USA > Indiana > Carroll County > Recollections of the early settlement of Carroll County, Indiana > Part 7
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James Alldridge camped, on his first arrival in this county, against a big log, on the land now owned by Joseph M'Cain.
Captain Hance came to this county in the Winter of 1828-29, and located on the farm since owned by John E. Snoeberger.
In one of my former numbers I stated that Aaron Dewey was the first "school-master." So he was, but he was not the first "school-teacher." Miss Sarah Rob- inson taught the first school, in her father's old log house, now torn down. This was in the Summer and Fall of 1827. General Robert H. Milroy, John and Samnel Milroy, Baum's, Manary's, Angell's, Dewey's, and Odell's children made up her school. Miss Sally would scarcely recognize, in the strapping six-footers of some of her scholars, the urchins of that day.
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In the month of March, 1831, the writer of this was at the pains of taking the census of Delphi. The following shows the names of the heads of families, with the number of persons comprising the same: William M'Crery, 5; William George, 2; Enoch Cox, 14 ; landlord, Isaac Martin, 7; Isaac Griffith, 11 ; - Birkit, 3; John M. Pinkston, 6; Samuel Carpenter, 3; Aaron Dewey, 8; Andrew Wood, 3 ; J. Mills, 3; Jacob Humerickhouse, 7; Jacob Watson, 4; Henry Sidenben- der, 6 ; Francis Ludlow, 8; Silas H. Seeley, 3; Widow Wilson, 5 ; Jacob Bross, 5; Thomas Pike, 5; Martin Thornberry, 3; William Craig, 5; Jacob Starr, 6; Samuel Thompson, 4; James Crawford, 4. Whole num- ber, 130. Single males over twenty-one, 17; single ladies over fourteen, 6; number of voters, 41.
THE "DELPHI ORACLE."
THE Delphi Oracle newspaper was established in the Summer of 1835, by Mr. Robert C. Green, and was the first paper ever published in the county, although Dr. Robert R. Webber and W. Clymer began the publica- tion of the Banner within a very few days after the appearance of the Oracle. The author has been unable to procure any copies of that paper prior to Vol. III, No. 9, September 15, 1838, at which date Henry B. Milroy was the editor. The copy of the date named contains a communication on the subject of shade- trees-another giving a description of the emigration of the Pottawatomie Indians, the tribe having passed down on the west side of the Wabash River a few days prior, on their way to their new home west of the Mis- sissippi. He describes the procession as being "very imposing, occupying a distance of perhaps three miles, accompanied by some thirty or forty troops; the whole (for the present) under the direction of General Tipton, who intended to place them under the care of Judge
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Polke after they leave the state line." The writer con- cludes as follows: "While speaking on this subject, permit me to remark, that to General Tipton belongs the greatest praise for his efforts to quell the feeling of insubordination lately manifested by the Indians on the subject of emigration. It is my firm belief that no other individual in the world could have got them off without great trouble and perhaps bloodshed."
The paper also gives a list of seminary trustees, appointed by the county commissioners. The follow- ing is the list : For the town of Delphi-James H. Stewart, James P. Dugan, Henry B. Milroy ; for Deer- creek Township-George C. Saunderson ; Tippecanoe- Frederick Dosch ; Jefferson-James M'Cully ; Adams- John Grantham; Rock Creek-Enoch Stansel ; Jack- son-Jonathan Martin; Washington-John Shanks ; Carrollton-John Irwin; Burlington-John Calvert ; Democrat-William Dawson ; Clay-Joshua Simpson ; Madison-Michael Kite.
A year or two after the establishment of the Oracle, H. B. Milroy carried it on for some time ; but, the latter part of 1838, R. C. Green again appeared as the editor, and continued to conduct the same until toward the close of 1839, at which time he finally ceased his con- nection with it.
In 1840, Mr. Green commenced the Express, in Delphi, and warmly advocated the election of General Harrison. A few years afterward, he removed to Cincinnati. In May, 1846, in company with his wife and three chil- dren, he started for the Wabash on the steamer Pink, and on the 25th day of that month, the Pink came in collision with a large boat, and sunk in a very short time, drowning Mr. Green and his whole family, and several others. This was the fate of the man who started the first paper in Delphi. A very melancholy one indeed.
