USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 63
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Among the early tavern-keepers were Charles Pixley, Stephen Ranney, Evan Shelby, John Fer- guson. Their places of entertainment were usually ill-contrived-not such as we find now, by any means. The second story was often thrown into one room, where the lodgers re- posed in sweet complacency, indifferent to all their surroundings. Corn-bread, pork, hominy, a cup of strong coffee for breakfast, and some- times warm biscuits just from the stone oven, cabbage, potatoes, and so on, made up the fare. There was always enough to eat, but it was pre-
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pared quite differently from the cookery of to- day.
On the 5th of July, 1842, during the Harrison campaign, M. P. Alpha's present brick store was used for a village hotel-at least, that is the title it bore on the sign-board. There was a porch in front, and on it General Harrison addressed the people of Charlestown on the political issues of the day.
Richard M. Johnson came, too, in the course of the fall, and delivered his speech to attentive listeners. He was received by a committee, and from here went to Salem, in Washington county. At the foot of the knobs he cut hickory canes for the committee, which were preserved as relics of much value. Thomas J. Henly delivered the reception speech in behalf of Clark county.
But of the taverns. From 1808 they were common-indeed, so much so as to make it tedious to follow all their upward tendencies and downward grades. They seemed to thrive best when the town was in a healthy condition, and when the traveling public went by horse, and not steam power. The old-time tavern days in Charlestown are past and gone, never to return. Their time of greatest activity will live only in history.
Strange as it may appear, the store-keeping business in Charlestown was of a very extraordi- nary kind. John L. P. McCune came here in 1816, opened a shoe-shop, and supplied his little room with a stock of goods.
In 1822 he located permanently, and for many years afterwards plied his awl and measured the feet, for coarse boots, of most of the lawyers, judges, and physicians at the county seat. Messrs. Parker & Handy were early merchants, but after an experience of several years in the place, they moved to Louisville, where they finally became very wealthy in the same business. What is most surprising is the great number of tailors and hatters who kept shops in Charles- town at the same time. There were here forty years ago thirty-five hatters, mostly Germans, and as many tailors. The former made most of their goods, and it was a familiar sight to see a good-natured German measuring the head of some distinguished lawyer or judge. Tailors delighted in making fits, which they regarded as good advertisements when the traveling judge was visiting other courts. To-day, instead of
taverns, we can see a dozen saloons, meat shops, and drug stores.
MILLS AND FACTORIES.
There is no county in southern Indiana so pre- eminently important in matters relating to me- chanical ingenuity as Clark. Here, by way of parenthesis, let it be known that the county is un- pretentious. She relates her history in a modest way, which carries conviction and wins the ad- miration of all lovers of early reminiscences. It is true, also, that Charlestown is the banner township. Its milling history is without a paral- lel in the annals of grinding corn, wheat, and the various grains of this section. The honor belongs to Mr. John Work, a gentleman from Pennsylvania, who came here late in the eight- eenth century, of handing down to posterity one of the most remarkable mills in the State. He settled in the vicinity of Charlestown on Four- teen-mile creek, above where Green's flouring- mill now stands. Of his early life we know lit- tle, except that he sprang from humble and re- spectable origin. Nature had fitted him pecu- liarly for the work of his life. His natural mathematical talents were great. Education had left the block rough and advised experience to make it shapely. The great, predominant traits of his character were an indomitable will and obedience to conscience.
