Class - Book. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT HISTORICAL SKHTCHES AM) REMINISCENCES 1)1- Madison County, ERRATTA. On page 399, Postoftice Burglary, Tune 8()th should he niuary iiOth. On page 8l'l, J. S. Carr should be J. W. Carr. On page 331, Frank Craven should read Frank Curven. JOHN L'^KOKKNER II AM) 1 -.VKON II. D^■sox. ANDKKSON, INDIANA. IX'.IT, r ) HISTORICAL SKETCHES AM) REMINISCENCES Madison County, IIN[I_)I^^>^^X. A Uktailii) HisTi)K\ (ii- Tiir. Kaklv Kvknts av the I'iunkkk Sktti.k.mknt of thk CorsTY, Aso Many of thk Haim-en- iN(;>; i>i' Kkii'nt Years, as avki.i. as a Compi.kti: ll|s[(UHPORT, IND. Entered According to Act of Congress IN THE Office of Librarian of Congress, in the Year 1897, BY John L. Forkner. JOHN L. FORKNER. HVKON 11. insox. l'^l^¥OTc-^J^(^FC The publication of this book is wiiollv u labor of lo\e, witiiout the remotest idea of beiiitj reimbursed for the time and inonev spent in its preparation. The natural atlection for the old-timer, and a desire to |)erpetuatc liis tnemorv. and to hand ilown to jiosteritv his customs and manners was the sole object that first projn[)teil the writers to undertake such a task. .\s the work projrressed it became more e\ident each dav that it would be iloinji; a great countv like Madison an injustice not to go further into detail, and to include the new comer, and to treat of the new order of thintrs. since the county has grown, as it were, by mafjic from a monotonous atrricultural district to a bustling manufactln-ing community. So we have presented to our readers, what we (latter ourselves, to be a statement of facts, and a compilation of useful and desirable information, not found in anv other work of the kind extant. We have endeavored to spice the pages of this work with a few incidents of a mirlhful nature, to lighten the pathway of the reader as he passes through the volume, relieving the monotony of the task of reading its contents. The reminiscences contained herein are taken from real life, manv of them having been written bv one of the authors for the Daily Democrat and other Anderson [jublications. The matter contained being in manv instances the portrayal of the oddities and customs of the oki-timers. It is thought proper to reproduce them in this work. Many occurrences have taken place in the comitv, not recorded here, from the fact that to publish alt wouUl rec[uire a volume manv times the size of this, and we have contented ourselves with giving the most important ones, and those of which we could ascertain the most trc.stworthv information. Manv of the early incidents of the |)ioneer historv of the County have become traditional, as there are but \ery few of the early settlers left to tell the tale, and no records of such e\euts were kept, and no newspapers printed at that lime. It 4 niEFACE. is wholly from tliu niemoiies of those who yet survive, that we have gleaned nnich of the information in restart! to ^uch matters. We expect criticism upon the merits of this work. Its defects will be verv apparent to those who borrow il of tlie subscribers. Its contents will also induce criticism from a few old-timers who cannot be convinced by written records that their recollection of certain events is at fault. The ''natural born kicker"" who does not know, nor cannot appreciate, the difference between a history of this character and a directory or gazetteer, will likewise remark upon its imprefections be- cause his name does not appear in its pages. And there is tiie self-constituted critic who cannot write a grammatical sent- ence in any language, and whose criticisms are always severest upon matters that he knows nothing about; he, too, will find discrepancies and mistakes, not only in the text, but in the style of narration. We are prepared for this — for any and all animadversions. Possibly we have not done our best, but we flatter ourselves that we have done fairly well. We have also learned by experience the significance of Job's desire that iiis " adversary would write a book.'" Notwithstanding his patience and long suft'ering, he had much of human nature in his composition, and wanted to get " even "" with his " adversary," or enemy, who was no doubt a critic. We recognize the fact however, that it is the province of a critic to criticise, not to be criticised, and we therefore submit our effort for what it is worth, feeling assured that those who appreciate the difliculties of such an undertaking will over-look whatever of crudities and imperfections it may contain. HISTORICAL. CHAPTER I. l'ni;-HisToHic I'eiuoh ok Madisox Coixtv — The >r()i'NDs .\\n THE M(>i.'Ni)-l?i;ii.DERS — Stone Implements — The M AM'ODONS. A work of this cluiiacter, and especially of Mudisoii coiin- IV. would be largely deficient iti interest if proper mention were not made of siicli arch;eoloologists and ethnolo- gists, and that opinion is with reference to their origin. The following from Baldwin's Ancient America upon this subject will be of interest : " They were unquestionably American aborigines and not immigrants from another continent. That appears to me the most reasonable suggestion which assumes that the Mound Builders came originally from Mexico and Central America. It explains many facts connected with their remains. In the Great Valley their most populous settlements were at the south. Coming from Mexico and Central America, they would begin their settlements on the Gulf Coast, and afterward adyance gradually up the riyer to the Ohio Valley. It seems evident that they came by this route, and their remains show that their only connection with the coast was at the South. Their settlements did not reach the coast at any other point. '•Their construction were similar in design and arrange- ment to those found in Mexico and Central America. * * * A very large proportion of the old structures in Ohio and farther .South, called 'mounds' — nameU', those \yhich are low in proportion to their horizontal extent — are terraced foundations for buildings, and, if they were situated in Yuca- tan, Guatemala and Southern Mexico, they would neyer be mistaken for anything else. The high mounds, al-o in tlie two regions are remarkably alike. In both cases they are pyramidal in shape and haye leyel summits of considerable extent, which were reached b}- stairways on the outside. * * * All these mounds were constructed for religious u:-es, and they are, in their way, as much alike as any fine Gothic churches.'' Other eniineiil arclia-ologihts lake a similar \-iew of the question and advance plausible arguments sustaining the the- orj- that this mysterious people were American aborigines. And yet, the theorj- advanced by some that the Mound Build- ers were natives of the far East, who came to the \\'estern hemisphere by way of Behring strait, is not regarded as wholly untenable. Man)- of the mounds were undoubtedly erected for defense, while others were constructed for religious or devotional uses. They difTer in the manner of their con- struction in different localities, and this has contributed no little to the myster}- which envelops them, and the diversity of IIISTORV Ol MADISON COl•^T^ . IXDIAVA. ( opinion generally concerning, not only the race that built them, but the purposes for which the)' were constructed. Tiiese remains exist in but one locality in Madison coun- tv, and in comparison with other mounds in the country are but little known. not\\ithstanding' one of them is as well, if not better preserved than any of the ancient mounds in the couutry north of the Ohio ri\er. Tiiey have been visited hv arch;vologists and scientists in recent years, who have made them the subject of nuich interesting speculation, but their researches have contributeil nothing new concerning them. They stand today as thev will stand until the ravages of time effect their obliteration, the mysterious monuments of an unknown people. The mounds in ^ladison county are situated on a bluff, four miles east of Anderson on the south side of ^^'hite river, in laiion township. They are eight in number, three of which still preserve their outlines completely. The largest in the group is remarkably well preserved considering the ages that have circled away since it was constructed. It is a circu- lar embankment with a steep liitch on the inside. The "mound'" is 1,020 feet in circumference and the ditch at this time lO.j feet deep and i5() feet wide. There is a niound on the inside of the embankment, and an entrance on the south- west side i}() feet wide. Through this passage carriages enter and are driven around the mound, as the ditch terminates on each side of the entrance. The mound is surrounded by the native forests, and a number of large trees are still standing within the enclosure. Several large walnut trees at one time grew upon both the mound and embankment, but they were cut down inany years ago and manufactured into lumber. This mound, as well as two other enclosures iust west of it, are supposed by arcluvologists to have been devoted to relig- ious uses, while a mound to the east about a half mile is thought to have been used as a means of defense. Several of the mounds, or enclosures, belonging to the group ha\e be- come almost entirely obliterated by the plow, the land upon which they are situated being under cultivation. In 1878 a report on the geology and archaeology of Indi- ana by the state geologist contained a very interesting ac- count of these ancient remains. Their dimensions and situa- tion were illustratetl, and all the facts obtainable coiKerning them given in detail. But what became of this race of people.' Whither did 8 HISTORY OK MADISON COIXTV. IXDIANA. tliev go: Did they retrace tlieir steps to the south, assuming that the\' came from Central America, or did famine, war or pestilence, or all three effect their destruction? That they were here in Madison countv there is no question, and that they disappeared leaving nothing behind them to indicate tlie purpose of their coming, their numbers, or their fate, is a mystery that the jiatient research of the arch.i'ologist has been unable to dispel. OlIIEK RELICS OK ,.V I!V-GO.\E A(iE. Besides the mounds there are other evidences that Afadi- soa county was inhabited centuries ago. Flint spearheads and arrowheads ha\e been found in abundance in difl'erenl localities, as well as niunbers of other stone implements, used probably for domestic purposes. The stone relics found here belong to the two ages of stone — the rough and the polished. But at what time in the world's history ^vere they used? It is asserted bv high authority that there is not a vestige of evidence that would prove the existence of man in lndi;ina two thousand years ago. He inaj- have roamed over the hills and through the valleys of this territory unnumbered ages be- fore the mounds were built, but there is no evidence to prove it. The flint implements found almost in abundance at an earlv day in this county, and still occasionally picked up here and there by the husbandman while plowing his fields, were fashioned by human hands, but wlien, and by whom there is no record. That they were brought here there is but little doubt, as the \-ariety of stone out of which they were made is not found in this part of the countiy. In this connection it is proper to make due mention of the fact that at several points in the connty^the remains of animals have been found which indicate by their enormous size the presence here at one time of the mastodon. In 1871, while some laborers were constructing a ditch on the farm of Mr. John Harmeson, three miles south of the city of Anderson, a number of huge bones belonging to this extinct species of animals were found, and presented to the late Dr. AVilliani A. Hunt, a student, and besides one of the best informed gentle- men no doubt in the county, upon archaeological as well as other scientific matters. These remains together with an interesting collection of other archaological and geological specimens were, after his death, presented to the Madison County Historical Society IllSrOIfS" ol MADISON COrNr\. TNOIANA. 9 by !iis sons, Di->;. M. \'. ami j. W. Hunt. ScNcral toetli of enormous size, one of which was found on the Devault Cro- wcil farm, in Adams township, unel jiresentetl to the society bv the hite Harry Irish, of that township, attests the immense projjortions of this extinct species of animal, if it be true that there is a relative proportion between the size of the teeth of an animal and the animal itself. Upon this subject Dr. Hunt, in a scholarly and exceedingly interesting chapter, contributed to Hardin's history of Madison county. say> : •■ ff this rule is even proximati\e, and in the \icinitv of truth, we attain all that is expected by the comparison. We ha\e in our posses- sion a tooth of an ox that had a living weight of eighteen hundred pomids. As the ox's tooth is to its living weight, so is the matsodon's toits live weight. The rule, if correct, makes the weight of the li\ing mastotlon, \\hose bones were found in the \ icinity of Anderson, forty thousaiul one hundred and twelve pounds. It is not claimed lliat there is any great degree of accin'acv in the calculation, but as good as any from the kind of material we have to reason fiom." At what time did these immense animals rove through the forests of Madison county, feeding on the tender branches of the trees, anil succulent herbage growing along the margins of marshes and streams? The remains of this extinct pachy- derm have been foimd in nearly every country on the globe, and were as much of a mystery two thousand years ago as they are today. Xo human remains indicative of great antitjuity ha\e ever been fomul in this locality, and if man ever beheld a living mastodon in Madison county or on this continent, there is no evidence of it. \Vhether the\ were few or many is also a matter of speculation, as well as the cause, or causes, of their disappearance as a species. So far as the investiga- tioiis of scientists are concerned they have thus far been mi- availing in determining these questions, and, like the mystery of the mounds and Mound Guilders, will probabh never lie solved. It is a theory of those who have given this subject mucli painstaking consideration, that the mastodon's haunts on this pai! of the continent were around lakes and marshes, and they point to the localities where its remains have been foinid as proof of their position. The bones found on the Hanneson farm were in a marsh which at one time was undoubtedly a lake covering many miles of territory east and west. Remains of the mastodon exhumed in other localities have uniformly 10 IIISTOKV <)!■ MAmsOX COIN IV, INDIANA. been found in marshv places where it is thought the animals went to feed and getting mired, perished. The cause, or causes, of the extinction of the entire species, however, will remain unknown. }\ CHAPTER II. GENErjAi, HisToiiv OF Madison Cointv. Of that lair territory King witliin the boundaries of In- diana which was named in lienor of the fourtli president of the United States, it is the purpose of this work to treat, not alone that the early pioneers who settled here and bl:t/.ed the way for tlie splendid civilization thai now oljtains within its borders may be appropriately remembered, but that their de- scendants may be made ac((uainted with tiie diftlculties and iiardships thev encountered as well as the pleasures that fell to their portion as the lirave heralds of a destiny that lias made the county at this writing (lSi)(")) the second in importance in the Slate. As the work will be conlined entirely to local use the authors have adopted a form in its construction that admits of biography and personal anecdote, and consequently a greater latitude in certain directions than is deemed per- missible in more pretentious annals. Madison county is in the sliape of a parallelogram an, the Delawares, at .""^t. Mary'.s, ceded to the United States all claim to their lands in Indiana. Ry this treaty, " the United States agree to provide for the Delawares a country to reside in, upon the west side of the ^Sli.'sissippi, and to yuarantee to them the peaceable pos- session of tlie same." This treaty was signed by Capt. Anderson, also James Nanticoke and Capt. Killbuck. along with other chiefs of the Delawares. The names of these chiefs are given for the rea- son that they once made what are now the fertile fields of this counly their home and hunting ground. That they were cliiefs of influence and prominence is evidenced by the fact that their names are attached to the various treaties made by the United States with their tribe. .\nother Delaware chief. Captain White Eyes, maj- be mentioned in this connection for th'.' reason that he once lived in this county, his lodge being situated near the land now owned bv the comitv. and used as a poor-farm. The city of Anderson was named in iionor of Captain Anderson, and occupies the site of liis principal village. An- derson's domicile consisted of a large, double log-cabin, one side of which was occupied by his son. This cabin stood about where the Madison county jail now stands, the spot being regarded by the early pioneers of this loctilitv as not only very picturesque, but convenient, there being a large spring of clear, cold water at the foot of the hill a little east of the brick block recently erected bv Major Doxev on the north side of East Ninth street : also White river flowing at the base of the hill, or liluff. on the north, whose waters at that time afl'orded abundance of fish. lames Xanticoke also had a village in this counly. an AND Capi. Pipe. The Delaware Indians, who at one time inhabited Madi- son county, were orig^inaliy known as the Leni Lenapes. They began to renio\e from the eastern side of the ^Mlegheny mountains to tiie country nortiiwest of the Oiiio river about the middle of the eitihteentli century. Thev wendeil llieir way into the wilderness of what is now the state of Indiana. and for many years were undisturbed in their wild aiul savage natures. In the spring of 1,S()1 a few Christian Indians came from tiie Delaware \ illages on the Muskingum river, in Ohio, to the lodges of the Delawares on White rixer. in Indiana territory. These Christian red men came for the purpose of establishing missions for the enlightenment and in- struction of the tribes in this locality. The niissionarv banil was composed of the brethren Xatuge and Luckenbach from Betlilehem. Pennsylvania, and three families of civilized Indians, among whom was one named loshua, a national in- terpreter. These missionaries accomplished much good among tlie aborigines until about the year 180(5, when the Shawnee prophet Ellskwatawa, made his appearance upon the scene and through his wonderful influence, led the peaceably in- clined Indians again astrav. Thus the good work of the mission was destrovetl. The prophet was a brother of Techumseh. the great chief, who with his warriors opposed Gen. William Henrv Harrison and his soldiers at the battle of Tippecanoe. Thev were sons of Pukeesheno, a brave who fell in battle when Ellskwatawa was a child. The Delawares retrograded and again became a war-like nation, although they were never so hostile as their kindred of other tribes and were possessed of many noble traits. The prophet fought bitterh- the intermarriage of Indian squaws with white men, and the selling of lands by the Indians to the whites. He also made a bitter warfare against the christianized Indians who had settled amonir the tribes. HISTORY OF MADISON C'OUNTV. INDIANA. ]5 and accused them of witch-craft. lie caused an old Delaware chief of tile name of Tat-e-ljocli-o-she, tlirout;;!] whose inllu- ence a treaty witli the United States had been accomplislied in ]y04, to be put to death by being tomahawked, and his body burned, on tiiis cliarge. The Indian missionary, '■ Josliua," above referred to was also taken at the instigation of the propiief, and brought before a council iield just across the border of Madison countv near where tiie town of Yorktown now stands, anol was tried and convicted of witch-craft, and was burned at the stake as a punish >nc>nt for his crime. The wife of Tat-e-bock-o-she was also convicted and sentenced to death, but was rescued bv an Indian warior, and thus escaped a horrible death. Josiiua was at the time of his terrible torture and death very old and iiitirm. TKRATV .\T OUEEN'XII.I.K. After a long and serious warfare with the Indians throughout the west, a council was called by General Anthony Wayne, to be held at Greenville, Ohio, for tlie purpose of making peace, and trying to induce tiic Indians to abandon the war-path and to become civili/.id. At this meeting, which took place on the '3rd of August, 1795, tlie difl'erent tribes entered into an agreement with General \\'ayne on Iiehalf of the United States to become citizens of the government and for certain valuable considerations to " cede, sell and convey to the States '" large, -valuable tracts of lands, composing nearl}- all territory northwest of the Ohio. At this council there were present man)' representatives of the VVyandots, the Delawares, the Shawnees, the ^Nliamis, the Otto was, the Chippewas. the Pottawattomies, the Kickapoos, the Eels and the Weas. The consideration given the tribes to be divided among themselves was an amount of goods and merchandise then paid in hand. ifiO.OOO and the sum of !);1,0()() to be paid to each of the tribes signing the treaty " annually forever." These to be by the United States delivered at some convenient place north of the Ohio river, and to be reckoned at first cost. It was also stipu- lated that in lieu of goods or merchandise any of the tribes might take their portion or any part in domestic aniiiials or implements with which to till the soil. KiK-TnA-wi;-N'i"N'n. This treaty was duly signed by Anthony Wayne as the party of the first part and by the several tribes b)^ their chiefs 1(5 ■ HISTORY OK MADISON OOI NT'S-, IXDIANA. ^iiul warriors. Tlie second name signed was Kik-tlia-we-iiund, or Anderson (his x mark), on behalf of the Delawares. Kik- tha-\ve-nund was the old chief after whom the citv of Ander- son took its name. A treaty prior to the one above recited was made at Fort Ilarmar, on the Muskingum river, in Ohio, in which the Del- awares took part. This was on the '.lib of ]anuarv, 1789. and was signed by Gen. .\rthur St. Clair, for the governmen', to which was subscribed the name of C'a[it. Pipe (his x mark), on behalf of the Delawares. Capt. Pipe was either afterward a resident of what is now Madison countv. or an immediate descendant of one of the same name who resided here, as the stream. Pipe creek, took its name from a chief of that tribe known as Captain Pipe. AX AliMV SE.XT oi'r. These treaties of peace were afterward broken b\- the Indians, who were, perhaps, not whollv to blame, as manv speculating and unscrupulous whites found their wav into the new country and committed depredations among the red men and trouble ensued. The war-like actions of the Indian- be- came so alarming that in the month of June. ISIH, a ■•mall armv consisting of 1(11) mounted men, organized at Vincennes by order of Governor Posey, was sent out under the commanil of Colonel Joseph Bartholomew, to mo\e upon the Indians on the west fork of White river, and to destroy their villages and all their means of sustenance. The troops consisted of parts of three companies of rangers, commanded severallv b\' Captains Williamson Dunn, James Bigger and C. Pevton, and a small detachment of militia under command of Major Depauw. of Harrison county. The arm}' moved on the 1 lib of June to the U])per villages of the Delawares. which must have been situated in Delaware county near where Vorktown now stands, and then down the White ri\er through the present site of Anderson. The des- cription given bv the colonel in command in a letter to the governor describes the route covering this territory. He savs : " We pursued a cour-,e between north ami northeast about one hundreil mile- to the upper Delaware town on White river, where we arrived on the loth, where we found the principal part of the town had been biuMit three or four weeks previ- Duslv. We found, however, another village that had not l)een burnt, at a distance of twehe miles below the upper IIISTDRV OF MADISOX COUNTV, INDIANA. I ( town. .Vt this point many horses and a goodly (|iiantity of com were captured and destroyed and the village laid in waste." This is supposed to be at or near where the city of Anderson now stands. Possibly a few miles to the west. The troops made a tour of the surroundinjj; countiy and became engaged with some straggling Indians in the neigh- borhood. In attempting to surround them the Indians were fired upon and one was killed. One of Captain Peyton's rangers was thrown from his horse and was shot by an Indian lurking in ambush and was severely wounded. About one thousand bushels of corn was capturetl and destroyed. The army returned to its headquarters on the 2 1st of June, carry- ing the wounded ranger on a horse litter. PE.\CP:AliI.E DELAW.\RES. The Delaware Indians were not disposed to go lo war with the whites when not influenced by other tribes and were often censured by their red skinned brothers, and accused of friendliness to pale faces. They often sent messages of peace and words of love and affection to General Harrison, who always gave them a kindly hearing. I'UUTIIEI! INDIAN IIIS'|-ORV. ^V tradition has been hantled down from the earliest set- tlement of Madison county that Tecuinseh, the famous Indian warrior, was at one time a resident of the county. This, we think, is clearly a mistake. In Dillon's early historj- of Indiana, we find the following allusion to that illustrious per- sonage : " In the early part of the year 1S()5, the Shawnee warrior and his brother, the prophet, resided at one of the Dela- ware villages which stood on the borders of the west fork of the White river, within the present boundaries of Delaware county."" This clearly establishes' the fact that Tecumseh at one time resided veiy close to the borders of this county; but there is no record of his ever having been an actual resident iiere. ^Ve wish to state further that there is a difl'erence among the authorities as to the proper name of the Shawnee prophet. Appleton's Encyclopedia of American Biography, gives his name as Ellks-wa-ta-wa, and his birthplace as being near the present city of Chillicothe, Ohio, on the banks of the Scioto river. He was the son of Pu-Ke-She-no, a .Shawnee chief. Dillon gives his naine as Law-le-was-i-kaw, which signifies a loud voice. He also says that the prophet afterward assumed 1> HISTORY OF MADISOX COUNTV, INDIANA. the name of Peins-c|ual-a-wa. which in the dialect of the Shavvnees. means an open door. Teciim.seh was born near Springfield, Ohio, in 17l)I^. It is stated on good authority that lie once visited this locality, and held a council with Kik-tha-we-nuud. or .\nderson. the chief of the Delaware tribe which dwelt on the spot upon which the city of Anderson now stands. His mission being for the purpose of enlisting the Delawares in a combina- tion of ail the difl'erent tribes of the northwest, to take part with Great Britain against the whites in this territory during the struggle of 181:?. but it is said that Anderson re- fused his overtures, and this ended the negotiations. Many of the older settlers of iMadison co'mty claimed the distinction of haying been personally acr|uainted with the Del- aware Indians in this county, and to haye enjoyed a personal acciuaintance with Chief Anderson. This, the writers haye the best ot reasons to iloubt. Tiiere is, perhaps, but one living white man now in Madison county who ever saw Chief An- derson, and, if so, it must ha\e been when he was but a child. We refer to the venerable James Hollingsworth. at present a resident of Anderson. Mr. Hollingsworth came to this county with his parents from the state of Ohio in 18:20. According to Dillon's history, on the i51st of October, 1^18, a treaty was concluded at St. Mark's, Ohio, whereby the Delaware Indians ceded to the United States all their claims to lands King within the boundaries of the State of In- diana in which the United States agreed to pay a perpetual annuity of four thousand dollars to the Delawares, and to pro- vide for them a resilience country on the western side of the ^Mississippi river, and guaranteed to them the peaceful pos- session of the same. The commissioners who negotiated this treaty on the part of the United States were Jonathan Jennings, Lewis Cass and IJenjamin Parke. The Delawares reserved the right to occupy their lands in Indiana for a period of three years from the date of this treaty, at which time, it is said, they took their depar- ture, and, if Mr. Hollingsworth ever saw them at all. it must have been a very short time prior to their leaving. John Rogers, who is said to have been the first white in- hal)itant of Madison county, and who came here about the year 1818, ami settleil on Fall Creek, may ])ossiblv, and, in all probability did have a personal acc|uaintance witli this tribe. HlMllKV ()1- MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 19 About the year ls|:-!,a battle was fought between the United States Army, under Gen. Harrison, witli the Miamis ;ind other tribes on the Mississinewa. after which a message was conveyed to the Delaware tribes by Gen. Harrison, through Lieut. -Col. Campbell, requesting them to abandon their towns and to remove to the state of Ohio, and also regretting the unfortunate killing of some of their people in the battle. Soon after these negotiations the main bodvof the Delawares, togeliier with a small number of Miamis mo\ed into the State of Ohio, and placed themselves under the protection of the go\ernment of the Ihiited States. The remaining few Indians in this countv lingered here with Chief Anderson until his departure as above recited. The Shawnee prophet, and some of the principal chiefs of the Miamis, retired fro n the borders of the Wabash, and mo\ed to Detroit, where thev were received as the friends and allies of Great Britain. (jen. Harrison, in giving Col. Campbell (irders to proceed to the Mississinewa coimtry to fight the Indians, instructed him to avoid coming in contact with the Delawares on White river, and to pass around their villages in such manner as to in no way disturb them, as they were friendly to the whites. He also instructed him to counsel with William Conner as to his movements, and to court friendly relations with one " (iod- frov." a Canadian living in what is now Grant county, ^vho had for his wife an Indian squaw, and ^vas friendly to the Avhite people, and had great influence with the Miamis and other Indians in the countrv. CO.\CERNIN(. WILLIAM AND JOHN CO.VNEi;. Among the first white men to visit the present site of Anderson, if not the first, were the Conner brothers, William and John. The former entered the tract of land upon which the most valuable portion nf the city is situated, antl subse- ([uently (lS2i5) transferred it to Captain John Berry. The Conncrs were taken when quite young by the Shawnee Iiuiians and were reareil among them. William was intimate- ly acquainted with the great Shawnee chief and warrior, Tecumseh, and being familiar with the language of many of tiie tribes, acted as interpreter at several treaties. He was at the battle of the Thames, and was the first man that identi- fied the dead Tecumseh after the engagement. 20 HISTOIIV OK -MADISOX COINTV, IMJIANA. The following concerning his brother John and iiis visit to " Andersontovvn." is reproduced from O. H. Smith's " Early Indiana Trials, Sketches and Reminiscences :'' " John Conner, the proprietor of Connersville, was one of Nature's strong men. Taken by the Shawnee Indians when a mere youth, he was raised and educated in Indian life, language and manners. When dressed in their costume, and painted, it was difficult to distinguish him from a real savage. On one occasion, as he told me, he came to -Vntiersontown, then the lodge of a large band of Indians under Chief Ander- son. He was dressed and painted as a Shawnee, and pre- tended to be a representative of Tecumseh. As is usual with the Indians, he took his seat on a log barely in sight of the Indian encampment, quietly smoked his pipe, waiting the action of Anderson and his under chiefs. .Vfter an hour he saw approaching the old chief himself, in full dress, smoking his pipe. 1 give his language. ' As the old chief walked up to me I rose from my seat, looked him in the eyes, we ex- changed pipes, and walked down to the lodge, smoking with- out a word. I was pointed to a bear skin — took mv seat with my back to the chiefs. A few minutes after I noticed an Indian by the name of Gillaway, who knew nic well, ej'eing me closely. I tried to evade his glances, wiien he bawled out in the Indian language, at the top of his voice, interpreted, • You great Shawnee Indian, you John Conner." The ne.xt moment the camp was in a perfect roar of laughter. Chief Anderson ran up to me, throwing off his dignitj-. 'You great representative of Tecumseh,' and burst out in a loud laugh.'" The scene of this meeting was prob- ably where the Catholic Church now stands, at the corner of Eleventh and Fletcher streets. THADrriOXS CONCERNING CHIEF ANDERSON. The interesting legend contributed to this work by Mrs. Earle Reeve, iicc Lovett, concerning Kiktha-we-nund, or Chief Anderson, which mav be found elsewhere, is but one of the manv transmitted b}' the e;irly pioneers to their descend- ants, relaiive to the fate of the noted chief. There are several others, however, that are worth}' of mention. It is said that he came to his death while riding a pony by plunging from the high bluff on White river, JList east of Anderson. It is also said that he died before his people left for their reser\a- tion beyond the Mississippi, and that he was buried in tiie IIIMORV Ol' MADISON COUNTV, IN'DIAXA. L' 1 burial i^i-ouiul of liis tribe. This burial groutul \\as situated where the residences of Major Doxey, T. M. Norton and Martin Gruenewald, in Anderson, are located. Another tradition is to the effect that he removed to Ohio \\ith a remnant of his people and died there. And still another that he went west with his people, and, being dissat- isfied with the country, started to return to his old home, and was poisoned to death while on his way. It is a matter of regret that nothing definite is known con- cerning his last days. He was a noble Indian, and always the steadfast friend of the whites. CHAPTER IV Early Settlement and Organization of the CorNiv. A majority of the early settlers of this county c;ime from Virginia and Kentucky, the former State being more largely represented than the latter. The first man who came to tlie county for the purpose of locating permanently was John Rogers, an Irishman. Rogers faced the perils and hardships of the wilderness and located in Fall Creek township in No- vember, 1818, two years after the territory of Indiana had been organized as a .State, and while the seat of the State goyernment was jet at Corydon. He left the county some- time after coming here, but subsequently returned and located about two and a half miles east of the town of Pendleton, where he reared a family. A sketch of Air. Rogers will be found elsewhere in these pages. But it was not until 18:^0 that any considerable number of pioneers located within the borders of the county. Those who came at that early day, like those who followed, saw that the land was well watered and that the soil with proper culti- \ation would yield abundantly. They settled in the primeval wilderness and began the arduous labor of cutting and hewing out of the unbroken forests, homes for themselves and their descendants. It was in this year that the nucleus for Madi- son county's present population settled near the falls of Fall Creek. Among the number were Elias Ilollingsworth and famil}', William Curtis, Nathaniel Richmond and family, John Linsey, Israel Cox, Conrad Crossley, Saul Shaul, Samuel Holliday, Thomas and William McCartne\'. Tiiese were soon followed by ^Vdam Dobson, Manly Richards, Stephen Corwin, the Silvers, W'illiam and Thomas, Palmer Patrick and many others \\ lio have long since gone to their reward. About this time other settlements sprang up in the yicin- it}' of Chesterfield, at Anderson and Perkinsville, with a -oli- tary cabin here and there between these places. Among those wiio settled in I'nion township in the vicin- IIISTOltY OF MAIHSOX COV^TV, IXmANA. 28 ity of Chesterfield were Frederick Broniieiiberj^r, sr., William Diltz, John Suman, Daniel Nohind and Airiasa Makepeace. Those who first settled at Anderson were John Berry, A\'illiani ^Vllen, Samuel Cory, William Curtis and William Stogdon. These pioneers were soon followed by otheis who will receive honorable mention elsewhere in this work. Two families of the name of Kinser and Dewey settled in the vicinity of Perkinsville, and were followed by Benoni Frell, of Ohio. Then came Daniel Wise, who made the first entry of land in Jackson township. In the fall of 182-5, Will- iam Parkins, with his family, which consisted of his wife and seven children, came from Ohio, and located where Perkins- ville now stands. Other immigrants followed and the settle- ment nourished. FoUov.'ing the organization of the territory of Indiana into a state, the agitation of the matter of organizing the county began in earnest in the infant settlements and did not cease until the metes and bounds of the territory which now comprises the county were established. At the session of the legislature which assembled at Corydon on the first Monday in December, lcS22, an enabling act was passed and received the signature of Governor William Hendricks on the 4th of January, 1828, granting the residents of the county the right to organize a separate and independent jurisdiction for the ad- ministration of affairs. That act is as follows : Section' 1. A'c // cimctcil by tlic (ici/cral Assciith/v of the Stale of Indiana, that from and after the first day of July ne.xt, all that tract of land which is included in the following boundaries, shnll constitute and form a new county, to be known and designated by the name of the county of Madison, to-wit ; Beginning at the south-west corner of the county of Henry, thence north with the line of the saniL' and to the township line di\iding 20 and 21 north, thence west to the north-east corner of Section 5, in Township 20 north, range 6 east, thence south 20 miles; thence west to the north-east corner of the county of Marion ; thence south to the north- west corner of Shelby county; thence east with the line of Shelby until the same intersects Rush county; thence north with Rush county to the north-\vest corner of the same ; thence east to the place of beginning. Sec. 2. The said new county of Madison shall fri>m and after the first day of [ulv next, enjoy all the rights, privi- 24 HISTORY OI- MADISON COUXTV, INDIANA. leges and jurisdictions, which to separate and independent counties, do or may properly belong or appertain. Sec. 3. Abijah Bayless, of Harrison county i \Villiam Williams, of Jackson county : Jesse Reddick, of Bartholo- mew county ; Rollin C. Dewey, of Lawrence county, and James Dill, of Dearborn county, are hereby ajipointed Com- missioners, agreeably to an act entitled, " An act for fixing the seats of justice in all new counties hereafter to be laid oft." The Commissioners above named shall meet at the house of William McCartney, in said new countj- of Madison on the first Monday in September next, and shall immediately pro- ceed to discharge the duties assigned them by law. It is hereby made the duty of the sheriff of Marion county to no- tify the said Commissioners, either in person or by written notification, of their appointment, on or before the 15th day of August next, and the said sheriff of Marion county shall be allowed therefor by the County Commissioners of the county of Madison, such compensation as by them shall be deemed just and reasonable, to be paid out of the county treasury of the county of Madison in the same manner other allowances are paid. Sec. 4. The Circuit and other courts of the county of Madison shall meet and be holden at the house of William McCartney until suitable accommodations can be had at the county seat of said county : and so soon as the courts of said county are satisfied that suitable accommodations are provided at the county seat of said county they shall adjourn thereto ; after which time, all the courts of said county shall be held at the seat of justice thereof; provided, however, that the circuit court of said county shall have authority to remove from the house of said William McCartney to any more suit- able place in said county previous to the completion of the public buildings if they should deem the same expedient. Sec. 5. The agent who shall be appointed for said county to superintend the sales of lots at the county seat oi' said county or receive donations for said county shall reserve 10 per cent of the proceeds of such sale and donations, which he shall pa}- over to such person or persons, as b}- law may be author- ized to receive the same, for the use of a county library for said county, which he shall pay over at such time or times and manner as shall be directed by law. Sec. 6. The Board of County Commissioners of said county shall, within twelve months after the permanent seat HISTORY OF MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. I'O or justice sh;ill ha\e been selected, proceed to erect the neces- sary public buildings thereon. Sec. 7. Provides for the organization, conduct and sup- port of a county library, as provided by the act organizing Dubois county, approved January 23, ISllS. Sec. S. The county is attached to and made a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State of Indiana. This act to be in force from and after July 1. 18J-5."' It will be seen from the foregoing that Madison county included all of what is now Hancock county and only so much of its present territory north of the White river as lies south of the north lines of LaFayette and Richland townships. With the formation of other counties adjoining the territory designated as the county of Madison the boundaries desig- nated in the original act were changed by subsequent legisla- tive enactments until the county boundaries were established as we find them to-day. CHAPTER V Formal Organization oi' the County — Circuit Colrt Organized — First Public Business. The L'ountv uas foniially organized Xoveinber, 1(1, 1823, at the house of William McCartney, within the limits of what is now the town of Pendleton, in accordance with the provi- sions of the foregoing act. The house of Mr., or ''Major"" McCartney, as he was usually called bv the early jiioneers, was constructed of logs and was situated on the lot where the Universalist Church now stands. It had two rooms, and in one of these the county was organized aiul the Hrst term of tiie Madison Circuit Court was begun and held. Joini Roberts, sheriff" of Marion county, who had been appointed liy the Leg- islature to conduct the organization of the county, was present to discharge the duties of his ofHce. The record shows that on this occasion "Samuel Ilolliday and Adam Winsell presented their commissions as associate judges, they having been appointed as such by the governor of the State, William Hen- dricks. On each commission was endorsed the certificate of John Kolierts. sheriff of Marion county, certifying that the person it was issued to had taken an oath to support the Con- stitution of the United States, the Constitution of the .State of Indiana, an oath of oflice. and also the oath against dueling." The ne.xt commission presented was that of Moses Co.x, as clerk, upon which was indorsed a certificate that he had taken the proper oath of office. Samuel Corv next presented his com- mission as sheriff" of the county, upon which was indorsed the proper certificate entitling jiim to enter upon the discharge of his official iluties. After these connnissions had been received, Sheriff' Roberts proclaimed that "the Madison Circuit Court is now open, according to law. " After the court had been organized, it appears of record that " Daniel B. Wick is now admitted as an attorney and counselor at law at the bar of the court. And it appearing satisfactorily to the court that his license is signed by two of the presidents, judges of the .Stale of Indiana, aiitl that the HISTORY Ol- MADISON t•Ol'^•T^ , INDIANA. _! ( oath prescribf J liv law is endor.sL'il there(.)n. he is therefore admitted as an attorney and counselor at law in this court."' Mr. \\^ick then moved "that Calvin Fletcher and James Gil- more be admitted as members ot" this bar as nttornevs and counselors at law." They were admitted, accordingl}-, after being sworn by the clerk, and their names enrolled as members of the Madison countv bar. These gentlemen have the dis- tinction of being the first attornevs adinitted 1o practice their profession in the courts of Madison countv. The next business of the court was the impaneling of a grand jury. The sheriff returned the venire issued to him by the clerk, and announced the names of the grand juiors as follows : Isaac Jones, John Rogers, Captain John Montgom- ery, Charles Tharp, Jacob B. Iliolay, Jacob Shaul, George Stockton, John Berry, Samuel \'angilder, John Russell, George Cunningham, Saul Shaul. John Montgomery. Henry Sybert, Nathaniel Richmond, Isaac Smith, Frederick Bron- nenberg, Sr., and John T. Bridge, the last named being one of the men who was subsequently hanged for the murder of the Indians in what afterwards became Adams township. It will be noticed that eighteen names were announced by the sheritT, but it is probable that only twelve of the \enire served as jurors. John Berry was appointed foreman of this jury and James Gilmore prosecuting attorney by the court. The first case on the docket for trial was that of Henry Nicholson vs. George Stockton, action and assumpsit, which was continued until the next term. The first case submitted for trial was that of Conrad Crosely \s. Andrew Sawyer, for slander. The case was tried by jurv and a verdict returned, but the clerk neglected to record it. The first indictment returned bv the graiul jurv was against one of its own members, Jacob B. Hiday, for assault and battery. Mr. Hiday pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined six and one-quarter cents bv the court. This compleletl the business of the first term of the Madison circuit court. The second session began on the ^th of April, ]t- the associate judges, in the absence of the presi- dent judge. Oliver II. Smith, afterwards elected United States Sen- ator; Charles H. Test, Lot Bloomfield, James Bloomfield, James B.,and Martin M. Ray, Josiah F. Polke, Philip Svveet- zer and William R. Morris were admitted to practice in this 28 HI>rOK^- OI- .MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. court. The grand jiuvat this term consisted of Amasa Alake- peace, Saul Shaul, William Young, Aloses Corwin, John Su- man, Isaac Williams, Samuel Hull, and James Montgomery. Amasa ^Makepeace was selected as foreman of the jury. After the jury had been empaneled, the prosecuting attorney, James (iilmore, asked that the court appoint Cyrus Ferich as assist- ant prosecutor, which was accordingly done. It was this grand jury that returned bills of indictment against John T. Bridge, John Bridge, Andrew Sawyer, James Hudson and Thomas Harper for tiie murder of the Indians, to which reference has before been made. Two witnesses. Andrew Jones and Ste- phen Sawyer, were required to enter into bond in the sum of ■1800, with approved security, for their appearance in court to testif}- when the indicted parties should be tried. The indicted men, excepting Harper, had been arrested and imprisoned in a jail built of logs hewed square, so that each timber fitted close to the one upon which it rested. There was but one door and no windows in the structure. It was guarded night and day from the moment the murderers were placed within its rude walls. That the wants of the guards were not neg- lected appears from the following order of court : " Thomas McCartney is allowed tiie sum of $5 for furnishing whiskey and corn for the use of the guards.'" The following order was also made at this term of court: " Charles Tharp is allowed the sum of $i^5 for impaneling a jury and holding an inquest on the bodies of certain Indians found dead in Madison county." CHAPTER \I. Concerning the Location of the Seat of Justice — John Berhy's Proposition — More Legislation — Pendle- ton — Anderson Selected. Iinmedi;itely following the eiiiibling act of the General Assembh- authorizing the organization of the county, John Berr}'. one of the first settlers to locate at Anderson, made a proposition to the commissioners, designated in the act, to meet at the house of William McCartney on the first Alonday in September, ]82;5, and select a seat of justice ; to donate certain lands at Anderson for that purpose. What the con- ditions of this proposition were are not known, but it is evi- dent that they were not satisfactory to all concerned, as the commissioners met as directed and considered the matter, but failed to select a county seat. Li the meantime justice was administered at Pendleton, by the Associate Judges. Madison county was within the limits of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, the president judge being Hun. William \\'. Wick. The Associate Judges for the coun- ty, at that time, as has been stated, were Samuel HoUiday and .Vdam Winsell. Subsetjuent legislation placed the county in the Third Judicial Circuit, and Judge Eggleston became the President Judge, presiding at the trials of Sawyer and the Bridges, father and son, for the murder of a number of friendly Indians, an account of which is given in a separate chapter elsewhere in this volinne. Hudson, the other murderer, was tried before Judge Wick. Bat for various reasons there was more or less dissatisfac- tion concerning the continuance of the seat of justice at Pen- dleton, and steps were again taken to re-locate the county seat, as we find that at the session of the legislature of 182-")— (5 a supplemental act was passed for the purpose of disposing of the matter. The act, which was approved January US, ls2(i, is as follows : Be it enacted, etc.. That l^enjamin Irwin, of Bartholomew- county ; George Hunt, of Wayne county; Lew-is Hendricks, 30 nisroi!-!' oi- MADisox corxT^-. ixdiana. of Shelby county; Klisha I^ong, of Henry county, and Daniel Heaton, of Hamilton county, be, and they are hereby, ap- pointed commissioners, to re-locate the seat of justice of Mad- ison county. The commissioners aboye named, shall meet at the house of Moses Pearson, in said county, on the first Mon- day in June next and shall proceed to locate the seat of justice of said county under the proyisions of the lau's regulating the fixing ot the seat of justice in all new counties hereafter to hi' laid oft'. Section I^, of said act provides that tin- circuit an saitl river, at low-water mark, until a line running a due soutii course till it comes parallel with tlie south end of Meridian street, will contain thirty acres, being pai t of the southwest quirterof section 1 1?, town lU north, of r.uige 7 east '■• * * so long as the town aforesaid continues to be the permanent seat of justice of Madison county * '" * and in considera- ti(Ui of lot No. 7. in the north front of Andersontown, in said county, the leceipt whereof is herebv acknowledged. The l)Oundarv lines of this donation circumsci ibed the site of Chief Anderson's village, but was resurveyed by order of the Roard of Commissioners, in hSi^U, by Samuel C. Wood- worth and Xormon Way, the origitial survey having been found to be imperfect. The land thus given to the coiuity for a seat of justice is now the most valuable in the city of Ander- son, embracing as it does all that part of the citv east of Mer- idian street between I'^ighth and Eleventh streets to the river. ^\!ong with the donation of land a subscription was raised among those w ho faxored iXndersontown as the count}' seat, but the amount sul)scribed is not known, neither the names of the subscribers. It appears, however, from the records of the Commissioners' Court that the subscription amounted to several hundred do-llars as an entry concerning the building of a iail states amoitg other things that " the Board agrees to appropriate the sum of iji^tlO, according to the conditions of a subscrijition signeil at the January session of this Board for I.Sl'O." The laud donated was divided into lots, platted and sold for the purpose of erecting public buildings. An order made by the Board of Justices at their September terin, 1828, reads as follows: "Ordered that Samuel Cory be allowed the sum of -i!.") as an additional allowance fi'i' xvliiskv and crying the sale of lots in Andersontown." Another sale of lots took place April 1, 18:^1), after the town had been resurveyed b)- 32 IIISTOllV OI MADISOX COUNTY. INDIANA. Woodworth and Way. The record with reference to this sale reads : Ordered, that Bricknell Cole be allowed the sum of $8.]2A for crying the last sale of lots at Andersontown, and for whisky furnished for said sale. At that early day, and indeed for a quarter of a centurv later, it was customary on important occasions in this and other new states to dispense liquor to the public. In fact, there were but few- " gatherings "" aside from those of a relig- ious character at which there was not a jug or two of liquor to stimulate the feelings of those in attendance. At house- raisings, log-rollings, corn-shuckings, during harvest and at political meetings, the " little brown jug" usually cut an im- portant figure. Without it there was an absence of that joy- ous spirit with which the early pioneers usually entered upon undertakings of " pith and moment." And yet, be it said to the eyerlasting credit of the men who first peopled this great county, that notwithstanding the hospitable customs of their time, but very few of them indulged to excess in intoxicating liquors. They ^yere hardy, sober, honest, industrious and gen- erous, and whatever shortcomings they may have had, their character will not suffer when brought into comparison with the men who ha\e followed them thus far or who may follow them hereafter. Their manners were hoinel}' and in keeping \yith their surroundings, but their ways were honest and their faults were of the head rather than of the heart. We of today may be superior to them in manj- respects, but it will be gen- erally admitted that from the standpoint of morals we ha\e made no improvement on their time. Their descendants have no cause for shame ^^■hile perusing their historj', for there is but little doidDt that they would not have achieved the same triumphs or have been so successful under similar circumstan- ces. They were preeminently the men for the time and the herculean undertaking of subduing the wilderness. That they succeeded, the fruitful lields and fair homes of the county abundantly attest. CHAPTER VII. First Piblic Biildii\<;s — Coikt IIousp; — Jaii. — County Infirmary. Immediately following the locating of the county scat preliminary steps were taken toward the erection of a court house and jail, and the record shows that a notice of the in- tention of the County Hoard to erect a court house was pub- lished in newspapers adjacent to the county with an invitation to builders and contractors to submit plans and specifications for the same. ()ue of these notices was inserted five times in a newspaper at Centerville, this State, published bv '' Septi- mus Smith, Esq.," for which he was allowed the sum of .^i.^o by the Board at the January term, 1829. At the following term it was ordered by the Board that " the agent of Madison county sell to the lowest bidder the building of a jail in Andersontown, according to the plan adopted at the present .session, to be finished within six months, recjuiring bond and securit}' for the performance of the building in a workmanlike manner." At this time the Board of Justices, or County Board, con- sisted of the following named members: William Curtis, William S. Penn, Amasa Makepeace, John Busby, Thomas M. Pendleton, Daniel Hardesty, Jacob Hiday, William Nelson, Daniel Wise and Richard Kinnamon. William Curtis was president of the Board. lie had formerl)- resided at Pendle- ton, but had taken an active part in securing the re-location of the seat of justice at Andersontown. He subsequently moved to the county seat, and the first term of the circuit court was held in his house, after the seat of justice had been removed from Pendleton. His house stood on Main streef, about where the hardware store of J. P. Barnes now stands. It seems that for some cause or other no action was taken with reference to the building of a court house for some time after the first notice was published, for at a session of the County Board in January, 1831, it was, " Ordered by the Board that the agent of the county of Madison, sell to the 34 HISTORY OF .MADISOX COUXTV, INDIANA. lowest bidder, the building of ;i court house, to be built on Lot No. 17, in the northeast siiuure, in Andersontown, to be built on the following plan, to-wit : One story high, thirt\--six feet long and twenty feet wide ; to be elevated one foot from the ground and underpinned with stone'; the story to be ten feet between floors ; the building to be well weather-boarded and covered with good joint shingles ; to have a good brick chimney in the west end, with a large fire place therein; ten feet of the end to be partitioned, so as to make two ten foot jurv-rooms : all the partitions to be made of good seasoned planks; each of said jurv-rooms to have a door to open into the large room; the said house to have three twelve-liglit windows in the south side and three in the north side; the windows to be so placed that the large room shall have four and each of the jury-rooms one ; the under floor to be laid in good, workmanlike manner, the upper floor to he laid of loose planks: hou-e lo have one door in front, to open near the par- tition ; the windows to be in. the outside door hung and the house inclosed on or before the second Monday in May next, and the whole work completed, according to the above plan, on or before the second Monday in November next. The sale to take place in Andersontown on the third Saturday in Janu- arv, inst., the said agent taking bond of the contractors in double the amount for which the work is taken, conditioned for the completion of the work against the loth day of No- vember. 1831." At the time designated in the foregoing order the con- tract for the court house was let to Daniel Harpold, but the building was not completed according to contract, as it appears from the proceedings of the Board at the January session, 1832, that John Drewry and Nathaniel Chapman were ap- pointed a committee to examine the new court house and re- port if it had been built according to the contract. This com- mittee reported to the Board that the contract had not been fully complied with, and recommended that " $30 be deducted from the amount of the original contract, which recom- mendation was adopted by the Board and the contractor dis- charged." This building stood about where the Lovett block now stands, on East Eighth street, between Main and Central ave- nue, and answered the purpose for which it was built for a period of about six vears, when it was sold by order of the County Board, a new court house having been built in the HISTORY OT<- MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 85 puljlic s<|iuire in the meantime. Tlie Iniikliiii^ ^vas used as a residence until it was torn down in order to make way for the present business block that now occupies its site. The jail that was built in 1S;50 was situated about where the west steps of the present court house are situated. The structure was sixteen feet square, a story and a half high, and was made of hewed logs. The entrance to the jail was in the upper story, which was reached bj' a flight of stairs con- structed on the outside of the building. There was a trap- door in the ceiling of the lower room, through which prison- ers were let down to the first floor by means of a ladder. After the prisoner was let down to the cell or room below the ladder was removed and the trap-door closed. With the sale of the old frame court house the Countv Board ordered the re- moval of the jail from the public square, as it was not only unsightlv but insecure. It was accordingly torn down, and from 1887 to 184:2 all prisoners that had to be confined for any length of time, or who were considered dangerous, were taken to Indianapolis for safe keeping. During the trial of prison- ers they were guarded and securely ironed, which entailed no little expense to the county. The following is a copy of a claim that was allowed at the Afarch session, 1844, of the County Board for this purpose : Allowed Daniel Williams — For riveting irons on S -S-"'. For riveting irons on 2.'). For riveting irons on 12. For cutting rivets 12,'.^. For altering rivets anil riveting on 25. Fur fastening handcuffs on Ofi. Sl.O.'J The names of the parties upon whom the irons were fast- ened were given in the claim but are omitted here for vari- ous reasons. ORDER FOR A NEW COIRT HOUSE AND JAIL. The order for a new court house to take the place of the frame in which the county business had been trans- acted was made by the County Board at the September session 1828, but was afterwards revoked, and it was not until April. 1837, that the contract for the new building was let. The description of the building given in the contract is asfol- fows : " Of brick, forty-four feet stpiare, two stories high. 36 HISTORY OK MADISON COLXTY. INDIANA. all to be like tlie court house at Noblesville, except the court room, which is to be on the lower floor ; the tower to be hke that on the court house at Indianapolis, and the cupola which is to be like that on thecourt liouseat Indanapolis." The build- ing was to be erected, according to the terms of the contract, in the public square of Andersontown, and was to to be inclosed previous to the 1st of November, 1887. The contract was awarded to Messrs. Crawford & Meek, of Hancock count}-, for the sum of .155, TTO. The building was completed "'on time,"' and according to the terms of the contract, and was fir^t occupied for judicial purposes at the October term of the Cir- cuit Court, 1889. At this time the ofKceis of the court were Judge William W. Wick, who presided over the first court held in the county, Andrew Jackson, clerk, and Joseph How- ard, sheriff. NV'ill^am Prigg and Abraham Thomas were the Associate Judges. This court house stood in the center of the public square until the morning of the 10th of December, 1880, when it was consumed by fire, and with it many inter- esting and valuable records. The lire was undoubteiUy of incendiary origin, but no steps were taken either bv the county commissioners or other authorities to apprehend the guilty party or parties. ^lany matters of interest could be written ab">ut the build- ing, as it was for many jears the only public place of meeting in Anderson excepting perhaps the frame Methodist church which at an early day stood on the northeast corner of IMerid- ian and Eleventh streets. The record of the commissioners' court shows that one of the rooms was once used as the post office, as it is " ordered that Xinevah Berry pa)* !i!;5 per month rent for the room which he now occupies in the court house for the post office so long as lie remains in the same.'" Also at tlie March session, 184(5. it was " ordered that the south- east room of the court house, up stairs, be assigned to Mount Moriah Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and to l)e kept in good order by said lodge."' A lodge of the Sons of Tem- perance also met in one of the rooms '• up staiis " for a ni.m- ber of years. Other rooms were rented for law offices from time to time and also to Justices of the Peace up to I8C0, when the commissioners devoted the entire building to the exclusive use of the county. Shortly after this building was erected notice was given by the board of commissioners that " sealed proposals would be received until the first Monday of December (1841) next HISTORY OF MADISOX COUN'l V. INDIANA. 87 for the erection of a jail in Andersontown." Tiie structure was to be built of hewed oaiv timber twelve inches square, two stories liit;h, !"> \ :22 scjuare ; stories to be eight feet high be- tween the floors. "The jail to be built on the public scjuare west of the court house, the north side of the jail to be on a line with the north side of the court house," which was about the same site of the one previously removed. This jail was completed and accepted bj' the county commissioners Ji'ne, 1842. It cost but $149, and was not a very secure place in which to coifine a restive criminal possessed \vith ordinary ingenuity and a desire to be at libertv. In fact it soon be- came a burden to the county on this account, as rewards for escaped prisoners were frerjuently given, and this, with other expenses for its mairjtenance, determined the commissioners to provide a new jail. This was accordingl)- done, the Board at the March term (1852) appointing John Davis. George Millspaugh and William Roach to superintend the erection of a new jail, with full authority " to make contracts and esti- mates and order allowances, and do all other things in the premises they may see lit."' These gentlemen at once entered upon their duties in the premises, and at the following December session of the board (1S.52) made a final report, showing that they had discharged their dutv as directed, the building being completed and fully adapted to the purpose for which it was erected. This build- ing was a two-story brick, situated at the northwest corner of Jackson and Ninth streets. About this time a one-storv brick liuilding was erected in the southeast corner of the court house scjuare for the use of the county officers. The auditor, treas- urer and recorder occupied this building until arrangements were made for the erection of the present handsome court house. The clerk and sheriff had their offices in the court house when it Inirned. Concerning the present court house and jail, it is thought best to make them the subjects for an- other chapter. THE COUNTY INFIRMARY. The pr ictice of " selling" that class of unfortunates who are compelled to depend upon charity for a subsistence, al- though quite common in the early historj- of the country-, never obtained to any great extent, if at all, in this county. The method of " selling paupers "' resulted too often in cruel and inhuman treatment of those "sold," and was considered, besides, too expensive. We find, therefore, that as early as 38 HISTORY OF MADISOX COINTV, INDIANA. 1834 the county commissioners determined upon a more humane method of takin- sioners to adopt measures looking to the erection of a new building. Long before the old building was destroyed, the mat- ter of disposing of it and the erection of a new one better adapted to the times and the needs of the county bad been discussed and it seemed to be the general desire of the citizens of the county that a new temple of justice should take the place of the old one. There were therefore, \er\ few, if any, regrets when the old building burned, and had it not been for the destruction of many valuable records and papers in the clerk's office its loss would have been hailed with feelings akin to joy by a majority of the people of the county, ratlier than sorrow. The old court house had answered the purpose for which it was built fairly well but it had become antiijuated HISTORY OK MADISON COUNIV, INDIANA. 