USA > Indiana > Pioneer history of Indiana : including stories, incidents, and customs of the early settlers > Part 15
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After hearing his story, Mr. Severns wished them a safe journey and returned to camp. That afternoon the three trap- pers went to the battle ground and found four dead Indians which they placed in a large hole made by the uprooting of a tree that had blown down, piling brush, dirt and rocks on them. The Indians were greatly alarmed and Mr. Severns could not induce them to stay longer, so they went down the river to Severns' home and then took their traps and went north.
The only certain location of this battle ground is the Patoka river and Severns' home but the distance and out crop- ping of the coal makes it certain to my mind that it was Mas- sey's Bridge where the trappers' camp was and that the Ken- tuckians crossed at Martin's Ford about a mile up the river from the bridge and the place where the battle was fought and the women rescued was at Martin Springs. The hill the men laid on when planning to charge on the Indians, was I believe, where the Martin cemetery is now located.
The data for the bear fight which follows was given me by Mr. Otho Harrison in 1854.
During the summer and fall of 1807 there had been great excitement in all the settlements so recently made in this part of the Indiana Territory. The people had to leave their homes several times and were huddled together in forts. There were many roving bands of Indians prowling around. A family by the name of Larkins had been captured and Mr. Larkins was killed near what is now the east line of Pike county, as they were camped for the night near the old Indian trace. Several emigrants had been stopped and turned back by our rangers until a sufficient escort could be sent with them to their destination
Bands of young Indians would start on a hunting expedi- tion but as soon as they were away from the influence of the older ones, would shape their course so as to be on the usual lines followed by the early settlers coming to this section and at night, while they were in camp, would fall on these help- less people, generally killing the men and taking the women and children prisoners. They would then gather up what
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articles of value the settlers might have had and go to the northern Indians near the great lakes who were under the in- fluence of the British commander of that section. Here they sold their prisoners for servants and received a reward for their scalps.
There is no doubt but that all the older Indians as well as Tecumseh, looked with apprehension on all these maraud- ing campaigns of their young men. Tecumseh, his brother and a small band of Shawnee Indians lived for several years before 1806 in a Delaware town on White river. In the sum- mer of that year they moved to Greenville, in the state of Ohio. Interpreter La Verne met Tecumseh one day after he left that section and asked him why he didn't remain near the Wabash as most of his people were in that section. He told La Verne that the White river Indians were very hot-headed, that they wanted to kill and murder and that they were great thieves and that some time soon they would bring great trou- ble on all the Indian race. He also said that Indians who hunt for scalps would not make good fighters, that they would shoot a little and run away.
Woolsey Pride's fort near Petersburg had been the home of many of the new comers to that section for some time and the provision had run low. There were vast numbers of bear, deer and turkeys in the woods and if it were safe to hunt them, a day or so would have replenished their larders, so it was decided that three men would go out and kill some game. Paul Tislow, Henry Miley and Woolsey Pride got everything in readiness and early the next morning started, Tislow and Miley taking a bear trap with them as they knew of a place on Pride's creek where there was always plenty of bear signs. They intended to set the trap and go back the next morning. They were fairly successful, having killed three deer and a half dozen turkeys. Hanging up two deer in the woods, they took one deer and the turkeys home with them, after having set their bear trap and baited it.
Early the next morning the three men went out again. Pride took his horse to bring the deer back on, while Tislow and Miley went to the bear trap. When near it they saw a
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large bear run away and a small one was in the trap fast by its hind foot. They concluded, as it was only a cub weighing not more than one hundred pounds, they would take it with them to the fort alive to show to the women and children. They were making preparations to tie it when it made a great out-cry and the old mother bear came rushing out after their dog and at them full drive. They had no time to get their guns or in any way defend themselves before she was on them, knocking Tislow down and attempting to tear him to pieces. Miley struck at the bear's head with his tomahawk, but hit a glancing blow, not severely disabling it but some- what addling it so that it turned partly around and off of Tislow, who did not need any invitation but in a moment was up, and running to a tree, climbed it to a safe distance. This left Miley and the dog with the infuriated bear that kept turning around to get hold of him. He followed its motions by holding to its shaggy coat. He made several passes at it with his hatchet but hadn't hurt the animal much. The dog was doing all that it could to help him but if it hadn't been for the hold he had on the long hair on the hind quarters of the bear it would have torn him to pieces, but having hold of it he could govern himself by the bear's motions. When he had time to do anything he would halloo to Tislow to come down and help him but Tislow had been there before and was badly bitten, his clothing torn into shreds and he didn't want any more of it. When Miley was almost worn out two large dogs that had followed Pride came rushing into the conflict, thus releasing him from his perilous position. As soon as Miley loosed his hold he ran to a tree and climbed it, leaving the dogs and bear to fight it out. The great noise made by the men and dogs was heard by Pride and he was seen com- ing at full speed on his horse, but when he got near the bat- tle there was such a mix-up of dogs and bear that he could not shoot without danger of killing a dog. Finally he got a chance and shot the bear through the middle of the shoulder, disabling both its fore legs, then jumping from his horse he finished it with his tomahawk.
