USA > Indiana > Carroll County > Recollections of the early settlement of Carroll County, Indiana > Part 6
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The Hon. C. B. Lasselle, of Logansport, then ad- dressed the meeting, and stated many interesting events in the first settlement of the county. Among other things, he gave a somewhat detailed history of a battle between a detachment of the army of General Hopkins, in 1812, and the Indians, in Carroll County, near where Morkert's (formerly Featherhoof's) mill, on Wild-cat, now stands.
The Hon. G. S. Orth being present, was called for, and gave a very interesting account of his recent trip to California over the Pacific Railroad, and his inter- view with Brigham Young.
From Cass County, there were in attendance, Job B. Elldridge and wife, William R. Davis and wife, G. R. Thomas and wife, John M'Millen and wife, Charles B. Lasselle and sister, Mrs. Cornwell, Mrs. Andrew M'Clure, Mrs. M. H. Gridley, Mrs. P. Dunkle, Mrs. B.
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Bronson, George Dewey and wife, T. B. Helm and son, and Richard Tyner. There may have been some others,. whose names have not been reported to us.
It may be proper in this connection to state some of the incidents attaching to the history of two or three or more of the individuals named.
Job B. Elldridge, of Logansport, was the first con- tractor for carrying the mails from Fort Wayne, through Logansport and Delphi, to Lafayette. At the first, the mail was carried on horseback, once in two weeks; and, as the increasing population of the valley developed the necessity, it was taken once in a week. The horse service soon gave place to the more im- proved system of mud-wagons, and these, in turn, to the hack and coach. As a pioneer in this department Mr. Elldridge is remembered by many of those early days for his zeal in furnishing them with news from their friends in the home-land. There are many items of special interest, as mementos of the past, connected with this individual, which we might with propriety re- produce at this time, were it not that our columns are already full. We promise, however, in a short time to favor our readers, as of yore, with further and thrilling reminiscences of the almost forgotten past. In this Mr. E. will figure quite extensively.
Richard Tyner related some of his experiences, as one of the " old settlers" of Delphi in particular, though shortly after, and now, a resident of Cass County. He says that in the Summer or Fall of 1831, the first steam-boat on the Upper Wabash was laden with dry- goods for Robert Gist. The goods were landed at a little " opening" near "Sampson's Ferry," where he, with Hiram Calvert, now, also, of Cass County, stood guard over them some six or seven days. The means of transit from that point to Delphi, the place of their destination, being only a "cart," owned, he says by
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Father Dewey, and the bayou, now occupied by the canal, full of water, and so muddy, their removal to the " store" required much time, patience, and perseverance, to consummate the enterprise. These goods constituted one among the first regular stores in Delphi.
Among other things, he stated that, about the same time, a few of the aspiring ones organized a body known as the Delphi Legislature, of which Dr. Stewart and a number of others were prominent members. He referred, as a notable incident, that not one of the mem- bers of that venerable body ever reached a seat in the Legislature of the State, notwithstanding their eminent legislative experience at home.
John M'Millen, then quite a young man, partici- pated in the erection of several domicils for the accom- modation of the enterprising settlers south and east of Delphi-during the period from 1824 to 1826.
Wm. R. Davis, " old settler," is also entitled to re- membrance for his judicions and timely handicraft in providing his fellow-settlers with " deer and squirrel rifles" of long and short range, with other parapher- nalia for the hunter and scout.
Charles B. Lasselle, whose energy and perseverance in preserving and bringing to light, for the use of pos- terity, the memorials of the past, made his own speech, and whose history, also, being well known, needs no further comment from us at this time.
T. B. Helm-who, it will be remembered, some years ago, wrote for the Journal a series of articles entitled " Historical Reminiscences of Carroll County"-mado his appearance, also, among the " old settlers," and par- ticipated in their festivities. He promises erelong to resume the publication of those Reminiscences for the benefit of the numerous readers of the Journal.
On account of a heavy rain-storm which occurred about four o'clock, many " old settlers" were prevented
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from relating their early experience. The crowd in attendance was estimated to be at least three thousand, and the reunion was among the most pleasant events in the history of the county.
OLD SETTLERS' FOURTEENTH MEETING.
August 27, 1870.
ABNER ROBINSON called the meeting to order, and, in the absence of the secretary, on motion, Isaac Jack- son was appointed secretary pro tem. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Brum, of Indianapolis, followed by singing by the " old settlers," and music by the Delphi Silver Cornet Band. The Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.