43 and while improvements miglit luive iiddetl to its conveniences they could have contributed nothing to the beauty of its appear- ance. The progress tiiat had been made in the development of the county and the improvements that had been made in its immediate surroundings emphasized the importance of hav- ing a new place of justice that would Ije commensurate, in some degree at least, with the greatness of the couiitv and the " new order of things." With the old building out of the ^vay therefore it was evident that the hope which so many had long entertained would now be realized and thai a temple of justice would be erected worthy of the county. But to erect a building such as the people demanded required time and money and the Board of Commissioners went about the work deliberately. The Board met in special session the day after the court house burned and took immediate steps to provide offices for the clerk and sheritY and also a suitable room in which the sessions of the Circuit court could be held. Rooms were rented in what was then known as Westertield's hall, and the clerk's and sheriff's offices were moved to the new quarters. The late Edwin P. Schlater, on account of his famil- iarity with the court records and documents of the clerk's ofhce, was appointed special commissioner to look after the damaged records and papers and see that as many of them could be saved and restored to their proper places and files as possible. This duty was discharged acceptably by Mr. Schlater and it was through his instrumentality that many valuable docu- ments were saved from destruction. The sessions of the Madison circuit court were held in the hall of the Westertield block on North Main street for a num- ber of terms, when the Commissioners rented the upper rooms in the Hannah and Boring block on the north side of the pub- lic sc[uare, and the Circuit court was held there until the new court house was completed — a period of a little more than four years. The clerk's and sheriff's offices were also removed to this block, which made it more convenient for litigants, members of the bar and everybody having business in the cir- cuit court. The Commissioners prepared for the building of the new court house by levying a light tax upon the taxables of the county, and, after duly advertising for plans and specifica- tions, on the 8th day of February, 188'2, the plans presented by architect G. W. Bunting ^vere accepted. Notice was given that sealed proposals for the work and materials would 44 irisTfiiiv OK MAnisox cointv. Indiana. be received at tlie auditor's ottice on Monday. March 27tli, 1H'<'2, and on that date the record shows that the contract was awarded to McCorniack & Sweeney. Their bid was $15l\(l^e stand over the northeast corner of the court house foundation for tlie accommodation of the speak- ers, officers of the day, invited guests and band. The stand was crowded and a dense throng of people extended across the streets on the north and east sides, while hundreds of peo- ple occupied the roofs of buildings and every other " coign of vantage '' in the vicinits'. After music by the band and an invocation by J. K. Prye, G. C. F. and A. M., Grand Mar- shal Wildman introduced Hon. T. B. Orr, who delivered tlie following address of welcome on behalf of the city. TilE ADDRESS. / isi/ors and Citizens : It is a pleasing thought to know that the people, irre- spective of party, caste or creed, have met together for a com- mon purpose. And it is a source of great congratulation that you are the actors under the benign iniluences of this day. The clamoring voice of political passion and prejudice is hushed ; the venomous tongue of hatred and malice is stilled ; and the withering breath of sectarian bigotry and intolerance is calmed. To-day friend greets friend and stranger welcomes stranger, as worthy members of a great community, each for himself assuming the responsibilities and performing the duties of intelligent, useful and honored citizenship. Your mission here is a noble one ; as visitors, as taxpayers, you come to celebrate with us the beginning of a work that, in time, shall stand an enduring monument of the prosperity, lib- erality and progress of our county. None are more welcome IIIST()R^• OK MADISON COUXTY, INDIANA. 4( iiere to-chiv tli;iii tlie pioneer citi/.ens of this county, \vliolia\e battled :ind o\ercome poverty and adversity and are now, witii their chiklren, enjoying the possessions and comforts of home acfjuired by the reijuited toil of busy and useful lives. We salute vou who have come with music and banners and statelv bearing. The patriotic spirit and splendid disci- pline nf this dav give assurance that, in the mid^t of iiulustrial pursuits and prosperity, with all of the arts of peace crowned triumphant, our noble state will not be without protectors in the hour of peril. May your mission ever be to serve your state best by encouraging obedience to law ; by promoting industry, sobiiety, morality, sociability, intelligence, and all the \irtues that combine in true and noble manhood. Words of welcome shall be the city's message to the ladies, you who have l.'indly graced this occasion with your presence and influence. Vou shall be numbered among the joint owners of the noble edilice that we are now building. And you are this day, by your piesence, demanding that within its com- pleted halls the rights of the people shall be respected and asserted, the wrongs redressed and violations of law made odious by an enlightened public sentiment and merited pirn- ishment : that the administration of justice shall be such at all times as to command the reverence and respect of officer and citizen, lawyer and client, judge and juror. Many of our sister cities and counties of Indiana have honored us and honored themselves by their representatives here to-day. It has long been a custom for the people to as- semble and celebrate with appropriate ceremony and solemnity the erection of buildings designed for the public use. But it is not alone the force of an established custom that has prompted the city of Anderson to invite your presence here upon this occasion. Above and bej-ond mere custom, she rec- ognizes that the commingling of sects, orders, societies and peoples gives a new life to commercial intercourse and pro- motes a broader and higher development of the social and political relation. The period of non-intercourse among en- lightened people has passed away and forever. The freedom of an American city has always meant more than the tri- umphal entrance of a conqueror with his captives and his loot. With us the masses come and go, inspired with the hope of material, social, or intellectual advancement. It is the mod- ern freedom of the city that has stimulated the inventive genius of the age ; it has set the white sails of commerce upon 48 IIISTOKV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. every sea and founded her masts in every land; it lias un- folded new principles of busineps ; it has swept away narrow bigotry and given broad liberalitj- ; it has broken down the barriers of seclusion and selfishness and opened the pathways of progress, prosperity and philanthropy. Before the grand and steady march of the modern freedom the doubted opin- ions of yesterday become the fixed principks of to-day ; and to-morrow, as it were, we behold them ingrafted into the laws of the State by which we shall all be governed. In the name of the city of ^Vnderson I extend to vou all a cordial welcome to our city to commemorate with us the founding of Madison county's stateliest temple. At the conclusion of Mr. Orr's address. Hon. Bruce Carr, grand master of the Masonic fraternity of the State, took charge of the exercises. The corner-stone, which weighs five tons, was lifted to its place in the foundation wall by means of an immense derrick amid the profoundest silence of the multitude. A copper box containing a variety of things, data, records, etc., was placed in the receptacle which had been cut in the center of the stone. The Grand Master then proceeded with the further ceremonies, at the conclusion of which he de- livered an appropriate addres*. He was followed by Miss Ola Cooper, ^vho read a very beautiful and interesting address which had been prepared by Miss Violette Swearinger in be- half of the women tax-payers of the county. Miss Swear- ringer was unable to be present on account of severe illness, and it was but a short time after this event that she was called hence. This young lady was a member of the graduating class of 1879 of the Anderson high school, and was greatly esteemed by all who knew her. The address of Miss Swearinger was followed by one pre- pared by the late Colonel Xinevah Berry and read bv Hon. John W. Lovett. The venerable Colonel occupied a seat on the speaker's stand, but was too infirm to speak for any length of time. The following is COL. liEHIi's's ADDUKSS. Fellow Citizens: As the oldest living inhabitant of Mad- ison county, and the oldest living native born Iloosier, I have been invited by your committee on arrangements to say some- thing to you to-day relating to the earlj- days of the county. And as I look back over the long line of years that have come HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 49 and gone, 1 find tliat all of Madison county's history has been made during the period of my life within her borders. Sixty-one years ago the 4th of March, last, a ^-oung and beardless strippling, I came to Anderson with my father from another and older part of the State. At that time there was no county of Madison. The land throughout this part of the State was almost uninhabited except by the Indians. The surveyor's chain had never marked its boundaries, and the large tract of unbroken forests now composing this and ad- joining counties was the hunting grounds of the Delawares. In those days life on the frontier meant a life of hardships and privations. Railroads had not been dreamed of and the only roads were the Indian trail and the ways blazed through the forest. In these days of steam machinery and appliances for the saving of labor, it is hard for the man now in active life to appreciate what it was for their fathers to make a farm in '• ye olden time," and how difficult it was to wring from the stubborn earth a sustenance for themselves and their families. The forests were to be cut down and the logs hewed, rails were to be made and log cabins built, with nothing but an ax and a broad-ax for tools. The implements of the farm were of the rudest kind — the old bar-share plow, the sickle and the flail. NVheat was sown broadcast among the stumps, cut with a sickle and cleaned with a flail and sheet. And I remember how fast we thought our progress when the sickle gave way to the cradle, and how wecongratulated ourselves that we had reached the summit of human invention, when the okl fan- mill came into use for cleaning our grain. In those days the mothers and daughters spun the wool and flax and made all the clothing worn by both sexes. Theie was not a store within thirty miles. The nearest mill was at Connersville, fiftv- five miles distant, and a long and weary way it was to the mill, over the wretched road that was then our only way. But in speaking of the privations and hardships of our early life, I would not forget its pleasures and enjoyments. The early settlers and pioneers, cut loose from former associa- tions and kindred ties, braving the dangers and enduring the pri\ations and hardships of a concjuest of the forest, were bound together with the bond of steadfast friendship and \varm sympathy'. If the neighbors were few and far between, they were hospitable and kind, and when they gave them- selves up to enjoyments and pleasures they did it with a zeal that would be wondered at by the people of to-day. A house 4 50 HISTORY OK MADISOX COUXTY, INDIANA. was not then built after the well-considered design of a skilled architect and let outhv contract to the builder or mechanic, but the neighbors, for miles around would come with their axes and handspikes, and work with a hearty good will unt'l the cabin was raised, and would receive nothing but the good will of the owner and his assistance when help was needed in their own aiTairs. At night, though tired with the labors of the day, the frolic and dance would begin. All night the cabin in the clearing would resound with the sound of merriment and innocent mirth, which would only cease when the gray light in the east shut out the twinkle of the stars. If the cabin home was rude and homely, yet the latch-string was alwajs out, and within was warmth and good cheer. The county was then filled with Indians of the Delaware tribe, and our relations with them were of the friendliest char- acter. I recall now with pleasure the noble traits of character of such chiefs of the tribe as KiUlnick, White Eyes and Nan- ticoke. I wish also to mention at this point some of the honored names of my pioneer associates, most of whom haye been gathered to their fathers. Frederick Bronnenberg. Sr., the ancestor of the large and honored family of that name, ^vas among the first settlers of this county, having come here in 1(S1U. Eli Harrison, Robert Stockton, Zenas Beckwith, Con- rad Crossley, William Diltz, Charles Fisher, Elias Hollings- worth and James, his son, Amasa Makepeace, Nathaniel Richmond, William Marshall, William Williams, Samuel llolliday, lohn Suman and William Curtis were all men of this early period, who did mucli by their labors to advance the interests of this county and state. Madison county was sur- veyed in the summer of 1821, and the next year the sale of lands commenced. At that sale my father purchased the old home farm at !iil.25 per acre. Looking around me to-day, I see upon that ground large and expensive buildings, and lots valued at much more than the whole half-section cost on that day, for upon the old home farm stands to-day the greater part of the beautiful city of Andeison, and the grand and im- posing structure now being reared as the court house of our prosperous county, stands upon a part of the same land. Time will not permit me further remarks upon the early days of the county. It is not my purpose to follow it from the primitive times to the present age of culture and advance- ment. I leave that for younger and abler men. Fellow- HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 51 citizens, the young man loolts into the future gilded with bright hopes and hulen with joyous prospects, but it is the province and pleasure of the old man whose active life is over, whose ambition is quenched, and whose race is nearly run, to look backward over the past, drawn by the golden cord of memory, to the days of youth and early manhood. I assure you it has given me no little pleasure to speak to you as I have of the early days of Madison county, live again in memory times long gone by, and summon from their graves the ghosts of past events, and I thank your committee for the privilege of so doing. COL. J. B. M,\YNAI5D's ORATION. Governor Porter and ex Governor Thomas A. Hendricks had been invited bj* the Commissioners to be present and de- liver addresses, but owing to the official duties of the former and previous engagements of the latter they were comjieiled to decline the honor. When it was learned that they could not be present the Commissioners, through Auditor John L. Forkner, extended an invitation to Col. James B. Maynard, at that time editor of the Indianapolis Daily Sentinel, to de- liver an oration at the laying of the corner-stone. Portions of the able and eloquent address are as follows : It has been my good fortune to hear much of Madison countv, and of Anderson, its beautiful capital city, and, still bettei*, to know personally a number of her large-souled citi- zens, who, whether at hoine or abroad, in public or private life, contribute their full share in giving Madison county an enviable prominence, not only in the aft'airs of the State, but in the affairs of the Republic. * * * "Pq ]^y {[^g corner- stone of a school house is an event which invites thinking inen to survey the educational field, to note the advancing steps of learning, the development of the mind forces of the communities of the state and of the countrj-. The intimate relation existing between mental culture and the virtues that adorn our civilization is continually furnishing themes for thinkers, and the field broadens as the discussion proceeds. Hence we hail with expressions of pleasure and pride an an- nouncement that a corner-stone of a church edifice summons communities to a reverent thankfulness that another monu- ment to man's fidelity to God is to be created ; that the voice of prayer and praise is still to be heard in the land; that an- other wayside inn is to stand with open doors and free seats. 52 ITISTOnV OF MADISOX COrXTV, IXDIAXA. where the weary pilgrim may eat of the life, drink of the water of salvation, be refreshed and go on his way rejoicing. Thus it has been in the past. So it is now, and so it will be in the future of our great state. When a corner-stone of a benevolent institution is laid humanitv expands to still grander proportions. Is it for the blind, for the deaf and dumb, for the sick, for the poor, or for the most unfortunate classes of all, the insane.' It does not matter. Heart and soul and Iirain respond, Amen. All the good there is within us comes to the front with expressions of approval and gratitude. Such institutions are the snug harbors found everywhere on life's storm beaten coasts, if the people who inhabit the country' are governed by the precept to do unto others as they would have others do unto them. And may we not contemplate with feelings of generous pride, the commanding position occupied by Indiana in all matters pertaining to education, religion and benevolence.' What State has marched on the highways of progress with steps more stately, strides more gigantic' What land kissed by the sun in his journey, has been truer to all the demands of our boasted civilization? School houses and colleges every- where ; more churches than are filled ; houses and farms for the poor and infirm; asylumns for the sick and unfortunate, dot all her hills and vallej-s and plains. To keep their machinery in motion requires money every year, with a cease- less demand for more, and j'et the money comes, not grudg- ingly, but it comes with a princely liberality that gives a fresher hue to the emerald-back bill, makes the dollar of the daddies glow with the brightness of the silver moon ; or, if it comes in single, double, half or quarter eagles, adds dignitvto the tax-payer, as well as nobility to the bird of Jove, our own proud bird, whose seawaid flight symbolizes the march and majesty of our country. But the occasion which calls us together is to lav the cornerstone of a Court House for Madison county. It is not her Hrst court house, nor will it be her last. The Hrst court house for M idison countv was built more than fifty years ago, when the county was in its swaddling clothes wlien the sun of the State \vas scarcely above the horizon ; when as our Governor would sav, " Indiana was in lier down." But even then, the people of Madison county were ready to put their hands into their pockets and pay $5,700 for HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 53 a court liouse. The people, then, as now, were law-abiding. A court house then had a significance, which, I fear, has under- gone, in some regards, serious modifications. Court houses, in early times, however rude their architecture, were re- garded as Temples of Justice, not more in name than in fact. Many of us can remember when courts where iield in Indi- ana sometimes in log houses. An incident is related of the days when Hon. E. M. Huntington was circuit judge in the lower Wabash country-. A log cabin had to be improvised for a court house. During the session of the court, a staUvart Hoosier driving an o.x team halted directly in front of the building and became boisterous — so much so as to disturb the proceedings. The sheriff was ordered to bring the man into court. He walked in with a ten-foot sappling o.x-goad in hand, and bringing it down in front of him, awaited events. The judge said to him, " You have been disturbing the court, sir. by your loud talk. What have you to say why vou should not be punished for contempt?" The o.x-driver replied : "Is this a court house, judge?" " Yes, sir," said the judge. "Beg pardon, judge," replied the astonished Hoosier, '• I am sorry, jutlge. Bv smacks, I thought it was a grocery." But th.e days of log cabin court houses in Indiana have passed away forever, and with them has gone much of the primitive sim- plicity of manners which distinguished our pioneer popula- tion, and possibly some of the reverence for law, the decis- ions of courts, and the verdicts of juries, which were grand factors in moulding society and giving direction to thought a half century ago. Indiana is now taking front rank for the beauty of her architecture, as displayed in her court houses and other public buildings. I have seen court houses in a number of states, east, and west, and south. I remember nowhere to have seen the equal of the Madison county court house for beauty of de- sign. And it is remarked by those who are familiar with public affairs in Indiana that the counties are vieing with each other in building public edifices, including court houses, to an extent indicative, not only of wealth and liberality, but of an exact appreciation of architectural elegance, and in this regard I am warranted in saying that Madison countv. when the court hojse is completed, the corner-stone laid to-day, will be able to point to it with great complacency as an edifice which in the highest degree illustrates the culture and the high ap- preciation of the beautiful which distinguish her citizens — a 54 HISTORY OK -MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. building which will stand as a monument to the commission-" ers whose comprehensive minds were abre;)st of the demands of the age, and who grasp with equal facilitj- the wants of the future. There are men here to-day, doubtless, whose lives in- clude the whole history of Madison county ; men who have known it from the days of its wilderness to its present wealth of farm and field, orchard and meadow ; from the days of its cabins to the present of palatial mansions ; from the dav when the corner-stone of the old court house was laid in 18H1, till to-day, when the corner-stone is laid of a more pretentious building to be dedicated to law and justice. Witiiin the per- iods named wonderful changes have occurred. The march of events is a fitting theme for orators and poets. Imagination could scarcely exceed the realities, nor fancy with the freest rein, eclipse by its freaks the magnificence of prosaic facts. The wilderness blooms ; the waste places are fruitful ; the Indian trail has given place to the macadamized highways. The iron rail has taken the place of the corduroy road. The bridge is where the ford used to be. The old. stage coach is superceded by the palace car. The lightning is man's errand boy, and the conversations by telephone are as free and easy as they were in the olden time at a quilting, an apple bee, or a corn shucking. How grandly old tilings are passing away! * * * Indiana is a proud commonwealth. She now has ^,(J00.OU0 of people, and may have, before the noble structure the peo- ple of Madison county contemplate building here, shall give place to another still more stately, 10,000,000 of inhab- itants. * * * For the old court house of Madison county, though I never saw it, I shall always cherish pleasant recollections. From one of its rafters, owing to the kindness of a valued friend, a staff was made and I am its fortunate possessor. When the new court house, so soon to be completed, fidfills its mission and takes its place among the things that \vere,no rafter from its roof will be carved into a walking stick for me or for you. We shall require no staff to help our infirmities. We shall have passed on to a country where corner stones are not laid and where the buildings never decay. We read of judge and judgments, of rewards and penal- ties in that seemingl)- far away land. We read, too, of infinite wisdom which never errs, and of decisions from wliicli there is no appeals saj' what we may, we liave all got to HISTORY Ol' MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 55 stand trial. I would not mar the felicities of this occasion by a surmise that any one in this audience will lose his case. I prefer rather to blend with these ceremonies the devout wish that the foundation upon which we have built our hopes is the rock wiiich witiistands the storms and floods, so that when the corner-stones of court houses, and of the solid earth itself, wive way, we shall find that in our cases justice has been so glorified by mercy that the fruitions of pardon have forever obliterated recollections of error, and that we shall walk out of court realizing tiiat the costs have all been paid bv our Elder Brother. OTHER INTERESTING MATTERS. Tlie corner-stone is of Berea sand-stone and was taken from the cjuarries near Cleveland, Ohio. Its dimensions are ft. 8A in. X 3 ft. 11 in. x 2 ft. G in. The face of the stone is neatly dressed and carved, the mouldings forming a panel on which is inscribed : A. D. 188:^. LAID BY BRUCE CARR, G. M. of F. and A. M. I B. F. AlMEN, J. Bronnenberg, ; Commissioners. J. F. Thurston, ) J. L. Forkner, Auditor. G. W. Bunting, Architect. N. McCoRMACK i\: Sweeney, Contractors. J. E. Redmond, Superintendent. C. JMcCuLLOUGII, Local Suji't. In each corner of the panel is artisticallv carved a cluster of fruit or grain. DEPOSITED IN THE STONE. The following are the contents of the copper box that was placed in the stone : Historv of Anderson chapter, R. A. M., No. 52, with roll of officers; Mt. Moriah lodge, Xo. 77, F. & ..V. M., and roll of members; Ovid lodge, Xo. 1G4, F. & A. M. ; Madison lodge, Xo. 44, F. & A. M. ; Independence lodge, Xo. 281, F. & A. M. ; Alexandria lodge. No. 285, F. & A. M. ; Pendleton chapter 51, F. & A. M. 56 HISTORY OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. Proceedings sixth animal meeting of Grand Lodjfo, F. & A. M.. Indiana, 1882. Proceedings Grand Ciiapter, Royal Arch Mason.s, Indi- ana, 1881. Forty-fifth semi-annual communication of Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F., Indiana, 1882. Proceedings ninth annual meeting Supreme Lodge, Knights of Honor, Baltimore, 1882. History Quincy Lodge, No. 280, F. & A. ]M. ; Anderson Lodge, No. 181, I. O. O. F. ; Ononga Tribe, No. 50, I. O. R. M. ; Welcome Lodge, No. 110, K. of H. ; roll of membership Madison Council, 384, Royal Arcanum. Names and addresses of officers Grand Lodge, Indiana F. & A. M. ; same of the Grand Chapter, Indiana R. A. M. Samples of wheat, corn, oats and rye raised in Madison county. Indiana. Copies, each, of the Herald. Txcr/'czv a>/i/ DcDiocrat , of the issue of August II, 1882. The Woman's Joiiriial, May 18, 1882. '■'Our I'liion," July, 1882. Minutes of the Woman's National Christian Temperance Union, held at Washington, D. C, October 26, 1882. Bar docket, June term. 1882, Madison Circuit court. History of Madison county schools with statistics, com- piled by W. M. Croan. Third annual report. Bureau of Statistics. School laws, Indiana, 1881. Names of county officials past and present, also of city of Anderson past and present. Sketches and history of old and new countv buildings. Map of each township in Madison countv, with names of owners of lands. Condensed history of church organizations in Anderson, Indiana. Hardin's History of Madison County, Indiana. History of Madison County Medical Society, with sketches of present members. Copies of the Cincinnati papers of August 10, 1882 — Gazette, Eutjiiircr, Com mere! al ; Indianapolis papers — yoiir- iial. Sentinel, IVezcs and Chicago Times. Indiana railway guide, July 1882. State agricultural report, 1880. A Madison county 1805 war bond — cancelled. HISTORY OK MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. 57 Tenth annual report Indiana Reformatory Institution for women and girls. Photograph of Colonel Nine\ah Berry. Photographic group of members of Board of County Com- missioners. Address of Thomas B. Orr. Address prepared by Miss Violette Swearinger. Alanuscript history of Star Encampment Xo. ,S4, I. O. O. F. Specifications of the court house. Roll of names of contractors, superintendents and em- ployes, and list of public works constructed hy McCormack & Sweeney, contractors. Photograph and Ma.'^onic record of William Roach, Esq., the oldest Mason in Madison count}'. Picture of old court house destroyed by tire December 10, 1880. Printed programmes of the day's exercises. List of women paying taxes in Madison county. Photographic group of eightv-one of the old settlers of Madison county, taken in 1877. Railroad map of the United States for 1,S82. TIIK STRI'CTIIRE COMPI.ETEn. The work on the court house was prosecuted without serious interference or delay notwithstanding certain objections raised by the local superintendent, Mr. J^IcCullough, who could not agree witii the contractors as to certain details in the plans and specifications. His objections to the manner in which the building was being erected were not given the con- sideration by the Commissioners which in his judgment their importance demanded, and he resigned. He was succeeded by John W. Pence, Esq., who was appointed local superintendent on the i)d of Maj', 1883. It appears of record that Mr. Pence, also, could not agree with the contractors upon many matters contained in the specifications and filed his objections with the Commissioners, but the record is silent as to the action taken by the Board. It was not until 1885 that the building was ready for occupancy, and then only a portion of it as is indi- cated by the following order made at a special session of the Board of Commissioners in February of that year : •• By agreement with McCormack & Sweeney, con- tractors for the court house, the Commissioners are to take 58 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. possession of such rooms and paits of the court house as thev may desire, and such possession is not to be an acceptance of the building or work thereon. And the Board orders that the Madison Circuit Court hold its sessions in the new court house and that the Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer, Recorder and Sheriff be instructed to remove their offices and all records and papers thereto belonging into the proper rooms in said court house by Saturday evening, February 21, 1885."' The offices were removed to the rooms designated by the Commissioners in compliance with the abo\e order and from that time to the present the county business has been trans- acted within the walls of " said court house." The building was subsequently received by the Commissioners and with the exception of the raised roof which now covers it, stands to-day in its symmetrical proportions just as it did when it was accepted by the County Board. And while some portions of the \vork of its construction may have been slighted, it is generally conceded that it is not only ample for the needs of Madison county for years to come, but one of the most stately buildings of its class in Indiana. CHAPTER X. County Business in the Pioneeii Days — OiiGAXizATiox OF Co.URTS — Members of the Bar, Etc. Tlie business of Madison county from the time of its for- mation in 1S28 to 1S25 was transacted by the associate judges, but sometime during the latter year tliree commissioners were elected to look after county affairs. These connnissioners ^vere succeeded by a board of justices composed of all the justices of the peace in the county , who looked after the coun- ty's business until 18-!l), when the law was again changed, the methods prescribed for the transaction of the public business being substantially the same as they are at the present time. The first board of commissioners elected under the law of 1S20 was composed of Thomas McCartney, Henry .Svbert and John Berry, who met in special session in September of that jear and proceeded to make a tax levy for county purposes. The Board ''ordered that, for the purpose of raising a county revenue for the present year, the following rate of taxation be laid, to-wit: On every hundred dollars' worth of town prop- erty, exclusive of improvements, 7-") cents ; on polls, i57i cents ; on work oxen, 55 cents ; on horses over three years old, 50 cents; on land, at the rate of 50 cents on 100 acres of first- rate land ; 40 cents on 100 acres of second-rate land, and 30 cents on 100 acres of third-rate land." This tax-levy would not be regarded as much of a burden in this day by the tax-paj-ers of the county. But it was suf- ficient at the time it was made to meet all the necessary ex- penses of the county. At a session of the Board of Commissioners lieid in May, 1881, we find it " Ordered, by the Board, that Aaron Sliaul be and he is hereby allowed the sum of $4 for assessing taxes during the year 1830, and for taking the census."' It is not known how long Mr. Shaul was engaged that year in assess- ing property and taking the census of tlie county, but it is evi- dent that if he had any board bills or traveling expenses to pay he did not '■ lay up "much of his salary. The duties of GO HISTORY OF MADISON COINTV. INDIANA. the office of assessor at that early day, however, were not very onerous: in tact, there was but little to do in any ot the of- fices, antl the men who were chosen to fill them not being up in the art of ta.xing "constructive fees'" and without educa- tion on the beauties of " salary grabbing,'" seemed to be con- tented with the meagre compensation allowed them by law for their services. In 1833. the first delin(|uent tax li>t was published, the delinquency at that time for the entire county amounting to only .|5.72f . This list was " published "' by being " tacked "" on the court house door, there being no newspaper at that time within the limits of the county. Posting notices was the only method from the organization of the county to 1834 of calling public attention to the orders and decrees of the courts. At a term of the Board of Commissioners in liS29 it was ordered among other things that "The clerk make out and put up at the court house door of the county a fair statement of the expenses of the county for the present year." The records do not show what the expenses of the county were for the year named, but they would appear very insignificant — a mere trifle — as compared with the amount of money that is required at this time to run the county. The expense in all the departments of the county government during the "20s arid '30s was very small, and even so late as 1848 the total amount of taxes levied in the entire county anounted to less than twelve thousand dollars. The tax duplicate for the past year(18U5) shows that the total amount of taxables in Madi- son county amounted to !t!:2(i,OU4,775. and the total amount of taxes .1398,568.9:2 1 These enormous amounts are very signif- icant and indicate among other things the wonderful improve- ments that have been made in this county in fifty fleeting years. The early officials who administered the aft'airs of the county may have indulged in Utopian dreams, but their visions of Madison county's future greatness were tame in comparison with her proud position to-day. THE CIRCUrr AND PROBATE COURTS. The seat of justice as we have seen was located tempor- arily at Pendleton — from the year the count}' was organized until the summer of 18:28 — when it was removed to Anderson. The act providing for the location of the seat of justice at An- derson designated the house of John Berry as the place where the courts of Madison county should be held, and the first offi- niSTCIKV OF MADISON COUNTY, IXDIAXA. 61 cial notice perhaps of tlie remo\aI of tlie seat of justice to An- derson was contained in tlie record of tlie October term of the circuit court for the above year. Tliis record was destroyed by the burning of the court house in 1882. The house of John Berry was a double log cabin and the same that had been built and occupied bv Chief »\nderson and his son as a dwell- ing. CIRCUIT AND ASSOCIATE JUDGES. From 1823 .to 1852 two associate judges sat with the cir- cuit court in the tri.-il of causes, but in the latter year the office was abolished. The names of the circuit and associate judges from 1829 to 1852 are as follows ; Circuit judges — William W. Wick, Miles C. Eggleston, Hethuel F. Morris, William W. Wick (second term), James Morrison, David Kilgore, Jeremiah Smith. Associate judges — Samuel HoUiday, Adam Winsell, Andrew Jackson, Charles Mitchell, William Prigg, Abram Thomas, Uriah Van Pelt, David I'ickard, George Millspaugh, J. W. Walker, Eli Hodson. From 1852 to the present, the following named circuit judges have occupied the bench : Stephen Major, Joseph S. Buckles, Henry A. Brown, John Davis, James O'Brien, Win- burn R. Pierce, Hervey Craven, Eli B. Goodykoontz, David N. Moss, M. A. Chipman, Alfred Ellison and John F. Mc- Clure. wlio is now on the bench. The names of these judges are given in the order in which they held olKce. I'I!()SECUTIN(; ATTORNEYS. The following are the names of the officials who have prosecuted the pleas of the state in Madison countv since its organization. The names of the other officials of the county will be found elsewhere in this work. From 182i5 to the present time the names of the prose- cuting attorneys, in their order, are as follows; James (jil- more, Harvey Gregg, Oliver H. Smith, James Whitcomb, William W. Wick, Hiram Brown, Harvey Gregg (second term) William Herod, William (^uarles. William J. Peaslee, Jeremiah Smith, John M. Wallace, John Davis, Joseph S. Buckles, Richard Lake, William Garver, Reuben A. Riley, De Witt C. Chipman, David Nation, David Moss, John A. Harrison, Lemuel Gooding, William O'Brien, Joseph E. Elliott, F. M. Trissal, Joel StatTord. A. S. McCallister, F. M. Householder, Thomas B. Orr, W. A. Kittinger, D. W. Wood, A. C. Carver, B. H. Campbell and Daniel W. Scanlan. 62 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. In 1828 the common pleas court was established, as pre- viously stated. The prosecuting attorneys for this court until it ^vas abolished were James \V. Sansberry, W. R. Hough, Calvin D. Thompson, William F. Wallace, Joseph W. Worl and Washington Saunders. THE PROBATE COURT. The Probate Court was established in 1829, and continued in existence until 1852, when it was abolished by an act of the legislature and the Common Pleas Court established. The jurisdiction of the Probate Coui t was limited in its jurisdiction to matters of estates, guardianships, etc., and the first judge elected to fill the office was James Scott, who served for a period of ten vears. He was succeeded by Judge W. 11. Mershon, who served from 18-11 to 1851. Judge Mershon was a dignified, yet affable gentleman, and is slill kindly remembered by the remaining old-timers in this comity. He W'as succeded by J. N. Starkey, who served from 1851 to 1852, when the court was abolished. THE COMMON PLEAS COIRT. The Common Pleas district of which ISIadison count v was a part was composed of Madison, Hancock and Henry counties, and the first judge elected to the office was David S. Gooding, of Hancock county, who served from 1853 to 1856, when Richard Lake was elected. Judge Lake served until 1860, when he was succeeded by William Grose, of Henrv county. Judge Grose resigned shortly after being elected, and E. B. Martindale, of Henry county, was ap- pointed to the vacancy by the Governor. Judge Martindale also resigned after serving a short time, and Judge Gooding was again elected in 1862 to the judg'eship. He served four years and was succeeded by William R. West. Judge West held the office for a period of eight years and was succeeded by Robert L. Polk, who served until 1878, when the court of common pleas was abolished. THE SUPERIOR COURT. After the Commpn Pleas Court had been abolished all legal matters over which it had jurisdiction were adjudicated in the circuit court. The business of this court increased to such an embarassing extent with the increase of population and development of the county that it became necessary in I HISTORY OF -MADISON COUNTV, IXDIAMA. (33 1895 to take steps toward relieving tlie situation. To this end a bill was introduced at the 59th session of the General Assembly, held in 1894—5, creating a superior court for Mad- ison county. The bill was passed on the I'Ttli of February, 1895. and became a law. JUmSDICTIOX OF THE SUPERIOR COURT. Concerning the jurisdiction of the superior court, .Sec. 10 of the act says : "Said court within and for said county shall have original and concurrent jurisdiction with the cir- cuit court in all civil cases and jurisdiction concurrent with the circuit court in all cases of appeal from justices of the peace, boards of county commissioners, and mayors or city courts in civil cases, and all other appellate jurisdiction in civil causes now vested in or which may hereafter be vested by law in the ciicuit court; and said court shall also have concur- rent jurisdiction in all actions by or against estates. Pro- vided, however, that said superior court, hereby constituted, shall not have jurisdiction in a matter of probate or the settle- ments of decedent's estates, but the same shall be and remain within the jurisdiction of the circuit court as now provided by law."" After the bill creating the court had become a law, a pstition numerously signed by the members of the bar and leading citizens of the county was presented to the governor asking that William S. Diven be appointed judge. There was but little, if any, opposition in any quarter to the appoint- ment of Judge Diven and he was accordingly honored by the governor with the position, his commission being presented to him on the 1st of March, 1895. Judge Diven was succeeded bj' the present incumbent, Henry C. Ryan. THE BAIt PAST AND PRESENT. Among the early practitioners at the Madison county bar, from 1823 to 1840, were : Daniel B. Wick, Calvin Fletcher, James Gilmore, James B. Ray, Martin M. Ray, Joseph Cox, Oliver H. Smith, Lott Bloomfield, Charles H. Test, David Wallace, Edgar C. Wilson, Philip Sweetzer, William R. Mor- ris. Jos'ah F. Polk, Cyrus Finch, James Rariden, Bethuel F. Morris, William Carpenter, James Noble, Harvey Gregg, Providence McCorry, Hiram Brown, James Whitcomb, James Forsee, David Kilgore, Thomas C. Anthony, William Herod, John n. Scott, C. D. Henderson, Thomas D. Walpole, Hum- 64 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, IXDIANA. phiey F. Robinson, Alfred Kilgore, Ovid Butler, Abram A. Hammond, John Davis, Addison Mayo, Da\id Moss, Mason Hughes, William Canaries, Isaac Scearce, Franklin Cor\vin, Robert N. Williams, Earl S. Stone, Jacob Robbins, William J. Peaslee, D. Lord Smith. Simon Yandis, John M. Wallace, Liicien Barbour. In this roster will be recognized the names of men who in their time were eminent in the affairs of the State and na- tion. One at least was a United States Senator, some were elected to the office of Governor, .several to the lower house of Congress, and many were chosen at different times as judges. But three — Judge Jolm Davis, R. N. Williams and Isaac Scearce — resided in the county, the others being citizens of other but contiguous counties. Along with the development of the county, however, and the increase of population, the local bar increased in number-; correspondingly until 1887, \vhen, owing to the discovery of natural gas, men of all classes, conditions and professions flocked to the county, and the bar was augmented to such an extent that it now numbers ninety- five members. From 1840 to the present time (1S'.)()) the fol- lowing named persons residing in the county have been ad- mitted to the bar. Many of the persons whose names are given have departed this life, while others have retired from the pn.ctice or removed from the county : Seth Smith. William R. O'Neil, Richard Lake, Hervey Craven, Milton S. Robinson, E. B. Goodykoontz. James W. Sansberry, John A. Harrison, S. VV. Hill, Nathan Brag, S. C. Martindale. W. R. Pierse, T. C. S. Cooper, Allen Makepeace, II. D. Thomp>on, C. D. Thompson, W. R. West. A. S. Mc- Callister, \^^ A. Kittinger, John E. Corwin, W. R. Myers, J. H. McConnell, John W. Lovett, B. II. Dyson, A. D. Will- iams, F. A. Walker, W. L. Roach, C. L. Henry, T. P.. Orr. F. S. Ellison, D. C. Chipman. J. M. Dehority, M. A. Chip- man, H. C. Ryan, E. P. Schlater, W. S. Diven, J. X. Study, I). X. Berg. George Ballard, D. W. Wood. T. J. Nichol, J. n. Kinnard, O. P. Stone, A. W. Thomas. J. W. Ilardman, Cluis. Nation, J. F. McClure, Frank P. Foster. A. C. Carver, E. B. McMahan. A. J. Behymer, E. F. Daily, S. F. Keltner, E. E. Hendee, C. M. Greenlee, A. A. Small, D. H. Fer- nandas, S. B. Moore, E. D. Reardon, E. B. Chamness, J. C. Shuman, J. M. Farlow. J. M. Hundley, W. A. Swindell, J. R. Thornburgh, Perry Behymer, L. D. Addison, W. A. Sprong, B. H. Campbell, W. S. Shelton, E. S. Griffin, S. C- IIISrOKV OF MADISON CGl'NTV, INDIANA. 05 Forkner. M. M. Dunlap. J. E. Wiley, Frank Matthews, D. T.. Bishop, Joiin Siiannon, ^\^ F. Edwards, O. A. Armfield, F. A. Littleton, Jos. Schumacher, L). W. Scanhm, Mark P. Turner, L. B. Jackson, J. T. Ellis, Nicholas Harper, Isaac A. Loeb, Geo. S. Taylor, A. A. Stiles, R. Broadbent, John Beeler, James A. VanOsdal, II. F. Wilkie, H. W. Taylor, Edward Hall, Austin Retherford, J. W. Perkins, A. J. May, Bert Call, J. B. Mclntire, W. W. Barton, L. A. Rizer, Charles Bagot, E. S. Boyer, John Finan, Jr., Guy Ballard, |. J. Netterville, A. L. Doss, E. M. Welker, J. L. Crousc, \\illis S. Ellis, F. T. Pulse, Alva George, W. II. Jones, A. H. Vestal, W. A. Tipton, Charles Clevenger, Thomas Bagot, W. S. Rector, M. E. Fitzgerald. CHAPTER XI. Early Efforts for the Promotion of Farmix(; Inter- ests — Le(;islatu)X and Organization — Fairs. When the first settlerf located in Madison county the 450 square miles, or 286,997.45 acres comprising its area were, with the exception of a small amount of prairie land, covered byunbroken forests out of whose sombre depths came no echoes save the howl of the skulking wolf, the panther, or the wierd halloa of the roving red man. The pioneers plunged into the vast solitudes with axe and grubbing-hoe in hand and it was but a short time until a number of small farms had been carved out of the wilderness. The soil was fertile, the wood- men unceasing in their toil, and each year added to the acreage of tillable land. Orchards were planted, gardens were laid out "where the brood of serpents used to nestle"' and the sturdy husbandmen began vieing witli each other in the pro- duction of the best of everything a fruitful soil could yield. They were encouraged in this not only by the gratifying results of their toil, but by frequent exhortations from the early governors of the state, who recognizing the fact that Indiana was from the nature of her soil and climate peculiarly adapted to agriculture, urged upon the legislature the importance of passing laws encouraging friendly rivalrv among those engaged in agricultural pursuits. Societies for the promotion of agri- culture and stock raising were organized in difierent parts of the state and fairs were held, as far back as the early '30s, at which the farmers annually exhibited their stock and farm products. the itrst fair Held in Madison county appears to have been a private enterprise in which Joseph Barnes and Archibald Parker were, as an old-timer expresses it, " the officers, board of directors and managers." This competitive exhibition was held in the year 1837, in " Andersontown "' and on the ground now occupied by the court house. The ground at the time was covered with stumps and Ex-Mayor Dunham, of Ander- HISTOKY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 67 son, asserts that the largest pumpkin he ever saw was exhib- ited from the top ot one of them. There was no admission charged at this fair and no premiums were awarded save the traditional red and blue ribbons. This fair did not result very happily so far as its promoters were concerned, as a decision by one of the committee on awards gave rise to a controversy between them which eventually resulted in the removal of Barnes from the count}'. The next fair was held at Huntsville in 1839, but whether it was a success or not does not appear. The exhibit of agri- cultural products and stock, as well as the attendance, was necessarily small and no doubt discouraging. The late Hon. William Roach, of Anderson, was one of the directors of this fair. Conrad Crossley. John J. Lewis, John H. Cook and Isaac Busby also took an active interest in the exhibition, being members of the society under whose auspices it was given. The county evidently assisted this society financially, for at the March term. 1837, of the Board of Commissioners the following order was made : " Ordered ,by the Board that the sum of $25 of the county funds of Madison count}', be, and the same is hereby appropriated to. the agricultural society of said county." The society was shortlived and no more fairs were held in the county until 1850, when another society ■was organized. Col. Townsend Ryan was president of the society. Andrew Jackson, William Craycraft and others con- stituted the board of directors. After the society had been organized, a tract of land containing twenty-five acres was leased of John Davis at Anderson. This land is now covered ■with comfortable houses and is situated just west of the Big Four railway (C. W. & M). The grounds extended from what is now Eighth street to "Green's Branch," the entrance being on Eighth street. This street was then known as the " Strawtown road," and was traveled more at that time than any other thoroughfare in the county. Fairs were held on these grounds until 1855 when the lease expired, and the society having no suitable grounds where they could conduct a fair, passed out of existence. THE PENDI-ETON FAIR. On July 20, 1867. a meeting of gentlemen residing at and in the vicinity of Pendleton was held at that place for the purpose of organizing a Fair Association. At this meeting a committee on grounds and subscriptions was appointed, also 68 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. a committee to draft articles of association. The tirst board of directors was elected February 1,1868. The directors were Thomas Wilhoit, Robert Blakely, John Z. Patterson, W. G. Walker, John H. Kinnard, Joseph (). Hardy and Hervy Cra- ven. The board organized by electing J. H. Kinnard, presi- dent, E.Williams, secretary, and J.W. Bomgardner, treasurer. The association purchased grounds southeast of Pendleton a short distance, where annual exhibitions were given from the fall of 18(58 to the fall of 1876,when the association disbanded. MADISON COUNTY JOINT-STOCK AGRICULTUR.\L SOCIETY. Laws were passed in the meantime with reference to agricultural societies that were more in keepirg with the im- proved condition of agriculture in the !>tate. A number of public-spirited citizens met and organized a joint-stock fair association. This society was organized on tlie 10th of Mav, 1868, at Crim's Exchange bank, in Anderson. The presiding officer at the meeting was James M. Dickson. Dr. Townsend Ryan acted as secretary. William Crim was chosen president of the association for the ensuing \'ear, Dr. Ryan, secretary. and John P. Barnes, treasurer. On the 31st of May, a tract of land was leased across the road and a little to the northwest of the old fair grounds at Anderson. The grounds were eligibly situated and in every respect adapted to the purpose for which they were used so many years. They were at once inclosed, a fine half-mile race track constructed and that fall a fair was given which proved a gratifying success, not only to the management, but to ex- hibitors and the public at large. Annually for several years improvements were made on the grounds imtil they became famous throughout the State for their beauty and the accom- modations afforded exhibitors and the public. From the time the association was organized imtil 1887. its vearly'expositions were largely partonized, Thursday being the " great day " of each meeting. The best races usuallj- occurred on that day, and thousands of people attended the fair to see and enjoy the sport. From 1887 to 1890, however, it became apparent that the people throughout the county were losing interest in the fair, notwithstanding the attractions and large premiums ofTered liv the associ.ition. The awards were alwaj's paid promptly and no comp.laints were ever made of the manage- ment. 15ut with the deciease in attendance the society be- came in\olved in debt. The growth of the city had extentled ItlSTOHV Ol'- .MADISON COUXTV. INDIANA. 69 bejond the limits of the grounds in every direction and pro- ceedings having been instituted for the opening of streets through the grounds, the stockholders very wisely concluded that it would be to the interest of the association and all con- cerned to dispose of the grounds, settle up its affairs and terminate its corporate existence. This determination was arrived at immediately after the fair in the fall of 1800, the attendance that j-ear being very small and a lack of interest in its success being manifested generally by its former patrons. That winter the legislature passed an enabling act autlior- izing the " Madison County Joint-Stock Agricultural Society, of Madison county, Indiana, to sell and convey all her corpor- ate property, distribute the proceeds, and end her corporate existence." After the passage of this act the grounds were divided into lots and sold, and the Madison County Fair Association became a thing of the past. The officers of the association the last year of its existence were: John P. Barnes, president; \V. T. Durbin, treasurer; Edmund Jolin- son, secretary; and C. K. McCuUough, superintendent. NOUTII ANDERSON DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION. In 189i a number of citizens, several of whom were in- terested in fast stock, organized a racing association that was known as the North Anderson Driving Park Association, from the fact that grounds were purchased for the use of the association in that locality. H. C. Ryan was elected president of theassociation for the ensuing vear ; W.T. Durbin, treasurer ; C. K. McCullough, secretary, and N. A. Free, superintend- ent. Several large stables were erected on the grounds and a rnile track constructed that was regarded by horsemen as one of the iinest in the west. Meetings or races, were held in ISUl'--}, but were not very liberally patronized for various reasons, and this together with the fact that many who had subscribed for stock in the association refused to meet the assessments made against them compelled the directors to close up the affairs of the organization. Tlie grounds and belongings of the association were sold bv an order ot the circuit court in 1894. ELWOOD DRiyiNG PARK AND FAIR ASSOCIATION. This association was organized at Elwood, October 8, 1895, by the election of the following board of directors ; C. C. Dellority, M. J. Clancy, II. G. Ilarting, F. M. Harbit, D. G. 70 HISTORY Ol' MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. Evans and P. T. O'Brien. Grounds \vere purchased about a mile and a half northeast of Elwood, and in the following Sep- tember, the society held its first meeting. Liberal premiums were offered in the various departments, and the fair was a grat- ifying success in every respect. The association will hold its meetings annually. The following are the present officer- of the association: N. J. Leisure, president; D. G. Evans, secretary; F. M. Ilarbit, treasurer; P. T. CVBrien, superin- tendent. CHAPTER XII. The Indiana Centrai, Canal — Interest Taken in the Improvement by Governor Rav — The First Riot IN Anderson — The Anderson Hydraulic. Governors William Hendricks, James B. Ray, Noah No- ble — in fact all the early Governors of Indiana, were very solicitous concerning the development of the State's resources, and conse(iuently were deeply interested in the public hisrh- ways, whether they were by land or water. In a message de- livereil before the Legislature in December, 1820, Governor Ray said : " On the construction of roads and canals, then, we must rely as the safest and most certain State policy to re- lieve our situation, place us among the first States in the Union, and change of h.ard times into an open acknowledg- ment of our contentedness. We must strike at the internal improvement of the State, or form our minds to remain poor and unacquainted with each other ! " Governor Noah Noble, who succeeded Governor Ray, urged upon the Legislatures of 1831-4 the importance of a well-defined system of public im- provements. The people had become aroused upon the sub- ject and demanded the adoption of measures necessary to the development of the State's resources. At that time canals and railroads were being constructed in various parts of Indi- ana, and it became necessary that a general system of internal improvements should be adopted. Accordingly, the General Assembly of 1836 passed an act providing for the appoint- ment of a Board of internal improvements. The Board con- sisted of six persons, appointed by the Governor, " by and with the ad\ice and consent of the Senate and the Canal Com- missioners then in office." This Board had general supervision of all internal improvements in the State. Among the im- portant works specified in the act was •' the Central canal, commencing at the most suitable point on the Wabash & Erie canal, between Fort Wayne and Logansport, running thence to Muncietown, thence to Indianapolis, thence down the val- ley of the West Fork of the W^hite river to its junction with the East Fork of said ri\er, and thence by the most practica- ble route to Evansville, on the Ohio river.' iZ HISTOIiV OF itAniSOX COl'N'TY. INDIANA. The Legislature appropriated |3,5(>O.0(>0 for tlie construc- tion of this canal and navigable feeder. Work was begun in 1838 on the division of the canal running through Madison county, but there came a revulsion of public sentiment in 1840 against any further appropriations for internal improvements, and work on the canal was abandoned never to be resumed. In this connection the following ACCOl'XT OF A RIOT is given, principally for the reason that the circumstances, al- though familiar to all the old-timers of Anderson at that period, have never been related in any history or "musty chronicle" of Madison countv. The men employed on the construction of the canal were like they are usually on all public works, very largely of for- eign birth, and in this instance a majority of them, Irish. While the work was in progress in the vicinity of Anderson, they lived in huts or " shanties'" east of town and along the line of the improvement. At that time there was a public house, or "tavern ,"' built of logs and situated on the south- east corner of the thoroughfares now known as Ninth street and Central avenue. The proprietor was an Irishman of the name of Ferriter, who, besides furnishing forth to his guests a sumptuous board, boasted that he had the best "old rye'" on White river. Being Irish, he \vas of course patronized liber- ally by his countrj'inen employed on the canal, especially whenever they wanted a draught of anything to drive awav "malaria."" It so happened that a number of the Irishmen employed on the canal were Orangemen, and between them and the Catholic Irishmen there was, of course, a feeling of bitter hatred which needed but slight provocation to manifest it.self in acts of violence. One of the Orangemen had been caught and severely injured by a cave-in of the bank of the canal, and had been removed to the " tavern "" where lie could be better taken care of b)- his friends. Another Orangeman described as a bright, active young man, was taking care of his injured friend. One day a party of Catholic Irish came across the river to the " tavern'" and after imbibing freely of Ferri- ter's " malaria" cure, became involved in an altercation with the young Orangeman who, seeing that he would probably be killed, ran from the premises to the house of Willis G. Ather- ton, Escj.. where he unceremoniously took refuge in a bed room. He was pursued by the infuriated Irishmen to the HISTdRV Ol'' MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. (ij house, where they demanded that the voiing man be delivered up to them. Mr. Atherton was a hiw-abiding citizen, and ' while somewhat disconcerted at the sudden and unexpected outburst of violence at his door, was brave enough to refuse the demands of the excited Irishmen, who at once began throwing stones at the house. In the meantime the news of the trouble had spread abroad through the village and every man that had a rifle or shotgun, seized it and ran to the scene of the riot. They closed in on the rioters and several of the most violent and obstinate among them were arrested and placed in the log jail. The friends of the imprisoned men were determined on liberating them by force, and it became necessary for the offi- cers and a posse of citizens to guard the jail for several weeks after the disturbance. They sent wonl to the ot^cials and citizens that they intended to cross the river as soon as they could prepare themselves, and rescue their friends, regardless of the consequences. On several occasions they came as far as the river opposite the village and fired a fusilade with their guns in order to terrifv' the inhabitants, and one night, believ- ing they had the officers and citizens properlv frightened, crossed the river for the purpose of attacking the jail and lib- erating the prisoners. The officers had been warned, and when the mob crossed the river they found themselves surrounded by as brave and determined a band of men as ever settled in a new countr)'. Their guns and ammunition were taken away from tiiem and they were told that any further demonstra- tions on their part woidd be received as the acts of outlaws and the authors of them treated as such. This had the desired effect. There was no more disturbance and the imprisoned men were finally released from custodv. Mr. T^Iortimer Atherton, who lives on North Meridian street in Anderson, has a vivid recollection of all the details of this affair and says that the officers' posse captured about a half peck of bullets from the rescuing party, manv of which had been moulded to fit shotguns. The residence of Mr. Willis G. Atherton stood on part of the ground now occupied by the Bronnenberg block on Main street. THE ANDEKSON HYDRAULIC. ' A number of years after work on the canal had been abandoned, certain individuals considered the feasibility of completing that portion of the work lying between Anderson and Daleville and using it for hydraulic purposes. Nothing 74 HISTORY OF MADISON COUXTV, INDIANA. came of the scheme, and it was hnally dropped. In 1868, however, a number of public-spirited citizens began agitating the question of utilizing the canal. Great interest was taken in the matter by the citizens of Anderson and vicinity as it was thought that the enterprise, when completed, would result in making Anderson a city of the first class. Public meetings were held at which the speakerslocated mills, factories and other enterprises without number along the hydraulic. Anderson was pictured in glowing colors as the '• coming city "" in the State. Finally on the 19th of December, 1868, " The Ander- son Hvdraulic Company " was organzied with capital stock subscribed to the amount of .f64,C00. The city of Anderson subsequently subscribed .$20,0(X) and issued bonds for the amount. The board of directors chosen bv the stockholders was comprised of the following persons : Peter Human, Wil- liam Crim. H. J. Blacklidge. X. C. AlcCullough, George Nichol, Samuel Hughel and James Hazlett. The board org;tn- ized by electing N. C. McCullough. president, William Crim. treasurer, and C. D. Thompson, secretary. The company pro- ceeded to let contracts for reconstructing the canal and a large force of hands was soon employed on the work. The canal extended from a point opposite the village of Dalevale in Delaware county to the city of Anderson, being about eight miles in length. To the disappointment of many the work did not progress as rapidly as had been anticipated and people generallv began to lose faith in the benefits that would accure after it had been completed. In the meantime the funds of the company had been gradually reduced and by the time the work had progressed far enough to turn in the water the announcement was made that they were practically exhausted. Water was turned into the canal from A\'hite river at Daleville on the 4th of July, 1874, but the banks gave way at several places and it became necessary to shut off the water. The places that had been washed out were repaired but again gave waj- to the pressure of the water when a second attempt was made to flood the canal. The stockholders had lost confidence in the practicability of the scheme and refusing to contribute further assistance, that which was to have been • the glory of Anderson was abandoned. Eighty thousand dollars were expended on this work. It was afterwards sold by the sheriff of Madison county to Edward H. Rogers to sat- isfy judgments held bv him against the companj' for labor and materials furnished for its construction. CHAPTER XIII. Railhoads i\ Madison County — When Constructed — Incidental Matters. The Indiana Central Canal project had been abandoned but a tew vear,s when the subject of a line of railway extend- ing from Indianapolis through Madison county on to Belle- fontaine, Ohio, absorbed the public interest along the pro- posed route. Madison county had no market for her produce, which was increasing yearly as the county developed, and the prospect of securing a railroad was hailed with general satis- faction by the people. There were " croakers" then as now who were opposed to public improvements, and man}- of the objections urged against railroads in general, and the con- struction of the Bellefontaine railroad in particular, in the light of subsetjuent events, are amusing, to say the least. Several citizens of Anderson, who were " molders of public opinion " in their day, opposed the construction of the road for various reasons. One who Iiad occupied several of the most important offices in the county, and stood high in the confidence of his fellow citizens, did not want the road built for the reason that the cars would run over and kill the chil- dren! Another prominent citizen urged that the benefits of the road would not justify the expense to the people, declar- ing that one train could haul all the produce of the county for twenty years at one load ! Other objections were urged against the building of the road, but the masses of the peo- ple were in favor of it, and we find that at the June session, 1849, of the Board of Commissioners, the following : " Ordered that the County Commissioners, for, and on behalf of the county of Madison, take and subscribe the sum of |15,5lX), which, including the sum of ifinOO heretofore subscribed, makes $16,000, as stock in the Indianapolis & Bellefontaine Railroad Company, to be paid in four ecjual annual install- ments, and to be expended within the county of Madison." Citizens generally subscribed for stock in the company, and the railroad was built, that portion of it passing througii 76 IIISIORV or MADISOX COINTV, INDIANA. Madison coiiiily being completed in 1852. The road now be- longs to the Big Four sj-stem, and is operated under tiie name of the C. C. C. & St. L. railway. The first station, or depot, built along the line of this road in Madison county, stood about where the present hand- some Big Four depot is located in Anderson. The first agent at Anderson was Philip .Siddall, long since deceased, luit who in his day possessed qualities of the heart that rendered him popular with all classes of people. He was the first telegraph operator at Anderson, having learned the art of telegraphy shortly after it had been adopted by the railway conipany to facilitate its business. Telegraphy, that is electro-telegraphy, was at that time in its infanc}' — the first telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore having been established in 1844 — and messages were not received by sound as they are at the present time, or as they were several years after I'rofessor Morse's invention had proven itself the greatest triumph of modern civilization, but by means of characters indented by the instrument on a narrow strip of paper or " tape." ]Mr. Siddall became very proficient in receiving and transmitting messages by this method. EXTKNT OF TRACK. This branch of the Big Four has nearly twenty-one miles of main track and about six miles of side-track in the county, and is one of the most profitable roads belonging to the sys- tem. It is connected with the principal railway systems of the country, and so far as its business in Madison county is con- cerned, enjoys a prosperity at the present time as compared with its early history that approaches the marvelous. Statis- tics and other information showing the amount of traffic, both freight and passenger, enjoyed by this company at the present time \y\\\ be found in the history of Anderson township. TIIK r. C. t. ,V: ST. L. ( H.\ N - H .\ N ULE ) . What is now known as the Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chi- cago & St. Louis railway has been operated under various names, having frequently changed ownership, but it now be- longs to the Pennsylvania system. This was the second road built through the county, having been completed in 1855. It was projected as a connecting line between Richmond and Chi- cago by the management of the Columbus, Piqua & Indian- HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTS', INDIANA. 