Settling a new country, remote from settled neighbor-
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hoods, as southern Indiana was, is always attended with great hardships and privations which none but the brave will en- dure. The main object in coming to this wild region was to secure free land for homes. A large majority of the pioneers settled on land bought with land warrants for military ser- vice in the Revolutionary or Indian wars. The spirit of ad- venture which is so fascinating caused a few to come but as a whole the people who were the pioneers of this state were from the best families of the countries from which they moved; intelligent, brave, hearty, and honest, willing to en- dure the many trials and privations they were compelled to, to sustain themselves, and to face the great dangers, incident to driving out the red barbarian from this favored land, where they had cast their lots and intended to make their homes. They went to work to improve their surroundings, always on the look-out for dangers and the everlasting calm only broken by the croaking of the crows by day and the lonesome hoot of the owl by night.
The venturesome hunter sought for signs that he could read to determine his chances for a successful hunt and for his own safety. He could read the sky, morning and evening which gave him the information of what the weather would be for twenty-four hours. Nearly all men who exposed them- ·selves, then as now, had some kind of a pain or ache that told them of damp weather. They were ever on the lookout for signs and listening for sounds that told them whether they were to have good or bad luck in their undertaking." The lonesome howling of a dog was a sure sign that trouble would would come to a family and a dog that was given to such howling did not live very long. These old hunters were learned in wood lore; if they were lost they had only to find the moss which was always thickest on the north side of the tree to tell them the way out and if they were uncertain as to the direction the wind came from, they stuck a finger into the mouth until it was warm, then held it up and the wind was blowing from would feel cool. The wood craft education was necessary for these pioneers. Their business was to hunt game to feed themselves and families: all kind of
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animals were in abundance. and it was not hard to kill the deer and turkey, the principal game that they used for food. For seasoning Johnny cake or ash cakes and other food the fat of the bear was the best and was almost indispensable. It was often attended with great danger to kill them. The bear was always ready for a fair fight, rearing up on his hind feet ready either to box his antagonist to a finish or to hug the life out of him; and it is yet to be recorded where any man went into battle with a bear without the use of a gun and came out without being severely hurt.
Wolves were plentiful but they were never regarded as dangerous to man. They were the slyest, most sneaking an- imal of all and did make havoc among the young hogs and sheep when they could get a chance. People who raised sheep had to put them every night into secure pens.
The early settlers, as a rule married when they were young; there was no inequality in the way for all were on the same level. If the young man was a good hunter and a good soldier if need be, that was all the requirements needed. The young girl had no bad habits and was industrious and healthy. She had learned from her mother the simple forms of housekeeping. Probably they did not have a cent of money between them. In many cases it was hard for the father of the sons, who were first married in the wilds of this country to get the needed means for the legal part of the ceremony.
When it first became known that there was to be a wed- . ding, everybody old and young, were in great glee in antici- pation of the coming feast and the continued frolic which would follow and which generally lasted until two days after the infare, the wedding reception at the groom's father, and until their house was built and properly warmed by an all night's dancing. Then it was turned over to the young peo- ple wno assumed their position in society as one more family added to the sparsely settled region. Everybody in the whole neighborhood knew that he would be invited in fact the cus- tom on such an occasion was that no invitation was needed and the latch string was out to all comers and especially to the neighbors. The custom of the celebration at the home
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of the bride has been in vogue as long as the United States. has been settled by the white people.
It is not to be wondered at that everybody was on the. qui vive when a wedding was on hand, for there was no other gathering where all could go. On the day of the wedding the candidate and his best fellows, probably as many as ten, who had been his friends in the chase and on the scout, gathered at his father's home. The first thing to do was to. select two of the best mounted who were to run for the bottle which took place when they arrived within one-half mile of the bride-elect. They timed their march so as to arrive about noon, the wedding usually taking place just before the noon meal. When they got to the point near the home, the word was given and the two young men started at bread-neck speed trying their best to win. A bottle of corn whiskey was given to the young man who first passed a given point. He then turned his horse and, riding at the top of his speed, carried the- bottle to the approaching party and treated them all to its con- tents. I well rdmember a tree shown to me some years ago on the Jackson Martin farm near Littles in Pike county, where a Mr. Martin was killed while running for the bottle: the horse became scared at something and ran against the. tree fracturing the young man's skull.
