USA > Indiana > Vigo County > Terre Haute > The history of early Terre Haute from 1816 to 1840 > Part 5
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At the back of the stage there was an attachment called the boot for trunks and especially for mail bags. These boots were wooden racks strongly fastened to the rear of the stage body, covered with heavy leather flaps, which were buckled down with strong straps. A commendable degree of pride showed itself in the movements of the driver, as he drew his horses up in front of the village Postoffice, and stepped down from his high seat, and took from the boot the mail sacks and delivered them to the Postmaster. But all this display and western dash was in turn displaced by the steady going mail wagon ; and the monotonous rip, rip, rippity, rip of the iron wheels of the railway coach. Times change. Manners change. In losing we gain ; and in gaining we lose.
It was a new era when the Pony express was put on the
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road as a swift mail carrier. The boy on his pony galloping over the old yellow bridge on the National road, and sound- ing his horn as he came into town, is a pleasant reminiscence of the days of 1840. In the growing demand for news from the far off east, the Pony express was appreciated when com- pared with the slow and lumbering four-horse coach.
The sources of information in respect to early Postoffices and Postmasters are limited; and yet I supposed that the records at our city Postoffice would give lists of Postmasters, with their terms of service; also the locality of office, up to 1840. But in calling on my friend, Mr. Frank E. Benjamin, I was assured that his office contained no such ancient rec- ords. Mr. Benjamin's knowledge of Terre Haute Post- masters extended back to the time of Mr. Joseph O. Jones, with whom he had often conversed in regard to the affairs of the office, during Mr. Jones's incumbency. The facts, how- ever, so far as I have been able to gather them may be stated as follows: there seems to be no question but that the office was first established at Fort Harrison, and that Mr. Curtis Gilbert was commissioned Postmaster on Dec. 4, 1817. He continued in this office till Oct. 18, 1818, when it was moved to the town, and located in a frame building on the northeast corner of Ohio and Water streets; when Mr. John M. Cole- man was appointed Postmaster. All this as noted above, was in 1818, and seems reliable, although there are counter state- ments as to where it was first located.
How long the office remained in the Gilbert building is un- certain. There is a statement apparently reliable, that some time previous to 1824, Mr. William Linton erected a frame building near the southeast corner of Main and Third streets, which was occupied by him as a store and Postoffice. In this Mr. Linton is made to act in the double capacity of store- keeper and Postmaster; but another chronicler relates: that Mr. John M. Coleman held the office till 1828, when Mr. John F. Cruft was appointed in his stead. He was succeeded by Mr. Frank Cunningham. There is a break here till Dr. George Graff was appointed, who held the office till 1839,
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when he resigned and Mr. J. O. Jones was appointed by the Postmaster General under President Van Buren. The Post- office was located in Dr. Graff's office on First street, north of Main, Mr. Jones, however, soon moved it to a one-story brick on the north side of Ohio, an extension in the rear of Mr. Henry Rose's store, which was on the northwest corner of Second and Ohio streets. Here the business increased, and Mr. Jones received a commission for four years from Feb. 1841, from President Van Buren. This is said to be the first presidential appointment. Not a few of the old residents of 1840 easily recall the little one-story brick Postoffice around the corner on Ohio street, with its array of numbered private boxes ; and its square opening in the center, for general de- livery. The rentals of the boxes were the perquisites of the Postmaster.
But what about the mail service previous to 1840? The Terre Haute Register, a pioneer paper established in Terre Haute in 1823, has the following record, Dec. 1826: " Terre Haute has advanced to the dignity of a weekly mail."
In 1825 mail stages ran three times a week to Cincinnati, by the way of Indianapolis ; three times a week, to Louis- ville, and Evansville ; twice a week to Lafayette : and once a week to Springfield, Illinois.
In 1841 the mails arrived by stages and horse-back, from the east, daily ; from the west, three times a week ; and from the south. three times a week. Already in the mail service, and in almost every line of activity, the town in 1840 was claiming cityhood, and was fast becoming what it claimed to be.
