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 7
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After Mr. Smith had sold his interest in the "Gazette " and had quit the printing business, he bought the farm where the Insane Asylum now stands, and named it Mount Jackson. He continued to live there with his wife until the time of his death, which was in April, 1836, at the age of fifty-two years. His loss was deeply felt by the poor, to whom he was ever liberal and kind, treating them with the greatest respect.
NATHANIEL BOLTON.
Reference has been made to Mr. Bolton's connection with the Indi- . anapolis Gazette, in the preceding sketch. He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, and came to this place with his step-father and partner, George Smith, in December, 1821, when quite a young man. After Mr. Smith had retired from the Gazette, Mr. Bolton continued the paper alone, and then with different partners for some time. In the meantime he was
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NATHANIEL COX.
married to Miss Sarah T. Barrett, of Madison, now well know as one of Indiana's most gifted daughters. Although a very talented lady, she lost nothing in that way by her connection with Mr. B., but had a great deal to gain. For several of the first years of Mr. Bolton's residence in this place he was very much afflicted, so much so that he was scarcely expected to live from one day to another ; but for some years before his death his health had improved. He was a ready writer, and wrote most of the articles for the Gazette over fictitious signatures, besides writing the leading editorials.
About the second year of the administration of President Pierce he was appointed Consul to Geneva, and remained there until President Buchanan's administration, when he was compelled on account of his health to resign and return home. He arrived at home in May, and died the next November. In his social relations he was thought a great deal of. He possessed fine conversational powers and was ever enter- taining to his auditors. He was a warm partisan, and expressed his views upon all and every occasion without stint or reserve, which may have made him some political enemies, but he had none personal. He left but two children, a son and a daughter. His daughter, the wife of Mr. Frank Smith of this city, has since deceased. She possessed, in addition to a large share of the native talent of her father and mother, fine accomplishments, and was one of the finest musicians of this city that abounds with talent of that particular kind.
NATHANIEL COX
Was a native of Maryland, and born in Talbott county, but at an early age emigrated with his parents to Chillicothe, Ohio. After living at several different places he came to Jeffersonville, in this State, where he remained a short time. From the latter place he came to Indianapolis in the fall of 1821. He was a great hunter and fisherman, and for some time did but little except in that line. He would often dress himself in Indian costume, and hunt for several days without returning, camping out as an Indian. He was very fond of frightening those who had just come to the settlement, and who had not seen much of the Indians.
He was a great wag, and fond of playing pranks on the unsuspect- ing, to many of which I have been the victim. One of his best practical jokes was upon himself. Before the days of soda fountains, he requested Mr. Hannaman to prepare him two glasses, one containing carbonate
5
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
acid, the other soda, as he wished to try the effect of the effervescence in the stomach. He first drank one draught and then the other. The experiment was satisfactory, at least so much so that he never wished to try it again. The fluid came from his eyes, ears, mouth and nose in such a way that it alarmed the bystanders. I have often heard him say he thought the Falls of Niagara were running through and out of his- head.
In the month of January, 1825, and while the Legislature was in session, he conceived the idea of serenading its members. There was a society, of which he was the head and master spirit. This organization Mr. Cox named the "Indianapolis Anarugian Society." They num- bered about thirty persons, and their object was fun or amusement, in any shape whatever not injurious to the public.
One Pete Harmon was the proprietor of four yoke of oxen and two log-sleds, which he used for hauling saw-logs to the mill. The sleds Mr. Cox attached together in such a way that a platform was built on them to accommodate the whole society, who were dressed in all kinds. of fantastic style that fancy or convenience might dictate, and with everything conceivable that would make a loud and disagreeable noise- strings of tin cups, horns, cow-bells, drums, tin pans and kettles-and to the sled the four yoke. of oxen were hitched. On the near steer of each yoke was a driver, dressed in similar manner to the performers on the platform. In this way they left the store of Mr. Jacob Landis, about nine o'clock at night, and, after visiting the various hotels and boarding houses, where members of the Legislature did mostly congre- gate, and performing at each place upon their instruments, returned to the place of starting, where a bountiful supply of Mr. Landis' staple article, "peach and honey," awaited them.
While Mr. Blake was supervisor of the roads, he had some men at work on Meridian street, in Pogue's creek bottom, among whom was- Mr. Cox. Mr. Blake, missing him from work, sought and found him sitting in the shade on the bank of the creek, with a sewing-thread and pin-hook, fishing for minnows.
