USA > Indiana > Wayne County > Poems and sketches: consisting of poems and local history; biography; notes of travel; a long list of Wayne County's pioneer dead, also many names of those who lost their lives in defense of their country during the late rebellion > Part 11
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terians) held a "sacrament," the Methodists a Quar- terly Meeting, and the Hicksite Friends a Yearly Meet- ing. On next Sunday will be the Orthodox great day of Yearly Meeting. You will see by the Palladium that the branch of the State Bank, at this place, will soon go into operation. John expects to be a candidate for cashier, and with as good prospects of success as any other candidate. (Elijah Coffin, however, was
the successful applicant. ) I wrote to William Van Meter, some time ago, and expected on answer, soon, but I suppose he thinks he will do as I have done with him - wait a long time before replying. I wonder why Flora ( Finley) or some of the rest of the girls don't write to me? I get no letters at. all, nowadays, from home or any other source. I will confidently look for one, soon, from some of you. In your last letter to John, you complain you cannot write ; John says you can write better than either of us. It is half past twelve o'clock, at night, and I believe I cannot think of any- thing more at present ; but let us hear from you soon, and send us such matters of interest, concerning Uncle Lyle's and Mr. Knott's families, as you may be able to procure, and give my kind regards to all, while I remain, as ever, Your affectionate son,
ANDREW FINLEY, JR.
TO ANDREW FINLEY, SR.,
Springfield, Ohio.
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AT HOME, JUNE 28, 1838.
( On the Elkhorn creek, six miles south of Richmond.)
Sister Flora :
I received your letter of the 16th inst., yesterday, and yours of March in due time, and would have answered it sooner, but I expected, at that time, each week, to know the next, when I should visit you, and then would write ; but the time I expected to go was such bad weather and roads, I could not venture out ; when the road was better, I could not leave my work.
Now, it is so far advanced in the season, so hot and sultry, that traveling is unpleasant ; so that I prefer to postpone my visit until after harvest. You give us flattering accounts of religious revival in your region of country, which I am glad to hear. I cannot give so good an account for ours, although at Abington, three or four miles below us, the Methodists and United Brethren held a protracted meeting, of ten or twelve days' duration, during which time some fifty or sixty persons were added to their churches.
The Baptists have prayer meeting once a week, and preaching only once a month. As to my own feelings, in regard to religion, I feel at a loss to describe them, and am loth to communicate, for fear I might create hopes in others, only to be deceived, and also to deceive myself. But I hope for better things - yea, sometimes
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I almost know it. I am certain of a great moral change taking place in my mind, and at times I have great reason to hope it is a spiritual one, as well. I know that of myself I can do nothing ; but self is mostly in the road.
As Mr. Bradbury is waiting on me to take my letter to the post-office (at Richmond), I must conclude in a hurry, without expressing myself as clearly as I could wish. Mr. Bradbury has sold some land to Mr. Flem- ing, which adjoins the latter's property, for about twenty-eight hundred dollars, and has purchased some lots in town - Richmond -and intends to put up a frame house this summer, into which he thinks he will move this fall, so as to be convenient to a good school. I will write to you before I see you - I may go in two or three weeks. We are hardly ever quite well ; at least I am always complaining. Little Martha is doing pretty well, but is more or less feverish every day, in consequence of cutting teeth. She has one tooth through ; she can run about everywhere, and is uncom- monly active and alert : she walked before she was nine months old, and is quite interesting and notedly smart. John ( Finley) called at our house last Saturday, and said all was well. I expect to be at Centerville one day next week. Your sincere brother,
ANDREW FINLEY, JR.
To FLORA FINLEY,
Springfield, Clark Co., O.
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ELKHORN, WAYNE CO., IND., FEB. 2, 1839. ( Six miles south of Richmond.)
