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 9
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On either end of the table was a large, fat wild turkey, still hot and smoking as when taken from the clay oven in which they were roasted ; in the middle of the table and midway between the turkeys was a fine saddle of venison, part of a buck killed the day before by Mr. Chinn expressly for the occasion. The spaces between the turkeys and veni- son were filled with pumpkin, chicken and various other kinds of pies ; from the side-table or puncheon Mrs. Chinn, assisted by the old ladies, was issuing coffee, which was taken from a large sugar-kettle that was. hanging over the fire ; by the side of the tin coffee-pot, on this side- table was a large tin pan filled with maple sugar, and a gallon pitcher of delicious cream.
Although there was no great display of silver or China ware on that rude table, there was all that the most fastidious appetite could desire, and even at this day it might be considered "a dainty dish to set before- a king." The dessert and pastry were got up without the aid of a. "French cook." Such was the first fashionable wedding dinner in Indianapolis.
While the first party invited to the table were engaged in stowing away its contents and complimenting the bride and groom, those in the marriage room were "tripping the light fantastic toe " to the tune of " Leather Breeches."
After the bride and groom had left the table they were invited to. join in (as Beau Hickman would say) the festivities of the occasion. The bridegroom excused himself, as he had no " ear for music or foot for dancing, but was ready for fun in any other shape that might be offered."
The dancing was continued for two days and nights after the wed- ding. I remember that my father and mother came home after day- light the second day, slept until the afternoon, then went back and put in another night.
It may be proper to say that farmer Tom Johnson was conspicuous among the guests at this wedding, and never did his curls that hung down on his cheeks, and his white linen pantaloons with black ribbon draw-strings at the bottom, tied in a bow-knot, appear to better advan- tage than they did on this occasion ; although Tom had not yet seen a " purranner," he seemed to enjoy the music and dancing.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
Mr. Gates died but a few years since ; he was the father of Mr. John Gates, the well known and popular blacksmith of our city.
On the morning of the 4th of July, 1822, my father's family was aroused before daylight by persons hallooing in front of our door. It turned out to be Captain James Richey, who lived near the bluffs, and a young man and lady that had placed themselves under the 'Captain's charge, and ran away from obdurate parents for the purpose of being married. Mr. Richey was not slow in making known to my father what they wanted, and intimated that "what it were well to do, 'twere well it were done quickly." He and my father soon found the county clerk (the venerable James M. Ray) at Carter's Rosebush tavern, and procured the necessary legal document, and the services of Judge Wil- liam W. Wick, and before breakfast the two were made one.
They had scarcely arisen from the breakfast table before the young lady was confronted by her angry father. Captain Richey informed him that he was just a few minutes too late, and that he had not lost "a darter," as he supposed, but had gained a son, and that when old Jim Richey undertook to do anything, he did it with all his might, and accomplished his object.
The parties were reconciled and invited to attend the barbecue and ball that was to take place that day, which they did.
This was the first fourth of July celebration in Indianapolis. The barbecue was in the middle of Washington street, just west of Missouri. A fine buck had been killed the day before by Robert Harding, and was roasted whole, and was partaken of by the entire population of the town and surrounding country.
After dinner the people were entertained by a teamster from Dayton, Ohio, who dressed himself in fantastic or clownish style, singing comic songs and in various other ways amusing the people. This was the first clown that performed in public in this place, although we have had them by hundreds since in our legislative halls, courts of justice, and political conventions.
Soon after the clown was through with his performance the dancing commenced in a large, unfinished frame building on the north side of Washington street, near where the barbecue was, and continued until some time on the fifth. This was the first public dinner and ball in Indianapolis. .
In writing these incidents my object is to show the great difference, . and contrast the customs of the early citizens of this place with those of
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INCIDENTS OF 1821 AND 1822.
the present day, and the variety of character found among the early citizens.
I have recurred so often lately to those early scenes in the history of this city, that it has led me to ask myself the question and inquire where was there contentment and true happiness found if not in the pioneers of Indianapolis ?