The following persons were admitted members of the Society : L. M. Graham, Delilah Stretch, Sarah A. Davis, Eleanor Jackson, Maria Sampson, Lucinda Baker, Lewis Runkle, Joseph Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge, W. W. Holmes, David Cobb, Anson Ballard, Eli Rohr- baugh, Wm. Adkinson, N. I. Malcom, J. G. Malcom, J. H. Johnson, N. A. Johnson, J. N. Cline, Harriet Cline, J. S. Armitage, Elizabeth Williamson, Wm. M'Cain, George J. Baum, Jane Baum, John Youghman, Elizabeth Cox, Margaret Charles.
The following deaths of "old settlers" was an- nounced :
John Tedford, February 12, 1870; Elizabeth Robin- son, February 12, 1870; S. B. Robinson, August 17, 1869 ; Ascinath Baum, March 31, 1870; John Ander- son, June 1, 1870; William Andrews ; Nancy Ball, August 26, 1870; Aaron Gregg, August 16, 1870; Abraham Deal; John Huntsington; Margaret David- son, April 17, 1868.
After these soelmn announcements, several of the members made short addresses, and, with music by the Silver Cornet Band and singing by the " old settlers,"
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the meeting adjourned to meet the second Saturday in August, 1871.
OLD SETTLERS' FIFTEENTH MEETING.
August 12, 1871.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MEETING.
THE " old settlers" of Carroll County assembled at the Milroy grove on Saturday last, the 12th instant.
Present: Abner Robinson, President; James H. Stewart, Secretary; James Odell, John B. Milroy, and Thomas Stirlin, the Executive Committee; and a large number of the members of the " Old Settlers' " Society.
By request, the call published in the Weekly Times and Dollar Journal, the 1st day of June, 1855, preced- ing the organization of the Society, was read as follows :
OLD SETTLERS' MEETING.
THE undersigned hereby request all the citizens of Carroll County who settled here prior to the year 1831, to meet at the court-house in Delphi, at 10 A. M., on the 9th day of June next, for the purpose of spending a social day in reviewing scenes of the olden time; and also with a view of forming a society for per- petuating the early history of this county. All persons who have been inhabitants of this county prior to the time above named, are requested, before the day of the meeting , to reduce tc writing the history, so far as they may remember it, of this county up to the 1st day of January, 1831, and particularly anecdotes of the early settlement, and incidents calculated to throw light upon the early history of the county. Signed by
ABNER ROBINSON,
JAMES ODELL,
W. B. GIVINS,
C. M. D. WILSON,
A. W. GILLAM,
G. C. SANDERSON,
JAMES ALLDRIDGE,
H. M. GRAHAM,
DANIEL BAUM, SR.,
JOSEPH KUNS,
THOMAS STIRLIN, ENOCH STANSEL,
WILLIAM McCAIN, J. R. BALLARD,
JAMES H. STEWART.
After the reading of the above call, prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Rice, of Indianapolis.
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Sanford C. Cox, Esq., of Lafayette, was then intro- duced, and entertained the audience by the relation of many incidents connected with the early settlement of the Wabash. With his father, he emigrated to Craw- fordsville, in October, 1824. He remembered the time when only three inhabitants lived north of Crawfords- ville, in the whole of what is now Northern Indiana. When a boy, Mr. Cox had his thigh broken, and it be- came necessary to amputate the leg. A runner was sent a distance of one hundred miles to Dr. Shuler, of Terre Haute, requesting his professional services in perform- ing the operation. The messenger found the doctor in an adjoining county, where he was electioneering for Congress against Ratliff Boone. He suspended the electioneering canvass for a few days, visited Crawfords- ville, and amputated the leg. Mr. Cox remembered when people wondered whether the Wild-cat and the Shawnee Prairies would ever be settled up.
At the conclusion of Mr. Cox's address, which was listened to with marked attention, the crowd, number- ing three or four thousand, adjourned for dinner.
At a quarter past one o'clock, the audience met at the stand, and the first thing was singing by the "old settlers'" choir, led by Austin J. Williamson, and com- posed, among others, of Dr. J. C. Todd, James Odell, Robert Holt, Thos. Stirlin, Mrs. E. Holt, and Mrs. Straw- bridge.
After the singing, several interesting relics were ex- hibited by Major Buford, the committee appointed to take charge of such articles as might be placed in his hands. Among other things exhibited, was a powder- horn taken from an Indian who had been killed by Mr. Lucas, the gentleman who was the owner of the born.
On motion of James H. Stewart, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :
.
