THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY 977 228 P?/h mOggm A HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY, INDIANA BY HAZEN HAYES PLEASANT, A. M. PROFESSOR IN CENTRAL NORMAL COLLEGE DANVILLE, INDIANA WM. MITCHELL PRINTING COMPANY GREENFIELD, INDIANA 1926 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://archive.org/details/historyofcrawforOOplea 977. 2 r ^ ! TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTEE I 1 Early History of Crawford County Size of the County — Boundary — Original Town- ships — Named After — First County Seat — Early Settlers — Famous Cases. CHAPTER II 30 Early History of Fredonia When Settled— Seat of Justice There— What Thorn Gave — Early Settlers of Fredonia. CHAPTER III 48 Settlement of the Town of Leavenworth After Whom Named — Early Settlers of the Town — Leavenworth Manufacturing Company — Leavenworth Seminary — County Seminary — County Seat There — Town Government. CHAPTER IV 71 The County in the Twenties Old Method of Doing Business — Many New Laws — Leavenworth Early Mills — Early Elec- tions in Crawford — Census of 1820. CHAPTER V 87 The County in the Thirties Odd Way of Doing Business — New Law in Re- gard to County Business — Leavenworth Arena Started — Business in the Thirties. CHAPTER VI 103 The County in the Forties Campaign of 1840 — County Seat Fight — Moved by Law — Liberty Township Made — Boone Town- ship Made — Tax Rate — Board of Review First Formed — Magnolia Settled. iii 635395 TABLE OP CONTENTS— Continued CHAPTER VII 120 Alton Alton Settled — Early Election at Alton in 1848 — Alton After the War— The Hollcrofts— Peckin- paugh, Harrison and Co. CHAPTER VIII 128 Early Roads in the County Governor's Old Trail — Jasper Road — Leaven- worth and Paoli Road — Leavenworth and Salem Road — Report on Road Funds — Road Districts — Fredonia and Alton Road. CHAPTER IX 139 Roaring Fifties Seminary Interest — Trade on the River — Wyan- dotte Cave Found — Methodist and Presbyterian Churches — New Poor House — Scott Township and Crawford. CHAPTER X 150 Other Towns of the County Early Settlers of English — Big Springs — Mill- town Settled — General William Henry Harrison. CHAPTER XI 156 Occupations and Customs Early Cabins — Early Mills — Timber and An- imals — Meat Packing — Salt — Farm Implements — Sports— River Trade. CHAPTER XII 182 Early Schools — School Laws Ohio Township Pupils— Houses in Early Days — Enumeration. CHAPTER XIII 213 Terrible Sixties Big Blue Bridge at Milltown — Campaign of 1860— Bridge Over Little Blue— Seacat's Office Robbed — War Record. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued CHAPTER XIV 229 Civil War President's Call — Different Regiments — Names of Soldiers — History of Twenty-third — Dunn's Ac- count — Knights of Golden Circle — Hines' Raid — Soldiers' Claims — Knights Caught in Crawford — Morgan's Raid — Weathers' Account. CHAPTER XV 307 The Seventies Railroads in Crawford — Temple Mobbed — Dry Run Bridge — New School Law — Elections — Mill- town Bridge — Poor Farm— Contested Election — Patoka Bridge — Sibert Spring Branch — Big Blue River Bridge at Cole's Yard — White Caps. CHAPTER XVI 343 The Eighties County Seat Fights — Stock Petitions — Poor Farm Sold and New One Bought — Mill Creek Bridge — Voting Precincts — Railroad Completed. CHAPTER XVII 358 Chapter on Education Condition of Schools — County Superintendent — Springston — Hall Elected — County Normal — Bye — Robbitt — Pierson — Goldman — Zimmerman — ■ Duffin — Robertson — Beals — Toney — Pleasant — Adams — Murray. CHAPTER XVIII 381 English After the War Business Men — Reunion — Big Fire — New Hub Mill — Big Fires — Hammond Brothers — Land Sales. CHAPTER XIX 399 County in the Nineties Big Bridge at Alton — Election of 1890 — Marengo Fair — Merrilees Bridge — County Seat Fight — ■ County Telephone — Campaign of 1894. TABLE OF CONTENTS— Concluded CHAPTER XX 418 Marengo After the War Academy — Rock Quarry — Cave Found — Canning Factory — Big Fire — Rice Hub Mill — Marengo Bank — Diamond Theater — Milltown — Rock Quarry — Dr. Ross Killed — New School — Meth- odist Church — Other Towns of the County — Grantsburg — Fredonia — Leavenworth — Incorpo- rated — Big Fire at Leavenworth — New Bank — Button Mill. CHAPTER XXI 464 Later Years of History Pike Election in Jennings — Campaign of 1900 — Claycomb's Letter — Campaign of 1902 — Demo- crats Defeated — Other Pike Elections — War With Germany — Names of Boys Selected — Gold Star Boys Except Hanover and Randall — Crawford County Boy Memorial. CHAPTER XXII 516 W. S. Ross, Jr. Tank Fight by Elliott— Roy De Witt's Account. CHAPTER XXIII 551 Odds and Ends Ross' Funeral in 1902 — Mussel Industry — Churches — Mexican War Letter by McDonald — Good Roads — Indian Hollow Bridge — Pike Roads. CHAPTER XXIV 568 Campaign of 1918 and 1920 Indian Hollow Bridge — State Roads — Campaign of 1922 — Big Fire at English — Campaign of 1924— Primary of 1926. CHAPTER XXV 599 Politics in Crawford County Songs and Jokes — Supplement. CHAPTER XXVI 609 Who's Who From Crawford County Bibliography. vi PREFACE In this book I have tried to tell clearly and impartially the story of Crawford County from 1818 to the present time. No one has ever written a history of Crawford County before. I have used the county records and other reliable sources of information for my account of the people. The accounts of the Civil War and the Knights of the Golden Circle have been taken from Terrell's Reports and Foulk's Life of Morton, and many other sources. Much valuable information has been secured from the bound volumes of the Whig Arena, which was published in Leavenworth from 1838 to 1841, a copy of which is in the State Library. The commissioners' records have been a valuable source of information from 1824 to the present time. The files of the Democrat and the English News have been of great value to the writer. The files run back to 1890. The political discussions have been of much interest to me. I have been acquainted with the leading men from 1900 down to the present time. I have tried to write the account as it happened on all occasions. vii PREFACE I regret that I have not been able to do justice to the World War. I could not secure the names of the boys who were selected from my county in time. The lists sub- mitted here were taken from the files of the county papers. Many errors occur in these reports. I wish to thank W. S. Ross and Roy DeWitt for the information furnished me relative to the World War, and also Temple Dunn and John R. Weathers for the excellent accounts they have sent me. I wish to thank all the people who have in any way contributed to make my book a success. H. H. Pleasant. vm HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY CHAPTER I EARLY HISTORY Crawford County, one of the poorest and smallest counties of the state, lies nestled among the hills of south- ern Indiana. This county is bounded on the north by Orange and Washington Counties, on the east by Harrison County, on the south by the Ohio River, and on the west by Perry and Dubois Counties. The territory out of which the county was formed originally belonged to Harrison, Orange and Perry Coun- ties. In those days there were few counties in the state. Hence, the counties were large and men had to travel so far to the county seats; for that reason many new counties were laid out from territory belonging to the others. During the year of 1818 the people of what is now Craw- ford County petitioned the General Assembly of Indiana, praying that a new county be formed out of Harrison, Perry, and Orange Counties. Martin H. Tucker, who was one of the prominent citizens, presented the petition to Senator Pennington of Harrison County. He introduced a bill in the Senate on January 1, 1818, where it passed January 5, 1818. Later the House passed the measure 1 2 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY which the Governor signed on January 29, 1818. Hence, January 29 is the county's birthday. The boundaries of the county were not definitely estab- lished until 1831. During that year the General Assembly enacted a law fixing the boundaries of the various counties. Since that date the county has had the following bound- aries : Beginning at the mouth of Big Blue River and follow- ing the river with its meandering until it reached the line dividing section 26 from 27 in township three south, range two east, thence north along that line until it intersects the river, thence following the river with its windings to Wash- ington County, thence west to Orange County line, thence south two miles, thence west twenty miles, thence south nine miles, thence east six miles, thence south four miles, thence east six miles, thence south to the Ohio River, thence following the river to the mouth of Big Blue River. On different occasions the citizens of Perry County and Harrison County petitioned the General Assembly to be allowed to unite certain parts of these counties to Crawford County, but many of the petitions have been rejected. When the county was first organized there were five townships. They were Ohio, Jennings, Patoka, Sterling and Whisky Run. Ohio was over on the river, from which it probably was named. Patoka, which was in the west end of the county, was named after the Patoka River which is in that vicinity. Mount Sterling township, which was later called simply Sterling, was named after Mount Sterling, Kentucky, both of which doubtless were named after Lord Sterling. This EARLY HISTORY 3 Sterling was an American general in the Revolutionary War. Jennings was named after Governor Jennings who lived up about Charleston. Whisky Run was named after an Indian named Ouiska. Back in those days creeks were called runs. Ouiska lived over on a small creek where his tepee was located. Being a friendly Indian whom the settlers liked, they often spoke of Ouiska Run. Later the word was written Whisky Run. Crawford County was named in honor of William H. Crawford, who was a candidate for the presidency in 1824. At that time he was a member of Monroe 's Cabinet and had many warm friends in Indiana. Other men claim that the county was named after the unfortunate Indian agent whom Washington sent west to deal with the Indians. That agent was named Crawford. He was captured by the Indians and burned to death at Sandusky, Ohio, about 1782. The county contained about three hundred square miles. When it was organized in 1818 the county was heavily forested. There were not many acres of swamp land in the county. The uplands were covered with oak, hickory, gum, beech, poplar and walnut, while the creek bottoms were covered with sugar, elm and sycamore. As a hunting ground the county was not surpassed by any in the state, while the streams of Big Blue, Little Blue, Turkey Fork and Bogard Fork were the very best for fishing. The white sulphur well at Sulphur, Indiana, is unsurpassed by any spring of mineral water in the state. The Marengo and Wyandotte caves are considered by some to be the most beautiful in the world. When the county was organized in 1818 many settlers 4 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY had located in various parts of the county. Map I will indicate who had bought farms in Crawford County before 1818 with names and descriptions of the land. Just how many settlers were in the county in 1818 one can not now say, but there must have been a large number. Uncle Peter Peckinpaugh located in the Big Bottom near Cape Sanday about 1806, but fearing the Indians he moved back into Kentucky and did not return for several years. Mr. Walker moved from Kentucky and 'located at the mouth of Little Blue about 1806, where he built a cabin house and reared his family of children. His grandson, who keeps the Commercial Hotel at English, is Mr. A. C. Walker. The Jones family is another old family among our early settlers. Gorry Jones, who was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, moved to Crawford County in 1814. He settled near Beechwood in Ohio township where he married Miss McCoy, who was a popular Hardin County girl. Gorry Jones had a family of seven children, five of whom were boys and two were girls. John Jones, who was his oldest son, was born in 1802. He married Jane Abell in 1822, to whom were born fourteen children. He lived in Ohio township until his death in 1875. George Jones, who was related to these Joneses, was also an early settler. Luther L. Jones, who lives at Schooner Point in Ohio township, is a grandson of Gorry Jones. The pop- ulation of the county in 1820 was 2,583. The first county seat was located in section 33, town- ship two south, range one east. The site is about four miles southeast of the present town of English. The site occupies a level plain of land located on an elevated tract of land. The settlers named the seat of justice Mount EARLY HISTORY 5 Sterling, after a town of the same name in Montgomery County, Kentucky. The old records show that Birney Labruk made the plat of the town. Thomas W. Aubrey, who was probably the first justice of the peace in the county, states that Birney Labruk came before him Jan- uary 25, 1818, and acknowledged the plat to be the true plat of Mount Sterling. Brice Patrick, who was the county agent, brought the plat to the recorder's office where Will- iam Samuels recorded the plat November 11, 1818. One may see the original drawing on pages two and three of book one in the recorder's office of Crawford County. Section 4 of the law which organized the county ap- pointed John Ribble of Washington County, Joseph W. Doke of Orange County, Samuel Connor of Perry County, John McClure of Daviess County, and Thomas Carr of Clark County to compose a committee who would locate a seat of justice for the county. This committee was ordered to meet at the house of James Brown and on the third Monday in April of that year proceed to select the new seat of justice. Section 5 reads : "It shall be the duty of the sheriff of Harrison County to notify the commissioners of their appointment, The commissioners of the new county were authorized to pay the members of this commission a reason- able sum out of the first money collected." Section 6 reads: "The board of commissioners of .Crawford County shall within 12 months after the seat of justice shall be established proceed to erect the necessary public buildings thereon." Section 7 reads: "Until suitable accommodations can be had at the new seat of justice all the courts which are 6 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY held in the county shall be held at the house of James Barker, after which the courts shall be held at the new court house." Section 8 reads: "The agent who shall lay out and sell the lots at the new seat of justice shall reserve in his hands 10% of the net proceeds for use of a county library in the county. The sum of money shall be paid over to the proper one who is selected to receive the sum." The commission met at the home of James Brown and, after due examination, selected Mount Sterling for the seat of justice. The streets of the town ran north and south and east and west. The streets running north and south were named Carr, Ribble, Doke, Samuel, Hall, and Totten, while those running east and west were named Main, Mar- ket and Water streets. The streets were sixty-five feet wide and the alleys were ten feet wide. Only a few houses were ever built in Mount Sterling. On February 11, 1819, Brice Patrick, who was the county agent, sold to William P. Thomasson lots 73, 101, 105, 76, 102, 93, 127, 75, 138, 74, 128, 113, 122, 105, 107, 137, for $1,500. These lots were known as bond lots, the record of which is found in Book I, page 11. The old log jail which was built in those early days was still standing in the sixties. Minor Satterfield, who lives near the site of the town, in 1921 told the author that he remembered seeing the old jail when he was a boy. So^ it must have been standing as late as 1865. The parents of William Beasley, who lives near English, once* lived in the old jail. William remembers when they lived there. The county clerk's records showed that the August EARLY HISTORY 7 and December terms of the Circuit Court were held there in 1818. James Brashear, who lived there, let the officers use his new log house for a court room. A few old apple trees of the horse apple variety were still standing in 1900. The writer was informed that Henry Batman, who cleared up some of the old fields in 1900, said that the apple trees were still living. Some effort was made to get settlers to locate in Mount Sterling. The General Assembly enacted a law in 1819 authorizing the county commissioners to lay out new lots and to alter the old lots if occasion required it. The most serious objection to the growth of the town was the absence of water. Settlers in those pioneer days did not want to locate unless there was a quantity of wholesome water near by. In the year of 1842 at the Sep- tember session of the Board of Justices one finds that Sam- uel Pepper, who was a prominent lawyer in Leavenworth, was appointed attorney for the county. He gave notice in the Harrison County Gazette, warning all men not to buy any county orders issued by the said county for the improvement of lots in Mount Sterling. This order was posted in all the townships. The bill to appoint commis- sioners to relocate the county seat of Crawford County was introduced Saturday, December 1, 1821, and passed Decem- ber 13, 1821. More will be said about the county seat later. Mr. George Beasley lives on the very plot of ground where the old town was laid out. The records of the county have a very interesting book on which are written the names of all men who bought *House Journal, 1821, pp. 105, 200. 8 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY land from the Government with dates and description of the land. The county recorder has the book which he calls the "tract book." From it the writer has taken the names of the men given below : Henry Green moved into Crawford County where he bought a farm, August 1, 1812. This farm was located in section 34, township 2 south, range 2 east, being the south- west quarter of the section. Squire Henry Green's farm lay near Mount Lebanon. Judge Green, who was born in Ireland, came to this country when he was a young man. From Virginia he moved west and finally located on the west side of Big Blue River. The land then was part of Harrison County. Henry Green was a very useful citizen. During his long life he was employed in many capacities of service. Crawford County honored him in electing him judge of the court, When Davis Floyd visited the county in 1818 to organize the first circuit court in the county Judge Green and James Glenn were present to help him. Under the old Constitution in those days there were three judges. David Floyd was the chief judge with Glenn and Green as assistants. Glenn and Green were associate jus- tices, which name was used in those days. Green, who was elected to represent Crawford County in the General As- sembly in 1821, served the state and county well. He voted for nearly all the important bills, among which was one to establish the office of attorney-general. He introduced petitions sent to him by Honorable James Glenn and others, praying that a commission be appointed to relocate the county seat of Crawford County. These petitions were referred to a select committee com- posed of Henry Green of Crawford County, Charles Dewey EARLY HISTORY 9 of Orange County, Alexander Wallace of Orange County, and Moses Kirkpatrick of Floyd County. After the com- mittee had duly considered the matter, Green reported a bill providing for the appointment of a board of commis- sioners to select a permanent site for a county seat. The bill having been passed, the Governor signed it on Decem- ber 22, 1821. Besides the good work done by Green as a legislator, he was one of the prominent citizens of the county to whom the others could look for guidance. He was supervisor on the "Governor's Old Trail" for a long time. He was justice of peace for many years. He died at his home near Mount Lebanon, at which place he was buried in his own private cemetery. No farms were sold in the county during the year of 1813. The War of 1812 was on then and men were not locating in the West so freely on account of the Indians. In 1814 the following men bought farms in Crawford County: James Totten, Henry Fullenwider, William Mc- Kay, Andrew and Joseph Kinkaid, Moses Smith and Rob- ert Fields. Of the above named men probably Henry Fullenwider was the most noted. He was a leading citizen at Alton for many years. He built a mill near his home to which the farmers took their grist. When the citizens divided up township four south, range one east, into school districts about 1837 Henry Fullenwider was elected district trustee for District No. 4. One finds in those days that each man had his private cemetery. So on the hill west of Alton about two miles, "Uncle Henry," as his good neighbors called him, selected the site for the cemetery. The follow- ing article appeared in the Crawford County Democrat a 10 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY few months ago. "A handsome and appropriate monu- ment, a gift of their five living sons, Doctor Jack Fullen- wider of Mount Vernon, Professor Percy Fullenwider of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, John, William and Marshall of Roberta, Kentucky, was erected over Haden Fullenwider 's grave, a descendant of Colonel Henry and Delilah, his wife at Fullenwider 's cemetery, Tuesday, Oc- tober 13th. This ceremony recalls the open hospitality of this honored couple for many years of their happy life spent at the old Colonel Henry home which was the social center of the community during the years in which they raised their family of six boys and four girls. The ceme- tery also contains the grave of Jonathan Boone, a nephew of Daniel Boone, who died in 1827. The colonel's part is separated from the rest by a stone wall. His descendants live near Alton to-day, one of whom married Doctor H. H. Deen, who has a large practice at Leavenworth." James Totten, who was a very interesting character, was appointed sheriff of Crawford County in 1825. The two Kinkaids were members of the Christian Church. They helped organize the class at the Three Forks of Little Blue about 1819. They lived in a one-room log house. David M. Stewart was the one who organized the church in October, 1819. There were thirteen members in Kinkaid 's class. After a few years a log house was built. One finds references to it in the Commissioner's Records. It was named "Blue River Meeting House." The father, Joseph Kinkaid, and his son, Andrew Kinkaid, were very prominent citizens of the county. They held various offices of different kinds. Mary E. Miller of near English is the granddaughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Kinkaid. EARLY HISTORY 11 Moses Smith's farm was located near English. For many years he was a leading citizen in Sterling township, where he raised a large family of children, one of whom was Minor Smith. Minor was the father of George C. Smith and James Smith. The people elected James Smith treasurer in 1916 on the Republican ticket, by a handsome majority over James M. Brown. During the year of 1815, John Hastings, John Green, Robert and Isaac Sands bought farms. During 1816, Michael Harvey, James Mcintosh, Abra- ham Sheckels, William Sharp, Eli Wright, Riggs Penning- ton, George Repley and Robert Yates bought farms in the county. Of the above number Robert Yates was commis- sioned County Commissioner by Governor Jennings when the county was organized. The list of men who bought farms in 1817 was much larger. The following men were the most important: George Jones, Henry Richards, Martin Scott, John Flan- nery, John Sturgeon, John Sands, Robert Scott, James Green, Daniel Weathers, and Archibald Allen. These men were good citizens, hardy pioneers, and patriotic men. Martin Scott, who was born in 1777, came from Vir- ginia. His farm was situated about four miles north of Leavenworth, on the "Old Leavenworth and Salem" road. Many of his descendants live in the county today. When Davis Floyd came to "Old Mount Sterling" in Crawford County to organize the first circuit court, Mr. Scott was a member of the first grand jury. He was road supervisor and lister of Jennings township for many years. At times Mr. Scott seems to have displayed a very bad temper. The records of the county show that he was fined $1.00 in May, 12 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 1829, for swearing. He lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1858. He was buried in his private cemetery. Aniel Fro- man owns the well-known farm of Martin Scott. Daniel Weathers and his brother Richard were born in Wales. They moved to Virginia and from there to Ten- nessee. Daniel Weathers, who lived in Tennessee in 1800, cast his vote for Adams. Richard Weathers lived in Knox- ville, Tennessee, and voted for Adams too. While living in Knoxville Richard Weathers married a southern girl. Neither one of the brothers liked slavery, so they decided to move north. They crossed the Ohio River near Tobacco Landing, on a raft which they pushed by a long pole. Rich- ard settled just east of Milltown, in Harrison County, on what is now known as the McCutcheon farm. Here he lived in a three-sided log cabin. While hunting one day he crossed the Big Blue River near where Milltown now stands and came over into Craw- ford County. The scenery charmed him so much that he decided to locate in Crawford County. So he moved to where Marengo now is and squatted on what is now (1919), Lyman Jones' farm. Here he worked for 25 cents a day until he had saved $75, most of which was continental paper money. One night his old cow found the purse and chewed the money till it was damaged. So Mr. Weathers did not buy the farm, but sold out his claim, and squatted on what is now Dave Apple's farm. Meanwhile Daniel Weathers had been more fortunate, and had bought the farm men- tioned above. Richard Weathers, who was a hard-working man, did not buy till 1825. After the law was enacted providing for Crawford County, Governor Jennings selected Daniel Weathers to be EARLY HISTORY 13 the first sheriff. The commission was issued September 8, 1818. The bond of Sheriff Weathers is here given: ''Know all men by these presents ; that we, Daniel Weathers, James Barker, John Smith, Robert Yates, Thomas Roberts, Riggs Pennington, and Richard Weathers are held bound to Gov- ernor Jennings and his successors in office for the sum of $5000, for which payment we jointly and severally promise to pay Governor Jennings and his successors in office, pro- vided, however, that if Daniel Weathers discharges his du- ties according to law, the above obligation is null and void. Signed for the State James Barker and William Samuels Recorder of C. C. Signed for Weathers Daniel Weathers Richard Weathers Riggs Pennington Thomas Roberts Robert Yates John Smith James Barker." Daniel Weathers performed his duties faithfully till he was relieved from duty about 1822. These two Weathers reared large families, several of whose sons served their country well in the Civil War. Major W. V. Weathers, Captain Enoch Weathers, James M. Weathers, Andrew E. Weathers, and James Weathers have remarkable war rec- ords. When Captain Thomas Hines of Bowling Green made his daring raid into Crawford County in 1863, he talked 14 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY with Captain Enoch Weathers at his home in Marengo. Of course Weathers did not know who he was then. Last, bnt not least, of the many descendants of the two Weathers is Honorable John Henry Weathers of New Albany. The Republicans nominated him for judge in 1896. The district was generally Democratic by 600. Weathers was defeated by Judge Cook after a hard fought campaign by a narrow margin of 52 votes. The names of the men who bought farms in Crawford County in 1818 were: Malachi Monk, George Wyman, Moses Smith, Thomas Easley, George Wilks, Charles Springer, Elisha Tadlock, Elisha Tatten, Peter Funk, Sam Westfall, Abraham Wiseman, Cornelius Hall, John Lee, Jacob Conrad, Elizabeth Wright, and Peter Sonner. Cornelius Hall was appointed County Commissioner in 1818. Mr. Hall who was well read in law was one of the jurors at the trial of Ouley, about which much will be writ- ten later. When Mr. Hall's term of office expired he be- came associate justice of Crawford County which office he held for many years. Elisha Tadlock was the first Seminary trustee. When the law was enacted in 1818, Governor Jennings appointed him trustee. On December 18, 1821, he made his first re- port to the General Assembly of Indiana, which showed that he had $100.50 of the Seminary funds. He was elected to represent Crawford County in the General Assembly in 1825. He was overseer of the poor in Whisky Run Town- ship for many years. In those days there was no county farm to which paupers were sent. The County Commis- sioners generally appointed some one in each township. In 1825, the board allowed him $37.50 for keeping Timothy EARLY HISTORY 15 Bennett for three months. Mr. Tadlock was collector of the state revenues in 1827. Mr. Tadlock has many descen- dants in Crawford County, all of whom have been well respected people. Moses Smith bought a farm near where English is now. He reared a large family. His son, Minor Smith, grew up in Sterling township, where he reared a large family of children, two of which were George C. Smith and James J. Smith. The Smiths have always been good citizens and popular with the people. In 1914 George Smith was elected trustee of Patoka township by the Republican party. Patoka being a Democratic township by 200 majority, one can see that Smith must have secured a large number of their votes. James Smith was elected county treasurer in 1916, by the Republicans, over James M. Brown. His majority was 191. Hence 200 Democrats must have voted for him. This will give the reader a good idea of the re- spect the people have for them. Malachi Monk, who was one of the early settlers, built the "Old Indian Block House" near where Marengo now stands. The exact site of the block house was near where County Clerk Ross ' house now stands. His son was elected county auditor in 1868, which office he held till 1876. Abram Wiseman located in what is now Ohio township. He and Jacob Wiseman moved to Kentucky and later into Crawford County. These two Wisemans reared large fami- lies in Crawford County. Among the war records one finds George E. Wiseman, Philip Wiseman, Abram Wise- man, William Wiseman and Henry Wiseman were soldiers in the Union army while Henry Newton Wiseman was in the Spanish American War. In the World War, many of 16 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY his descendants took part. The Wisemans have always been, since the Civil War, Republicans. The Wisemans claim that in the early history of the West a certain Wiseman boy was captured by the Indians who adopted him into the tribe of Shawnees. When he became a man, he married an Indian girl. To them was born an Indian boy who became the famous Tecumseh. Later he left the Indians. Captain Peter Funk was an outstanding character in history. When Harrison called on him and wanted him to organize a company of cavalry and march against the Indians, he lived in Kentucky. He mounted a horse, and at great speed rode to the Capitol and asked permission from the Kentucky Governor. The road from Louisville was so bad that the horse died from exhaustion. In the battle the man used good judgment and his men gave a good account of themselves. The men kept cool and fired where they saw flashes of the Indians' guns. When day came they were easily routed by a few vigorous charges. The historian affirms that the Prophet told the Indians that he would stand on a certain high rock and sing the magic songs during the battle, and that he could charm away the balls fired from the Kentucky rifles. After the battle he was called to account for his conduct. He saved his reputation among the Indians to some extent by explain- ing that his squaw had "tinkered" with the beads on the chain, but many of the Indians still feared Harrison, Funk, and Daviess. Mr. Funk, after the war was over, settled about two miles north of Milltown. The Funks have been a prominent family all through the history of the county. Solomon Funk and John E. Funk were supporters of the EARLY HISTORY 17 Republican party in 1860. Later John E. Funk, who was elected County Commissioner in 1894, helped to move the seat of justice from Leavenworth to English in 1895. Another descendant of these Funks is Cadmus Funk, who was elected Sheriff over the Democratic candidate by 331 votes. The county being heavily Democratic, one will see that Funk must have been very popular, since his opponent, Louis V. By rum was a very good man too. The names of the men who bought farms in the county in 1819, were : John Roth, Henry Richards, John Hughes, Henry Jones, John Sheckels, Jonathan Bird, William Groves, and David Rice. In 1820, Dave Miller, Sam Kemp, John Morgan, Joseph Van Winkle, Addison Williams, and Reuben Wright bought farms in Crawford County. Sam Kemp's farm was west of Fredonia about two miles, in section 7, town 4 south, range 1 east. Here he reared a family. One of the sons was John Kemp who was a member of the 49th Indiana Volunteers. He was wounded several times in action. Uncle Sam Kemp's grandson lives in Alton today. His name is Clay Kemp. Much can be said about Addison Williams whose farm was located in section 14, town 3 south, range 1 east. He worked hard to secure settlers for the county. He platted a town which he called New Haven. The plat was recorded at the county seat. No one bought lots so no town grew up. Later he platted a town called Magnolia. Here several men bought lots and built houses. Mr. Williams operated a large still and a mill in Magnolia. The plat was filed in the Recorder's office July 4, 1838. Magnolia is situated 18 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY northwest of Leavenworth about four miles. Today it has several houses, store, and postoffice. In 1821, these men bought farms in the county : James Brown, James McMartin, Robert Samuels, Richard White, Hamilton McKee, Gwartney, Ed Sturgeon, William Riley, Lawrence Beers, John VanMeter, Archibald Stone, John Condra, Mason Jenkins, B. Bogard, Joel Lyons, Rich- ard White, James Mansfield, Jackson Nicholson, James Totten, Abram Bird, John Goldman, David Lowe, Burton Parr. The Mansfield family lived at Leavenworth. James M. Mansfield, who was a son of James Mansfield, was a Union soldier in time of the Civil War. In 1866 he was elected clerk of the county. The school at Mansfield was named after him because he gave the lot of ground on which the house was built. Burton Parr was a very useful citizen. One of his grandsons was E. E. Parr, who is trustee of Boone Town- ship at date of writing. James Totten proved a good citizen. He was appointed sheriff in 1825. At that time the office was hard to fill. Abram Sheckels bought a large farm near Cape Sandy. There he built a double log-house which is still standing. Men use it for a tobacco barn now. The Sheckel school, which stood near the East Cemetery, was named after him. This school house was burned down about 1896. Oliver Morton Sheckel, who is superintendent of the city schools of Brownstown, is a descendant of "Uncle Abram" Sheckel. Iu 1822 these men bought farms: Julius Woodford, Peter Frakes, David Brown, Obadiah Childs, Jacob EARLY HISTORY 19 Conrad, Wilson Scott, Samuel McMahan, Robert S. Thorn, Reuben D. Thorn, Thomas Conon, and Ebenezer E. Morgan. Julius Woodford for many years was one of the leading citizens of the county. He was elected county com- missioner from the second district in 1833, to succeed Zebu- lum Leavenworth whose term expired that year. He was one of the first merchants of Leavenworth. In those days men were compelled to get a license to keep a store. The record shows that he was granted a license in 1825, to sell foreign merchandise. He sold the lot to the seminary trus- tees in 1835, on which the old seminary was built. E. E. Morgan became one of the county's most influen- tial citizens. He held many offices of trust one of which was the office of County Recorder. He was appointed to this office in 1825, and retired in 1846, after 21 years of service. John Austin and William Patton bought farms in 1823. This year saw the entries of the Austins and Pattons whose descendants are found scattered over the hills of old Craw- ford County. The list in 1824 was: John R. Wyman, Henry Rhodes, David Wilbur, Edward Riddings. For 1825, these men bought land : David Beals, Joseph Beals, Richard Weathers, John Mahan, Robert Baldwin, Adam Denison, Walter Gresham, John Funk, Will Stroud, and Thomas Walker. This year saw a new list of men enter the county. The Beals family has been one of the most prominent. Supt. S. A. Beals, of English, is a grandson of Joseph Beals whose farm lies in Jennings township. The farm is now owned by Marsh Parr. 20 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The Gresham family later located in Harrison County, where Walter Q. Gresham was born. He became a well distinguished citizen of Indiana, a learned judge on the Federal Bench in Illinois, a candidate for the presidency in 1888, and Secretary of State under Cleveland in 1893, until his death in 1895. One should not pass by the Walker family without com- ment. Thomas Walker's farm was near the mouth of Little Blue. Here he reared a family of children, one of whom married a southern girl about the time of the Civil War. The southern men never liked this man. When the Civil War was going on they caught him and tested him thoroughly by all kinds of questions. One asked him for whom he voted for president. When they heard him answer "Lincoln" they became furious but for some reason he was spared. A. C. Walker, who is proprietor of the Com- mercial Hotel at English, is a grandson of Thomas Walker. In 1826, these men bought farms: Henry Brag, Sam Scott, William Good, R. S. Thorn, and Dudley Gresham. John Peckinpaugh, David Lone, Charles Springer, William Riley, David Attleberry, Robert Milescat, Francis Able, Thomas Parr, Milton Holcraft, 0. Raymond, Thomas Davidson, Samuel Bird, W. P. Thompson, Edward Butler, William Taylor, James Stuart, and Isaiah Bullington bought farms in 1827. No farms were sold in 1828. The list for 1829 was: John Leggett, J. H. Mills, Seth and Zebulum Leavenworth, Woods Proctor, Librim Frisbie, John Lynd, and Thomas Davidson. The preceding lists contain the names of all the men EARLY HISTORY 21 who bought farms until 1830. By referring to the map one can see where each man's farm was located. FAMOUS CASES OULEY CASE When Crawford County was cut off from Harrison County, it was put into the New Albany district for court purposes. Our first circuit judge was Davis Floyd. This Floyd had been a conspicuous character in the early history of Indiana territory. He joined Aaron Burr's conspiracy and was his agent to collect boats and men at Jeffer- sonville. He left Jefferson ville December 16, 1806. Burr's company was broken up. Davis Floyd was caught, tried for treason, convicted, and sentenced to serve three hours in the Government prison at Jeffersonville. Later he was judge of the circuit. Floyd County was named after him. He made the circuit of the district holding court at each county seat. The first session was held at Mount Ster- ling in Crawford County August 1, 1818. Judge Floyd was assisted by Judge Henry Green and James Glenn, both of whom were honorable men. The new court house and jail had not yet been built. James Brasher let the judges use his new cabin house. This house was too little to ac- commodate all the jurors, so they sat around on logs in the yard. Sheriff Daniel Weathers, who was commissioned sheriff by the Governor was present and handed into the court the following men's names for a grand jury: Cornelius Hall, Lazarus Stewart, Alex King, William Osborn, James 22 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Lewis, Elias Davis, Elisha Potter, Alex Barnett, William Potter, Robert Yates, Peter Peckinpaugh, William Scott, Reuben Laswell, Abraham Wiseman, George Tutter, Mar- tin Scott, John Sturgeon, Robert Sands, Isaac Lamp, Ed. Gob in, and Malachi Monk. Just how the men were selected the records do not explain. They were certainly good men. These men elected Cornelius Hall foreman. After due consideration the jury returned a bill against James Ouley for murder in the first degree. The evidence showed that Ouley had followed Briley through the woods for some distance and had shot him in the back, about where his suspenders crossed. The ball came out in his neck, making a wound about eight inches deep. Briley died almost instantly and Ouley escaped. Just what motive Ouley had for shooting Briley one can hardly tell now. References and information are so meager. Probably he took what money the man had and his horse and escaped. No one knows. Briley lived on Patoka Creek, in what is probably now part of Orange County, not far from the present town of English. He left home with a sack of wool and was on his way to Corydon to get the wool carded. He was traveling on the governor's old trail which ran from Vincennes to Corydon. The exact spot where the shooting occurred the writer is not able to locate. It happened near the top of white oak hill about one-half mile south of where the old Bushow school house used to stand, on the farm owned some time ago by Billie Troman. The location is just east of the Marengo and Leavenworth road. It seemed that Ouley and Briley were angry about some trouble they had had. EARLY HISTORY 23 This horrible murder occurred on July 1, 1818. Ouley dragged the body a few feet from the Old Trail and put it behind a log near the road. He then escaped with the horse. Several hours later one of Lazarus Stewart's sons was returning from a mill on Big Blue River with a grist of corn. Darkness came on in the heavy forest. Still he moved on his way. As the horse neared the spot where the fatal shooting occurred the animal began to snort and show signs of fear. The boy, who was about fourteen years old, for some reason was not afraid at all. He kept urging the horse up gently toward the big log near the road from which the foul odor appeared to come. Nearing the log he saw some dark object behind it. On careful examina- tion, when pieces of bark were removed, the form of a man was discovered. Hastening on to the town of Big Springs he told the men what he had found. A crowd of men with lights took the boy back with them, so that he could show them the exact spot where the corpse was. When they arrived there and examined the body, it was found to be Briley, who lived away out on Patoka Creek somewhere. Some say he lived out on Dog Creek, but the fact of the matter is that the northwest part of the county was so thinly settled then, that one cannot well locate the exact home of Briley or Ouley. It might have been the second day too, before his body was found. Ouley took his horse and traveled east on the Old Trail. The men after finding the body took up the trail of the horse by its tracks in the soft earth. Over near the Big Blue River the men found a saddle hanging in a tree. This encouraged them very much. Pursuing the trail through 24 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the woods farther, suddenly they found a horse tied to a dogwood. Evidently the horse had been there some time, because bark was gnawed off of the bush, and the ground was torn up considerably where the horse had been stand- ing. Going on, the men came to the bottom land near the river. Here they were greatly surprised to see James Ouley in a pawpaw patch. He seemed to have been there for some time, just walking around, devoid of reason. Sheriff Weathers arrested him and brought him back to Mount Sterling. Later he was put into the famous old block house at Marengo. As far as known, Weathers had no writ for Ouley, but captured him. Ouley did not seem to talk and was in a stupor of some kind. The bill returned by the grand jury read: "James Ouley, late of Crawford County, a yeoman, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but moved and se- duced by the spirit of the Devil on July 1, 1818, with force and arms in Whisky Run Township in and upon William Briley in the peace of God, then and there, being wilful and of malice a fore thought did make and against James Ouley with a certain rifle gun of the value of $10, loaded with gun-powder and a certain leaden bullet, with which gun the said Ouley did shoot William Briley in the back, and the ball came out in his neck, making a wound about 8 inches deep, from which wound Briley died almost in- stantly. ' ' The trial began immediately. Ouley plead not guilty and demanded that the county furnish him an attorney. The court appointed Henry Stephens and Harbin Moore EARLY HISTORY 25 to defend him, while William Thompson was appointed prosecuting attorney for that session of the court. Daniel Weathers, the sheriff, had a large number of men present from whom these men were selected for a petit jury : Elisha Lane, Constance Williams, Marcus Troelock, Joseph Beals, Andrew Troelock, David Beals, John Goldman, James Richie, William May, George Peck- inpaugh, Thomas W. Cummins, and Robert Grimes. Con- stance Williams, who had been in the Revolutionary War, was selected as foreman of the jury. The trial was conducted out-of-doors in the woodyard. The jury sat around on logs. There was no doubt but they were the best men in the county. From them have come the Lanes, Williams, Beals, Goldmans, Richies, Peckin- paughs, Grimes, and Cumminses. They were sworn to hear the evidence and decide the case. After all the wit- nesses were examined, the pleading done, and the judge had instructed the jury, the men retired to consider the evidence. After some time the jury returned a verdict of guilty and placed his sentence at death. The counsel for the defense asked for a new trial on these grounds: 1. That the verdict was contrary to the state law; 2. that the evidence was not sufficient; 3. the conduct of the jurors was not proper; 4. that outsiders talked to the jurors during the trial; 5. that Elisha Lane had expressed his opinion before the trial began; 6. that one juror was too much indisposed to pay the proper amount of attention that such a case demanded. That juror in question was said to have been asleep. . The court not being fully advised adjourned until the next day, when it refused the defendant a new trial, and 26 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY asked him if he had any reason why sentence of death should not be passed upon him. He asked the court to arrest the judgment of the jurors on these grounds: 1. That he was a wheelwright made the evidence uncer- tain; 2. that the bill did not have the name of the state or county in it. The court over-ruled the argument and passed this sentence upon him : That he should be kept in the old block house in custody of the sheriff till October 1, 1818, when he should be taken out on the same road or on whatever new road might be laid out by that time in one-half mile of Old Mount Sterling, between the hours of 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. and hanged by the neck till dead. Sheriff Weathers took the prisoner back to the old block house, where he was kept till the day of execution. Farmers of the neighborhood volunteered to help guard the jail. Men say that Ouley became desperate as the time grew near. He tried to gnaw through the logs. Long years afterwards, when the block house was torn down, one could see where he had gnawed through the white of the oak logs probably an inch deep. Cornelius Hall, who lived near where Marengo now stands, was a cabinet maker. He made the coffin for Ouley. When the day came, Richard Weathers, who was a brother of Sheriff Daniel Weathers, hauled Ouley out to the scene of execution in his ox cart. Ouley sat on his coffin in the wagon while guards well armed were on all sides. When they came to the trees, a rope was fastened to the limb of a tree and Ouley was put on a barrel in the wagon with the noose over his head just right. When everything was ready Daniel Weathers gave his brother a nod. He hit the oxen a tap and they started forward, leaving Ouley iSSfoMSM EARLY HISTORY 27 swinging from the branch. He was buried in a grave near the tree. Many years later, in 1900, Henry Batman cleaned up the old field and planted it to corn. He found near the road a large oval spot of clay dirt, while all the rest was dark loam. This must have been the clay which was dug up and thrown out from the grave. The details of the above story were furnished by M. E. Stewart, grandson of Richard Weathers. THE FIELDS CASE After the county seat was moved to Leavenworth another affair occurred near Milltown, Indiana, for which the offending culprit was hanged at Leavenworth. James Fields, who was under the influence of liquor, came home one night and ordered his mother to get up out of bed and get his supper. She did not arise as quickly as he thought that she should and he drew a revolver and fired at her where she was lying in bed. The ball pierced her thigh. This shameful act occurred June 7, 1846. She lived until June 10th, when she died. The jury returned an indictment against Fields and Sheriff Sam Clark ar- rested him, and lodged him in jail at Leavenworth. The bill read thus : James G. Fields, late of Crawford County, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but moved by the spirit of the devil did with force and a certain revolver worth about $1.00, loaded with powder and ball; to wit, against one Susanah Fields in the peace of God did shoot with said revolver and inflict a wound from which the said Susanah Fields died on the 10th day of June, 1846, at her home near Milltown, Indiana. 28 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY When brought before the bar of justice Fields pleaded that he was not guilty in the sense in which the Grand Jury had indicted him. The following men were selected for a jury: A. B. Tower, James VanWinkle, Sam McMahon, Walker Main, Swango Hadden, William Arm- strong, Marmaduke McCarney, James S. Temple, James G. Sloan, Charles Comcien, Nincom Haskens, and Gabriel Williams. After all the evidence was in, the case argued by the attorneys, the jury retired to consider the case, but the jury could not agree. The jury was discharged on November 11, 1846. A new trial was held with this jury : George Jones, Oliver Hannon, John Jones, Greenbury Roberts, John Goldman, N. C. Peckinpaugh, Tich Warner, James D. Jones, William Dean, Andrew Beers, Elias 0' Bannon, John K. Tyler. This jury found Fields guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced him to death. Judge John Lockhart called Fields to him and read the sentence to him : That he should be kept in the Leaven- worth cell till December 18, 1846, and on that day he was to be taken out and hanged by the neck till dead, and may the Lord have mercy on his soul. The sheriff with his assistants built the gallows near where the old carding machine used to stand. That morn- ing hundreds of men had come to Leavenworth to see the hanging. Sheriff Clark took every precaution to see that the law was enforced. Six men with guns walked behind the wagon when the procession left the county jail. The coffin was put in the wagon and Fields was placed on the coffin, in a sitting position, in which condition he was driven to the gallows. He was taken to the trap door and EARLY HISTORY 29 the noose was adjusted over his head. The death cap was placed on his head. When all was ready Sheriff Clark struck at the rope with a knife, but he was so nervous that he missed the rope. The second time he cut the rope. The trap door fell, letting the victim fall directly down. The rope broke, but several men sprang forward and caught Fields in their arms and held him as high as they could till some one tied the rope. The writer's father, who saw the whole affair, said that Fields just kicked a little with one foot when he hit the ground and while they were hold- ing him up, till the rope was tied again. The men pro- nounced him dead after sufficient time had elapsed. He was taken down and buried near the Leavenworth and Cory don road just east of Leavenworth. Thus ended the hangings in Crawford County. CHAPTER II FREDONIA While Judge Davis Floyd was holding the first session of the Circuit Court in Crawford County and the good citizens of Mount Sterling were hanging James Ouley, a new town was laid out on the banks of the Ohio River by Allen D. Thorn and Robert S. Thorn. These men who had moved from Virginia to Indiana settled in Crawford County. Allen D. Thorn made a plat of the town and filed the plat in the Recorder's office. William Samuels, who was the first County Recorder, stated that Allen D. Thorn came before him personally and acknowledged the plat to be the true plat for the town of Fredonia, June 22, 1818. The site where this town was laid out was one of the most picturesque of all river towns. At this point the Ohio River makes a great bend in the shape of an ox-bow or a horse shoe. Hence, it is known in history, as the ox-bows or horse-shoe bend. The river sweeps far northward into Indiana and then glides away gently to the south. Stand- ing on this high bluff one can see down the river as far as Schooner point and up the river to Leavenworth. From Indian Hollow to Schooner point, the river hill is so very precipitous, that one can not build a road to the river except where some creek runs into the river. So on 30 FREDONIA 31 this high plateau, Allen D. Thorn and Robert S. Thorn laid out the town site for Fredonia. The site, as already stated, commands a view of the Ohio River for several miles, so that hostile Indians could not approach without being seen. From the Ohio River bluff the level land ex- tends back about one-half mile west, before the land be- comes rough and hilly, and descends to Little Blue River and Turkey Fork. So there was a fine site for a town on this high hill. The plat of the town shows that the Thorns were patri- otic. The streets running east and west are Warren, Green, Washington, Adams, and Taylor. Those streets running north and south are Water, High, Market, Posey, and Poplar. Main street ran east and west through the town. At that time any man owning land and wishing to sell it could lay out a town plat and try to sell the lots. That way he might make some money out of the land if many people bought lots. The owner generally took the plat to the recorder for record. Many men bought lots in the town. Locust trees were set out on the street, many of which are still standing. Plenty of good water was found by digging several deep wells. Thorn's well was about 86 feet deep and six feet in diameter. It has abund- ance of water in it the year around. This well was walled from bottom to top with stone, much of which was dressed. This indicates that much work must have been done in its construction. The other wells were very deep ones too. They may be seen in the town today. One serious objection to the growth of Mount Sterling was the absence of good water. Creek water could not be used because of the danger of impurities. After the 32 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY county seat was located in Fredonia, the General Assembly of Indiana enacted a law providing that the county seat of justice must not be moved again under any condition, unless a good supply of wholsome water was available. This law is found on page 86 of Indiana Laws of 1827. Allen D. Thorn had a very rich brother named Reuben T. Thorn. He owned much land in the county in those days. The red on map 3 shows the amount of land owned by the Thorn brothers. In all there were 1,468 acres of which Allen D. Thorn owned 80 acres. As far as known Reuben T. Thorn never lived in the county. He remained at his home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This Reuben T. Thorn was very desirous of having the seat of justice moved to Fredonia. The town of Fredonia had several houses erected and had far outgrown the town of Mount Sterling. One can not find much information that many houses were ever built there, except Brashear's, while Tomasson owned a few lots in the town. He felt sure that he could sell his land better if the seat of justice was located there. So he went about the matter in a manly way. He offered to give a tract of land on which the court house could be built and a jail erected. At that time no one had the right to move the seat of justice from Mount Sterling. So James Glenn, who was a prominent citizen of the county, and one of the associate justices, sent a petition to Henry Green, who represented the county in the General Assembly at Corydon, praying that the seat of justice be re-located and a committee be appointed to locate a permanent seat of justice. This petition being read by Henry Green Novem- ber 21, 1821, was referred to a select committee of which Green of Crawford County, Tipton of Perry County, FREDONIA 33 Dewey and Wallace of Orange County, and Kirkpatrick of Floyd County were members, with permission to report by a bill or otherwise. The committee reported out a bill on November 30, which came up in the House on December 2, and was passed on Thursday, December 15, 1821. In the meanwhile many petitions were sent to the General Assembly praying that the bill be enacted. Hence, one can say that the citizens approved the bill. After a few days the Senate passed the bill and the Governor signed it. This new law provided that Samuel Connor of Perry County, Henry Thornton of Scott County, Stephens Rainy of Clark County, Isaac Stewart of Floyd County, and Rob- ert Evans of Vanderburg County should be commissioners whose duty it should be to meet at the court house in Mount Sterling on March 1, 1822, and after due examination to re-locate the seat of justice if the committee thought that it was beneficial to the people of the county. The committee w T as to value the improvements made on the lots in Mount Sterling and the cost of digging the public well. The state was to pay the men who bought lots in Mount Sterling up to the value of the improvements in case the seat of justice was removed. The county agent was empowered to examine the court house in Fredonia and if he found it better than the one at Mount Sterling he should notify the committee who would authorize the county officers to move their books to the new location which the committee had chosen, or would choose, if it had not done so yet. If the committee moved the seat of justice, then the sheriff was authorized to notify the county commissioners where to meet when the time came for the meeting. 34 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY In the meanwhile Mr. Thorn had constructed a brick house about thirty-nine feet long and thirty-three feet wide and two stories high. The second story was used for a court room and the first floor for county offices. He offered to give this house to the county for the court house. He also was to build a log jail, all of which were to be given to the county if the seat of justice was located there. The committee met at Mount Sterling and, after due consideration, decided to accept Mr. Thorn's generous offer. Mr. Thorn made the deed in due time. It reads : This indenture was made on the 12th day of November, 1822, between Reuben T. Thorn of Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia, by his attorney, Allen D. Thorn, on the first part, and Thomas Davis, Cornelius Hall, and Robert Yates, county commissioners of Crawford County on the second part and their successors in office. That the said Reuben T. Thorn by his attorney, Allen D. Thorn, for in consider- ation of the county seat being permanently located at Fre- donia on the receipt of which is hereby granted and acknowledged and bargained and sold and hath granted to the county commissioners and their successors in office for the use of the county this tract of land : ' ' Beginning at the center of section 10, township 4 south, range 1 east, run south 91.5 poles, east 89.5 poles, to a certain white oak tree, thence north 91.5 poles, thence west to the starting point, in all about 50 acres. The said commissioners to have and to hold said land with all of its appurtenances on the land." The deed was recorded by the county recorder on De- cember 16, 1822. The court house was constructed out of brick. The men who built the house did good work and FREDONIA 35 used good material. The old court house is still standing. The Methodist Church owns it now. The old log jail has rotted down and gone. It was not used much after 1840. The county has not used the house for court purposes since 1843. The jail was made out of hewed logs. As far as known only one man ever escaped from the jail until it was con- demned in 1840. He was Thomas Farmer. It is said that he burned his way out and was under way well before Sheriff James Totten saw him. Henry Conrad, the stray pen keeper, and the sheriff pursued him to the river bluffs where he eluded the guards and escaped to Kentucky. John Carnes then made a new trap door for the jail. This happened in May, 1825. In making a summary of the gifts of the Thorn brothers one may give these: 1. They built the court house; 2. They built a log jail ; 3. They gave a tract of land ; and 4. They built a road from the town to the river. Robert 5. Thorn had agreed to build a road well enough up that steep creek so that two horses could pull 2,000 pounds of freight. When the board doing county business met Jan- uary, 1825, the members inspected the road. The justices voted to receive the road. Two of the members wanted their votes given as dissenting votes until they saw a man haul 2,000 pounds up the river hill. The experiment was never made and William Course and Samuel Sands have recorded the two dissenting votes. The county sheriff was not responsible for the prisoners back in the good old days. The board doing county busi- ness generally appointed a man jailer. Then he could hire men to help him guard the jail when there were prisoners 36 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY in it. January, 1827, Samuel Clark and Ephriam Conrad were allowed $2.50 each for guarding D. Buras in the county jail. When the court house was ready, tradition has it that the citizens of Fredonia went to Mount Sterling and re- moved the records, carrying them home in meal sacks. The few people who lived near Mount Sterling hated to see the records go. In fact the county seat has been moved in most every case by force. The county officers at that time were : County commis- sioners, Thomas Davis, Cornelius Hall, and Robert Yates; Daniel Weathers, who was the first sheriff, held the office till about 1823 when Martin H. Tucker was appointed. William Campbell was coroner, and William Samuels was recorder. The records were placed in the new court house at Fredonia in March, 1822. Under the old Constitution the business of the county was done by a board of justices. Each township was sup- posed to have one. They were elected by the people. The board was known as the board doing county business. There was a board of county commissioners, but they did not perform business. The board doing county business was composed of: William Course, John Good, Thomas Davis, Samuel Burrows, Henry Wakefield and Allen T. Thorn. When the board of justices met at Fredonia in Novem- ber, 1824, it contracted much business for the county. It appointed Seth M. Leavenworth to lay out a road from Leavenworth to intersect the Mount Sterling road near Jake Enlow's farm. Archibald Allen was appointed to view out a road from his farm to Richard Weathers' farm. FREDONIA 37 William Dodd, who was seminary agent, reported that he had $255.25. At the January meeting the board set the tax rate as follows : First rate land, tax per 100 acres $ 1.25 Second rate land, tax per 100 acres 1.00 Third rate land, tax per 100 acres 75 License to sell foreign goods 10.00 Horses, mules, or donkeys, each 3.50 Yoke of oxen over three years old 25 Brass clocks, each 1.50 Silver watches, each 50 Ferries on the Ohio River, each 5.00 Ferries on Big Blue River, each 2.00 These prices were set for the tavern keepers : One-half pint of whiskey 12 One pint of whiskey 12 One-half pint of wine 25 One pint of wine 43 One-half pint of peach brandy 12 One pint of peach brandy 18 French brandies went at same rate as wine. Meals were 25 Lodging for men 25 Horses' feed for 24 hours 25 License for taverns or~ hotels 25 This is the first evidence one has of fixing prices. 38 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The board also appointed the following men as super- intendents of the sixteenth section of the school land : Allen D. Thorn, James Glenn, Peter McMichael, James Mcintosh, Martin Scott, Archibald Sloan and William Anderson. At the same meeting Robert S. Thorn was appointed treasurer of the county for the year of 1825. The following men were appointed road supervisors: Zebulum Leavenworth had charge of the Leavenworth and Salem road as far as the Jennings township line : Colburn on the Fredonia and Little Blue road ; William Harvey on the Leavenworth and Paoli road; Allen D. Thorn on the Leavenworth and Princeton road; William May from Cole's ford to Leavenworth, and Valentine Sauerbeber from Leavenworth to Fredonia. Martin H. Tucker having resigned, James Totten was appointed sheriff by the board. The board doing county business appointed these men as listers or assessors : John Wood, Patoka township, sal- ary, $5.00; James Spencer, Whisky Run, salary, $6.00; David H. Tucker, Sterling, salary, $7.00; Henry Conrad, Ohio, salary, $6.00; Ben Lyons, Jennings, salary, $6.00. With the coming of the county seat, business began to grow in Fredonia. Thomas W. Fox was granted a license to run a tavern or hotel in Fredonia. The fee was $20 per year. The prices were fixed by the board for the meals and lodging. The first grocery was opened in Fredonia in 1830 by William Curry. Much later the name was changed to a saloon, so the word ' ' grocery ' ' will mean a saloon wherever found in this book. FREDONIA 39 The same year (1825) John Leggett opened a hotel. Business was booming. Many men were traveling here and there hunting for new locations. David Rice was granted a license to keep store and sell foreign merchandise in 1825. Just what he had in his store would be interesting to see. There were no stoves in the county at that time, so he must have had fire-arms, clothing and salt. In 1829 one finds that the board doing county business granted Nancy Collison a license to sell liquor or keep a grocery. Probably she was the only lady in the county to run a grocery. Among the many good citizens of the town was Henry Conrad, who moved from Virginia to Fredonia about 1822. He built a two-story log house and became a hotel keeper. This old house, which has been weather-boarded over, is still standing. When Captain Hines made that daring raid into Crawford County in 1863 Esau McFall kept a hotel there. Some of his men stopped for breakfast. Mr. Conrad was jailer and pound master for many years. He built the estray pen for the county, served as lister of Ohio township and overseer of the poor. He died in 1842. His son was William Conrad who moved to Kansas many years ago. The Conrads were the best people of the town, stand- ing for law and order. As road supervisor Henry Conrad was a very efficient man. Uncle Henry Conrad's son was a leading citizen of Fredonia for several years. After the Civil War he moved to Kansas and spent the last years of his life in Winfield, at which place he died and was buried. While the county seat was located at Fredonia several attempts were made to attach parts of Perry and Harrison Counties to Crawford County. John Ewing of Perry 40 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY County presented a petition which was referred to Mr. Tipton. He reported that the reasons were unreasonable and the petition ought not be granted. The House con- curred in the report. Later on in the history much more will be said concerning this. The first lots sold in Fredonia and the deeds recorded in the records of Crawford County were lot 27 which was sold to Solomon Byrn by Edward Dailey on November 3, 1819 ; lot 28 was sold to Israel Butt by Reuben Thorn for $100 on December 15, 1824 ; lot 14 was sold to Lyman Bell- man by Alex Carnes for $31. The names of William H. Fullenwider, Delama Riddle, Israel Bulloch, George W. Conrad, Alex Bullington and Henry Martin were among the early settlers. John Ewing of Perry County, after much work and trouble, presented another petition praying that the follow- ing tract of land beginning at the Meridian line south where Perry County begins, thence running north four miles, thence west six miles, thence south four miles, and thence east six miles, be added to Crawford County. The board of justices doing county business ordered that tract of land joined to Ohio township until the matter might be better adjusted. Later on a new township named Union was created in 1827. Then this territory formed part of that new township. The new township consisted of the congressional township three south, range one west and six sections of township two south, range one west. Before leaving the subject of Fredonia one ought to say that Allen D. Thorn and Robert S. Thorn were two of the most important men who helped build up the town of Fre- donia. After the death of General Robert Thorn, Allen FREDONIA 41 Davenport Thorn married his widow. At one time the Thorns were the richest people in the county, but during the panic of 1837 they lost most of their wealth. Allen Thorn built a large two-story frame house on the edge of the river bluff. The old house was torn down in 1918. Part of the old foundation could still be seen in 1920. The old well which he dug was eighty-six feet deep and about six feet in diameter. This well was walled from bottom to top with rock, most of which was dressed. The well stands almost full of water the year round. Thorn was a very queer man in many respects. He never drank any water and he wore an overcoat almost the entire year. The writer has been informed that he would make a hand in the har- vest field wearing that overcoat. He always wore a high silk hat. Later in life he was appointed postmaster at Fredonia. He generally carried what few letters came in the crown of his hat. When men asked about mail, Mr. Thorn took off his hat and ran over the letters to see if there was any mail for them. He gave them what letters were theirs and placed the rest in his hat and went on with his work. Mr. Thorn served the people in various ways. He was superintendent of the 16th section of township four, range one east, on January 3, 1825. He opened up a road twenty feet wide from Fredonia to the mouth of Little Blue River that same year. When the agitation for rail- roads was at its height our General Assembly proposed to have a road built from Indianapolis to the Ohio River. Madison and Fredonia made bids for the road. Many other towns, no doubt, were anxious to have the road run to them. Fredonia sent Allen D. Thorn to Indianapolis. He met the committee and made one of the greatest 42 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY speeches of his life, pleading that the road be built to Fredonia. But the committee chose Madison by a vote of one majority. While Mr. Thorn and Seth Marshall Leavenworth were trying to build up the county, many people opposed them. Leavenworth was defeated at the polls for re-election to the General Assembly and Thorn was accused of overcharging for certain supplies he fur- nished the county. Later it was found out that Thorn was correct and he was reimbursed for the money he was compelled to refund illegally. But the people never sent S. M. Leavenworth to the General Assembly again. The people were afraid of railroads in those good old days. They said that the "cars" would run over the stock in the woods and kill their children in the streets. Thorn died in Fredonia in January, 1862, and was buried there. To-day no monument marks the site of his grave. It was with difficulty that the writer was able to locate his grave and only by the help of friends was he enabled to do so. This is but one example of how people appreciate a man who labors for the people's welfare. "How are the mighty fallen!" In 1827 an exciting election was held in Crawford County. The point at issue was whether Seth M. Leaven- worth was duly elected to represent Crawford County in the General Assembly at Indianapolis. He was in favor of moving the county seat from Fredonia to Leavenworth. Gorry Jones of Ohio township contested the election and the board doing county business heard the complaint. It appeared that James Coeputs, Will Hooten, David Swar- ens, Ephriam Mansfield and John Maxwell had cast illegal votes in the election at Leavenworth. After much debate FREDONIA 43 the board voted to seat Leavenworth. The "ayes" were: Nesen, McMichael, Wood, Flinn, Tadloek, Blackwell, Wood- ford and Leavenworth. The "nays" were: Nesen, Rice, Thorn and Suggs. It was plain to be seen that Thorn did not want Leavenworth to go to the General Assembly. Fredonia, after the county seat was located there, soon grew into a town. Locust trees were set along the streets. After one hundred years the trees are still standing, many of which are very large now, although not many houses remain to-day. One of the prominent business men of the town was a man named Best. He lived in Louisville where he owned a large hotel. He put a large mortgage upon his hotel to secure money to buy a sawmill. He sawed the large white oaks into plow beams. A period of depression came and Best could not sell his plow beams. Matters looked bad for Mr. Best. The mortgage was coming due and he had no money to pay. William Conrad, who was the owner of a large store in Fredonia, was watching Mr. Best. One day he called Best into the store and told him that he would lend him the money. So Conrad and Best went to Louis- ville and paid off the mortgage. Best came back, and after business revived, sold his plow beams and paid Mr. Conrad in full. Mr. Best brought with him to Fredonia a man named Frye to be his head sawyer. Mr. Frye, who was born in Scotland, was put at the head of the business. For a long time he did well with the business, but the love for the bottle overcame his better judgment and Frye died a pau- per in Fredonia. On his death bed he requested that a quart of brandy and his favorite chopping axe be buried 44 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY with him in the coffin. The request was carried out. So the quart of brandy lies buried in the grave in Fredonia. Another old settler of the town was Walter Gowan. He was also a Scotchman, born in 1767. He moved to Fre- donia in 1821. When the terrible plague of cholera broke out in New Orleans about 1832, Mr. Gowan contracted the disease from passengers on the steamboats which landed at Fredonia. He died and was buried in the cemetery. A large tombstone marks his grave. Another important industry at Fredonia in those good old days was tanning. Mr. Collingwood built a large tan- nery just out of town. He usually employed about three men. Hides were hauled from far and near to the tannery. At the present day no sign of the tannery remains but the little hollow which was called tan bark hollow until the present day. During all these days while the county seat was at Fre- donia, only one man was killed in that town. His name was Hoback. One night he attended a dance at Mrs. Cum- mins' home. Here trouble arose between him and another man. A fight ensued in which Hoback was killed with a wooden hammer. The court acquitted the defendant on the grounds of self-defense. Many interesting stories are told about William Con- rad who was justice of the peace. He kept a large store in Fredonia. One may see his old account books any time by calling on his grandson, Percy Allen, of Fredonia. Sat- urday was the most trying day of all then. On that day the country people from far and near came to Fredonia to trade. West of the town about three miles lived two large men named Wiseman. They weighed over three hundred FREDONIA 45 pounds each. There were three large Moads in the county, too. They were about as strong as the Wisemans. A feud grew up between these men. When they came to town on Saturdays and did their trading and put their groceries into the wagons, they bought a quart of brandy and went out into the yard to drink under the shade trees. In those early days men boasted much of their deeds of prowess. Of course, these large men competed against each other. With the brandy to help them, a friendly wrestle usually culminated in a bloody fight. Then William Conrad would go out and arrest them, try the case, fine them fifty cents, and when they had paid the fine would make them shake hands and be friends. When this was done he gave each one a pint of brandy and made them get into their wagons and go home. Of course they went home happy. Mr. Conrad's account books are very interesting. One finds such entries as these: "Alf Romine, one gallon of brandy, 75 cents." DEBIT January 8, two sad irons $ 1.00 January 21, one box of hairpins 20 January 22, three pounds of coffee 50 January 23, two pounds of butter 40 $ 2.10 CREDIT January 17, note to Conrad $19.00 Assets 19.00 Debits 2.10 Balance $16.90 46 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The above debit and credit refers to Mrs. Allen Thorn's account which dates back to the fifties. After Allen Thorn 's death in 1862, she lived until 1875. Her granddaughter, Mrs. Hattie Henry, was made administratrix of her estate which was settled about 1918. In 1833 Fredonia had about 110 people, three stores, one tavern or hotel, a teacher, two doctors, one carding machine, one spinning machine, one steam sawmill and grist mill, one ship yard, and a scientific school. The post- office was established in 1840. Horace Stevens was the postmaster. By 1860 there were 150 people living in Fre- donia. This was as large as the town ever grew.* The mail routes to Fredonia came from Princeton. The mail left Princeton on Friday morning at six o'clock and arrived at Fredonia Saturday night at six o'clock. The distance was about seventy-five miles. Another route came in from Bedford. The mail left Fredonia Wednesday at six o'clock in the morning and arrived in Princeton at six o'clock on Thursday evening. When the new law was enacted to build the road from New Albany to Princeton by Leavenworth and Fredonia, John L. Smith of Leavenworth was appointed general superintendent of the road. He did not wish to run the road through Fredonia, but instead he wished to open that state road due west from Leavenworth to Beechwood, West Fork and Princeton. Fredonia was much displeased about the matter. Next year a new law was enacted compelling John L. Smith to run the road through Fredonia, as provided for in the original act of the General Assembly.