Pastime sketches : scenes and events at "The Mouth of Eel" on the historic Wabash with papers read before the Cass County Indiana, Historical Society at its spring meetings, 1907, Part 5

Author: Wright, W. Swift (Williamson Swift), 1857-1923; Cass County Historical Society (Ind.)
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: [s.l. : s.n.]
Number of Pages: 236


USA > Indiana > Cass County > Pastime sketches : scenes and events at "The Mouth of Eel" on the historic Wabash with papers read before the Cass County Indiana, Historical Society at its spring meetings, 1907 > 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


The bridge committee was one of the most im- portant of the city council, second in importance only to that of streets, and Logansport was justly entitled to the name, "The City of Bridges." The river wagon bridges were wooden, as were also the railroad bridges. The wagon bridges were generally covered, without foot walks, and very dark on a dark night. Some of them were built as toll bridges and had massive gates to be closed when the toll collector retired for the night. The cows, which had the freedom of the city; found the covered bridges a safe retreat in stormy weather, at night time, and the late pedestrian returning from lodge at midnight often came in sudden con- tact with a sleeping occupant of the bridge.


74


PASTIME SKETCHES


The bridge history of Logansport is but an incident in the development and growth of the city and is hardly worth recording. However, it may find a place in some scrapbook kept to show the progress of the city from its village days up to the time it became a city of iron bridges, of per- manent and graceful construction. It is of little importance how many bridges the city had at any given period, but it is interesting to note the prog- ress from the days of fords, when the rivers were at times impassable, up to the present time. The first bridges, over Biddle's Island, and later to "Browntown," West Side, were made of rough hewn timbers but were quite solid and durable. Only once, or twice did the bridge "go out" with the ice in the February freshets, notwithstanding the fact that with the heavy gorges the streets of down town Logansport were under water and peo- ple paddled about in boats. It was quite custom- ary to gather on the river banks at time of high water, "to see the bridge go out" but, thanks to the substantial masonry, the spectators were usu- ally disappointed.


Probably the first bridge of all to be built was the wooden bridge over Eel river at Third street. That is preserved in a picture by Wils Berry of the 46th Ind. crossing it in Civil war times.


The development of the country has brought about the construction of numerous ditches, ice and snow do not accumulate in dense forests to be released steadily by a spring thaw, and the days of big freshets have gone by. Bridge building is more of an art also and the scene of a bridge "go- ing out" is not likely to be witnessed by future generations.


75


PASTIME SKETCHES


What is claimed to be the oldest handbill in the country was donated to the Historical Society yesterday by Mrs. C. W. Graves. It was among the papers of her father, Williamson Wright, and is faded and discolored with age. It announces the opening of a land agency in 1835 for the handling of newly opened lands. It reads as follows :


Land Agency.


In Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.


The subscriber offers his services to the public as an agent for the purchase and sale of any lands in the states of Indiana, Illinois or the Territory of Michigan.


There will be sold by the United States, during the coming summer or autumn upwards of one hundred townships of lands in the state of Indi- ana, and as many townships in Michigan; all of which have lately been purchased of the Potta- watomie Indians. By an act of the last legislature the territory lying within the state of Indiana was divided into fourteen counties-so that purchasers may easily determine very near at what place the county seats will be situated and govern their pur- chases accordingly.


The counties in which the land now to be sold is situated are on and near the Wabash and Erie canal, and on or near the Michigan road. Specu- lators and purchasers in general never had a fairer opportunity for profitable investment than is now presented in the state of Indiana, and I can safely affirm that the inducements west of Lake Michigan are equally attractive. I will at all times purchase military lands in Illinois and Missouri or attend and have them sold on the most favorable terms.


The state of Indiana now offers for sale lands


76


PASTIME SKETCHES


situated on its canal and on the Michigan road, which I will purchase for those who may desire it on the most reasonable terms.


I will also sell improved or other lands for those desirous of selling and do every act which is usu- ally done by land agents.


Information will be willingly given to persons at a distance by addressing the subscriber post- paid. Logansport, Indiana.


The subscriber being an attorney at law will attend to the collection of claims in any part of the state of Indiana.


JOHN W. WRIGHT.


Logansport, April 1st, 1835.


References: Hon. John Tipton, U. S. Senator ; Gen. N. D. Grover, Hon. David Irven, Green Bay, Michigan Territory ; Dr. George Turner, Mackinaw, M. T .; Hon. T. Ewing, U. S. Senator, Lancaster, Ohio; Hon. W. W. Irven, Lancaster, Ohio; Mr. Jacob Reese, Esq., Philadelphia, Pa .; Mr. Wilkins McNaar, Pittsburg, Pa.