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On the 4th day of September, 1841, Mr. James Coleman started a paper, which he also called the Delphi Oracle ; but that paper, however, had no connec- tion with the paper established by Mr. Green.
THE DELPHI HOUSE.
THE old frame building at the foot of Main Street was, some twenty-five years since, a notable tavern- stand, and was kept at one time by Mr. Guyger. It was built by Chevalier Richardson, elected recorder of the county in 1834. I have an advertisement before me signed, “A. Richardson, C. Richardson his agent, Delphi, Indiana," which gives notice that said stand was for rent, and going on to speak of it thus : " This large and splendid tavern-stand in Delphi will be completed by the 4th of July next, and will be for rent. This house con- tains forty-five rooms, which will be finished off in the most convenient and elegant style; and a cellar the entire length of the house (one hundred and twenty feet). The stable is sufficiently commodious to receive horses without inconvenience; and the other buildings attached to the establishment will be well fitted up. The house is situated at the lower end of Main Street, in Delphi, in the most eligible location, as it com- mands a view of the river, the canal, and the town. It is presumed to be unnecessary here to speak of the advantages and prosperity of Delphi, as both must be too well known to require commendation. I will barely remark that it is the opinion of men well qualified to judge, that the day is not distant when Delphi will be the largest town on the Wabash River. In the nature of things, this must be the case." (April 28, 1838.)
When we look at the above " puff," and then at the dilapidated building at the " lower end of Main Street," an involuntary smile comes over the countenance, and we conclude that human wisdom is not very far-sighted !
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CHAPTER IX. RECOLLECTIONS OF EARLY SETTLERS.
JAMES BLAKE.
(THE " old settlers" of Carroll County look upon James Blake as a public benefactor. Although never a citizen of the county, he lived here for several months, during each year, for several years. He had an establishment for curing ginseng on General Milroy's farm, and purchased a large quantity of that root, for which he paid out thousands of dollars annually; and it is a well-known fact that many of the early pioneers raised from this source alone a sufficient amount of money to enable them to purchase their land from Government.
Mr. B. was a man of marked influence with the first settlers, and they had the most unbounded confidence in his integrity. Strictly pious, honorable and straight- forward in all his dealings, he made a decided and most favorable impression upon the people. He attended the first sale of lots in Delphi; and on the day of the sale, he headed a subscription for the erection of the old log school-house. The contract for the building was made on the spot, and in about ten days the house was up and completed. He immediately organized a Sun- day-school, of which he took the supervision on all oceasions, during his stay in the county. The weight of his character and influence was felt most sensibly on the side of religion, morality, and virtue. He assisted the good men who first came here, to give the young
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community a start in the right direction, and that in- fluence is seen up to the present day.
Mr. Blake was born in the county of York, Pennsyl- vania, on the 3d day of March, 1791. In his early years, at the time when nearly all the goods that were consumed in the valley of the Ohio, were brought by wagon across the mountains, he drove a six-horse team from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. He continued thus oeeu- pied from 1812 to 1818. During the War, at the time the British army was threatening Baltimore, he volun- teered in the company of Captain Bishler, and marched to that city. He remained in the army until the danger was over, a period of about three months, till the troops were disbanded. He proceeded to Washing- ton with his team, and hauled a cannon from that city to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the trip occupying about three weeks.
In the Summer of 1818, such was the financial em- barrassment of the county, and its effects on all branches of business, that teaming became quite dull, and Mr. B. accordingly sold out.
In the Fall of 1818, he set out for an extensive tour through the Western country, on horseback. He passed through Pittsburg, Beaver, Canton, New Philadelphia, and at Springfield, Ohio, spent a week or ten days with some old friends; thence by way of Xenia and Lebanon to Cincinnati. The Queen City, at that time, was noth- ing but a small village. He then proceeded to Louis- ville, Ky., by way of Lawrenceburg, Vevay, Madison, and Charleston. From Louisville he went to Corydon, Indiana, at which place he arrived between Christmas and New-Year. The Legislature of the new State was then in session, and Mr. B. made many acquaintances and friends, which have lasted through life.
