i» » » » » Please handle this volume with care. The University of Connecticut Libraries, Storrs » » » » " » » » » » ♦ liiPllilP Please note: This volume is also available ; at: The Indian Stream Republic ^^^54 AND Luther Parker BY GRANT SHOWERMAN, Ph.D. Professor in the University of Wisconsin concord, n. h. New Hampshire Historical Society 1915 V-" COLLECTIONS OF THE New Hampshire Historical Society VOLUME ELEVEN Edited bt OTIS GRANT HAMMOND. M.A. Superintendent of the Society concord, n. h. New Hampshibe Historical Society 1915 The greater number of the settlers who occupied the lands of southeastern Wisconsin during the years im- mediately preceding the sale of 1839 were of New York and New England origin. The biography of one of them, Luther Parker, may lay claim to a special inter- est as illustrating the conditions of pioneer life, not only in Wisconsin but also in New Hampshire, where, before his migration to the West and participation in the building of the new commonwealth, he was actively concerned in one of the most interesting experiments in the history of American democracy, as well as in a border trouble which at one time threatened to result in complications between the United States and Great Britain. CONTENTS PART ONE Page The Indian Stbeam Repubuc 3-128 Chapter 1. Ancestry and Early Years of Luther Parker 3 Chapter 2. Indian Stream 8 Chapter 3. The Settling of Indian Stream 21 Chapter 4. Indian Stream Proprietary Administra- tion 30 Chapter 5. The Indian Stream Democracy 36 Chapter 6. The Parkers at Indian Stream 40 Chapter 7. Indian Stream Territory, U. S. A 48 Chapter 8. The Indian Stream Constitution 57 Chapter 9. The Assembly of 1832 68 Chapter 10. The Assembly of 1833 75 Chapter 11. The Assembly of 1834 79 Chapter 12. The Assembly of 1835 88 Chapter 13. Rival Claims to Indian Stream 93 Chapter 14, The Indian Stream War 102 Chapter 15. The Wisconsin Pioneer 112 Chapter 16. The Territorial Legislature of 1846 ... 118 Chapter 17. The Last Years 125 PART TWO Ellen Parker's Journal 130-162 PART THREE Report of the Indian Stream Commissioners, 1836 .... 163-250 Joint Resolution of the New Haaipshire Legislature 165 Report of the Commissioners 167 Letters: Hon. Isaac Hill to Hon. John Forsyth 176 Hon. Isaac Hill to Hon. John Forsyth 177 Hon. John Forsyth to Hon. Isaac Hill 177 Hon. John Forsyth to Gov. Badger 178 Lord Gosford to Mr. Bankhead 179 VI CONTENTS Page Report of Canadian Commissioners 183 Letters: Hon. William Badger to John P. Hale 188 E. H. Mahurin to Gen. Joseph Low 188 Deposition of Ephraim H. Mahtjrin 190 Ira Young 193 James M. Hilliard 196 John Hughes 198 Rurus Brockway 199 Luther Fuller 202 Luther Fuller 203 Jesse Carr 205 Ebenezer Fletcher '. 206 Gideon Tirrell 207 David Kent 209 Samuel Danforth 210 John Harriman 210 Nathaniel Perkins 213 Horace Loomis 215 Francis Wilson 217 Hezekiah Parsons 217 Ira Young 218 William M. Smith 220 Milton Harvey 223 Richard I. Blanchard 224 Miles Hurlburt 226 Ephraim C. Aldrich 231 James M. Hilliard 233 Josiah Parmelee 235 James Mooney 236 James M. Jewett 239 Hiram A. Fletcher 240 Archelaus Cummings, Jr 244 Joseph Wiswell 246 Ephraim H. Mahurin 248 Benjamin Applebee 250 PART ONE THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC AND LUTHER PARKER THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC AND LUTHER PARKER New Hampshire and Wisconsin Pioneer CHAPTER 1 Ancestry and Early Years Luther Parker, the first white man to become per- manently domiciled within the limits of the present township of Muskego, Waukesha county, Wiscon- sin, was born at Temple, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire, near the Massachusetts line, on December 18, 1800, of Joshua Parker and Polly Taylor Parker, natives of Redding, Massachusetts, about ten miles north of Boston, and now called Wakefield. He was one of five brothers. The Luther Parker ancestry in America begins with Thomas Parker, born in England in 1609, who sailed from London on March 11, 1635, in the expedition of the ships Suzan and Ellin, fitted out by Sir Richard Saltonstall, and landed at Lynn, Massachusetts. The Lynn annals record his coming: "1635. Came this year, Thomas Parker, a farmer, who embarked at London, March 11, 1635. "i Thomas Parker resided for several years at Lynn, the owner of forty acres of land, and in 1639 moved to Lynn Village, later called Redding (1644), still later South Redding (1812), and finally Wakefield (1868). Here he became deacon of the Redding church, which was built about 1644, its first minister being ordained 4 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC November 5, 1645, was selectman in 1661 and for some time afterward, and died on August 12, 1683, possessed of an extensive landed property. His wife Amy, to whom he was united about Christmas of 1635, died on January 15, 1690. The gravestone of Thomas Parker is still to be seen in the lower end of the old cemetery at Wakefield, where it was placed, with many others of its time, after their discovery during an excavation in 1834. It is of a hard, slate-colored material, with inscription unimpaired and plainly legible.^ The sons and daughters of Thomas and Amy Parker were ten: Thomas (Lynn, 1636-July 17, 1699); Han- aniah (Lynn, 1638-March 10, 1724), who married Eliz- abeth Browne of Redding on September 30, 1663, and was ancestor of Captain John Parker of Lexington and the Reverend Theodore Parker; John (1) (Redding, 1640-1698), a sergeant, ancestor of Luther Parker; Joseph (1642-1644); Joseph (1645-1646); Mary (De- cember 12, 1647-1705), who married Samuel Dodge and was the mother of eleven children ; Martha (March 14, 1649-1651); Nathaniel (May 16, 1651), who mar- ried Bethia Polly September 24, 1677, and had thirteen children; Sarah (September 30, 1653-October 26, 1656); Jonathan (May 18, 1656-June 10, 1680), who served in the Indian wars; Sarah (May 23, 1658). The cus- tom of giving a succeeding son or daughter the name of a deceased child may be noted here.^ The sons and daughters of John Parker (l) were four- teen, nine by his union with Hannah Kendall (1650- August 8, 1689), to whom he was married on Novem- ber 13, 1667, and five by a second union: John (2) (December 16, 1668- January 11, 1740), ancestor of Luther; Thomas (1670-1689); Hannah (1672-1689); Rebecca (1675-1680); Kendall (1677); Abigail (1679- before 1688); Jonathan (1681); David (1686); Abigail THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 5 (1688); Hananiah (1691); Rebecca (1693); Thomas (1695) ; Elizabeth (1698) ; Mary. John Parker (l) died in 1698/ The sons and daughters of John Parker (2) and EHza- beth Goodwin (1673-May 11, 1731) were twelve: Elizabeth (1695-1703); John (1697-before 1701); Abi- gail (1699); John (1701); Benjamin (April 9, 1703), great-grandfather of Luther; Elizabeth (1704-before 1706); Ehzabeth (1706); Lillie; Joseph (1707-before 1711); Mary (1710); Joseph (1711); Thomas (1716), who moved to Bennington. John Parker (2) died on January 11, 1740. The sons and daughters of Benjamin Parker were eleven, eight by his marriage with Sarah Foster (October 16, 1701-1741, married in 1726), and three by a second marriage: Benjamin (1727); Sarah (1728); Phoebe (1730); Elizabeth (1731); Reuben (1732); William (1735); Lydia (1736); Asa (May 24, 1740- August 23, 1809), grandfather of Luther; Ehsha (1749); Elisha; Simeon (1752). Asa Parker, who lived at Redding, was active in the events of April 19, 1775, the day that Captain John Parker of Lexington said: "Don't fire unless fired upon; but if they want a war, let it begin here!" Their great-grandfathers were identical. Deacon Thomas Parker, of Redding. The sons and daughters of Asa Parker and Hephzibah Nichols (married 1762; Asa died August 18, 1831) were ten: Hephzibah (April 7, 1767), who married Jonathan Temple; Elizabeth (August 25, 1769), who married Simeon Batchelder; Asa (February 20, 1770), who married Emma Eames; Rebecca (April 18, 1772), who married John Harnden; Joshua (May 15, 1774- June, 1855), father of Luther; Loa (April 29, 1777); Lucy (November 2, 1779); Loa (April 8, 1782), who married Anna Bancroft; Levi (April 30, 1784), who 6 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC married Polly Nichols in 1805; Lucinda (July 17, 1786), who married Samuel Pratt. Joshua Parker and Polly Taylor (born November 11, 1774) were married in Redding on November 13, 1796, by Peter Sanborn. Their sons were five: Joshua (February 16, 1798-July, 1878), who enlisted in the War of 1812; Luther (December 18, 1800-June 15, 1853), the subject of this biography; Ebenezer (October 19, 1804-February 3, 1805); Edwin (June 30, 1807- July 7, 1830); Asa (September 17, 1810-May 22, 1895). Between February 16, 1798, the date of Joshua's birth, and December 18, when Luther was born, the Parker family moved from Redding, Massachusetts, to Temple, New Hampshire. Joshua Parker's death occurred at Temple in June, 1855, and that of his wife in September, 1856. Luther Parker received his early education in the common school at Temple. Other than that there is no information regarding his boyhood. About the year 1816 he went to Stoneham, Massa- chusetts, near his father's former home, and learned the shoemaker's trade, being apprenticed in one of the numerous shops of that time, when nearly every farmer kept a shop where he spent the spare hours of the winter months and other periods of farm inactivity. Not content with the prospect of following this occu- pation through life, he returned to Temple and at- tended the academy at New Ipswich, not far distant. On the completion of his studies there he taught dis- trict school in the neighborhood of Albany, New York.^ In 1825 and 1826 Luther Parker taught school at Stratford, New Hampshire, somewhat south of Cole- brook, Coos county, on the Connecticut river, nearly opposite and not far from Brunswick, Vermont. Here he met Alletta French, one of the ten children of Thomas Giles French of Brunswick. She was born on THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 7 June 11, 1803, and had lived since her eighth or tenth year with the family of Squire Baldwin in Stratford, and was a pupil in the Stratford school when Luther Parker became its master.^ Luther Parker and Alletta French were married at Stratford on the 18th of February, 1827, and in the same year, probably soon after their union, settled on land in what was then usually known as the Indian Stream country. Here they remained until the spring of 1836. NOTES 1 Genealogical and Biographical Notes of John Parker of Lexing- ton and his Descendants, showing his earlier ancestry in America from Dea. Thomas Parker, of Reading, Massachusetts, from 1635 to 1893. By Theodore Parker, a descendant in the 9th generation from Deacon Thomas Parker. Worcester, Mass. Press of Charles Hamilton. 1893. Pp. 21-22. 2 Ibid., pp. 22-29. 3 Ibid., 29-30. TNTiere a single date occurs, the date of death is unknown. * For most of the genealogical detail from this point to the con- clusion of the chapter I am indebted to Lincoln H. Parker, of Duluth, Minn., grandson of Luther Parker. His sources were family notes collected by his father and grandfather, compared with the above book on John Parker of Lexington, and Lilley Eaton's Genealog- ical History of the Town of Reading, Mass. ^ The details of Luther Parker's life have been in great part sup- plied me by his son, Hon. Charles D. Parker of River Falls, Wis- consin, who was born at Indian Stream December 27, 1827, and lived there until Ins ninth year. * The French genealog3% as compiled by Mattie French of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and accepted by the D. A. R., 1812, and Patriots and Founders, shows Alletta French's descent as follows: John French (1), of Essex County, England, settled in Dorchester, Mass., in 1630, removed to Braintree in or after 1643, died Aug. 6, 1699; John French (2), born Feb. 28, 1641, married Experience Haynes; John French (3), born April 16, 1669, removed to Mendon, Mass.; John French (4), born Mar. 14 (June 25?), 1728, married Anna Haynes in 1754, removed to Maidstone, Vt., died April 18, 1781; Thomas Giles French, born at Mendon, Mass., July 12, 1773; Alletta, Thomas Giles, Alvin, etc., of Brunswick, Vt. CHAPTER 2 Indian Stream The history of Luther Parker from 1827 to 1836 is so intimately connected with that of the Indian Stream country that both may be blended into a single narra- tive. Indian Stream, Indian Stream Settlement, Indian Stream Territory, Township of Indian Village, Town- ship of Liberty in Indian Stream, Indian Grant, Bedel's Grant, Bedel's and Others' Grant, Bedel's and Asso- ciates' Grant are all names which were applied to a tract of land situated in what is now the extreme northern portion of Coos county, the northernmost county of New Hampshire. From the treaty of Paris in 1783 to the Ashburton treaty in 1842, when it was definitely assigned to the United States, its status was ambiguous, both Canada and New Hampshire from time to time asserting a right to it, though rarely with enough emphasis to cause serious trouble. The bounds of the tract were the Connecticut river and the three Connecticut lakes on the south and east, the highlands between the Atlantic and St. Lawrence systems on the northeast and north, and Hall's Stream on the northwest and west. Through the midst of the territory thus enclosed, from northeast to southwest, parallel to Hall's Stream and roughly parallel to the Connecticut river, flows Indian Stream, a tributary of the latter, which joins it some four miles above the mouth of Hall's Stream, itself another tributary. The district is almost identical with the present township of Pittsburg, Coos county, and is described in a pro- prietor's document of October 25, 1819, as "supposed THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 9 to contain one hundred and sixty thousand acres. "^ In a deed of April 5, 1803, it is referred to as "a certain tract or parcel of land situated in the township of Indian Village (so-called) in the county of Graf ton. ^ The county of Coos was erected out of the county of Grafton by act of legislature on December 24, 1803.^ The physical character of that part of the Indian Stream country which most concerns us may be, at least in part, appreciated from the following description : "Connecticut lake, chief of the river's headwaters, lies sixteen hundred and eighteen feet above sea-level. Picturesquely irregular in outline, its shores in large part with forest fringes broken by green intervals, it is a handsome lake of fine proportions, as becomes a pro- genitor of so fair a stream. It extends four miles in length, has a breadth at its widest of two and three- quarters miles, and contains nearly three square miles. The neighboring hills are thick with deciduous trees, particularly the maple, mingled with the spruce and fir. In the autumn, while the trees are aglow with their rich tints, the heights are often white from the frozen mist that clings to the spears of the evergreen foli- age. . . . Now full-formed the river emerges from the rocky outlet of this limpid basin, falling abruptly about thirty-seven feet. For the first two and a half miles of its course it is almost a continual rapid, aver- aging perhaps ten rods in breadth. Then it drops into a more tranquil mood and glides along for some four miles, winding west and southwest. Then, and with a sweeping bend in the upper part of the township of Stewartstown . . . receiving along the way two fair- sized tributaries and lesser streams, it flows again more rapidly to the meeting of the bounds of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Canada. Here, joined by another tribu- tary. Hall's Stream, which comes down from the north. 10 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC and makes the west bound of New Hampshire and Canada, it swings into its long, serpentine course, separating New Hampshire and Vermont, southward, through romantic country. From Connecticut lake to the meeting of the bounds, or, more exactly, to the mouth of Hall's Stream at Canaan, Vermont, a distance of about eighteen miles, its descent is set down as five hundred and eighty -three feet."^ Because of its natural seclusion and its remoteness from the white man's life, and because of danger from the St. Francis Indians, who for a long time blocked all attempts to penetrate even lower Coos county, the Indian Stream country remained for many years unnoticed, and probably undiscovered. Prior to 1760 there had been no English settlement in the Connecticut valley above Charlestown, New Hampshire; but in 1761, as a result of the discipline of the native inhabitants in the French and Indian war, and because of the in- creased knowledge of the valley's attractiveness acquired in the frequent military expeditions, there was a surging of settlers upstream, and the settlement of Haverhill was begun. ^ It was nearly thirty years afterward, however, that white men first began to know Indian Stream. In 1785 Luther Fuller "hunted in Indian Stream Territory for Major Whitcomb." ^^ In 1787 the region was visited by a party of Canadian surveyors, ^^ and in 1789 Colonel Jeremiah Fames and others also sur- vej'^ed the district for the United States government in the attempt to fix the boundary line between Canada and New Hampshire, as contemplated by the treaty of 1783.6 In the year 1789 there also visited the Indian Stream country two hunters and prospectors, whose short autumn sojourn so impressed them with the richness and charm of the region that it was fruitful in THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 11 consequences. They were David Gibbs of the Haver- hill just mentioned, and Nathaniel Wales of Lisbon. They found abundant game and good fishing in the picturesque, well- watered, forest-clad country, and noted the intervals and the rich though limited bottom lands on the Connecticut river and lake and Indian Stream. The Indians not proving troublesome, they returned the following year with a small company of friends, and twelve or fifteen "pitches" were made. At the approach of winter, however, they are said to have withdrawn, and the valley remained unsettled by white men, and, except for hunters and trappers, un visited.' The history of real settlement at Indian Stream begins in 1796. During that year Chief Philip, of the St. Francis tribe, gave to David Gibbs, Nathaniel Wales, and Moody Bedel a deed to large tracts of land which included Indian Stream, a deed which was exe- cuted on June 30, and on November 22 received for record at the Grafton county office.^ Reference to this instrument is contained in the deed of Natlianiel Wales to Hobart Spencer, executed November 1, 1802: "Know all men by these presents that I, Nath' Wales, of Wales location so-called in the County of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, Col. Moody Bedel of the same County and State, and David Gibbs of the Province of Quebec, did purchase of the St. Francis tribe or nation of Indians a certain tract or parcel of land situate as follows : lying north of Great Ammonoo- sack River so-called, emptying into Connecticut River east of said Connecticut River, west of Province of Maine, warranting and defending the same to us the said Wales, Bedel, and Gibbs, having received of Hobart Spencer of Indian Stream so-called three thou- sand dollars to my full satisfaction, do give, grant, bar- gain, sell, confirm to him the said Hobart Spencer, his 12 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC heirs and assigns, sixteen thousand acres of land, being part of my share of land purchased in joint partnership with the abovesaid Bedel, Wales, and Gibbs, said land lying in common and undivided equal in quantity with the whole of said land purchased as is above mentioned."® The deed of Philip contained provision for perpetual hunting and fishing rights to its giver, and for the right to plant four bushels of corn and beans. ^° This deed was the basis of subsequent transfers of landed property in the Indian Stream country up to 1824 — transfers which began at least as early as November 1, 1802, and for a period of twenty years or more were usually in terms of " common and undivided land belonging to said grant, with the proprietors' right of pitching each and every hundred acres of said land by complying with the rules and regulations and votes of said proprietors as recorded in the clerk's ofiice." ^^ The settlement of the country proceeded slowly at first. Some little light may be thrown upon it, upon the personnel of the pioneers, and upon the composition and activities of the proprietors' association, by a review of the transfers of land during the earlier years of Indian Stream history. Let us look, first, at the interest of Nathaniel Wales, one of the triumvirate who acquired title to Indian Stream from Philip. On November 1, 1802, he deeded to Hobart Spencer of Indian Stream, for $3,000, sixteen thousand acres of common and undivided land;^^ on June 21, 1804, to Thomas Cutts of York county, Massachusetts, for $4,074.41, thirty thousand acres of common and undivided land;^^ on March 18, 1806, to Enoch Emery of Conway or Bartlett, for $100, one hun- dred acres on the east side of Indian Stream;^* on a date uncertain, to James Treadway, a quantity uncer- tain.^^ As James Treadway deeded land to John Rowe on October 9, 1811, and as John Rowe disposes of a THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 13 number of holdings during the years 1811-1813, aggre- gating about four thousand acres, exclusive of a half interest in a certain tract of dimensions, it seems likely that the Tread way purchase was a large one.^^ Further, the following transfers of the original Wales lands by the hands of their purchasers are recorded: on April 5, 1803, Hobart Spencer deeded to Joseph Spencer of Waterford, Caledonia county, Vermont, for $1,000, a thousand acres of common and undivided land;^^ on April 5, 1804, to David Barnett of Topsham, Orange county, Vermont, for $1,900, eleven thousand acres of common and undivided land.^^ Joseph Spen- cer disposed of his thousand acres on June 4, 1812, to Dudley Carleton of Newbury, Orange county, Ver- mont, for the same price he paid to Hobart Spencer.^* John Rowe's transfers are numerous: on May 11, 1811, to Anna and Pheobe Currier of Indian Stream, for $110, a quantity of land unknown ;2'' on September 10, 1811, to Nathaniel Perkins of Concord, now Lisbon, Grafton county. New Hampshire, for $200, two hundred acres of common and undivided land;^^ on October 21, 1811, to Nathan Judd of Concord, or Lisbon, for $100, one hundred acres of common and undivided land;'^ on October 24, 1811, to Nathan Judd, for a price not stated, two hundred acres of common and undivided land;23 on November 12, 1811, to Nathaniel Perkins, for $50, one hundred acres of common and undivided land, and for $1,000, one thousand acres at the mouth of Indian Stream, which he calls the Nathaniel Wales farm, acquired by deed of Nathan Beecher(?);-^ on November 16, 1811, to Nathaniel Perkins, for $50, two hundred acres of common and undivided land, and to William Quimby of Concord, or Lisbon, for $150, four hundred acres of common and undivided land;^^ on June 13, 1812, to Ebenezer Fletcher of Charlestown, Cheshire county. New Hampshire, for $275, two thousand two 14 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC hundred acres of common and undivided land;^^ on February 7, 1813, to John Haynes of Indian Stream, for a price not recorded, one hundred acres opposite the mouth of Indian Stream;" on February 22, 1813, to William Quimby and Nathaniel Perkins, for $50, "one half of a certain tract or parcel of land (except what I have conveyed by deed prior to this convey- ance of this deed) lying on Connecticut river on one side and Canada line on the other side, it being the parcel or tract of land I hold by a deed from James Treadway dated the ninth of October, 1811; reference to be had to the above deed (also to the deed executed from Nathaniel Wales to the said James Treadway) for further description of the boundaries. "^^ David Gibbs, another of the three original proprie- tors, deeded as follows: on September 18, 1811, to David Hill of Waterford, Caledonia county, Vermont, for $100, one hundred acres of common and undivided land, and to David Tyler of Liberty the same;^^ on June 27, 1814, to Abraham Turner of Warwick county, province of Lower Canada, for $500, one thousand acres of common and undivided land;^'^ on September 12, 1817, to John Haynes of Indian Stream, for $1,000. one thousand acres of common and undivided land;^^ on June 25, 1821, to John Haynes, for $500, an equal amount of the same.