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 9
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Scarcely a third of a century ago the make of the garınent and the manner of speech were a sure index to the religious faith of a large majority of the people of this city and vicinity ; but in later years such marks
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of distinction have been surely and certainly passing away. And, while we sincerely trust that the prin- ciples held by Friends may ever continue to wield their benign influence with each and every one of us, yet we earnestly hope that the time is not far distant when all such peculiarities - whether of speech or dress- will be relegated to the shades of the departed past.
I believe it was some time during 1847 that Friends' Boarding School-now known as Earlhan College-first opened its portals to the public -or, rather, that portion of it denominated "the Society of Friends," for it was originally designed for the educa- tion of their own children, but, finding an insufficient support from that direction, they at length determined to admit pupils from other denominations and the out- side world, at large. From these, however, it was said, they demanded a considerable advance for tuition over that charged members of their own Society. This course, however proper it may have appeared to them, did not savor of that strict justice so characteristic of these people. During the earlier years of this school's history, all scholars were required to attend ineeting twice a week -Sundays and Wednesdays-and all male students unable to plead some disability, were as often mustered together, formed in line, and marched in single file, from the college grounds, in West Rich- mond, to the old brick meeting-house, north of the railroad - a distance of some two miles -- in Summer's
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sun or Winter's storm, to participate in the peculiar services of the Society, which sometimes consisted in passing the time allotted in silent meditation and unut- tered prayer. The pupils were usually attended by their teachers, who kept an eye to their deportment, and guaranteed their good behavior on the way. This semi-weekly parade of the students always reminded the beholder of so many "soldier boys," recently recruited for " Uncle Sam's" service. The sight was both novel and remarkable, as being enacted by the sons, and instituted by the very people who, above all others, inveighed most strenuously against every form of ceremony, demonstration and display.
The frequent gibes and jeers of the boys, and uncomplimentary remarks of many of their elders, finally put an end to the show. As an institution of learning, Earlhamn College can now justly be reckoned as among the best in the land, and as richly deserving the patronage of all good people.
Previous to the days of railroads, and to a very limited extent since, the Friends came to "Yearly Meeting " in their own conveyances, usually a two- horse carriage, bringing with them, generally, the elder members of the family, and, occasionally, the smaller children. This was always a great week in the history of Richmond, and not infrequently as great an event in the lives of many of the members- whose quiet, plodding ways and simple habits were but seldom
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varied by the most ordinary pleasures and pastimes, beyond the monotonous routine of each returning day. The younger members from the rural districts were, frequently, simplicity itself. Often have I seen them - boy and girl-go hand in hand along our streets, utterly unconscious of the world about them, munching huge chunks of ginger-bread, or indulging in some other unused luxury. This was, to them, their ultima thule - the crowning bliss of all their former hopes- this coming to Richmond during "Yearly Meeting," with their best girls, to share in all the joys, and revel in the sights and sounds and unaccustomed luxuries of a considerable town ; but then they were profoundly happy -and that is more than can be truly said of many of the present day, although surrounded witlı increased wealth and countless sources of enjoyment.
Until about the year 1849 or '50, copper coins were almost unknown as a circulating medium, in this part of the world. They were first introduced with the completion of turnpikes, or toll-roads, as a matter of necessity, to make change. Either Robert Morrisson, who was president, or Benjamin Strattan, for a time treasurer of the Wayne County Turnpike Company, ordered the first installment of a hundred dollars' worth, or ten thousand pieces, from the Philadelphia mint. They were of the large, old-fashioned variety, and made a package somewhat resembling a keg of nails, for size. These coins were doled out to the
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"gates" as needed, and thus found their way into general circulation.
It may still be remembered by some that the first line of telegraph known to this vicinity was that put up along the National road, some time during the Summer of 1848, but which, for want of sufficient patronage, was, within a year or two, transferred to some more appreciative locality. In fact, the people upon whom it depended for its patronage and profit had not yet attained to the commercial and personal needs of such an institution ; they had not learned to appreciate the advantages of rapid transit and travel, and, much less, those of instantaneous communication by telegraph.