Dear Friend :
I received your kind letter, and to let you know that I am greatly pleased that you have not forgotten me, I embrace the first opportunity to answer it. You wish me to inform you how I have spent my time since you left us. That will not be difficult, for my employ- ment has been much the same as when you were here, except that I have been studying at home, some, this winter. We expect to move to Richmond in about two months, where we will have a better opportunity of attending school than is possible in the country. There have been several changes in the neighborhood during the past year. Some of your acquaintances have been married, some have moved away, and several have died. Minerva Larsh died the latter part of August, and her sister, Miranda, died in December, following. Mrs. Larsh has none of her daughters living with her, now, but Mercey. Miss Jane Hunt was married this winter, and also Miss Francina Sedgwick. Andrew and Mary ( Finley) have been living with us this win- ter. Andrew's health has been somewhat better this winter than it was last. Little Martha Agnes is learn- ing to talk, and I think will make as smart a girl as her Aunt Agnes. But I must come to a close, and leave
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some room for Susan to write. I hope your present letter will not be the last you will write me, if it was the first. All our family, and mother, in particular, join with me in sending their sincerest love and kindly greeting. I remain, as ever,
Your sincere friend,
REBECCA BRADBURY.
Dear Sister Agnes :
Rebecca and I have adopted your plan of writing two letters on one sheet. I must first - as it has been our usual custom - apologize for not writing sooner. This was owing to the delay of your letter, dated December 19th, which I did not receive for at least three or four weeks after it was written. (This letter was mailed at Springfield, Ohio.) I have heard, how- ever, that John ( Finley) has written one or two letters to "Pa," since, so that you cannot complain of not hearing, frequently, from us. Andrew received a letter from " Pa" a few weeks since, fron which we were sorry to learn that he is obliged to relinquish his busi- ness. . We were glad, notwithstanding, to hear that you have got a school in town, and hope that you will all try to do something towards helping to support the family. I have been trying to get a school ever since I came here, and have at last succeeded in getting a small school, of fourteen or fifteen scholars, at two dol-
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lars per scholar, which I expect to commence next week. I expect to teach in an old house on Mr. John Hunt's farm. Though the school will be quite small, yet it will be better than doing nothing. I hope that Jane or May, or both, are going to school and endeavor- ing to qualify themselves for teaching. I wish that they would pay particular attention to the study of arithmetic, for I find that a knowledge of that branch is of more use to a teacher than almost any other. Flora has been staying at John's for several weeks, and will probably remain there till spring. John's family were well the last time we heard from them. But it is time that I stop writing, for it is almost nine o'clock, at night. I believe Rebecca has told you all the news. Tell Caroline that she and William must write me a letter, that I may see how much they have improved in writing and composition. Give my love to " Pa " and " Ma," and the rest of the family. I remain,
Your sincere sister,
SUSAN FINLEY.
To AGNES FINLEY,
Springfield, Ohio.
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
COURT-HOUSE REMOVAL.
On the 14th day of August, 1873, the records of the county were removed from Centerville to this city, after having reposed there- the major part of them, at least- since the year 1822 : so says Norris Jones, who, when a boy, assisted in their removal from Salisbury ( the first county-seat, and which has long since ceased to have an existence), and to-day, at the age of sixty-two, brought over the first load to Rich- mond. Henceforth this city will be the county-seat, if not the seat of justice. The loss to Centerville is a serious one -to us, a material gain. Here may it rest in peace.
During the early days of November the material composing the new jail at Centerville, and likewise the iron fence surrounding the county buildings, were transferred to this city, to be re-constructed here. The removal was not effected without considerable opposi- tion by the people of Centerville, who, on several
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occasions, threatened, and did use, violence, in order to stay the removal, firing a six-pounder cannon, and other smaller fire-arms, at the men employed in taking down the buildings, etc.
HOW RICHMOND MET A CRISIS.
For the past ten days, or over, a singular malady has afflicted the equine family, as well as their long- eared brothers - not only here, but in every region of the United States and Canada - styled the epizootic, producing copious discharges from the nostrils, with enlarged sore throat, and other symptoms with which the writer is not familiar. The complaint usually lasts about two weeks, and does not very often prove fatal when the animal has been relieved from labor and properly cared for ; many have, however, died from the disease when the owner has continued to exact the customary service, after an attack. . At the present date - November 30, 1872-scarcely a horse in the city is entirely well, while some are convalescing, others are suffering from premonitory symptoms of the disease. Of course, much serious inconvenience is experienced at the absence of so much useful motive power, and every conceivable device is resorted to, to
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supply its place. The milk-man, the grocer, the baker and expressman, as well as the drayman and merchant, are alike sufferers. Some yoke or harness yearling calves, cows, or sturdy oxen ; while many, lacking these, take truck, barrow or wagon in hand and manfully furnish their own motive power. Buggies and carriages are, of course, but seldom seen, and those who, lately, were too delicate to walk, now walk quite well.
