USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Sketches of prominent citizens of 1876 : with a few of the pioneers of the city and county who have passed away > Part 5
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MAJOR THOMAS CARTER.
The reader will readily perceive that the first and old " settlers " of Indianapolis were generally men of distinction, if we should judge by the handle or title prefixed to their names, especially in the military line. There were none of the lower grades-but few less than a major ; colonels and generals we had without number, although military honors were not so cheap as at the present day.
Major Carter was a major in every sense of the word. He was what John Givens called a forty-gallon Baptist. He was more conscientious about every other vice than that of drinking, yet he did not indulge in the use of the ardent to excess himself. He thought it much more excusable in a person to take a "wee drap of the critter " now and then than it would be to dance, sing worldly songs or play the fiddle. He had a perfect horror of fiddles, and thought the devil incarnate lay in the bowels of one. Under no circumstances would he allow one about his house.
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MAJOR THOMAS CARTER.
Major Carter was about the first to start a tavern in Indianapolis. He built a double cabin on Berry's trace, early in 1821, and called it a tavern. This cabin lay between Washington and Market streets, just east of Illinois. Subsequently he built the "Rosebush," just in front of the log house, on Washington street. The " Rosebush " was a one and a half story frame building, and, at that day, made a very imposing ap- pearance. While at the "Rosebush " my father and mother took tea with the worthy major and his wife. The old lady always had an apol- ogy ready for any deficiency of variety on the table. On this occasion she "was out of all kinds of garden sass except ham and eggs," and the only fruit she could get was "dried pumpkins."
Mr. Carter did not remain long at the " Rosebush," but built a third tavern on Washington street, opposite the Court House. Here he was very unfortunate. About two weeks after the Legislature convened, in January, 1825, this house burned. It took fire from a keg of ashes, about nine o'clock at night, and was burned entirely to the ground.
In the spring he purchased a two-story frame house of Jacob R. Crumbaugh, that stood on Washington street, west of the canal. This house he moved along Washington street to the site of the burned building. The removal of this building occupied several weeks, and caused more stumps and logs to be burned and removed from the street than anything that had yet happened. In this last house the Major continued some time and seemed to prosper. This house in after years was, perhaps, the scene of more ludicrous incidents than any other house in town. After Carter left it, it was kept by persons of both high and low degree, among whom were John Hays, Jordan Vigus, Peter New- land, Pruett, and General Robert Hanna. It was at this house in which was held the first mechanics' ball in Indianapolis, and which created so much dissatisfaction at that time. There were no police officers then to keep down the uproarious, and on this occasion the dissatisfied parties behaved in a manner very detrimental to the furniture of the dining-room and glassware of the bar.
At this house, when kept by Carter, the first theatrical performance took place in this city, an account of which I wrote some years since, and which was published in several papers in the State. In order to show Mr. Carter's aversion to fiddles I will copy it at the close of this sketch. While Governor Ray kept this house he had painted on one side of the sign, "Travelers' Ray House Cheap." On the reverse was "Travelers' Ray House Cash." It was while keeping this house the Governor made the prediction that there were then persons living who
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would see the State checkered with railroads in all directions. It was in this house he proposed a plan for building a railroad from Charles- ton, South Carolina, to the Northern lakes. It was from this house emanated many projects of State policy that were ridiculed at the time, but which were afterwards adopted and successfully carried out. It was then thought they were the production of a disorganized and demented brain. Although not more than thirty-five years have elapsed since these predictions were made, our State is truly checkered over with railroads, with eleven entering into this city, and direct railroad com- munication from Charleston, South Carolina, with the Northern lakes, although the Governor's plan was not carried out in the construction of the roads. One of his plans was to cut the tops of the trees off in the valleys to bring them on a level with the hills, and run the track over them to save grading and excavation.
While Mr. Carter kept this house, and "during the session of the Legislature, in the winter of 1825 to 1826, a strolling player by the name of Crampton visited this place for the purpose of giving the deni- zens of the Hoosier metropolis the benefit of his entertainments of leg- erdemain, hocus pocus, etc.
"As there was no public hall or room (as now) suitable for such an entertainment, he applied to the proprietor of the largest tavern in the place for the use of his dining-room.