^^ The disposition of the Gibbs and Wales interests as above recorded may be represented by the diagram on the following page. There were many other transfers of land which took place prior to 1820, the connection of which with the original grantees of 1796 is not perfectly traceable, but which are parts of the original Wales holding. ^^ On July 1, 1804, James Ladd of Indian Stream deeded to Samuel Osborne of Canaan, Vermont, for $500, eighty- five acres at the mouth of Indian Stream, and one THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 15 • ' Af/teo. T?iili/l. /?9(,. TttirC/r/V Jtr ^,^„cb?r, TTirehnf it o O % 4-> o CO 1 2 0) X 1827 62 51 11 48 84 62 341 94.5 1 $183.83 1828 68 56 18 44 102 135 524 237 57 57 293 . 93 1829 75 58 19 52 103 62 577 313 63 57 306 . 94 1832 89 79 36 55 133 146 523 319 105.5 369.34 The inventories for 1831 and 1833 are missing, and those of 1830 and 1834 are not wholly satisfactory as evidence. The indication of a more or less stable form of gov- ernment which is to be seen in these inventories is supplemented by the evidence afforded by the minutes of a meeting held on March 5, 1832. To these we shall refer later. NOTES 1 Proprietors' Records, passim. 2C, p. 232. » C, p. 250. M,p.8. sC, p. 19. CHAPTER 6 The Parkers at Indian Stream Joshua Parker, Jr., elder brother of Luther Parker, came to the Indian Stream country in 1820. He was then twenty-two years of age, and a veteran of the War of 1812. He was one of the earhest settlers in the Lake District, near the southwest end of First Con- necticut lake, and had land to the amount of ninety- seven acres, described as follows: ". . . land situated at Indian Stream aforesaid, viz., beginning at the shore of Lake Connecticut (so-called), thence running north 25 degrees west, on the side line {?) of land of Joshua Parker, Senior, and Luther Parker, one hundred and fifty-seven rods to a birch tree, thence running seventy degrees east on the line of land of Luther Parker and Abial Holt, Senior, one hundred and fifty-eight rods to a spruce tree, thence twenty degrees west one hundred rods to the Lake shore to the bound begun at. "^ In the absence of further evidence it is to be assumed that Joshua Parker acquired this land through per- formance of settler's duty on his arrival in 1820. John Parker, mentioned by the Fergusson history as arriving in 1822, was no immediate relative of the Temple Parkers. ^ His name does not appear in the inventories for taxes, or in the citizens' roll of 1832, though in a deposition of 1836 a John Parker is men- tioned as of Indian Stream and the neighborhood of Hereford, the nearest town in Canada.^ In 1827, how- ever, Phineas Willard of Indian Stream pays taxes for the Parker place. It may be inferred that John Parker had moved from Indian Stream soon after 1822. There is no deed containing his name. It may THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 41 also be inferred with some reason that John Parker was a descendant of Thomas Parker of Redding, through Nathaniel, Stephen, Stephen, Jr., and Caleb, soldier of the Revolution, who was born at Shrewsbury, Massa- chusetts, in 1760, moved to Brattleborough, Vermont, in 1785, and in 1800 went to Stukeley, one of the eastern townships of Lower Canada, where he died in 1826, the father of eight sons and three daughters.* John Parker might have been grandson of Caleb Parker by one of the older sons. There may also be some significance in the paying of taxes for the Parker place by Phineas Willard. Nathan Parker, son of Caleb of Stukeley, married Elizabeth Willard, daughter of Major Samuel Willard, one of the pioneers of Stuke- ley.^ John Parker and Phineas Willard may have been related through this marriage, and may have come to Indian Stream together. Joshua Parker, Sr., appears on the tax roll of 1827, and continues until 1835. He is assessed no poll tax, however, and was never resident at Indian Stream. When he acquired title is unknown. Perhaps Joshua Parker, Jr., made pitches for both at the same time in 1820. It is also possible that his land was acquired by purchase on a visit which he is known to have made to Indian Stream in 1825 or 1826, after Luther Parker had begun to teach school at Stratford, and before his marriage and removal to Indian Stream.* Again, Joshua, Jr., may have pitched for his father after the visit. * This visit was probably in the summer or autumn, Halting at Stratford on his way to Indian Stream, Joshua Parker came to the door of the Baldwin home, and asked for a drink. He was ad- mitted, and presently a fresh-faced girl entered the room with water. Mr. Parker looked at her for a moment, and then asked: "Are you Lettie French?" "Yes, sir," was the response. "Well," answered he, "my name is Parker — Joshua Parker. Luther 42 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Luther Parker and Alletta French were married in February, 1827, and were established at Indian Stream early enough for his name to appear in the inventory for taxes of that year. It is probable that he had visited the place at least once before this, perhaps in the intervals of his duties at Stratford. The holdings of the three Parkers from Temple were all in the Lake Settlement adjoining each other, and were probably all acquired through performance of settler's duty. The land which Luther Parker originally settled on is not described further than in the description of Joshua Parker, Jr.'s, land in 1830, which shows that the latter's holding was bounded east-by-north for one hundred and fifty -seven rods by the land of Joshua Parker, Sr., and south-by-east for one hundred and fifty- eight rods by the land of Luther Parker and Abial Holt, and was near the shore of Connecticut lake. In the inventory for taxes for 1827 the names of the Parkers appear as follows: ® Joshua Parker, Jr., 1 poll, 2 oxen, 2 acres of mowing $2.10 Joshua Parker, 4 acres of mowing 80 Luther Parker, 1 poll, 2 oxen, 3w., 1 cow, 4 acres mowing. . . 2.50 In 1828, the inventory shows: ^ Joshua Parker, Jr., 1 poll, 2 oxen, 5w., 2 acres mowing $2. 10 Joshua Parker, 4 acres mowing 80 Luther Parker, 1 poll, 2 oxen, 2 cows, 7 acres mowing 3 .90 The inventory for 1829 shows: ^ Joshua Parker, Jr., 1 poll, 2 cows, 1 neat, 3w., 1 acre mow- ing, 2 acres of pasture, 1 person $2.10 Joshua Parker, 4 acres mowing 80 Luther Parker, 1 poll, 2 oxen, 2 cows, 1 neat, 3w., 10 acres mowing, 2 acres pasture, 3 persons 4 . 70 Parker is my son." The girl blushed with embarrassment, and ran out of the room. THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 43 Besides the fact that Joshua Parker, Sr., is non- resident, the above items show that Joshua Parker, Jr., is unmarried, and that Luther and Alletta Parker liave their first child. This is Charles Durham Parker, born December 27, 1827. The inventory for 1830 shows: ^ Joshua Parker, Jr., 1 poll, 2 oxen, 4w., 2 cows, 3 acres mowing, 2 acres pasture. Joshua Parker, 4 acres mowing. Luther Parker, 13 acres mowing. For this year neither the individual nor the total amount of taxes is recorded. On August 24, 1830, Persis Euseba, the second child of Luther Parker, was born. On December 30 Joshua Parker, Jr., executed a deed of his ninety-seven acres to Zebedee Thayer of Bethlehem, New Hampshire, who became a resident of Indian Stream.^". The name of Joshua Parker, Jr., disappears from the Indian Stream tax roll from this time. One reason for his return to Temple is to be seen in the death of Edwin Parker, his younger brother, on July 7 of the same year, at the age of twenty-three, an event which left the Parker home at Temple with but one son. Another reason is to be seen in the disadvantages of the rigorous Indian Stream climate. ^^ The tax inventory for 1831 is missing. That for 1832 shows the following :^2 Joshua Parker, 4 acres mowing $ . 65 Luther Parker, 1 poll, 1 horse, 3 cows, 1 neat, 3w., 6 acres mowing, 5 acres pasture, 1 acre tillage, stock in trade, $400 $5.41 The rate this year was eighty-two cents to the dollar. Luther Parker's stock in trade was in a store in the Lake Settlement, probably identical with his dwelling- house. 44 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC The inventory for 1833 is missing. On March 16 of this year Ellen Augusta, the third child of Luther and Alletta Parker, was born in the house at the Lake Settlement. The tax inventory for 1834 shows: ^^ Joshua Parker, 2 acres mowing, 4 acres pasture $.52 L. and A. Parker, 2 polls, 1 cow, mill and house, $1.25, stock in trade, $1.20 4.74 L. and A.Parker, for the Lake farm, 4 cows, 1 neat, 3w., 1 neat, 2w., 4 acres mowing, ^ acre tillage, 2 acres pasture, half house, $.15, stock in trade, $ . 46 1 . 83 The A. Parker of this inventory is Asa, younger brother of Luther, born in 1810. His arrival at Indian Stream was probably after the withdrawal of Joshua Parker, Jr. The tax for stock in trade appears against every name on the roll for this year, and so does not necessarily have reference to merchandise for sale. In the case of the Parkers, however, it has to do with such merchan- dise, for we have seen that Luther Parker had stock in trade to the amount of $400 in 1832, when a like item was not set down against all names, and in 1834 he owned, in company with Asa Parker, a mill and house. The reference to a half house on the Lake farm is not clear. It is possible that the Parkers, who left the Lake Settlement at the beginning of the year, occupied only half of the Lake farm house, and let the remainder. The tax on mowed and pasture land, and on stock, shows that they operated the farm, whether continu- ously in residence on it or not. This would not make it impossible to operate the mill during the same year. Luther Parker engaged in two real estate transac- tions in 1834. On January 14 Zebedee Thayer, who in 1830 had bought Joshua Parker, Jr.'s, ninety-seven acres at the lake, and deeded it the same day to Levi THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 45 Thayer, transferred to Luther Parker forty acres in the same Lake neighborhood, described as follows : ". . . beginning at the northeasterly corner of Abial Holt's lot, thence running on the easterly line of said Holt's to the north- westerly corner of the Benjamin Fletcher lot (so-called), thence on the northerly line of said lot to the westerly line of Seth Blood's lot, thence on the westerly line of said Blood's lot to the northwesterly corner of said Blood's lot, thence on a straight line to the north- easterly corner of said Holt's lot first mentioned, containing forty acres more or less."^^ The second transaction concerned both Luther and Asa Parker. It took place ten days after the Thayer transfer. On the 24th of January John and Clark J. Haynes, both of Indian Stream, Esquires, "for and in consideration of four hundred dollars to us in hand before delivery hereof well and truly paid by Luther Parker and Asa Parker, both now of said Indian Stream (traders), the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, have released, remissed, and quitclaimed and do by these presents herebj' release, remiss, and forever quitclaim all our right, title, interest, claim, or demand we have in and unto a certain piece or parcel of land, together with the saw mill, mill saw, irons, and all the water privileges adjoining said land, described as follows (viz.), situated in said Indian Stream Territory and the bounds of the first piece or parcel beginning at the mouth of Back Lake Brook so-called, thence running up the middle of said brook about twelve and one half rods opposite to a stake and stones standing on the west side of said Brook, thence running a northeasterly course about 22 rods to a stake and stones standing on the south side of the road leading from Zebulon Flan- ders to Ebenezer Fletcher's, thence crossing said road and running north six degrees east nineteen rods to a stake and stones, thence west six degrees north about fifty-eight rods to a stake and stones on the line dividing the lots number eight and number nine accord- ing to Ladd's survey, thence south six degrees west on said division line to said road as noted and laid out by a committee in A. D. 1830, thence westerly following down said road on the south side thereof about sixty-four rods to the west line of said lot number eight, it being the lot on which Samuel Osborn now lives, thence south six degrees west on the line which divides said lot number 46 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC eight from Ebenezer Fletcher's land, called his mill lot, to Connect- icut River, thence up said river such a course and direction as to contain and cover all the water privileges for mills and other machinery adjoining said land to the bounds begun at, meaning hereby to sell and convey twenty acres of land, exclusive of the road, ten acres off of the south end of said lot number eight, and ten acres off of the southwesterly corner of lot number nine, according to said Ladd's survey, be the same more or less, and also another piece or parcel of land containing one half acre by measure, on which Elijah Sawyer now lives and holds by purchase of said Samuel Osborn, together with the house and all the privileges and appur- tenances to the same belonging. "^^ This house and mill property was located on the west side of Back Lake brook, where it flows into the Connecticut river, about seventy-five rods to the north of where the present post office of Pittsburg stands. Still farther down the Connecticut was Fletcher's mill, and the half mile or so between the Fletcher and Parker places, occupied now by Pittsburg, was the center of interest for Indian Stream during the two years and some months of Luther Parker's residence there. To become acquainted with the circumstances which make these years important, it will be necessary to return to March 5, 1832. NOTES 1 C, p. 225. 2 Hist. Coos Co., p. 703. 3 Report of Indian Stream Com., pp. 226-229. * Something about the Ancestors of Captain Caleb Parker. Detroit: Wm. Graham's Steam Presses, 1877. 6 lUd. 6 4, p. 8. T 4, p. 10. 8 4, p. 18. 9 4, p. 22. i"C, p. 225. " Joshua Parker, Jr.'s, field of oats ripened one year about the THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 47 last of September, and was covered by a snowstorm before he could harvest it. 12 4, p. 24. 13 4, p. 36. " C, p. 289. " C, pp. 291-292. CHAPTER 7 Indian Stream Territory, U. S. A. The minutes of the meeting of March 5, 1832, are as follows : Indian Stream Territory, alias Bedel's Grant, March 5, 1832. The inhabitants of said Territory met agreeable to notice. Opened meeting by reading warrant by the Clerk. 1st, Chose David Mitchell Moderator. John Haynes, Clerk. 2nd, Chose John A. Mitchell Clerk. 3rd, Voted to adjourn this meeting for half an hour. The meeting was opened according to adjournment. 4th, Voted that the inhabitants on the west side of Indian Stream be considered as legal voters as formerly until some other regula- tion take place. 5th, Voted to proceed to the choice of judges. 6th, Voted to reconsider the vote to proceed to the choice of judges. 7th, Voted to proceed to the choice of judges. 8th, Chose Mr. Abner Hyland first judge. 9th, Chose Mr. Burleigh Blood second judge. 10th, Chose Mr. Clark J. Haynes third judge. 11th, Voted to proceed to the choice of a sheriff. 12th, Chose Mr. Herman Bachelder for sheriff. 13th, Voted to choose in each highway district one man to super- intend at funerals and act as sexton. 14th, Chose Mr. Luther Parker in the district at the Lake. 15th, Chose Mr. David Mitchell in the next district. 16th, Chose Mr. Reuben Sawyer in the next district. 17th, Chose Mr. Clark J. Haynes in the next district. 18th, Chose Elijah C. Sawyer in the next district. 19th, Chose Abner Hyland in the next district. 20th, Chose Jeremy George in the next district. 21st, Chose Jolm A. Mitchell to take acknowledgment of deeds. 22nd, Voted that the clerk be recorder of deeds. 23rd, Voted to choose three men as fence viewers. THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 49 24th, Chose Mr. Burleigh Blood first. 25th, Chose Mr. Jonathan Hartwell second. 26th, Chose Mr. Nathan Judd thhd. 27th, Voted to choose a committee of three to see what shall be done with regard to paying duties on property carried out of this place. 28th, Chose Mr. Luther Parker, Mr. Clark J. Haynes, and Nathan Judd for said committee. 29th, Voted to raise taxes in the usual way. 30th, Voted to raise three hundred dollars highway tax. 31st, Voted that each able-bodied man be allowed one dollar a day for each day's work done from the first day of June to the first day of September. 32rd, Voted that before and after said time 50 cents a day only be allowed. 33rd, Chose Luther Parker , 34th, " John A. Mitchell > " Ross HajTies Assessors of taxes. 35th, 36th, " Nathan Judd highw ay surveyor of district . no. 1. 37th, " Simeon Wright " no. 2. 38th, Sampson Rowell " no. 3. 39th, " Reuben Sawyer " no. 4. 40th, " Simon Danforth " no. 5. 41st, " Edmund Heath " no. 6. 42nd, Luther Parker " no. 7. 43rd, Jonathan French no. 8. 44th, Voted to choose a committee of six to adopt some measure to prevent people from cheating, Ij^ing, and swindling people out of their property. 45th, Chose Sampson Rowell, Elijah C. Sawyer, Reuben Sawyer, Jolm Haynes, Esq., Jonathan Hartwell, Phinehas Willard for said committee. 46th, The above committee report that they do not find it expe- dient for them to act on the above named business, but refer it to the judges. 47th, The committee chosen to see what should be done with respect to paying duties carried out of this place reported, to form a society, &c. 48th, Voted that the report of the committee be accepted. 49th, Voted that any person wishing to be married can be pub- lished by the clerk and married by any ordained minister. 50 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 50th, Voted that the judges or any one of them has the power to administer oaths to witnesses in any case brought before them. 51st, Voted to dissolve this meeting, and it was accordingly dis- solved. John A. Mitchell, Clerk.^ As we have already stated, these minutes supplement the evidence of the inventories for taxes in demonstrat- ing the existence of a form of government at Indian Stream prior to 1832. Their reference to the con- tinuation of the voting privilege on the part of those residing to the west of Indian Stream, to the raising of taxes "in the usual way," and to the raising of three hundred dollars highway tax — all this indicates that we are dealing with an assembly which is not acting without precedent, whether established by an assem- bly of identical character and composition, or one of less formal nature. Arguing from the known custom of meeting from this time forward annually on the first Monday in March, perhaps we may infer that annual meetings had already become established. But the minutes indicate also something of the spirit of unrest and innovation. The vote to choose super- intendents of funerals, to see about "paying duties," to fix the wage of men who should work for the com- munity, to choose highway surveyors, and perhaps the vote to choose judges and sheriff, seem to say that an attempt was on foot to tighten the hitherto loose bonds of organization and administration. The community had now seventy-nine polls, according to the tax roll, and there was a certain degree of discontent caused by conditions both internal and external. Two or three sources of dissatisfaction are definitely referred to in the minutes. The election of the "fence viewers" indicates a common cause of trouble. The vote to choose a committee to "adopt some measure THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 51 to prevent people from cheating, lying, and swindling people out of their property " needs, of course, no com- ment. The following little preamble to an agreement entered into on February 11, less than a month before, between Justice B. Davis and Phineas Willard, "Whereas, there is no law in this place for the collec- tion of debts, except we are a law unto ourselves, I, the subscriber, therefore volunteer freely, and of my own accord agree and promise, etc.," — is an indication of the same source of trouble. ^ The assumption usual in regard to border settlements, however, should not be too readily made in the case of Indian Stream. The conclusion that the region was a haven for the lawless and indebted, who trusted in the ambiguity of its location for protection against legal authority, is unwarranted by its history. Indian Stream had its disorders, but nothing is more certain, in the light of the record of their activities, than that the great majority of the settlers were men of good character, serious purpose, common sense, and no mean degree of ability. The amount of lawlessness from which the community suffered was probably the mini- mum, and the serious attitude assumed toward it was due to the natural Anglo-Saxon desire to enjoy perfect system. There were, however, external as well as internal sources of unrest. So far we have barely alluded to them, but our narrative calls now for fuller mention. The external sources of trouble had their origin in the disputed identity of the Indian Stream country. Prior to the Ashburton treaty in 1842, while it was for the greater part of the time assumed that the district was within the bounds of the United States, there was always a greater or less degree of ambiguity regarding its status. 52 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC The treaty of 1783 defined the boundary between the United States and the Dominion of Canada as extending "along the ^aid highlands which divide the rivers that empty themselves in the River St. Lawrence from those that fall into the Atlantic Ocean, to the northwesternmost head of Connecticut River, thence down the middle of that river to the 45th degree of north latitude; thence by a line due west . . ." As the upper Connecticut valley was at that time remote from civilization and inhabited only by Indians, it is probable that the framers of the treaty were not well enough acquainted with its physiography to realize that their phrase contained a contradiction. The fact is that at the end of the highland bound mentioned it is the head of Hall's Stream which is the continuation of the intended boundary line, and not the Connecticut, whose headwaters are aside from it to the southwest. The issue, therefore, was as to whether the intent of the Treaty of 1783 was to be regarded, or its wording. The Americans held to the manifest intent, and claimed Hall's Stream as the boundary; the British held as strongly for the wording, and claimed the Connecticut river as the line. In 1789 Jeremiah Eames of Stewartstown, and others, surveyed the headwaters of the region, and ran the boundary line from near the pond at the source of the Connecticut westward across the head of Indian Stream to the head of Hall's Stream, and thence down that stream to the 45th parallel. Colonel Eames and his party were acting under a state commission.^ For all the time up to 1834 the connection of the district was mainly with New Hampshire, so far as legal rela- tions were concerned; its inhabitants went to New Hampshire for their bounties, were married under New Hampshire laws, and were from time to time subjected to the serving of New Hampshire process.* THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 53 The ambiguity of the boundary, however, was never forgotten. Both governments were conscious of it in 1800, and in 1814 the Treaty of Ghent was cognizant of it. In 1819 an attempt to reach a solution of the difficulty by means of Canadian and American commis- sioners resulted in nothing. In 1827 the question was submitted for arbitration to the King of the Nether- lands, who recognized the British claim; but the Ameri- cans still held for the highland bound and Hall's Stream, and practically disregarded the award of 1827.^ The state of New Hampshire, which had occasionally served process through the deputies of Coos county — there is evidence of such action as early as about 1806, and for 1808 or soon after, for 1817, and on up to 1827^ — continued to assert jurisdiction in the same way. We have seen that in 1824 she repudiated the claim of the proprietors on the basis of the deed of Philip, and quieted the settlers. But the Indian Stream country had never been with- out those who wished to be, or even claimed to be, independent both of Canada and the United States. As early as 1807 there was a petition before the legis- lature praying the state to relinquish its claim to the territory, which was, of course, refused.