RICHMOND POSTMASTERS.
A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL RICHMOND POSTMASTERS FROM ISIS TO 1897.
The first postoffice in Richmond was established in ISIS, and Robert Morrisson was commissioned as postmaster, the office being opened in a frame building at the southwest corner of Main and Fourth streets. It was next kept in a frame building on the northeast corner of Main and Fifth streets. The first regular arrival of mail in 1818 was once every two weeks, but as it had to be carried on horseback, and high water was frequent and bad roads a draw-back, it often failed to get in oftener than once a month. The yearly receipts amounted to from ten to twelve dollars,
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and the postmaster's salary for the first three months of his term was just seventy-five cents. It must be remembered that postage then was more than ten times the rate it now is.
Daniel Reid, appointed by Jackson, served from 1829 to 1836. The office was then on Fifth street, south of Main street, on the east side.
James W. Borden, appointed by Jackson, served from 1836 to 1839. For a while the office was on the north side of Main street, between Fifth and Fourth.
John C. Merrick, appointed by Van Buren, in 1839, served one year. Office in the same place.
Lynde Elliott, appointed by Van Buren, in 1840, only served one year. His office was on the north- east corner of Main and Fourth streets.
In 1841, President Harrison appointed Achilles Williams postmaster. He served two years, and his office was on Main street, opposite the Grand Hotel.
Under Tyler's administration, Daniel D. Sloan was postmaster, from 1843 to 1846, with office in same room that his predecessor had.
James Elder was appointed postffîaster, by Polk, in 1846, and served three years, with his office just east of where the Richmond National Bank stood.
President Taylor commissioned Caleb R. Williams postmaster in 1849, and he served four years. The office during this time was on Main street, between Sixth and Seventh.
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James Elder was again commissioned, by Pierce, in 1853, and served eight years. Part of this time the office was on the southwest corner of Sixth and Main.
For the second time, in 1861, Achilles Williams was commissioned, by Lincoln. His office was on Main street, near Sixth, and he served until 1866.
In 1866 Edwin A. Jones was appointed. He served three years, with his office on the southeast corner of Fifth and Main.
Isaac H. Julian served two years, under Grant, from 1869 to 1871, with the office in the same place.
It was in 1871 that Benjamin W. Davis was appointed postmaster, by Grant. He served until 1878, and about the first year of this time, or in 1871, he moved the office to the building where now stands the Bradley Opera House.
Almon Samson was appointed, by Hayes, in 1878, and served four years.
E. D. Palmer was appointed, by Arthur, in 1882, and served three years.
James Elder was commissioned, for the third time, in 1885, and died after serving one month.
J. F. Elder took charge of the Richmond postoffice on1 January Ist, 1886, and Isaac Jenkinson took charge of same on June Ist, 1890.
John G. Schwegman took charge February Ist, 1894.
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DAVID HOOVER'S MEMOIR.
I think it is Laurence Sterne, who says, that - among other things which he mentions - every person should write a book ; and as I have not yet done that, I am now going to write one. As it has always been interesting to me to read biographical sketches, and historical reminiscences of by-gone days, I have con- cluded that some information concerning myself and family, might, perhaps, amuse some of my descendants, at least. The name is pretty extensively scattered throughout this country ; such information may there- fore be of some interest to them, as it may enable theni to trace back their genealogy to the original stock.
I was born on a small water-course, called Huwaree, a branch of the Yadkin river, in Randolph county, North Carolina, on the 14th day of April, 1781 ; and am now* in the seventy-third year of my age. It is customary, in personal sketches of this kind, to say something of one's parentage and education. I can only say that my parents were always considered very exemplary in all their walk through life. As to educa- tion, my opportunities were exceedingly limited ; and had it not been for my inclination and perseverance, I
* This appears to have been written in 1854.