While writing of this subject, I am reminded that some time during this same year of 1848 a gentleman - William Unthank - came to this city and announced a lecture, to be delivered in the lower room of the old " Warner building," on the subject of "Electricity as a Motive Power." The interest manifested by the public was not commensurate with the importance of the subject, and comparatively few persons came out to hear what the lecturer had to say. Models were exhibited and their operations explained. He desired to enlist the sympathies of capitalists, in behalf of the enterprise, who might be willing to advance the means necessary to test the merit and practical working of his theories. However, he met with no encouragement
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here : the subject was too new and illy understood by most people ; and such apparently visionary schemes did not readily command the confidence, much less the cash, of the general public, and, at that day, not even its curiosity. This circumstance is cited to show the lack of interest and appreciation in the public mind, too often apparent on similar occasions when matters of the utmost importance are presented for its serious consideration, as well as to illustrate the possibilities of the human understanding in the direction of growth and development ; and also to prove that the perse- vering delver in divine thought will not fail, at length, to bring up priceless pearls from the hidden recesses of the intellectual treasury - whose varied stores and collective resources are almost without limit ; how an idea, once conceived, may grow, by slow degrees, from germ to bud, and, in due season, blossom into the full- blown glory and realization of the perfect and complete ideal. Such, in his day, was not the good fortune of this hapless theorist and thinker - he did not live to realize the final consummation of his dream, for he sought aid and sympathy in vain. But others, follow- ing in his wake, took up the current of his thoughts and crystallized them into form, and the seeming fancy, of a generation since, became an accomplished fact.
Thus feeble thoughts, at length, the mightiest things evolve-as towering oaks from tiny acorns
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grow ; as wind-strewn seeds suggest the forest, wide ; or, as chaotic atoms formned the universe - developed in the lapse of time, through ages past, of long- forgotten years.
PAPER NO. 3.
HERE is, perhaps, no other delusion so far-reach- ing, or so fondly cherished by the human race, as the popular belief which attributes to our youthful days the doubtful merit of being, in all things, better than aught of these "degenerate times." With the middle-aged and the elderly the feeling is almost univer- sal that men were more moral, more virtuous, and more upright ; and that they were less given to sensuality and dissipation ; that peace, order and sobriety reigned supreme-in short, that the world was one grand, moral paradise, as compared with the present ; whereas, in point of fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. Life was just as real, earnest and exacting in the past as in the present ; love, hatred, jealousy - all held sway over men's minds then, as now, for human nature has doubtless been much the same in all ages. Into each human history is woven more or less of the
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good and the bad, the false and the true. Many an airy castle, which we builded in our youth, was a mere vagary of the imagination-a mere fiction of the fancy -created out of nothing, and to nothing soon returned. Thoughtfulness and sobriety belong only to maturity of years, and follow in the footsteps of age. Youth is indeed the spring-time of life, and is glorious in its strength and beauty. But age should be no less glorious, in its dignity, serenity and wisdom. Love, virtue and goodness, with their kindred attributes, were man's inheritance from his Maker, and will continue to bless and to comfort him to the end of time. So, also, were his sins and his weaknesses a part and parcel of his human nature. If it be admitted that man has not degenerated, as I think it must, the theory that the world has grown worse than formerly can be nothing short of a fallacy. The progress of recent times, not only in the arts and sciences, but in morality and religion, as well, is indeed too evident to be mistaken, and is quite sufficient to prove the very contrary of the proposition. It may be truly said that the good that men do lives after them, the evil is interred with their bones ; for, do we not, in our contemplation of the past, remember only the virtues, the friendships and the loves of the long ago -forgetful of the sins and the weak- nesses and the human frailties, which beset us then, as now ? And thus it is; we dwell so fondly on the past, and think the elder days were better than the new.