After the return of the racing party the company con- tinued to the house where they found all the people of the neighborhood assembled. Nearly every section had some one. with ministerial license who would solemnize the wedding; there was no legal light nearer than the county seat, which was often fifty miles away.
After the ceremony was over the feast began, which was a feast indeed of the best things to be obtained in the country; all sorts of meats and bread made from meal, pounded in a. mortar and baked on a hoe or Johnny-cake board. Wild honey was there in abundance as a bee tree could be found on any forty acres, often as many as a dozen of them. Pos- sibly the dinner was served on a table or platform, covered with three foot boards seventy-five or one hundred feet long. and over this was laid a piece of linen cloth that had been
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lying in the garden for weeks to bleach. This cloth was made entirely by the bride. All the dishes in the neighborhood had been borrowed as the supply was very scant, only a few pewter plates, a few pewter spoons, but horn and wooden ones filled the need and the party were jovial and happy; everyone enjoying themselves.
After the dinner was over the old folks started for their homes, the younger people making preparations for a dance that was to last until broad daylight. They did not under- stand the fancy dancing of this day but the figures were four handed reels and what they called square sets. Some of the people from Virginia understood dancing a reel that was cal- led in old Virginia-"hoedown." The musician was usually a middle aged man who was an expert with the violin before leaving the older settled sections.
The infare was the same as the wedding; two young men raced for the bottle and the gathering was the same people as on the day before. The feast of good things was enjoyed by all. After the dinner was over and the old folks had gone to their homes the young folks started the dance in which everyone took part. Their dress was all of home manufacture, bride's and all, they were of the most comfortable sort.
The honeymoon of the young people was not extensive in travel. They did not have the worry of packing large traveling trunks nor were there any old shoes thrown after them for their were none to throw.
The first thing to do after the infare was to build a house to live in, but before they could have charge of their new home there must be the regulation house warming. In a for- mer chapter the author has described a cabin built by the first pioneers and following is given a description of one of a little later day.
After a favorable site had been selected all the neighbors helped in cutting and hauling the logs. The first thing to do was to cut three large logs the length the building was wanted and scutch one side and lay them so they were level, on a range with each other. On this the first two end logs were placed, then the puncheons laid, meeting on the middle
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log for the foundation. The puncheons were first faced with an ax to cause them to lie level. Then the foot adz came in- to play, making the floor level and smooth. The side and. end logs were laid on and notched down so as to make the cracks as small as they could and the walls strong. Usually the corner men scored the logs, each way half the length, un- til they met the other corner men. The scores were scutched off, making the walls look much better than round logs with bark on. At the square of the house usually about eight feet above the floor, two end logs projected about fifteen inches beyond the wall and usually other logs were laid across the building projecting the same as the end log and the proper distance apart to receive four foot boards for the loft. The butting logs, as they were called, were laid up notched to fit and pinned to the cross logs. Against the butting logs the first course of boards for the roof rested. The slope for the roof was made by cutting the end logs above the square two and one-half feet shorter. The next side log was laid some two feet from the wall, projecting over at each end two feet. This was called a ridge pole or log for the boards to lie on. The same was continued until the top log was in place where the boards of both sides of the roof met, forming the comb. Small logs were split open the length of the ridge pole for the purpose of weighting the roof so the boards would be level and stay in place. The weight poles were tied at each end with hickory withs to the end of the ridge poles. The door was made by cutting out the logs on one side the width wanted and pinning heavy pieces of upright timbers to the end of the logs by boring a hole through the timber and into the end of the logs, which made it very solid. A similar opening was made at the end, only wider, for a chimney. A three sided crib of logs joined to the end logs of the house was made high enough above where the back wall came to form the foundation for the chimney. Timber was driven down to form a place so that clay could be pounded in to make the hearth and raise the fire place even with the floor. After this mud mixed with grass was made and large cats or lumps were pounded in between the boards placed to shape the fire
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place and the logs, until it was as high as needed and then the chimney was started by drawing it in like a partridge trap until it was of the proper size to draw well, then built. with sticks and clay until above the roof. The cracks be- tween the logs of the house were filled with chinking of tim- ber and plastered with mud. The door shutter was made by riving thick boards the length wanted, then putting heavy pieces across called battens then pinning them fast. Heavy wooden hinges were put on by pinning two pieces across the door and auger holes bored through them where they extend- ed over the door's edge, then two butts for the hinges were pinned on the logs inside to a piece called facing with round tenon made on them. The door was then hung by fitting the auger holes over the round tenons. A heavy latch was made that when fastened on the inside could not be opened, with- out the proverbial latch string of buck skin through a hole in the door and hanging on the outside was used in lifting the latch. When completed the door could not be opened without great power being used. On each side and on the ends of the room a peep hole was left so that what went on on the outside could be seen and if need be could be used for a port hole to shoot from. A heavy piece of timber fitted into these peep holes, windows they could not have as long as there was any danger from Indians.