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should, in all probability, at this day be nunibered among those who can scarcely write their names, or perhaps should only be able to make a X in placing my signature to a written instrument. In order to show the state of society in my early youth, and as an evidence of the intelligence of the circle in which I was raised, I can say of a truth that I never had an opportunity of reading a newspaper, nor did I ever see a bank-note, until after I was a man grown.
As to my ancestors, I know but little. If my information is correct, my grandfather, Andrew Hoover, left Germany when a boy ; married Margaret Fouts, in Pennsylvania, and settled on Pipe Creek, in Maryland. There iny father was born; and from thence, now about one hundred years ago, he removed to North Carolina, then a new country. He left eight sons and five daughters, all of whom had large families. Their descendants are mostly scattered through what we call the Western country. Rudolph Waymire, my grand- father on my mother's side, emigrated from Hanover, in Germany, after he had several children. He used to brag that lie had been a soldier under His Britannic Majesty, and that he was at the battle of Dettingen, in 1743 .* He left one son and seven daughters by his first wife, and seven sons by a second wife. Their descendants are also mostly to be found in this country.
* He also. it is said. served under Frederick the Great, of Prussia. in a certain company into which no man was admitted. who was not some seven feet in height.
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My father had a family of ten children, four sons six daughters .* In order to better our circumstances, he came to the conclusion of moving to a new country, and sold his possessions accordingly. He was then worth rising of two thousand dollars, which, at that time, and in that country, was considered very consid- erably over an average, in point of wealth. On the 19th of September, 1802, we loaded our wagon and wended our way toward that portion of what was then called the Northwestern Territory, which constitutes the present State of Ohio.
Here permit me to make a passing remark. I was then in the twenty-second year of my age. I had formed an acquaintance and brought myself into notice perhaps rather more extensively than falls to the lot of most country boys. Did language afford terms adequate to describe iny sensations on shaking hands with my youthful compeers, and giving them a final farewell, I would gladly do so. Suffice it to say, that those only who have been placed in like circumstances can appre- ciate my feelings on that occasion. And although I have lived to be an old man, and experienced the various vicissitudes attendant on a journey through life thus
* Andrew Hoover, Judge Hoover's father, died about the close of the year 1834, aged about eighty-three years. It was stated in his obituary notice, that he had then over one hundred descendants. Except the eldest, who died young, his children were all living until March, 1857, the oldest survivor being seventy-eight, and the youngest fifty-eight years of age. In December, 1854, an interesting reunion of these brothers and sisters was had, at the house of one of their number, in Richmond.
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far, I yet look back to that time as the most interesting scene through which I have passed. My mind, at this day, is often carried back to my early associations and school-boy days, to my native hills and pine forests ; and I can truly say that there is a kind of indescribable charm in the very name of my natal spot, very different from aught that pertains to any other place on the globe.
After about five weeks' journeying, we crossed the Ohio river at Cincinnati, then a mere village, composed mostly of log houses. I think it was the day after an election had been held at that place, for delegates to the convention to form a constitution ; at any rate, a consti- tution was formed the following winter, which was amended only within the last few years. After cross- ing the river, we pushed on to Stillwater, about twelve miles north of Dayton, in what is now the county of Montgomery. A number of our acquaintances had located themselves there the previous spring. There we encamped in the woods the first winter. The place had proved so unhealthy that we felt discouraged and much dissatisfied, and concluded not to locate thiere. My father then purchased two hundred acres of land, not far from Lebanon, in Warren county, as a home, until we could make further examinations. John Smith, afterward one of the proprietors of Richmond, pur- chased one hundred acres in the same neighborhood, with similar views. Our object was to find a suitable place for making a settlement, and where but few or
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no entries had been made. But a small portion of the land lying west of the Great Miami, or east of the Little Miami, was settled at that time. We were hard to please. We Carolinians would scarcely look at the best land, where spring water was lacking. Among other considerations, we wished to get further south. We examined divers sections of the unsettled parts of Ohio, without finding any location that would please
us. John Smith, Robert Hill, and myself, partially examined the country between the Falls of the Ohio and Vincennes, before there was a line run in that part of the Territory, and returned mnuch discouraged, as we found nothing inviting in that quarter.