^ For reasons not hard to understand the proprietors were not anx- ious for the state to interfere, especially after the action of 1824; and there were not a few settlers who had reasons, also not hard to understand, for not wishing to be under regularly constituted authority. The spirit of independence begotten by the ambigu- ous boundary line was fostered by it. Again and again the Coos county deputies met with evasion and resist- ance on their missions to Indian Stream. At least by 1830 resistance to New Hampshire had been erected into a principle held by the greater number of the inhab- 54 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC itants. Until the boundary question was settled, they asserted, they were a territory independent of any jurisdiction but their own. They might, indeed, belong to the United States, but not to New Hampshire. But the state of independence had its disadvantages. In 1831 the Federal officers of New Hampshire and Vermont, taking the Indian Stream people at their word, assumed that they were outside of the United States, and levied customs duties on their goods as they entered the states. The Indian Stream frame of mind at this unexpected development is reflected in the above recited minute of March 5, 1832, recording the vote to "choose a committee of three to see what shall be done with regard to paying duties on goods carried out of this place", and in the minute recording their recommendation to "form a society, etc." There was a still more serious external relation to deal with than this, however. This was the relation with Canada. Canadian assertions to authority seem to have been negligible up to shortly after the award of 1827; at least, Canada made no actual attempt at juris- diction. No doubt the people of Indian Stream felt that if the state of New Hampshire left them in peace their problem was practically solved. But with the award of the Ejng of the Netherlands there came a change in the attitude of the northern neighbor. From about this time, according to unani- mous agreement, Alexander Rea, a Canadian justice residing at Hereford, not many miles from Hall's Stream, began to insist on the right of Great Britain.^ In 1831 it is said that the Canadian government even exacted the performance of military duty on the part of certain of the Indian Stream citizens. This was in the same year that the Federal officers collected duties on their goods, and it is quite natural THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 55 to suppose that both circumstances were in no slight measure destructive of Indian Stream peace of mind. In the excitement caused by them we may see one of the chief causes of the meeting of March 5, 1832, and the consequent steps toward absolutely independent government. For the movement toward self-government did not stop with March 5. Impelled by threatened trouble from both sides and from within, and also inspired by an absorbing interest in their experiment, they fol- lowed up the March meeting with another in June. The minutes of the June meeting are as follows: Indian Stream Territory, June 11th, 1832. The inha(bitants of Indian Stream) met agree (able to notice and opened) meeting by the clerk's reading the (warrant) . Article 1st, Chose Mr. David Mitchell Moderator. Article 2nd, Voted to adjourn this meeting for the (space of one) hour. The meeting (was opened according) to adjournment. Article 3rd, Voted to make and mant Bill of Rights, etc. Article 4th, Voted to choose a comini(ttee and that the com)niittee be required to draft constitution for the inhabit (ants of In- dian Stream) and report as soon as con(venient ) of laws for the government (of said Indian Stream) Territory as they deem neces(sary for the preservation of) order and peace in society till (such time as the) boundary line is established between the Prov- ince of Lower Canada and (the United States.) 5th Chose David Mitchell. ' " Luther Parker " Phinehas Willard \ Committee. " Herman Batchelder " Nathan Judd i 6th, Voted that the above committee be authorized to direct the clerk to call a meeting to hear their report when they think it expe- dient. 7th, Voted to dissolve this meeting, and it was dissolved accord- ingly. John A. Mitchell, Clerk.' 56 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC The committee thus chosen duly finished its labors, and in the following month presented its report. The meeting was called on July 9, 1832, and its minutes are as follows : Indian Stream Territory Ss., July 9, 1832. The inhabitants who are legal voters of said territory met agree- able to notice and opened the meeting by the Clerk reading the warrant and voted to adjourn the meeting 30 minutes. The meet- ing was opened according to adjournment and chose David Mitchell Moderator. Then the committee chosen at a special meeting held June 11, 1832, to draft a constitution, etc., consisting of Messrs. David Mitchell, Luther Parker, Phineas Willard, Herman Bachelder, and Nathan Judd, made their report. When a vote was passed to adjourn 15 minutes, the meeting was opened according to adjourn- ment, and the following Constitution was adopted.^" NOTES 1 4, pp. 17, 23. 2 C, p. 237. 3 Report of Indian Stream Com., p. 193 f. * Ihid, pp. 205, 209, ff. 6 Aldrich, 379. 6 Report of Indian Stream Com., pp. 203, 205, 217. ■' Ihid, p. 217. 8 Report of Indian Stream Com., p. 207 and passim. * 4, p. 27. The upper corner of the leaf is missing. " 4, p. 28, and C, p. 1. I know of no basis for the statement in Bacon, The Connecticut River, and the Fergusson history that the Indian Stream government was formed in 1829. CHAPTER 8 The Indian Stream Constitution Peeamble Whereas we the inhabitants of the tract of land situated be- tween Hall's Stream and the stream issueing from Lake Connecti- cut being the disputed tract of country near the head of Connecticut River which is claimed by the United States and Great Britain respectively and generally known by the name of Indian Stream and whereas we are deprived of the protection of the Laws of any Government but that of our own until such time as the Boundary line between the two Governments shall be established, and the time in which that will take place is to us unknow n, and w'hereas it is our ardent desire to live in peace, Harmony and good order & con- sidering that these great and good objects cannot be fully enjoyed without some wholesome rules, regulations, or code of laws, and considering it the unalienable right of all people situated as w^e are wherever in the course of providence their lot is cast, and a priviledge which they are in duty bound to improve to strive by all laudable means to take and adopt such measures as shall be best calculated to promote peace and good order in society among themselves while in their present state as well as to prepare them for useful citizens should they hereafter become a constituent part of some other gov- ernment and whereas it has been the custom of the inhabitants of this place to meet from time to time & pass such votes and by laws as they deemed necessary for their regulation and support of order without annexing penalties to enforce them, and as the popu- lation and improvements have considerably increased and consid- ering the great importance of making provision for the benefit of the rising generation, of adopting and enforcing Laws on a more perma- nent Basis for the support of schools and other public improvements and maintaning & supporting good order in society. And believing the time has now arrived when we must as a body politick make and enforce Laws sufficient to protect and defend the different members of the community and redress the grievances and adjust the dis- putes and controversies which occasionally arise among them or they will assume the right of individually redressing their own griev- ances and avenging their own injuries, and considering the power of 58 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC self-love in prejudicing the mind where the individuals are interested and act under the impulse of passion, we believe that if the different members of society are permitted to become their own avengers they would commit great injustice and become aggressors, that retaliation would produce fresh injuries, & call into action the worst passions of the heart, which would throw our society into a state of Anarchy & confusion, which would destroy all the peace happiness and pleasant prospects we have heretofore enjoyed — Therefore we the inhabitants of Indian Stream territory being assembled in general meeting and having considered our situation & circumstances with all the impartiality and candour wliich we are capable of exercising, feel a full conviction that under existing cir- cumstances we cannot apply to any government for protection with any probability of success — But by the agreement between the United States & Great Britain that neither party should exercise jurisdic- tion over the disputed Territory we are left to our own resources for preserving order in society without any probability of receiving any assistance from either government, or any change in our circum- stances till the boundary line is established, we therefore believe that wliile it is unlcnown to what Government w^e owe allegiance we possess full right and imperative necessity requires that we should adopt some form of Government which will secure the rights, happi- ness, and prosperity of the people who inhabit this Territory and feel confident by so doing we shall promote the interest and secure the approbation of the Government to which we shall eventually belong — Therefore resolved that to preserve union among ourselves, establish Justice, ensure domestic tranquility provide for our common security and defence and secure the important Blessings of civilized society. We do ordain and establish this Constitution and the principles of Government therein contained for our future guide and direction in forming and enforcing Laws for the government of the territory of Indian Stream. Constitution of Indian Stream Part First — Bill of Rights Article 1st. All men are born equally free and independent there- fore all government of right originates from the people, is founded in common consent and instituted for the public good. Article 2nd. Every man has a natural, essential, and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own con- THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 59 science and reason, and is not accountable to any human tribimal, for his religious opinions or practices, provided he does not encroach upon the civil or religious rights of others. Article 3rd. All men have certain natural and essential civil rights, among which are the enjoymg and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, & protecting property; and in a word of seeking and obtaining happiness. Hence arises the right of con- trolling those vicious members of society, who invade the rights of others. Article 4th. When men enter into a state of society, they surrender up some of their natural rights to that society, in order to secure the protection of others. Article 5th. Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection & security of the whole community, and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore every member of the community has an equal right to be protected by it, in the enjoyment of his life, liberty, and property, and is equally bound to contribute his share in the expence of such protection, and to yield his personal service when necessary. Article 6th. Every subject of the government has a right to a cer- tain remedy by having recourse to the Laws for all injuries he may receive in his person, property or character; to obtain right and justice freely and completely, without any denial, promptly and without delay conformably to the Laws. Article 7th. No subject shall be held to answer for any crime or offence, until the same is fully, plainly, and substantially described to him, nor be compelled to accuse, or furnish evidence against himself: And every subject shall have a right to produce all proof that may be favorable to himself, to meet the witnesses against him face to face, and be fully heard in his defence by himself or counsel, and no subject shall be arrested, imprisoned, deprived of his property or privileges, put out of the protection of the laws, exiled, or deprived of his life, liberty, or estate, but by the Judg- ment of his Peers, or the law of the land. Article 8th. No subject shall be liable to be tried after an acquittal for the same offence; nor shall the General Assembly make any law, that shall subject any person to corporeal punishment (excepting for the government of the militia while in actual ser- vice) without trial by Jury. Article 9th. All pimishment ought to be proportioned to the nature of the offence and no excessive cruel or unusual punishment 60 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC shall be inflicted — the true design of all punishment being to reform and not to exterminate mankind. Article 10th. Every subject hath a right to be secure from all unreasonable searches or seizures of liis person, papers and all his possessions — therefore all searches and seizures are contrary to this right, if not made by an oflBcer authorized by Law acting by authority of a warrant the cause or foundation of which hath been confirmed by oath with a special designation of the persons or objects of search or arrest or seizure. Article 11th. All elections ought to be free and every inhabitant having the proper qualifications has an equal right to elect & be elected into office, to enjoy the freedom of speech & debate and act on all business before the general assembly. Article 12th. All power residing originally in and being derived from the people all the magistrates and oflScers of Government are their substitutes and agents and at all times accountable to them. Article 13th. Man being originally formed by his Creator for society and social intercourse & for mutually aiding, assist- ing and defending each other and promoting their mutual wel- fare and happiness therefore all societies of men placed by cir- cumstances of fortune without the Jurisdiction or control of any other society or Government have a right to unite togather and institute such government for the regulation of their society as they deem most conducive to the general good, and where a large majority of the people so situated unite together and establish a government the minority of right ought to submit to the majority and be controlled by them. Part Second — Form of Government The people inhabiting the Territory formerly called Indian Stream Territory do hereby solemnly and mutually agree with each other to form themselves into a body politic by the name of Indian Stream and in that capacity to exercise all the powers of a free, sovereign and independent state, so far as it relates to our own internal Gov- ernment till such time as we can ascertain to what government we properly belong. The supreme legislative power within this place shall be vested in a Council and assembly. The council and assembly shall meet every year on the second monday in March and at such other times as the council may Judge necessary and shall be styled the general assembly of Indian Stream. The general assembly shall have full THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 61 power and authority to erect and constitute courts to be holden in the name of the people for trying & determining all manner of crimes, offences, Pleas, actions, causes or controversies whatsoever which may arise or happen, or concern persons, inhabiting or resid- ing within this place, whether the same be criminal or civil or whether the crimes be capital or not capital, and for awarding Judg- ment and issuing executions thereon to which courts are granted full power to administer Oaths or affirmations for the better dis- covery of truth in any matter depending before them, and further full power is hereby granted to said General assembly from time to time to make and establish all manner of wholesome and reasonable Laws and regulations either with or without penalties so as the same be not repugnant to this constitution as they may Judge for the benefit and welfare of this people and for the necessary support and defence of the Government thereof. The Assembly Every male inhabitant of Indian Stream who is twentj'-one years of age or over and has resided in this place three months next pre- ceding any annual session, shall be admitted as a member of the assembly on taking the following oath: I Solemnly Swear that to the best of my power and ability I will support inviolate the constitution and laws of Indian Stream. So help me God. A majority of the members of the assembly shall Constitute a quorum for transacting business, and no business shall be acted upon by the assemblj'^ unless a majority of the members are present. No bills, acts, or resolves shall originate in the assembly but the assembly may fill up Blanks left for the purpose and return the Bills, acts, or resolves to the council with the amendments proposed and if the council concur in the amendment they shall return the Bills, acts, or resolves with the amendments inserted or propose other amendments, but if the council do not concur they shall return the bills, acts, or resolves with their objections then if two thirds of the members of the assembly present persist in their amendments the Clerk shall insert the amendments and the Bill, act, or resolve, shall become a Law without being signed by the council as provided in other cases. The assembly shall have power to form all necessary rules (not repugnant to the constitution) for preserving order and transacting business in the house during the session, and appoint all necessary officers to carrv them into effect. 62 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Every member of the assembly who is hereafter convicted, in due course of Law of Perjury or other high crimes and misdemeanors- shall be expelled from the assembly and his name stricken from the roll thereof by the Clerk. The name of every member who has been absent from this place for the space of six months next preceding any session of the assem- bly, or who may be removed by death shall be erased from the roll by the clerk. The assembly shall have power to choose or appoint all civil officers required by the Constitution or Laws of Indian Stream for the Government thereof. The assembly shall have power to adjourn from time to time til the business of the session is completed but no adjournment shall exceed three days at any one time without the consent of the council. The Council The Council shall consist of five members chosen annually by ballot by the assembly except in cases hereafter provided on the second monday of March whose term of office shall commence immediately after the close of the session at which they were chosen and expire at the close of the next annual session. Full power is hereby granted to the council to meet as often as they deem necessary and they are required to watch over the gen- eral peace and safety of the inhabitants to draft prepare, and report to the assembly, all such Bills, acts and resolves, for making Laws and regulations in this place as they consider necessary for the public good, To commission such officers chosen or appointed by the assem- bly or Militia as are by the constitution or Laws required to be com- missioned by the council and administer the oath of office. To cause complaint to be made and prosecute to final Judgment before any Court proper to try the same all persons subject to indictment for any criminal offence against the peace and dignity of the people. The council are vested with full power and authority to command the militia by ordering and giving instructions to the officers thereof, and for the special defence and safety of the place to assemble them in martial array to lead and conduct them and with them to en- counter repulse, resist and pursue by force of arms within the limits of this place and also to Kill, slay & destroy if necessary, and conquer and compel to obedience to the laws by all fitting ways and means all and every such person or persons as shall at any future time in a hostile manner attempt the destruction or annoyance of THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 63 tlie inhabitants of this place or rise in insurrection against the Gov- ernment or Laws thereof. Full power is hereby vested in the council of pardoning and remitting the punishment in the name and behalf of the people of all criminals convicted of criminal offences against the laws of Indian Stream in whose favour such palliating circumstances may appear as will convince the council that their punishment can be remitted without injury to society. Whenever the council desire a special session of the assembly they shall notify the members by posting a notification designating the time and place of meeting at or near the dwelling house of Ebenezer Fletcher, at the assembly rooms and at the house of Peter Barnes at least six days before such session and they are required to post with the notification a copy of all Bills, Acts, or Resolves which they intend to report for the consideration of the assembly at said Special meeting. The council are further required to post a copy of all Bills, Acts, & Resolves intended to be reported for the consideration of the assembly at the annual session at the three before mentioned places at least fourteen days before said session. All Bills, Acts & Resolves passed by the assembly and approved by the Council shall be signed by them and recorded and attested by the clerk before they become a law of the land. Provided that in all cases where the council is mentioned a major- ity of that body shall be considered the council. Court of Error The Council shall constitute a high court of error and in that capacity full power is hereby vested in them to issue writs of error and stop execution upon the Judgments of all courts hereafter estab- lished in this place in all cases where such testimony and e\'idence is produced before them as shall render it highly probable that such Judgment was founded on an erroneous construction of the law, or is contrary to law or the principles of this constitution, and to issue their mandate to the Justice or Justices of Said court, commanding them to reverse or correct their Judgment so as to render it conform- able to the true intent and meaning of the constitution and Laws of Indian Stream in all cases where after full investigation they find such Judgment was erroneously rendered. Provided that no evidence or testimony in the case shall be pro- duced before the court of error which was not brought in evidence or plea before the court or is contained in the records thereof upon whose Judgment complaint of error is made. 64 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Encoubagement of Literature and Moral Virtue Knowledge and Learning generally diffused through a community being essential for the preservation of a free government, and spread- ing the opportunities and advantages of education through the various parts of the community being highly conducive to promote this end it shall be the duty of the Legislators and Magistrates in all future periods of this Government to cherish the interest of Litera- ture and sciences and public schools, to countenance and inculcate the principles of humanity and general benevolence, public & private charity, industry & economy. Honesty and punctuality, sincerity & sobriety, and all social affections and generous senti- ments among the people. Writs, &c. All writs issued by any court of Law shall be in the name of the inhabitants of Indian Stream, and all indictments, presentments, & informations shall conclude against the peace and dignity of the people. Oath of Office Every officer accepting the trust before he proceeds to execute the duties of his office shall make and subscribe the following decla- ration. I, A. B., do solemnly and sincerely swear and affirm that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as . . . according to the best of my abilities agreeable to the constitution and Laws of Indian Stream. So help me God. Provisions Provided if by any casualty circumstance it should so happen that a quorum of the assembly should not be present at any annual session all officers whose term of office would otherwise expire at that session shall continue in office til others are chosen or appointed to superscede them. The general assembly shall have power to make Laws for raising, assessing & collecting taxes for the support of government, Laying out making & repairing highways and Bridges & for the support of Public schools and other public purposes to be apportioned among the people in the most equal manner that circumstances wil' admit. And shall provide for and reasonably compensate the council and THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 65 clerk and all such other officers as by law shall be authorized to receive compensation from the people for their services rendered. Provided that nothing in this constitution shall be so construed as to prevent the members of the council from acting and voting in the assembly the same as other members. The Clerk of the assembly shall superscede the clerk of Indian Stream Territory and keep and preserve all public records hereto- fore made, and shall record keep and preserve all public records hereafter, and perform all duties required of him by law. Provided that if any officer shall remove from this place, or re- sign or is removed by death thereby leaving his office vacant the council shall fill the vacancy by appointing such person as they consider qualified to discharge the duties of the office, to fill such vacancy. Provided that all the Laws rules and regulations which have heretofore been adopted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream Terri- tory shall remain and be in full force until altered or repealed bythe general assembly such parts thereof only excepted as are repugnant to the rights & liberties contained in this constitution. Provisions for Adopting the Constitution and Laws Re- ported BY the Committee, & for Carrying Them into Immediate Effect Provided that after the committee shall have reported this con- stitution at the meeting specially called for that purpose the moder- ator shall put the question to the people in the following words; is this constitution approved and shall it be adopted and shall then from a roll prepared by the clerk containing the name of every legal voter in this place (errors excepted) proceed and call the name of every voter contained in the roll, and receive their vote bj^ their answering yea or nay, and the clerk shall record every vote given against the name of the voter who gave it. The moderator shall then say if there is any voter present whose name has not been called he is requested to come forward and give his vote. The moderator shall then cast up all the yeas and nays and declare the number of all the votes given and the number of the yeas and nays seperately and if it shall then appear that two thirds of all the votes given are yeas, the moderator shall declare this constitution is adopted, but if it shall appear that less than two thirds of all the votes given are yeas, the moderator shall declare this constitution is not adopted. 