* *Indiana Gazateer for 1833. *Laws of Indiana, 1831-32, p. 27. FREDONIA 47 A scientific school was started in Fredonia about 1833. A bill passed the General Assembly to incorporate the Fre- donia School Society and was approved February 2, 1832. A notice of the meeting of the Agricultural Scientific Society appeared in The Leavenworth Area in 1839. The meeting was for the citizens of Ohio township. The min- utes are not found. By 1837 the old jail was not very safe. One finds in January, 1839, that Moses Smith was taken to Corydon for safe keeping. Thomas Cummins was appointed to re- pair the jail as early as June, 1836. In 1840 prisoners were taken to Corydon. This was rather expensive to the county. In December, 1842, the board ordered the county agent to see if the logs could not be put back in the jail. CHAPTER III LEAVENWORTH The town of Leavenworth was named after two men who platted the town and lived there many years. Before proceeding with the narrative abont the town one should give a brief account of the lives of those men who did so much to build up the town and the county. Seth Marshall Leavenworth was the fifth in line from Thomas Leavenworth who moved from England to America in 1664 and settled at Roekbury, Connecticut. At this place Seth Marshall was born June 13, 1782. His early education was obtained in the grammar schools of Con- necticut. Having caught the Western fever, he went West in 1809 and located in Cincinnati for some time. While here he studied law and taught school. After several years he moved farther west and finally located in what is now Crawford County. He bought a tract of land. While living here he became engaged to Esther Mathers of Cape May, New Jersey, whom he married at New Al- bany, June 15, 1820. He engaged in business in Crawford County and was very successful. He helped build the first mill at Leaven- worth where wheat and corn could be ground and lumber sawed. In 1827 he built a mill at what is now Milltown 48 LEAVENWORTH 49 which for a long time went by the name of Leavenworth's Mill. While he owned the two mills at Milltown and Leavenworth, he was very much interested in the naviga- tion of the Big Blue River. He wanted the General Assem- bly to enact a law to improve the Big Blue River, but every bill for that purpose failed to pass. He helped to locate and open up new roads, many of which ran from Leavenworth out into the state. By re- ferring to the map on roads one can get a good idea of how they ran from Leavenworth. The people soon recognized that Mr. Leavenworth was a leader among men. So he was elected to represent Craw- ford County in the General Assembly at Indianapolis in 1827. His work in the General Assembly was very im- portant. One of his motives was to remove the county seat from Fredonia to Leavenworth. Of course, this always caused an uproar among the citizens of Fredonia who did not want to see the seat of justice removed. He intro- duced several petitions, praying that the seat of justice be changed. These petitions produced such an uproar at times that Mr. Read, of Davies and Martin Counties re- fused to serve on the committee with him, but led the fight against him. On a test vote the House refused to kill the resolution. Later, Mr. Leavenworth withdrew the resolu- tion and the petitions, for he saw that he could not get the law changed. From that time on there was a number of the people in Ohio township who did not like Mr. Leavenworth and always tried to defeat him at the polls. When he could not get the seat of justice moved, then he began a fight for the new railroad to run from Indian- apolis to Leavenworth instead of Madison. He believed the 50 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY railroads were better than canals. He made a great speech in the Assembly on railroads. A copy of the speech may be seen in the Journal for March 20, 1827. Strange as the matter may seem now, many people then opposed rail- roads. Men said the cars would run over the children in the street and kill their stock in the woods. At that time all stock ran out to the commons. There was such a wave of sentiment against Mr. Leavenworth that he was de- feated at the polls in the next election. Fredonia had sent Allen D. Thorn, a very learned citizen of the town, to In- dianapolis. He worked hard for Fredonia. In the com- mittee room Thorn made one of the greatest speeches of his life. When the committee voted Madison won the railroad by one vote. So Thorn and Leavenworth came home dis- appointed. Another far-sighted measure which Mr. Leavenworth advocated was a hospital for the sick river men. Often these men and women were exposed to cholera and other dreadful diseases while they were traveling on the boats. Sometimes there would be an epidemic of cholera in New Orleans. A passenger returning from the south might contract the malady and expose all the men on board. After various encounters the measure was defeated in the House. When his term of office expired in 1828 he returned to Leavenworth and opened up a tavern. He had operated a ferry over the Ohio and Big Blue Rivers besides the mills mentioned above. He was much interested in education and at one time was trustee of Indiana University, from which Seth Marshall Leavenworth, Jr., received his M. A. degree in 1839. LEAVENWORTH 51 Mr. Leavenworth was engaged in every enterprise which would improve his county. The commissioners' rec- ords from 1824 to 1834 have many references to his name. He lived in Leavenworth till about 1850, when he moved to Missouri, where he died in 1853. Zebulum Leavenworth was also a descendant of Thomas Leavenworth and a cousin of Seth Marshall. He was born at Granville, Massachusetts, January 4, 1792. He attended the public schools of the town until he completed the course of study. When the great tide of immigration began in 1811, he moved west to Cincinnati where he taught school one year. Then he entered the profession of law and studied in the law office of Judge Scott at Chillicothe one year. The Government at that time needed a large number of surveyors to survey the land in Indiana and Ohio. He went to Illinois with a party of surveyors and spent most of the year surveying. The Indians finally became so hos- tile that the men were obliged to retreat to Shawneetown. From Shawneetown he came in a keel boat to Cincinnati. Later he moved to Jeffersonville about 1816 and two years later he located at Leavenworth. On January 11, 1821, he was united in marriage to Margaret Patterson. She came from Delaware about 1819. Zebulum Leavenworth was connected with his cousin, Seth Marshall, in all their enterprises. He served in the General Assembly of Indiana during the sessions of 1830, 1832 and 1833. He worked hard for the benefit of the county. He was on the Committee of Education, on the management of the city of Indianapolis, and on the ways and means committee. He opposed the law 52 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY to change the way of doing business in Crawford County, but the law was enacted. At that time a board of justices from each township did the county's business. The new law provided for a board of county commissioners of three members. When he returned home in 1831, the people elected him county commissioner of the second district. Mr. Leavenworth was one of the stockholders in the Clay Turnpike Company and helped run the stage line to Bloomington and Indianapolis. As late as 1860 one of the old coaches might be seen standing on the vacant lots in Leavenworth. In 1858 he was elected township trustee. Benton D. Tucker and Joseph Thornton went on his bond for $2,000. As a school trustee he did much good work. In 1858 Mr. Leavenworth went over Scott township in Harrison County and secured the signatures of seventy- two real estate owners, praying that a certain part of the township be annexed to Crawford County. The matter was carried to the courts by the citizens of Harrison County. When the case was called for trial Walter Q. Gresham represented Leavenworth and Judge Wolf was the attorney for the other side. The county judge was just about to give his decision in favor of Leavenworth when Attorney Wolf whispered something in the judge's ear and told him that he wanted to see him privately before he decided the matter. So the judge postponed the decision till the next day. In the meanwhile Attorney Wolf said that if Scott township was given to Crawford County it would endanger the political situation. Scott township was heavily Democratic. So if that majority was LEAVENWORTH 53 given to Crawford County it would lessen the majority in the county so much that the Republicans would probably carry the county. When the court convened the next day, the judge decided that it would be unconstitutional to let Scott township join to Crawford County. Mr. Leaven- worth could have appealed the case to the Supreme Court for $50, but he could not get a man in the town of Leaven- worth to help raise the $50. Later in the year a similar case was carried to the Supreme Court where the court decided that the land could be annexed. In the great county seat fight from 1894 to 1896 Leavenworth would not have lost the seat of justice if that territory had been part of Crawford County. Mr. Leavenworth lived to celebrate his golden wedding at Leavenw r orth in 1871. The Leavenworth Independent has the folio w T ing account of the celebration : ' ' Golden Wedding. A Half Century of Wedded Life. A Rare Occasion and a Splendid Good Time. The first golden wedding ever celebrated in Crawford County took place at the residence of Oliver Leavenworth near the town last Wednesday. The parties celebrating their golden wedding were Zebulum Leavenworth and his wife, Margaret Leaven- worth; ages 79 and 69 respectively. "At the dinner party given on Wednesday at noon to a number of friends and members of the family Mr. Leaven- worth arose and in a voice choked with emotion gave a history of their married life in poem form. The poem was full of sublime thoughts and pathos. When the aged gentleman resumed his seat every eye was filled with tears. Below is the poem in full : 54 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Fifty years through shine and shadow, Fifty years, my gentle wife, You and I have walked together Down the rugged hill of life. From the hill of spring we started, And through all the summer land And the fruited autumn country We have journeyed hand in hand. We have borne the heat and burden Willingly, painfully and slow. We have gathered in our harvest With rejoicing long ago. Leave the uplands to our children; They are strong to sow and reap. Through the quiet wintry lowlands We our level way will keep. 'Tis a dreary country, darling, You and I are passing through, But the road lies straight before us And the miles are short and few. No more dangers to encounter, No more hills to climb, true friend; Nothing now but simple walking Till we reach the journey's end. We have had our times of gladness; It was a proud and happy day. Ah, the proudest of our journey When we felt that we could say : Of the children God has given us, Proudly looking on the six. Lovely women are our daughters And our sons are manly men. LEAVENWORTH 55 We have had our time of sorrow And our time of anxious care When we could not see the milestones Through the blindness of our tears. In the sunny summer country, Far behind us little Zebi, Thaddie, And Marshall, too, grew weary And we left them on the way. Are you looking backward, Mother? That you stumble in the snow? I am still your guide and staff; Lean upon me even so. And what is that which you say? Yes, I know your eyes are dim, But we have not lost our journey And our trust is placed in Him. Cheer thee, cheer thee, faithful heart, Just a little way before Lies the Great Eternal City Of the King we both adore. I can see the shining spires And the King, the King, my dear, We have served Him long and faithful; He will bless us, never fear. And the snow falls fast and heavy; How you shiver in the cold. Let me wrap your mantle closer And my arm about you fold. We are faint and weak and heavy And the sun's low in the West. We have reached the gate, my darling, Let us tarry here and rest. 56 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY In the speech Mr. Leavenworth said that he had never given his wife a cross word. She had never quarreled with him about anything. He lived till 1878, when he died and was buried in the Cedar Cemetery overlooking the town he loved so well. In politics he was a Whig and later became a Republican. His son, Elias Phelps Leavenworth, lived in Leavenworth till 1920, when he died. He gave the writer much valuable information concerning the town. The site of Leavenworth lies on the Ohio River about three miles above the town of Fredonia. There the rich bottom land is about one-fourth of a mile wide between the river and the hill. Here the town was platted. A large spring of wholesome drinking water ran out of the bluff from which a good supply of drinking water at all times was available. The site was much superior to the site of Fredonia. The town of Leavenworth is 363 feet above the sea level. Boats can land at the wharf up which freight can be easily hauled to the stores. The plot which was made by the Leaven worths can still be seen in the record- er's office at the court house in English. The streets on the plat were 50 feet wide except Front street which is 60 feet wide. The alleys were 12 feet wide. The original plat was filed in the recorder's office July 14, 1819, at Old Mount Sterling, William Samuels being the recorder of the county. The town, which was situated on the deepest bend of the Ohio River, soon became a landing port for all the trade which went to Salem, Paoli, Bono, Jasper and Bloomington. Of course, not all the trade of these towns passed through Leavenworth, but one will be safe in saying a large quan- tity did pass through Leavenworth till the railroads en- LEAVENWORTH 57 tirely changed commercial relations. After the Monon railroad was built from New Albany to Salem, Bedford and Bloomington, many of the old bus lines ceased to run wagons. The old bus line ran from Leavenworth to Bed- ford and Bloomington. This bus, which carried the mail, left Bedford each Monday at 6 :00 a. m. and came by the way of Mount Sterling and Fredonia. The mail arrived at Fredonia about noon on Tuesday. After the Salem and Paoli roads were built the bus ran directly to these towns. By a careful observation of the roads running out from Leavenworth one can see and form some idea of the work done and the traffic on the roads. The freight could be landed on the banks of the river at Leavenworth very easily. A road was built up the side of the bluff around the Big Spring. This road ran to Jasper. One who had not seen the hill cannot tell how much work was done in building such a road. In many places the road was very dangerous. One man was coming down the hill with a load of barrels. His horses became frightened at a pig and turned the wagon partly over as they ran. The barrels were scattered over the hillside in every direction. The Salem and Leavenworth road was built up Poison creek and through the Dug way. This was the best way out from the town. The grade is not so steep. The river hill is about 400 feet above the town. In some places this difference in elevation is almost perpendicular. So it is very hard to build a road up such a steep hill. Many town lots were sold in Leavenworth after the plat was filed in the recorder's office. One finds these lots recorded : Seth M. Leavenworth and Zebulum Leaven- worth sold lot 18 to Patrick Clark on October 29, 1818, for 58 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY $400; Joseph Cooper bought lots 12 and 13 from Julius Woodford for $1,800 on May 1, 1825; William Course bought lots 21 and 22 for $1,000 on Jan. 9, 1835; other early settlers were Joseph Phelps, William Cathcart, Hor- ace Williams, Caldwell and Kendall, William Mansfield, David Cole, Andrew Tadlock; Pleasant Royce, Malinda Smith, Joseph Caldwell, Jacob Sauerheber, James Baker, John M. Clark, Peter Springer, Albert Conn, William Jackson, John Carnes, Orville Smith, Lyda Garnder, Wil- liam Scott, and Andrew Caskins were owners of lots in Leavenworth. Also the following men and women were living in Leavenworth in the early days: William Reynolds, J. S. B. Kelso, Elam Wiley, James Kendall, J. A. McKoon, Lydia Kine, Joel Lyons, Daniel Lyons, William Lake, William Butt, Joshua Landers, William H. Long, Marilda Lain, Daniel Mcintosh, Nathan Morgan, Reuben Tucker, G. K. Miller, William Parker, John B. Panky, Titus Barker, Andrew Beers, Titus Barbour, Allen Thorn, Joseph Cooper, Henry Bailey, and Rebecca McCal- lister. Elisha Tadlock who represented Crawford County in the General Assembly in 1825, was the first man to open a tavern in Leavenworth. He began business in May, 1827. Seth Leavenworth opened a hotel in 1828. H. H. Samuels opened a store in the town on January 1, 1833. Just how many men lived in Leavenworth in 1830, one cannot tell. In that year there were 3,234 people in the county. In 1820, there were 2,583. By 1830, there were 128 farms sold. Hence one can see that several must have lived in towns. Yet one cannot tell how many were squatters. Anyhow Leavenworth must have had 100 people. LEAVENWORTH 59 In 1834, the leading citizens of Leavenworth secured a number of lots near where the Big Spring branch runs into the Ohio River and started a manufacturing company. One finds a record of the matter in the grantor and grantee book, but not much is known of its history. The charter was granted and the Leavenworth Manufacturing Company was incorporated by law February 1, 1834. The chief sections of the law were : Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State that John Peckinpaugh, Dudley Gresham, and Elam Wiley together with such other persons as may asso- ciate with them for the purpose of prosecuting the manu- facturing, exporting and importing business within the State to be established and located at Leavenworth or near the town in Crawford County be and the same are hereby ordained and declared to be a body politic to all interests and purposes to be known by the name of the Leavenworth Manufacturing Company, by which name they and their successors in office shall have continued succession, and be entitled to use all the privileges and immunities of the laws of the state of Indiana. The said corporation shall exist for a period of 50 years. Section 2 : The capital stock of the company shall con- sist of $100,000 and shall consist of $100 shares. The said corporation shall begin business when $4,000 worth of stock is sold. Dudley Gresham, Elam Wiley, and John Peckinpaugh shall receive subscriptions to the capital stock. Section 3 : When $1,000 worth of capital stock has been sold the corporation shall elect five directors who shall have 60 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY full management of the stock and the property. The di- rectory shall be elected by the stock holders. Section 4: A majority of the directors shall form a quorum and manage the business. Section 5 : The directors shall have power to collect all subscriptions. Section 6 : The stock holders shall be responsible for the amount of their capital stock. Section 7 : The board of directors shall elect a secre- tary and a treasurer who shall report to the board of di- rectors at least once each month. Section 8 : This corporation shall not engage in bank- ing business or issue any form of bank notes. Section 9 : This act shall be and is hereby declared to be a public act for the purpose herein specified and shall be in effect at once. Section 10 : The capital stock shall be considered as personal property and managed as the board of directors may direct. The Cannelton Cotton Mills was to be established here, but a dispute arose over various matters and the manager located the mills at Cannelton. So the factory never ma- terialized. Late in the thirties the Manufacturing Company was engaged in milling. Among the early business men of Leavenworth were A. Edwards, S. M. and Z. Leavenworth, David Dodson, William and James Mansfield, Elam Wiley, and James Kendall. In May, 1841, one finds a petition presented to the Board doing county business, begging that a license LEAVENWORTH 61 be refused to anyone to sell liquors in quantities less than a quart. The Board received the petition. On January, 1825, William Reynolds was licensed to sell liquors in Leavenworth. Elisha Lyons secured a license to sell merchandise in Crawford County for one year. This license was for for- eign merchandise. November 3, 1826, Zebulum Leavenworth introduced a resolution declaring that the bonds and contracts fixing the county seat at Fredonia had all expired and had not been complied with. The Board voted, "yes." Later in the year the committee voted against re-locating the county seat. Zebulum Leavenworth was trying to get the seat of justice located at Leavenworth. At the meeting of the Board on September 3, 1827, Daniel Lyons was granted a license to keep a tavern in Leavenworth. A tavern was a hotel. The tavern tax in Leavenworth and Fredonia that year was $10. John L. Smith was granted a license to keep store for one year in Leavenworth and Elam Wiley to sell foreign merchandise. Seth Leavenworth was granted a license to keep hotel on May 5, 1828. The Board Doing County Business was in session Sep- tember 1, 1828. It ordered a warehouse to be built on the wharf for storing tobacco until one could ship it. At the meeting of the Board Doing County Business in January, 1830, one finds that William Curry was given a license to run a grocery in Leavenworth. The name "grocery" was the old name for a saloon. As far as the author can find the Leavenworth Arena 62 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY was the first newspaper published in Leavenworth. The date was May, 1838. T. M. Warden was a physician in the town in these early days. In January, 1840, Zebulum Leavenworth was author- ized to lay out of the monies collected from the 3% funds a sum not to exceed $500, to pave the wharf from the low water mark to the Front Street if the town would pay half of the cost. Leavenworth did a good piece of work. The work was done. Rocks were used. They were set on edge and various other ways. The old stone walls were built up on each side of the drive-way down to the river. By 1830, Leavenworth was anxious to have the seat of justice located there. A law had been enacted in 1827, which provided for the re-locating of the county seat by a committee consisting of Henry McGee of Orange County, John McPheeters and Robert Mclntire of Washington County, George Boone of Harrison County, and David Murr of Jackson County. The law provided that this committee should meet at Fredonia on the first Monday in March, 1828, and make a careful survey of the situation. Should the committee think that a change ought to be made, then it was em- powered to choose a site. After a thorough investigation the committee decided that the seat of justice ought not be moved. In 1831, the law of Indiana made a change in the way of doing the business of the county. Before this date most of the business was done by a board of justices of the peace. There was about one for each township. By the new law the county was divided into three districts. Each LEAVENWORTH 63 district was to elect one commissioner. At the election held in August, 1831, Zebulum Leavenworth was elected from the second district which was composed of Jennings and Whisky Run townships, Jacob Rice was elected from the first district which was composed of Ohio and Union townships. James Glenn was elected from the third dis- trict composed of Sterling and Patoka townships. The seal consisted of a round device containing these words : ' ' Commissioners ' Court of Crawford County," and the likeness of a girl holding a pair of balances. The people of Leavenworth tried hard to build up a town seminary. On December 24, 1830, a law was enacted providing for the incorporation of a seminary. The prin- cipal men who composed the body corporate and politic were John L. Smith, Elam Wiley, Andrew Beers, James B. Davidson, and Seth M. Leavenworth. They were styled "President and trustees of the Leavenworth seminary" and in that name could be sued and could sue. The law provided that the trustees should be elected annually on the first Monday in April by the subscribers of the seminary. These trustees should take an oath be- fore entering upon their duty after which they should elect one of their number president who should be com- petent to manage the business. The trustees were to employ competent men as teachers and dismiss the same when they thought best. The above law looked well on paper but so many difficulties existed that not much was done in education. Fredonia had a school society about that time but it did not fare much better than Leavenworth. Leavenworth was more successful when the law was en- 64 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY acted to incorporate a seminary for the county. The board of trustees located the site of this seminary at Leavenworth. The law was enacted in 1835, the chief sections of which were: Section 1 : Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State that the qualified voters living in Crawford County are hereby authorized to elect at their next annual election one commissioner or a seminary trustee of the county for each township by a vote of the whole county. Section 2 : The trustees so elected or two-thirds of them shall meet in the town of Leavenworth on the first Monday in May next, and each before entering upon his duties as trustee execute a bond with security payable to the State of Indiana in a penalty of $400, conditioned for the faith- ful performance of his duties which bond shall be filed in the clerk 's office. Section 3 : The trustees so elected and their successors in office shall constitute a body politic by the name and style of the President and the trustees of the Crawford County Seminary and by that name may sue and be sued and by that name have perpetual successors. Section 4: The trustees at their first meeting or any subsequent meeting, which a majority of them may appoint, designate, fix and determine, at which place in said county the seminary shall be located and a suitable building erected. When a majority of the trustees has selected a suitable lot on which to build the house they may demand the seminary funds of the county which may be on hand at that time. Section 5 : The trustees or a majority of them shall at LEAVENWORTH 65 a subsequent meeting elect a president and a treasurer each of whom shall not be trustees. Section 6 : The treasurer of Crawford County is hereby authorized to pay over to the trustees of the Seminary whatever funds he may have on hands. Section 7 : The trustees so elected shall remain in office during good behavior. The trustees met at Leavenworth, and after being duly organized and having considered the different locations, selected Leavenworth as the site for the county seminary. Ebenezer E. Morgan, who was county clerk, sold the trus- tees certain lots on which the seminary building should be constructed. At that time William Course who was semi- nary trustee, had on hands $427.66. The trustees began work on the building at once. The house was 40 feet by 25 feet and two stories high. It was to be constructed of stone and brick. Stone foundation and brick walls. The house was completed at a cost of $1,042. In 1848, the house was rented at these rates : Lower rooms, $2 per month ; upper rooms, $1.50 per month. This historic old building is still standing. At the present day, it is used for a dwell- ing. One may see the house which stands on Court Street near the Leavenworth State Bank now. This house was used for a public school until the trustees built the new school house about 1870. Since that date it has been worked over and used for a dwelling. At the date of writing William Conrad, one of the principal business men, owns it. The board at its March meeting in 1846 ordered the Seminary rented at 6 cents per night for the upper rooms and 8 cents per day for the lower rooms. In 1840 Leavenworth was very anxious to receive the G6 HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY seat of justice. The jail at Fredonia was in poor condition, and the prisoners were taken to Corydon for safe keeping. Our county had to pay the expenses for the prisoners over there. Since a new jail had to be built anyhow, why not re-locate it at Leavenworth ? The county seat was moved to Leavenworth after due consideration. The County Com- missioners appointed David Stewart, William Highfill, and T. W. Fox to supervise the construction of the new court house. The new house which was built of brick was not much larger than the one at Fredonia. The court room was on the second floor while the offices were on the first floor and in other buildings. The lots chosen for the site were at the end of Nelson Street near the hill. David Stewart, Thomas W. Fox, and William Highfill were com- missioners to locate the site for the new house as well as to choose the town in which it was to be built. Elam Wiley and a committee of the citizens agreed to build the new court house gratis if it was moved over to Leavenworth. The first term of court was held in Leavenworth June 5, 1843. The County Board ordered William Mansfield to build a stray pen upon the most suitable spot. This pen which was to be 30 feet by 30 feet was built of red cedar and black locust posts. The posts were placed 7 feet apart and set two feet deep. The pen was planked on the out- side with poplar and capped six feet high. He was ordered to use No. 10 nails. The gate was to be well made and the whole pen must be completed by next meeting of the board. At the same meeting of the court an additional justice was appointed for Leavenworth since the county seat was moved there. LEAVENWORTH 67 A new set of rates was ordered by the board for the ferries on the Ohio. Persons, 12y 2 cents; children under 14, 6*4 cents; horses and wagon with driver, 50 cents; cattle, horses and donkeys, 10 cents each; sheep, goats and hogs 3 cents each. The rate on Big Blue was one-half of the above. The amount of traffic on the river was enor- mous in these good old days. At the same meeting the board ordered Seth M. Leaven- worth to get the county surveyor to run off the lots and get the exact size of each so that the jail might be built. The work on the court house did not progress as fast as the board thought it should. The county agent was ordered to sue Elam Wiley and others to force them to hasten the construction in June, 1844. The treasurer's report of the county was given at the June meeting in 1845: Cash on hands, $1,085.90; paid out, $1,053.40. Balance on hands, $32.50. At the same meeting the jail was received by the board. The new jail was much better than the old one. It was located in a brick house in which there were other offices. The town of Leavenworth was incorporated by a state law in February, 1835. The main features of the law were : Section 1 : Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana that John L. Smith, Elam Wiley, Zebulum Leavenworth, Abraham Edwards and William A. Reynolds be and are hereby appointed trustees of the town of Leavenworth to serve as such until the first Mon- day in September, 1835, until their successors are elected and qualifies. Section 2 : That the said trustees at their first meeting after the passage of this act shall elect one of their num- 68 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY ber president whose duty it is to preside over all their meetings and preserve order, give the casting vote in case of a tie, and at the close of each meeting sign the minutes of the same. The trustees shall appoint all officers neces- sary to carry out this act. Section 3 : The President and the board of trustees shall form a body politic and may sue and be sued and have all the rights and privileges of the state. They may make and use a common seal and make all rules and regu- lations necessary for the proper government of the town. Section 4 : On the first Monday in September, in 1835, and each succeeding year, there shall be an election at some place in the town to elect five trustees by ballot. At which election only duly qualified voters may vote. Twenty days notice of the election must be given. Section 5 : The president shall act as inspector of the elections and call to his assistance two other qualified voters who with himself shall be judges of the elections. The polls shall be open at 10 :00 a. m. to 6 :00 p. m. The five receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. Section 6 : The trustees being duly elected shall meet after taking the oath to discharge their duties faithfully and elect one of their members president. All trustees must be qualified voters and real estate owners. The Presi- dent and the board of trustees shall fill all vacancies which may happen during the year. A majority of the trustees shall constitute a quorum and shall meet on their own adjournment. Section 7 : At the first meeting of the trustees or as soon as possible they shall proceed to elect a clerk, treasurer, assessor and marshal, each of whom shall serve for one LEAVENWORTH 69 year or until his successor is elected and qualifies. They shall be under bond to the President and the board of trustees for the faithful performance of their duties. Section 8 : The President and the board of trustees shall have full power to assess and collect taxes on all real estate not to exceed one-half per cent, of the value. Poll tax of 50 cents on each person. The board may levy a tax on all shows and expositions that may be held in the town, or prohibit the same if they think the show is injurious to morality. Section 9 : It shall be the duty of the marshal to carry out all orders of the President and board of trustees. The marshal shall have power to conduct sales of all properties when taxes are not paid. It shall be his duty to keep order in the town. Section 10 : The President and the board of trustees shall have power to improve the town by building side- walks, piers, wharves, and harbors at public expense, each man paying his part of the expense. Section 11 : The men living on any street shall petition the President and the board of trustees if they desire any improvements made and the President and board of trus- tees shall act upon said petition. Section 12 : The boundary of the town plot shall ex- tend to the limits of the town plot as it now is or may be extended and recorded in the recorder's office. It shall include all that part lying in between Front Street and the Ohio River and to the territory here given : Commencing at the northwest part of the plot and following the Big Spring branch to the river. Thence up the river to the east end of the plot, thence north to the river hill and thence west to the beginning. 70 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Section 13 : The President shall have the power with the assistance of the marshals to enforce the laws of the state. Section 14: The keeper of the jail shall receive any one committed to him by the board of trustees. Section 15 : The marshal shall be the collector of all levies made by him or the assessor. He shall be the peace officer of the town. Section 16 : The assessor shall make out a roll of all the property owners of the town and deliver the same to the board of trustees. So that the tax may be assessed. Section 17 : No one shall sell in the bounds of the town any intoxicants in less quantities than a quart unless he shall obtain a license from the trustees. All laws and parts of laws in the purview of this act is hereby repealed. The oldest Methodist Church in the county was organ- ized at Leavenworth. The early history of the church is not clear. One finds that the Emanuel Episcopal Church of Leavenworth had selected John Prentice, William Ells- worth, and S. M. Leavenworth, and Dodd as warden and vestryman on August 10, 1844. The Presbyterian church, too, was built in those early days. A fine brick parsonage was erected. In 1849 an election was held at which Reuben D. Tucker, William Ellsworth, and Joseph Thornton were elected trustees of the Presbyterian Church. The narrative of Leavenworth will be continued in a subsequent chapter. The old Universalist people built a church in Leaven- worth in those early days. The Arena, which was published from 1838 to 1841, speaks of it. CHAPTER IV PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES The oldest record one can find now for the Commis- sioners' Court begins in 1824. That book is a store house of information. The board doing county business appointed these men as listers for 1825 : Ohio township, Henry Conrad ; Ster- ling, N. Tucker; Whisky Run, James Spencer; Patoka, John Wood ; Jennings, Ben Wood. Their salary for assess- ing the people of those townships was : Ohio, $5 ; Sterling, $6 ; Whisky Run, $5 ; Patoka, $3, and Jennings, $2. The above figures seem very small nowadays, but back in those days we did not have much money. There was no fixed currency. Spanish and other kinds of money passed as money here. The election of 1824 saw no party lines like they have drawn now. In the west and north part of the county the people voted at the house of Samuel Knowles. The polls were open at Leavenworth and Fredonia too, but the writer did not secure the number of votes cast for the candidates, except for president, which was Jackson 34, Clay 45, and Adams 43. The supervisors who had charge of the roads in Craw- ford County for the year of 1825, were : Old Salem Road, Seth Leavenworth and Thomas Barnes; 71 72 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY From Leavenworth's mill — Milltown to David M. Stew- art's farm; Paoli road from Whisky Run line to county line, Michael Harvey; Fredonia to intersect Mount Ster- ling road, James Glenn; from the Mount Sterling road at John Mc Williams to the top of Otter Fork and Patoka on the Fredonia road, Thomas Flemming; from David M. Stewart's road to Little Blue River, James Suddarth; from the Sterling township road to the dividing line be- tween Patoka and Sterling townships to the ford of the creek below John Keeth's, William Land; from John Ruth's to the county line, Fountain F. Tucker; from Cornelius Hall 's to the Orange County line, William Good- man; from Richard Weathers' farm to Archibald Sloan's, John Jewell ; from A. Sloan 's to the Three Forks of Little Blue, Andrew Kinkaid; on the Governor's old trail by A. Sloan's to the Orange County line, Josiah Anderson; from Mount Sterling to the Orange County line by Robert Sands' home, Laban Gregory; from the three forks of Little Blue to Enoch Rattin's farm to Patoka line, Enoch Rollin; on the Fredonia and Mount Sterling road begin- ning at Turkey Fork Creek and running to the Sterling township line, John Lynch ; from the Ohio River to Prince- ton Ford and also up to Hollcroft's farm, Allen D. Thorn; from Al. VanWinkle's to the Perry County line, Joseph Van Winkle; from Leavenworth to the Jennings township line west of town, Peter May ; from Cole 's Ford to Leaven- worth, William May; from Solomon Rothrock's on his own road marked out by himself, Solomon Rothrock; on road from Chapin's to Mount Sterling and Fredonia road, Augustus Chapin; from Leavenworth to the Whisky Run line on the old Salem road, Zebulum Leavenworth; from PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES 73 Leavenworth to Fredonia, from Sennlings to the Prince- ton road, Valentine Sawerheber. The map I am placing here is as accurate as one can be made. Of course, slight errors occur in the direction of the roads but as far as is known the one enclosed is the nearest correct. The following table will help one to see what ones supervised certain roads. Those which I have left out, I have not been able to establish definitely: Seth Leavenworth — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 ; Zebulum Leavenworth — 2—2—2—2; Thomas Barnes— 1—1— 1—1 ; Peter Har- well— 3—3— 3 ; Michael Harvey; James Glenn— 4— 4— 4; James Suddarth — 5 — 5 — 5 ; William Land — 6 — 6 — 6 ; Thomas Flemings— 7— 7— 7 ; Fountain F. Tucker— 8— 8— 8 — 8 ; Josiah Anderson — 9 — 9 — 9 — 9 — 9 ; John Jewell — 10— 10— 10— ; Andrew Kinkaid— 11— 11— 11 ; Laban Greg- ory— 12— 12— 12 ; Peter May— 13— 13 ; William May- 14 — 14 — 14; Augustus Chapin — 16 — 16 — 16. The others left out are not easily located. The old roads are now abandoned in many cases. In some cases one may see the strip through the woods where the old road ran. In some cases these roads were 60 feet wide with all trees and stumps cleared out of the way. The election of 1824 was held and the votes brought into the county seat. Then some one was selected to carry the vote to Corydon which was the state capital then. On this occasion Martin Scott was selected to carry the vote to Corydon. He received $1.90 for making the trip. James Totten, who lived in Whisky Run township, was elected county sheriff, and Robert S. Thorn was appointed county treasurer for the year of 1825. Martin H. Tucker who was elected sheriff in 1822, resigned in August, 1824, 74 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and William Hitchcock was appointed to fill out the term till 1825, when Totten became sheriff. The commissioners elected in 1824 were Cornelius Hall, James Lyons, and Robert Yates, but most of the business was done by the Board of Justices. One of the most disgusting conditions of the county was stray stock in these days. The small towns were gen- erally well supplied. In 1824, Henry Conrad was ordered to build a stray pen into which all stray stock was driven. He was allowed $53.25 for the work. Of course he fur- nished the lumber for the pen. The poor people of the county were cared for by men who were appointed to oversee the poor. The list in 1925 was James VanWinkle, Jennings; Tom Anderson, Ster- ling; John Ruth, Patoka; Pilgrim Pope, Whisky Run; Joseph Hanks, Ohio. As far as I can find out there was no definite period for their term of office. Under one school law enacted in 1816, each congres- sional township was entitled to a superintendent who would care for the sixteenth section. The men appointed in 1825 were : 1, Martin Scott, section 16, town 2 south, range 2 east; A. Sloan, section 16, town 2 south, range 1 east; William Anderson, section 16, town 3 south, range 1 east; A. D. Thorn, section 16, town 4 south, range 1 east; James Glenn, section 16 town 2 south, range 1 west; Peter Carmichel, section 16, town 2 south, range 2 west. Andrew Kinkaid was seminary trustee in 1825. Under the old Constitution the board doing county business had the right to set the tax rates of various kinds. One finds in 1825, these rates set at which these articles may be sold: To keep a tavern (hotel) $25; run a ferry PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES 75 on the Ohio River, $20 ; run a ferry on Big Blue, $5 ; one- half pint of whisky, 12c; one pint, 12c; 1 quart, 18%C; one-half pint of peach brandy, 12y 2 Q; one pint of peach brandy, 18%c; one quart of peach brandy, Siy^c; one-half pint of wine, 25c; one pint of wine 43%c; one quart of wine, 75c; one-half pint of rum, 25c; one pint of rum, 43%c; one quart of rum, 75c; meals, 25c; horse feed, 12i/ 2 c; bed, 12i/ 2 c. Elisha Tadlock and John Leggett took out licenses to keep store that year and handle foreign merchandise. One condition when the county seat was moved from Mount Sterling to Fredonia was that Thorn was to build a court house, a jail, and an excellent road from the river up to the town. He promised that the road would be such that two horses could pull one ton up the hill easily. The board accepted the road in January, 1825, but William Course and Samuel Sands cast dissenting votes till they saw the two horses pull the ton up that river hill from the river to Posey street. That same year General Thorn's old mill near Fre- donia, and Gregg and Danford's mill on Blue, near Fredonia, were operating and grinding for the farmers. The same year, July 5, 1825, a man died at James Brown's home. The county authorized Andrew Byers to make a box for him. No one kept coffins in those days, so when a man died, some one generally made a coffin for him. Prices ranged from $3 to $7 apiece. David Rice was given a license to sell goods for one year and William Reynolds was allowed a license to keep a hotel or tavern in Leavenworth. Nancy Cockran of Fredonia opened up a hotel and took out license for the 76 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY same. John L. Smith was given a license to run a tavern in Leavenworth on January 2, 1826, for one year. Malachi Monk became overseer of the poor for Whisky Run township and Henry Conrad of Fredonia became pound master and constable of Ohio township. Another interesting character in these early days was Elam Wiley. In 1825 he had a mill on Big Blue River. Moses Smith of near the Three Forks of Little Blue was superintendent over the road from the Blue River Meeting House to Old Mount Sterling. Elisha Tadlock in May, 1826, was allowed $37.50 for keeping Timothy Bennett, a pauper, for three months. That rate was $12.50 per month. Thomas W. Fox became a hotel kepeer in Fredonia in September, 1826, and David Rice took out store license to sell foreign goods for one year. In November, 1826, the road from Fredonia was or- dered opened to the mouth of Little Blue River, and a ferry was put over the Little Blue at Jonathan Rice's farm. Zebulum Leavenworth, who lived in Leavenworth, wished the county seat moved from Fredonia to Leaven- worth. In November, 1826, he introduced a resolution to the effect that the bonds and contracts made between Thorn and the county had all been expired for some time, and the contracts had never been complied with in full any time. The board concurred in the resolution. The jail had not been completed on time was about all that was not complied with. Later it was completed and given to the county. Leavenworth kept working to get the county seat moved. He had a special meeting of the board called on March 9, 1827. The committee whose duty it was to PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES 77 re-locate the county seat was opposed to moving the seat of justice. The committee consisted of Henry McGee of Orange County, John McPheters, and Robert Mclntire of Washington County, George Boon of Harrison County, and David Barr of Jackson County. These men met at Fredonia on March 5, 1827, and were sworn by Allen D. Thorn, but after due consideration decided against re-locat- ing it. Luther Benham who took out license to keep store in May, 1827, will be a prominent figure in our history for many years. Huffman's Mill which was located on Blue River near the Perry County line began grinding about this time. Frequent reference is made to John Toney, who lived near Blue River meeting house where English now stands, about 1827. He was one of the leading citizens of the vicinity for many years. The board extended Jennings township north and Whisky Run south till the two townships met on May 5, 1827. The land tax set in Crawford County at the May meeting of the board in 1827, divided the land into three classes: First class, 100 acres, $1.25; second class, 100 acres, $1, and third class, 100 acres, .75. To sell stoves the fee was $10 ; to keep hotel in Fre- donia, $6 ; to keep a hotel at Leavenworth, $4 ; and other towns, $2 ; other licenses were listed as follows : silver watches, .50; brass clocks, $1.50; oxen, 37!/2C a yoke. On July 2, 1827, Alfred Westfall who had been fined for working on the Sabbath $1 and cost, worked out his 78 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY fine on the roads. Back in those days men were more moral about swearing than they are now. Martin Scott was fined for swearing on one occasion. Ephraim Conrad was fined 25c for an assault July 2, 1827. He plead guilty and paid his fine. The election of 1827 was hotly contested in Crawford County. Seth M. Leavenworth was elected to represent Crawford County in the General Assembly, but Gorry Jones who lived down near Alton contested the election of Mr. Leavenworth. Of course Fredonia did not want Mr. Leavenworth sent to Indianapolis because he was al- ways trying to get the county seat moved. The board doing county business met at Fredonia August 22, 1827. James Smith and others were witnesses. The board mem- bers were William Good, James Flinn, John Wood, Jere- miah Tadlock, William Blackford, Julius Woodford, John McMichel, David Rigg, Allen Thorn, and Zebulum Leaven- worth. Seth M. Leavenworth moved to reject the testimony offered on the ground that Abraham Bland was not notified of the test. The motion was overruled. The fact of the matter was that William Course who was the inspector since the one chosen could not serve. The judges were James B. Davidson and Joel Lyons. The clerks were Abraham Bland and Samuel Sarrel. Gorry Jones claimed that they received illegal votes willingly, among whom were Moses Scott, James Carpenter, William Hooten, David S wander, Ephraim Westfall, and John Mansfield. If the Leavenworth precinct was thrown out, then Seth Leaven- worth would probably lose the election. After hearing the discussion on both sides the board voted on the motion to throw out the Leavenworth precinct. Those in favor of PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES 79 throwing out the precinct were Mesen, Good, Rice, Thorn and Grigg. Those against throwing out the precinct were Mesen, McMichael, Wood, Flinn, Tadlock, Blackwell, Woodford, and Zebulum Leavenworth. Then Seth Leaven- worth was declared elected. He was a Whig. September 3, 1827, Allen D. Thorn made a motion that all that part of Perry County which had been detached from Perry County should be made into a new township called Union. The territory previously had been joined to Patoka. Daniel Lyon of Leavenworth secured a license to run a tavern in Leavenworth for one year from September, 1827. Two new roads were opened up on January 3, 1827. The road from Fredonia to Alton and the road from Nathaniel Hollcroft's farm to go west and intersect the Princeton road near Turkey Fork. Nathaniel Hollcroft, John Lynch, and Joseph Van Winkle were to open this road. The campaign of 1828 was a warm one in Crawford County. The many friends of Andrew Jackson made a warm fight for his election. The vote was close in the county. Jackson had 230 votes and Adams 206 votes. Seth M. Leavenworth was elected in 1828 but he lost his popularity when he advocated railway system. The speech he made in full may be found in the Journal about that time, March 20, 1827. For that reason men favored Zebulum Leavenworth. James Totten was elected sheriff; E. E. Morgan was recorder. The vote of the election was gathered up and taken to Rome by Sheriff Totten. From there the vote went to Indianapolis. Totten was allowed $5 for taking the polls. The election of 1828 was held in 80 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY various places of the county. Sheriff Totten held an elec- tion at Milltown this year also. The leading hotel keepers in 1828 have been John L. Smith of Leavenworth, also to sell goods. Seth Leaven- worth to keep a hotel, too, and Daniel Lyon. About September 1, 1828, a tobacco house was built in Fredonia to accommodate the people who had tobacco for shipping. In May, 1829, Nancy Grimes was caught swearing and fined one dollar. This is the first record I have found where a lady was fined for swearing. John Sloan became sheriff in 1829. He lived near Eng- lish. His descendants have lived in the county until the present day. An outer door for the jail was needed very much. E. E. Morgan made one for $20. There was not much chance to escape from the jail. Samuel Clark, Ephraem Conrad, Edwin Martin, and Elias O'Bannon were paid $2.75 each for guarding the jail when D. Buras was in the jail. Later John Sloan built the door for $30. At the January meeting, 1829, E. E. Morgan was allowed $7.50 for a new seal of the county. In September efforts to open up a road from Leaven- worth to Hartford were made. The road was to go up the town hill a little below the Big Spring branch. Elam Wiley, William Anderson, and John Landiss were author- ized to open this road, but at present nothing was done. Later John L. Smith, James G. Sloan, Ephraem Standi- ford were appointed on the above road and completed it in due time. The following report of the census of Crawford County PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES 81 was obtained from the State Library at Indianapolis. The author was fortunate to secure the valuable information shown here. The copy in the State Library is a photostat of the original made in 1820. The names of people given are just the heads of families. In some cases the names were very illegible. The census of 1820 was taken by David M. Stewart in Crawford County. One may see the original copy in Washington City. It cost $300 to secure a copy of the census of 1820. From the copy one has selected the follow- ing list of householders and citizens. For the benefit of the reader, the author lias arranged the following list of names alphabetically : 1. Francis Abel 18. John Bramlett 2. William Amos 19. David Beals 3. Archibald Allen 20. Arandy Bow (?) 4. William Brice 21. Margaret Briley 5. James Bowman 22. Henry Buckner 6. Jesse Burris 23. Ephraem Blackburn 7. John Barley 24. Benjamin Bogard 8. William Bently 25. James Briley 9. Jesse Belcher 26. John Bell 10. Joseph Bowdin 27. Bath Beals 11. Stephen Bobb 28. Sam Briley 12. Joseph Bradford 29. James Barker 13. Alexander Barnett 30. Joseph Beals 14. Thomas Burris 31. A. Boman 15. William Baun (?) 32. Aaron Baker 16. Thomas Borns 33. Rachel Brown 17. Jonathan Bird 34. William Brownfield 82 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 35. William Brown 36. James Bogard 37. John Bulloch 38. John Clerk 39. Edward Curry 40. Reuben Kemp 41. Henry Conrad 42. William Campbell 43. Enoch Campbell 44. John Casby 45. Daily Colter 46. Philip Cornelius 47. Stephen Cosley 48. William Curry 49. Nancy Cochran 50. John Cooper 51. John Condra 52. William Course 53. Charles Chaplin 54. James Cabbage 55. Dan Davidson 56. Solomon Deburn 57. Ezekiel Downs 58. M. Dillman 59. Thomas Davis 60. James Downs 61. Elias Deffries (?) 62. Ruth Davis 63. Josiah Danford 64. Andrew Dermon 65. Asa Davis 66. Thomas Davidson 67. Jesse Enlow 68. Abraham Everett 69. John Followell 70. Jacob Froman 71. Thomas Fleming 72. John Freid 73. Jesse Fitzjerald 74. Joseph Funk 75. Henry Fullenwider 76. John Follow 77. Martin Followell 78. Elizabeth Funk 79. Peter Funk 80. John Funk 81. James Flinn 82. Noah Ford 83. James Glenn, Judge 84. John Glenn 85. Sam Glenn, Sr. 86. Sam Glenn, Jr. 87. William Goldman 88. John Goldman 89. Thomas Glenn 90. Jesse Goldman 91. John Goldman 92. Henry Green 93. James Glenn 94. Thomas Golden 95. John Goldman, Jr. 96. William Gott PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES 83 97. Hugh 128. Conrad Kurts 98. William Hollowell 129. Jean Kellums 99. Michael Harvey 130. William Kinkaed 100. James Harvey 131. Stephens Kathkart 101. John Hackman 132. John Kinkaid 102. William Hart 133. Landon Lawrence 103. Haskins 134. John Jewell 104. Anthony Holland 135. John Lee 105. James Holland 136. William Lee 106. John Helm 137. John Lake 107. Cornelius Hall 138. James Lewis 108. Uriah Hart 139. John Lewis 109. Elijah Hase 140. Timothy Lyons 110. William Hall 141. Abraham Lee 111. Ben Hall 142. Mark Librius 112. Thomas Helm 143. Peter Luther 113. David Haskins 144. Eliabeth Lynch 114. Lizzie Hollowell 145. Sam Landrus 115. Joshua Hall 146. Caleb Longest 116. Jarrit Hall 147. John Lee 117. Nathan Hobbs 148. James Lance 118. Moses Justine 149. Sam Lantly 119. Sarah Jones 150. Solomon Levy 120. Morris Jordan 151. Zebulum Leavenworth 121. Mason Jenkins 152. Reuben Lovel 199 Jeremiah Jenkins Joseph Kinkaid 153. 154. TpTTT/^ I 1 123. t) t" \Y Cll James Lyons 124. Andrew Kinkaid 155. Mary Lovet 125. Maude Kemp 156. Jesse McGee 126. John Kellers 157. Samuel Monroe 127. James Kellams 158. John McNight 84 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 159. Andrew Mason 160. William Mathers 161. Malachi Monk 162. James Mulky 163. Elizabeth Murray 164. Abner McCarty 165. John McCarty 166. William McCarty 167. Edward Martin 168. E. E. Morgan 169. William May 170. Robert Moore 171. Sam McMahan 172. Elisha Moore 173. Thomas Maxwell 174. James Mansfield 175. David Milliz 176. Allen McBride 177. A. J. Musgrove 178. Jacob McMichel 179. Peter McMahon 180. Jacob Miley 181. Jonathan McWill T 182. James McMutrey 183. John McMutrey 184. Sam Munk 185. William Miller 186. Dan McCay 187. Thomas Mayfield 188. John McWilliams 189. Cornelius Newkirk 190. Robert G. Nenis ( ?) 191. Joseph Nicholson 192. Yenby Numdle (?) 193. Abagail O. Bannan 194. William Osborn 195. Robert Osborn 196. Jonathan Osborn 197. John Osborn 198. Peter Peckinpaugh 199. Moses Pennington 200. Elijah Pope 201. Henry Perkhizer 202. James Pay ton 203. Brice Patrick 204. William Persons (?) 205. James Persons 206. William Potter 207. Elisha Potter 208. Edward Pyle 209. Reuben Pursons 210. Elisha Phillips 211. Jesse Potter 212. Eliah Pope 213. John Poter ( ?) 214. Pilgrim Pope 215. Martin Patrick 216. Thomas Pare 217. Jeremiah Paugh 218. John Ruth 219. David Rice 220. William Roberts PIONEER DAYS OF THE TWENTIES 85 221. Peter Rodenback 252. William Suaves (?) 222. Thomas Roberts 253. Oliver Stone 223. Maude Reed 254. John Shubusky 224. William Riley 255. John Stone 225. Peter Remmington 256. Robert Scott 226. Clerk Ruel 257. William J. Scott 227. Stephen Roberson 258. W. C. Scott 228. Christian Roger 259. James Shaw 229. John Roclerock 260. Edward Sands 230. Charles Ridge 261. James Scott 231. Charles Riddle 262. David Taylor 232. James Riddle 263. John Tibbs 233. James Russell 264. M. H. Tucker 234. James Riche 265. Elisha Tadlock 235. Peter Saron 266. James Totten 236. Robert Spencer 267. Jonas Totten 237. Wilson Scott 268. Jeremiah Tadlock 238. Andrew Scott 269. Caleb Temple 239. John Stokes 270. Alganda Toney 240. Charles Springer 271. Jesse Vinun 241. James Springfield 272. Obadiah Vaughn 242. John Sybart 273. John Van Meter 243. David Swoning 274. Joseph Van Winkle 244. John Samuels 275. Abraham Van Winkle 245. John Sturgeon 276. James Van Winkle 246. John Scott 277. William W T alls 247. John Samuels, Sr. 278. William Wabow (?) 248. Thomas Stroud. 279. Richard Williams 249. Valentine Sauerheber '280. Isaiah Walson 250. W. J. Smith 281. Addison Williams 251. William Shepard 282. Jacob Weedman 86 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 283. Daniel Weathers 284. John Wood 285. Robert Walker 286. William Westfall 287. Arthur Whitehead 288. James Wentosh (?) 289. Robert Watson 290 Chris Wright 291. Sam Wilks 292. Thomas Williams 293. Richard White 294. Richard Weathers 295. George Wyman 296. Julius Woodford 297. William Willett 298. Constance Williams 299. Jesse Williams 300. Henry Warfield 301. Abraham Wiseman 302. Ben Wiseman 303. John Yates 304. Robert Yates 305. James l r ates 306. Edward Zabins CHAPTER V THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES Under the old Constitution the board doing county business or the county justices of the peace did all the business of the county. In Crawford the former board did most of the business up to 1831. So on July 5, 1830, John L. Smith, who had been county treasurer, re- signed and the board appointed Isaac Sands to complete the term. Julius Woodford was the collector of the rev- enues for 1831. The new law which authorized the three county com- missioners to do all the county business was passed in 1831, so the county was divided into three districts from which they were to elect a commissioner. The first district con- sisted of Ohio and Union townships; the second district consisted of Jennings and Whisky Run townships, and the third district consisted of Patoka and Sterling town- ships. The above law was approved January 19, 1831. The election of 1831 was held on the usual date. Jacob Rice, James Glenn and Zebulum Leavenworth were elected county commissioners. The seal which had been in use was still used, but with these words in a circle: "Commis- sioners Court, Crawford County, Indiana," and a design of a girl holding a pair of balances. William Course, who was the new seminary agent, re- 87 88 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY ported that he had $294.18 in November, 1831. This money was being collected to pay for a seminary building which was to be constructed in the near future. The townships at this time had no permanent boundary. For instance, on the north of Jennings there might be a strip of Congress land two miles square before one came to Whisky Run township, so the board of county commis- sioners ordered Jennings extended north and Whisky Run extended south till they met. Also, that Sterling and Whisky Run should let the Paoli road be the boundary of each. In that way the squatter on Congress land was under the rule of the township in which he was situated. The three per cent, fund was divided up and used on the roads as follows : On the Bono road, and for a bridge over Slick Run $50 was expended, and $95 on the Leaven- worth and Princeton roads. For better service on the roads the townships were divided into road districts : Ohio had four districts; Union two districts; Patoka had four dis- tricts; Sterling had four, Jennings had six, and Whisky Run had six. Under the new way of doing county business the county commissioners were in session two days each three months. They received $48 at the end of the year. These facts may interest candidates. About this time Thomas Farmer, who was in jail for some minor offense, secured a rod and burned out. He did the burning at night when the guard was not watching him. He was out and under way running before Sheriff Totten saw him. Henry Conrad, the pound keeper and jailer, and Sheriff Totten gave pursuit, but Farmer eluded the men and went down over the high bluff to the river THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES 89 where he swam across. Then a new door was made for the jail. It was made out of oak beams which were six inches by four inches and crossed three times and were bolted together. Such a door would be a relic now which would take the prize at a side show. He was allowed $20 for making the door and hanging it on hinges. Of course he furnished the lumber. Mr. Morgan did the work on the door. The commissioners in those days had the right to appoint two students for the county to attend Indiana University. The law provided that these students be ex- empt from certain fees. At the meeting in November, 1834, William Ridge of Crawford County was appointed to attend school there and David Tadlock. The election of 1834 showed that James Glenn, Jere- miah Tadlock, and Julius Woodford were elected county commissioners. James Totten was elected sheriff of the county and William Course was seminary agent. He then had on hands $427.66. The commissioners at their meeting in May ordered part of section 2, township four south, range one east, attached to Jennings township, to which it has belonged since 1835. Such items as the following one may amuse one at the price of the article : In January, 1836, allowed Jephtha Williams $3 for furnishing a coffin for a pauper. After the law of 1835, establishing the county seminary, the people of Leavenworth decided to build one. Good lots were secured on high ground on Court Street just west of Nelson Street. The building was a substantial stone and brick house. The house was forty feet by 90 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY twenty-five feet and two stories high. The cost of the building was $1,042. David M. Stewart was overseer. In the year of 1836 in June the board doing county business was authorized to manage the county business again instead of the board of cpunty commissioners. November, 1837, Jacob Wiseman became supervisor of district No. 4 in Ohio township. The same month the Potash Hollow road to the Mason Bird farm on the river bluff was ordered opened as far as G. W. Chapin's home. During the year of 1832 a very high water occurred on the Ohio. It came near washing Leavenworth and Alton away. This was the first very high water Leavenworth had ever had, but it will not be the last. In 1830 Perry George Wilks had built a new horse mill near his home in what is now Boone township. Mr. Wilks was born in England and came to America and took out his naturalization papers and settled near Alton. His horse mill was a great help to the settlers who wanted their grists ground. Later in life he was elected county commissioner of our county. The election in 1832 for Crawford County showed that James Spencer was elected sheriff, and Isaac Sands, treas- urer. Jackson for president received 222 votes and Clay 165. Samuel Frisbie was elected state senator for a term of three years. Zebulum Leavenworth on the Whig ticket was elected to the General Assembly. In May, 1833, the men who had been selected met at Leavenworth and proceeded to blaze out a road from Leavenworth to Mt. Pleasant. William Harris was the surveyor. James Pittman and Hinan Easles were chain carriers. The other men in the party were Jacob Denbo, THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES 91 John Daily, John Green, Joseph Kinkaid, James Kellams, and William Land. Stephen Golden was allowed fifty cents for piloting the road commissioners to Jasper. The elections of 1833 and 1834 resulted in Julius Wood- ford being elected county commissioner from Leavenworth district. Thomas Cummings, of Fredonia, became county treasurer and J. N. Phelps was elected representative. The assessors of the county who had listed all the property of the county in 1834 were : John Wood, Ohio township ; Same Lowe, Whisky Run ; Archibald Sloan, Sterling; Thomas L. Golden, Patoka; G. Good, Union. Their salaries were: Wood, $6; Lowe, $12; Sloan, $6; Golden, $3 and G. Goad, $3. Also, Jeremiah Tadlock was elected county commis- sioner in 1834. For a long time the assessors were appointed in Crawford County. Then the new constitu- tion made the office elective. The other members now were Julius Woodford and William Riley. The election returns were brought to the county seat by Gab, Goad, Union; Dayle Tater, Jennings; Dan Mc- intosh, Whisky Run ; Tom Roberts, Ohio ; William Tucker, Patoka. These men were paid as follows : Goad, 75 cents ; Tater, 75 cents; Mcintosh, 75 cents; Roberts, 75 cents and Tucker, 75 cents; Archibald Sloan, Sterling, 75 cents also. Daniel Mcintosh was allowed $2.50 for making a box for some man who was found dead in the town of Leaven- worth. He furnished the lumber and the nails. For many years travel between Corydon and Leaven- worth was hindered much on account of no bridge over Big Blue at Cole's ford. In January, 1835, the board ap- pointed Zebulum Leavenworth, John L. Smith and Allen 92 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY D. Thorn to meet the county commissioners of Harrison County and discuss the proposition. The board also allowed $100 to help build a bridge over Big Blue at Milltown if Harrison County would pay the same amount. The election of 1835 and appointments placed these men in office : Thomas Cummings, treasurer ; John S. Smith to succeed Cummings. Assessors were : Patoka, William Highfill; Sterling, A. Sloan; Whisky Run, Ben Totten; Union, G. Goad; Jennings, Gustavius Chapin; Ohio, Henry Conor. Same Lowe was appointed county assessor under the act of February 7, 1835. Julius Wood- ford was elected county commissioner for a term of three years. The state of Indiana frequently made appropriations to build bridges. In March, 1836, one finds this article: There was set aside a sum of $300 to build a bridge over Little Blue, west of Fredonia; $50 was paid for the dug- way; $450 was to be spent on the Jasper road and $100 on the Salem road. At the March term of court in 1836, L. N. Phelps was appointed to act as an agent for receiving the land Mr. Thomasson was to donate to the county for a poor farm. In May, 1836, when the county commissioners met, the law had put the right in the hands of the board doing county business. These men were members: Thomas Roberts, James Gaither, Allen D. Thorn, John L. Mc- Naughton, Abram Edwards, Dudley Gresham, Jesse Bar- nett, W. M. Taylor, Joel Ray, Peter Sower, Thomas Golden, William Highfill, Gabriel Goad and John Martin. Allen D. Thorn was elected president of the board. THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES 93 Thomas Cummings was appointed agent for the care of the jail. He was to repair the jail if it could be re- paired. A new seal was ordered made. It consisted of a tree and a plow in the center of a circle. This seal was for the board doing county business. The board doing county business allowed James Totten $54 for assessing the county. In 1837 a new law was enacted which provided for three county school commissioners or examiners. It seems that Isaac Sands and Sam Lathop were the only two elected. The election of 1836 was a memorable one. Whig politics was growing warm. Many Democrats did not like Van Buren because he had a surrey to which he would harness two fine horses and drive away. To make matters worse, about this time some prince of Arabia sent him a fine pair of Arabian horses and a beautiful necklace of pearls for his wife. Congress refused to let him receive them. The horses were sold and the money put into the treasury while the necklace of pearls was left in the archives of the Treasury Building. This did not help Van Buren any in his race. On the other hand, Harrison was born in a log cabin in Virginia. He wore a homespun suit and a cap made of coon-skin. Naturally such a man appealed to the hardy pioneers. The vote for President in 1828 was: Jackson, 230, Adams, 206; in 1832, Jack- son, 222, Clay, 165; in 1836, Harrison, 196, Van Buren, 166. Harrison's majority over Van Buren was 33 votes. Robert Sands was elected representative to the General Assembly. Local tradition says that he wore a homespun 94 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY suit to Indianapolis, much to the surprise of the other members from other sections of Indiana. The board ordered the jail repaired by putting certain logs back or new ones and bars of iron over the windows. J. F. and N. Morgan painted the windows, furnished seats and made necessary repairs in May, 1839. One finds such a note as this, that Moses Smith was taken to Corydon for safe keeping. The writer was informed that Smith had lost his mind at times. Henry Little was given $7.56 for keeping Smith at Corydon. Mr. Smith at one time was an able citizen. At a meeting of the board of justices in May, 1839, licenses were issued to men as follows: Isaac Sands, Will- iam Mansfield, D. Dodson, Joseph Denbo, T. Tresbie, Joseph Caldwell, A. E. Edwards, Henry Buck, James Ken- dall, S. M. Leavenworth, Elam Wiley, and William Proc- tor. The board doing county business then consisted of John Martin, Libris Frisbie, William M. Taylor, James Sloan, Philip Crecelius, Haley Good, Abram Edwards, Thomas Roberts, Shimea Hughes, and Allen D. Thorn. They entered on their duties in January, 1840. Zebulum Leavenworth was postmaster at Leavenworth for several years in the thirties. On one occasion the Corydon postmaster found the mail sent out unchanged. He placed the following article in the Corydon Investi- gator: "The mail came up from Leavenworth the other day without being opened. Several packages of letters and papers intended for that town were unopened. They were stopped here till the mail returned. The driver of the THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES 95 stage had to wait one-half hour for some one to open the mail and then came away without it. This is not the first time such has happened. Will the good people of Leaven- worth submit to such treatment? We are not acquainted with the gentleman who is the postmaster and do not com- plain because of any hostility. We do not know whether it is due to ignorance or carelessness, but we shall feel constrained to inform the postmaster-general if such is not stopped. "Signed: Corydon Investigator." Mr. Leavenworth replied that the stage driver was late and did not wait five minutes till the postmaster came. He hoped that Mr. Mattingly would attend to his own business after this. Leavenworth's conduct was approved by certain citizens and passengers in the stage. The Leavenworth Arena was published in Leavenworth May 17, 1838. Isaac Smith was the editor. He was a Whig. The Leavenworth market for May, 1838, was: Flour, $6.50 per barrel; wheat, 75 cents per bushel; corn, 50 cents; meal, 50 cents per bushel; oats, 3114 cents per bushel; potatoes, 50 cents per bushel; ham, 7 cents per pound; butter, 12% cents per pound; eggs, 614 cents per dozen; salt, 62% cents per barrel. The main stage lines ran from Leavenworth to Indian- apolis by Milltown, Paoli, and Orleans. Leavenworth and Woodford were the proprietors on this stage line. The drivers put up at various towns for the night. No driving was done after night. None but the very best of men were entrusted to drive the stages. In all cases drivers were not allowed to drink liquor. 96 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY John L. Smith and Company operated a stage line from Leavenworth to New Albany till his death on Jnly 31, 1838, at the age of 42 years. Later his stage line was under separate management. The best of horses were used for driving. Men were required to be sober while driving but on many occasions the drivers were not. The Leavenworths fought hard to keep the stage line from Leavenworth to Indianapolis. There was a move to buy out the stage line and run it from Indianapolis to New Albany by Bedford, Paoli and Palmyra. Seth M. Leavenworth, who was a candidate for representative, went to Washington in July, 1838, and did the best he could to hold the line, but J. Orchard bought out the stage line on September 15, 1838. Leavenworth did not get back till after the election, so his name was withdrawn from the race. Probably Seth might have won had he been at home to manage his campaign, but he lost popularity over advo- cating railroads back in the early days. The following notice was taken from the Arena: "Teacher wanted: The subscribers are desirous of secur- ing an energetic teacher who has had much experience to teach a school in Ohio township about three miles below Fredonia on the Ohio river. Liberal wages will be paid for the work. Peter Peckinpaugh, John Stone, and Rice Peckinpaugh — trustees. ' ' At William Anderson's farm Mr. Lewis Payton was accidentally shot and instantly killed while butchering hogs in November, 1838. He picked up one of the Ken- tucky rifles to shoot a hog when another man told him that the gun he had was empty. He put his foot on the lock and pushed the hammer back, intending to blow into the THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES 97 muzzle of the gun to see if it was really empty. Just as he put his mouth over the end of the barrel the toe of his shoe slipped off of the hammer, letting the gun fire, thus killing him outright. The Leavenworth-Bloomington Railroad was one of the big objective features of the day in December. The cor- poration sold enough stock to pay for the grading. One can hardly get an idea of the business done at Leavenworth in the late thirties. The following table was copied from the Leavenworth Arena for February 22, 1839: 4,300 barrels of flour at $6 $25,800 500 barrels of pork at $13 6,500 450 kegs of lard at $4 1,800 490,000 lbs of bull pork 21,900 1,000 sacks of oats 750 12,500 bu. of oats at 30c 3,750 2,000 bu. of oats at 25c 500 2,000 bu. of shorts 375 6,000 bu. of bran 500 1,000 bu. of potatoes 500 50 bbl. of beef 400 20 head of horses ) . . . . 2,000 120 head of sheep 240 150 head of hogs 800 600 bbl. of lime 400 Total amount $66,190 It shows what articles were bought and sold in about one month or a short space of time. 98 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Salt was a leading article. One finds that one of the leading merchants bought 1,400 barrels of steam salt on June 14, 1838. Again on June 28, 1838, he bought 200 more barrels. The first cook stoves were brought to Leavenworth about August 30, 1839. One finds on that day that Elam Wiley advertised that he had three cook stoves for sale in his store. One finds that coffee was advertised for sale about Jan- uary 10, 1839. It was generally sold at saloons then. The good people of Ohio township, including Fredonia, had organized an agricultural society. They had a general farmers' institute on the last Saturday in October, 1840. The following prizes were offered : Horses under 1 year old $3.00 Second best horse 2.00 Best colt from James Sumpter's fine horse, Cosco $4.00 extra Second best 3.00 Cattle, best bull 5.00 Best under 1 year of age 3.00 Second best 2.00 Best heifer under 1 year of age 2.00 Second best 1.00 Grain, best acre of corn 5.00 Second best 3.00 Best acre of wheat 5.00 Second best 3.00 Best five yards of jeans 2.00 Second best 5 yards of jeans 1.00 THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES 99 No one but members of the society could send in an exhibit. Membership fees were $1 each. Thomas Cum- ming, March 7, 1840. The following account of the three Bulls is worth read- ing : Smith Bull and Alfred Bull were the sons of Squire Bull. They came to Leavenworth in 1840 and boasted what they intended to do. Old Squire Bull claimed that he was going to set up a cabinet shop at Milltown and Leavenworth. He soon had men believing that he had a large amount of money, some of which he had with him. He and Smith Bull contracted some debts on all sides. Smith Bull tried to escape one night but the people caught him and brought him back. He eluded the officers and escaped. That night Alfred Bull tried to get his horse out of the stable and escape but was detected. The horse was locked up but later in the night he broke the lock, secured his horse, and fled. Despite the vigilance of the citizens, Squire Bull, too, escaped, leaving all their debts not paid. Editor Smith claims that the town is better off since the three Bulls left on March 19, 1840. The census of 1840 showed that the following people lived in Crawford County: Whites, 5,270; blacks, 6 boys and 6 girls. There were three pensioners : George Key- sucker, age 90 ; John Ruth, age 89 ; and Jesse Toney, age 78. James H. Hayes taught school in Leavenworth. He completed the first half July 11, 1839. He intended to start the second half soon. He was a man of long ex- perience in school work. He wished to thank all the patrons for the help they had given him during the past half and begged their aid during the second half. 100 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Mr. J. Woodford wished to announce that he would begin a school in the old Universalist church in Septem- ber, 1839. He would charge $3.25 a term for the higher branches and $2.50 a term for children. The ad appeared August 19, 1839. Certificate of character for Mr. Joseph T. Fell: "This is to certify that Joseph T. Fell traveled with me during the time I was engaged in Foster and Hunt's circus last season. He is a man in every sense of the word worthy of the estimation being placed in him, being upright before God and man. There being certain slanderous reports out in this place and Leavenworth concerning a chest and its contents belonging to a certain William Lake, which have been circulated by no other person than Lake himself. Knowing him to be a dangerous man with his mouth and tongue I give this report to justify Mr. Fell. William Hubble, Boss of the canvas of Foster and Hunt's Circus, August 12, 1839, Fredonia, Indiana." On October 17, 1839, John Tadlock opened up a hotel called the Flag Hotel. He had a good bar, plenty to eat on the table, and a good stable room for horses. Later in the winter, on February 13, 1840, he established the first ferry over the Ohio River where horses could be ferried over any time. The election in 1839 was a warm affair in Crawford County. Mr. Sands was elected to represent Crawford County in the General Assembly. The Corydon Investi- gator, which was the leading paper, referred to the elec- tions by saying that "Old Moccasin" would be well represented now. To which the Arena replied: "Thank you, sir, for your insinuation. The compliment you pay THE COUNTY IN THE THIRTIES 101 to 'Old Moccasin', the daughter of 'Old Granny Shoe String', is well taken. As we do not have the gift of prophecy we shall not attempt to foretell the future of 'Old Granny Shoe String.' ' The above names were pet names for Crawford and Harrison Counties. At that time Sands wore homespun suits. The Whigs had nominated Proffer of Petersburg and the Democrats had selected Robert Dale Owen of New Harmony. Both men spoke at Leavenworth and Fredonia during the campaign. Owen spoke at Fredonia July 17, 1839. The result of the election is given below : Proffer Owen Jennings Township 139 95 Whisky Run Township 102 101 Ohio Township 72 43 Sterling Township 26 43 Patoka Township 28 33 Union Township 14 5 Proffer received 381 votes and Owen received 350. Proffer won by a large vote in the district. The following notice will be interesting to the de- scendants of Jesse Riddle: "Lost or stolen — from my pocket while attending the election in Leavenworth on August 6, 1838, a pocket book containing $9 in cash and a note on Mr. Sharpe for $10 besides many other papers. Any person who will return the same to me or the office will be rewarded. Signed — Jesse Riddle, August 6, 1838, Ohio township." The Young Men's Lyceum was organized in Leaven- 102 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY worth on January 10, 1839. J. M. Conrad was chairman and T. Holmes was secretary. Meetings were held in the seminary building or the Universalist church which was the oldest church built in the town of Leavenworth as far as one can find. The meeting, which was held on February 22, 1839, was addressed by William Course. Course was a very interesting man who did much to build up the town till one day he fell in love with another man's wife, with whom he ran away. The writer could not find that the other man ever complained about the affair. A much needed industry was started in Leavenworth on June 13, 1839, when Horatio Sharp completed his building and established a carding machine. Many of the old citizens remember where the carding machine stood. He charged 8 cents a pound for white wool and 12y 2 cents a pound for all other kinds. Squire Weathers opened up a chair factory in Leaven- worth on April 25, 1839. He had installed all kinds of turning tools with which he would make most any kind of a chair. The Leavenworth skiff shop was established and run- ning at full blast. Much will be said about it in another chapter. CHAPTER VI THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES The campaign of 1840 was a very warm one. The Whigs were well organized for the battle while the V. B. or Locofocos, as the Democrats were called, were not idle. The Whigs called a meeting at the seminary building very early in the year on January 1, 1840. William Course was elected president and Isaac Smith secretary. The mass convention selected the following men as delegates to the Whig district convention which was to be held at Rock- port : William E. Reynolds, William Course, and Elam Wiley. A vigilance committee was appointed which was composed of men from the following townships as follows : Jennings, Zebulum Leavenworth, J. Gibbs, Isaac Smith; Whisky Run, F. Frisbie, James Spencer, William M. Tay- lor; Sterling, Joseph Denbo, Isaac Sands, James Sloan; Ohio, Thomas W. Fox, A. D. Thorn and Henry Fullen- wicler; Patoka, James Glenn, W. A. Lamb and F. F. Tucker; Union, Halley Goad, Steve Roberson and Thomas Sillen. James Gibbs was elected chairman of the county central committee while William R. Reynolds and Thomas Cum- nings were vice-chairmen. The mass convention selected Elam Wiley and Thomas 103 104 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Cummings delegates to the state convention. A committee of thirteen was selected, the members of which were : Whisky Run, James Totten and D. M. Stewart; Sterling township, James G. Sloan and Isaac Sands; Patoka, John C. Haskins and T. L. Golden; Union, John Martin and Haley Goad; Ohio, William Roberts, Joseph Van Winkle and Allen D. Thorn; Jennings, William R. Reynolds and Zeb nlum Leavenworth. Samuel Bigger, whom the Whigs had nominated for Governor, visited Leavenworth where he spoke to a large crowd on April 15, 1840, and at Fredonia on April 16. Probably the first straw vote ever taken in Crawford County was taken at Levi Grant's log rolling on April 23, 1840. The result of the straw vote was: Harrison 19 and Van Bur en 1. The election of August 6, 1840, gave the following results : Governor — Jen. Ohio W.R. Union Pat. Ster. Total Bigger 152 101 89 19 36 32 429 72 Howard 115 33 104 4 37 64 357 Representative — ■ James Sloan. . 