From Corydon the traveler went to Vincennes, and on the way made the acquaintance of Judge Blackford
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and Thomas H. Blake. The country was a wilderness, the road nothing but an Indian trace, and for a consider- able distance the party carried their pistols in their hands, looking out for robbers, by whom they expected to be attacked, judging from the awful reports they had heard respecting that part of the country.
He remained at Vincennes two or three days. At that time the Old Post, as Vincennes was generally desig- nated, was much the most flourishing town in Indiana. It contained between thirty and forty stores, and an immense business was done, particularly by the Ewings.
From Vincennes he went to Terre Haute; found a rude court-house, and the clerk's office in a cabin, but no tavern; and he had to ride up to Fort Harrison, about three or four miles above the little village, to procure lodging for the night. Major Churn, and several other United States officers, were there at the time. He crossed the Wabash River at Terre Haute, and returned by way of Palestine to Vincennes. He then went to St. Louis, which at that time did not contain a single public house, and nothing in the shape of one, except a board- ing-house. After remaining one day, he went to Kas- kaskia, and found the Illinois Legislature in session, being its first. He was very much disgusted with things about Kaskaskia. From the Governor down to the lowest official, all were playing cards and drinking whisky. He remained about twenty-four hours, and set out again for Vincennes-nothing but a dim trail for a road, and in some places from forty to sixty miles between cabins. Mr. B. then returned to his home in Pennsylvania, by way of New Albany, Louisville, Frankfort, Lexington, Maysville, Chillicothe, Lan- caster, Wheeling, Washington and Pittsburg. He arrived at home on the 4th day of April, 1819, having started on his journey the 21st day of the preceding November.
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While at Corydon, Indiana, he had heard of the new purchase, and then determined that whenever the seat of Government should be located, he would emigrate there. Having learned that Indianapolis had been selected, he left Pennsylvania with a view of making that place his home, on the 25th day of May, 1821. At Pittsburg he took the steamer Henry Baldwin for Louis- ville, at which place the boat arrived in nine days ! He crossed over to New Albany on the 9th of June and remained there until the middle of July. Having purchased a horse, in company with his friend West, who was the owner of a wagon, the two set out for Indianapolis, at which place they arrived on the 25th day of July, 1821. The sale of land was then progress- ing at Brookville ; and the lots in Indianapolis were sold the ensuing October. Mr. B. followed surveying until the Fall of 1823, at which time he entered into partnership with Samuel Henderson, in the hotel busi- ness, and the two kept the "Washington Hall." He pursued this business two or three years, at the end of which time a Dr. Helin visited Indianapolis and formed a partnership with him in the purchase and cure of ginseng. Their first location was in Putnam County, at a place which took the name of Blakesburg. They carried on that establishment four or five years; and at that time, by paying Major Isaac Elston, who then had a little store in Crawfordsville, the cash for ginseng, he was enabled to give that enterprising gentleman a start, which, many think, laid the foundation for the fortune afterward acquired by him.
The ginseng-root becoming scarce in the region of country around Blakesburg, Mr. B. started persons out to look for a place where it could be found in greater quantity. These persons reported that the article was found in great abundance above Wild-cat (north of Lafayette). In fact, such quantities were then in that
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location, that wagon-loads were brought to Blakesburg from there.
In May, 1827, Mr. B. took a tour to the Upper Wabash. Longley (a French trader, married to an Indian woman, about three miles above Lafayette) in- formed him as to the best places to find ginseng, and particularly spoke of the Deer Creek country. Mr. B. came up to Mr. Daniel Baum's, who kept tavern in the bottom below, where Delphi was afterward located. He visited General Milroy, and remained in the neighbor- hood a week. He leased a tract of a few acres of land from General M., and entered into a contract with Joseph M'Cain for the erection of the necessary buildings. The ensuing Winter, General M. went to Indianapolis, with the view of urging the passage of an act for the organ- ization of the new county. In this matter he received the active co-operation of Mr. Blake; and the two blocked out the counties in the Upper Wabash, so that the county-seats would necessarily be located on the river. This wise arrangement was subsequently adopted by the Legislature with the most beneficial results.
In August, 1827, he commenced the purchase and cure of ginseng at his factory, on General Milroy's farm, and remained there until late in the Fall, his brother Jesse, in the mean time, overseeing the Blakesburg establishment. In August, 1828, he was again at his post. He attended the first sale of lots in Delphi, and not only inaugurated the building of the school-house, as heretofore named, but also the erection of a house for the Rev. James Crawford, a Presbyterian minister, recently located in the settlement; the school-house being the first, and Mr. Crawford's the second, house built on the new town-plot.