77


PASTIME SKETCHES


CHAPTER XVI.


A LETTER OF THE EARLY DAYS.


There are probably dozens of old letters lying around that give much insight into the early times, before the days of postage stamps. The letters were folded and sealed with sealing wax then and envelopes were unknown. Out of a bunch of old letters, some from Judge Biddle, W. Z. Stuart, U. S. Senator John Tipton and others the following was picked out because of the information it contains, and because it was the oldest in the collection, owned by Mrs. C. W. Graves. It is addressed to "W. W. Wright, Atty. & Counsellor at Law, Lo- gansport, Indiana." The postage is marked "Paid 18 3-4 cents." The writer was not particularly adept at spelling and his capitalization was not of the most approved style, but the letter contains much that is interesting. It reads :


Hillsborough, Highland Co., Ohio, September 21, 1836.


Dear Sir: I take the privilige of droping a few lines to you respecting som property that I Baught in and near Logansport in july last you will rico- lect an man by the name of tucker whoe left a lot in your care and in case it could be Sold for five houndred dollars to let me know it, the lot was baught of E. Johns and lays on Broadway Joining Lawyer Chas there is Twenty feeat Seven inches


.


78


PASTIME SKETCHES


and a half in front and fifty feeat back. The Land that I baught Lays in Town 28 and Section 21 on the Michigan Road, eight miles from Logansport the 8 mile Post Stands in it. Demos's Tavern is in sight of it, and I am told that there is a little Town a bout to be or is Laydoff close by it, There is one houndred and fifty Seven acres in the Track. Now Sir I wish you To take chardge of this prop- erty and See what it can be Sold for. I wish you to write to me and let me know what the Prospect of Logan is at this time and weather Property has advanced sens july and if so weather I had better hold on a while Longer I ask five houndred for the lot and one thousand for the land. I wish you to let me know weather you think it would bring it at this time or not and weather you think it will be worth more next year if there is any tax accurs on the land you will let me know it, as thay are a bout to pave the Streats I expect the lots will be taxed at what ever trobble you are at I will pay you for it. Pleas let me know when thay expect to let the water in the canal and how thay come on Paveing the Streats, the Bridge the Courthouse &c and when these things are done weather you don't think property will be worth more than it is at this time, if you know eny thing about the little town that is a bout to be laid off seven or eight miles north of Logan on the Michigan Road Pleas let me Know it I remember Seeing the Place where I am told it is laid off theres Tavern on one Side of the Road and a little Store on the other, if Sutch is the case my land will of corse be worth more as it is some where near in Sight of it, Mr. De- moss whoe Joins my Land told me that he had bin ofered 9 dollars per acre for his cash in hand,


79


PASTIME SKETCHES


if you can find percheser for mine whoe will give 8 dollars per acre you will let me know it and if i sell it this fall I will give you at least fifty dollars for your Trobble if you can git $9 per acre I of corse will give you more. I think Proberbable that Second handed Land will be more apt to Sell now then before the Treshure order when you write inform me weather Fullweller baught a lot in Lo- gan and weather Johnson has Sold the little corner on Boardway and canal and if so for how mutch, N. B. I have seean your old Skoole mates Wood- row Smith Trimble & galoway thay ware all glad to hear from you and that you was doing well, I told them that you was thay speak in very high terms of you - I believe that I will trobble you nomore this time write to me as soon as conven- yent.


"Very Respectfully yours, "GEORGE W. TUCKER."


80


PASTIME SKETCHES


CHAPTER XVII.


EARLY INDIAN BATTLE.


Not every county in Indiana is the proud pos- sessor of a battlefield where actual war was waged. Nor can many lay claim to the honor of an invas- ion by an English army. "The mouth of Eel," as the point where Logansport now stands, was first called, is a historic spot. A few miles above the mouth the battle of Oldtown was fought. Sweep- ing past it in narrow dugouts a Britsh army made the trip to Vincennes.


In 1778 Lieutenant-Governor Henry Hamilton, the British commander at Detroit, collected an army consisting of thirty regulars, fifty French vol- unteers and four hundred Indians and with this force passed down the Wabash river and took pos- session of Post Vincennes. The trip was made in canoes, over the portage at Ft. Wayne, and through Logansport, which of course, at that time, had no place on the map.


