USA > Indiana > Carroll County > Recollections of the early settlement of Carroll County, Indiana > Part 13
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. * As a sample of the responses, we give the answer to the messengers of Croesus. He sent to different oracles, and instructed his messengers to inquire of the various oracles what he, Croesus, was doing at a certain hour of a certain day. The Del- phic oracle gave the following response :
"I number the sands, I measure the sea; What's hidden to others is known to me.
The lamb and the tortoise are simmering slow, With brass above them and brass below."
Croesus, it is said, was boiling the flesh of a tortoise and a lamb, at the time this was given, in a brass vessel, covered with a brass lid.
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his Administration, he always supposed that this appoint- ment was given him for the purpose of influencing his political action in the approaching Presidential cam- paign of 1828. Very much needing the emoluments of the office, he accepted it, and discharged the duties re- quired by it, during the Spring of 1828; but he did not swerve from an energetic support of General Jackson, at the Presidential election that year. In August, 1829, he was elected a representative to the Legislature from the district composed of the counties of Montgomery, Fountain, Warren, Tippecanoe, and Carroll, and shortly after the election, he again, unexpectedly, re- ceived the appointment to examine the land-offices of Illinois, from President Jackson. Soon afterward, and before he had time to discharge the duties of the office, he received from the same President the appointment of Register of the Land-office at Crawfordsville, an office then worth three thousand dollars per annum. He thus held three offices at one time, and it was with him a matter of deep solicitude, about which he was undecided for some time, which office should be retained, and which resigned. On the one hand, the emoluments of the land-office, which he might hold for years, offered pecuniary inducements to himself and family, which, to a man in his circumstances, were of the most tempting character. On the other hand, the people of his district had selected him, by a large majority, to represent them in the Legislature, and he felt that he ought not to dis- appoint them, though the office would expire in two or three months, and its emoluments were worth nothing. He could have held on to the appointment to examine the land-offices in Illinois, before the time for the meet- ing of the Legislature, and by so doing could have realized five or six hundred dollars over expenses. Finally, by the advice and urgent solicitation of his friends, he concluded to accept the Registership of the
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Land-office at Crawfordsville, and resign the other two offices. He held the office of register about four years, the duties of which were faithfully attended to by his son Bruce ; and he finally gave up the office rather than remove from his farm, with his family, to Craw- fordsville, which he was required to do.
He was a delegate to the first Democratic National Convention ever held in the United States, which met at Baltimore, in May, 1832, and which nominated Gen- eral Jackson for his second term. He was a delegate, and attended every succeeding Democratic National Convention from that time up to 1844, at which time James K. Polk was nominated. This was the last con- vention held prior to his death.
In 1835, he was appointed by President Jackson, as one of the Board of Visitors to the United States Mili- tary Academy, at West Point, and nobly discharged that duty. In 1837, and again in 1838, he was elected a representative to the Legislature from Carroll. In 1836, he was elected a State Senator from the counties of Carroll and Clinton, and drew the short term. While serving in the Legislature, he, in the most determined manner, opposed the gigantic Internal Improvement folly, which has been an incubus upon the prosperity of the State ever since, entailing a debt of fifteen mill- ions of dollars. Finding that the current of interest was too strong in favor of the bill to be resisted, he made a strong effort to have the various works classi- fied, that one might be begun and completed at a time. If this plan had been adopted, the finished works would have yielded some revenue from tolls, and the works would have been of some benefit to the State, and would have saved, in a great measure, the great debt. But in the effort, though tried in various ways, he was unsuccessful, for the reason that a majority of the members had become personally
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interested in the system, and expected to make fortunes out of it. The utopian idea was held up, that the State could borrow $10,000,000, and complete the Public Works all over the state at once; and that the works, when completed, would bring in such a vast revenue, that in a few years the loan could be paid off, and the revenue continue ample to pay all state, county, and township expenses, and forever relieve the people from all taxation ! It was also contended that in addition to refunding the principal and interest of the ten million loan, the reve- nue would support a system of free schools, in which the children of the state could be educated, up to the highest point, through all coming time! General Milroy told them, in his last speech against borrowing the ten millions, and in favor of classification, that their great system would be a gigantic failure, which would entail a ruinous debt on the State, under which the people would be ground down by taxation for gen- erations to come ; and that the men who voted for and were instrumental in fastening this curse upon the people, would soon become so unpopular, odious, and hateful, that the very dogs would not lick their blood. Time has proved his wisdom and foresight in relation to this Internal Improvement System. In 1839, he was appointed agent for the Miami and Pottawatomie Indians, and in 1840, he succeeded in purchasing from the Miami tribe their great reservation, which the Government had previously, for many years, through different agents and special commissioners, tried in vain to purchase. He was removed from the office of Indian Agent, in 1841, by President Harrison, whose election he had opposed ; he was reappointed to the same office in 1845, by President Polk, and held it up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 26th day of May, 1845. His death was occasioned by ery- sipelas, of which disease his son Bruce had died two
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weeks before. Though a strong believer in the truths of Christianity, he never belonged to any Church. He estimated men by their acts and conduct, never by their professions.