There were no finely decorated halls then as now, no cornet or fine string bands to pour forth their melodious strains of music, no fine carriages, with drivers in livery, to take the ladies to the dance, no kid- gloved or paper-collared gentlemen to help them in and out of the car- riage, no white-aproned servants to hand them the iced custards and creams.
They were content then to dance in the log cabin, on a puncheon floor ; were glad of an opportunity of listening to the musical strains of Champ Helvey, drawn from a three-stringed fiddle ; were happy to be able to walk to the place barefoot and save their shoes for dancing; they were rejoiced to meet Tom Johnson there with his beautiful curls and white pants ; and when they were hungry were able to help them- selves to the chicken pie or roast venison.
Then, when merry autumn came with its profusion of mellow rich- ness, its luxuriant and happy associations, and above all, the bounti- ful supply of the productions of the soil to gladden the hearts of man and beast, would the hardy pioneers assemble together, and, with their families, celebrate the end of the summer's toil and labor in the manner described in this sketch.
These cabins were scattered over a radius of two miles, and their location was only known to the weary traveler as he journeyed along the lonely Indian trace, by the slowly and lazily rising wreaths of blue smoke that here and there curled above the trees of the dense forests that once stood where now stands this beautiful city. This was all that marked the presence of man.
I would ask the "old settlers " of Indianapolis, especially those that were here at the time I am writing of, were not these primitive their happiest days in this city ?
· Since I commenced writing these sketches I have been, in imagina- tion, carried back so often to those days that I have wished myself a boy again,
" When bright dreams of my childhood, fair scenes of my youth, So laden with visions of friendship and truth ;
And when come the dark hours of sadness and pain,
Their memory illumes my pathway again."
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
COLONEL JOHN WISHARD
Was born at what was then called "Red Stone Fort," now Brownville, Pennsylvania, on the Monongahela river, in June, 1792. His father, William Wishard, was of Scotch and Irish decent, and came to America just before the Revolutionary war and settled near Philadelphia. He took part in the war and was in a number of battles. At the close of the war he settled at " Red Stone Fort;" the next year the subject of this sketch, Colonel John Wishard, was born.
In 1793 William Wishard built a flat boat and in it moved his family down the Ohio river to Old Lime Stone, near Maysville, Kentucky. He then settled on a farm on Licking river, near Park's Ferry, Nicholas county. At that time the Indians were committing depredations of all kinds on both settlers and emigrants. They were waging their war all over the "dark and bloody ground," as Kentucky was called, which rendered the lives and property of its citizens precarious. After the death of his father, which was in 1814, Colonel Wishard took charge of the homestead, and there lived until 1825, when he removed to Johnson county, Indiana, ten miles south of Indianapolis.
Between the years 1810 and 1820 he made several trips to New Orleans, and walked home, traveling through the country belonging to the different tribes of Indians.
On one of these trips he landed his boat at New Orleans but a few days after the brilliant victory of General Jackson over the British on the 8th day of January, 1815.
In April, 1815, he was married to Miss Agnes H. Oliver, who was born near Lexington, Kentucky, her parents emigrating from Virginia in 1782.
In the spring of 1825 Colonel Wishard came to Indiana on horse- back, bringing with him a set of gear for one horse and an ax, for the purpose of clearing land.
After having cleared a small field for corn, potatoes and turnips, he returned to Kentucky for his family, and arrived at his wilderness home in October of that year. At that time his family consisted of himself, wife, four sons and one daughter. He took part in all labors incident to the settlement of a new country-such as log rolling, house raising, &c. In 1832, when the Indians were committing depredations upon the frontier settlements of Illinois, and which was called the Black Hawk war, Colonel Wishard raised a company and joined the expedi-
95
JEREMIAH J. CORBALEY.
tion with the regiment known as the " bloody three hundred," an account of which will be found elsewhere.
During the fall of 1849 Mr. Wishard's wife died, since which he has remained single. He now resides with his daughter, Mrs. T. B. Noble, at Greenwood. Although he is now in his eighty-sixth year, he is quite hale and healthy. His whole family now is composed of four sons and two daughter, all of whom are, with himself, members of the Presby- terian church.
His eldest son, Dr. William H. Wishard (a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere), is the coroner of Marion county, and a resident of | this city.
