USA > Indiana > Grant County > Fairmount > The making of a township, being an account of the early settlement and subsequent development of Fairmount Township, Grant County, Indiana, 1829 to 1917, based upon data secured by personal interviews, from numerous communications > Part 13
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The Underground Railroad.
through Marion just at midnight. I had my horses walk through town slowly, but when I got beyond town at a safe distance I whipped them into a gallup and delivered them safely."
This was the last "consignment" that ever passed over the Under- ground Railroad through Fairmount Township. Some one calculated that as many as fifteen hundred runaways passed over the road while it existed. Daniel Hill was a frail, delicate-looking man, but it is due him to say he was heroism personified. He, like many others, hoping that the war then raging would end slavery, enlisted in Company C, Eighty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and laid down his life at Alexandria, Louisiana, on that fruitless raid up Red River.
CHAPTER XV.
THE SPIRITUALIST MOVEMENT AND ACTIVITIES AROUND LAKE GALATLA.
TN 1851 Spiritualism swept over this part of the country. William Chamness started the movement for a town at Lake Galatia .* As early as 1833 Solomon Thomas had built a tannery in the neighborhood, and Micajah Cross, son-in-law of William Chamness, and Moses Hol- lingsworth had erected cabins there. Chamness insisted that all his followers should have everything in common. All believers were re- quired to subscribe to the idea that there should be a mutual interest in all human necessities.
In this way a proper community spirit would be developed. and all would labor for the common good of the faithful.
Otho Selby, well known surveyor of his day, was employed to locate streets and blocks. Circles were formed and services were con- ducted by writing mediums. It was the design of Chamness to make this a seat of learning and headquarters for the propagation of Spirit- ualism.
William Wellington and Joseph Hollingsworth erected a saw-mill and grist-mill. William Chamness and son started a store and built a residence. A little later James Lancaster erected a small frame build- ing and put in a stock of merchandise.
A printing office was soon located, and a periodical called The Galatia Messenger was published.# The Messenger was a four-page paper, each page being about eleven by seventeen inches in size. Eli Selby was the managing editor of the periodical, which contained news of spiritualistic movements, accounts of local happenings, items in ref- erence to the seances held, and frequently referred to the excellent healing properties of the waters in the Pool of Siloam, otherwise known as Lake Galatia.
Joseph Hollingsworth and Peter Havens were two of the strong characters connected with the movement. Mrs. Eleanor Hollingsworth, wife of Enos Hollingsworth, was one of the strong mediums. Charles Stanfield was another active supporter.
*Micajah Weesner at one time ran a tanyard near Lake Galatia. An epidemic of cholera broke out in the neighborhood. Weesner and Alex Dol- man, who had been stricken, were moved to a point north of Jonesboro, and died of the disease.
#Louise Payne Thorn once related that on many occasions, as a girl, she visited the printing office and watched the printers and publishers at work on their paper.
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The Spiritualistic Movement
Robert Nose relates that in 1855 a man named Gerard created con- siderable excitement in the neighborhood by announcing that on a cer- tain day he would make his ascension into heaven. Gerard had for a number of days been preparing for his flight by remaining in bed and abstaining from all food. E. B. Chamness, son of William Chamness, who was teaching in the vicinity, adjourned school in order that his scholars might see the flight of Gerard. At the appointed hour the children and other neighbors formed a circle around the bed. Gerard,
THE POOL OF SILOAM
It was asserted in articles published by the Galatia Messenger and claimed by followers of William Chamness, that the waters of Lake Galatia possessed healing properties. Thus the lake became known among faithful Spiritual- ists of the early day as the Pool of Siloam.
his arms akimbo, slowly arose, shook himself violently for a few min- utes, and by various other means attempted to arise. He did not suc- ceed in making the ascension as promised, and his failure created much unfavorable comment in the settlement.
All went well for a time with the little colony. A minister of one of the orthodox churches, believed to have been Rev. George W. Bowers, one day gained the consent of leaders of the Spiritualists to preach a sermon to members of the faith. The minister chose for his text :
"Oh, foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?"
The sermon is described as one of great power. Bowers was an
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The Making of a Township.
orator of unusual ability and considerable persuasiveness. His 1111- answerable logic appealed with such irresistible force to his hearers that the sermon started an agitation which eventually proved to be the be- ginning of the end of the enterprise. The movement began to dis- integrate in 1857, and in time gradually disappeared.