General Milroy never sued a man in his life, and was never sued for a debt of his own contracting. His house was the home of hospitality, where friends and strangers found a ready welcome; for he never, in the whole course of his life, charged any one for a night's lodging or a meal's victuals.
He was one of the warmest friends of the interests of Delphi. He struggled against her enemies ; and had it not been for his never-ceasing exertions, on one or two occasions, the county-seat would have no doubt been removed.
Such is a very brief outline of the most prominent events in the life of General Samuel Milroy, who, in his day, was not only one of the most prominent citi- zens of Carroll County, but of the state of Indiana.
General Milroy is buried in the old Delphi grave- yard. His children have erected a monument over his grave. The following is the inscription on the west side :
This Monument IS ERECTED AS
A TRIBUTE OF WORTH AND AFFECTION TO THE MEMORY OF General Samuel milroy, BY HIS CHILDREN.
BENEATH THIS STONE REST THE MORTAL REMAINS
OF
GENERAL SAMUEL MILROY. BORN AUGUST 14, 1780. DIED MAY 26, 1845. Aged 64 years, 9 months, and 12 days.
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit go back to God, who gave it."
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(On the east side.) ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE WEST ; ONE OF THE SIGNERS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIANA ; AND ONE OF THE FRAMERS OF HER LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS.
Morality, justice, and truth were his guide; His honor, his friends, and his country, his pride. (On the south, Masonic emblems.)
Before closing this sketch of the life of General Milroy, the author desires to give extracts from letters received from him while a member of the Legislature. He speaks of many things now well-nigh forgotten.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 10, 1837.
DEAR SIR,-Inclosed is a paper which will be inter- esting no doubt ; it will show the politics, etc., of mem- bers of the General Assembly.
For news, I must refer you to the papers, and to a long letter I have written to Mr. Green. I think I will succeed in obtaining the location of the river lock, that is to be erected for the benefit of the river naviga- tion in the bayou, so that the river navigation will pass through the bayou.
Delphi is indebted for what has been done for her this Winter, $500,000. She will be benefited to that amount.
We will get a road, but can get no appropriation.
Respectfully yours, etc.,
DR. STEWART.
SAMUEL MILROY.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 9, 1837.
DEAR SIR,-We are at this moment progressing with the election of circuit judges, and have elected Isaac Naylor, judge of the first judicial circuit; the vote stood, for Bryant, sixty-nine, and Naylor, seventy- five. The vote was as near a party vote as any per- haps, that will be had this Winter, in our Legislature.
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I. H. Thompson was elected in the second cir- cuit without opposition, notwithstanding there were twenty-four scattering votes. Miles C. Eggleston was elected ; he had seventy-five votes, and Andrew David- son (Van Buren) had sixty-six votes-two scattering. The election for prosecutor in our circuit resulted in the election of Joseph A. Wright, who, on the first bal- lot, had sixty-nine; Mace, forty; Wilson, nineteen; Lockwood, fifteen ; no choice being made. On the second ballot, Joseph A. Wright received seventy-eight votes; Mace, sixty-one; and Lockwood, four. John Dumont was elected prosecutor in the Third, by a large majority over all competitors.