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Nothing can be truer than that the world has always been wicked. Vice and immorality have been the inheritance of all peoples and all times ; and, for at least a partial illustration of this truth, we need not go from home. The writer distinctly remembers that in our own moral ( ?) little city, with but a tithe of its present population, and comparatively few of the influences now so conspicuous for evil, we were yet far from being altogether good. Mischief often held high carnival in our midst ; pugilistic contests were not uncommon, and the baser passions were by no means always in abey- ance, even surrounded, as we were, by a people, so remarkable for piety, good order and peace principles, as were the Friends, who were dominant at the time. The unruly element was rarely ever traceable to their ranks. yet these baser spirits lived and flourished here. as elsewhere, and as they ever will, in all communities, to a greater or less degree. I occasionally meet one of these old-time "Pariahs" upon our streets -" lone- wandering, yet not lost"-who, in earlier days, was wont to make night hideous in his cups. His com- panions have mostly found shelter in their graves, while he, illy clad, neglected and alone, a wreck in morals, character and health, will soon descend in sorrow to his own.
It used to be the delight of the "hoodlums " of those days to appoint a meeting somewhere on Main street - usually selecting a moonlight evening - and
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after the villagers had retired for the night, to either build a fire upon the ground, or procure an old stove from the premises of some dealer, gravely set up the pipe and put on a kettle of water, and, after all was in order and the steam and smoke ascending, hot drinks would be prepared and passed around, to add fresh fuel to the flagging fires within. They would then join hands all around, and shout and dance and sing till the welkin fairly rung, conducting themselves like a company of savages, far into the " wee small hours," unmolested by officers or citizens.
At times the dry goods boxes from the four quarters of the town would be collected during the night and piled many feet high, across the principal thorough- fare, completely barricading it against the traffic and travel of the following morning, when, at a late hour, the obstruction was generally removed by the owners of the property appropriated - the guilty parties mean- while chuckling at the annoyance and vexation thus created. Sometimes the signs would be taken down all over the village, and so changed around that the dry goods merchant got the grocer's sign, and the grocer the dry goods dealer's; the banker became a book- seller, and the book-seller a banker; or it sometimes chanced that the doctor's front door would be orna- mented by the dressmaker's tin sign, and she, in turn, would rejoice in the professional insignia of the disciple of Esculapeus. On one occasion a monied institution
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was made to represent a shaving shop, by setting up a barber's striped pole in front of it. Once, upon a Sun- day morning, after the "boys" had indulged in their customary Saturday night's revel, a new farm wagon was to be seen drawn up by the side-walk, on East Main street, having placed upon it a delapidated out- building, ornamented with the gaudy sign of a well- known tonsorial artist, looking, "for all the world," like some bona fide establishment on wheels, quietly awaiting its share of the public patronage. On some occasions the gates would be taken from their hinges and carried off to some secure hiding place, to be returned at will, or perhaps never. Again, it might be the wheel of some carriage or buggy that was missing, subjecting the owner to untold annoyance, and a fruit- less search of days, or even weeks, when at last some one would fish it from the bottom of the river, where it had been sunk, or, perchance, recover it from the roof of some distant barn, or out-building, where it had been placed by the authors of the mischief.
During the period from 1848 to 1852, Richmond had nothing better than a couple of old "hand engines " with which to protect her property from fire. The companies in charge were poorly organized, and consisted largely of young men and boys, few of whom had any interests at stake. Many were reckless and irresponsible, and, in the writer's opinion, fre- quently guilty of firing old buildings, and possibly,
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also, some of the better sort - solely to get out the engines and see which could get on first water. The excitement often ran high, and sometimes the ill-feeling engendered would culminate in a row, or a personal combat, between the contestants of the rival companies. There is little doubt that these organizations were responsible for a vast deal of mischief, since, immedi- ately after the adoption of a paid fire department, the alarms, both true and false, fell off at least one-half. There used to be two brothers here, named, respectively, Dave and Sam Edwards - both blacksmiths-and one Joshua Horner - also a son of Vulcan - besides other kindred spirits, either dead or retired, by reason of age or infirmnity, from their wonted occupations, who never failed to participate in every fray which ingenuity or insult could bring about ; and, as they wielded fists like sledge-hammers, they rarely failed to be the victors. At times these contests would seem to become contagious, and a perfect row would result, involving many individuals. The writer has seen a whole square in commotion, at the same time densely packed with a swaying, surging mass of humanity. These disgraceful occurrences took place mostly on some public occasion -such as election or show days-when the streets would be thronged by our own citizens, or people front the country. At such times many became intoxicated, consequently excitable, and ready for anything that might offer, however foolish, daring or desperate.