5 66 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Provided further that if this constitution is adopted every legal voter at this time desirous of becoming a member of the assembly shall present himself to the Clerk who shall then enroll the names of said voters and administer the oath prescribed in the Consti- tution. And in all cases where the Clerk shall enroll and admit persons as members of the assembly he shall certify in the following form: That on the day of in the year personally appeared before me the above named Inhabitants of Indian Stream and were duly qualified and admitted members of the assembly agreeable to the constitution. A. B., Clerk of Indian Stream. The moderator of the meeting shall then call the members of the assembly to order and call for the ballots for a speaker of the assem- bly the member having a majority of all the votes given shall be declared Elected. They shall proceed in the same manner to elect a Clerk. The Moderator shall then administer the oath of office to the Clerk, & the Clerk to the speaker, the moderator shall then declare the assembly organized and the meeting dissolved. The assembly shall then proceed to transact what is proper to be done by the General Assembly at the annual session the Committee which reported this Constitution being authorized to act as council til the close of the session. And Provided further that all Bills, acts, and resolves reported by the committee shall not be barred by reason of not having been posted but shall be considered constitutionally reported to the assembly. And provided that the term of office of all officers chosen or appointed at this session shall expire the same as though they had commenced on the second monday in March last. Provision for Altering and Amending this Constitution The Speaker of the assembly shall at every annual session when a quorum is present put the question, is it necessary to alter or amend the Constitution and take the vote by Yeas and Nays by calling the name of every member and if a majority of all the mem- bers are in favor of altering or amending the Constitution, the speaker shall declare it necessary to alter & amend the Constitu- tion. The assembly shall then choose a committee to prepare such alterations in the constitution as they think necessary to be ap- proved by the assembly at a special meeting to be holden expressly for that purpose, or at any session of the assembly legally held, and THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 67 when the committee have proposed their alteration or amendment the speaker shall put the question, shall these alterations and amendments be made and adopted into the constitution, and take the vote by yeas & nays as above and if two thirds of all the members present shall vote in favor of the question the speaker shall declare the alterations and amendments are made in the con- stitution but if two thirds of all the members present do not vote in favor of the question the speaker shall declare no alteration or amendment is made in the constitution. Provided that nothing contained in this constitution shall be so construed as to extend the Jurisdiction of this government over any inhabitants settled on the east side of Halls Stream if any there are who are included within the chartered limits of Hereford. NOTE The constitution is contained in C, pp. 1-11. The pimctuation and spelling of the manuscript are closely followed here and in the following chapters. CHAPTER 9 The Assembly of 1832 The minutes of the meeting of July 9, 1832, continue: The vote for adopting the Constitution was as follows Yeas 56, Nays 3. Whole number 59. List of Members op the General Assembly Peter Barnes Zacheus Clough Benjamin Coon William Fessenden Burleigh Blood *David Eaton John Haynes Rufus Hartwell John Robie Daniel Rogers Clark J. Haynes Nathaniel Perkins Enoch Can Simeon Wright Reuben Sawyer Alanson Cumings John H. Tyler Timothy N. Haynes Sampson Thirston *Nathaniel French *Nathaniel Snow *Hermon Bachelder *David Tyler *Ebenezer Gitchell Jonathan French Sampson Rowell John Langdon Haynes *Jeremy George Ross C. Haynes Jonathan Hartwell Ebenezer Fletcher Aaron Judd Phinehas Willard Jeremiah Tabor Richard I. Blanchard Samuel Drown Samuel Orsborn Nathan Judd Luther Parker Stilman Martin Elijah C. Sawyer *Josiah Lamb Emer Applebee John McConnell Wells Wright John H. Perry Abner Hyland John A. IVIitchell David Mitchell Nathan J. Perry Ira C. Bowen George W. Bunnel On the ninth day of July in the year one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two. Personally appeared before me the above named inhabitants of Indian Stream and were duly qualified and admitted members of the assembly agreeable to the Constitution. John A. Mitchell, Clerh of Indian Stream.^ Indian Stream, July 9th, 1832. The Assembly was then called to order by the Moderator and David Mitchell was chosen Speaker & John A. Mitchell Clerk and took the oath of oflfice as prescribed by the constitution. These names are cancelled in the record. THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 69 The meeting was then declared dissolved and the assembly organ- ized. Voted that the former rules and regulations for the government of the house be adopted until others are made. Chose Phinehas Willard, Luther Parker, David Mitchell, Nathan- iel Perkins, and John Haynes members of the Coimcil. Voted to choose three Justices of the peace. Chose Nathan Judd, Clark J. Haynes, Burleigh Blood, Justices of the peace. Voted that the Council draft a set of rules for the government of the house when in session. ^ An Act to Establish Courts of Justice ^ Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream in General assembly convened. That from and after the passing of this act Every Justice of the Peace who shall be Legally appointed and duly qualified in this place shall constitute a Court of competent Juris- diction for the trial of all actions Pleas & controversies which may be brought before them in the name and behalf of the people and for rendering Judgment for debt or damage and reasonable Costs & issueing execution thereon. And be it further enacted that at all trials before a Justice the parties or either of them shall have a right to a Jury to be appointed as hereinafter provided. And be it further enacted that it shall be the duty of the coimcil immediately after they are appointed annually to make out a list of twenty four names of the legal voters in this place such as they shall consider qualified to serve as Jurors & write their names on separate pieces of paper & put them into a Box or Boxes to be provided for that purpose and shall deliver to each Justice a Box containing the names as aforesaid to be kept by the said Justices, and in all cases where a trial is pending & the parties or either of them request a Jury, the Justice before whom the trial is to be held shall draw from the Box six names & the persons whose names shall be so drawn shall compose the Jury to serve at the trial imless it shall appear that any whose names shall have been Drawn as aforesaid shall be a party concerned or in any way interested in the event of said trial in that case the Justice shall return the name or names of such person or persons into the Box and proceed to draw others to serve in their stead, and the Jurors drawn as aforesaid shall be notified 70 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC by the sheriflf to attend at the time and place of such court and before proceedmg on any trial in civil actions the Justice shall ad- minister to the Jury the following Oath: You solemnly swear that in all causes betwixt party & party that shall be committed unto you, you will give a true verdict according to Law & the evidence before you. So help you God. And be it further enacted that in all civil actions hereafter com- menced the writ shall be served on the defendant by the sheriff at least seven daj's before the court. And be it further enacted the Justices appointed as aforesaid shall have Jurisdiction of aU criminal as civil actions, provided that in all cases where complaint is made or criminal action is brought before a Justice, said Justice may have one or more Justices to sit with him on trial of such complaint or action may enlarge the Jury to the number of twelve. Provided that nothing in this act shall be so construed as to affect any former proceeding either civil or criminal which has been had before any Couit heretofore, or any debts heretofore contracted. But all such cases shall be settled agreeable to the rules & regula- tions heretofore adopted. And be it further enacted that all courts established before the adoption of this constitution the same are hereby abolished. And be it further enacted that in all criminal causes before pro- ceeding in the trial the Justice before whom such cause is brought, shall administer the following Oath. You solemnly swear that you will well and truely try and true deliverance make between the in- habitants of Indian Stream and the respondent at the Bar, whom you shall have in charge according to Law and the evidence given you. So help you God. Signed David Mitchell, Luther Parker, Phinehas Willabd, Hermon Batchelder, Nathan Judd, Council. Passed July 9, 1832. Attest John A. Mitchell, Clerk. An Act to Regulate the Collection op Debts, Damages, & Fines in all Cases in which Execution to Attach and Sell Property May Be Rendered Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream in general assembly convened that after the passing of this act that in all cases where an action is commenced before any court in this place said court shall order the sheriff to attach the goods, chattels or property THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 71 of the defendant for the security of debt, damage or fine and cost of Court, to double the amount of debt, damage or fine claimed in the declaration of the Writ issued by such court. And be it further enacted that in all cases where Judgment is rendered by any Court in this place against either plaintiff or defend- ant said court shall issue execution thereon ordering the Sheriff to attach and sell to the highest bidder at publick auction so much property of the person or persons against whom such Judgment was rendered as will amount to said execution with the addition of the Sheriff's fees for attaching and selling said property. And be it further enacted that no court excepting the court of error shall be required to issue any writ until 25 cents has been tendered by the plaintiff for said writ, or any warrant to arrest any criminal or search any suspected places, or make any seizure before the complainant or applicant for said warrant shall tender said Comt 25 cents for said warrant. And be it further enacted that each Justice shall receive one dollar m advance on each case brought before him to be paid by the plamtiff and one dollar on each adjoiu-ned case for each adjour- ment or continuance to be paid by the party pleading adjournment or continuance. Signed David Mitchell, Luther Parker, Phineas Willard, Hermon Batchelder. Passed July 9th, 1832. Attest John A. Mitchell, Clerk. An Act Regulating the Fees of the Sherriff, and Defining His Duty Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream in General assembly convened That after the passing of this act each Sherriff in this place shall have four cents for each mile which he may nesces- sarily travel in discharging his official duty, and a reasonable com- pensation for every person which he may necessarily command to assist him in the discharge of his duty, and twenty-five cents for the service of every writ, fifty cents for every arrest by warrant, and twelve and a half cents for summoning each Juror and evidence. And be it further enacted, that it shall be the duty of tht sherriff upon having his fees tendered him to execute all orders of any court in this place, to obey the instructions of the plaintiff in attach- ing and selling property on Writ or execution provided he shall 72 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC receive good and sufficient bonds to indemnify liim in case the prop- erty does not belong to the person he was ordered to attach. Signed Luthkr Parker, Phinehas Willard, David Mitchell, H. Batchelder, N. Judd, Council. Passed July 9th, 1832. Attest J. A. Mitchell, Clerk. An Act to Provide for Forming Juries Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream in General As- sembly convened, That each Juror upon being summoned to attend any Court to be held in this place and having four cents per mile and thirty three cents for one half days attendance tendered him shall obey said summons of Court unless disabled by the hand of Provi- dence under pain of forft iting and paying five dollars. And be it furthei enacted that no Juror shall be required to attend on any court more than six hours, unless his fees for an additional half day are tendered him in advance. And be it further enacted, that it shall be the duty of the party requiring a Jury to advance the Jurors fees. Signed Luther Parker, Phinehas Willard, Nathan Judd, David Mitchell, H. Batchelder, Council. Passed July 9th, 1832. Attest J. A. Mitchell, Clerk. An Act to Prevent Selling Spirituous Liquors in or Near THE Assembly Rooms &c. Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Lidian Stream in General Meetuig assembled, that no person shall fetch for the purpose of Selling, vending, or giving away, distilled Liquors within one fourth part of a mile of the place where the assembly are in session on pain of forfeiting all of said liquors and it shall be the duty of all Justices of Courts to issue their warrants to the Sherriff ordering him to seize said liquors forthwith and to sell the same in four days and lodge the proceeds with the treasurer (after deducting his fees) for the use of the inhabitants of Indian Stream. And be it further enacted, that if any person shall sell vend or give away any distilled Liquors within the limits prescribed in this act, on the day that the session of the assembly is held it shall be full evidence that the remainder of said liquors was brought for the THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 73 purpose of selling vending or giving away, and shall be forfeited with the vessel or cask containing the same to the use of the inhabi- tants of Indian Stream. Signed David Mitchell, Luther Parker, Phineas Willard, Herman Batchelder, Nathan Judd, Council. Passed July 9th, 1832. Attest J. A. Mitchell, Clerk. An Act to Repeal Former Votes & Rules Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream in General meeting assembled, that all votes and rules heretofore passed which are contrary to the acts this day passed are hereby repealed. Signed David Mitchell, Luther Parker, Phineas Willard, Herjvian Batchelder, Nathan Judd, Council. Passed July 9th, 1832. Attest John A. Mitchell, Clerk. An Act to Exempt Certain Property from Attachment Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream in General Assembly convened, that from the passing of this act the following property shall be exempt in all civil cases from attachment on Writ or execution. Viz. one Cow, one hog, one swine not over six months old, the meat of one hog, seven Sheep and the Wool of seven sheep, three tons of Hay one Bed and bedding for every two persons, all wearing apparel & all their Books and if a farmer or mechanic twenty dollars worth tools one Gun and equipments Household furniture to the amomit of twenty dollars one bushel of Grain, Meal, or flower to each person twenty five Bushels Potatoes, and two Bushels Salt. Signed David Mitchell, Hermon Batchelder, Phineas Wil- lard, Luther Parker. Passed July 9th, 1832. Attest J. A. Mitchell, Clerk. An Act for Organizing the Militia Be it enacted by the inhabitants of Indian Stream in General Assembly convened, that the Council shall enrol in the militia every able bodied man within this place between the ages of eighteen and 74 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC fifty as soon as they think expedient after the close of this session of the General Assembly, shall invite the persons enrolled to assemble and proceed to the choice of Captain, Lieutenant, Ensign, first, second, third and fourth Sergeant and the person having a majority of all the votes given for each of the respective offices shall be de- clared duly chosen. And be it further enacted that the Council shall commission the Captain Lieutenant and Ensign, and administer the oath of office, and the Captain shall issue warrants to the Sargents and adminis- ter the oath of office. And be it further enacted that it shall be the duty of the Captain to assemble his company on the second monday in June annually for Military duty and inspection, and to instruct them in Military duty and tacticks. And be it further enacted that it shall be the duty of every citizen enrolled in the militia to assemble on the second monday in June annually, at such time and place as the Captain shall order with such arms and equipments as they may possess and yield strict obedience to their commanding officers. . And be it further enacted that whenever the Captain shall order the Militia to assemble for actual service it shall be the duty of every citizen so ordered to rendezvous at such time and place as the Captain shall order armed with a good musket two spare flints and twenty four cartridges with ball suited to the bore of his Musket and powder sufficient to discharge the same and knapsack with one days provision. Signed David Mitchell, Luther Parker, Phineas Willard, Hermon Batchelder, Nathan Judd. Passed July 9th, 1832. Attest J. A. Mitchell, Clerh. NOTES 1 C, p. 12. Here, as elsewhere, the original spellings of proper names are followed. 2 C, pp. 12, 13. » For the acts of 1832, C, pp. 13-18. CHAPTER 10 The Assembly of 1833 Indian Stream Ss., March 11, 1833. The assembly met agreeable to notice and were organized according to constitution & law. Article 1. Chose David Mitchell Speaker. Article 2. Chose John A. Mitchell Clerk. Article 3. On the 11th day of March A. D. 1833 personally ap- peared Elisha P. Tabor, Nath' Perkins, Jr., John Robie Jr. and were duely qualified and admitted members of the assembly agree- able to the constitution. John A. Mitchell Clerh. 4th Chose Phinehas Willard for first councillor who does not accept. 4th Chose Nath' Perkins, David Mitchell, John Haynes, E. P. Tabor, Nathan Judd Councillors. 5th Voted to choose three Justices of the Peace. 6th Chose Nath' Perkins, Jr., Rich Ihid., pp. 223-226. i' Cf. N. 11. Patriot, as above. 8 Ihid., p. 233. 16 Aldrich, p. 392. 9 Ihid., pp. 227, 228. " Report, p. 236. i» Ihid., pp. 233, 234. CHAPTER 15 The Wisconsin Pioneer Early in May, 1836, Luther Parker left Indian Stream for the wilderness of southeastern Wisconsin. During the preceding year Alvin G. French of Brunswick, Vermont, a brother of Alletta French Parker, had settled on the virgin acres of the new country in what became the township of Pleasant Prairie, a few miles west of the present city of Kenosha, a settlement then known as Pike River. The effect upon a son of rugged Indian Stream of Mr. French's accounts of those beautiful tracts of soil, generous and peaceful, unencumbered by heavy timber, and yet not treeless, may easily be imagined. Add to this the turbulence through which Luther Parker had passed in New Hamp- shire, the still surviving uncertainty as to whether the inhabitants of Indian Stream were finally to be Ameri- cans or Canadians, the losses he had suffered through bad debts, and the lingering rancours of a prolonged and bitter contest, and it does not seem strange that he listened to the call of the unopened West in spite of the triumph of his cause at Indian Stream and the advent of peace. "Ten years of my life gone for nothing!" he is said to have exclaimed, as he drove out of the Indian Stream country by the road that led over the hill to Clarksville and the southwest. Setting his affairs in order as far as possible by leav- ing his stock in trade, lands, and the major part of his other belongings in the hands of a friend in Clarksville and of his father in Temple, Luther Parker conveyed THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 113 his family and scant goods by covered wagon as far as Whitehall, New York, on Lake Champlain, where he started them on their journey by canal through Troy to Buffalo, from Buffalo to Detroit by steamboat, from Detroit to Milwaukee through the lakes by schooner, and from Milwaukee to Pleasant Prairie by wagon. Alletta Parker's brother, Thomas Giles French, and her sister Eunice accompanied her from Vermont, and Asa Parker joined the party at Troy, New York. Giles French and Asa Parker, having heard of choice lands near Milwaukee, returned thither with the wagon that had conveyed the family to Pleasant Prairie. After parting from his family at ^^liitehall Luther Parker, with horses and covered wagon and a small equipment of goods, set out for the same destination. The journey was long and arduous. The condition of the roads, or rather the lack of roads, at some stages of his progress was such that on many days he could look back at nightfall to the spot on which he had encamped the previous night. When he finally arrived at Alvin French's at Pleasant Prairie it was about the twentieth of July, and his family had long been awaiting him. With characteristic energy he made a claim to land not far from Alvin French's, and made provision for the breaking of sod. Meanwhile, however, Asa Parker and Giles French had reported especially attractive lands about fifteen miles to the southwest of Milwaukee, where they had made claims, the former on the south half of the northeast quarter of section two in the town of Muskego, and the latter on the south half of the southeast quarter of the same section. Asa Parker's shack was at the site of the present Tess Corners, and Giles French's bark wigwam near a mineral spring about eighty rods to the west. After a short time at 114 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Pleasant Prairie Luther Parker mounted his horse and rode northward to view the country where his brother and brother-in-law had settled. With water power in mind, as was natural for one who was familiar with the upper waters of the Connecticut, he rode beyond them several miles to the west, found Little Muskego lake, explored it, discovered the outlet, and at the shore where it left the lake located a claim of three hundred and twenty acres, the south half of section nine, town five, range twenty, east. In January, 1837, six months after their arrival in the West, the Parker