77 apolis, and the Riclimoiul & Coxington lines, tlie two latter lines being consolidated in 1804. The road passes through the county from the southeast to the northwest, having about twenty-two and one-half miles of main track according to the last statement filed with the auditor of the county b}' the general superintendent. The company also has about eight miles of side-track, and, at the present time is in a nourish- ing condition, doing an enormous amount of business in the county. The first agent of the company in the county was Henry Pyle, Esq., who kept his office in a freight car that had been removed from the track and placed at the side of the track about where the present freight depot in Anderson now stands. This depot was also used for the accommodation of passengers up to b^'.)4, when the present passenger depot, just east of Fletcher street, between Ninth and Tenth, streets, was erected. While other enterprises have made rapid strides, and the hand of progress can be seen on every turn, the railroads have not been asleep in the last forty years. There is as wide a differ- ence between the railroad equipments and the mode of railroad management, as there is between the fine coach drawn on the streets today and the old wooden axle carriage of that dav. The comparison of one is only a comparison of the other. To illustrate: The Pan Handle railroad was constructed from Richmond to flagerstown in 1850-51, extended to New- castle in 1852, and reached Anderson in 1855. The equip- ments of the road at that time would be a curiosity to the pres- ent generation. The first engine that ran on the road was called the " Swinett."" It was a very small affair, not much larger than one of the large traction engines in use now for the pur- pose of running threshing machines. It had no pilot, or "cow- catcher" in front, like the engines of to-day. No coal was used in those days. The smoke stack on the Swinett wa> :i large affair, spreading out at the top, \vith a large sieve co\cr- ing it to arrest the escape of sparks and ashes. The "'Swinett" coming down the road made much the same appearance of a country boy at a county fair with his pa's plug hat on. At night when she was steamed and her lire-box stufl'cd full of drv wood, as she sailed along through the darkness, she left a string of fire coals streaming over her back like the tail of a comet, often setting fire to strawstacks, barns and fences, and clearing everything in her way. She 78 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. had painted on the side of her '• tender" the picture of a man with a pig under his arm, the tail in his mouth and he pick- ing on the pig like a banjo. Thus it took its name " ,Swi- nett." The " Swinett " had a twin sister that came on the road about the same time, named the "Julia Dean." She was rather smaller, but much handsomer, from the fact that her smoke stack was painted red. As she came sailing along she looked like a sugar trough with a stovepipe stuck up in the center of it. She, like the " Swinett," had no pilot in front. If either of these engines ever struck a cow it was simply a question of wiiich went into the ditch, the cow or the engine. The people of those days called a locomotive a " bulljine." It was a great treat for the youngsters to go to town on Sat- urday and see the " liulljine"" come in. After these rude, ill- shaped engines had served their day and the road had reached further into the fields of prosperity, nev\- and modern engines were placed in service. While they were considered in their day the finest in the land, they would suffer in comparison with the monsters of today. Every town on the line of the road of anj- importance was anxious to have an engine named for it. The officials, of course, in order to please their patrons, named an engine after Ihe county seats through which the road passed. There were the "New Castle," the " Logansport," the "Anderson" and the "Chicago," all handsome pieces of machinery. Then there was the " S. Fosdick," the largest engine of its day, named in honor of a railway official. But of all the locomo- tives that ever skipped along the rails of the Pan Handle rail- road, from the time the road was first begun up to date, the " Old Hoosier" took the "cake." She was the favorite of all the engineers who traveled the road. Mark Smith was the engineer who handled hor throttle. He was as much a favor- ite as was his engine. Every woman, man and child on the road knew Mark Smith, and loved him. The "Hoosier" had a whistle that outwhistled all others. People used to say that the whistle of the " Hoosier" when it was thrown wide open would shake the beech-nuts of}' the trees along the road. John Smock was the first engineer to run an engine on the road. He came to the road with the Swinett and stayed with it as long as the engine was in use and for sometime afterward. Smock was a terrible swearer. It is said that he could curse the old Swinett until it would begin to move, without fire, JIISTOUY OK MADISON COUN'TV, INDIANA. 79 water or steain. It was his delijjlit to see a team of horses skip out over a corntield alonij the road when scared at the cars. He often blew tiie wiiistle when there was no earthly need of it, just to scare somebody's Iiorses and see them run. Among the early engineers on the road was a man named Skinner. lie for many years ran the " Old Chicago.'' She was a monster for that day, built for a passenger run. Extra large drive wheels, with the gearing or side rods inside of the tlrivers. Skinner was an awful man to swear. He made the air blue when anything went wrong. A man by the name of (jrimes was also an early engineer. Tom Clark was the first conductor on the road. He was a whole team bv himself. He knew everybody on the road, and everybody knew him. He swore, chewed tobacco, smoked and drank good liquor, and had a good time generally. He retired many years ago, and lived on a farm near Riciimond, where, it is said, he died some years ago. There was only one train each way a day from Anderson to Richmond. It was a mixed train of freight and passenger cars. Tom Clark was the only conductor, and ran the whole business. After- ward separate trains were made up exclusively of passenger coaches, and more conductors were needed. Then came John C. Huddleston, Charley Lincoln and Eli- jah Holland, of Newcastle. " Lige " wore a blue cloth " spike-tailed " coat with brass buttons, with a beautiful growth of red whiskers to match. Then there were Thomp- son, Plimpton, Muchmore, Billie Patterson, Bogart and others whose names are now forgotten. Bogart was a little New York dandv ; looked like he had just come out of a band- box. He was unused to Iloosier customs. The boys along the road used to have lots of fun at his expense. They " kid- ded " him in many ways. Thompson died of hemorrhage of the lungs while in the service of the road. Plimpton was an eastern dude, brought out here by some of the stock-holders and placed on the road. He was univers- ally dislikeil by all of the patrons of the road as well as by the crews who ran the trains. John C. Huddleston is still living a retired life in New Castle, and is one of the largest land owners in Henry county. He has acres and acres of Blue river bottom land that one can see as they near New Castle on the Pan Handle train. It looks like the Garden of Eden. He had hi^ foot cut oft' at 80 HISTOHV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. Knightstown in 1800 by the cars running o^■er it. It is s.iid he was there on some political business and did not want it known, but the accident brought it out. Billy Patterson was the favorite conductor of his day. Everybody was for Billy Patterson from one end of tiie line to the other. There was no telegraph line on the road then, and a con- ductor had to be " up to snuff"' to run a train. It was no boy's plaj' in those days to be a conductor. The engine " Anderson "' did service for se\eral years on the road, and was a general favorite among railroaders as well as the public. She finally ended her existence by suicide about the year 1860, exploding her boiler while standing on the track in the town after which she was named, while her en- gineer was eating a lunch in a small restaurant or lunch room kept by " Buff " Dehority, situated near where Wellingtons flouring mills now stand opposite the Pan Handle depot. She was blown into fragments. The boiler was completely demol- ished and thrown in all directions. H. J. Daniels, ex-post- master of Anderson, kept a grain house near there, and was a witness to the explosion. Xo one was hurt, but everybody for a great distance was badly scared and shakeri up. A tragedy of enormous proportions came near being en- acted while the road was being constructed. Theie was a deep cut to be made just east of Hagarstown through the farm of Hugh Allen. The contractors had their stables and boarding houses erected on the farm, spending all of one summer and part of one winter tiicre. There was a man bv the name of William Babbitt, who now lives in Da)-ton, Ohio, who was the " boss" on the work. All of iiis men ^vere Irish who had not been long in America, brougiit here by the many public works going on at that time. I'ab- bitt was a good, kind-hearted man, dearly beloved by all his men. Any one of them would have laid down his life for him. From some cause Babbitt was removed from the work, and a man by the name of Sam Finnej^ took his place. This did not suit the men. Finney was a grufl', rough-spoken man, tyrannical in his manners, and was no time in incurring the dislike of the men. Matters grew steadily worse until open rebellion came near being the outcome. Something occurred that so enraged the men that a secret plot was laid to kill Fin- ney. It is said that at ni147,000, by Madison county, to aid in the construction of the roads above named." The election was ordered and resulted in a majority in favor of the proposition. A tax levy was made in accordance with the result of the vote but a num- ber of persons brougiit suit to enjoin the collection of the tax and after a few years of litigation the supreme court decided against the company and the tax that had been paid to the count}' treasurer was refunded to the tax-payers. Nothing furllier was done towards building the C. W. & M. road until 1874 when another petition was presented to the Commissioners at the March term of that year asking that an election be held in Anderson township on the 2nd of May for the purpose of taking a vote upon the question of donat- ing 128,000 to aid in the construction of the road. At the same time similar petitions were presented from Monroe, Van Buren and Boone townships, the subsidies to be voted upon in these townships being respectively $24,000 in Monroe, .i!8,000 in Van Buren and $7,500 in Boone. The election was held in accordance with the order of the commissioners and resulted in favor of granting the appropriations in ^Vnderson, Monroe and Boone townships. The proposition was defeated in Van liuren township by a vote of 90 for, to 12(j against. There were complaints of illegal votes being returned in favor of the appropriation in Boone township and they were not considered HISTORY OF ^lADISON COUNTV, INDIANA. 83 in the count thereby defeating the proposition. Another elec- tion was held on December 15, 1874, in Van Buren, but the proposition was again defeated. Aid was subsequently voted in this township, however, and the work of extending the road from Wabash south was begun. The road was com- pleted to Anderson in 1876, intersecting the P. C. C. & St. L. about two miles north of the city of Anderson. An arrange- ment was affected with the P. C. C. & vSt. L. road by which the C. W. i-^ M. used its track into Anderson, until the latter could construct a bridge across White river and extend its track into the city. This arrangement lasted for several months, or until the C. \V. & M. bridge was completed and a depot had been erected on the east side of the road between Fifth and Sixth streets. This depot was subsequent!}' burned, but as the road was leased at the time b}' the Big Four, was not rebuilt, the passengers and freight being handled at the depots of the latter company. The first president of the C. W. cS: M. road was Mr. A. T. Gardner, of Michigan, a gentleman of the highest probity and moral worth. He had been very active in his efforts to complete the road to Anderson, and he had no sooner seen the work accomplished, which was early in May, 1876, than he was taken suddenly ill of fexer and died at the .Stilwell House (now Doxey) after a very brief illness. His remains were taken to his Michigan home for interment on the first passenger train that was run over the road between Anderson and Wabash, and were accompanied as far as the latter city by one hundred of Anderson's business men and prominent citizens. THE SOUTHERN EXTENSION. It was the design of the original company operating the C. W. & M. to extend the road as far south as the Ohio river, and into the city of Louisville, Ky., but nothing was done until 1890, when work was begun on the extension. The work was pushed with all possible vigor, and in May, 1891, it was announced by the company that the road was open for traffic from its northern terminus, Benton Harbor, Mich., to Louisville. Ky. The C. W. &. M. division has thirty-one and one-half miles of main track in the count}'. It does a large business both in handling freight and passengers, and is said to be one of the most prosperous lines of the Big Four system. 84 HISTORY OK MADISOX COLXTY, INDIANA. CHICAGO & SOUTHEASTEISN (ANDERSON, LERAXON >t ST. LOUIS R. R.). The agitation of the construction of this road was begun in 1870, but owing to various circumstances the work of building the road was not begun until 1875. At the Septem- ber term, 1871, of the Board of Commissioners, Colonel T. N. Stilwell, the first president of the road, and its most active promoter, presented a petition numerously signed bv promin- ent citizens and tax-payers, asking the Board to order an e'ec- tion for Anderson township, the same to be held on the 21st day of October, 1871, for the purpose of taking a vote upon the subject of appropriating money " to aid in the construction of the Anderson, Lebanon & St. Louis railroad.'" At the same time a petition was presented to the board by a number of representative citizens and taxpayers of Stony Creek town- ship, asking that an election be held on the same date in that township, for the purpose of voting a tax of 20 per cent, on the ta.xable property of the township, to aid in luiildiiig the road. The Board ordered an election held in each town- ship, which resulted in favor of granting aid to the road. The construction of the road was begun at Anderson, but on the refusal of many to pay the tax voted, the inability of the company to raise other funds necessary to the accomplish- ment of the work, together with other obstacles that were continually arising, very slow progress \vas made in carrving out the designs of the original promoters of the road. The management of the road changed hanJs several times, and was finally completed to Brazil, Ind., in 18U8, by Harry Craw- ford, sr., of Chicago, who had act[uired a controlling interest in the stock. In 1894 an etTort was made to extend the road to Muncie from Anderson, but after tiie right of way had been secured and a large portion of the road graded, work was abandoned for want of funtls and has not been resumed up to the pre>ent time. The road has six and one-half miles of main track and a mile of sid^-track in the county. So far as the benefits derived from the road by the locali- ties through which it passes in Madison count}- are concerned, they have fallen greatly below the public's expectation. The road thus far has been a disappointment and from the present outlook the hopes entertained for it by those most interested, will never be realized, although those who are controlling its I HISTORY OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 85 affairs confidently assert that it will yet become one of the most important roads in the State. LAKE ERIE AND WESTERN' RAILROAD. This road runs through Pipe Creek and Monroe town- ships. It was constructed in 1875-6, and was known origi- nally as the Lafayette, Muncie & Bloomington road. It has fifteen and one-half miles of main track in the county and is one of the most important lines of the sj-stem to which it belongs. THE ANDERSON liELT R.MLROAD. This is a private corporation and was constructed in 1892 under the auspices of a number of manufacturers and others interested in providing better shipping facilities for the nu- merous manufacturing establishments at Anderson. The pur- pose of the company was to build a road that would girdle the city, but up to the present time only about three miles of track have been laid. The road begins at a point south-east of the intersection of the Big Four and Pan Handle lines and runs round the cit}-, its present terminus being west of the city near the Cathedral glass works. The president of the company is Mr. C. P. Garvey, who is also president of the American Wire Nail Co., at Anderson ; W. T. Durbin is treasurer, and \\'. L. Finch, secretary. It will be seen from the foregoing that Madison county is amply provided with shipping facilities. There are but four townships in the county the territory of which is not touched or traversed by a line of railroad. These roads have con- tributed their share in the wonderful development of the county. They have demonstrated to manufacturers and busi- ness men generally, seeking a location, that Madison county is not isolated from the world. CHAPTER XIV. Turnpikes or Free Gravel Roads in Madison Cointv. There are but few, it" any, counties in Indiana that are provided with more or better public highways than jMadison count}-. Din-ing the early history of the county but little at- tention was paid to this branch of public improvements for the reason, probably, that the sparse population rendered it im- possible. With the increase in population, however, and there- fore increased travel, more attention was given to the roads of the county. The legislature enacted laws encouraging as well as requiring the improvement of all public highwavs in the State. Turnpike laws were passed and companies were organized under them for the jnirpose of constructing roads that would enable the traveling public generally to go from point to point throughout the State with greater facility and comfort. Up to 1858 all the roads in Madison county were what were commonly designated as " dirt roads, "" and farmers ex- perienced great difficulty anil inconvenience during certain seasons of the year in hauling their surplus produce to market. The roads very often, in the spring and winter, were almost, if not wholly, impassable and their improvement was, there- fore, not only urged, but demanded, by the farming in- terest. The first person to interest himself in better roads for the county, under the turnpike laws, was Dr. John Hunt. He early saw the importance of a good road from Anderson to Alexandria, and in 1S58 was instrumental in organizing a com- pany and constructing what was known for nearly a half cen- tury as the Anderson and Alexandria pike. The road was built to within two miles of Alexandria, when, for some cause or other, the work was stopped and never resumeil by the com- pany. The first board of directors of this pike was composed of Frederick Black, W. A. Hunt, (ieorge Xichol and Curran Beall. The first officers were William Crim, president ; Neal C. McCullough, treasurer, and Joseph Fulton, secretarv. HISTORV OI- MAHISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. 87 The officers of the coiiipanv were never chanyed until the deatii of Mr. McCullough, whicli occurred in Feisruary, 1888, when his son C K. McCulloiigli was elected treasurer. Not lon. Out of 200 applicants for graduation in the township schools, sev- enty-nine were granted diplomas. During the year 1895, !ii5(),J>0O were expended on new buildings and improvements. E.xcepting that portion of the report with reference to the attendance of pupils in the public schools, the showing is a grand one, and the friends of the public school system can find in it much for congratulation. The schools of the county will receive further mention in the \arious township histories. CHAPTER XVr. The Newspapers of Madison Couxtv from the Eaki.y '80s TO THE Present Time — Trials oi' ihe ■■ Rooral Press." No bi-anch of human endeavor, perliaps, lias kept more fully up with the times in Matlison county than " tlie art preservative." The \icissitudes of tlie country press became proverbial long ago and no county in Indiana, with one ])o.s- sible exception, can boast of more " dear departed" newspa- per enterprises in the past, or enterprising newspapers at the present time than the good county of Madison. The early history ot the press in this countv is, from causes, shrouded somewhat in uncertainty and doubt, especially that portion of it relating to dates and names. The recollec- tion of the " oldest inhabitant," which is uncertain about a great many things that happened in the county during the pioneer period, appears to be greatly at fault when it comes to remembering anything of particular importance concerning the early newspapers. It is reasonably certain that the first paper published in the county was the Federal I'nioii which made its appearance at Anderson in the year 1884. T. 1. Langdon was the publisher and Charles D. Henderson assisted him in the editorial work. This paper did not sur- \\\-ii the rocks and shoals of journalism but a short time. The next paper was the Western TeU'i^rapJt, Charles D. Hender- son, editor, reporter and " general manager." This paper made its appearance soon alter the demise of the Federal i'liioii and was probably the same paper excepting the name. It appears that Mr. Henderson did not have to depend entirely upon his subscribers for succes--, as the commissioners' record for the March term, lS8o, shows that allowances were made by the board to Mr. Henderson for legal notices published in the 7\-lei;rapli. The legal priming at that time was not what is vulgarly termed a '■ snap " by the present race of editors and newspaper proprietors. There was no delinquent tax-list requiring a page or two of a Tcolumn folio paper for several 94 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY. INDIANA. publications annually ; no legal blanks by the thousands or other papers without limit to be printed in those days, and the publisher's " pickings " from this source were consequently meagre. The Telegraph buffetted the " slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" until 18HS or 1839 probably, when, like the Federal I ' iiio)i, it gave up the ghost. The next paper in the order of succession ^vas the Athe- >/e/tiii, which made its appearance in 1840. The editor and publisher was Dr. Thomas Sims. The paper was highly liter- ary and devoted to the sciences, especially the science of phren- ology. The editor and publisher is said to iiave been a gen- tleman of rare culture and a gifted writer. His paper was not what the general public wanted or could appreciate in that day and it succumbed for lack of patronage after two years of varied fortune. Shortly after the Atliciiciiiii ceased to be published, Joseph G. Jones established the ^^liig Eagle and made a vigorous fight for the Whig principles and Henry Clay in the cam- paign of 1844. The paper, however, ceased publication in 1846, and was immediately followed by the Madison Coiiiitv yo/iriial, which also advocated Whig principles. The name of the publisher of this paper was Gardner Goldsmith, but it is thought that the late Judge John Davis was interested in the enterprise, to the extent at least of supplying it with men- tal pabulum each week. The paper had a brief existence. In 184S the Howell brothers, John. Q_. and William L., moved their printing otHce to Anderson from Marion, this state, where they had been publishing a paper, and began the publication of a journal called the IViie Democrat , in the in- terest of the Democratic party, which at that time and for forty-five years afterwards was in the ascendency in the coun- ty. The Howells, according to Peter H. Lemon, who was employed to furnish the ■■ brains "' for the Democrat , "were practical printers, but could not edit.'" The next year, 1849, Dr. Townsend Ryan and Mr. Lemon purchased the paper and changed the name from the True to the Weekly Democrat. The paper had its ups and downs as all country newspapers had in that early day, and in 1850, in the language of Mr. Lemon, " died of a broken heart." The Anderson Gazette followed the Democrat. Dr. James W. Mendenhall, a young man of fair literary attain- ments, was the editor, and conducted the paper from a neu- tral standpoint so far as politics were concerned. It was sub- IllSrOliV OK .MADISON- COl'NTV, INDrANA. 9i) seqaeiitlv purchasetl by J. Fenwick Henry, \ylio conyerted it into a partisan Democratic organ. Pie \yas assisted in the edi- torial work b)' Col. T. N. Stilwell, who was at that time an ardent Democrat, and as such, a few years later, was elected a member of the lower house of the state legislature. The paper was short lived. It was about this time that W. II. II. Lewis began the publication of a paper called the Madison Coiiulv Rcpiiblim]! . The paper advocated Whisr or Republican principles, and after a brief bat g:dlant struggle went the way of its predecessors. This paper was subsequently known as the Central /iniiai/iaii and was edited by John Patterson. In 1855 the fh'niocratic Standard made its appearance with Thomas \V. Cook as editor and Ira H. Cook as associate e.litor. Thomas Cook was a man of many peculiarities or what would be termed in this day and age, "cranky ways." ^•Mter conducting the paper through the trials and difficulties of the first year or so of its existence, O. C. ^\^illets came into possession of the plant l)v pin-chase or otherwise and con- trolled its destiny for awhile. It was afterward edited and published by F. M. Randall for a nuniber of years. ' W. E. Cook, assisted by A. S. McCallister, succeeded him in its management. During the time these latter gentlemen had control of it, a little paper made its appearance, the mission of which was to "show up " the moral obliquities of a certain class of peo- ple -who posed as saints, but who were regarded by the pub- lisiiers as no better than other imrepentant sinners. The pa])er was called the " Firc-Fh\" and whenever it made its appearance, which was always at night, when " good peo- ple " are supposed to be in bed, it was riot long before the gossips of the town were enjoying the salacious tid-bits con- tained in its columns. It was spicy to a degree and its con- tents were always relished by everybody that did not receive a " skiiining." There was no fixed date upon which it made its appearaiice and after several publications its sensational career ended, to the great relief, no doidit, of certain citizens who \vere given to shady ways and imnioral practices. It was thought by many that \V. E. or "Billy" Cook, whose witty sayings, funny escapades and many genial tjualities are still remembered by the older citizens of Anderson, was responsi- ble for its publication. In fact, he never very seriously denied the charge. 96 HISTORY OF MADISOX COUXTV, INDIANA. It was in 1868 that the Loval American made its appear- ance as the organ of the RcpubHcan party. H. J. Brown was the editor and pnbhslier until 1S65, when he was ap- pointed postmaster at Anderson. The paper was published for a while by John C. Hanson, but soon ceased publication after Mr. Brown retired from its mangement. In the mean- time the Standard was purchased by Mr. Fleming T. Luse in 1866. Mr. Luse was a Democrat, but too independent to suit the leaders of his party in the county, and some time (1867) after purchasing the paper certain democratic politi- cians and business men organized a stock company and founded the Anderson Plain Dealer, which soon became recognized as the organ of the Democratic party in the county. The editorial department was in charge of Edwin P. Schlater and ■' Billy "" Cook. In 1S68. the stockholders sold out their interests in the paper to Messrs. Thompson & Myers, who controlled it until the succeeding year, when it passed into the hands of (i. D. Farrar, who managed it for a year and a half, when Hon. William C. Fleming became pro- prietor. Upon assuming control of the paper Mr. Fleming changed its name to that of the Anderson Democrat . The business of editing and publishing a paper was not congenial to Mr. Fleming's taste, however, and in the course of a few months he disposed of the propertj' to Charles Zahm, who in the following year ( 1873) sold the entire plant to M. V. Tod- isman. Mr. Todisman had in the meantime purchased the Standard of Mr. Luse, and now united the subscription lists of both papers and continued as sole editor and proprietor of the Democrat until early in 1S77, when he disposed of a one- half interest in the office to W. M. Croan. This partnership lasted until November of that vear, when Mr. Todisman dis- posed of his interest to William R. Brownlee. This firm added many modern improvements to the mechanical depart- ment of the paper, which together with well-selected news matter contributed from various sources each week soon won for it greater patronage and popularity than it had ever before enjoyed. The Democrat was the first paper in the county printed by steam, that agency being introduced by the pro- prietors as a motive power in Januur\', 1879. In 1884 H. J. Bronnenberg bought the plant. R. C. and Sumner Glasco became interested in the paper, and it was published by them until the spring of 1886, when W. C. Fleming again took charge of it. A few months after Mr. Fleming took charge TIISTORV OF MAIHSON COUNTY, INDIANA. 97 of the editorial atul business management, Mr. Bronnenberg, who owned the paper, sold an interest to Captain Ililligoss. The latter gentleman had control of the paper until sometime in 1887, when it was purchased by W. R. Myers. Shortly after taking possession of the Democrat, Mr. Myers sold Dale y. Crittenberger a third interest, and subsequently another third interest was disposed of to James J. Netterville. Messrs. Crittenberger & Netterville afterwards bought out Mr. Myers' interest. Mr. Crittenberger had entire control of the edito- rial department and business management, and the paper pros- pered as it ne\er did before in its history. In March, 188?, the Daily Democrat was launched upon the sea of journalism by Messrs. Crittenberger & Netterville, and both papers were published by them regularly every day and week until April, 1898. when they disposed of the plant to a stock company composed of J. P. Campbell, W. C. and H. R. Rone. The latter disposed of his stock to Manson V . Johnson in the spring of 1895, and that gentleman has since been the nomi- nal editoi; of both the Daily and Weekly Democrat. Both editions have a large circulation which will doubtless increase with the growth of population in the county. The plant as a whole, is the most complete in the county, its facilities for doing superior work in its job department being unexcelled, perhaps, in central Indiana. The Anderson Herald was founded by John O. Hardesty in 1868 and is the oldest Republican paper in the county. Dur- ing Mr. Hardesty's connection \\ith the paper it was known as the " Red Hot " Herald for the reason that the editor in each issue fired more or less " red hot" shot into the Demo- cratic party and its leaders, that part}' being at that time largely in the majority in the county. Mr. Hardesty was the sole proprietor until November, 1872, when Stephen Metcalf purchased a half interest in the paper. In August, 1878, he purchased the remaining half interest and Mr. Hardesty retired from the paper. The Herald vvas originally an eight-column paper but after Mr. Metcalf became sole proprietor he pur- chased a new press and enlarged the paper to a nine-column folio. Other valuable improvements were made to the otlice and for a number of years it was considered the most valuable property of its kind in this part of the state. In the spring of of 1876 Mr. Metcalf disposed of a half interest to W. M. Kinnard, and in May, 1878, Caleb H. Kinnard took charge of the paper and published it until 1881, when Mr. Metcalf and 98 HISTORY OK .MADISON COUXTY, INDIANA. George McKeown took charge of it. In 1885 the proprie- tors were Mr. Metcalf and Charles H. Ewing, Mr. McKeown ha\ ing retired. In April, 1883, the paper passed into the hands of A. A. Small, and in tiie fall of the same jear he sold out to H. G. Doggett. It was but a short time until the latter sold the office to the Chase brothers, and they in turn sold it to J. H. Lewis, who subsequently disposed of it to J. Q. Donnel. Mr. Donnel was a scholarly writer but was given to criticis- ing his party and its leaders so freely that the prominent Republicans in the county become dissatisfied with his manage- ment of the pa])er and in 1^95 he found it to his interest to dispose ot it to \\'. B. Canipliell, who is now sole proprietor. Several attempts were made to start a daily edition of the JlcralJ. but without success until April. 1S87, when the ]iub- lication ot the present daily was begun. The daily was originally an evening paper, however, but was changed to a morning edition shortly after Mr. nonnel purchased the plant. The paper has a large circulation and for a paity organ is inore indt^pendent than the average of such papers. In 18Sl) George \\'inter st.'irted a weekly paper known as the Anderson Rcvicv:. Mr. Winter was a ]5raclical jirinter and one of the best in the country, but had no idea of manage- ment. The paper struguled along until Ib>!si5, when George Ross and Thomas P. Harris bought a controlling interest and conducted it in the interest of the Democratic party. Shortly after Ross and Harris assumed the management of the paper, Hon. W. S. Diven purchased an inteiest,and had charge of the editorial department until 18s4, when it was consolidated with the Anderson Democrat , the paper being issued for a time under the name of the Revi c\c- Pe nioc rat . Mr. Winter subsecjuently embarked in a number of news- paper ventures, publishing at one time a daily called the Hvening Star, at another the Daily Rcrie-c, and for several months in 1887 a weekly called the Saturday AVtcW. This paper was also absorbed by the Anderson Democrat , and Win- ter went to Washington, D. C, where he had received an appointment in the Government printing office. But few men were better acquainted with the art of printing, and if he iiad possessed ability in other respect.s commensurate with his opportunities he would have been eminently successful, no doubt, in the arena of provincial journalism. He died of con- sumption at Washington in 188'.l. In 1SS5 Messrs. Dory Biddle, Tames Knight and Charles HISTORY Ol" MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 99 R. Cravens organized the IJulletin Printing Company, and issued the first number of the Dailv Evening Bulletin on March 28d of that year. The paper started out on an inde- pendent basis and has been " hewing to the line "' ever since regardless of the consequences. The Ihillctin was a success from the first issue and for many years occupied the daily field iilone in the county. Special mention of tiiis paper is made elsewhere. The Pendleton Register was the first paper published at Pendleton. It was established in 1870 by T. B. Deem. Tlie office was purchased b}- C. B. Caddy in 1878 and the name of the paper was changed to the Peiielleton Republican , under which it is now issued by the editor and proprietor, D. W. Barnett. Mr. Caddv having liisposed of iiis interest in tiie property. In April, KS9(j, Kobert E. Maranxille issued 1 lie first num- ber of the Pendleton Record. The paper is devoted princi- pally to the interests of farmers and stock raisers. In the early spring of 1877 the first newspaper published in the north part of the county made its appearance at Elwood under the name of the Elwood Reviexv, George Winter, editor And proprietor. The paper had a brief existence, and in 1880 Roy Hannah, Allen Wilson and S. T. Legg formed a stock companv and established the Elwood Free Press. Roy Han- nah was installed as editor and manager. The paper was published for several 3'ears and changed ownership a number of times, Jesse Mellett being one of the proprietors. W. E. Plackard and Minor Nuzum also owned and published the paper at one time. In the meantime L. H. Emmons started a paper named the Pevie-c. This paper was purchased by A. W. Ross in 1888 and published until January. 18S9, when A. J. Behymer bought Isoth papers and consolidated them under the name of the Elwood Pree Press. The paper subsequently changed ownership, M. H. Geyer & Son purchasing the prop- erty. They also sold to Jesse Mellett, who in 189S began the publication of the Dailv Free Press. The property is now owned and managed by W. F. N'anarsdel. The Free Press is a bright, newsy paper, and enjoys its share of public patronage. The bright future of Elwood attracted other enterprising newspaper men to the place, and on the 19th of March, 1891, a new dailv, the Elwood Leader, was established by W. J. Spruce. On the IJth of the following November the Elwood 100 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. IDailv Call was established bv E. E. Forn--hell. The Leader and Call w&re consolidated Febriiarj- 1, 1894, and has since been published as a Republican paper under the name of the Call- Leader. Messrs. Fornshell and Bruce are practical news- paper men and have succeeded in making their paper one of the best and most influential in the county. In 1892 the Alexandria Record was established at Alex- andria by Moore & Myers for the ostensible purpose of " boom- ing " that thriving little city. They afterward disposed of the property to T. J. Arnold, who in the course of time sold to Tomlinson & Wallingford. In 1898 Harry E. Manor bought the paper and converted it into a Republican journal. ^V'eekly and daily editions are issued, and the paper is in a prosperous condition. The Alexandria 7'ress. weekl}' and semi-weeklv, was es- tablished at Alexandria September 25, 1893, by C. F. and C. H. Meyer. The Rress is Democratic in politics, but enjoys the confidence of its patrons of all parties. It is issued on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. It is in a prosperous condition, and is gradually extending its sphere of influence. On November 22. 1895, George B. Mickler established the Gas Belt Ne-xs at Alexandria. The paper is non-political and devoted solely to promoting the welfare and prosperity of Alexandria and vicinity. This it does ably and faithfullv, and deserves well not only of the citizens of Alexandria but of the north part of the county. The paper makes its appearance each week on Fridaj'. (The Summitville Wave is mentioned in the general his- tory of Van Buren township.) The Frankton Leader was established in 1890 by E. A. Kemp, who is the editor and proprietor. CHAPTER XVII. Our MiLiTAHv History — The Part Taken by Madison County in Two Wars — The Soldiers of 1846-8 and 1860-5, With Something ok Their Campaigns. The history of the heroes of jVIauison county, as well as of the State and Nation, who participated in the Mexican war and in the greater war of the rebellion, has been written time and again and will endure as long as time shall last. Nothing that the authors of this work could say would add to the lustre of their names or achievements. Both have been pre- served in the archives of the Republic and will be perpetu- ated forever by the American people, in song and story, in stone and bronze. It is not the purpose, therefore, of the authors to give a detailed history of the services of Madison county's soldiery, but a general account, together with sucli local matters relating to the subject as are considered of sufti- cient importance to remember in a work of this character. Previous to 1847, the county had no military history, but upon the breaking out of the Mexican war a number of patri- otic citizens who had heard the thrilling story of Crockett and the Alamo, availed themselves of the first opportunity to ofl'er their services to the government. This opportunity occurred early in Mav, 1847, after the second call for volunteers had been made by President James K. Polk. Captain John M. \Vallace, of Marion, Grant county, organized a company at that place, which was composed of residents of both (irant and Madison counties. There may have been, and probably were, volunteers from this county under the first call of the President, but there is no means at this time of ascertaining either their names or number. The companj' organized by Captain Wallace marched from Marion to Anderson and tlience to Indianapolis. From there the company went by rail (at that time the only railroad in the State) to Madison, where it embarked on a steamer for Jeffersonville, at which place it went into camp, and on the 31st of May, was mustered into the service of the United 102 HISTOIIY OK MADISOX COfXTV, INDIANA. States as Company A, and assi volunteers during the war, for which she received credit. A few citizens of the county enlisted in companies organized in other counties and states, and they are credited to the local- ities where they enlisted. The county was represented in the following regimental organizations : The Eighth (one company). Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth (one company). Six- teenth (one company). Seventeenth (this regiment bore on its muster rolls the names of 140 citizens of Madison county), Nineteenth (one company). Twentieth, Thirty-fourth (two companies). Thirty-ninth, or Eighth Cavalrj-, Forty-seventh (one company), Fifty-second, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth, Six- ty-ninth, Seventy-fifth (one company). Eighty-fourth, Eighty- ninth (one company). Ninetieth, or Fifth Calvai'y, Ninety- ninth, and One Hundred and First (one company). One Hun- dred and Thirtieth (one company) Indiana regiments. These organizations all belonged to the three-years service. The county was also represented in the following organizations : One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Indiana ( 100-days service). One Hundred and Thirty-sixth (100-days service). One Hundred and Fortieth (one-year service), One Hundred and Forty- second (one-vear service), One Hundred and Fortj'-seventh (one-year service) , One Hundred and Forty-ninth (one-year service), One Hundred and Fity-third (one-year service), One Hundred and Fifty-tourth (one-year service). One Hundred and Fifty-fifth (one-year service). Twenty-eighth regiment (United States colored troops). The muster rolls of the Sec- ond Indiana Battery — Light Artillerj- — and Eighteenth Bat- tery — Light Artillery — show that Madison county was largely represented in those organizations. MINUTE MEN. The raid of Gen. John H. Morgan, of the Confederate army, into Indiana, in July, 1863, with a small force, was the HISTOUY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 105 occasion of a call for troops by Gov. Morton, and within forty- eight hours after the call was made, 65,000 men tendered their services to the governor. Madison county promptly responded along with her sister counties in the State, and four companies were raised to assist in repelling the invaders. One of these companies was assigned to the One Hundred and Fourth regi- ment and the other three to the One Hundred and Tenth regi- ment. As Morgan did not remain in the State any longer than his force could ride from the point where they entered to the Ohio line, the services of the minute men from this county were not needed and the\' were accordingly mustered out — the three companies belonging to the One Hundred and Tenth regiment, at Indianapolis, on th*e 15th of July, or three davs after thej' had been mustered into service, and the com- pany belonging to the One Hundred and Fourth regiment, at Greensburg, on the 18th of July. At the time of this raid great excitement prevailed throughout Indiana, and especially in the central portion of of the State, as it was feared that the State capital was the ob- jective point of the incursion. The excitement at Indianapolis for several days was intense and all kinds of war-like rumors could be heard on every hand. The streets were thronged with excited and fear-stricken people for two days and nights, and it was freely asserted by a few old soldiers, who happened to be in the city at the time, on furlough, that Morgan could have easily captured the city with fifty of his men, so great was the demoralization of the raw troops and people generally. To write a history of the campaigns of the various organ- izations with which the volunteers of Madison county were identified, would not only be a labor of supererogation, but would exceed the limits designed by the authors for this work. The story has been told better than we are able to tell it. It is our province to state, howe\er, that tiie soldiers of Madison county participated in nearly every great battle of the war. They ^vere at the Wilderness, Antietum, Cold Harbor, Chick- amauga. Look Out Mountain, Ressacca, Vicksburg, Gettys- burg and with Sherman on his " inarch to the sea." Many of them never returned and are sleeping in unknown graves. Of this number is Major Isaac M. May, of the Nineteenth Indi- ana, who was killed at Gainesville, Va., on the 2Sth of August, 18(3:2. Every effort was made by his widow and friends to recover his remains, but in vain. He fell early in the engage- ment, and w-as buried by Seth Peden of his home company, lOG IlI.slOKV OF .MAUI^OX COUNTY, INDIANA. and a soldier belonging to a Wisconsin regiment. Both these men were killed soon after, and with them died all knowledge a.s to the spot where the Major's remains were buried. This gallant officer had all the instincts of a great soldier, lie was a strict disciplinarian and gave much time to the study of military tactics, a thorough knowledge of which he re- garded as absolutely essential to tiie proper discharge of his duties as an officer. He had great respect for his men and and the)' in return loved and honored him, not only as a brave and faithful officer, but as a friend. His untimely death was sincerely mourned wherever he was known, and particularly at Anderson, where he had alwaj's been held in the highest respect as a citizen. \Vhen tlie Grand Army Post was organ- ized at Anderson there was but one expression with ref- erence to a name for the organization and that was Major May. This Post is one of the largest and most important in the State, and is appropriately mentioned elsewhere in this history. Major Samuel Henry was another gallant soldier of Mail- son county, whose untimely death was the cause of much sin- cere regret and sorrow. Me had risen to the rank of Major from that of First Lieutenant of Company B, Eighty ninth Indiana \'olunteer Infantry, and the possibilities of the futme appeared bright to him and his friends, when he, along with two other officers of the regiment, was shot to death by guer- rillas on the 1st of November, 18154, near a small village called Grunton in the State of Missouri. The men had become sep- arated from their command, wliich was marching to Lexing- ton, Mo., and had just left a house where they bad been sup- plied with dinner, when they were confronted by three men dressed in the Federal uniform, and ordered to hold up their hands. The officers were unarmed excepting ]Major Ilenrv, who perhaps had on his sword and one pistol. After search- ing the men for fire arms, they were ordered to mount their horses. They were then taken back a short distance into a woods where they were murdered and robbed. Their remains were found by people living in the vicinity and taken to Lex- ington where they were identified b)' officers of the army. Colonel Wolf, commanding the Third brigade, ordered the bodies decently interred in metallic caskets, knowing that friends would want them removed. The remains of Major Henry were soon after taken up and brought back to his native village, Pendleton, and laid to rest in the cemetery at that HISTORY or MADISON COITN'TY, INDIANA. ]()T place. Major Henry was a brother ol Hon. Cliarles L. IlL-nrj-. of Anderson, who at tliis time represents the capital district of the State in Congress. The G. A. R. Post at Pendleton was named in honor of Major Henry. ANDEIiSOX .\S A 1! K XDEZ VOns I OK IROOI'S. While a inreat majority of the volunteers of Indiana were organized into regiments at Indianapolis, a number of regi- ments were organized at other points in the State. It was con- sidered advisable, for various reasons, to establish a camp at Anderson, and in the summer of \>^Cj\ certain companies, raised in the northern part of tiie State, were ordered hither. A camp was established (HI the hill northeast of the bridge which now spans \Vhite river where north Madison avenue terminates, and the Thirty-fourth Indiana regiment was or- ganized there on the I(5th of September. The camp was called "Camp Stihvell '' in honor of Thomas N. Stilwell. who was Qiiartermaster of the regiment until March, 18(3:2, wlu n he resigned. A majoritv of the companies of this regiment had a full quota of men and when it left camp on the ]()th of October, 1861, for the front it was as large a regiment as ever left the State, Madison county fm-nisheil two companies for this regi- ment and 280 men in all during its time of service. The late Colonel Ryan, of Anderson, commanded the regiment at one time. The Thirty-fourth participated in the last battle of the war, \\ liicli was fought at Palmetto Ranche, Te.\as, on the ]i?th of May, ]S6o. and was one of the last regiments mustered out of the service. I'.VTRIOTIC F.FFOKTS OF M.VDISON COLNrV cniZKNs. While the soldiers of Madison county were at the tront fighting for the preservation of the government the people at home did not forget them. Sanitary and other supplies were sent to the camp and hospital without stint. Whenever the people at home were appealed to for assistance lor the soldiers they always responded promptly. Of the official action taken by the county through its ]5oard of Commissioners duiing the war. the following is a summary : The first otficial action taken by the county ofhcials was in connection with Camp Stilwell. At the September term, 108 IIISTORV OF .\I.\DISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. 18G1, of the Board of Commissioners it was " Ordered that $200 be appropriated for the purchase of Uimber to fit up a camp for the accommodation of a regiment being organized at An- derson." And at the same term $800 was appropriated for the assistance of soldiers" wives and children, the Trustee of each township being instructed to render assistance wherever needed. At the August term, 1802, it was ordered that an allowance of $1 each week be made to each soldier's wife or widowed mother and 50 cents to each child under ten years of age, the Trustees being directed to make the disbursements. At the following September term a tax levy of 10 cents on eLich $10(1 valuation of the taxable propertv in the county was made in order to pro\ide a fund for the relief of soldiers' families. These orders continued in force until the close of the war. The Board held a special session in November, 1^68, at which it was ordered " that each volunteer credited to Madi- son county be paid $50 bounty when he produces the cer- tificate of the mustering officer to the county Auditor, and $50 at the expiration of his term of service." A tax levy of 25 cents on each $100 valuation of property was made to raise the money necessary to carry out the order. The record of the Commissioners' court for the June term, 18(54, shows that the county treasurer had received $10,812.97 taxes for military purposes and had paid out for the same, $10,700. The call of the President for 800,000 men in 18(j4 rendered it necessary, in order to fill the quota of Madison county, to issue bonds to the amount of $200,000. The Commissioners ordered a bounty of $400 to be paid to each volunteer or drafted man and the county's quota untler the call was soon filled. The amount of money paid by the county for lioun- ties to soldiers was $344,8V)8 and for aid to the families of soldiers, $10,042, making a total of $354,940. The amount of money contributed by individual citizens of the county for sanitary supplies and other necessaries cannot, of course, be ascertained, but would doubtless bring the grand total up to an amount as large again as that paid out of the county treasury. CHAPTER XVIII. The Madison County Medical and Historical Socie- ties. Aside from the religious and benevolent societies the Mad- ison County Medical Society is the oldest organization in the count}-. This society was organized at Anderson on the 1.5tli of November, 1862, b}- the adoption of a constitution and by- laws and the election of the following officers : President, W. A. Hunt; vice-president, B. F. Spann ; secretary, E. H. Menefee ; treasurer, B. \V. Bair : censors, X. L. Wickershani, P. Patterson, J. F. Brandon. The tirst or charter members of the society were: William Suman, D. M. Carter. \V . H. Ebert, J. A. Williams, P. Patterson, T. Ryan, J. A. Ivoy, Joseph Stephenson, C. N. Brannen, Henry W\man, Joseph Pugh, Sr., William Cook, Braxton Baker, S. B. Harriman, W. S. Morgan, J. G. Mitchell. Valentine Dunham. G. W. Perry, G. F. Chittenden, J. Harter and the officers aboxe mentioned. The society Hourished for a number of years, but a grad- ual decadence of interest began about IStUj, and at a meeting held in April, 1807, it was mutually agreed among the mem- bership to discontinue the meetings of the association indefi- nitely. No further meetings were held until August, 1875, when Dr. W. A. Hunt published a call for a meeting of the society at the office of Dr. C. S. Burr at Anderson. The ob- ject of this meeting was for the purpose of uniting the medical societies of Alexandria. Pendleton. Anderson and the medical profession generally throughout the county into one associa- tion and make it an auxiliary to the State Metlical Society. This was done, and the following officers of the association were selected : J. W. Perry, president ; William A. Hunt, vice-president: J. Stewart, secretary-; C. S. Burr, treasurer; W. H. Lewis, B. F. Spann, J. T. Sullivan, censors. In 1875 there were twenty-five members of the society, nearly everv town in the county being represented. At the present time 110 FrisrORV OF MAIIISON COUNTY, INDIANA. tlie membership numbers thirty-nine, as follows : L. E. Alex- ander, Pendleton: George F. Chittenden, Anderson; E. VV. Chittenden, -Anderson : S. W. Edwins, Elwood : J. M. Fisher, Lapel; W. M. Garretson, Perkinsville : J. H. Ilarter, Ander- son; \V. P. Harter, Anderson; J. W. Hunt, Anderson; M. V. Hunt, Anderson; II. E. Jones, Anderson; J. Stewart, Anderson; William Suman, .Vnderson ; I. N. \'an Matre, Florida; N. L. Wickersham, Anderson; Charles F. ^\'illiams, Summitville; \\". J. Fairfield, Anderson; J. H. Fattic, Ander- son ; F. J. Hodges, -\nderson ; W. W. Kneale, Anderson; L. O. Armtield. Elwood; P. L. Fritz, Alexandria; J.J.Ciib- son, Alexandria; J. E. Hall, Alexandria; VV. X. Heath. An- derson; F. P. Nosse, Alexandria; B. II. Perce, Anderson; A. E. Otto, Alexandria: (j. V. Newcomer, T^Iwood; E. M. Strauss, Alexandria: D. Sigler, Elwood ; (). W. Brownback, Pendleton; J. M. Fittler, jMexandria; I. Miles, Anderson; Madge Patton, Alexandria; P'tta Charles, Summitville ; C. N. Branch, ^Vnderson; A. W. Tobias, Elwood: John W. Cook, Pendleton. The present otficers o( the society are: John \V. Cook, president; F.J. Hodges, vice-president : Ed. W. Chittenden, secretary, and Joseph E. Hall, treasurer. The society meets regularly on the first Tuesday of the following months : Jan- uary. -Vpril, July and October. The meetings are held alter- nately at Anderson, Elwood, Alexandria and Pendleton. The society belongs to the Delaware District Society, which is composed of the medical societies of Delaware, jSIadison, Blackford, Grant. Randolph and Henry comities. M.XDISOX COUNIV II IS lORIC.-VL SOCIETY. Early in December. 1884. Dr. William A. Hunt invited a number of gentlemen of well-known taste for archieological matters to meet at his office in .Vnderson for the purpose of organizing a county historical society. The meeting was held and an organization effected with the following persons as of- ficers : Dr. William -V.Hunt, president; Stephen Metcalf, 1st \ice-president ; Samuel Hardin, 2d vice-president; Frank A'. Walker, secretary, and Fleming T. Luse, treasurer. On the L'Oth of December, 1884, articles of association were filed in the Recordei's office, one of which sets forth that " The object of this society shall be to discover, procure and preserve, whatever may relate to general history ; especially to the archieological. natural, ci\il. literary and ecclesiastical iiisriMiv ni MA^I^()^• coint'i'. indiaxa. Ill history of the vState of Iiulian;i. ami inorc particuhirl y of tlie county of Madison in said State. '" The names of tliose sijjjneil to the articles are : \V. A. Hunt, Stephen Metcalf. Samuel Hardin, F. T. Luse, F. A. Walker, Charles B. Gerard, 15. F. Spann, W. R. Pierse, William Roach, B. H. Campbell, Dale J. Crittenberger. Dory Biddle, R. I. Hamilton. O. S. Kelso, M. A. Chipman, M. A. Bos worth. The Board of Commissioners reserved a room in the court house for the use of the society, and the work of collecting his- torical relics and curiosities was begun. Much interest was taken in the matter for awhile, and many rare arch;rological specimens, interesting relics ami curiosities were donated to the society by citizeus of the county. One of the interesting features of the nmseum was a col- lection of beautiful sea shells, gr.iss mats, bark blankets, and other rare anil unique curiosities gathered in the South Sea Islands by Lieut. Whitmuel I*. Ray. of the U. S. navy , and presented by him to the society. Lieut. Ray was a native of ]\Lidison county, having been born in Anderson, where he passed his boyhood imtil he was appointed to a cadetship in the navy by Col. T. N. Stilwell, who, at the time, was a rep- resentative in Congress. The appointment of Ray, who was a poor boy without influence, was in marked contrast with the appointments made by congressmen, as a rule, and stamped Col. Stilwell as a friend to the boys who, without riches or friends, were ambitious to cut their names on the world. The writer regrets, as a schoolmate and boyhood companion of Lieut. Ray, to record the fact that, in a fit of despondency at San l^rancisco, June 9, 1S9S5, he committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor. He was burieti with military honors in the cemetery at that city. L'eut. Ray was a courtly gentle- man, of convivial inclinations and generous impulses, and the unnatural manner of his taking ofl' was not only a surprise, but a shock to his friends. Other contributions were made by Mr. Samuel Hartlin and Mr. Fleming T. Luse which augmented the attractions of the society's museum very materially. These gentlemen were particularly active in collecting curiosities and classifying them for the benefit of the public. There was no lack of interest on the part of the citizens of the county, and a great many peo- ple visited the society's room to see the curiosities as long as t!ie collection was permitted to remain in the court house. In 112 HISTORY OF MADlSOiN COUNTY , INDIAN A . the course of time, however, it became necessary to use the room donated to the society bv the Board of Commissioners, for county purposes, and this, together with the depredations made on the collection by petty thieves, induced certain mem- bers of the society to consent to its removal to the Anderson High School building in the fall of 1895, where it has since re- mained in charge of the superintendent of the city schools. As stated elsewhere in these pages the Hunt donation of rare geological and archa'ological specimens constitutes an import- ant and interesting part of the collection. I CHAPTER XIX. Tup: SociEr\- of Grangers — Madison County Fire axi> Lightning Insurance Association. It is convenient liere to mention the "grange movement" that aroused so much interest among the farming community in 1^78 This order or society during that year was organ- ized in every township in Madison county for the ostensilile purpose of promoting the welfare of farmers and elevating the standard of agriculture. Grange lodges were organized in such numbers and with such large memberships that it looked like the farmers of the county had gone "grange wild." Originally none but farmers or persons closely allied to the farming interest were eligilile to membership, and if this rule, or law, of the order had been adhered to more closely the prin- ciples upon which it was founded would have flourished, per- haps, and the results would have been beneficial. But men were received as members who cared nothing for the principles of the order, and it soon developed that its purposes had been subverted and that it was being used as a political machine notwithstanding the protestations of many of the leaders that such was not the case. The political campaign of 1874, how- ever, satisfied the conscientious members of the organization that it was being used to place certain men in office, and imme- diately after the sweeping Democratic victory in the county in the fall of that year, the order collapsed and has not been heard of since. As an industrial organization it was formidable, but when it engaged in politics it met with the fate that has befallen all other secret organizations whose principles have been prostituted to accomplish political ends. MADISON COUNTY FIRE .\ND LUiHTN ING INSURANCE ASSO- CIATION. Tin's company was organized October 81, 1886, at Ander- son, in the interest of farmers. For some time previous to the organization of the association, the farmers throughout the county had been discussing its feasibility, there being a wide- 114 IIISTOKY OF MADISOX COIXTV, INDIANA. spread sentiment that the rates of insurance paid bv tiieni to foreign insurance companies were exorbitant. This, to- gether \vith other objections to foreign insurance systems, re- sulted in a call for a meeting of farmers at Anderson, at which preliminary steps ^vere taken, looking to the organiza- tion of a company in the interest of the farming communitv, and those owning farm propert\'. e.\clusively. At this meet- ing a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by- laws, and on the aboye date about one hundred person-, in- cluding both sexes, and from every township in the county, met at Anderson, heard the report of the committee and adopted it without unnecessary delay. Following the adop- tion of the constitution and by-laws, the following officers were elected : President, Elijah Williams, Fall Creek town- ship ; yice-president, Jonathan ]ones, Anderson township ; sec- retary and treasiner, Jesse H. Hall, Monroe to\\nshi[i. Board of Directors : William P. Davis, Anderson township; John Franklin, Adams township ; A. F. Kaufman, IJoone township; John L. Thomas. Fall Creek townsliip; A. M. Mc- intosh, Duck Creek township: Burrell Williamson. Greene township; William T. Wright, Jackson township; John L. Jones, Lafayette township; A. L. Wilson, Monroe township; Tremelius Beeson, Pipe Creek township; Samuel E. Hannah, Richland townsliip ; Christian Bodenhorn, Stony Creek town- ship ; Thomas S. East, Union township ; James Price, Van Buren township. -Vrticle 1, of the constitution, declares that "The name of this association shall be The Farmers' Insurance Company of Madison county. State of Indiana.'" Article 2, sets forth that, "The object of the association shall be to insure the property of its members against loss or damage by fire or lightning. The property to be insured shall embrace dwelling houses, barns, outbuildings and their con- tents ; farm implements, hay, grain, wood, and other farm products; live stock, wagons, carriages, harness, household goods, wearing apparel, provisions, musical instruments, libra- ■ ries and all other farm property." B}' the terms of the constitution, "No risk greater than two thousand dollars shall be taken by the association until the amount of pioperty insured shall exceed the sum of four hundred thousand dollars. Xo building shall be insured for- more than two-thirds of its value, including all insurance in other companies." HISTOIiV OF MADISON COUN'TV, INDIANA. 115 All losses are paid by assessment of the members of the association. The company at the present time is composed of about l,r)(K)of the leading farmers of the county. From llOO.nOO insurance, the amount rL-(|uiroi.l by the constitution before a loss could be adjusted, the insurance has increased to $:?,()8f),- 1)04 at the present time, and according to the secretary, Mr. John L. Thomas, is still increasing. Much interest in the company is taken bv the farmers of the county, and its success is a matter of which they can feel justly proud. Trusts and companies loaning money in the county haye such confidence in the stability of the association that they prefer loans secured by members holding its policies. The insurance has been very cheap to tlie membership, costing on an average but 10 cents on .$100. The association lias been in existence ten years and has never had a lawsuit which, to say the least, speaks well for its management. The present officers are Joseph Saunde?S, president ; B. F. Ham, vice president ; John L. Thomas, secretary, and John G. Haas, treasurer. Mr. Thomas has been prominently connected with the management of the company ever since its organization. CHAPTER XX. Discovery of Natural Gas in Madison County, Togeth- er WITH THE Results that Followed — Used for Advertising Purposes — Number of Wells and Their Cost — Areas of Natural Gas Fields, Etc. THE natural gas ERA. The story of natural gas is not only interesting, but im- portant — it is wonderful. The whirr and hum of machinery, the blazing furnace and noisy factory, the stately business block and residence, the teeming population within the Indi- ana gas territoi;^-, all proclaim the wonders that have been wrought since its discovery. The efforts of the genii of old have been fairly eclipsed ; the fervid fancies of the dreamer pale before the magnificent results that liave been achieved since Trenton rock was penetrated, and nature's great fuel liberated from its sealed chambers beneath the soil of Madison county. Such wonderful development of resources and rapid progress in almost every branch of industry has seldom been witnessed in this or any other country, and will, no doubt, never be witnessed again until the earth yields from its mys- terious depths a treasure of equal utility. The advent of the new era ^vas unexpected. It came sud- denlv, and Madison comity was its chief beneficiary. It caused the county, which was almost wholly devoted to agri- culture, to advance with dazing rapidity to its present proud position as a leading manufacturing district of the United States. It swept away the old landmarks and infused new life and increased vitality into the drowsv population. Men of energy, enterprise and wealth came and located in the county in order that they might enjoy the benefits of free fuel. Capital bv the million was invested, and men bought and sokl within the limits of the county as they never did before. Only the old-timers can realize the vast changes that have taken place. Only those who shall live here in the far-off future will know all tliat has resulted from the discovery of natural gas, as the end is not vet ; gas still endures and each HISTORY ()!■ M.VniSON COUNTY, INDIANA. ]I7 inontli is adding to our population and the long list of our manufactories. It is not the purpose of this chapter to give the history of natural gas, or speculate upon its origin. It is sufficient to say that this great product of nature has been discovered in mun^' coimtries at various depths beneath the earth's surface. The " Eternal Fires of Baku, " on the shores of the Caspian sea, have been burning for ages on the surface of the earth, while natural gas was discovered in the province of Szechuen, China, at a depth of 1,500 or ],()00 feet in the earth, and utilized by means of bamboo rods or poles, for illuminating and heating purposes many centuries ago. Just when it was first discovered in the United States, and by whom, will prob- ably never be known. Perhaps the first use made of the subtle fluid was at Fredonia, N. Y., in 1821, when a '• pocket " was struck and utilized for illuminating purposes. In 18(30, while .developing the oil fields around Oil City, Penn., gas was discovered in sufficient (piantity to be used under boilers instead of coal. Subsequent " jirospecting" led to the de- velopment of many large wells in Pennsylvania, one of which was at Leechburg when gas was first used (1878). for the manufacture of iron. From this time on to the present it has been jised extensively in the vicinity of Pittsburg for manu- facturing and domestic purposes. The gas used in this city was piped from the Washington county fields, where a well was accidentally discovered in February, 1885, which, in natural gas parlance, was denominated " a gusher." The out- put of this well averaged six million feet a day. In 1884 a gas field was discovered in Ohio, at Findla}-, which resulted in a season of prosperit)- for that place, such a> had never been witnessed outside the mining fields of the west. In 1886 the great Indiana gas field was discovered, and during the following year (1887) natural gas was discovered ill Madison county, on the farm of Samuel Cassell, at Alex- andria. Here the first gas well was drilled. The next well was drilled at Anderson, an account of which will be found ill the history of Anderson township. NUMBER OK (iAS WEI.I.S, rilEIK COST, E'rC. Almost immediately following the drilling of the first two wells, companies were organized, not nnlv by the citizens of the towns throughout the county, but by the farmers for the 118 HISTORY OK MADISON COIXTV, IXniAXA. purpose of drilling for gas. Wells were drilled in every locality and the gas piped to the dwellings of the members composing the company, so that at the present time there are but few homes in the county where the fluid is not used for heating purposes. For five years after the discovery of gas the waste was incredible. Flambeaux were erected in yards, on street corners and at other conspicuous points, and in many places, where the gas was abundant, as in Madison county, left burning day and night. Much of the waste was occasioned by a desire on the part of the people living in the gas belt towns to " advertise " the fact to the world that the}- had gas to " burn."' At Anderson two large arches were erected, one at the Pan Handle and the other at the Big Four depot. These arches were constructed of perforated pipe and spanned the street. The gas was turned on at night and ignited for the benefit of persons who were passing through the city on the cars. This method of advertising was adopted in most of the towns in the Indiana gas field and was continued until the boom subsided somewhat and people began to realize that the gas could not endure forever, when the arches were torn down. Many wells were left burning for weeks before being capped, and the amount of gas wasted in this manner was simply enormous. It will never be known just how much gas was wasted and consumed unnecessarily during the first two years following its discovery in Indiana, but it has been estimated that the waste alone would have furnished sufticient heat for every home and factory now in the gas field for five years. The wells are no longer used for exhibition or advertising pur- poses and the burning of flambeaux is strictly prohibited liy law, but, notwithstanding, the waste of gas still continues to a considerable extent in various ways. The first gas well drilled in the county cost about $2,00(1, but the average cost at the present time is $1,200. Competi- tion among gas well drillers for employment has been spirited and has resulted in greatly reducing the cost of such work. The average depth of gas wells in ISIadison county is ',)H5 feet. The pressure and capacity of wells var^- according to their location in the county, it being generally admitted that the pressure is not so strong in the south as it is in the central and northern parts of the county. One of the best wells. however, in the county, was what was known as the Chester- field well, situated six miles east of Anderson, near the Dela- ware county line. The output, or flow of gas from this well. HISTORY OF ilAnlSOX COl'XTV, INDIANA. 