Thus, time passed on until the spring of 1806, when myself and four others, rather accidentally, took a sec- tion line some eight or ten miles north of Dayton, and traced it a distance of more than thirty miles, throughi an unbroken forest, to where I am now writing. It was the last of February, or first of March, when I first saw Whitewater. On my return to my father's, I informed him that I thought I had found the country we had been in search of. Spring water, timber, and building-rock appeared to be abundant, and the face of the country looked delightful. In about three weeks after this, my father, with several others, accompanied me to this "land of promise." As a military man would say, we made a reconnoissance, but returned rather discouraged, as it appeared, at that time, too far
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from home. Were it necessary, I might here state some of our views at that time, which would show up our extreme ignorance of what has since taken place. On returning from this trip, we saw stakes sticking among the beech trees where Eaton now stands, which was among the nearest approaches of the white man to this place. With the exception of George Holmnan and a few others, who settled some miles south of this, in the spring of 1805, there were but few families within twenty miles of this place.
It was not until the last of May, or first of June, that the first entries were inade. John Smith then entered south of Main street, where Richmond now stands, and several other tracts. My father entered the land upon which I now live, I having selected it on my first trip, and several other quarter sections. About harvest, of this same year, Jeremiah Cox reached here from good old North Carolina, and purchased where the north part of Richmond now stands. If I mistake not, it had been previously entered by John Meek, the father of Jesse Meek, and had been transferred to Joseph Woodkirk, of whom Jeremiah Cox made the purchase. Said Cox also entered several other tracts. Jeremiah Cox, John Smith, and my father, were then looked upon as rather leaders in the Society of Friends. Their location here had a tendency of drawing others, and soon caused a great rush to Whitewater ; and land that I thought would hardly ever be settled, was rapidly
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taken up and improved. Had I a little more vanity, I might almost claim the credit (if credit it be)* of having been the pioneer of the great body of Friends now to be found in this region; as I think it very doubtful whether three Yearly Meetings would convene in this county, had I not traced the line before mentioned.
I was now in the twenty-fifth year of my age, and thus far had been rather a way-faring disciple, not doing much for myself or any other person. Having now selected a spot for a home, I thought the time had come to be up and doing. I therefore married a girl named Catharine Yount, near the Great Miami, and on the last day of March, 1807, reached, with our little plun- der, the hill where I am now living. It may not be uninteresting here to name some of the first settlers in the different neighborhoods. On the East. Fork were the Flemings, Irelands, Hills, Wassons, and Maxwells. At the mouth of Elkhorn were the Hunts, Whiteheads, and Endsleys. In this neighborhood were the Smiths, Coxes, Wrights, and Hoovers, several of whom com- menced operations in the woods, in the spring and summer of 1806. This may emphatically be said to have been the day of "log cabins " and log rollings ; and, although we were in an unbroken forest, without even a blazed pathway from one settlement to another, we yet enjoyed a friendship and a neighborly inter- change of kind offices, which are unknown at this time.
* I presume Judge Hoover would not seriously question the fact.
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Although we had to step on puncheon floors, and eat our corn bread and venison, or turkey, off of broad pieces of split timber, and drive forks in one corner of our cabins, with cross timbers driven into the walls, for bedsteads, there was no grumbling or complaining of low markets and hard times. The questions of Tariff and National Bank were truly "obsolete ideas"* in those days. It was the first week in April before some of us commenced operations in the woods ; but we mostly raised corn enough to do us. There was, how- ever, no mill to grind it, and for some weeks we gratedt all the meal we made use of. About Christmas, Charles Hunt started a mill, on a cheap scale, near the mouth of Elkhorn, which did our grinding until J. Cox estab- lished one near to where Richmond stands, and which now belongs to the Starr Piano Company.
The Indian boundary was at this time about three miles west of us. The Indians lived on White river, and were frequently among us. They at one time packed off 400 bushels of shelled corn, which they pur- chased of John Smith. In 1810 a purchase was made,
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