The proposed metropolis soon faded away, and few of the present generation are aware of the movements of its ambitious but misguided promoters. Today not a vestige remains of this exploded enterprise, which in its energetic infancy promised far-reaching results.
One of the most aggressive opponents of Spiritualism as practiced in that day was Morgan O. Lewis, who openly ridiculed their doctrine and their practices.
Rev. Bowers was a Methodist Episcopal minister. He was com- bative when it became necessary to enforce respect for religious ser- vices. Upon one occasion, it is related, an intoxicated hoodlum made bold to walk up to the platform and take his seat in the pulpit with the minister. Bowers remonstrated with the drunken man, who promptly replied that he had as much right in the pulpit as Bowers had, whereat Bowers took hold of the ruffian by the nape of the neck and forcibly escorted him to the door, putting the boot to the disturber as he went out. After this circumstance became known throughout the settlement Bowers was never known to have been again interrupted in his meetings.
Eli Selby, soon after the enterprise began to wane, went to Mis- souri and settled in the Ozark Mountains. When the Civil War broke out Selby is said to have sympathized with the South. He and his son, George, joined a party of bushwhackers and were both killed in the Ozarks in operations against the Union forces. It is not known what became of other members of the family.
E. B. Chamness, son of William Chamness, lived for many years at Alexandria, Indiana. He died in 1910. The widow, Mrs. Clara K. Chamness, at one time owned a cottage at Chesterfield, headquarters of the Indiana Association of Spiritualists, where their annual mect- ings are held.
Lake Galatia afforded fine fishing for the pioncer. There used to be an abundance of black bass and plenty of fine perch here. A hard freeze in 1862 killed them off, and fish has not since been so plentiful in the lake. Attention was turned to the Mississinewa River, later on. where there were plenty of pike, red horse, suckers, bass and perch.
The scattering settlers thought the gig, or hook, was too slow for catching fish, so they devised a brush drag long enough to span the
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The Spiritualistic Movement.
river, and with grape vine and hickory bark improvised into a rope they pulled the drag down to a deep hole where they landed with all the fish they could take care of.
"In December, 1847, in the village of Hydeville, New York," writes Mrs. Angelina Pearson, "a family by the name of Fox heard strange rappings about their house, which increased in loudness and frequency, and which were more of an annoyance at night than during the day time, and were noticeable in different parts of the house. It was an- noying to Mr. and Mrs. Fox, who became worn out with sleepless nights. Not until in 1848 did they discover that so many raps meant 'yes' or 'no.'
"Such mysterious doings could not be kept secret. The news spread in the village and elsewhere, and finally extended over the United States and to Europe. Great excitement prevailed wherever it made its ap- pearance, and people would go long distances to see and hear its myster- . ious manifestations.
"Finally, an alphabetical code was established, the letters corre- sponding to the number of raps. Thus the mediums believed a com- munication was established between the living and the dead. The first communication thus given, it is claimed, was :
"'We are all your dear friends and relatives.'
"The public press took hold of the subject and printed much litera- ture. Now, Spiritualism had gained a strong hold, and had multitudes for its advocates. The Banner of Light, a magazine published in ad- vocacy of Spiritualism, was issued in an Eastern city.
"The definition of Spiritualism, as given in some of the literature on the subject, is as follows :
"'Spiritualism is based on the cardinal fact of spiritual communion and influx. It is the effort to discover all truth relating to man's spirit- ual nature, capacities, relations, duties, welfare and destiny, and its application to a regenerate life.'
"But to all honest-thinking minds who watched its final outcome it was a decided farce.
"It reached Grant County some time previous to 1860, and found many believers. It had many strong advocates in Fairmount Township in that day, especially in the neighborhood of Lake Galatia, and per- sisted in keeping up its operations until some time in 1865 or 1866.
"The writer began teaching school in that neighborhood, in Jan- uary, 1864, and boarded at a house which had formerly been occupied by a family that had encouraged it. Often large crowds would gather at this home to witness its noisy manifestations. The family who then
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The Making of a Township.
owned the house was not friendly to it, yet it was there to annoy then. Every evening about 9 o'clock there would be a noise begin near the floor, between the ceiling and weather boarding, like the climbing up of an animal as large as a cat, or small dog. On reaching the upper floor it proceeded to run, making a noise with its feet, and also another noise as if it was dragging a heavy garment with large buttons attached, which scraped and bumped on the floor. Then it jumped off down into the ceiled partition on the north side of the room. Then all was quiet till next evening at just the same time. At the exact hour it would be there and perform the same mysterious operation.