143 94 79 19 31 30 396 19 Sam Sands 119 40 110 4 40 66 379 Sheriff— W. R. Reynolds 143 76 79 18 28 31 375 Houston Miller 122 58 102 4 43 66 395 20 The Whigs elected all their ticket except Mr. Reynolds. The autumn election gave Harrison 435 and Van Buren 361 votes. The Whigs had won a great victory in the nation and state. The Whigs of Crawford County planned a wonder- ful illumination at Fredonia for Monday, November 23, THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 105 1840. On March 4, 1841, they held a great day at Fre- donia. The women brought ont baskets full of food. The men at these old barbecues roasted whole beeves for the people to eat. In those days no one objected seriously to a tin cup full of "apple jack." E. E. Morgan, T. W. Fox, W. Roberts, Henry Conrad, B. Stephens, Thomas Cum- mins, John Stone, Nicholas Peckinpaugh, J. McFall, Sam M. Clark, D. Connor, J. Abel, Elam Wiley, J. S. B. Kelso made up the committee on preparation. The secretaries were William Blackburn, John T. Morgan and G. W. Rob- erts. The committee to secure powder was composed of Nathan Morgan and H. B. Meylin. There was a wonderful crowd present. The day was beautiful. Noted speeches by Samuel Beals of Kentucky, Abraham Edwards, Nathan Morgan, Mr. Roberts and Colonel Morgan. A wonderful dance was planned for the evening, at which old and young took part. On the whole it was one of the most important social functions of the season. Women dressed in the fashion of the day. The men with high top boots, well oiled, and high top hats, filled with about a pint of old fashioned apple brandy, danced the old fashioned clog dance, the Virginia reel, and many of the old time dances. Such a ball now would amuse our modern boys and bobbed haired girls as much as our girls would shock the old Whig by the modern dress fashions. The Whigs went home greatly encouraged over the cele- bration. By 1840 the jail in Fredonia was in a dilapidated con- dition. The logs were out of it on one side. The board of county commissioners ordered Ben Stevens, who was the county agent, to see if the jail could not be repaired. The 106 HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY expense would be considerable. Prisoners were guarded in the jail night and day. Shall a new jail be built? A bill was introduced into the House of Represen- tatives. Mr. Edwards, who was our representative, called up Bill No. 412 on Wednesday morning, February 8, 1843. There were 52 ayes and 20 noes. Later the bill was lost but House Bill No. 146 passed and was referred to a select committee composed of Sands, our senator, and Cotton and Akers. The committee reported the bill successful and it was passed. The bill reads: "1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Indiana that John S. Davis of Floyd County, Sam Hagin of Wash- ington County, W. S. Lamb of Perry County, Arthur J. Simpson of Orange County, and John H. Smith of Spencer County shall be a committee to relocate the seat of justice in Crawford County. "2. That the committee, or a majority of the commit- tee, shall meet at Fredonia on the first Monday in March, 1843, or at any other time a majority may agree. After being duly sworn said committee shall proceed to select a new seat of justice for the county. "3. The committee is authorized to receive donations and gifts toward helping with the building. "4. The committee is authorized to receive deeds for the lots on which to build the house and jail. "The committee is requested to notify the re- corder when it has selected a place and a record of the matter made. THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 107 "6. The committee is empowered to secure a room for holding court, the expense of which is to be paid by the county till the new court house is complete. "7. The board doing county business is authorized to pay the men for their services. "8. The board doing county business is authorized to appoint three men to oversee the construction of the house. ' ' The committee met and after due consideration selected Leavenworth for the seat of justice. Elam Wiley and others, among whom was a Mr. Hauser, volunteered to build the house, while the board appointed D. M. Stewart, William Highfill and T. W. Fox to super- intend the construction of the building. At the same meeting Seth M. Leavenworth was ordered to get the sur- veyor to run off the lots on which the court house was to be built. The lots were selected back near the hill at Nelson Street. The new house was built of brick. It was two stories high and well constructed. Of course the citizens soon grew tired of the donation work. Then we find the board at their June meeting in 1844 ordering County Agent Ben Stevens to sue Elam Wiley on his bond to force him to build the court house and the jail. The first session of the court which was held in Leaven- worth was the June session in 1843. At this meeting the county board fixed the boundaries of all townships. With few exceptions they are about like they are at present. 108 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The poor people throughout the county had been cared for by certain men whom the board of commissioners ap- pointed. Such persons were called overseers of the poor. They took the men and women and whatever others were assigned to them to their houses, clothed and fed them and at the close of the quarter a bill for their services was handed in. Cotton Tower, who lived about four miles out on the Leavenworth and Paoli road, was granted $13.80 for keeping Rachel Shaffer, a pauper, three months. The insane and the feeble-minded were treated rather well as could be expected in those days. John Real in March, 1842, presented a petition to the board praying that a new township be made out of Whisky Run and Sterling townships. The board refused the request but the next day the members granted the petition. The board ordered that all land in the following : Begin- ning at northeast corner of section 32, run west 6 miles, south 2 miles, east 2 miles, south 2 miles, east 3 miles, north 2 miles, east 1 mile and north 2 miles. The territory was made into a new township which was called Liberty. The elections were to be held at Big Springs in that township. At the March term of court a Mr. Thomasson appeared with an order against the county, principal and interest, all told, amounting to $2,728.50. This order had been given to Mr. Thomasson on May 13, 1822. It was No. 305. He had just bought the north one-half of the 'south one- half of section 16, township 3 south, range 2 east, and wished to donate it to the county as a permanent home for poor people. The board accepted his generous offer, and proceeded, too, to pay him for the order No. 305. The board ordered issued to Mr. Thomasson orders of $20 each THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 109 to the amount of $1,360 with interest, and other orders till the old order was paid. The people appreciated the generous offer of that large tract of land and the commissioners ordered Mr. Samuel Lathrop to take charge of the land and rent it out, if any was suitable for renting. The above tract of land was acquired in 1839. The next thing was to secure money to construct the house. So in September, 1840, Daniel Mcintosh, W. R. Reynolds and Sam Lathrop were appointed a committee to solicit funds for the erection of the house. January, 1841, Sam Lathrop was authorized to con- tract with any one for the construction of the house on the poor farm. The board doing county business for the year 1840 and 1841 was composed of these men : John Haskins, Joel Ray, Joseph Jones, Halley Goad, M. C. Gaither, F. Trisbie, Philip Crecelius, John Landiss, Absalom Black and Zebulum Leavenworth. The above board selected Mr. Lathrop to contract with men to build the house. In March a contract was awarded to E. E. Morgan, Thomas Morgan and N. Morgan to construct the house for the sum of $360. The house must be ready by October, 1841. A contract was made with Martin Scott to take charge of the farm. He was to notify the overseers of the poor in the county and request them to bring all the poor people into the house by May 1, 1842. Mr. Scott was a good sub- stantial man and did the best lie could to make a success of the undertaking. September, 1841, John Barnet, James Wood and Zebulum Leavenworth were appointed a committee to visit 110 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the poor farm and inspect the work and the care of the inmates who were already there. The committee went on September 18, 1841. William Stevens was selected in June, 1844, to deaden the trees on ten acres of land on the high ground east of the house. Absalom Black was appointed manager of the poor farm when Martin Scott's time was out. He took up the duties in January, 1842. At the close of the year he was appointed for another year. In 1845 David Dodson was ordered to inquire into the nature of the contract with William Stevens and the poor farm. Matters drifted along fairly well with the poor farm, but in March, 1846, Martin Scott was ordered to sue the contractor who had agreed to make the rails for the poor farm and then he was to complete the fencing of the farm. On March 7, 1848, a large number of citizens of Ohio township petitioned the board praying that a new township may be made out of Ohio township. Being fully advised in the matter the board decided that their petition ought to be granted. The new township was called Boone. Sam Clark, who was agent for the seminary fund, was authorized to rent the rooms at $2 per week for lower floor, and $1.50 per room for upper floor. Mr. Clark was also county sheriff. It became his painful duty to hang James Fields in 1846. In the forties so much confusion has occurred because stock ran out. Men marked the ears of the calf or hog. Henry Hatfield states that his mark for cattle, hogs and sheep was a crop and a slit in the left ear. The above was recorded January 16, 1831. Isaac Miller stated that his ear mark was a smooth crop of the left ear and a hole THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 111 bored through the left ear. The date of the indenture was January 25, 1847. "The Old Adoption Book" in the recorder's office shows how boys and girls were bound out. Here is one : "This indenture witnesses the fact that Vanetta Thomas, age 10 years, on January 25, 1832, is bound out to Archibald Sloan until she becomes eighteen years old. He must educate her and see that she is dressed decently, and fed well. She, on the other hand, agrees to be saving with Mr. Sloan's food and economic like his own children might be." The following queer items may be of interest to the reader : Ordered that the inspectors of the election of 1848 should be paid 62^2 cents each for his services. The receipts from all taxes in June, 1847, were $1,628.23; the expenses for the same year, June 1, 1846, to June 1, 1847, were $1,391.19. That left a balance of $237.04. How does that compare with your auditor's budget for 1924? In setting the rate of tax and license one finds this table for June, 1848: To sell: Whisky $ 15 for a year Clocks 25 for a year Run shows 25 for a year Run ferries 3 for a year Brokers 100 for a year At the September meeting in 1847 John W. Rice was appointed county surveyor for a term of three years, but 112 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY later he resigned and George C. Leavitt was elected and was sworn into office. For many years the travelers on the roads running west from Leavenworth were complaining about the Indian Hollow. For the benefit of the citizens the board ordered a bridge built there on September , 1846. The work went along slowly. Reuben Whitten was awarded the con- tract, but the board allowed him more time when he did not get it completed on time. The interest on the three per cent, fund was ordered to be used on the payment for the bridge on January 17, 1848. The board had allowed in June, 1848, $90 to help pay for the bridge. On January 17, 1848, occurred the death of Samuel Sands who was the clerk of the county. The board ordered William Mansfield to act till the vacancy was filled and stated further: "Whereas, God in His infinite wisdom saw fit to call from our midst by death our worthy friend and clerk, Samuel Sands, who departed this life January 12, 1847 ; therefore, resolve unanimously that it is with the greatest profound regret we heard of his death. That a copy of this be sent to his family and his friends." The new jail which the men had been building for some time was now complete. The commissioners received it formally in September, 1845. The town trustees turned the jail over to the county. Then they let the county complete the jail. So the board ordered iron grates to be put into the windows of the jail. Each grate was to be one inch thick and set vertically. Soon after that Sam Clark, who was the county sheriff, had a bunk made in the jail and eave troughs put up. For many years the people wished a bridge built over THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 113 Little Blue. The Leavenworth and Rome road crossed that stream. Many times during the year back water from the river was over the ford so that one could not cross the stream. In November, 1837, L. Frisbie, William M. Taylor and James were a committee to select a site for the building of this bridge over Little Blue. "When the board met in January, 1838, the committee reported that the bridge ought to be built at the falls of Little Blue River. In May, 1838, Charles Springer and Ben were appointed to solicit subscriptions for the bridge. These men might be able to coax the settlers to donate so many days' work or materials. The board ordered the bridge built at the May term of the court. William Good was to supervise the construction of the bridge at the Falls of Little Blue. In September, 1847, the board ordered that the auditor hold back $600 to build a bridge at the falls of Little Blue. Good, Thorn and Leavenworth were to build this bridge. The Board of Review of Crawford County was organ- ized in June, 1848. The board met at the court house in Leavenworth and proceeded to investigate the assessments of the different men: Name Raised Lowered James Baker $50 James Allen 50 Andrew Beers 100 Peter Byerly 50 Mason Bird 100 Hiram Benham 200 Albert Brown 50 114 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Name Raised Lowered James Black 30 Eli Coleman 25 Albert Conn 60 Sam Clark 50 Levi Clendening 30 James Davidson 100 David C. Dodd 25 John Edward 100 Seth Leavenworth 250 John McCullnm 5 Michael Owerbacker one poll H. D. Rothrock 500 Lewis Shields 250 Martin Scott 50 Leavenworth Steam Mill 400 Samuel Sands 300 William Holicroft 100 Gorry Jones 5 Sam Kemp 5 Isaac Myers 50 Walker Main 30 Nicholas Peckinpaugh 400 A. C. Pierson 20 Jesse Riddle 200 Henry Ritchie 20 John Stone 200 A. B. Tower 15 Jacob Wiseman 80 Elias Bye 75 Leonard Shaw 150 THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 115 Name Raised Lowered Charles W. Tower 50 John Tadlock 50 Squire Weathers 50 Annual Wright 50 Elam Wiley 50 W. H. Green 15 Caldwell and Co 400 McFarber and Co 1,200 John Carnes 15 James W. Gaither 240 William Goldman 100 David Hedden Liblens Frisbres (?) 3,000 Reuben Funk 50 Martin Hanger 150 James Mcintosh Elijah Weathers 100 George Walts 60 James Batman 30 Sam Grimes 50 David Lambdin 50 A. S. McCarty Michael Real 5 James Tadlock 45 Amos Blunk 300 William Laswell William Patton 50 John Butt 40 Sam Doolittle 5 Gabriel Good 20 116 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Name Raised Lowered Martin Goldman 50 John Patrick 15 John Smith 30 Richard Weathers 5 Enoch Weathers 40 Thomas Stephenson 5 The old squire's docket of Leavenworth on page 278 has this article: "On March 13, 1849, this day appeared before me David J. Thurston and reported that he had taken up five head of hogs, one large spotted barrow, marked with a crop from the left ear, and three spotted shoats not marked. Joseph Heath and Lemuel Landrus examined the hogs and appraised their value at $3.00 and the shoats at $1.25 each. Addison Williams, J. P." Also John Sturgeon had taken up a stray brindle cow marked with a square crop on the right ear with a hole through it. Nathan Sturgeon and David Hawkins ad- judged her to be worth $8. These are just a few cases to which many others could be added. The people of Crawford County in the late forties were handicapped in their sports by certain laws. In June, 1848, one finds that John Keys, who made a bet on a horse race, was fined one dollar and costs. The board doing business in June, 1848, consisted of these men: Jennings Township — Elijah Sabin. Boone Township — William Good. THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 117 Liberty Township — William B. Johnson. Ohio Township — Jeremiah Lynch. Patoka Township — F. F. Tucker. Sterling Township — Zachariah Brown. Union Township — Alfred Williams. Whisky Run Township — John Cooper. The campaign of 1848 was rather warm in old Craw- ford. Taylor was on the Whig ticket and Louis Cass was on the Democratic ticket. When the vote was all collected Taylor had 520 and Cass 397. Taylor's majority was 123. The same year and the year before important elections were held relative to taxing our people for schools. These elections were hotly contested and the free school law was defeated by a large majority. Against the free school law, 733 votes; for the free school law, 381. The people of Crawford County wanted schools but they did not want free schools. Free schools were too free for them. Then many believed in local option. In June, 1848, James B. Davidson was paid $5 for a worthless bank note which he had received while he was county treasurer from some man for his taxes. The note was on some bank in Cincinnati, but it had failed. The board ordered the president to destroy the note. Before the new constitution state banks issued notes, but if the bank failed, then the notes were worthless. This poor method of banking led Congress to pass the National Bank Law so if a bank failed the notes were still good. This law was enacted in 1862. The Mexican War began in 1846. Indiana furnished several regiments of soldiers but one can not find who went 118 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY from Crawford County. The writer visited the Adjutant General's office in Indianapolis, but the names are all listed together. One regrets very much that the names of these boys who fought so bravely and always so honorably can not have credit done to their names. Mr. McDonald, of Taswell, furnished the writer a letter which one of the McDonald boys had written back to his people when he was on the firing line in Mexico. The soldiers from Indiana were partly disgraced at the battle of Buena Vista by the action of William A. Bowles, who ordered his men to retreat. Many years later he be- came a traitor to the United States Government in the Civil War. He was caught, sentenced to be hanged, but was spared. MAGNOLIA Magnolia was located about four miles northwest of Leavenworth on the Hartford road. Addison Williams bought the southwest quarter of section 14 in township 3 south, range 1 east on February 19, 1820. He tried hard to plat the land into towns and then to sell the town lots. The plat of New Haven was made by Mr. Williams but there were no lots sold. Then he platted Magnolia and filed the plat in the recorder's office at Fredonia July 4, 1838. Magnolia soon had a still house, a store, and a black- smith shop. By the time of the Civil War a grist mill was built and a postoffice was established. Mr. Williams worked hard to build up the town. About 1856 a school was established on the high hill west of the town. This was a frame building. The district was num- ber four. Wandering ministers of the gospel came into THE COUNTY IN THE FORTIES 119 the town occasionally and held church services for the people. The Hartford and Leavenworth road ran through Magnolia. The sale of the town lots was advertised in the Leaven- worth Arena in 1838. Williams advertised that every tenth lot was to be given for public schools. CHAPTER VII ALTON On the banks of the beautiful Ohio, just a few rods below where Little Blue River runs into the Ohio, lies the little town of Alton. The plat of the town was made by James Gaither and recorded in the recorder's office at Fredonia July 5, 1838. For a long time this town was called Nebraska; the name of Alton has been used since 1850. The town never grew very large. Probably 150 people was the largest number which ever lived there at any one time. In May, 1839, Asa Kemp was granted a license to keep a grocery and sell liquor in Alton. The fee paid then was $25. The next year Henry Fullenwider was granted a license to keep a store in Alton for one year. In May, 1840, William Roberts opened a store in Alton. The first citizens to buy lots in Alton were J. H. Mey- lon, Joshua Bennett, R. T. Williams, Jacob Boone, James Riley, Levi Brooks, John Parr, William H. Conrad, James Clark, Nicholas Peckinpaugh and Ezra Carberry. When Boone township was organized in 1848, Green McRoberts was made inspector of the elections. The polling place was Nebraska. The state law of 1848 changed the name to Alton. By 1850 there were about 150 people living in 120 ALTON 121 Alton. There was a school being taught in Alton in the fifties. The election to determine whether Indiana should have free schools was an interesting one. The old poll book for Alton and Boone townships shows that these votes were cast : Jacob Miller, James Riley, John Southards, David G. Kline, James Riddle, Amos Butt, John Waddle, William Seaton, William Dean, Elisha Peckinpaugh, Will- iam Good, James Johnson, J. J. Main, Machrum Main, Sam Heath, Robert Levi, Jacob Miller, William Lake, Levi Riddle, Ezra Carberry, John Parr, J. W. Guthrie, Ben Cole, Peter Carberry, William Wilbur, Sam Johnson, John Sheckel, Silas Sheckel, John Brown, William R. Hollcroft, Thomas Chanley, Shadrock Clark, Cornelius, Abel Heath, James W. Gaither, Sr., Harrison Deen, Abraham Osborn, Isaac Myers, Asa Kemp, John H. Borer, Moses Lake, Robert H. Fullenwider, George Heath, Green Kellums, Benjamin N. Hollcroft, James E. Exline, William Giffer, Charles S. .Myers, Clayborn A. Pierson, J. R. Ridge, J. H. Meylin, William H. Fullenwider, Thomas Gaither, James A. McGann, Daniel Wilbur, William H. Lowe, T. H. Cum- mins, Stephen Deen, Jr., D. W. Newman, G. M. Robert, Jacob Goldman, Henry Fullenwider, H. B. Meylin, R. B. Lease, E. P. T. Hollcraft, A. K. Rice, D. T. Wilbur, A. H. Jones, Elisha Springer, John Sheckels, Jr. D. W. Newman and James A. McCann, Clerks. At the date of May 24, 1907, J. J. Ridge, J. W. Gaither and John Borer were still living. Mr. John Hollcraft, of Alton, sent the old poll-book to the editor of the English News in 1907. The board of county commissioners at their September 122 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY session ordered an election held in the town of Alton on September 28, 1872, to determine the question of whether the incorporation of Alton should be made, at which elec- tion a majority of the votes cast was in favor of incor- porating the town. The board of county commissioners, therefore, ordered that the following territory in Boone township be declared an incorporated town under the name of the town of Alton. Beginning at station one on the Ohio River at low water mark where the section line divides sections 32 and 33, township 4, south, range one east strikes the river, thence up the Ohio river with its meandering to the mouth of Little Blue River, thence up Little Blue River to the mouth of Mill Creek; thence up Mill Creek to the nearest point to the northeast corner of the southwest one-fourth of the northwest fourth of section 33, township four south, range one east, thence on a direct line to said corner, thence west to the west line of that section, thence south to the southwest corner of a forty- acre tract, thence west and south and up the Ohio to the starting point. The above tract of land included about 86 acres in all belonging to B. J. Parr. The people of Alton have always been friendly toward education. At one time the town maintained one of the best high schools of the county. In 1902 Henry Mock was employed as principal. Later Curry V. Watson acted as principal. When the state increased the salaries it became impossible to keep up the high school. ALTON SINCE THE WAR James Riley on June 4, 1860, was granted a license to sell liquor in the town of Alton for one year. The fee paid ALTON 123 in those days at Alton was $50. At the close of the year he was given another license for the next year. He was put under $500 bond which was signed by James Riley, Perry Riddle and John Atwood. The license was renewed again in 1863. In 1865, when the board met in June, A. R. Hazen was granted a license to sell liquor in Alton for one year. James Riley, who had been here some time, went to Leaven- worth. John B. Moore took out license in his stead and sold liquors in the town of Alton on September 4, 1865. Later James H. Mathews was granted a license to sell liquor on June 2, 1868. John Atwood was granted a license to sell liquor in the town of Alton for one year on September 6, 1867. September 4, 1874, John Atwood, who had been a saloon keeper for many years in Alton, made application for a license to sell liquor at Alton. A petition with twenty-two names was filed in his behalf, but James M. Williams filed a remonstrance against him which had more names on it. Atwood 's petition did not contain the names of a majority of the citizens. He had also been guilty of violating the law. He had even been convicted in court June, 1874, for selling liquor to a drunk man. Atwood filed a bond on which one finds the names of John Atwood, Frederick Zeyhler, William Culver, Henry Steinball, John Kemp, George Sheckell,- George Pearson, Ab. Kemp, Thomas J. Railes, Henry Sigler, but the board rejected Williams' petition and granted Atwood a license. The town of Alton never grew very fast. Lycurgus Harrison and Peckinpaugh built their sawmill here, thus forming Peckinpaugh, Harrison and Company. They 124 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY manufactured toys of all kinds. Harrison lived till the summer of 1925, when he died suddenly. The Free and Accepted Masons built a hall there in the town. One of the oldest business men in Alton is John Holl- craft. He is related to the Hollcraft family, of whom Mr. Nathan Hollcraft was one. At date of writing he is still in business on Front Street. His son, Temple II. Holl- craft, has a position to teach mathematics in a college in New York. The Hollcrafts have won the respect and con- fidence of all the good men and women of the county. J. N. Neville, who was a barber of the little town, may be able to trace his descendants back to the Nevilles who figured so gallantly with General Washington and with Green in the Jerseys and Carolinas during the Rev- olutionary War. A. S. Roberts was a druggist of the town many years. The flouring mill was owned by Walker and Fancher who did a big business in the eighties and nineties. The under- taker was John S. Williams, and J. W. Wood was the leading carpenter. The Alton school until a long time after the war was a frame building which would seat about sixty people. The old house is still standing near the river where it has been moved. The new house was a two-story frame structure which was built on a beautiful location back from the river on high ground. The Indiana Gazetteer for 1895 gives the following in- formation : Population of the town was 300. James W. Harvey was postmaster. J. T. Boyd had a general store. H. T. Carr was proprietor of a saloon. David Deuschar ALTON 125 was a jeweler. Maude Emmick was a milliner. David Franklin was a shoemaker. W. H. Fullenwider and Brothers ran a big sawmill. Martin T. Hanger was a car- penter. Mamie Hardin was a music teacher. Josiah Har- vey was a shoemaker. Sydney Hatfield was a butcher. W. R. Hollcroft and son ran a general store. D. F. Jen- kins ran a livery stable and was wharf master. George M. King owned the general store west of the Methodist church. Oliver Morton Landrus was the blacksmith of the town. H. B. Meylin, who was one of the oldest citizens, was justice of the peace. Meylin and Fullenwider ran the hotel. Joseph Myers was the town physician. Peckin- paugh, Harrison and Company were wagon makers and sawmill men. At the present day, 1925, not many of these men and women are in Alton. Joseph Myers is still practicing medicine at Alton. The Alton baseball team of 1897 was one of the best in southern Indiana. The battery was Burton Parr and Lige Parr. Charlie Wood was one of the outfielders. Mort Landrus, Bill Purcell and Jack Purcell are well remembered for their hard hitting. The people of Alton and its vicinity became interested in a canning factory a few years ago, but the factory was not a success. The farmers who took stock lost heavily in the failure of the company. To-day not much business is going on in Alton. The town has lost much of its population. Yet one can dream of the days of Jacob Boone and Henry Fullenwider and the departed glories. In the summer of 1921 occurred the fatal shooting of 126 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Mr. Sanders, the drayman, by Joseph Birkla. Trouble had existed between them for some time. Sanders went into Birkla 's store to collect the freight on July 19, 1921. He was not armed when he entered the store, known as the "Red Onion Restaurant." Trouble arose and Birkla shot him in the arm, the second shot in the hip, and one in the back. Birkla 's plea was self-defense. L. D. Sanders stag- gered out of the store. Neighbors who heard the shots ran to his assistance. Doctor Deen of Leavenworth, Doctor Land of Marengo and Doctor Myers of Alton held a council. They agreed to send him to the Louisville hospital. The operation showed an abdominal injury was the most serious one, from which he died on Sunday. The body was brought home for burial. Birkla left at once for English, and the sheriff being notified, met him on the way. The case was tried at English in February, 1922, under Judge Cook. Brown and Lambdin defended Birkla, while Weathers assisted County Prosecutor Seacat. Weathers' plea was one of the strongest ever made in English, but the jury acquitted Birkla. He moved to Fredonia after a short time, where he engaged in mercantile business. After some time he became insane and was sent to the asylum. Temple R. Hollcroft, who was a little Alton school boy in 1901, composed the "following poem on hearing of ex- President Harrison's death. The poem appeared in the English News on March 16, 1901. It read: "Ex-President Harrison has just passed away, His spirit has taken its flight to God And soon at rest his body shall lay In Crownhill Cemetery under the sod. ALTON 127 He was a man of wonder and might; His political opponents acknowledged it so. He always stood for what was right And always did justice to friend and foe." > *.». - • David C. Deuschar, who was one of the leading mer- chants of Alton, on October 11, 1907, picked np a bottle, which on examination, was found to contain a lady's picture. He opened a correspondence with the lady who happened to be a music teacher. Later they were married. This bottle had drifted into Mr. Deuschar 's large store room during high water. While he was engaged in clean- ing up the house and yard he discovered the bottle. The Alton Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows held a great celebration at Alton on August 4, 1900, in a beautiful beech grove north of town. The Marengo Band drove over to Alton and furnished the music for the occa- sion. Hon. John H. Weathers delivered the address of the day. The good women of the town turned out with baskets full of food and a most bountiful dinner was served to the immense throng of people. CHAPTER VIII EARLY ROADS The people of Crawford County needed roads in those early days. The town of Fredonia and Leavenworth were shipping points for a wide range of territory, reaching out as far as Salem, Bedford, Petersburg and Jasper. There was a large river traffic in those days. Probably the oldest road in the county was the one known as the "Governor's Old Trail" or "Trace" or "Wall." Governor Harrison and the settlers used this road when they traveled from Vincennes to Corydon. The Old Trail was not much of a road then. Probably at first it was a blazed trail through the woods from the "Main Trail" running from Vincennes to New Albany. The road entered Crawford County near White Cloud, passed near Alfred Bybee's, passed near the poor farm on Dry Run Creek, crossed the Leavenworth and Paoli road at a point where the Bushow school used to be, in Liberty township, passed through Temple, thence northeast to the Main Trail. Parts of the old road are still in use, but much of it has been closed during the last seventy-five years. Map 4 will show the location of these roads as well as can be determined by the information at hand. Part of the ' ' Wall, ' ' which was between the Salem road and the Leavenworth and Paoli roads, was declared a state 128 EARLY ROADS 129 road by the law of 1836. Later it was changed so as to include that part which lay between the Paoli road and the Jasper road. The General Assembly provided for the Leavenworth and Jasper road in 1833. The law designated that James Glenn and Benjamin Roberson of Crawford County should be the two commissioners to view out and locate the road. This road was built up the river hill just below the Big Spring branch in Leavenworth. One who has not seen the hill here can not form any idea of the amount of work required to construct such a road. After about eighty years traces of the old road remain. After many years changes were made in the road so that this portion up the hill is no longer used. The huge rocks often slipped down the hill, blocking the whole road till it was cleared out. This road can be easily traced to-day. In certain localities the road ran through forests. The law required that it should be cleared of trees thirty feet wide. This cleared strip can be plainly seen in certain parts near Leaven- worth* The men met at Leavenworth on the first Monday in March, 1833, and proceeded to mark out the road. The road passed the Big Spring, Mark Froman's cross-roads, crossed Turkey Fork where Odle's mill was located, passed Riddle, Grantsburg, Mifflin, and on to Jasper. The board doing county business ordered the road opened. There was a certain quantity of money from the three per cent, fund available for such work. Men along the road worked out their part. The same law provided that Thomas Fleming, of Craw- ford, should act in conjunction with George Arnold, of 130 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Harrison County, and Joseph Enlow, of Dubois County, in locating a road from Milltown to Jasper. These men met at Milltown on the first Monday in March, 1833, and located the Milltown and Jasper road as shown on Map 4. The board doing county business ordered this road opened and paid for out of the three per cent, funds, a large part of which was due Crawford County. The law further provided that Joseph Denbo ,and James Sloan of Crawford County should be appointed commissioners to help William Harris of Martin locate a road from Leavenworth to Mount Pleasant in Martin County. As far as information can be obtained this road followed the Leavenworth and Jasper road in Crawford County. The survey was made about May. William Harris was the surveyor. James Pitman, Harrison Pitman aud Jacob Denbo carried the chain. Others were Easles, John Duly, John Glenn, Joseph Kinkaid, James Kellams and William Land. Another very important road which was opened in 1832 ran from New Albany to Leavenworth, Fredonia, through Perry County to Princeton. The road entered Crawford County at Cole's bridge over Big Blue River. John L. Smith of Leavenworth, who was appointed com- missioner of the road, did not want the road to run through the town of Fredonia. He was to locate the road to Hallie Goad's farm, about ten miles west of Leaven- worth. The friends of Fredonia were up in arms. The matter was carried to the General Assembly which enacted a subsequent law. A part of that law reads as follows: "And whereas much dissatisfaction prevails among the citizens in consequence of an expressed determination of EARLY ROADS 131 the commissioner to change the road so that it will not run through the town of Fredonia. On that account be it further enacted that John L. Smith of Leavenworth shall not be permitted to make any change so as to prevent the road from passing through the town of Fredonia, but shall be governed by the original law which makes Fredonia one of the points through which the road was to pass. ' ' About that time there was a jealousy growing up be- tween Fredonia and the Leavenworth people over the county seat. Fredonia had been the seat of justice since 1822. The above quotation shows how they prevented Leavenworth from running the road directly west from Leavenworth and missing Fredonia about two miles to the north. Out of justice to Smith one may say that the road had to be built out of the way about two miles to reach Fredonia. The map of the road will show this. The Princeton road was changed much later. In Jan- uary, 1840, a new road was located from Leavenworth to Solomon D. Esarey's home in Perry County. The field notes of the above road read : ' ' The commissioners ap- pointed by an act of the General Assembly dated Feb- ruary 15, 1839, came here to locate a road to Solomon D. Esarey's farm. They started from the water at Nelson Street and followed the street to Front Street, thence around the Big Spring Branch to the Fredonia road, down the Fredonia road to within ten or twelve rods of Mason Bird's home, across his meadow to the Princeton road just south of an old deserted cabin, thence with said road about two miles to a certain poplar tree, about forty rods east of the line dividing section 4 and 5 in town 4 south, range one east, thence running a nearly southwest direc- 132 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY tion, leaving Jacobs' and Abraham Wiseman's farms on the north, thence to Little Blue River, thence on southwest fork of West Fork to Catherine Davy's hollow and up that hollow to William Gibson's farm on the hill, and from there to Esarey's farm in Perry County. Sam Ewing and Mason Bird were the commissioners to survey the road, October 30, 1839. One may trace the Leavenworth and Salem road on the map. The General Assembly enacted a law on January 8, 1835, which provided for the road. Zebulum Leaven- worth represented Crawford County in locating and mark- ing out the road which ran through Milltown, by Beck's old mill to Salem. During the Civil War Captain Hines led his band of Confederates down this road to Leaven- worth. The road started at the river in the town of Leavenworth, followed Nelson Street to the hill, then east and up the hill to the west of the Cedar Cemetery, through the , up Dry Run Creek, passed Martin Scott's farm, which is now the Aniel Froman farm, up the hill by the Catholic church, passed Rogers' Mill, up Big Blue to Milltown. The Leavenworth and Paoli road ran north from Leavenworth. It followed the Salem road to the first little creek at "Texas," turned up that creek to the farm of James R. House, thence north to Isaiah Henry's farm, north to the Archibald school house where it intersected the Fredonia and Paoli road which it followed to Pilot Knob, passed White Oak Hill, what is now Marengo, and thence to Paoli. This road is still open as far as Marengo, except in certain places the road has been re-located in more recent times. At the crossing where the Leavenworth EARLY ROADS 133 and Marengo rock road crosses the railroad track near the fair grounds at Marengo one can see the old road yet by looking to the north from the railroad track. The Fredonia and Rome road was opened in 1832. This road was to be twenty feet wide. It ran from Fre- donia southwest to Perry County, passing out of the county about two miles west of the town of Alton and the mouth of Little Blue. The road crossed Little Blue west of Fre- donia at what is now called the "Old State Ford." When Captain Hines invaded the county during the Civil War he followed the Rome road to Fredonia. James Brown, Wilson Brown and Martin Scott were chosen to open the road from Coles' Ford to Leavenworth. This was part of the New Albany and Leavenworth and Fredonia road. The road was to be twenty feet wide. The men began work on the road about 1827. The Leavenworth and Princeton road was being opened by John Smith. Oliver Tyler was the supervisor on that road for some time. His section of the road ran from the Perry County line to the Jennings township line. About 1831 a new road was blazed out from Fredonia to Mill Creek. As well as one can discover, that road ran from Fredonia southwest. It crossed Little Blue near w T here the bridge at Marion Archibald's farm is and thence to what is now Alton. The laws of 1838-39 provided for a road from Fredonia to Jacob Reese's landing on the Ohio River. As best as can be determined this road ran down the river hill from Fredonia, passed "Low Gap Hollow" and went down the long hill to Schooner Point. Thomas Fox, Riley Main and 134 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY John Stone were appointed commissioners to mark out the road. The road ran by the farm of Gresham Brown. The General Assembly of the state enacted a law in 1834 declaring the Rome and Fredonia road a state road. Senator Thompson introduced the bill No. 90 which became the law. This was a great help to the county because the state could build good roads while the counties were hin- dered in their construction on account of the lack of funds. Many more roads were opened up by the county com- missioners in those early days, one of which ran from Fredonia to Mount Sterling. It passed Sam Bird's farm, Nathan Hollcroft's farm, the Pegg farm, Brice Patrick's farm, Henry J. Landrus' old farm, Addison Williams' farm, Dillman school house, thence west to Bogard Fork and up the hill to Mount Sterling. Zebulum and Seth Leavenworth were overseers on this road. Cornelius Hall and William Riley were to assist Zebu- lum Leavenworth to open up a road from the Governor's Old Trail to the "Three Forks of Little Blue." One can not tell precisely where this road left the "Old Trail," but it must have been north of Mount Sterling a mile or more. Later Hartford was built up at the site mentioned here, which in due time became the town of English. Another historic old road ran from near Sulphur Well to English, Union Chapel, Grantsburg and Paoli. This road ran from Rome to Paoli by Robert Yates' farm. Rob- ert Yates being one of the county commissioners must have used his influence for the road. Yet when the state about eighty years later built State Road 22 and State Road 16 these roads followed the old surveys fairly well: Paoli to EARLY ROADS 135 English, Grantsburg and Sulphur, thence to Leavenworth and Tell City. The Leavenworth clay turnpike was authorized by the General Assembly in 1829. Julius Woodford, John L. Smith and Zebulum Leavenworth were appointed com- missioners to locate the road, survey and construct the same from Leavenworth twenty miles in the direction of Indianapolis. The pike, which was to be any width not exceeding forty feet, was to be well built and the streams over which the road ran must be well bridged. The course of the road was to be laid off in sections and the constructions let out to the lowest bidder, who was to furnish a bond for the faithful construction of the work. The road must be completed in five years, after which toll-gates may be erected and fees charged. The fees were for riding: 6V4 cents for persons; 18% cents for carts; 121/2 cents for empty carts; 50 cents for loaded wagons; 614 cents for twenty head of sheep, hogs or cattle. The money to build the road must be raised by selling bonds to the citizens of the county. The Leavenworth boys were trying hard to build up the county road, but not enough money was raised to make the road a success. Most of the roads were entitled to use the three per cent, funds to build these roads. Julius Woodford of Leavenworth was appointed to receive the three per cent, fund from the state. A road report of the three per cent, funds may be found in the commissioners' records of Sep- tember, 1846: Paid out on — 1. Leavenworth and Jasper road $100 136 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 2. Leavenworth and Salem road 99 3. Cory don and Princeton road 95 4. Magnolia to county line by Dubois 50 5. For digging out the Dug Way on the hill near Cedar Cemetery at Leavenworth on the Salem road 50 Total $394 Balance on hand was $ 6 Engineer said that the papers were lost. Signed: Robert Sands. March, 1843, one finds this report in the commissioners' records : Paid out — Leavenworth and Jasper Road $ 424.89 Fredonia and Mt. Pleasant Road 59.50 New Albany and Jasper Road 100.00 Leavenworth and Paoli Road 245.00 Mount Pleasant Road 144.08 Milltown Road 173.58 Bridge and Hill at Indian Hollow 454.75 Milltown 73.25 Princeton State Road 25.00 Road and wharf at Leavenworth after deducting $500 by citizens 824.57 Expense to Leavenworth for funds 12.00 Commissioners for services 40.12 Paid David Miller 225.00 Total $2,803.74 EARLY ROADS 137 Balance due me $ 156.36 All was paid in full except what the citizens worked out on the wharf. Signed : Zebulum Leavenworth. Received : Elam Wiley $ 400.00 From Batman 2,000.00 W. R. Reynold 50.00 David Miller 77.00 Interest 120.30 Total receipts $2,647.38 Paid out $2,803.76, Balance due him $ 156.36 William R. Reynold was removed from office as agent of the three per cent, fund and Absalom Edwards ap- pointed in his stead, John and Peter Peckinpaugh as his sureties. He had doubtless handled the funds carelessly. One report shows that certain papers were lost. The board doing county business in 1824 appointed Seth M. Leavenworth and Edward Golden to open up a road from Leavenworth to intersect the Sterling road near Jack Enlow's farm. The next year Stephen Roberson was selected to open up a road from Leavenworth to Mc- Williams' farm by the mouth of Bogard Fork. This road went by Magnolia, passed near the new poor farm, by the mouth of Bogard Fork to McWilliam's, west of the pres- ent town of English. 138 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The county commissioners on September 6, 1824, pro- vided for a road from the Three Forks of Little Blue to Richard Weathers' farm, just west of Marengo now. John Crawford was appointed to supervise the work as far as Archibald Sloan's farm. All men living within two miles of the road were required to assist with the work. The road must be sixteen feet wide. The commissioners in 1832 divided the townships into road districts so that the supervisors might do a better grade of work. Ohio had 4 districts. Union had 2 districts. Patoka had 4 districts. Whisky Run had 6 districts. Sterling had 4 districts. Jennings had 6 districts. The boundaries of these districts may be found in the commissioners' records for 1832. The data on the above roads has been secured at great toil and expense in certain cases. Some parts may not be exactly correct but the account is the best we can secure under the circumstances. CHAPTER IX ROARING FIFTIES Pilot Knob is one of the highest points of land in the state. A postoffice was established there in 1850 and John C. Morris was the first postmaster. With the coming of the fifties and the new school laws saw a decline in the seminary interest. In March of 1847 the trustees met and organized by electing Elam Wiley president and Sam Pepper clerk. They did not have suf- ficient funds to hire a trustee or a teacher. They had received for rent $14.50 and $12.15 more was due. They ordered paid these bills to Dan Mcintosh out of the funds: 1. Door lock $1.00 Window glass .39 Whiting and Putty 10 Putting on lock .50 Brick and hauling 1.00 Lime and sand .30 Putting up stove 50 Paid Warfield for brick work 75 Repairing stairs .50 Insurance 7.14 139 140 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Putting in 13 glass .65 Attending on Warfield .50 Total Receipts $14.50 Total Expenses $13.33 Balance $ 1.17 The board dissolved itself after appointing Sam Clark with full power to act on all occasions for them. The board fixed the rent of the lower rooms at $2.00 a month for school purposes and $1.50 per month for the upper rooms. Bry Gregory was selling liquor in Hartford but the board refused him another license. Later the board granted the license. On August 26, 1848, Alfred Williams and John Hughes were elected trustees of township 3 south, range 1 west. The inspector was Alfred Williams; judges, Ben Yates and Talbert Yates; clerks, Ansel Dexter and Silas Yates. The election occurred at Thomas Robinson's house. There were 29 votes to sell the land and a few against the sale. So the sale carried. The new constitution went into effect during this period. Sam Pepper, who represented Crawford County in the convention, did what he could to help make a good con- stitution. The election of 1852 was a rather quiet affair in Craw- ford County. The Democrats had a ticket in the field, the Whigs had a ticket, too. Scott for President received 502 ROARING FIFTIES 141 votes and Pierce received 499. English for Congress re- ceived 517 votes and Ferguson, the Whig candidate, received 538. W. A. Jackson was elected clerk, Samuel Ilighfill was elected surveyor, and James Lemonds was elected county auditor. Crawford County was growing rapidly. The census of 1850 showed that we had 6,318 people. The flatboat trade in the fifties was at its best. Great cargoes of lime, corn, whisky, meat, and many other arti- cles were shipped south from Leavenworth. Life on the flatboat had its dangers. The boats were often robbed. The following article was taken from the New Albany Tribune October 30, 1852: "We are indebted to Captain Vansickle for the account of the murder near Troy, Perry County, Indiana, while in the flatboat trade. The boat which had been sunk in five feet of water, had been de- serted many hours. It was a large boat about 95 feet long and loaded with whisky and flour, besides groceries. The boat was named Eliza No. 2. The boat, which presented a ghastly sight, was marked with blood from one end to the other. Bodies of two men were found in the boat, while the third body was found in the water. The one in the water had weights tied to it. The men must have been killed with a hatchet because one was found on the boat all covered with blood. Their skulls had been crushed in by heavy blows, while many minor wounds were found on the bodies. From the appearance one is led to believe that the crew mutinied, part killing the rest, and then robbing the boat of what they could get away with." Bill Jenkins, who was in the flatboat trade, was killed in New Orleans on his boat. Police passing the boat heard 142 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY sounds coming from the boat. On investigation they found Jenkins in a dying condition. Money was scattered all over the floor. Harve Gibbs and Marsh Land were accused of the foul deed but the matter could not be proved. Gibbs was in jail a long time but was finally released. Calwell came back from New Orleans and told the news. The corpse was brought back and buried. John Archibald and Rensselaer Peabody had gone on his bond. The business trip failed. The bondsmen lost heavily. Archibald secured a farm down near Alton which he sold to Marion Archibald. Gibbs and Land never mixed in society any more. The Methodist church at Leavenworth had been estab- lished. J. T. Lauden Hynes on April 22, 1886, furnished the following : ' ' The history of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Leavenworth must rely upon the testimony of its old members for facts. One of the oldest members was Rebecca Kendall. Her name heads the list. She united with the church while Aaron Woods was the presiding elder and Brother Jones was the pastor of a large circuit, one point of which was at Leavenworth. The trustees were Samuel Scott and Jacob Sauerheber. The old church, which was washed away by high water in 1884, was built in 1853. The water stood eight feet deep on the spot where the church was. The one now standing was built in 1886. The cornerstone was laid at four o'clock on April 22, 1886." The Methodist pastor for the year of 1852 was Elias Gaskins. During the fifties, when Andrew Rothroek was a small boy, he discovered the Auger Hole to the new cave at Wyandotte. This wonderful cave is located on Big Blue ROARING FIFTIES 143 River about six miles from Leavenworth. Doctor Adams, who manufactured saltpeter there in old Salt Peter, held the land in 1812 during the war with England. H. P. Rothrock bought the land on which the cave is located. At first the cave was kuown as Salt Peter Cave. Laws were enacted to compel the owner to fence the cave so that cattle could not lick the salt. After the discovery of the Auger Hole in 1850, one finds that the county board of review had raised the assessment on Rothrock 's land $500 on account of the discovery of the cave. The Auger Hole had to be broken away before one could enter it. Just beyond the entrance when it was first opened the men found foot prints. The tracks showed that one large man, two smaller men, or women and three children had walked over the plastic clay. The estimation showed that the tracks were about one thousand years old. Just who made the tracks will never be known. In the wild deluge at the end of the route which is two miles long one finds pieces of wood, piles of ashes and other articles. This material must have been carried over two miles of tortuous climbing. Knowing how lazy the Indians were, one naturally wonders whether they were the ones who did so much hard work to carry that wood into the cave and for what purposes the fires were made so long ago. The river traffic in the fifties was at its height. The best boats were on the Ohio then. There were The Ohio State, 'Sultana, Shotwell, The Redstone, Belle Key, Ben Franklin, and the Eclipse. These boats ran on a regular schedule from Cincinnati to New Orleans. "When General Scott was on Iris way to Mexico he passed Leavenworth on 144 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the Black Hawk. At Peckinpaugh's wood-yard near Cape Sandy the captain took a crowd of the boys to the cabin and state rooms to see Scott. He was very courteous and stood up for the boys to see him. These boats were occa- sionally carrying up cholera from the South. The people were still building roads in 1858. A road from Rothrock's mill to the Paoli road was opened in October, 1858. Mr. McClain, H. P. Rothrock and Martin Hanger marked out the road. The road ran from Philo Rothrock's mill to or near John Wiley's farm. The road was measured and located as follows : Beginning at a bridge over Big Blue in section 10 township 3 south, range 2 east; thence S. 70° W. 35 poles; W. 84° poles; N. 54° W. 88 poles; S. 88° W. 94 poles; N. 56° W. 28 poles; N. 29° W. 68 poles; N. 61° W. 112 poles; W. 82 poles to a pool; W. 126 poles; N. 66° W. 54 poles; N. 42° W. 20 poles; N. 52 poles; AY. 28 poles; W. 20 poles; S. 86° W. 82 poles; S. 78° W. 46 poles; S. 60° W. 28 poles; W. 288 poles to the Paoli road about four and three-fourths miles. This road came out to the Paoli road near Pilot Knob. The road was ordered opened 30 feet wide. McClain was allowed $4.00, Rothrock $6 and Hanger $4 for marking out the road. The October election was held in Crawford County in 1858 at these places : Leavenworth, William Mansfield, inspector ; Milltown, John Bates, inspector ; Big Springs, J. H. Lambdin, inspector ; English, Sam Longest, inspec- tor; Patoka township, Jesse Mc Williams, inspector; Union, J. M. McDonald, inspector; Ohio, S. M. Johnson; Boone, R. R. Lees, inspector. These officers were elected in the county: Recorder, Joseph E. Allen; county treasurer, ROARING FIFTIES 145 Marcus Clark; county sheriff*, W. S. Cummins; William Hig'hfill was school examiner. Another attempt was made in 1858 to change a piece of Perry County to Crawford County. Joseph Carmickle and forty others desired the territory in Perry County begin- ning* at the range line and taking in a certain quantity just south of Johnson township at the southeast corner of section 31 in town 3 south, range 2 west; thence northeast to corner of section 13 in town 3 south, range 2 west; thence west to line dividing range 2 and 3 ; thence south to the southwest corner of section 31, in town 3 south, range 2 west. The description is not well stated here. The peo- ple of Perry County in most cases objected to these trans- fers. One finds that Isaac Crecelius bought the northwest one-fourth of the northwest one-fourth of section 16 in township 2 south, range 2 west, for a farm. He paid $12.50 down and the rest in ten years at 7 per cent. This was about the last school land sold in Crawford County. The county commissioners appointed these men as school examiners in 1859 : John McCollister, William Highfield and Joseph Sanders. J. S. Kelson was also appointed county doctor. These township trustees were elected in 1858 : Jennings, Zeb ulum Leavenworth, bond, Z. Leavenworth, R. D. Tucker, J. II. Thornton ; Ohio, Dan Collingwood, bond, Dan Collingwood, John Collingwood and Richard White- man; Liberty, A. P. Trotter, bond, A. P. Trotter, John Vance, Andrew Bailey, Tom Vance, Robert Blackburn; Union, E. F. Roberson, bond, E. F. Roberson and Thomas Roberson; Boone, H. B. Meylin, bond, H. B. Meylin; Pa- 146 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY toka, Francis Highfield, bond, Francis Highfield; Whisky Run, John Stroud, bond, John Stroud. James Tadlock was elected county commissioner in 1859 from the first district. The Presbyterian people were on the ground early in Crawford County. The members met at the house of Elijah Sands, who was clerk of the election, to choose three trustees for the Presbyterian church on June 7, 1849. Another election was held at the home of G. K. and C. N. Miller. Reuben D. Tucker, William Ellsworth and Joseph Thornton were elected June 8, 1849. Later a new house was built which stands near the old court house. On December 8, 1858, Harrison Kendall, with seventy- three others, whose names were on a petition, appeared be- fore the board of county commissioners and begged that the part of Scott township beginning at the mouth of Big Indian Creek, thence up said creek to the line dividing ranges two and three, thence north with said range line to Big Blue River, thence up Big Blue to line dividing sections 13 and 14, thence north to Blue River. The board ordered the land joined to Crawford County, but the matter was taken to court at Corydon. Zebulum Leavenworth was very influential in getting this done. He hired Walter Q. Gresham and Harrison County engaged Attorney Wolf. The matter came up in court at Corydon and the judge was about to decide in favor of Leavenworth when Attorney Wolf told the judge that he would like to see him privately before he made his decision. Zebulum never knew just what Wolf said but he thought Wolf said that Scott township being heavily Democratic if given to Crawford County would cause Harrison to go Republican, ROARING FIFTIES 147 or would endanger the Democratic majority in Harrison Count}-. Whatever was said had its influence for the judge decided that such a procedure would be unconstitutional. Mr. Leavenworth could have appealed the case to the State Supreme Court for $50, but not one of his fellow townsmen would give a dollar to defray the cost of the appeal. A few months after that a similar case went to the Supreme Court of Indiana. The Court decided that the county commissioners, when a majority of the people in one township wished to be transferred from one county to another, had the right to make such a transfer. If this piece of territory had been given to Crawford County it would have held the county seat at Leavenworth. Thus English would not have won the county seat in 1896. The new court house at Leavenworth was rather ex- pensive at times. On March 9, 1859, Orville Smith was allowed $2.74 for painting the dome of the county jail. Men escaped from jail frequently. The New Albany Daily Tribune for July 29, 1851, has this statement: "Charles D. Seeds and John Avers escaped from the Leavenworth jail last night. They had been accused of trying to pass counterfeit money. The sheriff had offered $100 reward for their arrest." At a special meeting of the board of county commis- sioners held at the court house in Leavenworth on June 28, 1873, the board ordered a new house to be constructed for the inmates of the county farm. The house, which was to be completed by December 3, 1873, was to be paid for when the board of commissioners was satisfied that the house had been constructed according to plans and speci- fications here submitted. Two-thirds cash and the balance 148 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY on June 7, 1874. The specifications called for were : One lower hall, ten feet by eighteen feet; sitting room, sixteen feet by eighteen feet; two bed rooms, nine feet by nine feet; dining-room, twelve feet by eighteen feet; kitchen, thirteen feet by eighteen feet; pantry, four feet by nine feet; upper hall, fourteen feet by eighteen feet; two bed rooms, twelve and one-half feet by eighteen feet; six bed rooms, ten feet by twelve feet. The house, which was to be a frame, was sixty feet front and forty-eight feet wide. The specifications also stated the size of the sills and rafters, the sleepers and the joists as well as the doors and the windows. The house was to be built of poplar and oak lumber. The board of county commissioners advertised for bids in the Crawford County Democrat for six continuous weeks until the board of commissioners met at the court house on August 16, 1873, and opened the bids. The notice to the contractors may be found on page 136 of book 6. No bids were to be received after 7 o 'clock of the day on which the board met. When the board met and opened the bids, they found that these parties had made bids : R. F. Williams, $2,224.60; William S. Houghton, $1,850.00; G. W. Lynch, $1,850.00; William T. Washer, $2,245.00; E. U. Patrick, $1,595.00; William Farquair, $1,850; James W. Riley, $1,569.95 ; James W. Riley being the lowest and best bid is therefore awarded the contract when he, James W. Riley, has executed a bond to the amount of $3,000 that he will faithfully perform his duties. Jacob Tucker, Logan Miller and John Archibald were county commis- sioners. ROARING FIFTIES 149 The commissioners allowed R. T. Williams a fee of $5.00 for drawing up the plans and specifications at their September session in 1873. Mr. Riley appeared before the board of commissioners in September, 1873, and filed his bond for $3,000 for the faithful performances of his duties. Isaiah Henry, John R. Land and J. L. Temple were on his bond. The auditor was authorized on September 2, 1873, to issue warrants to James W. Riley as follows : On Septem- ber 3, 1873, $500; on October 1, 1873, $150; on November 1, 1873, $150; and to await further orders of the board of commissioners. On December 4, 1874, the board of commissioners en- gaged John D. Shaffer to superintend the poor farm for a term of two years. Mr. Shaffer was to be paid the sum of $1.65 a week for each and every inmate he boarded except children under the age of 18 months. These he was to keep for a reasonable allowance, no charge being made for board. Mr. Shaffer agreed to pay the county $55 a year for the rent of the poor farm and take good care of the buildings. The paupers who were able to work were to make the clothes for the inmates, the material being furnished by the county. He must treat them hu- manely but can require them to work when they are well. No timber must be destroyed on the farm. At the close of the two years the board employed Alexander Scott as superintendent of the poor farm for the period 1876 to 1878. CHAPTER X ENGLISH The first man who bought land in the vicinity of Eng- lish was Moses Smith, who bought the east half of the northwest quarter of section 24, township 2 south, range 1 west. This was in 1814. This was near the three forks of Little Blue River, namely, Camp Fork, Dog Creek and Brownstown Fork. Later others came and a town grew up. W. W. Cummins made the first plat of the town in 1839. It was recorded in the recorder's office in February, 1840, at Fredonia by the name of "Hartford." Later the town was named after William H. English who was elected to Congress from this district in 1852 and was Hancock's running mate in 1880. A few of the early settlers who lived there before the war were Bry Gregory, James A. Brown, W. W. Cummins, J. R. Brown, Joseph W. Brown and Joseph K. Landiss. The county commissioners ordered the elections held there in 1840. Before that time they selected some citi- zen's home at which the election was held. On January 7, 1828, the board of justices doing county business ordered the elections held at the house of John Crawford until further notice. The plat submitted here is a copy of the original. The streets were sixty-six feet wide and the alleys were sixteen 150 ENGLISH 151 and one-half feet wide. Bry Gregory was granted a license to run a tippling house or a saloon in June, 1840, and a store in 1839. The Blue River meeting house was built not far from the main part of the town. At first there were only thir- teen members. Kinkaid and D. M. Stewart were working hard for the success of the church. Later more members came and at the beginning of the Civil War the Christian church was firmly established. The autumn election of 1842 was held in Hartford. Woodson W. Cummins was the inspector of that election. That same year Joseph Denbo and Bry Gregory both had stores in Hartford. The town of English was a settlement of a few log huts till late after the Civil War. A log school house was built in the early days. In a subsequent chapter more will be said about English and its growth. milltown Milltown, which for a long time was named Leaven- worth's Mill, was settled about 1830. Seth Leavenworth made the plat about 1827 and filed it in the recorder's office at Fredonia about that time. The plat was extended by other men and the town grew. The old plat made by Leavenworth shows two still houses. Manuel Schoonover in 1837 was allowed a license to sell foreign merchandise in the town of Leavenworth's Mill. The Indiana Gazeteer of 1833 states that Milltown had about fifty people, three stores, a carding machine, sawmill, a grist mill and a merchant's mill. 152 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Sheriff Tot ten was authorized to hold an election in Milltown in 1828. This was to accommodate the voters. The year of 1833 Elijah Mathews was granted a license to keep store in Milltown. A bridge was needed very much at Milltown now. The board allowed Dave Miller $125 with which to construct the bridge in 1836. Next year the board doing county business removed David Miller from the agency and com- pelled him to turn over all funds on hands at that time to Zeb ulum Leavenworth, road commissioner. The first licensed grocery or saloon was opened in June, 1845. The proprietor was Chris Lentz. He was put under a bond of $500. A. Black and Martin Hanger were on his bond. Elizabeth Lentz, who made application to sell liquor in Milltown, was refused license June, 1848. By a law of the state enacted June, 1848, The Milltown Bridge Company was organized and incorporated. Lib- bens Frisbie completed the bridge over the river at Mill- town. The cost was $580, which sum Frisbie had paid out. The Indiana Gazetteer of 1850 states that Milltown had 150 people. There was one flour mill, a grist and saw- mill, and several still houses and carding machines at that time. John H. Pfeiffer was the postmaster in 1860. Sheriff Totten held the election there in 1827. The census of 1840 shows that Milltown had seventy- three inhabitants : Males over 20 years 14 Males under 20 years 21 35 ENGLISH 153 Females over 20 years 24 Females under 20 years 14 38 Total population, 1840 73 BIG SPRINGS The town of Marengo has gone by various names, among which are Spring Town, Big Springs, Jimtown and Ma- rengo. On April 15, 1839, David Stewart deposited in the recorder's office in Fredonia the original copy of the plat of Marengo. Henry Hollowell squatted on the site of Marengo or Big Springs in 1811. Later Stewart bought him out and built his home there. Soon Malachi Monk moved into the county and located there. He with others built the famous old block house about 1812. There were many Indians prowling around then, but one finds no record of any con- flict between them and the white people. The block house was built of logs. It was two stories high, the second story extended out over the first so that the whites could fire down on the Indians and give them a warm reception in case of an attack. David Stewart bought the farm from the Government in April, 1833. Mr. Stewart, who was a minister, was much in demand those days. He assisted the two Kinkaid brothers to establish the first Christian church in the county. The church was organized in a little log house over on Dog Creek, near English, in October, 1819. At first there were thirteen members. 154 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The town never grew very rapidly. The town was located about fourteen miles from Leavenworth on the Leavenworth and Paoli road. The first postoffice was called Tuckerville. Later it was changed to Proctorsville. Here it was kept until about 1851. A committee consisting of Doctor Mattingly, Hugh Taylor, Robert Walts, D. S. Tucker and M. T. Stewart was appointed to arrange for the moving of the postoffice. A new name was then neces- sary. Doctor Mattingly suggested "Marengo." General William H. Harrison, who was a great friend of David M. Stewart, visited him at Marengo, once cut his name on the stump of a tree. This name was visible till a few years ago. The tree stood in what is now the old academy yards. At that time Harrison lived in Corydon. Several of the early settlers were Ezra Eavens, Robert Bell, John Wood, John A. Barnet, James H. Turner, Jacob Crecelius, Cornelius Riley and Martin T. Stewart. The first store opened in Marengo was in May, 1838. That year William Proctor received a license to keep store at Marengo. In May, 1840, David M. Stewart also began keeping a store in Marengo. In March, 1842, Liberty township was laid out with about the same boundaries as it has now. An election was held in Big Springs on the first Monday of April, 1842, for two justices for Liberty township. In the future all elections are to be held in Big Springs. The first saloon opened in Marengo was probably in June, 1848. David S. Tucker that year opened a grocery, or a grog shop, or a tippling house. The names mean the same as a saloon. Marengo grew slowly. At the time of the Civil War ENGLISH 155 there were about one hundred people in the town. The town has a remarkable war record. The loyal patriot men up there never allowed a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle to wear a butternut badge into town and get away with it. During the war a member of the order came into town wearing the "butternut" badge. Some one sit- ting down saw him pass into a gun shop. He wore two revolvers and carried a gun but that did not scare W. T. Stewart and Ben Goodman who was at home on a sick furlough, he having been shot through at Stone's River. Stewart snatched off the badge and Ben hit him in the head with a pair of knucks. The poor fellow was almost killed. He crawled part of the way home till he was found and helped home. His name was Dave Miller. The New Albany Ledger, which was a prominent paper in those days, declared that such assaults on our peaceful citizens were outrages and ought not to occur. Of course, the Ledger was in sympathy with the South and the Golden Circle. At one time it was silenced for a while during the war for some of its statements. On December 18, 1824, the men met at Cornelius Hall's and elected trustees for the Big Spring church and school. Lots were deeded for the school and church purposes. The church house was reserved for the third Saturday and Sunday of each month. William B. Johnson was the sec- retary. One may find the constitution and by-laws of the order on pages 107 and 244 of book 7 in the county records. The early people of Marengo were the Weathers, Stewarts, Evans, Bells, Woods, Crecelius, Turners, Rileys, Vances and the Breedens. CHAPTER XI OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS When the white men first came over the hills into Crawford County the land was a howling wilderness over which wild animals roamed at will. Probably the entire county was covered with a heavy growth of timber. At first the settlers chose the uplands for their homes because the lowlands were so heavily wooded that they were un- able to clear it readily, making it unhealthy and the water impure. Many pioneers squatted on the land which they bought later on from the Government at $1.25 per acre. This land was called "Congress land." The first settlers lived under the starry heavens until they had time to build a cabin house. The pioneers built cabins out of the tall straight poplars and oaks, many of which were two feet in diameter. These were scored down and hewed till they were about eight inches thick. The poplar tree was much softer and could be worked easier. Since the timber was light, the logs could be handled easily and were much preferred for houses. The hewing was done with a broadaxe. A good workman could hew the face of a log almost as smooth as one could saw the same and the hewed face did not rot as easily as the sawed one. The site for a cabin was generally situated near a spring of wholesome water. This was very essential be- 156 OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 157 cause the creek water was not good for drinking. All sizes of cabins were built. Abraham Sheckel's old cabin house is still standing near Cape Sandy on the river. His house is about twice as long as wide. This was the style the southern men preferred, while men from the north built square log houses. Many built double log houses. These were two houses just a few feet apart. All the open space was covered by the same roof and used for a summer kitchen. The logs were notched so that they would fit together easily at the corners and be locked together. Hence such a house was not easily blown away by the wind. When a man's logs were ready he invited in his neighbors and had a house raising. Of course there was plenty of food to eat and drink on such an occasion. The pioneer covered his house with a clapboard roof. These were about four good feet long, eight inches wide and one inch thick. He selected a fine white oak for a boardtree, one probably four feet in diameter. The settler sawed down the tree and cut the body into cuts about four feet long. The cuts were set upon end and the bark dressed off well. The cut then was split into bolts which were rived into boards with a frow. When the settler had time he generally shaved the faces of the boards. When a house was covered with such a roof it lasted a long time. The settlers often used a whip-saw in sawing out lum- ber. In the use of the whip-saw the settlers raised a small tree about four feet high and one man stood on a platform above it and another below it and sawed the log length- wise. What lumber was sawed in this way was used for doors and flooring and furniture. The pioneer built his chimney in one end of the house. 158 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY In most cases the chimney was made out of stones if they were handy. If they were scarce one then built his chimney out of mud and sticks. Of course the best families did not have mud and stick chimneys. The old-fashioned pioneer made his floor out of punch- eons, which were hewed timbers and matched so that they made a rather stout floor but not very warm. Such a floor was sufficiently tight to keep out rats and snakes but not to keep out spiders, many of which were poisonous to man if bitten by them. The door was hung on wooden hinges and opened by means of a string run through a hole in the door. At night the settler drew his door-string in and fastened the door by means of a pin stuck into an auger hole in the door facing. The pioneers used glass when it was available and when they could not obtain glass they used paper in the win- dows. Glass might be bought at Corydon or Jeffersonville, and later, when boats were on the Ohio, the glass might be bought at Fredonia. At night the pioneer lighted his cabin by a huge fire in the fire-place, or by burning faggots put in a holder in the jamb-rock. The lamp was made by using a piece of cloth twisted into a cord and put into a saucer of grease. When the end was pulled slightly over the top and lit it made a fair light, but was rather dirty and smoky. Later, candles came into general use. They were molded by the settlers and were much better than the grease. They were used till long after the Civil War when coal oil was discovered and became cheap so that all people could use it. The pioneer's hardy housewife did most of the cooking OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 159 over the fire on the hearth. She baked the bread in an old-fashioned oven before the fire. It was something like a skillet with a movable top. When the bread was put into the oven and the top was placed on carefully, it then was covered with coals of fire and set in a bed of coals which had been raked out before the fire. Sometimes the bread became a little dirty but no one complained, for every man was hungry and enjoyed the meal. The meat was roasted over the fire or broiled. Much of it was wild game, for the woods were full of all kinds of game. Corn was used for bread in most all homes. It was ground in three kinds of mills, namely, horse-mills, water-mills and steam-mills. Leggett's and Fullenwider 's and Leaven- worth's Mills were the oldest ones in the county. Leg- gett 's Mill and Fullenwider 's Mill were on Little Blue near Alton, while Seth Leavenworth's Mills were at Leaven- worth and at Milltown. The first cooking stove which was ever brought into the county was probably the one which Holcraft bought from a store boat in 1837. This was a little step stove. Holcraft, who lived about two miles north of Fredonia, had many callers to see the stove and see if it would really cook. Elam Wilens advertised three stoves for sale on August 30, 1838, at Leavenworth. These were about the first in the county. The millers generally ground one day in the week. On that day the pioneers from far and near came with their grist. There was always something to drink and many men enjoyed the days at the mill. This gave them a chance to meet their neighbors, many of whom lived several miles away. While they were waiting their turn at the mill the time was spent in story telling, among which the favorite 160 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY tales were ghost stories. No wonder then that each one wanted his "grist" before dark, so that he could get home. Besides, the pioneers might have an encounter with a bob- cat, a wolf, or a bear as he went through the dark and gloomy forest. The state encouraged millers by exempting them from military duties and jury duties in times of peace. The miller was not held responsible for the loss of sacks unless the owner's name was on them. The miller was allowed to exact a toll of one-fourth if he furnished the horses to grind the grist. One of the most interesting stories told in those old days was Peckinpaugh 's Indian story. Uncle Peter Peck- inpaugh, who had moved to southern Indiana about 1806, built a cabin near Cape Sandy on the Ohio River and was living there by himself. He had a large sugar camp open and was making sugar. The pots were boiling well, the sun had set, and all the land was dark. Uncle Peter sat in an easy seat, smoking his pipe and watching the syrup boil. Suddenly the syrup caught fire and burned up. Uncle Peter took that as an ill omen and fled to his cabin. When morning came he returned and such a sight he never had seen before. There were moccasin tracks of all sizes around the pots where the Indians had been licking the syrup and drinking the sap in the other vessels. The point of contention was whether that was a sign admonish- ing Peter to flee or whether he had gone to sleep and let his syrup get too hot and burn up. The writer's father, when he was a little boy, went to John Carnes' mill with the men where he was staying. It being a cold ugly day the men were in by the fire. One man who had brought his two wolf hounds was telling OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 161 some amusing- stories to the crowd while occasionally one could hear the dogs bark out at the hopper. After some time one man went out and found that the do'gs had dis- covered the meal streaming down and were eating it faster than the mill ground, then they would bark for more. After that one man stayed out and kept the dogs away. The farmer did not clear much ground at first. He examined the oak trees in the spring to see if there was plenty of bloom for acorns on which he could fatten his hogs. If the prospect was good he did not plant much corn for that year. The farmer and his wife made the clothes for the whole family. The writer has been told by old citizens that as late as 1836 Representative Sands of Crawford County wore a suit of homespun while attending the General Assembly at Indianapolis. The main resources in those early days were timber, fur-bearing animals and fish. Probably no county in the state had better timber than Crawford County. The rocky hillsides, as well as the level land, were covered with oak, poplar, gum, linn, sycamore and many other varieties. Many of these trees were two feet "over" forty feet from the stump. It must have taken several centuries for such trees to grow. Most of the oak was sawed into plow beams in those early days. Later, barge bottom was much needed. This kind of lumber was about two inches thick and as wide as it could be had. Flatboats used the same material for floor- ing and siding. The poplar made a high grade of weather- boarding, lumber for flooring, doors and boat gunwales. Hoop poles were a great source of wealth to the early settler. 