119 amounted to ten million cubic feel daily. It is owned by the Richmond Pipe Line company, which was organized by Major C. T. Doxey, of Anderson, for the purpose of supplying Richmond, Indiana, with gas. When gas was first discovered in the county it was pre- dicted by many that it could not be exhausted, while others confidently believed that the limit of its duration would not exceed ten years. It is now evident that neither of these pre- dictions or guesses was right. The ten years will have soon passed and while it is conceded that there are indica- tions that the gas will not last always, the decline in the pressure is not of sutlicicnt consequence as to cause alarm. Many wells in fact, that have been constantly in use for years remain practically unaffected while wells that have shown a diminution in pressure on account of the heavy drain made upon them, on being closed for a brief time have recu- perated and furnish as much gas as ever. These facts render it impossible to predict with any degree of certainty how long this yet abundant fuel will endure. That it has endured thus long, considering all the circumstances of its enormous con- sumption, seems incredible. There are now in the county from 1,000 to 1,:?00 (esti- mated) gas wells, one-third of which are owned by non-resi- dent companies. Thousands of acres of land have been leased by these companies and a vast amount of gas is piped outside the county annually, principally to Indianapolis and Chicago. As the reader of these pages hereafter may be interested in knowing the extent of the three gas fields of the United States, their areas are given as follows : Ohio, forty-two square miles; Penn.sylvania, 100 square miles; Indiana, 5,120 square miles. CHAPTER XXI. IXTERESTING MiSCELLAN'Y CoNNECTEH WiTH THE EaRI.Y History ov Madison County — Exi'iiEssEs Contempt FOR the wolves. Before the countrv became thickh' settled, and \vhen the people in Madison county lived in the woods hewing from the forests their homes and future habitations, one of the greatest menaces to the happiness of the pioneer and his flocks were the \volves, which were both numerous and ravenous. They roamed at will over the country and committed many depreda- tions in the way of killing sheep and yoimg hogs, and were at times dreaded by the farmer, when he cluinced to meet one alone. So bad did they become that it was a necessity for them to be dealt with by those in power whose duty it was to protect the peace and dignity of the State, and to preserve the happiness of the inhabitants thereof. At the March term 1844, of the Board of Commissioners the}' made the following unique order in relation to his wolfship, and openlv declared war against him : "Upon petition of many of the good and worth}' citi/.ens of !Madison county, be it resolved ; That for the utter con- tempt and long iiatred which we have had towards that perni- cious animal that prowls around our farms and kills our sheep, and being dulv impressed that the good of the countv requires that a reward should be given for the eradication of the same, we therefore offer a reward of one dollar for every wolf scalp that may be killed in this county and properly proven for the term of one vear from this date."' This resolution it is supposed had the effect to put all the trappers and hunters on the war path at once, as at subse- quent sessions of the Board many allowances were made for scalps produced. It is told by one old timer that an indi\idual who then lived in the county thought it easier to raise wolves than to spend his time and endanger his life hunting them, so he provided himself with a pair of these animals and bred them and sold the scalps to the Commissioners. This he car- HlsrOUV OF MAOISOX COINT^-, INDIANA. 1 1' 1 rieJ on for C|uilL- a wliilc until tlie scheme was dtscovcTcd, when his business was broken up. Willis Odem, who is still remembered bv rnanv of the old- timers of Anderson township, did considerable business in the way of selling wolf scalps to tax payers while the above order was in effect. About the time taxes were due. Willis would come to Anderson with a basket on his arm filled with wolf scalps which he would dispose of to tax pavers at a discount. thereby realizing something for himself as well as the tax- payer. During tax-paying time he was a familiar figure about the court house until the wolvea in the county iiad disap- peared. AX OLD riMK CHIMINAL. At the September session, 1889, the Commissioners made the following orders in relation to the capture of John Flinn for the crime of murder, and conveying him to Indianapolis : " Ordered that Alfred Makepeace, constable of Anderson township, be allowed three dollars and fifty cents for his serv- ices in taking John Fliun on charge of murder." " Ordered that G. W. Remiker and W. B. Adams be al- lowed each the sum of one dollar and fiftv cents for their serv- ices in assisting in taking John Flinn." " Ordered that Win. Myers be allowed the sum of eight- een dollars and thirty-one cents for money paid as stage agent for the convej'ance of John Flinn and his guard bv stage to Indianapolis." , " Ordered that Joseph Howard and John Lewark each be allowed the sum of two dollars and eighty-seven cents for removing John Flinn to Indianapolis, Indiana." '■ Ordered that John Rogers, jailor of Henry county, be allowed two hundred dollars foy keeping, boarding, washing and making tires in the said jail for John Flinn and other prisoners of Madison count v.' Madison county at that time did not have a jail sufliciently secure in which to incarcerate criminals guilty of inijiortant violation.s of the laws. The allowance for taking Flinn to Indianapolis was for taking him there for safe keeping. This occurrence took place so long ago that it has almost faded from the recollection of the oldest living inhabitants. There is none who can give a correct account of who it was that Flinn killed. Mathias B. Ilughel is of the opinion that he was arrested 122 IIISTORV OF MADISON COUNl^', IXDIAXA. for the murder of :i man of the name of Perrine, a contractor on the canal, employed in the construction of the branch that extended west of Anderson. Perrine mysteriously disappeared and his body was afterwards found along the river not far from where the farm of Joseph Burke is situated, on what is now known as the Perkinsxille pike. Augustus M. AVdIiams corroborates Mr. Hughel, and says that Flinn killed Perrine by drowning him : by jumping on him and bearing him down in the water in White river and leaving his body, which afterward (loated down to the place where it was discovered. Mr. Williams says that Perrine was also a contractor on the canal, and there was a misunderstanding existing between the two men which led to the crime. He also says that Flinn was tried at Newcastle on change of venue, for the crime. The allotment on the canal on which Flinn was engaged at the lime was near what is known as the Wise farm between Perkinsville and Hamilton. Dr. John Darr, one of the early physicians of Newcastle, was made an allowance for medical aid to Flinn. TTIE FIRST NUHSERV IN MADISON COI'NTV. The lirst nursery in the county was established in Ander- son by Benjamin Collins in 1858 on the ground l^ing between the Big Four railroad and Thirteenth street, on what is now south Jackson street. He operated this for several years and sold it to .Silas Hughel, his brother-in-law, who has continued in the business since on Ohio avenue, and on his farm northeast of the city. y. C. Lee purchased the old nursery ground sind laid it out as Lee's addition to Anderson, and it is now covered with handsome residences. RESICNS THF. AIDITOR'S OI-FICE. It is an old saving that "" a public officer seldom dies and never resigns.'" This, like all rules, has its exceptions. Joseph Howard, who was Auditor of Madison comity back in the '4lis resigned on the 8d of .September, 1844. He had been elected to fill that place by the people and liad served his time nearly half out when, owing to a misun- derstanding with Jesse Forkner, one of the county commis- sioners, about a claim against the county for services, he, in a passion, resigned. Howard was a Democrat, and Forkner IIIS'IDHV OK MADISON COL'XTV. INDIANA. ll^i] was a Whig. There was not the best of feeh'ng existing between them and it took but little to bring about the state of affairs that led to the result in this instance. ^Ir. Howard's resignation is copied in the record as fol- lows : ■' To whom these presents mav come, greeting: Know ye, that I, Joseph Ilowartl. have tiiis day resigned my office as Auditor of Madison county. Given under mv hand this 3d day of September, 1844. Joseimi IIowaku."' The resignation was promptK' accepted and on the saaie day R. N. Williams was appointed his successor, and filled out Howard's unexpired term. Mr. Howard did not relinciui^h his hold on the people, but was afterward elected county Treas- urer, and also served as Sheriff of the county. lie was a prom- inent and influential politician, and a prosperous business man in Anderson for many years. He was tlie father of T. .\. Howard, so well known in this county, and also of Mrs. G. D. Searle. now of Chicago. Mr. Howard died a few years ago universally esteemed by- all who knew him. His widow now lives in Los Angeles, CaK ^•V daughter also lives in Richmond, Ind., the wife of ex-mayor Perry Freeman, of that city. KEPT THEIK OFFICES IN A SHOE SHOI'. Away back in the days of coon skins and hard cider the county of Madison was not the best fixed county in the State in regard to public buildings. The offices were kept in private buildings away from the court house, and it secnSs that the public held such a grip on the temple of justice that it was used for nearly every thing besides what it was intended for, and the County Commissioners had much trouble in restricting the use of it. At the September session, 1S44. the board made the fol- lowing order : '■ The board of commissioners have rented from John Galimore, the house now occupied as a shoe shop, for the term of one year, ordered that the clerk and auditor re- mo\ e their respective offices to said building, and that the court house be ' procured ' by W. H. Allen, sheriff, to be cleaned out and put in good repair, and that the sheriff" be re- quired to lock the same and keep it closed, excepting upon public occasions." At that time there was no public hall in Anderson, and the court house was used for all kinds of entertainment-^. 124 IllSTOK-i- OF .MAnlSOX COUNTY, INDIANA. sliows. school exliibitions aiul as a place of worship, and for holding sini^ing schools which were much in voi^tie at that period. At a previous term of <'ourt held in September. 1S41, the Tioard made a similar order as follows : '• Resolved by the board that S. 11. Brattain be allowed to occupv the northwest room up stairs in the court house for one year, upon condition that he will keep the same in repair, and he is hereb}' autliorized to prohibit the holdin-vnn of three dollars and a half per tlay, for eleven days' services as associate judges of the circuit court." Judge \'an Pelt wis the father of Samuel D. \'an Pelt and Capt. Frank Van Pelt, and also of Mrs. Da\id E. Croan, all well known in this county. Judge Prigg enjoyed a large acciua'utance in the southern part of tlie county, and has yet many friends and relatives living in the community. The associate justice's office was done away with under the Constitution of 1.S52, since wliich time one judge presides at the sittings of the court. Judges Prigg and Van Pelt were warm personal friends during their incumbency in office. Judge Prigg lived quite a distance from Anderson, and was always a guest at the Van Pelt home during the sittings of the court. THE llfSKING BEK. In early times, when neighbors were miles apart and hel]i was scarce, it was a job of no small importance to take care of the crops in the fall of the year after they had been raised. In order to prepare the corn for market after it had been gathered from the fields the neighbors for several miles around would gather at tlie home of a friend and assist him in shuck- ing his corn, which he had previously gathered from the stalks by pulling the ears off in the husk. These gatherings were called '• husking bees.'" Those who attended were inviteil by the one who needeil the assistance, and to go to one of these ^vithout an invitation was a breach of eti(|uette of which no one could afford to Ije guilty. They were most enjoyable affairs, and the many happ\' hours thus spent bv the pioneers can never again be realized. The participants generally chose sides under the leader- ship of a captain on either side, and the winners made a great ado over a victory won in the contest. 120 IIISTOnV OF IIADISOX COLXTY, INDIANA. The old and young alike took part in the work and en- jovcd together the sports of the occasion. The first red ear husked by a lady was laid aside until a gentleman in the party found one ; then the lady had to un- dergo the ordeal of being kissed by the gentleman. This was sometimes a pleasant task, especially if the two happened to be loyers. On the contrary, if the opposite was the case, it was not so well relished ; Ijut it was the heigiit of impolite- ness not to comply with the established custom. The most of the corn husking was done in the barn by the young people, while the old folks were preparing a sumptuous meal at the cabin. A good article of whisky was generally on hand, and the party partook of a sufficient amount to become hilarious, but not drunk, although there was always some one in such a crowd, as there would be in the present time, who would become tipsy. After the husking was oyer the crowd would repair to the house and partake of what would now be termed a ban- quet, spread by the ladies of the neighborhood, and such a feast as it was is too gootl to think about. Country-cureil liam, home-made molasses, lye homin)*, honey dripping from the comb, pumpkin pie and sweet milk. Johnny cake, corn- dodger, yenison, hard cider and red apples, home-made sau- sage, and in fact eyerything that the g-jod old mothers could think of to prepare for such an occasion. Supper oyer, the tables were cleared away, and the " country fiddler," who was inyariably on hand, began to tune up, and the merry dance set in and was kept up till daylight next morning. The enjoyment of such a scene cannot be imagined by one who never witnessed it. To undertake to describe it would be a useless task. We haye said enough here to put the old-timer's head to whirling as he reads these pages and wanders back in his im- agination to the time when he an.xiously hustled to get the red ear when he saw the apple of his eye husk out the first one of the eyeifing. People may now be more polished in manners and liye on a higher plane, but certainly are not better, not purer or more generous than they of the gooil old days of the husking bee. insTOIJV OF MADISON COl\T>-. INDIANA. 12 I TUK DAYS OF THE STAGE COACH. The present generation ^vho enjov the hixur\' of being- transported to and from different parts of the country behind the swift, snorting steam horse, snugly seated in a parlor car, know but little about the vexations of the early mode of travel in a stage coach, and in tact there are many now living in Mad- ison county who never saw a stage coach. Fiftv jears ago this was the only wav of tra\eling to and from distant points. The leading State roads that traversed the country were stage routes, and the United States mails were carried over them, generally bv contract with the owners of the stage line, much the same as the railways now transport the mails. The arrival and departure of the stage coach at the towns and villages along the routes was a thing looked to with more anxiety than the witnessing of a circus parade at the present time. The last stage coach that ever ran In Madison county was owned by William G. Pittsford, and made its last appear- ance in Anderson in 1S(')7. Mr. Pittsford was then the owner of the line from Anderson to Marion via Alexandria and Jonesboro. He had a contract with the government to carry the mails, and also with the American Express company to transport their freight between these places and made a trip each way everv alternate day. He also had the contract for the same service as far north as Wabash, but sublet it from Marion north to other parties. This stage line was owned prior to the war by Oliver H. P. Carey, of jVIarion, who vol- unteered his services at the breaking out of the rebellion, and became Lieutenant Colonel of the Thirty-sixth Indiana regi- ment of volunteers, under Col. William (jrose of Newcastle, who afterwards became a general in the armj-. Mr. Pittsford during his ownership of the line had for his partners at different times, Mr. Richard J. Hunt and Samuel Pence. Among many who once were drivers on this line were A. J. Hunt, R. J. Hunt, William McAtee, Samuel Hunt and Mar- shall Bonner. William McAtee drove the last stage coach into Anderson in 1807. The building of a railroad through Marion from east to west gave them an outlet for travel to Indianapolis and other places, and cut off the mail contract and passenger travel to such an extent that it was no longer profitable and the stagecoach became a thing of the past, and gave way to a hack 128 HISTOliV Ol- .MADISON COUXTV, INDIANA. of small dimensions, which did service between .\nderson and Jonesboro, until the building of the C. \\'. & M. railroad in 1876, when (he line was discontinued. The last owner of the property was Mr. Walker Winslow of Jonesboro. The old stage line transported the first company of sol- diers from Marion that went into the service from that place, to Anderson, where they took passage on the railroad for In- dianapolis, where they went into camp. At a place on the State road near where Summit ville now stands, was a staging station, and point to change horses and feed. For many years the post office, at the corner of Eighth and Meridian streets, in Anderson, was where the stage " hauled " up when it arrived, invariably being greeted by a large crowd of anxious people, waiting to see who was on board. The Myers House was for years the popular hotel with the traveling public, and was patronized by the passengers of the stage line. It was kept by William Myers, mention of whom is elsewhere made. Later the Ross House and the Burke Allen House were headquarters for the stage traveling public. Both have given way to more pretentious hotels, but the hospitality of "these old time hostleries will never be surpassed; thev were the homes of the traveler in every sense of the Nvord. Summitville, Alexandria and Prosperity were all stopping places in this county on the line, and when the blast of the stage driver's bugle sounded giving warning of the coming of that important vehicle of travel and commerce, the popula- tion of these villages turned out en masse to witness its arrival and departure. In the early spring months it was almost impossible to travel over a portion of the route, and in some instances it became necessary to abandon the stage coach for days at a time and traverse the route with a cart with two horses hitched to it to carry the mails, as they had to go through, at all all hazards. Mr. Pittsford relates that in tiie spring of 18()5, it was so muddy that he drove over the entire route with the front wheels of a wagon on which was placed a queensware crate which served as a receptacle for mail and express matter, and that the only passenger he hauled in the period of three weeks was a Alethodist minister who came to Anderson to attend conference. Congressmen, United States Senators and men of mill- ItlSTORV OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 12'.) tarj' renown h;ive been passengers on this stage line. It was the only outlet north for man)- years, and was patronized by all, high and low. A stage driver was one of the envied of idl envious peo- ple, and was generally foremost of all in the social world. Many a boy while plowing corn along the highwav where the stage coach passed has looked upon the driver and wished for the day to conie when he could lea\e the farm and become a stage driver. Air. Pittsford's first experience as a stage driver was at Stockton. California, where he was in the employ of a com- pany driving across the plains and mountain ranges in an eai ly dav. The hand of progress has made the stage coach a thing only in history, the locomoti\e has driven it out of existence. What disposition electricity will make of the locomotive is left for the future to unfold. THE FIRST I!KID(;K IN THE COUNTV. Until the year 1842 no effort was made to bridge White river so that the people could pass and repass from north to south through the county during times of high water, which occurred much oftener in the early times than at present, on account of the countrv not being drained, and the timbered lands being covered with surface water most of the jear, especially in the early spring. Almost everv season we had what was termed the " January thaw," when the snows began to melt in the latter part of that month and the first part of Februarj-, which caused the little streams all over the country to be much swollen, and their waters emptying into White river caused it to become impassable during those periods. A ferry boat was for many years maintained at Anderson upon which the populace crossed in going to and from market to sell their produce. At the March session of the Board of Commissioners, 1842, a move was put on foot to place a bridge across the river. The Board made the following order appropriating money for that purpose. "Ordered, that ^\)\)) of the B per cent, fund belonging to Madison county be appropriated to the constructing and build- ing of a bridge across White river where the Fort Wayne and Andersontown road crosses the same, or as near as a good situation can be had, and William Sparks, Willis (J. Atherton, Paschal Baker, John Renshaw and William 130 HISTORY OF MADISON COINTY, INDIANA. Young are hereby appointed superintendents of said bridge, and they are empowered to raise funds by subscriptions, and they shall make report to this board." Thus the matter rested until at the December session, 1S42, when the superintendents aforesaid came into open court and informed the Board of Commissioners that they had failed to agree as to the proper place to locate the bridge, and resigned their places. At this time the Comity Board made the following entry after accepting the resignation of the superintendents : " Ordered, that the board of commissioners now take the responsibility upon themselves, and now proceed to locate the bridge at, or near, the lime kiln, below the termination of the bluff at the northeast corner of the plot of Anderson- town." The Board afterward let the contract to Henry and Hugh Rogers to build the structure, which was evidentlj' not com- pleted for c|uite a while, as no final settlement was made for the work until the September session, 184(), when thev were paid $300 as the balance due them on their contract, all of which appears of record. At the same session that the ap- propriation was made for this bridge, a similar one was made for the purpose of the erection of a bridge across Fall creek, at Pendleton. The bridge at Anderson was washed away during the liigh water season in January, 1847, an account of which is elsewhere given. The pier on the west side of the river, upon which this bridge stood, is still intact, and is situated not far from tiie foot of Sixth street, close to the Norton brewer^'. It has served for half a century as a place from which the boys who resort to the " old swimmin' hole,"" dive into the ri\er. There is not an " old " boy in Anderson scarcely, who has not plunged into the clear and beautiful waters from this pier. There are men in Madison count}' who are now grav-headed, who have in their boyhood daj-s dived into the river from this place. After the bridge was washed away a ferry boat was again established there, and for many years did service, in fact, until the year IHHS, when the covered bridge that stood where the present iron structure now stands, near the cemetery, was built. The covered bridge was built b}- an appropriation by the County Commissioneis together with a fund raised by popular subscription. Many who subscribed to the fund gave HlSrOHV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 131 their notes and never paid them, and tor veais they were car- ried in the assets of the county treasury, until finally they were certified off' as bad debts, and were filed away in the Auditor's office as dim reminders of the loner ago. The ferrv boat was owned at different times bv many of liic prominent citizens of the county, it being considered a good piece of property. Joshua Shinkle, one of the oldest living inhabitants of Madison county, at one time operated it, the lion. Wesley Dunham, ex-mayor of Anderson, and Gerry T. Hoover, well known to all of the older residents, each had their time as ferr3man. It is related that on one occasion when a circus and menagerie was being taken across the river on the ferry boat, an elephant was brought to the water's edge, and urged to step on the boat, when he flatly refused, and bioke away from his keeper and swam across ; stopping on the opposite shore he filled his trunk full of dirty water and gave the hundreds of bvstanders a thorough soaking, spoiling many a new gown and Sunday hat. This ferry freighted across the river all the hogs and cattle that came to the Anderson market for several years, ■when the waters were high. The covered bridge that took the place of the ferry in IS(j8, was swept away in 1884. and in the same year the Countv Commissioners let the contract to McCormick & Sweeney, who were then engaged in build- ing the court house, for the construction of the masonry, and to the Morrison Bridge company for the iron work. The covered bridge was a place dreaded bv many pedes- trians, in making their wav through its long, narrow passage in the night time, and many blood-curdling tales were told tibout attempts at robberv. But many of them were purely imaginary. It being so close to the cemeterv it was an easy mat- ter for the superstitious to work them.selves up to believe that robbers, ghosts and goblins made their haunts in its dark recesses. MADISON county's FIRST GRADUATES. Away back in early times in Madison county to be a graduate from an institution of learning, was an honor enjoyed b}' the precious few. One who enjoyed this distinction was looked up to by the community with eyes full of envv, and was the talk of the neighborhood, by old and young. The first to be accorded this piivilege were Enoch M. Jackson and Augus- tus M. Williams, the former the son of the late Andrew Jack- 132 HISTORY OF MADISOX COUNTY. IXDIAXA. son, and the latter the son of Robert X. ^\'illiams. Ijoth of whom were prominent for many j'ears in Madison countv, both socially and politically. Mr. Enoch M. Jackson was the first to attend Bloomington college from this county, having entered that institution in 1845. In the following year Mr. .Vugustus M. Williams was appointed as a student there by the board of commissioners at their June session, 18415. The laws governing the State educa- tional institutions provide that each coimtv shall have two students annually appointed whose tuition should be free. The order appointing Mr. Williams is recorded as fol- lows : " The Board now selects Augustus M. Williams as a student in the Indiana University and grants to him the ben- efits of said college in as full and ample a manner as the laws no\v in force empowers them to do." Both of these gentlemen graduated from Bloomington with high honors. Mr. Jackson has several years since deceased. He is spoken of in another place in this volume. Mr. Williams is yet living in Anderson enjoying his old days in a cottage of his own, where all is happiness and con- tentment. He not ouly enjoys the honor of being one of the first graduates of the county, but he has the distinction of being the first white male child born in Anderson, where he has resided all his life. It is said that he was born in the hut in which the Indian chief Anderson had formerly resided, and whose name the city bears. We are indebted to ^Ir. Williams for much information about early times and are glad to make honorable mention of him in this work. In 1845 the Hon. Wm. C. Fleming was appointed as a student in this institution, but never a\ailed himself of its benefits. I FIRST F0RF:I<;X horn CITIZEX X.VTL'R.\LIZIiD. Thomas Carlton, a natl\e of •' OKI Ireland ," was the first foreign citi/.en to a]5plv f"r naluiali/.ation papers in Madison countv, which were issued to him on the 7lh of July, 18-iU. He appeared before the c!erk ol the Madison circuit court and made his application in wriiing. and after subscrib- ing to the following oath, was granted his first papers : "I, Thomas Carlton, do solemnly swear tlial I will -up- port the constitution of thel'nited Stales, and the constitution of the State of Indiana, and forever renounce all allegiance and I HISTOnV Ol- MADISOX COUNT"!'. IXDIAXA. 133 fidelitv to every forcin-ii prince, potentate, state or sovereignty ■whatever, and especial 1\- to the C^iieen of (jreat Britain, so help me God ."' On the ].")th of Autj;iist. ISld. Mr. Carlton appeared be- fore the judge of the circuit couit and upon making proof of his good citizenship and obedience to the laws of his adopted country, was in open court made a full citizen of the L^nited States of America, anil went on record as being the first for- eign citizen to be naturalized in this county. Since that tiiue thousands who have left their native land to seek a home in the land of the free, have gone through the form of being transformed into children by adoption, of the best govern- ment on earth. A WAR MEMOUV. In the A// i^tr.o// S/ainiard oi June 2Sth, 1864, a full ac- count is given of the presentation of a |40l) watch to Colonel ^^^^^ ..-tf-"^^^ ^^■1 ^ -^'SiLi^ f *.T^ HH 1 ^^^v ■ I ''°*^ ,^ ^^r ■ lidp ^ 1 1^ HH^^H MA|(>K i-.i>(;ak ukndkkson. Thomas N. Stilhvell by the officers of the One Hundred and Thirtieth and One Hundred and Thirty-first regiments, Indiana Volunteers, which took place in camp at Kokomo where the Colonel was organizing troops for the service. The pres- entation speech was made by the late Hon. Edgar Hender- son, a former resident of Anderson, who was at that time a 134 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTV, INDIANA. captain in the army, having volunteered from Adams county. From Captain Henderson's address, we quote the following- extracts : "Colonel Stilwell, the connection which for a time has so pleasantly existed between us, being soon to be severed, permit me on behalf of the officers and men of the One Hundred and Thirtieth and One Hundred and Thirty-first reg- iments, as a slight token of the esteem and respect entertained by them for you as an officer and man, to present to vou this watch and chain. May the shield engraved thereon ever prove a true symbol of your safety from the assaults of vour foes and from the enemies of our country. May tlie chain ever svm- bolize the chain of friendship and affection which binds our hearts together, and may its links grow brighter and brighter as time presses on and be as pure and untarnished as the metal of which it is made, and mav its stars and field of blue ever remain so. "We go to the tented liekl, the field of strife and blood, doubtless some of us to our death, never to return, we trust, until this most causeless conspiracy, this most atrocious rebel- lion against the best government on earth, ag;iinst the highest, purest and holiest of ho[)es of humanitv, shall have been crushed into ungalherable atoms. We are an.xious that \oii should go with us, but understanding and knowing that voiir business relations are such that you cannot, it would be worse than puerile and heartless to indulge in anv unavailing re- quests. You will soon retire to tlie walks of private life, not always on a velvety lawn, shaven with a scvthe and leveled with a roller, but often times hedged with thorns, and beset with sharp and rugged corners."" To this the Colonel responded with much feeling as fol- lows : " Officers and soldiers of the Eleventli Congressional District of fndiana : To say that I appreciate the magnificent present purchased, and just now presented by you through Captain Henderson, in the eloquent words to which vou have listened, does not do justice to my heart. \'ahiable as it is; beautiful as the experienced hand of art could make it, it is not for its intrinsic worth or beauty that I pri/.e it. The re- membrance of the links of friendship that unite us, and the kindly sentiments on vour part that suggested its purchase, make me profoundly thankful and aft'ect me with feelings far more agreeable than any that could be possibly expected by the value of the gold and diamonds. I shall treasure the pres- ent through all the days to come. It shall remain an heirloom IIISTOUV Ol' -MADIsOX COl'NTV. IXDIAXA. im in mv family. I shall keep it as a remembrance of this hour ; one of the most agrecalile in my life. Soldiers, you have nobly responded to the call of your country. The Eleventh Congressional District stands to-day in the tront ranks ot honor in Indiana, and Indiana stands out prominently as the foremost State in everytliing that looks to the crushing of this ungodly rebellion. There are many soliliers among you with whom I have formed a pleasant and agreeable acquaintance, and I know you are ready to sacrifice your lives, if necessary, for the Union, the constitution, and the enforcement of the laws. If I cannot go, you shall have a man more competent than I am to command you, an officer of experience, who has seen active service, and can lead vou through every conflict. fOL. XnoM.'iS N. STII.U r.i.i.. I remember when a banner was presented liy me to the gal- lant Thirty-fourth regiment, with which I was then connected. Under the folds of that ilag whose inspiration was onward, the members of that gallant regiment fought, and would not forsake it until it should wave over all the land. That ban- ner has returned to this State, torn, pierced with the shot of the enem)', its original beauty gone, but beautiful still, with the stars and stripes thereon, and the remembrance of the con- flicts through which it has passed. The brave boys of that regiment have nobly adhered to their oaths. As Indianians 180 HISTORY OK MADISON COINTV, IVDIAXA. "we liave a glorious part in tlie history ot" the war; no soldiers stand higher than do those of this State. Again, soldiers, accept my heartfelt thanks for your handsome and valuable present.'" Shortly after this presentation, Colonel Stihvell returned to his home where he engaged in private business, although alive to the interests of the soldiers in the field. In the fall of that year he was nominated by the Republicans of the Eleventh Indiana district, and elected as a member of Con- gress against the Hon. J. F. McDowell, of Marion, Indiana, an account of which is given in another part of this book. Captain Henderson, who made the presentation speecii, became a leading citi/.en of Anderson after the war was over. He was prominent in its business aft'airs, and, in ]8Tl5, \vas elected to the legislature and served acceptably for one term. Later on he removed to Kingman. Kansas, where lie engaged in the banking business, and there died. His remains were brought to Anderson, and interred in the cemetery north of the river. His familv at this writing are residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana. THE OLD l,0(i .SCHOOL HOUSE. None but those who have attended school in the old log sciiool house can appreciate the many pleasures that cluster around its meniorv. The district schools of Madison county of fifty years ago \vere taught in rude cabins, built by the pioneers in the neigh- boriinods in a manner to best suit the convenience of the few pupils of the times. Some of the happiest moments of the lives of the country boys and girls were spent in these primi- tive structures. The school house was often at a distance of one or two miles from the home of the pupil. The wading through the deep snow and the crossing of the little brook on the foot log by the country lads and lassies, were pleasures pure and unal- loyed. Tlie rustling of the leaves of the stately maple that shed its foliage in the pathway to the school house will never again be heard by those who so joyfully kicked and romped in the woodland on their journey to school. In the beautiful month of October, when "Indian summer" was at its height of splendor, who ever heard a sweeter sound than the rattle of the leaves beneath the feet of the country maiden on her way to school .' IIISI'OUV OF \rAnTSOX COUNTV, INDIAXA. \iU Whoever hreatlietl a purer air than the autumn breath, when " tlie frost was on tlie pumpkin vine," as through the woods the scholars romped and played, sometimes too long, making a tard_y mark against themselves for their fun? » The furniture was of the rudest kind, being composed of slabs made of logs split in two and one side smoothed off for the scholars to sit upon. These clumsy seats were set upon legs driven into the slabs where holes were bored into them. The seats had no backs against which to lean or to rest the wear}' pupil as he conned over his lesson. The teacher was generally the " sii/ar/csl" man in the neighborhood, regardless of his cJ/iratioit, and must be thoroughly competent, physic- ally, to whip the biggest bov in school. The brightest scholar at that time scarcely ever got beyond the •' single rule of three," or, as we now term it, simple proportion. &k^-m THK OI.Ii r.Ol". SCHOOL IIOrSK. The great occasion of the country school came on Christ- mas day, or the dav pre\ ious. On that tlav the large scholars presented to the teacher a petition, asking him to treat on Christinas dav. This, of course, he refused to do, being a part of tlie [ilay. On the next morning when the teacher came to school he found himself locked out, and the big bovs in command of the premises. The small scholars were almost scared to death by the threats of the teacher to annihilate the whole crowd as soon as he gained admission; Ijut this was understood by the larger ones, and after repeated efforts of the teacher to gain an entrance, all to no purpose, he would start in a threatening manner to lea\e the grounds. .\ntl there is where the fun set 138 IIISTOIJY OF MADI.SOX COIXIV, I.NDIAXA. in. Xo s-joner would he start tlian the entire gaii^ of h'g boys were on his trail, anil siicli ruiinii'g was never witnessed in any other conte-t. If the teacher happened to be a swift limner, it often took a half day to oserhaid him, and when he was captured he was taken to the brook and sometimes thrown in before he would sign the agreement lo treat. Bat it was always expected that the treat would be forthcoming at a proper time. And after the captive had succimibed. and all of the arrangeinents made, a grand time was had, in which all partook of a feast of striped candy, apples and hard cider. None but those who have participated in one of these afl'airs can fully appreciate the pleasure thev gave. It is safe to say that anybody who ever did take part in one. now looks back to it with pleasurable emotions. The school house was not supplied with glass windows to admit the light of dav, but a log was cut out of the side, and a piece of greased paper was pasted over the opening, which served for that purpose. It was against the rules for more than one scholar to be out of the house at one time, during the hours of study. It was impossible for the teacher to at all times keep his eye on the door, so he had a large paddle made, which he hung by the side of the door, on one side of this was in large letters, gener- ally made with a piece of '• kiel," "OL T," on the reverse side was the word "■ IN.'" Each scholar was required to turn the paddle when going out. and on returning, to turn it back again. Sometimes when two mischievous boys wanted to have some fim. one would go out and turn the paddle entirely over, and after the teacner was engaged and had time to forget who was HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 139 out, the other would go out and join his partner. This meant an awful whipping if caught and the boys well knew it. To get a whipping at school then was a thing long to be remem- bered b)' the recipient. A large hickory switch as big as an ox "gad" was the instrument used, and the offending one was drawn up in front of the whole school and a frightful ex- ample was made of him, as he stood up and received from fifty to one hundred lashes. Many of the large boys prepared themselves for the whipping (as they were chastised for the most minor ofl'ense). They would sometimes, when they had transgressed the rules, and were expecting to be punished, place sheepskins under their coats which would serve to pro- tect their persons from the severe blows. The Friday afternoon spelling bees of the country schools were a feature that the present day pedagogues might with profit imitate. The whole school resolved itself into a spelling match, having a captain on each side who chose alternately from the scholars until all the pupils were taken, then the teacher "gave out " to them and the contest was kept up un- til late in the afternoon, when the exercises were closed by reading " compositions " and speaking pieces. Dialogues, declamations, essays and stump speeches were the order of the day. The quarrel of Brutus and Cassius, and the speech of Patrick Henry before the Virginia convention, were favorite pieces selected for these occasions. " Ben Bat- tle was a soldier bold," was also often rehearsed with much gusto by the young Cicero of the old log school house times. Mark Antony's oration over the dead body of Cit'sar was left for the big boy who aspired to fame and future greatness, and many who afterward became great in oratory made their first attempt by delivering this address. The last day of school will never be forgotten by the old- timers. The term was generally wound up bj' giving an " ex- hibition," in which the whole school, and sometimes the scholars of neighboring districts, took part. These affairs made an impression upon the minds of those who participated in them, that it would be impossible to forget. The last day was a day of parting, with some forever ; with others only until the next winter, when school again took up. With all the joyous sports and exercises of the last day of school where is the boy or girl of the old days who has not moistened the pillow with the tears of regret upon retiring upon the night of the last day of school? 140 HISTORY OF iMADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. REAPING HOOK, CRADLE AND BINDER. There are a few yet living in Madison county who reiwem- ber the daj-s of the reaping hook, but precious few who ever used one of them to gather a crop of growing grain. It has been nearly three-quarters of a century since thej' were in general use. In the early settlement of the country, the area of land sown in wheat was quite small as the country was but little cleared, and only a small patch of wheat was cultivated, corn being the principal grain for food for man and beast. THE REAPING HOOK. When the time came to harvest the grain, the farmer did not go forth in his field with a hand.some reaper, followed bj' scores of men binding the sheaves as thej^ fell from the machine, but in a quiet manner proceeded with his wife, sons and daughters, and with reaping hooks gathered the waving grain by hand. The larger farmer, who had considerable of cleared land, generall}' invited his neighbors to assist him, and it was made THE GRAIN CR.VDLE. the occasion of a grand " frolic." A little of the pure and "unadulterated product of the still '" was always on hand, as it was thought at that time that the harvest could not be prop- erly gathered without it. At night after the work was done, sometimes the festiv- ities were wound up witli a dance on the old puncheon floor. The music being furnished by one of the neighborhood boys on a " fiddle," the most popular airs being '• the Money Musk," " the Devil's Dream"" and " the Arkansaw Traveler." HISTORY OK MADISON COl'XTV. INDIANA. 141 The liardsiiips of llic diiy were entirely lorifotten in the merry dance and obliterated by the swelling notes of the music, and the dance went on until the dawn of morning. There is no doubt as to the enjoynient in those good old times, as there is not one living who ever participated in one of those occasions who does not grow eloquent in recounting tiie many blissful moments thus spent. As the country opened out ami farms became possessed of wider fields, the demands for better facilities for harvesting the grain became manifest, and the inventive genius of man began to plan, and in his fertile brain conceived and brought forth the grain cradle, which was the implement of the har- vest field for many years, in fact, it was the only means of gathering the wheat until in the year liS49 or 1850, when it gave way to the reaping machine. The cultivation of wheat was largely- increased by the in- troduction of the grain cradle, and the harxest time became one of the most important seasons of the year. People were more sociable and attentive to the wants of each otiier than now, and the neighborhoods flocked together in harvest time and helped their neighbors gather their grain. Sometimes as many as a dozen men with a cradle each, would be at work on one farm. The cradlers each had a man or boy to follow with a rake, whose duty it was to bunch the fallen wheat into sheaves ready for binding, which was done by a man in the rear. The shockers who followed the cradling party, the boy who carried the sheaves and one to carry water and whisky, made up the party at one of these harvesting bees. The women made as much stir about the uflair as did the men. They congregated together at tiie homes of the neighbors and assisted in preparing the meals for tlie harvest hands, and en- joyed it as much as the present day women do the assisting of each other at the "swell" receptions. An ordinary cradler could cut four acres of grain in a day, and experts could do much more. There was a great rivalry between the cradlers as to their aliilit\', and many matches were made in the fields. When McCormick invented the reaper he put an end to these merry scenes in the harvest fields, and a new era dawned upon the people, and harvest was made a comparatively easy task as compared with the days of the cradle and the reaping hook. The self-binder soon followed to further lighten the burden, which was soon followed by the machine to bunch the sheaves ready for the shock, which has made the harvest field 142 HISTORY OF MADISOX COl^NTY, INDIANA. a place nearer to a scene of pleasure than of labor. What the next fifty years may develop is beyond even conjecture. It may be that in the near future the people of the L nited States may witness the bearded grain felled and prepared for the granary with machines propelled by electricity. Whatever inaj- come to pass, there is one thing that is a certainty, the people will never get back to the simplicit}' of manners, and good fellowship that was extant in the days of the reaping hook. THE SELF BINDING REAl'lNCi MACHINE. The halcyon days of om- grandmother, when that good old soul used to go into the flax patch and pull the growing weed from the ground and carry it to the quaint old log barn, and after drying the stems, prepare it for the " break," while her husband was tilling the little patch that he had opened in the forest, for a faini, is long ago passed into oblivion. There are just a few here and there who ever saw such a scene. There are precious few of the old-time women now living in Madison county, who [)ropelled the spinning wheel, or used the " scutching "" knife in the preparation of the flax for cloth- ing with which to cover her little "brood."" The process of utilizing the tlax is almost a lost art to tlie people of this com- munity. ?vlany of the present day do not e\en know how our grandmothers used to toil in the work of providing covering for the bodies of their children, as well as making with her own hands, the clothing for the beds on which they slept. The flax was pulled when matured, and thoroughly dried, sometimes by a fire, and wlien in a proper state was " broken " II III>T(»I!V OI' MADISON COrXTV, INDIANA. 143 THI-: 111. I) M'lNNiNc; \vhi;i;l. 144 HISTORY OF .MADISON COl'NTY, INDIANA. and then " scutched ■' willi a "scutching" knife made of wood, until all of the shives were taken out of it, leaving the lint ready for the wlieel.- It was then spun into threads ready for the loom, by which it was woven into cloth. The good old pioneer women, many of them besides rear- ing a famil}' of a dozen children and attending to all of their household duties, took the flax from its native state in the ground and went through the entire process of converting it into cloth and from that stage into clothing, making the gar- ments for her entire household. It was also true of all wool- ens, which she took from the sheep's back and followed it through the diflerent processes until it was converted into clothing, and blankets for the beds. Mothers and daughters of to-day know but little of the work and toil of the pioneers. Tiie preparation for the afternoon reception, the worry about the six o'clock dinner, is nolh'iig to be compared with the anxiety and labor connected with the earlv settlers' wives and daughters in the preparation of the raiment for the family, which had to be taken from the ground in the raw material and worked into manufactured articles. The shrill whistle of the woolen mill iias drowned the hum of the spinning wheel, and it is only a thing in the mem- ory of the old-timer, and but few of them are left to tell that these were once the implements of industry. The flax break is now a thing of an age passed and gone. We doubt if there ever was a sweeter time in life than when the good old mother sat in front of the fireplace spinning, while her little ones prattled around her knee and roasted potatoes in the ashes in front of her, uniler her watchfid and loving care. Could we be carried back to such a scene we doubt not that it would be a happy one to behold. The mother of those days, was a mother in all the word implies ; no care was too great, no labor too severe for her to undergo for her offspring; her \o\e was as pure and ns simple as the plain and im pretentious- ness of her surroundings. In order tiiat the wheel that plaj-ed such a conspicuous part in the early times in this and other counties in the early settlement of the country, may not be lost in ol)li\ion we have procured a photo of one of these ancient implements of lahor and reproduce it here in contrast with the wheels witii which tile mother and daughter of to-dav are wont to employ their leisure moments. The one here produced is one of the oldest HISTORV OF MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. 145 extant, having been made early in the present century, in Wayne county by an old wheelwright, who, almost a century ago., went to his final rest. It was once the property of Mrs. Lj'dia Forkner. of Union township, who was one of the last women in Madison county to make use of the spinning wheel. She died in .\u- gust, 18U5, at the residence of her son Alfred, at the ripe old age of ninety-three. She was the last of a tvpe of women the like of whom will never again live in Madison county, and we are made happ}- by here perpetuating her memory and to speak well of her noble deeds. Mrs. Mary Hull, widow of the late Rev. Matthew R. Hull, a noted minister of the gospel of the M. E. Church, who for many years was a prominent figure in both church and political matters in Indiana, kindly posed for the illustration here given. She can \'ividly remember the days when the spinning wheel was one of the household necessities. Siie has for many years been a resident of Aiulerson, with her daughter, Mrs. R. H. Cokefair, and is one of the best known and highly respected ladies in the community. IHE OLD TIME MAIL ItOUTES. Of the four boys who carried the mail to Anderson sixty years ago, there are but two yet living, the Hon. M. L. Bundy, of New Castle, and John R. i?oston, of Pendleton. The other two, Mr. Britton Braskett and Mr. A. K. Russell, are both dead. Mr. Russell died five or six years ago, and ]\Ir. Braskett died in Anderson but a few months previous to this writing. These boys, as they were then, braved the storms and hardships in all seasons of the year and made their regular trips to and from Anderson with the mail pouch on horseback. All in after years became more or less prominent in the business affairs of the world, notably Mr. Bundy, who has filled many high and honorable positions in civil life, and was a paymaster in the war of the rebellion. He was judge of the courts in Henry county, and National Bank Examiner under Grant's administration as President. He has been very successful in iinancial affairs, and is now living in retirement and ease at Newcastle. Mr. Bundy has kindly furnished us a sketch of his experience as a mail boy, and other matters which we are pleased to copy. 10 146 IIJSTOltV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. JUDGE BUNDY S LETTER. "I am asked to give a description of Anderson and other villages of Madison county as well as such old-time citizens as came under my observation while I carried the mail on horse- back for a year, beginning October, 1834, and ending October, 1835, also the route 1 traveled. The eastern end was Center- ville, in Wayne county, and the western, Noblesville, in Ham- ilton county, and the service was once a week. Centerville was the most important town on the route, because there was a newspaper published there by Samuel C. Meredith, who at this date still lives. The great lawyers and politicians of the A. E. RUSSELL, WHO CARRIRD THE .MAIL TO ANDERSON AND PENDLE- TON, IN 1833. White Water valley lived there, and there was an excellent dry-goods store kept by Myer Seatoii. Leaving Centerville my route took in Jacksonburgh, Nettle Creek (since called Hager.stown), Boyd's, on Flat Rock, New Caslle, Middle, town, Che.sterfield, Ainicrsoiitoivii, as it was then called, Pen- dleton and Noblesville. Five days were allowed in which to make the trip in eacli week, Siituiday and Sunday being daj-s for rest. The late William Silver, of Pendleton, but then re- HISTOHV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 147 siding at New Castle, was the contractor who furnished a horse and subsistance, with ify a niontii as mv compensation. CHKSTERl- lELD. In the fall of 1884, Chestertiekl was probably a place of tnore importance than it is at this day, for Allen Makepeace had the best store and largest trade in the county, and gener- ally was recognized as one of the best merchants in the country. A man of genial address, he never failed to attract people to his store. His father, then an elderly gentleman, was the postmaster to whom I delivered tiie mail, ami William Dilts HON. .MARTIN L. BINUV, WHO CARKIKD THE .MAIL TO ANDERSON IN 1834. had a large brick house which he used as a dwelling for his family- and likewise to entertain the public, and there I stopped for dinner twice a week. I can never forget the family and the kindness with which they always treated me,. though I was a mere boy. ANDERSON, At the time I name, might have had a population of 150 peo- ple, but the site was a great hazel thicket, through which nar- 148 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. row roads had been cut to enable teams to pass, but on either side of which a person could hide in the bushes in a few steps. and become invisible. The physical condition of the town had not improved since the Indians left it a few years before. It had long been an Indian town, where, tradition tells us, the great warrior, Tecumseh, was born and spent his boyhood. The county seat had been removed from the thriving town of Pendleton to Anderson, but no public building had been erected, and business was transacted at the house of the public officer in 1834. I do not remember who filled the office of sheriff, but R. X. Williams was clerk, recorder and post- master, and I doubt if his compensation for all these public trusts amounted to $500 a year. The citizens of the town I best remember, because I saw them every week, were ^Vill- iams, the postmaster ; Andrew Jackson, afterward clerk : and Colonel Berry. Fred Bronnenberg I often saw either in Anderson or Chesterfield, the same genial companion then as now, though sixty-two years have elapsed. He is I he only person then in active business that I can call to mind as now living, which shows the transitory nature of our existence. PENDLETON, Which was my next stopping place, was then a thriving village, full of enterprise and gifted men. There was Palmer Patrick, Dr. John H. Cook, James Gray, and the Doctors Richmond, father and son, who would have been men of mark in any community, my landlord, Jesse Boston, who took care of me two nights each week, had immigrated from Baltimore the year before and erected a family residence and house of enter- tainment combined. Before leaving Maryland he had evident- ly caught the railroad fever, then prevalent there, because his tavern sign liad painted on it the picture of a locomotive engine, which attracted much attention because of its novelty. The men of Pendleton then in active life, it is needless to say, have all passed away. NOBLESVILI.E. I was retiuired to go from Pendleton to Xoblesville and return the same day. The country between these two towns at that time was a howling wilderness and one could tr;;vel several miles without seeing a human habitation. Much of the land was covered with water which in the winter time froze over and formed a solid bridge for miles, but in the spring of the year there seemed to be no bottom to the road. HISTORY OF MADISON COUXTY, INDIANA. 149 Nobleville was a stiaggling villauld get "full," but good feeling generally prevailed, although there haYe been cases where old grudges were settled between enemies by hand-to-hand tights when they happened to meet in the clearing. The men of those daj's generally dressed in homespun clothing, consisting of a hunting shirt made of '• linsey " with pants, coat and vest of blue jeans. In this rough garb their hearts beat with honest pride as they toiletl for their future wealth and greatness. In those days at the log rollings many used oxen to assist in bunching the logs for the heaps. Many of the present gen- eration have never seen a " yoke " of o.xen. They were not only beasts of burden fifty years ago in the woods in logging, but served as a means of hauling wagons upon the roads. An early scene along the old National Road, and the road leading to Strawtown, was one of a continual stream of ox wagons, moving the pioneers to the wilds of their new homes in the far west. The yellow hound was also an accompaniment to the ox wagon. He generally brought up the rear of the procession, keeping faithful watch over the children and the faniilv cow that followed behind. At the log rollings and barn raisings there was as muL-h formality and etiquette in some respects as prevails among the " swell " society people of to-day. When a new comer made his advent into a neighborhood he was the recipient of all favors, and made the guest of honor on all occasions until he was duly initiated into the ways of the new home he had sought in the wilderness. If he proved true, and was made of the proper material, he soon was one of the community in all its meaning; if not, he was in a \ery short time dropped. It did not take the neighbors long to form an opinion of the 156 IIISTORV OF MADISDN COUNTY, INDIANA. new settler, and when public sentiment was formed there was no reversing it. The fellow who alwajs had fault to find with the ways of the country and was continually comparing the mode of pro- cedure with the way they did "in yander" where he came from, and making unfavorable comments of this sort, was set down as an ass, or what we would in this day say, a '• smart Alec," and the people had but little use for him. In the days of " the cabin in the clearing ,'' of which the Hon. Ben. Parker, of Xewcastle, has so sweetly sung, the "Johnny cake " cut quite a figure. To bake a "Johnny cake" was an accomplishment that any woman was proud to possess. The cake was made of corn meal and water, being well mixed with lard for " shortning." and laid on a board and set up in front of the lireplacc, which generally occupied one whole end of the cabin, and was baked by the heat thrown out from the tire of huge logs rolled in by the sturdy pioneer. Some times a gnod fat opossum was served with the "Johnny cake" with an abundance of "sop"' for the children. A person who did not like that kind of eating was at once set down as not being properlj' "raised." Who ever sat in front of one of those old-fashioned fire places and looked into the fiaming lire as it threw out its warming raj'S, and listened to the lullaby of the mother's even- ing song, that does not wish that he could wander back to those scenes of simplicity, and for a time live over aj^ain the happy moments thus spent? It would not be exaggeration to say that a million dollars worth of timber has been burned in log heaps in Madison county. Many handsome walnut trees have thus been de- voured in order to get them out of the way of the plow, that would now be worth at least one hundred dollars each. ()R(,ANIZATION OK OLD SETTLEKS. For a number of years it has been customary at intervals to have meetings in different parts of the county, of the old settlers, for the purpose of talking over old times and ming- ling together in amusement and speech making. The first meeting of this kind of which we can find any record, was one held in Pendleton in 185(5. Among the prominent persons who took an active part on this occasion and made speeches were [ohn Markle, Able fohnson, Samuel D. Irish, John H. Cook. Conrad Crossley, Thomas Silver and Isaac Busbv. \\ e HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 157 believe that of those sturdy pioneers active in tiiis memorable meeting, not one is now living. In the vear of 1873, another meeting was held at Alex- dria, in luly, which was largely attended by people from different parts of the county. The next meeting of importance took place in the jear 1874, on the banks of White river, near the village of Perkins- ville, which was largely attended by Ijoth the residents of Madison and Hamilton counties. The meeting was called to order by Andrew McKenzie, of Hamilton county. (General J. D. Stevenson, of Noblesville, was elected president, and the Rev. J. F. Rhodes, of Perkinsville, was elected secretarv. The meeting was addressed by Rev. John W. Forest, Ji'dge Johnathan Colburn, James HoUingswortli, Noah Waymire, H . G. Finch and Thomas L. Beck with. A good deal of merri- ment was occasioned by the speech of Mr. Finch, who gave it as his opinion that the country would be better off without either ministers or churches. Various relics of the pioneer times of the county were e.xhibited, among which was an old *' shot pouch " and powder horn, worn by a Mr. Fislier. who was killed by the Indians, not far from where this meet- ing was held, an account of which is given elsewhere. A permanent organization was effected for the two counties by Thomas L. Beckwith being elected corresponding secretary and General Stevenson president. At various times since, there have been other meetings of the old settlers at different points in the county, but it seems that no attempt had been made to keep up a regular organiza- tion, and the meetings were held simply by calls being signet! by ditTerent persons, which assembled them together. One of the largest meetings held for many years, oc- curred at Chesterfiekl in the year 1887, at which Judge Win- burn R. Pierse, Hon. James W. Sansberry, Samuel Myers, W. C. Fleming and many old timers, delivered addresses. This meeting was on White river, north of the \illage, near a gas well on W. B. I?ronnenberg's farm. At a meeting held at the court house in Anilerson, on the Kith of July, 1894, upon the call of Samuel Hardin, Rufus H. Williams and others, steps were taken to more thoroughly organize the Old Settlers Association, since which time thev have held annual meetings and a record of their proceedings has been kept. John L. Forkner presided, and William P. Newman acted as secretary at this meeting. It was decided 158 IIISTOHV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. to hold the first annual meeting at Ruddle's grove on the ;}Oth of August, of that year. Francis Watkins was chosen presi- dent and a vice-president was elected for the association for each township in the county. When the day of the meeting arrived a large concourse of people assembled in the beautiful grove and were welcomed to the city by the Hon. John H. Terhune, at that time Mayor. Addresses were made by J. M. Farlovv, Hon. James W. Sans- berry, Dr. Ward Cook, of Pendleton, James Hollingsworth, Samuel Myers, Hon. David S. Gooding, of Greenfield, Charles Fisher, of Fishersburg, Abisha Lewis and many otheis whose names if recorded here would occupy too much space. The oldest married couple in the county was present in the persons of Samuel and Rebecca Stevenson, of Anderson township, they having lived in the holy bonds of wedlock for tiie term of sixty-three years. The Lapel brass band under the leadership of Prof. D. K. Elliott, furnished most excellent music for the occasion. The venerable Samuel Myers, in his address pre- dicteol that this would be his last meeting with the association, which proved true. The next annual nit'eting was held on the '2{)th of August, 1895, at the same place. Francis Watkins, the president of the association, being absent, the meeting was called to order by James Hollingsworth, and Hon. M. M. Diinlap, Mayor of Anderson, welcomed the visitors in a very happv speech and extended to them the freedom of the city. The weather being very threatening, it was not so largely attended as the former one, but a general good feeling prevailed and a very happy time was had by those who were in attendance. Among those who addressed the meeting were Dr. William Suman, Byron H. Dyson, James HoUingswortii, W. V. Shanklin, Mrs. Lucinda Harden, Mrs. G. N. Hilligoss and Abisha Lewis. Dr. N. L. Wickersham read an original poem prepared by himself for this special occasion which contained many good points in reference to the old cabin days, which was well received and was highly entertaining to those who had the pleasure of listening to it. At this meeting a com- mittee was selected consisting of Edward Roberts, Neil Mauzy and Thomas Harmeson, to select names for permanent officers of the association for the next year, who accordingly reported for president, Samuel Hardin ; secretary, John L. Forkner, and treasurer. David Conrad. Thev appointed a meeting to take place at the same locality one year hence. HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 159 These meetings have thus kept alive the spirit and enthu- siasm of the old settlers of Madison county and by keepinij a record of their annual proceedings in the years to come it will be interesting to the new generation to peruse the account of their doings and sayings. CHAPTER XXII. Reminiscences — Accidents and Incidents. THE STORY OF A HAT. Sometime during the j'ear 188(_) a mysterious stranger dropped into (jreentield, in Hancock county, and settled down in the farming community in that vicinity. He en- gaged in the occupation of school teaching. He was very reticent, and gave but little information as to his former hoine or whence he came. It was evident, however, from his conversation that he was an eastern man from tiie fact that he had the Yankee brogue plainlv upon his tongue. He was verj' quiet and exceedingly neat and cleanly about his person. He seldom visited Greenfield except in the company of the farmer with whom he made his home while teaching school. He was thoroughly educated, and to all appearances was one who by his talents could command a much better position in life than the one he was then tilling. While many who became acquainted with him wondered why such a man should have located in a country district and confined himself to the monotony of school life, there was none who had any cause to believe there was anything wrong about him. He remained in that neighborhood for nearly two years, during which time he became well acijuainted with the neighbors, and finally ingratiated himself into the confidence of the farmer to such an extent that he was entrusted with his business, such as drawing money on checks at the bank. This the stranger did with faithfuhiess, and would turn over to his host the last penny. As the result of all tiiis, he be- came well acquainted with tlie officers of the banks in Green- field, who were delighted to have a visit from him. He was an interesting conversationalist, and was very suave in his manners. One bright sunny morning he dropped into one of the banks and laid down on the counter a note for a considerable HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. IGl amount. The note was signed by his farmer friend with whom he had been living, and the stranger was anxious to have it discounted, a favor which was readily granted by the officers. Nothing further was thought of the transaction until some weeks subsecjuently, when the farmer by whom the note was said to be signed came to town, and on going to the bank was informed by the officials that they had pur- chased the note. Their consternation and astonishment can be well imagined when informed by the farmer that the note in (|uestion was a base forgery; that the stranger had not been at the farmer's house for quite a while, and that he had left the count}-. Efforts were made in a cjuiet way by the bank authorities (o ascertain his whereabouts, but all to no purpose. But lit- tle stir was made about it, as they did not desire the commu- nit}' to know thev had been duped in such a manner. Time rolled on until the year 1885, when at Rockford, Illinois, a stranger was found dead in his bed in one of the rooms of the hotel at which he was stopping. There were no papers or anything upon his person whereby his identity could be established. He had worn a stiff cady hat, and in the crown of this appeared the name of "Frank Spear, the Hatter, Anderson, Indiana." Letters were at once written to Mr. Spear, but he had no recollection of selling a hat to any such personage, and could give no clue to his name or identity. The officials of Rockford, being anxious to find his rela- tives, as he had all the appearance of being a well-to-do man, iiad photographs made of him as he lay in liis coffin and then held the body until they had time to send these throughout the land. Thomas R. Moore was at that time sheriff of Madison county, and received one of the photographs, which he exhib- ed to every one he met on the street, to all the business men, and to all the city officials, but no one could remember of hav- ing seen such a person. In some way, one of the photographs fell into the hands of the officials of Hancock county and was shown to the people there, and among these were the propri- etors of the bank upon which he had committed the forgery, who recognized his features at once as the missing party for whom they had been looking. \\'iihout making much fuss or ceremony, they sent a representative to Rockford, Illinois, who after examining the bod)' established its identity bej'ond 11 162 HISTORY OK MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. doubt. L'pon his person was found but little monev, ;is he had evidently squandered it, and the bank never received anv- tliing to reimburse it. During liis residence in Hancock county he gave his name as Blanchard, by which name he was known at that place, but nothing of his history, or his former life, or who he was, ever became known, and is to this day a mystery. One thing is certain and that is, that he was a very slick rogue, and that he laid his plans in the most artful and cunning manner and car- ried them to successful ends. When making his escape froin Greenfield, he no doubt passed through Anderson, and here purchased of Frank Spear the hat by which he was identihed after death. The bank officials have to this day kept the secret of this affair to themselves, and there were very few outside of their own circle who knew anvthing about it. DARING ESCAPE OF A CRIMINAL. The following story was related to F. T. Luse bv Will- iam B. Allen, late of Anderson and Ex-Sheriff of ^ladison countv. There are yet living in this county many persons who remember the occurrence. The world admires a hero, or deeds of daring; the more astonishing the achievements, the greater the admiration. The men in our late civil war who excited the greatest interest were those who took the greatest risks, resulting in the most unexpected terminations, but whether a man be facing the cannon's inouth, or engaged in any other work, if he has accomplished his undertaking, attention is at once directed to him, and his name for a season is upon man}' tongues. Criminals have often won praise for their daring. One of the most remarkable cases of this kind took place in Madi- son county many years ago. A man of the name of William Harris, who was a noted criminal, displayed the most \von- derful nerve and daring to secure his freedom, and it was the theme of conversation in every circle for many months. Mr. Harris had, like manj- other wayward men, in his childhood, a good father and inother to guide him, but he gave little heed to them. Soon after reaching his majority, he began to associ- ate with men of bad reputation, and was finally arrested by William B. Allen, Sheriff of Madison county, during the summer of 1S41, on the charge of passing counterfeit money, and on his trial he was proven giiiltv. IIISTOUV OK IMADISON COUNTV, INDIANA. 