"The woman of the house informed the writer that this was kept up just one year without missing a single night, but it gradually died out. At that time, in Fairmount Township, there were hundreds of people. as well as the writer, who saw and knew to a certainty something of the mystic nature of Spiritualism, but who did not believe it had its source in anything good, and only a few aged persons are living today who were witnesses. Latter-day Spiritualism has but little resemblance to that of 1847."
For a number of years a lane was visible through the forest where the right-of-way had been blazed and graded ready for the Marion & Mississinewa Valley Railroad, which was projected to connect Galatia with the outside world. Many people subscribed to a fund which it was proposed to loan to the promoters of the railroad at ten per cent. interest. Thousands of cross ties were bought and hauled to the scene of operations. There are still slight evidences of the grading done on the James Carroll farm, near the lake, but few traces of the right-of- way remain. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway later took over and now traverses for several miles practically the same route as that indi- cated by the original survey.
The article in relation to the railroad which was surveyed and partly constructed through the eastern part of Fairmount Township brings to my mind that I have seen the bridge which Mr. Tingley mentions and many piles of cross ties along the right-of-way, which, if I remem- ber rightly, ran near the farm then owned by Otho Selby, near Lake Galatia, writes J. M. Hundley.
I also remember that many men in the southern part of Grant County were induced to put their farms into this scheme. I think much litigation arose over these farms, and I believe that a few farmers re- covered their lands, but of this I am not quite sure.
Mr. Tingley is right in saying that this railroad was the first at- tempted in Fairmount Township, and, for that matter, in Grant County :
--
MARION & MISSISSINEWA VALLEY
-
Rail Road Co. " James Brownle This will be ierung to the Company.
Five Dollars July 19,15 11.53
July 12 18:53
FIVE
Ji WWallaw.
C amman
Pres !!
FIVE
---
Fac-simile of scrip issued by the Marion & Mississinewa Valley Railroad Company. For a number of years a lane was visible through the forests where the right-of-way had been blazed and graded ready for the Marion & Mississinewa Valley Railroad, which was projected to connect Galatia with the outside world. Many people subscribed to a fund which it was proposed to loan to the promoters of the railroad at ten per cent. interest. Thousands of cross ties were bought and hauled to the scene of operations. There are still slight evidences of the grading done on the James Carroll farm, near the lake. but few traces of the right-of-way remain. The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway later took over and now traverses for several miles practically the same route as that indicated by the original survey.
The Spiritualistic Movement.
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The Making of a Township.
and had it succeeded would no doubt have changed the whole aspect of your Township. Galatia would no doubt have been the leading town instead of Fairmount.
I remember that this railroad bubble burst a short time after the scheme to build a canal from Wabash to the Ohio River through Grant and Madison counties had collapsed. These failures, with the failure of the State Bank of Indiana, which came about the same time, almost completely prostrated the little business there was at that time. (I ani a little hazy about whether it was the State Bank of Indiana or, the Bank of the State of Indiana, which failed, as there were two of them, and one was good and the other worthless.)
I know my father had a lot of this money taken in at the smith- shop, and it was worthless. It was given to the children to play with. This was the day of wildcat banking, so called, and I remember that every merchant in Fairmount had what was called a "detector." or a book in which was given the amount of discount or the value of the several kinds of paper money.
Dad Lines would say, when my father would go into his store with a paper bill :
"We will take down the investigator and see how much this darned thing is under repair."
And it was almost invariably under repair from a few cents on the dollar to half of its face value.
This was one of the difficulties with which your pioneers had to struggle-the want of a stable currency. Imagine, if you can, our bankers and business men of today attempting to do the present vast volume of trade with a currency of this character. It would simply be an impossibility.
CHAPTER XVI.
TEMPERANCE AGITATION AND EPISODES FOLLOWING-ORGANIZATION OF CHURCHES.