The gun rack over the door was usually made by fasten- ing the prongs of deer horns in an auger hole. A good lamp was made by forming a cup out of clay and burning it hard. When this was filled with bear's oil, and fitted with a cotton wick, it made a very good light.
Hunting for game through the long days was the most laborious work that could be done. Often when the snow was melting and the creeks and branches overflowing, the hunter waded through the wet all day, at night returning to his humble home all worn out, many times, however, with three to six turkeys tied to his back and again with two to four pairs of venison hams and the hides of the deer. While all were fond of the chase and of necessity had to follow it,
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yet no labor ever performed by man was more trying on the constitution.
When the spring season came on the deer were poor and they were let alone until the crop was put in. Before plant- ‹ ing the crop more acres of ground had to be cleared and the brush and logs burned, the rails made and the fence put around it. This required great labor. Besides his own work the farmer had to assist his few neighbors in rolling their logs so that they would help him in return. Often new com- ers had to have houses raised. With all his labor he put in his crop in good 'season and the virgin soil, with little stir- ring, produced bountifully supplies of corn and vegetables for his stock and table. If the family had boys they aided their father in the crops from the time they were eight years old. If the mother's side of the house had the most help then the strong healthy girls helped their father in putting in his corn and in tending it. Industry was a virtue that was al- ways in force for there were no idlers. When the older peo- ple thought their children were a little slack in their work, they would remind them that they were in danger of being caught by the Laurences, meaning the little heat waves caus- ed by the heat from the earth on a very hot day. Such days would add much to the child's disposition to rest.
Anyone who was given to idelness was called a lazy hound and was looked upon with contempt. In fact it was such an odium to be called an indolent, lazy body that the ones so in- clined were soon frozen out or talked out and moved away. I well remember an old story that I have heard the old people repeat whed I was a small boy. They always told it as hap- pening in old North or South Carolina or in Tennessee. In the section they would name there lived a strong healthy young man who wouldn't work under any circumstances and his family was not cared for as it should have been. A neigh- bor filed a complaint and the law took charge of him and as he was being taken to the county seat to be bound out or his labor for a certain period sold to the highest bidder and the proceeds to be used to maintain his family, they passed by the house of a well-to-do farmer who asked the driver what
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he was going to do with that man and upon being informed said it was a shame for such a big, good-looking fellow like that to be sold and asked -- "What does his family need? I am willing to help them." The driver said that if they had two bushels of corn it would last them until roasting ears. came and then they could live through the summer. "If that is all that is needed I will give him two bushels of corn. You drive down to the corn pen and get it." Whereupon the lazy man rolled over in the wagon and asked-"Say Mister, is the corn shelled?" "Why no, but you can shell it," was the answer. He rolled back into his easy position and said- "Drive on driver, to the county seat." Then turning to the farmer-"I can't shell corn."
This story was often told as I now recall the circum- stances I remember it was always in the presence of some one who was a little slack in the twist about work. Many times. since I have become older I have wondered if it were not told to fix more firmly the habits of industry in my mind as well. as in others.
Our mother worked from early morning until late at night preparing the needed clothing for the family and doing her household work. The daughters stood nobly by their mother, helping her in every way they could. As the mother grew older they relieved her of the care and weariness of the household duties and went forward in all the needed prepara- tion for the home. The boy, were ever in the fields with their father at work, and when the corn was cribbed they followed him in the chase, killing bear, deer and turkeys for the needs. of the family. When winter had come they would go three or four miles away to some neighbor's house where subscrip- tion school was being taught for a month or so, thus gather- ing the first principles of an education.
When these healthy boys and girls came home from school and the daily duties were gone through with, the girls preparing the evening meal, milking the cows and caring for all the household work, the boys attending to their stock and cutting wood for the fire, preparing large back logs to be placed against the back wall of the chimney. After supper
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was over and the dishes cleared away one of the girls would bring her cards and wool to make the rolls for another who had the large spinning wheel making the rolls into thread. The old people and the rest of the family sat around the fire talking of the events of the day. They had no books but the bible and possibly an old English reader-newspapers they had never seen. After awhile one marries and leaves the old home and then another, until they all have homes of their own clustering around the old homestead which usually fell to the youngest.
This is the way this country has been peopled. True, many have moved to other parts of the country, but in every part of Indiana, second and third generations from the old pioneers yet occupy and control the country outside the towns.
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