Mr. Cox was a singular and erratic man, possessed a generous and kind heart, and was universally respected. He died about the year 1850, leaving a wife and a respectable family of children, all of whom yet reside in the city.
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JERRY COLLINS.
JERRY COLLINS,
Or " Uncle Jerry," as he was familiarly called by the lovers of the "ar- dent," and especially by his immediate customers, kept a small whisky shop on the southwest corner of Washington and Meridian streets. He also kept other refreshments for his lady customers, such as ginger- cakes, smoked herring and spruce beer.
Uncle Jerry was not permitted by law to sell whisky in a less quan- tity than a quart, and that not to be drank upon his premises. Being a law-abiding man, and to accommodate his many customers, and more especially those from Waterloo, he had a pump placed on Meridian street, just around the corner from his front door, which could not be construed to be upon his premises.
For the information of those who were not acquainted with Indian- apolis at that time, I would say that Waterloo was that portion of the county and river bottom lying between the bluff road and the river, commencing about three miles from town and extending about five miles south.
In Waterloo there were about twenty adult male inhabitants, viz : the Mundys, Snows, Tharps, Fanchers, Paddocks, Pressers, and last, but by no means least, were the Stephenses, among whom was "Rip- Roaring Bob," as he called himself.
" When Waterloo came to town their headquarters was Uncle Jerry's pump. Soon after their arrival you would see one of them go into the shop, and soon return to join his comrades with a quart measure (filled with whisky, the price of which was twelve and a half cents) in one hand and a small tin cup in the other. The quart cup would make the trip to the shop and return about every half hour, and continue until each and every one had accompanied it at least once, by which time each one would have drank his quart of whisky and contributed his shilling. On public occasions the trips were made in more rapid suc- cession, and about two to each person, when the quantity drank and the money expended would be doubled. It is proper here to say that while the quart measure was making the various trips to and from the shop, if feminine Waterloo should be in town, they would be seated in the shade of the house regaling themselves with ginger- cakes, smoked herring and spruce beer.
Then would begin their gymnastic and other performances, under the direction of their leader, "Rip Roaring Bob," and they were gen- erally kept up until the small boys would return from school, and the
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young men had quit their several avocations for the day. Waterloo would then be invited to leave town, and were generally accompanied on their forced march down Meridian street to the limits of the town, and often some distance south of Pogue's creek. To accelerate their move- ment and to assist them along, eggs, brickbats, boulders and other mis- siles were brought into requisition by the assailing party. When the eggs began to fly "fast and furious," and the boulders fell like hail around them, they would retire in a very disorganized and demoralized condition. "Rip Roaring Bob " was generally in the rear, keeping back the assailing party, and covering the retreat of his comrades, while Gar- rett Presser would be far in advance of his retreating friends, going at the rate of " two-forty" on his little black mare, and Jonathan Paddock would be close at his heels, with his umbrella hoisted to keep off the flying missiles. On one occasion a young man of the town party was some distance in advance of his friends, who had stopped pursuit ; " Rip Roaring Bob" was some distance behind his party, and, with his quick perceptibility, soon saw the true situation, and "made for " the young man, who barely escaped Bob's clutches, receiving in his back on his retreat some of the same missiles thrown by his own party at Waterloo.
"Rip Roaring Bob" moved from Waterloo to Hamilton county, and became a respectable man, and accumulated a considerable prop- erty. The balance of Waterloo has been scattered upon the broad prairies of Missouri, Iowa and Illinois, and have no doubt often related to their neighbors their many hair-breadth escapes from, and daring adventures with, the early settlers of Indianapolis.
Jerry Collins and Cader Carter dug the grave of Daniel Shaffer, the first person buried in the old graveyard, in August, 1821.
Uncle Jerry died of cholera in 1852, and left a fine property to be divided between his nephews and other relatives, he being an old bachelor.
WILLIAM CONNER.
Mr. Conner was the first white man that settled in Central Indiana, having established a trading-house sixteen miles north of Indianapolis and four miles south of where the town of Noblesville now is, in 1802. His eldest brother, James Conner, was the first white person born in the State of Ohio, in 1771.