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CHAPTER XI
THE FIRST COURT HOUSE AND JAIL
So soon as the Commissioners had decided upon Terre Haute as the County seat, they began to arrange for the building of a Court House. In the meantime, by the act of the legislature, at Corydon ; all courts of justice should meet at the house of Truman Blackman, near Fort Harrison, whence they might adjourn to any other suitable place near the center of the county. Tradition has it, that they did on divers occasions adjourn to meet on a certain big log, suit- able on account of its size, nearness to the fort, and coolness of shade. This for tradition, is well enough, as it is in keep- ing with the times; but the facts are that adjourned meet- ings were held in the same log house of Truman Blackman, till coming to the village, when the meetings were held at the Eagle and the Lion, and in the upper story of the frame house built by Curtis Gilbert.
The facts in regard to the building of the Court House are meagre ; but from entries made in the public records un- der date of May 13, 1818, we learn, that Nathaniel P. Hunt- ington was allowed $10.00 for drawing up bonds; John M. Coleman $350.00 in part pay for building foundations ; Wil- liam Durham $400.00 in part pay for building walls, Elihu Hovey and John Brocklebank $300.00 in part pay for build- ing Court House. In November, 1818, the public records show that Charles B. Modesitt was allowed $25.00 for " clearing off the public square." Evidently the work of building the Court House began in 1818, though it was not completed till 1822.
The building was of brick and in size and architecture quite suitable for the purpose intended. The east door. with
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its broad arched transom, was quite imposing. The interior was elaborately but plainly finished with elevated box seats, rising one above the other, and reached by steps in the sev- eral aisles. The south side thus seated was for the accom- modation of the people. A center aisle ran through the center of the building, from east to west, separating the north part of the room, which was for the express use of the court. Here was the judge's elevated bench or long desk, which was reached on either side by steps guarded by heavy rail- ing : immediately in front of which on the floor, the lawyers had their long tables ; while the jurors had their elevated box seats on the left of the judge's bench
THE FIRST COURT HOUSE, 1818-1866
At this bar we are told began the career of some of the most noted lawyers of Indiana. Such men as Thomas H. Blake, James Whitcomb, Elisha M. Huntington, Edward A.
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Hannegan and others, mention of whom will be made in the proposed chapter on Early Courts, Laws and Lawyers.
The Court House was not completed till 1822, and then only the lower part was finished. It was not only the County house for all court business, political gatherings, and for holding elections, but the Town house for all public meetings of the citizens. Here churches were organized, lectures de- livered, Sunday schools taught, and sermons preached, by local as well as circuit riding preachers. It is a matter of record that Joe Smith and Sydney Rigdon sometime in 1834-35 held meetings in our Court House, in defense of Mormonism. Crowds attended to hear these exponents of this new religion.
While the old Court House was still in its prime, Col. Francis Vigo, after whom our county had been named, paid a visit to Terre Haute, by the urgent invitation of prominent citizens. This visit occurred July 4th, 1832. His home was in Vincennes, and though he was now past ninety years of age it is said that he retained much of his natural vigor, both of body and mind. As an honored guest every atten- tion was shown him. That he was greatly pleased with his visit appears from an article in his will which was written two years after, as the will is dated Dec. 9, 1834. The article reads: "Whereas, The county of Vigo, has been named after me, and I feel towards it and its citizens a great degree of esteem and affection for many favors con- ferred and services rendered me, especially by the inhabi- tants of Terre Haute: it is my will, wish, and desire and earnest request that if the claim aforesaid is recovered, and the amount due me, paid to my executors, that they or some one of them, shall pay out of the sum $500 to the county of Vigo, to be laid out, by the commissioners of said county, or in such other mode as shall be deemed most desirable by said county, in the purchase of a bell for the court house of said county, on which shall be inscribed 'Presented by Francis Vigo.'"