The battle referred to was fought by other troops, many years later, on the Eel River, six miles east of the mouth, and relics are still plowed up by the farmers who own the land.


On the first of August, 1791, Brigadier-General James Wilkinson at the head of about five hun- dred and twenty-five men moved from Ft. Wash- ington at Cincinnati and directed his march toward the Indian village at Ke-na-pa-com-a-qua on the north bank of Eel river at a point six miles above


-


81


PASTIME SKETCHES


its confluence with the Wabash river. There were no roads of course and the march was through vir- gin forest. Wabash river was crossed four miles above Logansport. After crossing the river the troops found a continued thicket of bramble, jack- oaks and shrubs of different kinds. As the expe- dition approached Eel river the Indians took alarm and fled, six warriors, and in the confusion, two squaws and a child were killed. Thirty-four pris- oners were taken and one captive was released. The attacking troops had two men killed and one wounded. The town was found scattered along Eel river for fully three miles.


General Wilkinson destroyed the town and moved westward toward the Tippecanoe river, en- camping the next night six miles west of the Indi- an village, probably a short distance north of the present site of Logansport. The remainder of the trip was through bog after bog, and at the close of the fourth day two hundred and seventy horses were found lame and the men much disheartened. The troops reached the Rapids of the Ohio on the 21st of August much demoralized, after a march of four hundred and fifty-one miles.


The scene of this battle is unmarked, very few of those living in the neighborhood know it, yet the facts are interesting.


Senator Will Wood's. bill, appropriating $12,- 500 for the erection of a monument on Tippecanoe Battle Ground recently passed the Indiana Senate by a vote of 72 to 5.


Ninety-six years ago at Tippecanoe, the senti- nel, Stephen Mars, fired the first shot in the war of 1812. The great chief, Tecumseh, was at that time seeking to form a confederation of the Indi-


82


PASTIME SKETCHES


ans with the ostensible purpose of retaining for the Indians their hunting-grounds. The battle of Tippecanoe was the result.


Every Indian in the battle of Tippecanoe was armed with a rifle, with a scalping knife, with a tomahawk and most of them with a spear.


The battle as is well known was fought largely by Indianians.


General William Henry Harrison was in com- mand of the Americans and his victory made him President of the United States later, in the famous campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too."


In General Harrison's army were 250 regulars, 60 Kentuckians and 600 Indianians. Thirty-seven were killed, 161 wounded, of whom twenty-five died afterward. The gallantry of this body of men was recognized by President Madison, in a message to Congress. It became the "unwritten law" in Indi- ana to name counties organized in the State after heroes of that battle. Had the Indians prevailed the success of the Americans in the war of 1812 might have been jeopardized. Tecumseh is regard- ed by many as the greatest Indian leader that ever lived. Had he succeeded in that battle he would undoubtedly have been a formidable ally of Eng- land in the war that followed with the United States.


In the battle Captain Spencer's company occu- pied the point at the south end of the battlefield. When Spencer fell and his first lieutenant fell Tip- ton, who was an ensign, took charge of the com- pany. General Harrison rode down the point and asked of the young ensign:


"Where is your captain ?"


"Dead, sir," replied the young ensign.


83


PASTIME SKETCHES


"Where is your lieutenant?"


"He is also dead, sir."


"Who is in command of this company?" "I am, sir," replied the young ensign.


"Hold your own, my brave boy!" said Gen- eral Harrison, "and I will send you reinforcements."


General Tipton, as he afterwards became, lived in Logansport.


In 1829 he rode all night on horseback to Craw- fordsville, where the land office was located and bought the Tippecanoe battlefield. In 1831 Tipton became United States Senator. He died in 1839 at the age of 53.


On December 28, 1833, a joint resolution was passed by the Indiana legislature requesting the governor to open negotiations for the cession of the land on which the battle of Tippecanoe was fought in order that it might be consecrated to the memory of the men who fell in the fight with the Indians.


In compliance with that resolution, on the first day of November, 1834, Abel C. Pepper, of Ohio county, who was then an Indian agent and who was afterward a member of the constitutional con- vention of 1850, carried a letter from Governor No- ble to General Tipton at his home in Logansport. Miss Matilda Tipton, the granddaughter of Gen- eral Tipton, in later years, at Logansport, searched among the general's papers and at the bottom of his box neatly folded and tied with a faded red tape, was the letter of Governor Noble and the answer of General Tipton, by which he agreed to transfer the grounds on which the bat- tle of Tippecanoe was fought, to the state of Indi- ana.