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T HE FIRST temperance meeting of which there is any knowledge was held at the old Sugar Grove Church, in the Lewis settlement, about five miles southeast of Fairmount, in 1848. It was at this meet- ing that William G. Lewis made his first effort to speak in public. The sentiment expressed in his address created a furore in the neighbor- hood, and almost broke up the peace and harmony that had for many years prevailed among the early settlers. A few of the neighbors claimed that Lewis was advocating a plan that would take away the liberty that their fathers had fought for and bled for and died for.
The movement grew rapidly, however, and ended in the forma- tion of a division of the Sons of Temperance. The agitation spread and the enthusiasm created at that first meeting bore fruit.
As time went on all denominations united on this question and stood out aggressively against the liquor traffic. Ever since there has been in this Township a general feeling of hostility toward the sale and use of intoxicating beverages. This sentiment manifested itself in a striking manner on more than one occasion in the years that fol- lowed.
In the late summer of 1874 Andy Morris, who lived at Summitville, encouraged by representations of an acquaintance that Fairmount might be a profitable location for a saloon, thought by a ruse to test the mat- ter of putting in a stock of liquors.
It was highly important to ascertain the feeling of ultra temperance folks with regard to his proposed enterprise. Induced by Fred Cart- wright, a well known character of that day, to make a reconnoiter. Morris put some articles of furniture resembling saloon fixtures into a wagon and brought them to Fairmount.
No sooner did Morris reach the southern outskirts of the town with his conveyance than he was surrounded by a crowd of determined, but angry men, led by Dennis Montgomery and Alex Pickard, who notified him that he had better take his traps and move out at once.
Morris was reluctant to do so. He hesitated too long. He was placed astride a rail, Alex Pickard holding one end and W. A. Planck the other, and was carried for a considerable distance along Main Street. He was told, after a pause in the proceedings, that he might have his choice, get out of town immediately or be tarred and feathered.
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The Making of a Township.
REV. HERBERT S. NICKERSON Former Pastor Methodist Episcopal Church
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Temperance-Organisation of Churches.
Morris promptly acceded to the arbitrary terms laid down, and promised to leave at once if released. He was taken off the rail and with his wagon and other belongings he started south. Morris never re- turned to Fairmount after that.
June 1, 1875, Dave Capper, of Harrisburg, planned to open a saloon in a one-story frame structure built by Capper for that purpose east of the Big Four Railroad. There was a door in the west end of the building, and another opening out on the north side. When the structure was being erected Capper claimed that it was intended for a blacksmith shop.
Jonathan P. Winslow suspected the motives of Capper, and kept vigilant oversight of the structure as the work was being completed and the building made ready for occupancy.
A circus was billed for the town. It was on the night before that Capper brought his liquors by wagon from Harrisburg.
Failing in his efforts to persuade Capper to desist from his purpose, Winslow went to the home of Frank Norton.
Norton immediately left his bed and plans were formulated. It was agreed that the ringing of the Wesleyan Methodist Church bell would be the signal for the ringing of every other bell in Fairmount. When this bell pealed forth in the early dawn of that summer day church bells and dinner bells in the town and country joined in, and a great commotion among the people was the result.
Nixon Rush was among the first to respond. The people were thor- oughly aroused; and a number of men assembled to ascertain the cause of the excitement. As each man appeared upon the scene the matter was fully explained. In a short while the crowd had gathered at the old frame school house on East Washington Street.
Norton was promptly elected leader of the crowd. He formed the men in line, and at their head marched northeast, crossed the Big Four tracks, and were soon at the building, where they halted.
Capper, who was a Civil War soldier and a courageous man, ap- peared at the west door with a cocked revolver in each hand. He swore that he would shoot the first man who came near or who mo- lested him in any way.
Norton was acquainted with Capper. He knew that Capper meant what he said, and that he would shoot. However, Norton, who himself was a soldier in the Civil War, and just as courageous and equally de- termined, quietly notified Capper that citizens meant business, that they did not propose to allow a saloon to be run in the town, and that he
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The Making of a Township.
would advise Capper, on behalf of the people, to pack up his goods and get out immediately.
Capper stepped back, again notified the crowd that he would shoot the first man who interfered with him, and closed the door.
After a short consultation with Jesse Bogue, J. P. Winslow and Nixon Rush. Norton shouldered a fence rail, took a running shoot, and knocked the door about half way through the building. Jesse Bogue was at the time right at the side of Norton and remained with him through the mix-up.
When Capper discovered that further resistance was useless, and that the citizens would not be bluffed or bulldozed, he capitulated.