The work he performed in making calcula- tions without a compass is almost incredible. With most of his friends he was considered a prodigy. On the bank of Fourteen-mile creek he erected a stone mill as early as 1800. Here he found opportunities to release the powers of his mind. The Indians, as well as the white man, gave him corn to grind, and pestered his good wife by petty thievery. But as the years rolled away and business grew to larger proportions, and as his road to Charlestown was inconvenient and water-power uncertain, he planned a work which has made his name famous for all time to come. Fall, winter, and spring were busy sea-
sons. His mill was recognized as the best in the county. After fifteen or twenty years of con- stant use the old stone mill needed repairing ; but he had already decided on a new place of business, which was even to outrival the proprie- tor himself. A tunnel was to be made which was to act as a mill-race, and therefore always give
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
a full supply of water. Fourteen-mile makes a long curve in the form of a pear, leaving a body of land resembling a peninsula, which included, perhaps, twenty acres. The distance through at the narrowest point was a little over three hundred feet. But the obstacles were of mam- moth proportions. The hill, for such it was, rose to one hundred feet from the bed of the creek. It was made up of solid rock. After ma- ture deliberation and a few surveys he began the work. From the old mill-site he began tunnel- ing, and also at the same time on the opposite side, or where the new mill was to stand. His im- plements were rude; his experience in blasting and making powder limited. The work began in 1817 and lasted three years. During this time three men were constantly engaged. Six hun- dred and fifty pounds of powder were used, and the cost of the work is estimated at $3,300. The race was six feet deep and five wide, and was ninety-four feet below the summit.
As we said, the tunnel was through solid rock. No bracing or scaffolding was required to pro- tect the workmen ; and when completed no arch- ing was erected to preserve the roof from falling. The day of completion was a gala day for the surrounding country. John Work invited all his customers to partake of his hospitalities. A great dinner was provided. A man who weighed over two hundred pounds rode through the tunnel on horseback. At each end was a barrel of prime whiskey, with the head knocked out. Speeches were made and a glorification had which to this day is remembered with many affectionate re- gards.
Henceforward this was called the Tunnel mill. At the end of the race an overshot wheel was put up. The two buhrs ran by a never-failing water-supply, with a fall of twenty-four feet. The mill is frame, and is 50 x 35 feet. The wheel is twenty feet in diameter, though twenty-six feet could be used, if necessary. John Rose acted here as second engineer, and Woodrun Procter as tool-sharpener and gunsmith.
John Work died in 1832. After his death his son John took possession and continued in the business till 1854, when Mr. Wilford Green pur- chased the property. Since this date the mill has been in use, Mr. Green being proprietor and miller. It has a capacity of two and a half bar- rels per hour.
Sixty-odd years have rolled away since John Work began to establish the milling business per- manently on Fourteen-mile creek. His energy gave a prominence to grinding wheat, corn, and buckwheat, which is eminently characteristic of the times. An incident which belongs to the old stone mill will illustrate his character. In the spring of 1811, while engaged in dealing with a company of Indians in his mill, a renegade, who belonged to the same crowd, stole a piece of flax hnen which was drying on the outside. Mrs. Work soon discovered her loss after their depart- ure, and informed her husband. He immediately mounted a horse and started in pursuit. After a short ride Mr. Work overtook the band, and informing them of his loss, demanded the prop- erty. A short parley ensued, upon which the thief refused to turn over the goods. Mr. Work dis- mounted for the purpose of using force, but was prevented by a stroke on the head near the ear by a tomahawk. His scalp was peeled off in a frightful manner, and his life was saved only by the appearance of white friends who followed, well knowing the intrepidity of the famous miller. He now lies in the family burying-ground near the old miil-site, his resting-place marked by nothing indicative of his example and the part he bore in rescuing this county from the red man. '
Of course there were other mills in Charles- town township at an early day. McDaniel's mill, on Fourteen-mile, was in operation for a long time. It was above the Tunnell mill. Years ago it succumbed to the elements, and now noth- ing remains to connect its past history with the experiences of to-day.
Adam Howard also had a grist-mill on the same stream. He ground the grain as it came to him, took out his toll and returned the re- mainder, believing that the best way to carry on business was to have a special regard for one's own interests.
Among the horse-mills-and the very first ones, too-was Jesse Pardue's, half way between Charlestown and Stricker's corner. It was in active operation in 1817, but, like many other pioneer contrivances, had but a short life.
Near Buffalo lick, on the Lick branch of Four- teen-mile creek, is one of the early landmarks of this county. Here John Denny erected an overshot mill, and for several years met the wants of the neighboring people.
HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
ALLEN BARNETT
was born in West Hanover, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1799. He was the fifth of a family of nine children, all deceased, he being the last. His father, James, and mother, Mary Allen, were both natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Joseph, was born in 1726, whose father, John, was the son of John, who was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1678, and emigrated to Hanover township, then Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, prior to 1730. This is undoubtedly the principal source from which most of the name originated in this country.
He received his early education in the com- mon schools of the country. His father and mother dying while he was quite young, he was early in life thrown upon his own resources. In the year 1819 his eldest brother, Samuel, emi- grated West, bringing his brothers and sisters with him. The subject of this sketch was left in Cincinnati, Ohio, and apprenticed to learn the trade of a coppersmith. After completing his term of service he went to Shippingport, Ken- tucky, now a part of Portland, Kentucky, where he began to lay the foundation of his future successes.
Owing to the unhealthiness of the location he was forced, after a sojourn of a year or two, to leave, and he established himself in Louisville, Kentucky, where, in connection with his brother James, they began business in earnest on Fourth street, between Main and Market.
In 1826 he was married to Margaret Elizabeth Shafer, by whom he had six children, all of whom are still living, with one exception-his son George, who died from the effect of a wound received in the battle of Stone River, Tennessee.
With his characteristic energy, perseverance, and industry, his business grew up rapidly, so that it was extensively enlarged. His promptness in business, his integrity in action, attracted to his side the older merchants, who aided and en- couraged the rising young man by their advice and patronage. After a time his physical frame, naturally weak, gave way under the great strain of his extensive business, and in 1836 he retired from business, hoping by travel and rest to re- gain his lost health.
But his restless energy would not be quieted. In 1838 he, in company with Judge Read, Felix Lewis, and another party, purchased the steamer
Lady Morgan, and went into the Arkansas river trade, and afterwards into the Ohio and Wabash river trade.
Getting tired of this he sold out, and in 1840 purchased a farm in Clark county, Indiana, to which he removed his family in the spring of that year, his object being two-fold : the better enjoyment of health, and to get the advantages of the schools in Charlestown for his children.
In the year 1841 his wife died, and in 1847 he married Edith Jacobs, by whom he had six sons and three daughters, all of whom are still living, with the exception of his son Oscar, who died in infancy.
In 1843 he united with the Presbyterian church of Charlestown, of which he was a faith- ful and consistent member, always ready with his good advice and purse to advance its in- terests.
The management and improvement of his farm was not enough to occupy his active mind. He invested largely in Government lands, and after- wards became interested in the First National bank of Jeffersonville, of which he was a director for a number of years.
As the infirmities of age came upon him his desire for business grew less, and he sought the quiet and retirement of his home, and enjoyed the visits of his children and their families.
On September 19, 1879, he died of injuries received from the kicks of a mule, after three or four hours' suffering, in his eightieth year.
In the words of his pastor, "his life was a long one, full of activity and diligence in every- thing to which he put his hand. His industry, integrity, and clear business insight were mani- fest to all who knew him. He was more than usually prospered in his business, and had by faithful labor and wise management-as honest as it was wise-accumulated a large estate. He was modest, retiring, and quiet in his manner, and yet warm-hearted and earnest in his feelings. As a husband and father he was most tenderly af- affectionate and kind. The whole community feel the loss, but that sustained by his family none can estimate but themselves. The church of which he was so long a consistent and worthy member feels that a gap has been made in its ranks that cannot soon be filled. His interest in the church was constant, and his gifts to. it frequent and liberal."
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Above the spring two or three hundred feet, was a dam, from which a race carried the water to an overshot wheel, half a hundred yards be- low. The traces of an old road are yet plainly seen, as it ran winding off toward the Ohio river. It went out of public use many years since. The mill-site was romantic, and yet well suited for business. Caves, rocks, the famous sulphur spring, and the peculiarities of the early age combined to make it a resort for the youngsters of the township. Some of the walls are yet standing, with tops knocked off half-way up, a sill or two, almost ready to fall into their original elements, still hanging in a peculiar position. It, too, is dying. Its work is done, and the period of its active existence at an end.
To traverse the ground occupied by the numerous horse-mills of Charlestown township would be impolitic. They were almost as com- mon as private stills, sugar-camps in the Utica bottoms, or even log cabins themselves. The county seat has a milling experience of its own, to which we must give a suitable paragraph.