162 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY There were several kinds of them. Leavenworth was the shipping point for hoops till late in the eighties. John Bahr was called the hoop pole king because he bought and shipped them by the thousands. One of the great occupations then was hoop shaving. The small hickory poles were cut, split through the center and then shaved on an old-fashioned shaving horse sufficiently to make the split edges smooth. William S. Polen, one of the prominent farmers near Birdseye, told the writer that he came with his father all the way to Leavenworth with a load of hoops. It took two days to make the trip of about twenty-eight miles. At that time Leavenworth was a shipping point for hoops and lumber of all kinds. When John Bahr was buying hoops he had most all the waste land covered with hoops at Leavenworth. The farmer spent most of the day hunting and fishing. Why did he not work more on his farm? There was not any use to clear the ground. A few bunches of hoops would buy his bread, salt and pepper and the woods fur- nished the meat and the water the fish. The pelts of the wild animals he sold. The woods were full of bears, deer, panthers, wolves, besides the small animals such as squir- rels, foxes, raccoons and rabbits. The large animals hardly ever attacked men then, but they played havoc with the pioneer's young pigs, chickens and sheep. The writer's father was working for Uncle Peter Peck- inpaugh when he was a boy of about ten years of age. One night after they had gone to bed something raised a terrible disturbance down at the hog pen where his old sow had a litter of pigs. He turned his wolf dogs loose and seized his hand-spike and ran down to the pen. When he OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 163 arrived the two largest dogs had caught some wild animal, one by the shoulder and the other by the hips and were struggling around over the ground. Watching his chances he struck down between the dogs and as luck would have it, broke the varmint's back. It was easily dispatched then. Securing a light from the house, he examined the animal which was a large panther measuring eight feet from the end of the tail to its nose. The county commissioners were authorized by law to pay the settlers for each wolf scalp. John Stone, James Land, Nathan Ruth, Dan Farley, Enos Campbell and Ed- mond Ardoch were paid one dollar each in November, 1827, for wolf scalps. Fruit growing became a favorite occupation as soon as the settlers could clear up land. Many varieties of apples were grown. As late as 1860 men had probably twenty- five varieties. The settlers made the apples into brandy and shipped it away to New Orleans by flatboat. Later, corn was made into whiskey and shipped south. For that reason coopering was a leading occupation among our early people. There was a demand for "tight" barrels and apple barrels. The staves out of which tight barrels were made were dressed and the edges planed so well that when the barrel was set up it did not need much corking to hold water, molasses or whiskey. Lime was shipped away in barrels, too. Much wine was also made in those early days. The early settler did not need much food of any kind. The woods furnished meat. There were squirrels, rabbits and wild pigeons by the thousands. A stray shot would bring down enough for a pot pie. At roosting time they came by the thousands and when they lighted on the tops 164 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY of the trees they broke down the branches. Old settlers tell queer stories about the pigeons darkening the sun when they flew over but there was more truth than one might think in the statement. The farmer let his hogs run wild and live on the acorns, of which there were thousands under the large oak trees. When the acorn crop was poor the farmer was compelled to raise more corn. The type of hog raised in those days would take the prize in a side show now. They were able to outrun the wild animals in the forest and when brought to bay they gave a good account of themselves in a fight. What sheep and cattle the farmer had were capable of swift running and high jumping to escape the dogs and wolves. The farmer had much trouble in remembering his stock. There grew up a custom of marking the ears of his hogs and calves. Each one had his own ear mark. John Sheckels of Ohio had his ear mark recorded in the recorder's office at English. His was a slit in the left ear and an under slope in the right ear. His mark was recorded October 26, 1837. Meat packing was one of the important occupations of the people. Hogs were driven down into Crawford County from Orange County, Washington County and as far away as Bloomington. They drove them down there and let them fatten on the "mast" for several weeks in the fall and then butchered them and smoked or pickled the pork which was shipped away by flatboat to the south. One time men from Daviess, Martin and Lawrence Coun- ties drove about two thousand hogs down into Crawford County to fatten on the mast. Although most of the land OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 165 was Congress land, our good people became angry and killed the hogs. When the case was brought into court men swore that they saw the smoke and heard the shots but they did not know who did the shooting. Therefore the drovers lost their hogs. When butchering time came hundreds of men were employed all along the river to help the men who owned the hogs in their work. When all was ready the hogs were driven in and butchered. Each man had an ear mark by which his hogs were known. Yet many settlers lost hogs which they in turn stole from some other man, for all stock ran out then in the deep woods. On one occasion a man found a calf belonging to Henry Jackson Landrus. After a few days Landrus found where the calf was. He took men with him and went to identify it. When he came to the barn-yard the calf knew him and "bawled" to him. Yet he could not prove that it was his. Therefore the finder kept it. Salt was one of the most useful articles of all. In the early days the state kept the saline springs and enough adjacent land to furnish wood with which the men could boil down the water in order to obtain the salt. A man would travel to the salt lick and boil enough water to make a barrel of salt, then journey on home. In the early days Indians were very prevalent about these licks where many bloody encounters occurred. There was salt found near Mifflin in Crawford County, while Royce's and Rock's licks in Washington County and French's lick in Orange County and Jackson's lick in Monroe County were the most noted. Often settlers rode to Jeffersonville where they bought a bushel of salt and returned. They were 166 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY several days on the road. When the boats began running in the twenties, much salt could be had at Leavenworth and Fredonia. Many settlers made large quantities of sugar from the maple trees. They tapped the trees with an auger, put in the spile, and caught the sap in a trough cut out of a poplar log. They boiled the sap down in large kettles and made it into sugar. There were 8,300 pounds made in 1858 at a value of $584. Another food product much relished by the people and widely used was hominy. The farmer shelled his corn and soaked it in lye water for some time. Then he was able to remove the rough hulls of the corn. The grains were then soaked in clear water to remove the lye. When they were thoroughly cleansed the housewife cooked the corn till it was done. When seasoned well it made a fine whole- some food. Coffee made its appearance in the early days of the county. Men did not know how to use it. Some tried to eat it but that was not very enjoyable. After some time a wandering peddler came to the county. He sold some coffee and taught the pioneers how to use it. They were to ' ' parch it, ' ' grind it in a coffee mill, boil it in water and then drink the water. The law required a license to sell coffee till February 10, 1843, when it was repealed. Below is the section which was repealed : "That every person who shall in proper person, or by an agent, vend any merchandise which may not be the product of the United States without having a license or a permit to do so, as is or may be designated and required OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 167 by law, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $100. — Sec- tion 55. Act Feb. 10, 1831." Salt was much needed in those days. The pioneers went in groups to the salt licks and boiled down salt water for several days till they made about a bushel or more for each of them. Then they came home. There were wells of salt water on Otter Creek in Union township. Later, when the sulphur water was found, Mr. Benham manufactured salt. Southwest of Hartford in section 29, township 2, range 1 west, on Otter Creek Forks of Little Blue River, Ed Hall Golden had a fine well of artesian water from which he made salt. It was bored for oil and sunk to a depth of 1,170 feet. Some oil was found but not in any paying quantity. The best salt brine was reached at the depth of 611 feet. The well furnished 1,600 gallons of brine in twelve hours. Eighty gallons of brine will make a bushel of salt. He had sixteen kettles, each of which would hold 100 gallons, and was making twenty-five barrels of salt every thirty-six hours. It cost about 17% cents a gallon to boil down the brine. Mr. Benham in section 33 had two good wells which yielded the same quality of brine. He made about twelve barrels per day. The farm implements were of the crudest type. The plow was generally a single shovel with a coulter on in front. This was used in new ground where there were many roots and rocks. Plowing with two good horses with such a plow was rather laborious. If the coulter caught on a root or a rock just right it would jump out and let the handles strike a man on the chin or hit him in the ribs a blow which he would not soon forget. Later, a double 168 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY shovel was used and a turning plow. A few harrows were in use during those early days, but many farmers used a large bush to drag over the ground after they had sown their wheat or oats. The wheat was cut with a cradle. A good man could cut a swath about six feet wide down the side of a field. A man would follow and bind the grain by hand. Often he picked up bunches of blackberries, sticking his fingers, and sometimes a large snake might be gathered in the bunch, which of course generally escaped from the bundle unhurt and gave the binder such a scare that he ap- proached the next bunch with more care. The plowing for wheat was generally done in August. In those good old days there were nests of yellow- jackets, bumblebees and wasps everywhere. A man was fortunate if he got around a twenty-acre field without plowing out a nest of yellow- jackets. The boys enjoyed the sport of fighting them the best kind, but the farmer was not much pleased with the encounter. The wheat was generally beaten out by hand. Later an old floor was used and the horses tramped out the grain and the farmer fanned it until it was clean. In those days most of the grinding was done by water power and horse power. Riley Main had a horse mill near Schooner Point ; Leggett 's and Lake 's mills were on Little Blue River lower down and Froman's and Carnes' mills were also on Blue, south of Grantsburg. Cole's mill, near Wyandotte Cave, on Big Blue, was built about 1840. His mill was run by water. Leavenworth' had a mill very early and Milltown was named after Leavenworth who built a large mill there about 1825. OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 1G9 The people were obliged to work very hard day in and day out. Yet they were fond of amusement. The old- fashioned barbecue, the apple cutting, the old-time muster dance, the shooting match and the charivari were next to a circus. The barbecue was usually a political meeting. A hole was dug in the ground about the size of a large grave. This was filled full of hickory wood and burned up, then filled and burned till it was almost full of live coals of fire. This hole sent out a great quantity of heat. The beef and mutton parts were put over it and left there to roast. A whole beef might be roasted at once by such a method. When all was ready the meat was cut into slices about like pancakes and handed out to the men in that way. There was generally much speaking on such occasions. During the Whig campaign of 1840 several were held in the county. The shooting match was quite common till late in the eighties. Men prided themselves on their guns. To be able to shoot a turkey's head off a hundred yards away was a good shot. The beef was driven in and men put up different amounts. For instance, it might be $3.00 a chance on two quarters or all quarters. All present went in as they pleased. Men often went in one dollar each on the hind quarter. These men were entitled to shoot at a mark a certain distance away. The best shot took the quarter of beef. Some men were so sure of their success that they took a rope with them to drive home the beef. Andy Sonner did so on many occasions. The turkeys were put into a box in which there was a hole in the top. This hole was of sufficient size to let the bird 's head stick out. A man gave ten cents a chance at the head. If he hit the head he got the bird. 170 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The old-fashioned charivari was a favorite sport for all. Some men never desired any such entertainment. Late in the fifties a gentleman by the name of Francis Forbes lived near Tower, Indiana. When Wm. Waldon married one of his daughters he swore that he would whip the whole pack if they came rioting about his residence. He being a bluff old fellow frightened out all the boys but three men, Henry J. Landrus, Harvey Melcom and Charles W. Tower, decided that he must be serenaded. Mr. Landrus took his old musket, Charles Wesley Tower took his long string of sheep bells, and Mr. Melcom took a ' ' drum bull. ' ' Mr. Forbes had a dog named "Tiger." He believed that old "Tige" would simply eat them if they came. So that bright night in January with snow about knee deep and the thermometer hovering around zero found this trio of daredevils approaching "Uncle Frank's" home. Landrus stuck his gun between the ash hopper and the old-fashioned picket fence and fired off the gun just about a foot over "Tiger's" head where he was sleeping in his warm cozy nest. He bounded out and ran around the house, only to meet Tower rattling about twenty-five sheep bells strung on his back. Dodging Tower the poor dog met Melcom who pulled the rosined raw-hide string through the head of the drum bull, letting out the most horrible noise one could ever imagine. With one tremendous leap "Tige" cleared the fence and escaped. About that time the door flew open and out ran Uncle Frank barefooted, with noth- ing on but his night clothes and pursued the famous trio, who by now had left the yard and were running down the state road. He made speed and was just about to catch Charles Tower who was handicapped with all the sheep OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 171 bells. Just one more leap and he would have his victim, but at the critical point Tower dodged to one side in the snow and stopped. "Uncle Frank" tried to stop but his feet slipped out from under him and he coasted, naked as he was, for some distance in the snow. In the meantime Tower had escaped. Next day the news spread like wildfire and by night a large number of men with drums and fifes came. They lined up and marched down the state road beating the drums and playing the fifes. The crowd knew that Mr. Forbes enjoyed martial music very much. Before the first selection was completed he came out and walked around the crowd for a minute or two and then said, "Well, I Gar, I said that I would whip them but I did not agree to fight all Crawford County." One of the men asked Mr. Forbes if he did not want to beat one tune on the snare-drum, which he did. Then after playing another selection or two the crowd left. But they knew that he would cause them trouble, so they sent a man to Leaven- worth and told Attorney Samuel B. Pepper all that had happened. The men had hardly departed, early the next day, when Mr. Forbes came into the office and wanted to prosecute about 186 of his neighbors. So the following conversation occurred : Mr. Pepper : Now Mr. Forbes, this is a serious thing, to prosecute 186 men. May I ask what they were doing? Mr. Forbes : They were rioting, beating the drums, and playing the fifes. Mr. Pepper : Now, Mr. Forbes, how could you stay in the house when the drums were being beaten? 172 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Mr. Forbes : I came out with the crowd. Mr. Pepper : Now, Mr. Forbes, how could you keep from beating the drum, too, seeing you like music so well? Mr. Forbes: Well, I did beat one tune. Mr. Pepper: Then, Mr. Forbes, I shall have to put your name in, too, with the rest. After thinking the matter over for a time he said : "Mr. Pepper, just wait a few days till I have had more time to think about the matter. ' ' He never came back. From the forties on there was a tremendous business done by flatboating on the Ohio River. The flatboat was loaded with corn, lime or other articles. The hay boat or corn boat was much more pleasant on which to work. The lime boat was dangerous should any water get on the lime barrels. The boats stopped at most all the towns and sold corn and other produce. The man when he reached the Gulf of Mexico either sold the boat or had it towed up the river home. Life on the river was pleasant when the weather was good, but woe betide the man who was caught out on the river when a storm came. The flatboat was generally pro- pelled with a steering oar. Besides the corn and lime boats, there were boats loaded with packed meat and whiskey. There were men up and down the river who delighted in telling great lies. On one occasion a man was floating down the river. As he passed the mouth of the Wabash a man called from the bank and said that they had better not go far down the river for the recent earthquake had caused the river to fall in a deep hole and sink. The cap- tain cried, "to the oars, boys, back!" That man was only OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 173 fooling the man, he himself floating on down the river in safety. In the early days much fruit was grown in Crawford County. It was made into brandy and shipped away or the apples were sold by the barrel. The old-fashioned lime kiln was a great source of wealth in those days. A large kiln generally held a great quantity of lime. It was put into barrels and shipped south on a flatboat. The old-time kiln was a hole about fifteen feet deep and ten feet in diameter. One usually dug such a pit on a steep hillside where he could dig in from the lower part for the furnace. The kiln being filled, one fired it by burning wood in the eye of the pit. All up and down the river one finds traces of these old pits or kilns. Most all the lime was shipped out on flatboats. The boats were being built every day up and down the river. A lumber man generally marked the trees for the gunwales. Poplars were chosen, ones about eighty good feet to the limbs. They were cut down in the spring and scored and hewed till they were about eight inches thick and two or three feet wide. Small studding were set on the gunwale and sided up some and covered. A long steering oar with a long sweep was out on the top of the boat. By it men guided the boat as it floated down the stream. Life out on the river was dangerous at nights, therefore most boats had a "watch." Sometimes robbers would slip up and "coon" the boat and steal all the money the men had, even killing the watches at times. The farmers cleared up their land as fast as they needed it. Rails were split out of walnut and white oak for the fences. The fences were generally built about ten 174 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY rails high. Sometimes the fences were staked and ridered or simply locked. These rails were about four inches thick and ten feet long. The first wire fence ever brought into the county was bought by William Perry Everdon. The fence ran from the house of Walter Coleman north on the Marengo road. The fence was built many years after the Civil War. Prob- ably the first self-binder ever brought into the county was owned by E. E. Richardson. The good housewife had her share of the burden to bear. It was not light by any means. She cared for the geese in order to have feathers for bedding. It was the custom to give each girl a feather-bed when she married. Enough chickens were raised to furnish eggs for cook- ing. The woman used them freely in cooking cornbread and cakes. Above all, it was a social custom to have a yellow-legged chicken each Sunday when the preacher came. In the early days men dried apples and peaches on a dry kiln. These old-fashioned kilns were built of rock. There were places for firing and drying the fruit. The women canned fruit, made cider out of crab-apples, wine out of grapes, jellies of all kinds, maple syrup, spice brush, sassafras, balsam, sage for the sausage. The kitchen was a store house. The cellar was filled with apples, potatoes and turnips, while the main quantity was buried or pitted away. Before the Civil War Crawford County was filled with strong men. They might walk twenty miles any day on a deer hunt. The hardy farmer generally reared a family OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 175 of eight to ten and fifteen children. The father was the ideal of the boys, while the mother was a queen over the daughters. The evening was spent around the huge chim- ney on a wintry night while the parents played games with the children. Such was the happy life of the farmer. The courting was done in a manner much different from now days. The old couple generally slept in the main liv- ing room. When the old man and his wife had retired then the young people sat up before the fire and did their spark- ing. On one occasion a very old gentleman told the writer that he was watching the old lady who was peeping out from under the "kivers" at him. He had no chance at a kiss until the fire got low. Then he happened to think of his tobacco. Filling his mouth with a large chew, he began to fire away at the fire stick which was blazing. After several minutes he mastered the blaze. The room being moderately dark he had just time to get his kiss when he heard a rustling in the bed and on looking around he saw the old lady with her night cap on begin crawling out of bed. He expected the worst but she just came to the fire and stirred it up with her long poker. He thought that he had better leave about that time. John 0. Nash of Marengo told a story of how he went home with a girl about the year of 1858. After taking her home they talked till they were tired, and he decided that he would stay over night. The old-fashioned boot-jack was missing so he could not get his boots off. The girl took hold of the boots and by strenuous efforts assisted him to pull them off. Yet he said that the girls were just as moral then as they could be. The men in those early days wore cow-hide boots 176 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY reaching to their knees. These were sewed so well that one could wade water all day with them on and not get one's feet wet. Such a thing as a pair of rubbers or overshoes was unknown. The hunting was done with an old-fashioned flint-lock gun at first, but later a long barreled Kentucky rifle was used. It had double triggers. One set the trigger first. Then sight was taken. When the aim was just right one pulled the second set of triggers. The weight of a hair was almost sufficient to fire the gun, after the trigger was set. The Methodist ministers and Christians were on the field early. One can not give too much credit to the work of those early circuit riders. The oldest Christian church was the Blue River meeting house, near what is now Eng- lish. The Baptists were also on the ground early. These ministers suffered untold hardships and many insults. On one occasion a minister was conducting a baptismal service near Alton when an unbeliever who wanted to see some fun, who lived in a cabin near Little Blue, came down to the bank and caught his dog in his arms. A foot-log about the distance of six feet from the water reached across the river which was about thirty or forty feet wide. He walked out on that log with his dog still in his arms. Several of the men in the crowd on the bank wanted to go and persuade him to leave, but the minister said : ' ' Just let him go." When he was out over the middle of the stream, he prepared to baptize his dog. The dog became scared and kept kicking around till it got one foot under his suspender. He repeated the little speech that he bap- tized him in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 177 Ghost, upon which he intended to hurl the dog into the river, but the dog gave such a kick that the man lost his balance and fell into the river too. He went under for several seconds, but soon arose and swam to the shore, a wetter but wiser man than before. The Methodist people organized a class at what is now Tower about 1858. The men used Gaines Patrick's cooper shop for a church till the old Tower Chapel church was built about 1858. It is about five miles north of Leaven- worth. Among the many noted men who have gone out from Crawford County one may mention Mr. William H. Ken- dall, who at the date of writing is the minister of the Memorial Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis, and John Hanger, who is a Methodist in Indianapolis. The people of Crawford County are extremely Prot- estant and temperate. After the enactment of the County Unit in local option an election was held in Crawford County on May 26, 1909. The drys received 1,436 votes and the wets had 683. Colored people rarely have lived in Crawford County. Before the Civil War one lived for a short time down in Ohio township. About 1922 a few colored men lived on the Government Reservation above Leavenworth. They sent two colored children up to the Leavenworth public schools. Much confusion arose, but fortunately no one was hurt, but the children were badly frightened. Later one or two colored women came down to the high school to attend the Parent-Teachers' Association. They came into the hallway but no one welcomed them. So they 178 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY went away. Later the colored people moved away and the excitement died with their going. Coal may be seen cropping out of the ground at various places in Crawford County, but not much has been done toward mining on account of the abundance of wood. In November, 1920, the English and Princeton Coal and Oil Company opened a mine on Henry Wright's farm south of Taswell under the supervision of M. S. Spurling who was a licensed coal miner. The vein was about four feet thick and the coal of a fine grade, containing a good quantity of carbon. The mine was opened on November 20th. There was a ready market for all the coal that the company could dig from the mine. In the good old days one made shoe polish out of elder berries. The ripe berries were gathered and the juice squeezed out of them in a course cloth. Then the juice was boiled down till it became thick. One generally applied the polish with a feather. The juice also made an excellent quality of ink, but was never as popular as pokeberry juice for ink. The custom of binding out boys and girls till they were eighteen or twenty-one years old existed in the early days. The following ads appeared in the Leavenworth Arena on November 21, 1839 : "One Cent Reward. Run away from the subscriber on Nov. 4, 1839. A bound boy by name of Simon McComb. Supposed to be about 14 years old, very small for his age. Has heavy eyebrows, rather flaring look about his eyes. Any one returning him to the subscriber will receive one cent and no thanks. Stephen Roberson, Union Township. . . . " Also Mr. James B. Humley escaped without paying his OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 179 grog bill: "Reward of one cent. John Tadlock, hotel keeper. December 5, 1839." The people in those early days were required to do militia service. As early as 1838 one finds in the Leaven- worth Arena a notice warning all the militia within the boundary of these points : Commencing at Big Bine River where the Governor's Old Trail crosses the river and fol- lowing the trail west to the Milltown and Leavenworth road, thence down the road to the Rome road, thence to the Ohio township line, thence south to the Ohio River. Then up the river to the Big Blue River. That will include most all of Jennings township east of the Fredonia and Paoli roads. The militia in that territory were to meet on July 28, 1838, at Leavenworth and elect a captain, one lieutenant and one ensign to command the company which was the Twenty-third Regiment of Indiana Militia. Notice was signed by William Mansfield, Colonel. Not all the men attended these muster days willingly. One finds this notice : David Cole was ordered to attend the battalion muster, May 29, 1841, at John Martain's with his company as the law required. Many interesting items of news are found in the Whig Arena. The notice of the lost child was given. It seems that the little son of Silas Davidson had left home with his dog to hunt. The boy was not over ten years of age. He never returned. A thorough search was made for the boy by over three hundred people but no trace of the lad was ever found. The dog and child were probably eaten by the wild animals. The child was lost in December, 1841. Sports in the early days consisted of wrestling, foot racing, jumping, sticking pegs and many other contests. 180 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Hardly any great barbecue would be held without a foot race. At the great Whig barbecue held in Fredonia in 1840 the race between Asa Buckles and Tom Tarr at- tracted as much attention as the Whig speeches. The old-fashioned games of three-cornered cat, round town ball, long town ball, hat ball, baseball and many others were played by the boys. Hat ball was a very brutal game. The victim was placed with his face to the wall while the other boys were allowed so many throws at him. The sus- pense under which the victim was while waiting for the ball to strike was telling. The social evenings were spent in old-fashioned apple cuttings, "shucking bees," dances, play parties and spell- ing matches. At the spelling bee old-fashioned Japanese lanterns were hung up in which a candle was placed. The teacher chose two to divide the house. After spelling for about one hour there was an intermission at which the young people crowded out to play games of various kinds. Tap was one of the favorites. After rest the crowd was divided and some time spent in spelling. The climax came when the crowd stood up around the wall and spelled for major. One had a fair chance. If he missed the word then he sat down. The man who stood the longest carried away the floor. Crawford County produced some of the best spellers in the state. One may name Jephtha Turley, Thad Riddle, Logan Riddle, "Farmer" Brown, Sherman Smith and George C. Smith. In later years Alfred Turley won a wide distinction for his success in winning the floor on all OCCUPATIONS AND CUSTOMS 181 occasions. As far as ever known George C. Smith was the only man who ever spelled Jephtha Turley down. But the old time sports are gone. New sports have come to claim our attention. Basketball came into onr midst. Men fought its advent. At Leavenworth the town "dads" tried to enact an ordinance prohibiting basketball. They claimed that it broke down the code of ethics estab- lished by their grandfathers. Later the basketball faction won out. With these scattered remarks about our people and their occupations the writer will close this discussion. CHAPTER XII EDUCATION After the American Republic was established in 1789, the fact was recognized that the safety and welfare of a nation depended upon the education and the training of its citizens. The Federal Government having received the Northwest Territory from the several states, ordered it surveyed and divided into townships. The sixteenth section of each township was given to the people of that township for school purposes. Thus our National Govern- ment encouraged education. The first school law was enacted in 1808 after Indiana was organized as a territory. This law provided that the school land could be leased to men if they would clear ten acres during the time of the lease which was to run for five years. Indiana became a state in 1816. The first school law passed by the General Assembly of Indiana was passed in 1816. This law provided for the care of the land by appointing a superintendent for each congressional town- ship. The board doing county business in Crawford County met at the court house in Fredonia, January 3, 1825, and appointed these men as superintendents of the various townships: Allen D. Thorn, township four south, range 182 EDUCATION 183 one west; Peter McMichael, township two south, range two west; William Anderson, township three south, range one east; Thomas Cummings, George Jones and Charles Springer were appointed for Ohio township. The superintendent could lease the unimproved land to any man at the rate of 160 acres of land to each man for seven years, while the improved land could be had for three years, providing the renter set out annually twenty-five apple trees and twenty-five peach trees. The law did not state on what land these trees were to be set. So some men set them on their own land. The superintendents held their office for two years and received whatever salary the board saw fit to grant them. That same year the General Assembly tried to pass a school law which was very simple in its provisions, the chief ones of which were: (1) When twenty land owners in any township petitioned the county commissioners, re- questing them to call an election, at which three township trustees were elected for school purposes. These trustees were granted unrestricted powers to make all rules and regulation for the schools when any one was established. At the same time the Governor was authorized to appoint a superintendent for the seminary townships. Notwithstanding the gloomy situation, a number of schools sprang up in various parts of the state. The writer has not been able to locate any one in Crawford County. The school district was the unit. The people in the district decided whether they wanted a school or not. Often family feuds ruined schools in the early days. An act of the General Assembly dated January 26, 1818, empowered the Governor to appoint a seminary trus- 184 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY tee for each county. This officer was to accumulate a sem- inary fund from fines and forfeitures as provided in the law and to loan the fund out to the best advantage. The trustees were allowed six per cent, of all the money collected for their services. Elisha Tadlock seems to have been the first seminary trustee. The speaker of the House of Representatives laid his report before the General Assembly on December 13, 1821. At that time Trustee Tadlock had $100.50 on hands. The records are not com- plete, but one is able to find the following list of seminary trustees: Elisha Tadlock, 1821; William Dodd, 1824; Andrew Kinkaid, 1825; Henry Atkins, 1826; William Anderson, 1830; John L. Smith, 1832; William Course, 1835. The first real school law was enacted in 1824. It was entitled: "An Act to Incorporate Congressional Town- ships and Providing for the Public Schools Therein." It provided for the election of three township trustees for each township, who were empowered to locate school dis- tricts appointing for them three district trustees, and to manage the school fund. Under this law every able-bodied man over twenty-one years old being a householder or a land owner was liable to one day's work each week in his district until the house was completed. If he failed to work out his time, he had to pay for it at S7y 2 cents a day. The settler could donate material if he wished, for which he received credit. When the people of a district had completed the house the town- ship trustees came and inspected the building. If the house was not satisfactory the workmen were recalled and the corrections made. Then the trustees gave the people EDUCATION 185 the right to use the house. The men usually divided them- selves into choppers, hewers and the corner workers. All the houses erected in Crawford County were log houses. When the day came for a house raising there was always plenty on hand to drink. When the house was completed the trustees called the people together at the school-house to see if they wished to have a school taught. If they did then they must raise the funds to pay the teacher and set the date for the be- ginning of school. The district trustees collected all donations and employed a teacher on the most advan- tageous terms, and were to report all their proceedings to the township trustees. One of the first state superintendents described these old log schools as follows: "Most of them were delap- idated log buildings, located in some out-of-the-way place in the woods, often in the midst of a mud-hole, surrounded on all sides by stagnant pools and heaps of underbrush, in- fecting the air with their deadly miasma, a place fit for nothing and of course not fit for a school. The house itself was a square cabin with a rickety old door with one hinge broken, which would not allow it to close well. The win- dows were long and narrow and placed wherever chance offered without regard to the distribution of light, with half of the panes out, curtainless and shutterless. The floor was made of loose puncheons, all of which were very un- satisfactory. " One may see the entire report in volume one, page 26, of State Superintendent Larrabee's report. Mr. Larrabee did not exaggerate the situation of the school houses. Several in Crawford County were situated in just such conditions. Irving 's old school, Magnolia, 186 HISTOEY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Byerly's and Number Ten were examples. Irving 's school was located on a hillside west of Leavenworth about two miles. Cunningham's school-house was located on the old Hartford road south of English two miles. At the three forks of Little Blue an old log house was still standing after the Civil War. The general law of 1824 provided that the township trustees should hold their office for three years or until their successors were elected. They gave a bond for $1,000 each for the faithful performance of their duties. The trustees of the township met and organized by electing one of their members president and appointed a clerk and a treasurer. In a month after their election they were to divide the township into a number of school districts and prescribe the boundaries of each. They appointed three district trustees for each school. The district trustees were to meet in ten days after their appointment and call a meeting of the patrons who were to decide whether they wanted a school-house built. The site was selected on which to build a house and the date set for the construction of the house. As soon as the school-house was completed the township trustees came together and accepted it and gave the district trustees permission to use the house. The houses were numbered in order of the building. Those in Jennings township were numbered : Baker No. 1 ; Mansfield No. 2 ; Dillman No. 3 ; Magnolia No. 4 ; Archibald No. 5 ; McLane No. 6 ; Wyandotte No. 7 ; Borden No. 8 ; Irving No. 9 ; Cates No. 10; Centerville No. 11, and Shafer No. 12. Other townships were named in a similar order. Many of the dis- tricts have been changed and new names given since 1856. EDUCATION 187 Under the law the district trustees were empowered to employ a teacher on the most advantageous terms. In no case was a teacher to be employed unless he was duly qualified. In 1824 this law looked very well on paper but it soon appeared that it had many defects, one of which was the district plan which required pupils to attend school in their own district. This was very poor, for a school might be just across the line in another district from a settler's cabin and his own school might be several miles away. State Superintendent Larrabee says that he came near being cheated out of his education by this injudicious sys- tem. In a few cases men in Crawford County were allowed to send their pupils to other districts. The trustees of Ohio township met at Alton September 6, 1845, and ordered that Eosana Riley, who lived in district No. 5, be allowed to send her pupils to district No. 4. Indiana was the first state to discard the old district system. So far the only revenue to support the schools was paid by the pioneers in money, produce and whatever the teacher would accept, and the revenue yielded by the six- teenth section which of course was not much. By 1828 men believed that it would be best to sell the sixteenth section and use the interest off of the money. A new law in 1828 allowed the free-holders to vote whether they would sell the land or not. The election was held in August on the fourth Monday, 1828, in Crawford County, and the majority of people voted to sell the land. In Ohio town- ship the citizens voted, forty to sell and three not to sell their section. The author was not able to secure other data on the vote since the records have been destroyed. 188 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The board of trustees met at the home of John Morgan in Fredonia and divided up the section into the following parts and set the following prices: Lot 1 at $2.50 per acre; lot 2 at $2.50 per acre; lot 3 at $1.87y 2 per acre; lot 4 at $2.66 2/3 per acre; lot 5 at $3 1/6; lot 6 at $1.25 per acre and lot 7 at $1.25 per acre. The county commissioners in January, 1833, ordered the sheriff to notify the voters in the congressional town- ship two south, range two east to meet at the home of James Mulky on the last Saturday in March and elect three township trustees who were to divide up the township into districts. The voters in township three south were to meet at John Neal's house and elect three township trustees for that township which was in range two east. The new law of 1831 provided for a county school com- missioner whose term of office was three years and who was to have general supervision over the school monies. In 1832 the General Assembly passed a new school law which provided for a school fund. The funds were to be derived from the tax upon lots owned by foreigners. At that time many farmers owned land in Crawford County and lived in other parts of the state. Not much money was derived from the sale of such land. Then the interest on the money paid for the land in the sixteenth section was added to this sum which formed the basis of our common school funds. The school commissioners were to loan out the money and use the interest for the schools. No pro- vision was made in the law for the protection of the funds. The whole school system of Crawford County was re- vised by the new law enacted in 1837. The principal changes were : The school commissioner in Crawford EDUCATION 189 County shall have power to appoint the township trustees in all townships where no trustees were elected. The voters of each school district were empowered to elect three district trustees who had almost absolute power over the schools of their districts. They selected the teachers and gave them examinations. If a teacher had a certificate granted by the examiner the district trustees could still make him take the examination. This was one of the weakest points in the law. The circuit court of each county was empowered to appoint three county examiners who were authorized to examine and license teachers. The district trustees could accept their grading if they wished and if they did not, then they examined the candidates. Under this law each man was entitled to his part of the school funds and he could withdraw the same if he wished. Such a law was very poor indeed, but that was a dark age for the schools everywhere in the United States. Many of our teachers now days will be interested to see the form of the certificates issued in Crawford County then. It was worded as follows: I or we, examiners of teachers for the common schools of Crawford County hav- ing examined touching his qualifications to teach a common school, do certify that he or she is well qualified to teach (subjects) Given under my hand and seal this day of 18.... (Signature of Examiner) Barnabas C. Hobbs, one of Indiana's most noted edu- cators, gave this account of the examination given him 190 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY when lie was a mere boy : He says : ' ' Being one year older than my native state I have seen her growth from a wilder- ness peopled with wild savages to one of the most successful in education. I have seen the old-fashioned teacher behind his desk in true 'Ichabod' style just as he came across the sea. I saw the neighborhood excitement when grammar, geography and history were added to the course of study. Pleasing memories come before me when I think of the pioneer school-houses which had two long pins over the teacher's desk on which the whips were laid, the old-time seats, the broken windows, and the large fireplaces were always before me. I shall never forget my first experience under the law of 1837. I went to be examined. The old question which the examiner asked me was : ' What is 25c x 25c ? ' How could I tell what the answer was, for there was no such problem in Pike 's old arithmetic. * I worked for a long time and could not get the answer. Then the ex- aminer tried to solve it and thought the result was 6y±e. I thought 6y±e was right, yet that appeared very small to both of us. We discussed its merits for some time w T hen he thought he was satisfied that I was qualified to hold a cer- tificate." One of the favorite questions asked by the examiners in Crawford County was, "Why does smoke go up?" If a teacher could explain that he was certain to get a cer- tificate. M. E. Stewart, of Tower, told a very interesting story about Professor John M. Johnson when he was county examiner in Crawford County. Johnson had graduated from Indiana University in 1851 and was a very good school man. He wished to add orthography to the course EDUCATION 191 of study which consisted of reading, writing and arith- metic. When Hiram Jones came to take the examination, Johnson asked him if he knew what orthography was. Hiram said: "Oh, John do not put that into the course. I do not know anything about that." So Johnson passed him with the grades on the other subjects. Hobbs told about a retired liquor dealer who was a teacher. He weighed about two hundred and fifty pounds and was very cross. He began school at seven o'clock. The recesses were ten minuts long with one hour at noon. We were in school about ten hours each day. We sat on backless seats all this time. How tired we grew and how our feet dangled from the seats ! May no other generation ever be punished so ! But this old man often grew sleepy and then when he fell asleep how we poor boys enjoyed crawling down off that seat and letting our legs and feet rest. He chewed tobacco and spat on the floor about his seat, of which probably a square yard was wet. He made a rule that whoever came first should be at the head of the class in spelling. One morning I came about five o'clock and to my surprise I found a tall boy there who really had never taken much interest in school. What could it mean? Soon a large number of boys came and held a kind of a meeting in the woods near the house. When the teacher came it was soon noised around that the boys were going to give him a jug of brandy for a Christmas present. Not much effort was made to teach the girls arithmetic. Many believed that the girls could not study that branch of learning. They were not able to reason out the sums. Another law was enacted by the General Assembly in 1847 in which a state- wide referendum was taken whether 192 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the people of the state should pay tax themselves to sup- port a common school. The election was held in Indiana in 1848 when the state voted for free schools by a majority of 16,636. The bill was under discussion in the House during most of the term in 1846-1847. It was finally passed a few days before the term closed. Since the Sen- ate did not have sufficient time to study the question it referred the whole problem to the people to decide. The campaign for free schools began immediately and was very exciting. It was not an easy one. The referendum was not on the abstract question as many men seemed to think. There was an overwhelming sentiment in the state for schools, but these schools were to be free, poor and rich were to mix, the infidel and the Christian were to be jum- bled together into one mass devoted to reading, writing and arithmetic, and the worst of all, the people who had no children were to be taxed to support such a school system. Again, there were thousands who were not capable of vot- ing on such a question. The writer's father was at the election in Fredonia when he was a boy of seventeen. One German went up to vote. The officers asked him if he wanted to vote for the school law. He looked surprised and said: "Who is Mr. Schoollaw? If he bes a Democrat, pop me down one ; if he bes a No Nothing I see him mit Hell first." Crawford County voted against the law. The vote was: Against, 733; for the free school, 381. Most of the schools were organized in Crawford County after the passage of the law in 1833. What schools ex- isted in Crawford County before that time no one can now tell, for the old records have been destroyed. Joseph Rain- forth, trustee of Ohio township in- 1920, has one old book EDUCATION 193 written by the township clerk from which the writer has obtained valuable information. The citizens of township four south, range one east, met at the court house in Fre- donia on the last Saturday in August, 1836, and elected George Jones, Thomas Fox and Thomas Cummings trus- tees for the township. This board of trustees chose Thomas Fox secretary and treasurer. The board of trustees met at the home of John Morgan on December 24, 1836, and divided up the sixteenth sec- tion into six plots of eighty acres each and one lot of 160 acres. The price set on each lot was: Lot 1, $2.50 per acre; lot 2, $2.50 per acre; lot 3, $1.83 per acre; lot 4, $2.66 2/3 per acre; lot 5, $3.16 2/3 per acre; lot 6, $1.25 per acre; lot 7, $1.25 per acre. The sum received for the sixteenth section of land was about $131,306. The question that came up now was what shall be done with the money. So an election was held June 10, 1837, in Fredonia and the citizens voted forty to three to keep the money in the hands of the county school commissioner, Mr. S. Leatherap. Under the law the commissioner was authorized to loan out the money and use the interest on the same. The next official meeting of the trustees occurred on August 27, 1837, at the home of Thomas Cummings, at which meeting the trustees divided the township into four districts and ordered the voters of each district to meet October 7, 1837, and elect three district trustees. The result of this election was as follows : District 1 : Allen D. Thorn, John Carnes, Thomas Roberts; District 2, Abram Sheckels, Joseph Davis, Thomas Cummings; Dis- 194 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY trict 3, Sam Clark, Richard Whiteman, Henry Fullen- wider; District 4, John Myers, William Goad. The next meeting of the people was held on November 16, 1837, at which Charles Springer donated a tract of land on which a school-honse could be built. The citizens voted by a majority of nine to accept the generous offer. This house was for district No. 4. The people in district No. 2 met on August 2, 1838, and ordered the funds divided and applied to the completion of the school-house then being built in that district. Nothing more was done till February 11, 1840, when the township trustees met at the home of Thomas Cummings and laid out district No. 5, and appointed Peter Carberry, William Goad and John Parr trustees to the new district, most of which was carved out of district No. 4. The trus- tees of district No. 4 met July 14, 1841, and located the site for a house on the northwest of the east half of the south- east fourth of section twenty-nine. They demanded that the township trustees should pay to their district treasurer the funds then due the district. On the first Saturday in October, 1841, a new set of trustees were elected for district No. 2, of whom were Riley Main, Nicholas Peckinpaugh and Bade Conner. The first set of trustees for district No. 1 went out of office in 1841 and a new set composed of these men was chosen; Esau McFall, Elias O'Bannon and Thomas Rob- erts. The term of office for the trustees in districts expired in 1842 and on October 1 Richard Riddle, Cornelius Ridge and James Gaither were selected to fill the vacancies. From 1836 to 1842 not much was done but to elect EDUCATION 195 trustees and draw the portion of the interest which fell due to the districts. At that time the settlers could demand their part of the fund and hire a private teacher for their pupils. The first census of the school districts was taken in 1843. The voters and pupils are as shown : No. of District Voters Pupils 1 28 57 2 13 34 3 20 56 4 19 61 5 15 40 Total 95 248 The pupils were listed between six and twenty-one years of age. Hence, one can see that these districts con- tained a large number of pupils. One of the first teachers to enter this township was Ansel Dexter, who taught sev- eral schools in the county and was county examiner in 1853. He was employed to teach one winter in district No. 2. On the first day a large number of boys and girls came. Dexter was equal to the occasion. When the bell rang and the pupils came into the house he walked to the blackboard and drew a circle on the board, then walked back to the door. Everyone was watching to see what he was going to do. He drew a revolver out of his pocket and fired a shot which hit in the circle. Then he pulled out a long dirk and threw it and stuck it also into the circle. Then he told the pupils that he was going to teach that school 196 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and woe betide the boy who tried to disturb the school. There was no trouble that winter. At a meeting of the township trustees in 1843 the boun- daries of the districts were clearly denned that there might be no dispute about the pupils going to the wrong district. No one was allowed to attend school in another district unless the trustees gave the party the permission. The people in the county moved about so much that one could hardly tell where their home was. This table will give one some idea of the conditions: No. of District Voters Pupils 1 28 57 2 13 34 3 20 56 4 15 60 5 15 40 Total 91 248 The same districts in 1845 in January had: No. of District Voters Pupils 1 21 51 2 21 45 3 22 62 4 25 63 5 22 50 Total 111 271 EDUCATION In August of the same year: No. of District Voters Pupils 1 24 67 2 24 47 3 16 55 4 40 69 5 21 48 197 Total 126 286 The trustees of the township met at Alton June 3, 1845, and divided up the township and fixed the boundaries of the districts. No. 1, beginning at the southeast corner of section sixteen and running north one and one-half miles, thence east 80 rods, thence north to the boundary line be- tween three and four, thence east with said line to the northeast corner of the township, thence south with the range line dividing the ranges two and one east of the river. Thence following the river to the north line of sec- tion 24, thence west to the beginning. The first district was commonly known as the Fredonia district; the second was called the Main district because Riley Main and Walker Main were leading citizens in that district. District No. 3 was called the Whiteman district for the same reason. District No. 4 was called the Mill Creek district. District No. 4 was also known as the Fullenwider district. The treasurer's report of the twenty-fifth of October, 1845, shows that there were due the township to be divided 198 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY $89.10 among the districts as follows: District 1, $20.87; district 2, $14.64; district 3, $17.13; district 4, $21.49; dis- trict 5, $14.95. The tallies of the voters and pupils were: No. Males Females Totals 1 . . . . 62 2 27 22 49 3 37 30 67 4 35 28 63 5 36 42 78 le tallies for January 30, 1850 were: No. Voters Females Males Total 1 32 32 36 68 2 41 41 31 72 3 27 26 53 4 60 35 95 5 24 30 54 This old district system was well illustrated by the map submitted here. One will see that the tract of land lying in the southeast corner on which is written "no schools" was not in township No. 4 and the people in the bend of the river could not send their children to school in district No. 2. The old settlers told of a great fight between one teacher and the boys from that piece of land. They wanted to come to school and the trustees did not want them and had ordered the teacher to run them off. So the fight was on. The boys went home and their father came and the EDUCATION 199 teacher armed with the poking stick met them at the door and the big boys intervened and stayed the battle. When the father cooled down some, and the teacher told him that they did not want them there, for they did not belong to that district, he left. The registration of the voters February 3, 1851, was: Districts Voters Boys Girls Total No. 1 21 30 38 68 No. 2 21 37 30 67 No. 3 26 30 40 70 No. 4 40 56 26 82 No. 5 24 25 29 52 Totals 126 177 180 The good people of Ohio township were much interested in schools, but the difficulties were so great that many schools were not being taught till after the new Constitu- tion went into effect. As early as 1832 a law was enacted organizing a Fredonia School Society. The men who were in this society were Allen D. Thorn, Ebenezer Morgan, James Hicks, Thomas Cummings and Jacob Rice. The General Assembly by an act dated February 2, 1832, granted the school society a charter which contained sev- eral pages in which the duties, purposes and management of the society were delineated. The writer has not been able to find much about the work or success of the society. Probably the first school-house in Ohio township was built in 1839. John Carnes sold a lot to the township trustees on October 26 of that year. An old log school- 200 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY house was built on this lot. Percy Allen of Fredonia now has th eold recitation bench on his store porch. It shows marks and cuts of all shapes and sizes which show the consequences of idleness. The present school site was selected in 1860 by the trustees who bought the lots 92 and 93 from Robert Thorn. The deed was recorded July 6, 1859. The building which stands there now is the second one which has been built on that site. The Jerico school-house was built about 1845. Abra- ham Wiseman sold part of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 5, township four south, range one east, on September 16, 1844. The trustees bought the plot of ground on which to locate a school. The first school-house was built at Alton. That same year the township trustees bought a lot from James Gaither for $40. The first house was an old log structure and stood near where the old one now stands. Temple Dunn said that he remembered seeing the old cabin which reminded him of an old cooper house. Thus far the data given has dealt with the schools of Ohio township. Other townships, no doubt, had interest- ing data, but unfortunately the records have been de- stroyed. One can find in the recorder 's office at English, Indiana, many interesting facts, among which these are given: Catherine Houghton deeded to the township trustees on August 4, 1847, part of the northeast quarter of the north- east quarter of section thirty-five, township three south, range one east for school purposes. The first house was built out of logs at this site where the Jasper road crossed the Fredonia and Mount Sterling roads. Many years later, EDUCATION 201 when the Hartford road was opened, William Mansfield gave a plot of land in section 26 to the township trus- tee. This deed was made in October, 1857. Since that date the school was named Mansfield and listed as No. 2. The old plot of ground was sold to Anthony Small for $8.00. The graveyard of the Pegg family is near the site of the old Houghton school-house. The next school district opened was at Centerville, which was known as Pulltight for a long time. Spencer deeded the land to the trustee on April 4, 1849. The house was built soon after. The site was re-located on November 13, 1861, and a new house built in section sixteen where it now is. These two houses are the only ones about which any data can be secured prior to 1850. Since 1850 many schools grew up. New laws were en- acted whereby the people could be taxed to build houses and the three trustees were discarded and one was elected and had general supervision over the school. Mr. Bunnell gave a lot to the trustees of Jennings town- ship on March 17, 1851. It was located at the crossing of the Paoli and Fredonia and Big Springs roads, about six miles north of Leavenworth. Shaffer's school was located July 23, 1853, and named after the Shaffers, who were prominent people in that part of Jennings township. Addison Williams, who laid out the town of Magnolia, sold to the township trustee for $10 a lot No. 39 in Mag- nolia in 1856. A large frame house was built on this lot and was in use until the new house was built in 1895 and 1896. 202 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The Wyandotte school was built about 1856. Isaac Sibert sold the lot to the trustee on December 7, 1855. Later the site was moved and a house was built where the house now stands. Robert Hollowell deeded to the trustee a site for a house on October 3, 1857. Later, the school was named Borden, after Levi Borden, who was a pioneer settler in that locality. Meanwhile, the people of Leavenworth had made much progress in education. A law was enacted on December 24, 1830, providing for a seminary at Leavenworth, of which Elam Willey, Andrew Beers, James Davidson and Seth Leavenworth were trustees. A charter was granted them in that year by the Legislature. This charter was a very elaborate document and may be of interest to the reader. (See Laws of 1830-1831, page 58.) This old law was directed toward the right goal, but the poor people never met with success. No reference is given about the success of the school. The General Assembly enacted a new law providing for a county seminary on February 7, 1835. This law pro- vided that the voters of the county should elect one trustee for each township at the April election. The county clerk was authorized to make out the certificate of election. These trustees were empowered to meet in the town of Leavenworth on the first Monday in May in 1835 and file a bond of $400. They were empowered at the first meet- ing to select a permanent site for the location of the county seminary. The charter granted to the seminary contained enough provisions to govern a state institution. As soon as this charter was granted the people of EDUCATION 203 Leavenworth began working to secure the school. At the first meeting of the trustees on the first Monday in May, Leavenworth was selected as the site of the new seminary. The funds had now accumulated till the money on hands was about $300. A choice lot of land was deeded to the trustees by Julius Woodford in 1835. A large brick house was built. It was two stories high and cost $1,042. It was forty feet long and twenty-five feet wide. Sam Clark was agent for the seminary in 1848. He charged the stu- dents who attended the school tuition at the rate of $2 per month for the lower room and $1.50 for the upper rooms. This old seminary building was the only school Leaven- worth had till about 1873 when the town built a fine brick house of four rooms. Elias Leavenworth sold the trustee the spot of ground on which to build the house. The school-house was one of the best in southern Indiana then. The old seminary building was sold to the citizens of Leavenworth. William Conrad owns the house now. It is located on Court Street, a few yards west of the button factory. In all, there were about five schools in Jennings in 1854. One finds these schools in Whisky Run township be- fore 1860 : Adam Conrad sold part of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twenty in township two south, range two east. A school-house was built here about 1843. The school-house was built, prob- ably the first in Whisky Run township. It is known as Oak Grove school. Another old school is the Wyman school. The site was first located on Andrew Engyeman's farm in section 16 on 204 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY November 20, 1849. Later, Lewis Wyman deeded a lot to the trustees on February 23, 1856, located in section 21. The Mount Lebanon school was located in 1850. John Bell deeded the site to the trustee on March 10, 1850. Later this school was re-located in a new site a short dis- tance west of the old site. Liberty school was laid out in 1854. Henry Totten gave the trustee the site for this building. It was located on the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of sec- tion three south range two east. The school-house stands to-day about where the first one was built. By order of the trustees the Rawlings school district was laid out in 1854. Stephen Rawlings gave the plot of ground to the trustees on December 29, 1854. This school- house was built in section 27, at which place the house still stands to-day. By 1854 Whisky Run township had provided for five new school-houses, but that does not mean that they were built at once. State Superintendent Larrabee's report in 3853 shows that there were built at Whisky Run just two suitable houses for school purposes. Liberty township schools were not much behind the others. The trustee located the first district on February 25, 1850. On that date John A. Sloan, who was one of the pioneers of Liberty township, sold a plot of ground on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 3, township 2 south, range 1 east for school purposes. By 1854 a district was located in section 6 on John Hammond's farm. Another was located on William May's farm in section 1. This district was the Big Springs dis- trict. EDUCATION 205 Sterling- township did not take much interest in schools in these early days. John McMichael sold a tract of land to the trustees on August 12, 1848, on which a school was located. Yet the county examiner in his report to State Superintendent Larrabee in 1853 made no mention of any schools. However, he says Sterling township had an enrollment of 517 pupils between six and 21 years old. One has definite knowledge that a house was built in 1854. The district was located and the site of the school chosen by Simon Monk. The second site was located on James Temple's farm in March, 1854. The Temple school stands not far from the old one. Patoka township did not gain in population rapidly. There was no market except at Leavenworth. In those days one had to come to Leavenworth one day and return home the next. The first school district was laid out January 3, 1854, David Rice sold a plot of ground located on the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 2 south, range 2 west to the trustee for school purposes. To- day the old Jerico school is located there, or very near, to the old site. That same year William Patton deeded part of the sev- enth section to the trustee for school purposes. Alstott's school stands here now. These two are the oldest districts in Patoka township. Union township organized one school district and lo- cated the site for a building in section one, township three south, range one west. This was the Grantsburg school. 206 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Robert Denbo sold the site for the house to the trustee on October 22, 1853. In 1854 Malachi Ott sold the trustee a site for a house in section 29, township three south, range one west. Later the house was relocated near where Mifflin now stands. From the best information which the writer can secure these schools were the first located in each township. "When the new Constitution was adopted and the trustees were empowered by law to levy taxes and build school- houses then many new districts were laid out and by 1865 each township had enough schools to provide suitable room for all of the pupils. In the state superintendent's report for 1853 one finds this table : Jennings township had 649 pupils and four schools; Whisky Run, 433 pupils and only two suitable schools; Liberty with 243, Sterling, 517; Patoka, 404 pupils, and the trustees are building schools; Union, 260; Ohio, 346 pupils, with six schools in poor condition, with women's salary $12 per month and men's salary $16.33; Boone, 173 pupils and no schools. This report shows that there were about ten schools in Crawford County in 1853. Those in Ohio township were in a poor condition. This list of examiners was secured after much toil and trouble. There were, no doubt, several others who were entitled to have their names written in the roll of honor if they could be found : 1853, Ansell Dexter and Nathan Harris; 1860, William Ilighfield; 1862, John J. McCalis- ter; 1863, Joel Vandeveer; 1865, John Magill Johnson; 3 871, John M. Smith and Alec Sipes. EDUCATION 207 One may be interested in knowing that Alec Sipes died in May, 1920, at his home in Kansas. The following figures will show how rapidly the schools were organized under the new law : Data for 1855 : Boone township — Attendance, boys 104, girls, 59 ; schools, four, schools taught, three, new houses, one; salary, men, $20, women, $7 1/3; teachers men, 1, women, 2. Jennings township — Attendance, boys, 310, girls, 358 schools, 7 ; schools taught, none ; new houses, none. Liberty township — Attendance, boys, 132, girls, 104 schools, 5 ; schools taught, 5 ; new houses, 4 ; salary, men $16.66, women, $10 ; teachers, men, 4, women, 1. Ohio township — Attendance, boys, 218, girls, 186 schools, five, schools taught, five, new houses, five; salary men, $20; women, none, men, five, teaching. Patoka township — Attendance, boys, 226, girls, 226 schools, nine, schools taught, none, and no new houses. Sterling township — Attendance, boys, 258, girls, 187 schools, nine; schools taught, six; new houses, six; salary men, $16.66; teachers, men, 6. Union township — Attendance, boys, 161, girls, 144 schools, five; schools taught, 3; new houses, three; salary $18 ; teachers, three men. Whisky Run township — Attendance, boys, 249, girls 197 ; schools, six ; schools taught, none ; new houses, none salary, $18. Totals — Attendance, boys, 1,658; girls, 1,363; schools 50 ; schools taught, 22 ; new houses, 19 ; teachers, men, 19 women, 3. 208 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The next data were for 1856 and will give one a view of the new schools taught : Boone township — Enrollment, 174; number of schools, four ; men teachers, one, lady teachers, one ; schools taught, two; new houses, one; value of the houses, $64. Jennings township — Enrollment, 428; number of schools, six; men teachers, eight, lady teachers, none; schools taught, eight; new houses, two; value of houses, $325. Liberty township — Enrollment, 259 ; number of schools, five ; men teachers, five ; schools taught, five. Ohio township — Enrollment, 401 ; number of schools, five ; men teachers, five ; lady teachers, two ; schools taught, six. Patoka township — Enrollment, 322 ; number of schools, nine ; men teachers, nine ; schools taught, nine ; new houses, three ; value of houses, $370. Sterling township — Enrollment, 444 ; number of schools, 9 ; men teachers, eight ; schools taught, 8. Union township — Enrollment, 340; number of schools, five ; men teachers, five ; schools taught, five. Whisky Run township — Enrollment, 437 ; number of schools, 7 ; men teachers, none ; new houses, three ; value of houses, $350. Leavenworth township — Enrollment, 189. In this report one will see the number of houses in Jennings township was six, while eight schools were actually taught. Two must have been in private homes. The list of teachers for Ohio township in 1856 was : District one — Bartlett Baker, salary, $50; District 2, Bartlett Baker, salary, $35 ; District 3, Jerusha Baker, sal- EDUCATION 209 ary, $20; District 4, Jane VanWinkle, salary, $5; District 5, D. M. Barmore, salary, $45. The list of teachers for 1854 was : District 1, Walker Main, salary, $19; District 2, - - Martin, $18; District 3, Ansel Dexter, salary, $28.50 ; District 4, W. B. Johnson, salary, $18.75; District 5, George Riddle, salary, $32.30; District 6, S. VanWinkle, salary, $19. Teachers for 1853 — District 1, George W. Riddle, sal- ary, $22.39 ; District 2, James Evans, salary, $25 ; District 3, Jerusha Ellis, salary, $50. Teachers for 1855 : Nicholas Coleman, salary, $11.75 ; John McAllister, salary, $60; J. W. Tucker, salary, $11.75; Jerusha Ellis, salary, $20 ; paid D. S. Miller for boarding Miss Ellis, $15 ; Bartlett Baker, salary, $50. Teachers for 1857— District 5, D. M. Barmore, $45; District 4, John McAllister. The school board paid Sylvester Scott $75 for building schoolhouse No. 4 ; the contract was allowed on May 2, 1857, to Mr. Scott for $240. The last sum included the entire cost of the new school- house. Teachers District Salary Joseph Robinson 1 $30.00 Bartlett Baker 2 50.00 W. H. Peckinpaugh 3 72.00 John McAllister 4 51.92 Dunbar Patrick 5 40.00 Uriah Breeden 1 .... H. Martin 1 10.00 210 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The above list of teachers was hired for the year 1858 and 1859. When one sees that three teachers were hired by the Fredonia board in one year, one must think that the teachers were run out by the pupils. The following table will show the number and kind of houses in Crawford County: Townships Frame Boone 1 Patoka Ohio 5 Whisky Run 4 Sterling 2 Johnson Jennings Union 2 Liberty 5 Log Brick Total 3 4 9 9 . . 5 5 9 10 12 6 6 10 1 11 6 8 5 Totals 19 49 1 69 The brick house referred to in the table was the sem- inary building at Leavenworth which was used for a school by the town till the present house was constructed. In 1876 there were 193 log schoolhouses in the state, of which number Crawford County had twelve. There were six in the county in 1878. By 1884 only two remained in use. They were not used in 1885 for school purposes. The fol- lowing table is interesting: Salary Salary Schools Townships Men Women Attendance Taught Jennings . . . 588 ] EDUCATION i Boone 190 Liberty . . 233 Ohio Patoka 18.00 16.00 367 432 5 Sterling 14.00 . . 474 2 Union 12.88 289 1 Whisky Run . 