JEREMIAH J. CORBALEY.
Mr. Corbaley was one of the few settlers that was living in Marion county when the writer first arrived here, and was one of the pioneers of the New Purchase. He was born in the State of Delaware in 1789. His father, Richard Corbaley, was a native of Ireland, and settled at Odessa, Delaware, where he married an English lady. He then removed to Washington City, before the laying of the foundation of the first capital building, where he died, leaving four small children. The widow then removed to Cecil county, Maryland. Jeremiah re- mained with his mother and grew to manhood before her death. In 1816 he came to the territory northwest of the Ohio river, and followed teaching school. Near Hamilton, Ohio, he formed the acquaintance of Jane, eldest daughter of Robert Barnhill, to whom he was married in 1819.
Mr. Corbaley brought with him from Maryland about six hundred dollars, which he intended to invest in land. He entrusted it with a merchant of Hamilton who failed, and he was left without means.
In March, 1820, he came to Marion county with Mr. Barnhill, his father-in-law, and settled on the bank of Fall creek, near where Patter- son's old mill stood, just outside the Donation, where he remained two years. On the 7th of August, 1820, his son Richard was born, being the first white child born in the New Purchase.
Richard Corbaley now lives in California. Owing to the great dis- tress caused by sickness the first two years after they came to Indianapo- lis, Mr. Barnhill having died, the family removed to a piece of land they had bought on Eagle creek, in the northwest part of the county. Being industrious, it was not many years until each member of the family had a good farm, and from the rich soil they had a fair reward for their labor. One of the great drawbacks was the distance they had to travel
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
for a market for their grain, which had to be hauled in wagons to the Ohio river, where they would receive about fifty cents per bushel for wheat. Mr. Corbaley was the business man for the whole neighbor- hood, being a good English scholar, and remained as such until his death, which occurred on the 11th of January, 1844. For many years he was a justice of the peace for Wayne township. He was one of the commissioners appointed by the Legislature to locate the seat of justice for the counties of Clinton and Fulton, Frankfort and Rochester being their location.
Mr. Corbaley made a trip from this place to his old home in Mary- land on horseback. In traveling through a wilderness country, twenty miles between houses, he was attacked by a panther. It being near night, with the aid of a flintlock pistol and a piece of tow, he was enabled to kindle a fire, which kept the beast at bay during the night. The last he saw of the panther was about daylight when the fire was renewed.
Mr. and Mrs. Corbaley raised a family of ten children, which was but an average number for the pioneers of Indiana, all of whom married before the death of Mrs. Corbaley, which occurred April 7th, 1870. Eight children are yet living. I well remember Mr. Corbaley as one of the most substantial farmers of the county, and one whose word was considered as good as his bond.
SAMUEL B. CORBALEY,
Fourth son of the late Jeremiah J. Corbaley, was born at the old home- stead on Eagle creek, in Marion county, on the 17th of February, 1834.
After the death of his father he remained with his mother, working on the farm during the summer, and in the winter attending such schools as were kept in the common log school houses of that day, receiving but a limited education.
At the age of seventeen he obtained the consent of his mother to go into the office of his brother Richard, who was then clerk of Mar- shall county.
He started on foot, and made the trip to Plymouth in that way in three and a half days, over the Michigan road, known to be one of the worst public thoroughfares in the State. Starting with three dollars in his pocket, which was of his own accumulation, he had thirty-five cents left when he reached his destination.
He resided ten years in Marshall county, eight of which he did duty
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OBED FOOTE.
in the offices of the clerk and recorder of the county. He was pro -. ficient with the pen, and has left a monument to his efficiency and quali- fications as a public officer. He returned to this county in 1861, and has been a permanent resident of the city since 1862.
Mr. Corbaley served three years as bookkeeper in the large furniture establishment of Spiegel, Thoms & Co. He then engaged in the family . grocery business on West Washington street, where he is yet and has been for the past eight years, doing a very safe business.
His motto has been to "make his word good in all contracts," even should he incur loss thereby. I understand his paper is as good among the wholesale men on Meridian street as any dealer in the city.