" Mr. Carter had no kind of objection to his having his dining-room. for the purpose. But the shows that usually came into the 'settle- ments' always had music on the fiddle, and he could not think of suffer- ing the fiddle to be played in his house.
"Mr. Crampton assured him that he (Crampton) was as much op- posed to the fiddle as Carter could possibly be, and that the only music he required or ever tolerated was the violin, and under no circumstances. should a fiddle be introduced at the performance. With this under- standing Carter consented to let him have the room.
"Accordingly due notice was given that upon a certain evening Monsieur Crampton, just from Paris, would give a series of entertain- ments in the dining-room of Carter's Hotel.
"Nothing more was wanting to congregate the entire popula- tion of Indianapolis within the walls of that room, about twenty by thirty feet in size.
"All things being ready the doors were opened, whereupon a well- known character named 'Bill Bagwell' struck up the tune of 'Leather Breeches' upon the fiddle.
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DR. LIVINGSTON DUNLAP.
"But suddenly the entertainment, that but a few moments before bid so fair to go off without molestation, was brought to a dead halt. Mr. Carter appeared, cane in hand, and demanded that the music should be stopped ; that it was the understanding between him and Monsieur Crampton that there should be no music except on the violin.
"Monsieur Crampton assured Mr. Carter that he was mistaken, as this was a violin he had brought with him from Paris.
" 'No,' says Carter, ' I can't be mistaken, for Bill Bagwell can't play on anything else than a fiddle.'
" Bill speaking, says, 'Major, just bring in a bottle of Bayou Blue and see how I'll play on it. You are mistaken, Major; this is nothing but a violin.'
" Major Carter for a while seemed inexorable, but finally consented that, inasmuch as the congregation had assembled, he would permit the performance to go on with the fiddle if they would play nothing but Psalm tunes. 'But,' says Carter, 'Bill Bagwell can't play Psalm tunes ; he never heard one, much less played one.'
" Here he was again at fault, for Bill assured him he was raised at the 'Great Crossing,' in Kentucky, and that he then and there was a member in good standing in the Baptist church, and learned many Psalm tunes, and as an evidence of the truth of his assertions, struck up the tune of ' Jesus my all to heaven is gone.'
"This, to Carter, was a clincher, and made all right. So the per- formance went on, and was closed with 'Yankee Doodle' from the orchestra, by request. All seemed well pleased with the entertainment, and none more so than Mr. Carter himself, especially with that part of it under the immediate charge of Professor Bagwell.
" Major Carter has long since been gathered to his fathers, and died in full hope of a blessed reunion with his friends hereafter.
"The last the writer remembers to have seen of Bill Bagwell was on a coal boat at the Louisville wharf, playing the violin."
DR. LIVINGSTON DUNLAP
Came to this place in July or August, 1821, a young physician, in search of a location to commence the practice of his profession. He was from Cherry Valley, New York, where I think he was born and raised.
When he first arrived in this place he stopped at the house of Dr. Samuel G. Mitchell, who lived on the southwest corner of Washington and Tennessee streets, where the State offices now stand. The doctor
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was not long here when he had the most indubitable evidence that this was a first rate place for a physician. Not only the whole family with which he stayed were taken down with chills and fever, but himself, so bad he could neither render assistance to them nor they to him. In this situation my father found them one day when he called to see what he could do for them; although our own family were nearly all sick, Mr. Blake and himself were still able to wait on them. My father at once proposed to take the doctor home with him. But how was he going to get him there ? queried the doctor. "Take you on my back," was the answer ; which he did, something like the squaws carried their children or pappooses.
The doctor remained an inmate of our house for some time. After he recovered, he rendered valuable service, not only to our family, but to those that were sick that fall. Physicians did not think their duty done when they merely had prescribed and given the necessary medi- cine (as now-a-days), but to their duties was added that of nurse. This portion the doctors performed well and cheerfully.
If I were writing only for the eye of those that knew him during his long career of usefulness in after years, it would be unnecessary to say he stood at the head of his profession. He was for many years the leading physician in this place, and there were very few doubtful or dan- gerous cases in which he was not consulted by his brothers in the pro- fession.