Mr. B. carried on the ginseng business at his estab- lishment above Delphi, until the close of 1830-four years-at which time his lease on General Milroy's land
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expired. After closing his Carroll County factory, he established one near Logansport, which he carried on two years. In 1832, he set one in operation at Frankfort ; in 1833, another at Marion; and in 1834, another at Leesburg, Kosciusko County. He finally discontinued that trade in 1835.
Mr. B. always laughed heartily when relating a cir- cumstance which occurred, perhaps the first season he was located above Delphi. One of the men employed by him represented, one morning, that he felt very badly, and must have some whisky. Mr. B. told him to mount the horse, and go down to Father Baum's and -procure some, he taking a jug along. On his return, a bear came cantering along pretty close to the horse, which so frightened the animal that he ran away. The men at the factory, upon looking down the road, saw man and horse coming toward them, Gilpin- like, with the fleetness of a deer. But the most amusing part was to witness the superhuman efforts made by the rider to save the jug. His efforts were successful, and the " O be joyful" came, without the loss of a drop!
It is proper to add, before closing this brief sketch, that Mr. Blake was married on the 29th day of March, 1831, to Miss Eliza Sprole, of Baltimore, Maryland, by whom he had four sons.
Mr. B. discontinued the ginseng business in 1835; and his work was principally confined to the city of Indianapolis. He was universally acknowledged to be one of the most useful, energetic, and public-spirited citizens during his day. He led the van in every im- provement. His name was always found at the head of the list in every benevolent enterprise. It may be truly said that his name is identified with the pros- perity of the city of his residence. His heart was the
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home of benevolence, and the poor and friendless were sure to find in him a ready ear and willing hand.
Such is but a very imperfect account of a man whose life has been made up of noble, unselfish, and benevolent works.
COLONEL ZIBA HOLT.
ZIBA HOLT was born August 25, 1769, in the town of Hampton, county of Windham, state of Connecticut. He had four brothers and six sisters. His birth-place was about seven miles from the residence of General Israel Putnam. Heremembered many incidents of the Revolutionary War, and particularly that soldiers were quartered in the neighborhood. When he was nineteen or twenty years of age, he assisted to bury General Put- nam ; the general having selected the men who were to take charge of his funeral prior to his decease, the sub- ject of this sketch being one of them. He was buried with the honors of war.
Colonel H. remembered many anecdotes of General Putnam. Among others was the following: One day he met a poor boy, who had on a very ragged shirt, of whom he asked, how much he would take for it. The boy replied, "A new one," and the general immediately answered, " You shall have two;" and they were presented accordingly.
When Colonel H. was about sixteen years of age, he went to learn the blacksmith trade, in the neighbor- hood of his birth, and continued in his apprenticeship until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years. After- ward he worked as a journeyman till he was twenty- five years old. He then went to the city of New York, and remained, working at his trade about a year and a half; after which he pursued the same avocation in Mount Pleasant, Morris County, New Jersey.
On the 16th day of February, 1800, in company
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with three others, he started for the then wilderness of Kentucky-the party commencing the journey in two sleighs. Upon arriving in Washington County, Penn- sylvania, they purchased a flat-bottomed boat, and floated down the Ohio River to a point eight or ten miles below the mouth of the Kentucky River (on the Kentucky side, in Gallatin County), where they arrived some time in April, 1800. The village of Milton was afterward laid out at the point where the party landed. Colonel H. purchased one hundred acres of land on the hill opposite Madison, Indiana, where he made a-" dead- ening," worked at his trade ; and himself and a man by the name of Hoagland were the first to ent a stick of timber on the river-bottom at that point.
He remained there nearly one year ; then hired as a hand on a flat-bottomed boat from the neighborhood of Frankfort, and started for New Orleans. His wages amounted to sixty dollars. Remained at New Orleans two or three weeks; then took a sailing-vessel called the Herald, and sailed for New York, at which place he arrived after a tedious voyage, having been becalmed for a long time in sight of the island of Cuba. He arrived in New York in the month of June or July, and after remaining about ten days, went to his father's house in Connecticut.