He was first married in Plymouth to Miss Amanda Dawson of that place ; she lived ten years after marriage; he had two daughters by that marriage, both of whom died. He was again married on the 4th of April, 1867, to Miss Eliza A. Cassel, eldest daughter of William Cassel, Esq., one of the prominent farmers of this county. By this marriage he also has two children, Lucella and George.
With Mr. Corbaley the writer has been on intimate terms for years, and can write of him understandingly, and feel justified in saying that no man in the city stands fairer with his acquaintances than Mr. Corbaley.
OBED FOOTE.
This eccentric gentleman was a native of the State of Delaware, a lawyer by profession, though he did but little in that line after he came to this place, except as a justice of the peace. He became a citizen of Indianapolis late in the fall of 1821. He was then a single man, but on the bachelor order, and kept " bachelor's hall " for some years. He resided on the north side of Washington, east of the alley, between Del- aware and Pennsylvania streets.
Soon after he was eligible he was elected a magistrate, which office he held until he died, September, 1833.
On one occasion he was plowing in his corn-field, in the north part of the Donation, when a couple came to him and wished him to go to his office for the purpose of uniting them in marriage. He in- quired if they had the license with them, and being answered in the affirmative, he called a man who was plowing in an adjoining field as a witness; he then ordered the bride and groom to stand up in the fence corner, and there he performed the ceremony, after which he gave in- structions to the groom more pointed than classic.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
Mr. Foote was a man of more than ordinary native, as well as ac- quired ability, and possessed a large fund of general information.
His first wife was the eldest daughter of Luke Walpole; they had one child, a son, who is named for the father ; he now resides in Paris, Illinois. His second wife was a widow Davis. They also had one child, a daughter, who is now the wife of Mr. Frederick Baggs, a gen- tleman well known in the business and social circles of this city.
Mrs. Baggs is the half or step-sister of Mrs. McCready, wife of James McCready, once the mayor of this city.
Mr. Foote died in the prime of life, and long before this city assumed · to be anything more than a country village.
HERVEY BATES,
The first sheriff of Marion county, was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio- born in that place when it was called Fort Washington, in the year 1795. His father was master of transportation, during the Indian war, under Generals Wayne and Harmar, and chiefly engaged in forwarding pro- visions and munitions of war from the frontier posts to the army in the wilderness. At that time it was an unbroken wilderness from Old Fort Washington (now Cincinnati), to Detroit, in Michigan Territory
When Mr. Bates was quite young, not more than five or six years of age, he lost his mother; his father married again, and he, failing (as most children do) to find a true one in the person of the step-mother, left the paternal roof and launched his bark upon the broad ocean of life, as it were, without sail or rudder.
At the age of six years he went to Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, where he met with friends and received a fair English education, at least sufficient to fit and qualify him for the ordinary pursuits of life at that early day.
About the time that he had attained his majority he came to Brook- ville, Franklin county, where he met with and was married to Miss Sid- ney Sedgwick, a cousin of General James Noble, United States Senator, and the late Governor Noah Noble, and thus far, like "John Anderson and his worthy spouse," have glided down the stream of time together. At Brookville, in 1816, he cast his first vote for a delegate to form a constitution for the new State of Indiana.
Soon after Mr. Bates' marriage he removed to Connersville, where he remained until February, 1822, when he came to where this city now stands.
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HERVEY BATES.
Jonathan Jennings, who was the first Governor after the State was admitted into the Union, had appointed William W. Wick president judge of this (the fifth) judicial circuit, and Hervey Bates sheriff of Marion county, which then embraced several of the surrounding coun- ties for judicial purposes, investing Mr. Bates with the power of putting the necessary legal machinery of the county in motion. This he did by issuing a proclamation for an election to be held on the first day of April for the purpose of electing a clerk of the court and other county officers, which was the first election of any kind held in the New Pur- chase.
At the October election Mr. Bates was chosen and elected sheriff for the regular term of two years, after which he refused to be a candi- date again. He did not seem to partake of the love of office, or had not the taste for public preferment that was peculiar to others hailing from the same section he did.