family, husband, wife, one son nine years old, and three daughters, Persis Euseba, Ellen Augusta, and Amanda Melvina, aged seven, four, and two years, moved into the log cabin which Luther Parker had constructed on the wooded south shore of the lake. Giles French and Asa Parker had settled before him, but were both in temporary quarters and without family. Another settler, named Fields, had erected a cabin in the neighborhood, but had not occu- pied it with his family until later in the winter. Luther Parker may therefore be recorded as the first perma- nent white settler in the township of Muskego. The Parker family remained in the log cabin three years. In 1839 Mr. Parker sold his claim to Anson H. Taylor for $800, but continued to reside on it until the spring of 1840, when he occupied a two hundred and forty acre holding to the south of Giles French, which had been abandoned, the northeast quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of section eleven. The Muskego lands in this neighborhood were varied; there were heavily wooded parts, oak openings, and meadows. Here he resided until his death in 1853. Luther Parker's capacity to endure hardship and privation found its second opportunity for demonstra- THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 115 tion in the Wisconsin wilderness. The stern conditions of the pioneering life of that period are so well known that they require no description here. There was the usual cabin of logs, with chinks through which the wind blew and the snow sifted, and with the old-fashioned fireplace and the danger from fire that accompanied it. There was the hard work of clearing, and the laborious two-day trips to Milwaukee by Indian trail, for the sack of flour and pork and other necessities to supple- ment the scant product of the first years of tillage. There was the need of skill and patience in the slow making by hand of everything that there was no money to purchase. The shoemaker's kit which he had used during his apprentice days at Stoneham Mr. Parker kept and used all his life. There was the lack of medical conveniences, too, but not the lack of death. Little Amanda Melvina, the child born September 8, 1835, at Indian Stream, died of the fever in the Muskego cabin on August 8, 1838, and was buried on the shore of the lake. The grave is within the limits of the present Muskego Lake resort, but has long since been obscured. Luther Parker's capacity for leadership, also, was dis- played again in the new country. His natural ability, as well as the education he had received at Temple, Stoneham, and New Ipswich, his teacher's experience at Stratford and elsewhere, served him here as well as at Indian Stream, and the varied experiences in affairs through which he had passed in northern New Hamp- shire fitted him for similar experiences in Wisconsin. In the land sale of 1839, which took place at public auction in Milwaukee, Mr. Parker was entrusted by all the squatter sovereigns of the townships of Franklin and Muskego with the bidding in of their claims. The settlers, who were now first to acquire actual title, had 116 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC previously met and agreed not to bid against each other, and it was also well understood that no bidding by land speculators was to be tolerated. Mr. Parker appeared in the auction room with a list of his neighbors' holdings in his hand, and as each holding was described by the auctioneer, he simply said, "$1.25 per acre," and at the close of each day's sale the certificates were made out and the cash paid over. Only one attempt at bidding by a speculator was made during his attendance on the sale. The bidder, who wished to get possession of an improved holding, found himself so boisterously jostled and crowded that, though it was all seemingly accidental, he was glad to be allowed to leave the room. Mr. Parker's considerable legal knowledge was also called into action in the drawing of contracts and other papers, and in court work. He was justice of the peace for several terms, and tried many cases, and frequently conducted the cases of his neighbors in court when not in office. His law library was a scant book or two — Blackstone's Commentaries, Cowan's Treaties, and the New Hampshire form book — but they served large purposes in those days. He was a leader also in the educational affairs of the new settlement. The first school in Muskego came into existence in the fall of 1839, a little to the south of Tess Corners, and was built and supported by those of the settlers who were interested. Here is the letter of one of its pupils, Luther Parker's son Charles, which affords a vivid picture of the manner of education in the wilderness : The schoolhouse was 14 x 16, of logs covered with shakes. It had two windows, rough green oak boards for floor, and seats of basswood slabs. On each side, where a window lighted a desk-like shelf against the wall, sat the larger pupils, with slates or writing- books, on a long bench, their backs to the teacher and the school. A little sheet-iron, barrel-shaped stove did the heating. It was THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 117 brought all the way from New Hampshire by my father in his covered wagon, and donated to the school by him. The building and the school were a private enterprise, a free contribution by the few families, mostly New Englanders, who had children. It stood a little south of the present Tess Corners, and was built in the fall of 1839. Ellen, Persis, and I had to go two miles, as we lived the farthest west in the settlement. A IVIiss Hale taught the winter school. She was paid the generous sum of two dollars per week, and boarded round. All did their best the week the schoolma'am was with them; but there was no butter or milk in most places. Honey was substituted for both. Two or three years after that the town organized the first school district. Sometimes a fairly qualified teacher was secured; often otherwise. One was an old man from New Hampshire; my father and he had been schoolmates. He was well qualified for the work, but we soon began to wonder why he went out every half hour, and, boylike, we began to hunt; and one day — it was snowing — as soon as he returned from one of his outings, I asked to go out, and, follow- ing his tracks, found hidden in the snow a pint whiskey flask. Then the boys had their fun. As the days passed he used to get rather the worse for the flask before the close of the day, and the boys began to cut up, until father, who was clerk, found out, and told him he must give up the whiskey or resign. It was a little better after that.^ NOTE 1 Written at River Falls, Wisconsin, March 17, 1911. Charles Durham Parker was born at Indian Stream Dec. 27, 1827. On Nov. 8, 1853, he was married to Angeliue Flora Southworth at Muskego, in 1859 settled at Pleasant Valley, St. Croix county, Wisconsin, was member of the assembly in 1869, Lieutenant Governor in 1874-8, served twelve years on the state board of control, and three years as a university regent. He has lived in River Falls since 1895. CHAPTER 16 The Territorial Legislature of 1846 In the election of 1845 Luther Parker was chosen a member of the territorial legislature of Wisconsin, representing part of Milwaukee county, which then included what was to become Waukesha county. Its two branches were at that time called the council and the assembly. With Luther Parker in the assembly were Samuel H. Barstow of Prairieville, later called Waukesha, and W. H. Thomas of Lisbon. In the council were J. H. Kimball of Prairieville, and Curtis Reed of Summit.^ Henry Dodge was Governor. The legislature met on January 5, 1846, with thirteen members in the council and twenty-six in the assembly. On Wednesday, January 7, the Speaker announced his committees. Luther Parker was appointed a member of the committees on schools and on engrossed bills, and chairman of the committee on agriculture and manufactures. On the 14th Mr. Parker presented the petition of Thomas Steele and thirty-two others, praying for an act to amend an act to authorize the commissioners of highways for the towns of Genesee and Maquango (Mukwonago) to lay out and alter a territorial road named therein. On the 16th he moved that the bill to incorporate the city of Milwaukee be referred to a select committee consisting of the members from Mil- waukee county. On the same day he also presented the petition of H. Van Vlick and thirty-six others, inhabitants of Milwaukee county, asking for a division of said county, and also four other petitions of other inhabitants on the same subject. 118 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 119 The presentation of these petitions was the formal beginning of Luther Parker's principal effort for his constituents. He had been elected on the issue of the division of Milwaukee county. Samuel Barstow labored with him in the same cause. On the same day on which the Parker petitions were presented Mr. Barstow presented two petitions of the inhabitants of Milwaukee county on the same subject, and introduced the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved (the council concurring), that all petitions and re- monstrances relating to the division of Milwaukee county be referred to a joint select committee consisting of the delegates from that county of both houses of the legislative assembly. Mr. Barstow also gave notice that he would, on the next day, ask leave to introduce a bill for the division of the county of Milwaukee, and for the formation of a new county. On the 17th Mr. Parker presented one, and Mr. Barstow four more petitions on the same subject. On the 19th Mr. Barstow presented two, and Mr. Parker several. On the 20th Mr. Parker presented the record of the proceedings of a meeting of the citizens of Mus- kego, relating to the division of Milwaukee county, and Mr. Barstow, after the presentation of two petitions on the same subject, was given leave to introduce a bill to provide for the division of the county of Milwaukee, which was read the first and second time the same day. On that day the council also concurred in Mr. Barstow's resolution of the 16th. On the 21st each of the two presented a petition on the usual subject. On this date Mr. Parker also pre- sented a petition from citizens of Milwaukee county asking for incorporation of the Milwaukee and Missis- sippi Railway, and a bill to incorporate Carroll College was reported passed by the council. It was about this 120 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC time that the agitation for better carrying faeiHties was rising. In this one session bills were introduced affecting a Milwaukee, Madison, and Mississippi Rail- road Company, a Sheboygan and Mississippi Company, a Milwaukee, Madison, and Mississippi Company, and a Lisbon and Milwaukee Plank Road Company. On the 23d Mr. Parker, for the committee on agricul- ture and manufactures, to whom the subject had been referred, reported a bill to amend an act entitled, "An Act to Establish the Rate of Toll for Grinding." On the 23d, 24th, and 26th Mr. Barstow presented more petitions, and on the 26th Mr. Magone presented a remonstrance from inhabitants of Milwaukee county. On the last named date the bill for division was reported by the committee of the whole with amend- ments. Mr. Magone's motion that the bill be referred to a select committee having been lost, the amendments were concurred in. Further amendments by Mr. Ma- gone and Mr. Thomas of Lisbon were rejected, and second attempts made by both met a like fate. On the 28th the assembly sat as committee of the whole, with Mr. Parker in the chair, but adjourned at the news of the burning of Councilman M. M. Strong's home in Racine, with his wife and children. On the 30th the council reported the passage of 32 (H. of R.), Mr. Barstow's bill for division. A bill for the incorporation of Prairieville, reported by the com- mittee of the whole on the same date, was passed on the following day. The act of division was approved on January 31, the same day. On Tuesday evening, February 3, 1846, the legislature adjourned, after a session of four weeks and two days. The act for division provided for the submission to vote of the inhabitants of the sixteen townships of Mil- THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 121 waukee county which lay west of range twenty-one, the question of their separation and erection into the county of Waukesha. The vote was to be taken at the spring election of the same year.^ The winning of the fight in the legislature, where the opposition was considerable, was only the beginning of the campaign. The real struggle took place in the sixteen townships, which were given the privilege of deciding for themselves. The campaign was heated from the first, and toward the end became charged with bitter animosity, and even abuse. The committee in charge of the interests of division was composed of William A. Barstow, Alex- ander W.Randall, James Y.Watson, Andrew E. Elmore, A. F. Pratt, and Luther Parker. Messrs. Turner and Hunkins were also active, and many others. In March the committee published the first number of a sheet called The Waukesha Advocate. The second issue is dated March 23, 1846, at Prairieville, W. T., and is prefaced by the words, "Divided We Stand, United We Fall." It contains a call addressed to all the voters of the proposed county for a convention to be held at the Junction House, Brookfield, on April 2, to discuss the question of division, and is filled to the limit with argu- ment and exhortation. On March 27, by way of reply, appeared The Union- ist, printed in the oflfice of the Milwaukee Courier. It contains the copy of a call for an anti-division conven- tion, to be held at a private house in Genesee, and attended by five delegates from each town, and also a report of the proceedings of the convention, at which •a committee was appointed to prepare an address repre- senting the views of the opposition to separation. The address also is printed. It fills nine columns, and is signed by the committee, A. L. Castleman, Curtis THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Reed, John S. Rockwell, Leonard Martin, Jesse Smith, and E. W. Edgerton. The burden of argument on both sides is largely financial. Milwaukee county, including the proposed Waukesha county, had at that time a population of 25,000, and the town of Milwaukee itself 10,000. The taxable property of the whole area was estimated at $1,652,201, seven-eighths of which was real estate. The party for division insisted that the sixteen town- ships were contributing far in excess of their just share of taxes. "The secret of the opposition to division among our Milwaukee friends," says The Advocate, "is this: that they know they will have to support their own officers, build their own jails and poorhouses, and pay their own taxes." The anti-division party, on the other hand, dwelt upon the expense of a doubling of all the machinery of government in the territory con- cerned, the cost of transcription of records, and of extra public buildings. Charges of bad faith, and even personalities, are not wanting in The Unionist colunuis. Under the caption, *'The Ebbings and Flo wings of Patriotism," it prints: It is said that if certain gentlemen in the proposed new county had succeeded in obtaining certain oflBcial stations to which they have been aspiring for the last three years, the division of Milwaukee county would never have been heard of. Whether this is true to the extent asserted we cannot say, but this much we can say, and know to be true, that these defeated aspirants urged upon their personal friends in the legislature the division of the county, on the ground that as the county of Milwaukee now stood they could not get the offices they desired. Now, is the largest and the most influ- ential county in the territory to be cut to pieces, and people of the proposed new county made to pay double their present amount of taxes to gratify the selfish aspiration of a few over-greedy office- seekers and county-seat speculators? This is a matter for tax- payers to take into consideration. The question is, therefore, simply this: whether Wm. A. Barstow, A. W. Randall, James Y. Watson, THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 123 A. E. Elmore, A. F. Pratt, and Hon. Luther Parker shall be gorged with offices, and have the privilege of speculating in county-seat village lots to boot, at the expense of the farmers who have to foot the bills in the shape of increased taxes? Taxpayers, what say you? The Unionist is also of opinion that the feelings of honor of "Pratt, Barstow, and Co." "can never be called into action with any instrument less potent than a piece of cowskin, either in shape of a twisted whip or the sole of a boot." It is also not without humor. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet," it says. "So Waukesha by any other name would be as foxy." "Divided we stand, as the man said with his feet in the stocks." "United we fall, as the rogues said when they were cast into prison." "United we fall, as the coon said when they cut down the tree." It asks the Advocate to "meet us with equal fairness, and not appear on the very eve of elec- tion with facts without proof." This issue of The Unionist (the only one) provokes an extra of The Advocate on April 3d. It reports a meet- ing for division at the Muskego Center schoolhouse on March 28, signed John Finley, Chairman, and Asa Parker, Secretary, and is again filled with the financial argument, but finds space also to gratify the now fully generated passion of the campaign. Epithets abound, and by way of final word, a "Warning" is sounded: Warning. — ^Every man knows that for the last foiu- years it has been the practice of the Milwaukee Jiinto, with what assistance they could get from the country, to circulate, on the eve of any important election, a budget of statements and falsehoods which have had the result of influencing the election. After election the statements are discovered to be false, and no man can be found responsible for them. Voters of Waukesha, prepare for this farce at the coming town meeting. Disinterested Milwaukee is privately at work vnth. her press and tools in just such an operation. Some of the northern towns, it is also understood, will import a large number of voters for the purpose of affecting the elections. Look out for Milwaukee 124 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC and Summit treachery. The foul means they have used, the inter- ference of their press, show the shifts to which they have been reduced, and that they are fully prepared to use the most desperate means to prevent the division of the county. Not to be outdone, the wit of The Advocate retorts upon the Unionist with: "An onion would smell as sweet spelt with a U as any other way." The election was held on Tuesday, April 7, and, if contemporary reports are to be credited, was the occa- sion of much petty bribery, repeating, and other illegal voting. The division party was victorious, and "Luther Parker and Company's proposition," as Hiber- nicus named it in the Milwaukee Courier of March 21, was adopted. The county was duly organized, with Prairieville as its seat. NOTES iFor Luther Parker's activities in the legislature, see Journal of the House of Representatives, Fourth Annual Session of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Wisconsin. 2 Acts of 1846, pp. 23 ff. CHAPTER 17 The Last Years The record of Luther Parker's Hfe from 1846 to 1853 is scant. Such as it is, it is indicative of the usual activ- ities of the pioneer who is possessed of more than ordi- nary abihty and experience. The raising and market- ing of his farm produce, the improvement of his estate, the education of his children, the administration of business, public and private, for himself and such neighbors as invoked his aid, the political effort natural to a man of conscience and pronounced convictions — such was the content of his life, so far as outward event may show, during its last half dozen years. In October, 1846, Luther Parker's name appears among the grand jurors of Waukesha county, and in 1849 and 1851 Asa Parker was among the petit jurors. Politically, Luther Parker was a Democrat until the rise of the Free Soil party, in the organization of which in Wisconsin he took a prominent part. He sup- ported Van Buren in the campaign of 1848, and in 1852 supported John Parker Hale of New Hampshire, himself of Parker blood, and a member of the Indian Stream commission of 1836. In 1851 Luther Parker was elected a member of the county board from Muskego. The board met on November 11 at Waukesha. Andrew E. Elmore was chosen chairman, and Luther Parker and Mr. Miner were the tellers who announced his election. Mr. Parker was appointed on the committees on the treas- ury, on justices' and constables' accounts, and on the support of the poor, being chairman of the second. His name appears in the minutes of November 13, 14, 15, 125 126 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, in connection with the reports of these committees and other business. The character of his reports and motions indicates an attitude of painstaking economy in the administration of the affairs of the county. In 1848, during the spring and fall terms, Mr. Parker's son Charles was in attendance at the Normal Classical Institute at Waukesha, conducted by Elihu Enos and John W. Sterling, the latter of whom was called the same year to the chair of mathematics, natural philos- ophy, and astronomy in the University of Wisconsin, where he remained until his death in 1884. During the following winter Charles Parker taught school in Muskego. On the twenty-sixth of August, 1849, occurred the death of Alletta Parker, of typhoid fever, at the age of forty-six. She was interred in the Durham Hill ceme- tery, several miles to the south of the Parker estate. The autumn of the same year Ellen and Persis Parker attended Mrs. Baker's Female Seminary at Waukesha. Prior to 1848 the education of the Parker children had been limited to the district school near Tess Corners. Mrs. Baker's Female Seminary is thus advertised in the Waukesha Advocate of April 19, 1848: Waukesha Feiviale Seminary Mrs. Baker, Principal Mrs. Baker has now closed her second term and 4th quarter, and having been sustained beyond her most sanguine expectations, she would say to her numerous friends and patrons that she will open her school again on the 27th of March. Parents having daughters to send to school may feel assured that pupils committed to her charge will receive the same care and attention as those of her own family, and she will endeavor as far as possible to supply to them the protection and comforts of home. Wishing her school to become a permanent one, she will gather around it all the appliances THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 127 required to give tone and finish to the education of a young lady as fast as the growing interests of the school require it. Returning many thanks for past favors, she hopes by her experience in teach- ing, and by her unremitting exertions, to secure a liberal share of public patronage. The academic year will be divided into two terms of 22 weeks each, and four quarters of 11 weeks each. The first term and first quarter of the ensuing year will commence on the 27th day of March, 1848. Departments — terms per qr. Primary: First Principles of Orthography and Reading $1.00 With the above, Emerson's First part Arithmetic $1.50 Middle : Orthography, Reading, Geography, Arithmetic, Gram- mar, Writing, Primary History and Botany $2 . 00 Highest: Natural Philosophy, History, Ancient and Modern, Botany, Astronomy, Chemistry, Rhetoric, and Physiology $3.00 Extras : Music on the Piano Forte, including use of instrument $8 . 00 French and Latin Languages, each $5 . 00 Drawing $2.00 Painting $3.00 Ornamental Needle Work $2 . 00 Worsted Flowers, Baskets, Birds, &c $1 . 00 Moral and Intellectual Philosophy, Logic, Criticism, Algebra, and Geometry $4 . 00 There will be no deduction except in cases of long continued illness. Pupils from abroad can be boarded at the Institution at a reasonable price. — Produce taken at market price in part payment for board if paid in advance. There will be charged during the winter 12^ cents per quarter additional for fuel. In the fall of 1849 Charles Parker went east to at- tend New Ipswich Academy, where his father had once been a pupil. Discontinuing his study there in the spring in order to supply a ten weeks' vacancy at Davis Village, near by, he returned to Wisconsin in the au- tumn of 1850, taught the following winter at Oak Creek, and from 1851 to 1853 at Hartland, spending the summers on the Muskego farm with his father. 