Monday, December 11 .- This day, at two o'clock, the two Houses met for the purpose of electing Treasurer of State and Auditor, which resulted in the election of the present incumbents. This was done by a kind of in- formal understanding, that if the Whigs would not turn out Palmer, the Democrats would not turn ont Morris. Strange as it may appear, I believe the parties could have effected these things, if the attempt had been made. It was a leading object to save Palmer, and to do this, we were willing to yield something. The vote stood : Palmer, seventy-seven ; William Sheets, sixty- one; and five scattering. For Morris, eighty-three; Mahne, thirty-one; Fingle, twenty-six.
The elections are now over, and we will go to work at legislation. We have had a meeting this evening, to determine as to the most advisable method of remodel- ing, revising, or classifying the Public Works. The meet- ing consisted of all those favorable to those objects. Our strength in the House of Representatives is up- ward of forty, and if a proper system of remodeling the Public Works is proposed, I flatter myself we will be able to carry it. All admit the necessity of doing
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something to insure the system of internal improve- ments, and at the same time prevent the necessity of oppressive taxation.
You will have seen that the Whigs have had a meet- ing, and speechification on the subject of the New York election. The Democracy have also had a meeting for consultation as to the propriety of a meeting and cele- bration in support of our principles, which are as fixed as the eternal hills, and can not be disturbed for a mo- ment by such puffs of wind across the political horizon as the New York election. We will have our meeting for the object on the Sth of January-a day always auspicious to the Democracy.
The President's message has arrived. I have not yet seen it. It is said to reiterate the former recom- mendations of the Executive in his message at the spe- cial session. Mr. Van Buren is not to be driven from his purposes by the alarms of party. The New York election appears to be perfectly understood by him.
Can not some of our Carroll County friends be here on the 8th of January?
I shall be wide awake as to any contemplated change of our county boundaries, and as to the desired altera- tion in the mode of doing township business. I would like to see petitions, though I will attempt the proposed change, whether I receive them or not.
I should like much to hear from you often during the session. Never had better health in my life. When you read this, have the goodness to hand it over to my son, H. B. Milroy.
REPRESENTATIVE CHAMBER, February 3, 1838.
DEAR SIR,-I have to inform you that on yesterday a bill passed the House of Representatives, changing the character of the Madison and Lafayette Railroad into a macadamized road, from Indianapolis to La-
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fayette, and limiting the road south of Indianapolis to a single-track railroad. If this bill becomes a law, of which I have no doubt, we may say that we have re- duced the system at least $7,000,000 the present session, in dispensing with the railroads ; and there is not much doubt but that further curtailments will be made. I think that the anti-system men have, in some measure, the control of the fortunes of Indiana. We have this moment concurred in a resolution of the Senate, fix- ing the 19th as the day of adjournment of the two Houses. I have not a doubt but the day is too early to enable the Legislature to go through the vast amount of important business before us. A bill is now pend- ing in both Houses, fixing the compensation of the dif- ferent officers connected with our Internal Improvement system, and there is a general. feeling in favor of re- trenchment in this department.
I have seen that I have been very liberally abused by letter-writers from Delphi, published in the Logans- port papers, on the subject of the steam-boat lock at Delphi. No one need be at a loss as to the writer of these letters; and in answer to the whole matter, I have only to say, that I have taken no measures what- ever to prevent the erection of this lock; but will take all honorable and proper means to prevent timber or other materials for the construction of this useless structure, to be taken from the lands of citizens of Carroll County. In this, I doubt not, I will be sustained by the good sense of the people. If the State, or State Board of Internal Improvement, should build this useless lock, which can only benefit a few, and these few having a personal interest only, I am unwilling that the timber of our citizens shall be taken for such purpose. Another objection is, that if the river is to be kept open for steam-boats, then it becomes necessary to change the whole plan of the Public Works, as it will be impracti-
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cable to cross the river with canal-boats, on the pro- posed towing-path bridge at Carrollton. This matter is perfectly understood here, and all the interests con- nected will be duly explained to the people at a proper time.
There never was such a mass of business before the two Houses at one time as at the present; and much, I fear, must be left undone, or unacted on, if we ad- journ on the 19th.
Have the goodness to let my son read this after you have looked it over.
INDIANAPOLIS, Representative Chamber, February 12, 1838.