The claim of Francis Vigo, referred to above, was for
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money loaned to the government by which Gen. Geo. Rogers Clark was able to provide rations for his soldiers in their march for the recapturing of Vincennes in 1779, which had fallen into the hands of the English. The part that Col. Vigo and Father Gibault took in this campaign cannot be set forth liere, but suffice it to say, that next to Gen. Clark they were important factors in this first grand effort in wresting all this Northwest country from the hands of the British. The story of the unsuccessful efforts of Col. Vigo to have his just claim recognized by the Government is pa- thetic, in that it came too late to minister to his private re- lief. It dragged along for about one hundred years before it was finally allowed. The original amount loaned by Col. Vigo in 1779 was $11.387.40 for which he received four drafts on the financial agent of Virginia, a Mr. Oliver Pol- lock, of New Orleans. When at last these drafts were al- lowed by Congress, the principal and interest amounted to some $50.000. This final judgment was rendered in 1875, and the money was paid over in 1876. The $500 set apart by the will was paid by the executors ; and the county records show that this was done by our late fellow townsman, Mr. T. C. Buntin, a distant relative of Col. Vigo, in April, 1876. The village Court House of 1818-1822. where Col. Vigo in- tended his bell should find its place, was declared unfit for further use and ordered to be torn down about the year 1868, but in August, 1884, the corner stone of our present mag- nificent structure was laid, and the commissioners were only too glad to carry out the wishes of Col. Vigo, and use his bequest as a nucleus in the purchase of a bell and clock for the new building. In order to satisfy me and others that may be interested, as to the diligence of the commissioners in the discharge of their duty, my son, H. A. Condit, clambered into the belfry and found the following lettering on the bell :
" BY HIS WILL $500 OF THE COST OF THIS BELL WERE PRESENTED BY FRANCIS VIGO TO VIGO COUNTY, IND.,
A. D., 1887."
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The names of the County commissioners as inscribed on a metal plate, and nailed to the framework of the bell, are as follows :
" LEVI W. DICKERSON, ASA M. BLACK, SANFORD S. HENDERSON."
The State legislature which met at Corydon, Warren county, in its act approved by Jonathan Jennings, not only honored itself and Col. Francis Vigo, but placed the citizens of the county under lasting obligations, by bestowing the name of Francis Vigo upon our county. He was a man whose character and patriotic deeds rendered him worthy of such honor. Col. Francis Vigo was a Sardinian, born in Mondovi in 1740. By way of eminence he was called "The Spanish Merchant." He came to New Orleans, which was then under the government of Spain, in a Spanish regiment. He soon left the regiment and became an Indian trader. Ascending the Mississippi to St. Louis, he entered into the fur trade with the Indians, and by honest dealings was successful, not only in accumu- lating money, but a knowledge of Indian character, both of which he patriotically devoted to the cause of America against England. The story of Col. Vigo ought to be familiar to every citizen and there is no lack of information in the histories of our State. He died at Vincennes in 1836 having reached the advanced age of ninety-six years.
But to return to our theme which embraces the building of a jail, as well as Court House. The former soon became a necessity. Curious enough the records of the first term of the Circuit court held in the village, July 24th, 1818, Thomas H. Blake, presiding, show that the sheriff, Truman Black- man "filed a formal protest against the county of Vigo for failing to provide a good and substantial jail." As an illustration that this protest was needed, it is related of a case, brought before Fisher R. Burnett, as justice of the peace, in which certain parties were sued for trespass. Goodwin
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Holloway, the constable, arrested the defendant and brought him before the justice. There being no jail, he was com- pelled to leave the prisoner in the charge of "the court." But as " the court " was unwilling to lay aside its dignity and play the part of sheriff, the defendant simply bowed him- self out of the court room into the street.
The first jail we are told was built on the south side of Swan, between First and Second streets. The old records show that on Nov. 10th, 1818, Henry Redford was allowed $60 part payment for building a jail in Terre Haute. An- other is somewhat more specific and says: "The jail stood on the south alley corner, on Swan street, between First and Second," and adds: "It was built of smoothly hewed logs, the floor being of the same. Light was admitted by a small grated window." Capt. William Earle, in his remi- niscences says: " I remember of one person being confined in it; that was black Dan, for stabbing Bill, another negro; he made his escape, digging away one of the floor logs, which was rotten."