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Whereas, in view of the fact that this county is not the owner of any public grounds suitable for county fairs or other public meetings; and,
Whereas, the interest and convenience of the whole community demand that suitable land should be purchased for the use of the citizens of this county, in holding county fairs, "old settlers' " meetings, and gatherings on other occasions of general interest ; therefore,
Resolved, That the Board of County Commissioners of Carroll County be requested to purchase - acres of land convenient to the county-seat, to be used in the holding of county fairs, "old settlers' " meetings, and meetings on other public occasions.
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the presi- dent of this Society to circulate petitions asking the county commissioners to purchase public grounds for the purposes afore- said; and that said committee be requested to act as a permanent committee until the purposes for which it is appointed shall be accomplished.
Messrs. Vine Holt, Robert Fisher, and M. R. Graham were appointed the committee.
The following resolution was then offered by A. J. Williamson :
Resolved, That the president appoint a committee of five to select a location for holding our annual meetings, as near the geo- graphical center of the county as can be secured, and recommend the same to be purchased by the Board of County Commissioners.
The following gentlemen were appointed as the above committee: A. Williamson, R. Holt, A. Porter, John Milroy, and John Pollard.
The following persons enrolled themselves as mem- bers of the " Old Settlers'" Society : E. Segraves, Isaac Watson, John Sidenbender, Eli Wingard, J. C. Todd, Lewis W. Wood, G. W. Sinks, W. M. Wyatt, Benj. Lucas, W. Hornback, M. Bair, Geo. Speece, J. Granthem, Mary F. Buford, L. Speece, S. Mills, D. P. Cline and John Curtner.
The deaths of the following named members of the "Old Settlers'" Society were announced : Wm. Atkinson,
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Henry Seibert, Lucinda Greenup, John Hardy, Isaac Lake, R. H. Thompson, and J. Boylan.
The Hon. Godlove S. Orth, of Lafayette, being on the ground, was loudly called for, and made a very interest- ing little speech.
Also, J. D. Hance, now of Fort Wayne (son of Captain Hance, formerly county commissioner), who was raised in this county, having been called out, entertained the audience greatly to its satisfaction.
The meeting then adjourned until the second Satur- day of August, 1872, at a place to be designated by the Executive Committee.
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CHAPTER VIII.
"O. P. Q."
TN the Spring of 1849, the author published several communications in the Weekly Times (then pub- lished by Messrs. Applegate & Graham), over the signa- ture of " O. P. Q."
A few of these are here inserted.
EARLY HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
MR. BAUM came to this county in the Spring of 1825, having attended the land sales at Crawfordsville, and purchased his land in the Fall of 1824. Robert Mitchell, Sr., Robert Mitchell, Jr., Jacob Banm, and John Kistler, accompanied Mr. B. in his keel-boat; erected shanties, and raised corn, in the bottom adjoining town, the first season. It was there, in the Summer of 1825, the first white child was born in Carroll County, Mrs. Kistler being the mother.
When Mr. Baum came to this county, in the Spring of 1825, the only white persons residing in the county were, Henry Robinson, Mr. Angell, Mr. Black, and Aaron Merriman. Until the Fall of 1826, the first set- tlers had all of their grinding done at a little mill, erected by a Mr. Stansbury, on a little stream a mile or two below Lafayette.
In the Fall of 1826, Henry Robinson built his mill. It was not very prepossessing in appearance, but was of great service to the inhabitants. Just below the mill,
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in a small cave, which may be seen in the bank of Deer Creek, was a celebrated rattlesnake-den; and the writer recollects that the first time he ever saw that cave, a hunter had just shot a large rattlesnake, a few feet back in the cave, and was dragging it out. A den, from which many rattlesnakes came forth every spring, was formerly to be seen on the bank of the creek just below the late Isaac Wilson's residence, and Mrs. Griffith (wife of the late Judge Griffith) told the writer stories about rattlesnakes in the neighborhood of Griffith's mill, that have made him dream of snakes for many nights. Large rattlesnakes were alarmingly plenty. But as the county became settled, their snakeships have disappeared, until now it is a very rare occurrence to see one.
NUMBER III.
ON the 7th day of January, 1828, the act for the formation of Carroll County passed the Legislature, and on the 12th day of May, in the same year, the first Board of County Commissioners met at the house of Daniel Baum. The Board consisted of Jacob Baum, Aaron Hicks, and Graham Roberts. At that meeting, Daniel Baum was appointed treasurer of the county ; Henry B. Milroy was appointed collector; Joseph M'Cain and David M'Combs were appointed con- stables ; Isaac Griffith and Daniel F. Vandeventer were licensed to keep store.
Henry B. Milroy was appointed, by the Governor, sheriff, to organize the county, and at the August elec- tion, 1828, was elected sheriff, Stephen A. Miller being his opponent.