415 211 One will see in this table that many schools were not taught in 1854. That year Sterling and Liberty townships built eight new houses. The schools of Crawford County were in a deplorable condition in 1854. One can hardly conceive of such an ignorant condition of the people. The editor of the Indiana School Journal visited Crawford County in 1865. He found the schools in a poor condition. He visited the Alton school where a lady from New York was teaching. She informed him that she intended to re- turn to New York when her school closed. This editor met with many curious people. In Perry County at the county seat one man argued with him about the school journal. This fellow thought the Journal was a political paper. After looking over the paper he found the name of a con- tributor who was of the same name of a noted Whig politician. So he asked the editor about it, and he ex- plained that the name was not the one he thought it was, but was a teacher of Indiana. He was not entirely satis- fied and kept on looking through the Journal. Suddenly he saw the name "Chase" and ran up to the editor and said: "Now I have you, here is old Chase's name. What do you say now?" The editor explained that the man whose name the gentleman had found was not the noted 212 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Salmon P. Chase of Ohio, but a noted Indiana teacher. He looked at the editor a few seconds and, throwing down the Journal he went out, saying that he "smelled a mouse." The first report sent into the state from Crawford County was in 1853. Ansel Dexter and Nathan Harris were the examiners. The report read : Harris had issued five licenses and Dexter two. We are lamentably deficient in the number of our teachers who are well qualified ~ But such as they are I believe they do very well. Schools are not so numerous as they ought to be on account of the scarcity of teachers and school money. CHAPTER XIII THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES William Gibbs and Isaiah Berkshire were ordered to build a bridge over Big Blue for $1,000. The commis- sioners at their meeting in March, 1860, gave them the contract. It seemed that the board had given William McKinley of Perry County the contract to construct the bridge over Big Blue at Milltown. He appeared before the board on June 5, 1860, and demanded that the board must keep its contract with him. If they did that he would withdraw the suit and the appeal he had made to the circuit court. The court agreed to accept the proposition and pay the cost of the suits in court. McKinley 's contract read thus : ' ' William McKinley of Perry County agrees and contracts with the board of county commissioners and the commissioners of Harrison County to build a bridge over Big Blue at Milltown, where the New Albany and Jasper road crossed the river. His bond was signed by Wilson Daniels, Ballard Smith and Job Hatfield. He must comply strictly to the contract. The bridge was to cost $17.60 a foot." The work was to begin July 1, 1860, and be completed by July 25, 1860. Later McKinley agreed to surrender the contract made May 15, 1860. He gave up the timber which he had on hand and the rocks in the quarry. The board held a special meeting July 1, 213 214 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 1861, and agreed to pay him $75, in addition to what he had already received. So he left the contract to Calvin White, James Tadlock and David Miller, the commis- sioners. On June 4, 1862, Harrison County was ready to build her part of the bridge at Milltown. E. C. Powers was appointed an agent to estimate the cost of the Mill- town bridge. A joint session of the county commissioners of both counties was held at Milltown on Friday, June 13, 1862, to consider the matter of building a bridge over Big Blue River at Milltown. After seeing the plans of C. Powers they agreed to have a good substantial bridge built under the supervision of Ben Douglas of Harrison County and E. C. Powers of Crawford County. The cost of the bridge was not to exceed $2,000. On March 7, 1860, the county commissioners rented out the poor farm to Richard Weathers. He was to board all the paupers sent him at $1.25. His bond was signed by himself, Squire Weathers, G. H. Shaw and Leonard Shaw. The bond was for $700 and the contract to last two years. Weathers was to pay $85 a year rent. On December 4, 1861, the above contract was cancelled. Weathers had enlisted in the army. Shaw was dead and the rent had been paid. Thomas Lynch accepted the contract on the same terms given to Weathers. July 1, 1861, the commissioners released James Haney Avho was helping on the Milltown bridge. He was allowed $500 for all the stone on the ground and for the stone on the hill above the town. The poor farm was a problem which the commissioners tried to handle in an economic manner. July 3, 1861, James Shaw and Alvin Shaw were hired to clean up the THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES 215 fence rows around the farm. They received forty cents for everjr hundred rails reset and $1 for every one hundred new rails made and laid up. They received $52.75 for the work done on the above farm. H. P. Rothrock, who owned the land where Wyandotte Cave was found, appeared before the board of review and asked that the assessment be reduced $5,000 which the board had put on this assessment of his because the new cave was found there. That seems a terrible increase for the farm. The board dismissed his petition on June 5, 1860. The campaign of 1860 was an exciting one in Crawford County. These men were elected : County clerk, James M. Lemonds; sheriff, W. W. Cum- mins; county surveyor, John McCollister; county treas- urer, Thomas Vance; county auditor, Dunbar Patrick. Patrick was a Republican. The others were Democrats. Jim Lemonds' bond was signed by J. H. Ray, Jeremiah Belcher, J. F. Sanders, W. W. Cummins, W. L. Temple, Sam Longest, Israel Standiford, Caleb Longest, Jephtha Beasley, J. M. Brown, J. F. Gehr, C. Dunham, T. W. High- fill, Marcus Clark, James Miller, T. B. Cummings, Abraham Wiseman, Philmore Wiseman, John Lynch, Nathan Collins, A. M. Scott, John Behen and Calvin White. Perry Riddle was appointed assessor January 1, 1861. The presidential race was the most exciting. There were four tickets in the field. Lincoln on the Republican, Douglas on Northern Democratic, Breckenridge on South- ern Democratic and Bell on the Constitutional and Union ticket. After a bitter canvass the election occurred. The canvass gave Lane for Governor on the Republican ticket 216 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 841 votes and Hendricks for Governor on the Democratic ticket 869 votes. Lincoln received 778 votes, Douglas 844, Breckenridge 8 and Bell 42 votes. Dunbar Patrick was elected connty auditor. He had a crippled spine, causing a hump on his back, which made him not fit for hard work. Men always voted for him when he ran. They said that they could beat Patrick, but they could not beat the hump on his back. He always made an efficient officer. June 4, 1861, James Frazier, who was a civil engineer from Harrison County, made a survey for the Milltown bridge. Our county paid $25 for her part of the work and Harrison paid the rest of the bill. The assessors of Crawford County in 1861 were : Boone — W. A. Parr, salary, $10.50. Jennings — W. P. Dotson, salary, $67.50. Liberty — John Hammond, salary, $45.75. Ohio— Perry Riddle, salary, $33.00. Patoka— Uriah Taylor, salary, $63.00. Sterling — James Miller, salary, $31.50. Whisky Run — No report given. The cost of the county in 1861 is an interesting item when one compares it with the cost in 1924. Below is an itemized statement of the expenses : Jury, $444.75; bailiff, $215.50; insane, $216.30; county officers, $1,661.08; specific, $923.77; elections, $37.25; poor, $555.32; delinquent tax, $165.27; bridges, $305; land re- deemed, $284.91 ; animals, $150.75 ; assessing, $615 ; roads, $55.50; inquests, $51.20; appraisement, $113.75; county THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES 217 revenue refunded, $429 ; salary of the common pleas judge, $104.77; township tax, $442.88; road tax, $73.91; interest on county orders, $339.41. Total amount, $6,769.85. Bal- ance, $695.79. Total of all, $7,465.67. The above account appeared June 6, 1861. James Lemonds was appointed to act in conjunction with B. P. Douglas of Harrison County to investigate the bridge at Milltown. These men were selected June 6, 1861. At the meeting of the board on September 1, 1862, the boundary of Ohio and Union townships was changed: Beginning at the southwest corner of section 18, town '3 south, range 1 east, thence north to Little Blue, thence down the stream to where it crosses the meridian about 15 rods north of northwest corner of section 30. All parts in the above boundary were put into Ohio township. For many years the citizens of Ohio and Boone town- ships desired a bridge over Little Blue at Fullenwider 's mill. So the board met there September 9, 1863, to inves- tigate the affair and see what the conditions really were. E. C. Powers and Perry Riddle were ordered to draw up plans and hire hands to build the bridge. December 8, 1863, the treasurer was ordered to pay the expenses of the above bridge which were $450 and legalized the former payment of $500. The work went on slowly for several years. On September 6, 1866, Perry Wilks was authorized to sell all the surplus stone and wood. James Tadlock was appointed to supervise the work on the bridge. On Sep- tember 4, 1867, William "Wilks reported that the bridge had been completed. The board accepted the report and Wilks received $50 for his services. Joel Vandaver, who was captain of the Hartford 218 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Guards, a volunteer military company of the Indiana Legion, went into office in 1862. He gave a bond for $1,500 for the use of the guns of which there were sixty rifles. Later he resigned the office on September 5, 1864, and E. P. Toney was elected. The board released him from the bond and requested Mr. Toney to give bond for the care of the guns. The Home Guards of Leavenworth kept their guns in John N. Bahr's warehouse. The rent on the warehouse was $25 for the year of 1864. The above sum was paid Bahr on September 6, 1864. At the September meeting in 1865 John Wolf, who was coming from Corydon to Leavenworth, accidentally let his horse run off of the Dry Run bridge. The horse fell to the ground and was killed. He made claim to the board for $75 damages on the grounds that the bridge was not safely banistered. The board passed the matter off to the next meeting. At the June meeting in 1866 the board paid Wolf $65. On June 9, 1865, the county commissioners made a new township by cutting off a piece of the southern part of Patoka. The township was named Johnson in honor of President Johnson who was in office at that time. The voting precinct was to be at Henry Rowland's house or Henry "Rowld." For many years the passage around the Big Spring was very dangerous. The spring came out of the ground near the foot of the high cliff. The water being deep at times when the river was high made traveling over the New Albany and Princeton road dangerous. One man, William McNaughton, was drowned there. He was in THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES 219 the water a long time before he was found. To get him out tradition has it that a box was made for him and sunk under him and then raised until he was floating in the box. Then holes were bored in the box by which the water was drained, leaving him in the box. Then he was buried. AL Edwards was allowed $5 for holding the inquest. This happened in May, 1837. So in March, 1867, the commis- sioners appointed James Deushurst to build a driveway around the head of the Big Spring. He went to work with a will and soon had a good quantity of cut stone on the ground. By building a perpendicular wall about twenty feet high and filling in well, he succeeded and had the passage wide enough for wagons to pass. Then cedar posts were set in the wall and fenced well. The wall is still there to-day and will be for years for he did his work well. The bridge over Indian Hollow, which had been built many years, was in a dilapidated condition in 1866. Sam Clark was authorized to draw plans for a new bridge. He employed James Deushhurst, who built a new bridge for $600. That bridge did a great amount of service. The first bridge cost $184 which was appropriated in Novem- ber, 1836. Later $50 more was added to that sum. About the first of March in 1867, James Lemonds, who had been county clerk for some time, suddenly disappeared from his home and the office. The board met on March 13, 1867, and appointed David S. Barnett to fill out Lemonds' term of office. On September 5, 1867, Horatio Woodbury was ordered to examine the records of James Lemonds to see if any money was due the county. Woodbury reported that from the best of his judgment he had collected and paid into the treasury $384 from outstanding orders, fines 220 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and fees. There were many other debts but he could not tell whether they were ever paid or not. Woodbury was granted $25 for his labors. The county commissioners had many problems with which to worry in those days. One finds this state- ment: ''Whereas, John Ayers, a small boy, who has not been a resident of the county long enough to entitle him to be sent to the poor farm, and who has been deserted by his parents, and may become a public charge, it is hereby ordered that James M. Clark take the boy back to Floyd County and leave him with his relatives, if any may be found, and if not, with friends." The parents of the child deserted him and left him at the mercies of strangers. The elections of 1864 had returned the Democrats to power. These men were elected to hold over until 1868 : Dunbar Patrick, auditor; Martin H. Tucker had the hard- est race of any. He was a Democrat, and very loyal to the Union. One day just before the election he came to Josiah Shaw and told him that he must have Shaw's vote or he was defeated. He claimed that many of the Democrats of Patoka and Sterling townships had turned against the Union and would not support him because he was for the Union. Shaw and Tucker were the best of friends. Shaw finally decided to vote for Tucker, and when the votes were counted out Tucker was elected by one vote. Walter Seacat was elected treasurer on September 5, 1867. He appeared before the board and made this state- ment : That he was treasurer of the county. On Saturday evening, August 17, 1867, he locked the office door, leaving all the books, papers and records in their proper places and usual files. That he did not return till Monday, THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES 221 August 19, 1867, when he discovered that the office had been opened by burglars and the register of county orders had been stolen together with a large number of orders which had been cancelled. The cancelled orders had all been redeemed by him according to law. The orders amounted to $11,064.94. He had not had time to ascertain to whom the greater amount of the orders had been paid or from what persons they were redeemed. He believed that if time was given him he would be able to procure said affidavits and properly account for all of the orders; that owing to the fact that persons lived in various parts of the county remote from the county seat much time will be needed to examine the papers and records in the auditor's office. He thought that the matter might be attended to by the next term of court. He has accounted for all the money and he believes that if time is given him he can account for all the orders. The above paper was sworn to before "William Wilks, president of the board. After due consideration the board allowed Seacat till the next term of court to get the matter straightened out. Also, it appears to the satisfaction of the board that the register of county orders of Crawford County will never be found. Therefore, it is ordered that Dunbar Pat- rick make a blank register and carefully put on it all the numbers of the redeemed orders now on file in his office from June 1, 1865. For such services the count}' agrees to pay Patrick a reasonable sum of money. Charles L. Lamb was appointed to take evidence and make a register of the county orders lately stolen from the 222 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY county treasurer's office so as to help W. S. Seacat render a true report. On December 4, 1867, Dunbar Patrick reported that he had made a complete record of all the orders and bounties from 1860 to June, 1867, for which he ought to receive $59. The above sum was allowed him. Walter Seacat appeared before the board December 6, 1867, and stated that after taking all the evidence which they were willing to allow in the case of the last orders which were stolen from the treasurer's office, he begged to submit the following statement : When Seacat went out of office August 24, 1867, there was due from him to the county $18,125.56. He paid William Temple $7,050.14 and the amount of vouchers was $9,363.63, totaling $17,413.77. Balance due the county was $711.79 which Seacat paid. The election of 1868 was an exciting one in Crawford County. The result was : Treasurer, W. L. Temple ; audi- tor, Malachi Monk; sheriff, James M. Clark. The registers for the election were : Boone township, W. C. Sherill and Richard B. Leace; Jennings, Casper Kesher and Oliver N. Beals ; Johnson township, Bailey Brown and A. B. Tucker; Liberty, S. R. Jenner and William Gibbs; Ohio, James Tadlock and Press O'Bannon; Patoka, Jesse Enlow and Jesse Crecelius; Sterling, H. Miller and J. S. Temple; Union, John Martin and G. W. Davis ; Whisky Run, . Hugh Stewart, who was township assessor of Johnson township, has failed to attend the regular meetings and, having left the state some time during the last summer, leaving the general impression that he never intended to return, the county commissioners being advised of the mat- ter and being an extra session, decided that he had vacated THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES 223 his office. The office being declared vacant, Allen B. Tucker was appointed to fill the vacancy on January 1, 1868. The trustees who were elected in 1868 were : Boone, H. B. Meylin; Jennings, Joel Lyons; Johnson, Lewis Walls; Liberty, Cyrus Vanmeter; Ohio, William H. Con- rad; Patoka, Jacob Tucker; Sterling, Joseph H. Ray; Union, Isaac Hafley, Whisky Run, J. F. Sanders. Cost of the county in 1868 : Assessors $593.50 Poor expenses 1,240.67 Soldiers 669.00 County officers 2,001.97 Examiners' salary 93.50 Teachers' Institute 50.00 Little Blue River bridge 3,035.71 Dry Run bridge 33.35 The above figures were given on June 2, 1868. The board ordered on June 2, 1868, that the elections in Patoka be held at Christopher Newton's until further notice. The board held a special meeting Monday, October 19, 1868, to hear the complaints of those soldiers who claimed they had not received all which was coming to them. The board met to accommodate the men at various places : Jennings, Monday, October 19 ; Whisky Run, Tuesday, Oc- tober 20 ; Sterling and Patoka, October 21 ; Johnson and Union, October 22; Ohio and Boone, Friday, October 23. November 4, 1868, Malachi Monk filed his bond for county auditor. It was signed John Panky, William Gibbs, 224 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY John Benz, E. R. Elliott, Charles L. Lamb, William Mc- Clain, Jesse Mc Williams, J. II. Ray, W. L. Temple. The board approved the bond November 4, 1868. The October election of 1868 was held in Crawford County in the following places: Leavenworth — J. 0. Lyons, inspector; salary, $1.00. Milltown — M. W. Spencer, inspector; salary, $1.75. Marengo — J. C. Haskins, inspector; salary, $1.78. English — T. B. dimming, inspector, ; salary, $1.75. Patoka — Jacob Tucker, inspector; salary, $2.50. Johnson — Bailey Brown, inspector; salary, $2.50. Union — E. F. Roberson, inspector; salary, $1.75. Fredonia — W. H. Conrad, inspector; salary, $1.50. Alton — H. B. Meylin, inspector; salary, $1.75. Charles L. Land was allowed $37.20 for making a map of Crawford County, on which the plat of Leavenworth was shown. Civil townships were located, too, on Decem- ber 9, 1868. E. E. Biller presented a petition for a road through Francis Forbes, John Forbes, D. R. Cates, John Byerly, John Collins and John Glosson's land. Biller had no way out to the road from his farm. Many farmers did not like to have a road through their farms. Biller had to come through their land. One night as he was coming home near the residence of John Byerly he stopped to open a gate. When he drove through the gate and came back to close it some one jumped up in the dark and struck him on the arm with a club of some kind and broke Biller 's arm. The board refused to allow him a road on December 9, 1868, but granted the road on February 6, 1869. THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES 225 C. W. Lynch, who had been elected assessor of Ohio township, moved away and vacated the office. The board appointed Houston Goldman to fill out the term of Mr. Lynch. The new trustees for 1869 were : Boone township, H. B. Meylin ; Jennings township, John S. Whitten; Johnson township, Bailey J. Brown; Liberty township, C. C. Taylor; Ohio township, W. II. Conrad; Patoka township, Jacob Tucker; Sterling township, T. B. Cummins; Union township, E. P. Roberson; "Whisky Run township, J. Sanders. "William McClain, who was superintendent of the poor farm, submitted this report March 3, 1869 : "Comes Real Strand in a wagon in poor health and is still in poor health. George Padgett was afflicted with white swelling. He is in a serious condition. Both hips and thigh seriously affected. Derby Miller, who was moved in a wagon, is sick and in poor health. Isaac Thornbury was insane but able to do some work. James H. Thorn- bury was allowed $1.25 for a bottle of cod liver oil for one of the patients. Signed: Wm. McClain." Doctor Hawn, who lived in Leavenworth, agreed to give medical attention for one-fourth less than he charged other persons. John M. Miller, who had been a faithful and loyal sol- dier, and had now lost his hearing from the effects of the war, was exempted from paying poll tax. The board raised the assessment of H. P. Rothrock $800 on account of the new hotel and the cave and other im- provements. Members of the equalization board were Malachi Monk, George Riddle, W. N. Bullington, Finley Nash, C. W. Lynch and Hamilton Miller. 226 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The assessors and their salaries for 1870 were : Boone, A. K. Rice, $48 ; Jennings, Brice Patrick, $62.50 ; Johnson, Turley Nash, $43; Liberty, Nathan Vanmeter, $46; Ohio, Esau McFall, $65 ; Patoka, William Highfill, $75 ; Sterling, John Beasley, $80.50 ; Whisky Run, Henry Shafer, $80.50. Crawford County has always been a patriotic county. Before Indiana became a state the people residing then in what is now Crawford County gave a good account of themselves in battles. Peter Funk, who later became a captain in the War of 1812, led General Harrison's cavalry at the battle of Tippe- canoe. General Harrison came from Corydon to near where Leavenworth now stands and held a powwow with the Indians at what is now called Indian Hollow. A keg of brandy was given to the Indians who promised to remain friends of the English. Tradition has it that one Indian became drunk and went to sleep. His clothing caught fire while he was asleep. On awaking he dashed down the bank and jumped into the river to put out the fire which was burning him all the time. It is said that he hollowed so loudly that the old settlers named the creek Indian Hollow. The Indian drowned in the Ohio River. Har- rison visited old Salt Peter Cave, near Wyandotte, where he got salt peter out of which to make gun powder to equip his soldiers for the march to Tippecanoe. Peter Funk was a famous Indian fighter. He owned a farm in Whisky Run township till about 1835 when he sold out and moved away. Cornelius Ridge of Boone township was in the battle of New Orleans where he served as an aide-de-camp to THE TERRIBLE SIXTIES 227 General Jackson. During the battle he ran from the field to the city seven times. He lived many years near Alton till his death about 1840. Just how many Revolutionary War heroes lived In Crawford County one can not tell. After Congress enacted the law of March 18, 1818, providing a pension for these men, one finds several who applied for the pension. Tim- othy Bennett made oath that he enlisted in Captain Pierce's company in 1776. He fought in the battle fo White Plains under General Washington. After the de- feat of the American army he escaped across the Hudson River. He is now an old man, broken in years, in poor circumstances financially, and begs that a pension be allowed him which the law of 1818 enacted by Congress provides. Then Archibald Neal, being unable to attend court, Constable Williams, one of the justices of Crawford County, visited him and he made oath that he was born in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the spring of 1776 in York County, Pennsylvania. He was in Captain Thomas Church's company, which was in the regiment commanded by Captain Anthony Wayne, till 1777 when he was dis- charged at Chester, Pennsylvania. He was under the impression that he had to prove his service by living wit- nesses, of whom none were then living in the state to his knowledge. He did swear that he was a resident citizen of the United States on March 18, 1820. That he had not given his property away so that he could come under the provisions of that act. He stated that his income was derived from one old mare, a colt eight or nine months old, two cows and two calves, one sow and nine pigs, five shoats, 228 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY four sheep, three chairs, one broken kettle, one oven, one skillet, one small pot, one water bucket, one small pail, three plates and cups and one broken glass. By occupation he was a weaver, but had not been able to pursue his work for twenty years on account of a pain in his side, head and breast, and afflicted with spitting of blood. He had a wife named Margaret Neal, age fifty years, who was not able to support herself on account of rheumatism. He had one son, Jonathan Neal, who was able to support himself by his work. The above data were taken on March 10, 1827, by Constance Williams, one of the county justices. The court records show that Constance Williams made oath that he was born in Plainfield, Connecticut, and that he enlisted in Captain Kellogg 's company. Later he en- tered the army before the surrender of General Burgoyne. He was drafted for four months' service and taken to Lake George and put under Ethan Allen. No written discharge was ever given him. His captain's name was Dewey, but he did not remember who his general was. He did not have any discharge and could not prove his service, but claimed that he came under the provisions of the "Law of June 7, 1832." The above oath was approved by Black- well and Abraham Bates. The county commissioners' records of March, 1848, show that Alexander Black was refunded $1.85 for erroneous taxes charged him, he being a Revolutionary War soldier. The records of the Mexican War have been kept in such a way that one can not find what men Crawford County furnished. CHAPTER XIV THE CIVIL WAR When the Civil War broke out in 1861, and President Lincoln called for volunteers to put down the rebellion in the South, Crawford County was expected to furnish her quota of volunteers. How nobly her sons answered the call and how bravely her young men died on the battle- fields history will never be able to reveal. Neither can justice be done to all of her noble sons who fought, bled and died upon the blood-stained fields of the South. Un- known to fame and forgotten at home many of her soldiers sleep in unmarked graves. The records are so deficient in many cases that one can not tell what became of the soldiers. The writer has spent much time and many days of hard study to deal out justice to one and all. So with malice toward none and with charity for all he will under- take the task. There was a rush for the recruiting stations when Gov- ernor Morton called for men. Camp Noble was organized at New Albany and Camp Morton at Indianapolis. Six regiments were filled before any of our boys reached the camps. The Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers had these men : John Lynch, Henry Breeden and Andrew Bottles of 229 230 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Leavenworth. Breeden died in Raleigh July 13, 1865. The other two were discharged in 1865. The Seventeenth contained these men : George Lon- nigan, Thomas Lough, Marsh Land, Eli Jones, Isaac John- son, Thomas B. Goodson, Henry Baily, William Strand, Press O'Bannan and John Good. Baily died July 5, 1862, and William Strand was discharged on account of wounds. David Stephenson said that the history of this regiment was full of so many incidents: "So gallant has been the conduct of the soldiers; so invincible on the field of battle that by common consent the regiment has been given the name of the 'Old Guard,' which name it proudly cher- ishes, and so far it has never recoiled." Roach of Fredonia, Isaac Johnson of Fredonia, were discharged in August, 1865. Lough of Leavenworth, died August 13, 1862; Goodson of Magnolia was discharged in September, 1862. Baily of Leavenworth died July 5, 1862. Strand of Leavenworth was discharged on account of wounds. The next regiment which contained Crawford Count}^ boys was the Twenty-third Indiana Volunteers. One finds these names : Jim Totten, John W. Portlock, Charles Mansfield, Levi Brown, Harve Gibbs, S. B. Portlock, Will- iam H. Toney, John Good, Jesse Fesler, Robert Cazee, Henry Epperson, James Acres, Luther Able, Fielding Gilliland (died of wounds at Kenesaw Mountain June 20, 1864) ; W. W. Thompson, William Riley, Robert Riley, Ross Culter, George Good, James Cunningham, William McBurn, Charles Pierson, Abraham Payton, G. W. Rajin, George A. Reason, George W. Rainey, Martin Stiles, John Snider, Daniel Stroughton, Paul Strickland, Lewis Sud- THE CIVIL WAR 231 darth, "William Stiles, Noah Scales, W. H. Scott, Allen Springer, James Sprinkle, James Thomas, Sam Tucker, William Underbill, Eli VanWinkle, Phelix Wiseman, David Wiseman, George E. Wiseman, Philip Wiseman, Robert Wilson, Virgil Ash, George Abel, J. P. Armstrong, August Andrew, J. P. Armstrong, James Brown, George Brown, James Bryant, Daniel Burt, Dan Beals, James Courtney, Thomas Courtney, John Curl, William Connor, John For- man, Peter Green, John Grant, Wm. H. Goldman, George W. Gilliland, Albert Hash, John Hawell, George Heath, Alfred Hatfield, Jacob Halley, George Ingleman, Henry King, James J. Killems, Nicholas Klipper, John Kemp, James Laswell, John Laswell, D. M. Laswell, John Lake (killed at Raymond May 12, 1862) ; George Lake, Francis Lynch, John Moore, William McClure, Elisha Myers, Jacob Murray, John Mentz, Thomas Mallery, Finley Nash, Sam Nash, Wilxbine Newkirk, John Pearson, Martin Pickett, James Pickett, William Pickett. The Twenty-third Indiana Volunteers was a noted regi- ment. It was organized at New Albany July 29, 1861. Company D contained five men and Company H had ninety-eight men from Crawford County. Captains Ab- bott, Moore, Lyons, McHugh, Springer and Moore were Crawford County men; Bullington, Good, Lyons, George Good and John Martin were first lieutenants. The regiment remained at Camp Noble till August 13, 1861, when an order came to report at Indianapolis with- out delay. On the 15th at ten o'clock in the morning, the regiment marched out of the public square while the peo- ple of New Albany presented the regiment with a beautiful stand of colors. After the presentation the men were given 232 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY time to bid their fathers, mothers and sweethearts good-by. When the farewell reception was over the regiment marched to Jeffersonville, Indiana, where it entrained for Indianapolis where the regiment arrived at two o'clock in the afternoon of that same day. The regiment went into camp. On the 17th of August the regiment was ordered to St. Louis where it arrived on the 19th and encamped in Lafayette Park, where the men were armed with guns and furnished with tents. The regiment remained here till September 17th, when it embarked on transports and sailed for Paducah, Kentucky, arriving there on September 20th. While here the regiment took part in a number of maneu- vers and finally marched against Fort Henry and Fort Donaldson. It arrived at a point six miles below Fort Henry on the 5th of February, 1862, and took part in that battle on the 6th, losing ten men in killed and wounded by an exploding shell on the gun boat Essex. The regiment remained here till about the sixth of March when it steamed to Crump's Landing where it remained till April 6th, at which time it was ordered forward to take part in the battle of Shiloh. The regiment did not arrive in time to do any fighting the first day, but it was one of the first on the field the second day. It sustained a loss of fifty- four killed and wounded. After the battle the regiment remained on the field several days. Then the regiment went to help in the siege of Corinth. From there the division, of which the Twenty-third was a part, went to Bolivar, Tennessee, and thence to Memphis. The Twenty- third remained at Bolivar under the command of Colonel Sanderson till October, when it was put in motion under THE CIVIL WAR 233 General Grant, who began a campaign through Tennessee and Mississippi. Late in October the regiment moved to Holly Springs, and from there down the river toward Jackson, Mississippi. In the meanwhile General Murphy surrendered Holly Springs to the rebel leader, General YanDorn, who had cut off all their supplies and left the regiment in a starving condition. The regiment re-crossed the Tallahatchie River and went into camp where it lived on scanty provisions which it obtained by foraging. Dur- ing those starving days a very amusing incident occurred. The story was told me by John W. Portlock, who was a member. It seems that Captain Babbitt, who loved cream in his coffee so much, had taken his cow along with him. One dark night the soldiers decided that they would butcher Captain Babbitt's cow. A committee did the work and divided up the meat, a small piece of which went to each soldier. The next day the cow was gone. The cap- tain never said a word. After a few clays a lieutenant had taken a company of the Twenty-third out for trench dig- ging. They had marched back and were just ready for the lieutenant to dismiss them when Captain Babbitt rode up and cried out : ' ' Lieutenant, do not dismiss those men until you have had time to search their haversacks to see if they have a pick or shovel stored therein." The lieu- tenant did not understand and said: "Captain Babbitt, they can not put a hoe or a shovel in their haversacks. ' ' "Oh, yes they can! They put a bigger thing than a hoe in there. They put my cow there." Mr. Portlock said that all the men dropped their heads and would not look their captain in the face. After a few seconds the captain 's face brightened and he said : ' ' Boys, 234 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY I do not blame you. I know you were hungry. I would get you food if I could. May God bless you, men!" The men never forgot Captain Babbitt. Late in February the regiment embarked for Lake Providence in Louisiana where it remained till late in the month, until the rebels ran the regiment out by cutting the levees on the Mississippi River. Soon the regiment was moved to Milliken 's bend where the army was being organ- ized to move against Vicksburg. "While here volunteers were called for to run the boats by the shore batteries to get food to the men below. The Twenty-third furnished seventy men for this occasion. One of the most daring Union men from Crawford County was Nathan Collins. For many years he had been a river captain. General Grant sent for Collins on April 22, 1863, and had a long talk with him. Sitting on a log on the bank of the river near Young's Creek, Grant gave Collins final instructions and promised him a large amount of cotton that was on board of different transports if he made the trip successfully. Later, on the morning of the 22nd of April, the Harrison, which was Captain Collins' boat, steamed out from the landing and started on her perilous trip to New Carthage, below Vicksburg. She had gone but a short distance when the terrific fire from the Confederate batteries threatened to destroy the boat before it had proceeded to a point in the river opposite the city. Perceiving the situation Captain Collins ran his boat right into the bank under the guns of the rebel batteries. Many of the guns were placed so that they could not be trained on the boats near the shore so well as they could those out in the center of the river. Although the boat was consider- THE CIVIL WAR 235 ably damaged, the pilot house being almost shot away and three spokes shot out of the wheel, Captain Collins landed without the loss of a man at New Carthage. For the above brave act Captain Collins never was rewarded, the cotton being destroyed. April 27th the army took up the line of march around Vicksburg, crossing the Mississippi on the 29th at Hard Times Landing, and on May 1, 1863, fought the battle of Thompson's Hills. After a two hours' battle the ammuni- tion gave out and the Twenty-third was ordered back, after losing thirty-four men. On May 12 the famous battle of Raymond was fought. The regiment lost 131, one of whom was John Lake of Crawford County. A number of the boys were captured, among whom was John W. Portlock. At the siege of Vicksburg the regiment operated against Fort Hill under which a mine was exploded. After blow- ing up the fort the enemies engaged our men in a desperate battle for many hours, during which many of the regi- ment's best men were killed. Finally, overwhelming num- bers of the enemies came and the regiment was beaten back. After the capture of Vicksburg the regiment remained there till August, 1863. Then it was ordered out to help in the campaign against Monroe, Louisiana, on the Wachita River. The regiment did garrison duty after the above campaign at Black River for some time until it was called to Helena, Arkansas. On the 12th of May, 1864, the regi- ment was given a furlough home. Later many of the men enlisted again. The old regiment was organized for three years' service. 236 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY From the return of the men till the close of the war the Twenty-third was in the thickest of the fray. It was in the Seventeenth Army Corps which served under Sherman on his grand campaign against Atlanta. After the capture of Atlanta the regiment helped chase Hood till Sherman was ready to march against Savannah when the Twenty- third joined in that famous march through Georgia. After the capture of Savannah and the surrender of Lee's army and Johnston's army, the regiment visited Washington, thence to Louisville, where it was mustered out of service on July 23, 1865. James Merritt and William H. Conrad of Fredonia were in the Twenty-sixth Regiment. The Twenty-eighth Regiment or the First Cavalry con- tained many of Crawford County's boys. Major William V. Weathers and Robert Clendening served with distinc- tion all through the war. J. J. Patterson was assistant surgeon, Wm. B. Ellsworth, William W. Sloan (killed at Round Hill, Arkansas, July 7, 1862), Wm. B. Tucker, W. W. Sloan and Chas. L. Lamb were officers in the regiment. The roll of the men contained these names : Charles Lamb, J. J. Patterson, Jesse Craig, James Fleming, William P. Tucker, James Hamlin, James Bennett, Wickliffe Gibbs, Wilson Key, Wm, Ellsworth, John C. Forbes, Samuel E. Williams, Nathan Collins, Isom Key, William Clendening, James W. Callahan, Thomas Miller (disabled January 8, 1863) , Lemuel T. Rogers (died on Mississippi December 20, 1864), William Goodin, M. H. Tucker (captured at Marks' Mill) , Patterson Apple, Aaron Bailey, Robert A. Roll, John L. Brown, Emery Behen, Daniel J. Brown, Zachariah George Bunch, John Carroll, John Callahan, THE CIVIL WAR 237 Wash Colclusure (disabled August, 1863), John Courtney, John L. Crawford, James A. Curts, George Denbo, W. W. Dean, William Dooley, George Elliott, William Engleman (died at St. Louis January 21, 1863), Wash Fleming, A. J. Houghton, William Houghton, Sam G. Jackson, Michael Ketzner, James S. Kelso, Henry M. Land, Winfred Lamb, Joseph Land, Wm. J. Lee, David Markley (died at Du- vall's Bluff, Arkansas, August 29, 1864), Henry Harris, Artemus Murphey, Wm. B. Monroe, Peter Neal, Alonzo Adle, Ananiaas Patrick (died at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 15, 1864), John Pickard (captured at Marks' Mill), Henry Riddle, William Roberts, Fielding Robinson, B. F. Sharp (died at Helena, Arkansas, February 22, 1863), Sam Sherren, Harrison Sloan, William Summers (killed in action March 18, 1864), S. Leander Totten, George H. Tucker, Wm. Van Hoover (died at Duvall's Bluff, August 22, 1864), Sylvester Van Winkle, Wm. Waldon, James L. Weathers, H. E. Weathers, W. W. Weathers, Martin Wise, Benjamin White. The above list of names was obtained from Terrell's reports. The Twenty-ninth has this statement : Harve Gibbs de- serted on August 30, 1865. The Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteers was a noted reg- iment. Crawford County furnished these brave men : William Sisson, Tapley Hughes, James C. Mills, James Pankey, George W. Roberson, Thomas Stratton, George Stewart, James Taylor, David F. Taylor, Isaac Taylor, Wm. E. Teawait, Edmund Toney, Nathan VanMeter, Elijah Weathers, Hardin P. Wood, Aaron Bowman, J. M. Bowman, Samuel Bowman (died at Chattanooga, March 27, 1864), Moses 0. Goldman (died at Madison April 30, 238 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 1864), Harvey Payton, James W. Ringer, Wm. W. Sloan, Solomon Weathers (killed at Atlanta July 21, 1864), John A. Sheckles, James G. Land, Wm. Goodson, James W. Sturgeon, Marion Archibald, John Butt, Peter Curl, Wm. R. Denbo (died at Madison April 30, 1864), William P. Dunn, Jacob Dean, Richard Dean, John W. Fray, Thomas W. Goodson, George Goodson, James S. Jen- kins, James Laswell, John R. Lynch, Obediah Mc- Quire, Noble Mounts (died at Lyne's Station March 20, 1864), William H. Purcell (killed at Kenesaw Mountain June 20, 1864), John D. Root, Ben Stewart, George W. Seaton, James K. P. Summers (deserted November 9, 1864), Milton Woolans (died at Chattanooga March 20, 1864), Joseph W. Walker (died at Chattanooga June 28, 1864), John Yates (killed by accident July 14, 1864). The Fortieth Regiment had these volunteers : James Julian, George Roseberry Jacob Sheets, John Starkey, Henry Baker, William J. Blyston. The Forty-second Regiment had one volunteer, Martin C. Harvey. The Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteers contained these men: Elwood Winder, Milltown (deserted November 25, 1862), Loring Hazen, James H. Eaton, J. J. Gibson, Thomas Harvey (sent home disabled September 3, 1862), William Harvey (died December 14, 1861), William Holly, Sam Sturgeon, William Sturgeon (died at Memphis March 17, 1863), Hiram Stephens (sent home February 20, 1863), John Sullivan, Lafayette Stephens, James Straughn, Jonas Totten (died at Camp Cattrel, Tenn., June 29, 1862), Wm. Todd, Daniel VanWinkle, Francis VanHoozer, Newton Wright, Seraphin Watkins, Thomas Yarker, Sam Noad THE CIVIL WAR 239 (died at Lexington, Ky., December 6, 1864), Michael Pay- ton, Morrison Scott, Albian Shaw, Lewis Woodford, Vol- ney Shaw, Allen Johnson, Henry Kaga, George Kemp, Randolph Kellams, Nicholas Kimes (died at Morgantown, La., June 20, 1864), Joseph Knott, Thomas Long, Charles Lynch, Newton Miller (died at Cumberland Ford March 18, 1865), David McGowan, William McFall, James Moore, Nathaniel Patton, John Patrick, Ben Perkins, James Rid- dle (died at Young's Point, La., on Feb. 22, 1862, Thomas Roberts, William Roberts, Martin Roise, Manford Robin- son, Gibson Roop (died att Bardstown, Ky), William Roach (died Jan. 7, 1863), John Shaw, Simson Sharp (died at Cumberlands Ford April 13, 1862), Volney Shaw, William II. Bullington (sent home disabled June 24, 1863), James A. Creath, Sterling Coleman, Joseph Cunningham (died at Fredonia June 26, 1862), Labran Gregory (died at Young's Point, La., July 18, 1863), Templeton H. Dunn, James Daugherty, Isaac Figgens, Dan Figgens, Sam Ford, Hiram T. Froman (died by accidental wound May 16, 1864), Charles French (killed at Chickasaw Bayou Dec. 28, 1862), Andrew Goodson, George Goodson, William Goodson (died at Cumberland Ford April 23, 1862), Henry Grey, Henry Greyhill (died of wounds Jan. 9, 1863), Ira Grot, William Graham, Thomas Hayes (sent home), James Haynes, John Hume, Hardin Hume, Chris Jenkins, Mitch Johnson, John P. Wyman, Louis Woodford, Edward Newhill, John Peckinpaugh, T. T. Reynolds, John W. Walker, F. M. Myers, Arthur Ward, Sam Boatman, Henry K. Jenkins, Henry Hardin McCullum (died at Cumberland Gap Aug. 25, 1862), Oscar Turner, William Peters, George Collingwood (died at Young's Point, La., 240 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Feb. 14, 1862), Horace Williams, Allen Franklin, Brown Bryant, William H. Allen, Jonathan Boartman (died at St. Louis July 8, 1863), Joseph Baker, Oliver Bealer, Henry Bliss, John Blackman (deserted June 19, 1863), Addison F. Brown, Sam Brooks, Milton Gilbert, John Goodwin, James Gregory (died at English Sept. 6, 1863), Jacob Heishman, Andrew Heishman, Levi Heishman (died at Milliken's Bend June 19, 1863), Isaac Hall (died at Barboursville, Ky., April 22, 1862), Wilfred Heath, John V. Vendron, James Hagan, Jacob Haskins, Evan Hughes (died in Crawford County Dec. 12, 1863), John McMable, Stephen McAdams, John McAdams, William Weathers (sent home April 11, 1863), Marion Mingus (died at Black River Bridge, Miss., July 3, 1863), Edgar Minus, John Moore, David Montgomery, Daniel Mourer (killed at Jack- son, Miss., July 13, 1863), Valentine Montgomery, Colum- bus Bartles, William Bird, Charles F. Brening (died Oct. 21, 1864), Lewis Briles (deserted Oct. 21, 1864), F. M. Brandenburg, James E. Brown, Roden Bunch, George W. Byr, William W. Byerly (died at Cumberland Gap Sept. 5, 1862), Levi Clendening, James Clovin, W. E. Crawford, Alford Crawford, John Crawford, James Crandall, James Crane, John Crane, William Crane, John Craig (died at Milliken's Bend May 3, 1863), James Dunbar (deserted Nov. 22, 1862), Jonathan Esarey, Francis Evans, John French, Fielding Funk, James L. Lynch, Adam Spond (died March 31, 1862), San Sturgeon, John Timberlake, Mike Patton, Nathaniel Pay ton, Benjamin Pitchier, Rich- ard Weathers (discharged Jan. 3, 1862), R. M. Craig, George W. Swan (discharged June 8, 1862), Perry Wilkes, Oliver Whitcomb, Sam Williams (died at Jeffersonville THE CIVIL WAR 241 Dec. 3, 1861), Jim Cunningham sent home March 7, 1863), Felix Hawkins, John T. Weathers (sent home March 17, 1863), James Van Winkle (died at London, Ky., June 15, 1862), Harrison Brown, Sullivan Lyons, Wm. J. Jackson, John R. Weathers. (The Terrell reports show that he deserted but this was a mistake made by the army officers) ; Brazilla Dotson, George Emery, Allen Emery (died at Cumberland Ford March 13, 1862), Wesley Mower, Levi Murray (died March 5, 1864), Ben Muirit, James Nove, Harrison Newkirk (died at Lebanon, Ky., Jan. 1, 1862), William Orwick (deserted Jan. 18, 1863), Joseph Pate, Philo Rease, Justice Rease (died in Harrison County Dec. 7, 1863), Hamilton Rainboldt (died at Cumberland Gap, Ky., Aug. 17, 1861), William Root, John Perkluser, Alph Romine, Robert Sloan, Andrew Speedy, Reuben Sande- heberl, Isaac Stroud (died at Carrolton, La., Aug. 16, 1863), Sam Temple (deserted Sept. 15, 1862), W. W. Tower, Henry Trobaugh, Eden Tutler (died at Jefferson- ville, Ind., Dec. 14, 1861), David Vurben (killed at Vicks- burg), James Vaugh (deserted Nov. 22, 1862), T. T. Wood. The roll of the Fifty-third had these names: Henry McCown, William H. Bullock, Zachariah Barker, Lyman Hockman, John W. Collins, Elijah W. Knowland, Squire Mock. The Fifty-eighth had these men in the regiment : Will- iam E. Crawford, George W. Arms, Francis Bayles, Bev- erly Radcliffe. The Fifty-ninth had these men in the regiment: Alec Botman, Francis Briscoe, John H. Freeman, Davis Fried (sent home wounded in 1862), Ebenezer Gott, John Key, Ephraim Overly, Henry Radcliff (died at Corinth, Miss., 242 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY July 14, 1862), William Ritchie, Jeremiah Strand (sent home disabled Aug. 19, 1862), Elijah Tower, Joseph West, Zachariah Funk, Andrew Hanselman, George McDonald, James D. Taylor. The Sixty-sixth Regiment had these men from Craw- ford County: Silas Sheckels, Bennett Cromwell (died at Colliersville, Tenn., Sept. 6, 1863), William II. Myers (died at Louisville Dec. 22, 1862), Sam Mullens (died in State Prison at Jeffersonville Jan. 10, 1863), Joel Key, John Kemp, John Reasor (died at Corinth, Miss., Feb. 7, 1863), A. J. Wells, John Gaither, Thomas Epperson, John S. Levi (killed at Richmond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862), William Harris, Chris Taylor, Silas Sheckels (died at Pulaski, Tenn., March 9, 1864), E. Fowler, George E. Wiseman, David Perkins, Daniel Haycock, George Sillings, Peter Nolan, William Albins, William Armstrong, George H. Austin, John Balldock (sent home wounded March 7, 1863), Michael Baysinger (sent home on account of old age Dec. 3, 1862), Robert Bolurnly (killed at Richmond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862), Louis Bullington (died at Corinth, Miss., Feb. 22, 1863), Wash Bullock, Robert Bullock, John Burns, Daniel Carver, James Chanley, Resen Chanley, Sam Claycomb (died in Andersonville prison April 29, 1864, a very noted and cruel prison for soldiers in Georgia), Will- iam B. Clark, William Cornelison, Joseph Coleman, Will- iam Collingwood (killed at Richmond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862), William A. Combs (died in Indianapolis Jan. 31, 1863), Jonathan Cunningham, George Cunningham (died at Atlanta Oct. 23, 1864), Tom Dooley, Oliver Dooley, James Dooley, Thomas Doyle (drowned in the Ohio river Oct. 15, 1862), Don O'Duffin, James M. Duffin, James H. Eaton, THE CIVIL WAR 243 San Eaton (died at Alton, 111., Oct. 12, 1863), John Ran- dall, John Riddle (killed at Richmond Aug. 30, 1862), James M. Rogers, William II. Roberson, James Rodgers, James Russell (killed at Richmond, Ky., Aug. 30, 1862), William Seaton, William Seris, Isom Smith, Martin Smith, Reuben Stephenson (died at Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 18, 1865), John L. Temple, Lorenzo Thornbury (died from wounds at Resaca June 7, 1864), Glohson Wilson, William Wiseman, Ali Wiseman, Nathan Wright, James Arm- strong, Henry Byerly (died at Pulaski, Tenn., April 13, 1864), AVm. Haycock, Thomas Haycock, James Holly (died at Indianapolis Jan. 3, 1863), Sam Longest (died at In- dianapolis Nov. 27, 1862), Wm. Moore, James Eastes (died at Louisville Nov. 30, 1864), Charles Filker (died at Corinth, Miss., Jan. 22, 1863; John Freeman (died at Marietta, Georgia., Sept. 3, 1864), Levi Franklin, James Gibson (died at Corinth March 9, 1863), Johnson Gibson (died at New Albany Nov. 7, 1862), Gabriel Good, John W. Hammond, William Harrison, William C. Hardin, Sam Jenkins, Henry M. Jenkins, Francis Jones (died at Indian- apolis Jan. 31, 1863), Nicholas Jones, Isaac Jones, Miles Kemp, David Lambdin, Wm. Lane, Andrew Lake, Isaac Land, Theopolis Longest, Peter Miller, Fred Miller, Philander Newell. The Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteers contained these Crawford County : Joseph Neeley, Thomas Myers, Jesse Richards, Denison Pruitt, Elijah Bivans (killed at Rich- mond Aug. 30, 1862), Asa Blankenship, Elijah Clawson (died at Rome Nov. 10, 1862), John Cornelius, Albert Dryar, Sam Hubbard, James Hatton, Richard Hatton, Noel Johnson (killed at Richmond Aug. 30, 1862), Luther 244 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Kail, Jasper Height (died at Indianapolis March 15, 1863), Francis Ritter, William Wiseheart. The Seventy-third Indiana Volunteers had these two men from Crawford County: John Moore and Jonathan Poe. The Seventh-fourth Indiana Volunteers contain these men : William Sibert and Thomas Smith. The Seventy-seventh Indiana Volunteers or the Fourth Cavalry had one soldier from Crawford County, James N. Montgomery, who died August 24, 1864. The Eighty-first Indiana Volunteers contained these men: Elijah T. Bell, William P. Bird (died at Murfrees- boro May 10, 1863), Sam Bird, John Berkshire, Francis Eddleman, Adam Eddleman, Greenip Moore, James E. Spencer, Hiram Spencer (shot at Stone River Dec. 31, 1862), Simon Stroud, James Richie (killed at Nashville Dec. 15, 1864). The Eighty-second contained the name of Albert B. Mansfield who was one of Crawford County's noble young men. He enlisted at Camp Noble on the 14th day of August, 1862, and was mustered into the United States Army on August 29, 1862, at the age of 22. He was the son of Will Mansfield of Leavenworth, who was a Southern sympathizer. James Mansfield and Charles Mansfield had already volunteered. On this occasion old Mansfield came out when he saw that Albert had enlisted and made a speech in which he said that he had been for the South, but now he could not support the South when all his sons were fighting under the old flag. Albert Mansfield was engaged to Almarinda Peabody at the time. His leaving was a sad affair. After being THE CIVIL WAR 245 in the army a few months he was killed at Stone River December 31, 1862. Miss Peabody remained true to her first love. The body was brought back to Leavenworth and buried in Cedar cemetery. On his headstone one may read: A. J. Mansfield, born Jan. 2, 1840. Died Jan. 1, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River — A sergeant in the United States Army, Company H, 81st Infantry. The Eighty-third Indiana Volunteers contained the names of Sullivan Smith, Isaac Troder, John Lare, Ben F. Miller. The Eighty-fifth contained Abner Beard, David Fisher, John Parks (deserted Feb. 2, 1863), James N. Parks (de- serted Feb. 2, 1863), Isaac Montgomery (died at Chatta- nooga Jan. 17, 1863). The Ninetieth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers con- tained David Hunt and Sylvester Hunt, both of whom deserted November 20, 1862. The Ninety-first contained one man, Cyprian Bennett. The Ninety-third contained Louis McKey, Sam Mor- gan, Theopolis Spurlock. The 101st contained one man, William Oliver. The 131st contained these men : Thomas Goodson, Joseph Weathers, William Walts, Champress Sooge, The- apilius Key, David R. Stewart, Albert J. Weathers, Louis Beers, Elias Bench, Robert Bechtol, Pilgrim Crecelius (de- serted Oct. 30, 1864), Ali Courtner, John J. Duke, Ed- mund Enlow, North Goodson, John Haughton, Jacob Holly, Thomas Lawler, Thomas Moody, Sam Morgan, John T. Neely (drowned in the Ohio River Feb. 28, 1864), Albert Patrick, Biven Powers, Joshua Sisson, Joseph Speedy, 246 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Marquis Walts, William Boss, Henry Lambdin, Caleb Morgan, Sam Sherron, Henry Thompson, John Walts. The 140th had these men : Thomas Hayne, Ulysses P. Murphy, William Shields (died at Indianapolis Feb. 25, 1865), Harry Smith, Sam Smith, William Stevens, Ran- som Sinclair (died at Indianapolis March 9, 1865), David Sinclair (died at Stevens Station, Va., June 2, 1865), John Stewart, Elijah Surgeon, Peter Snider, John W. Straughn, Ali Turner, James Winn, William Winn, William Wright, Johnson Wilson, Greenbury Wright (died at Cumberland, Maryland, June 2, 1865), James M. Weathers, William Wiseman, Abraham Wiseman (died at Indianapolis March 7, 1865), Nelson Wilburn, Harvey Wilburn, William H. Weathers, Jasper Wright, Joseph Bee, Joseph Legert. The 144th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers had these men : John Mather, Thomas Roberts, William Daniels, William Riggle, English Vance, Gilbert Abell, John Cun- ningham, Peter Dillman, George Mcintosh, James Straighn, Ira Scott, John Williams, Joseph Bird, Robert Sloan, Paris Wood, John E. Weathers, James Haynes, James Anderson, Martin H. Batman, Joseph Briggs (deserted June 22, 1865), Robert Bell, James E. Brown, A. J. Bat- man, John Bullington, William H. Brown, John II. Cox, William Cunningham, John Carroll, Theodore Conrad, Joseph Coleman (died at Indianapolis March 8, 1865), Joseph Denbo (died at home March 9, 1865), George Dill- man, John Denbo, William Edwards, Jacob East, William Flannigan, Thomas C. Goodson, Theodore Grant, Ed Goodson, John Graham, Peter Goldman, Adam Gilliland, Jonas Handspire, Craig Hughes, James W. Jenkins, Will- iam W. Jones, George W. Landrus, Martin Lynch, James THE CIVIL WAR 247 Longest, John Lone, F. F. Mayfield, John W. Landers, John McCortney, Theodore Merritt, Robert Mills, Charles Mathew, Simon Newkirk, Benjamin Newkirk, John Patrick, Pinkney Poe, Calvin Pleasant, Thomas Railes, Adam Roach, Sam Roberson, John Riley, Julius Rathrack (died at Indianapolis March 7, 1865), James Sheckels, Eli Stur- geon, Casper Kehrer, John Anderson, John T. Byerly, John W. Cosby, Isom Denton (died at Indianapolis Feb. 22, 1865), Leonard Duke, George Dunkin, Perry Evans, Andrew Gilpatrick, Robert Gilbert, John Gilbert (died at Indianapolis March 14, 1865), Peter Gottfried, Augustus Gray, Teazley Hudson, Davis Judd, James Morris, James Mix, Adolphus Odle, Eugene Peabody, Sam Pickard, Dave Tadlock, Dekalb Blalock, Henry Barton, Mathias Harper, Hamilton Miller. The Independent Cavalry Company was organized to protect the border and watch the river front. It contained these men: William Clendening, Richard Weathers, Will- iam Dotson, Robert Sands, Henry Breeden, Victor Froman, Allen B. Tucker, John McCutcheon, Henry Rothrock, Bill Waldon, Jim Mansfield, Henry Ross, John Caldwell, George Wall, John McDonald, Martin Goldman, Abel R. Breeden, William Morris, John Mcintosh, Albert Land, Gilbert Abel, John Andrews, Marion Archibald, James Armstrong, ViUiam Austin, George Balthis, James L. Brown, Dave Breeden, William Briles, Calvin Breeden, William Breeden, Alex Byerly, John Byerly, John Bell, Wiley Cole, Valentine Cole, Henry Collins, Peter Curl, Ephraem Elliott, George Epperson, Chris Epperson, John Forbes, William Froman, Francis Froman, Joseph Glosson, Alfred Glosson, John Gilliland, Addison Gilliland, An- 248 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY drew Goldman, Craig Hughes, William Jenner, William Judd (rejected), George Hendricks, Mark Kendall, John Knott, James Laswell, Eldorado Lyons, Tom Lynch, John Lincey (died at New Albany March 4, 1864), Fielding Martin, James Merritt, James Mix, Manford Miller, John Montz, Francis Nash, Adolphus Odle, Elias Patrick, Dun- bar Patrick, John N. Pleasant, William Purcell, Henry Riggle, William Redden, Theodore Roberts, Edmund Rob- inson (died at New Albany March 5, 1864), John Root, Gilbert Shaw, Morrison Scott, James Schrigley, Jesse Sat- terfield, Adelbert Smith, William Todd, John Tucker, Har- rison Tucker, John Vance, William Vandergrist, Robert Walls, William Walts, Levi Wiser, John R. Wilson, Will- iam Wilson, Milton Woolums, Francis Weathers. The above list of men is not complete in any sense. The following article by Temple H. Dunn is submitted here: "I am a Crawford County soldier. I enlisted at my home town Alton, and along with the rest of my com- pany boarded the Gray Eagle at Alton, Sunday, November 3, 1861. The next morning before breakfast I was sworn into the United States service at Camp Noble, near Jeffer- sonville, when I was fifteen years, eighteen months and twenty-seven days old. From there we marched to assist other regiments before the frowning fortress of Cumber- land Gap. To locate this great mountain gateway I climbed the northern one of the two great mountains be- tween which the "Gap" lies and well up the southeastern slope I found a large granite pillar, around which I walked with my left hand on the stone. In this movement I was firs); on the soil of Kentucky and of Tennessee, and then of old Virginia, then of Kentucky again. That was a proud THE CIVIL WAR 249 movement for a boy who in all his travel had just made two trips of nine miles each, one up the Ohio River and one down the river. Let me state here that no one was ever prouder of being accepted a soldier of the United States than I was at that time. Nor did I ever regret when hardships came. We approached too near the enemy's works at the Gap and drew the artillery fire from the batteries which got upon our nerves so that we made a double quick movement to the rear. The enemy was far out of range of our small guns and we were soon out of range of their large guns. If there was any laughing done it was inside of this stone fortification. Of course, we had many a laugh about it afterward. We took Cumberland with a rear movement, striking the enemy from the south through another gap. Later, when Bragg and Kirby Smith invaded Kentucky, from the south, they cut off our supplies and we had to abandon the Gap and march northward, striking the Ohio River about 150 miles above Cincinnati. General John Morgan had followed us across the mountain roads but he did not try to attack us. His services to the South were not in the battle line. We moved to Oak Hill, Ohio, where we were furnished with clothes and marched up the Kanawha River. Recalled we boarded steamers at Point Pleasant for Cincinnati and thence to Memphis, thence to Vicksburg. Sherman and Grant were planning an attack on Vicksburg. Sherman, by transports, went up the Lagos River twelve miles and attacked AValnut Bluff section of the Vicksburg fortifica- tions and Grant by land intended to strike Vicksburg in the rear. The Confederates succeeded in cutting Grant's line of supplies which stopped his movement southward. Sher- 250 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY man with two thousand men made his attack but was not able to bring over a fourth of his men into action on ac- count of the ground, and his attempt to carry the enemy's works at the point of the bayonet was a disastrous failure. Sherman hardly succeeded in getting his men on the transports and away. Had the Confederates known this in advance he might not have done so. It was our first great battle and we were not successful. We ascended the Arkansas River to Fort Hindman, also called Arkansas Post. Commodore Porter's fleet accompanied us. The fleet and army made the attack. The enemy answered with hundred and twenty-pounders which our fleets soon silenced. Then our men charged the works and carried; we needed the inspiration of a great victory. We leveled the fort to the ground and then returned to the Missis- sippi. Among the prisoners taken was a fine Kentucky boy, John Riddle, whom I had known all my life. He lived in Kentucky, just in sight of Alton. He was sent to Camp Chase which was at Cincinnati, a camp for cap- tured Confederates. While he was there, a cousin of mine, who had married his sister, went to the camp and pleaded with him to take the oath of allegiance and return to Kentucky. He dismissed the appeal with scorn and re- turned to the rebel army when exchanged, and was killed in battle. Dick Riddle, his father, was captured in the same battle. Then came Grant's campaign against Vicks- burg and its fall. My regiment was through it all till the surrender, which was the greatest surrender made in America. Grant assembled his army at Milliken's Bend, above Vicksburg. Our corps, the Thirteenth, led the way southward along the bayous, building bridges and repair- THE CIVIL WAR 251 ing roads which the enemy had destroyed on their retreat, and came to the river again at Carthage, twenty miles be- low Vicksburg. Gunboats and transports landed supplies for us at Grand Gulf which was heavily fortified. Com- modore Porter's fleet tried to silence the enemy's guns. We witnessed the battle between the forts and the fleet. We were on the barges ready to steam on down as soon as the forts were silenced, but our fleet ran the blockade that night amid a tremendous fire from the fort. The next morning we descended the river to Brownsburg, where we landed and marched inland toward Fort Gibson until two o'clock that night, when a cannonade from the enemy an- nounced that we w T ere discovered. Our battery answered the attack. We lay down on our arms till daybreak came, when the battle was resumed between the batteries. The infantry was soon engaged, too. The battle lasted till late in the afternoon, when the enemy was routed. This is known in history as the battle of Fort Gibson. We made a charge in the afternoon, my regiment running over the batteries, which made us halt at two o'clock that morning. They were wrecked beyond description. Dead men, dead horses, splintered guns, cannons dismounted, all made a picture never to be forgotten. A rebel newspaper fell into my hands afterward which gave this battery's casualties. The account was appalling. Farther on in our charge men from the famous Eighth Missouri Confederates came throwing down their rifles furiously on the ground and swearing that he ... so and so if it was not the first time they had to do it. They were beaten and surrendered as prisoners of war. Our commander, General Ostrehaus, was filled with joy. In broken English he shouted out: 252 HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY ' ' Three cheers for the Forty-nintli ! She is a bully regi- ment. Three cheers for all the Indiana soldiers!" At the close of the war he returned to Germany and lived until recently. He was always a friend of America. Then fol- lowed the battles of Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Black River, all of which we won. General Pemberton now retreated to Vicksburg and Grant lay siege to him. On the evening of the 19th we were upon them again. On the 22nd we charged them with our entire army but they beat us back. So our army settled down to a regular siege which lasted nearly seven weeks, when Pemberton sur- rendered, as mentioned above, with 31,600 prisoners and 60,000 stands of arms, on July 4, 1863. We were then transferred to the Army of the Gulf and sent to New Orleans. Thence westward to the Vermillion Bay region, thence back to New Orleans, thence by steamship across the Gulf of Mexico to Matagordo Bay, Texas. My regi- ment spent several weeks at Decrow's Point, a sandy strip of land between the Bay and the Gulf. Later we crossed the Bay and encamped in the town of Matagordo. Here I was detailed in charge of a small pleasure boat, a cap- tured copper bottom sloop, to carry dispatches between Matagordo Bay and Decroy's Point. A young sailor was an expert skipper and we made the fifteen-mile trip daily. It was a pleasant diversion from the regular duty. The point where LaSalle was killed is only a few miles from Decrow's Point. While my regiment was at Cumberland Gap a party of us was sent out to drive the rebels away. My group stopped at a certain rail fence. I knew a blockhouse was on the other side of the field. Suddenly I saw two Tennessee THE CIVIL WAR 253 soldiers leap the fenee and enter the corn. Not to be out- done I leaped over the fence and went running after them. What a noise we made running through the corn. When I came out of the corn there stood the picket's house but the rebels had fled. I ran into the house and picked up two new guns and a cartridge box bearing the stamp, "Made in England." This was the first capture made by the Forty-ninth during the war. My guns were taken from me, but they failed to see the box which I carried through most of the war. When we were about fifty miles out of Louisville I cut my name on the gun-stock, the letters being probably one inch long. Comrades said to me: "Will that not get you into trouble ? " I was alarmed ; I never had thought about getting into trouble, so I was in constant fear for several weeks till one morning matters came to a crisis. A num- ber of us were in the tent. I had not arisen yet when the Captain came and pushed the tent curtain aside and asked if Dunn was there. Being informed that I was, he said that the Colonel wanted to see me. I never was so scared in all my life. A comrade asked the Captain what he wanted with Dunn and he answered that it was about something concerning that gun. I never knew how I dressed. When I arrived at the headquarters the Colonel was gone and I had to wait in anxiety until he returned; then I walked up, saluted him and said : ' ' Captain John- son asked me to report." The Colonel turned with a smile and said: "So you are Dunn, are you? I have been informed that you are quite good at making letters. I have a very interesting piece of work which I want you to do. You will like it and it will give you a chance to get 254 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY acquainted with all the men in the company and regiment. I want you and Ed Jordan of Company E to paint on each tent in the regiment the number of the mess of the com- pany and the regiment. When that is done I want you to paint the number, company and regiment on each man's haversack." We liked the job. Nothing was said about the gun. When my time of service was out on the eve of our departure we were given the choice of coming back by the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers or coming by water around to New York. Only a few chose to come by the rivers. We boarded the steamer at New Orleans, steamed out the mouth of the Mississippi, anchored off of Fort Morgan at the entrance of Mobile Bay, grounded at Key West, then we rounded the Peninsula of Florida and later entered New York harbor. We landed on the Jersey City side and entrained there. We rode many miles along the Erie Canal, thence to Cleveland, Columbus and Indianapolis. Here we were mustered out and, dressed in civilian clothes, I was soon at my home in Alton knocking on the door at two a. m., December, 1864. In the following February I was nineteen years old. In connection with Dunn's experience one may relate an experience which happened while the Forty-ninth was at Cumberland Gap. The boys one day went up on the mountainside to hunt pawpaws. They crept up carefully till they reached the very top of the ridge. The}^ could see the rebels about a mile away down on the other side of the mountain. They sat there and watched them for a while. Then they started down the side to their tents and camps. When they were about half way down the side THE CIVIL WAR 255 the rebels suddenly fired upon them from the rear. Hardin McCullum of Fredonia was shot through the chest. The boys strapped him to an old rail and carried him down the side of the mountain. He died there and the boys buried him. They set up a rock with his name upon it. After the Union men had been run away from their camp the southern men held it awhile. When the Union men recaptured the Gap their well was filled up. They cleaned out the well and near the bottom they found the headstone of Hardin McCullum 's grave. To me it seems strange that the southern men would even destroy markers and conceal the graves of the Union men. No account of the history of Crawford County would be complete without an account of the sinister element left behind. True it is that Crawford County had 1,119 men enrolled and 868 went; Martin County had 1,008 men en- rolled and 821 went; Greene County had 1,867 men en- rolled and 1,432 went. Their relative per cents, are very close, but proportional to the number of people Crawford County sent more men. Boone township furnished all the men asked for, hence no draft went to Boone township. The following account of the Knights of the Golden Circle is submitted here. Much study and hard work has been done to secure the information. No one can give the facts in the case any better than Governor Morton. He said that the country was honey-combed through and through by treason. The Knights of the Golden Circle started in 1855 by Charles C. Bricksley, a native of Boone County, Indiana, then living in the South. He espoused the cause of slavery with all his heart. The divisions were 256 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY called Castles. No one would admit lie was a member except to a brother Knight. The main purpose was to conquer Mexico and put a capital at Monterey, but before the men could get the mat- ter under way the Civil War began and the Knights turned their attention to home affairs, Just why they were called Knights one can not tell, for they were not what one now- adays thinks a Knight should be. Neither was the Circle golden. The Knights used their influence to separate the Dem- ocratic party in 1860. They thought that would be better for their plans. One letter from Madison, Indiana, to a Castle in Kentucky promised 1,000 members to fight for the South. Other letters promised the South aid in case of war. A letter written from Washington stated that 30,000 would never compromise with the Black Repub- licans and that probably all Indiana south of the National road would join in with the South. The order grew tre- mendously during 1862 and 1863. Castles were formed in barns, cellars, garrets and most anywhere. Orange and Washington Counties were favorable to the growth of the order. Doctor William A. Bowles, who lived at West Baden and French Lick, married a southern girl. He wrote to her in Louisiana, after the fall of Fort Sumter, and stated that he feared the Douglass wing would join the "Black Republicans." If so, he says, our fate is sealed. Kentucky will go out but too late to help our cause very much; if Kentucky had gone out at first then southern Indiana would have joined the South. On May 3, 1861, he wrote again: "If things do not change we shall have fighting here in our midst, for many THE CIVIL WAR 257 persons are coming out for the Union and calling all others traitors who do not espouse the cause. God knows what I am to do. If I leave and join the South my property will be lost. Besides, my health is poor, as I am of little help in the field. I have already sent some who will do some good service." Later he became discouraged with Ken- tucky and wrote: "Louisville is in a perfect turmoil. The abolition spirit is very strong here. I heard a battle had been fought at Fortress Monroe and 600 abolitionists have been killed and fifty southerners, but it is too good to be true. When the fighting begins I shall go south. 1 ' But he did not go south but stayed to stir up trouble here at home. By 1862 there were signals given so that the rebels might recognize a drafted Knight of the Golden Circle and not hurt him. They had pledged to resist the payment of Federal tax, prevent enlistment and encourage deserters and help them to escape from the army. This was plainly seen because the counties did not respond as freely as before. Some members of the grand jury went to Camp Morton and tested the rebels on the secret signs — those that had been captured in the South and sent north as prisoners of war. The captured rebels recognized the signs which the grand jury gave them. By December, 1862, it was introduced into Camp Mor- ton at Indianapolis. The man who disclosed the infor- mation disappeared suddenly and no one ever heard of him again. A series of resolutions, passed by the counties of Shelby, Bartholomew, Putnam, Jackson, Rush, DeKalb, Scott, 258 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Starke, Lawrence, Martin, and many others, opposed the war. It was reported that a general uprising was to occur, in which the Knights were to seize the state government and put Governor Morton out of the way and run things to suit themselves. One night Morton left the office late at night by the Market Street door. As he was descending the steps someone fired at him from an outhouse near-by. The ball whistled past his head. He went to the Bates House and aroused General Carrington. No mention was ever made of the act except to Sulgrave. No clew was ever found to the man guilty of the cowardly act. Out over the state the Castles did their best to prevent enrollment. Old Judge Constable of Clark County, Illi- nois, caught several Indiana soldiers who were out hunting deserters. He threw them in jail but Governor Morton sent a body of men who surrounded the court house and set the men free and brought the old rebel-hearted judge to Indianapolis. But he was soon set free. Early in August, 1864, one hundred and ten copies of the ritual of the Knights of the Golden Circle were cap- tured in a room adjacent to the law office of Daniel Voor- hees. When it became known, Voorhees demanded an apology from General Carrington and said that he had had no office in Terre Haute for over a year and did not know anything about the books and papers. General Carrington replied : ' ' The gentleman who found these papers told me that they were found in your office. The following are some of the things which lead me to think that it was your office. Your law books and furniture were still there in the office with these papers. You had declined the nomina- THE CIVIL WAR 259 tion for Congress and the office was not for rent as late as 1864, in April. The rituals were issued in the fall of 1863. Your records were in the office, your speeches up to March of your entire congressional records. The letters of Sen- ator Wall of New Jersey promising to furnish you 20,000 stands of Garfield rifles were in the room with these papers. "The letters of Vallandigham from Windsor, C. W., assuring you that our people will fight and that all is ready, and fixing a point of the Lima road at which he would meet you, were in the office with these books. "Letters from Joseph Ristine, auditor of Indiana, wish- ing you success to the South and Democracy, were in the office where these papers were found." Voorhees replied on August 26, 1864 : "I was nearly one thousand miles away. Political enemy was in possession of my desk and drawers and all you had to do was to apply the burglar's art, prepare a false key and pick my locks, and you had access to my private correspondence, embracing a period of seven years. I have every reason to believe that you read it all. You took your time, a furtive thieving magpie, carefully scanning each word to see if you could find some expression which you could note." Carrington answered: "Yet they were in the office where these papers were found. Grave offense. As well might a thief find fault that the stolen goods were found in his possession. The burglar might complain as well that the tools of his craft." The information which led to the capture of the Sunday school books was sent from New York by an unknown person : 260 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY New York, N. Y., July 17, 1864. Sir:— The facts here stated have come to my mind in such a manner and in such a source as to leave no doubt in my mind of their responsibility. The "Copperheads" of Indi- ana have ordered and paid for 30,000 revolvers and forty- two boxes of fixed ammunition to be distributed among them for the purpose of controlling the election of the President. August 5 they were put on Granite State and sent to J. J. Parsons via Merchant's Dispatch and marked Sunday school books. The balance is stored at No. St., New York, awaiting shipment and pay from the ' ' Cop- perheads" of Indiana. Governor Morton put the information in the hands of the Indianapolis police. They searched the station carefully but found nothing. On leaving the station they met a drayman coming back to the station. He was ques- tioned about what he had hauled. He said that he had hauled several boxes of Sunday school books to the office of H. H. Dodd and Co. A detail of soldiers were sent to Dodd's office where four hundred navy revolvers and 135,000 rounds of shells were found in the boxes marked ' ' Sunday School Books. ' ' The great uprising was to occur in the late summer or fall of 1864. William A. Bowles and Dodd were the big men in Indiana, while Vallandigham was at the head of the entire government. They were to seize the camp where the rebel prisoners were and liberate them and arm them, kill Governor Morton and run the state government to suit themselves. THE CIVIL WAR 261 William M. Harrison states that the sign of recognition was made by standing- with the heel of the right foot to the hollow of the left. If a member saw you he stood the same way and extended his foot to meet the first one. The first one said: "Nu," the second said, "Oh," then the first said "Lac," the second replied, "S, " the first said "L, " the second replied, "Give me Liberty," the first said, "Or give me death." The distress sign was made by putting the left hand on the right breast and raising the right one directly in front to its full height, as one cried "Calhoun" three times, wait a minute, then cry three times again. The flag was a white one surrounded with a red ribbon and with red ribbons hanging down. If hung out the K. G. C. would not harm your property. Anyhow, when Hines and Morgan came along, his property would not be damaged. Doctor William Bowles and others had discovered a substance which they called "Greek fire." There were queer bombs made of such material which left for a while would explode. The Government boats at Louisville were destroyed by these bombs. The troops at the general uprising were to gather about eight or ten miles from New Albany. But the state government was kept in touch with all their moves. Morton's spies were busy day and night. One of the best was a man named Coffin. He was not suspected till 1864. Then a meeting was held in Doctor Kalfur's office in Louisville, at which it was agreed that Coffin must be put out of the way. Felix Stidger, who took the report of the meeting to Doctor Bowles said that he ought to kill 262 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Coffin himself, for Bowles found him and took him to the Castle and gave him the obligation. Bowles said that he would put some one after Coffin. The whole joke in the matter was that Felix Stidger was a Morton spy himself and was telling Coffin what was happening all the time. Henry M. Zumro was a good spy, but being suspected by the Knights, Morton planned to have him arrested and his house raided. On trial he was acquitted for lack of evidence. Of course, after this he was reinstated in the good graces of the Knights. At one of the meetings Doctor William Bowles proposed a company of armed lancers and hooks to punch the horses of the Union soldiers and cut their bridles. Then the horses would become unmanagable. Just how many Knights were in Crawford County one can not say. The Castles were held in school houses, barns and out in the woods. Matters became serious as the war went on. Old Bill Mansfield belonged at Leavenworth and had a big store there. He was a friend of the South. His boys, one by one, went into the Union Army. When his last son volunteered he could not stand it. He came out into the street, made a speech for the Union, and cried. One Castle was in Bill Williams' barn. The town of Eng- lish had one Castle and one also up at Brownstown. Zion Hollow was near Brownstown. There was a great number over there. There was a noted Union man at English named "Woods" Cummins and one loyal man in Patoka named Ed Hall Golden. One night the Knights raided his home. His poor mother, who was sick in bed, was whipped by these "gentlemanly" Knights to make her tell where his money was. It has been reported that Hall THE CIVIL WAR 263 Golden was standing outside of the house with a gun drawn to fire in case they hurt his mother too much. The Knights became so bad that late in the fall of 1864 a com- pany of men came out from Leavenworth, and assisted by soldiers, who were at home, from Marengo and other points, closed in on the Knights at English and Brownstown. There were a large number of them caught. A preacher was taken in the net. He ran down the side of the hill and was about to escape when Richard Pierson and one or two of the Fredonia boys caught him. They were brought back to English and guarded in a barn there till means of conducting them to Leavenworth could be ob- tained. The people of Leavenworth did not want the "sorry crowd" and they were sent to Indianapolis. Leaving the Knights, let us return to a discussion of Hines' raid. In the summer of 1863 General John Morgan sent Thomas W. Hines, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, with a company of horsemen from the army in Tennessee into Kentucky with orders to operate against the Union Army of the Cumberland and collect horses at various places through which Morgan intended to pass when he came north in his grand campaign. After much time and with- out much trouble Hines reached the bank of the Ohio River about eighteen miles up the river from Camelton. He looked with longing eyes on the smoky hills of old Perry County. Assisted by southern sympathizers, with two old barges, he crossed the river, which at that time was very low. Following the old Rome and Fredonia road, he moved northward with his soldiers, many of whom were spread out over the country, securing all the good horses they could find. He entered Crawford County near Alton and 264 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY camped for the night near Jack Parr's Ford on Mill Creek, where he captured George Waddle and kept him over night. That way Waddle did not have a chance to spread the alarm. Breaking the camp the next morning, he rode toward Fredonia with his men. As they were crossing Little Blue River he ordered the men to throw Waddle's gun into that deep hole of water, just below the old State Ford. Waddle must have been very angry, but what could he do ? The company arrived at Fredonia about eight o'clock that morning. Here they stopped and ate some breakfast at Esau McFall's hotel. The Fredonia Home Guards had left their guns in William H. Conrad's store. A few of the men came into the store, and seeing the guns went out and told Hines. After a brief consultation in the street the whole group of them rode northward on the Marengo road. Just out of Fredonia they saw a beautiful horse owned by William H. Conrad. Several whistled at him but could not catch him. Mr. Miller, who lived then where Mr. Sacksteder lives now, lost one horse. Just over the Indian Hill or Ridge they stopped and talked to Jake Flock. His daughter came out and saw him giving them food. She was much displeased and asked her father why he was feeding the rebels. One man spoke up and said that they were the Home Guards. Then he recognized the three men who had been at her father's house a few days before and she had seen them making curious signs. At the old Peabody crossroads Hines stole one of Rensselaer Peabody's horses. Peabody followed him as far as Valeene where he got the horse back. Hines arrived at Marengo about one o'clock. THE CIVIL WAR 265 Captain Enoch Weathers, who lived at Marengo, had been given a commission as captain by a Governor before the Civil War, yet he was not in the Civil War. His house stood near the Paoli and Leavenworth roads. That afternoon Captain Weathers was asleep when the rebels rode up to the house. A few of them called out for food. James H. Weathers went out and saw the men. He woke up Mr. Weathers who went out and the men asked him what he had to give the soldiers to eat. Captain Weathers gave them what food was available. The men claimed that they were Home Guards and were out hunt- ing deserters. After the soldiers rode away James said to his father: "Those men must be rebels." The father asked him why he thought so. And he said : "Did you not see the C. S. A. on their haversacks or breast-plates?" Soon Martin Stewart and John Vanmeter came riding up the road. Vanmeter, who had been in the United States Army, con- firmed what James had told his father. Stewart and Van- meter were ordered to follow on after the men rapidly to Valeene, then to go directly to the New Albany and Paoli pike at Trotter's Crossing and then to Paoli. These men beat Captain Hines' men to Paoli in time to arouse the town and get a number of the men armed. When Hines arrived at Valeene he demanded that the women cook them dinners, so tradition has it. If they did not get dinner he would burn the town. One can not say now whether Hines got much dinner or not, but the town was not burned. But he wasted considerable time there and allowed Stewart and Vanmeter, who sent Waynick from Valeene, to beat him to Paoli. 