The Congress of the United State pay ed the following declaration of war with Spain on April 25, 1898:
"An act declaring that war exists between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain.
"Be it enacted In the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled : First, that war will be. and the same is hereby declared to exist, and that war existed siner die twenty-first day of April. Anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety ight. including said day, between the United States of America and the kingdom of Spain.
"Second, that the President of the United States be and he hereby is directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several states, to such extent as may be necessary to carry this act into effect."
The men furnished for this war were made up larg ly from the militia companies, and as Warren county had none it did not have a large repre- sentation in that short war. A few, however, enlisted in companies and regi ments from other Indiana counties, including Scott Crowe and Thaddeus Crowe, of West Lebacon, Walter B. Elsberry, State Line, James E. Rogers, State Line, Scott Thomas, West Lebanon, and possibly a few others, not shown in the data at hand, which consists of the adjutant-general's report on the men furnished from Indiana in that war. These all served in Company G of the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers. This was its title in this war, but it was made up from men largely connected with the militia regiment organized May 27, 1882, and reorganized July 2, 1883, as the Second Infantry, Indiana National Guards. In the Spanish- American war these men were enrolled April 26, 1898, and mustered out November 4, 1898.
The regiment arrived at Camp Mount, April 26, 1898, under orders from. Governor Mount, for the purpose of being mustered into the service of the United States. After the physical examination of officers and men, the regiment was mustered into the service of the United States May 10, 1898, and left for Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, where they ar rived May 16th, and on the 18th went into camp. They broke camp August 25th under orders to proceed to Camp Poland, Knoxville, Tennessee, where it arrived August 26th. Having been ordered home for muster out, the regiment left Camp Poland September 12th and arrived at Camp Mount on September J4th. The regiment was furloughed for thirty days from Sep- tember 17th and was finally mustered out and discharged November 4. 1898.
CHAPTER IN.
EDUCATION IN WARREN COUNTY.
Not until the Constitution of 1850 made provi-ion, that the start ! Indiana have a free school system. When Warren county wa organized. the state laws provided for certain sales of lands in each unity, to be used in the maintenance of common schools, bat aside from that means children were mainly educated at the expense of their parents, by the old "subscription school" plan, so long in existence in the country. However, no sooner had thuis county been fairly organized than it took advantage . the school lands contained in the sixteenth section in each township, known as the "school section," and as early as 1828 the county school commissioner was notified to advertise the sale of such sections near Williamsport, Independence. Leb mon, Gopher Hill and elsewhere. The proceeds of such sales went toward paying teachers, creating buildings and keeping up the log cabin school house- first used. The first schools in this county were taught in 1828, the expense of which was paid by private subscriptions. Then, of course, the heaviest ca- pense fell on the families having the largest number of children of school age, hence many grew up in ignorance. The carly school houses were rude cabins, usually an old building that had been left by some squatter and had been virtually forsaken. The first reading book was the New Testament. The ability to read and write and "cipher" constituted the full requirements of a teacher in those days in Warren county. The sale of the school lands was really a blessing to the rising young of those pioneer days.
In 1829 several schools were taught in the county. One was at Williams- port, one at Gopher Hill, one near West Lebanon, one at Independence and one in the vicinity of Green Hill, all being on the subscription plan. The rule of having poorly trained teachers had its honorable exceptions, of course. for it will be found that Colonel Lucas, Perrin Kent and others who became prominent citizens were counted among the pioneer teachers. Colonel Lucas taught many terms near his home in the southwest part of this county. 1Je, as most of the teachers, was very severe with his pupils, owing to the size and roughness of the young men who attended, and more than one man in that part of the county can recall the "licking" he received at the hands of the good Colonel!
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDELAT
SCHOOL HOUSES AND FUNDS
After the pioneer cabins above referred to had passed to doany, cade the realowned pioneer log school houses, with their Inge chimney . then windows of greased paper, and their seats and desks made of dapboards or rough, unplaned plank. Quite early in the thirties other school funds were provided. In 1834 the profits arising from the management of the State Bank were reserved as a school fund, known as the bank school fund. The fund from the sale of lands (sixteenth section) was known as the congres- sional school fond. In February, 1837, an act of the Legislature provided tor the distribution to the various counties of the surphuis revenue fund donated to the several states by the United States, by virtue of an act of Congress approved June 23, 1836. This fund was to be loaned out to citi- zens of each county, and the annual interest was to be distributed to the various townships for the support of the common schools. It will be ob- served that, as yet, no taxation for the support of common schools had been levied upon the property, and that the support of such schools, aside from the special funds named. fell upon the families having children, and not npo11 those having money or property and no children. Such taxation at that day was regarded as unjust. Many men without children and with large wealth voted against the proposed free school system. Besides the school funds above mentioned, there were also special funds, such as the county seminary, university fund, saline fund, and the bank tax fund (not the state bank fund), all of which were provided to support special school insti- tutions 1 Indiana. The congressional school fund and the surplus revenue fund were of lasting benefit to the people of Warren county in maintaining her schools. These funds were directed to be loaned on good securities and to draw not less than seven per cent. interest, annually, payable in advance, and not to be loaned for a period longer than five years. In 1844 the surplus fund at interest amounted to $6,303, which, at seven per cent., furnished about $4-10, to be distributed to the townships. As the congressional fund on interest amounted to $8,649, the total ammally distributed to the town- ships at that date amounted to SI, 100. Under the old constitution of 1816, in this state, no system of free schools could be supported by public taxation.