1G3 In relating this story, it might not he inappropriate to state that other persons whose names have never been given up were known to have been engaged in this most nefarious business, but escaped impHcation. The old log jail that stood in the court house yard was insecure and unfit for use, and the cupola, or belfry of the court house was improvised into a prison for keeping crimi- nals, there being but one way of access to the cupola, and that was by the stairwav leading from the hall of the court iiouse. In the case of Harris it was not deemed necessary to watch him at any other place about the building than at this point. No one but his wife and the Sheriff and deputies vis- ited him in his elevated confinement. On the night of August ll', 18^:1, about 12 o'clock, the prisoner set himself at work lo make his escape. The night was one long to be remembered by those then living ; great torrents of rain fell from about 10 o'clock until daylight next morning. The rain was incessant, and was accompanied by vivid Hashes of lightning from all points of the heavens. The thunder was terrific and appalling in the extreme. What lime more fitting than this for a man to liberate himself from imprisonment? Harris determined to go through the shutter to the lightning rod, and let himself down to the roof of the court house, then continuing his hold on the rod to descend to the ground, a total distance from the starting point of about forty-five feet. The wife of the prisoner, who had been admitted to his place of confinement, was with him upon this occasion, and between them the attemjit to escape by this means was de- bated long and earnestly. Liberty was sweet and life precious, vet while undertaking to secure the one he might lose the other. The desire to proceed with the undertaking was about ecjually balanced by the resolve to abandon it. Finally, over- coming all fear, he bade farewell to his wife and started out amidst the drenching rain and the blinding flashes of the light- ning to the rod which was to lead him to liberty. He could hear, as he afterwards stated, the lightning skip along the rod. At the west end of the cupola a portion of this rod was discernable as long as the old court house stood in the public square. Harris seized the rod and proceeded sailor fashion, hand over hand, and soon reached the roof. So far so good, and yet only a small portion of his journey had been accomplished. 164 HISTORY OK MADISON COrXTV, INDIANA. The fear that the electric current passing down tbe rod niiujht injure him seemed to deter him ; the belief that the guard in the hallway might hear his movements caused his heart to flutter ; but the die was cast, and he could not now retrace his steps. Seizing the rod once more he crawled cautioush" down the roof, over the eave of the house, and stepped off the roof on to the sill of a window on the west end of the hall. A glance at the other i^nd of the hall, as the lightning illumin- ated it, satisfied him that the guards were asleep, and that his journey thus far had been safely accomplished. It was six- teen feet from the window to the ground, and once on tcrru lirma he departed as speedily as possible from the localitv. When he was put in prison he had been manacled with handcuffs and chains upon his ankles. It is said that his wife in entering his room had taken with her an old case knife, which served the purpose of sawing in two the chains between his hands and between his feet, and that she also furnished him with a shawl which she had worn on that occasion and wrapped his legs for the purpose of protecting them from the rod as he climbed down over the roof. When the morning arrived and the SheritY and his guards came to get their prisoner great astonishment and chagrin seized them when they discovered that their bird had flown. The unlooked-for manner in which he had escaped filled them with confusion and shame which it is impossible to describe. Harris had been originally arrested in Henry county and had escaped from the officers and fled to Madison count}-, where he was concealed by some friends for a time. He was arrested by Sheriff Allen and detained in confinement in the old court house, as described, until such time as he could be safely returned to New Castle and delivered to the officers of the law. He was recaptured and brought from Cincinnati to New Castle. He was there convicted of the crime for which he was arrested, and was thence taken by the sheriff and his deputy to the State's prison at Jeft'erson ville, Ind., in a two- horse wagon, taking several days to make the trip. Here he served a term of two years, the period for whicii he was sentenced. Harris never returned to this part of the country to live. In the year 1863, some Madison county soldiers of an Indiana regiment, while on detached duty in Kentucky stopped for a brief season near Cvnthiana, and in mingling with the citi- zens, one of them became accjuainted with an old, gray-haired IIISTOltV ()[•' MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 105 man, stoop-shouldereil and slow of conversation. After a brief interview, the old man asked the soldier if he was from Madison county. On receiving an afKrinative reply, he made himself known. It was Harris, the man who had, over twenty 3'ears before, on that dark, stormy night, made his successful escape by the lightning rod. He related the particulars of liis escape to the soldier ; how he had retreated on the night in question, and had gone to the residence of a brother who lived north of Anderson, who assisted him in relieving himself from his handcuffs and chains, and that they were hidden in an old hollow stump on his brother's farm. On his release from the State's prison he had gone to Kentucky, where he had made his home ever since. He said that he had sown his wild oats and had settled down to be a sturdy- and steady citizen ; that he had reared a respectable family and had accumulated a competency for the remainder of his days. He said he en- joyed the respect of the community in which he lived. Har- ris died about the close of the rebellion. His relatives in Mad- ison county were all highly respectable people. He had a brother who at one time represented the countv in the Indiana legislature. James Hollingswortii was then deputy sheritf of Madison county and stood guard around the court house the night that Harris made his escape. HELD THE FOKT. In the year 185t) Peter H. Lemon, once a promineat cit- izen of Madison county, was elected clerk of the Madison cir- cuit court, and served four years. Shortly alter his election the question was raised as to his eligibility. He \vas elected as a Democrat and it seems that the Anderson Sia/nhird and a number of the leading Democrats of the county were of the opinion that he was not eligible. The S/aiidord oCSliiy ,Sth, 1857, says in relation to the matter : '' A rumor, to which we at first gave little attention, has within a few weeks been gain- ing currency in some parts of the countv, particularly the most southern townships, to the effect that the present in- cumbent of the clerk's oftice, Peter H. Lemon, is said to be constitutionally ineligible. The Republicans will now secretly nominate a candidate and vote for him, conseijuently if there is no opposing candidate he will be elected and will then pro- ceed to oust Mr. Lemon. We therefore deem it prudent and right to warn the Democracv of the dantjer bvstatinsr the real 166 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. facts in the case. The constitution of the state of Indiana has the following provision: ' Xo person elected to any judicial office shall during the term for which he shall have been elected be eligible to any office of trust or profit under the State other than the judicial office until his commission expires.' Mr. Lemon having been elected Justice of the Peace and his commission having not expired at the time of his election as Clerk the classification in the constitution makes him clearly ineligible.'' It seems that the editor of the Stainhu-J had no feeling against Mr. Lemon other than stated in his editorial article with the belief the opposite party could under the constitution name a candidate at the next election who could claim the Clerk's office by right of the provision of the con- stitution above quoted. Several leading Democrats, prominent among whom was Samuel W. Hill, who was at that time a practicing attorncv, upheld the position taken by the StaiidarJ , and in several communications in that journal advised the partv to make a nomination and run a candidate in the next election to fill the oflice. JSIany of the Republicans sided with Mr. Lemon, prominent among whom was John Davis. A continual war- fare was kept up until the election had passed liv and !Mr. Lemon safely held his office. Peter H. Lemon was not the sort of man who could be scared by a small matter like this. lie was considerable of a factor in politics himself, and wield- ed a ready pen. It will be seen by the files of the newspapers of that day that he took ample care of himself in the contest. It was secretly passed around from mouth to mouth by many of his political opponents that a candidate would be placed in the field and elected to take his place before his term of office expired, which never came about, owing largelv to the shrewd kind of warfare which Mr. Lemon made. It may be here further stated that Peter H. Lemon and Albert J. Ross were the only two persons ever elected to an office in Madison county, who filled their terms, being clearly ineligible at the time. Mr. Ross was elected sheriff of the county in 187:i, under the provision of the constitution similar to that of Mr. Lemon. He had been elected but a short time prior to his nomination as Sherifl", to the office of Justice of the Peace of Duck Creek township, and had resigned tlie otfice. and but one or two persons in the county gave the matter a thought, and but little was said about it until ^Ir. Ross" term of office IllsroHV 111- .MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 167 as SlicrilT had expired. Tlie question was never raised by his poh'tical opponents dm inir his term. AN INDIAN ItliMINI-SCENCE. In rummaging amont; a lot of old papers, hunting dates and material tor this work, the writer unearthed a story told by some old settler over the name of" T.", in which he re- counts the tragic end of an Indian near the city of Anderson on the ground now occupied by the beautiful suburb of Shade- land. The details of this narrative are as follows : In the spring of 1827 four Indians, three of the Miami and one of the Pottawattamie tribe, left their homes upon Eel river, north of Logansport, for a hunt on Big Lick, a stream meandering through the southern iiart of JMadison county, in the neigh- borhood of Fall Creek and Adams townships. Deer, raccoon, .squirrel and other game were very plentiful in those days, and the work of the hunter, was generally well rewarded. At this season of the year, when the leaves were about the size of a squirrel's ear, and the spring was just ready to don its green coat of verdure, hundreds of hunters, both white and Intlian, would betake themselves to the streams for hunting and fishing. Two of t!ie Miami Indians above named were designated as "Jim" and "George Buckwheat." On the way to the hunting ground the partv stopped at " Andersontown " and purchased ammunition and fire water, the latter article being more familiarly known among the pale faces as whisky. They then proceeded leisurely south to their intended hunting place and remained two weeks, during which they enjoyed the sport of hunting, not forgetting at the same time to indulge in lib- eral potations of •• fire water." * These four Imlians Ijecame invohed in a quarrel, whicii ended in blows and a general fight. ^\ taunting remark was made by George Buckwheat to the Pottawattamie, wiio con- sidered his character as being slandered, and immediately seiic- ing a tomahawk struck Buckwheat a blow on the head which knocked him lifeless to the ground. This act soon brought the two remaining Indians to a condition of sobriety, and a feeling of rage look possession of |im Buckwheat when lu; saw the dead body of his brother. A grave was dug, into which the bod}- was lowered, and after tobacco and a toma- hawk had been deposited with it. was covered up, and tiie 168 HISTORY' OF MADISON COUXTV, INDIANA. tliree Indians mounting their ponies departed cjuietiy in tlie direction of their homes. The quarrel between Jim Buckwheat and the ihiyer of his brother was, however, kept up with much bitterness for several hours along the route of their return. Gradually it began to dawn upon the mind of the Pottawattamie that he had done wrong, and the only way to appease the wrath of the Miamis, which was then the leading tribe of the Northwest, and to preserve his honor as a brave warrior among his own, was to oflfer up iiis life as an atonement. He accordingly concluded to do so at once. The party reached a strip of \voods where the Ben Thomas farm is now situated, about one mile west of Anderson. Here, the Pottawattamie, after sing- ing a death song, and offering up a prayer to the Great Spirit, folded his arms across his breast, and requested Jim Buck- wheat to shoot him. Pacing off some fifty steps, and taking deliberate aim with his riile, Buckwheat fired and the Potta- wattamie fell to the earth a corpse. The deed was done, and Indian honor avenged, according to the aboriginal idea, by the death of this warrior. After informing the whitesof what had occurred, and the reason therefor, the two survivors mounted their ponies, leaving the dead unburied, and soon disappeared in the forest. Tlie white settlers dug a grave near the tree where he was killed and buried him. Old timers living here then have frequently asserted that the moss on the north side of this tree assumed the exact face and head of an Indian. So strongly was this afhrined, and just as strongly ridiculed for manv years that finalh' a man of the name of Harris, well known in Anderson at the time, quietly proceeded to the spot and cut down the tree, and thus stopped further discussion. A few years subsequent to this event, one Dr. Roe started a plirenological publication in Anderson, and would occasion- ally deliver lectures on phrenology. To illustrate his points it was necessaiT to have a skull, and he proceeded ciuietlv to the grave of the forgotten Pottawattamie, and unceremoni- ously took thereform the skull which had once belonged to the noble red man. This he used in his lectures as long as he re- mained here, and when he left, it is said, took it \vith him. A \VAR IlEMINISCEXCE. It was on tiie first Saturdav evening after the firing on Fort Sumter, in April. ISOl. that tliere was a voluntarv IIISIORV OK MADISOX COUXTV, INDIANA. 1 r.9 mass-meeting of citizens in the old rectanguUir ccnut house, which then occupied our public square. It was in all regards the most potential meeting ever iield in that edifice. Old and voung of all shades of political faith were present and took an eager and an active part in its deliherations, if such they may be called. Dr. Townsend Ryan, Colonel Milton S. Robinson, Robert D. Traster, and Joseph Buckles, of Muncie, (the latter being then Circuit Judge) and many less conspicuous persons spoke. It is needless to say there were no two opinions — (it would not have been healthy) — expressed by any one on the subject then uppermost in the minds of old and young of both sexes. Nearly every man and youth present who was eligible for DAVID SHAFER IN lS(il. military service, and man}' who were not eligible, vohniteered in less than sixty minutes. There were 18() volunteers and a company was at once organized, and \V. R. Myers was elected captain but declined and suggested the name of Iliram T. \'andeyender, assigning as a reason that \'ande\ender was two inches taller than any man in the company. It is needless to say that the spirit which then actuated the \olunteers, was not the same that prevailed a year later. The question then was not whoshoukl be officers, but on the contrary it was who could inost promptly respond to tlie call for troops for the suppression of the re- bellion, which Secretary of State Seward assured the coutitrv 170 iiisTi)K\' i)i- MADisox coi ^^^, Indiana. would be done in ninety dav*. The result was that II. T. Vandevender was, oxer his protest, elected captain, ^\'. R. IMyers, first lieutenant, L. D. McCallister, second lieutenant, and Hampton H. Dula, third lieutenant. Colonel N. Berry and Judge Starkey were conspicuous in giving assistance in the organization of the company ; Col- onel Berry having served in the Mexican war as a quarter- master, and Judge Starkey liaving served a five years' enlist- ment as a Seargent Major in the regular arniy. It was soon learned that the office of Third Lieutenant had long been dis- pensed \vith, and Mr. Dula found himself an enlisted man, which not in the least emharrassed him. After the business for which this memorable meeting had been called was disposed of, Mr. S. B. Mattox (then county recorder) made a speech in which he called the attention of the meeting to the fact that one Henry V. Clinton, who after- ward achieved a wide reputation of an unsavory character, was living with Mr. Berryman Shafer (who then owned and lived on what is now the county poor farm), and had been there for several months. 'Sir. Clinton was from the State of Louisiana and though his deportment in the community uji to that time had been that of a thorough gentleman, it was an easy task, owing to the fevered condition of the public mind, to rouse the imagination of the audience to believe that Mr. Clinton was an emissary from the South, with secret powers for evil against the government. Matto.x's speech was fol- lowed by Samuel Waldon, then sixtv years old, who posed as an " old Californian,"' and knew exactl}' how to tie a hang- man's noose, claiming to ha\e had experience in that gentle pastime, as a member of the " Regulators " of the Pacific slope in the earlj- fifties. Other speakers followed, all ui^ging the necessity of immediately ridding the county and State of Mr. Clintons presence. Mattox ottered a resolution, authorizing a committee to wait on Mr. Clinton that nigiit and give him twenty-four hours in which to absent himself from the State. This resolution was adopted with much enthusiasm and in less than an hour anywhere from fifty to one hundred men and bo)-s were on the road to Mr. Shafer's home. The old "bus" was engaged, and buggies and carriages were brought into requisition, while many were on horseback : saddle horses and equipments were much more numerous then than now. The night was clear and beautifully star-lit. With wild whoops and hurrahs, tlie excited body of insane human- insTF MADISON COUNTY, IXniAXA. 181 with open nioutlis, and young boys stood by with staring eyes with the noble ambition to see as many iiangings as possible, so that they might boast a little when the down on their chins ripened into stiff beards. At one of the corners some men were bleating out the attractions of a side show, "The wild men of Afghanistan," and were splitting many a sensitive tympanum with their vociferous shouts to walk inside the dirty canvas and view the wonders of nature in the shape of a couple of idiotic negroes. To and fro among the crowd were numerous young men selling pictures of White, and who earnestly protested that they were bona fide photographs of the man who was about to be hung. During all this time, within a few rods of this scene a poor wretch strode miserably to and fro in his cell, counting each tick of the clock which brought him nearer to the frown- ing gallows, the dreadful noose, the yawning grave and the dark, dread hereafter, which not even the best of us can face without a shudder. PHEI'ARINC I'OK THE .MARCH. At ll' o'clock p_reparations were made to take the prisoner to the scaffold. The rope, artistically knotted and well greased, was examined and found all right. The jurors, county officers, reporters and others entitled to admission within the enclosure, were assembled in the jailor's room below, and when all was ready proceeded up stairs. The sheriff opened the cell of the condemned man who walked out into the corridor. He looked calm and self-possessed with the exception of the restless wan- derings of his e\es, here, there, everywhere, but resting upon nothing. His arms were now pinioned, the rope was placed around his neck, and he was escorted down to the front gate of the jail yard. The crowd was large and denseh' packed, and it reciuired guards with fixed bayonets to keep them back. The prisoner was then seated on his coffin, which had been placed in a com- mon spring wagon, the Rev. Father Crawley on one side, and Sheriff" James H. Snell on the other. The reporters and others fell in behind, and the guards with bayonets turned outward, formed a line on each side, and thus the procession began the dead march. From the prison the procession marched to Anderson, now Eighth street, and turned west down that beautiful thoroughfare, lined on each side with elegant dwell- 182 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. ings. The cortege passed slowly along amid a cloud of dust, the crowd pressing frantically forward to get a view of the prisoner, and were unmindful of the bayonets. Hundreds of women, many of them with babies in their arms, were borne along with the crowd, their dresses torn and dragging in the dust, and themselves in danger of being trampled to death. Many of the verandas in front of the residences were full of people, while from behind the green leaves of the vines shone the fair faces and bright eyes of young ladies too modest to sliow themselves on such an occasion, yet with enough of morbid curiosity to make them look upon the tlreadful sight. Throughout the horribly tedious march the prisoner was unmoved. He sat with his eyes closed and with his ear inclined to Father Crawley listening to the exhortation of that good man. He seemed to have gathered strength as he went on, and his nerves acted as if made of steel. He spoke rarely, and then only in response to questions asked him by Father Crawley. Occasionally, as some epithet would fall upon his ear, he would look quickly up, and a tiger-like gleam would for a moment flash from his eyes. He was decorous and dig- nified throughout, and his conduct put to shame many of those who followed him to the grave. THE GALLOWS. Arriving opposite the gallows, which had been built in a thick forest of oaks about half a mile from the citj-, and two hundred yards north of the main road, the procession filed down the narrow county road with a thick undergrowth of hazel bushes on either side. The gallows %vas a plain platform with a railing around it, a trap in the center and a crossbeam over- head. It was surrounded by a high enclosure of green oak trees, capable of holding 200 persons. The scene around the gallows was at once striking and humiliating. Ten thousand persons were scattered througii tlie woods, while prol^abl}' five hundred had climbed to the tops of the neighboring trees, and hung like squirrels among the branches, almost determined to break their necks in order to view the final proceedings. Adventurous women followed the prisoner to the gallows, and looked up enviously at the fellows in the trees who had the opportunity of viewing the execution from an elevated standpoint, seeming to regret the right vouchsafed to man that was not granted to woman, that of climbing a tree. IIISTORV OF ?iIADISON COUNTY. INDIANA. 183 Several seemed on the point of trying it, but in deference to public sentiment, their better judgment prevailed. ox THE SCAFFOLD. All who had tickets marched into the enclosure, and the armed guards set about the task of keeping out the crowd. Sheriff Snell, Father Crawley, and the prisoner mounted the scaffold, and the latter was set on the proper place over the trap. He was a large man, neai ly six feet in height, and "weigliing about 200 pounds. He was dressed in a complete suit of black cloth ; he wore gaiters, had on a black felt hat and a white collar. He was cleanly shaven with the excep- tion of a mustache and chin whiskers, which partially con- cealed the sensual and cruel expression of his mouth. Many- women would have pronounced him good looking, even hand- some, in fact, one"s first impression would be, that he was not a bad man. There was nothing repulsive in his appear- ance to the casual observer except his eyes, which were set closely together, and had a suspicion of strabismus about them. Sheriff Snell read the death warrant to him, but White heard it without moving a muscle of his countenance, keep- ing his eyes steadfastly fixed upon the floor. He then knelt with Father Crawley on the trap, and repeated after him the Lord's prayer, and the Ave Maria, the Apostles' creed, and other prayers of the church. His voice, though low, was clear and distinct, without the slightest suspicion of tremor. It had been expected that the prisoner would make a pub- lic confession upon the gallows, which, however, he failed to do. Sheriff Snell informed us that he made to him and another gentleman^a sort of confession in which he asserted that he did not himself commit the deed, but that it was done by a respectable farmer of Madison county. This is under- stood to have been a gentleman who severely horsewhipped White while he was a boy for cutting up his harness, and against whom White held malice ever since. This alleged confession was considered as not being entitled to any sort of credence. The prisoner may have probablv confessed to Father Crawley, but what he confessed is between Father Crawlev and God alone. THE DROP. Tile rope was finally adjusted to the right length after several trials, during which the prisoner stood erect with every 18-4 HISTORY OF :MADIS0X COUMV, INDIANA. muscle as rigid as iron. There was no sign of failing except the limpid expression of the eye, arid an occasional gulping motion of the throat as if trying to swallow something. While the rope was being adjusted he stood firm, and occasion- ally cast a glance at the fastening which sustained the trap. Sheriff Snell drew the black cap o\er his head as the poor wretch cast a last and lingering look upon the world and the scene around him. The cap was drawn tightly over his face and tied under the chin, shutting out forever from his gaze the glorious sunshine. The sheriff then took a sharp hatchet, and with one quick, nervous blow, severed the cord. There was a sickening thud as the body, with a fall of three feet, shot through the trap, making the beam overhead quiver. Thus was the body of Milton White suspended between Heaven and earth, while his guilty crime-stained soul went into the presence of its Maker. His neck was broken by the fall, and not a single muscle moved after the body fell. CONCLUSION. But little remains to be told. \Vhatever may be thought of capital punishment, tiie people of Madison county are well enough satisfied that Milton White is out of the way. The execution was well managed, and Sheriff Snell is entitled to much credit for his coolness and self-possession. Father Crawlej- proved himself a devoted friend to the condemned man and stood by him to the last. Everyone was disappointed by the demeanor of White in his last moments. It was believed that he would be unmanned, but on the con- trary, no man ever met death with less sign of trepidation. The behavior of the crowd at the execution was commendably quiet. The body hung twenty-seven minutes, after which it was taken down, and examined bj- Drs. Thomas X. Jones and Stanley W. Edwins, who pronounced life extinct. It was placed in a coffin and buried in the Catholic cemetery, whence it is possible it may have found its way into some doctor's dis- secting room. If the articulated bones of Milton White assist some medical student in his study of anatomv, it will be prob- ably the first good use to which they were ever put." As many newcomers of Madison county are not familiar with the scene of the execution, we will state that it took place on the old fair ground, on what is now known as west IIISTOKV OF .MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 185 Eighth street. The gallows was located on nortli Madison avenue about 150 yards northwest of the palatial residence of jamas Donnelly. Many stories are told of White in his younger days being of a naturally cruel di.sjjosition. It is said that he would catch pigs, goslings, young ducks and other fowls, and cut their legs otT in order to see them hobble around in their misery. James H. Snell, the slierifT, who e.xecuted White, is still a resident of Anderson. Dr. Thomas N. Jones, one of the physicians who examined the body, died in the year 1S75, while Dr. Stanley W. Edwins is at this writing a prominent physician of Elwood. The clul) with which Iloppes was killed was kept in the county Clerk's office until the destruction of the court house in December, 1(S8U. CHAPTER XXIV. Reminiscences taken from the Files of the Anderson Gazette, a Newspaper published ix Anderson in THE Early Fifties, which will re of 1ntp;rest to Old-Timers. In the issue of the Anderson Gazette, of April 8th, 1S5B, we find the business card of the law firm of Buckles & Sans- berrv, in which they offer their services to the public as solic- itors at law and solicitors in chancery, and state that thev will promptly attend to all professional business entrusted to their care in the courts of Madison count}-. " The professional business entrusted to the care of Mr. Buckles in either the supreme court of this state or the district courts of the United states will be promptly attended to." These two gentlemen afterwards became famous at tlie bar. Mr. Sansberry is yet a prominent citizen of Anderson. Mr. Buckles lives at Muncie, Ind. In the same issue appears the announcement of L. .Vntrini, proprietor of the Railroad House, as follows : " The Railroad House is centrally and conveniently situated directly opposite the court house. No attention will be spared to render the accommodations of the Railroad House of a most acceptable character. The livery stable of Richard Lake has been procured for the accommodation of the house, where a hostler is always in attendance, and a hack will run regularly to the depot for the accommodation of railroad passengers." The Richard Lake above referred to is the Hon. Richard Lake, Ex-Judge of the Common Pleas court, who ha- for many years been a member of the Anderson bar. In the issue of April I5th, 1853, we find the following editorial announcement : " We are happy to inform our readers and those wiio are interested in the completion of the Cincinnati, Logansport and Chicago railroad, that it is progressing at a stead}' rate: Mr. Creighcraft. the contractor here, is shoving things as tiiey HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. ISJ ought to go; if the weather will permit there will be a large amount of work done this spring, and we may confidently look for the speedy completion of this great work. When it is completed Anderson will be between two great thorough- fares, and who shall say that it will not be a business place? " In the same issue the returns of the township election for Anderson township are given, as follows : " For township trustees, William Crim, for a term of three years ; Samuel Myers, two years, and Lanty Roach for one year; for township c'erk, Enoch M. Jackson ; for town- ship treasurer, Elon Merrill ; for constables, Da\ id Henry, Gerry T. Hoover, and William Mustard."' At the same election the question as to whether Anderson township should have licensed liquor saloons was submitted to the voters and the anti-license people carried the day by a big majority. The issue of the Gazette of April '2'2A. ISoH. appeared in full mourning, having all its column rules inverted, in mem- ory of William R. King, Vice-President of the United .'-^tates, with the following announcement of his death : " After we had gone to press and had worked off a large part of our edition we received the mournful notice of the death of the Hon. William R. King, Vice-President of the United States, who departed this life at his residence in Dallas county, Alabama, on the evening of the 18th of this month." It will be remembered that William R. King was \'ice- President of the I'nited States, elected on the ticket with Franklin Pierce in 1852. In the issue of July 1st, 1853, an account of the celebra- tion by the Masonic order and other societies at Pendleton, appears as follows : " The celebration by the Masons, the Odd Fellows and Sons of Temperance was well attended by the members of their respective orders at Pendleton on the 24th of June. Reuben A. Riley, of Greenfield, opened the public speaking on behalf of the .Sons of Temperance and his eff'ort is said to have been a very able one. Mr. Boyd ne.xt addressed the audience on the part of the Odd Fellows, and lastly Dr. Ferris, of New Castle, delivered a discourse on behalf of the Masotn'c fraternity. Alter the speaking a large number repaired to a grove near by. where a sumptuous repast awaited them, hav- ing been prepared by the Rev. Nathaniel Richmond for this occasion. From the table the procession marched to the site 188 IIISTOR-S- OI- MADISOX COIXTV, INDIANA. of the New Masonic hall about to be erected by Madison lodge No. 44. Here the corner stone was laid in due form in the evening, witli appropriate ceremonies, and then a cotillion ' came off " at Liberty hall, after which all the vast throng, estimated at three thousand people, dispersed to their homes, well pleased with the festivities they had enjoyed at Pen- dleton." In the issue of June 3d, 1858, appears the professional card of J. & M. S. Robinson, counsellors at law, in which they announce that they will attend to all business entrusted to their care in the Superior and inferior courts of the state, special attention being paid to the collection and security of claims. Office up stairs in G. W. Bowen's " Open Front," east of Atherton's Corner. The M. S. Robinson above referred to is the late Col. Milton S. Robinson of .Vnderson, who was then quite a young lawver just starting on a long and successful career. It appears from the issue of June yd. that the agitation of building a plank road from Anderson was talked of, as the fol- lowing notice appears in the Gazette of that date : " A meeting of the citizens of Madison and Grant coun- ties will be held at Alexandria on Saturday, the 11th day of )une next, for the purpose of determining as to the propriety of constructing a plank road from Anderson, in Madison county, to Jonesboro. in Grant county. Every person inter- ested is particularly invited to attend.'" This scheme was never carried out, and the road was never built, but afterwards a portion of it became a graveled and macadamized thoroughfare. In the same issue we find that the editor of the (iazctle had communicated with G. \V. Lennard, of the New Castle Courier, asking for the name of the first locomotive on the Cincinnati tV Chicago railroad. Mr. Lennard promptly in- formed him that the name of the engine was the "Swinette." Tiie writer can \erify the correctness of Mr. Lennard's state- ment from the fact that he has seen that engine and it pulled the first train upon which he ever rode. It was a small affair, without any cow-catcher in front, and presented a very odd appearance. Furtiier details will be found in reference to this engine, in another place in this book, under the head of early railroad.s. In the issue of June 17th. 1858, we find the announce- ment of River's Eciuestrian and Dramatic Circu-. in which it IIISTORV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 189 is announced that an cxhil:)ition will take place at Anderson on June llSth ; doors open at 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock p. m. ; admission, 25 cents: positively no half price : performance will consist of an array of brilliant performers selected from the cream of the most celebrated estal)lishments of both Europe and America. The entertainment will be rich, rare and un- equa'ed. Among the leading features will be an ample hip- podrome and set of performing horses incomparably superior in beauty and training to those of any establif-hment on earth, a troup of equestrians and a dramatic company of rare histri- onic ability. The Riyers family of efjuestrians, whose names are familiar in every capital of the new and old world, will also be present. Mr. J. W. Myers, the chaste, witty, origi- nal, exquisite clown and humorist, will also be present in the arena. A whole family of diminutive trick ponies will he one of the leading features of this exhibition. We also tind in the same issue the announcement of Ray- mond & Co. and Van Amberg & Co.'s menageries united, in which they announce an exhibition in Anderson on Saturday, June 25th, admission 25 cents, children under ten years. 15 cents. They also announce that the cavalcade will arrive in the town in the morning about 10 o'clock, and the grand ]5ro- cession will take place, consisting of carriages, cages, and vans containing the animals, drawn by one hundred and twenty splendid horses, headed by the comnanies' celebrated brass band. They will pass over the principal streets to the pavilion wliere the exhibition will take place. And thereby will give the public the benefit of beholding one of the most enormous processions ever witnessed. ]\Ir. Van Amberg, the most renowned of all lion conquerors, giving an exhibition in person by entering the dens of the lions, tigers antl leopards in the presence of the audience. A rhinocerous or unicorn and an Arabian zebra will also be among the features of this grand entertainment. The monster elephant Hannibal, the finest specimen of his race in the known world, will also be in- troduced. Hannibal, the elephant above referred to, was one of the largest ever exhibited in this country. He was verj' sullen and mean in his disposition, and finally had to be killed. David K. Carver, Ex-Sheriff of Madison county, while travel- ing with this caravan in the capacity of a vender of ginger- bread and circus lemonade, had an experience witii old Hanni- bal that will bear repeating. \\'hile in one of the southern 190 HISTORY OF ArADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. cities after the exhibition was over Carver had at night pur- chased from a bakery in the village, a large amount of warm ginger-bread which he had stacked in his wagon and was ready to leave the camp, when the elephant smelled the cake and immediately made his way to Carver's outfit. Raising his trunk he smashed the wagon into smithereens and then gobbled up the bread in the twinkling of an eye, leaving Car- ver badlj' in the lurch, as he had invested about all he had in the outfit and the articles which it contained. Hannibal's keeper endeavored to prevent the destruction of the Carver outfit, but no power on earth could have retarded him, and he \vas not satisfied until his ;ippetite was appeased by eating the last ginger cake in sight. We also find in the issue of June 24th, the announcement of a meeting held at the M. E. church for the purpose of tak- ing steps for the celebration of the Fourth of ]u\\, 1858, at Anderson. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held and the following resolutions were offered and inianimouslv adopted. •• Resolved, that the 4th of July be celebrated by the Sab- bath schools of Anderson ; secondly, we cordially in\ ite all the Sabbath schools and citizens in the county to participate with us on this occasion ; Jasper Myers be and is hereby selected as the reader of the Declaration of Independence ; that Judge David S. Gooding be invited to deliver an address; that Captain George W. Bowen. of the Madison Guards, be invited to take part with us in military style, and to bring a band of music, the procession to be formed at 10 o'clock under the command and direction of Colonel Ninevah Berry, who is hereby se- lected to act as inarshal of the day ; that the procession march to the grove north of the town ; that the editor of the Gazette be requested to publish the foregoing resolutions." The committee who signed the above were P. A. Leever, Mr. Pence, F. P. Siddall, and Luther P. Stone. This celebra- tion will be pleasantly remembered by many of our old-time citizens. The grove north of town wi.s on a piece of ground now in the heart of the city, being on north Meridian street, near Fifth street. In the issue of June 24, 1853, the editor of the Gazette makes an earnest appeal to his subscribers to pay him, and uses the following language : "We want on subscription wood, bacon, flour, butter. IIISTOliV OF MADISON COITNTY, INDIANA. 191 eggs and, in fact, everytliing used about the house. If our friends will only keep us in such like, we guarantee them a paper regularly each week."' He also announces that he " will give the highest market price for any amount of good clean rags on subscription to the Gazette.^' In the issue of July 8, 1853, the editor makes an appeal to his readers in behalf of the American Express company, which was the first company of that kind to do business in Anderson. He says : "We advise our readers who wish any article from the city, to have it brought by the American Express company if they desire to have it quickly and certain. P. F. Siddall is the agent in Anderson, and he uses every endeavor to accom- modate to the fullest extent, and secures the highest prices for all who do business by express." Jii the same issue, the advertisement of Cyrus P. Pence, the father of John W. Pence, the genial cashier of the Citi- zens" Bank, of Anderson, appears as follows : " Vegetable and mechanical process of tanning all kinds of leather. The subscriber is now prepared to teach the above process of tanning by written instructions, or by being present with the person desiring to receive the instruction, by letter or otherwise on very accommodating terms, for the sum of twenty-five dollars. The tanning of skins in the short space of one day, and other qualities of leather in proportion to their bodies. He professes to be able to give to any one who may favor him with his custom, general satisfaction." In the issue of July 29th an editorial appears, announc- ing a fire in Anderson, and calling the attention of the citizens to the necessity of fire protection : " On Friday night last, about one o'clock, fire was dis- covered in the stable belonging to John Davis, Esquire. So fierce were the llames that before they could be extinguished, a stable belonging to Samuel Myers caught, and was con- sumed with all in it. Mr. Myers" horses, three in number, with a colt, were burned to death. Mr. Myers' loss was about $400, while that of Mr. Davis was very small. The fire originated from the hand of an incendiary. Under the new law it is obligatory that every property holder in the corpora- tion should furnish buckets and ladders, and if they refuse to procure them, the authorities may do so and recover the amounts from them in spite of theniselves. We hope our citi- 192 HISTORY OF .MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. zens will see the necessity of preparing for the worst of all elements — fire." On the 5th day of August, 185'5, the editor announces that 680 acres of swamp lands in Madison county were sold at the court house door at from |1.25 to |2.00 per acre. The worst of this same land, at this writing, would be worth at least i)!50 per acre. On the 9th day of September, 1858, a stabbing affray was noticed in the paper as follows : " A man by the name of Jackson Snyder was stabbed, in the north part of the county, last Thursday, by a man bv the name of Stephen Fennemore."' The man Snyder, spoken of, is not known to the writers, but jNIr. Fennemore was the late Stephen I'ennemore, of Mon- roe township, well known to every old settler in Madison county. In the issue of September 9, 1853, George R. Diven, father of Hon. W. S. Diven, ex-judge of the Madison .Supe- rior court, announces to the public that he has opened a new store in the building formerly occupied by T. and D. Rvan, and solicits the patronage of all the people of Madison county, assuring them that they can find the cheapest goods at his store of any place in the county. The store building alluded to in the foregoing announce- ment, was located at the corner where the Star drv goods store is now to be found, at the corner of Eighth and Me- ridian streets, and was erected by T. and D. Ryan. The T. Ryan referred to was the father of the Hon. Henry C Ryan, at this time judge of the Superior court. On the 23d of September, 1853, Thomas X. Stilwell an- nounces to the readers of the Anderson Gazette, XhtA he has become local editor of that paper. The editor, Mr. J. Fen- wick Henry, also speaks of Mr. StilwelFs journalistic venture as follows. •' It will be seen that our young friend, Thomas X. Stil- well, has taken charge of the local columns of the Gazette. Mr. Stilwell is a ready writer, and we have no doubt tiiat lie will please our readers by keeping them well posted in the affairs in the town of Anderson." Mr. Stilwell served as local editor of the Gazette for a considerable period of time, and made a good local journal of it. He subsequently became prominent in social, political and III^TI)K^ OF .MAIMSON COINTV. INDIANA. 1 9o linancial circles as will be seen by the many allusions made to him in different parts of this volume. In the issue of September l*;>d, 185:5. the announcement is made that P. T. Barnum's (jrand Colossal Museum and Menagerie will visit ^Anderson on the ISth day of October. " Among- the manv attraction.s that he presents is no less a personage tlian General Tom Thumb. He also announces that Mr. Nellis, a man without arms, will execute extraor- dinary feats of loading and tiring a pistol with his toes, cutting profile likenesses, shooting at a mark with a bow and arrow, and plaving upon an accordeon. lie also presents Air. Pierce with a den of living wild animals. lie also announces that there will be a fine military band to accompany the show, and that a grand parade will take place in the principal streets of tiie town at ten o'clock a. m."' This was Mr. Barnum's first appearance in Anderson, and he traveled with the show in person, as will be recollected by many old-timers jet living who were present upon that occasion. This was also the first appearance of Tom Thumb in the western countrv. At that time, Mr. Barnum"s, like all other traveling exhibitions, went overland from town to town. On the 20th of June, lsr)4, the Ai/Jcrson Gazette an- nounces that the wire of the direct line of telegraph from An- derson to Cleveland, being built, has just been stretched to this place, and makes the [)rediction that it will be but a short time before the system ^vill be in working order. This was undoubtedly the first telegraphic communication between An- derson and the outside world, and is the first notice in any publication that we iiave come acr',ss in oiu' search for mate-, rial for this book. In the issue of .\pril 21st, isr)4, we find an account of the proceedings of the organization of the Madison County Agri- cultural Society, as follows ; " Pursuant to previous notice the citizens of Madison county in favor of the organization ot an agricultural society, convened at the court house in Ander- son on Saturday, ^\pril Sth, 1S54. On motion, Colonel Thomas Bell was elected chaiiman ami J. R. Molston was elected secretary-. Samuel B. Mattox was chosen assistant secretary. The president then arose and politely thanked the convention for the favor they hail conferred upon him. and stated in a few brief words the object of the meeting. When the president had sat down, there was a call from the several 13 194 HISTORY OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. townships for contributions, which was responded to as fol- lows : Fall Creek township, $13.50 ; Greene, 16.00 ; Ander- son, $14.00; Jackson, $6.25; Richland, $13.25; Lafayette, $2.00 ; Monroe, $17.00; Adams, $8.00; Union, $25.00. and Van Buren, $3.50, making a total of $108.50." A committee was appointed bv the chair to draft and re- port a constitution and by-hiws reguLating and governing the society. The following were the members of the committee : John Huston, Andrew vShanklin. Peter Fesler, Frederick Bron- nenberg. Dr. 11. Wyman, Aleck McClintock, A. Nelson, A. Hinchman. T. J. Clark, Joseph Siglcr, E. Ellis, J. J. Zediker, J. \\ . Perry and C. W'avmire. These gentlemen reported a constitution and by-laws, which were adopted. The following resolution was intro- duced : " Resolved. That anv person can become a member of this society when formed by contributing and paying over to the proper authorized agent the sum of one dollar.'' It was ordered that the president of the convention pub- lish in the Anderson Gazcile the minutes of the meeting, which were signed by Thomas Bell, president, and J. R. Hol- ston. secretary. On the 2()th of August, 1854, the following notice was inserted in the Gazette in reference to the fair association : " Proposals for donations will be received at the drug store of Jones & McAllister, in Anderson, for preparing and fitting up the grounds suitably to hold the agricultural fair. Donations will be accepted for use of the grounds in cash. The township or town which proffers and secures in the aggre- gate the largest donation, consideration being had to eligibil- ity of situation, convenience of the public, &c., will receive the award of the fair g^round for three successive years. The in- dividual or individuals whose proposals shall be accepted will be required to lease tiie grounds for three successive years to the Madison Agricultural Society, to be used for holding fairs and for no other purpose." It seems that in the rivalry of the difierent townships for the location of the fair grounds that Anderson took the lead, as the fair was located in Anderson township and occupied the spacious grounds where the Hon. James W. Sansberrj- now resides, at the west end of Tenth street, and on the 14th and 15th days of September, 1854, the first fair was held upon HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 195 these grounds, and they remained as the place of the annual meetings for several years. After the excitement of the fair was over, Joshua R. Hols- ton, secretary of the association, published on the 19th of Oc- tober, 1854, a list of the premiums awarded, from which we make the following extract : "To J. E. Pendleton, best stallion, 1^3.00; J. M. Nelson, best four-year-old gelding, $2.50 ; A. Banks, best five-year- old mare, $2.50; John Mowery, best sucking colt, $1.50 ; An- non James, best jack, $8.00; R. Van Winkle, best d.iiry cow, $3.0); Isaac Pittsford, best t^ne wool buck, $3.00 ; Randolph Free, best bureau, $3 00; Jacob Beicholz, best fowling piece, $1.00; Jacob Slusher, best violin, 51. 00 ; William Foster, best saddle and bridle, $2.00 ; Cyrus P. Pence, best tanned calf- skin. $1.00; ISlrs. W. G. Atherlon, best quilt, $1.00; Mrs. I. N. Terwilliger, best chair tidy, 75 cents; Mrs. Emma Haz- lett, best patch quilt, 50 cents; Mrs. M. J.Jackson, best rab- bit and mouse, 75 cents; Mrs. J. W. Thornton, best bread, $1.00." In the issue of April 21, 1S54, the editor of the Gazette shows his teeth in a wonderful degree by "spanking" John Davis, late Judge of the Madison Circuit Court, for having made some allusion uncomplimentary to the editor in a speech in a lawsuit in the court house. The editor says : " W'e have the speech of lawyer John Davis while de- fending the notorious James W. Mendenhall. It was taken in shorthand by a friend who was in attendance during the trial, and sets out Mr. Davis in his true colors, and will show the depth to which a man will resort when he is doing the dirty work of another. Copies of it will be furnished for gra- tuitous distribution. While speaking on this subject, will state that Mr. Davis' course towards us was caused by a pri- vate pique on account of differences in political opinions. When a man will suffer his political prejudice to control his lietter feelings towards a fellow man he has, indeed, fallen."' In the next issue of the paper, some friend under the nom deplume of "Fair Play," advises the editor that his time could be better employed than to pay any attention to what John Davis might say about him in a law suit. Perhaps the old-timers and especially the older members of the Madison county bar, will remember what the Menden- hall case, was about, and the circumstances surrounding it. 196 HISTORY OF MADISON COUN TV, IXDIAXA. So far as thu newspapers of that day are concerned, they are silent upon the question. In tlie issue of April 21. 1854, appears an advertisement announcing that on the 9th of May, 1854, Franconi's colos- sal hippodrome from the cit)- of New York, will give an exhi- hition in Anderson. Among the other attractions advertised was a scene on the turf with six horses, and a parade one mile long, headed by six lady jockeys in costume. A grand chariot race with four iiorses abreast, flying at full speed, presenting a sight of terrific splendor and animation neVer before wit- nessed. In the issue of June ;}(), 1854, an account is given of the burning of a house in Lafayette township, as follows : " On Monday night the 19tii instant, an outhouse con- taining a cjuantity of lumber belonging to James Closser, of Lafayette township, was burned to the ground. On Wednes- day night following, Mr. Closser found his stable, which contained a valuable horse, to be on fire. In rushing to the rescue of the animal he saw two men who were apparently watching his door. Suspicion was immediately excited and his family were alarmed. Mr. Closser succeeded in getting his horse out. though somewhat injured from the effects of the fire. lie now supposed the incendiaries were trying to draw his attention to the burning of the stable, and that in his absence they would be aljle to enter his house and rob his chest. A guard was set at night for the purpose of watching ills buildings, with instructions to challenge everyone, but to fire upon no innocent persons, so that there might be no possi- bility of injuring anj- one. On the following Friday night the guards discovered a man coming towards the house, when fire was opened upon him. but without result. The person was recognized as being a well known character in Lafayette township, and was placed under arrest and taken before "Scjuire Rulon. but sufficient evidence could not be obtained against him for the ijurpose of convicting him."' In the issue of July 7, 1854, the announcement of I. X. Terwilliger and J. M. Hayes, advertising their school at the seminary building, appears as follows : "The undersigned respectfuilv inform the inhabitants of Anderson and the vicinitv. that thev will open a school in the seminarv building in Andeison, on Monday, July HI. Terms per session of twelve weeks, spelHng and first reader. •12.00: reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and English iiisTORv oi- ^rADISo^' county, Indiana. 1117 grammar. SjiH.On; higlier Eni^lish branches, algebra, philoso- phy, ciiemistry, geology and anatomy, .ii4.()(); Latin ami Cireek languages and higher mathematics. $5.0(1. The gov- ernment of this school will be based upon the principles of luunanitv and kindness, and yet a sufficient amount of firmness will be used to insure a prompt compliance with the rules of the school. A liberal share of patronage is solicited.'" I. X. Terwilliger, who lield this school in the seminary building, was the best educator in his day in this part of the country. Many of the older men, lawyers and doctors who have been prominent in Madison county, received their educa- tion from him, among whom ^ye may mention the Hon. Will- iam R. Myers, late Secretary of State of Indiana : John ^^'. Pence, cashier of the Citizens" Bank of Anderson ; Daniel F. Mustard, .Mbert C. Davis, and many others whose names do not now occur to us. The old seminary in which this school was taught occu]5ied the ground on which the First Ward school building has been erected by the ^Vnderson School I^oard. In the issue of July 17, there is an account of the cere- monies of the Fourth of July of that year : "The cadets particip.Tted in the commemorative ceremo- nies of our national birthday, had at the (iarrison school iiouse, four miles north of Anderson. Patriotic addresses were made and the day passed pleasantly with voung and old, who enjoyed the occasion. In the afternoon the Anderson Guards paraded under the command of Captain G. \V. Bowen, in full uniform and elicited much admiration. The First Lieu- tenant of the (juards. R. V. Atherton, and .Second Lieuten- ant A. L Makepeace, participated in the drill A large num- ber of our cili/.ens partook of the supper in the evening, which was served by the Messrs. Thornton, the proceeds of which are to be appropriated to the purchase of a bell for the use of the M. K. Church. In the evening most of the voung people engaged in the pleasin"e of a dance in the Makepeace block. Xothing occurred during the day or evening to mar the general happiness of the day, except the accidental upset- ting of a wagon, by which two or three boys were injured." It seems that the supper given at Thornton's place for the ])urpose of raising funds to buy u bell for the church was a financial success, from the fact that on the 21st of Ji'lv, the editor announces the purchase of a bell, as follows ; ■' Our ears were greeted for the first time in Anderson on Sunday 198 HISTORY OK .MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. morning with tlie full clear tones of the new bell as they rang out on the distance from the M. E. Church, summoning with its almost hallowed tones the congregation around the altar of prayer."' In the issue of September 15, 1854, Hardy Scott, a gentleman of color, who at that time resided in Anderson, gave notice of his wife having left his bed and board, and warning people against harboring her on his account, as fol- lows : "Whereas my wife, Mary Ann, has left my bed and board, without any just cause or provocation. I caution all persons against dealing with her, or trading with her on my account, and I will pay no debts of her contracting after this date. — Hardy Scott."' In the issue of September 14, 1854, appeared a set of resolutions in which certain members of the M. E. Church severelv censure another portion of the congregation for in- jecting politics into their religion, their language being forci- ble as well as elegant. The preamble and resolutions are as follows: "Whereas, at a camp-meeting lately held at Mt. Zion, in Richland township, a preamble and series of resolu- tions were passed by those present, signed by Rev. John H. Hull, presiding elder of the M. E. Church, and attested by Joshua R. Holston, as secretary of the Qiiarterly Conference that passed said resolutions, and also, whereas, we. a portion of the members of the ISI. E. Church, believe that the action and grounds taken and embodied in said resolutions are contrary to the pure principles taught in the Bible, and contrarv to the doctrines taught in the discipline of the church ; and we believe that all interference and intermeddling in politics in an official and church capacity, on the part of preachers of the gospel or of the church, or any portion of its members, are contrary to the peaceable principles of Christianitj', and calcu- lated to have a tendency to alienate the feelings and affections toward each other ; therefore, we, the undersigned, as mem- bers of said church, believe it our right, and we do hereby solemnlv enter our protest, against the proceedings held by the elder and minister of our church, and those of our brethren who then and there participated in the adoption of said reso- lutions, in which it was declared, ' that we have the privilege to think and act, politically, as American freeman.' ' These resolutions were signed by Thomas G. Clark, \\'illiam Jones, S. B. Mattox, William Guthrie, class leader, James Stancliffe, IIISTOKV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 199 John H. Fuller. James Mavnard. George Mustard and Joseph Stanley. On November the 2nd, 1854, we find the announcement of A, L. and A. I. Makepeace as landlords of a new hostlery in Anderson, as follows : " A. L. & A. I. Makepeace have recently fitted up the Makepeace House for the reception of guests. House and furniture new. The latter selected from approved modern samples. Table well supplied. Hack run- ning to and from the de]iot. Stables convenient. Grooms obliging and faithful, and the supervision by the proprietors always guaranteed." The A. I. Makepeace referred to here is Captain Make- peace, who is yet living in Anderson, and who is engaged in the hardware business as a member of the firm of Nichol, Makepeace & Company. We also find in the same issue the advertisement of \V. <>. Atherton & Sons, who had just opened a new warehouse, as follows : "W. G. Atherton & Sons have their warehouse in readi- dess for the reception of all kinds of ]5roduce, such as wheat, rye, corn, oats, flaxseed and potatoes, for which they will pay the highest market price. All who want money, bring on your produce, as we have the ' ready ' on hand." W. (j. Atherton has many years since gone to his long home, R. V. Atherton, one of his sons, died in Anderson quite recently, leaving but one representative ot that firm now in existence, Mortimer Atherton, who is yet living, and operatinga planing mill on Xorth Meridian street in Anderson. We also find in the same paper the advertisement of S. I). Irish iS: Sons, of Pendleton, as follows : " The undersigned having, in addition to their country- cards, purchased a full set of manufacturing machinery of the best workmanship and of the latest stvle. thev wish to inform their friends and the public generally, that they are now pre- pared to manufacture all kinds of woolen goods on shares, or by the yard, at the usual prices. We also card and spin for customers anything they wish to have woven. Persons wish- ing to have their wool manufactured may rest assured that they will receive satisfaction. Factory at the old stanil. Falls of Fall Creek, near Pendleton, Indiana." The old carding mill referred to was for many years one of the leading industries of Madison county, and recei\ed patronage not only from this, but from the adjoining counties. 