266 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY While he was in Marengo tradition has it that Dave Miller, who was a "Butternut, " went up to him and wanted to give him advice but he rejected the proposal. He told Miller that if Miller was a friend of the South that he ought to go south where they needed all their friends. When Hines came to the top of that high hill south of Paoli and saw the crowd of excited citizens armed around the court house square he decided that he had better go around Paoli to the west. He rode east again and turned south about Fredericksburg. Meanwhile, Captain Girdnor of the Home Guards at Marengo had ordered the anvil fired three times and the tocsin rung, which was a signal to call the Home Guards together. By this time Hines had thrown off the mask and was making for the river. Near Fredericksburg he met a few men and a fight occurred in which one or two northern men were killed. Somewhere that day he captured Finley McNaughton who was at home on a furlough. Finley agreed to show him the way to the Ohio River. One does not know just what his aim was. It was impossible for him to get back to Flint Island now, for all Perry County was ■aroused. Word had reached Cannelton that one thousand guerillas had crossed the river and Hinton church had been burned. Finley McNaughton tried to deceive him and waste his time by taking side roads. At Milltown Hines got a horse belonging to Solomon Funk. When midnight came Hines saw that he was being betrayed and he drew his revolver on Finley and told him that if he did not get him to the THE CIVIL WAR 267 river he would shoot him. So McNaughton piloted him down the old Salem road to the Dug Way, near the Cedar Cemetery, at Leavenworth. Here, the writer was informed, some man came up out of Leavenworth and met Hines and told him that he had better not go down into the town, for they were waiting for him. So he turned east on the old Corydon road, crossed Big Blue River at Zebulum Leaven- worth's ford and reached the Ohio River at the Upper Island, about three miles above Leavenworth. They were watering their horses and resting on the bank of the Ohio, when suddenly a band of Union soldiers came down on them from the north. Captain Jesse Esarey's men from Perry County were closing in on Hines from the west and Captain Weathers' Home Guards from the west were on the pursuit. "Brack" Carnes rushed straight south from Orange County toward Corydon and Captain Horatio Woodbury took the old Leavenworth and Paoli road and double- quicked to Leavenworth. Meanwhile, Leavenworth was not idle. A cannon was placed near where the bank now stands and the court house was filled with armed men to fire down on him. Mr. Cook, who owned a tannery near the top of the hill, saw them pass. He seized his gun and tried to fire on them from his house but his wife held his arms and would not let him. Then he ran down the hill and told "Wash" Lyons that the rebels were making for the Upper Island. Then the men put their six-pound cannon on the Izetta, a small steamboat, and steamed up the river for the island. When the rebels saw the Union men under Carnes coming down the hill they mounted their horses and 268 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY plunged into the Ohio River and got over to the island successfully. Here the main part of the river is on the Kentucky side of the river. As soon as the men were on the island they jeered back at the Union men and rode around on the Kentucky side of the island, but then they saw that they were in a trap. The strip of water on the Kentucky side was much wider and deeper. When all was ready the rebels rode around the island at a gallop and fired on the Union men. Fortunately, no Union men were hurt, but one or more rebels were dropped at each attack. The timber on the island sheltered them. A tow- boat came down the river and Hines ordered it to stop and set them over. The pilot swung his boat in to shore and was about to land when Wash Lyons came up* the river with the Izetta and a six-pound cannon on board. He signaled to the pilot on the towboat to pull out. The pilot by this time recognized that something was wrong and suddenly steamed away. Hines ordered his men to fire, but no one was hurt although the boat was hit by many balls. Hines, seeing that the case was hopeless, ordered the men to swim over. He tied his pocketbook on his head and caught his horse by the tail and swam across to the Kentucky shore. The others all attempted to follow, but not being used to swimming, were struggling in the water. The horses were frightened, the men scared, and several were drowned. Now was Wash Lyons' chance. He fired the cannon into the bunch of men. The ball went skipping along on the water but whether anyone was hit no one can now tell. Most of the men got back to the shore and hud- dled together in a bunch while one or two raised a white rag and rode around asking for terms. When Wash Lyons THE CIVIL WAR 269 arrived the surrender was made, but the southern men hid about everything that they could. All the guns were thrown into the river. One horse was hidden in the thick underbrush for about three days when George Balthis of Marengo found it, but Solomon Funk of Milltown claimed the horse. Richard Pierson of Fredonia said that he fired on Lieu- tenant Haycraft several times but his bullets fell short of him. Haycraft had five fair shots at Pierson but missed. However, one ball cut the hair on his head. Many years afterward Haycraft was a candidate for office, and wished Pierson to vote for him, but Pierson did not. Near the end of the battle one southern man, seeing the cause was hopeless, spurred his horse forward and made a bold dash for freedom. He rode up the shore to the upper end of the island and then swam back to the Indiana side while the northern men were firing at him from every side and escaped into Scott township. Later he was caught and returned. Many strange stories are told about Hines. Some say that Daugherty set him over ; others say that Thacker ferried him over, and still others say that he swam. The fact of the matter is that he escaped with his life, no matter how. Several others crossed the river, too, and escaped. The rebels were brought to Leavenworth and kept in the Methodist Episcopal church until they could be sent to New Albany. One poor man who had been shot through the hips was allowed to suffer several hours before the doc- tors in Leavenworth would dress the wounds. As the prisoners were coming up the wharf May Mc- Donald and one or two others held the American flag up 270 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and the men marched under it. The man who was shot through the hips hesitated and was compelled to move under old "Glory." He swore and said that Morgan would be through here in about two weeks and he would give them the "devil." He certainly did when he came along. The other Union forces arrived that afternoon and the town was full of soldiers. The dead rebels were buried at Leavenworth but later on were removed by their friends. One gentleman from Brandenburg came to William Allen's home and wanted him to help him over to the island to get the body of his brother. Allen would not go but the man dug up the corpse. He told Allen that his brother had a belt around his waist filled with gold money. By that he would recog- nize the body. When the body was found he put it in a big pine box and hauled it home for a more decent burial. One man, who managed to swim over on a fence rail, went up to Mr. Allen's home and demanded his dinner. The Aliens had dinner prepared, but being in plain view of the island, had watched it and the battle and neglected dinner. At first this big red-headed Irishman stood up and ate at the cupboard for fear the food at the table was not safe. Gabriel Allen, one of William Allen's sons, came into the house, and a fight ensued. It seems that the two grabbed the gun and were struggling up and down the hallway with it. The boy was holding his own w r ell with the Irishman till they tripped each other and fell to the floor. What the outcome would have been no one now could tell, but suddenly John Allen, another brother, about thirteen } T ears old, hearing the noise, ran from the THE CIVIL WAR 271 barn to the house. As he came into the room he saw the two fall. Quick as a flash he grabbed a big bootjack, raised it high in the air, and with all the power he had struck the man a blow on the head. That ended the fight. The man cried that he would surrender and for his poor old mother's sake be spared. His head was dressed and a good dinner given him. He gave up the two Colt revol- vers. Mr. Allen in the meanwhile had been capturing another man who had gotten away. That afternoon he took the men over to Leavenworth and put them with the rest. Allen, who was a strong Union man, had many enemies. Later they raided his home and stole his revolvers and horses. When matters became too serious he used to escape to Indiana and stay with Uncle John Lynch near Weathers, on Dry Run Creek. As stated before, the good people of Crawford County bore the woes of the terrible struggle with fortitude. Crawford County had 8,226 inhabitants and furnished 868 men. Martin County had 8,975 people and furnished 821 men. Greene County had 16,041 people and furnished 1,432 men. The above shows that Crawford County led the state. The county commissioners are to be commended for the good work they did. At their meeting in December, 1861, they ordered the township trustees to furnish the help for any family in distress if the man was in the service. In 1864, March 8th, the board of county commissioners released White from paying poll tax. George White had been in the service and had been wounded at Stone River. On January 14, 1865, the board held a special meeting 272 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY at Leavenworth to devise a means of keeping the draft out of the county. A bounty of $100 was offered to anyone who would enlist. Horatio Woodbury was to supervise the matter and report to the auditor when the man was received into the service. The county auditor was author- ized to borrow $3,000 on January 7, 1865, out of which bounties were to be paid. On January 21, 1865, the bounty was raised to $300. A tax had been levied to pay the bounties. The soldiers received $8,825, as shown by the report of June 3, 1867. The report of June 2, 1868, shows $1,046.41 and again $669. Soldiers' families had received $2,788.21 by the report of June 7, 1869; June 6, 1870, paid out $38.00; June 1, 1871, paid out $15, and June 1, 1872, paid out $15. CRAWFORD COUNTY AND THE WAR OF 1860 Much confusion arose about the claims of soldiers for their bounty. The sheriff ordered the commissioners to meet on October 24, 1868, and consider the claims of vari- ous soldiers. The board agreed to make allowance to all who were not worth over $500, and $50 to each child under twelve years of age. The board of commissioners examined the claims of all the soldiers and agreed to give as follows : JENNINGS TOWNSHIP 9. D. W. Beals 72.00 10. W. F. McClain 84.60 1. Wilfred Bruce $144.00 11. Josiah Kimes 39.60 2. James G. Froman... 46.40 12. Aaron Anthony 120.00 3. James V. Sauerheber 96.00 13. A. C. Barmore'. 48.00 4. Leander Totten 46.20 14. Jephtha Williams... 39.60 5. E. H. Patrick 34.80 15. Robert Roach 41.06 6. John Nash 120.00 16. William R. Wood... 55.00 7. William M. Winn... 60.40 17. A. H. Peckinpaugh. . 142.00 8. Isaac Starkey 53.66 18. W. G. Wiseman 39.60 THE CIVIL WAR 273 19. J. W. Jenkins 70.46 20. Dencil Carver 41.50 21. F. Vanhozen 168.00 22. William Pegg 29.00 23. W. H. Sturgeon 120.00 24. William Yates 46.20 25. V. B. Goldman 46.40 26. John Guiilbert 210.00 27. John B. Goodson. . . 67.00 28. James M. Dean 47.60 29. E. E. Biller 29.00 30. J. H. Trobaugh 46.40 31. Philip Gray 59.70 32. James McGuire 134.00 33. Simon Newkirk 46.20 34. Green Satterfield 144.00 35. Thomas Lynch 63.80 36. William P* Dotson. . 30.60 37. William C. Breeden 36.50 38. Eli Strugeon 35.00 39. L. E. Woodford 33.10 40. C. A. Mathews 60.40 41. D. W. Newbury 48.00 WHISKY RUN TOWNSHIP 1. Ed. Hawkins $ 64.50 2. James Mills 34.40 3. Alex Botman 120.00 4. G. D. Boman 34.92 5. J. H. Lonogan 36.50 6. Warren Asken 46.40 7. Sam Jenkins 35.60 8. G. H. Austin 87.60 9. John Morgan 96.00 10. Sebastion Coleman. . 192.00 11. Ed Eollin 113.40 12. G. W. Shafter 29.66 13. Simon Strand 27.60 14. Henry Jenkins 29.76 15. Isaac Strand 96.00 16. John Flanagan 40.60 17. J. B. Anderson 192.00 18. Joseph Ballard 5.80 19. William Searles 70.60 20. J. W. Crecelius 21.33 21. Joseph Belcher 67.60 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Dominicus Beryer. . . 75.72 William Lawrence. . . 61.86 Isaac Lawrence 63.90 Duvaul L. Brown... 168.00 James Sinclair 63.80 Almarine Moore.... 168.00 W. 11. Knight 192.00 Thos. F. Newton 184.00 Luke Rowland 41.06 William Kirk 21.60 E. C. Pace 175.20 Gideon Smith 120.00 A. H. Hatfield 18.00 John Fergerson 168.00 A. A. Hatfield 88.20 W. L. Patton 168.00 William McCarty 37.06 Samuel Sharon 118.50 John Hallen 57.00 John C. Head 192.0c0 A. H. Young 50.40 Willim Hallen 24.00 Sam Eckerty 29.00 Sam Brubeck 47.60 STERLING TOWNSHIP Thomas J. Francis. .$ 96.00 David Markly 168.00 L. D. Thornbury 120.00 Oliver Dooley 96.00 Frederick Cook 168.00 John G. Mills 88.20 A. J. Hooten 32.00 Harrison Newkirk... 48.00 James Longest 42.66 Sam Bell 48.00 John M. Longest.... 26.13 John Overby 46.22 G. W. Cook 120.00 William Seaton 27.50 David Sumners 67.66 Henry Brown 96.00 Theodore Grant 80.00 William Judd 52.20 Daniel Hancock 35.00 William Sands 14.00 274 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY 21. Theopilus Longest... 40.00 22. B. W. L. Newkirk. . 80.00 23. Robert Monk 120.00 24. Sam Longest 120.00 25. W. E. Moore 27.45 26. Clark Willman 9.33 27. William Ballard 184.00 28. John Morris 10.10 29. Sam Straughn 120.00 The total number was 231. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. Robert G. Battomly Evan S. Francis. Thomas Dooley. . W. H. H. Brown John Key William Crawford W. G. Roberson. John W. Carroll. John H. Byrd... 168.00 72.00 29<.00 43.00 35.00 84.00 176.00 60.00 29.66 LIBERTY TOWNSHIP 1. Joseph Simon $ 42.66 2. John Bullington 70.56 3. James W. Riley 52.40 4. David H. Morgan... 84.65 5. W. H. Sloan 29.00 6. James Weathers.... 70.45 7. William T. Creech.. 34.10 8. William M. Stewart. 34.00 9. W. P. Dooley 216.00 10. Samuel Bullington.. 118.00 11. Mathias Harper 70.45 12. Simon Peter 192.00 13. Theophilus Key 84.65 14. Jacob Bloat ... 40.60 15. Solomon Weathers. . 48.00 16. William T. Vance... 40.25 17. Michael Payton 28.50 18. John Randall 48.00 19. John H. Bird 29.60 UNION TOWNSHIP 1. Silas Breeden $120.00 2. Thomas H. Rot 59.40 3. James W. Seaton... 40.60 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 1 ! . L2. 13. 14. L5. L6. 17. is. 1!). 20. 21. 22. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. L2. L3. Joseph W. Denbo John W. Yates. John Yates Jeremiah Walls. J. M. Smallwood Alfred Morgan. W. G. Robertson W. Jones Jacob Holley. . . David Laswell . . G. W. Att George H. Myler James R. Humphrey William Thompson Thomas R. Seaton Hiram Perkins. . . . John Armstrong. . Francis Blackman . G. S. Wilson 37.40 120.00 160.00 47.60 53.20 168.00 42.00 96.00 86.65 96.00 34.80 144.00 192.00 120.00 172.00 144.00 36.50 5.95 JOHNSON TOWNSHIP James W. Courtney. .$120.00 William Trusty 71.05 Isaac Kendall' 168.00 John II. Boyles 39.00 Wilson Hobbs 133.80 Joseph Rilev 24.00 William R. * Root 140.80 John Deal 46.40 Sam M. Hatfield 52.20 John S. Murray 120.00 Simon Polen 45.56 G. W. Blunt 26.40 Charles Felker 120.00 BOONE TOWNSHIP Alva C. Franklin. . .$144^00 Elias W. Beals 29.44 John Kemp 192.00 James Wiseman 144.00 William Pickett 29.40 Miles Kemp 23.60 Daniel Yates 87.30 W. G. Wright 50.30 James Sheckles 70.60 THE CIVIL WAR 275 10. C. F. Johnson 121.30 16. Ira Harden 96.00 11. Sam A. Eaton 120.00 17. Joseph Cofman 35.60 12. Lyman Brooks 96.00 18. Thomas J. Rails 90.60 19. Wilson Conrad 160.00 OHIO TOWNSHIP 20. Adam Shardine 43.70 21. Thomas W. Whitman 30.00 1. Robert Everdon $168.00 22. Peter E. Seaeat 41.60 2. F. M. Hedden 33.00 23. Nicholas Coleman... 109.85 3. Hiram Sugler 67.40 24. James W. Sturgeon. . 61.00 4. Granville Linton 48.50 25.. John R. Lynch 96.00 5. Obdiah McQuire 68.80 26. W. H. Allen 64.00 C). Mathew Tower 96.00 27. F. M. Sibbert 96.00 7. John Cosbv 90.00 28 Joseph Williams 79.30 8. John H. Wilson 50.30 29. Lewis McKay 93.60 9. R, S. Wilson 96.00 30. James Straughn 70.60 10. Wash J. Bullock.... 51.50 31. Abram Sheckell 29.66 11. William Chandler... 59.20 32. John H. Cox 50.30 12. A. G. Gray 40.25 33. Calvin Pleasant 80.50 13. A. G. Harden 35.60 34. John Handspire 80.50 14. Peter Grant 64.40 35. Jacob East 60.40 15. Lew Franklin 29.66 36. Marvin Lanrus 168.00 KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE In October, 1864, General Jordan, of the "Legion," discovered a very dangerous conspiracy in Crawford and Orange Comities. He regarded the matter in Crawford County a miserable failure. These counties were filled with many men who opposed the war. These had become members of a secret society known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Not all members of the disgraceful order were traitors. Many who joined it never knew for some time what the real purpose was. It seems that the main purpose was to hinder the war in any way it could. The chief methods were: (1) To encourage deserters and hide them when they did succeed in evading the Union officers; (2) To prevent enlistments; (3) To resist the draft; (4) To give aid to Captain Hines and General Morgan when they were ready to make their spectacular raids. 276 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY No one knows how many men were members. There were secret signs, passwords and grips. The password in one degree was "Nuohlac, " which was Calhoun spelled backward. The members in Crawford County were en- couraged by men from Kentucky. Sallie Flock, who lived in Jennings township, said that three men came to her father 's house one morning. She told them that her father was out at the barn. When they went out to the barn she watched them carefully and saw them make curious signs with their hands at her father, who was making sim- ilar signs at them. After they left she asked her father why they were making such signs at each other. Then he told her that they were members of the Knights of the Golden Circle. About two weeks later, when Hines made his raid into Crawford County, the same men were in his company that were at her home before. But these Knights were confronted by the bravest men, the most daring sol- diers, and faithful Union men who tried to defeat the Copperheads on every hand. The Knights tried to resist the draft. They insulted the ladies at houses where their husbands were in the serv- ice. Besides these dastardly deeds they did not hesitate to rob and pilfer when occasion came their way. During the summer of 1864 many of them were arrested and sent to Indianapolis. A raid was made on Hartford and Brownstown where many were captured. The com- pany of soldiers who made the raid on Hartford went on to Brownstown with a little cannon. When they came in sight of the town a large crowd of men was seen in the town. The Union men fired their cannon up the creek into the hills. That was enough. When they arrived no men THE CIVIL WAR 277 were to be seen except some who were working at various things. There were about ninety picked up at Hartford. These were taken to Indianapolis where they were finally released after taking the oath of allegiance to the American At the general inquiry these men were examined by bringing the prisoners into a room one at a time. General Jordan and Captain Woodbury were present. Of the men taken by Captain Aydelotte, Junius Lanox, who lived in Greenfield township, stated that he was a drafted man, that he went to Williamsburg in Orange County where he heard that the drafted men were going to resist the draft. George Coffman of Floyd County made a speech urging all the men to resist the draft. At another meeting, held on October 1, 1864, south of Williamsburg, John Allstott, of Crawford County, advised us to resist the draft. The guns taken from the Home Guards was done more for spite than anything else. He took a gun from Valentine Cook of the Valeene Home Guards. He was along when Patterson Apple was arrested or held up by the Knights and robbed of his revolver. Many drafted men were present at these meetings. These were strangers, many of whom might have been from Kentucky. Jacob Cook took the lead in disarming Valentine Cook and Heinener Lei- bolt helped in taking the revolver from Patterson Apple. William Sanders of Sterling township was called next. He said that he saw something was wrong. His son James was in the crowd and he wanted to get him away. He over- took a crowd of the men near Belcher's in Sterling town- ship. Before we got to E. H. Golden 's there were about thirty in the crowd. He knew seven of them who were 278 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Union — McMickle, Bob Allen, John Allstott, James San- ders, Thomas Highfill, John McKabe, Ben Brown and Benton Newkirk. They told him that they were going to press Hall Golden 's money and horses. He did not know what they got because he took no part in the robbeiy, but understood a horse and pistol were taken at another place. John Allstott told him that if he ever told on them his life was in danger. Just as he was leaving for home he heard men say that several rich hauls were made. He stated further that he was at the store in Brownstown and the postoffice on the next Thursday where much talk was made about seizing the guns of the Home Guard. He heard Ben Brown and Benton Newkirk "hurrah" for Jeff Davis. There were about fifty in all. The robbers used nicknames in the dark so that he did not know any but whom he saw in Golden 's house. Lorenzo D. Knight of Patoka township was next called. He stated that he was a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle and that the signs General Jordan gave were all right. When Morgan was last in Kentucky he said we were to help him and he would come over and help us. We were to seize horses and guns in our neighborhood to mount and ride away with him. They cursed Lincoln bitterly. Doctor Bowles was a general in the order. They intended to put Wood Cummins out of the way and hang Hall Golden if they could slip upon him. There was talk about robbing Bill Ray, whom they said had a large sum of money. He was with McMickle and Allstott when they went to rob Cummins on Friday morning. He heard that a majority of the men in his county were Knights. He heard Jesse McWilliams denounce the President. Kinsey THE CIVIL WAR 279 Livingston and Perry Knight asked me to join the K. G. C. He saw at the meeting when he went James Sanders, John Mason, Elisha Mason, Tim Mason, John Knight, William Sander, Larking Lankford, Henry Strand, Duval L. Brown, Jesse Cuzzort, Tim Belcher, Joel Newkirk and Jonathan Newkirk. Most of these men were at Kendall's store in Orange County on Saturday night, October 1st. He voted to resist the draft at the meeting at Zion's Hol- low near Brownstown. That meeting was held on Septem- ber 29th. He thought a majority of the men voted not to resist the draft then because they had failed to secure outside help which had been promised them. Frank En- low said that he would not report if he was drafted. He was with them when they robbed Ed Hall Golden, but they did not get as much money as they expected. He thought the leaders got most of the money. Elias Corby of Orange County was with them at Golden 's. James E. Allen of Sterling township was called next. He heard Union McMickle say that he intended to use up James Sloan and kill Woods Cummings and Joseph Miller at the risk of his own life. They were opposed to the milk and water policy of Jim Lemons (county clerk) and Mart Tucker (county sheriff). They were assisted by men from Kentucky and three hundred were said to be in camp in Harrison County. The ballot boxes also were to be stuffed at election. The above testimonies were taken from Terrell's re- ports, Volume I, pp. 291. Woods Cummings, Hall Golden and Mart Tucker were staunch Union men. The efforts of this treasonable organization was to help defeat the Union, but when General Forrest was defeated 280 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and General Morgan was compelled to run for his life, the Knights had no time to get together. General Carrington said that they knew each time a rebel army was approach- ing the Ohio River. A history of Crawford Connty will be incomplete with- out an account of Morgan's raid and the part our boys played in that spectacular campaign. About Monday, July 6, 1863, Morgan's advance guard arrived in the town of Brandenburg. They were sent ahead to watch for boats in which the army would cross to the Indiana side. Fortunately for them, they found Captain Ballard's fine steamer at the wharf. They cap- tured the McCombs. Shortly after that the fine steamer Alice Dean came by. The men captured her by firing a shot across her bow. Other boats got away and came down the river whistling and spreading the news. The Home Guards of Leavenworth left immediately with their six-pound cannon. They went up the river bank dragging the cannon along with the hope that they might capture Morgan. On Wednesday morning they were opposite Branden- burg with their field piece planted, ready for action. The fog that morning hid the view of the Kentucky side. At times they could hear the noise in the town. The river here is about one thousand yards wide. About nine o'clock the fog lifted so that the Union men could see the wharf. To their great surprise the town was gray with people. Morgan's main cavalry had come up by this time. One of the boats was loaded with oats. The sacks were carried THE CIVIL WAR 281 ashore and the oats poured out on the ground for his horses to eat. Leaning against the wharf boat Morgan's advance guard found Captain Hines who looked haggard, careworn and really was a " sorry sight. ' ' He had escaped the Union Army at Blue River Island a few days before. He readily joined Morgan and became a daring soldier. The LTnion men who had the small rifle cannon aimed the gun at the mass of rebels on the Kentucky side and fired. After several seconds they saw the fire and dust rise where the ball hit. The men sought protection in all directions. Men informed the writer that one could not count twenty-five before the court house square was vacant. Suddenly they saw six gray horses coming into action in a sweeping gallop. The driver wheeled around and fired at the Union men. The ball cut Jim Lemon's coat tail off as he was helping the men load the cannon. Our men fired again. The second shot from Morgan's men hit one wheel of the cannon. Our men fired again. This was too hot a fight for the few Home Guards. They left the cannon and ran into an old log cabin house on the bank. The third shot hit the gable ends, knocking out two logs, which caused the old house to fall. Our boys came out of the dirt and fallen roof running like mad men. Tom Ells- worth said that it was a very amusing scene. The southern men then came over and landed a large number of men on the Indiana side. They formed in battle line and advanced, firing upon our Home Guards, who were behind haystacks and trees. The Union gunboat Elk came down and a terrible battle ensued. The heavy parrots after an hour's firing drove the gunboat away. 282 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Then the main army crossed. Captain Ballard of the steamer McCombs kept a tally of the men. He said that 4,800 men, 5,100 horses and two six-pound and two twelve- pound cannon were set over. The wharfboat at Branden- burg was sunk and the steamer Alice Dean was burned. Her hull may yet be seen when the river is very low at Brandenburg. The Alice Dean was owned by northern men. By the intervention of Basil Duke and Bushrod Johnson, Captain Ballard's steamer, John F. McCombs, was spared. He steamed up the river and gave a report to the New Albany Ledger. Morgan's men were across the river by that afternoon and were in full march toward Corydon. The Home Guards were pushed back. The first blood was spilled by the Union men when they fired the cannon across the river, wounding William Wilson, one of the quartermasters, who was down on the bank of the river. As Morgan neared Corydon some one fired from a fence row and killed one of his soldiers. His men set fire to Reverend Peter Glenn's home. Glenn ran out to put out the fire. They ordered him away but he refused. Then they shot him dead and wounded his son. Mrs. Glenn begged that she might be allowed to get some clothes and a ham of meat out of the house, but her request was re- fused. They made her go out into the road and help pull the dead rebel out of the way. At Corydon the Home Guards defended the town until they were outflanked. Many amusing stories were told about Morgan. He took a fine stallion from one man near Corydon. The owner told Morgan that he could take the horse but that he had one request to make of him first. That if he could not work THE CIVIL WAR 283 or ride the stallion that Morgan would turn him loose. Morgan agreed to that. About two days later, when the man went out to feed, he found the horse at the gate with whip marks all over him. A man who was named Lang became so frightened that he started to run from Corydon to the Wyandotte Cave where he could hide. He ran about three miles from Cory- don before he dropped dead from heart failure. He was a native of Harrison County. Our Home Guards followed Morgan all the way through until he was captured. On several occasions they captured his meat cooking and saw the dust of the retreat- ing rebels. John McCollister of Leavenworth was sent as a courier to New Albany. He rode eighty-five miles over rough roads in twenty-five hours. He stated that not many of the Leavenworth Home Guards were captured ; that sev- enty-three were taken at Corydon from the Harrison County Guards. Men told Morgan that southern Indiana was full of Copperheads. He said that was about right, for they were all striking at him. Having been requested by Mr. H. H. Pleasant, the author of a forthcoming history of Crawford County, Indi- ana, to prepare and submit to him a personal sketch of my military services and experiences during the Civil War period, and since, I gladly comply, assuring those who may honor this contribution with a perusal, of the sincerity of my purpose to utter nothing herein but what I believe to 284 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY be truly reliable statements of fact. I have always been proud of my native county, and of the fact that I had an opportunity to bear a humble part in thte patriotic military activities of its people. ' ' I, John Richard Weathers, was born in a log house on a farm near the village of Big Springs (now the town of Marengo), Crawford County, Indiana, on the 12th day of March, 1847. In early boyhood I had learned to play a few simple tunes on the fife, and when the War of the Great Rebellion was begun in 1861, and active recruiting operations w r ere inaugurated, my services as a fifer, to- gether with that of my younger brother, James Henry Weathers, as a snare-drummer, was in urgent demand, for musicians of that type were very scarce in that community. I was urged by those making up military companies to go with them as company fifer. But I was a minor, little more than fourteen years of age, and could not properly go without the consent of my parents. ' ' Having naturally a strong military inclination, inher- ited, doubtless, from my father, Enoch Weathers, who held a life commission as captain in the militia of Indiana, I literally begged permission to enter the service, and finally prevailed. My father took me, about November 17, 1861, on horseback to Camp Joe Holt, near Jeffersonville, Indi- ana, where I was left in care of the officers of Company F, Forty-ninth Indiana Infantry, with the distinct under- standing, before witnesses, that I was to be kept in camp ten days, and then, in case I desired to remain, to be examined and mustered into the service as a musician. But before the ten days had expired, the United States mustering officer came, and, after a hasty perfunctory THE CIVIL WAR 285 physical examination, as we stood in line, the whole regi- ment was mustered, by companies, into the military service of the United States, on November 23, 1861, for three years, unless sooner discharged. The weather was damp and cold, and the slush-covered ground and the unheated tents presented a cheerless spec- tacle to all of us just out from the cozy comforts of home. But it was a war game we were entering and most of us boys felt that it would be 'great delight to march and fight as Yankee volunteers.' I had been in camp but a short time before I was prostrated by the measles. This caused my transference from camp in an army wagon drawn by four husky mules, to an improvised hospital in a small church building in the city of Jeffersonville, Indi- ana. "I knew nothing of the dangers incident to measles (which is said to have caused more deaths in the contend- ing armies than was effected by the deadly implements of warfare) ; and, knowing little of necessary military re- straint and being anxious to rejoin my comrades who had gone into Kentucky and were then encamped near Bards- town, Kentucky, forty miles south of Louisville, I left the hospital before I was out of danger from relapse, without official permission, and went to camp. It was mid- winter and the weather was inclement, and I soon contracted a heavy cold which rapidly developed into pneumonia in a hospital, improvised from a girls' seminary in Bardstown. Here we had neither carpeting on the floor, nor cots nor pallets, but, wrapped in personal clothing and blankets, the sick lay in rows stretched on the bare floor with heads near the walls of the room. The only means of heating 286 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the room consisted of a small coal-grate fire at the rear end of the hall we occupied, but this gave no perceptible warmth to us on the floor. "I had notified my father from Jeffersonville that I had the measles. He came to look after me, but failing to find me there, followed on to Bardstown. Here he made a vigorous effort to secure my discharge from the service, but this was denied by the regimental surgeon. My father went home, but soon returned, and after a lengthy con- ference at night with the surgeon, during which it devel- oped that the surgeon had married a Miss "Weathers, my father 's cousin, whose home was in the White River section of Indiana, he obtained for me a furlough of thirty days. I was taken home at once, where, under the skillful care of my brother-in-law, Doctor Isaac H. Girdner, the work of rescue and repair was begun. My left lung was seri- ously involved. Certificates of my condition went forward at regular intervals to the regiment, and on the fifth of the following June I started back wearing a large plaster over my left lung, and reached my regiment at camp in East Tennessee, three miles south of Cumberland Gap, Ken- tucky. ' ' My regiment at that time was in an organization desig- nated as the Seventh Division of the Army of the Ohio, under Brigadier General George W. Morgan, of Ohio. The Confederates had seized and fortified Cumberland Gap, which proved to be one of the most impregnable strong- holds in the entire zone of the Civil War. General Morgan made an assault upon the Gap from the Kentucky side, but was repulsed. His little army of ten thousand infantry and artillery — having been organized and designed, at the THE CIVIL WAR 287 specific behest of President Lincoln, to capture and hold Cumberland Gap, thought by Lincoln to be one of the important highways between the North and the South, General Morgan determined, if possible, to cross the moun- tain range west of the Gap and cut off the Confederates and starve them into surrender. "But the Confederate commander at the Gap, General Stevenson, learning that Morgan was coming up Powell's Valley south of him, quickly evacuated the Gap and escaped a few hours before Morgan's force came up. Stevenson, finding that Morgan's army was smaller than his and perceiving that he had been outwitted and maneuvered out of his stronghold, now set his face toward the Gap, driving us from our camps up to the foothills of the Gap, under cover of our artillery in the fortifications. But this move on our part, did not deter the persistent Con- federates, who continued their attacks, especially under cover of darkness, until we all went up and located our- selves in the stronghold so recently held by the enemy. "Although safe from Confederate artillery and rifle shots, Morgan was not idle. Trees that obstructed artillery range were felled; old forts were strengthened and new ones built ; a commissary and other buildings were rapidly constructed around us to guard against surprise; and col- lisions with the enemy at different points were of almost daily occurrence. We had gotten possession of that noted gateway so much desired by our beloved Commander-in- chief, President Lincoln, and we felt fully able to hold it, General Morgan expressing this thought when he is alleged to have said in a message to Washington: "Furnish me with supplies and I'll hold the, Gap against the whole Con- 288 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY federate army." This expression, if actually made by our good commander, may have been somewhat extravagant. However, Cumberland Gap, fortified as we had it, was at least one of our American Gibraltars. "But the fortunes of war are often fickle. The rapid advance of the Union arms through Tennessee so alarmed the Confederacy that the enemy set up a counter movement at once by sending a large Confederate army into Ken- tucky to capture, or at least threaten, Louisville and Cin- cinnati. This invasion of Kentucky cut our line of com- munication with Washington and the North in July, 1862. From that time until the middle of September we were on short allowance of food in spite of the limited foraging we were able to do. The enemy drew closer and closer on our front and rear until, as one historian [Headley] expresses it, we were practically surrounded by one hundred thou- sand Confederate soldiers. "General Morgan ascertained through engineers and scouts sent out by him, that one way, leading through the rugged hills of eastern Kentucky, was not yet closed; and he, after a council of war with his brigade commanders, determined to try to reach the Ohio River, two hundred and fifty miles to the north. On the 17th of September the little army of hungry but hopeful soldiers moved down the mountain road out of Cumberland Gap. The great natural rock wall along the winding road leading up to the Gap from Tennessee, had been mined, and all the gov- ernment buildings covered with turpentine; and on the night of the 17th of September, a small detachment of men, left to wreck things, fired the mines and buildings. My regiment, the Forty-ninth Indiana, the last to leave the THE CIVIL WAR 289 Gap, moved rapidly down the dark mountain road about ten o 'clock at night. We had just reached the sandy road at the foot of the mountain, when the mines and buildings in the Gap were fired. A grander and more tragic event I have never seen nor heard. The mountains fairly shook with the awful explosions of the mines and the heavens and the solemn mountains were lit up with weird and lurid sketches of hateful war. ''By eight o'clock next morning we were fifteen miles away at Cumberland Ford on the Cumberland River. Here we halted for an hour's rest, a scanty breakfast, and a general lightening up by discarding part of our indi- vidual loads. Then we went on to Manchester, a few miles farther away, and spent a night and day in refitting and adjusting for the long perilous march that stretched away through the hill country that lay mockingly between us and our goal, the majestic Ohio. ' ' For sixteen days we continued the weary march, wad- ing rivers and creeks; removing blockades of trees which had been felled across cuts in the road to delay the progress of our artillery, twenty-six pieces of which we had brought away from the Gap ; fighting bush-whackers and guer- rillas; subsisting almost wholly on the ripening corn, acorns, pawpaws, and an occasional saucy-looking goose, pig, or calf; and at times pausing long enough to hastily bury a dead comrade. But on October 3 we reached with great rejoicing the grand old Ohio, practically destitute of everything except our arms and ammunition. Personally, I had gotten rid of so much that, when our march ended, my entire possessions consisted of a blouse, a pair of badly worn trousers, a pair of wrecked shoes, an old slouch hat, a 290 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY gum-blanket, haversack, an artilleryman's saber (which I had picked up and carried through), and my fife. I was not then fit to play an acceptable part in a drawing-room of that day, although I doubtless would have caused some astonishment, if not consternation. "The reader, I feel, will permit a little digression just here, as our ragged regiments rest on the north bank of the River Beautiful, near the town of Sciotoville, Ohio, while I recount at least one incident of that hazardous retreat. We had been on our march but a few days when we reached the village of Proctor, Kentucky. At this place we expected to get some flour from a mill, but when within a mile of the village we saw a great smoke shooting up ahead of us, which proved to come from the burning mill. We halted near the village and shortly thereafter countermarched and then leaving the road marched a short distance along a hillside and took up a position just in the rear of the batteries. There we remained, resting in peace, for an hour or two. The sun was nearing the western horizon when, apparently realizing some myste- rious disappointment, our batteries limbered up and wheeled again into the public highway, and we all resumed the march northward. ' ' Some twenty years later I went to Little Rock, Arkan- sas, where I was employed in editorial work. I had been there but a short time when my employer observed that I had been what he called a "Yankee" soldier, and in- formed me that he had served the Confederacy. Pursuing this subject he asked where I had served. Advising him that I was in Kentucky and Tennessee and for some time at Cumberland Gap, he quickly asked whether I was at THE CIVIL WAR 291 the Gap under "Yankee" Morgan. Assuring him that I was, he then asked whether I came out with Morgan on his retreat northward. I told him that I did. He then stated that he was under the Confederate General, Hum- phrey Marshall, who was sent across Kentucky to cut off that retreat. I asked him whether they expected to meet us at Proctor, Kentucky. He said they did. I then told him that we formed a line of battle and waited for him a few hours, and then went on northward. Whereupon the ex- Confederate said that when they reached Proctor they learned that we had been gone northward about two hours, and that they, being exhausted from hard marching, stopped and bivouacked for the night. I then exclaimed : ' I am certainly glad of it ! ' And he, with a generous smile, responded : ' So were we ! ' "This true incident illustrates how little those in the battle-line know of their environments and what to expect. For twenty years I was ignorant of the dreadful truth of what our battle-line at Proctor really meant. ' ' But to resume my story : After remaining near Sciotoville, Ohio, several days, during which time generous supplies of food reached us from Cincinnati, and a partial outfit of clothing, consisting of shirts, trousers, socks, shoes and hats, we were ordered into West Virginia, whither we went, marching up the Kanawha Valley from Point Pleas- ant. On the morning of the second day it began to rain, a cold wave struck us, and at noon snow began falling. We were again in a predicament. Without coats of any kind, drenched with rain and snow, and chilled to the bone, onward we trudged through the inhospitable slush. A while before night we stopped to bivouac ; made fires, built 292 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY rail pens and put straw into them, ate supper (each man cooking for himself) and then huddling together in the straw put in a miserable night trying to keep warm and get some sleep. Next morning we arose early and marched to a little village called Buffalo, and went into such houses there as we found not occupied, which was true of the greater part of them. "There we remained until tents and the rest of our clothing (blouses and overcoats) reached us, and then we went on to a village called Coal's Mouth, where we re- mained two or three weeks watching the Virginia guerrilla chief, Colonel John Mosby. We then were ordered back to Point Pleasant, (now) West Virginia, where we em- barked on an Ohio River transport for Vicksburg, Miss. Our steamer was dreadfully overcrowded, but on reaching Cincinnati, where we lay over for one day, our regiment was divided and each of the two battalions was given a boat (the boats as I recall it now, were the Sunny side and the New York). This change made the voyage much more pleasant. "On account of a low stage of water the boats were not allowed to run at night, but were anchored in the river some distance from the shore. This precaution was thought necessary to keep the soldiers from leaving the boat, for it was well known that the soldiers were anxious to visit their homes, which the steamers would soon pass. While anchored some distance above the Ohio Falls, a pro- test by the soldiers reached a mutinous stage and they threatened to raise the anchor, cut the tiller-ropes, and let the vessel drift over the falls. Major Thornton, in com- mand of the vessel I was on, learned of the threat and TUB CIVIL WAR 293 promptly came down the stairway, pistol in hand, and addressing the men, commanded them to desist from their evil purpose, promising that on reaching New Albany he would telegraph Governor Morton concerning permission for them to make a short visit home. Our boat landed at New Albany and the Major went up town but soon re- turned with the statement that no delay could be permitted by the state. "We steamed ahead till sundown, when the vessel was again anchored, but this time, as the soldiers ascertained, rather close to the Kentucky side. Some of the men, taking the risk, ran across the boat-deck and leaped off, striking the sand and disappearing in the dark. These venture- some comrades, waiting till daylight, found means of crossing to the Indiana side of the river, whence they went home for a short visit. I, being a mere boy and of a reticent nature, was ignored in all these matters. "The next day we hove in sight of Leavenworth. The town front was lined with anxious, flag-waving, rejoicing friends, and a solitary little cannon was booming a welcome to the boys of the 'bloody Forty-ninth.' Our Captain had told us that, while it had been impossible to get official leave for a home visit, he was sure that if any went home for a few days, and then came on to the regiment, it would be all right. Our Major and most of our company officers were residents of Leavenworth. I stood on the bow of the boat looking in vain to see some recognizable face in the great crowd there. The officers and dozens of men left the boat and mingled with the crowd. I saw no one I knew, and, having a letter which I had written on the boat, 294 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY I also left the boat and went up Nelson Street searching for the postoffice. ' ' I had not gone very far when three of my mess-mates — the Crane brothers — overtook me and called ont : 'Come on, John!' I asked where they were going and they said,: 'Up here.' I followed them, saying: 'I know you're going to get some beer,' for I knew that a small distillery was located near the 'big spring,' just back of Leavenworth. My comrades did not stop at the distillery, but starting up the hill road told me they were going home for a visit. While I had not meditated such a venture, I was not averse to such a visit. We kept together until we reached the forks of the road at the Mansfield place, where we paused for a few moments and agreed to meet again in ten days at Leavenworth, to follow up the regiment, and then we sep- arated, they going toward Grantsburg, while I went north- ward to Marengo. "This move was not premeditated on my part, yet I was glad to see my folks and be at home. But in a short time I was prostrated with malarial fever. This I had contracted from exposure on the boat, where I slept during those cold November nights anywhere on the fog-enveloped boat, from the hurricane-deck to a pallet of poles and camp-kettles in a barge beside the anchored steamer. My ten-day agreement with my comrades, the Crane boys, expired while I was confined in bed by serious illness. Cer- tificates from my physician were forwarded promptly and regularly to my Captain, to which he responded, urging me to come on to the regiment as soon as possible, and saying that he would protect me from any possible trouble. "Early in January, 1863, I attempted to go to my THE CIVIL WAR 295 regiment in company with Columbus Taylor, a neighbor, who was returning to his regiment after a furlough. Tay- lor and I were taken to Paoli on horses, and from that point we went on to the residence of a comrade, Lindley, who, Taylor said, had transportation for soldiers returning to their commands. We found Lindley sick and were ad- vised by him to return home and wait a week and then come again. We started back on a seventeen mile tramp through slush over a rough road. I had walked but a few miles when my physical strength gave way, and my left lung, which had been seriously affected by pneumonia, began to bleed. Taylor relieved me of my little load, tell- ing me that I was in no condition to return to active duty with my regiment, and advised me to write to Laz Noble, then Adjutant General of Indiana, setting forth my con- dition and the circumstances under which I was absent from my regiment and asking for advice. "The Adjutant General replied promptly, sending me official leave of absence for twenty days and directing me to report at the expiration of the leave of absence to the nearest hospital post. This I did by reporting to Major Fry, Commandant of the New Albany Hospital post. My father accompanied me thither and succeeded in having me examined for discharge. The board of surgeons de- cided that I was not fit for duty in the field and that I should not be sent there, but that I might be of good serv- ice in some hospital of that post. I was accordingly sent to Hospital No. 5 and assigned to light duties, such as sweeping the walks and aiding the quartermaster in pro- viding rations for the men there. "That hospital was in charge of a civilian surgeon, 296 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Doctor Pleasant Shields, who seemed to fear that he might lose his job. At weekly intervals he had the convalescents line upon the pavement for physical examination, to ascer- tain who might be sent to their regiments at the front. I, thinking it my duty to get into that line, was twice marked to be sent to my regiment. Each time Major Fry struck my name from the list sent him, and on the second occasion rebuked the surgeon of my hospital. Peeved at this, the surgeon began to find fault, privately, with the work I was doing about the hospital. Learning of this, I wrote to my father, telling him of these facts, and vowing that I didn't enlist to sweep walks, and was now determined to go to my regiment. My father, feeling that I could not long survive in the swamps at Milliken's Bend, near Vicks- burg, and knowing my enlistment was not in accord with his expressed wishes, came promptly to New Albany, bring- ing with him an efficient witness, and immediately in- voked a writ of habeas corpus to secure my release from the United States military service on the ground of minor- ity. The case was tried at once in the civil court there, and I was discharged June 30, 1863. The original copy of the writ of habeas corpus releasing me from the military service is now on file in the War Department, and a veri- fied copy of the court record at New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, the same being a duplicate of the original habeas corpus action, is now in my possession. "The Captain of Company F, Forty-ninth Indiana Infantry was fully advised at all times of my condition and whereabouts, and, in response to my request, sent me, while in the New Albany hospital, my descriptive list and payroll, which enabled me to draw pay due me, thus recog- THE CIVIL WAR 297 nizing my acceptable continued connection with the mili- tary service. I have now in my possession a certified transcript of my service record in the Forty-ninth Indiana Infantry on file in the Adjutant General's office of Indiana, showing that I was enlisted in Company F of said regi- ment, November 19, 1861, and mustered into the United States service four days later (November 3) and dis- charged from said service at New Albany, Indiana, June 30, 1863. "While I was at New Albany the rebel Captain Hines made a raid into Indiana, passing through Crawford County and escaping with part of his company via the Blue River Island in the Ohio just above Leavenworth. Report of the daring raid excited me to a high pitch, so when a report came a few days later that a large force of rebel cavalry had entered our state via Flint Island, and a call for all soldiers at New Albany able to carry muskets to go by train to Orleans to meet and help repel the in- vaders, I went as one of the four hundred that were gath- ered up at New Albany. "At Orleans, Orange County, we were furnished some- thing to eat, after which we impressel horses that had been ridden into town by the excited farmers and went promptly southward eight miles to Paoli. A heavy dust covered the road and we were literally enveloped in clouds of it throughout that march. We bivouacked in the Paoli fair- ground; and, although it was June, the night was very cool, and in spite of the little fires made we, lying in the grass without other covering than our clothing, actually suffered. Next morning we learned that the alleged second invasion was a false report, and we returned to New 298 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Albany. The exposure of that little campaign again brought on my lung trouble, which confined me for several days to my hospital bed. "I reached home with my father about July 3, 1863, and five days later a report reached us that the rebel General, John H. Morgan, was crossing the Ohio at Brandenburg, Kentucky, with about five thousand of his seasoned cav- alry, for a devastating raid through Indiana. General Hobson was following Morgan with a cavalry force of Federal troops numbering four or five thousand. But Hobson was at least a day's march behind Morgan. A general order was issued by Governor Morton calling out the Indiana Legion, the organized militia of the state, which was at that time about sixty thousand strong. The Marengo Light Guards (the militia company at Marengo) under Captain I. H. Girdner, were quickly assembled by bass drum beating and anvil firing. My father, an officer in the company, asked me whether I wanted to go. 'Cer- tainly,' said I, 'I'd as soon fight rebels on Indiana soil as anywhere else.' He then told me to get a horse and come with him. That night we bivouacked at Leavenworth, and the captain gave me a detail of seven men to picket the Mauckport road near the Blue River bridge. Next morn- ing our Marengo company was divided — those on foot were sent, under command of my father, Captain Enoch Weathers, on the road to New Albany, while we who were mounted remained with Captain Girdner and went with the mounted force, commanded (as I recall it) by a Major of the Frist Indiana Cavalry, who happened to be at his home in Leavenworth on leave of absence. ' ' We pushed on toward Cory don, and when within two THE CIVIL WAR 299 or three miles of that town, we heard rapid firing of artilleiy. We were halted half a mile from town and two men (scouts) were sent forward to take a look at what was going on in Corydon. The scouts soon came galloping back, with a report saying that the town was literally crowded with cavalrymen galloping hither and thither. We were then ordered to countermarch. After going a short distance, we turned to the right and rode single file along a path that led through the woods to another road leading to Corydon. Forming and turning toward the captured town, we went almost in sight of it, and halted to bivouac. "Next morning we went into the wrecked first capital of Indiana, which the Confederates had left during the night on their way to Salem. Soon after our entry into Corydon General Hobson's command came in, and we again pushed on after Morgan. We entered Salem shortly after midnight and learned that Morgan, after burning the railroad station and relieving the bank of its accumulation of "filthy lucre," had departed eastward. Catching a little sleep, getting some food from the good people there, and replacing our lame horses with such as we could readily secure, we again took up the trail, now leading eastward. "Onward we pressed along dusty roads, through Lex- ington, Versailles, North Vernon, Milan, and on, almost night and day, till we reached the Whitewater River, sep- arating our state from Ohio, at a point opposite Harrison, Ohio, but there found the long covered wooden bridge across the river wrapped in flames. We saw many Con- federate soldiers galloping through the streets of Harrison, 300 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY but we were blocked. Soon, however, a citizen of that community led us up the river about half a mile to a ford in the river, along which we pushed to the distressed town, but from which the rebel rear-guard had just departed. Here we remained over night. Next day the Indiana militiamen turned back homeward, leaving Morgan and his men to the tender mercies of the Buckeye militia, Hob- son's weary troopers, and the vicious little gunboats patroling the Ohio on a vigilant outlook for the daring rebel invaders. The Marengo Light Guards were later paid $5.50 each for those mounted in that short but rigor- ous campaign, I being one of the recipients of that emolu- ment, this amount, at fifty cents a day, showing that our campaign lasted eleven days. "While at home I was almost constantly concerned in activities arising from that great war, cooperating usually with detachments of our active militia company. We were sent at one time into Harrison County in search of desperate deserters from the Federal Army. We were constantly on the outlook for Colonel Bowles, one of the leading spirits of the treasonable organization known as 'Knights of the Golden Circle.' We conducted a cam- paign of four days in Crawford County against the Knights of the Golden Circle, who had risen up in hostile destructive demonstration against the conduct of national authorities in prosecuting the war against disunion. On one occasion a number of us went to Milltown to protect a Major in filling his appointment to make an authorized Federal recruiting speech. "About December, 1864, the President made a call for many new regiments for a service of one year, unless sooner THE CIVIL WAR 301 discharged. Emery P. Toney, of near English, Crawford County, who was my Lieutenant in the Forty-ninth Indi- ana Infantry, got busy recruiting a company under the new call. Meeting me at Marengo, he asked if I didn't want to try it again. I assured him that I did; and he prom- ised to make me a company musician. Then I again be- sieged my parents for permission to enlist, for I was not yet eighteen years of age. They, especially my mother, strongly opposed the proposition. I pleaded that the Con- federacy was a mere shell at that time and I wanted to be present when it collapsed. I finally prevailed, and on the ninth of February, 1865, our company, D, of the 144th Indiana Infantry was mustered into the service at Camp Carrington, Indianapolis. In March we were sent to Har- per's Ferry, West Virginia, and thence up the Shenan- doah Valley. Here a fine army of one year volunteers, mostly from Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, was organized under Major General Hancock. "In April that fine army moved up the valley toward Richmond, the rebel capital. At the end of the second day's march, when we had halted to bivouac, an orderly galloped up to our Colonel and handed him a message. After examining the message, he called us to attention and read the same to us, which announced the fall of Peters- burg, the strong defenses of Richmond. We threw our caps high in the air and the valley around Winchester resounded with our joyous cheers, for we knew that the rebellion was crushed. We went no farther south. Lee surrendered on April 9, and our noble President Lincoln was assassinated five days later. "A message announcing that awful event came to us 302 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY within an hour after the fatal shot was fired. The regi- ment was called up and our Colonel, George W. Riddle, read the crushing message. We felt that the cowardly act had been inspired by the malevolence of a prostrate enemy. Next morning a message came from the War Department, ordering that any soldier heard to express gratification at the death of President Lincoln should be arrested and immediately tried by court-martial, and, if found guilty, shot to death. Before noon a man of the 150th Indiana Infantry, camping beside us, was heard to say that he thought the war would have closed earlier if Lincoln's death had occurred sooner. This was enough. He was arrested, tried, and found guilty, and the fact reported to Washington. The War Secretary wired a modification of his first order, by directing that the soldier should be stripped of his uniform, clad in citizen garments, and drummed out of the service. The order was obeyed by drumming the unwise young man out of the service, our combined drum-corps officiating, playing the Rogue's March. ' ' Our drum major having failed to return from leave of absence, I was promoted to a position on Colonel Riddle's staff, as principal musician of the 144th Indiana Infantry. "Our discharge certificates were made out and dated August 5, 1865, and soon thereafter we were loaded into freight cars, like those used in bringing us eastward, and carried to Indianapolis, where we were paid off in full up to August 15, 1865, (the only pay day we had during that service of six months. Pay of soldiers was withheld after the war closed until they were discharged, this being THE CIVIL WAR 303 thought necessary to keep the soldiers from going home before the formal muster-out). ' ' Soldiers of the Civil War had learned valuable lessons of independence, so after a few days' rest and talk with those who welcomed their return home, they went to work at some profitable activity. Soon after my return I en- tered Indiana University (January 2, 1866). While there I was, for a short time, a member of a military company at the university. But finding this unprofitable, I got out of it, that I might have more time for study and bachelor- hall requirements. "About the year 1872, while I was teaching in the Ma- rengo Academy, a party committee at Leavenworth (the county seat at that time) asked me to allow my name to go before an approaching convention as a candidate for the State Legislature. I consented, but when at the convention my name was suggested, a rival objected, saying that a 'History of Indiana in the War of the Rebellion,' just out, showed that I was a 'deserter' from Company F, Forty- ninth Indiana Infantry. This was shocking news to me, as well as my father and other friends. My father, at an early date, called upon the Captain of my company in the Forty-ninth Indiana and asked him to explain that vicious record. The Captain stated that the charge of 'deserter' was entered against me and sent off in his bi-monthly report before he learned of my inability by reason of sickness to follow the regiment ; that others, who had left the boat at Leavenworth when I did, went home for a few days, and then came back to the regiment, had been freely exonerated; and that the obnoxious record against me had gone hurriedly into this state history, but 304 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY was not in the War Department records at Washington, D. C. "The matter quieted down, and for ten years I heard nothing more of it. But while I was engaged at school work at Cannelton, Perry County, about 1882, my father, speaking of the fact that many soldiers of the Civil War were applying for pensions, asked me why I didn't apply, assuring me that I could easily establish a good claim. I told him I was able to teach and make a living in that way and that the nation was deeply involved in debt. He said that should cut no figure in my case, and asked me to meet him at Leavenworth some day soon and sign my name to an application. I did so, and soon received a state- ment from the Pension Office advising that nothing further could be done until a charge of 'desertion' was removed from my War Department record. "Here I received my second shock. I wrote immedi- ately to the War Department, protesting against the false record. In response to this I was asked to explain my whereabouts after November 25, 1862. "I promptly complied with this call and explained in detail each of my movements up to the close of the Civil War. In a short time I received a certificate of exoneration from the erroneous record, of which the following is an exact copy: " 'War Department, Adjutant General's Office, " 'Washington, April 14, 1886. " 'John R. Weathers, New Albany, Indiana. " 'Sir: Referring to the application for removal of charges of desertion and absence without leave of Novem- THE CIVIL WAR 305 ber 24 and 25, 1862, standing against your record as of Company F, Forty-ninth Indiana Volunteers, I have the honor to inform you that, as an investigation of the case has established that said charge was erroneously made, it has been removed from your record in this office, and your record has been changed to show that you were discharged upon writ of Habeas Corpus, June 30, 1863, while in No. 5 General Hospital, New Albany, Indiana. " 'Very respectfully, your obedient servant, " '0. D. Greene, Asst. Adjt. General.' " ''Soon after getting this exonerating certificate, I re- ceived a pension for disease of the lungs. But, while the false charge of record against me was promptly expunged at Washington and Indianapolis, yet it still stands in the early published 'History of Indiana in the War of the Rebellion,' and must, of course, continue until that history shall have been revised and republished. "During my years of work in the Bureau of Pensions at Washington, D. C, I personally learned of scores of erroneous 'desertion' records against volunteers of the Civil War, some of these charges having been made against brave men who, though unaccounted for soon after an en- gagement with the enemy, had actually been captured and carried away to some rebel prison. Much and great in- justice was done faithful volunteer soldiers during the Civil War by hasty, petulant, or ill-advised reports for- warded to Washington by company officers. ' ' In order to make complete this epitome of my military career and aspirations, it is proper to add that in 1889 I en- listed and became First Lieutenant in a company of Na- 306 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY tional Guard at New Albany, Indiana, from which after activities of a week's encampment at Camp Hovey, near Indianapolis, in 1890, I resigned to enter the Federal civil service at Washington, D. C, and that, while so em- ployed, I tendered my service to the Governor of Indiana on the second call for troops in the War with Spain, which was declined by the Governor on the ground that the Presi- dential call did not necessitate new organizations but was simply for replenishing with recruits from Indiana. Even now, at the age of seventy-six, while physically unable to do much 'hiking,' I would not hesitate to enter, if neces- sary, any military line of defense against rebellion or invasion of our country. "I trust that the foregoing sketch of the vicissitudes and trials of probably the youngest Crawford County lad to wear the Federal blue in the greatest of American wars, may be accepted as a true recital. My sole thought and purpose throughout that terrible conflict was to serve my country usefully and creditably. I am therefore truly thankful for this providential opportunity to set forth in this new history facts in defense of my honor and repute as a Hoosier volunteer in the sixties. "Looking back through the vista of a long life of earnest and hopeful endeavor, I feel that the famous poet of the Avon spoke wisely when he said: 'There is a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we may.' "John Richard Weathers. "April 9, 1923." CHAPTER XV THE SEVENTIES Much agitation during the late sixties and the early seventies existed in Crawford County relative to the rail- road surveys which were made. Two of these surveys crossed Crawford County. It was the purpose of the company to get each county to take so much stock or donate to the railroad company so much to help build the road. The first proposition was submitted to the board of commissioners on September 11, 1869, by John S. Sandrom. The petition read: We, the undersigned residents of Crawford County, do hereby peti- tion the Honorable Board of Commissioners to order an election held in Crawford County to see whether the people wish to buy $32,000 worth of the railroad stock. The election to be held at the various voting precincts of the county. The stock was to be bought when the road was complete and the first train run over it. NAMES Sam Eoberson Thomas Myler John Bell D. McFarland N. Hendricks J. B. Robinson John Martin John W. Cosby V. T. Froman William Seaton Daniel Grant Thomas Roberts 307 308 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Joseph Byrd Anderson Day Sam Hatfield Labon Gregory James Brock W. R. Seaton George Goodson W. L. Seacat S. R. Jenner Stephen Roberson G. W. Summers H. C. Roberson G. W. Roberson N. Straughn William Landiss J. K. Landiss Joseph Landiss Elijah Roberson Jerud Leonard Albert Biry William Riggle J. W. Seaton Tom Rook C. J. Myler John Gregory Amos Atkins Franklin Vandever George Roberson Martin Wise William L. Edrington William Froman John Roberson James H. Seaton M. Benham Richard Parker James Hughes John Temple Henry Goodson Milton Day David Benham John M. Benham Jonathan Connovan Jeremiah Belcher David Roberson Henry Wiser John Gilliland Henry Arwick E. B. Elliott William Mansfield H. Roberson George W. Riddle William Williams Alfred Romine W. H. Peckinpaugh J. J. McCallister G. C. Caldwell William McCullum Sam Shaffer Frederick Saltsgaver Daniel Shafer John McCartney William Lynch Ambrose Tower William Haga Alfred Bybee Nathan Huff John Bunch W. W. Conrad John S. Whitten J. Sanerheber J. R. Carnes Joseph B. Roberson J. J. Clark E. R. Hawn THE SEVENTIES 309 J. R. Caldwell G. W. Behen C. S. Land James McLain M. Monk William McLain W. L. Temple James Shaw Jackson Goldman John Shaffer Nicholas Coleman George Saltsgaver William Sauerhieber Sam Shaffer William Saltsgaver John J. Flock William Sisson James Archibald Henry Baker Andrew Tower Franklin Scott John Roberson Henry A. Rothrock Emery Behen N. P. Rothrock George Shaffer H. M. Rothrock William Monaghan The board being fully satisfied that one hundred of the list were freeholders, and being fully advised in the matter, ordered an election held throughout the county on Novem- ber 1, 1869, to see if the people wished to buy the bonds. The auditor gave due notice to the voters of said elec- tion, of which this is a copy : . RAILROAD ELECTION To the qualified voters of Crawford County : You are hereby notified that the polls will be open at the usual places in the various townships on Monday, November 1, 1869, to take a vote on the subject of said county aiding in the construction of the New Albany and St. Louis Air Line Railroad by taking $32,000 worth of stock. Witness my hand and seal this 13th day of September, 1869. Malachi Monk, Auditor, C. C. 310 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Then began an earnest campaign for the road and against the road. "When the election was over the vote was as shown below. The judges met at Leavenworth on November 4, I860, and canvassed the votes. It appeared that 942 votes were cast, out of which 493 were for the road and 449 were against the road. For the railroad : Boone, 1 ; Jennings, 34 ; Johnson, 66; Liberty, 42; Ohio, 7; Patoka, 77; Sterling, 94; Union, 107 ; Whisky Run, 65. Total, 493. Against the railroad : Boone, 85 ; Jennings, 197 ; Johnson, 10 ; Liberty, 1 ; Ohio, 100; Patoka, 2; Sterling, 14; Union, 1; Whisky Run, 39. Total, 449. The judges signed as follows : Boone— H. B. Meylin, salary $1.80 Jennings — John S. Whitten, salary 1.00 Johnson — James B. Newton, salary 2.60 Liberty — Enoch Weathers, salary 2.02 Ohio — Elias Romine, salary 1.32 Patoka — Jacob Tucker, salary 2.68 Sterling — T. B. Cummins, salary 2.00 Union — E. F. Roberson, salary. 2.02 Whisky Run — J. F. Sanders, salary 1.96 Nothing more was done with the matter until Tuesday, June 7, 1870. On that day J. J. McCollister and N. C. Butler appeared before the board of county commissioners and asked that a special tax of one per cent, be levied upon all the real estate of the county to pay the sum of $32,000, but the board, after examining the poll books, tally sheets and the clerk's reports, decided that the majority of the votes were against the railroad. THE SEVENTIES 311 The matter was taken to court. Hall Golden started the suit to collect the money. This made him very un- popular. Efforts were made to hang him. So he hid out of nights till he contracted consumption, from which he died. He was a good man, too. One night a mob descended on Leavenworth and cap- tured Bill Temple. He lived up on the Leavenworth hill. He told them to ride around the road and he would dress and come down the path the near way. They told him that they would not let him get away from them. So when he was ready they rode up and down the streets till they were tired. Then they forced him to open the office door so that they could tear up certain records in the office. The papers were burned. On that point the citizens were in the wrong. One may find the pages torn out of book eight, pages 396 to 399 of the comissioners' records. The matter was taken to Vanderburg County. A hear- ing occurred December 14, 1870. The county paid John M. B. Scott, one of the county commissioners, $50 to pay his expenses. Later he refunded $17 which was not spent out of the $50. The clerk of the Vanderburg County court does not seem to have any record of the case. But the case evidently went to the Indiana Supreme Court and then to the Federal Court at Chicago. The case was decided in favor of the county commissioners. By May, 1871, the county had paid out $1,219.75. In the meanwhile the company had failed. The road was graded in many places, but it cost more than the com- pany expected. One finds the board ordering William T. Zenor to bring 312 HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY suit to collect the cost of the suit from the company on October 1, 1873. Yet the people were not to be left without a railroad many years. The company was reorganized and steps taken to secure help from the county again. The county commissioners were summoned to meet on July 8, 1879, for the purpose of considering petitions from Whisky Run, Sterling, Liberty, Patoka and Johnson townships as to the propriety of calling an election in these townships for or against the appropriation of certain sums of money to the New Albany and St. Louis Airline Company. Comes now E. Hostetter, E. F. Hostetter, J. M. Eddleman, G. W. Baylor, J. F. Sanders and many others, being in all over 25 and present the following petition : "To the County Commissioners of Crawford County, your petitioners whose names appear below are citizens of Whisky Run township and are legal voters. That the Louisville, New Albany and St. Louis Railroad Company is an organization incorporated under the law of Indiana to build and operate a railroad which will run through Whisky Run township, Liberty township, Sterling town- ship, Patoka township and Johnson township, upon the appropriation of $3,200, which was less than two per cent, of the assessed valuation of the township. The $3,200 to be paid to the company when the road was completed and the first train run over the road. Also pray that the board order an election to ascertain the will of the voters. Signed : 1. E. Hostetter 3. J. W. Eddleman 2. E. F. Hostetter 4. G. W. Bavlor THE SEVENTIES 313 5. J. F. Sanders 17. W. S. Daniels 6. E. C. Powers 18. J. E. Funk 7. Christian Atz 19. J. W. Funk 8. August Atz 20. John V. Baylor 9. C. E. McVey 21. George C. Bye 10. Joseph Thomas 22. Clinton Wyman 11. George Walts 23. S. S. Whiteman 12. Adam Kepler 24. J. B. Rhodes 13. William Spencer 25. G. W. Murr 14. G. 0. Gibbs 26. Christian Hehl 15. William Gibbs 27. John Lonigan 16. J. R, Gibbs 28. Lewis Wyman After due consideration, Bennett H. Young, being duly sworn, states that the names and signatures are genuine, the board set August 13, 1879, for the election in Whisky Run township. The auditor put up the notices in due form and in the proper places. Then came Liberty township, John M. Johnson, W. H. Byrum, Thomas Heeston, James M. Weathers, Daniel Weathers, John R. Land, George Conrad, James Walts, R. Mitchell, W. T. Walts, P. S. Taylor, Ben N. Sloan, M. H. Sloan, John Taylor, Joseph Boyd, Calvin White, William Creatch, Byrum, J. N. Breeden, Joseph Weathers, John Vandiver, H. H. Weathers, J. D. Hedrick, Vincent Weathers, Robert Walts, F. P. Walts, Chesterfield Weathers, John Jameson, Joab Stroud, Eph Jones and Jacob Crecelius on a petition for Liberty township. Board ordered the polls open on August 13, 1879, to vote on whether they would give $2,200 to the company to help with the railroad. 