From the records of May, 1826, we learn that a second jail was ordered to be built. William Durham, John F. Cruft, and Thomas Parsons were appointed the committee, and given the following instructions: "The rooms to be eighteen feet square in the clear, two stories high, the ground room to be ten feet, the upper room nine feet high in the clear ; to be built of good white oak timber ; the founda- tion to be good stone ; and also to build a frame the same size as the jail, for the purpose of accommodating the jailor. to be attached to the jail with a passage between six feet wide and under the same roof." This building was located on the corner of Walnut and Third streets. This building stood till 1854-5, when it was replaced by a brick and stone struc- ture. This latter building still stands as a land-mark on the northwest corner of Walnut and Third streets. The present jail was completed in 1882.
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CHAPTER XII
TAVERNS AND TAVERN KEEPERS
IN 1817 we find Henry Redford engaged in erecting a log house on the southeast corner of First and Main streets, which afterwards became the far-famed Eagle and Lion. It is described as having a front porch extending the whole length of the building. It was built of hewed logs. After- wards a frame addition was added, and the whole weather- boarded. The exact date of the completion of this house is fixed by the fact that the first celebration of the Fourth of July in the village, took place in this building in 1817. It is recorded, that in June, the house was near completion. " The roof was on, and the floors laid, and Mr. Redford was pushing the work to be in readiness for the approaching Fourth of July, and the large company that was expected." Prominent among the number that assembled were Major Chunn and his officers, Lieutenants Sturgis and Floyd. Drs. Clark and Mccullough, and several other gentlemen, together with the ladies made up the happy crowd from Fort Harri-
son. Guests also came from the country around, and as far south as "Shakers' prairie," in probably what was then Knox county. The band from the Fort furnished the music. There was an oration and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. There was also a great dinner served, finished up with patriotic toasts. The festivities of this first celebration of the Fourth of July in Terre Haute was rounded up with a grand ball at night.
This was a grand send off for the Eagle and Lion, and es- tablished its reputation for years afterwards. It was the traveler's rest, the villager's boarding house, and a common place of resort for the sake of hearing or telling some new thing. The great barroom, with its generous fire place, and
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broad hearthstone was the central place of meeting for the townspeople, especially during terms of the courts, when lawyers from far and near gathered around the great fire- place. Everything was big, the dining room especially. It had its one purpose, with its tables and chairs, but could be easily cleared to accommodate gatherings either for dancing or preaching.
The tavern was known as the Eagle and Lion, from the painting on the sign board, which was fastened between two large posts. The painting represented an eagle picking out the eyes of a lion. The happy ending of the recent war with England was fresh in the mind of the painter, as he pictured the triumph of the Americans over the British. The house, however, with its generous appointments, was but a part of what constituted a great tavern in those early days. There was the big stable, the interior of which was lined on either side with hospitable stalls ; its loft filled with hay, and its bins with oats and corn. The horse must be cared for as well as the man, for the energy that moved the country was stored in the muscles of the horse. Not only so but this "horse power" was the standard for computation of all other powers. Then the stable had its ample yard, filled with wagons and coaches. It was a busy place at the times of the outgoing and incom- ing of the stages.
The Eagle and Lion was the stopping place of at least one famous man. In 1831 Terre Haute was honored by the presence of Henry Clay. The chroniclers of the times tell us that it was an event of great local interest. The great Senator, " was met several miles from the village by a large number of citizens, and escorted into town. His approach was announced by the roar of artillery. He stopped at the Eagle and Lion." An address and a reply were among the proceedings of the occasion. In regard to the keepers of this tavern, facts are very limited. I find no statement to that effect, but probably Mr. Redford at first kept the house him- self. This seems to be implied in the following extract from a letter written by Lucius H. Scott, years afterwards, who
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in speaking of events occurring in 1817, says: "Henry Redford had just erected his house, and it was the first tav- ern ever opened in Terre Haute. The house was afterwards kept by Robert Harrison and still later by Capt. Wasson." Capt. James Wasson was one of the familiar names of carly Terre Haute. He was a native of Connecticut and came here in 1816. He must have had charge of the tavern for a long time as it was familiarly known as the Wasson House. He was a sailor before coming west. He was somewhat brusk in manner, but kind. Some years ago in tracing out the exact date of the first organization of a Presbyterian church in Terre Haute, by Rev. David Monfort, I found the following record in an old trustee book. After setting forth the date of the organization, and election of elders with their names, it stated that " Messrs. William C. Linton, John Britton, and Capt. James Wasson were elected trustees." This was in 1828. Mr. Wasson lived to the age of sixty- five years " and was universally respected."