128 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Ellen and Persis Parker also taught in Muskego after their year at Mrs. Baker's seminary. In April, 1850, Luther Parker was married to Susan G. Goodman. From this union there was one child, Mary S. Parker, born January 17, 1852. On June 28, 1852, in the hope of regaining his failing health, Luther Parker went on a journey to the scenes of his earlier life in New England. During his visit to Indian Stream, though they had long since become outlawed, he discharged several obligations which he had been unable to provide for on his departure, further than was possible by the leaving of his land and goods in charge of relatives and friends for the purpose. His titles to the Indian Stream lands had been allowed to lapse, and the mill had been burned several years before his return. Mr. Parker's health was not improved by his journey. He continued to grow worse, and on June 15, 1853, died. He lies beside Alletta Parker in the Durham Hill cemetery. The inscription on their single stone records : LUTHER PARKER died June 15, 1853, Aged 53 years. What thou art, I was. What I am, thou soon wilt be. Also his wife ALLETTA died August 26, 1849, Aged 47 years. Those who knew her best loved her most. PART TWO ELLEN PARKER'S JOURNAL ELLEN PARKER'S JOURNAL Sixteen years after their coming to the West, when she was nineteen and her father was fifty-two, and approaching his end, Ellen Augusta Parker began a journal, in a marbled-green, board-covered book about eight by ten inches. In the sober, old-fashioned writing on its faded pages may be found much to illuminate the life of Luther Parker, and pioneer life in general. It was on her birthday that she began the record. A Trip to Milwaukee Muskego, March 16th, 1852. Today is my birthday. It is a beautiful day. We went up to Mr. Post's. Mrs. Hawkins went with us. They were all feeling very bad, as this morning Michael started for California. I hope he wiU meet with success, and soon return to his friends and parents. March 17th. Persis, Charles, and myself went do^vii to my micle Hariph's — saw Mary, and Hannah Sullivan, also Mary Blott. Louisa came home with us. We called at Mr. Sexton's, and saw our old schoolmate, Sanford Grant. Did not know him. Thursday, 18th. This morning we went to Milwaukee. The wind blows very cold. We were quite cold when we reached the city. Persis and myself went into Boyd's store and staid till ready to start out. I bought a neck ribbon, comb, etc. About four o'clock we started for Mr. Vallier's. The country through which we passed was very pleasant; the road ran along the bank of the lake. We reached our journey's end a little after dark. Found Mrs. Vallier and family well, and glad to see us. Friday, 19th. We arose early, Mrs. Vallier got breakfast, after which a walk was proposed. We walked down the beach of the lake, quite a distance, amusing ourselves by watching the broken pieces of ice as they washed against the shore. We were at last stopped by discovering a dead bodj' under a large piece of ice. He was sup- posed to be a Norwegian sailor, who was probably drowned last fall. We came from the lake, and called at Sexton's and told him about 131 132 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC the body under the ice. He and others went to see it. We went back to Vallier's and took dinner, and then started for home. We had a very cold ride; stopped at Hale's tavern and warmed us. It was nine o'clock when we got home. Foxmd our airnt Prudence here. Saturday, 20th. Today it is very cold and impleasant. I have been ironing all day. Charles has gone to take my aimt home. About five o'clock it commenced snowing, and continued till nine. Charles has not retm-ned. I have finished my apron, which I began after ironing. Father foimd his way home through the snow. He has been to Mr. Finley's. A Teachers' Institute Monday, 22nd. This forenoon Louisa went home, and I was pre- paring to go to Genesee to attend the Teachers' Institute, Charles and father and myself started in the afternoon. Charles and father had to stop at Mr. Peck's and attend a lawsuit, which took them two hours. I stopt and waited for them at Muckey's. We stopped at Mukwonago and warmed, then went on. We reached Genesee just after dark, and found Misses Root, Selleck, Bowe, HoUister, and Mr. Selleck at Price's tavern. They had also come for the purpose of attending the Institute. We took tea, then went to the school- house. Heard a very good lecture, delivered by the Rev. Mr. Camp, on the subject of teachers' institutes. Tuesday, 23rd. This morning father went home. We all went to the school room where the Institute was to be held. Mr. Enos has not arrived from Madison yet, Mr. Camp takes charge of his affairs; is quite a good teacher. Tuesday evening. Mr. Enos came with the cars this evening, but was too much fatigued to take any part in the debate of the evening session. Wednesday, 24th. Mr. Enos is in school today. Things did not go off very lively today. We attended an evening session, and from there went to a party at Mr. Remington's. Had quite a pleasant time of it. Danced tUl two or three o'clock. It was dark and very muddy, and going home we ran against a stump and broke our wagon, so we sat there till they went after another. We did not get to our boarding house till daylight. Thursday, 25th. Arose quite late this morning. Had rather a dull, sleepy school of it. After dinner Nettie and I went up to our THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 133 room and went to sleep. We felt better in the afternoon. Our Institute did not meet this evening. Friday, 26th. Today I attended the Institute as usual. Nothing of importance occurred. In the evening Mr. Price sent for a fiddler, and we danced till twelve o'clock. Saturday, 27. Mr. Enos wished the Institute to close today, as there were so few members in attendance. Some were very anxious it should continue longer. He concluded he would stay till next Wednesday. Simday, 28th. This morning to meeting; heard a very good ser- mon, delivered by the Rev. IVIr. Camp. This afternoon did not go to church. Went to a prayer-meeting in the evening. Monday, 29th. Nothing new transpires at school. We closed about half past three, and all went for a walk. We went over the hills to the railroad depot, and saw the cars come in. Staid at the depot an hour, then came back by a diflPerent route. Mr. Sprague showed us some very large springs which were on his father's farm. Monday evening. After tea we attended a lecture on physiology, given by a Mr. Boothe. Mr. Gove and Crockett are here tonight; they are on their way to California. Wednesday, 31st. Today our Institute closes. Did not go this forenoon; staid at home 'with. Nettie. This afternoon our school closed about three. Some went to Waukesha on the cars. The rest of us staid at the tavern. This evening INIr. Price had a party. We danced till three in the morning, then broke up. April 1st. About noon today Mr. Selleck and sister, Miss Bowe, and Miss Hollister bade us goodbye, and started for home. Father came for us at two o'clock. We arrived at home quite late in the evening, without any diflSculty. Mr. William Post was married today to Miss Esther Johnson. They did not make much of a wedding. The bride was dressed very pretty in a new silk dress brought from England. April and May April 10th. This morning we were preparing to go to Mr. Clark's a-visiting, when Mr. Selleck and sister and Miss Bowe all came to see us. We got dinner, then all went to Clark's. Mary Bagley was there. It commenced raining a short time after we got there. Wf took tea at five o'clock. They then went after Mr. Elliot and his fiddle, so we had a dance. It continued raining during the whole evening. 134 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Sunday morning, 11th. The rain has ceased, but the roads are quite muddy. Selleck and company went from here at ten o'clock. Persis, Miss Reynolds, and myself took a walk down to the lake. When we went back we found our folks had sent for us. We had a pleasant ride home, although rather muddy. Pachal called this evening — is going to start for California with the Doyles tomorrow morning. Mike McShane goes with them. W. Cobb is here. He will stay over night. Tuesday, May 4th, 1852. This morning we did our work and went to make cousin Louisa a visit. Aunt is not at home. We took tea early, then went and called on Mrs. Sexton and family. Mary was at her sister's, Jared in Milwaukee. We sat and chatted a few minutes, then came home. Wednesday 5th. This morning I received a letter from my old friend and schoolmate, Augusta Colburn of Illinois. This afternoon Persis and I went up to Mr. H. Peck's. Had a very pleasant visit. H. is in fine spirits — has considerable to say about M. P. We got home about dark. It has been very warm today — some appearance of rain this evening. Thursday morning, 6th. Persis is ironing this morning. Father is not as well as he has been; he is going to Mr. Sexton's with his wife this afternoon. The weather is warm and pleasant, but there are numerous signs of rain — wind in the south. The wdnd howls without dismally. It always makes me sad to hear the wdnd howl. The Indian says it is the wailing of discontented spirits. I shall go to Mrs. Sexton's this afternoon with mother, as father is too unwell to dri-^e the team.* Friday, seventh. This afternoon Persis and myself took sister up to Uncle Giles's. Staid till five o'clock. We had but just got home when the large black clouds began to roll up in the west, and the thunders were heard in the distance, and ere long the rain began to fall. We had a beautiful shower, which makes the grass appear more green than ever. Saturday, 8th. I was quite imwell this morning. Our folks went up to Mr. Post's a- visiting. About noon our cousin, Baxter Parker, came from the East. He will probably spend the summer with us. Just before tea Louisa came; she will stay all night. Sunday, 9th. We went to the Catholic church this morning; came back by Sexton's. Saw Mary and Robert walking in the garden. They appeared to be enjoying themselves well. * These are the first references to the illness which was to bring Luther Parker's life to a close. THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 135 When we got home we found Mr. William and Nathan Cobb here. We got tea early, then went and took a walk down to the lake, Stopt at Mr. Smith's, and they gave us some maple sugar. We had a very pleasant walk; got back home about sundowTi. The Messrs. Cobb have gone home; also Cousin Louisa, and we are here alone once more. Tuesday, 11th. This morning Mr. W. Cobb came here. He is going to plowing on his farm. He will board here a week. Wednesday, 12th. I received some letters from Ann and Caro- line Southworth. In the afternoon Uncle Asa and family came. After tea, Mary Sexton. Staid over night. Thursday. Our folks have gone to Mr. Hiram Hale's. Mary is here with us. Friday. This morning Mr. N. Cobb came to help his brother. Mary went home about ten o'clock. Saturday, 15th. We went to the lake today to carry the IVIr. Cobbs their dinner. Took a ride in a canoe. Coming home, we called to see Mr. Smith. Mr. Cobb got his work done, and went home tonight. Sunday. The day has been very unpleasant; rained part of the time. Mr. Sexton and Ives called here this evening. I was pre- sented with a philipena present, a book, the title of which is The Golden Gift. Monday, 17th. Quite cold today. We did a very large wash- ing — did not get done till three o'clock. Father has gone up to Uncle Asa's. George Green came to see us tonight. Tuesday, 18th. Last night was cold; there was a slight frost. This morning we took up om- carpet, moved our cupboard, etc. William Cobb and father called here when returning from W.'s farm. Father and Cousin Baxter have gone to Waterford to mill. About five it commenced raining; rained considerable dm-ing the night. Wednesday, 19th. This morning we arose quite late. Clouds hide the sun's bright face from us. We ironed some this forenoon. I fixed my muU dress. Margaret Fuller and Mary Myers called on us. Father and cousin have returned from Waterford. Father has been sick all the time he was there. I hope a journey east may improve his health. Thiu-sday, 20th. This morning we washed our carpets. In the afternoon went to the graveyard. Stopped and took tea with Mrs. McCleary. We came and staid at Sexton's till sundown. Jared came home with us. Friday we cleaned the cellar. Saturday, did our baking. 136 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Sunday, May 23rd. It is a beautiful day — also one of the warm- est we have had this spring. After doing our work in the morning, Persis and myself took sister Mary out riding. We had* just re- turned when Mr. and Mrs. Law came. They staid till after tea. Dr. Bigelow also took tea here. Just night, F. Smith and H. Shields called. Monday. We have been washing today. It is a very warm day. Our folks have begun planting com. Tuesday, 25th. The day is very pleasant. I went to Milwaukee with father and mother. Went to Edwin Skinner's — saw Caroline Fowler there. I staid with her during the night. Father and mother staid with Mrs. Hill. Wednesday. I staid at Mr. S.'s and took care of Mary while mother went and did her trading. She bought Persis and me some white dresses, also some pink ones. We got home just sundown. Wednesday I received two letters, one from J. N., the other from E. S. 4 A Summer in Muskego June 28th, 1852. This morning my father started for New Hamp- shire — in hopes to recover his health by visiting his native state. Mother, Charles, and Persis accompanied him to Milwaukee. It is a long time for him to be absent. He intends staying till the first of October. Cousin Baxter became homesick, and went back before father could get ready to accompany him. Sunday, July 4th. Persis, William and myself went to the Catho- lic church. After returning, we went to the lake. Took a ride in the boat. Saw Mrs. T. Sexton, Mary S. and J. S. and Robert Ives. We staid at the lake tUl night; then R. and J. came home with us. July 5th. Today is quite pleasant, yet it looks like rain. This afternoon we are going to a ball at Martin's new tavern. William has gone after Cousin Louisa. It is now two o'clock. Mr. Sexton and Ives have arrived, also W. and Lida, on their way to the ball. Mr. Cobb came about three, and, being ready, we set out for Mar- tin's. Had a fine ride, and fine company. Our ball passed off very pleasantly; all seemed bound to enjoy themselves. We got home about seven in the morning. I went to bed and slept till two o'clock. Wednesday we received a letter from father. He is now in Massa- chusetts. His health is no better as yet. July 25th. Today is Sunday. My uncle Asa's family are here, also Cousin Louisa. About two, Mr. W. and N. Cobb came, and THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 137 staid till after tea. Miss Bowe called on us just at night. We went to Mr. Clark's with her. Charles went to Vernon after Angelina. He did not get back till ten o'clock. ^\Tiile he was gone we went and took a sail on the lake. After returning to the tavern we had quite a heavy thunder shower. Miss Bowe came home with us and spent two days. Monday. The Messrs. Cobb came to board with us and cut their oats at the lake. We got done washing in the forenoon. After tea we all went to the lake. Tuesday, 27. Today Persis, Angeline, Augusta Bowe, and my- self put on bloomers, and weait a-visiting to Edward McKowan's. There were six bloomers there. We got lost in the woods coming home, and Persis was under the necessity of getting Dr. Bigelow to show us the way out. We then reached home without further trouble. Sunday, August first. This morning we went to church; in the afternoon to Hale's schoolhouse to meeting. After tea Persis, Angeline, and myself called on Mrs. Smith. Monday, 2nd. Charles has gone to take Mary and mother to Milwaukee on their way to Ohio. He brought CaUy Fowler out with him to stay two weeks. Sunday, August 8th. This afternoon Charles and Persis went and took Angeline home. Mr. W. and N. Cobb called and took tea with Cally and myself. The Cobbs will board here again this week. Tuesday, 10th. Cally and I went dow^i to Sexton's this after- noon. After we got there we went a-fishing; did not get back tUl late, so staid all night, ^^^len we got home we found Julia Ells- worth here. She staid tiU Friday night. Saturday, 14th. All the forenoon there has been a slow, misting rain. Tliis afternoon we went to the city to take Cally home. Got home about eight in the evening; foimd Persis enjoying herself with Steel. Monday, August 16th. We are now alone for the first time since mother went away. We have been washing. Charles is at Uncle Asa's. W. and N. called and took tea with us. They are going to bring their sister with them tomorrow. Wednesday, 18th. Emma Cobb is now with us. We received a letter from father. He is getting much better. We also heard from mother. She arrived at her home in Ohio safely. Sunday, 22nd. We went to a camp-meeting today, up near Babcock's. Saw Angeline, N. C, L. H., and a great many other friends. 138 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Thursday, 26. This morning we were surprised at receiving a call from our friend Minerva, whom we supposed to be in Racine. It is pleasant to meet with friends unexpectedly. Friday, Aug. 27, 1852. Persis went up to Mr. Green's with Mi- nerva this afternoon. Mr. N. C. came to bid us farewell, as he is going to start for California tomorrow. He staid and took tea with us, perhaps for the last time, though I hope he may be one of the fortunate ones, and soon return. Sunday 29. Charles went to Mr. Sexton's. L. Hale and Mr. True, from the city, called here; also Robert Ives and Jared Sexton. Monday. We attended a fimeral tbday. Mr. Goff's (?) oldest boy was killed by the kick of a horse. Wednesday, Sept. 8th. Today Persis and myself went to Vernon to attend Miss Southworth's school examination. There were a number of people present. She closed her school at three o'clock, and we all went to a swing; had fine times swinging, then went and took tea with Mrs. Hammond, after which we came home. Miss S. came with us to spend three weeks. Wednesday. Mr. Shields is here threshing. We received a letter from father, Charles one from N. Cobb. Saturday, 11th. This afternoon we went to make Mrs. Green a visit. After we had been there a while Julia Clark came with her father. About four Charles came after us, as Mrs. Vallier had come from Lake Town to see us; also Miss Sexton. Sunday. We went to see Julia Ellsworth today — came around by Sexton's. This evening the Old Gent came. Monday. VaUier's folks went home. I went to Mr. Ives's in the afternoon. Thursday, September 23, 1852. This morning about eight o'clock Mr. W. Cobb took passage on the Arctic (boimd for New York) on his way to California. His brother has now been gone three weeks. When he left here Tuesday morning we did not think it would be so long ere we should have the pleasure of again seeing him. It may be we shall never again see him or Nathan. Yet we will hope for the best, and anticipate spending many happy hours with them. September 27. Mary Sexton is with us. In the evening Jared and Ben came. Dr. Bigelow was here. Tuesday. We whitewashed the chambers. I received a letter from E. S. of Genesee. Thursday. This morning Persis went to help cousin Louisa pre- pare for a small party. We went down just after dark. It was THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 139 eight o'clock when we got there. We staid till twelve. It was some muddy, also rainy, coming home. Sunday morning, Sept. 30th. It was quite late this morning when we arose. It is a very impleasant morning — rainy and muddy. After breakfast ^^ilIiam went and took Hannah Sullivan home on horseback. When we had completed our work Ann and myself got our bonnets and were gomg to take a walk. Just as we were on the point of starting I looked up the road and saw oiu' folks coming. They have just returned from the East — they have been gone a long time — Pa about three months, and Susan two. Mary is about eight months old — she can walk by holding on to one's fingers. Pa's health is some better, though not so he is able to labor much. After thej^ had been here a while Dr. Bigelow and Mr. Hawkins came to see Pa. Weeks have flown — yes, even months — since I have wTitten a line, or even a word, in my journal. I hope it may not be so long in future. January 8th, 1853. My father's health is no better, but rather poorer than when he got back from the East. A SCHOOLMISTEESS OF 1853 January 8, 1853. I have been teaching in Mr. W. D. Peck's district four weeks. Have had thirty-four pupils. I am boarding at Mr. EUarson's — a very good boarding-place. I attended a ball at Mr. Dewey's, Christmas; went with sister and Billy. Last week I closed my school for the week on Thursday. Robert Ives came up after me. It commenced sno^\'ing that evening and snowed all night. The next day (Friday) we went to Waterford to attend a New Year's ball. There we saw Mr. Selleck. Had a grand time. Charles came from his school in Hartland and went with us; also Angeline. and Mary from jNIilwaukee. We got back to Clark's about ten o'clock. Mrs. Clark desired us to stay that evening, as she was going to give a small party. We staid, and Charles and Mr. Jolmson, our teacher, came up in the evening. We had an excellent supper and fine dance; got home about one o'clock. Went to bed and slept till nine next morning. That night Robert came and brought me up to my school, and here I am. But it is almost nine, so I must start to school. February 11th, Friday evening. Oh dear! Everything has gone wrong today; the young ones have not half got their lessons, and 140 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC such a racket and confusion as there has been all day cannot be equalled. And what a lonely, dismal day we have had. The sun has not showed its bright face since early this morning. The wind has been blowing bleak and cold. Oh for the bright, lovely days of summer, when all is gay and happy, and we can go forth in the dewy eve, and listen to many feathered songsters as they pour forth their sweet note as if in praise of the Creator of all ! I should be happy to spend this evening at home. Last week I was there but a few minutes. I staid at Mr. Clark's Saturday night, and Smiday we had such a pleasant walk. The same com- pany will never all meet again together. One of them is now gone, another is going ere long, perhaps never to return. Oh, why must friends so soon leave each other's society, where they have enjoyed many happy moments, and wander among strangers who look upon them coldly, and seem to care not what may be their fate.? Yet such is the lot of man. Saturday. This has been a lovely day. Ida went home with me Saturday night. We walked as far as Mr. Clark's, then Mr. Steele took his horse and buggy and carried us home. We found Mr. C. there. I received a letter from my schoolmate J. B. N. Sunday was a long, lonely day to me. The sun arose bright and pleasant, but soon the fair heavens were overspread with dark clouds, and before ten o'clock the snow began to fly, and continued, stopping only at short intervals, all day. Sunday evening was very cold. Mr. Johnson came and brought Ida and myself up to Mr. Morous's. We stopped at Mr. C.'s and saw Sally. Monday, Feb. 14th. This is a clear, cold day, but very pleasant. I came to school this morning quite early. There were only two pupils here. I was obliged to wait till twenty minutes past nine for them. Tuesday night. Last night we had quite a snow storm. This morning Henry yoked his oxen, and brought me to school. It has been rather a long day to me. I feel rather unwell, so everything goes wrong, of course. The sun has shone so brightly all day that our snow is almost gone. Mr. Mills is going to preach here this evening. It is rather doubtful about my attending. Wednesday noon. It is a beautiful day; the sun shines very warm and pleasant. The children are rimning arotmd and making a great racket. Some are sweeping, and some out of doors enjoying the warm sunshine. I did not attend meeting last evening, as the road was very muddy. I think I shall this evening. I must sweep my dusty schoolroom. I went to meeting this evening. Mr. Mills THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 141 preached. Going home we met Maria Van. She invited me, also Mr. C, to attend a party at their house Friday evening. Thursday it snowed all day. In the evening I came to meeting. Mr. M. did not attend, as he was quite unwell. Friday, 18th. This morning Mr. Morous brought me to school. The walking is very bad. This afternoon SaUy Arm and Amy called to see me. A few minutes after they came Mr. W. H. Wise made his appearance. He came from Waukesha, where he is attending school. Friday evening after school I went to Mr. EUarson's and took tea, then took a sleighride down to Mr. Clark's. When we got there we found the young people from the Corners there on their way to the party. Mrs. Clark's folks were almost ready. We got there a little while after dark, then went to Martin's and had a dance. Came back to IVIr. Van's and took supper, then came to Clark's and staid till morning. Saturday Clark's folks went to Milwaukee. Mr. C. and Steele and our schoolmaster, Persis, and myself went down to Sally's school. When we got there we found she was not teaching. So we all went to Hale's school, then came to INIr. Clark's. Mr. I. and Persis went home after spending the evening, but I staid, so as to come to Mr. Morous's Simday. Sally and I went to bed about twelve o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. C, did not retvu-n from the city Saturday night. Sunday morning. Sally and myself arose quite late. It was snowing very hard, and continued till ten o'clock. We took a walk to the lake, came back and read awhile, then helped Mr. C. write a letter. Sunday evening we retired at ten. Monday morning. Mr. Steele came and brought me up to school. Monday evening I came to meeting. Mr. C. and his family were here. They are going to have a small party tomorrow evening. Tuesday evening. After school I went to EUarson's, and pre- pared to go to the party. I had not been there but a few minutes when a family from Racine came. I dressed, then helped Mrs. E. get tea. After tea Mr. Steele came after me. When we got to Clark's Persis was there. We had a good time. I came back next morning in time to commence my school. Wednesday evening. I came to meeting. There were not a great many present. IVIr. C. came, and brought me two letters from brother. He called at Mr. Morous's, and staid a while. Thursday afternoon. Sallie Johnson called and staid with me in the afternoon. After school I went up to Mr. Reynolds's with her. We went and spent the evening with Miss Smith. 