On the 15th day of May, 1828, Enos Lowe, Frederick Moore, Asa B. Strong, Samuel Jessup, and Josiah Briant, the commissioners appointed by the General Assembly, located the seat of justice at Delphi. Samuel Milroy was appointed the first county agent. On the
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CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
second Monday in August, 1828, the agent, after giving notice in the Indiana Journal, Terre Haute Register, and a paper at Dayton, Ohio, proceeded to sell the first lots offered for sale in Delphi.
In the Spring of 1829, Joseph Dunham opened the first tavern in a hewed log house, on the lot occupied by Henry Gros as a dwelling. The next tavern was opened by a Mr. Hays, in the house since occupied by Robert M. Larimer. Hays sold out and quit the country pretty soon, and Samuel Hulry kept the same house for a year or two.
NUMBER IV.
THE Summer of 1828 proved very disastrous to the few citizens then residing in Delphi. Being all new- comers, unacclimated, moving into a new place in tempo- rary habitations, with but little to eat except fish and fresh provisions, the consequences might very easily have been foreseen. They were all taken sick. Such a result, under the circumstances, only could have been ex- pected ; and so it required many years for the town to recover from the effects of that one Summer's sickness. Rival towns, in particular, were determined to vote Delphi a "sickly " place, and emigrants and others, on their way to the Wabash, in search of a home, were sure to be warned to shun Delphi. How little justice there was in these oft-repeated assertions, may be gathered from the fact, that in four years, from 1830 to 1834, only one adult person, Joseph G. Glass, died in the town.
In the Spring of 1830, Delphi could boast of three stores : Gavin Black, who kept where Anthony Foust has since held forth in the blacksmith line; Judge Griffith, in a little frame, across from the market house ; and Isaac Martin, on the lot occupied by Dewey and C. E. Balles, in a one-story frame, afterward removed down Franklin Street, and turned into a pottery, and.
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since owned by the red-headed Dutchman, Kaufman. About the 1st of July, 1830, M'Carty & Morris opened a stock of goods in the house now owned by Spears, Dugan & Co., and formerly occupied by Captain Gist. In the Spring of 1831, Robert C. Gist, opened a store in the house on the corner above Bowen's brick, form- erly occupied by Daniel B. Doggatt as a cooper-shop.
In the Summer of 1830, most of the citizens had the " ague," and the town improved but little. Joe Dunham moved into his new tavern, above Ewing's store, on Main Street, but was burned down, together with the whole block, in the memorable fire of February, 1839. About the 1st of July, in the same year, the first lawyer, Henry Chase, made his location in the town. In April, the logs were rolled on the Public Square. Courts were held in a log school-house adjoining William Barnett's lot (the same on which he has since erected his brick house), and the clerk's office was kept in a little frame in the center of the Public Square. That little frame, after traveling to various points of the town, was at length wedged in between C. E. Bolles's and Lewis Martin's store. Dr. Vandeventer was the clerk, recorder, and post-master, all kept in that house, together with the County Library, Dr. White's shop, and Chase's law- office; William George, Justice of the Peace and County Treasurer. Enoch Cox kept a boarding-house in the Indiana House, lately owned by Dr. Williams. Henry B. Milroy resigned the office of sheriff, in 1829, and James Miller succeeded him, and served until the August election, 1830, at which time John M. Pinkston was elected. The vote stood : Pinkston, 55 ; Miller, 50; Hop- kinson, 50; Bozarth, 36.
NUMBER V.
IT is not the intention, in preparing these papers, to follow any particular arrangement of facts, but to
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CARROLL COUNTY, INDIANA.
speak of matters and things as they may occur to my mind.
All the "old settlers" will recollect James Odell Sr., (father of our county clerk.) As Mr. Odell was one of the first citizens of Carroll County, it may not be uninteresting to know something of his history, inasmuch as a portion of that history is identified with that of the county. He was born in South Carolina, in the year 1765, and although young, served a short time as a volunteer, during the Revolutionary War. In the year 1800, he moved to the state of Ohio, and in 1810, he came to Wayne County, in this state. In the Fall of 1824, Odell, together with his whole family, including three sons-in-law, Benjamin D. Angell, John Carey, and Aaron Wiles, started to the Wabash, with the intention of making Carroll County their permanent home. The Odell family, together with that of Henry Robinson, who started about the same time from Montgomery County, Ohio, were the first pioneers.