Richard Conner, the father of James, John and William, settled in Coshocton county, at a place that took its name from him, Connerstown, some time anterior to the year 1770, and there lived until about the
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WILLIAM CONNER.
year 1790, at which time the whole family were taken prisoners by the Indians, and taken to Detroit. After keeping them in captivity for ten years, they took them to the Moravian towns on Clinton river in the vicinity of Detroit, and the whole family were ransomed by the Mora- vians. The price paid was four hundred dollars in coin, a keg of pow- der and a keg of whisky. . The elder Conner remained there and commenced trading with the Indians. William Conner, then about twenty-five years of age, having been born at Connerstown about the year 1775, went to Saginaw and started a trading-house under the aus- pices of a Frenchman whose acquaintance he had formed while in cap- tivity.
At Saginaw he remained but about two years, thence to White river in 1802, as above stated. He built a cabin on the edge of a prairie, in which there was about one section of land. At the treaty of St. Mary's, in 1818, this section was reserved by the Delaware Indians for Mr. Con- ner ; he afterward obtained by an act of Congress a patent for the same.
At this point Mr. Conner lived and traded with the Indians. After the last of the tribe had removed he commenced farming, having the prairie in cultivation.
During the time General Harrison was Military Governor of Indiana territory. Mr. Conner's services were secured in behalf of the govern- ment, for the purpose of effecting treaties, &c. He was personally ac- quainted with Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet.
Mr. Conner commanded a company of Delaware Indians, who fought for the Americans at the battle of the Thames. After the battle was over he was called upon to identify the body of Tecumseh, which he knew by certain scars and marks, independent of being familiar with his features.
In regard to the killing of that wily chieftain, Mr. Conner always said that he was killed by a rifle ball from the gun of Colonel Whitley, of Kentucky, and not from a pistol ball from the holster of Colonel Rich- ard M. Johnson, for whom many claimed the honor. This Mr. Conner has frequently told the writer personally.
When Mr. Conner commenced trading on White river he brought his goods up the Maumee in canoes, thence by way of Fort Wayne to White river ; from the Maumee they were carried on the backs of Indian ponies, frequently having forty horses in his train, guarded by Indians in his employ.
At one time he ascertained from a Delaware Indian that a band of Nanticoke Indians were encamped at the mouth of Fall creek, having a
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large quantity of furs and skins. He loaded several horses with goods and came down and got to the place just in time to see a Frenchman from Fort Wayne depart with the coveted furs and skins. Before Mr. Conner left the Nanticoke camp he found out that the Indians would be at the same place at the same time the next year. When the In- dians came Mr. Conner was immediately informed by a Delaware. He came down in time, and had purchased about twenty-five hundred furs and skins, and was just packing his horses when the Frenchman, who was successful the year before, came to the camp with a train of ten or twelve horses. From that time the Frenchman never intruded upon Mr. Conner's domain.
Mr. Conner was interested in merchandizing in Indianapolis for sev- eral years, first as the partner of Mr. Alfred Harrison, of Harrison's bank. They built the first business house on the northeast corner of Washington and Pennsylvania streets, and there did business for several years. Then the late A. W. Russell became Mr. Conner's partner, and they were there several years. That house gave way some twenty- two years since to make room for Odd Fellows' Hall.
Mr. Conner was a large man, as straight as an arrow in his younger years, and as active and enduring as an antelope. He wielded great influence with the Delawares, who placed unlimited confidence in what- ever he might tell them. He was the particular friend and counsellor of the chiefs Muncie, Anderson, Straw and Big Bottle, and through his influence the government was enabled to secure from them the White river valley. When the Indians left for their new home on White river, in the then territory of Arkansas, they tried to induce him to accom- pany them, but he refused, although he held communication with the tribe as long as he lived.
Mr. Conner's eldest son, Richard J. Conner, is a prominent whole- sale merchant on South Meridian street, and very much resembles his father in personal appearance.
Mr. Conner died in August, 1855, and is buried near where his trad- ing house was located in 1802.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS OF INDIANA,
FROM THE FORMATION OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT UP TO AND INCLUDING 1876, AND FOR WHOM THEY CAST THE VOTE OF THE STATE.
In 1816, the eighth Presidential election, they were Jesse L. Hol- man, Joseph Bartholomew, and Thomas H. Blake. The three votes of
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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS OF INDIANA.
the State were cast for James Monroe for President, and Daniel D. Tompkins for Vice President.
In 1820, the ninth Presidential election, the electors were Nathaniel Ewing, Daniel J. Caswell, and John H. Thompson. They cast the vote of the State tor James Monroe for President, and Daniel D. Tomp- kins for Vice President.