142 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Friday. About ten o'clock my friend F. B. came to spend the day with me. He is rather lonely; he is going to leave us Saturday or Simday and go to his home. We shall miss his society very much.^ In the afternoon Sallie and Miss Smith came. We all went to Mrs. Smith's after school and took tea, then came to meeting. From there I went home with Sallie. Saturday morning. It is very pleasant — also muddy. Sallie and myself were going to Mr. Johnson's school, but did not feel very well. Frank went, and I. and P. came and brought him home. While he was gone his brother came after him. Saturday evening. We felt as though it might be the last evening we should spend with Mr. C, We sat up till quite late. I shall not say how late it was when some of us retired. Sunday morning. How lonely it appears without; everything corresponds with our feelings. The sky is overcast with dark clouds, and aU nature seems husheid in dread repose. After break- fast our friend prepared to take his leave. Why do all look so sad.^^ It is because a dear friend is going. They went about nine o'clock. May happiness be ever his, and dear and kind friends minister to his wants, and console him in trouble and affliction, and when he is called to leave this world of trials may angels conduct him to that celestial world where all is peace and happiness, and partings are never known ! Oh, what a long day this has been! Some have been reading, some writing, and some singing. They are very kind to me, trying to make the time pass pleasantly. And all because F. B. C. is gone, they say. Our folks went home about four. Then the rest of us came to meeting. Mills took his text from the fifth chapter of Galatians, seventh and eighth verses. I rode back to Morous's with Clark. I fotmd them all well and enjoying life. Monday. Mr. M. brought me to school this morning. The mud is nearly over our shoes. I went to meeting in the evening, and thus passed the first day of the week in the sober routine of school duties. Tuesday night. This is the first day of spring. I hope it is not an emblem of the rest of the spring. If it is, I can but say: "Oh, for pleasant summer!" March 3rd. Oh, what a lovely evening! It would be pleasant to take a walk. I have been sweeping, and now my schoolroom looks very neat — ^neater than it will after meeting, I imagine. I went to my dinner today noon, and left the yoimg ones alone. It is the first time I have been home after my dinner since I came here. How happy would I be could I but see the one that I saw one week THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 143 ago tonight! But no, it is impossible. He is far away. This has been a lovely day. I saw Ida at noon at Mr. Babcock's. Thursday. This afternoon, just after school commenced, some- one came to the door and knocked. I opened it, and whom should I see but Persis ! I was surprised to see her, as I had not the least idea she would come at all. Steele came wath her. After school I went with Steele to take P. home, then came back and staid at Morous's all night. Steele spent the evening there. Friday evening. This is the pleasantest evening we have had this spring. It is a lovely evening! One week ago this evening I was with Sallie and Mr. Cram in this very room, but now they are both gone, and I am here alone. I should be very happy to see them a few moments this evening. 6 A Spring Vacation Saturday. I must close school early tonight, for I am going home. Saturday night. I walked home; stopped at the P. O. and put a letter in for A. H. Colburn. Wlien I got home I found father very sick. The rest were well. Persis and Mr. Johnson had a great deal to say about the Saturday night that we were all up to Clark's, Mr. Cram's last night in Muskego, also about galvanizing watches. Simday. Sallie Johnson and Robert called and staid with us an hour or two. Pa had a fainting fit, which frightened us very much. About two o'clock Persis and Johnson came to bring me home. I staid at Morous's all night, and it is now INIonday noon and here I am in my schoolroom. Tuesday forenoon. I arose at half past six o'clock this morning. There was every appearance of its being a pleasant day. The sun soon hid behind a dark cloud, and there it has been ever since. About four o'clock the wind began blowing at a. furious rate, and the snow came with it. Thus it continued all the evening. Wednesday. The morning is pleasant, but cold. I have not a very large number of pupils in attendance. The snow of last night is now all, or nearly all, gone. I must close school as early as pos- sible and go to Mr. Morous's and do some wasliing. I expect my friend Johnson up to see me this evening. Thursday noon. I went home last night and went to washing. I received a letter from a very dear friend. I was very happy to receive it. I hope I may have the pleasure of seeing the writer ere long. Mr. J. went home about nine o'clock. 144 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Thursday afternoon. Mr. and Mrs. Burritt called and staid with me an hour or two. Thursday evening after school I staid and swept my schoolroom. Going home I met Mr. Sexton and Mary E, Taylor. They were going to Cole's. After tea Ida called to see me. When she went home Morous went a part of the way with her. After she went I did my ironing. Friday noon. This morning I arose late — did not get to school till a few miuutes before nine. Tomorrow I am going to Hartland with Persis and Johnson. Tuesday. Last Friday night I staid at Mr. Babcock's. Satur- day morning arose quite early and went to Mr. EUarson's to prepare for going to Hartland. I dressed, then helped Fynette get her work out of the way. Mrs. E. went down to the Drought neighborhood to quarterly meeting. I had got the work all done and sat down to sewing, when Mr. Johnson and sister came. We got to Waukesha about noon. We had not been there long when I looked out and saw Charles coming. We were glad to be saved the journey of going to Hartland in the mud. After dinner I went to the bookstore and purchased some books and tickets for my scholars. About two o'clock we started for SaylesvUle. Charles and Mr. Wicks went with us. We had a pleasant ride, though a very muddy one. It was nearly four when we got to Mr. Bartholomew's. We came by the way of Mr. Cram's to have F. go with us, but he was gone. I like Mrs. B. very much. She is very lively — ^looks much like her brother Smith. Sunday we went out and took a walk on the hills that boimd Saylesville on the south; had a very pleasant time. We went back and took dinner, then started for Muskego. When shall we have the pleasure of again seeing Mr. Johnson.? His school is now out, and he has left us. We came as far as Mukwonago, and stopped and warmed, then came as far as Martin's, where we met Sallie. Charles and Persis staid the evening, then went home. I staid aU night. In the morning S. went to her school. I wrote a letter to F. in answer to his of last week. Then Steele brought me to EUarson's. I changed my dress and called on Ida, came back, and staid at Mr. Babcock's all night. 7 School Again, and Twenty Tuesday. I am in school once more — have only nineteen pupils today. Tuesday evening I washed some. After I had got done Ida, Betsy, and Miss Weir called and spent the evening with me. THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 145 Wednesday, March 16th. This is my birthday. I am now twenty. How differently am I situated from what I was one year ago toda3\ Michael Post started for the gold region. Where shall I be one year from this day.^ None but the great Ruler of all can tell. In the afternoon Ida came to see me. After school I swept, then we sat down and chatted till sundown, and then went to Mr. Morous's and spent the evening. Thursday. Mrs. Babcock has gone to see her daughter. I must go and get tea for Mr. B. tliis evening. Thursday. Oh dear! What a long daj' this has been! I wash school was out. This has been the warmest day of spring so far. Miss Clara Cole just came and called at the door a moment. I wish I could see Jimmy and his sister. Oh dear, I feel like a fooll Thursday evening. About three o'clock the heavens became over- cast with clouds, and everything had the appearance of an approach- ing storm. I was obliged to stay with one of my pupils after school till nearly five. By that time the rain was falling in large drops. I imagine she had a pleasant walk home. I went to Mr. B.'s and got tea for him, and then washed the dishes and went to knitting. He went to prayer meeting, and left me alone. I had a lonely time of it. All I could hear was the monotonous sound of the rain falling on the roof. I was obliged to sing " They have given her to another " to keep from being too lonely. If Jirmny had only stopped in just then we would have had a social time. Friday eve. This morning I arose quite early and prepared break- fast. Just after sunrise Mr. Virgil Cobb and Miss Julia Ellsworth passed by on their way home from Martin's sugar party. I washed the dishes, made the beds, swept, and attended to numerous other household duties, then combed my hair, and prepared to come to school. Mr. Mills called when I was washing dishes. Thursday evening. School would close now for tonight, but the geography class have not their lessons. There sits a girl, cramming her mouth full of small stones. I shall be rather lonely when I leave my scholars, which will be in a week, and a few days. I have passed many pleasant hours with them. My children have now got their lessons. I will close school for today, then sweep and go to Mr. Babcock's and do my ironing, and see if She has returned; if not I will be obliged to get tea again. Saturday morning. I almost imagined when I arose this morning that summer was once more with us, with her warm, sunshiny days and bright, beautiful flowers. I came to school at eight o'clock this morning, and wrote a letter to Mrs. Bartholomew. I am going 10 146 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC home tonight after school. Last night I staid here at the school- house till sundown. When I got to Mr. B.'s I had to make a fire and go to gettmg tea. When it was partly ready, She came. After tea I ironed, and then retired. I have a very small number of pupils today. It seems rather lonesome. The mud keeps them at home. No wonder! Monday morning. This is a pleasant morning. I arose early and came to my school again. Found everything as I left them. Saturday night I went home, Sunday, came back, stopped at Mr. Clark's and took tea, got to Mr. Babcock's after dark, read a story, then went to bed. Tuesday evening. Last night I staid at Mr. Muckey's. Was much amused to hear Mr. M. tell his stories. Mr. Clark called to see me this morning. Tuesday evening I called on Ida; found she had a beau, so I went up to see Sarah Smith; found Maria Vander- walker with her. We had a very good visit. Sat up till eleven o'clock. Wednesday evening. This morning I arose and pulled Sarah and Maria out of bed about a dozen times, then left them to their own destruction, and went and combed my hair. Lucien fastened S. into the bedroom, so it made her breakfast late. It was five minutes to nine when I started for school. When I got here a num- ber of my pupils were assembled around the door. I unlocked the door and came in. The room was very cold. I sent after some fire, then went out and picked up some chips, and had a good fire in a short time. When I commenced school it was half past nine. I shall keep them half an hour this noon. This morning I saw Mr. Hibbard from Troy. He was passing, and something was said in sport about calling him in, when Lucien stuck his head out of the door and told him the girls wanted to see him. He came in. We ran into the other room, but he came in and sat down, and we were obliged to come out and see him. He sat a few minutes and took his leave. I became acquainted with him at a Christmas ball at Dewey's. Thursday morning. Last evening Mr. Steele came after me to go to Mr. Clark's and spend the night. Mr. Reymert's folks came, also Mr. Martm's, and Reynolds's. There I was, with the married people! I enjoyed myself well, however. We had supper about ten o'clock, then cleared the table and danced awhUe. They sent Jolm Clarke after Ida, but she would not come. The Captain was very much disappointed. Friday. Last evening when I had got nearly done sweeping, Ida THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 147 and Betsy Cole called on me and staid about an hour, then B. went home, and Ida and myself staid here tUl sundown. I then went part way with her, came back, and went to stay with Mrs. Ellarson all night. We had some warm sugar, which was very nice. Friday afternoon. Persis and Sallie and Mrs. Reynolds have just left me. They were going to the river, and are going to call for me when they come back. Shall I go.'* I hardly know what to say about it. If I do, I will not teach tomorrow. Monday. Friday night I went to Clark's with P. and Sally, and staid there till today. P. went home Saturday morning. I helped Mrs, C. mend in the forenoon. In the afternoon we went to the Bend. Stopped at Dr. Putnam's and ate some warm sugar as we were returning. We got home about seven o'clock — found Mr. Graves there. I finished Mrs. C.'s sacque, then retired. Sun- day Sallie and myself arose and took a walk do^Ti to the lake before breakfast, which gave us a good appetite. Sunday afternoon, Sallie and myself got Dr. Bigelow to let us take his horse. He went and harnessed and brought him to the door, and away we went down the road toward Reymert's. Sallie held the reins, and I the whip, which I had to use frequently; so much that my arm is lame today. We went just below Elliott's, and then concluded to go and see my folks. We turned off of the plank, and away we went through the mud. The Old Doctor was determined not to hurt himself by going fast, so he moped along at the alarming rate of a mile in ten hours. We got through the mud without any serious injury, and arrived at home about four o'clock. Persis was at Uncle Asa's, so we went up there, taking Charles with us. We took tea there, then came back. Our horse came back good. We walked down to John McKowan's in the evening, came back, and went to bed. Monday night. This morning Steele came and brought me up. There was no fire, but I soon made one. Monday evening. I took tea with Mrs. Burritt, then went and spent the night at Mr. Morous's. Tuesday morning, March 30th. This morning when I awoke my throat was so sore I could hardly speak. It is some better now, although quite bad. This is the last day of school for this winter. 8 At Home Sunday, April 10th. It has been a long, long time since I have written a word in my journal. The day after my school closed I 148 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC was taken sick, and have been so ever since. My ear began to pain me in the morning, and continued till night, when it began to discharge matter. When I got home they steamed my ear, which made it feel some better. Saturday Mr. Johnson came to see us. I could not enjoy myself any — was obliged to keep my bed a part of the time. Sunday Persis went down to Ives's to commence her school on Monday morning, which she has taken for the term of three months. Friday evening, April 8th, Sarah Reynolds came just after dark to make us a visit. Saturday General Strut came from Waukesha. As soon as he came we sent him after Persis. She seems much pleased with her school. We were all seated on the - floor in the kitchen Saturday evening when some one came and rapped at the door. We hustled about and got up — opened the door, and there was our dear friend Frank and Mr. Steele. If I had been well I should have had a fine time. Sunday, about noon, Sarah bid us farewell, perhaps forever. This week she is going to Ohio with Clarke. I hope we may meet again. We have passed many pleasant hours together during the past winter. How often shall I recall to memory the happy hours we have spent together. At two o'clock F. went home. When shall we see him again .^ Perhaps never. Life is one continual scene of— but I cannot write any more now; my ear pains me so much. Monday. I did the housework while S. washed. It commenced raining in the evening — rained all day Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday. This morning when I arose everything without was covered with snow. It looked dreary enough. About noon the sun began to shine rather warm, which soon sent the cold snow from the face of the earth. How lonely it seems here to have Persis absent. I wish I could see her tonight. Friday evening, 6 o'clock. Another long day has passed into eternity. How slowly time passes to me. I am here all alone with our folks, and not a soul has been here this week. Father's health has been miserable, which renders it more unpleasant. My school has been out almost three weeks; it seems more like three months. Persis has now been teaching two weeks. I wonder if she will come home tomorrow. It has now clouded up, and has every appearance of a storm. I hope it may not rain again so soon. I should like to be placed in California for a few minutes this evening, and have a chat with our friend Michael Post. It is very likely he would like to see someone from the town of Muskego again. I will not write any more tonight. My head pains me some — on account of my ear, no doubt. Will it ever get well.^ THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 149 Sunday, April 17th. I have been out to Vernon today to see Angeline. It was about noon when we got there — found Mr. Web- ster's folks pretty well. We took a walk up to the schoolhouse where Ann is going to teach this summer. Tea wa,s ready when we returned, so we sat down and drank it, then prepared to come home. Charles would not come home without Ann, so she came with us. We arrived at home just dark. Monday, 18. Today I helped wash — the first washing I have done in a long time. I was very tired when we got through. I went to bed and had a nap, which rested me some. After tea Mr. Cobb called to see father. Tuesday, 19. My ear pains me a considerable yet. I don't know as it is ever going to get well. S. is cleaning and whitewas.hing her bedroom this forenoon. This afternoon Angeline and I went up to see Aunt Hannah. Charles came about three o'clock to take A. home. I staid till after tea, then called to see Aunt Nancy. She was well, and glad to see me. After I had been home a while Charles brought me a sweet little book from the Center P. O. which my friend Frank had the kindness to send me. It is very pretty. Wednesday evening, April 20th. This is a beautiful evening, though there are some appearances of rain. We have been cleaning house today. I am very weary. My head feels very bad, also. I received another letter from Mr. C. today. I did not expect it. I should be happy to see him this evening, and Persis, too. She has not been at home in a long time. Pa is no better. I fear he never will be more. We must trust in Providence. 9 A Busy Season Thursday, 21st. We have got our kitchen cleaned today — got through about tlu-ee o'clock. Robert called after his papers. I sent a line to Persis by him. How dreary everytliing without ap- pears ! I think we are going to get a shower. The rumbling thunder may be heard at short intervals in the west, and ever and anon a flash of lightning crosses our sight. There, the rain begins to patter against my window thick and fast! Friday. This forenoon I ironed; in the afternoon trimmed my bonnet. After tea I went up to Mr. Morous's to see about taking that school, but found it engaged. I got home about eight. I then wrote a letter to my friend B. F. C. Saturday. This is a cold, windy mornmg. C. D. has gone to Hartland. I washed the dishes, churned, and attended to numerous 150 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC other household duties, then went to see Persis. I expected to find her in her school, but did not. She was up to Sexton's. Robert went up after her. It commenced raining just before dark, Sunday 24th. "VVlien I awoke the first thing I did was to pull the curtain aside to see if it had done stormmg. The ground was covered with snow, and it was storming for certain, and continued to storm all day Simday till four o'clock. Monday, April 25th. The sun was shming brightly when we got up. Persis and myself got breakfast. Mrs. Ives was sick. We washed the dishes, then Robert took us down to Drought's to see if I could get their school. The clerk was gone — ^his father said he would come up to Ives's and see me when he got back, but he did not. I visited P.'s school. After school was out we went to Mr. Ives's and took tea. Then Robert harnessed his horses and brought me home. Tuesday. We washed. Wednesday. Charles and I went to a funeral at our schoolhouse. Mr. Smith's brother was buried. It is supposed he starved himself to death. He said, "Christ fasted forty days, and he would do the same." He has been sick all the spring; he said he wanted to die, when someone was persuading him to eat. Poor fellow is now at rest in the peaceful grave. When we got home I found a letter from my Aunt Helen. Also one from Angeline. I was very happy to hear from Aunt. Thursday. What a day this has been — ^rain, rain, rain, every five minutes aU day! I have been cleaning the chambers, filling straw ticks, cording bedsteads, etc. Pa has not been as well today. Friday, 29th. Charles and I went to Milwaukee today — found it very cold going in, but warmer coming home. I bought me a dress, silk apron, etc., etc. Saturday. I arose early, and mopped the chambers, the dining- room floor, and got my work out of the way, then went after Miss Bowe, our teacher. I stopped at Mr. Vandeworkers, and Maria went the rest of the way with me. We arrived at the Prairie about one, staid tUl Miss B. got ready, then took our homeward road — arrived at JVIr. Whitcome's at three, when Miss B. was obliged to stop and get inspected. We took tea there, and did not get started home till simdown. It was dark when we got to our journey's end. Sunday, May first. This has been a very cold, windy day. Persis and Robert came about noon. We aJl went down to Dr. Ellsworth's for a ride in the afternoon. Monday. We did a large washing, I made my silk apron, etc. THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 151 Tuesday, May 3rd. This morning after washing dishes I did some whitewashing, and Susan cleaned the woodshed. After dinner I went to sewing on my dress. Aunt Nancy called to see us, and staid about an hour. Father is now quite sick, worse than he has been before. Charles is also quite unwell — has a sore throat and a severe headache, I trust it is caused by a cold and he will feel better in the morning. Wednesday. It has rained all day without cessation, and is now raining hard. I received a letter from Nancy Finch toda\', which informs me that she is now in Iowa. Thursday, and Friday. Rain, rain, rain — that is all I can say about these two days. IMay 18th. It has been almost three weeks since I have ^Titten in my journal. A week ago last Sunday Charles and I went to see Persis. We foimd her quite unwell, so the next day, after washing, Pa said I had better go and take her place a week. Monday evening I went do^-n, and she came home. Tuesday I went into her school — there were but six pupils there. Wednesday, Thomas T., Robert, Henry Drought, and John Hay called and spent a part of the afternoon with me. Friday, Mary Sexton came to see me, and staid the night. Saturday, Mr. Hill was at school, also Miss Sexton and Hay. We took tea at ]Mr. Roe's, after which we went to the lake. Came back to Sexton's, and Robert wished me to stay there, so he could go a-fishing. He went, and was caught out on the lake in a thunder-shower — got wet as possible, and came home. Simday morning I went back to Ives's — found Mrs. I. quite imwell. Sunday eve R. and myself took a walk up to the grave- yard. Monday morning I got up and got breakfast. Mrs. I. not being able, I did the work, then went to school. There were eight- een little hrats around the door when I got there. Monday eve P. came back to her school. She brought me a couple of letters — one from Sallie, and one from R. A. Campbell. Tuesday we washed. Wednesday. Susan is very unwell today. I have been to work hard all day. She has taken some pills tonight. I hope she may feel better tomorrow. Friday. Mrs. Hale and her daughter called and spent the after- noon with us. Robert brought Persis home just before dark. Saturday, 21st. Persis and myself, also Miss Bowe, went to Milwaukee; took our one-horse wagon and drove for ourselves. We got there safe about noon. We went out and did our trading, then came back to the Tremont house after our horse. They would not 152 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC let us have him till we had given them a dollar — for four quarts of oats, and a pie. Monday. I went and took P. down to her school. We called at Sexton's, and the first person we saw was Jared. I was very glad to see him: I have not seen him before since last fall. Wednesday. Mrs. Green spent the afternoon with us. I went home with her and staid all night. I received a letter from Mr. Johnson. John B. Nicholson is teaching our school. Frank C. has been teaching at Hartland, but has now gone home. Chas. S. Canright called here yesterday. He has been up north for the past four years. Robert Ives has been here today — he brought a letter from Mary Sexton. Sunday, 29th May, 1853. Charles and I went down to Ives's, and from there to the Drought schoolhouse to meeting. We came back to I.'s and took dinner, then came up to Sexton's and stopped to see J. and Ben. We came home just in time to avoid a heavy thunder-shower. Monday. C. and Susan went to the city, and did not get home till late. Tuesday, May 31st. I have just returned from the lake. I went and had a boat-ride with Persis, and Mary S., J. and B., and R. I. B. accompanied me home. He is going to start for Michigan again Thursday. 