He was councilman of his ward in 1834, and for several years after. He was physician for the Deaf and Dumb Asylum for several years ; also one of the commissioners of the Insane Asylum. He was appointed postmaster by President Polk, in 1845, and held the office until April, 1849. All the duties of the different offices he held he discharged with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the public and his numerous friends of both political parties.
Dr. Dunlap was a man of very warm feelings and friendship, and would go any length to serve a friend ; but if his displeasure was once incurred, and he had reason to believe his confidence had been misplaced, he would hardly ever forget it. Although he was not a revengeful man nor bore malice, he would steer clear of those whom he thought had mistreated him.
He died in 1862, leaving a small family in very comfortable circum- stances, with some very fine city property. Of his three sons but one is now living, Dr. John M. Dunlap, of this city. James, his eldest son, a portrait painter, died in 1865.
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MATTHIAS T. NOWLAND.
MATTHIAS T. NOWLAND
Was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1807, and came with his family to this place. He was a fine English scholar, having enjoyed the benefit of the tutelage of the Hon. Amos Kendall. He possessed a great deal of native talent, and when grown up was a great wag, and enjoyed inno- cent sport, as will be seen before this sketch closes.
At the death of my father he was the only one of the children capa- ble of rendering any assistance to my mother in the support of the family.
In the year 1823, he engaged with Messrs. Smith & Bolton, proprie- tors of the "Indianapolis Gazette," the first and only paper published here at that time, to learn the printing business, reserving the privilege of boarding at home. At the end of one year he was sufficiently advanced to earn, and did receive, half wages.
After he had obtained a pretty fair knowledge of the business, he went to Vincennes and took charge of a paper, of which the Hon. John Ewing was proprietor and editor, often, in the absence of the editor, doing his duties.
After being in Vincennes one year (as he had engaged), he was per- suaded by a printer to accompany him to New Orleans, which he did. The second day after their arrival there he stood upon his comrade's coffin to keep it under water while the dirt was being thrown on, he having died of yellow fever. This silent but impressive admonition caused him to return home as quick as possible, and he found work with Messrs. Douglass & Maguire, in the office of the "Journal."
About that time there was a kind of "jack-legged lawyer," as they were then called, here from Salvysa, Kentucky, named Eccles. This man was thrusting himself before the people on all occasions, for office. He talked so much about his former residence, and how he stood there, Mat gave him the sobriquet of "Salvysa."
Salvysa was a candidate for the Legislature, and Governor Ray a candidate for re-election. Mat, with his quick perception, soon discov- ered a fine opening for the enjoyment of his peculiar passion, and became a candidate against Salvysa. Knowing him to be a very irrita- ble and passionate man, he set about getting up innocent charges against him. The first was that he thought it an insult to the people for a Kentucky lawyer, who, in his own State, was thought only fit for and did keep a " fancy horse," to offer himself to the intelligent citizens
4
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of Indiana, especially to those of the capital of the State, to represent them in the Legislature. This had the desired effect to irritate Salvysa, who, in a very excited manner, asked a suspension of opinion until he should have time to disprove "the vile slander." This gave Mat sev- eral weeks in which to enjoy this charge, for it took some time for Sal- vysa to send to Kentucky to get the necessary certificates ; but in due time they came.
Salvysa, with great exultation, displayed a string of certificates three feet long to prove that he never was known to be in any such employ- ment while he lived in Kentucky; and that he ( Salvysa ) hoped that his opponent would publicly apologize for the "vile charge." This Mat did by saying he had been mistaken; it was not a horse, but a "Jackass" that Salvysa had kept in Kentucky, and that he defied the honorable Kentuckian, who had so insulted the people of Indiana, to disprove it. This was only the week before the election, and Salvysa knew he could not get a letter to Kentucky and an answer in less than three weeks, which excited him very much, and caused him to heap all kinds of imprecations on the head of Mat.