200 HISTORY Ol- MADISdX COIXTV. INDIANA. It was a large frame structure that stood just below the falls of Fall Creek. On November the 9th, 1854, the editor of the paper an- nounces an ac'cident as having occurred on the Bellefontaine Railway, as follows: ■• The passenger train on its way from Indianapolis to this place last Wednesday had its periodica/ transition from the track into the ditch in the vicinitv of Oak- land. Three or four persons were injured, the most serious of whom was the fireman, who has since died. As was usual in this case nobody was to blame." It would seem, from the inference to be derived from the above bit of sarcasm, that it was no imusual thing for a train running on the old Rellefontaine Railwav to land in the tlitch, and the editor insinuates that the railwav company in- variably justified itself in such actions. It is well remembered that the rolling stock that passed over that thoroughfare at that early dav was known to be easilv upset when coming in contact with an obstruction. On Januarv 11th. 1855, on the editorial page, we find the following: " Attention, all ! ! Mr. Stravern, the distinguished daguerreotypist. will remain in town one week longer. All those not having proved the gentleman's rare skill bv ha\ing their pictiues taken, should be on hand if they would receive the most finished specimens ever offered in these parts. Step into his rooms and view those familv groups, represent- ing father and mother, brother and sister, grouped around the familv fireside. We admire such a picture much more than we can express. Mr. Stravern takes all kinds of monev in payment. Recollect that he took the first medal at the World's Fair at New York, and also at several other State Fairs.'' In those days the taking of pictures was in its infancy, and a town the size of Anderson was not able to support a pictiue gallerv. The men. therefore, who took pictures, strolled from place to place throughout the cojntrv and took the pictures of the people as they passed through. They generally travelled overland on a car fitted up for their business, which thev could readily mo\e from one town to another. REMINISCENCES IRO.M THE .VNDERSON ST.\M).\RI>. In the issue of February (J, 1857, on the editorial page, we find the following announcement : '■ ^Ir. David Henry, who for manv years has been kno\\ ii I1IS1(>1:\ OF MADISON' COINIV, INDIANA.' :201 as an auctioneer luid horse doctor, in Anderson, was arrested upon the charge of passing counterfeit money, by Constable Mustard. The Doctor, in the course of the preparations for liis trial, demanded a subpama for Horace B. Makepeace, who was engaged in teaching school about one mile west of Ander- son. The subpoena was issued and handed to Constable Mus- tard. Mr. Henry remarked that he would walk along with him down to the school house. The Doctor walked along cjuietly until within sight of the school house when he very politely informed the constable that he felt too great an inter- est in the case to accompany liim back to the town, and then drew from his pocket a jiair of pistols, aiul adviseil the constable not to attempt to induce him to change his intentions, and immediately began to make use of ' leg-bail.' The constable contented himself with calling after him for a while, then returned to town without him."" Mr. Henry made good hisesca[)e from the officer, and for maiiv years did not show himself in this community until about the year I,S98. when he again \isited the scenes of earlier days and remained in Anderson about a year, being prominent around the liyery stables of the city ; but he has again branched out into this wide, wide world, and his where- abouts at this time are unknown to the writer. Mr. Henry was a man of prepossessing appearance, and of much general information. It seems from the issue of the S/a/u/irrJ o( February VS, 1857, that the Hon. Richard Lake had been a short time pre- viously elected to the high and honorable position ot Judge of the Common Pleas Court, composed of several counties of which Madison and Hancock formed a part. He per- formed his duties so acceptably to the people, and to the bar, that he was the subject of many complimentary notices, the JIancock Democrat having coine out in very complimentary terms in his behalf, noting his splendid qualifications, and the dispatch with which he transacted the public business. It also appears that the business of the district was not so large as in later days from the fact that the editor announces that the judge \\ ill not entirelj' retire from his law practice, but will wait ujjon the wants of his clients, when not upon the bench. The editor says : ■' Some may suppose that Judge Lake is disqualified from practicing law since his election to the office of judge of the Common Pleas Court. NVe wish to say that liis position ilis- 202 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. ables him no further than the court over which he is called to preside. Mr. Lake will continue to practice in the courts of this county e.xcept that of his owu." A great change in court affairs has taken place since the above was written. It now takes two judges for our county, instead of one judge for four counties. In the Standard of August 1, 1857, we find the an- nouncement that Jacob Beachler has engaged in the manu- facture of breech-loading guns, as follows : " Mr. Jacob Beachler has obtained the right of this county, and has commenced the manufacrure of Newton's "jiatent breech-loading gun. This is one of the most complete specimens of the kind that we have ever examined. It is loaded at the breech with cartridges, and can be hred with safety thirty-two times in a minute. It is extremely simple in its construction, and stands unequalled as a breech-loader." Mr. Beachler is one of the oldest gunsmiths living in this part of the country. After following his trade in Anderson for a number of j'ears, he removed to his farm west of Ander- son, where he resided until within two years prior to this \vriting, when he returned to the city, and is now a resident of Hazlewood addition, living in ease and comfort. In the early history of the agricultural associations, one of the leading features of their exhibitions was a contest be- tween lady equestrians for prizes, and many of the best horse women in the country gave exhibitions in the ring. At the fair held at Anderson in September, 1857, one of these exhibi- tions took place in which it is announced that the premiums to lady equestrians were awarded as follows : "First premium to Miss Samantha Suman ; second premium to Mrs. Samantha May." The Miss Suman referred to was the daughter of a farmer living near Chesterfield, and a sister of Dr. William Suman, now residing in Anderson, and the Mrs. May, the wife of Major May. and mother of Isaac Elmer May. In the issue of September 18, 1857, the editor announces that "Yankee Robinson, the famous showman, will give an exhibition in Anderson, being one of the most extensive shows in the business, consisting of four separate shows in four separate tents, all for one price of admission, consisting of a jungle of animals from the forests, Indian curiosities, and a splendid band of negro minstrels. Yankee Robinson will also appear in person in the presentation of tha god Momus. in HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTV, INDIANA. 208 witnessing whose peculiar characteristics, Laughter holds her sides, and old wrinkles are driven awaj-. Dilly Fay, the best clown in the world, is also one of the leading features of this grand exhibition." On the 25th day of December, we find an account de- scribing a " scrapping " match as follcjws : '"Some excite- ment was caused on Sabbath morning by the arrest of a Mr. Gresh, who has lately come to this place and set up a 'one- eved " grocery. He was arrested upon the afhdavit of John W. Thornton, who testified that on the previous evening the defendant assaulted him with a butcher knife, because he had peaceably entered defendant's grocery to ask him for a small debt. The defendant was fined two dollars and the cost of the suit. This defendant has lately come here from Newcastle where he rendered himself obnoxious to the citizens by keep- ing a doggery or tippling saloon. \\'e hope that the town authorities will keep a strict watch oxer his grocery, and if he is found attempting to keep such a house here, that they will make him answer promptly for his violations of the law to the known wishes of the citizens."" In the issue of January I, 1S58, James \V. Cook, editor of the S/at/dard , bids farewell to his readers, and Charles I. Barker announces to the world in an ably written salutatory that he is the editor and proprietor of that journal. In 185s, when Anderson was a village without any Opera House or other place of amusement, those who lived here fur- nishetl amusement for themselves by forming different kinds of societies, debating schools, spelling classes and other means of entertainment, which were highly enjoyable to those par- ticipating therein, as well as to the many spectators who at- tended them. In the Ai/dcrson Standard of Februar)' 5th of that year, we find a notice of the Anderson Lyceum and its speakers, as follows : " This institute is becoming more and more noticeable and deeph' interesting each week. It numbers among its members prominent gentlemen of all political creeds, who live in the village or its vicinity. It has under consideration and discussion the ' Kansas Qiiestion," growing out of the Presi- dent's message and Mr. Douglas' remarks with regard to it. The question being, on resolution, submitted by Dr. Townsend Ryan for the purpose of infusing life into the Lyceum, which Avas thought to be lacking. We are unable to state the (]ues- tion in its precise dictum ; indeed, it is not so much now our 204 IIISTOIO OK MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. > design to introduce the question as it is to mention the per- sonages wiio participated in this discussion. First, and doubt- less tiie most conspicuous among tlie debaters, stands Dr. Ryan, though standing ahiiost alone, taking for argument's sake the President's side of the proposition, and fortifying the stand he has taken by a formidable array of proof. The Doc- tor comes up to his full stature and gives his opponents no little trouble. He comes down like Ajax did upon his ene- mies, and rushes furiously onward to the fray. ■' Xext in the arena appears I. X. Terwilliger, the man of hooks and memory. He stands forth the embodiment of a walking library. He has read everything, knows everything, and is thus enabled to use many facts and arguments in sup- port of his position. He is a speaker far above metliocritv, has a splendid voice and an excellent command of language. He hurls his lance like one of the bra\e knights of old. •'Next comes the j'oung Hector of the list, Thomas N. Stil- well, young in years but old in the forum. He pitches in with great impetuosity, scarcely drawing his breath at a period, dashes on with terrible rapidity, apparently determined to carry off the orator's prize more by storm than by strength. lie is, however, a young, untried man of great future prom- ise, and by strict discipline may still improve his style of ora- tor\-. ''Just south of the speaker's chair rises a voinig man with keen, gray eyes, broad forehead, and rmldv complexion, the colleague of Dr. Ryan. His style of speaking is liberal and open, yet forcible. It is somewhat steady anil evidently smacks of the midnight oil. James M. Dickson, next took the floor. He is a son of the Emerald Isle, jet speaks the English language well. He makes a good appearance upon the floor and has a stentorian voice, but like some other debators, lacks availability. He falls into line with the Douglas wing and handles that side of the (juestion with much force and candor. '•Then follows Xeal C. McCullough. He is at times on both sides, or, perhaps, rather opposed to both. He consumed a good part of his half hour in reading from a \ery compen- dious volume, a number of extracts bearing upon the 'Kansas question.' He talked fluently, whether to or from the ques- tion, and shows conclusively that he is familiar with the t|ues- tion. W'e conclude that he would be more at home in a HISTOKV OK MADISON COl'XTV, INDIANA. 205 banking o]ier;itioii th;in in the discussion of tiii? ' Kansas question.' "Tlioinas \V. Cook also made a short speech, but owint; to his ill iiealth he left the main points of the C|uestion untouched. The expression of his counteiKuice indicated and impressed the beholder that, altliough willing, lie was unable to do his best at this time. " The last named gentleman was followed by Milton S. Robinson, who made a very powerful address. Mr. Robinson has been a public speaker all his life, at the bar and on the stump for several j'cars, though he is j'et a young man on the sunuv side of the meridian of life. He has the faculty of drawing from a \ocabularv such a concatenation of epithets as will make his opponents writhe under the castigation. He is striding on to fame and a brilliant future awaits him. " Xearlv every jierson alluded to as having taken part in the debates of this organization became, later on in life, emi- nent as lawyers, doctors, teachers, business men and poli- ticians. Townsend Rvan, James M. Dickson and AT. S. liobinson became men of great influence in political circles, and held high and honorable positions. On December 11, 1857, we find a notice of an in(|uest lield over the body of an unknown person found dead near Chesterfield, as follows : '■ The undersigned, coroner of Madison county, hereby certifies that an inquest was held before me at the town of Chesterfield, in said county, on the I'lith day of November, 1857, over the dead bodv of a man. whose name is supposed to be James Wright, but whether that be the true name is unknown. That said deceased was about sixtv-five years of age; that he had a scar on the top part of his left thigh and a large wound on his head. He was dressed in a black suit of clothes, satin vest and gray mixed pants. He is supposed to haye come to his- death by exposure to the incltmencv of the weather. [Signed. | J. J. Loxge.veckeu, •• Coroner of Madison Co.' On the llith of April, 1858, we find the same officer giv- ing notice of an inquest in Adams township, as follows : ■'Notice is hereby given that I have this day held an in- quest over the dead body of Thomas Shelton, there lying and found dead, said deceased being aljout lifty-nine years of age, a resident of Adams township ; that he came to his death by 'takinu' a lit' and falling into the l)ranch. and then ami there 20f5 HISTORY OK MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. strangling to death. He liad on his person $5.50 and no other valuables." We find an announcement in the same issue of a fatal accident near Pendleton, as follows: "We learn that a little son of Jehu Shuman, who lives about three miles northwest of Pendleton, while sitting on the fence, a limb fell from a tree under which he was sit- ting, hitting him on the head and killing him instantly. He was six years of age."' In the issue of April 2'S, 1858, we find the following obituary : "Died in Anderson, on the 18th instant, after a lingering illness, Hannah M., wife of Alfred Makepeace, aged 48 j-ears. Deceased was one of the oldest inhabitants of Anderson, having lived here since her marriage, about thirty years ago. At the time she came to Anderson the court house square was a forest and there were but few buildings in the town. She and her husband therefore shared the privations, the toils and troubles incident to the settling of a new country, and have, as a reward for an industrious life, accumulated much of this world's goods. She was the mother of a large family of chil- dren, to whom she had endeared herself by her inany remarka- ble cjualities, who have now to mourn her irreparable loss." The lady here spoken of was the mother of Captain A. I. Makepeace. In the issue of June ?,. 1858, we find the account of a suicide near Xew Columbus, of which the editor says : "We learn that on Sunday morning last Josephus Poindexter, who lived about four miles south of Columbus, in this county, committed suicide bv cutting his throat with a razor. He cut a gash on each side of his throat and left the front of his neck untouched. The fatal deed was committed but a short distance from his residence. He was found a short while after, but life was extinct. He was a worthy and respectable citizen, and left a wife and large family of grown children. The cause of this act is supposed to have been financial embarrassment."' In the same number of this paper we find the professional card of Dr. George F. Chittenden, as follows: " George F. Chittenden has located at Chesterfield, Madi- son county, where he offers his professional services to the citizens of the surrountlintr country. Parlicular attention MISTOIiV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 207 will be given to surgery. Respectfully refers to J, S. Bobb, M. D., and T. Parvin, of Indianapolis.'' Dr. George F. Chittenden, at this time was a young physician, having come to Madison county from near Ve\ay, Indiana, on the Ohio river. lie practiced but a short time in Chesterfield, when he attracted the attention of Dr. John Hunt, of Anderson, who was one of the leading physicians in the county in his day, and who was so much taken with young Chittenden, that he otTered him a partnership in a large and lucrative business, which lie accepted and then removed to Anderson in that year. Since that time he has been a resident of this place, and is one of the most successful phy- sicians and surgeons in the county. In the issue of July 8, 1858, we find the notice of the drowning of a person by the name of Patrick Cofl'ey, as fol- lows : "A man by the name of CoflFey was drowned in White river, near the Cincinnati & Chicago railroad depot, on Saturday last. He was bathing, and, not being acquainted with the river, he got into a deep hole and sank. Before he could be rescued, his life was extinct. He was sent to New- castle, where his home was, for burial." On October 14, 1858, we find in the Staiida7-d the an- nouncement of a fatal accident : " On Saturday last, while some little children were at plaj- with fire on the streets of Anderson, the dress of a little daughter of James Battreall caught fire, and before her clothes could be removed she was so badl)' burned that she died on Sunday about one o'clock. She was about four years of age." This little child was the daughter of James Battreall, a prominent citizen of Anderson, who is yet living in this place and is well and favorably known to the community. In the issue of December 23, 1S5S, appears the announce- ment of the sudden death of S. S. Templin, who was a promi- nent citizen and merchant of Anderson, and whose widow lately died in this place. '' On Sunday evening last, about five o'clock, S. S. Templin was found dead in his store. He had left his house about two o'clock to get some paper for the purpose of doing some writing, and, not returning as soon as expected, his little girl was sent to look for him. She called, but received no answer, and returning informed her mother that he was not in the store, and stated that the door was un- locked. The mother then went and called him, but received 208 HISTORY OK MADISON COl'Xr\, INDIANA. no answer. She then locked the door. After waiting awhile Mrs. Templin, becoming alarmed, went and unlocked the door, jjassed behind the counter, and there lound her husband cold in death. She then gave the alarm to the neighboi-s, who hastened to the place and found the body in such a position as to warrant the belief that death was the work of an instant. '• Mr. Templin was one of the most enterprising citizens and merchants of Anderson. His death will be seriously felt by the communit)', but more especially by the wife and fam- ily of little children. He was a man about forty year» of aj,'e." . ' In the issue of November 18, 1858, an account is given of the meeting of a " moot legislature" at the court house, in which many prominent citizens took part : " Mr. Samurl \\'. ■Hill was appointed to prepare a message to the House, which took place on Monday evening, November 8. After reading the journal Mr. Hill introduced and read his message, from which we take a few extracts ; •' Conformabl)' to my constitutional duty to impart to you information touching the condition of the state, and to recom- mend measures deemed expeditious and fitting, I do so now. Three words express all that makes a state prosperous — agri- culture, commerce and morality. The mechanical arts, the industrial pursuits, will, or generally are, connected with or depending on these. Our commercial prosperity depends upon transportation and currency. The Wabash and Erie canal and the Wabash and White rivers all have been our means of transit. The alarming increase of incendiarism and railroad obstruction is doubtless attributable in part to the wholesale frauds of corporations. A railroad is built, the funds fail, the officers pay themselves and ring the bell ; the hands who in wet, heat and cold built the road are left to ' whistle " for their pay. Vou are recommended to take unusual steps wilii re- gard to the moneyed situation of Indiana, so as to prohibit all banks of issue, permitting only those of loan and deposit. " If it is right to buy and sell a gallon of whisky to drink, why is it wrong to sell a gill for the same purpose. Why not leave all those who can control their appetite in this respect to their own will and judgment, and moral religious influence?"' On motion of Dr. Townsend Ryan, the message was laid upon the table for the present, and one hundred copies were ordered to be printed t"or the use of the members. IllSlOm' OK MAIHSOX COIINTV, INDIANA. 209 Many proininent citizens of Anderson took pait in the proceedings of this boily, among whom wcie Colonel Milton S. Robinson, John Davis, Esquire, Samuel B. Maddox, R. N. Williams and many others whose names do not now occur. A. H. Kline was elected clerk of the House and sipjned the minutes of the meeting. The message presented by Mr. Hill was at a subsequent meeting taken up anil discussed by sections, and literally torn to pieces. Many warm ilebates took place on the floor of the House resulting sometimes almost in jiersonal encounters. These meetings were \ery enjoyable to all those who took part in them. I'OURIN'i; OUT I.I(i_llORS. On the '25th of December, 1858, occurred one of the most exciting episodes in Anderson's early historv. There had been considerable agitation upon the temperance question, and the citizens were pretty generally stirred up in reference thereto ; several parties were selling liquor in the corporation without a license, even the drug stores being almost as open in their tralfic in lirjuors as the doggeries. The people had become much e.\cited in reference to the matter, and on the day above alluded to it almost culminated in a riot. Two young men, both sons of prominent citizens, became intoxicated, which fact precipitated a raid upon the liipior dealing places. The .S/n//i/ard of December iJOtli, speaking of the feeling on this subject, says : " On last Saturday night, a lawless mob visited our licjuor sellers, broke into their apartments, or gained admission by other means, rolled their.whiske)' into the street, and knocked in the heads of the barrels. We have probably particularized sufficiently, as all those who have seen men and boys excited, will have as accurate an idea of the demonstration as we can give. We have no SN'mpathy with liquor selling, we are no apologists for its evils. If we want it for any purpose, we buy it and use it as our judgment may dictate or our physician prescribe. We are in favor of wholesome laws governing the traflic, and will submit to such as are made and enforced, but will never sanction a mob or the lawless acts of irresponsible men and boys. Calamities might have come from the acts of Saturday night. '•In another part of the paper we publish the proceedings of a meeting to justify the conduct of the mob, and in this meeting no idea of a dissenting voice is conveyed. We were 210 " HISTORY OI' MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. not there, but are creditably informed there were those in attendance who desired to place that meeting on the side of law and order, and spoke to that effect, but every effort was crushed out by the clamor of the crowd. To convey an idea of what some of our citizens desire, we publish a preamble and set of resolutions introduced by Mr. James M. Dickson, as follows : Whereas, a necessity seemed to exist in the minds of many, on Saturday night, the 2.5th inst., for the destruc- tion of all the intoxicating drink in the town of Anderson, and whereas we are under the impression that the means resorted to for the destruction of the property of our citizens is contrary to law and good order, and we hope no such sup- posed necessity will ever again exist for the violation of law. The editor further says : 'These resolutions breathe more of the spirit of law and order than characterizes the resolutions that were reported and adopted, notwithstanding the fact that as good temperance men as there are in the town were opposed to the acts of the mob. Dr. Townsend Ryan, James M. Dickson, S. W. Hill, T. W. Cook and others were opposed to mobocracv, but tiie proceedings of the meeting would con- vey the impression that they spoke in favor of the resolutidns.' " The meeting that was held at the court house on the 27th of December, referred to by tlie editor in the foregoing article, was presided over by ^Villiam Crim i Ralph X. Clark and T. P. Kennard, acted as secretaries. This meeting was held pursuant to notice given to the citizens of Anderson to take into consideration some means for the prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors, and to call out an expression of opinion of the citizens in relation to the movements of the mob on the 25th instant. On motion, a committee of live, consisting of Messrs. Kennard, Davis, Sansberry, Hazlett and Dickson, were ap- pointed to draft and present resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. After a few minutes deliberation, the committee reported a set of resolutions from which we extract the following : Resolved, That we will present an unbroken front against the introduction of any more intoxicati-^g drinks within our town or vicinity. That we, the citizens of Ander- son, pledge to those brave men who had the heart to conceive, and the nerve to execute those noble deeds, but at the same time we deprecate mobs and the principle thereof as a general sentiment, and only justify anything of the kind as a last IlISTOKV OF .MAl)IJ>ON COUNTY. IXDIAXA. 211 resort. That there be appointed as this meeting a standing committee of five to ascertain from the agents of the differ- ent railroads the reception of any intoxicating liquors for sale at this place, which liquors shall be immediately reshipped or destroyed, and in case destruction becomes necessary, we will sustain said committee with our money and our property. Dr. Rvan. being called for came forward and addressed the meeting, and was followed by Milton S. Robinson, Davis, Dickson, Sansberr}-, Hill, Cook and the Rev. J. F. McMul- len, after which, on motion, tlie resolutions were adopted without a dissenting voice. The minutes of this meeting were signed by William Crim, president, and R. N. Clark, secretary. It will be seen from tin- editorial above quoted tliat there was considerable feeling in reference to this matter, and the officers of that meeting were severely censured for reporting that the resolutions were adopted withiuit dissent. We find in the issue of June G, 1859, several communications upon the subject, one of which is signed by James M. Dickson, and ani)tiier bv S. W^. Hill, in which the}' denounce the meeting, and sa}' that the resolutions were not adopted unanimously, but that there were several dissenting votes against them, anil also state that several of the prominent citizens arose and spoke against the adoption of the resolutions. Among the places visited where liquor was destroyed was the drug store occupied by Dr. J. P. Crampton. The store of Atticus Siddall was also visited and a small amount of Tniuor poured out. The place kept by Thomas Croke, on South Main street, was also taken in charge and the liquors poured into the street. A man by the name of Corbett Jackson, who kept a place near the crossing of the Pan Handle and Bee Line Railways, was also a victim of the mob. This was the first crusade against the liquor traffic in Madison county, and caused an in- ten.se amount of bad feeling on both sides of the question, and it was many years before the animosity growing out of this affair subsided. This matter ended in Dr. J. P. Crampton bringing suit against those in the mob. The suit was jointly against all of them, and a change of venue was taken to Del- aware county. Through the shrewdness of John Davis, the defendants' attorney, a comprotnise was made with one of the defendants, which had the effect to release all. So there ended 2\2 illSTOKY OK MADISON COl'NTY. INDIANA. the legal controversy. The compromise was thought at tie time to be a very " slick " job. In the i.ssiie of the S/ain/ard of August 8. 1M)7. we find the editor announces to the people that the enterprising citi- zens of the county are organizing turnpikes and ditch associa- tions, and that the county will in a short time become one of the finest in the State of Indiana. He sajs ; •■ There are eight turnpikes now in progress in this county, a large por- tion of which are being built to Anderson. When all are completed, in connection with the hj-draulic canal. Anderson may become the capital of Indiana, with the suburlian \ illages of Muncie, Ne\v Castle and Kokomo dependent upon it for their base of supplies. There are nineteen organized ditch companies in this county at present. Madison countv has for a longtime been reputed to be made up of many swamps ; but after the work is completed which these companies propose to do, the people will have to move west into Howard countv if they desire to purciiase swamp lands." Previous to this time there was but one gravel road lead- ing into Anderson, which was the Alexandria turnpike. The roads throughout a part of the county, from the lirst of Marcli until the first of June, were nearly all impassable and the county was almost a wilderness of swamp lands. The turn- j)ikes and ditch companies were tlie initial steps towards mak- ing Madison county the garden spot of Indian.'. In the issue of March i;8, IStJT, we find the announce- ment of the killing of a brakeman on the Chicago anil Great Eastern Railroad, now known as the Pan Handle, as fol- lows: " On Monday e\ening last a brakeman was killed at the 'junction' by being run y an Italian bark, and in his efforts to save his crew and cargo, was so severely injured that he died within an hour after the occurrence. Captain Harriman had ordered the life-boats lowered, and picking his wife up in his arms, started to take her to a place of safety to transfer her to tlie Italian vessel, which stood close beside the Alberti. At this time a quick surge of the Italian bark caused her to strike the .Vlberti with such force as to nearly bury her in the sea, knocking the captain against the rigging, mortally wounding him, and for a time disabling Mrs. Harriman. At this juncture the Italian vessel cleared i:?(( IIIMOIM Ol- MADISON COINTV, INDIANA. away from them and left them to the mercies of the sea. The mate, Edward Kelly, at once took command of the crippled vessel and safely landed her in Plj-mouth harbor. Besides the loss of Captain Harriman, a sailor was for some time missing, but it afterward was ascertained that he had gotten aboard the Italian bark in the scramble and was not long afterward landed in the harbor to join his associates. Mrs. Harriman has lived in Anderson ever since this occurrence, and was, on the 18th of May, l^T'.l. married to the Hon. D. W. Wood, with whom she is now living at their pleasant home on west Xinth street, in Anderson. A claim for damages was afterward paid by tlie Italian vessel. The Albert! was boinid for Herbice when the accident overtook her. CHAPTER XX\'I. TiiK Trades I'nions of Madison Countv. Prior to 1887 such a thinj^as a trade's union was unknown in Madison count}*. The discover^' of natural gas brought to our borders many manufacturing establisliments since which time the trades ha\e formed unions in every town and city where there are factories. We give the names of the same and the executive olllcers under the proper heads. By these organizations the wages of workmen are kept at a living price and a fraternal feeling engendered among men that is calculated to elevate the human family. MADISON fOUNTV lEDEKAIIOX OF I..\BOH. President, Geo. Cookson ; vice-president, A. T. Dye ; secretary, Louis Fuller. ANDERSON. il'///i/iizc (j/ass M'orkcrs. — blaster workman, (ieorge Per- kins; secretary, Gilbert Aitken. Barbers. — President, Jacob Fischer; vice-president. 1. A. Davis; secretary, C. A. Salman. ('arf>c)i/crs. — President. Francis L. Eads : vice-president. William Baker: secretary, Elias Bidwell. 1-iiiit (i/ass W'lyrkirs. — President, Oliver ]?rver ; \ ice- president. Pollard Ihmsen ; secretary, Wm. Beck. A)iia1ga)iiati\i Association of I. S. if- 7\ P. (/'. of A. — President, Thomas K. Thomas ; vice-president, John J. Jones; secretary, John Chappell. 7\iiiors'' Union. — President, Cliarles McMahon ; vice- president, Geo. HofFner ; secretary, Xora Collins. lirirklaycrs'' I'nion . — President, Wm. Kelley ; vice-presi- dent, (ieo. Grahi ; secretary. Grant Campion. Ritail Clerks' I'nion. — President. Louis Fuller; vice- president. Wm. W. Cooper: secretary, Earl Birkebile. File Workers' l')tion . — President, A. Loomis ; vice-presi- dent, loseph Keltner : secretary, John Elistone. •222 msTOKV ok .madison county, Indiana. /rn)! Mo/i/dcrs. — President, Mike Howard: vice-presi- dent. Eli Maxwell; secretary, Richard Shaw. Cii^ar-niakers. — President, A. F. Behrman ; vice-presi- dent, John M. Toolen : secretary, Arch Powell. Typographical I'liioii. — President, E. E. (joss; vice- president, Leroy Thompson ; secretary, R. N. Mattox. Wire Drawers. — President, \Vni. Beverly: \ ice-presi- dent, J. |. King; secretary, \Vm. Ossenberg. EI.WOOI). Trades Assc»ih/\. — President, M. \\'. Conway; vice- president, Frank Gratehouse : secretary, Frank Keyser. Wiinhnc (i/ass Workers. — Master workman, Albeit \\illiams: preceptor. J. .Streitt'uss. F/ii/t G/ass Workers. — Xo. 50, President. Thos. Mc- Go\ern: vice-president, Louis Steckler; secretarv. Fritz Bernard. Xo. 75, President, J. G. Hand; vice-president. Samuel Reed; secretary, Andrew Fracelton. No. 114, President. C, Kavanaugh ; vice-president. II. A. Bruce; secretary, Geo. Kizer. Till Plate Workers. — Pi esident, David Llo\d ; vice-presi- dent, Frank Zonh ; secretary. Richard Burns. Tailors. — President, L. M. Weying ; vice-president, W. E. Behynier : secretary. A. P. Petty. Carpenters. — President. J. C. Kincaid ; vice-president, ]. W. Stoner; secretary, F. \V. .Smith. TYpograpliical Unioti. — President, John Larkin ; vice- president, George A. Hencke ; secretary, Rob. Yelvington. Clerks'' I nioii. — President, Emereth Luse; vice-president, Frank Greathouse ; secretary. W. G. Records. ALE.XA.NDUIA. Trades Assembly. — President, J. E. Carr; vice presi- dent, Nick Griffith; secretary, H. R. McAbee. Flint Glass Workers. — President, James E. Carr; vice- president, Theo. Ring ; secretary, Sebastian Feiser. Retail Clerks. — President, E. B. Rogers ; vice-president, Lulu Hupp; secretary, Delia Moore. Carpenters' I'nion. — President, Win. Myers; Nice-presi- dent, John Good; secretary, Elmer Sutton. SUMMITVILLE TRADES LXIONS. Preccptory, L. A. -iOO — !NLaster workman. Charles Ruf- fing; secretary, Thomas Gra\- ; preceptor, Mr. Springer. CHAPTER X.Wn. TirE Eai!I.\' Physicians of Madison Coi'nty. The life of :i country pliyMcian in the (.'aiiv history of Madison county was about tiie same as in all new neighbor- hoods in the back woods. The physician of today who sits in his nicely carjieted oftice upon upholstered furniture, and writes prescriptions at fifty cents periiend, and for feeling the pulse and looking at the tongues of his patients, kno\vs but little of the hardships encountered liy the early physicians who settled in this county, and fought the chills and fever with fjuinine and calomel. It was then no unusual thing for a doc- tor to be called at the hour of midnight, and to be compelled fo ride through the mud and over the frozen ground for a dis- tance of fifteen (m- t\\enty miles. Sometimes he would hardly he nestled in a warm bed, ujjon hi> return home, before he \\ 'juUl be c ailed upon to make a similar trip in another direction. These old-time doctors have nearly all passed uPi the scene of action, and the present phvsicians know of them only by what they have read and heard in the medical societies of the county. The Democrat of .\nderson, in May, 1880, published an interesting account of these men, and from this we select as follows : "The first physician who li\ed and practiced medicine in Madison county, was one Dr. Pordwell, who about the year 1824, or 1825, settled at Pendleton. He had the reputa- tion of being a pleasant, genial man, and one who occasionally indulged in the use of ardent spirits. \Vhen in this condition he was often heard to remark that he had never lost a patient. Such an utterance on the [lart of an\' ol our doctors now would be regarded as " cjuackish." A young man by the name of Gregory, a brother of the late Rev. Frank Gregory, well known as a Christian minister, read medicine with Dr. Bordwell, and thereafter practiced in the county. Dr. Bordwell removed to Iowa where he enjoyed a large and lucrative practice, and it was in that state that he died. 224 IIISTOKV OK MADISON COUXIV, INDIANA. Dr. John O. Cook, ol I'eiuUetoii came to that place fn)m Virginia in ISiJl. He had already read medicine in his native State, and then spent one year in its practice in Tennessee, at the conclusion of which time he came to this State, locating at Pendleton, and here he spent the remainder of his days. He was a brilliant man, a fair physician, although less proficient in his profession than his lirotlier. Dr. Ward Cook. Dr. John Cook was one of the most genial and companionable of men. His conversation was very lucid and instructive. At times he figured in debating societies. He could make a good tem- perance speech and did'not siirink from showing his ability on a political rostrum among the leading men of his time. He breathed his last at Pendleton several vears ago. A Dr. Richmond was one of the early physicians of Pen- dleton, of whose history, however, very little is known. The first phvsician to locate in .\nderson was Dr. Ijirt, who came to this town in lSl!7. He [iracticed medicine in the village, and also taught sciiool. He was a small man, and was lame. His stay lasted but two years and then he reino\ ed to Illinois. His office was on East Anderson street, now Eighth. The ne.xt physician to locate here was Dr. Pegg. vviio came in 1828. Of him but little is known as he remained only two years, and then emigrated to some . distant part of our common country. In 1880, Dr. Ruddle, a cousin of Milton Ruddle, living east of the city, establisiied himself here in tiie practice of medicine. He remained for seven vears and then removed to Broad Ripple, in Marion county. One of the best known and ablest of them all was Dr. Henrj- Wyman, who was well posted in the science of medi- cine and was a very successful practitioner. He built himself a large frame residence, which was situated where the Robin- son iV Lovett block now stands on the north side of tiie public square. It was known for a long time as the Berry property, and was once owned and occupied by Col. Nineveh Berry. Dr. Wyman. after a successful practice of many years in Anderson removed to Blissfield, Michigan, where he died. In liis day the practice of dosing a patient with calomel, and bleeding him was much the fashion. Along up to the year 1855 the fever and ague was a very prevalent disease in these regions, and the amount of cjuinine used for mastering this evil was something enormous. As the J IIISTOKV Ol- MADISOX COIXTV, IXDIAXA. 2:25 countrv was cleared up and ditches were constructed, the stagnant surface water disappeared, and as the decaying veg- etation was buried under the earth, the ague also gave way and its accompanying fever was a thing of the past. Of the other old-time physicians of the county, Dr. Spence \Vas located at Alexandria in the year 1880. After remaining there four or five years, he removed to Jonesbom, Grant county, and died there in 1845. One of the first doctors to follow Dr. Spence was Dr. Cyrus W'esterfield, whose practice in that town was also of short duration, and who subsetjuently moved to Illinois where he is yet living. Dr. J. W. Perry, but recently deceased, resided three miles northeast of Alexandria, where he had a good practice. His arrival was in 1840. At the time of his death he was the oldest practitioner in that section of the county, and was a prominent member of the Madison County Medical Associa- tion." Three other physicians also located at Alexandria shortly after Dr. Perry's advent. They were Dr. Joseph Pugh, who ilied in 1895, Dr. S. B. Ilarriman, who ended his last days in Richmond, Indiana, a few years since, and Dr. Leonard Ilar- riman, his brother, who passed away in Sterling. Kansas, five years ago. Dr. Braxton Baker, who had a thriving practice for many years in Alexandria, subsequently remoxed to Indianapolis, where he is now spending his closing days in ease and retire- ment. Numbers of other physicians settled in diflferent parts of the countv, one of whom was Dr. Henry, of Chesterfield, who settled there in 1828, and Dr. Godwin of the same place, whose arrival dates from 1887. Dr. Davis arrived in 1847. At New Columbus, Dr. Ilorne located in 1840: Dr. Ilil- dreth, in 1842, and Dr. Bear, in 1844. In 1840, Dr. Doug- lass came to Perkinsville, and lived there for a number of years, and was succeeded by Drs. J. M. Garretson and Charles N. Branch. Dr. Garretson continued in Perkins\ille until his death, and Dr. Branch is now a resident of Anderson. Dr. James M. Garretson, who studied medicine in the office of his father, is now a practicing physician in Perkinsville. The old-time physicians, unlike their brethren of the pres- ent age, were generally able politicians, and it was no uncom- 15 226 HISTORY OF .MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. mon thing for some of tliem to present themselves as candi- dates for the high and hicrative positions within the gift of the voters of the countv. The practice of medicine called the doctors out among the people, and, if they were disposed to be good, sociable fellows, thev generally won the confidence of the public. Among the early representatives in the General Assembly, of the State of Indiana was Dr. John Cook, of Pendleton. He was succeeded in a few years in that body by Dr. Henry Wy- man, who made for himself a very good record, and was one of the ablest representatives that Madison county ever sent to that bodj-. Later on Dr. John Hunt and Dr. T. Ryan also became members of the Legislature. In the year 1S7s at the village of Chesterfield, was placed in nomination bj' the Re- publicans of Henry and Madison counties, and was elected as joint representative, serving two years. He was also after- wards prominent as a member of the Board of Trustees for the hospital for the insane. Among other doctors who represented Madison county in the Legislature were J. F. Mock^Thos. N. Jones and S. W. Edwins. Among the best-known physicians during his residence here, and one who was prominent in political inatters, was Dr. John Hunt, whose practice dates from 1839. In addition to having at one time been a member of the Legislature, he was also elected Countv Treasurer of Madison countv. It was once said of him that he could sit upon the stone steps in front of his oflice in the public scjuare and dictate the nomina- tion for every office within the gift of the Democratic party. During his reign as a manipulator of politics he ruled with an iron hand, and woe be to the man who crossed his path, or in any wav undertook to undo anything he might choose to ac- complish in that direction. A man once having gained his dislike was immediately wiped from his political map. Dr. Hunt's medical practice was very extensive, and his qualifications were uncjuestioned. Whenever there was a des- perate case of sickness in any part of the county, and the chances seemed to be against the patient, it was invariably the rule for the parties to send for Dr. Hunt. He died in Fayette- ville, in Arkansas, in the vear 1894. Of other physicians who years ago held political sway in HISTORY OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 227 Anderson was Dr. Tlionias X. Jones, father of Dr. Horace E. Jones, who is still in our midst. lie came to Madison county some time in the '50s. He was tall and stately, and a man who was a great mixer amonj^ his fellow men. He was popu- lar with the people, and, like Dr. Hunt, drifted into politics. In the year 1870 he was nominated and elected as representa- tive for Madison county in the Legislature. Dr. Jones was an impulsive man, and it took but little rubbing of the hair the wrong way with him to get up a first- class quarrel. He was not vicious in his disposition, and scarcely ever came to blows witii an antagonist, and as long as iiis foeman would stand at a safe distance and quarrel the Doctor generally managed to hold up his end of the string. He was a very successful practitioner, and. a great success at the bedside of a patient, from the fact tiiat he was very kind and gentle iu the sick-room and an excellent nurse, and he never failed to get the confidence of his patients. He died in Anderson in the year 1875. Dr. Jones was the most promi- nent of his profession in Anderson during his many years' resi- dence here. Dr. X. L. Wickersham, who yet resides in Anderson, is al.so one of the early settlers of the county. He came here many years ago from Grant county. He was twice elected as president of the first medical society of Madison county, which was organized in 18()8. One of the most prominent physicians that ever lived in Madison county was Dr. William A. Hunt , a brother of Dr. John Hunt, above referred to. He was for many years located on his elegant farm in Richland township, which is now owned by Joiin Tappan, where he had a large practice. He removed to Anderson in 1808, and for a while engaged in the drug trade with the late J. F. Brandon, but upon retiring from the firm he again entered into the practice of his profes- sion, which he kept up until his death. Dr. Hunt was a ready writer and the public prints of the county contain many of his spicv communications. He was undoubtedly the greatest reader tliat ever belonged to his profession in this commimity, not only of medical works, but of all the literature of the day. He was a master of language, and in his writings are many gems, although he invariably wrote over a nom de plume thereby concealing his identitj- from the world. CHAPTER XXVIII. The First County Commissioners Elected in Madison County, and Some of Their Early Records. The Legislature of 1828-29 passed a law abolisiiing the courts of the justices, which was composed of one Justice of the Peace from each township, and provided that the county business should be transacted by three Commissioners elected in each county in the State, and made them courts of limited jurisdiction since which time there has been no change in that respect. The first election held in Madison county under this law took place on August 11, 1829, at which time Tiiomas Mc- Cartney, Henry Seybert and Joim Berry were elected tiie liist Board of County Commissioners. On the 19th of August, 1829, the old Court of Justices held its last session, being called for the special purpose of receiv- ing the certificates of election of the new members of the Board, and was presided over by William Curtis, the president of the Board. The following members were in attendance : Daniel Hardesty, Daniel Wise, Richard Kinnamon. William Nelson, Jacob Hiday, Moses Whitecotton, Amasa Make- peace and John Busby. The first business of the court was to hear and determine a contest of the election of John Berry, one of the newly elected members of the new court. The contestor, his op- ponent, Joseph Nichols, protested against Berry's elec- tion on the ground that the election was not carried out according to law in relation to tiie closing of the polls at the proper time. Ansel Richmond, who was clerk of the courts of the county, and also acted in the capacity of Auditor and Recorder, made up the minutes of the proceedings. The Board of Justices, after hearing all the evidence and being well advised in the premises, decided against Mr. Nichols, and Mr. Beiry was seated as a member of the Board, and the Justices then gave way to the Commissioners and the Board of Justices became a thing of the past. IlISI'DHV OI-- MAniSOX COUNTY, IXniAXA. 229 The first order maile by the Board of Commissioners after beint; orj^anized was in relation to tlie Slielbyville State road, as follows : •• Ordered, that Isaac Jones be, and is, hereby appointed Commissioner, on behalf of Madison county, to locate a State road leadine, who obtained the facts from some old settlers many years ago, when he was publishing the Anderson Stoiii/ari/ , and we quote them as given to us : THE SCENE OF THE AliBOlT .MUKDER IN ISoU. ■"In the early settlement of almost eyery comity in this State, as well as in others, there was more or less lawlessness, disrespect for the rights of others, and a general contempt for good order. Even to-day we see this evidence in many localities of the west, where robbery, murder, counterfeiting, etc., abound, and a general reign of terror predominates. Where there is no law there is little or no society, and the revolver figures more prominently before the public eye than do^the scales of justice. Until courts are organized and the proper machinery of the law is adjusted to the surroundings, 240 HISTORY OF MADISON COLNIV, INDIANA. such will continue to be the state of atTairs in almost all new settlements. Madison count}- was not e.xempt from lawless characters in its early settlement, and between the years of 18^5 and 1835 there were many strange characters residing within its boundaries — men who had ventured from eastern and southern localities to find an abiding place temporarily, it might be, to evade the strong arm of the law which was about to clasp them within its grasp. Fall Creek township in an early day was the home of a band of counterfeiters, who plied their vo- cation for some years until the law was put in operation for their benefit, when the business was broken up, and the band scattered. Pipe Creek township, in the first settling of the county, and for a few years afterward, was the abiding place of a nest of horse thieves, wiio followed their unlawful work in this and neighboring counties until matters became entirely too warm for them, and tliev abandoned the business. The descendants of some of these people reside there now. In other portions of the countv at that early period resided people who knew no law, and did about as they chose, until public sentiment and an advanced civilization compelled tiiem to leave. About the year 1880a family by the name of .Vbbott. con- sisting of a father, mother and two grown sons, from Ken- tucky, moved into the new and sparsely settled country. They settled or rather " squatted ' ' on what was long after- ward known as the Isaac Moss farm, some two miles west of the then village of Anderson. Their cabin was situated near the river bank, at the foot of the hill, on the north side of what is now known as the Perkinsville road. From the first it would seem they were more or less viewed with suspicion, although never appearing before a court of justice on any charge, and living in the locality for two years, subsequent discoveries indicated that tiie suspicions against them were well founded, and their hasty exit was not made any too soon. They cultivated a small patch of ground, and an occasional trader through the lonely locality would stop with them for the night. The Abbotts seemed to shun work, and yet ap- peared to possess a considerable amoimt of personal property, in the way of horses, hogs, sheep and such like, although at their firSt arrival few of these things were known to belong to them. The men would make quiet trips away from home, and be absent from two to three weeks at a time. Whither HISTORY OF MADISON COIINTV, INDIANA. 241 they went on their business was unknown. In that eaily day every man was expected to know his neighbors for three or four miles around, how many plows, wagons or horses he possessed, how many acres he had in wheat or corn, how- man}' members of his family, where and when the next "meet- ing " would be held, and all the gossip afloat. But the Ab- botts Were reserved in that respect, and did not let the neigh- bors know any more of their business than possible, and al- though maintaining some show of sociability, were careful to keep their atlairs to a great extent to themselves. The truth seemed to be, and was the verdict generally of the neighbors, that the family was a household of thieves, but were commit- ting their depredations in distant localities. This seemed to account for the occasional new horse, a few sheep or hogs, which thev liad not purchased directly in the neighborhood. The suspicion continued to go from neighbor to neighbor that the Abbotts were " crooked" people, and dangerous to the community, although no overt acts could be charged to their account. Further along, however, as we shall see, an event occurred which seemed to confirm fully the evil impressions created against them and which caused their sudden flight to unknown parts very soon thereafter. A prominent highway of early days extending through several counties adjoining this was known as the ■' Strawtown road." It was probably the first wagon road in the county. Its terminus was at Greenville, Ohio, and extended west from there through Muncie, Anderson and Perkinsville to Indianapolis, while a branch of it was constructed northwest toward the Wabash. The ■•Strawtown road'" was the emigrant route to the West for many years, and thousands of people seeking homeg in the West in the early days of the State passed over it. What is now known as Eighth street in Anderson and the continua- tion of the gravel road to Perkinsville, was a portion oi the '• Strawtown road " of early times. During the summer of 1832, a gentleman from some point in Ohio started West on horseback over the route spoken of, determined on seeking a new home in the West. He moved by slow stages, stopping a dav or two at different points along the journey to inspect and prospect. He reached this county in ten or twelve days, and, passing through the village of Anderson, stopped in the evening at the Abbott home for 16 242 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTV, INDIANA. the night, intending, as it was supposed, to continue on in a westerlv course the next day. He was never seen or heard of again. His intentions being when starting away to not be absent o\'er six weeks, his relatives at the end of tliat time began to fear that trouble of some kind had overtaken him. So strongly were they confirmed that at the end of two months they determined upon a trip to find him if possible, or if not seeing him to ascertain what had become of iiim. Going over the same route it was a matter of very little trouble to find many places at which he had tarried over night and where they accurately described the man and horse, and different matters pertaining to him were uniformly correct. The searchers moved along their journey quite rapidly, encouraged by the hope of soon finding him. Passing on the route they went on through Anderson and stopped at the Abbott home to make further inquiries. •• Yes, lie had stopped there," the inmates said and described him. '' He left early next morn- ing," the}- said, " expecting to go at least twenty-five miles that day." The two men continued on their wav west making their usual inquiries, but at no place after leaving the *\bbott cabin could thev hear anything concerning their friend. They coiitinued in searcli for several days in the countrv around Noblesville and Indianapolis, but finally abandoned it and passed back east having accomplished nothing. Neighbors who may have had certain fixed views regard- ing the disappearance of the stranger remained quiet. It should be remembered that those were the days when such things as detectives and telegraphs were unknown, and the opportunities and the class of persons necessary for ferreting out evil deeds and bringing criminals to justice were not nearly so favorable as in this day or age. An event, however, soon occurred that brought matters to a crisis and determined the suspected family upon an immediate flight. One morning the body of a man was found floating in White river only about a quarter of a mile below where the Abbotts lived. No one recognized the features in the neighborhood, and the Abbotts were as seemingly mystified as to who the man was as any other persons. After a few days the sensation over the discovery subsided to a great extent, many thinking that it was some stranger who had accidently fallen into the river and drowned. A few there were, however, who did not think just that way, and intimations of a murder were quietK- spoken of. The Abbotts seemed to have felt probably that it HISTORV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 243 would soon be laid at their door, and one night the family with all their goods and chattels quietly disappeared. Their absence was not discovered until two or three days, and no effort was made to pursue them, the neighborhood being grati- fied that they had left. The disappearance of the man who had stopped at the house, and tiie search fur him afterwards with no, intelligence regarding him seemed now to have been explained b}' the finding of the corpse floating in the river. The opinion rap- idly chrystalized that this mysterious family had murdered the stranger for his money and the property in his possession, and sank the body in the river, and their hasty flight seemed to confirm it. They were gone, none knew where, and no eftort was put forth to arrest them, and the affair in a few months passed from the minds of most of the people then residing in that locality. This was an event, it must be borne in mind, of over si.xtv vears ago. In this day of rapid transit and shrewd detec- tives, the suspected people could not have escaped. Every- thing relating to the affair would have been unraveled in a short time. For soine years afterwards many persons in pass- ing the road fronting the place would call attention to the cabin, which remained unoccupied, and with feelings of awe, avow that it was haunted, and that the spirit of somebody could be heard within its portals after night, and through this superstitious fear many avoided passing by there after dark. The cabin has long since gone to decay, and the people living in the vicinity were called hence long ago, yet the recollection of this mysterious family and the dark deeds attributed to its members were themes for discussion in the humble homes of the pioneers in the vicinity for many years thereafter." AN ATKOCIOl'S CHIME. Susan Nelson was the widow of William Xelson, who was for many years a resident of Anderson township, and who died in Anderson many years ago. On the 7th of September, 188H, Mrs. Nelson left the city, going west on the Bee Line road on the evening train. During the day she called at the postotfice and left an order for her mail to be forwarded to Kansas City, Missouri. She also employed a drayman of the name of Swearingen who took her trunk to the depot, and said to him that she was going to visit her son, Jasper Nelson, who had written to her and informed her that he was very 244 HISTORY OF MADI.SOX COLXIY, INDIANA. sick. She informed Edward Dowm-v that she was leaving' Anderson never to return. She also talked to other people in the same strain about leaving Anderson. She was afterwards missed by her friends and no one knew of her whereabouts. In the following month of October after she had taken her departure, a man of the name of James Porter, while hunt- ing in the woods about three miles southwest of the citv of Terre Haute, and while in a lonelv portion of the forest, noticed his dog running to the side of a ravine with something in his mouth. lie called the animal to him and saw that he rEliliV .M.WIS, THE MIKDEKEK OK SUsAN NELSON. had a human skull. The afternoon was then drawing to a close, but he concluded to institute a thorough search into the matter, and see wiiat the discovery would lead to. .Soon he found another bone, and then another, until at last it appeared to him that probably some foul murder had been committed. Overcome with friglit and horror, he con- cluded to go to his home. On the following morning, assisted by some neighbors, he continued the search. This time a complete set of artificial teeth, and some female clothing, w'ere discovered. It was not long before the dead bodv of a woman IIIST01!\ OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 245 ^vas found hidden among the slirubberv and lea\es of the wood. Tlie coroner of \'igo count v was immediately notified of the afiair. lie promptly' arrived upon the scene, began an ex- amination, and held an inquest. Ei<;;hty-tliree cents in change was found in the dress pocket of the murdered woman. No clue, however, was obtained as to her identity. It was evi- dent that she had been murdered as her skull was crushed in as if by a heavy blow, and there were signs of a struggle in the underbrush. The jjhysicians wiio were examined as ex- perts gave it as their opinion that she must have been dead for five or six weeks. Considerable excitement was created bv a rumor that a girl at Saint Mary's College of the Woods, had been missing, and it was for a time thought that this might be her body, but an investigation soon put that theory at rest. The people in the vicinity of the murder, however, kept up the search, hoping that something might turn up by which the remains would be identified. Finallv. one day in some tall grass, a regiilarlv written, but blood-stained insurance policy issued by Bain iS: Harris, of Anderson, Indiana, was found. The policy was torn nearly apart in two places. The policy was made out in the name of Mrs. Susan Xelson, and was for -an insurance upon her household goods. This discovery fur- nished an excellent clue, and the detectives pro'ceeded at once to work upon the case. Every neighboring \illage was visited, and every livery stable keeper for miles around was spoken to. The detective came to Anderson, and assisted by Marshal Co- l)urn. whose energy was aroused b}' the knowledge of the per- petration of this crime, soon succeedtxl in establisliing the fact beyond a doubt that the murdered woman was Mrs. Susan Nelson, of Anderson. The detective with his assistant then went to the old brick house in which she had for a long time resided, situated on North Main street directly op- posite the present residence of Martin Gruenewald. A letter was found from her son, Jasper, postmarked at Brazil, Indiana, dated August 28, 188B. This was about two weeks prior to the time she had left Anderson. Bra/.il is only sixteen miles east of Terre Haute. This letter caused a great deal of comment, and suspicion was at once directed to her son as being the guilty party. He had for v'ears been rather prodig:d in his habits, and it was known that with all his faults that his motlier loved him dearly, and that he had a great influence over her. It was supposed that he had lured 246 JIISTOUV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. her to Brazil or Terre Haute, and for the purpose of obtaiiiiiiir monej- from her. had murdered her, and then made his escape. Jasper Nelson was accordingly arrested at Cape Girar- deau, Missouri, on suspicion, and brought to ^\nderson for trial. Upon a full and complete investigation of all the facts stated by him as to his whereabouts at the time of the murder, the court was satisfied that lie was innocent of the crime, al- though inan}- persons have been convicted on less convincing evidence, lion. W. R. Mvers was his attorney and did valiant work in saving him from conviction. Suspicion pointed to one Ferry Manis. an ex-preacher of the gospel who resided near Frankton, in this countv, and who was known to have been a fre(|Uent visitor to Mrs. Nelson's house. About this time Manis was arrested and placed in the Madison county jail, for associating with prosti- tutes, and, during his imprisonment, his actions in some wav fastened suspicion upon him very strongly in relation to the murder of Mrs. Nelson. Among other circumstances it was shown that he had left Anderson about the time Mrs. Nelson did, and returned after an absence of four or five weeks, lie left without taking a trunk, and with but little monev, and returned with a trunk and plenty of funds in his possession. In a little while after his return he purchased a horse and buggy and a set of harness at a cost of .iSSOO. He gave as an explanation for his possession of the monev that •^225 of it was given him by his mother, and .|25 by Maggie Moore, a lady friend. A boy was produced who stated that he had overheard him arranging a ]3laii with Mrs. Nelson, in which it was agreed that they would go to Kansas City, and estab- lish a boarding house. This was another very suspicious cir- cumstance against him. The officers secured possession of the trunk brought back by Manis, and wiien interrogated as to how he came in pos- session of it. lie saiil that he bought it of a man in the I'nion depot at Indianapolis for ijili.OO : that the man was a stranger to him and had told him he was out of monev. The detectives kept at their work, and da)' by day more evidence was forth- coming, and the web was woven so closely about Manis, that finall3' an afhdavit was filed against him in \'igo countv for the murder of Mrs. Nelson. The grand jurv at Terie Haute took jurisdiction of the case, and an indictment was returned charging him with murder. He was placed under arrest, and taken to Terre Haute, and on a trial in the Circuit Court in IIISTOKV OF MADISON COUNTV, INDIANA. 247 that county, he was convicted of the crime and sentenced to imprisonment for life in the penitentiary, and here he died within a period of two or three years after his imjjrisonment. It was known that when Mrs. Nelson left Anderson, she had in her possession o\er .$()()(), which she had drawn out of the Exchange Bank a day or two prior to her departure. There was no doubt at all as to the identity of the murdered wo- man being Mrs. Nelson ; portions of her clothing were pro- duced in court which her friends and relatives recognized ; and the set of artificial teeth, which were found in the woods were shown to have been made for her bv Dr. II. B. Reid, who appeared in court and identified them. It was also shown upon the trial that Manis and Mrs. Nelson were seen together in a lodging house at Terre Haute ; that he had hired a buggy and had driven awav with her, but had returned without her ; while there was no direct evidence to connect him with the crime, all the circumstantial facts in the case were very strong. The State of Indiana was represented at the trial by the prosecuting attorney at Terre Haute, and Wm. A. Kittinger, of Anderson. Mr. Manis was defended by Judge Mack, of Terre Haute. Mr. Kiltinger won fresh laurels in the man- agement of this case. Mrs. Susan Nelson will be remembered by the old citi- zens of Madison county as the sister of Frederick and Michael Bronnenberg, who have lived in this countv nearly all their lives. The connection of Perry Manis with thi.s crime was a se- vere blow to his famil}', none of whom had ever been accused or convicted of any crime. Manis, himself, was not consid- ered as having vicious habits, and, in fact, was, at one time, an itinerant preacher, who held religious meetings in the school districts throughout the count}'. It was claimed that, by his efforts, he made many converts to the Christian faith. The onh' thing of which he was accused, prior to this affair, was that he was a man of lewd habits, indolent, and disposed to associate with bad characters. In this respect he was alto- gether different from every one of his relatixes, who were all well-to-do and prosperous people. CHAPTER XXXII, Reminiscences and Otheh Miscellany. AN old-time shooting MATCH AND ITS RESULT. In the early history of many of the counties of Indiana, and, in fact, for many years afterward, " shooting matches," as they were termed, were a leading sport, or amusement, among a large portion of the people, and thev were generally attended by the male portion of the community for miles around. The best shots with the rifie were generally rewarded with turkeys, the " hind '" or '' fore " quarter of a beef, and, sometimes, money. Thev rarely failed to attract large crowds of men from the excitement and social enjoyment tliat attend- ed them, and, even 3'et, " shooting matches'" are occasionally heard of, but rarely, any more. One of these matches occurred in this county in 1847, that w-as attended, from what followed before the people dis- persed to their homes, with unusual excitement. Only a short distance west of the Mounds, near the bank of White river, on what is known as the Samuel Hill farm, where there was a distiller}', a match for shooting had been arranged and exten- sive notice called to it for some days before. It was in No- vember, on Thanksgiving Day of that year. The air was somewhat cold and the sky overhead dark and forbidding, but it did not fail to draw out a large crowd of people to witness the shooting, and fully two hundred per- sons were on hand, among them some of the best ''shots" of that time in the county. The crowd was feeling in the best of humor, and the sport proceeded along finelv for two or three hours after midday. Two young men. Cox and Tharp, were among those in attendance, but neither probably anticipated the dreadful tragedy soon to follow, or the hurried retreat and permanent exile of one of them from the countv. There had been some previous trouble between the two men, but not of such a nature as to suggest danger or death to either. Tliarp was tiie larger of the two, and inclined to be HISTORY OF MADISON COl'NTY, IN'niAXA. 