In 1824, the tenth Presidential election, they were Elias McNamee, David Robb, Jonathan McCarty, John Carr, and Samuel Milroy. They cast the five votes of the State for General Andrew Jackson for Presi- dent, and John C. Calhoun for Vice President.
1828, the eleventh Presidential election, the electors were Benjamin C. Beckes, Jesse B. Durham, William Lowe, Ratliff Boone, and Ross Smiley. They cast the five votes of the State for General Jackson for President, and John C. Calhoun for Vice President.
In 1832, the twelfth Presidential election, the electors were George Boone, William Armstrong, Alexander J. Burnett, James Blake, John Ketchum, Arthur Patterson, Thomas Givens, Nathan B. Palmer, and Mark Crume. They cast the nine votes of the State for General Jack- son for President, and Martin Van Buren for Vice President.
In 1836, the thirteenth Presidential election, the electors were John G. Clendening, Hiram Decker, Austin W. Morris, Milton Stapp, Albert S. White, Enoch McCarty, Achilles Williams, Marston G. Clark, and Abram S. Andrews. They cast the nine votes of the State for General William Henry Harrison for President, and Francis Granger for Vice President.
In 1840, the fourteenth Presidential election, the electors were Jona- than McCarty, John W. Payne, Joseph L. White, Richard W. Thomp- son, James H. Cravens, Caleb B. Smith, Joseph G. Marshall, William Herod, and Samuel C. Sample. They cast the nine votes of the State for General William H. Harrison for President, and John Tyler for Vice President.
In 1844, the fifteenth Presidential election, the electors were James G. Reed, William A. Bowles, Elijah Newland, J. M. Johnson, Samuel E. Perkins, William W. Wick, P. C. Dunning, Austin M. Puett, H. W. Ellsworth, Charles W. Cathcart, John Gilbert, and G. N. Fitch. They cast the twelve votes of the State for James K. Polk for President, and George M. Dallas for Vice President.
In 1848, the sixteenth Presidential election, the electors were Robert Dale Owen, Nathaniel Albertson, Cyrus L. Dunham, William M. Mc- Carty, Charles H. Test, James Richey, George W. Carr, L. M. Hanna,
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
E. M. Chamberlain, Daniel Mace, Graham N. Fitch, and A. J. Harlan. They cast the twelve votes of the State for Lewis Cass for President, and William O. Butler for Vice President.
In 1852, the seventeenth Presidential election, the electors were John Pettit, James H. Lane, Alexander F. Morrison, J. F. Reed, W. C. Lar- abee, James S. Athon, George B. Buell, James S. Hester, Samuel A. Hall, Nathaniel Bolton, E. Dumont, A. H. Brown and J. M. Talbott. They cast the thirteen votes of the State for Franklin Pierce for Presi- dent, and William R. King, for Vice President.
In 1856, the eighteenth Presidential election, the electors were G. N. Fitch, S. H. Buskirk, J. M. Hanna, W. J. Parrett, J. S. McClelland, S. K. Wolf, O. Evarts, S. W. Short, F. P. Randall, D. D. Jones, S. Mickle, E. Johnson and M. M. Ray. They cast the thirteen votes of the State for James Buchanan for President, and John C. Breckenridge, for Vice President.
In 1860, the nineteenth Presidential election, the electors were John L. Mansfield, Morton C. Hunter, Nelson Trusler, John Hanna, James N. Tyner, David O. Dailey, William Cumback, John W. Ray, John H. Farquhar, Cyrus M. Allen, Reuben Riley, Samuel A. Huff and Isaac Jenkinson. They cast the thirteen votes of the State for Abraham Lincoln for President, and Hannibal Hamlin for Vice President.
In 1864, the twentieth Presidential election, the electors were David Gooding, Richard W. Thompson, James C. Denny, Cyrus T. Nixon, Henry R. Pritchard, Leonidas Sexton, Benjamin F. Claypool, Jonathan J. Wright, John Osborn, Robert P. Davidson, James B. Belford, Tim- othy K. Dickinson and John M. Wallace. They cast the thirteen votes of the State for Abraham Lincoln for President, and Andrew Johnson for Vice President.
In 1868, the twenty-first Presidential election, the electors were Thomas Nelson, Benjamin F. Claypool, Andrew L. Robinson, William Jones, John Schwartz, John H. Farquhar, Samuel P. Oyler, Elihu E. Rose, Robert W. Harrison, James M. Justice, Joshua A. Mellet, Milo S. Hascall and Robert S. Dwiggins. They cast the thirteen votes of the State for Ulysses S. Grant for President, and Schuyler Colfax for Vice President.