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The recollection of one of these old-time roughs occurs to ine, who was never absent from a fire, who was rarely ever sober, and who was sure to do more harm than good in his possibly well-meant endeavors. I have seen him break down doors, cut down hand- railing, and knock out window-frames and sash, throw ,out mirrors, and carry down feather-beds, in his drunken and insane excitement, and all this in a part of the house wholly free from danger. This same individual, when in liquor, was the terror of his neigh- borhood. He became furious as a wild beast, fearless as a savage, and reckless as only bad whisky can make a man. In this condition he would be extremely uncivil and abusive, and thereby get himself into numerous difficulties. At such times few men would have deemed it safe to interpose as peace-makers, yet his wife - who was but a frail woman - could approach him and, placing her hand upon his arm, would quietly lead him away, utterly subdued and without a murmur-just as a loving mother might lead away a little child.
It is scarcely necessary to remind the reader that, at the period to which these sketches refer, we were not yet blessed (?) with an efficient (?) police force, as now ; but, if my memory serves me, we had but two peace officers, whose jurisdiction pertained to the village proper - namely, the mayor and town marshal. The latter was himself too often under the influence of
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the "flowing bowl " to fully comprehend the failings and offenses of his fellows ; while the former, although a worthy and upright gentleman, was neither aggres- sive nor progressive.
These pictures have been drawn from real life, in our own midst, as it existed here some forty years ago, mainly for the writer's own gratification and amuse- ment, as well as to wrest from oblivion some of the valorous (?) deeds and pastimes of our early contem- poraries ; and, secondly, to in some measure dispel the oft-cherished delusion that the past was better than the present.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
GENERAL SOL MEREDITH.
From His Monument in Cemetery near Cambridge City, Indiana.
A gallant soldier and just man - Major-General Solomon Meredith. Born in Guilford county, North Carolina, May 29th, 1810 ; died at Oakland farm, near Cambridge City, Indiana, October 21st, 1875. A mail of good heart, pure patriotism and generous hospitality ; distinguished for energy of character, in the promotion of public improvement, liberal education, and progress in agriculture. He was a member of the Legislature, and held, with honor, many offices of public trust, under bothı general and state governments. In the war for the Union, he commanded the Nineteenthi Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, in the battles of Gains- ville, South Mountain and Antietam, and on other well-fought · fields. He was promoted for gallantry, and led the "Iron Brigade " through all its marches and battles until severely wounded at Gettysburg. He then commanded the Western District of Kentucky until the close of the war.
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ALFRED KAYNE.
The subject of the following brief sketch was a native of this vicinity, born of parents, poor, illiterate, and of low degree. For some years, during his boy- hood, he worked as a farm hand for Benjamin Strattan, then the principal merchant of this city, and who resided on his farm, three miles east, near the National Road, and now the property of a Mr. Garwood.