While he had Salvysa going through the mill, he was not neglecting Governor Ray, but kept him busy clearing up charges. One charge against his Excellency was that, while traveling on a steamboat he reg- istered his name as "J. Brown Ray, Governor of the State of Indiana, and Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy thereof." Another was that, while on the steamboat, a servant placed a spittoon before him, and that the Governor told the servant if he did not take it away he would spit in it. The third charge was that the Governor, when he pardoned young Bridges at the falls of Fall creek, for the murder of the Indians, commanded young Bridges to stand up, and then addressed him in this way : "Sir, do you know in whose presence you stand ?" Being answered in the negative, "You are charged by a jury of your countrymen with the murder of several innocent Indians. There are but two powers known to the laws of your country that can save you from hanging by the neck until you are dead. One is God Almighty, the Great Ruler of the Universe; the other is James B. Ray-the lat- ter stands before you." With these charges he kept his Excellency in hot water all the time of the canvass, and would occasionally follow him to adjoining counties.
Mat was one of the "bloody three hundred," and many anecdotes are told of him during that remarkable expedition. One of the com- pany to which he belonged was very chivalrous, always expressing a
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wish to meet and encounter hostile Indians, and was very free to express the opinion that the most of the company were afraid that they would meet an enemy. When encamped on the Calumet, a false alarm was given that the hostile Indians were advancing upon them, and pre- parations made for action. Mat took particular pains to hunt this man up, and found him concealed under the baggage wagon, and charged it on him, which furnished sport for the entire command during the bal- ance of the campaign.
Mat was the first to learn the "art preservative of all arts " in Indi- anapolis, and the first to learn how to make the composition roller, then so little used by printers. He was a fine pressman, a correct and quick compositor; in short, knew the whole routine of a printing office as well as any person of his day. He was a man of great vivacity and humor, ever ready for an innocent joke; very quick to detect and resent an intended insult or injury, and just as quick to forgive and forget it ; was liberal and confiding to a fault.
He brought the first tame pigeons to this place, in 1824, which he carried on horseback from Frankfort, Kentucky, and from which sprung, no doubt, the myriads that now swarm and fly around the city.
No man ever cast a line in White river that was more successful as an angler. This taste he inherited from his father, who was the first to introduce that fascinating amusement here, in June, 1820, and caught about the first bass with hook and line, at the mouth of Fall creek.
He was a ready writer, a fair speaker, and possessed the faculty of attracting the attention of the people. He had his faults, but they were rather of the head than the heart. He died suddenly on the fourth of October, 1834, leaving many friends, and, I believe, no enemies.
Thus passed away a generous-hearted young man, that might have been one of Indiana's brightest sons.
GOVERNORS OF INDIANA
FROM THE FORMATION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY TO 1876.
Indiana was a component part and formed from the great North- western Territory, of which General Arthur St. Clair, of Ohio, was Military Governor. The first settlement in Indiana was by the French Jesuits, at Vincennes, in 1730.
After Indiana was formed from the Northwestern Territory, in 1809,
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
General William H. Harrison, of Ohio, was appointed Military Gov- ernor, with power to negotiate treaties of peace with the hostile Indians, who were under the command and leadership of that wily Shawanee chieftain Tecumseh, who lived with his tribe on what is now known as the Shawanee prairie, a few miles below Lafayette on the Wabash river. General Harrison had his headquarters at Vincennes. It was there that Tecumseh, with a few chosen warriors, came in the spring of 1811, as they said to treat for peace, but their only object was to find out the military strength of the post. It was at this interview the chief used the poetic language attributed to him. When handed a chair by Governor Harrison, the chief declined and said, "The earth is my mother, I will recline upon her bosom; the sun is my father, I'll bask in his rays," and seated himself on the ground. In November of that year General Harrison fought the battle of Tippecanoe; the Indians being commanded by Tecumseh's brother, the Prophet. Gen- eral Harrison continued as Military Governor until a civil territorial government was formed, of which Thomas Posey was Governor until the admission of the territory into the Union as one of the sovereign States, which was on the 11th of April, 1816.
Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of the State, served from December, 1816, to January, 1822.
William Hendricks served from 1822 to January, 1825, at which time he was elected to the United States Senate.
James B. Ray, by virtue of the office of President, pro tem., of the Senate, served the unexpired term of Governor Hendricks. James B. Ray was twice elected and served as Governor until I831.