In 1872, the twenty-second Presidential election, the electors were Jonathan W. Gordon, Joseph S. Buckles, John Schwartz, Isaac S. Moore, Daniel B. Kumler, Cyrus T. Nixon, James Y. Allison, John R. Goodwin, George W. Grubbs, James L. Johnson, Benjamin F. Greg- ory, Calvin Cougill, Robert S. Taylor, Erastus W. H. Ellis and Sidney
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Don grandes
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DANIEL YANDES.
Keith. They cast the fifteen votes of the State for Ulysses S. Grant for President, and Henry Wilson for Vice President.
In 1876, the twenty-third Presidential election, the electors were Daniel W. Voorhees, John S. Scoby, Gustavus V. Mengies, William D. Byrum, Jonas H. Howard, Edwin P. Ferris, Noah S. Given, Charles Offutt, Thomas Cottrell, Samuel D. Puett, Thomas H. Harrison, George Burson, James A .. Adrian, Isaac B. McDonald and Woodson S. Mar- shall. They cast the fifteen votes of the State for Samuel J. Tilden for President, and Thomas A. Hendricks for Vice President.
STATE OFFICERS IN 1876.
Thomas A. Hendricks, Governor; John Enos Neff, Secretary of State; Ebenezer Henderson, Auditor of State; Benjamin C. Shaw, Treasurer of State; Lycurgus Dalton, State Librarian. All of whom were re-elected at the State election except the Librarian, who is elected by the Legislature. The Legislature being Republican, Mr. Dalton was defeated by Mr. Conner.
DANIEL YANDES.
Mr. Yandes was born near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of January, 1793. Although he has outlived his four score years, yet it is not "with sorrow and trouble," as we are told by the Bible is gen- erally the case with those who reach that mature age, for he is yet quite active and retains to a remarkable degree all the faculties of his more youthful years.
Mr. Yandes is not without a military record. His services were rendered at a time in the history of the country when patriotism and love of country were the incentive, and not a fondness for office and popularity.
He volunteered in the war of 1812, under General William Henry Harrison, immediately after the surrender of the notorious Hull to the British army. After six months service on the frontier, he again volun- teered to march to the defense of Washington city, the capital being invaded by the British troops. In this expedition he was elected, before going, and commissioned major of the regiment. But before they left the place of rendezvous an order was received countermanding the order to march. For the service rendered on the frontier Mr. Yandes is now receiving a pension.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
In 1815 Mr. Yandes was married to Miss Anna Wilson, who was a native of Fayette county. In 1820, with his family, he emigrated to Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, where he remained for a short time.
On the 20th of March, 1821, he came to what was then known as the " Donation," or "the Mouth of Fall Creek Settlement ;" since which time I can speak of him from personal knowledge and observation.
The first thing to be done after his arrival at his new home was to provide a residence for his family; this he did by erecting a cabin on the southwest corner of Washington and Alabama streets. He then cleared what the settlers called a "truck patch," a piece of ground where vegetables were raised. This was but a short time before the commissioners came to survey and lay out the town. During the sum- mer of 1821 he worked eighty-two days for the surveying party, cutting down timber and setting stakes.
At the first sale of lots in October of that year, he purchased, in connection with the late John Wilkins, a site for a tanyard, situated on the east side of Alabama street near Maryland. They continued a partnership in the tanning business for over thirty years, and closed their connection in the business with friendship and good will toward each other.
Mr. Yandes built the first saw mill in the New Purchase, which was on the bayou west of the grave yard, now known as the McCarty property. He also, in connection with Samuel Merrill, built the mills and cotton factory for years afterwards known as West's Mills, a por- tion of which are yet standing.
It is safe to say that Mr. Yandes has built more mills and other manufacturing establishments than any other man in Indiana.
Mr. Yandes has always eschewed office of any kind, although he was elected the first treasurer of the county, and accepted merely as an accommodation to his neighbors, He has aided a great many young men to commence business, some of whom accumulated fortunes. In fifty-five years of Mr. Yandes' residence in Indianapolis, he has con- tributed over fifty thousand dollars for benevolent and charitable pur- poses. He was a large contributor toward building the first church in this place, and has ever been liberal since in that way. He has always paid his debts honorably and promptly, and has but little business in the way of litigation in the courts. This much the writer knows from personal knowledge - Mr. Yandes has ever been found on the side of morality and good government.
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