The citizens loaded up his stock of liquors on a two-horse wagon owned by Jonathan P. Winslow, and, driven by his son. John, who held the lines, forced Capper to sit on one of the whisky barrels, and in charge of a committee, at the tolling of a bell, was hastily started back to Harrisburg, amidst the jeers and hoots of an indignant but hilarious crowd.
In 1886 Ira M. Smith, of Marion, was making plans to open a saloon on the west side of North Main Street, between Washington and First, in a two-story frame building which stood where the Marion Light and Heating Building is now located. Smith had secured his license. One night, in the summer of that year, the building was de- stroyed by dynamite, and Smith abandoned his project. He returned to Marion.
Luther Morris secured a license in 1892 and opened a saloon in a one-story frame residence at the northeast corner of First and Main. which had been occupied by Mrs. Eleanor Thomas, widow of Daniel Thomas. Prior to this year, for about fourteen months, Morris had been engaged in taking orders for liquors and beer, delivering his goods by wagon from Marion. In the latter part of 1892 Morris had erected a one-story frame building on East Eighth Street, and was pre- paring to move his stock of liquors to this location. Before the struc- ture was quite ready for occupancy it was destroyed by dynamite one night and a few days later the pile of debris was burned. In 1900 Mor- ris erected the two-story brick building now occupied by the Marion Light and Heating Company, on North Main Street. He continued to operate his saloon in this building until 1906, when the citizens of the Township, by petition, remonstrated the business out of existence. Morris being the first and the last man to own a licensed saloon in Fairmount.
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Temperance-Organisation of Churches.
A Friends meeting was held as early as 1831 at the cabin of Joseph Winslow, on Back Creek, two miles north of Fairmount. In the same year a double hewed-log cabin was built, where services were continued, on the Exum Newby farm, and this meeting was known as Back Creek. Nathan Morris was the first preacher. Among early members were the Winslows, the Morrises, the Newbys and the Baldwins. In 1833, bv direction of New Garden Quar- terly Meeting, of Wayne County, a meeting for worship was regu- larly established. A monthly meet- ing was set up here in 1838 by di- rection of the same Quarterly Meeting.
The construction of the old Back Creek meeting house was started in 1840, and completed in 1842 .* Charles Osborn sat at the head of the meeting and preached the first sermon. The land on which it stood was donated by Exum New- by, and the ground for the grave- yard was donated by Henry Wins- low. David Stanfield and Nathan Morris were prominent preachers among the Friends at that time. The early settlers along Back DAISY BARR Creek and the supporters of Quakerism as well, were the Winslows, the Baldwins, the Hills, the Newbys and the Harveys.
In the early day, Northern Quarterly Meeting of Friends, held at Back Creek, in June, was one of the important events of the year, not only among Quakers, but with people of every shade and variety of religious thought and denominational attachment. For a number of years people from miles around, on foot, on horseback, and by means of wagons and every kind of vehicle then known, would attend these meetings. On Sunday the capacious brick meeting house would always be filled to overflowing. Those who were unable to gain admittance attended services outside. It was not an uncommon thing to see preach- ers up in wagons out in the shade of the beautiful grove exhorting sin- ners to forsake their evil ways. Platforms were provided for the use of
*In that day it was necessary to mold and burn brick by hand. It was a tedious process, and accounts for the delay in completing the structure.
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The Making of a Township.
ministers. These platforms were surrounded by roughly improvised scats. From such rude elevations the Gospel was ardently expounded and the power of the Holy Ghost vigorously proclaimed. Vast throngs would assemble on these annual occasions, drawn thither by motives as varied as the individual mood differed. Some had pious promptings, others came to mix and mingle, while young beaux brought their best girls to "see the sights," and a few attended as a matter of idle curiosity. Thrifty men, anticipating the needs of the multitude, would erect tents and sheds from which were retailed sandwiches, ice cream, lemonade and other eatable knickknacks. These "stands" naturally were liberally patronized. From year to year others similarly inclined were attracted, and the gatherings began to take on the appearance of ordinary Sunday outings, thereby to a great extent defeating the main purpose for which Friends established the quarterly assemblies, and assuming the air and aspect of "worldliness." The crowds, as they grew in numbers with each recurring June, finally became noisy and unmanageable. The ses- sions were transferred to Fairmount and the name changed to Fair- mount Quarterly Meeting.
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