314 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Sterling filed a petition to have an election to see if the people would give $2,400 to help bnild the railroad. These men signed it: J. S. Hall S. T. Mann W. E. Moore Woodfield Denbo W. H. H. Toney M. H. Tucker J. M. Denbo David Miller J. L. Miller James Cunningham Caleb Temple Jerry Carter John H. Bird H. C. Hammond John Cunningham George W. Sloan H. A. Rothrock W. B. Gregory II. R. Miller James Crandall B Gregory William Gregory John Gregory Riley Wilson Ben Lambdin James Burnett James Bobbitt Rice Cryswell The board set August 13, 1879, on which to vote for the railroad. Then came these men from Patoka township : Lemuel Crews D. M. Crews Jerry Belcher Lafe Bennett Sam Tucker Henry Goldman J. E. Crecelius W. P. Morgan Levi Trustee Alford Brown A. J. Mason James M. Lone B. H. Mock Anthony Allstott George Summers John W. Belcher Jeremiah Crews William King William Dooley E. D. Mason THE SEVENTIES 315 Eli Allstott Squire Mock J. W. Williams William Stroud T. B. Belcher Eobert Patton James Nash August Helenbrecht William II. Taylor Harriett Gilliet J. A. B. Crecelius Marcus Denbo The board set August 13, 1879, on which to vote for 1879, to see if a majority of the people wished to donate $2,200 to the railroad. Then came the following citizens from Johnson town- ship and asked that an election be held to see if the major- ity there wished to donate $1,400 to the railroad company : Isaac Newton Henry Knight Henry Rowland James Rowland George Rowland Sam Speedy W. S. Benham Finley Nash Lewis Morgan Chris Eckerty John Knight Lockland Reed Sam Wright James Thurston George Fields William Trusty Peter Newton James Speedy Robert Gilmore J. N. Brown J. R. Newton John 0. Nash Elisha Brown William Marry Warner Newton Thomas Gilmore Jackson Newton Jefferson Speedy Robert Knight The board set August 13, 1879, on which to vote for the measure or against it. 316 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY In Whisky Run township the railroad lost, but another election was held. A bitter campaign was waged. The vote on the question was : For the donation, 125 ; against donation, 120. Christian Atz and John Benz did some hard work for the railroad. Liberty, Sterling and Patoka townships voted for the donation. Records are not clear about John- son, but think the people voted against it. Anyway, the railroad hardly touches Johnson township as it runs through the county. The commissioners assessed the cost of holding the elections as follows: Whisky Run township $37.33 Liberty township 36.33 Sterling township 37.33 Patoka township 39.33 Johnson township 38.33 Total $188.65 The new company completed the road and ran the train over it. Then the townships paid in the money. Many amusing stories are told about the people who came out to see the train. At English a large crowd was gathered on the little hill south of the station. When the engineer was ready to start, he called out to the people on the hillside and said that they must get out of there for he wanted to run up on that hillside and turn around. He blew the whistle and the people ran like mad persons. THE SEVENTIES 317 Yet one should not blame these poor people too much. It was new to them. Much complaint was made about the Dry Run bridge. On March 5, 1874, James R. Lambdin, Logan Miller and Alexander Trotter being the county commissioners, awarded a contract to W. T. Masher and W. P. Ever don to erect the walls and wings out of good stone. And to erect on the abutments a number one "Davenport patent wrought iron bridge" Ham truss arch bridge. The price of the masonry at $8.65 per cubic yard. The dry filling was $2.75 per cubic yard, and the digging at 26 cents a cubic yard. The dirt filling in the approaches was 22% cents a cubic yard. The iron cost $21.50 a linear foot. They must keep the old bridge in repair till the new one was complete. The old bridge was very dangerous. On September 5, 1865, John Wolf's horse walked over the edge and fell to the ground, killing itself. He made claim for $75, but the board allowed him $65. No banisters were up then and horses might easily run too near the edge and fall over. The specifications for the Dry Run bridge were care- fully drawn; good stone must be used and no cheap work of any kind tolerated. There were two bonds, No. 4 and No. 5, struck for $1,000, to be paid on March 5, 1875, with interest at ten percent., to get money to build this bridge. The men who built the bridge did a good piece of work. It is still stand- ing now (1925). The Dry Run bridge was ordered condemned Decem- ber 4, 1872, by Commissioners Jacob Tucker, Logan Miller and John Archibald. The supervisor was ordered to close 318 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the road leading to the bridge and notify the trustee of the condition of the bridge. Our people were so careless that the commissioners had to take such strict methods before anything was done with the old bridge. The cost of the new bridge was: Masonry, first class, east abutment and wing wall, 411.39 cubic yards; west abutment, 134.36 cubic yards. Total, 545.75 cubic yards at $8.65=$4,72Q.73. Retaining walls, east side, 185.27 cubic feet; west side, 93.82 cubic feet; total, 279.09 cubic feet at $2.75=$767.58. Digging, east side, 241.18 cubic yards; digging, west side, 130.67 cubic yards; total yards, 371.85 cubic yards at 25 cents=$96.68. Fills, east side, 1,840.72 cubic yards; fills, west side, 430.35 cubic yards; total, 2,271.07 cubic yards at 22% cents=$510.99. Timber, 4,140 feet of bottom at $20=$82.80 ; 69 linear feet of bridge at $21.50=$1,483.50. Total for lumber, $1,566.30. Total cost of the bridge, $7,662.20. Malachi Monk certifies that the above is correct, accord- ing to Hiram Wilson, the engineer. Another bridge much needed in those early days was the bridge over Slick Run, where the creek coming down "Devil's Hollow" runs into Slick Run, near where Jen- ners' mill stood. At present Rogers lives near where Slick Run runs into Big Blue. The board ordered the bridge March 2, 1874, at a regular meeting of the board. The specifications and plans were : Two good substantial stone abutments, pillars, or piers on each side of the stream six- teen feet wide by five feet deep at the base, fifteen feet from the bed of the creek to the top of the pier with one- half inch batter to the foot with the corner up stream cir- cled over said stone must be of a fine variety. The span THE SEVENTIES 319 was to be forty feet from pier to pier. The roadway was to be fourteen feet wide. The bridge was to have seven sills, each 7 inches x 14 inches x 40 feet of good seasoned oak. The floor was to be 6 inches x 2 inches and laid cross- wise, well spiked with four-inch spikes. The bridge must have good substantial banisters on each side. The bridge must be bolted down to the pier to a depth of five feet. M. C. Froman was appointed a special commissioner to let the contract, make the plans and specifications and superintend the matter. The bridge was to cost $4,500, which was appropriated for that purpose. M. C. Froman was to receive a good sum for his service. Edward Perkins filed a claim for $95 for extra work. The board rejected the claim and he appealed the suit to the circuit court at the request of the board, but later he was allowed $49.25 for the work. The hope of the new railroad being built stimulated men to try all kinds of schemes and plans to meet the boom of prosperity. Trustee Joseph Brown, of Sterling, who had spent the money of the township for unauthorized purposes, was accused by the good people of Sterling township. The rumors had been current for some time, and finally the board ordered him to appear before them and submit his books. The books showed that when school closed he gave his teachers due bills against the township and secured their receipts for the same. He also had a deficit because the funds were used to 320 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY build a large house in English, so men say who knew all about him. The board ordered him to be removed from the office and all the papers handed over to his successor, who was Mr. Goodson. The matter was finally settled. During the seventies a new law was enacted by the General Assembly, providing for a county superintendent of schools, whose duty it was to look after the school funds of the county. Stated elsewhere in the chapter on education, one may read of the election of J. W. C. Springston, who was our first county school head. One of the first important duties of Springston was to catch Preston O'Bannon, trustee of Ohio township, who had been embezzling the school funds for some time. After the suit was started 'Bannon escaped to Illinois and lived there many years under an assumed name until a question arose relative to certain insurance and the Masonic lodge, of which he was a member. Doctor Hawn of Leavenworth went on the hunt of him. Hawn found him down in Illi- nois where he had been elected judge. When he saw Hawn he cried out : ' ' Oh, my God, Hawn, if you tell on me I am ruined." Hawn persuaded him to come back and appear on the streets of the town of Leavenworth where the men could see him. Then his widow could not prove he was dead and draw his life insurance. The amount of the money lost was made good by his bond. After appearing on the streets he left. March 4, 1879, Thaddeus Kelso appeared before the commissioners and reported that he had filed 1,958 ballots cast at the April election in 1878 in the county. He charged $121.50 which was paid him by two orders issued THE SEVENTIES 321 by A. M. Sipes, dated December 10, 1878, for the sum of $71.50 and $50. Of the above sum $97.90 was for filing the ballots at five cents apiece. He said that he thought the law allowed the sum, but later he learned that the attorney- general ruled against the matter. So he begged the com- missioners to receive the sum which he was refunding. The board being fully advised, accepted the sum and closed the matter. The poor farm of Crawford County has never been run on a very satisfactory record. On September 3, 1875, William Lynch was allowed the sum of $22.75 for taking the Dunham family back to Pike County. At the same meeting N. N. Morgan was granted $3.50 for making a coffin for a pauper. The same year the insurance on the house was $15.00. At the December meeting in 1874 Fielding L. Priest was allowed a claim of $225.85 for articles furnished the pau- pers and for caring for the poor farm. In April he received $321.75 for keeping and caring for the paupers. John D. Shaffer was allowed $175 for underpinning the poor farm house December 3, 1875. Logan Miller was appointed by the board to visit and inspect the poor farm from time to time and see how it was managed. The county court house was much in need of repairs during the seventies. Business was at its greatest then. The trade of all the north part of the county came through Leavenworth. One finds the commissioners giving John J. McCallister and W. P. Everdon the right to build a house on one corner of the court house lot. They agreed to pay $12 a 322 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY year for the right. At the request of the commissioners they were to move the house off. Also William H. Peckinpaugh was allowed to erect a building on the southwest corner of the court house lot near the Presbyterian church. He was to pay $12 a year as long as he used the house. He may move it away any time he wishes. For the comfort of the people a new rest room, 12 feet x 14 feet x 8 feet, was erected on the back side of the court house. The building was to be constructed of oak and well built. E. M. Tracewell was allowed to erect an office on the court house lot No. 217. He was to pay $12 a year rent. The board was to give him two months' notice before he had to move the building. Peter Neal was paid $4 for boxing the shade trees around the court house, and Martin H. Tucker was paid for putting a new shingle roof on the jail in 1860. Joel Lyons, who furnished the cotton and the batting to make quilts for the county jail, was paid $14.50 for the quilts on December 8, 1863. A new cell was made to the jail by H. H. Hosmer June 6, 1864, for which he was paid $290. That same month George W. Whitten, who had guarded the prisoners while the new cell was being built, received $16. Josiah Long furnished the irons for the county jail for which he re- ceived $40. Jeremiah Collins laid the stone in the hearth for which he received $3.50. C. A. Mathus was allowed $6 for whitewashing the rooms in the jail. To the readers of Crawford County the following items will be interesting : On August 6; 1877, A. M. Duffin ap- THE SEVENTIES 323 peared before the county superintendent and made com- plaint against James Faulkner, who was a teacher in Union township. The general charge was that he was verj T immoral and not a fit person to teach school. The specific charge was that Faulkner had on August 10, 1876, bought of James M. Duffin of West Fork a gallon of liquor which he took up to the schoolhouse one night at a school election. At that time the law allowed the patrons to elect their teacher. So Faulkner was accused of getting behind the house in the dark with a tin cup and the jug of liquor. He was said to be giving it freely to the voters. Of course, there was no doubt about how the election went. Faulkner defeated Duffin for the school by a handsome vote. Superintendent Springston set a day for trial on Octo- ber 18, 1877, at his office in Fredonia. On the said day the men appeared before John Springston and the trial was on. Faulkner said that he gave the whisky away, while the Duffins had sold the liquor. Therefore he was more gen- erous than they. By mutual consent Duffin withdrew the complaint and the case was dropped. The table of statistics for the year of 1877, July 10 : The enumeration : Boone, 117 ; Jennings, 566 ; John- son, 347; Liberty, 286; Ohio, 409; Patoka, 564; Sterling, 562;. Whisky Run, 488; Alton, 89; Leavenworth, 233. Total was 4,181 pupils. The Congressional township fund accrued the following interests: Boone, $9.40; Jennings, $47.72; Johnson, $29.27; Liberty, $24.12; Ohio, $34.50; Patoka, $47.34; Sterling, 324 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY $47.50; Whisky Run, $41.14; Alton, $7.50; Leavenworth, $19.65. Total, $349.44. The liquor license returned to the county : Boone, $480; Jennings, $13.02; Johnson, $900; Liberty, $658; Ohio, $940; Patoka, $1,200; Sterling, $1,350; Whisky Run, $11.72; Alton, $214; Leavenworth, $538. Total, $4,301.74. Common School revenue : Boone, $179.01 ; Jennings, $865.98; Johnson, $530.90; Liberty, $437.88; Ohio, $625.77; Patoka, $862.92; Sterling, $859.86; Whisky Run, $746.64; Alton, $136.17; Leavenworth, $356.49. Total, $5,601.62. The political lines were drawn tightly in Crawford County during the war and the years following. The Democrats held a mass meeting in Hartford on August 6, 1864, at which more than a thousand men are said to have been present. Honorable J. A. Cravens and Judge Parrott addressed the convention. The county ticket was selected as follows : Clerk, Jim Lemonds ; audi- tor, C. C. Lamb; treasurer, M. Monk; sheriff, M. II. Tucker; representative, J. T. Sanders. But the party was not very successful. Governor Morton, who was very pop- ular in the county,, helped defeat the Democrats. The vote for Governor was: Morton, 787; McDonald, 735. For President: Lincoln, 706; McClellan, 709. The county ticket was divided. The Republicans elected Ben T. Good- man, representative; Dunbar Patrick, auditor, and Walter Seacat, treasurer. Probably the remainder of the ticket was Democratic. Vote of 1868 : President, Grant, Republican, 970 ; Sey- mour, Democrat, 981. Governor, Baker, Republican, 983 ; Hendricks, Democrat, 1,012. THE SEVENTIES 325 The election of 1872 was a queer one. Notwithstanding the many rude remarks and the criticisms Greeley had made about the Democratic party, that party had nom- inated him for President with the vain hope that he might defeat General Grant. Despite his many faults Grant was not a bad man at heart, The vote in 1872 was : For Governor : Hendricks, Democrat, 1,217 ; Brown, Republican, 1,092. For President : Grant, Republican- Regular, 1,027; Greeley, Republican-Liberal, 1,032. The vote in 1876 was not so close. For President : Hayes, Republican, 991 ; Tilden, Democrat, 1,173 ; Cooper, Greenback party, 33. The vote in 1880 was: Garfield, Republican, 1,134; Hancock, Democrat, 1,368 ; Weaver, Greenback, 55. The vote in 1884 was: Blaine, Republican, 1,296; Cleveland, Democrat, 1,610; Butler, Greenback, 32. The vote in 1888 was : Harrison, Republican, 1,445 ; Cleveland, Democrat, 1,628. The campaign of 1892 was a remarkable one : Har- rison, Republican, 1,276; Cleveland, Democrat, 1,529; Weaver, Peoples' party, 200; Bidwell, Prohibition party, 18. The campaign of 1896 was the most hotly contested one ever held in our county. Political lines were drawn very tightly. Old neighbors became mad at their best neighbors. The free silver idea had torn up the old parties. The vote : McKinley, Republican, 1,529 ; Bryan, Democrat, 1,731. Besides the figures for President these trustees were in office in 1877: Boone, R. H. Fullenwider; Jennings, John Bahr; Johnson, Lewis Walls; Liberty, John Breeden; 326 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Ohio, W. H. Conrad; Patoka, John Williams; Sterling, Joel Vandiver; Union, P. K. Kitterman; Whisky Run, Christian Atz. Assessors — Boone, A. J. Henderson; Jennings, S. E. McFall; Johnson, ; Liberty, G. A. Walls; Ohio, Gilbert Abel; Patoka, Francis Highfill; Sterling, Alex Sipes; Union, Russell Smallwood; Whisky Run, John R. Stroud. The board ordered the elections held at these places : Boone, Alton; Jennings, Leavenworth; Johnson, in section 34; Liberty, Big Springs; Ohio, Fredonia; Patoka, School No. 2; Sterling, Hartford; Union, Roberson's school; Whisky Run, Milltown. BIG ELUE RIVER BRIDGE AT MILLTOWN At a meeting of the commissioners on March 7, 1860, it was ordered that William Gibbs and Isaiah Berkshire be allowed $1,000 for building or repairing the bridge over Big Blue at Milltown. William McKinley, of Perry County, who had the original contract, appeared and de- manded that the county should keep its original contract on condition that he would withdraw the appeal which he had made to the circuit court when they refused to grant him money. The contract read that William McKinley of Perry County agreed and contracted with the county com- missioners of Crawford and Harrison Counties to build a bridge over the Big Blue River where the New Albany and Jasper road crossed. He gave Wilson Daniels, Ballard Smith and Job Hatfield as bondmen. He must comply strictly with every part of the contract. The bridge was to cost $17.60 a foot. He must begin July 1, 1860, and THE SEVENTIES 327 complete the work by July 25, 1860. Mr. McKinley en- gaged John Frazier of Harrison County to survey the bridge and draw up the plan of work. Our county paid $25 for this work on June 4, 1861. The construction did not proceed as fast as some thought and the county com- missioners appointed James Lemmons and B. P. Douglas of Harrison County to investigate the matter, get the facts about the bridge, and report at the next court. The above order was given on June 6, 1861. Not satisfied, the board of commissioners held a meeting at Milltown July 1, 1861, at which meeting it was agreed that the original contract signed May 15, 1860, is cancelled. McKinley surrendered all his claims and the timbers on the ground, for which the board paid him $75, in addition to what the board had already paid him. County commissioners, Calvin White, James Tadlock, David Miller. The part of the contract by which the board had agreed to pay James Harvey for getting out the stone was also cancelled. The board paid him $500 for what he had done and the stone on the hill and on the bank of the river. So far nothing definite was done till June 4, 1862, when Har- rison County was then anxious to help. So the board of commissioners appointed Edward C. Powers to act in con- junction with the commissioners and estimate the cost of such a bridge. On June 13, 1862, a joint session of the commissioners of Harrison and Crawford Counties was held at Milltown. Powers being present, the boards ex- amined his plans and agreed that a good substantial bridge ought to be built over the river there under the direction of Powers and Douglas at a cost not to exceed $2,000. 328 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY FULLEN WIDER *S BRIDGE The board of county commissioners on June 2, 1863, appointed Edward C. Powers and Perry Riddle to super- vise the construction of a bridge at Fullenwider's Mill. On September 9, 1863, the board held a special session where the men were building the bridge. The work went on gradually for several years. On September 6, 1866, Perry Wilks was authorized to sell all the surplus stone and wood. James Tadlock was appointed to supervise the bridge and see that the work was done well. On Septem- ber 4, 1867, William Wilks reports that the bridge has been completed and received. The board accepted the report and paid William Wilks $50 for his services. POOR FARM At a meeting of the commissioners of Crawford County held at the court house in the town of Leavenworth on March 7, 1860, the county poor farm was rented to Richard Weathers for $85 per acre. The county was to pay him $1.25 a week for each pauper kept. At that time the house was a double log house with broken window panes in which old rags, carpet and old clothes were stuffed to keep out the cold. Squire Weathers, G. H. Shaw and Leonard Shaw were on his bond for $700. The contract was to last two years. On July 3, 1861, the board of county commissioners engaged James Shaw and Alvin B. Shaw to clean out the fence rows. They were to receive 40 cents for every hun- dred rails re-set and $1.00 for every hundred rails made and laid up. They were paid $52.75 on December 4, 1861, THE SEVENTIES 329 and J. S. Neal was allowed $1.50 for examining the fence and the rails. When the commissioners met on December 6, 1861, Weathers had joined the Army, Mr. Shaw was dead, and the rent paid, so the contract with Richard Weathers was cancelled. Thomas Lynch appeared and agreed to take the poor farm on the same contract as Richard Weathers. On March 10, 1870, a new contract was let with Mr. Lynch for three years. He was to pay the comity $75 a year and keep the buildings and farm in good repair. He was to board all the paupers for $1.45 per week. He was to have a fair compensation for all improvements made. Lynch 's bond was signed by Gilbert Shaw, Jesse Addis, James S. Shaw and Alfred Bybee. On December 6, 1870, the county paid Thomas Lynch the sum of $85.90 for washing, boarding and caring for the paupers on the poor farm. At that time not all the paupers were in the poor farm. The board of commis- sioners ordered the trustees on December 5, 1871, to trans- fer all the paupers to the farm. No allowances were to be granted to them from that time on. Fielding Priest was elected to care for the poor farm in September, 1872. He was granted a fee of $1.40 for each one. He was to make two thousand rails the first year and one thousand the second year. He must pay the commissioners a rent of $55 a year. On April 23, 1869, Andrew M. Scott contested the election of Oliver N. Beals for trustee of Jennings town- ship. The sheriff was ordered to call the county com- missioners, John M. Scott, Houston Miller and M. C. Fro- 330 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY man, to meet at the court house in Leavenworth for the purpose of trying the cases of John Shaffer for justice of the peace and Andrew M. Scott, trustee of Jennings town- ship. Mr. Scott claimed that at the election held April 5, 1869, John S. Whitten, inspector, and W. P. Everdon and Charles L. Lamb were judges. Oliver N. Beals and Caspar Kehrer were clerks, neglected, failed, and refused to count all the votes. He claimed that he received 213 legal votes, but the board refused to count all the votes, but certified that he had received only ninety-nine votes. Mr. Scott further certifies that the board counted many illegal votes which had distinguishing marks. The county commissioners met and listened to the arguments of the attorneys. After due consideration the members agreed that no votes should be counted unless they were written or printed on white paper as required by law. After examining the ballots cast at the election on April 5, 1869, it was found that Andrew M. Scott received the highest number of votes received at the election. Scott received 104 legal votes and Beals 34. John Shaffer was duly elected justice of the peace over Thomas Lynch. The votes were : Shaffer, 69 ; John Lynch, 25. Under the old law men cast their votes publicly. The Australian ballot was not used. They secured their ballots downtown or from candidates and went up to the polls and handed the ballot in to the inspector. To-day men can not be on the board if they are can- didates. The above case was a queer affair. They probably just quit counting the votes when Beals was ahead of Scott. THE SEVENTIES 331 PATOKA BRIDGE On December 5, 1870, Houston Miller appeared before the board and presented the following report: Whereby by order of the board a bridge was ordered to be built across Patoka Creek at the crossing of the New Albany and Jasper road in Patoka township. In compliance with said order he advertised and awarded the contract to Will- iam King and Company for the sum of $422.50. The work being done and the bridge built according to the specifications, the board received the report and paid William King for his work. SIBERT SPRING BRANCH On September 8, 1869, the citizens petitioned the county commissioners to have a bridge erected over the Sibert Spring Branch just south of the Wyandotte Cave. The bridge was not to cost over $300. Zebulum Leaven- worth was appointed to view a site for a bridge and draw up plans and report at the December term of the court. Mr. Leavenworth reported favorable and the contract was let to William Rothrock of Harrison County. The bridge was to be built on one abutment and one rock pier, the abutment to be twelve feet high and built on the south side of the Spring Branch. The base was to be 14 feet by 4 feet. It was to have a gradual slope and be built out of good substantial stone. The span between the pillar and the abutment was to be 45 feet long. There were to be five sills of poplar reaching the whole distance from the pier to the abutment, said sills were to be 16 x 8 inches. The floor was to be laid out of oak two inches thick. 332 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY William Rothrock built the bridge with care. After due examination the county commissioners allowed him $125 for his services on December 8, 1870. BIG BLUE BRIDGE The history of the construction of the bridge over the Big Blue River is rather complicated. William M. Ells- worth on September 8, 1869, appeared before the county commissioners of Crawford County and presented the following paper: "I, Samuel Wright, Auditor of said County, and ex-officio, clerk of the Board of County Com- missioners of Harrison County, due certify that the follow- ing is a true report of an order passed at the September meeting of the County Commissioners of Harrison County : Comes now R. M. Craig with others and files a petition asking that the Board of County Commissioners take the necessary steps to erect a bridge over Big Blue River, near where the Leavenworth and Corydon road crosses the said where the Leavenworth and Corydon road crosses the said river. The County Commissioners, not being fully ad- vised, ordered Attorneys S. K. Wolf and B. P. Douglas to examine the petition for them, and locate where would be the most successful point for such a bridge. Requested that Crawford County take similar steps in the matter and report all facts to the Board of Commissioners at their next meeting. Signed: Samuel J. Wright." At the same time Mr. Ellsworth presented a petition to the board of commissioners of Crawford County, praying that the board of commissioners of Crawford County take the proper steps to build a bridge across Big Blue River, near or at the crossing of the State road. THE SEVENTIES 333 The board, after due deliberation, appointed William Ellsworth and James Sloan to act in conjunction with the parties appointed by the board of commissioners of Har- rison County to examine the subject matter of the petition, the most suitable place for the bridge, its length, height, and probable cost, and the kind of bridge needed, if any, and report at the next meeting. At the next meeting of the board of commissioners on December 8, 1869, Messrs. Ellsworth and Sloan appeared and reported that they had made a careful examination as they had deemed necessary to arrive at an approximate conclusion at four different points : At William Roth- rock 's, at David Cole's, at a point below Joseph Cole's, on Zebulum Leavenworth's farm, near the mouth of Big Blue River. They had examined the river at all these points and no other point was suitable. At Rothrock's it will require a span 120 feet upon two abutments 48 feet high. The cost of the bridge at this point they estimated at $5,000; at Cole's farm it will require a span of 140 feet or 170 feet upon two abutments 55 feet high, the cost of which is about $6,500. At the point below Joe Cole's farm the length will be 125 feet and upon two abutments about 62 feet high ; the cost here is about $6,000. The site near Leavenworth's farm will be about 120 feet long and upon two pillars about 65 feet high. The cost is estimated at about $8,000. All of the estimates above were made after careful examination and getting the pieces of bridge material. The men reported that a bridge was much needed at one of these points. Traffic was much hindered and the 334 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY people were handicapped in traveling, since crossing the fiver was dangerous at times. About the same time William Rothrock brought the following report : We, the undersigned county commis- sioners of Harrison County, have received the report of a majority of the commissioners appointed to examine the sites and estimate the cost of a bridge across Big Blue. Besides the four points considered there were two more applications for bridges so the board of commissioners of Harrison County thought best not to go any farther in the matter till they could investigate and see if some of the cost could not be raised by subscription. Signed: Peter Hottel, Amos Johnson, Samuel B. Davis, County Commissioners. The board of commissioners of Crawford County examined the report carefully and decided to wait till the next meeting to see what sum could be raised by subscription, if any. When the board met Thursday, March 10, 1870, the board agreed that a bridge ought to be constructed at or near the crossing of the state road. Since Harrison County was willing to assist in the work the board of commis- sioners of Crawford County was willing to assist in the work and agreed to invite the commissioners of Harrison County to meet with the commissioners of Crawford County the residence of David Cole on Monday, March 21, 1870, for the purpose of examining said premises and deciding upon the propriety of constructing the bridge. As stated above, the commissioners held a joint meeting at the home of David Cole on March 21, 1870. Those present were Peter Hottell, Amos Johnson and Samuel Davis of Harrison County and John M. B. Scott, M. C. THE SEVENTIES 335 Froman and Houston Miller. The petitions were received begging for a bridge over the Big Blue River to be erected at some suitable point on said river. Then David Cole presented a subscription list to the board stating how much each would give if the bridge was located near Cole's ford. The board having examined the estimates, and being fully advised, decided that the bridge ought to be built near Cole's ford.. It is ordered that the bridge be erected suf- ficiently high to be above the high water mark of 1832. The abutments were to be of good substantial stone. The opening across the stream was to be of 100 foot lay. The superstructure was to be of good strong material and the bridge wide enough to let two teams pass. On May 23, 1870, the board of commissioners of Har- rison County met with the board of commissioners at the court house in Leavenworth. All of the members were present. For Harrison County: Peter Hottell, Amos Johnson and Samuel B. Davis. For Crawford County : Houston Miller, John M. B. Scott and M. C. Froman. They met to receive proposals for the masonry and the superstructure of the bridge at Cole's ford over Big Blue. On advisement it was agreed to postpone the time of the opening till the third Monday in June; until said time the two boards adjourned. "When the boards met in joint session June 20, 1870, the commissioners voted to build an iron bridge over Big Blue. The members agreed to postpone the opening and letting of the bids till the second Monday in October. Houston Miller was chairman of the session. The boards adjourned to meet in the town of Leavenworth on the second Thursday in October. On October 13th the board 336 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY met at the court house in Leavenworth and agreed to let the contracts for said bridge over Big Blue River. After examining the different bids the boards thought best to award the contract to Julius Barbaraux and Company for the sum of $9,810, they being considered the lowest bidder. The contract and specification were to be drawn up in the future. The boards adjourned to meet in joint session at Corydon on October 28, 1870. At this session John B. Scott, M. C. Froman, Peter Hottell and Sam Davis were present. On motion Honorable John M. B. Scott was ap- pointed chairman of the meeting. The contract was awarded to John Barbaraux, who presented written speci- fication for the masonry for said bridge ; also a drawing for the bridge on the abutments and piers which was filed with the auditor of Harrison County. The board ordered the superintendents appointed to contract with said company to erect the piers 45 feet high, or higher if necessary, to support the bridge which is known as "Z. King's Patent Wrought Iron Tubular Arch" in one span whose length is 130 feet. The bridge must be 14 feet wide, furnished with joists and floor ready for use. The bridge was to be completed on or before the 15th day of October, 1871. The superintendents were to exact a sufficient bond from the company and pay the company as follows: When the bond was approved they were to pay them $2,452.50. On the first day of May, 1871, they were to pay $2,452.50 more; $2,452.50 on the 1st of July, 1871. and the balance on completion of the bridge. It was agreed that the sum of $5,000 should be appro- priated out of the funds of Harrison County and Crawford County such that Harrison County paid $3,744.50 and THE SEVENTIES 337 Crawford County paid $1,255.50. In all, Harrison County was to pay $7,346.71 and Crawford County was to pay $2,463.29. Samuel J. Wright was auditor of Harrison County then. The commissioners of the two counties held a joint meeting at the residence of David Cole on September 12, 1871, to consider a matter relative to the bridge over Big Blue River. It was agreed that the approaches to the Big Blue bridge be made of wood after the form of trestlework used for railroads as far as possible. The contract to erect the approaches to said bridge was let to William P. Everdon who was to receive $32 a thousand feet board measure. Bolts, spikes and lumber to be furnished by Mr. Everdon, who being present, proceeded to execute said bond for its faithful performance. The boards adjourned to meet on December 7, 1871, at Leavenworth. On October 12, 1871, another meeting was called which was held at the house of David Cole. At this meeting John Archibald was elected president. A careful exam- ination of the piers and the bridge was made. The com- missioners being satisfied that Barbaraux and Company had constructed the bridge according to the specifications, voted to receive the bridge. On October 18, 1871, the com- missioners of Crawford County met at the court house in Leavenworth and borrowed from John S. Whitten enough money to pay $400 which Crawford County owed on the Big Blue River bridge. The note was due January 8, 1872. Interest on the note was $12.20. The board of commissioners of Crawford and Harrison Counties met at Dave Cole's house on December 7, 1871. After careful examination of the approaches to the bridge, 338 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the boards voted to receive them. No further business to perform, the boards adjourned. Several years after the Civil War there grew up in the county of Crawford an organization known as the Ku Klux Klan. They were the descendants of the old Klan in the South. These members wore white caps when they were out on their beats. Several men in Crawford County were severely beaten by these raiders. On one occasion they went south and west of Magnolia to what was then the John Cosby farm and whipped about ten one night. On their way back they came through Magnolia and called at the home of Mr. Hosmer. Hearing the hollowing, he went to the door and saw about one hundred and fifty of the men sitting on horseback. The captain told him what they had done and told him to go out next day and tell all the people whom he saw about the affair. Hosmer stood still and looked at the crowd. The old captain told him again what they had done and told him to go out next day and tell the people about the affair. He stood still in the door. Suddenly the captain yelled out at him with a terrible bass voice and said : ' ' Do you hear me ? ' ' Hosmer then answered, "Yes." Then he cried out, "Are you going to do it? 7 Hosmer answered, "Yes." "Well, you had better do it,'' replied the captain. Then they rode away toward English. Probably the hardest whippings ever given to the men was administered to Bill Toney of English, Bill Tower of near Magnolia, Bill Saltsgover, Sam Stroud and Frank Coleman. THE SEVENTIES 339 On one occasion they came to the house of John N. Pleasant and knocked on the door. When told to come in, the door opened and two or three masked men entered, whom Mr. Pleasant asked in a courteous manner what he could do for them. The captain said that he would be pleased if Mrs. Pleasant, who they had heard was an excellent scribe, would write a notice for them. Mrs. Pleasant arose and said that she would be delighted to write the notice for them if they would give her a few minutes' time to get some paper. Using paper and pencil, Mrs. Pleasant sat down at the table and wrote in a bold handwrite what the captain dictated. The note was some- thing like this: "My dear Mr. Coleman: If you do not quit going into the town of Leavenworth and staying till after dark, and stealing from people on your way home, we shall visit you in the near future with our compliments. Signed, K. K. K. " Then the captain thanked Mrs. Pleas- ant for the writing and requested Mr. Pleasant to follow him out to the road. On reaching the highway he was much surprised to find a large number of men on horse- back, none of whom he had ever remembered seeing before. Suddenly a rattling was heard in the corner of the fence and a man came out with a large bundle of hickories and told the captain, by curious signs, something. Then the captain told them to tie the notice to the bundle and desig- nated three of the men to carry the bundle and requested John Pleasant to help them carry the bundle and set it against the door of Frank Coleman's house. Without changing words the three with the bundle, assisted by Mr. Pleasant, left for Coleman's house which was about half a mile away. On arriving at the house Pleasant heard Cole- 340 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY man and his wife talking, for they had not gone to bed yet, so he took the bundle, and stepping to one side, so that if Coleman shot out he would not hit him, he struck the door three terrible raps, and then as he set the bundle down against the door he heard Coleman crawling under the bed. Turning to leave he was surprised to find that the three men had run away down in the field and were waiting for him. The men came back, none of whom would talk to Pleasant, and the captain wanted to know if the duty was performed and he said that it was. The three nodded their heads, too. Then Pleasant told the captain that if he did not have any braver men than those three who ran, that it would not do him much good to go after Coleman. There was a general laugh on all sides. They bade Pleasant and his wife good-bye and rode away. Frank Coleman lived about one mile southwest of the Tower postoffice. Coming home of nights he would put a neighbor's corn shock into his wagon. When that gave out he would take his sack and visit some neighbor's field and break off a sack full of corn. Seeing a sack of potatoes in the patch during the night he carried it away. One of the neighbors who suffered the worst was Harry Mel- com and his son, Willard Melcom. One night Coleman took his sack and went to Melcom 's cornfield. Just as he came to the edge of the field he heard Willard Melcom entering the field on the other side with his gun to watch the corn. So he sat down in the fence corner where he could watch Melcom. Later Uncle Harvey Melcom came too. He crowded into a shock of corn near where Coleman lay concealed. After he had been in the shock awhile, Coleman heard a terrible commotion in the shock and loud THE SEVENTIES 341 oaths sworn. Then Harvey Melcom came out of the shock. When Willard heard the trouble he came across to where his father was still rubbing his head and swearing. On inquiry Willard was told that a big mouse had bitten his father through the ear while he was hiding in the corn shock. Then Frank heard Willard tell him to go home and sleep and he would watch all night. About daybreak Mrs. Melcom came to the edge of the field and called Wil- lard to breakfast. Frank Coleman, who had been watching all night, sprang over the fence and ran into the field. Breaking off the big ears and running from shock to shock he soon had a sack full of large ears which he could easily get on the outside of the shocks. Then he left with his sack of corn just about the time the Melcoms came back after breakfast. When the men saw his tracks in the frost and the missing corn ears from the shocks they were furious. Such was the conduct of Mr. Coleman. He told neigh- bors about the above incident just before he left the county. One night about a month after he received the K. K. K. notice the Whitecaps visited him. His house was built on the side of the hill, making one side rather high. Coleman jumped out at the back window and escaped. After about six weeks they came for him again. Two big men were stationed at the window. He leaped from the window but lit in the arms of one of the men, who held him until the others got there. Then they tied him to an apple tree and gave him a terrible flogging. Coleman stayed at home a few days and then left his family. No one knows what became of him. Before leaving he told several people about his episode with the Melcoms and the mouse. 342 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY When Billie Tower was whipped there were four or five other men working for Charles W. Tower. They were taken out into the yard and held. From them the writer has the f olloAving account : "No one did any talking but the captain. He went around asking the men their names. When he came to Billie Tower (William Henry Tow T er) he cried out : ' Here he is, boys. Tie him up. ' His arms were raised and put around a walnut tree as high as he could reach. Then his wrists were tied with a strong rope. When all was ready the captain said: 'No. 1, step out and lay on ten ! ' A tall man with a mask over his face arose, selected a good hickory about like an old-fashioned buggy-whip, and adjusted his cap on his head, taking his time like some man going to bat in a game of ball, began whipping him over the hips. There were about five numbers out before it was over. Tower said that No. 3 hit the hardest. Then Tower was taken back and put into bed. The crowd left. The men who witnessed the affair knew none of the men. Tower became a good citizen after that. This happened late in the eighties." CHAPTER XVI THE COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES A history of the county in the eighties would not be complete without an account of the various attempts to re- locate the county seat. When the commissioners met September 3, 1882, various citizens of the county appeared before the board and pre- sented petitions praying that the county seat be relocated at English. The board voted that no pay should be granted for carrying any petitions or clerical work of any kind. William H. Ott with twenty-eight others appeared and filed a petition No. 31, to which many men objected on account of the manner of getting the signatures. Thomas B. Ridenour and nine others filed petition No. 23 to which a general objection by others was made. Later a large number of petitions for both sides was filed. The board ordered that the auditor should get these peti- tions and keep them in his office. Also that the auditor was not to draw any salary for this work. Then John T. Gilliland, Preston Arwick, John W. Stull and James B. Mix filed a remonstrance against W. H. Ott's petition, claiming that many who had signed it now had their names on the remonstrance. 343 344 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The board set a date when all the petitions were to be in, after which no new ones were to be received. But the people who favored English became discour- aged, withdrew their petitions, and left. So Leavenworth won the case that year. In 1883, June 5, many citizens appeared before the county commissioners and presented a number of petitions to remove the county seat to Grantsburg. Colonel Anthony and Jerry Suddarth were employed as lawyers for them. The petitions numbering 1 to 71 were filed. They repre- sented Hamilton Martin, Christopher Taylor and Stephen Roberson as responsible petitioners or parties. The opposing men met and filed objection to certain petitions and requested that petitions Nos. 4, 12, 8, 21, 67, 51, 58 and 68 be not received. The attorneys made motion that the petitioners be allowed to amend their petitions, to which their opponents objected. The board overruled the objection and granted a right to the petitioners to amend the petitions. The petitions No. 4, 51, 67, 86, having been corrected by adding notary seals to them, were presented again. No. 8 was also corrected. The remonstrators moved that the petitions be cast out but the motion was overruled. Then they submitted a re- monstrance on which were one hundred and sixty-seven names who had signed the petitions but later withdrew their names, but the board would not accept the petition. Later W. L. Temple, Josiah Shaw, George Sherron and John B. McFall tried to testify that twenty-five petitioners had signed the remonstrance later. The petitioners ob- jected and the board sustained their objection. Then the THE COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES 345 petitioners tried to knock out remonstrances 1 to 10 but failed. After much time and argument these facts were evi- dent : 1. There were about sixty-five per cent, of the voters on the petitions. 2. A site had been given the county. 3. A sum of money to defray the cost had been given the county. Then the board ordered the seat of justice moved to Grantsburg. That William Barnes, an architect of New Albany, be selected to draw up the plans for a house to be made of stone or brick and cost about $15,000. The property was to be examined and a rate set to raise the tax. At that time the objectors made an appeal to the circuit court which was granted on filing an appeal bond of $800. The contest had now lasted from July 9 to July 26. The cost of the county seat fight was : Commissioners fees $178.50 Auditor's fees 24.30 Witnesses' fees 390.40 Sheriff's fees 78.95 Total cost $672.15 No record was ever found to show if this account was paid. The case was taken to Jasper for trial. After an excit- ing trial in the circuit court there, Leavenworth won the 346 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY suit over English. The hard fighters for Leavenworth were W. L. Temple, M. S. Fleming, David Cole, John Bell, William Ellsworth, W. B. Allen, P. M. Ouerbacker, Josiah Shaw, S. T. Lyons and J. R. Collins. The next move came in 1886. On March 1, 1886, W. H. H. Toney, Henry Smith, W. T. Carr, W. H. Denbo, James Pro and 1,469 others, presented a petition praying that an election be held in Crawford County to determine the will of the people on whether a new seat of justice should be located at English. They deposited $200 to pay an architect for the plans and gave two acres of ground on which the house and jail might be built. The board requested W. L. Temple, who was auditor, to write to the governor about the matter. The case was laid over till next term of court which was held in June, 1886. In response to the letter of Mr. Temple, Governor Isaac Gray appointed David Jordan, W. H. H. Hudson and George Fielding as commissioners to evaluate the property. The men met at the court house May 20 and assessed the amount as follows : Real Estate $3,200 Buildings and improvements 2,900 Value of land with building 300 The board ordered the election held on August 17, 1886. The commissioners who examined the property were allowed $70 which the petitioners paid down for the county commissioners. The following campaign was a hotly contested one. Much hard feeling was aroused on each side. The English THE COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES 347 faction carried the northwest part of the county, but with the heavy vote of Leavenworth and central part of the county, English was defeated by a small margin of about forty-eight votes. They were ordered to pay the expenses of the election which were as follows : Democratic printing $ 8.00 W. B. Burford, for ballots 27.98 T. B. Cummings, notices 21.00 Union 13.25 Johnson 13.25 Liberty 14.25 Ohio 14.25 Whisky Run 14.50 Jennings 14.50 Boone 13.40 Total expenses $149.65 The treasurer paid the bill out of the $200 which the English crowd had deposited and gave back the rest, amounting to $50.32. Thus closed another attempt. Matters relative to the county seat rested till early in the nineties when another outbreak occurred. Much will be said about it later. The Louisville and St. Louis Airline Railroad was com- pleted in the early eighties. The trains ran over the road. Many men said that it could not be done. Two tunnels were cut through the hills between Marengo and Taswell, Condra tunnel and Patton's tunnel. The work had been 348 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY delayed for several years when the first company failed, but later it was reorganized with new capital. The rail- road suit to collect $32,000 from the county failed. The case was carried to the higher courts when the county won the decision. Then trouble came up over whether the county should receive any tax from the railroad. On September 12, 1885, one finds the commissioners ordering R. N. Peckinpaugh to get up the proper papers to file, if necessary, in the United States Courts at Chicago for col- lecting the tax which was then due the county. The papers were to be given to John Pankey, who was to pro- ceed to Indianapolis and Chicago and collect the tax if necessary. The amount due the county then was $4,544. When the new railroad was completed, and the people actually saw that the trains would run, a company was organized to build a road from New Albany to Tell City. The survey of this road ran through Jennings, Ohio and Union townships. Then these people were eager to help build the railroad. So an election was held in Union township at which 236 votes were cast. Of that number 145 were for the railroad and 91 were against it. John W. Senn, inspector and John Seaton, judge. The above elec- tion was held May 20, 1884. Jennings township voted on the proposition May 16, 1884. They were to give $3,380 if the road was built. There were 288 votes cast, 271 of which were for the road and 17 were against it. Later they asked for $5,380 and tax was levied. The vote in Ohio township was 203, of which 34 were for the New Albany, Leavenworth and Cannelton Railroad Company and 169 were against it. Jacob Wiseman, inspec- THE COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES 319 tor, and Asa Lynch, judge. The election was held July 23, 1884. The new stock law was enacted in the early eighties. This law put the power to some extent in the hands of the commissioners of the county. Much bitter opposition arose relative to the law. In Jennings township not many people favored the stock law. Captain William Everdon, who ran a big sawmill up near Sharptown, favored the law. The good citizens up there held a meeting to protest against the law. Many thought that it would ruin them if they had to build fences and keep up their stock. A committee was appointed to wait on Captain Everdon and keep him from advocating the new law. Oliver Miller came down to the sawmill and warned Everdon. But Everdon gave him a "cursing" and Miller went home to mind his own busi- ness after that. On the hill above Magnolia one day A. J. Batman met him and told him that he would get hanged if he did not stop advocating pike roads and stock laws. On April 21, 1884, William H. Conrad and 191 others came and petitioned the board to make a record allowing certain animals to run out. The board allowed hogs, cat- tle, sheep and horses to run out but not bulls, stallions and jacks. Then H. B. Meylin and 101 others came and begged that the board allow certain stock to run out. The board granted them the right to let hogs, cattle and sheep run out in Boone township. Then came A. J. Small and 278 others who asked the board to let stock run out. The board let hogs, cattle and sheep run out till further notice in Jennings township. 350 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY G. W. Davis and 115 more from Union appeared but the board continued the matter till the next term of court. John Cunningham of Sterling township presented his petition, but others objected and the matter was continued to the next term. At the December term in 1884 Lewis Pierson and H. K. Batman with 252 others, appeared and asked that hogs and sheep be kept up. Later the board ordered that sheep and hogs be kept up in Jennings and Ohio townships. March 3, 1886, the board cancelled all orders relative to stock running out and issued a new order that cows and calves might run out, but not bulls. Later the law became general so that all stock had to be kept up. This was one of the best laws ever enacted. The poor farm was still an item of expense to the tax- payer of the county. John Archibald was selected to build a house on the poor farm about 1882. The room was to be 20 feet by 14 feet. The crazy people were to be put into this new house for safe keeping. On March 4, 1880, the commissioners, William Gibbs, James Gilmore and William Wilks, ordered all the paupers taken to the poor farm. June 6, 1887, the board voted to sell the poor farm and buy another near the center of the county. One day in Sep- tember, 1887, Hamilton Martin and William Landiss voted to sell the old farm to James Froman and buy Froman's farm for $5,500. Froman offered $1,000 for the old farm back. H. K. Batman, the other commissioner, voted against the proposition. The new farm was situated in the northwest corner of Jennings township, about six miles from Leavenworth. It had 238% acres in the farm. One THE COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES 351 may see the deed on page 188 of book 9 of the commis- sioners' records. The people of Boone township needed a bridge over Mill Creek very much. A petition being presented to the board, March 3, 1885, the board met April 7, 1885, and asked for bids on April 9, 1885, to the 15th of April. The Wrought Iron Bridge Company submitted a bid for $2,655 ; Champion Bridge Company, Williamsport, Ohio, one for $2,936.25 ; and the Massillon Company from Ohio at $1,200. The board rejected all the bids. The Indianapolis Bridge Company bid $1,180 and received the contract. The same company received the contract for the Whisky Run bridge. The charges for the various sections were : Heavy masonry, perch $7.34 Light masonry, perch 6.05 Digging, dry, a cubic yard .15 Digging, wet, a cubic yard .38 The bridge was received and paid for on August 4, 1885. H. C. Smith of Indianapolis built the bridge. Expenses were: For north abutment on Mill Creek Bridge. 3091/2 perches of stone at $3.37 $1,043.00 246 yards of fill on north at 25c 61.50 141 yards of digging in rock at 28c 39.48 200 yards of wing wall at 18c 36.00 Total for north abutment $1,179.98 352 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY South Abutment. 256 perches of stone at $3.75 $ 867.72 181 yards of digging at 18c 32.58 181 yards of filling at 25c 45.25 70 yards of rough stone at 50c 35.00 Total for south abutment $ 980.55 Grand total for bridge $2,160.53 The board held a joint session, at which Edward Powers was employed to superintend the repairs on the Milltown bridge. M. C. Froman was to superintend the work, while J. J. Clark was appointed to supervise the work on the Dry Run bridge. The Whisky Run bridge cost: 244% perches of stone at $3.37 $823.96 88 yards of fill at 25c 22.00 140 yards of digging at 18c 25.00 38 y 2 yards of diggings at 18c 6.93 Total for the bridge $878.04 The year of 1884 was noted for the high water on the Ohio River. Much damage was done to the river towns. The bridge over Little Blue at Marion Archibald's farm was in danger. The back water came up the Little Blue River and covered the bridge. The board allowed Marion Archibald $500 for caring for the bridge till the high water went down. THE COUNT\ IN THE EIGHTIES 353 July 6, 1883, the board granted a contract to the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, to erect a bridge over Dry Run Creek. It was 50 feet long, of one span 47 feet in the clear. The roadway was 12 feet. The bridge was to be completed by August 30, 1883, at a cost of $495. The high water of 1883 did much damage to the bridge at Cole's ford over Big Blue. The board ordered on March 3, 1883, estimations made for the bridge. The two boards were to meet at Cole's ford on April 4, 1883. Bids were advertised for and specifications drawn on April 4, 1883. On May 23, 1883, a joint meeting of the board was held at Corydon. These men were present : William Wilks, M. C. Froman and Anthony Allstott. From Har- rison County were Edward Walbur, Henry Lush and George Crawford. The two boards advertised for bids for the repairing of tho bridge and when the bids were opened these were submitted : Smith Bridge Company $4,155.00 King Bridge Company 4,325.00 Columbus Bridge Company 4,512.00 Wrought Iron Bridge Company 4,223.75 Mars Bridge Company ! 4,100.00 The boards rejected all these bids and proceeded to advertise again for the iron and wood work to complete the bridge. The Wrought Iron Bridge Company was awarded the contract for $2,549 ; the Bru and Hudson Company for the masonry at $8.00 per yard; filling at 25c per yard; 354 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY concrete macadamizing at $3.00. The bridge was to be completed by September 2, 1883. C. F. Crecelius was to supervise the work at $1.50 per day. A joint meeting of the board wasa held at Corydon September 6, 1883. Paid Hudson Byrne Company: Crawford County's part $247.95 Harrison County's part 814.83 A joint meeting of the board was held at Corydon 1883, and paid for the completion of the bridge : Crawford County's part .$617.85 Harrison County's part 2,028.00 The high water of 1884 damaged the bridge some. David Cole was allowed $2.00 for caring for the bridge when the high water was over it. The election of 1888 was a very important event in Crawford County. The people, generally speaking, enjoy elections. Much vote buying was done on all sides. The Republican plan was to put so much money in the hands of certain men and hold them responsible for delivering the votes. One neighbor of the writer had $22 of the boodle given him and was told to put it where it would do the most good. He paid out about $4 of it and decided that it would do the most good in his own pocket So there it stayed. The results were : Cleveland carried the county by a safe margin. Arthur Stewart was elected treasurer; James Bobbitt, county auditor; Burton Brown, sheriff; Mr. Stewart and Mr. Bobbitt were Republicans. He had been county superintendent two years just previous to his elec- THE COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES 355 tion. He was a man of high ideals, a good politician, and a minister of the Christian church. It was during the eighties that the first telephone line was built in Crawford County. The Ohio Valley Tele- phone Company, with J. B. Speed, president; William H. Munday, secretary and treasurer, and Captain Gifford, general manager, came from New Albany by way of Cory- don. The exchange was installed about the year of 1882. The news of the outside world could be heard then. The year of 1883 occurred the death of Doctor Hawn, who was the biggest man who ever lived in our county He was a native of Ohio and came west in the late fifties. When the boat stopped at Alton to load and unload goods he engaged in conversation with several of the town people. When they learned that he was a doctor they persuaded him to land there and locate, for the town of Alton needed a doctor. One day he had a call to visit a patient near Mason Bird's home on the river bluff north of Predonia. He was entertained at the home of Mr. Hollcroft, at whose home he met Mr. Hollcroft 's daughter, whom he after- ward married. Doctor Hawn served in the Civil War with distinction. He was nominated to run for secretary of state in 1880 and was elected. When called upon to make a speech at the convention he said : ' ' Boys, I was placed on this ticket to give weight to it. When the frost is on the pumpkin I shall be with you, boys." One day a lady stopped him on the street and inquired about his weight. He said: "Madam, I weigh exactly 365 pounds, one pound for each day in the year. Here is my card with my compliments. Emanuel Hawn, Secretary of State." 356 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY During the late eighties a young man named William Neal came into Crawford County and introduced baseball. The records are not clear about the matter, but as far as can now be known, a field was used near Mansfield school on the Adams farm. From that day till this the game has been a favorite of all the sports of the county. Crawford County commissioners on December 7, 1886, voted to pay $100 to the State Soldiers ' Monument Associa- tion to place a stone as a monument to the boys who fought and those who died in the Civil War, in that monument. According to the law of 1889 the county commissioners divided the county into voting precincts on June 10, 1889. The townships and places were thus : Boone— Alton. Jennings — No. 1, Leavenworth; No. 2, Magnolia; No. 3, McLane. Johnson — No. 1, Eckerty; No. 2, Leatherbury. Liberty — No. 1, Old Town in Marengo; No. 2, New Town in Marengo. Ohio — No. 1, Fredonia; No. 2, Crecelius Cross Roads. Patoka— No. 1, Taswell; No. 2, Wickliffe. Sterling — No. 1, English School House, First Ward; No. 2, No. 10 school. Union — No. 1, Grantsburg; No. 2, Marietta. Whisky Run— No. 1, Milltown; No. 2, Pilot Knob. On June 9, 1880, John H. Stewart, of Marengo, brought suit against John N. Breeden, who had been trustee of Liberty township, to recover the books and funds which Breeden was supposed to have. Stewart had employed THE COUNTY IN THE EIGHTIES 357 Zenor and Peckinpaugh, while Breeden's bondsmen en- gaged Jerry L. Suddarth to defend him and the bondsmen. The county commissioners decided that John Stewart was legally elected township trustee of Liberty township and was entitled to the books, records, all legal papers, and all the funds of the township. Breeden had run away, but the records showed a balance of: Balance $235.95 Special 361.63 Township Revenue 115.52 Road Tax 92.97 Dog Tax 104.40 Total due $910.37 The board ordered Breeden's bond sued unless the money be paid in at once. The matter was settled and the money paid. CHAPTER XVII CHAPTER ON EDUCATION CONTINUED The following figures will show how the salary of teachers varied in Crawford County : Year of 1861: Men teachers, per day, $1.10; lady teachers, $1.00. 1875 : Men teachers, $1.75 ; lady teachers, $1.64. 1880: Men teachers, $1.68; lady teachers, $1.58. 1885: Men teachers, $1.94; lady teachers, $1.81. 1888: Men teachers, $2.10; lady teachers, $2.00; 1892: Men teachers, $1.96; lady teachers, $1.71. 1900: Men teachers, $1.95; lady teachers, $1.80. 1906: Men teachers, $2.42; lady teachers, $2.42. 1907: Men teachers, $2.50; lady teachers, $2.50. Many interesting stories are told about these schools in the dark days from 1853 to 1873, one of which is given. When Mrs. Allen of Fredonia was a little girl Bartlett Baker taught the Fredonia school. Every few days he would go down to the Collingwood tan-yard and would skin out a number of the tails from the beef hides which were brought there for tanning. Many of the hides did not smell the best since the beeves might have been killed several days. He put his pot on the fire and made soup out of these tails, many of which were spoiled. Mrs. Frank Allen said that when the soup began to boil and the tails 358 EDUCATION, CONTINUED 359 to cook, the odor was so sickening that she could hardly endure to sit in the room. The following figures will show the number of licenses issued from 1864 to 1898 : Year 1864 — Two year license : Men, 9 ; women, 5. Eighteen months' license: Men, 2. Twelve months' license: Men, 3; women, 1. Six months' license: Men, 12; women, 4. Year 1866 — Two year men, one. Eighteen months : Men, 18; women, 3. Twelve months: Men, 12; women, 5. Six months: Men, 9; women, 2. Year 1871 — Eighteen months : Men, 11 ; women, 4. Twelve months : Men, 19 ; women, 4. Six months : Men, 12 ; women, 3. Year 1875 : Two year: Men, 2. Eighteen months: Men, 4. Twelve months: Men, 22. Six months: Men, 37. 1882— Two year : Men, 7 ; women, 7. Eighteen months : Men, 17 ; women, 6. Twelve months : Men, 12 ; women, 5. Six months: Men, 40; women, 22. 1885 — Two years: Men, 18 ; women, 3. Twelve months : Men, 42 ; women, 13. Six months : Men, 30 ; women, 6. Year 1898 — Two year : Men, 24. Six months : Men, 32. There were no means provided between 1853 and 1873 in Crawford County for higher education other than the district schools. A few students who were desirous of re- ceiving a good education went to Bloomington. Seth Marshall Leavenworth, Jr., graduated from Indiana Uni- versity with the A. M. degree in 1839, but the degree did not mean much then. When a man completed the first three years of college he was granted the M. A. degree. After about 1873 this custom was changed. A new law in 1865 provided for a State Normal School. Another far-reaching law was enacted in 1865. It pro- 360 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY vided for a county and township institute. The township institute was really a visiting day where all the teachers once each month went to visit a teacher. They stayed all day with this teacher who taught the classes. The General Assembly in 1873 enacted a new law which provided for a county superintendent who was to be elected by the township trustees on the first Monday in June for a term of two years. He was to be empowered to license teachers, hold institutes, watch the school funds, and have a general supervision over all the schools. The new law did away with school examiners. Empowered by the law, the trustees met at the court house in Leavenworth on Monday, June 2, 1873, and pro- ceeded to elect a county superintendent. Those present were : Jennings township, John N. Bahr ; Johnson town- ship, Elisha Brown; Liberty township, George S. Balthis; Ohio township, William H. Conrad; Patoka township, William H. Buford ; Sterling township, Joseph W. Brown ; Union township, Joseph Landis; Whisky Run township, W. S. Daniel. John N. Bahr of Jennings township was selected as president of the board of trustees, and Malachi Monk, auditor of the county, was made secretary. The president called for the tickets and the secret ballot was taken, the result of which was : Alexander Sipes, 3 votes ; John W. C. Springston, 5 votes; John M. Johnson, 1 vote. John W. C. Springston, having received a majority of the votes, was declared elected county superintendent for a a term of two years. Mr. Springston was born in Spencer County and at- tended school under Professor Johnson in the old Academy at Marengo. Doctor Hahn of Leavenworth became inter- EDUCATION, CONTINUED 361 ested in the young man. He helped him to get a school at Leavenworth. Springston being a poor young man greatly appreciated the help Doctor Hahn gave him. During that school year it became necessary to punish Stewart Barnett and Lige Hahn. These two boys had put strips of paste- board inside of their clothes in school so that if they were whipped the pieces of pasteboard would deaden the blows some. When the whipping was over the floor was all cov- ered with pasteboard. While staying at Doctor Halm's home he met Dora Jenette Conrad, who lived at Fredonia. A strong friendship grew up between them, culminating in marriage. During the first term of his office the state authorized the county commissioners to appoint a superintendent, so on the first Monday in June, 1875, John Batman was appointed, but he did not serve but a few months until the right was given back to the trustees who reappointed Mr. John Springston, who was re-elected in 1877 on June 4. That day the trustees met at the court house in Leaven- worth and organized by selecting William H. Conrad of Ohio township president. The ballot was spread with the following results: Jerry S. Hall, three votes; John W. C. Springston, five votes; John M. Johnson, one vote. Springston having received the majority of votes was de- clared elected. Those present were : John N. Bahr, Jen- nings township ; Chester Atz, Whisky Run township ; John W. Breeden, Liberty township ; Joel Vandever, Sterling township; John Williams, Patoka township; L. B. Walls, Johnson township ; A. B. Kellums, Union township ; Will- iam H. Conrad, Ohio township; R. H. Fullenwider, Boone township. 362 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY (Attest A. M. Sipes, A. C. C.) The following article was written by Springston and is so interesting that the author has submitted the text here : "For the convenience of the teachers I have been in the habit of holding examinations at various places in the county. I have held at least one examination in each township. I always held them in the schoolhouses ; I gen- erally gave notice of the examinations through the county papers at least two weeks before the examination was held. It has been my custom to hold the two examinations in the months of September and October each. In all cases I write the questions on the board and have the applicants so arranged that they can see the questions well. In this way I secure uniformity ; all are examined on the same subject at the same time. I generally write one question and give a reasonable length of time for an answer. I then erase this one and write one. This secures prompt- ness on the part of the individual which is very necessary in order to succeed. It also prevents their minds from becoming confused by seeing so many different questions at the same time. I always enforce the rules given by the State Board. The questions used by the State Board are always used by me. I hold my examination on the last Saturday in each month. During the first year I graded according to the rules adopted by the County Superin- tendents' Convention at Indianapolis in July, 1873. But I think this is too slow. I grant no license on a general average less than seventy per cent. I give credit to the amount of five per cent., which is the same as starting with sixty-five per cent. Kind of licenses: A. Six months; one must make a EDUCATION, CONTINUED 363 general average of seventy per cent, and not below fifty per cent. B. Twelve months; one must make a general average of eighty per cent, and not fall below sixty per cent. to secure this license. C. Eighteen months; to secure this license must make a general average of ninety per cent., not falling below seventy per cent, in any one subject. D. Two year; one must make a general average of ninety- five per cent., not falling below eighty per cent, in any subject to secure this license. There are several teachers who were willing to keep a school on six months' license and never advance as long as the trustees will hire them, and strange to say, we have several trustees who will hire them and let the better teachers go without a school. When the self-important six months man now gets his blank he opens his eyes and if there is anything in him he will show it by trying to im- prove. The number of questions answered by the candidate is not the only means by which one can determine his grade. A parrot can be taught to answer questions, but it does not mean that it can understand their meanings. Some teach- ers can never answer questions with any well formed idea of the principles involved. There is nothing that will represent more accurately the character of an individual than the general appearance of his manuscript. Care- lessness will be represented by the scratches and blotches on each manuscript. There are seventy schools in this county. I visited all but four. I have ample time for visiting the schools. The average length of the schools in this county is seventy-five 364 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY days, and there being seventy schools, I can stay a day at each school. I have no regular appointments but come on the teacher unawares. I think it is a bad policy to let the teacher know when you are coming. However, if I were to consult my personal feelings I would send some teachers a notice ten days beforehand and jog their memory every day till the visit came. But to get anything like a correct opinion of a man's work the county superintendent ought to let the teacher remain ignorant of his visit. He should find the schools as they are to get a good idea of what is going on. I hardly ever assume the management of a school for three reasons: (1) I am not acquainted with the teach- er's methods of managing the school; (2) I being a stranger to the pupils would embarrass them, and I would not get the best results from the pupils. I generally spend a day at a school as this gives me a chance to see the entire system and detect the wants of the school. I never criti- cize a school publicly as it lowers the standard of the teacher in the presence of the pupils. I think the super- intendent should have a blank book on which he can make a note of all things which happen and then suggest them privately to the teacher. He then has the general con- dition of the school to present to the county board. I spend about seventy days visiting schools. I use about fifteen days a year holding examinations. I spend about fifteen days a year in holding institutes. I spend about fifty days in my office work. I labored in the duties of my office about 170 days a year which makes my office cost the county about $680 I do not receive anything from any EDUCATION, CONTINUED 365 other source. The office last year cost $731. This is con- sidered by some as extravagant but they never take into consideration the amount of good that is gained. Other offices might cost twice as much but they do not do half the good. The school examiner cost the people and the count} 7 ' about one-third as much as the county superin- tendent, and many of them did a very poor grade of work. I have saved the people enough money in one transac- tion to balance my salary for a year. I also prevented the thief from carrying off three annual salaries for the super- intendent. These things had been under the notice of the examiners for several years, but they did nothing. I brought the action myself, and though the case did not go through court, rid the county of the thief. So, for the next two years the county will not suffer on account of the superintendent. One can hardly excite any interest among the trustees. At our last meeting they selected a uniform system of books for the county. The townships have not a uniform set of charts, but many are very good, such as they are. The condition of the schools is better. The old houses have been repaired and refurnished. The town of Leaven- worth has built one of the best houses in southern Indiana. It is a two-story brick and has four good rooms. Out buildings are very good, too. In the village of Hartford a good substantial two-story frame building has been erected. Heretofore they had a log cabin. In fact, all over the county the school property has been improved. Yet many things still remain undone. The seats are not fit for the pupils, but our trustees will see the right way soon and get better ones. 366 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The county and township institute, for the most part, is a success. In some townships the trustees and the teachers take no interest. The lady teachers are not able to attend well in the large townships. This year we had the best institute ever held in the county. There were 102 teachers enrolled. We had no instructors from abroad but labored among ourselves. Instruction was given in the common branches. Our Normal was attended by about fifty students this year. There was a musical department under Professor J. S. Pfrimmer of Corydon. There are two students attending Indiana University. Marengo Academy is doing some fine work under Pro- fessor John M. Johnson, at which many of our teachers have improved their standing. All things look well for the schools of the county. County Superintendent.- Mr. Springston brought order out of chaos. He began to organize the schools, use courses of study, and grade the teachers. After the marriage to Dora Conrad he moved his office to Fredonia. After the election of President Garfield in 1880 and Doctor Emanuel Hahn of Leavenworth, Secretary of State, John Springston resigned the office, to take effect Novem- ber 20, 1880. The county auditor called the trustees together on November 20 to fill the vacancy. These trus- tees were present: Jennings township, M. E. Stewart; Boone township, W. H. Fullen wider; Liberty township, John H. Stewart; Johnson township, G. W. L. Brown; EDUCATION, CONTINUED 367 Ohio township, George Jenkins; Patoka township, D. C. Mock; Sterling township, William Bennett; Whisky Run township, J. F. Sanders ; Union township, absent. The board organized by electing J. F. Sanders, presi- dent, and A. M. Sipes became secretary. The first vote taken showed this result: Jerry Hall, four votes; Clark Brown, three votes; Sam Mann, one vote. No one receiving a majority of the votes they proposed to drop Mann's name and take another ballot, the result of which was the same as the first ballot. Boone, Jennings, Ohio and Liberty townships were rep- resented by Republicans and the other four by Democrats. The auditor was a Democrat. Should the vote ever come to a tie then Mr. Sipes would vote for Hall and thus elect him. To prevent that the Republicans scattered their votes as shown above. But Chairman Sanders now put a resolution to the trustees of this nature : Resolved, that Jerry S. Hall be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Springston. Now the trustees had to vote for or against the resolution, hence Bennett, San- ders, Brown and Mock voted for the resolution and M. E. Stewart, John Stewart, Fullenwider and Jenkins voted against it. This made the vote a tie, so Alexander M. Sipes voted for the resolution and Hall was appointed. At the close of John Springston 's first term of office in June, 1875, the county commissioners were empowered by some law to appoint the county superintendent. So at their June meeting the board appointed John Batman to serve for a term of two years, but later the right was taken from the commissioners or they never really had the right. Mr. Batman held the office for several months and Mr. 368 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Springston was put in charge of the office again. He held it until his resignation in November, 1880. Mr. Hall, the new county superintendent, was born in Harrison County. He taught school at "Wyandotte in Jennings township. Here he married one of the Rothrock girls. During his term of office all the old log schools were abandoned. The Young People 's Reading Circle books and Teachers' Reading Circle books were adopted, and many other good things done to build up the schools. At the close of his term of office Mr. Hall moved to Indianapolis and became manager of the English Hotel. He died in Illinois in the spring of 1926. During Mr. Hall's term of office the county normals were very beneficial to our teachers. The old Academy at Marengo was established at that town in 1869 by Professor John M. Johnson. Others were held at Leavenworth, Alton and English. These normals became very popular and did a great service to the county. The following pro- gram was found in the attic of an old house in Leaven- worth and may be of interest: Spring Term of Ten Weeks ENGLISH NORMAL English, Indiana. Beginning Monday, March 28, 1887, and closing Friday, June 3rd, 1887. Public Examination at English, Tuesday, May 31, 1887. James Bobbitt, Co. Supt. EDUCATION, CONTINUED 369 THE NORMAL For those who wish to attend school, we have so ar- ranged the work of the Normal as to offer facilities not extended to students in this part of the state. Enough teachers will be employed so that one will not have more than three or four classes. We have made arrangements with the school board at English so that we can use their maps and charts. English is situated on the L. E. & St. Louis Air Line and near the center of the county. It is a great health resort of sulphur springs and the Christian character of the people makes English one of the most desirable places in southern Indiana for a Normal. Outline of Work: There will be beginning and advance classes in Arith- metic. Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of problems. Numerous practical problems will be illustrated. Algebra: There will be beginning and advance classes in Algebra. One class will begin in quadratics, using "Ray's Higher" and will complete the text. Geography : In these classes attention will be given to Astronomical and Physical Geography. Map drawing will be taught by the most approved methods. Grammar: The usual classes in the subject will be taught and stress will be laid on diagramming. 370 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Physiology : Each subject will be illustrated by the use of charts. History : In connection with these classes map drawing will be taught by Mr. E. J. Bye, whose success as a teacher of history is not questioned. Higher Branches: Classes will be given in Rhetoric, Geometry and Latin. Teachers' Training Class: Work will be given in the two Teachers Reading Circle books. Expenses: We have made arrangements with the citizens so that board may be had in private homes at $2.25 per week. The tuition for the term is $6.00. F. J. Priest, E. J. Bye, James Bobbitt, Co. Supt. For further particulars address F. Priest, English, In- diana, or E. J. Bye, Milltown, Indiana. Mr. Hall was re-elected county superintendent in 1881 for a full term of two years. These trustees were present : R. H. Fullenwider, Boone; M. E. Stewart, Jennings; George W. L. Brown, Johnson; John Stewart, Liberty; George Jenkins, Ohio ; Mock, Patoka, absent ; William Ben- nett, Sterling; Wm. McMahel, Union; J. W. Eddleman, Whisky Run. EDUCATION, CONTINUED 371 At the general election in 1882 these trustees were elected : Boone, W. H. Fullenwider, Rep. ; Jennings, John T. Roberson, Dem. ; Johnson, Thomas Gilmore, Dem. ; Lib- erty, none; Ohio, George Jenkins, Rep.; Patoka, Archibald Allen, Dem.; Sterling, W. C. Bird, Dem.; Union, John Cole; Whisk}' Run, Christian Atz, Dem. At the regular meeting June 4, 1883, held in the audi- tor's office at Leavenworth the trustees named above were present. The one from Liberty was absent. Mr. Robert- son was made chairman and Mr. Atz presented the name of E. J. Bye and Mr. Jenkins presented the name of Thomas Duffin. Ballots were taken which gave Bye six votes and Duffin two. Therefore Bye was elected to serve till June, 1885. E. J. Bye, the new county superintendent, was born in the parish of Clerkshire, London, England, on December 31, 1848. His parents embarked for the United States when he was three years of age. He married Leora Alice Schoonover on February 22, 1873. He joined the Methodist Episcopal church at Mount Lebanon when, he was a young man, became an ardent reader, a faithful Christian, and a good citizen. He became a teacher at the age of 19 and taught school till he was 56 years of age, when he was county superintendent for two years. He was the last charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Milltown. He died October 10, 1924, at his home in Mill- town. The author was personally acquainted with Mr. Bye, who he knew was a warm-hearted, true-hearted, high-minded citizen. When Mr. Bye's term of office closed in 1885 he became a popular teacher in the county normal. The general election in 1884 returned these trustees: 372 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Boone, Lyman Brooks; Jennings, J. T. Roberson; John- son, James Speedy; Liberty, John Hammond; Ohio, Jacob Wiseman; Patoka, John Sinclair; Sterling, Wm. Bennett; Union, John W. Senn; Whisky Run, Christian Atz. When the board met at the auditor's office in June, 1885, Christian Atz was made chairman. Nominations being in order, Wm. Bennett of Sterling nominated John H. Weathers, and James Speedy nominated James Bobbitt. The ballot being spread, the vote was taken with these results: James Bobbitt, 5 votes; John Weathers, 3 votes; John Johnson, 1 vote. James Bobbitt having received a majority of all votes cast, was declared elected for a term of two years. Under Mr. Bobbitt 's term of office much improvement was made. The schools at Alton and English were graded. A little high school work was done. Alton had two teachers, English three teachers and Leavenworth had four teachers. The new brick schoolhouse in Leavenworth was considered then to be one of the best in southern Indiana. Many schools were furnished with new seats in which two persons could sit. The long settee or wooden bench was removed. Uniform books for the county were much desired. McGuffey's spellers and readers were then used. Yet the teachers were very poorly traind. Once in a while one more daring than the rest went to the State Normal or to Bloomington. Among these one may mention S. C. Miller of English, Sherman Tower of Leavenworth and Edward A. Tower of Leavenworth. Both the Towers were in the State Normal when the main building was destroyed by fire in the eighties. Frances Temple was a student EDUCATION, CONTINUED 373 along with Kate Fullenwider in 1886-87-88. These students were the leaders of the county in those early days. The election of 1886 returned these trustees to power : Boone, Lyman Brooks; Jennings, Kelly Jenkins; Johnson, Robert Gilmore; Liberty, J. II. Hammon; Ohio, J. T. Wise- man; Patoka, J. S. Sinclair; Sterling, Wm. Bennett; Union, J. W. Senn; Whisky Run, L. C. Pfeifi'er. The trustees tried to get books for the county and a uniform set of maps and globes. The old wooden seats in many districts were replaced with new ones which were large enough to hold two persons. The trustees were willing to help schools all they could but the funds were low, teachers were poorly trained and the houses were crowded, many of which had from 40 to 70 pupils enrolled. These pupils were all sizes and ages. Even married men of twenty-five years of age entered school. Under such conditions the teacher who could command order was the one wanted. Corporal punishment was the chief aim of the teacher. So whipping was an every day occurrence. The above board of trustees met at the court house in the town of Leavenworth on June 6, 1887, and elected AV. A. Pierson for a term of two years. Kelly Jenkins was elected chairman. Nominations be- ing in order, Mr. Gilmore nominated W. A. Pierson, L. C. Pfeiffer nominated E. J. Bye, John W. Senn nominated Fielding Priest. By motion of J. W. Sinclair the nom- inations were closed and the ballot spread with this result : W. A. Pierson, 4 votes; E. J. Bye, 1 vote; Fielding Priest, 2 votes; J. M. Johnson, 1 vote. Robert Gilmore made a motion that the two lowest ones 374 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY be dropped; with a second it passed. The ballot was spread, with the same results. Resolution was made to drop the lowest two, was put and lost. Ballot was spread the third time, with the same results as at first. J. W. Senn made a motion to adjourn but the motion was lost. J. S. Sinclair moved that Wm. A. Pierson be appointed county superintendent. Mr. Pierson was one of Orange County's noble sons who worked hard for his education. He had lived for several years at Marengo where he taught school. Mr. Pierson was a tireless worker, a good school man, and a Christian gentleman. When his term of office expired he located in Indianapolis where he still lives. The next man to be elected county superintendent was John W. Goldman. The complexion of the trustees changed some. Quigley Odle was elected trustee of Jen- nings township on the Republican ticket over Kelley Jen- kins in 1888. So when the trustees met on June 3, 1889, by call of the auditor these men were presented : T. Q. Odle, Jennings; Boone, Lyman Brooks; Liberty, W. H. Taylor; Union, James Smallwood; Ohio, Isaac Johnson. The other trustees were absent. Johnson nominated Goldman, who was elected. Mr. Goldman during his term of office used his influence to encourage young men and women to attend school. In 1891 Edward Tower of Leavenworth graduated from the Indiana State Normal. The private normals were doing much good work for the teachers. The county super- intendent caused the institutes to be held at Marengo dur- ing his term. These old-time institutes were a merry time for the teachers. Many of the best institute instructors in EDUCATION, CONTINUED 375 the state were engaged. Teachers stayed all week and attended all the night sessions, too. The Democrats at the election in 1890 elected a ma- jority of the trustees. The returns showed these men were elected : Boone, W. T. Watson ; Jennings, Jim Shaw ; Johnson, E. P. Brown; Liberty, W. H. Taylor; Ohio, Wm. Merrillees ; Patoka, J. R. Crews; Sterling, Wm. Richards; Union, James Smallwood; Whisky Run, W.. S. Spencer. The Democratic trustees held a caucus in Grantsburg many weeks before the election. There were several can- didates, among whom one can name John Zimmerman, Pierce Walts, Tom Kelly and James R. Duffin. The ballots were cast all day, with no definite results till late in the day, when John F. Zimmerman was nominated. The trustees were called together on June 1, 1891. J. R. Crews moved that William Merrilees be made chairman. The motion carried. Moved to vote by ballot carried. Then motion was made that Zimmerman be elected by unanimous vote and carried. So the ballot was spread and vote taken, resulting in Zimmerman's election by unanimous vote. Zimmerman lived near Eckerty in Patoka township. He was a Democrat. The county institute was a success dur- ing his term of office. The schools were graded to some extent. Most district schools had these years or grades : First, second, third, fourth and fifth grades. McGuffey's Readers and Spellers, Thalheimer's History and Ray's old third part Arithmetic were used in the county. The election of 1893 pushed Zimmerman aside and put J. R. Duffin of West Fork into the office. Duffin was a young man who had been educated at Danville, Indiana. 