DEAR SIR,-I have this day received a communica- tion from General John Tipton, inclosing notice from the Post-office Department of the establishment of a post-office at Pittsburg, and the appointment of Nelson Blakslee post-master, and the removal of Pleasant Run Post-office to Pittsburg. Also, the establishment of a post-office at Carrollton, and the appointment of Israel Steel post-master. I have written to Messrs. Tipton and White on the subject of a tri-weekly mail from Frankfort via Delphi to Monticello; the daily mail from Indianapolis to Lafayette passes Frankfort and if we could have a branch route from that place through Delphi to Monticello, it would be to us an accommoda- tion. I have also written to Mr. White to obtain, if practicable, for the contractors on the mail-route from Lafayette to Logansport, the privilege of carrying the mail on horseback; the trip they are bound to go on the west side of the run, as I had been informed it was a great inconvenience to cross the stage and horses over the river once a week. If you think further ex- planation is necessary to obtain the accommodation to those contractors, you will please write to Mr. White, as he desires information on the subject.
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Both Houses have resolved to adjourn on the 19th, and there must be near one-half of the business of the session untouched. The revision is hardly commenced. The exciting questions of the bank and internal im- provements have consumed nearly one-half the time we have been here. The system has been curtailed in some respects ; that is, the New Albany and Crawfords- ville Railroad has been changed to a macadamized road, at a saving of $5,000,000. The Madison Railroad has also been changed to a macadamized road from In- dianapolis to Lafayette, at a saving of $2,500,000. We have in these two cases saved within $2,500,000 of the original estimated cost of the system, and it is yet be- lieved to be equal to $20,000,000. So much for the es- timates of engineers and canal commissioners.
A most animated debate has continued from day to day on the subject of the bank ; and it can yet hardly be determined what will be done. The general wish was to restore the supposed forfeiture of the charter with amendments, and at the same time increase the bank capital for the benefit of internal improvement. There is a party, however, who are disposed to restore the charter unconditionally, and not even to require re- sumption of specie payments, as a condition of an in- crease of State stock in the bank; to this I can never agree. To borrow $3,500,000 on the credit of the State, and place it in the vaults of a bank that refuses to re- deem its notes or liabilities of any description, and hav- ing at the same time evidence of gross mismanagement on the part of the bank, those who could sanction an increase of capital under such circumstances, can do more than I am willing to do. Notwishstanding, I am positively in favor of an increase of bank capital, with a view to the payment of interest on an internal im- provement loan.
There perhaps never has, nor never may be again, so
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many exciting subjects to engage the attention of our Legislature. The consequence has been that many of the most interesting subjects remain unacted on. For instance, the Militia Law, the Road Law, the bill incorpo- rating townships, though long since reported, can not be reached, and I think will not, until the session closes. This whole day has been spent in an angry contest about the bank. In the evening a joint resolution in- structing our delegation in Congress to use their exer- tions to cause all bank paper that pays specie for the notes, to be received in payment of public dues,-this was the fire-brand of party. The Whigs had a majority, and had therefore the power to pass it; but the Demo- crats took their hats in their hands and walked out, and left them without a quorum. We left them "alone in their glory." After several calls of the House, they at length obtained a quorum, and the Whigs passed a resolution to instruct Colonel Boone. No other needed it; all the balance would do their bidding, without in- struction. This is a specimen to show how uselessly the time of the Legislature is wasted.
On Saturday last we had a Democratic-Republican meeting of the members and citizens favorable to the present Administration, and had a most splendid address delivered by Robert Dale Owen, a copy of which I will send you as soon as printed, which will be in the course of a week. We have certainly used up the Whigs and System men in many cases, and we have succeeded over them, though in an acknowledged minority.
I will conclude by saying that our principles will soon be triumphant in Indiana, as they will be through- out the Union.