About the 1st of June, 1802, he returned to his land in Kentucky. He put up a blacksmith-shop near his land, and worked at his trade the same time he was im- proving his farm. He carried on his trade very exten- sively for a new country-working three fires. At one time his shop and every thing contained therein was burned up; but such was his energy that in sixteen days he had his shop rebuilt and was at work again.
Colonel H. was married to his first wife, Miss Pen - elope King, in the year 1805. His wife lived but four or five years, at the end of which time she died of con-
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sumption, leaving three children. About one year after. the death of his first wife, he married Miss Lucinda Wood, by whom he had eight children. His second wife died on the 15th day of March, 1825.
Colonel H. was in the battle of New Orleans, on the right bank of the river. He left Kentucky as captain of a company, in the Fall of 1814. The troops floated to New Orleans on flat-bottomed boats. The boats con- tained no arms, the troops expecting to draw them upon arriving at the end of their journey; but the arms were not received until some time after the battle. The Kentucky troops reached New Orleans on the 4th day of January ; but having no arms, they could be of but little service. On the night before the battle, that por- tion of the Kentucky troops to which Captain Holt be- longed, was ordered to cross the river. Upon their arrival, about daylight, on the 8th of January, in the vicinity of the camp of General Morgan, they were ordered to repair immediately to the river to prevent the British from landing. Colonel Davis was the supe- rior officer. They soon saw the British approaching, and the troops sent to oppose them not numbering more than one hundred, the little force retreated to some old saw-mills, at which place a stand was made; but upon the approach of the enemy in large numbers, the Ken- tuckians were again compelled to fall back. They re- crossed the river on the 9th. During the action on the right bank of the river, Colonel H. never saw General Morgan, the commanding officer, and he always enter- tained the opinion that General M. acted cowardly and badly. The order " to prevent the British from land- ing," was given them by Morgan's aid.
The Kentuckians remained on the battle-field until the 18th of March, at which time they were marched to Camp Washington, seven miles in the rear of Natchez. Colonel H. was ordered to remain at that place and
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take charge of the sick, and give them assistance in their homeward march. Finally, after his arduous du- ties in taking care of the sick at Camp Washington, he returned home, where he arrived in July, 1815. During his stay in the lower country he was breveted major.
Upon his return, he found that the Governor of Ken- tucky had appointed him a major in the State militia. He was afterward appointed a lieutenant-colonel, then colonel, and afterward a brigadier-general ; but this last commission he refused to accept. He commanded the Fifty-first Regiment of Kentucky Militia for a great many years; and for more than thirty years he was an officer of the militia of that State. He first commenced his military life as orderly-sergeant in a company in the city of New York.
In August, 1828, in company with Captain Andrew Wood, Colonel H. came to Carroll County, and selected three or four lots of land. While in the neighborhood, they remained with Elisha Brown. He employed Daniel M'Cain to deaden sixty acres of his land, build a cabin, and put a fence around the same. After re- maining about one week, they returned home. In August, 1829, he removed one load of his goods to his new home in Carroll County, and about the 20th day of October, 1829, with his family, he arrived at his cabin. His neighbors were Elisha Brown, Daniel E. M'Cain, John and Jeremiah Ballard, and James M'Cain.
Colonel H. departed this life at the residence of his son, Vine Holt, in Delphi, on the 6th day of May, 1860. For many years prior to his decease, on ac- count of his extreme old age, Colonel H. mingled but little with the world. The earlier residents remember him as a remarkably energetic and public-spirited citi- zen. In the section of the county were he resided (about six miles east of Delphi, on the Burlington road), he was ever first on the list in pushing forward
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and encouraging those improvements so necessary in a new country. By thus taking a leading part, by his influence and example, he was the means of doing much good.
Colonel H. exhibited in his life the sterling quali- - ties and virtues of the past age. Honest and candid himself, he was above dissembling. He honored truth; indeed he never swerved from truth for any thing. He was honest and upright in all his dealings; and no man, living or dead, could say that Ziba Holt ever wronged him out of a farthing. He ever acted on the principle to ask nothing but what was clearly right; to deal honestly with all men, and promptly and punctually to pay all his obligations.
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