The old village of Charlestown was never par- ticularly noted for its mills. Captain J. C. Cald- well erected a house for grinding purposes very early. The mill was of the horse-power kind, with the old-fashioned sweep, and stood east of the court-house. It burned down in 1825. Bar- zilla Baker and McCampbell, the founders of the place, had each a mill on his land. Parker & Carr many years ago had a mill near the Ohio & Mississippi railroad trestle-work; but failure overtook the firm, and the building was torn down. At one time an overshot flouring- mill was built on Pleasant run by John Trickett, but a hard wind some time after blew the build- ing over and it was never rebuilt. During the seventy-odd years through which the village has passed, mills have sprung up almost spontan- eously, and apparently went out of existence with the same easy mode of life. In the place now there are two good flouring- and saw-mills. Both do a good business, but much of their wheat is shipped to them from other counties.
Charlestown was noted at one time for a coffin factory, which did a large amount of work.
East of the village, in a valley, is the Spring Valley ereamery. It has a capacity of two thousand gallons of milk per day. Many far- mers in the neighborhood sell their milk to this
establishment. Another cheese factory is in operation north of Charlestown, the stockholders in which reside in the village. Its capacity is somewhat larger than the Spring Valley.
Among the early tanners was a firm known as Todd & Vance, whose place of business was east of the court-house. James McCarley was in the same line across the street (Main) in 1820. The tanyard of Samuel McCampbell, the son of James McCampbell, who owned the western half of the town, stood on Pleasant run for several years. In the village a firm started up about 1835, by the name of Krieger & Schuff. The same effects are noticeable in this branch of trade as in many other branches of business. At this time the local tanneries are among the things numbered with the past.
RAILROADS AND TURNPIKES.
It was natural, after the county seat was per- manently located at Charlestown, for roads to diverge from it to all parts of the county. Hence, in the commissioners' proceedings we find numer- ous petitions for roads. The old road to Jeffer- sonville ran through Springville, making a curve, avoiding some rough land as well as taking in the old settlement. On the Ohio was Charles- town Landing, where steamboats received and unloaded freight and passengers. An old road led to this point, and was one of the first in Clark county. It is yet in use, though not of much consequence. The landing was also known by the name of McDonald's Ferry-the founder who gave it the name coming here in 1796. A Mr. Daily owned tract number fifty-six, and sold one-half of it to McDonald, who was to have his own time for payment. Some years after- wards trouble arose and a quarrel ensued, in the course of which Peter McDonald suffered severely.
There was a road which led to Salem, in Washington county; another to Madison, in Jef- ferson county ; and one to the county seat of Scott, which borders Clark county on the north. Besides, all the townships had roads leading to the place of paying taxes and securing marriage licenses. No grades were made. Roads led through tangled vines, among trees-broken off half-way up and toppled over, down ravines and up hill sides. It was unnecessary to establish toll-gates; bridges, there were none; and as far
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
as crossing creeks was concerned, it was of little importance whether the water was high or low. The tax-payer made it a rule to meet his lawful obligations, and considered hindrances the best · way to secure a name for honesty, provided ob- stacles were always overcome.
As Charlestown increased in population and importance, the different companies which were taking into consideration the propriety of build- ing railroads in this quarter, included the county- seat in the list of stopping places. The first at- tempt to construct a railroad was made about forty years ago. The proposed route led from New Albany to Sandusky on Lake Erie. But be- fore the road was completed, the company went into bankruptcy. Embankments and cuts may be seen yet west of the town, where the road was to cross Pleasant run.
In 1854 another company, known as the Fort Wayne & Southern, began the work of grading from Louisville. The road-bed was almost com- pleted as far as Charlestown; and for twenty or thirty miles northward, reaching up to the neigh- borhood of North Vernon, much work was done. But this company failed, too. Charlestown township had contributed liberally, but was des- tined to see its cherished enterprise fall a victim to bad management and perhaps avaricious views.