84


PASTIME SKETCHES


The letter from Governor Noble to General Tipton follows :


Indianapolis, November 1, 1834. The Hon. John Tipton :


Sir-The last legislature of our state by a joint resolution made it the duty of the governor to ascertain the terms on which you would surrender the ground on which was fought the memorable battle of Tippecanoe. With the events of that struggle honorable mention has been frequently made of your name, of your fellow officers and sol- diers who survived it, by the brave general who commanded, as well as those who were slain, and knowing your high estimate of the courage and private virtues of your companions who fell and whose remains render that a sacred spot, I need say but little to induce you to appreciate the motive that prompts the measure, that of a just regard for the memory of the lamented dead. Allow me to refer you to the resolution and request an answer as early as your convenience will permit. I am, sir, with great esteem, your obedient servant,


N. NOBLE.


Resolution to be found in last volume of our laws.


Following is the reply of General Tipton to Gov- ernor Noble :


Falls of the Wabash, November 7, 1834.


His Excellency, N. Noble :


Sir-I have the honor to acknowledge the re- ceipt of your favor of the first of this month, in- forming me that, by a resolution of the last legisla- ture, it was made the duty of the governor to as- certain upon what terms I would surrender to the


85


PASTIME SKETCHES


state the ground on which was fought the memor- able battle of Tippecanoe, and, in reply, I have to inform you that, in purchasing the battleground, I was actuated by no other motive than that of possessing it, in order to preserve the bones of my companions in arms who fell there, and that it will afford me great pleasure to convey the battle- ground to the state of Indiana, free of any charge, whenever it is signified to me the state wishes it so conveyed for that purpose.


JOHN TIPTON.


This communication of General Tipton was transmitted to the legislature by Governor Noble, and on February 7, 1835, the legislature passed a joint resolution resolving among other things that "his excellency be, and he is hereby authorized to receive from the Hon. John Tipton a deed of con- veyance, in fee simple, of the Tippecanoe battle- ground, to and in the name of the State of Indiana. That the governor, on receiving the conveyance aforesaid, shall, by himself, or a proper subagent to be by him appointed, take charge of the said battleground, and, if he shall deem it expedient, have the same inclosed with a suitable fence, and that he make report of the proceedings in the prem- ises to the next general assembly, as also his views and opinions relative to the erection of a suitable monument or memorial on said battleground."


While the battleground became a State park under the gift of General Tipton many years ago no monument of any magnitude has ever been erected, though at the last session of Congress and the Indiana legislature proper appropriations were made for that purpose.


86


PASTIME SKETCHES


CHAPTER XVIII.


AN EARLY PAINTER.


The banks of the Wabash, made famous in song, produced a painter who deserves a high place in the history of art in Indiana. Unfortunately many of his paintings have been lost, and while the state library may not obtain many of them, some effort should be made to catalogue those remaining.


A search of the Wabash valley for works of the early artist, George Winter, discloses the fact that many of his valuable paintings have disappeared. This is notably true of his paintings of the battle of Tippecanoe. This was his greatest work and, strange to say, it was the first to disappear. In a private letter now in possession of the Wisconsin Historical Society, Winter speaks of six different pictures of the Tippecanoe battle ground and of two of these covering 152 square feet each. All, he says, were taken from different points of view and taken together conveyed one idea of the bat- tle ground. These pictures were painted in 1840 while Winter lived at Logansport, and his idea was suggested by the famous Harrison campaign of that year.


The largest collection of Winter pictures in existence is owned by his daughter, Mrs. C. G. Ball, of Lafayette. There are nine oil paintings and thirty-eight water colors in the collection. Four of the oil canvasses are covered with heads


87


PASTIME SKETCHES


of Indians, representing thirty-three Pottawatomie chiefs and squaws. There is a life-size head of Francis Godfroy, the last of the Miami chiefs, and another of Joseph Barron, the famous interpreter, who served General Harrison for eighteen years and who aided General Tipton and A. C. Pepper in their negotiations with the Indians. There are numerous water colors perhaps one foot square. Most of them are portraits with landscape back- grounds. They are color studies of the Indian costumes of the day made up largely of finery bought from the early traders. Two of these are of Frances Slocum, the white captive, whose family lived at Wilkes-Barre, and who was captured and lived many years with the Indians.