Robinsons came up, a few weeks previous to the other. Aaron Merriman moved in, the same Spring ; and about the first of May, in the same year, Daniel Baum, and the families who accompanied him in his keel-boat, settled in the bottom below town, as related in previous numbers. Mr. Odell at first settled on the land, afterward purchased by Isaac Wilson. He died in 1845, universally beloved. Under a rough exterior he possessed a heart ever alive to the kindliest sensibilities; and the writer of this will never forget that, a few months after his settlement in Delphi, when taken sick among strangers, unknown, un- friended, and uncared for, the old gentleman took him home with him, attended to his wants, and nursed him as if he had been his son. He was one of nature's noblemen-" an honest man."
It may be seen that the county increased in popula-
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tion very slowly from 1825 to 1828. The reason was, the land in this section of the country was offered for sale in the Fall of 1824; but being far in the wilderness,, but little of it was purchased at the first sale. As the General Government had donated each alternate section of land, for five miles on each side, for the purpose of constructing the Wabash and Erie Canal, the land east of Tippecanoe River was withheld from sale until the canal lands were selected by the agents of the State. The land in this section of the country was not open for purchase from 1826 until the Spring of 1830, at which time it was again offered for public sale at Crawfords- ville.
NUMBER VI.
HENRY ROBINSON was born near Gettysburg, in Pennsylvania, in the year 1778. At a very early age, Mr. Robinson's parents removed with their family, to Washington County, in that state, at a time when the best house in that whole region of country was a log-cabin. When Mr. R. was seventeen years of age, the family re- moved to Scott County, Kentucky, where he lived until the Spring of 1806. He was married in Kentucky, in the Spring of 1799. In the Spring of 1806, he settled in Miami County, Ohio, where he resided five years ; and in 1811, he located on Mad River, in Montgomery County, Ohio, where he rebuilt a mill in 1818. He re- mained at that place until the Fall of 1824, at which time he removed to this county.
Mr. Robinson died in July, 1845, universally re- spected. As a mechanic, he had few equals, as the mill now owned by Bulger & Co., built mostly by him- self and sons, bears ample proof. As a member of the Church and of the community, he was always straight- forward and upright; and although sometimes giving offense by his rigid adherence to what he thought right,
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every one, upon reflection, was bound to give him credit for honesty and strict integrity.
In the Spring of 1827, Aaron Dewey came, with his family, to this place. He built a log-eabin on the hill, near the house since occupied by John Marsh and Miss Sallie Robinson. He resided in that house until the Spring of 1829, at which time he built and removed into the house now owned by Joseph Assion. In 1828, Mr. Dewey made brick over on the hill, and the same year built the first brick house erected in the county ; or, rather, the first two briek houses. These houses still stand as monuments of the architecture of that day. They belong to Vine Holt, and are located on the south-west corner of the Public Square.
The first house built in Delphi was a little frame, in the corner lately occupied by George W. Pigman. This was in the Fall of 1828. The same day the little frame was put up, the log part of the house, now owned by S. D. M'Intosh, was erected for the Rev. James Crawford ; and in the ensuing Winter, the log school-house, on the lot adjoining William Barnett's, was built. For many years that school-house was used for every imaginable purpose,-courts, schools, singing-schools, church, mock legislature, debating society, shows, political speeches, and many other things, "too tedious to mention."
Mr. Dewey was the first school-master. He taught school in a cabin adjoining the one in which he resided, in 1827.
The Rev. Mr. Crawford came to this county in the Fall of 1827, and remained here in charge of the Pres- byterian Church until the year 1835.
NUMBER VIII.
JAMES ALLDRIDGE came from Knox County, Tennes- see, to Carroll County, in November, 1828. At that time,
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General Milroy, Daniel M'Cain, John Carey, George Diffendaffer, John Little, Thomas Stirlin, Samuel Wise, and John Odell, were residing on the road between the points now known as Delphi and Camden. At that time, Elisha Brown, Moses Alldridge, Jeremiah and John Ballard, were all residing on the land they had previously purchased, on the south side of Deer Creek; and being all of them unmarried, they were "going it alone," or, in other words, keeping " bachelors' hall." It was this circumstance that gave the name to that beautiful little creek which empties into Deer Creek at Wise's saw-mill, " Bachelors' Run." It was not long after that, that all the bachelors took wives; but the creek still retained its name notwithstanding. Jerry Ballard married a daughter of Daniel Baum; John Ballard, a daughter of John Robbins; Moses Alldridge, a daughter of Mr. Hewitt. Elisha Brown resisted the charms of the fair sex much the longest; but he, too, finally laid down the weapons of rebellion, and married one of the daughters of Mr. John Wingart.
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