249 somewhat doiiiiiieeiing in his actions to his smaller opponent, Cox. Tharp had had some trouble during the progress of the match, and Co.x, it seems, had avoided his enemy by retreat- ing from him two or three times. Goaded at last, it would appear, when forbearance had ceased to be a virtue. Cox seized the rifle of a bystander, rusiied up to where Tharp ^vas standing witii liis right side fronting him, and raising it iiigh over his shoulder brought the barrel of it witii full force upon his head. Tliarp dropped to the earth as if shot, and never arose again. Immense excitement followed, of course. Botli men had friends on the ground, and threats from both sides were passed rapidly back and forth. Tiiarp was placed in a wagon, brought to his home in Anderson, but died during the night from the effect of tiie blow, iiaving never spoken. An examination after death showed a fractured skull, and that death ditl not come at once i> marvelous. Cox soon after crossed over to iiis iiome about a mile lo tiie northwest, and next morning \va'= arrested and placed in iail. As is usual in cases of tills kind some loud tiireats by a few friends of the dead man were indulged in, but the better sense of the com- munity prevailed, and tiie matter was given o\er to the grand jurv to investigate and report upon. Cox had many warm friends wlio considered tliat he had been imposed upon, and was not really responsible tor the untimely taking oft' of Tharp. The grand jury soon convened, reported an indictment against him for murder, and preparations began for his trial. The jail, an old log aft'air. was situated in the northwest corner of the square, its main entrance fronting to the south. The .Sheriff at that time was John II. Davis. And here begins a final feature of the affair altogether unanticipated, and which brought to it a termination much sooner than the general public had been led to suppose. A few friends of Cox were permitted to visit him every few days. They discussed quietly with him the probable results of his trial. It was feared by all of them that the best that he could hope for would by a long term of twelve or fifteen years in the penitentiary. They all feared a verdict, while they consid- ered that he had acted in self defense. Aftertalking the mat- ter over from every point it was determined that he should break jail and leave the county forever. He assented and he readily agreed to makg the attempt, and wiiich, as we will subsequently see. was crowned with success. Fi\e true and 250 IIISTOUY OF .MADISON COUXTY, IXDIAXA. determined men were given the secret, and tliese five, it was said, brought it about. The strictest secrecy was enjoined upon all and the night was selected when he was to rush forth to freedom. During the occasional visits of his friends an im- press of the lock in beeswax was taken. This was used in patterning an iron key that would fit the lock. After it was finished it was found to work exactly. It unlocked the door to the jail readily. All was well thus far. The ne.xt thing was to select the night and make final preparations. One can fancy how the hearts of tliese fixe friends must have beaten as the hour drew nigh for Cox to come forth. The slightest mishap might upset all their plans and they themselves be locked behind the holts and of the same prison from which they were striving to liberate their friend. Cox was the owner of a fine horse, •" Selam," a good roadster, strong of wind and ''good bottom." He was to be used in carrying his owner away from trouble. -'Selam'" was brought to town one afternoon and thoroughly sliod for the journevat the blacksmith shop in the south part of the town near where the school building on Main street is situated. One of his friends went to the jail and told him to prepare to start that night at about the hour of 11 o'clock. Near that hour the five friends, one of them leading "Selam,'" approached cautiouslv and noiselesslv to the jail building from the west side of the square. It was cokl on the night in (|uestion, a slight snow was falling, the town was in deep slumber and onlv a faint, dim light could occasionally be seen from some building in the vicinity. Slowly and with cat-like tread the jail is reached, the door is unlocked and in low tones Cox is told to come forth, lie does so at once, and for the first time in weeks, breathes the air of freedom and after a hurried conversation regarding directions he mounts the faithful liorse. " Farewell, may God protect you" is heard, and a cordial final shaking of hands all aroimd and he is off" bidding farewell forever to Madison county. He moved in a westerly course. The night was ex- tremely dark, and was lighted onlv bv an occasional star from behind the dark passing clouds, but he moves on as fast as old " Selam ' could carrv him, animated no doubt by the fear that earl)- next morning ofhcers may follow and overtake him, and that he may yet be compelled to undergo imprison- ment behind the gloomy walls of the penitentiarv. He rode that night, it was afterwards ascertained, twentv miles before IIISTOKV OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. :.'51 stopping, crossing tlie river at Perkinsville, and proceeding in a nortli westerly direction. His first stop was in the nortliern part of Hamilton county at a farm house, where he remained until the afternoon, to feed and rest his horse. The next morning after his flight immense excitement was created in Anderson at the discover^' that Cox was missing. How it was done and who did it were puzzling tjuestions that every one was asking. Many were glad of it while others condemned the officers for their carelessness. Officers were .sent in various directions and posters sent describing the escaped prisoner. This was in the days before telephones, telegraphs, and railroads were known, and it was a mucii more difficult matter to trace and catch criminals than in this fast age. The night of the escape a heavj' snow fell and it was im- possible for sometime for tlie officers to ascertain in which direction he had gone, which was all the better for the fleeing man. Finally they got on the right course and traced Cox as far northwest as Logansport where it was found that he had crossed the Wabash river about the third day after leaving Anderson. After this nothing relialjle as to his course in lea\ing the Wabash could be ascertained, and, after a few weeks, pursuit was abandoned altogether. The friends of Cox mingled with the citizens of the town the day after the escape wondering (?) how it was done and condemning in no mild terms the want of vigilance on the part of the officials. One of these live men, who was generally suspected as an '• aider and abetter " in the liberation of Co.x, is yet among the living of Madison county, and as we observe his slow treading ste]is and bent foim as he passes along the streets, we fancy he- must, in his mind, recur to his part in the affair of near a half a century ago with mingled feelings of satisfaction to himself, if to none other, and what a thrill of excitement must occa- sionally pervade his thoughts as the stormy night, the ijuiet march to the jail, the appearance of Cox, and his cjuiet disap- pearance in the darkness all appear before him. • A plain marble slab, properly sculptured, onlv a few rods to the northeast from the main entrance to the Anderson cemetery marks the spot where repose the remains of Tharp. the unfortunate victim of a tragedy of so much excitement in the long ago, and here the winds of near a half centurv have sung their sad requiems over his grave. Some twenty-five years after the tragedy an old citizen 252 IIISTOHY OK MAIJISOX COrXTV. INDIANA. ot Matlison coiintv, during u journey througli the west, in his route had occasion to pass through the west, part of Wiscon- sin, in St. Croix county-. Here in a small town he came un- expectedly across Cox, who had disappeared so suddenly in the winter of 1847. Both recognized each other at once and their greetings were cordial. Little or no reference was made to the trouble " back in Indiana," a t)uarter of a century be- fore, and Cox did not seem in the least flustered or nervous at meeting the individual that knew a full history of his former difficulty. He may yet be alive, but if >o, is no doubt gray and bent with the weight of seventy or eighty years upon him and as each annual occurring "Thanksgiving Day"' appears he would gladly blot from memory that of 1847. Captain A. I. Makepeace saw Tharp on the morning of the tragedy and tried to dissuade him from attentling the shooting matcii. A RED nor I'OLI 1IC.-\I, CAMPAIGN IX WHICH MICH I'.AD I'.I.OOD WAS OISPLAVED. The campaign of 1868, the first to take place after the close of the Civil war, was one that will long remain green in the memories of those who lived in this county and took part in it. There never has been one since that has been ac- companied with so much ill feeling, hot blood, or hatred, as that memorable political fight. The campaign started in early, and the battle raged fiercely until the last gun was fired. General Grant was the nominee of the Republican party, and Horatio Seymour the Democratic leader. Tiie Democrats started in by ratifying the nomination of Horatio Seymour for the presidency, in July, by the firing of cannon and speech- making in the Court House yard, on which occasion Jacob Hubbard, whiU- ramming a load in the cannon, had his arm blown off by a jjremature explosion, an account of which is elsewhere related. The Republicans had a well organized body of men in uniform, well drilled for political parade. " The Fighting Boys in Blue, "" at the heatl of which was Captain C. T. Doxey, who was then young, energetic and full of life, just fresh from the seat of war. The Democrats had the largest political uniformed club that was ever organized in the coun- ty, numbering one thousand strong. Captain B. B. Camp- bell was the commander. The organization was known as the •' White Boys in Blue."" This was one of the finest look- HISTORY OF MADISON' COUNTV, INDIANA. 253 ing political clubs that ever marched through the city of Anderson ; their uniforms were blue pants, zoua\e style. wliite waists and blue caps. During the campaign Mrs. J. M. Dickson, who was one of Madison county's best Democratic women, presented the boys rt flag in a hand=ome speech from the veranda of her resi- dence at the corner of Fourteenth and Jackson streets, which was received with cheers and music. The boys carried that Hag from one end of the State to tiie other. The two political parties vied with each other in all public demonstrations, trj-ing to outdo each other in splendor and attractions. A great deal of bad feeling existed on both sides, but no serious results came of it until the closing days of the campaign. The Republicans had a grand "rally'' at Anderson. It was to be the last struggle of the battle. This was, perhaps, the largest jiolitical gathering that e\er occurred in this county. Everv Republican county withiii fifty miles of Anderson sent delega- tions to swell the crowd and overawe the Democracy of Madison county. During the day, as is usual, some of the boys drank fieely and became very loud. Xeal Daugherty was then a Democrat and was city marshal. He arrested several of the lads and placed tiiem in the "coop." The news spread like wild-tire. The Democratic city officials were arresting and incarcerating in jail the Republican boys. It was no time until the town was all shaken up w ith excite- ment. Wesley Dunham was then Mayor and James II. AlcCon- nell was city prosecutor. A rush was made for the Mayor's ofHce and a demand made for the release of the boys who had been placed in jail. Clubs, pistols and kni\'es were nourished over and around Mayor Dunham aiul Marshal Daugherty's heads and threats of all kinds of violence v\ ere made if the prisoners were not released. Mayor Dunham stood like a stone wall and faced the infuriated crowd, backed by the steady nerve of Neal Daughert}' and J. H. McConnell. He flatly refused to issue any order for the discliargc of the prisoners, as they were transgressors against the law and were arrested for that and not for any political reasons. Some one in the crowd cried out, " Rescue them! Tear down the jail! " In a moment the excited crowd rushed toward the old jail, at the corner of Ninth and Jackson streets. James II. Snell was then sheriff, and a braver man never lilled that office. He heard the crowd coming with a yell. 254 HISTORY OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. He took his place in tlie jail yard, and in a gentlemanly way ordered the crowd not to enter the premises, warning them that whoever did so did it at his peril. The crowd halted for consultation. About this time Captain W. R. Myers, who was then a Republican leader in MadisonI county, appeared upon the scene and took his station in the jail yard, and in a few well-timed remarks shamed the crowd out of any attempt to tear down the jail, telling them that the laws of the land had been transgressed, and there was no disposition on the part of the city officials to do anything but their dutv : that as soon as possible the transgressors should be taken before the Mayor and their cases lawfully disposed of. This speech had the effect to disperse the crowd, and saved the jail from being torn down, and, perhaps, the shedding of blood. Matt Tob'n then kept a saloon in the alley between Ninth and Tenth streets, south of Main. His place was raitled and cleaned'out. Pistols, knives and bludgeons were drawn on him, but he faced his assailants and showed them fight. He was not personally injured, but had a close call. Henrj' Bronnenbeig, the present County Commissioner, was in town on that day. Some one reported that lie had shouted for Jefl'. Davis. A rush was made for him, but Henry was too slick for them. He rode a gray mare tiiat could out run the m ind. He took toward home, hundreds of fellows on foot and horse back following him, jelling and shouting like Indians on the trail ; but to no purpose. Bron- nenberg sat on his racer, looking liack at his pursuers at in- tervals, sending back a shot from a revolver. Xo one was hit either by him or his pursuers. He crossed the river near Jackson's old mill that used to stand on the river near the crossing of the Pan Handle and Bee Line railroads, becoming lost to sight in the woods that was then along the river. Oliver Mv'ers, a brother of Captain Myers, was coming to town rid- ing a gray horse nearly the same color as Bronnenberg's. The crowd met him, and thinking he was Bronnenberg, coming back towards them, c:ime very near killing him before he could explain who he was. It took some tall talking from Mr, Myers to save his scalp, but at last he succeeded in get- ting them convinced that he was not the man they were after. Bronnenberg returned to the city in a short time, but was not molested. A. A. Hellwig, who was a leading Democratic politician at that time, was among others who had to keep shady on niSTOliV Ol' MAIHSON COUNTY, INDIANA. 255 tiiat occasion, but got even by knocking tlown a fellow from IMiddletown and taking his badge from him. Tlie larger portion of those who wanted to take the town came from other counties, wliilst there were some in Ander- son who •■ egged "" them on. The best element did not ap- prove of it and denounced it. In that campaign Captain B. B. Campbell, who was at the head of the " White Boy.s in Blue," took his command to Indianapolis to a State raUv. While there they got into an altercation with the Republican authorities, and Captan Campbell, in defense of the rights of his men. drew his >~word anil struck one of his assailants o\er the head, giving him a severe wound. No man ever had command of a political club in this countv who had the per- fect control over his men and conimandetl their entire respect as did Captain Cami^bell. He could have led them into the depths of bloodv battle, lire or flame, and not a man would h.ive flinched. Time has changed and mellowed down those who yet live, who took part in that political fight. The manv neighbors who then h;iled each other for^ political reasons are the best of friends now. Captain Campbell and Major Doxej', the central figures in that exciting conflict, who used to walk on opposite sides of the street from each other — aie now the warmest of old cronies, often in a crowd together, talking, no doubt think- ing, about their foolishness in those by-gone days. Politics, as well as other things, have since then changed. Captain Myers is now one of the wheel hor.ses of the Democ- racy. W. A. Kittinger, then a Democrat, is a red hot Repub- lican. Xeal Daugherty, then a Democrat, is now a Republican, and so the world goes on. liUUKETT EADS A ONCE PROMINENT CITIZEN. Burkett Eads ^vas one of Madison comity's old-timers. He died in Anderson about the year 18(5(3, while filling the office of ccjuntv Recorder. He was born in \'irginia, where he married ; he removed to Kentucky, where he lived for a short time, moving to Henry county, and from thence to this county, where he spent the remainder of his days. In 1856 he was elected Sheriff, and in 18()4 became Recorder, which place he filled during the war. He was a sterling Democrat. There was no compromise in his make-up. Democracy was his only religion. During his term of office congress passed a law re- qi:iring all deeds and mortgages to be stamped with a one- 256 HISTORY or MADISOX COUXTV, INDIANA. dollar revenue stamp ; it also required a certiticate of the officer taking the acknowledgement, that it was duly stamped according to law. It also gave the Recorder a twentv-five-cent lee for recording the certiticate. When a person brought in a deed to have it recordctl, Burkett would ask him his politics. " I am a Republican, sir ." '■ Well, the fee is one dollar and a half. If vou were a Democrat, it would oiilv he oik- dollar and a quarter." '• How is that ?" ■' The government has passetl a law requiring me to re- cord this certiticate, that your deed is properly stamped. You have voted for this law, now you can pay for it." He had a nickname for every one. He imnu-diately named every stranger who came to town. He called Arm- strong Taylor •' Snakeroot :"' Richard Lake, he called "The Arabian Dick;"' Michael Doll, he called "Snake-head;'' Ephraim Doll, he called •' Blacksnake." During the war, wlien excitement ran high, a comjian}' of soldiers was passing through the town and undertook to take the place. They raided all the county officers, and put them all to flight except Burkett Eads, who entrenched him- self in his office, and showed fight; defying them, they passed on and let him alone. When he lived in Henry county it was at an early day — when people cut their grain witli a hand sickle. Burkett Eads had the distinction of being the fastest reaper in the county. His oldest son, Edward Eads, committed suicide beneath a large beech tree in Liberty township, Henry county, by shooting his brains out with a rifle, while out hunting, caused by melancholy from being jilted by his lady love. Burkett Eads died in a house opposite where Jolm Barnes now lives, on Central avenue, in ISIiO. from a stroke of paralysis. The widow Eads \\\ed there for many years after her husband's death, and died but a short time since. John Eads, his son. is yet living soutli of the citv ; he is a pros- perous farmer and brick manufacturer. Burkett Eads was, during his lifetime, one of the most popular and successful politicians who ever lived in Madison county; as honest as the day was long, generous to a fault, universally loved and esteemed by all, and leaving a host of friends to mourn his loss when he died. msldK'l Ol' MADISON COL'N'T-i', IXDIAXA. !'.)( Ex-coKONKR (;p:()K(;e Armstrong's expeiuence. Georjre Arin>tr()nn- was one of the char;icters of Madiscin county — a shoe-maker by trade, and an Irishman bv birtli. He read all the papers and was posted on the general polit- ical situation. He could often droji in a remark in regartl to tiie political situation in a caucus that would open the eyes of the '■ rinu; masters "' in local politics, coming as it did from one wliollj- unpretentious and unassuming. (ieorge had a bee ; it buzzed in his ear for a great many jears. He thought he was cut out for some ofHce. He often remarked that "many friends" had solicited him to enter the arena, but somehow lie could not get the consent of his mind to lea\e his business, but at last he concluded that Shake - spearc's'lines were true, which say : "There is a tide in the affairs of man Which taken at its flood, leads on to fortune." So. after much careful deliberation and advice from friends. (Jeorge announced himself a candidate for Coroner of Madison county. The campaign was a short, decisive one, and George got left. Did he kick.' No, you bet your life he diiin't. (jeorge Armstrong was a Democrat from away back. The principles of Democracy were woven in his make-up. djed in the wool, warranted not to fade. He ga\e the entire sum- mer following to the cause of the campaign. He made it his business to solicit votes for his successful opponent who had defeated him in the spring nomination. When the election came round, the entire ticket was elected and (ieorge was happy. Time rolled on until another nomination came on. George, not satisfied with his first venture, tried his luck again which resulted in his triumphant success. He was nominated and elected, filling the office to the satisfaction of his parl\ , until the time of his death when Dr. Spann was appointed to till the vacancy. ^Vfter his election he was explaining to Jack Hunt and some friends how he came to be defeated the first tinu', and the cause of his grand success in the last contest : '"Ye say. the iirsth time 1 didn't fully understand desate amongst the ])aple. I was after going out into Pipecreek township among the Fargesons and Leggs, and tellin' them T was a candidate for Coroner. And they said to me, 'And sure di(,l ye think we did not know it? What! man don't you know 17 258 IIISTCIRY OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. you are t'oolin' away your time running over the country ? We are all for you.' And I saw a great many and they were all for me. vSo, by gara, I comes home and goes to work on the bench, sure that I was there. What d'ye think? When the namination came off I was not heard of, bv gara. Ye could put my vote through the eye of a nadle. Well, thinks says I, they'll not fool me tlie next time. So when I went for the namination the last time I went to get it. ^Vhin a man told me he was for me I didn't believe a d — n word of it, but rather counted him "ferninst" me. But vou bet y'our life I didn't let them send me home with mv ears full of tafl'v. I staid out in the countrv. and argayed with them and plead my cause to every Democrat in Madison county, until the last da}% and you see, man, what I done. I tell you politics is a desavin thing. A man whose word would be taken without swearing in court on any otlier subject, won't do to trust on oath in politics."' George was very nearly riglit about it. The man who -wins in a political race, must be wide awake and trust no one ^vith his secrets, and use all kinds of schemes and de\ ices to pull the wool over the eyes of tlie people. Sl'ICIDE OF KDWAHU LEMON. On the .'jth of August in lSt. in Anderson and rather than become so loath- some as they were lo the public, he would end his life. Lemon was well known to the population of Anderson as ^vell as to a large number of people throughout the country. He was bright and a natural wag; he was always getting oil' some practical joke. At the time he attempted suicitle in Anderson, he was taken to the Do.xev Hotel where he was attended by Dr. Will- iam Suman, who inserted a stomach pump for the purpose of pumjiing out the poison. While his friends were standing around tilled with the seriousness of the hour, and trying to do all they could to save the unfortunate man"s life. Lemon cried out, '■ Doc, wouldn't they be in a hell of a fix if a fire would break out now while you have got this engine down my throat ? "' This caused the persons assembled to indulge in a hearty laugh, even though the occasion was a very serious one. Dr. Suman succeeded in extricating him from his peril- ous condition, and on the next day Lemon was on the streets practicing his usual line of jokes as though nothing had oc- curred. His wit knew no bounds; he was a great mimic, and could imitate to perfection the voice of anv public speaker he had ever heard, also of birds and animals. He was a ready writer and his forte was really that of a funny man. He once wrote a '' take off'' on a swell reception given in Anderson, in which he laid the scene at his country home. 260 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. called •' The Dainside Farm." in which he ridiculed some of the old-timers of Ander.son in elegant style. lie gave the description of the costumes of all those who were present, and the full details of this affair in such language and ^uch terse words that nothing eUe could have been done to m,;ke it more ridiculous. The reason for writing this article was that a gentleman well known in Anderson iiad given a swell reception, after which the afl'air was liberally written up for the Anderson J)c»tocrat, and among the guests were a great many people for whom Lemon did not ha\e the best of feel- ing, and therefore he had written this article as a "take off."" Mr. Lemon is pleasantlv remembered elsewhere in these pages. He. like all of us, had his faults, but had many virtues, \vhich, to a large extent, overbalanced all his shortcoming-.. A DESTKUCITVE STORll. One of the most de>tructive cyclones that ever visited Madison county occurred on Wednesday. May 12. lS8(i. The tract over which it passed was made almost a waste, being about a mile and a half wide and four or five miles long, ex- tending east and west. Great damage was done to the wheat fields, and other crops were laid waste. Llouses, barns and stables were moved from their foundations, shattered and unroofed, and some blown down. Large forest trees in great numbers were broken off and thrown together. Many fine orchards were ruined, and rail fences were blown to the four winds. A terrible flood of rain accompanied the .storm, covering the surt"ace of the ground to a depth of several feet. Among the buildings damaged was the Waggy school house, south of Anderson, which had its roof and gable blown oft'. On the farm of Samuel Cridge a large amount of timber and fences was blown down anil destroyed. I~)r. Robinson, who lived two miles south on the Columbus piKC, had a fine orchard entirely obliterated. J. D. WiUon. in the same neighborhood, had live hogs drowned, and the roof taken off his house. I'eter Miller. li\ing about two miles south of Anderson, had his stable blown down aiul all his fencing completely scattered. The residence of William llanm-son was considerably damaged. James Shinkle. of Anderson, who lived on \Vest Tenth street, had been to Xolilesville and was driving home. When near the residence of William P. Davis, west of Anderson, he niSIOK\' nl- MADISOX COTNTV, INDIANA. iJGl drove into a culveii tliat had bcc-n washed out, and one of his iiorses bv breakin<^ througii into it, was seriously injured. C^uite :i hirl MADISON COISTY. INIMAVA. 2G5 He again stood before the worlil as an lioiiest, uprlyht. (Jotl- fearing- man. His friends congratulated liim upon his acquit- tal. The jury was complimented for its good sense and sound judgment. After all was over, Mr. Sansberrv. in con- versation witli the client, asked him why he denied the Sheriff the courtesy of putting his horse in the stable. "Well," said the man, ''You see. I had the stolen clothes hiilden in the manger, and I was afraid he would lintl them." This knocked the attorney out. lie felt as if there was no cop.lidence to he placed in mankind. Many a guiltv man has escaped punishment by putting on a bolil face anil sticking to the plea of innocence. OI.D-TIMF. COI KI' li.Xl'EKIRNCES. In the long time ago it seems that the people ol' Madison county who dwelled in their log cabins and li\ed on "■ corn dodger,"' with all their ways of simplicity, were about as greedy for small crumbs thrown out of the county " crib " as the present generation. While their coin|iensation was veiy sm.ill as compared with what persons are paid at the ])resent time, there were about as many patriots ready and willing to serve as there are now in piojiortion to the population. There always was and always will be, around every county seat, about the same number of fellows who love to serve in the capacity of jurors and supernumeraries around the courts. There is a fascination about the proceedings of a court that takes hold of some fellows and never loosens its grip on them. The comforts of sitting in a jury box in a warm court house on a cold wintry day, as the wind whistles through the cracks and crevices around the temple of justice, listening to the tes- timony and weighing the evidence in a long and hotly con- tested case of Isastardy, rape or assault and battery, is some- thing that has always been a source of great gratification to many people. It is noticeable, too, that there is, and always has been, a certain crowd in all stages of the court proceeil- ings that are the favored ones. Among the " old-timers "" who had their share of the plum> picked out of the county orchard there were Saul Shaul. Will- iam Curtis, Daniel Harpold, Willis (i. Atherton, Jesse Shel- ton, Collins Tharp, Jesse Wise and manv others who held sway away back in the thirties. From the year ISijO to 1S4(>, their names appear on nearly every page of the old records in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, road supervisor, over- 266 msTOuv oi madi^on coixty, Indiana. seer of tlie poor, bailiff, or in sbnic other capacity connected with running the" machine '' i]i county matters. Many other names also appear of men who. in later years, became popu- lar leaders in the fields of politics and business. At the March session. IS;];"), the allowance records show the following entry ; •' Ordered that the petit jur}- be allowed seventv-five cents each."" Among whom were Andrew Shanklin, John Moss, Jesse Wise and .Saul .'-ihaul. Andrew Jackson was allowed four dollars and a half for services as sheriff; Thomas K. Williams fifty cents for summoning witnesses before the Grand jury, and Charles D. Henderson and Alfred Kilgore were each allowed ten dollars for counsel appointed by the court to defend George McXew for larceny. Adam Winsell and Charles Mitchell were each allowed ten dollars as judges for holding said term of court. Among the names in the above list who afterward be- came men of atTairs, was Andrew Jackson, elected clerk of the Madison Circuit Court as long as he cared to have it : was State senator and a representative in the legislature, and a politician with a State reputation. He became oneof Madison county's political giants. Charles D. Henderson published the first Democratic paper ever printed in ^Madison county, and was a man of State prominence. Alfred Kilgore was one of Indiana's foremost lawyers, a brother of the late Judge David Kilgore, who was once Judge of tiiis circuit and a member of congress from this district. It has been suggested that a suitable monument ought to be erected to Chas. D. Henderson who now lies in an un- marked grave in Madison count}-, almost forgottem He was an intelligent, upright man in his time, and is worthy of some recognition by the present generation for his labors in the days gone by for the benefit of the people of this county. .\mong the many others wiio also had their names enrolled on the pages of Madison county history at that early day, are Henry Alderman and Brazelton Xoland who was once Treasurer of the county years ago ; and Palmer Patrick, of Fallcreek township, who helped to lay out and make nearly every road in Madison count}-, as the records show ; and Smitli Chambers, Robert Farnesworth and Ancil Rich- mond, who many years ago was Clerk of Madison Count)' ; and John Renshaw. who served as county Commissioner and I HISTORY OF .MADISON' COUNTS', INDIANA. '267 assessor of revenue, for Anderson, Jackson and Pipecreek townships in J835; and Chamberlain Houston, as assessor of Adams, Union and Richland townships in tlie same year ; and Robert N. Williams as Clerk of the county during several years, about this period. These men are now gone. They have left their foot- prints on the sands of time. Their records have been made up and submitted to the Supreme Judge of all. We have no right to now pass judgment on their acts, whether right or wrong. It is safe to say they were, in the main, right; if they erred, they did it honestly. SM.M.L OK ITS AGE. Pat Skehan, the groceryman, whose jolly nature and robust form have been the pride of Anderson for almost half a century, has filled a place in Madison county, as well as a warm place in the hearts of its people. Every one knows him throughout the county. He has kept a grocery in Anderson so long that the oldest inhabitant cannot remember when he did not keep one. As well as family groceries, he has always kept a choice lot of liquors, and has enjoyed a good trade among the farmers. Among his many friends and ad- mirers was " Uncle Tommj- "' Thornburg. When Mr. Thorn- burg lived up on Killbuck, he always dropped into Pat's to warm his toes and chat awhile, and thought his visit to Ander- son was not complete unless he had seen Pat. One cold, win- ter morning, " Uncle Tommy "" came to town with his ears wrapped up in good shape. He naturally dropped into Ske- han's grocery to warm. Pat very cordiallv invited him back, gave him a chair near the stove and assisted him to take of\' his wraps, .\fter they had chatted for f|uite awhile. Fat excused himself for a moment, and soon returned with one of those small " thimble glasses '" filled with an '• eye-opener ' " Here, ' Uncle Tommy,' is some choice old rye, right from the blue-grass regions of Kentucky. It is hand-made, ayd I know of my own knowledge, that it is eight years old. Try it ; 1 am certain that it will be good for you this cold morning." " Uncle Tommy " took it and gave it a very close scrutinizing, turning it round and round in his hand, and finally quaffing it down at one swallow. " How old did you say it was:'" asked Tommy. " Eight years old I absolutely know it to be.'' 26S IIISIOI!'!' OK MADISdN COIXTV, I N I>l A XA . " \'es. its pretty yood,'" said Tommy. " but verv --mall of its age."' It was no time until Pat had rt-plenislicd the Ljlas< and they both took a whifF together. TltR FENCE VIEWERS. The ordc ot things has been tiirneil artnuid since the days of our fathers, in regard to the stock law. Now there is no slock allowed to rim at large, or graze upon the " common." No fence of anv ]5articidar size, shjipe or dimensions is needed. In the "away back"' tlays it was diflfereiit ; people allowed stock of all kinds to run out, and graze upon the public land. It was common in those days to have a bell cow anil a bell weather. The bell cow led the procession of cattle, while the bell weather led the sheep. Every cow and sheep knew to what herd it belonged and would follow its leader to the end ol the earth. Sometimes people would not see their stock from early ■spring till late in the fall. When winter approached, they generally turned out to hunt their herds and bring them in for winter feeding. People of that day were retjuired to keep up their fences to a regulation fixed by law. In oriler to properly enforce the law the County Commis- sioners of each county appointed fence viewers to view the fences in different townships, and report as to their condition. If you failed to have your fence up to the standard, and breachy cattle or horses got into your field, you could not collect dam- ages ; while on the other hand, if your fences were up to the regulation prescribed, you could recover damages by suit, if stock inJLH'ed your crops. The office of fence viewer has long been a thing of the past, yet there are men still living who have held that important office. At the January session, 18:^9, the Board of Commissioners made the following appointments : "It is ordered that James Noland and Evan Pugh, of Anderson township ; John McKinzie, of Greene to\vnship ; Charles Doty, of Fallcreek township; Moses Corvvin and Moses Shaul, of Adams township; Collins Tharp and Nehe- miah Layton, of Jackson township, be and the}' are hereby appointed fence viewers of their respective townships for the year A. D. ISl'U." It is said that the Board generally selected a tall and a fat nian in each township for this office. If the fence was so low that the tall man coulil walk a straddle of it, or the lUSI'OUV ()!• MAinsOM COirNFY. INDIAN'A. 200 cracks so large tliat tlic I'at man coiiUl crawl tlirouij;h. then the fence was condemned. This oflice was generally thrown out to the workers in tiie out townships as a reward for jiarty services. It's a pity the office was aholisiied, as it would save cantlidates great expenditure of money, and have a tend- ency to keep party lines, as well as people's fences, in good condition. It is said thai L'ncle Jiiiiinv I lollingsworth. who is yet living, once held the office of fence viewer. It is safe to say that the fences in his township were up to the standard, for whatever he does, he does with all his might. 1 Ii" would let no guiltv man escape. THE " MILK-SICK." The lirst settlers of Madison and adjoining counties were not only confronted with innumerable hardships in clearing tlieir farms and securing necessaries for their suhsistence. but were compelled to endure much sickness during certain sea- sons, particularly spring and sunnner. Ague was the common ailment, .aid it was not unusual for an entire setl lement . ^ n' comirjunity, to he afflicted with it during the early spring. it was not dangerous, however, and very often yielded in a short time to the simple remedies ;idministered hv the pioneer mothers, their remedies consisting of teas maile of roots ;>.nd various kinds of bark from trees. The most fatal, and therefore the most dreaded, disease tliat made its appearance at an early day was a deathly sick- ness known as " milk poison,' or " milk-sick," The means for treating it corresponded \\\\h the other needs of the new country, and consecpiently the mortality among the settlers was often alarming. An animal afHicteil with it would become very sick and begin to tremble. This trembling woidd con- tinue until death relie\'ed its sufferings. All domestic animals were subject to the disease, particularly cattle, and died in great numbers every spring and summer wherever cert.ain conditions obtained until the country bticanu- better de\elo]ied, when it tinally disappeari'd. Persons who consumed the milk or butter, or ate the meat of animals subject to the disease were almost certain victims, I'hev were seized with nausea and \omited continually, \Vhiskv was the principal remedv, and when that failed to bring relief, the patient usualiv succumbed. There were many theories advancetl as to what caused the diseasf. .Some thought that it was communicatetl to stock Ihrougli vegeti- 270 HISTORY OF MADISON COU.VTY, IXDIAXA. tion, others that it was induced by drinking water impregnat- ed with a mineral poison. A favorite theory attributed the cause to a poison distilled by a mineral and through a pro- cess of exaporation settled upon vegetation with the dew. It was claimed by this class that cattle or other stock that were kept penned up until after the dew disappeared of mornings, never became afflicted with the disease. JNIanv physicians who had taken a regular course of medi- cine, insisted that there was no such disease as milk-sick, that the disease so-called was inflammation of the stomach. The old-time doctors, however, and people generally, stoutly maintained the contrary, and advanced both evidence and argument that could not be refuted. Since 186G but few cases of milk-sick have been heard of in this or in neighboring counties. With the ditching and cultivation of the lands supposed to be inilicted with tlie disease, or its germs, it gradually disappeared. At the session of the legishiture of 1S72-7-!. -\. J. Rich- ardson, of Union township, had a petition presented to that body, asking that he be properly rewarded for disclosing the cause of milk-sick. The petition was introduced bv Hon. J. O. Hardesty, then representative from the counties of Madi- son, Henry and Hancock, but was not granted. Mr. Rich- ardson subsequently wrote a long article and published it in the Democratic Standard, in which he claimed that after much investigation and experimenting with certain kinds of vegetation he was satisfied that the disease was caused from the animals eating what is known as " white top " or snake root. It was not very long after the publication of the article that Mr. Richardson died. He was a gentleman of intelligence and at one time served the people of his township as Justice of the Peace. CHAPTER XXXIII. AnDKUSOX TowNsllll- I-I!OM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO iTiK Present Time. Much li;is iu-ces=nrilv been saitl in previous pai^es con- cernint^ thi^ townsiiip, as it contains \\ itliin its boundaries tile seat of justice of the county. Bui it is our purpose to give here, and in tlie histories of the various townsiiips tliat follow, the lietails of sucii local matters as projierlv beloni;' to the townships alone. Anderson township has an area of 8(1 square miles, an acreage of 28,017, and lies a little south of the geographical center of the county. It is well watereci, and in the early history of the townsiiip was heavily timbered. ^^'hite river passes through the township, entering at about the center on the east, flowing in a north-westerly course through the county. Killbuck creek enters the tow'iiship on the north- east and empties into White river at Anderson. Green's branch also flows through a jjortion of the township. It rises three miles south-west of Anderson and empties into White river on the north-west, passing through the \vest part of the city. The surface of the township is generally level and fairly fertile, although in tlie latter respect it has no advan- tage over the other townships in the county. The history of the township is essentiallj- the history of Anderson, as it was at this place and in its immediate vicinity that the first set- tlers located, forming the nucleus of the present population. The tirst settlers made their appearance in the township in the year 1820. and the best information obtainable indicates that John Kerry and family were the lirst to locate at Ander- son. William Allen settled in the township two miles east of what was to become the seat of justice of the county, about the time that John Berry located here. Others soon fol- lowed, among whom were William Stogdon, John and Christopher Davis, Colonel William Young and his brother Isaac, William Curtis, Daniel Harpold, Samuel Kinnamon, David Williams. These pioneers were the lirst to locate in 272 11IS^(1|{^ (II- .M.\I)l>()N LDlNl'i . INDIANA. Anderson and in its xicinity. A few years later jjcob Stover. Epliraim Ilughel. Jolm Rensiiaw, David Harris. Pliilip Siiinkle. Benjamin Sumpter ami Benjamin 1? idsjuiv settled in the township. - Till-: cnv Ol ANDERSON. The site upmi \\ hich Anderson is situated was originally entereil by William Conner, who subse<|uently sold it to John Berrv. Sometime during the year l!si>;!. Mr. Berrv sur\eved and laid out the original plat of the town and afterward. a> stated elsewhere in this work, donated a considerable portKin of it to the coimty in consideration of " -\ndersontown ' be- ing made the se;it of justice, which at that time was at Pendle- ton. The permanent seat of justice was located at the town of Anderson, anil public buildings were erected as we have seen, but it was iKjt until 182,s that the business of the county was transactetl here. From that vear until 1837 the town im- proved slowlv, the population at that time not exceeding :.'()() people. ]?ut from the smnmer of lSii7 the same spirit of en- terprise that had manifested itself throughout the State on ac- count of the internal improvements that were being j^rojected. aroused the peojjle of .\nderson to a realization of the possi- bilities of the place, and nothing was left luidone by them that would promote its welfare. The construction of the Central canal — a branch of the \\ abash iV Erie canal — an ac- count of ^vhich is given elsewhere in these pages, not onlv increased the population of Anderson greatlv, but gave l)usi- ness an impulse and quickened the energies of the pcopk- to a greater extent than had ever been experienced before. In fact, the town at this time enjoyed its first '■ boom."' Steps were taken to organize a town government in order that the general prosjierity might be better conserved and the peace and quiet of the communitv better maintained. The proposi- tion to incorporate the town met with consideralile opposition but at the session of the Legislature of l^i{f^-!50 an act was passed for incorporating the " town of Andersontown, in Madison county, containing S^A) inhabitants." The Countv Connnissioners at their January session, l^iiO. made tlu: fol- lowing order in regard to the matter: "Ordered, that an election be iield at the court house in .^aid town, bv the citi- zens of said town, on Monday, the 21st of January, instant, for the purpose of electing trustees and appointing ofticers to govern the town, and upon the citizens complying with tins I1IKTOI5Y OF MADISON COl'NTY, INDIANA. 27H order, the said town is hereby and thereafter to be considered an incorporated town." This order was complied with and a town government was established antl maintained until some time after work on the canal had been abandoned. When that enterprise was dropped by the State, the population diminished and business generally suffered in consequence. Following the collapse of the canal "boom" the town corporation as an organization lost its vitality in sympathy with the general decadence of en- terprise, and finally became inoperative. As time passed on it became more apparent to the leading citizens of the town that there should be some modification of the name as the " Town of Andersontown" was redundant and did not sound well. Accordingly Robert N. Williams and James Ilazlett, two of the most prominent citizens of the town and coimty, the former Auditor and the latter Clerk of tlie county at the time, petitioned the legislature of 1844-5 for a change of the name. The petition asked that the name of " Andersontown "' be changed to Anderson, which was granted, and from that time on the name of " Andersontown "' does not appear of record although the old-timers for years afterwards seemed to prefer the name to that of Anderson. Anderson's first conflagi<.\tion. . Shortly after midnight on the 12th of No\ ember, 1851, Anderson was visited by its first disastrous fire. At that time nearly all the workshops, offices and stores in the town were situated around the public square. They were few in number, but fully ade situated on the norths;{l)and was situated on White river just north of the Big Four and Pennsylvania railway crossing. The coiicern was purchased bv Andrew Jackson and enlarged and improved from time to time until it became the principal mill in this part of the county. It was known as " the Jackson mill ," and before it was destroyed by fire, in 1877, did a large business. The last proprietor of the mill was David B. Jack- son, a son of Andrew Jackson. About six vears after the Williams mill was built, Joseph Mullinix erected a corn mill on White river two miles west of Anderson. This mill was situated on the present site of what for a long time has been known as the '• ]\Ioss Island Mills ," so called on account of the island formed bv the " race " and river, and from the further fact that James Moss owned the propertv for manv vears. The mill has been owned and im- proved bv many proprietors in its time and has done a large local business, quite a village springing up around it, but of late vears the property has been neglected and is at present in a dilapidated condition. In 1840 Willis G. Atherton and sons, Mortimer and Ran- som ^'. .\therton, erected a sawmill near a large pond situ- ated about a quarter of a mile southeast of the Hazen nail- mill on Arrow avenue. This was the first steam mill in the iriSTOIlY OI' MADISON- COUNTY, INPIANA. 307 county and supplied all the sawed timber used in the con- struction of the Bellefontaine (Big Four) railroad from Pen- dleton to Muncie. The mill was operated successfully for a number of years, when it passed into the hands of persons who neglected to keep it in repair and finally was destroyed by an explosion. In 1857 Alfred Makepeace erected a large steam grist-mill at the north end of Central avenue, the building being the same that is now owned and operated as a brewerj' by T. M. Norton & Sons. This mill was supplied with the best mill- ing machinery obtainable at that time, but from various causes proved a bad investment. The machinery was subsequently disposed of and the building sold to T. M. Norton, who con- verted it into a brewery, which, from an unpretentious begin- ning, has become one of the largest and most successful indus- tries of its class in the State. The Killbuck mills were built in l!S(Jl' by \\'illiam Sparks and Albert A. Siddall. The mills are situated on the north bank of White river and near the mouth of Killbuck creek, the latter stream furnishing the power with which to run them. A sawmill, built by Mr. Sparks in ISOd. once stood just west of the grist-mill and was run in connection with it. These mills did a profitable business at one time, but with the building of steam mills in almost every locality in the county, trade declined and the sawmill was abandoned. The mills are now owned by John Peacock and Emory W. Clifford. The tannerv business was an important industry at an early daj- not only in Anderson but in almost every village in the countv, as hides and peltries were about the only articles. or products, that could be sold for cash. It was in 1880 that the first tannery was built in .Vnderson. The building and vats were located on the south side of East Ninth street between Central avenue and Fletcher street. John Wiley and Edmund West were the propiietors of the establishment and ditl a profitable business in a small way. The property changed hands in the course of time and was finally abandoned when another tannery was built at the south- east corner of Meridian and Eleventh streets by Elon Merrill and Frank Sparks. This establishment also changed hands a number of times and was last operated by Miles Rozelle. The old tannerv on East Ninth street had lieen re-established in the meantime and sold to Mr. Rozelle and when the tanneries in 308 iriSTOIlY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. this part of the country could no longer compete with the larger concerns in the east, was again abandoned. The first and onlj- pretentious manufactory located in Anderson at a comparativelj- early day (1855), was the Keiser foundry and machine works ; not pretentious on account of its magnitude, but its importance to the community. This factory was located in a small frame building, on the north- east corner of Main and Tenth streets, but was afterwards moved to a brick building erected for the purpose on north Main street, and operated by Messrs. Geo. Keiser, Benj. Al- ford and J. N. Hill. Grain drills were manufactured extens- ively for awhile, but strong competition of larger concerns throughout the country, lack of capital and other causes, gradually drove the young industry to the wall. Mr. Alford, who is still living in the city, was superintendent of the molding department and was the first person to make an iron casting in the county. Mr. Hill is still engaged in the man- ufacturing business in the city. Mr. Keiser, deceased, recently at Muncie, where he at one time owned and successfully operated a manufacturing establishment. It was not until the '6()s, however, that any considerable number of manu- factories were located in Anderson, and of these enterprises, which probably did not exceed ten or twelve in number during the decade that followed, but two or three are now in opera- tion. Of the factories that were established and did a large business during the time mentioned, but which are now almost forgotten, may be mentioned a chair factory- at the north-west corner of Meridian and Eleventh streets. This factory was established in 1871 by E. M. Jackson and E. B. HoUoway, who had formerly been engaged in the marble and monument business. The factory was originally operated as a bent wood works, but was afterward merged into the Eagle Chair Company, and for several years did a profitable busi- ness. It was during 1865 that James Quinn & Sons, H. W. and A. J., built a carriage factory on North Meridian street, where they manufactured and sold high grade buggies and carriages for a number of years. The main building of this factory was subsequently converted into a livery stable, and is being used as such at the present time. The Anderson Hub and Spoke Factory was another enterprise that flourished back in the "()0s. This factory was built by J. B. Anderson, Dr. G. F. Chittenden and H. C. Cisco, in 18(i8, and was located on the east side of Meridian IIISTOHV OF MAmSON COl'NTY, INDIANA. 309 Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Hubs, spokes and otlier supplies used in the manufacture of wagons and car- riajjes, were manufactured extensively, the output of the fac- tory being shipped to all parts of the country. In 1873 the company was reorganized, L. J. Burr purchasing a controlling interest, perhaps, in the stock. This industry ceased opera- tions in ]88fi and the buildings were abandoned. Another industry that did an extensive business a quarter of a century ago, but which has since passed out of existence, was the pump works of Platter, Foreman & Battreall. They manufactured a porcelain-lined pump, which found ready sale in central and northern Indiana, southern Michigan and western Ohio. In .season it required a number of wagons to distribute their pumps over the territory mentioned. This factory was located in the building erected by (Jeorge Keiser, on Nortli Main street, for a foundry and machine shop. The building is now used as a stable by the Anderson Transfer Company. HEADING AND ST.WK FAC'l'ORIp:S. In 1870 C. T. Doxey located a heading and stave factory on the east side of Main street, just south of the Big Four tracks. This was the first factory of the kind operated in the countv and was destined to have a fateful historv. On the 16th of November, and only a few months after it was built, the boiler exploded, demolishing the building and killing two of the hands. Clay Ciodwin and Stephen Sullivan. It was re- built and on January 3, 1873, was destroyed by fire. It was again immediately rebuilt on the same site and run until April 20, 187-'), when it was once more consumed by fire. Notwithstanding the losses resulting from these disasters, Ma- jor Doxev again rebuilt the factory and continued to run it until the spring of 1877, when it was sold to II. J. Bronnen- berg. who continued to operate the plant until 1884, when he sold it to J. L. Kilgore. The capacity of the plant was in- creased by additional buildings and machinery being added by Mr. Kilgore, who continued to operate it until 1895, when it was closed down on account of the scarcity of timber in this part of the country. The machinery was subsequently shipped to a factory at Paducah, Kj-., in which Mr. Kilgore is interested. The amount of heading and staves manufactured at this factory tiuring the time it was in operation was enormous. 310 HTSTORV OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. A large number of liands was employed and a vast suni of money was expended for timber and labor annually. Two other heading and stave factories were operated near "The Crossing," but not until some time after the Doxey fac- tory was built. One of these factories was situated just cast of " The Crossing," and was originally built tor a sawmill and excelsior works, but was purchased by J. J. Ralya and converted into a stave manufactory. This factory was subse- quently purchased by Henry and Frank Adams, who run it until recently, when it was closed down. The other factory was run by J. L. Kilgore in the old packing house just west of "The Crossing,"' at the junction of Ohio and Columlius avenues. The building where this factory was operated was built in 1861 by Warren Ellis & Co., pork packers, of Boston, Mass., and was used as a packing house up to 1874, when the company failed. The slaughter house was situated on wiuit was known as " the old Pugh farm," a half mile east of the packing house, and the slaughtered animals were hauled in wagons from the former to the latter house, where they were cut up and packed for the Eastern market. This company in its day disbursed large sums of money in Anderson and Madi- son county. The packing iiouse still stands and is owned by ex-Governor Claflin, of Massachusetts. The first grain " warehouse" erected in Anderson and the county was built by Leever & Morris in 1853 and was located just north of the Big Four railroad where the present passenger depot stands. It was owned by many different persons in its time the last being E. J. Walden. It was destroyed by fire in 1875, but was rebuilt and again burned. In 1855 Atherton & Sons erected a warehouse and elevator on East Fifth street and just west of the P. C. C. & St. L. tracks where they bought and shipped grain until 1858, when the property passed into the hands of J- G. and T. X. Stilwell. It was afterwards owned by James Hazlett and William Crim who operated it until 1867 when it was sold to Carl & Son, x'sho converted it into a grist mill. It has changed hands many times and is now owned by James Wellington and Joseph Schalk. It is supplied with the latest and best processes for manufacturing flour and does a large local and export business. In 1865, B. Noland, H. D. Noland and Stephen Xoland, composing the firm of B. Xoland & Co., built a grain warehouse on the East side of the P. C. C. & St. L. railroad, near " The IIISTOK'S OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 811 Crossing." The company handled grain until the autumn of 1868, when the building burned and was never rebuilt. What were known as tiie Dickson mills, afterwards burned, were built by James M. Dickson in 1874 and were located where the Hickey House now stands. In 1875 E. J. \\'alden erected a two-story frame elevator east of Main street and immediately north of the Big Four road where he handled grain for one season, when he leased the property to \V. C. Fleming. Mr. Walden and C. T. Doxcy afterwards formed a partnership and took possession of the property doing business under the style of Walden & Doxey. In 1877 Mr. Doxey retired from the firm and was succeeded by Samuel Pence, the firm becoming Walden & Pence. This firm did a large business, handling 100,000 bushels of wheat and 150,000 bushels of corn in 1878. The elevator was afterwards destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt. Of the old manufacturing establishments that are still being operated are the following : The Mathes wagon and carriage manufacotry established in 18G8 by George Mathes; the Iloosier planing-mill, estab- lished in 1808 b}' Samuel Templeton, Jonas Raber, Frederick Engle, Henry Kessler and Stephen Market, and run under the firm name of Templeton, Raber & Co. ; the Armstrong planing- mill, built in 1868 by William Wright and Xathan Armstrong at the south-east corner of Meridian and Sixth streets; the Anderson foundry and machine works, originally kno^vn as the Michner Machine Works, and erected at the north end of Jackson street by a corporation of which D. W. Swank was president and J. W^. Westerfield secretary and treasurer ; the grain cradle works and snath factory, established by William Wagoner and Thomas C. Fisher, in 1867, and situated, origi- nally, in the building now occupied b}' the Bulletin Printing Company, but subsequently' removed to the south-east corner of Milton and First streets; tlie Hill boiler and machine works, erected in 1870 by J. N. Hill on Sixth, between Meri- dian and Jackson streets; the Bosworth planing-mill and sash factory located on South Jackson street. NEW I-ACTOKIES. An account of the discovery of natural gas at .Vnderson, and the steps taken to secure tiie location of factories and other industrial enterprises are given elsewhere in this work. The following are the results : 312 HISTORY OF MADISON COLXTY, INDIANA. The first manufactury located was the Loiigsworth Han- dle Factory. Then came the Truss-hoop Factory ; Fowler Nut and Bolt Works, now operated by the Schofield Co. ; the Anderson Flint Bottle Works : the American ^Vire and Rod Mill ; Knife and Bar Works; American Straw-board Works ; J. W. Sefton Manufacturing Co. ; Pennsylvania Glass Factory; Hoosier Glass Factory; Cathedral Glass Works ; Pennsylvania (Quartz Mill ; Gould Steel Works ; Crystal Ice Works; Union Window-Glass Factory; Hazen Wire Nail Mill ; Columbia Encaustic Tile Works; Anderson Paper and Pulp Mills; Arcade File Works; North Anderson Window-glass • Factory : Woolley Machine Works; Victor Window-glass Factory; Anderson Iron anil Bolt Works; Indiana Box Factory; Anderson Forging Co.; Buckeye Man- ufacturing Co. ; Barber Bed SpringCo.; Gentzen Art-GlassCo. ; Wright Shovel Works ; National Tin Plate Factory; Cans- field Stationery Co. ; Sheppard Canning Co. ; Fred Myers Planing-Mill ; L. D. Adams Planing-Mill ; Raible & Snyder Box Factory ; the Springer Planing-Mill. These factories, together with the minor manufacturing concerns, have about ifi.OOO.OOO invested, and employ i{,OCK) operatives to whom thousands of dollars are disbursed each week. From the foregoing it can be easily seen why the small country town of a few years ago has become a manufacturing center: a thriving, bustling city of l'l,042 inhabitants. What will the city be in wealth and population fifty years hence? CHAPTER XXXVIII Anderson' Banks. Anderson lia> three regularly organized banking institu- tions, and all that can be said in commendation of one applies with equal force to all. While they are managed upon conservative principles, the strictest business methods are employed in their transactions with the public. While many similar depositories throughout the State and country were compelled to close their doors during the financial panic of 1893-4, the banks of Anderson withstood the shock, promptly meeting every demand that was made upon them. Thev are financiallv sounil anil cniov the public confidence in the fullest degree. THK citizens" hank ^^'as organized in 1855 bv the late Neal C. McCullough and Judge Byron K. IClliott, and is the oldest banking institution in Madison county. Judge Elliott retired from connection witii the bank in 1S('>;'. In 1ST9 the bank was reorganized, C. K. McCullough and W. T. Durbin being admitted to partnership. D. F. Mustard was also admitted as a partner in 1881, but three years later retired, and, in connection with A. J. Brunt and others, purchased the Madison County National Bank. This bank was organized originally by f . E. Corwin, J. II. Terhune, L. J. Burr, N. R. Elliott and other capitalists, and was known as the "Madison County Bank." It afterwards became a National bank, but after doing busi- ness several years, went into liquidation and resumed as a private bank. It was consolidated with the Citizens" Bank in 1886, Messrs. Mustard and Brunt becoming members of the firm. Mr. Neal C. McCullough, the head of the institu- tion, died in 1888 and his interest was continued by the estate, perhaps the largest and most valuable in the county. The bank is now under the management of W. T. Durbin, D. F. Mustard. J. W. Pence, C. K. McCullough, the McCullough estate, J. II. Terhune, F. R. Brown and R. F. 814 HISTORY OI- MADISON' CnVSTY, IXDIAXA. Schenck. The capital stock of the bank is !fl5178,CK)0. It can be safely affirmed that no citv of equal size in the State has better school accommodations, or better schools for that matter, than Anderson. Nothing has been spared to place the schools upon a high plane of excellence, and the success that has attended the efforts of the officers and teacheis in this direction is not only a matter of gratification to the friends of education, but merits the highest praise. The Board ot Trustees at present is composed of Messrs. S. M. Keltner, C. ^\'. Prather and George Q_uick. the latter gentleman succeeding Mr. \V. T. Durbin. who was promi- nently connected with the Board for several years and took an active part in providing adei[iiate school accommodations for the youtii of the city. TOWNSflll' SCHOOLS. Tile number of persons in Anderson township entitled to the privileges of the schools outside the city is, at this time, 990. The township owns fifteen buildings, all of which are brick, and employed eighteen teachers the past j-ear. The enrollment in the township schools is steadily increasing, and next year twenty-one teachers will be employed. The schools, both in the citv and township, have been well managed, and to the credit of all concerned, are in a flourishing condition. PAROCHI.XL SCHOOLS. The first parochial school in Anderson was taught by Mrs. Maggie Ryans, //rcMohan, in 1858. The school was taught in the small Catholic church that stood where the present church is located. Mrs. Ryan was succeeded by John Finley, who taught until 186(5, when he left Anderson to join in the Fenian invasion of Canada. Mrs. Patrick Skehan. nee Collins, and Maurice Ferriter afterwards had charge of the school. The at- tendance at this school has gradually inci^eased until the en- rollment now numbers 200 pupils. The church recently va- cated at the south-east corner of Fletcher and Eleventh streets HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 323 has been converted into a school building and is used exclu- sively for that purpose. The scliool is in charge of si.x Sisters of the IIol)- Cross. Only the primary branches are taught. ANDERSON LIHRARY. In 1879 a joint stock library association was organized by the public-spirited citizens of the city under the act of 1852 as modified by the act of 1873. Shares were issued at $5 each and a considerable sum of money was raised. Books were purchased and many donations of various kinds of literary works were made by friends of the cause, and for a while the library prospered. But in the course of time interest in the library began to decline and it was finally closed to visitors. In the winter of 1888 the noted temperance lecturer, Francis Murphy, came to Anderson and held a series of meetings, and at the last meeting of the series, which was held in the Doxey opera house, he inaugurated a movement that resulted in the re-establishment of the old library upon a permanent basis. A new association was formed and the books belonging to the old library were transferred to the new organization. Suitable rooms were rented on the north side of the public square, many new and valuable books were bought and M. Milburn, Esq., \vas appointed librarian. In 1891 the library board effected an arrangement with the city whereby the latter assumed con- trol of the library and proceeded to levy a tax for its support. The library now has between four and five thousand volumes and is largelv patronized. The rooms are situated in the Newsom block on North Meridian street and furnished in such a manner as to present an inviting appearance. Miss Anna B. Myers is librarian. ANDERSON NORMAL UNIVERSITY. This institution was founded by W. M. Croan and form- ally opened on the evening of August 29, 189(3. The univer- sity occupies the second and third stories of the Opera House block, situated at the north-east corner of Main and Eleventh streets, and on the above occasion was visited by hundreds of Anderson's best citizens, who were no less gratified than sur- prised that an institution of its character and magnitude had risen in their midst almost unobserved. No appeal for finan- cial assistance was made to the general public to establish this institution, and whatever prominence it may attain will be largely, if not wholly, due to the indefatigable efforts of its founder. The faculty is composed as follows : 324 HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. President, Win. M. Croan ; Higher Mathematics and As- tronomy, George H. Colbert; Pedagogy, J. C. Black; Lan- guage, J. P. Mullin ; Literature, Lottie N. Mullin ; Principal Commercial Department, J. Goodwin Perkins; Geography and Mathematics, E. E. Copple ; Chemistry and Pharmacy, W. C. Rousch ; Penmanship, Ellsworth L. McCain ; Mu- sical Director, Chas. Nelson; Elocution and Delsarte, Laura Quick ; Voice Culture, Grace S. Langell ; Conductor Band and Orchestra, Jas. F. Wysong ; Shorthand and Type- writing. Louis J. Weichman ; Military Science, Kenneth M. Burr; Law, John E. Wiley; Fine Art and Drawing, Mar- garet Beachley. SOME OI-D VILLAGES VICTORIA. Only the old-timers and those who are familiar with the early records of the county, are aware of the fact that the site of Anderson is not the only one that was ever platted for a town in Anderson township. In 1838, while the construc- tion of the Indiana Central canal was in progress, John Renshaw platted a town site across White river, where the Anderson cemetery is now situated. A log cabin was erected and the " town " was called Victoria. But work on the canal was abandoned and the hopes that had been indulged in by Mr. Renshaw with reference to his town perished with the collapse of that great public enterprise. He subsequently disposed of the land where the town was located, and Vic- toria was forgotten. ROCKPORT. This was another canal town that was located in Ander- son township. It was laid out in July, 1839, by J. W. Alley and was situated two and a half miles west of Anderson on part of the land now owned by J. W. Sausbery, Sr., and used by him as a stone quarry, the quarry having been de- veloped many years after the town site had been platted. Rockport was on the south bank of the canal, and near the Strawtown road, or what is now known as the west extension of Eighth street. Rockport boasted of several houses at one time, but they have long since disappeared. At the crossing of the Big Four railroad and the county road, running west from the McCullough farm, near the insTOHV OK MADISON COl'XTV. INDIAN'A. 825 residence of Alexander Bell, in the south part of Antlerson township, was onee the village of t)niaha. Eli Gustin operated a saw mill and George Darrow, late of Denver, Colorado, hut at this writing at Montpelier, Indi- ana, was a merchant and kept a store there. It was a thriv- ing little place, and served as a trading point for the neighbor- hood. There is nothing now left to tell where this town was situated, except a vacant piece of ground and a pile of ashes, and the decaying sawdust where the mill once stood. CHAPTER XLII. TiiK Andeksox Strekt Railway Company. Soon utter the discovery of natures great fuel at Ander- son it became apparent that the population would greatly increase and that the cit}', in order to keep pace with other enterprising and progressive towns, would have to be supplied with a street railway system. Several individuals, as well as companies, had taken a survey of the field and discussed the matter both with private citizens and the city ofiicials, but nothing tangible resulted until August 19, 1887, when the City Council granted a charter to Seldon R. and D. C. Williams, of Lebanon, Tenn., through the efforts of D. C. Chipman, their associates, successors and assigns for twelve years, authorizing the construction and maintenance of a street railway in Anderson. Some time after the granting of the charter the work of constructing the track was begun. Meridian street was selected as the thoroughfare through which the railway should be constructed, the terminal points being the Big Four and Pan-Handle depots. The passenger depot of the Pan-Handle was at that time located on North Main street in the building now used as a freight house. Certain inducements, however, were offered the Messrs. Williams to change the proposed route of the road in order to accommodate the patrons of the leading hotels, and this was accordingly done. The track of the railway, as originally laid, extended from the Big Four depot north on Meridian street to Tenth, east on Tenth to Main, north on Main to Ninth, west on Ninth to Meridian, north on Meridian to Fifth, east on Fifth to tlie Pan-Handle depot. The point of transfer then as now was on Ninth street between Meridian and Main streets. The road was completed on the morning of the (>th of September, 1888, and that evening street cars were run for the first time in Anderson. This was an occasion for much congratulation and rejoicing among the people, who turned out en masse to witness the novel spectacle — street cars HISTORY Ol' MAnlSON COLNTY, tNl)lA.