Besides this collection there are numerous por- traits at Lafayette, as well as other oil and water colors. Among the best portraits are those of God- love S. Orth, John Purdue, founder of the college; William Digby, who laid out Lafayette; Robert S. Stockwell, Judge Cyrus Ball, Lawrence B. Stock- ton, Mrs. George N. Stockton, Mrs. Thomas Under- wood, Mrs. R. M. O'Ferrell, Dr. R. M. O'Farrell, Mrs. John Coffroth, James Spears, Cornelius Ball, Edward Reynolds, Sr., Dr. Denning, C. H. Rose and Mrs. Rogers. There are many more portraits at Lafayette and besides quite a collection of Indian portraits and landscape scenes owned by those same citizens and others. The landscapes are of scenes on the Wabash, Tippecanoe, Eel and Mis- sissinewa rivers.


The early residents of Logansport were liberal patrons of Winter's art. The late Judge Biddle had a collection of thirty water colors and several oil paintings, now owned by Mrs. Eva Peters Reynolds,


88


PASTIME SKETCHES


his niece. In the Masonic temple is a copy of a life-size portrait of Gen. George Tipton, a copy of one of Winter's portraits. Judge Maurice Win- field is the owner of two of the oil paintings, scenes on the Wabash, and Miss Tillie Tipton, grand- daughter of General Tipton, also has two. Former United States Senator Graham N. Fitch left five of the oil paintings to his heirs, and three of these are owned by Horace Coleman, a grandson, who occupies the Fitch homestead. Williamson Wright, who was one of the early residents, left six oil paintings, scenes on the Wabash, to his heirs. Mrs. S. B. Boyer has a portrait of her father, Alex. Goodwin, E. S. Rice, president of the First Na- tional Bank, has two of the oil paintings; Mrs. Paul Taber has one, Henry Tucker has two, and there are several more in Logansport including those owned by Walter Osmer, Alvin Higgins, D. D. Dykeman, Henry Tucker and others. John H. Elam, of Indianapolis, has one, and a number are owned by persons in Peru.


George Winter, in 1839, visited Dead Man's vil- lage, the Indian settlement on the Mississinewa river, near Peru, to make a portrait of Frances Slocum, the white girl stolen from her home in Pennsylvania, when she was three years old. He also made sketches of her surroundings from sev- eral points of view, painting the home and the land- scape of the valley. When Frances Slocum thought she was dying she disclosed to Col. G. W. Ewing, of Fort Wayne, her white origin and early his- tory. She, however, lived for several years, dying in 1847.


The Slocum family, after visiting her and try- ing to persuade her to return to her people, sent


89


PASTIME SKETCHES


a request to Mr. Winter to visit her and obtain a portrait for them. Mr. Winter kept a journal of his visit and afterward wrote an article for the. Philadelphia Press, describing his visit. His jour- nal is still in existence and is a valuable addition to the Indian history of Indiana, as are also his many paintings.


Writing of the paintings after the election, he said :


"Although I have been defeated in getting these views before the public eye at the time when po- litical excitement ran high, yet I have often in- dulged the hope that Harrison would be elected, and that an interest would still be felt. I think if I could get these pictures to Cincinnati some time before the general sets out for the White House that it would be a favorable time to exhibit them. I have also thought it would be a propitious time, too, either at the inauguration or during the spring to exhibit them at Washington."


Nothing ever came of these plans and the pic- tures seem to have been lost in part. One of them was presented to the state, and when last recalled was stowed away in a corner of the old State House, unframed and with canvas broken and lopping over. This was shortly before the old Capitol was torn down and the picture was then in a closet off the Supreme Court chamber. It was never seen after the contents of the old Capitol were removed. Quite recently one of the views of the Tippecanoe battle ground was discovered and retouched for presentation to the State library.


In a history of early Indiana art, Winter would take a prominent place. Jacob Cox, of Indianap- olis, was his contemporary while Charles A. Les-


90


PASTIME SKETCHES


neur and others of the New Harmony settlement antedate him. He was born at Portsea, England, in 1810, and after a preliminary course of private instruction went to London, entered the Royal Academy and lived the life of an artist for four years. When twenty years of age he came to New York and seven years later, in 1837, to Logansport.


The remainder of his life was spent in the Wa- bash valley. In 1840 he was married to Miss Mary Squier, of New Carlisle, O., and two children sur- vive him-George Winter, Eureka, Cal., and Mrs. C. Gordon Ball, of Lafayette, Ind. Mr. Winter remained in Logansport until 1850, when he moved to Lafayette. He went to California in 1873 and returned to Lafayette in 1876, dying a short time afterward while attending an entertainment at the opera house in that city.




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.