It was in 1848 that this county was called upon to vote on the muich agitated question of free schools, and at that election there were nine hun- dred and fifty-six votes for and one hundred and fifty-seven against free schools. The vote bore about this ratio all over Indiana, and in 1850 the 1. 11 constitution incorporated the system into its make-up, since which time the state has been free in educational matters.
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FOUNTAIN AND WARDEN COUNTIES, INDIANS.
In 1853 there were twenty-three school houses in Warren county, in 18, 3 there were eighty three, and in toto there were eighty-two. Of the present buildings, ten are built of brick and seventy-two of frame.
WARREN COUNTY SEMINARY.
An early law in this state provided that a certain class of fines in the in ice and circuit courts of the county should go (after the sam of four hundred dollars had been accumulated) toward supporting a county seminary in which pupils desiring a higher education might be properly fitted for sich institutions as colleges and universities. In June, 1849. this fund amon ted to one thousand and twenty-four dollars. The year before that, B. F. Greg- ory and others, of a progressive type of Warren county men, petitioned the county commissioners to use such funds as were on hand for the establishing of ch a seminary in Warren county. The prayer being heard and an- swered, a committee was ppointed to purchase the best site for such sem- inary in the town of Williamsport. The committee selected -- all excellent men-were Messrs. Gregory, Boyer, Buell, Bryant and Mc. Villy. Lebanon wanted th institution, but their petition was finally denied. In 1850, the contract for the erection of the seminary building was awarded to Richard Treadway for the sum of one thousand six hundred and ninety-nine dollars. The structure was of brick, two stories high. It was handsomely painted and "penciled," making it very attractive. It was finished in December, 1850. It was used for high school purposes by the Williamsport district several years, as the laws of 1852 giving the state, and each county therein, the right to a free school system, the idea of a seminary was abandoned. The building was sold in 1857, or thereabouts, for seven hundred dollars to Henry Regar. It stood on lots 78, 79 and 82 of the West addition to Williamsport. In July, 1862, the trustees of the Williamsport Masonic lodge purchased the building for eight hundred and sixteen dollars. On account of the new school laws in Indiana these "county seminaries" were doomed to dismal failure, otherwise they might have been an improvement over old methods.
What was known as the State Line City Seminary was established by a stock company in 1800, at State Line. The town was very prosperous, and seemed destined to become a thriving little inland city. The place had run up to one hundred and fifty pupils in school, and its progressive citizens wanted better facilities for education. Among the stockholders were Col. E. F. Lucas, A. Y. Taylor, Perrin Kent, Darius Duncan, J. R. Johnson, B. F. Marple and James Lewis. Elbridge Marshall became first principal of the
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FOUNTAIN AND WARREN COUNTIES, INDIANA
institution. Colonel Lucas donated ten acres of land adjonung the town on the cast to the use of the seminary. The township trustees gave six hundred dollars toward the enterprise, with the understanding that the lower story should be used, more or less, for the district school purposes. The building was a two-story brick structure, costing about five thousand dollars. Tuition was paid to principal Marshall for his services. Many student came in from a' road. and hence had to board in town. For the three years Pro- fessor Marshall conducted the school, it reflected mich credit on its fond- ers. The system was rigid and the course a thorough one. It built up the morals of the town and drove out the baser element that had already become well seated there. Marshall was succeeded by J. P. Konts, who succeeded in increasing the attendance. In 18644 and 1865 the stockholders thought they were not getting enough out of the school as an investment, and concluded to dispose of the institution. J. H. Braden purchased it, the township prob- ably retaining a certain small interest in the same. Braden bought it as a speculation, and two or three years later sold it to the trustees of the town- ship for two thousand seven hundred dollars. But in the final settlement. the institution had cost the township about five thousand dollars and they had nothing then to show for it. The seminary then became a graded school, owned by the township. When the laws were changed and the town was incorporated, the building became the property of the town, and thus con- tineed until it ceased to be used for school purposes. in about 1882. Event- ually, a portion of this building was employed in the construction of the new school house.
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