Noah Noble, elected in 1831, served six years, until 1837.
David Wallace, elected 1837, served one term, until 1840.
Samuel Bigger, elected 1840, served one term, until 1843.
James Whitcomb, elected 1843, served until 1848.
Paris C. Dunning, by virtue of the office of Lieutenant Governor, served the unexpired term of Governor Whitcomb, he having been elected to the United States Senate.
Joseph A. Wright, elected 1849, served until 1857, one term of three and one of four years.
Ashbel P. Willard, elected 1856, died in the fall of 1860.
Abram A. Hammond, as Lieutenant Governor, served the unex- pired term of Governor Willard.
Henry S. Lane, elected in the fall of 1860, inaugurated in January, 1861, served four days-elected to the United States Senate.
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JONATHAN JENNINGS.
Oliver P. Morton, being Lieutenant Governor, served the unexpired term of Governor Lane. Oliver P. Morton, elected in 1864, was elected to the United States Senate in 1867.
Conrad Baker, as Lieutenant Governor, served the unexpired term of Governor Morton. Conrad Baker, elected 1868, served the full term of four years.
Thomas A. Hendricks, elected in 1872, served the full term.
James D. Williams, elected 1876, and is the present Governor.
Of all the Governors of Indiana, with the exception of General St. Clair, the writer has had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance. I doubt if there is another person living who could say the same. Gen- eral St. Clair never lived within the State, but was simply Governor of the Northwest Territory.
JONATHAN JENNINGS,
FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF INDIANA.
I became acquainted with Governor Jennings during the first sale of town lots in Indianapolis in October, 1821 ; from that time up to his . death I met him frequently. In July, 1832, I was employed by the late Judge James Morrison, who was at that time Secretary of State, to bear to the Governor, at his residence in Clarke county, his commission and 'instructions from President Jackson to treat with the Pottawato- mie and Miami Indians for their lands in Northern Indiana and South- ern Michigan.
I arrived at his residence, three miles west of Charlestown, on Sat- urday afternoon. I found him sitting on his portico, reading. He at once recognized me, and, after his usual "How do you do?" and wel- come, after reading the papers of which I was bearer, he requested me to remain with him over Sabbath, which I did. During the day he brought pen, ink and paper, and requested me to write my name, then his, and asked me how I would like to accompany him to the treaty ground in September. Said he, "I will make you my private secretary ; it will be money in your pocket."
I at once accepted his kind offer and kept myself in readiness to join him when he should arrive en route for the treaty ground, which was at the forks of the Wabash, near where the city of Huntington is situated. He was also joined at this place by General James P. Drake, Alexander F. Morrison, Arthur St. Clair, Bazil Brown and other personal friends.
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Our route lay through the wilderness, and we had to camp out two nights. The Governor requested me to act as commissary. It was dur- ing these few weeks with Governor Jennings that I learned much of his simplicity of character and kindness of heart.
The associate commissioners were Dr. John W. Davis, of Sullivan county, and Mark Crume, of Fayette. During the preliminary council Dr. Davis, who was a pompous, big-feeling man, said something that gave offense to Obanoby, one of the head chiefs of the Pottawatomies. The chief addressed Governor Jennings, saying: "Does our great father intend to insult us by sending such men to treat with us? Why did he not send Generals Cass and Tipton? You (pointing to the Gov- ernor) good man, and know how to treat us. (Pointing to Crume): He chipped beef for the squaws at Wabash (meaning that Crume was the beef contractor at the treaty of 1826. Then pointing to Dr. Davis, said) : Big man and damned fool." The chief then spoke a few words to the Pottawatomies present, who gave one of their peculiar yells and left the council house, and could only be induced to return after several days, and then only through the great influence of Governor Jennings with them and the interpreters and traders.
At this treaty a large portion of the northern part of Indiana was ceded to the United States, and I believe it was the last official act of Governor Jennings. In executive ability he had but few equals. He possessed, in an extraordinary degree, the confidence of the people, and in political life could command the earnest and enthusiastic support of devoted friends, his main forte being his genial and bland manner, a warm shake of the hand, a smile and pleasant word for all whom he met.
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