Samuel McQuilkin was another prominent tavern keeper in the early days of the village. It is claimed by some that he built the first tavern on the northeast corner of Third and Main streets. It was a large two story frame with its big sign post. On the sign was painted a war horse fully ca- parisoned, and rearing as if impatient to get into the battle. Mr. William Earle, in his much quoted letter says: " We boys always called the MeQuilkin house ' The Light Horse tavern.'" There are no dates given, but it is understood that Mr. McQuilkin sold the building and invested in lands across the river where Macksvillle now stands, which is the town laid out by Mr. Samuel McQuilkin and named Mc- Quilkinsville, but for short has ever been known as Macks- ville. As to the question of which was the first tavern erected, Mr. Lucius H. Scott speaks from personal knowl- edge when he says as quoted above: " It," that is the Red- ford House, "was the first tavern ever opened in Terre Haute." At the same time it is recorded that the McQuilkin. House was a rival to the Eagle and Lion.
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To throw some light on the expense of traveling at this early date, it may be noted here, that in licensing taverns, the County commissioners fixed the rates for a single meal at twenty-five cents ; and a night's lodging at twelve and a half cents. For a horse, stable and hay for one night was twenty-five cents ; oats and corn were extra.
In 1819 it is recorded that George Kilpatrick was licensed to keep a tavern ; also tavern keeper's license was granted the same year to James Cunningham. Indicating the growth of the village and of ideas as well, the name tavern, sooner or later, was superseded by that of Hotel, or House. Hence there was the well known Dole House, kept by William Dole, the proprietor ; Stewart House with Matthew Stewart as proprietor. Besides these were the National Hotel, kept by William McFadden, the old Early Hotel and the Wabash Hotel. All these had their necessary creaking sign boards, hospitable stables, and roomy wagon yards. Last but not least, each had a little beifry on the top of the house, with its high-toned bell, which called the willing boarders, three times a day, to their meals. The ringing of the tavern bell must have been an important function at least at the Burton Hotel, kept by Johnny Burton, an Englishman, on the Northeast corner of Cherry and Fifth streets. Burton must have been the most popular landlord of his time, since his name has been perpetuated in song by the darky minstrels of the day. I quote a single stanza as it has lingered in my memory from that day to this :
" I comes to Terre Haute And puts up at Burton's hotel, I blacks de Gemmen's boots And rings de dinnah bell."
In 1838 Mr. Chauncey Rose completed the Prairie House. His plans were kept back till he began the work of building, when the villagers shook their heads in doubt ; some said : " It is too far from the center of town." Others prophesied : " That boarders would not walk so far for their meals."
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Still others : " It is rightly named as it stands way out on
the prairie." At first it did stand vacant, seemingly confirm- ing the "I told you so" of the wise ones. But a change came. The sound of internal improvements was heard through the land, and our village was the natural center so far as river, canal, and the proposed National road were con- cerned. There is a chapter here in the history of internal improvements that is full of interest; but whatever the mis- takes and failures, a new order of things sprung up, and our State was better for the experience, and especially our town. The building of the National road brought hither Eastern men of capital and brains. And so did the canal en- terprise ; and though these enterprises in a manner failed, yet they gave a start to Terre Haute and also to the Prairie House, as it was the stopping place of the leading spirits in these public enterprises. The house was first opened by Mr. Barnum, and soon gained the reputation of being one of the best hotels in the State, a reputation which it has maintained from that day to this.
In closing this chapter, the old residents of 1840-50 will not object to have their memories refreshed by a reference to an episode in the life of the Prairie House, when the late Mr. T. C. Buntin had charge. It will be remembered that an En- glish family traveling in their own conveyance, from Indian- apolis to St. Louis, stopped at the Prairie House for a single night, but by the sudden illness of the father, the family were detained some weeks. They had large means and were pros- , pecting for a location to make an English home. Inci- dental to this main purpose, the father with the help of his daughter proposed to publish a book to contain an account of America and her people as seen through English specta- cles. Whether the guests of the Prairie House were aware of it or not, they had :
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