10 A Death, and Two Marriages Sunday, Feb. 12th, 1854. A very long time has elapsed since I last wrote on these pages, and under very different circumstances do I now write. My father has gone to his last resting-place. He died the 17th of June last. My brother and sister were married the 9th of November. I have lived with Persis the most of the time this winter. I kept house for her the week before last. She had gone to Fond du Lac on a visit. When she came back Mr. Van Deren came with her. The second time I saw him he asked me to sit up with him, and also wanted me to consent to go to Eden with him; but I told him I would rather not. We have had good sleighing for about a month and a half — something very uncommon for Wisconsin. Everything seems to say we shall soon lose all the snow which now covers the ground. It is quite warm, and puddles of water are to be seen standing in the road and elsewhere. I have been writing THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 153 to my friend Augusta H. Colburn today. I also wrote a few lines to Obed Russell in John's letter. I must go down stairs and eat supper, then wash the dishes, read some, and go to bed. I have been rather lonely today. Monday. Today is washing day. After noon, went upstairs and read in "Prairie Bird" till dark. This is an excellent book describ- ing the manners and customs of the Indians. We also listened to some of it read by J. B. Nicholson in the evening. Tuesday. This has been a very stormy day — wind in the north- east, and snow flying like fury. WTien the mail came it brought me a letter from my friend SaUie. She was in fine spirits. I answered her that same evening. Wednesday. Charles went to Milwaukee with a load of hay. I started to go with him, but it was so cold I made Hattie and Laura a visit instead. Got home about eight that night. Thursday. Persis came about noon, and soon Mrs. Webster came, staid till night, then took Ann home with her. Persis went and made Aunt Hannah a visit. When she came back I went a part of the way home with her, and had a pleasant walk back. Friday. This has been an extremely cold day, but in spite of the cold Susan, myself, and Persis went and made Mrs. Law a visit. WhUe we were gone Henry Peck's folks came to see us. We got home about dark. Got C. and J. their supper, then I began to read in "Prairie Bird," in which I was interrupted by Robert, who had come after me to go to a party at Mr. Veeder's. We had a fine time, of course, dancing and playing. Got home about daylight, and went to bed and slept till ten o'clock, got up and swept and mopped, then combed my hair and changed my dress. Mr. and Mrs. Ives are below, so I must go, too. After tea I went up to the schoolhouse with C, who went to draw a load of wood. After com- ing home, I finished reading "Prairie Bird." Sundaj^ morning. This is a bright, beautiful morning. The sun shines so brightly that destruction seems inevitable to the pure and inoffensive snow. Before night the weather may change, and a storm ensue, and good sleighing will of course be the consequence. I wanted to go and see Persis this afternoon, but Charles wanted to see Ann so badly that he fixed up and started on short notice. I have been looking for Sallie some this morning, but of course she won't come if I want to see her. I have been melting snow to wash with tomorrow, and I must go and get more. 154 THE INDIAN STREAM BEPUBLIC 11 A Social Season Monday evening. I have left them downstairs, and come for the purpose of spending a few minutes in writing. I am very tired, as is usual after washing. This has been a lovely day — appeared very much like spring; in fact, it is almost spring. We will not be likely to get much more cold weather. Charles was getting wood today, and by accident cut one of the horses in the liind foot. It bled very much, but he succeeded at last in stopping it. Last even- ing after Charels and Ann came, John and I went to see Persis. We found her well. She brought us some nuts, which we cracked and ate. While we were there Mr. Van Deren called. He had been to see Mrs. Kirkendall, and got the — (here the outline of a mitten) — ^too, I should judge by his looks. He looked very lemoncholy. Poor fellow! I hope he may succeed in getting someone to accom- pany him back to Eden. If he does not I am sure it will not be any fault of his. Next Wednesday night the ball is to come off at Martin's. I presume there are a great many anticipating good times. They will not be disappointed for Martin always gets up good dances. Another tiling — he has quite a large hall, which is very nice. Tuesday evening. This afternoon I ironed. About two o'clock, Jary and Persis, Robert and Uncle Frank from Hartland came. Monday my old man started for Eden. Oh dear! I feel very lonely now. Wednesday. This has the appearance of being a very pleasant day — no cloud to be seen, and when the sun appears with his broad rays it will be quite warm and springlike. Thursday evening. The dance came off as anticipated. There were a great many present. We had a good supper, good dance, etc. When we got home it was seven o'clock. Ann and I went to bed and slept till twelve, then got up and bathed and combed our hair. George Green came and staid till after tea. Friday. Ann and I went up to Mr. Green's, and while we were there Mrs. Hawkins and Post came. Saturday. Today Jolm has gone to Hartland. Mr. Peck's folks came and spent the afternoon with us. Monday. After washing we sat down to our sewing, in which we were interrupted by the arrival of friend Sallie. She had come after me, and go I must. While she was still teasing, Robert came and gave us an invite to a party he was going to have the following THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 155 night, so of course I could not possibly go to Clark's. After Sallie had gone John and mj^self went down to see Persis. We had a very pleasant time. Tuesday. Charles and Susan went to IVIilwaukee, and did not get back till seven. We got supper for him, and then dressed for the party. Charles fussed around so we did not get started tUl almost nine. Pretty time of night to go to a party. The roads were quite bad, and we ran smash up against a stump and broke the wagon, so, take things all rornid, we didn't get to the party till nearly ten. But after we did get there we had a good old time. Dan Warner played for us. The young people from Jenniags's were all there; they invited us to go and see them the following Friday night, which we agreed to do. Friday. About five o'clock we started for Jennings's. \M]at roads we did have! Mud, mud, mud! We got through it slowly, and at last reached the edge of Howard's prairie, when we met Robert coming back. He said the water was so high across the road he was afraid to go on. We had quite a confab over it, in which the worthies that were present gave their different opinions. Some were for going back home, and others for going ahead. Charles was for the latter, so we started with the determination of going through the water at any rate. When we arrived at the airjul place, we found the water up to the hubs of our wagon, but got along with- out any trouble, and in the course of fifteen mmutes were safely seated in the home of Dr. Jennings. They seemed glad to see us; had given up hopes of our coming that night. We sat and got warm, and then commenced the doings of the evening, or rather night. The first thing was dancing, and then were passed aromid refresh- ments. I thuik the next operation was rolling the platter; then a game of euchre; then followed another dance, and some more kiss- ing plays came next in order, in which there was a great 'participa- tion. I can safely say I kissed the boys all I wished to. I don't remember what came next, but there is one thing I do remember, it was daylight when we kissed and parted; and another thing — it was nine when we got home. We all enjoyed ourselves very much, which I am sure no one could fail to do when in the company of such agreeable, polite, and friendly people as are the Jenningses. I think very much of the young gents — Wallace and Isaac. Saturday evening, March 4th. Surely it is now March. How swiftly time flies! It hardly seems half the length of a year since last March, when I was engaged with young ones in school district no. 6. Yet it is even so — another year has passed into eternity. I 156 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC hardly know whether to call this a pleasant evening or not. The wind blows rather cold, but still it looks rather pleasant to see the last red rays of Old Sol as they are taking leave of us for another night. Wm. Wise came to see us this forenoon, and is coming to spend the night with us. He went dowTi to see Persis this afternoon. The sun has entirely disappeared in the west, which renders it rather dark in my room — and another thing, my eyes feel as though some one had been putting sand in them. I have slept but little today, after last night's spree. Tomorrow is Sunday, and what shall I do to busy myself with? Oh, I suppose it will be, arise very late, make the beds, help wash dishes, comb my hair, read some, and maybe write a letter; then go down stairs, help get supper, wash the dishes, talk a while, read a while, and go to bed^and sleep awhile. Sunday evening, 4 o'clock. As I expected last night, I arose late this morning, and after doing up the work read newspapers till after dinner. William has just left for Oak Creek, where he is teaching. This morning it was so very pleasant one would have supposed it could not so soon become cloudy, but now it looks very much like rain. Changeable weather we have in Wisconsin, When Charles was in Milwaukee he heard of the death of Mrs. Vallier. I did not think it was for the last time that I saw her last spring. It is even so; she has gone, and left four children to mourn her loss. That she may enjoy pure happiness in a future state is the wish of her friend. Sunday evening, 8 o'clock, March 5th. John B, Nicholson and myself have been upstairs for the past hour talking over old times, and have been wondering where we should be one year from this day. We have agreed to write to each other wherever we may be just a year from today, I presume he will forget it, however, as he is a very forgetful gent, and seldom keeps any promises he happens to make. Monday, 6th. We washed as usual — had company also. Persis and Harriet Sexton came up with Jary when he went to mill. Tuesday evening. It has been growing cold all day, and now the wind is blowing hard from the northeast. Thursday eve. I have just come from Uncle Asa's. It is some muddy, I reckon. We have been making soap today. How much it looks like rain tonight! It has been cloudy all day. How happy I should be to see our friends the Jenningses this evening! 1 have not seen so pleasant a family in a long time. If it is so I can, I will go and spend a few dajs with them this spring or summer. Friday morning. Ann and mj-self went down to see Persis. We THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 157 had only just taken our things off when Wallace came. I was very happy to see him. He staid till four o'clock, promising to come again next . William Sexton came from the north while we were there — brought me a philipena from Mr. Van Deren. Saturday I went up to Mr. Morous's, and Sunday went to meet- ing. It really seemed like old times to get up and comb my hair and start for that schoolhouse where I have spent many an hour. After coming home Sunday evening John and I took a walk and talked of bygone days. 12 The Spring of 1854 Monday evening. This morning I put on a quUt, and have just finished it. We boiled some sap today, and made some warm sugar, which we all enjoyed very much. Mr. and Mrs. Law have been here today to make us a visit. The rain may now be heard patter- ing against my window pane. How softly it falls, and stands in large glistening drops upon every bush and blade of grass, as if con- scious of the need of its refreshing warmth to bring back to life each inanimate shrub! Wednesday evening. Today I received a letter from Cousin Louisa, also one from Miss Colburn. I have just written five pages to L. I guess she will be interested while perusing them. Last Sat- urday James Bovial left his eartlily home to seek one above. The disease was one that originated from that fell destroyer, intemper- ance. How could one so young and intelligent be made the slave of intoxicating drink! For the past two years he was frequently seen putting the fatal cup to his lips, and draining the poison from it. Now, alas! he has gone to answer for all misdeeds committed here below. This ought to be a fearful warning for those that are in the habit of indulging in the glass of whiskey, brandy, or any other spirituous liquor. Those that attended his funeral said his father and micle were both under the influence of strong drink. What a sight, to see a father staggering over the grave of his child ! How seared and hardened must have become that heart which once yearned toward that son with a father's love! Yet such is thy influ- ence, thou demon rum! Friday noon. Yesterday I went down to see Persis; found her quite well. In the afternoon we went over to Welch's. I came home about dark. I was very tired. Today C. went to Milwaukee. Ann and I went down to see Mrs. Smith. 158 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Saturday we went to the city to see Uncle Tom played. It was grand. Sunday we went down to Jerry's — Wallace came to see me. Mon- day eve I went to the Ives schoolhouse to meeting. E. Guile ac- companied me home. Tuesday, March 28, 1853 [4]. I have just returned from Uncle Asa's, and read a letter from friend Sarah. This morning John went home. His school closed Saturday, and Simday we went to Dr. Jennings's and had a very pleasant time. Got home about noon Monday. Mrs. Thomas Taylor was buried today. One by one the creatures of earth are passing away. For nearly three years, the journal is silent. On October 28, 1854, its writer was married to Mr. Nathan Cobb, whose name appears often in 1852 and 1853. Death separated them after less than two years, and before the birth of Euclid Nathan Cobb. 13 A Marriage, and a Death December 25th, 1856. Another Christmas morning has dawned upon us, and "merry" will it be for some, but not for me. I cannot forget the dear one that made merry the past Cliristmas, and who is now gone, never, never to return. Why was it so.^ How could it be? One so young! What pleasure is there in this world.'* One moment happiness may smile upon us, and the next, Oh, how dark and shadowed will be our path; not one bright spot in the future ! Thursday, January 1st, 1857. Another year is with those that were. One year ago I had a pleasant home and a dear compan'.on; but he has gone, and Oh, how dreary does seem the future! Would that I were with him! I am weary, weary of living alone in this cold, selfish world.* I know that I shall die; and Oh, beloved, Chide me not if o'er thy heart I send The echoes of that voice which I have long III silence heard. *The verses that follow are found in another part of this journal. Nothing is said of their authorship, or of the circumstances of their transcription. THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 159 I would have been the sunshine o'er thy path, But such was not my lot. The light must fade, The tones thou lovest linger not. I die Ere the young freshness of our love hath flown ; I die, and thou wilt he on earth alone! There is strange music in the air, and tones Upon the twilight breeze, and voices heard In midnight dreams, for those who early die; I would that we had earlier met, Dear friend, that all the sunshine of my first Young dreams were poured on thee, for now my love Hath caught that settled sadness wliich deep love On earth must ever wear. Thou wUt remember me? I know thou wilt; Thou wilt sit here, perchance where we recline. Beneath the shade of vines which I have reared, And the sweet flower-scent will go floating by. Blent with the mournful memories of the past. Yet do not weep, but think of me as one Whose heart was like the restless, moaning wave, Which frets itself to peace — whose love was all Too deep for bliss on earth, and who above Will watch in anxious ministry thy step. Lay me to rest in that lone, lovely spot Which I have loved, and o'er my grave plant flowers; Let not the funereal willow wave above; I would remmd thee, by all happy things, Of him thou loved and lovest; and sometime come To that sweet spot and think of me. 14 The Year 1857 The life of the months following is filled with sober and matronly duties and diversions. The writer of the journal washes, irons, dresses her brother's children, mops, bakes "pieplant pies, a cream pie, and rice pudding," has "pudding and milk for dinner" after 160 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC a hard forenoon's work, and "biscuit toast" for supper, or has "codfish and rice for dinner, and bread and butter and apple sauce for supper," or dines out on the way home from the city on "green peas and a first rate apple pie." She works in the yard, cleans the kitchen, sews carpet rags, puts carpets down, knits, "combs her hair," "helps Charles clean up his wheat," or rakes hay upon occasion, with the aid of friendly passers-by, who make the work over into mere socia- bility. She tells of electioneering by Charles, and of his "settling up town business" in his capacity of chairman. On March 19 she gets her "likeness" taken in the city. She loses her California pin, which she values very much, not for itself, but " only on the giver's account." •In April she is at a neighbor's, and is "treated to some lager beer, " evidently a novelty. On the fifteenth of the same month, she hears "the report of cannon as we were coming, and learned from Charles that it was for the first train passing over the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railway. " She goes to sewing society, reads "Dred," and learns to play two or three tunes on the melodeon. She reads the "Life of Josephine," and "Retribution," and " The Wanderer, " and "Hid- den Path," and Godey's Lady Book, and the Ledger. She doesn't like "The Wanderer." "It isn't very interesting to me," she says, "as its characters have all the trouble imaginable, and no sunshine." She sees the comet. "It is said the approaching comet has a great efi^ect upon the weather. Some as- tronomers say it is going to come into collision with the earth the 13th of June. Maybe it will." But it didn't: "it passed on its way, and left the world and us to pursue ours." She wasn't much frightened by the astronomers; four days before the predicted ca- THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC 161 lamity she and Ann "rigged up some hoops" after they finished washing. On September first "Charles has been to the city, got home about ten. Sumner (his Kttle boy) went up to the bee-hives to make playfellows of the bees, and they took offence and stung him all over his head and face; also some on his hands and feet. Ann went to get them, when they pitched at her. She feels 'most sick tonight." The next day "Ann is too unwell to do anything this forenoon," so the keeper of the journal does her work for her. 15 Hiram Showerman This is the last day recorded in the journal. On Wednesday, September 2nd, 1857, the sober, old- fashioned writing ceases. On August 19, 1857, thirteen days before the last date which appears in it, the writer records that when she got home it was nine, and that Mr. Tew was there. Nine days afterward, on the 28th, "Mr. Tew came last evening"; and on the 29th he came again. Mr. Tew was an old friend of Hiram Showerman, who was then station agent for the Milwaukee and Missis- sippi Railway at Brookfield, sixteen miles north of Muskego. It was through Mr. Tew, at some time during the following twelvemonth, that Mr. Showerman and Ellen Parker Cobb first met. They were married on March 13, 1859, and resided in Brookfield, where the former died on July 26, 1884. Ellen Parker Shower- man died in Madison, Wisconsin, iVugust 26, 1910. Both are at rest in Prairie Home cemetery at Wauk- esha, Wisconsin. 11 162 THE INDIAN STREAM REPUBLIC Our Fair Wisconsin There's nothing like Wisconsin, So fair on every side, Her woods and white-oak openings, Her prairies spreading wide, Her island groves, her shining rills. The blossoms on her sunny hills — Ah, there's nothing like Wisconsin, Our wild Wisconsin home ! There's nothing like Wisconsin In winter or in spring. When the bright green decks the poplar trees, And all the glad birds sing, Or when dim suns haste through the skies, And snow upon the prairie lies — Ah, there's nothing like Wisconsin, Our wild Wisconsin home! You'll not find brighter summers In any southern land, When the Indian com is rustling In the prairie breezes bland: When berries glisten in each glade. Or ripen in the forest shade — Ah, there's nothing like Wisconsin, Our wild Wisconsin home! There's nothing like Wisconsm In the Indian summer days. When the distant hills are faintly seen Through blue and smoky haze. When the hunters through the forest roam. And wUd birds seek a southern home — Ah, there's nothing like Wisconsin, Our wUd Wisconsin home! * ♦This poem, of unknown authorship, was written in the same book that contained the ioumal. PART THREE THE REPORT OF THE INDIAN STREAM COMMISSIONERS 1836 [From an original print in possession of the New Hampshire Historical Society.] PLAN OF THE SOURCES OF Reierencea 'A" N£ Corner of the suae made by the conmisswrurs m JlSS ^ .. from. A to B part of Utu. run by sau-d commissioners. ^ 4'i'''