Our subject's education was very limited, and was mostly acquired in the village schools of Liberty, Indiana, under the tuition of one William Houghton, an early teacher and member of the Society of Friends. He was earnest, honest and ambitious, and desiring to advance himself, obtained a position as clerk in the dry goods store of Mr. Ralph A. Paige, of this city. After a few years spent in that capacity, here, he sought and obtained a place as salesman with Acton & Wood- nutt, of Cincinnati, with whom he remained some time. But, being desirous of going another round higher, he went to the city of New York, where he procured employment in a wholesale dry goods establishment, and while there inade himself master of three languages besides his own, viz : French, German and Italian. This he did by obtaining board with families of culture, who spoke only their native tongues-remaining with
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each long enough to speak their language fluently. Being thus equipped, with a knowledge of four languages at his command, success, to one of his energy and indom- itable will, seemed almost certainly assured. He had not long to wait. The proprietors of the house of S. B. Chittenden & Co., 350 Broadway, who were extensive importers and jobbers of dry goods and notions, made him an advantageous offer, which he readily accepted. At his first introduction to his fellow associates and clerks, he was often ridiculed and guyed for his seem- ing verdancy and awkwardness. He soon, however, proved himself not only their equal, but, as a salesman, greatly superior to the hundred or more employees of the house, while, at the same time, the unusual interest he manifested in his employers' affairs did not long go unnoticed, nor unrewarded. During the second year of his stay he had the general management of all the departments, was soon after sent to Paris as resident buyer, remaining abroad for several years, and finally given an interest in their very lucrative business. This occurred some time during the year 1860, after which, with very good reason, he could regard his future for- tune as pretty certainly assured. The sequel to this great, good luck was the fact that in a few years he was enabled to buy out the old firm and re-establish himself at its head, under the style of Kayne, Spring, Dale & Co., his associates having been men of experi- ence and employees of the old house. His success was,
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from the first, most extraordinary, with apparently every prospect of a long and prosperous career. But, unfortunately for us all in this world, there is nothing absolutely certain but death. We may plan, speculate, and prosper for a time, but the final result is in the unseen hands of a higher power than ours, and so it proved in this particular instance. Sickness and death will ever intrude, in this unhappy world, and that, too, when we least expect or desire their most unwelcome presence. Wealth, prosperity and ambitious hopes will not avert the inevitable. On his last return from Europe he was taken ill with pneumonia, which, in its violence, baffled the skill of his physicians, and his remarkable career was brought to an untimely close on the 13th day of February, 1879-in the very prime of life - being under forty-five years of age. His estate exceeded $500,000. He left but a single heir - a son, of twelve years, then at school in Paris - his wife having preceded him to that " better land " some years before.
Considering his lowly origin, he was a most remark- able man-simple, kindly and noble. His example stands boldly out, and clearly indicates that where there is a will, there is a way. Without friends, money or influ- ence, he yet bravely and successfully fought the difficult " battle of life." He was energy, honesty and veracity, personified. Intelligence and a hopeful disposition led him, as a guiding star, to the goal of his ambition. He
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readily achieved both culture and education. Such an example as his is worthy of the very highest praise. Yet, how many there are, who, with all the appliances of wealth, friends, and great natural ability, still drift on down upon the stream of time, to become utter wrecks on the great ocean of life. Alas ! How few of all his early friends ever remember him in his old home ! Fame and notoriety he never sought, and this poor tribute is the only notice of his splendid and noteworthy career I have ever seen. Men are too much occupied with their own concerns to be greatly interested about even their nearest and dearest friends. And then, too, not unfrequently, envy plays its miserable part in the suppression of a noble name, because of the jealousy success engenders. Be that as it may, Alfred Kayne was one of Nature's proudest noblemen. Artificiality and pretense were wholly unknown to his simple nature. He could not play deception's part. Such men as he could only bless mankind.
Farewell, dear friend, thy like is rarely seen.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1896.
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JUDGE JAMES PERRY.
Remarks at the Funeral of His Life-Long Friend, by John Yaryan, Esq. - A Merited Tribute, Eloquently Expressed.
There is a lesson to be learned no less in the death than in the life of every man, and eminently so in the case of one who has been distinguished in thought and position, like him whose death we are commemorating. Judge Perry was more than an ordinary man. Born in Madisonville, Ohio, in January, 1799, he at an early age selected the medical profession as a livelihood. After spending about two years reading the profession with Dr. Duncan, then an eminent physician, he became satisfied he never would be pleased with the practice of medicine, abandoned the profession and went into the profession of the law. While yet a student he came to Indiana, and in 1824, when the county-seat was removed from Brownsville, he located in Liberty and was admitted to the bar. His library consisted of Blackstone's Commentaries, Chitty's Pleadings and Tidd's Practice, but these he had mas- tered perfectly. How different the state of affairs now ! Neither Kent's Commentaries nor Story's Equity had then been written, and since the date of
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