\.\. 827 running llnough the streets of Anderson I The rolUng stock of tlie company consisted of two c:irs with a seatintc capacity of about twenty people each. A span of diniinuti\e mules sup- plied the motive power. On the evening the road was opened for traffic tiie citv oflicials together w itli a number of promi- nent citizens and the Riverside Park Hand (the only' musical organization of its kind in the citv at that time) were invited to take the first ride over the road. The band occupied the first car, and as the wheels began to turn in response to the etTorts of the horses (for this occasion onlj-) it struck up an inspiring air, the small hoy shouted and the people gener- ally who thronged the sidewalks along Meridian street joined in congratulation over the fact that Anderson was the first and only city in the gas belt provided with a street railway. The driver of the first car was Robert E. Burke, at this time a resident of Iowa. His uncle, Newton T. Burke, furnisheil the teams for the ■•excursion."' Branches were subsequently constructed from the main line to the north -w est part of the city, Ilazelwood addition and the Crossing, but owing to inefficient service were not very largely patronized : in fact, the ■' rapid transit " furnished by the '• mule system,'" as it w-as called, was regarded as being some- what of the nature of a joke. It is related that one of the car drivers, who also acted in the capacity of conductor, was so exceedingly polite and humane that instead of employing his whip when the mules manifested a disposition to stop and take a nap while making a " run,"' he would urge them on with such expressions as, " I wish you would go on. Now, please do go "long." etc. In 189l' the Anderson Electric Street Railway Company was organized, and on the 80th of May of that year the city council voted the company a right of way to the streets of Anderson for a period of thirty years. The Anderson Street Railway Company had. in the meantime, disposed of its fran- chise, rolling stock and other property to the electric com- pany. Following the action of the council granting a thirty- year franchise, the new company re-constructed the road. The old iron rails, of which the tracks were constructed, were taken up and heavier iron was put down; the system was en- larged by the extension of tiie old lines ; a large electric power house was erected ; new cars were purchased, as well as a complete eiiuipment of such electrical machinery and appli- ances as were necessarv for a first-class street railwiiv- S28 UlSTOHy OF MADISON COINTV, INDIANA. As the time approached for making a trial trip over the road with the electric cars great interest was manifested by the people, a majority of whom, perhaps, had never seen a car run by electricit)'. This interesting and important event ■occurred at 2 o'clock p. ni., on March 12, 1892, and from that time on Anderson has boasted of a street railway system as good as the best in the country. In this, as in many other important matter.s, Anderson was the first city in the Indiana gas field to introduce electric cars. It is a fact worthy of mention that the Anderson Electric Street Railway Co. is composed exclu.sively of local capitalists. It is also proper to state that Philip Matter, of Marion. Ind., who is largely in- terested in Anderson real estate, and the Hon. C. L. Henry were the original promoters of the electric street railway sys- tem, and that they introduced electric cars and run them over the tracks of the old company before the city council granted them a franchise for the use of the streets. Mr. Mat- ter subsequently disposed of his interest in the road to Mr. Henry, L. M. Cox, and others. CHAPTER XLIII. Anderson Fire Depauiment. — Water Works and Sewerage System. ANDERSON KIRE DEPARTMENT. Prior to tlie year 1S(3',(, ^Vnder.son ^vas without any organ- ized fire department. About the year 1870, Hon. Charles T. Doxey and Mr. John P. Barne.s who were members of the city council advocated the purchasing of u fire engine. Their efforts resulted in obtaining a Silsbv engine at a cost of seven thousand dollars. At that time there were no public wells or cisterns within the city limits by means of which the engine could be tested, and it was therefore taken to the river bank in the rear of where Pierse's saw mill now stands. It was here fired up, and at once it displayed its ability to cope with fire in magnificent shape. A laughable occurrence took place in which Mr. Barnes \\ :i!- the object of a good deal of merry-making. Two horses were iiitched to the engine, and Mr. Barnes assumed thechief- tancy by mounting upon the seat by the side of the driver. The horses were sent at full gallop down North Main street, and when in front of the present residence of Charles T. Doxey, tlie front wheel struck a stone in the street, and Mr. Harnes was thrown into the front yard. The horses were going at such speed that no attempt was made to stop them until they reached their destination at the river, and Mr. Barnes came a few minutes later on at a tlead run to again assume his command of the embryo fire department. After this test had been made it dawned upon the citizens and taxpayers tliata large outlay of money would be necessary to supply the city with cisterns, horses, and other paraphernalia for putting tlie steamer in use. Inconsequence of this state of afTairs an injimction was applied for in the Circuit Court, and the City Council was restrained from purchasing or paying for the engine out of the city funds. The machine was run into a building owned by Wagner & Fisher on West Plight street, S80 IlISTORV OF MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. which is now occupied by the Daily Bulletin. Here it re- mained locked up under the order of the Court until a final decision was made in the matter. The case was tinali)- taken to the Henry County Circuit Court, and tried at Newcastle on a change of venue when the Court decided against the purchase of the engine, and thus ended Anderson's first attempt to es- tablish a fire department. The next adventure in this line was in the year 1876 when the Hon. James Hazlett was mayor, and H. H. Conrad a lead- ing member of the City Council, who both favored the organ- ization of a fire department. After much agitation, a com- mittee consisting of all the members of the council and the mayor was appointed for the purpose of purchasing a tire en- gine. This committee purchased at a cost of si.K hundred dol- lars a small hand engine which did service for quite a while in connection with a hook and ladder apparatus. The first fire to occur after the purchase of the hand engine was at the residence of the Hon. Howell D. Thompson on North Meridian street. When the engine had been hauled to the place of the fire, it was discovered that there was no cistern handy, and the hose was, therefore, attached to a well, and in this condition it was unable to cope with the flames and the residence was almost totally destroyed. The Citv Council erected a shed on the first alley east of the public stjuare on East Eighth street where the fire apparatus was kept under the protection of William Black at a cost of twenty-five dollars per year. The little hand engine later on redeemed itself to a certain extent bv at one time saving the east side of the public square where a fire broke out in the cellar-way under the (Jruenewald block. During the construction of the Anderson water works in 1886, the organization of a volunteer fire department was again agitated by a number of persons petitioning the City Council to that effect. Fifty-seven names were secured. A meeting was called and a committee was appointed, promi- nent among whom were C. K. McCullough and Mr. Bart Proud. After a thorough canvass of the citj-, another meet- ing was called on the 18th day of August, 188(3, in the mayor's office at the corner of Main and Eighth streets at which time the following named gentlemen enrolled themselves as volun- teers: Amos Coburn, C. K. McCullough, Bart Proud, S. A. Towell, Jesse Talmage, John Ewing. Charles Alford, Charles HISTORY l)F MADISON COUXT^', INDIANA. '.','->l Perrett, James Hartley. Frank Mvers. Charles Iluljbarcl. Thomas J. Xichol, Samuel Taylor, Frank Craven, Peter Miller, Val Roll, "Snub"' Shavvan, Dr. Bin Reid, David Cook, Charles Kline, Eugene Groves, Frank Van Pelt, John Spence, John Phipps, Samuel Bass, Charles Bacon, Philip Hollingsworth, Ira Keeley, Marion Gustin, Caleb Shinkle. Perry Falkner, \V'illiam Carmody. Benjamin Roadcap, Erns- tus Delia ven, II. II. Conrad, Lorenzo Moore, Wallace Black. Arthur Branson, John F. McClure, Michael Moriarity, Henry Burke, James Randall, James Bradley, Gabriel Hodge, Wm. Talmage, Albert Battreall, John Snyder, John Teepe, Frank Thompson, John Kenton. John Shinn, Frank I'>thel, foseph Rasin, Patrick O'Meara, Seth Cook. Ed. Wilcox, and Albert Clay. At this meeting rules, regulations and by-laws governing the department were provided and adopted, and the organiza- tion w^as accomplished by the election of Amos Coburn as chief; C. K. McCullough, assistant ; S. A. Towell, secretary; Bart Proud, captain Hose Company No. I : and Jesse Tal- mage, captain of Hose Company Xo. l'. John Ewing was elected captain of the Hook and Ladder Companj-. The equipment at that time consisted of two hand reels, hook and ladder truck and one thousand feet of hose in addi- tion to the hand-engine. Rooms for the headquarters were secured in the basement of the court house. Regular meet- ings of the department were held on the first Friday evening of each month. Demands were made on the city council for more and better equipment, and soon the fire "laddies" were furnished rubber coats, hats, boots, etc. The first fire to occur after the organization of this depart- ment took place at the residence of Dr. \^'illiam .\. Hunt on South Jackson street, in December, 188(3. The weather was intensely cold, the thermometer marking 17 degrees be- low zero, and there was at that time also a heavy coat of snow upon the ground. When the signal of fire was given, not only the department responded, but nearly the whole pop- ulation was on hand to witness the first fight made by the volunteers, and to see the new water works, which luul just been completed, tested. Many mistakes were made, the most serious of which was in attaching the hose to a hydrant some distance from the fire and the man at the hydrant turning the water on in full force before the hose had been unwound, which caused them to 382 HISTORY OF .MADISON COr.VTY, INDIANA. burst and a dL-liiije of water was poured out upon the streets, causing tlie hose to whip around like a monster serpent in the street, tiirowing the water in every direction and drenching tiie people on the sidewalks, as well as the members of the de- partment. As soon as the mistake could be remedied an at- tachment was made to another hvdrant and the fire was soon under control, and a portion of the Hunt residence and the building owned by Richard Lake, adjoining, were saved. While .some were ready to criticize the department, the gen- eral feeling was that the boys did valiant service, and their mistakes were soon forgotten and forgiven. The citizens took great interest in the fire department and a banquet was given to the members thereof, which gave them great encouragement, and the department started out anew in great spirits. The city council soon realizeii that the department must be provided with better ecjuipments, and they were accordingly furnished with better hose and other appliances and were allowed two dollars each for every fire they attended. In the spring of 1SJ<7 Chief Coburn resigned and Samuel .\. Towell. was chosen in his place. In 1888 two horses were purchased and Edward Wilcox was placed on regular pay as driver. In 1880 three additional men. Charles Alford. Charles Perrett and Philip Hollingsworth. were put on pay at forty dollars per month, and the chief's salary was made one hun- dred dollars per annum. The old reels were now converted into a one-horse reel, and two horses were purciiasetl for the department. Prior to this time the liverymen of the city fur- nished the horses to pull the hose wagons. In the vear 1890 the (jamewell fire system was introduced, and the handsome Ituilding was erected which the city now occupies at the corner of Eighth and Central a\enue. A modern hose wagon was added to the department which had nio\ed into new he.iilquaiters at the city building. Two ad- ditional men were added to the force, and the pay of the members \vas fixed at $45 per month, and the salary of the chief was also advanced. In 1890, the department was, on motion of John L. Fork- ner. councilman from the Second ward, converted into a full paid department with thirteen members. Station Xo. 2 was established, and a building erected at the corner of Seven- teenth street and Madison avenue. No department in Indiana has a better or clearer record IlIST<)U-\- (IK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. 333 thai) tliat enjoyed by the Andeisoii force. The only death that has occurred .since the organization of the department was tiiat of Samuel Taylor. ■■ Sam" and "Bob'" were the pioneer tire horses, and nobler ones never ran under harness in answer to an alarm. Thev were scarcely looked upon by the l)ovs as dumb brutes, but as members of the department. •• Bob "' took what is known by horsemen as " big head," and, after a long siege of suffering, taken ofl" duty, and cared for until he could eat his food no longer, when he was killed. ■■Sam" never missed a run or a meal up to the fall of 1895. when he came in contact with an electric wire which caused his death. Samuel A. Towell for many years did valiant service as chief of the department, and was universally liked by the organization as well as the citizens at large, and being offered a better salar\', he became superintendent of the water works, and Charles Alford was selected in his place. Among the most enthusiastic members of the city council who have taken great interest in the department, we mention John McMillan, John F. McClure, Fred Gedge, and H. C. Ryan. The Anderson fire department has saved millions of dol- lars worth of propert}' since its organization. At one time the department came near disbanding, owing to the supposed non-appreciation of their services by the public. A meeting was called for the purpose of disbanding the organization, when j. J. Netterxille, J. L. Kilgore and others, made an ap- peal to the boys to desist from carrying out their ititentions. They spoke of the many deeds of heroic valor they had per- formed, and begged ihem not to disband. From this appeal the boys took fresh courage, and have, since that time, always done their duty as a noble and heroic band. ANDERSON W.VTEIJ NVORKS A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SYS- TEM BY s. .v. rowF:i.i.. Early in I SS.") Anderson agitated the (|uestion of water works. The city had no fire protection whatever, and a number of large fires put the people to thinking, and water works was decided on. An appropriation of !fi20,()0U was set aside for a start. .V board of trustees were elected consisting of Lafe J. Burr. T. M. Norton and II. J. Bronnenberg. With the exception of Mr. Bronnenberg the same men have 384 lllSIOrtV OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. been retained up to the present time. Mr. Bronnenherg, on account of an accident which befel! him August 22, 1888, forced him to give up the work he was faithfully performing, and Mr. Harrison Canaday was elected to take his place, and has ever since been retained. Work was commenced, buildings were erected, and pumping machinery bought with great care, with a view of serving the city the next twenty or twenty- five years. Tile capacity was two million gallons daily, or two pumps of one million gallons each. Tiiey arrived from Hamilton, Ohio, over the Pan Handle, and hundreds viewed them on the flat cars while they stood on the side tracks. They were put in place in the new building, which was just large enough to give room to walk around them after thev were put into position, as it was supposed that that was about all that would ever be needed. About live miles of mains were laid and forty-five hydrants set. The work was completetl and the pumps started in July, 1886, and everjthing went smoothly until natural gas was discovered, \yiien trouble set in. The town grew like magic, miles of mains were demanded, and \\ here one ot the two pumps liad done work, both were now required, and put to their full capacity. The trustees were confronted with the fact that the two million plant was no longer able to keep pace with the growth of the city. Something must be done and that at once. Meetings of the board and city council were held, and the result was that an appropriation of sixty-five thousand dollars was made in the spring of 1892, for enlarging the system. It was just the same, or really more than putting in a system from the start, as much of the old mains had to be replaced with larger ones; entire new buildings had to be erected, and larger machinery and boilers bought. Work was commenced in August. 1892. Miles of large mains were laid ranging from 12 to 20 inches ; during the con- struction of the buildings Doxey's Music Hall which had been rebuilt, burned the second tinae. Six streams were turned on the fire. The line to the little pumps was thrown wide open. They responded like things of life ; they made the greatest effort of their existence for six long hours, but the duty was far beyond their power to furnish pressure to the streams, and the Music Ilall was destroyed the second time. The new buildings were completed and the big pumps HISI'OKV Ol" MADlSdX COINTY, INDIANA. iJSSS with a capacity of foLir million gallons each daily were placed in position and started on duty July. 1808. Anderson now has one of the be«t water works plants in tl.o State for its si/.e. capable of fiirnishinfj eight million gal- lons daily through nineteen miles of mains, and one hundred and fifty hydrants for fire protection. Jasper N. Hill was tiie first siiperintonilent. and serxed up to August :21st, ISSC), when C. K. McCullough was appointed. Mr. Hiil gaye his seryice to the city, and at a meet- ing on the aboye date the Hoard voted their thanks to Mr. Hill for his kindness. Mr. Alfreil Cobiirn succeeded Mr. McCul- lough as superintendent, other business matters causing Mr. McCullough to giye it up. Mr. Coburn filled the position with credit up to the time of his death, which occurred April, :*nd, 1891. Mr. Frank Davis was appointed to the vacancy but on account of other business he was forced to resign after, a few months" seryice. The Board then accepted the services of S. A. Towell as superintendent, and he still holds the posi- tion. E. P. Schlater was the first clerk. He filled the position up to April, 1888, when on account of other matters he resigned. Mr. Byron McMahan succeeded Mr. Schlater, and filled the position to the entire satisfaction of the Board and eyervbodv else until his law practice increased so as to require his whole attention, and he had to lay down the quill. Mr. Edmund Johnson was Mr. McMahan's successor and kept the books to the satisfaction of all until his election to County Clerk in the fail of 1894 and Mr. James T. Knowland was appointed to the clerkship of the Board, and sl very satis- factory appointment it was proven to be. His daughter. Miss Lena Knowland, one of his assistants in iiis office, is the faith- ful custodian of the books. Patrick Cain was the first engineer at the pumping sta- tion. His contract dated July 6, 188(>. He was succeeded Sept. 18, 1886. by John Ewing, who resigned Oct. 4, 1880, and a contract was entered into with David O. Cook. Mr. Cook was succeeded, Oct. 29, 1887, by Theo. F. Jones, who filled the position to June, 1895, when, on account of sickness and loss of a limb, he was forced to retire. He was succeeded by Mr. Henry Drach with Chauncy O. Towell as assistant. The first meeting of the Board of water works trustees was Oct. 15, 1885. H. J. 15ronnenberg was the first president. The Anderson water works have been self-sustaining so 336 mSTOJfV OF MADISOX COUXTV, INDIANA. far as operating expenses are concerned for the last six years, and now have a surplus of between four and live thousand doUars to apply on debts or put into extensions. AXDERSOX'S SEWERAGE SYSTEM. Prior to the discoverv of natural gas, Anderson was en- tirely without any system of sewerage as is the case with all country towns and smaller cities. ^Vith the influx of popula- tion, it soon became apparent that a system of sewerage was necessary for the health and comfort of the growing city. In the month of January, IS'.'l. a movement was placed on foot in the direction of placing a thorough system in operation by instructing Henry Rawie. city civil engineer, to open corres- pondence with George E. Warring, a sanitary engineer of Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. Rawie accordingly made investigation, and after a consultation with Mr. Warring, a move by the city council w-as carried out by making a complete survey of the city, and a map of the location of the proposed mains and laterals thereto. Air. Warring is an expert engineer in sanitary sewerage, having been a member of the Royal Institute of Engineers of Holland, and also of the Institute of Civil Engineers for Eng- land. His plans were completed b)' Engineer Rawie who made a topographical map, and presented it to the city coun- cil which was adopted and resulted in the advfytising for sealed proposals for the construction of the work, and on the 15th of July, 1891, a contract was made with Kinser & Tuhey, of Terre Haute, Indiana, for the carrying out of the same, tiie contract price being $71,900. The work was imder the Barrett law .system making the cost payable by parties owning lots touching upon the line of the streets through which the sewer passed. Work was be- gun immediately by the contractors and carried on to success- ful completion in the year 1892, thereby giving Anderson one of the most complete and thorough sanitary sewerage systems in the State of Indiana. At this w'riting, it has been in use for four years without obstruction or in any way bemg a source of aggravation to the citizens. Mr. Rawie, the city engineer, was in the outset criticized (|uite freely by many of the tax pavers, and the svs- HISTORY OF MAniSON COl'NTY, INDIANA. 337 tein condeiniieil, but time Hms j^liown tliat lie was right, antl that his critics were wroiifj;. The sewerage system of Ander- son is a staiuliiig inoiuiment to his wisdom and also to the good sense of the citv fathers who adopted his plans. 22 CHAPTER XLIV Fires, Reminiscences and Personal Sketches. Bl RNING OF DOXEY S BREWEKV. About the year 1865. Charles T. Doxey and William Crajcraft built a brewery on the lot now occupied by Mat- thias Colchen's saloon and residence on \\"est Eighth street, long known by the old-timers of Anderson as the Craycraft property. They operated this establishment for about one vear, when in the montii of May, 1866, it took fire in the night and was destroyed and never rebuilt. This was Anderson's first brew- ery, and although small it was a pioneer in its line. It was soon followed b}- tlie now extensive place owned by T. M. Xorton which was in its primitive stage a small aft'air as com- pared with its present capacity. AX OLD TIME FIRE. What threatened to be one of the most disastrous fires that ever took place in Anderson occurred on a Saturday night in the month of November, 1866. About 9 o'clock in the evening the cry of " fire ! fire ! ! fire ! ! !"' was heard to ring out on the air. This was the only mode of giving an alarm at that time. Such fighting of fire is never seen in these days of telegraphic fire alarms and rubber hose attached to a water-plug. On this occasion the old frame liverj- barn that stood on the alley between Ninth and Tenth streets, front- ing on Main, being the locality where John Roland's saloon and the Opera house barber shop now stands, was on fire. It stood in the center of town, with two hotels in proximity, one of which, the old Ross house, that occupied the present site of the Perrett house, was a frame structure. The old United States hotel that stood where Daniels' ilrug store now stands, was a large three-story building with a fiat gravel and tar roof — a splendid "catch-all'' for sparks and burning shingles flying in the air in all directions. The stables were full of horses, buggies, and other vehicles. The mow being IIISTOKY OK MAniSON COUNTY, INDIANA. 839 well filled with hay and striiw, it was but a short time until the whole structure was enveloped in flames, scarcely time enough to get the horses out before the building collapsed. No attention was given to the saving of the barn. The object was to save the town. If not immediately checked the whole south side of the public square must go, besides many thousand dollars' worth of property near by would be destroj'ed. The steady nerve and cool work of a few brave men saved Ander- son from being swept off the earth. Capt. W. R. Myers, Major C. T. Doxey and a man of the name of Joseph Pickard, a plasterer, who then lived at Alexandria, saved the day. They took their stations in ditt- erent localities about the tire district, organized the " Bucket Brigade"' into an army of fire fighters, stationed men on the roofs of houses all around with buckets of water, the good women of the town also taking a hand in supplying the men with bed clothing Which was saturated with water and spread on the roofs, keeping them from taking fire. Myers and Doxey gave commands to the men which were obeyed almost as well as a well disciplined army. Everything worked like clockwork. Steady streams of water were kept coming from tlie neighboring wells by the bucket brigade standing in line and passing the buckets from one to another until the livery stable was burned to the ground, and not another build- ing was lost, although many times during the fire they were lighted and it looked as if they must go. Joe Pickard took his stand upon the wall of an adjoining building where he stood and fought fire like no man ever in the history of Ander- son before or since then has done. At times it seemed as if lie was enveloped in the flames. Friends called to him to leave his post, but in vain. When he was taken to his boarding house, the U. S. Hotel, it was found that his hands and face were terribly burned. He still bears the scars of that mem- orable fire. He had not the least pecuniary interest in the property burned ; neither had he any particular friend that had, but it was purely a matter of heroism on his part. In the days of the bucket brigade every person in Anderson was a fireman, the women were always on hand and many of them were right "in it ' when it came to fighting fire. Major Doxey was always the best commander; he was not afraid; he was always in front ; the people listened for his command and always obeyed. He has saxed more property from destruction b) fire than any other man in Anderson. ii40 lIISTdliY OF MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. THE \VP:ST side of the SQIARE DESIUOVED. Among the many fires that have burned in Anderson none has ever been more disastrous than the one which envel- oped the west side of the public square on the 17th of May, 1875. At the dead hour of midnight, the cry of fire was heard to ring out on the clear atmosphere. This was a signal for Anderson's populace to hasten to the scene of the conflagration, as the city at that time had no organized fire department. In less than twenty minutes nearly every able-bodied man and woman were on the streets, headed for the center of the city, each one carrying a pail, and ready to do battle with the flames, as was their usual custom on such an occasion. The " Bucket Brigade" was the only means of fire protection then at hand. It was at once ascertained that heroic work would have to be done, or all the west side of the square, and per- haps other portions of the city would be destroyed. A line was formed to the public well, that was then on that side of the square, and the fight began. Men and women vied with each other in their efforts to do deeds of heroism, but fate was against them. In spite of all efforts nearlv all the west side was swept away. The fire liad broken out somewhere in the middle of tiie block, in the neighborhood of where Van Nuys & Co.s drug store now stands, and spread north and south. The buildings that occupied the space were mostly wooden "shacks" and were easy marks for the fire. The Odd Fellows hall stood where the present White House now stands and was almost the exact counterpart of the present building. It was the only substantial structure that occupied that part of the square, and was erected in 18G7 by the Odd Fellows and others. The (Jdd Fellows occupied the third story for their lodge room. In the lower room was situated the hard- \vare store of Xichol. King & ^Makepeace, the firm being com- posed of Joseph Nichol, Amos J. King and Alonzo I. Make- peace. In the adjoining room was the shoe store of Limon M. Cox cS; Co. On the ground now occupied by the Citizen's Bank was a one-ftory frame house, in which was a shoe store owned by Ryan & Broadbeck. Dr. Townsend Ryan, the senior mem- ber of the firm, was the father of Judge II. C. Ryan. Where the store of Nichol & Makepeace now stands, there IllSIOm OK MADISDN COl'NTy, INDIANA. 841 was a two-story frame buikling owned by Samuel Pence, in which a Mr. Bliss kept a confectionery store. The adjoining lot now occupied by the Burr Block, was owned by Arthur Charman, and contained a two-story building in which was a bakery and confectionery store, and the American Express company's office. Mr. E. R. Charman was the agent for the express company. The next was a two-story frame building owned and occupied by (Jeorge Daich,as a residence, grocery and bakeiy, his residence being on the second floor. On the second tloor of the Odd Fellows' hall were situ- ated the Anderson Deniocrai office and the law offices of Sansberry & Goodykoontz and Calvin D. Thompson. The Democrat lost all its material, files and other valuable matter and the plant was totally destroyed. Sansberry & Goody- koontz lost many of their valuable books and papers which could not be replaced. Mr. C. D. Thompson was also a large loser of books. The people who were at the fire did all in their power to save the merchandise that was contained in the buildings, and all the stocks of goods were carried out on the public square in the court house yard and were heaped up in one mass, it being almost impossible the next morning for the owners to identify their goods. It very much resembled the breaking up of a large military camp after a disastrous battle. Several of the stocks were covered by insurance while others had none whatever. The firm of Nichol, King & Makepeace were large losers because one of the companies in which they were insured had some time previous to this fire gone into the hands of a receiver, and the local agent had failed to notify them of the fact and they were in ignorance of the condition of the company and therefore failed to l>e insured in any other agency. The fire threateneil at one time to spread to the south- west and destroy that portion of the cit}'. as there was Cjuite a lively gale which blew the embers for a considerable distance in that direction. People took their carpets and bed-clothing and saturated them with water anil spread them upon the roofs of their houses, thereby saving them from the flames. The fire wall upon the building now owned by John Rickes saved tile balance of the block from being destroyed. This building was erected by John Hickey some years previously. It has always been his habit in constructing his buildings to 342 HISTORY OF MADISOX COUNTY, INDIANA. erect fire walls on either side and in this instance it was shown that he had done the wise thing in that respect. An instance of how people may become excited in times like these, was exhibited in the action of Rev. \\ . Morris (rrimes, the pastor of the Presbyterian church. During the conflagration he became so excited^that he was evidently be- side himself. He ran from one place to another in a most frantic manner, and would grab men, women and children as he came to them, and severely shaking them would e.xclaim, " You are on fire, you are on fire I Don't vou see you are on fire?" when in fact there was no tire about their persons. He also went to the residences in the neighborhood, where ladders had been put up against the buildings, and removed them from one place to another. There never resided in the city of Anderson a better or purer man than Rev. W. Morris Grimes. He was dearly he- loved by his congregation and by all who knew him. His action in this matter served for a long time as a point about which to joke him. It was several days before the merchants, whose stores were destroyed, could procure rooms in which to place their goods. It was necessary to guard them on the public square until such time as they could find a place in which to store them. This fire had the effect of agitating the public mind on the question of fire protection, and accordingly a hand engine was purchased in an adjoining city, and served for some time as a means of fighting fire, and was the nucleus of the present efficient fire department of ,\nderson. BURNING OK THE JUNCTION HOUSE. For many years there stood at the crossing of the Fan Handle and Big Four railroads in Anderson, a iiotel known as the " Junction House."' It occupied about the present site of the target house. This is about the half-waj- point on the route from Cincinnati to Chicago, and was the stopping place for all through trains for lunch, and was known far and wide among the traveling public. Mr. H. L. Searle, the father of Gid. D. Searle, the druggist, who sometime since removed from Anderson to Chicago, was the proprietor and kept the house for a number of years. On Sunday morning, the 28d of February. 1868, at the hour of 10 o'clock, the building took fire and was burned to the ground. There was no fire department in the town at that time, and there was no means of combatting the flames, and it was but a short time until it inSI()R\ ()!■ MADISON COrNTY. INDIANA. ;!43 was in aslies. It was never rebuilt, am! the crossinii)i{v OF MAnisox county, Indiana. 817 work a lick, but wimld stand like a statue lioni nioniiii^ until noon and from noon until night on the curh stone with his shovel in his hand, hut \\ouId not move a muscle in the wav of labor. The marshal tried persuasion and every other means but actual violence to get him to work, but to no purpose. Finally becoming aggravated at his obstinacy, he took Sandy by the arm and marched him to the Doxey House corner and chained him to a lamp post, where he left him sitting all day in the broiling hot sun. Sandys wife brought him his dinner and stood over him with an umbrella, protecting him from the sweltering heat of the sun during the afternoon. The circumstance brought forth much indignation from the people in "Free America." To see one of her citizens a prisoner for a trivial crime, chained to a post in the public thoroughfare of the city, was more than they could bear. The Irish peo- ple were especially wrought up. Many threats of violence were made. They looked upon it as an act of barbarism. The best elemetit of the Irish citizens, however, kept cool heads, thereby avoiding what might have been serious trouble. The pressure finally became so strong that the marshal was forced to turn Sandy loose. Carr claimed that the city could not lawfully compel him to perform labor on the streets to liquidate his fine. He had made up his mind to die chained to the post rather than work, and he would undoubtedly have done so. The feeling against the marshal was \ ery strong for years thereafter.^ Many of the old Irish people treasure it up to this day. Their blood boils when they talk al^out it. There are serious doubts whether the city ordinance could be enforced in case of refusal to perform labor of this kind if it were stubbornl)' contested, but unfortunately the poor crea- tures have neither friends nor money to fight it, so they have to submit. The working of tramps on the streets is probably as well as keeping them in jail at public expense. They do not care for being in jail, but they do hate to work. TIIK liUI{NIN(i OK VV.\LDK\"s WAKK IIOISE. E. J. Walden was one time one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Anderson and was for many years engaged in buying and selling grain and lumber, having a grain elevator situated on South Main street near the Big Four railroad station. On the 27th of January, 1^75, the warehouse was discox- 848 HISTORY Ol' MADISOX COUN TV, INDIANA. ered to be on tire. The alarm was sounded at about a quarter past 10 o'clock at night by John Mershon. Before help could be obtained the building and contents were destroyed, with the exception of the office. The office desk and books were saved, but the flames had made such progress that it was impossible to check them, and the building with its contents, consisting of 2, OCX) bushels of wheat, 2,000 bushels of corn and a (|uantity of oats, and the fixtures, scales, elevators and steam engine were destroyed. The building had but lately been purchased bv Mr. W'alden and it is thought that the fire was tiie act of an incendiary, as there had been no tire in the engine that day nor had any been left in the stoves at night by the employes. The loss was quite a heavv one to Mr. Walden, as he was not fully insured. A HANDSOME RESIDENCE DESTROYED. The beautiful and substantial residence of the Hon. Howell D. Thompson, formerlv located on the spot where his present home now stands, was destroyed on the 24th of April, 1879. The residence was built in 18(5:.' by George Nichol who resided in it for several years and then sold it to Mr. Thompson who in the year 1877 enlarged and retnodeled it making it one of the most beautiful dwellings in Anderson. On the afternoon of the day above mentioned the build- ing caught fire and was almost totally destroyed. At that time the only means of fighting fire in Anderson was with a small hand engine whicii the City Council had purchased but a short time prior, and there being no cisterns or reservoirs from which to draw the water, it seemed almost a useless task to undertake to contend with this conflagration. The fire •• laddies '" who were in those days composed of volunteers, were on the scene as soon as they could get there from the dif- ferent quarters of the town, and after placing their hose in the cistern of the house belonging to the family, did their best to save the building, but without success. The iiouse was insured in the .4"3tna Fire Insurance Company for 14,500. Mr. Thompson immediatelv erected another mansion, a handsome brick, which now occupies the place of the one that was destroyed. nURNINti OF A E1..\X MII.I. IN 1876. About the vear 1870 the firm of Shillitto & Company from some eastern State, came to Anderson and -.tarted a flax IIlSTdKV (IF MADISON' COINTV, INOIANA. 349 mill, locating on the grounil where tiie thrivinTOKV OF MADISOX COINTV, INDIANA. that effective- work could not be done. The small buildings surrounding the sides of the walls prevented the firemen from getting readily to work. Luck and Providence seemed to be against the fire-boys, as they had scarcely got the hose attached when it bursted, causing much trouble and delay. They im- mediately replaced the bursted section, but they had hardly done so when it gave way in another part. This occasioned a great deal of delay, and, in the meantime, the flames had steadily devoured the building. All that could be done now was to make an effort to save the surrounding property, which they did in an efficient manner. The loss to Mr. Fisher was a serious one. Aside from the damage to the building and machinery, he incurred a great loss from the destruction of a vast amount of manufactured goods and raw material which he had on hand. His manu- factured products were just ready to be shipped to his custom- ers, and it being late in the season he could not possibly re- manufacture them to meet the wants of his trade in time, and thus many of the orders were caneelknl. The building and contents were partially insured. Mr. B. Brasket, agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Co., had his office and warerooms in the building. He was a loser to the extent of several hundred dollars in machines and other property. Mr. Fisher immediately rebuilt the house and converted it into business rooms, but abandoned it as a manufacturing establishment. nUKNING OF THE DOXEV OPEK.X HOUSE. On the 14th of November. 1884, the magnificent opera house erected by the Hon. Charles T. Doxey on North Me- ridian street was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss to its owner of $80,000, with no insurance. The fire is supposed to have originated in the rear end of a livery stable owned by Jesse \V. Hurst, situated immediately south and adjoining the theater building. The first alarm of fire was sounded about 1 o'clock at night. In a few moments thereafter the building was a mass of flames. The heat be- came so intense that it was impossible to stand within fifty feet of the burning edifice. The iron fronts of buildings on the opposite side of the street were heated almost to a red heat. When it was discovered, had there been a fire depart- ment in Anderson, the upper part of the building might pos- IIISTORI Ol- .MADISD.N COlfNTV, INDIANA. ;>51 sibly have been saved, but as there was no organization of tliat kind the people stood around helplessly and saw the mag- nilicent building go up in smoke and flames. A message was sent to the Indianapolis department for help, and a train was started from the Union Depot with one steamer on board. Tlu' run to Hrightwood was made in two minutes, but when the train reached that station an order was sent countermand- ing the former one and the engine returned to the citv, the tire having gone so far tiiat help of that kiiul woukl be of no ii<-e. On the night of the fire the Laura E. Dainty Theatrical Troupe hail just finished a performance in the theatre. The members of the company did brave work in their efforts to save tiie building ami other property from destruction. The only thing saved of any value were the draperies around the boxes and a few other articles, which were afterwards utilized wlien the house was rebuilt. Among the losers were CJeorge Woerner, merchant tailor, who had his shop in the same building, and Fenton C. Rogers who conducted a music store, and also Mrs. Ella Malone, who had a millinery establishment on the second floor. Mr. Hurst, the liveryman, was a loser to a small extent. The building which he occupied belonged to Bazil Neely. Immediatelv after the fire, a move was set on foot by the citizens of Anderson to organize a stock company, placing Major Doxev at the head and tiie Opera House was rebuilt, but on not so magnificent a plan as the old one. On the 19th of November, 1SS5, it was reopened to the public. Miss Hortense Pierse being the star upon the occasion of its dedication. Major Doxey e\entually purchased the stock of all those who so kindly contributed to the rebuilding of the house and was at the time of its second burning its sole o^vner. The second conflagration which took place March 30, 1898, was attributed to carelessness in leaving a gas jet burning which was situated near the drapery of the stage and in some manner became ignited, and before assistance could be rendered this handsome building was again destroyed. After this Major Doxey became discouraged in his attempt to furnish the Anderson people a play-house and gave up the idea. He sold the property to Messrs. A. J. Brunt and Louis Loeb who rebuilt it and converted it into a business block. Prominent among those who kindly assisted Maj. Doxey in rebuilding tiie Opera House were Lafe J. Burr and H. ]. 352 IIISTOKY OK MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA. Bronnenberg, who gave the details of its construction their per- sonal attention. This building was again destroyed Decem- ber 24, I89(). elsewhere noticed. BURNING OF THE OLYMPIC THEATRE. Probably the most disastrous fire since the " west side conflagration '' in 1875, that has \isited Anderson, occurred at C) o'clock p. m., March 1st, IS'.lg. In addition to being dangerous the fire was a " mean "' one to fight, and gave the department a great deal of trouble, it being a very difficult matter to either get the blaze under control or in any position to fight it. It originated a few minutes before (5 o'clock in the rear part of the Olympic theatre, which was occupied by the Columbia Rifles as an armory. The entire upper portion of the building was ruined, several business rooms with their stocks, water soaked and smoke stained, and most of the arms and equipments of the Columbia Rifles totally destroyed. The person who discovered the fire was IMrs. I. O. Ilardesty, who had rooms in an adjoining building. Mrs. Ilardesty's attention was attracted by the crackling of the fire, and on looking out of her window saw the flames burst- ing from the window in the opposite building, not three feet distant. She started to the street to give an alarm, but in the mean time Mr. A. J. Jones, the hardware man. heard the falling glass, and looking up from his back door, discov- ered the blaze. He sent a still alarm to the fire department. The department made a run down Eighth street and rounded up in front of the burning building with a hundred feet of hose trailing from the end of the hose wagon. The hose had been attached to the hydrant, on the corner of Eighth and Meridian streets, before the wagon stopped, and a nozzle was quickly put on the other end. The line was taken up the front stairs and down through the auditorium, and in a few seconds the flying sparks and a rising cloud of steam showed that the fire was being checked. As soon as the line was laid the wagon was driven around to the Seventh street hydrant and a second line was taken through the allevs and the fire was again attacked from the rear. For an hour the department, under the direction of Chief Towell, waged a hard and at times a seemingly hopeless fight, but by 7 o'clock the fury of the flames was exhausted and they were under control. At S o'clock the fire was practically HISTOKV OK MADISON COUNTY, IN'DtANA. ;553 cxtingiiislied and tlic taps •'out" were soumled by tlie chief a few minutes later. It is supposed the bhize Driginated under the stage of the theater. Private Jolm Hopper left the place about 5:45 o'clock, having first turned all the gas jets down, and, as he thougiit, left the place perfectly safe. The theory is that ;t gas jet set fire to the window casing, and from there the fire spread to the stage above. As soon as it reached the scenery, the blaze flashed from the window. The fire, when first seen, was curling around the window of the "company room." After the tire, the interior of the once pretty theater was as perfect a picture of ruin as can be imagined. The ceiling had fallen in, and the stars peeped between the charred rafters that had upheld the roof. The seats were covered with broken plaster and bits of burnt wood, while here and there about the stage lay the stock of the barrel of a ritle or ;i blackened and bent sword. DEST15UCTIOX OF COX'KAD * M,\THEs' WAGON SIIOI'. In the spring of 1866, the firm of Conrad & Mathes located in Anderson, and started a factory for the manufact- ure of farm wagons, the firm being composed of 11. H. Con- rad and George Mathes, both of w'hom are yet residents of Anderson. Their shops were located on north Main street. on the grounds now occupied by the buildings of II. II. Con- rad. On the 20th day of June, 1867, their plant was de- stroyed by fire, the conflagration being the work of an incen- diary. The buildings consisted of the wagon shops, black- smith department and paint shops, all of which were devoured by the ilames, together with all the wagons on hand and a large quantity of paints, oils, spokes, hubs and poles. This was the third attempt to destroy this place, the first having occurred on the 3d of June, and again on the 7th of the same month. No cause could be assigned why any one should burn the shops unless it was to keep the firm from occupying the grounds which were so near the city and to the business portion of the town. It was never ascertained who the guilty parties were, although it was stated at the time tliat a man seated on a black horse was seen to ride rapidlv down the railway tracks towards the "'junction" about five minutes after the fire was discovered. lie was heard to say in a low and excited tone, that it would go this time. The loss was about $1,500 with $1,000 insurance. This factory was after- 23 354 msToiiv of madisox couxtv, ixdiana. \vard destroyed by fire, H. II. Conrad having become the sole proprietor of tlie establislimeiit. JOHN ford's rp:ligioi's experience. When the old Methodist church stood opposite its present site there was a colored gentleman living here by the name of John Ford, who came from the South some time after or dur- ing the war. He followed white- washing, doing chores, and ■was for a while assistant se.xton at the church. He made the fires, swept the house and did such work as came in his line. He was one of those good-natured fellows, full of talk, and was always " shooting off" to the white people wiierever he met them. He was one of the politest men in America. Always tipped his hat if he met you every twenty minutes in the day, with "Mornin', Majah ; mornin', sah.'" During a spirited revival that was being carried on many conversions were being made and people were joining in flocks. John got religion among the rest. An experience meeting was being held one Sunday night, and the house was crowded to suffocation. Every one had something to say as to his experience in the religious world. Nearly every one would close his talk by asking an interest in the prayers of the congregation. John was standing away back by the door, leaning, with his hands behind him. He became too full to stand it any longer — he had to ha^■e vent. Brother Burnett had just con- cluded a fervent prayer, and a soul-stirring hymn had been sung, when John broke in : "My belubed bredren an' frens, Ise a son ob Ham, a chile ob de dark continent, as it were. Accordin' to de nature of things Ise not permitted to mingle wid de white folks much or hab much to say in dere meetin's, but I am done tole you Tse gwine to say somethin' for de Lord dis ebenin'. I has to say[,somethin', I can't help it. Ise about to splode. My bredren, altho de Lord has made my hide as black as de pitch on a pine knot, de soul He put widin me is as white as snow. Ise found out dat de longer we libs in dis world de mo' wis- dum cums into de cocanut." At this point John's feet slipped from under him and down he caine like a thousand of brick onto the floor, jarring the house until the old bell in the cupola rang. The house, of course, roared. Even the old deacons and sisters tittered and laughed. Jolin got upon his feet and order was about restored I1IST015V OF MAIMSOX COUNTY, INDIANA. 355 when he got in again w ith, "Bredren, I ax an inquest on my pra'rs." This started the laughing again, which kept up at intervals until church was out. From what tiie writer knew of John Ford, he was as true a Christian as any one, black or white. He was sincere and felt as he said, that though his hide was black his soul within ^vas as white as snow. SM.VSIIED TltE .MUSIC BOX. A long while ago it was a custom in .\nderson to have serenading parties. There were several good singers among the inhabitants at that time, who have since settled down to steadv business men. Joseph H. Sharp, the hotel man, is one among the number. There was at that time a young Baptist preacher here who was unmarried and liked to associate with the " boys," as they made it quite pleasant for him. There was also an old music teacher iiere by the name of King, who was a '• daisv "' and no mistake. He could play a melodeon or organ to the Qiieen's taste and was always ready for any- thing that was up. One night the party went out hauling a melodeon in a spring wagon. They took in the town, going to tlie homes of all prominent citizens. It was the custom in those days to set out wine or some palatable beverage to serenading parties, and the party partook fieely of the flowing bowl on this occasion. By the time they got around they were comfortably " full." Then they started back to replace the instrument in King's room. King was so glorious that he was past being anv help in taking the instrument up- stairs. Sharp was in front going up, the preacher bringing up the rear. They tugged and pulled at it as best they could in their condition until they had the melodeon about half way up the stairway when Sharp made a misstep and down the music box and all came with a mighty crash. It tumbled over tiie preacher, rolling down to the foot of the stairs, nearly killing the whole party and smashing the melodeon imtil it was completelv ruined, where it was left on the side- w.ilk until morning. The mishap leaked out among the con- gregation and the preacher was soon called to other fields, where it is to be hoped he is doing a good work among the faithful, and serenading parties are not in vogue. THE FIRST HEARSE BKOIGHT TO .\NDEUSON. Looking out upon a funeral procession passing by, the streets lined with lodge men, brass bands, long strings of car- 856 HISTORY OK MADISON COi:XTY, INDIANA. riages and an immense hearse, black as ebony, with plate- glass sides, drawn by two elegantly matched black horses, covered with heavy drapery of net work almost dragging the ground, with large plumes on their heads, caused the writer to turn back in memorv to the long ago, and compare the simplicity of by-gone days to the gaudy splendor of to-day. It also caused him to investigate the matter as to who brought the first hearse to Anderson, and compare it with those ot the present time. Upon calling on several of the old fellows sitting on the store boxes around the square, who have spent their fifty years in Anderson, it was learned that A. A. Siddall, com- monly known in his life time as "Ab" Siddall, brought to Anderson the first hearse. This statement is agreed to by a majority of tiie old-timers now living. Mr. Siddall and iiis father, Atticus Siddall, were the first undertakers proper in Anderson. Tlieir place of business was at the corner of East Main street and Central avenue, wliich was then the business center of Anderson. On the opposite corner was the "tavern,'" the only place of public entertainment. This was in the '40s, between 1840 and 1845. The hearse, rude as it was, had its time and served its purpose. It was rather on the order of a spring wagon, witli l)ox- covered body, without glass in the sides, and more like what is now used as a "dead" wagon by all undertakers. Tiiis old hearse was used by the firm for several years, finally giving way to one of more modern pattern. After it was abandoned as a hearse, John Sabin procured the body of it and used it for a peddling wagon, wiiile tlie "running gears'" were used for a beer wagon. George Ilugiiel, Wesley Dunham and many other old settlers remembered this hearse, and in talking of it, compared it alike with the diflerence in the way people die and are buried now and fifty vears ago. In those days, when a man got sick unto death, no hired nurse nor lodge brothers stood around his coucli. but the hardy- pioneer neighbor dropped his work, went to tiie bedside, and watched until the last moment came. Then no cloth suit wrapped his form in preparation for burial, but a simple white muslin shroud was placed upon him. He was encased in a plain wooden coffin, without silver handles or covering, and with the assistance of friends and relatives the body was sol- emnly and quietly consigned to the tomb to await the final resurrection. No pomp, no splendor, no brass band preceded llIsrOKV Ol' MADISON' COIT.VIY, INDIANA. 357 the procession. The tcurs shed at the burial were tears of real sorrow. Those old fellows long ago gone before, buried in the plain simplicity of pioneer daj's will, no doubt, shine as brig.htly when called by Gabriel's trumpet, as those laid away with all the splendor ol to-day. JVIany of them have no monuments to mark their last resting place, and their graves have long since been obliterated by the ravages of time. But when the time comes for the swinging open of the golden gates, they'll be there. " Ab ' Siddall, after going out of the undertaking business, became a druggist and latei' on a dry goods merchant, which business he followed until he died. He was fond of a horse and always kept a good one. One day he brought his hor.se up town and hitched him across the street iri front of the store. On going home in the evening he noticed a horse tied up. It was raining and cold. " Ab '" hunted up the marshal and in- formed him that some inhuman brute had tied his horse out in the cold rain, and that the animal ought to be taken care of. The marshal went and took the horse to the livery stable, where he liad him cared for. In the morning, " Ab " went to the stable to feed his horse, when lo I the horse was gone. It just then dawned upon iiim that he had the day before hitched his horse up town and forgot all about it. He sneaked up to hunt the marshal, got his horse out of the livery stable, and paid the bill, making the boys promise to say nothing about it. It leaked out some way and he never heard the last of it. loIlN M. nAHIN, .\ MAN OF MANY PECl'LI A RITIES. lohn M. Sabin was a familiar figure upon tlie streets of Anderson for many years. He was well known to all classes of people, irrespective of their politics or religion, as he was one of those kind of men whose general make up admit them to all classes of society. In the Anderson Democrat, of December :22, 188:2, a fine tribute is paid to Mr. Sabin by an old friend and admirer to which we give place as follows : " The subject of this sketch was born in Clinton county, Ohio, near the town of Wilming- ton, on the Kjth of January, 1832, and died at his home in Anderson, December 16, 1882, at the age of fifty years. He was the son of Doctor .Sabin. a man distinguished for his learning, enterprise and generosity. John M. Sabin received a common-school education, and early in life learned the sad- 358 HISTORY OF MADISOX COLNTV, INDIANA. dlei y and harness-making trade. At the age of sixteen years he enHsted as a volunteer for the Mexican war, but never got farther south than the city of New Orleans. In 1850. he came to Indiana, and settled in Greensburg where he remained until 1854. Here he became imbued with those studious habits for which he was noted. He was distinguished for his ready wit, and keen satire. He was also a prominent mem- ber of a literary or dramatic society which ranked first in the State. Many of its members have become distinguished in literature, and in State and National politics. He came to Anderson in 1855, which he made his home almost continu- ously until the day of his death. He served acceptably four years as Justice of the Peace. In 1857 he was married to Miss Eliza Jackson, daughter of the Hon. Andrew Jackson, of Anderson, by whom he had one son and two estimable daugh- ters, who survive him. ■' In speaking of John M. Sabin, the writer is fully aware that his life was not altogether blameless. No one ever spoke unkindly of him who was his intellectual peer. He was a man of very much more than ordinary intellectuality, with a vast amount of general information, and was quite conversant with many standard works of history and fiction. He pos- sessed a marvelous and accurate memory, and a fair amount of language, with a kind and generous nature. He was a genial companion and a devoted friend, and naturally endowed with the instincts of a gentleman. His associates were the best in the community. He rarely indulged in profanity or vulgarity. In his days of prosperity, many partook of his hospitality and liberality who have since traduced him. Whatever his faults and shortcomings maj' have been, he had none of the sin of ingratitude. He never forgot a kind act or word. For several years his bodily sufferings had been such that he should have had sympathy, and many who with- held a kind word while he lived were the most fulsome in his praise after he was dead and beyond their reach or need for any of their sympathy."' In addition to what the above writer has stated, we wish to add that while Mr. Sabin had his faults like other men, his -sympathetic nature, genial disposition and keen sense of humor brought about him associations that might be envied by men holding a much higher station in life than he. Mr. Sabin, besides many other peculiarities, was a very sensitive man. If he should happen to be standing and talking with a IllSrOm ()!■ MADIS^ON COUNTV, INDIANA. 859 partv of gentlemen, and a friend shoultl join the circle and ask any of the party for a chew of tobacco, and not ask him, he would feel that he had been slighted. On one occasion while in the act of conversing with some friends, a gentleman approached all the members of the party e.xcept Mr. Sabin and re<|uested change for a five-dollar bill, which none of them had. A few days after this the gentleman who desired to have the note changed was met upon the street by Mr. Sabin who asked him why he had offered him an insult on that occasion. The gentleman was very much surprised and requested him to state what he meant. Sabin replied that lie had asked every other gentleman in the crowd but himself to change his bill, and that while he might not have had the money to make the change, common courtesy would have dictated that he also should have been asked, as there was a stranger or two in the crowd who did not know whether lie (Sabin) was worth one dollar or a million. lie was full of dry wit and sarcasm ; they both oo/.ed out of him when he was sitting around. lie made a race tor the nomination for mayor of Anderson, at the same time Nathaniel Garrish ran for marshal. Sometime afterward Sabin and Garrish got into a quarrel. Several flings were made at each other, when Sabin said to Garrish, "If I would ever run for ottice in this city, and not get more votes than you did for marshal last spring, I would leave the place."' An examination of the poll books showed that Garrish got six votes and Sabin seven. Sabin and Buff Dehority planned the organization of the first street railroad enterprise for Anderson, in 18<)6. They intended to put a line around the public square, then from the Pan-handle to the Bee Line depot. The Bee Line then liad its station out at the Ohio avenue crossing. After much talk and bluster, the scheme fell through. Some of Sabin's friends asked him why it was not a go. '• Well," said he, "the main reason was that we had not sufficient means. We bought the iron on credit, but could not raise the money to ferry it over the river at Louisville." This was one among many other schemes of Mr. Sabin's. Many men have lived in Anderson, but few better-hearted men ever did. lie was true to a friend, and a favor bestowed upon him in his adverse days, was always remembered ; though perhaps unable to repay it, it was always on his mind. It any- one did him a wrong, it was as deeply felt and as long remem- 361) HISTOR'^' Ol' MADISON COINIV, INDIANA. beied. Peace to tlie ashes of Jolin Sabin, and may kind friends see that his grave is kept green. JOSEPH MIX, "the seek OF WHITE UIVEK." Joseph Mix is one of the characters of Anderson town- ship, having lived here for nearly fifty years. To meet him on the street one would consider him noth- ing more than an ordinary individual, as there is nothing out- side of the ordinary- that impresses the passer by with his appearance, yet his fame is spread all over this country as a JOSI'.PH MIX, THE "SKKk" OF WTIITK KHTCK. %vonderful ''seer." He was born in (>iii() in the year 1824, and is now about the age of 72 years. He moved with his father to Madison county when he was quite a small lad, and settled in the northern part of Lafayette township, near where the village of Linwood now stands. In the year 1851, the fatiier of Joseph Mix was found