REPRESENTATIVE CHAMBER, January 23, 1839. DEAR SIR,-I have to inform you that, within the hour, the Modification Bill passed the House of Repre-
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sentatives. It is but little changed from the printed bill, except that the fifteenth section is stricken out. The bill is not what I could have wished, but it is as good as could be had ; the Senate has yet to pass on it; and perhaps, with the alterations that body will make in it, it may be improved. I consider the pas- sage of this bill, by the Modification Party, as the com- plete prostration of the System men. They fought it at every stage, and in all forms, but finally had to yield to superior numbers. Some of the System men had to call in Whiggery to their aid, to sustain them, begging them not to let Democrats take the System from them. All this would not do; we triumphed. If, now, we can secure the passage of the Valuation Law, we will have effected all that I had expected to attempt. There is a bill pending, doing away with imprisonment for debt, which will no doubt pass. The Revenue Bill will be reported to-morrow, and the people may make up their minds to pay fifty cents on the hundred dollars' worth of property ; either that, or the credit of the State must fail; and in that case we can procure no more loans. Nothing is yet said as to the time of adjournment.
REPRESENTATIVE CHAMBER, February 7, 1839.
DEAR SIR,- The Modification Bill has finally passed both Houses, and needs but the signature of the governor to become a law. The bill is not materi- ally changed from its original form, as it came from the committee, of which I had the honor to be chairman. This is the measure for which I have contended for three years, and it has finally succeeded.
On this morning, a bill passed this House, increasing the bank capital $5,000,000, and I doubt not it will pass the Senate. This bill is not all that I could have wished ; but the main point was to secure additional bank facilities to the people, and if we had coupled
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with the proposed inercase, propositions to amend the charter, we would have endangered the whole measure, as the bank has the power, under the charter, to accept the proposed increase of capital; and if we had imposed conditions, they might not think it for their interest to accept. I therefore voted for the proposed increase on the terms contained in the bill, and depend on other times for an opportunity to amend the bank charter.
One of the conditions of the capital is, that it must be discounted on, and the discounts extended to the several counties in proportion to the State tax paid by each ; doing away with the system of favoritism prac- ticed by the bank.
Much remains yet to be acted on in the two Houses, and we propose to adjourn on the 18th. I think we can not adjourn so soon, if we take a correct view of the interests of the State. The Revenue Bill is not yet acted on, and many others equally important.
I regret extremely to hear of the disastrous burn- ing in Delphi.
Yours, etc., DR. STEWART.
SAMUEL MILROY.
AARON HICKS,
ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AARON HICKS was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1800. His father soon after- ward emigrated to the western part of Pennsylvania, and, in the year 1807, to the vicinity of Marietta, Ohio. After residing in various counties in that state, he died in Shelby County, in 1822. In the Autumn of 1825, in company with three neighbors, and his brother Will- iam, Mr. Hicks came on an exploring tour to Indiana. They took the route down White River, and thence across to the Wabash, in Tippecanoe County. The settlement in that county had but just commenced.
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Lafayette contained but one comfortable house, and although this part of the state was then a wilderness, the party were so well pleased with its beautiful and extensive prairies, its rich and heavily timbered wood- lands, and its abundant springs of clear cold water, that they returned home and made immediate arrange- ments for emigration. In the Spring of 1836, Mr. Hicks, in company with his brother (who had a small family), left the state of Ohio for Indiana. The party assisted Messrs. Odell & Ridenhour to build a boat on the Mississinewa, which was loaded with bacon and apple-trees, on which boat the party took passage, and landed at the mouth of Rock Creek (now in Carroll County), on the 24th day of April. From the point at which they took the boat in Randolph County, to the mouth of Deer Creek, except a few trading-posts along the river, the country was entirely unsettled by the whites. A few families, in the Spring of 1825, landed at the mouth of Deer Creek, in a keel-boat which they had brought down the Scioto and Ohio Rivers to the mouth of the Wabash, and up the Wabash to this place. In the same Spring, Aaron Merriman (then unmar- ried) made an improvement on the bluff, a short dis- tance from the mouth of Rock Creek (being a part of the farm afterward owned by Jacob Kuns), and having no family, the Hicks family removed into the cabin of Merriman. At that time the settlers had neither mills, roads, or teams. By canoe they sought a little mill below Lafayette, where their corn was ground. In the ensuing Fall, Mr. Hicks built a cabin on the bank of the river, on land which he afterward purchased. On that same place he resided while he remained a citizen of the county. The same Fall Mr. H's mother and family arrived. He then had raised plenty of corn and potatoes; but in order to supply himself with meat, he took a pirogue and went to the mouth of Sugar
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