After the term of office for which he was elected expired, he entered into mercantile and other pursuits more congenial to his feelings. Into all his business enterprises he brought great energy and industry, which are very nearly always rewarded by success, as was the case with him. He seemed to think with Richleieu, and acted upon the principle that " in the bright lexicon of youth there was no such word as fail." He possessed, in an eminent degree, the mainsprings to prosperity and suc- cess-integrity, industry and economy-without which but few succeed.
Mr. Bates was the first and for ten years President of the Branch of the State Bank, located in this place, and no institution of the kind, either in or out of the State, was more successful, not only for the bank, but beneficial to the business and trading part of the community while under his management. Indeed, it was through the assistance of the bank that most of the surplus produce of this and several of the adjoin- ing counties was able to reach a market. I have known this bank to withhold from our merchants and best business men of the city, that they might be the more able to accommodate the produce dealers, and thereby assist the farmer, keep the money in the hands of our own citi- zens and benefit the whole country. This wise and judicious course of the bank, of which he was the principal, was a lasting benefit to the producers of the county, which should long be remembered by them.
He was instrumental in getting up the first insurance company, a stockholder in the first hotel built by a company, the first railroad that was finished to this place, the first and only gas light and coke company, and indeed nearly every public enterprise of the city.
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SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS.
In 1852 he commenced, and afterwards finished, that large and pala- tial hotel, the Bates House, at that time one of the finest in the west. This house was built at a cost of sixty thousand dollars, subsequent im- provements making the whole cost seventy-five thousand dollars, and could not be built at this time for much less than double that amount.
There are many other business and private buildings scattered throughout the city that own their existence to the energy and means of Mr. Bates.
He has ever been a liberal contributor to our religious and benevo- lent institutions ; was a warm friend of Henry Ward Beecher during his residence in this city and in his less prosperous days.
Mr. Bates died on the 6th of July, 1876; his wife preceded him a few years. He leaves but two children-Hervey Bates, Jun., and Mrs. L. M. Vance. Although Mr. Bates had lived out his four score years, the old citizens felt that they had lost one whom they could not very well spare.
DOUGLASS MAGUIRE, SENIOR,
Was born in Fayette county, Kentucky, on the 29th of April, 1799. He came to Indianapolis early in the year 1823, and in connection with Harvey Gregg, established the second newspaper in this place, known as the Western Censor and Emigrant's Guide.
In November, 1824, Mr. Gregg sold his interest in the paper to John Douglass, who had the contract for printing the laws of the State, the firm being Douglass & Maguire. The name of the paper was changed to that of the Indiana Journal ; it has changed proprietors and editors sev- eral times since until to-day we hear it cried by the newsboy as the Indi- anapolis Daily Journal.
Mr. Maguire was a ready and forcible political writer, whose pen rendered service to the old Whig party, of which he was one of the leaders in Indiana. He was the personal as well as political friend of Mr. Clay, to whom he bore a striking resemblance.
During Mr. Clay's visit to this city on the 5th of October, 1842, he spent an evening at the house of, and took tea with, his old Ken- tucky friend. He represented this county in the Legislature ; was Aud- itor of State ; was always foremost in organizing political conventions and meetings; in fact, was looked to to perform such duties by the peo- ple. He never left anything necessary for the success of his party un- done that would honorably redound to its interest. He was a thorough political worker.
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Hammerstein Bros & Co Indianapolis Lutrogaphic Institute
Decol Landis
103
JACOB LANDIS.
Mr. Maguire was married at Bainbridge, Ohio, on the 15th of Feb- ruary, 1830, to Miss Rebecca Porter of that place, a sister of Messrs. Henry and Edward Porter, leading merchants at that time at this place. He died in October, 1857, leaving many friends but no enemies.
JACOB LANDIS.
When I come to speak of my personal friend of over fifty years, and one of my first employers as a store-boy, I am reminded of many incidents connected with his long residence in this city that would be interesting to the reader, if the space would allow and I were able to depict them as they occurred.
Mr. Landis came to this place early in the spring of 1822, a young as well as single man. He built a cabin on the south side of the State House square, near Mississippi street, and there for a year or two dealt out his wet as well as dry ware of different kinds to the dry and thirsty citizens of the New Purchase.
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