· Not till 1870 did the place truly realize that the locomotive, with all its accompaniments, was an every-day visitor. The Ohio & Mississippi railroad, whose main line runs between Cincin- nati and St. Louis, desired a branch to Louisville. After some necessary negotiations the old com- pany sold out its road-bed, and the new company laid its track to the river. This road passes the village on the east side. Trains come and go over the Ohio & Mississippi branch from Jeffer- sonville to North Vernon regularly. As they check up here, an old, dilapidated station or tel- egraph office and waiting-room may be observed on the west side of the track. It is not more than 20 x 30 feet, and hardly able to support itself on a half dozen posts, which act as legs, as it were. It too, like most other public houses, except churches and schools, is rapidly going to decay; though as long as the railway continues to pass by the village, the company will probably have an office of at least common respectability at Charlestown. A tank, into which an engine
pumps water, stands on the east side. Here the iron horse supplies itself before pushing ahead to stations beyond.
PIONEER SCHOOLS.
Immorality prevailed to a fearful extent among the early settlers in this part of the county. Sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, horse-racing, and dancing, were their common pastimes. The neighbors would seldom gather for mutual as- sistance in their domestic or farm affairs, without more or less disturbance during the day, followed by a dance through good part of the night. But even then there were a few who stood aloof from the prevailing vices of the day.
The manners of those times were character- ized by simplicity in dress and conversation. Thé poverty of the people prevented the intro- duction of superfluities, and their mutual de- pendence served to endear them to each other in their various relations. This was especially so in the more religious communities. Pastor and people seemed to be bound together by the strongest ties of friendship.
Facilities for obtaining an education were then very meager. Probably the first school ever kept in this part of the county was in 1803, one and a half miles south of the old Hester farm, on a place now owned by Mr. Johnson. It was re- peated in 1804. Among the pupils were George and Craven Hester, the former later in life occu- pying a distinguished position among his fellow- citizens. The school was taught by a Mr. Epsy. Teachers then began with the rudiments of the language in Dilworth's spelling-book. Epsy was rather deficient, even in the knowledge of correct reading and pronunciation. His pupils were taught to give nonsensical names to vowels whenever one of them formed the syllable of a word. Reading-books furnished little useful in- formation, and were in no sense adapted to be- ginners. Two books which were used as read- ers were Gulliver's Travels and a dream-book. The rigid discipline exercised, the cruel penal- ties inflicted upon delinquent pupils, and the long confinement to their books-from a little after sunrise to near sunset-are all now con- sidered as detrimental to intellectual as well as physical advancement.
Schools in Charlestown village have always been well supported. The first school-house, or
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
among the early school-houses in the place, stood on the hill in the western half of the town. It was situated in what is now the old burying- ground, then Mr. Ferrier's yard, near the present grave of ex-Governor Jennings. Judge Willis Goodwin was one of the teachers, and his broth- ers, John and Amos, were scholars. General Dodge taught in Charlestown more than sixty years ago, the same who afterwards acquired celebrity in the Black Hawk war. The village had a brick school-house soon after the old log building. Silas Davis, Mr. Denean, B. W. James, and Nancy Maddox, the latter mother-in- law of the Hon. Judge Samuel C. Wilson, of Crawfordsville, were teachers here. The house was 20 x 35 feet.
CHARLESTOWN SEMINARY
is a name which has associated with it some of the happiest recollections in all the experiences of life. County seats generally bring together a class of men who live by their intellect. Settlers early learn to admire the educated man and make arrangements for a thorough system of education. It was so in this case. As early as 1830 Mr. D. Baker, an Englishman by birth, opened a select school in the old Masonic hall. He was the father of the Hon. E. D. Baker, after wards Comgressman from Illinois and United States Senator from Oregon, but who was killed in the late war, at the battle of Ball's Bluff. All fines for misdemeanors committed within the corporation limits were turned into the seminary fund. Finally the property was sold, and the money placed to the credit of the common schools. Among the teachers were Byron Law- rence, Isaac McCoy and his brother William, and William W. Gilliland, of Georgetown, Ohio, who was appointed by the Governor to fill a vacancy as common pleas judge.
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