376 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY He was ambitious, eager to succeed. Much good work was done for the schools under his term of office. The election of 1894 was a political landslide for the Republicans. Boone township elected 13. Pierson; Jen- nings, Martin Scott; Johnson, I. B. Bobbitt; Liberyt, L. Terry ; Ohio, George Riddle ; Patoka, John Deich ; Sterling, W. T. Beasley; Union, Joseph B. Blevins, and Whisky Run, Christian Atz. Atz, Scott and Beasley were Dem- ocrats. The other six were Republicans. In June, 1897, they elected Charles A. Robertson for a term of two years. Later, in 1899, he was re-elected for a term of four years. A new law extended his term from two to four years. The trustees were also elected to have four-year terms in 1900. Mr. Robertson, who was a very courteous gentleman, made a very fine county superintendent. Morally he was a good citizen and set a good example before the pupils of the county. He introduced report cards which the pupils liked very much. Despite all the good he had done in favoring higher training and supervising the school, he did not get elected in 1903. To his honor one may say that he made a clean fight and ought to have been re- elected. But one of his Republican trustees turned Dem- ocrat, which ended in the defeat of the Republicans. The election of a county superintendent in 1903 was one of the most exciting elections ever held in Crawford County. There were five Republicans and four Democrats elected as trustees in 1900. About 1902 Luther L. Jones, who lived at Schooner Point, told people that he intended to vote for a Democrat for county superintendent. Noth- ing the Republicans could do helped the matter. The EDUCATION, CONTINUED 377 Democratic caucus selected Luther Flanigan of Milltown, but Alplieus J. Beals voted for his brother, S. A. Beals, who also received the four Republican votes, thereby elect- ing Beals. Mr. Beals, who was a Democrat, grew up in Jennings township. He was a very industrious worker. Had been a teacher in the grades of the Leavenworth schools for several years. He took the school work in hand with a strong grip. He did away with the old unsanitary slates and pupils were required to get pencils and paper tablets. Some one from another county criticized him on account of the slates, but Beals was right, and the others wrong. Mr. Beals held his office until 1917 when he was super- seded by Harrison Toney. During his long term of office Leavenworth, English, Marengo and Milltown schools were granted commissions. New buildings were erected at Marengo and English. By skillful maneuvers Mr. Beals had succeeded in get- ting enough trustees elected to keep him in office, but in 1914 he lost the trustees. These were elected : Boone, Ed. Parr, Rep. ; Jennings, Fred Bischoff, Dem. ; Johnson, M. G. Real, Rep. ; Liberty, John Brown, Dem. ; Ohio, Garrison Bird, Rep. ; Patoka, George Smith, Rep. ; Sterling, Noble Denbo, Rep. ; Union, Kenna Senn, Rep. ; Whisky Run, John Ferguson, Dem. The Republicans had six trustees and the Democrats had three. When the election came in 1917 H. W. Toney w r as elected. Mr. Toney worked hard for the schools. He attended the institutes and encouraged the teachers. He was one of the cleanest young men ever elected to the office. Yet for some reason or other he was not re-elected. 378 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY At the election in 1918 a majority of Republicans were elected trustees. On June 6, 1921, when the board met, Mr. Parr of Alton nominated H. H. Pleasant. Reuben Cox of Eckerty seconded the nomination. The vote showed five for Pleas- ant and four for Toney. The trustees were : Boone, Parr, Rep, for Pleasant ; Jennings, Mcintosh, Dem., for Toney ; Liberty, T. II. Miller, Rep., for Pleasant; Ohio, J. R. Rain- forth, Rep., for Pleasant ; Patoka, Joe Riley, Dem., for Toney; Sterling, Charles P. Miller, Dem., for Toney; Union, Charles Ford, Rep., for Pleasant ; Whisky Run, Willard Vance, Dem., for Toney. H. H. Pleasant, who was elected county superintendent, was born in Jennings township. He attended the district school at Magnolia. Later he spent some time in the Leavenworth High School, walking five miles there and back each day except when he had a chance to ride. En- couraged by Professor Dodson he entered the State Nor- mal in 1903, from which he graduated in 1910. He also graduated from Indiana University with the B. A. degree and M. A. degree in 1918 and 1920. He had been super- intendent of several high schools and had a fair knowledge of the work in which he is now engaged.' Before Mr. Pleasant entered upon his duties August 16, 1921, a new law was enacted which raised the age of school attendance to 16 years. The state board adopted the plan which entirely changed the plan which Super- intendent Pleasant had in force. The law required all the schools to be scored. Those falling below fifty on a score card sent out by the state were to receive no state aid. Mr. Pleasant visited State EDUCATION, CONTINUED 379 Superintendent Burris and explained the condition of the roads, schools and teachers. Bnrris suggested that he would bring Governor McCray along and spend a day vis- iting our county schools. The party landed in English October 18, 1921. When the Governor saw the condition of the houses he decided that the score would be put off until 1923. Then the big problem was to get the patrons to hold working days and clean up the old houses. The good people took up the matter with a will. Before the time was out all the schools were able to score above fifty per cent. The term of school was lengthened to eight months. A county agent was employed for the county. The schools were built up wonderfully during his term of office from a material point of view, but Mr. Pleasant did not have time to supervise the work as well as was needed. Mr. Pleasant did not believe that a school superin- tendent should mix up in politics. So the election of 1922 for trustees put these men in office : Boone, Sid Purcell, Dem. ; Jennings, Jesse Dean, Dem. ; Liberty, Ott Hanger, Dem. ; Ohio, John Crecelius, Rep. ; Patoka, Clad Murray, Dem. ; Union, Henry Knight, Dem. ; Whiskey Run, Willard Vance, Dem. ; Johnson, Chester Lamon, Rep. Despite the hard work done in scoring the schools, there was no chance for Superintendent Pleasant to be re-elected. In the summer of 1924 Superintendent Pleasant was elected to teach in Central Normal College. So on Sep- tember 15, 1924, he resigned. The trustees met and the Democrats nominated S. C. Adams of Leavenworth and elected him. He was a graduate of Indiana University and 380 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY had his master's degree from Columbia. He was a gentle- man of spotless integrity, one who would not mix up his office with politics. Superintendent Pleasant was very impartial while he was in office. He did not let politics make any difference with him. Mr. Adams was of like mind. He spent one year as county superintendent and withdrew from the field and would not stand for re-election. The county lost the services of a fine Christian gentleman. The year of 1924-1925 saw the state aid law amended so that supplies and supplementary readers might be bought with state aid. So a goodly amount was bought by our trustees. The election of county superintendent in 1925 resulted in the selection of one of Patoka's noble sons, John D. Murray. He was about 26 years of age, a grad- uate of Oakland City College, and one who was interested in the improvement of his teachers. The teachers began extension work under his term in 1925. The state aid ruling was changed so that equip- ment may be had for the schools. Leavenworth received about $2,000 worth of supplies in 1925. Others got their share, too. One may predict for Mr. Murray a bright future. Finding the schools is a very difficult undertaking in Crawford County. Mr. Adams left home one day to visit schools. When he found himself he was over in Perry County. He found his way home in safety, but late at night. CHAPTER XVIII ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR At the time of the Civil War English was a cluster of log cabins. There was also a log schoolhouse. Two of the oldest business men were Bry Gregory, who kept a grocery in English for many years, and W. W. Cummins. At the time of the Civil War Woodson Cummins, the sheriff of the county, lived in English. The people out in that part of the county had many disloyal citizens who had formed "Castles of the Knights of the Golden Circle." Captain Aydelotte made a raid out around Hartford or English and caught a large number of the Knights who were later discharged. The Air Line railroad went through English about 1883. Then the town began to grow. There was an outlet for the timber and farm products then. One of the oldest business men in English is Senator Samuel Benz, who is the son of Senator John Benz of Leavenworth, who came to this country from Germany many years before the Civil War. He bought out his brother, who died, and began business for himself. In regard to Senator Sam Benz one may say that he is a gentleman in whom the people have the greatest con- fidence. If he sells a man a suit of clothes and says "it is all wool" that suit is all wool." 381 382 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Besides Sam Benz, Burgess and McCoy had a store in English. There were no sidewalks in the town until after 1887. Gradually walks were built. Wright and Wood- mauser had a saloon in Hartford in 1883. Later Joseph Finch and William Wright began a saloon on March 3, 1884. Before 1884 Finch operated alone. Frank Austin took out license on September 5, 1881, to sell liquor, too. In those early days the good people thought that the town would be better off if it was incorporated, so an application was filed with the county commissioners March 2, 1884, asking to be incorporated. Daniel J. Paschal made the plat. The petition, map and other papers were posted on the door of Henry Huddleson's bakery where all could see them. The board of county commissioners ordered an elec- tion held on March 31, 1884, to see if the majority of people wished to be incorporated. The voters were duly warned of the election by notices which appeared in the English Reporter for ten days before the election. On election day the voters met at 9 a. m. and elected Henry A. Smith, James Bobbitt and Sylvester J. Louisa inspectors of the election. Each one was duly qualified. The two inspectors chose Louisa clerk. Fifty-eight voted for incorporating and thirty-one against it. Eighty-nine votes were cast in all. The board approved the action of the people and ordered the town incorporated. Henry A. Smith was appointed justice of the peace and Francis F. Taylor constable. The newspaper which had been running for some time was the English Reporter. On March 3, 1883, the editor received $36.20 for printing. William T. Thornbury, trustee of the town of English, wished a refunding order in favor of English corporation ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR 383 against Sterling township for the tax collected on the one-fourth mile railroad. He wished the railroad assessed with the town tax in 1893. Back in 1873 Peter M. Huddleston filed his bond for license to sell liquor in English. These men were on his bond: John L. Temple, William Toney, Price Criswell, Martin H. Tucker, J. W. Ray, James S. Standiford, James Hughes, T. B. Cummins, J. W. Michael, J. H. Ray and M. P. Smith. His bond was fixed at $3,000 and a license was granted. AV. H. Toney, whose name appeared above, was not very well liked by many people for a long time. He was rather overbearing in his manner. One night the White- caps took him out and gave him a tremendous flogging with hickories. At that time there were many Whitecaps in that part of the county. Samuel Benz built a new store building in 1896. This was the first brick business house in the town. The house is still used by Mr. Benz. When Governor McCray visited the county in 1921 he said that he did not want to leave town without calling on Mr. Benz. So he went to the store and saw his place of business. That same year Doctor Charles D. Luckett built what is known as the stone building; this was an exceedingly strong building. The writer was unable to find out what these buildings cost. At present James M. Tucker has a store in the building which he bought from Doctor Luckett several years ago. With the coming of the county seat in 1896 English began to grow. The Hazel woods built a home near the 384 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY sulphur springs and the place took on the appearance of a sanitarium. In the summer of 1887 the old soldiers planned a re- union at English. The beech woods north of town were used for that purpose. Tents were pitched, watermelon stands erected, sideshows, dancing place, red lemonade stands and many other things were there to encourage the boys to part with their dimes. The large pavilion which had been built for dancing was always well filled. The reunion generally lasted three days. The old soldiers were given free meals of beans, hard- tack and black coffee. The week was a great event in English. Congressmen usually came and delivered a touch- ing oration to the "Old Boys in Blue." Since the above date a reunion is held annually in English. At one of the reunions Charles T. Brown deliv- ered an address. At that time he was a mere boy, but now has grown to be one of the best lawyers in Indiana. The Indiana Gazetteer for 1895 lists these men : S. B. Adams, general grocery; S. Benz, general clothing store; Doctor Brent & Son, druggists; A. H. Brown, barber; Brown & Mather, flour mill; Condra Brothers, masons; Joe Finch, saloon ; Frank Goldman, hoop man ; George Hazelwood, physician ; J. M. Hammond, physician ; Bell Hubbard, milliner; J. C. Cline, tailor; C. D. Luckett, phj'sician and jeweler; D. S. Luckett and Lizzie Luckett, hotel ; J. V. McCoy, general store ; James Miller, jeweler ; W. E. Moore, livery stable; J. C. Patton, general store; E. Roberson, sawmill; Charles Rosenbarger, grocery; W. J. Shopp, notions; H. A. Smith, saddler; Starr & Son, hard- ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR 385 ware; Benjamin Temple & Brothers, hardware; W. W. Temple, general grocery; F. S. Weil, shoemaker. A. H. Brown, who is still in the barber business, de- serves mention. He has won the respect and confidence of his patrons, of whom he has a large number. Steve Patton, too, is one of the substantial citizens of English. He is still in the mercantile business on Fifth Street. William E. Moore, who was in the livery business, is a lifelong citizen of English. He has seen the growth of the town from a few log cabins to the modern homes on East Fifth Street. Another citizen of English for about thirty years is James A. Hughes. He is in the feed, stable and livery business. About 1884 a new two-room school was built in English. Up to the Civil War an old log schoolhouse graced the town of cabins and frame houses. Early in the nineties a new schoolhouse which had several rooms was constructed in the west end of town, near where the Camp Fork runs into Dog Creek and Brownstown Fork. The teachers for the year 1897 were R. A. Brown, principal; E. A. Weath- ers, assistant; Guido B. Hammond, grammar grades, and Nettie Gregory, primary. A water company was organized and a reservoir built on Court Hill. The reservoir was fed by a spring which guaranteed fresh water. A fire department, well-equipped with hose, was or- ganized about this time. An electric light plant was estab- lished in 1896 and the streets were lighted some. By that time some, too, had sidewalks. 386 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY One of the leading business firms in 1897 was Duffin, Gregory & Company. Their large store stood on the corner lot now owned by Doctor Goble. A very disastrous fire visited English on Tuesday night, January 21, 1901. Duffin & Gregory's large store, which was valued at $11,000 and insured for $7,500, burned to the ground. M. N. Tucker's feed store, valued at $1,000, with no insurance, was a total loss. Andrew Rothrock owned the building. Roberts & Miller's drug store was burned, but was partly covered by insurance. The building was owned by John H. Luckett. The English Opera House, Thomas Bowman's building and Suddarth's law office were burned, while the stone building was damaged. W. T. Suthards, Till Luckett, J. D. Fleming, Mallie Land, Fil Rosenbarger, Ben Mathers, J. L. Louis, James J. Longest and Cal Duly worked very hard to save Finch's building, while James F. Jones and Elsby's buildings were damaged. A spoke and hub mill was built about 1897 under the name of the English Electric Company. By 1896 there were three churches in town — Christian, Methodist and Presbyterian. The town officers for 1897 were W. S. Gregory, Charles Rosenbarger and G. I. Shaw, Charles Fitzgerald, clerk, and James M. Bird, treasurer. Thomas Burnett was marshal. A little park was marked out in the west end of town where a statue of William H. English was erected. Since KNlllilsn AFTER THE WAR 387 the World War a captured German field gun has been placed in the park near English's statue. The English News, which is the only Republican paper in the county, was established in English many years be- fore the county seat was moved. For many years James E. Stuart published the paper till he sold out to Arthur H. Flannigan about 1919. Since that date Thomas S. Austin has been the publisher. Although it is owned by the Democrat editor, Austin published the paper as a Repub- lican publication. In 1902 Thomas B. Sonner and Charles W. Dotson conducted a spring normal in English. Students from all parts of the county were there. For several years there had been normals taught at English, in one of which Louis Turman and P. A. Simons were the instructors. While living in English a son was born to Louis and Mrs. Tur- man. This Turman now has a Chair of Education in the University of California. With the help of these men Eng- lish became a center of education. The English schools became the best organized in many respects of any school in southern Indiana. In 1908 the Turley Brothers began business. Without doubt they have been two of the best business men in the town. Alfred Turley became a lumber dealer and James Turley became a dealer in hardware and farm implements. The men are now successful business men with much cap- ital behind them. Alfred Turley lost his entire stock of lumber in a disastrous fire in 1925. The stock was partly covered by insurance. He rebuilt in a short time and is now ready to serve his many friends and customers. Two more English boys w r ho have worked hard to build 388 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY up the town, improve business and promote the best inter- ests of all the people financially, as well as relieving pain, were Guido Hammond and Felix Hammond. One became a physician and the other a dentist. They have been inter- ested in the schools of the town and the best interests of the people. The schools grew rapidly in English until the school board found it necessary to construct a new house of a modern type. A fine lot of ground was secured out of town to the east. The house was built of brick and is two stories high. The manual training and domestic science depart- ments are in the basement, The people of English have been fortunate in securing good men to teach their schools the last few years, among whom were Monroe Melton, H. W. Toney, Elmer McCullum and S. A. Beals. The new school- house was completed for use about 1914 at a cost of about $18,000. C. D. Luckett was the contractor. In 1921 Mr. Rice of Louisville came to English and organized a company of business men who agreed to fur- nish capital enough for a basket factory. The building was completed by the fall of 1921 and many men moved to English to secure work. One can not thoroughly de- scribe the factory. The building is located south of the railroad on the Leavenworth and Hartford road. Lee Cotner, who had married Dora McFall, came to English and built a large hotel. The work began in De- cember, 1901, and was completed in time for the Normal students in 1902. Later he sold out and left. To-day the "Brick" hotel is one of the best in southern Indiana. In January, 1906, a canning factory was established in English by C. B. Newland. Later it was sold to the Eng- ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR 389 lish Canning and Manufacturing Company in June, 1906. Now it is owned by Greggs and Company who employ abont a hundred people during the canning season. The Crawford County State Bank was organized Feb- ruary 3, 1905, in English. The stockholders were Elsby, Setser, Bell, Alexander, Boyd, Balthis and Eckerty. John Miller was chosen cashier. On April 5, 1905, about 2 :30 p. m. occurred the tragic death of Thomas Cummins. He had gone to get some fertilizer for a man when he became interested in watching a man's team which was trying to run away. So he stood on the railroad track until a fast train hit him. Cummins, who was a leading Democratic politician, had many friends in Crawford County. On April 12, 1905, Honorable John Luckett, of Eng- lish, who had been the prosecuting attorney of Crawford County for four years, and Miss Ruth Anna Muir of New Albany were married in New Albany at 4 :00 p. m. by Rev- erend Arch Cree. On Saturday, May 19, 1906, a very destructive fire oc- curred in English. It was first discovered about 12 :30 a. m. at the rear of Boyd's store. The people responded to the fire alarm and fought bravely, but the fire had gained such a start that it was not controlled till the following business houses were burned out: Boyd store, valued at $10,000; Temple's store, valued at $7,000; Crawford County Bank, valued at $3,000; M. W. of A. parapher- nalia, $300; Stewart's postoffice, valued at $150; L. V. Starr's tin shop, $800; Mrs. Mather's household goods, $50; J. R. Leonard's property, $800; Roberts' drug store, valued at $300. 390 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The insurance covered part of the above losses. The conductor on the midnight passenger train told Marshal W. E, Cummins of English that two "bummers" had set the bridge on fire at Temple. Cummins, who was watching for the tramps, found them near the railroad track. Trouble occurred in which Cummins was seriously shot by one of the men. He was taken to Louisville for medical treatment. The tramps escaped. The shooting occurred at English on April 24, 1907. During the school year of 1906-07 L. C. Jones, who had been hired to teach the No. 10 school in Sterling township, had some trouble with one of Woodson Satterfield's sons. Satterfield became angry because Jones punished his son. On April 12, 1907, when Jones had closed his school for the year and was leaving for English, Satterfield came up and assaulted Jones, striking him over the head and beat- ing him severely. Satterfield escaped. Jones sued him for damages, but the records are not clear as to whether or not he received any money. The good people of English have always been inter- ested in morality and churches. On February 2, 1906, an order was given that saloons should be closed on the Sab- bath day. The friends of Arthur Garfield Bobbitt were pleased to hear that he had won the Foster prize on the "Trent Affair" in Bloomington, June 29, 1906. Bobbitt was the son of James Bobbitt of English. On August 25, 1906, the Democrats of Harrison, Perry and Crawford Counties met at English to see if they could adjust the Zenor-Cox muddle. At this meeting John Benz ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR 391 was named for stale senator, John Sweeney for joint- representative, and John Ewing for prosecuting attorney. On June 15, 1910, at the Methodist Episcopal church occurred the wedding of Cecil Lenore Suddarth of Eng- lish and Nicholas Harrison of Alton. Miss Ruth Carr played the wedding march. Curran Suddarth, Mansfield Ellsworth and Harry Boyd were ushers. Reverend J. W. Trowbridge officiated. The groom was the son of Lycur- gus Harrison of Alton and the bride was the daughter of Jerry L. Suddarth of English. Another fire threatened to destroy English on July 24, 1912. The building owned by W. E. Cummins, in which Cummins and Toney's store was located, burned to the ground. The building was covered by insurance. When B. T. Temple came to his store March 15, 1915, he discovered that some one had gained entrance to his store through a rear window. The safe had been blown open and about $800 taken. He secured bloodhounds from Tell City but the dogs could not locate the robbers. After the county seat was moved to English in 1896 the editor of the Crawford County Democrat moved his paper to English. The Democrat is the oldest paper in Crawford County. It dates back to near the Civil War. VanZante, William Ellsworth and Hal Ellsworth were early editors. Hal A. Ellsworth owned the paper at the time of its moving to English. Ellsworth sold the paper to D. W. Flanigan about 1905. Flanigan, who had been a teacher all his life, made a good editor until his death a few years ago. Then his brother, Arthur Flanigan, bought the paper. He has been the editor since about 1916. Flanigan, who is a jolly good-natured business man, 392 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY has made a success with the paper. He is a graduate of the Central Normal College at Danville and is well pre- pared for his work. While he is a Democrat in politics, yet he is very broad-minded in his views. His leading helper is a Republican. About 1919 he bought out the English News from James Stewart and combined the two papers in a way. The News is run by Thomas Austin as a Republican paper. The year of 1921 was a noted year for building. The Hammond Brothers began work on their new garage build- ing, which is to be 90 x 50 feet. The Masonic Lodge voted to build a hall over the garage when it is complete. The new Motion Picture Theater will be 90 x 40 feet. There will be room in the Masonic Hall for a dining-room besides the other rooms. The English State Bank, which is one of the best in southern Indiana, began to enlarge its quarters. The work was not completed for a long time. William Rice of Louisville came to English in May, 1921, and met the business men of the town, who turned out in a body. Rice stated his proposition and made an offer that if the town would subscribe $40,000 for pre- ferred stock he would consider the proposition of locating his hub mill and basket factory in English. Two-thirds of the amount was raised in a few minutes. Before he left English the sum was raised. The hub mill will cost $85,000. The English people subscribed for $35,000 worth of preferred stock. The site for the mill was located south of the railroad near the station. The factory was built during the summer of 1921 and the men began making baskets that fall and winter. A large warehouse, which ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR 393 had formerly been used by Alfred Turley, was used for storing the baskets. A large number of hands were em- ployed that fall and winter. On Friday evening, March 25, 1922, the large ware- room of the basket factory, which was 65 x 165 feet and filled with baskets, the value of which was estimated at $15,000, was discovered on fire. No one knows just how the fire started. The fire had gained such headway that it was beyond control. The building was totally destroyed by the fire. Two big trucks were also burned. Reverend C. E. Davis ran into the driveway and drove one of the trucks out. John S. Atkins lost a building which was filled with fertilizer belonging to the Hopkins Fertilizer Company. The blacksmith shop, which belonged to James Dicus, was a total loss. The company had $10,000 insur- ance on this building and its contents The machinery, valued at $20,000, was covered by insurance. Mr. Rice, who is the president of the basket factory, began building another warehouse on the same spot, which was soon completed. The Turley Hub and Rim Factory was built in English. The Rice Basket Factory in the winter of 1923 was again burned. No one knows how this fire originated. The company rebuilt again. C. T. Brown became the manager when Rice sold out and left. The town of English was visited by another fire during the winter of 1924. The previous attempt to burn out certain buildings across from Temple's store where Rob- erts had his place of business had failed in 1923. Men discovered the fire which was soon extinguished. Last winter the fire was not discovered until it was beyond 394 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY control The whole corner, where Hammond and Patton's drug store was located, burned down. The Hammond Brothers began to build again. The new house is to have a basketball hall and skating rink. The new gymnasium was opened on Friday, November 13, 1925. Marengo and English met on the floor with a double-header in basketball. English boys won both games. When the moving picture theater was completed in 1922 Guy Longest became manager of the theater. Another prominent business man of English is B. T. Temple. He has spent about all his life in English. The Temples belong to one of the oldest and best respected business families of the county. A brief account of English would not be complete with- out mention of James Hughes who has a livery and feed stable in English. In 1914 he bought a new automobile to use in his service. In the summer of 1925 a new bank was organized in English. The office of Doctor Gobbel was secured for the new bank. Ernest Brown became the new cashier and Myrtle L. Meriwether became assistant cashier and book- keeper. The citizens subscribed the proper amount of stock easily. The officers were : President, Doctor Gobbel ; vice-president, J. A. Blevins; cashier, E. L. Brown. The board of directors were : J. W. Bird, F. R. Gobbel, Porter Eckerty, 0. S. Johnson, J. F. Temple, H. H. Grant and E. L. Brown. Doctor Gobbel, who has been one of the leading citizens for many years, began building a new office building. At the date of writing he has it about complete. The build- ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR 395 ing will be a valuable asset to the town. It is the first hospital in the county. The week of January 16, 1922, was a remarkable week in educational circles of Crawford County. The town of English was visited by the Indiana Survey Commission. The first meeting of the commission was held in the county superintendent's office at the court house where the direc- tor explained the method of procedure to the men who were to give the tests. Doctor Childs of Indiana Univer- sity was the director and Professor Thompson of Hanover College was to assist him. After a careful survey of the map the director ordered County Superintendent Lindsey of Spencer County and Superintendent Sam Scott of Jef- fersonville to go to Eckerty. Superintendent Harding went to Taswell. Clinton Gamble of Scottsburg went to West Fork; Glenn Scott of New Albany and Superin- tendent Mather of Salem worked out of English. Super- intendent Hutchinson of the Salem schools w T ent to Mill- town ; Professor May of Indiana University went to Alton. The men were to visit two schools each day. . The work was so well planned that only one school was missed. This was the Crecelius school where Mae McFarland taught. The field workers completed the county districts and returned to English on Friday, where they visited the English schools. The material was packed, the bills paid and the visitors thanked Mr. Walker for his courteous treatment when they were at the hotel. The test sheets were shipped to New York where they were examined by experts and report made later. The men had many amusing stories to tell. Sam Scott 396 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY said that he was lost on the way to Oak Hill for some time but managed to get back. He asked the teacher where he was when the party shot through the schoolhouse door. He answered that he was not in the house. Superintendent Mather, who made the trip to Mount Sterling, was lost for about an hour till some one came along who showed him the way to the school. Glenn Scott met with some narrow escapes on the road to Burkhart, the roads being almost impassable. Scott and Harding were much pleased with their drivers, B. T. Mc- Fairland and J. R. Crews. One Saturday night in January, 1926, as Rudolph Parker with a car full of friends was driving out of Eng- lish about 10 :10 p. m., a fast freight train was approach- ing from the east. Parker drove the sedan on the track just right to be hit by the train. Arthur Bird heard the freight train coming and tried to warn the driver as he crossed the track, but was unsuccessful. Bird ran up town and called for help. The freight train stopped as soon as it could after the terrible affair. The car was demolished outright and its occupants were scattered up the track for some distance. The train blocked the track till the crossing was cut. In the meanwhile many climbed over the couplings to see what had happened, for the car and its occupants were scattered on the south side of the track. The occupants of the car were : Rudolph Parker, Mrs. Parker, Eunice Parker, Mrs. Curtis Lone, Bessie Roberson, Bethel Roberson, Lura Parker and Kenneth Fer- guson. Of the above, Rudolph Parker, Mrs. Parker, Bessie Roberson, Eunice Parker and Mrs. Lone died during the night. They were carried to Doctor Gobbel 's Hospital and ENGLISH AFTER THE WAR 397 medical aid was rendered by Doctors G. B. Hammond, Charles Luckett, Felix Hammond and F. R. and N. E. Gobbel. The doctors of English are to be commended for the help rendered. Mrs. Mayme Moss and Mrs. Mae Bird acted as nurses Saturday night until they were relieved. The three who were not killed were taken to New Albany for treatment. The crossing has been considered a dangerous one for some time. Harrison Sarles, who was driving across the track, was killed about noon, February 4, 1922. Joseph Miller, an old Union soldier, was killed in 1918. The Order of the Eastern Star was organized in Eng- lish on July 24, 1913. There were thirty charter members. The Leavenworth degree staff came over and conferred the degree. The officers of the chapter were : Mrs. Joel Melton, Worthy Matron; Henry Mock, Worthy Patron; Mrs. J. E. Stewart, Associate Matron; Mrs. H. W. Mock, Conductress; Mrs. Oliver Belvins, Associate Conductress; Nellie Thornbury, Secretary; Mrs. Harris Brown, Treas- urer and G. W. Cuzzart, Sentinel. Refreshments were served at the Commercial Hotel. The officer sent from Indianapolis to inspect the work arrived late on account of a railroad accident. Probably one of the largest land sales which ever oc- curred in English was held on Saturday, May 15, 1926. The addition to English was known as the John Temple addition. About 1,500 people from all parts of the county were present. The lots were sold with brisk bidding. Prices on the unimproved lots ran from $20 to $520. The addition was part of Joseph Enlow's farm which was ad- jacent to the schoolhouse. 398 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The auction was under the direction of Charles Cook, formerly of Marengo, head of the Cook Auction Service of Louisville. He was assisted by six other members of the company. Music, which was furnished by a ten-piece band of Louisville, entertained the people during the sale. The lots purchased by the people are situated as fol- lows: On East Fifth Street, lots one and two and a three- acre tract south of the creek. North of East Fifth Street, lots three and four, Ed. Velcein of Sulphur. Lots five and six on corner of Fifth and Meridian Streets, E. L. Brown of English. West on Meridian Street, lots seven and eight, Leonard Cummins of English; lots nine and ten, Benton Pierson of English; lots eleven, twelve, thirteen and fourteen, Ode Eaton of Sulphur; lots fifteen, sixteen, seventeen and eighteen, Sherrod King of English. Corner of Meridian Street and the English-Marengo pike, tract No. 2, Volley Smith of English. North of English and Marengo pike road, lots 19, 20, 21 and 22, G. C. Stokes of English ; lots 41 and 42, S. A. Lamb- din ; lots 43 and 44, English Public School. West on High Street, lots 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, G. C. Stokes of English ; lots 29 and 30, John Tucker of English ; lots 31 to 40, Denzil Cummins; a forty-acre tract on High Street to Claud Brown. West on High Street, lots 45 and 46, Lloyd VanLowell ; lots 47, 48, 49 and 50, Charles Nash of English. East on Meridian Street, south and west of the school, lots 51 and 52, Carl Conn; lots 53 and 54, Sam Lambdin; lots 55, 56 and 57, Kelly Batman; lots 58 and 59, Ed. Velceim of Sulphur; lots 60 and 61, Henry Knight; lots 62, 63 and 64, Owen Johnson of English. CHAPTER XIX THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES For a long time the people of Alton wanted a bridge built over Little Blue River. On October 9, 1889, A. N. Peckinpaugh and John T. Hollcroft agreed to give $500 toward helping construct a bridge. Hamilton Martin and H. S. Batman voted to accept the money, but James G. Thurston voted "no." The board finally ordered a bridge built. The main bridge was to be of iron and 150 feet long, the driveway 12 feet wide. The second span was to be 200 feet, consisting of 50-foot spans, supported by iron legs with abutments and wing walls. Bids would be opened on November 20, 1889. Much trouble occurred in various ways before this bridge was completed. The elec- tion of 1894 placed two Republican county commissioners in office. These men were rather careful about signing bonds for a while. However, the people needed the bridge and it was finally completed. The contract was let to the Lafayette Bridge Company on January 20, 1897. The bridge was built at Alton. It was 420 feet long. The roadway was to be 14 feet in the clear. The cost of the bridge was $7,300. The masonry was paid for at $4.25 per cubic foot. The three county commissioners were John E. Funk, Jacob Partenheimer and Willis II. Harvey. Much hard feeling existed over 399 400 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the county about the expenditure of so much money for a bridge at Alton, yet the people down there needed a bridge. Complaint was made against Willis Harvey when he was a candidate for sheriff in 1900 because he had worked for this bridge. The campaign of 1890 was warmly contested in Craw- ford County. For Congress : John Bretz, Democrat, and William Darnell, Republican. Joint senator : Iverson Lynn, Democrat, and David Voyles, Republican. For joint representative : Volney Trinkle, Democrat, and Owen C. Boyd, Republican. For prosecuting attorney, C. W. Cook, Democrat, and Ivan Hottell, Republican. For judge, W. T. Zenor, Democrat, and R. M. Trace- well, Republican. Clerk, O. A. Adams, Democrat; F. L. Priest, Repub- lican. Treasurer, Joab Stroud, Democrat; John Serm, Re- publican. Sheriff, Burton Brown, Democrat; Sam Tucker, Republican. Coroner, Wm. Forman, Democrat ; Charles Funk, Republican. Surveyor, Sherman Smith, Democrat; Charles Funk, Republican. Commissioner of first district, Andrew Scott, Democrat; David R. Stewart, Republican. Commissioner of the second district, James Thurston, Democrat; Henry Jackson, Republican. The Democratic ticket was elected by a large vote. Smith qualified for county surveyor, but resigned after a few months and moved away. Dan Paschal was appointed to fill the vacancy. The election of 1892 was a warm affair. The Peoples' party had a national ticket in the field. Below is the ticket and the vote each man received. THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 401 The first one in each case is the Democrat: Congress: Bretz, 1,511; Willoughby, 1,332. Prosecutor: Cook, 1,512; Hayes, 1,252. Treasurer: F. P. Walts, 1,390; An- drew Funk, 1,247. Sheriff: James Hughes, 1,490; Peter Hilgert, 1,291. Recorder: James M. Brown, 1,484; George Speedy, 1,246. Surveyor: Dan Paschal, 1,493; Jesse Rid- dle, 1,250. Coroner: Wm. Froman, 1,498; Frank Austin, 1,236. Commissioner, third district: Amos Atkins, 1,313; Patrick DeWitt, 1,231. County Surveyor: Martin Miller, 1,485; Charles Tillery, 1,241. The Democratic party elected the whole county ticket. The Peoples' party had a candidate for president. The presidential vote was : Cleveland, Democrat, 1,529 ; Har- rison, Republican, 1,276 ; James B. Weaver, F. M. B. A., 200. The Marengo people were highly pleased in 1891 over the Marengo Fair. A piece of ground was obtained just south of the town where a half-mile race track could be constructed. Suitable houses were built for the exhibits and the ground fenced in by a high board fence. John W. Bird, W. S. Hanger, M. M. Terry, W. J. Hawkins and many others were leading citizens who helped promote the affair with the help of F. P. Walts. Prizes were given for the best exhibits of stock of all kinds, fruit, vegtables and fancy stock. The racing was one of the most interesting features of the fair. Men from far and near entered their horses and some good racing was done. A week was set aside for the fair to which people came from everywhere. A fee of twenty-five cents was charged at the door or gate to get in. This sum of money generally 402 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY paid all expenses. Thursday was the big day. People came to meet their friends, brought dinner, and had a joyful time all day. The boys enjoyed the hot popcorn and the "hot-dog" stands, and townspeople cried themselves hoarse trying to sell their "lemonade made in the shade, stirred with a spade" or their "hoky-poky" ice cream. Cheap shows were on the ground, a steam swing, f err is wheel and merry-go-round. The county fair was a day of fun to old and young. Many a poor country boy of the southern part of the county had his first view of the "high life" at the fair. He generally started about 2 :00 a. m. and by break of day he was coming down old White Oak Hill into "Jim Town "-Marengo, Springtown or Big Springs. The writer remembers his first sight of the railroad and the first train which passed. Running to high grounds one generally watched the train pass with wonder. The fair has grown larger and better every year. If my reader meets me there in the future may our meeting be an enjoyable event. During this period several new bridges were con- structed in Crawford County. The board met at the site for Merrilee's bridge across Little Blue, west of Beech- wood about two miles, on June 15, 1891, and measured the ground and work. The members came back to Leaven- worth and received bids as follows : Digging and walling : J'. W. Hudson, first class masonry, per cubic yard $5.15 Kinsey Veatch, first class masonry, per cubic yard 4.40 Henry George, first class masonry, per cubic yard 5.00 John Doolittle, first class masonry, per cubic yard 4.00 THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 403 Thinking the bids too high the board rejected all of them. Later Kinsey Veatch submitted new bids as follows : Digging-, per cubic foot $0.40 First class masonry 4.00 Filling for the rodaway 0.28 Macadamizing, per cubic foot 0.75 The board ordered Charles T. Myler and H. K. Batman to meet with George W. Riddle and locate a site for the bridge on June 14, 1891. The bids, thirteen in all, were opened. They ran from $1,600 to $2,100. All were re- jected and new ones asked for. Eight new ones were sub- mitted, ranging from $1,550 to $1,780. E. J. P. Bracket Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded the contract at $1,550. The bridge was completed that year on October 21, 1891. Kinsey Veatch was paid: Stone work, 307y 2 cubic yards at $4.00 $1,230.00 Digging, 214% cubic yards at 40 cents 85.95 Dirt fill, 37834 cubic yards at 28 cents 106.05 Total cost of work $1,422.05 John W. Doolittle built the 135-foot fill for $34. A bridge was built over Bogard Fork in this period. The board ordered it built at Hubbard's ford on the Eng- lish road March 6, 1894. The Brochett Bridge Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a contract for $350 and ordered it completed by September 18, 1894. William Condra built the abutments at $2.25 per cubic foot. 404 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Joab Stroud, who was elected county treasurer in 1890, took his office in August and died December 26th of that same year. He received $61.90 for taxes and did not give them credit on the books of the county. It appears that he gave them receipts for their money. The board ordered suit against his bond. On July 8, 1892, the board met to consider the prop- osition of granting a right-of-way to the Leavenworth, Pilot Knob and Marengo Turnpike Company. The officers did not meet the county commissioners. The commissioners charged the cost of the meeting up to them which was $15.50. P. H. Willett paid the bill. Later the board granted them the right-of-way and work was soon begun. The directors were : Wm. C. Ellsworth, S. E. McFall, Win. Everdon, R. H. Willett, William E. Green, W. V. Weath- ers and J. C. Archibald. In August, 1892, bonds were sold by the directors and people took out stock. On the end of the road at Leavenworth much work was done until about two miles of the road was finished. Beginning at Marengo the road was completed to the top of White Oak hill when the company went bankrupt. Men would not buy stock in the road and the undertaking failed. The citizens were too poor to take stock in such an undertaking. One of the oldest and most respected families in Craw- ford County was the Smith family. During the Dem- ocratic landslide of 1890 one finds that Sherman Smith was elected county surveyor. His bond was signed by William Temple, James D. Morgan, William Sturgeon, M. J. Brown and William Beasley. For various reasons Smith resigned in March, 1891, and the board appointed Daniel J. Paschal to fill the vacancy. THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 405 On December 5, 1892, the board granted D. M. Hand- spire a license to rnn a ferry over Little Blue River at Alton. He had the right to charge : Team and wagon 10c Four horses 20c One horse and buggy 10c Horse and rider 10c He must keep ferry-boat in good shape and one good skiff extra to accommodate people. The board ordered John Doolittle to make new ballot boxes for the election boards of different townships. The boxes were 18 inches x 19 inches x 9 inches with two locks. The booths were 6% feet high and 7% feet wide. Doo- little received $197 for the work. The work was ordered done September 4, 1890. On March 3, 1890, the board ordered all the books of the treasurer and auditor run from the term of Walter Seacat down to January 11, 1890. The following report was made : "After careful work the records were found correct except in minor errors back to Seacat 's record. The ex- aminers were not able to run his books, since he claims that the books were stolen. Yet one can not see why a thief would want to steal the office books which were useless to the thief, for all the orders had been cancelled. The com- missioners ought to be more careful with the records. [Signed]) "Mart Fleener. •> i It remains to tell of the final struggle between English and Leavenworth over the county seat. 406 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY A special meeting was held at English in October, 1893, at which a committee consisting of William Richards, Will- iam T. Beasley and W. T. Carr was named. This commit- tee was to plan the campaign and give Leavenworth the fight of its life. Jim Pro bought the type of the Marengo Observer and moved it to English and started a paper there. Pro advocated the immediate moving of the county seat to English. The committee employed C. W. Cook, Mayor Funk and Charles Jewett, lawyers. The petitioners were R. L. Sloan, G. W. Sloan, W. W. Temple, T. B. Cummins, M. J. Brown, C. D. Luckett, H. A. Brown, J. R. Crews, H. J. Brown, William Luckett, John Luckett and others. Each petition had twenty-five names on it when full. They were to return the petitions when full to Andrew J. Goodman who inspected them carefully and then returned them to Pro and W. W. Temple for another inspection, after which they were returned to Andrew J. Goodman. He then filed them in his office properly signed. The petitions were circulated in Novem- ber. They were ready on the first Monday in December to make a grand spectacular drive on Leavenworth and get as many signers as they could on their w T ay from English to Leavenworth. On that drive they secured 180 extra ones. Then the legal fight began. The remonstrators had hired Robert Tracewell, Jerry Suddarth and John Weathers. The English crowd collected all their petitions and at two o'clock entered the court house at Leavenworth and at 4:30 they had won the fight. The board found that English had about sixty-five per cent, of the voters on the petitions. The English crowd had forged several names. THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 407 They went in groups of three. If a man did not sign, they signed for him and swore he signed. If lie denied signing they proved that he did. A gentleman of Mifflin said that three of them came to his school one day at recess. They asked him who a certain man was, who was off a certain distance working. He told them. Later he learned that this man's name was on the petition. That gentleman denied signing and the three swore he did. He could do nothing. Again they had deposited $250 to pay the architect and the commissioners. Also two acres of land and one-fourth of an acre for a jail were deeded to the county. The board ordered the petitioners' wishes granted and the county seat moved to English. The remonstrators filed an appeal bond and took the case to court. The English people did not feel that their side would get justice at Leavenworth. Hence they asked for a change to Corydon. Later the case was tried under Judge Davis of the appellate court. The witnesses had a large map of the county placed on the floor to help them in the testimony. The trial lasted three weeks. English won. There was great rejoicing on Dog Creek then. But the rejoicing was checked by Judge Voyles and Judge Zenor issuing an injunction against the building which stopped everything for a while. Voyles was a special judge to hear the case at Leavenworth. Just at this time the English crowd needed a modern Napoleon to handle the situation. They had one in their midst, capable of such an affair and powerful enough to handle the situation. This was the old hero of many battle- 408 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY fields, A. J. Goodman. A meeting was held in English to decide what was the best to do. The committee resigned and Jack Goodman was made dictator. He planned to go over and get the books. The farmers furnished a long string of wagons, each of which was numbered. They met at English on Sunday, the 25th of April. There were three sledge-hammers to break open the doors of the offices if necessary and derricks to lift the safes into the wagons if needed. A quantity of dynamite was taken along and three men to handle it in case it was needed. One was Jack Nelson, sometimes called "Dynamite Jack" after that, Jack Goodman drilled his cavalry at 12 :30 a. m. and soon had the horsemen in fine shape. At one o'clock in the morning the grand party, which was a long procession, started for Leavenworth. There were no radios and tele- phones then, so their good brothers and sisters at Leaven- worth knew nothing of their coming. The long procession had ninety-six two-horse wagons, eighty-two mounted guards and 478 infantry. That strange committee arrived at Leavenworth about 7 :00 a. m. The managers waited on the county officers to open the doors, which was done about eight o'clock. Then the loading began. Captain ' ' Jack ' ' drilled his mounted guards and the infantry in the most remarkable manner. Leavenworth was so sur- prised they could do nothing. No resistance was made. The loading was done easily and all were soon on the road back. That night the records were piled in the big stone building which Luckett was building. So the deed was done. Leavenworth regretted to see the court house go, but no doubt it will accommodate more people there. THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 409 The new court house, which was the first real one the county ever built, was about sixty-four feet square. The contractors were Caldwell and Drake. The contract was let on November 6, 1895. The architect was Oliver W. Marble. His fee was $437.15. The contract price for the building was $14,571.77, but before it was completed in every detail the cost reached about $48,000. The three commissioners who signed the contract were Amos Atkins, Jacob Parte^heimer and Willis Harvey. The sore heads and broken hearts have all been mended. Leavenworth and English are now on friendly terms. The county seat, no doubt, should have been at English. Out of courtesy to the men of English one may say that C. D. Luckett, John McCoy, George Temple and others filed a bond to donate $2,100 to the county. The appraisers had said that the old buildings at Leavenworth were valued at $2,100. Hence, they would donate that sum. On March 3, 1894, John Weathers and R. H. Willett asked permission of the county commissioners to erect a telephone line from Leavenworth to Marengo and thence to English, by Grantsburg to English from Leavenworth. The poles were in no way to interfere with the traffic on the highway. The board granted them the right to set the poles along the highway. William Everdon of Tower built the line from Leavenworth to Marengo. Poles were set, the wire stretched and the switchboards were installed. By 1895 the line was built to Alton, thence to Sulphur and English. This was something new to our farmers. They had never seen a telephone. One man near Alton asked Captain William Everdon how he could talk over such a thing. "Do you put the wire in your mouth to talk?" he 410 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY asked. Some time after the line was completed a farmer near Tower came along. He heard the wire humming at the pole When he stopped at the Tower postoffice he told the crowd that as he came along he heard John Weathers and Dick Willett just "cussin" each other. Later he learned the truth, but the joke was on him. When the Marengo line was complete Henry Summers and William Everdon were the first two who talked over the line. Mrs. Ella Murphy also talked with the men that Sunday morning. The telephone was a great help to the people. During the summer of 1897 the Cumberland Telephone Company built a line through from Leavenworth to Eng- lish and West Fork. With that line completed much good service was received. After the election of 1892 the good people of Crawford County experienced one of the worst panics ever known in the history of the county. Business was at a standstill. As long as the farmer could sell crossties or West India staves he could earn a living, for there was much timber in the county. But by 1894 business was extremely bad. Crossties sold for nineteen and twenty-two cents each. Men received six and seven cents a tie for making them. A good tie hacker, after the timber was sawed, could make between fifteen and twenty-five ties a day, depending on the timber. In rough timber, where a man had to "buck" the ties, he did well to complete ten. But about this time men quit paying money for ties. Working men were given orders to the store, where they traded out the orders. When tax paying time came many people endured such hardships that they never forgot the panic of 1894. THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 411 Coxey's Army had made a raid on Washington. Kelley's Army passed Leavenworth in 1894. There were about 700 of them. Leavenworth was frightened for fear the men would stop and remain there. A large sum of money was made up for them. The saloons were closed. The large barrel of whiskey which Chester Elliott had in his saloon was rolled by Bill Conrad over to Johnny Stroud's livery stable and hidden in the trash. He feared they would break into the saloon and all become drunk. But fortunately they never stopped at Leavenworth 's land- ing. They presented a motley array as the boat steamed up the river. The campaign in the county went against the Demo- crats in 1894. The figures below show the vote : Clerk of the Court— R. Clark, Republican, 1,432; 0. A. Adams, Democrat, 1,315. Clark's majority, 108. Sheriff— W. 0. Ballard, Republican, 1,557; J. A. Hughes, Democrat, 1,198. Ballard's majority, 359. County Surveyor — J. M. Johnson, Republican, 1,406; Dan Paschal, Democrat, 1,286. Johnson's majority, 120. Congress — R. M. Tracewell, Republican, 1,376; John Bretz, Democrat, 1,344. Tracewell 's majority, 32. Prosecuting Attorney — Albert Funkhouser, Repub- lican, 1,498; Ivan Hottell, Democrat, 1,218. Funkhouser 's majority, 280. Joint Senator of Crawford, Orange and Harrison Counties — George Crandwill, Republican, 1,386; Daniel Lemmon, Democrat, 1,323. Crandwill 's majority, 63. Auditor — James D. Fleming, Democrat, 1,465 ; Jesse Riddle, Republican, 1,300. Fleming's majority, 165. 412 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Coroner — George Key, Republican, 1,401 ; John Lank- ford, Democrat, 1,284. Key's majority, 117. Commissioner of Second District — Jacob Partenheimer, Democrat, 1,451 ; Hardin Enlow, Republican, 1,301. Par- tenheimer 's majority, 150. County Commissioner — Willis Harvey, Republican, 1,377; Amos Atkins, Democrat, 1,362. Harvey's ma- jority, 15. Commission of County — John E. Funk, Republican, 1,486; A. J. Scott, Democrat, 1,258. Funk's majority, 226. County Treasurer — F. P. Walts, Democrat, 1,541; Mr. Taylor, Republican, 1,212. Walts' majority, 329. By 1896 times were still hard. Money was scarce. The people believed that the money was too scarce. One faction advocated the free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, while another division of the voters be- lieved in the Gold Standard. The campaign of 1896 was one of the most bitterly contested elections ever held in the county. Men became angry at their best neighbors. The old party lines were broken. Many Republicans voted for free silver, while the old-line Democrats in many places left the party. At a great Republican rally held in Leaven- worth in October, Captain Nath Collins, who had been a bitter Democrat, mounted his horse, rode out about two miles and met the procession and rode at its head with the yellow ribbon flowing from his horse in the air. Dick Willett, the county chairman of the Democrats, resigned. One of the amusing things which happened during the campaign was Rainbolt's race. It appeared to me that Rainbolt had put up Major McKinley's picture in his THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 413 store window hard by the road at Tower. One day a man came driving along the road in a two-horse road wagon. Rainbolt was down at the barn, which was a short distance from the house and store. Evidently the man in the wagon did not see Rainbolt or he would not have done what he did, but anyway, he had just emptied a large brandy bottle. Looking at the picture a second he drew back and hurled the bottle at the picture with all his might. Fortunately, he missed the picture. The bottle hit the weatherboarding with a terrible crash. Looking up, Rainbolt saw the act. Losing all control of himself, he jumped on the mare which was in the barn and bareback he made for the road with all the speed he could muster. In the meanwhile the women were out, and the man realizing his condition, laid whip to his two big fine horses and was well under way with his horses at a long gallop when Rainbolt gained the high- way. Reinbolt being a rather small man held his seat with difficulty, while the mare was doing her best to over- take the man in the wagon. Just how far they ran before Rainbolt came back can not now be known. At any rate, to make a long story short, the man having outrun him, he gave up the chase. The writer was on the scene a short time after it happened but will not vouch for the authen- ticity of the story as told. Of course the Democrats laughed at Rainboldt every time chance came their way. The county ticket of 1896 was as follows : Congressman — W. T. Zenor, Democrat, 1,590; R. M. Tracewell, Republican, 1,481. Zenor 's majority, 109. Judge— C. W. Cook, Democrat, 1,457 ; John H. Weath- ers, Republican, 1,612. Weathers' majority, 155. 414 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Treasurer — E. P. Brown, Democrat, 1,553; D. L. Sea- ton, Republican, 1,484. Brown's majority, 69. Recorder — J. M. Brown, Democrat, 1,571; W. L. Tem- ple, Republican, 1,447. Brown's majority, 124. Sheriff — George Shultz, Democrat, 1,441 ; Walter Bal- lard, Republican, 1,635. Ballard's majority, 221. Coroner — J. W. Carr, Democrat, 1,541 ; George Rober- son, Republican, 1,437. Carr's majority, 104. Surveyor — D. J. Paschal, Democrat, 1,502; J. M. John- son, Republican, 1,490. Paschal 's majority, 12. Assessor — James Gilmore, Democrat, 1,516; Wm. Scott, Republican, 1,495. Gilmore 's majority, 21. Commissioner of First District — W. M. Scout, Demo- crat, 1,588; William Lee, Republican, 1,391. Scout's ma- jority, 197. Commissioner of Second District — William Landiss, Democrat, 1,586 ; J. M. Meriwether, Republican, 1,394. Landiss' majority, 192. Weathers, who had made a very strong race, was de- feated in Harrison County by a very narrow margin of votes. Bryan received 1,655 and McKinley 1,490 votes. The people elected Ballard sheriff on the Republican ticket, but the rest of the ticket was Democratic. After the election of McKinley in 1896 the country was soon plunged into war with Spain. The records are such that one can not tell just how many boys from Crawford County volunteered. Sampson Byrum, Jerome Pierson, Garrison Bird, Charles Cook, two Megenity brothers of English and Charles Austin Ross, son of W. S. Ross, volun- THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 415 teered their services. Charles Austin Ross was killed in the Philippine Islands. The campaign of 1898 began with a warm primary fight in the spring. The Democrats had two candidates for county clerk, William L. Gregory of English and George W. Cuzzort of Patoka township. Sam McFall, Alexander Perkins and James Tucker were candidates for auditor. John Gilliland was the leading candidate for sheriff. The result of the primary was: Clerk, William L. Gregory, English ; auditor, S. E. Mc- Fall, Leavenworth; sheriff, John Gilliland, Leavenworth; treasurer, E. P. Brown, Eckerty; coroner, James W. Carr, ; commissioner, James P. Culver, Alton; surveyor, Daniel Paschal, Marengo. The Republicans held a convention and placed the fol- lowing ticket in the field : Clerk, Richard Clark, (died, W. B. Allen filled vacancy) ; auditor, John W. Bird, Ma- rengo; sheriff, George Ash; coroner, Henry Bates, Mill- town; commissioner, Willis Harvey, Alton; surveyor, E. R. McKensie. The campaign waxed warm, money was spent on all sides and whiskey flowed freely. The result of the elec- tion was disastrous to the Republicans. Before ten o'clock that night the incomplete returns indicated a landslide for the Democrats. Below are the figures : Congress — Zenor, Democrat, 1,676; Whitesides, Repub- lican, 1,285. Zenor 's majority, 391. Prosecuting Attorney— Fleshman, Democrat, 1,547; Bonner, Republican, 1,376; Fleshman 's majority, 171. Clerk— William Gregory, Democrat, 1,672; William Allen, Republican, 1,233. Gregory's majority, 439. 416 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Auditor— S. E. McFall, Democrat, 1,723; J. W. Bird, Republican, 1,182. McFall 's majority, 531. Sheriff, John Gilliland, Democrat, 1,617 ; George Ash, Republican, 1,339. Gilliland 's majority, 278. Coroner — J. W. Carr, Democrat, 1,562; Henry Bates, Republican, 1,306. Carr's majority, 256. Commissioner — James Culver, Democrat, 1,586; Willis Harvey, Republican, 1,313. Culver's majority, 273. Surveyor — Dan Paschal, Democrat, 1,565 ; E. R. Mc- Kensie, Republican, 1,320. Paschal 's majority, 245. The first bank in Leavenworth was established by John S. Whitten. The building stood on Front Street. Later, Weathers and Willett organized a private bank in Leaven- worth. A new building was secured at the corner of Court and Nelson Streets. This was about the year of 1892. Later,, a branch bank was opened at Marengo in the build- ing where Doctor Land now has his office. There was also a branch bank at English. The Leavenworth bank failed in 1897. The cashier closed the doors and left. The writer took his father's pension check to the bank that evening. Mr. Davis, the cashier, looked at it for a minute and handed it back, say- ing that he could not cash the check. The writer left much worried about the check. Later he learned that Davis had no funds with which to cash the check. Willett, who had left town, was severely blamed by many people who had their savings there. Just how much money was on deposit one can not now say. Trustee Scott of Jennings township lost heavily, for he had all the township money in the bank. Willett had been constructing a beautiful modern residence on Court Street, near the court house. That work THE COUNTY IN THE NINETIES 417 was now closed. Later S. D. Alexander bought the honse and completed it. The Alexanders still owned it in 1925. Later Willett returned and Mr. Ruell Arnold was ap- pointed to settle the bank's business. He was able to collect and pay back to the depositors a large per cent, of their money. The branch banks at Marengo and English also failed. Later business people organized a bank at English, with John Miller as cashier. This bank was finally char- tered by the state. It is known as the State Bank of Eng- lish to-day. The Leavenworth State Bank was organized after a few years. The people use the same building which Willett and Weathers used. CHAPTER XX MARENGO AFTER THE WAR Big Springs, Springtown, or Marengo, has a similar growth as English. Before the railroad went through the town there was a cluster of log cabins, one or two stores, a saloon, meeting house or two and a graveyard. In this graveyard lies buried a Revolutionary War soldier who was named Cooper. He was from Germany. The good people of Marengo, with the assistance of Professor J. M. Johnson, built an academy in old town about the year of 1869. Then Marengo became the center of education for southern Indiana. Many students from far and near attended the Marengo Academy. Professor Johnson did a great work there. Soon a new frame school- house was built just north and east of the Methodist church. This house was the only school building of its kind ever erected in Marengo. The people were proud of it. In it Emmett Taylor and Jesse Breeden taught spring normals after Professor Johnson became too old to teach school. On June 10, 1886, men became interested in the rock at Marengo. The railroad was a means of getting the stone away. Joseph Garrow was the first man to undertake to open the quarry. He had a good chance to sell to Wash DePauw of the New Albany Glass Works. The first load 418 MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 419 or two lie let his men mix clinkers with the rock. When DePauw saw this he would not buy any more crushed rock from Garrow. Then Garrow sawed out the rock, which he sold where- ever he could get a market. One day in November, 1886, the apparatus blew up, injuring him so that he died. Then his two sons, Joseph and Milton Garrow, took up the work. They did much work and business was running fairly well until a blast failed to go off one day. Later it exploded while Milton was too near it and blew him over a bank and another man over a boxcar which was standing near the quarry. Other men took shares in the rock quarry and business went rapidly on with various degrees of success. To-day one can get some idea of the great amount of rock shipped away by the hole in the hill. A new flour mill was built over in what is now Marengo and the manager was able to make much better flour than other mills were making. The United Brethren, Christian and Methodist churches, and the church over in old town give ample opportunities to all for religious worship. Back in the nineties Curtis Weathers started a paper in Marengo which he called the Marengo Observer. He was the son of James H. Weathers, a member of the Repub- lican Central Committee, and a very courteous gentleman. This paper met with various successes on different occa- sions. Often it failed but some good man would begin the paper again. At present the paper is suspended. About 1892 the people of Marengo became interested in good roads. A toll turnpike company was organized to 420 IIISTOKY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY help the Leavenworth people construct the pike road, but the success of the company was not assured and the under- taking failed after about two miles of the road was built. Relative to the telephone, the men were more successful. Captain William Everdon built the first telephone into Marengo and English about 1894. One Sunday morning, when the line was complete, Everdon and Henry Summers and Mrs. Ella Murphy were the first ones to use the tele- phone line. Willett and Weathers were financing the undertaking, while Everdon did the work. In 1891 the first fair was held in Marengo. That was a great boom to the town. The sidewalks at that time were of board or rock, for concrete was not known or used then. The town was growing steadily. The Indiana Gazetteer for 1895 gives these men and their vocations: Newspaper — Marengo Observer. George S. Balthis — General store, which was established about 1865 in Marengo. He was in business there until 1923. C. C. Boyd — General store. S. Bryn — Carpenter. Millard Byron — Blacksmith. Citizens Branch Bank. Dugan Clark — Shingle machine. Fromholtz — Clothing store. Hedrick & Woods — Grocery and hardware. T. S. Heiston — Carpenter. W. E. Jenner — Dentist and justice of peace. D. R. Lambdin — Livery stable. M. J. Martz — Harness. MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 421 W. IT. Miley— Barber shop. D. 8. Miller — Saloon keeper. Ella Murphey — Millinery store. U. P. Murphy— Hotel. L. B. Stewart — General store. R. D. Stewart — General store. S. M. Stewart — Sawmill man. V. A. Stewart — Cabinet maker. Stewart & James — Blacksmith. J. T. Taylor— Hotel keeper. J. W. Tower — Justice of the Peace. C. N. Weathers — Druggist. J. M. Weathers — Carpenter. W. V. Weathers — Feed and grain store. Luke Wood — Nursery stock. The situation of Marengo is one to commend its beauty. The hills have a charm which appeals to the lovers of art. On August 18, 1883, a few boys, while after a rabbit, made a discovery which added a remarkable charm to the town. In pursuit of the rabbit the boys chased it into some rocks. Not to be baffled in their determination they began to tear out a few of the loose rocks. The opening grew wider and the rocks came loose easier. To their great surprise the rabbit den grew bigger and bigger as they removed the loose rocks, until they saw that they were in the mouth of a large opening in the ground. The boys went back to the town and told what they had discovered. A large crowd of men and boys with lanterns and strings went to the opening to explore it. After getting a few rocks out of the way the men entered the opening which grew larger 422 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and larger until they found themselves in the mouth of a wonderful cave which was named the Marengo Cave. The cave is one of the most beautiful in the world. One can go through the cave and come out in about two hours. The walking is not so muddy and slippery as in other caves. To-day the cave is visited by hundreds of men and women from all parts of the country. The cave is near the east end of the cemetery in old town. The new town is built about a mile south and west near the railroad station. The author cannot say whether the boys ever caught their rabbit or not. Back in those days Marengo had two things which made it well known — the cave and Professor J. M. Johnson and his academy. One finds the following announcement in the Indiana School Journal, date of 1879, page 329: "The Marengo Normal will begin July 21 and continue four weeks. J. M. Johnson, Miss Frances Temple and J. W. J. Springston will be the instructors." Below is a statement of his normals: "In 1877 John- son taught a normal for four weeks, beginning on June 24th. Twenty boys and sixteen girls were present. The tuition was one dollar per week." In 1878 and 1879 one finds about the same report. Professor Johnson was a great help to many poor boys and girls who were working hard to get an education. One time, after he was elected truant officer, while out on duty, he came to the school where the writer was teaching at Magnolia. He became interested in the school and stayed about all day. When noon came the writer hap- pened to think of Andrew Batman, who was a very gen- MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 423 erous man. So he took the occasion to tell Professor John- son to take his horse down there and tell Mr. Batman to feed him and give Mr. Johnson a good warm dinner at the author's expense. That pleased Mr. Johnson very much. Mr. Batman was very much pleased to have Pro- fessor Johnson call at his home. So they had a delight- ful visit, but Professor Johnson was back about the time the bell rang. The teacher received many useful sugges- tions from him that day, one of which was this: "If I had but five minutes given me to solve a problem, and if it was life or death with me, I would spend four minutes reading the problem. Then solve it in the other minute." During the spring of 1900, on May 23rd, the good people of Marengo planned a surprise on Professor J. M. Johnson. Arrangements were made to haul over lumber enough with riders to make a long table out in the grove. The people furnished baskets of dinner. The Marengo band, which was one of the best Crawford County ever had, furnished the music for the occasion. About eleven o'clock the procession formed in Marengo. The band led the way. At Professor Johnson's home dinner was being served. They sat around the table, doubtless never dream- ing that it was the forty-sixth anniversary of their mar- riage. Their frugal meal was eaten in silence. Suddenly the professor heard the band playing as the procession neared his home. Arthur Johnson, who was boarding with the professor, said that the band is out. He knew the plan, but did not tell any of the family. The band came nearer and nearer. Finally Professor Johnson went to the door, opened it and said : "I believe they are coming here." By that time Coen Balthis had turned into the 424 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY walk to the house, while Arthur Johnson had opened the back door so that the procession could march into the house and out at the back door. The poor old professor came staggering to the door and stood on the little porch with his wife beside him. As the procession went by, he, realizing what the day meant, began to cry, and the crowd, which was a large one, shook hands with the aged couple as each one went by. Meanwhile the tables were being spread down under some beautiful shade trees near the house. The band played some music until the dinner was ready. Then everybody enjoyed a good meal. All went away wishing the Professor and his wife many more happy anniversaries. The Marengo Academy students met September 4, 1908, and voted to erect a monument to Professor Johnson. Alson Roberts of English furnished the monument which he bought at Quincy, Massachusetts. He began work on August 11, 1909, and completed the work on August 27, 1909. That day a large crowd of people met to witness the unveiling. Honorable J. R. Duffin and John H. Weath- ers delivered touching orations. Both had been students and friends of Professor Johnson. A canning factory was built at Marengo about 1899. The factory canned peaches at times and then tomatoes. The plant is standing down the railroad at the east end of the town. The canning factory opened up a market for the tomato growers, many of whom made a nice sum of money. The high school at Marengo was commissioned in 1909 by Professor Cooley of Evansville. The new law of 1907 required that beginning teachers be graduates. By hard MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 425 work Professor Dunn, with the assistance of such workers as J. Benton Pierson, built up the school until the state granted the town a commission. Much credit is due to S. A. Beals, who was the county superintendent. On April 28, 1910, occurred one of the most destructive fires that ever visited the town. The whole square was destroyed, including Balthis' store, Doctor Luckett's office, Charles D. Summers', Roscoe Stewart's, Mike Fromholtz's stores and William T. Pierson 's meat market and res- taurant. One can not estimate the cost or the amount of insurance now very well. Practically all of the men re- built, making the town a much better looking place in which to live. The loss was about $20,000. Several years after the fire, Mr. Rice of Louisville, in conjunction with A. B. Fenn of Tell City, built a hub and rim factory at Marengo. The location of the factory was down the railroad track west of the town. John Seig was employed for a time as manager and Benton Pierson was bookkeeper. Later, others took their positions. Many men were employed at the hub and rim factory for several years until all the timber was used up. Then the owners moved away to other towns. The managers of the fair in 1905 advertised that they would have two real automobiles at the fair. There was a record-breaking crowd. Just about two o 'clock in the after- noon, to the great joy of everyone, two automobiles drove into the fair-grounds and circled around the rack track. A mighty cheer rose from the crowd back on the hillside. The men and women crowded down to the cars. In some way, no one now knows how, men got into the cars and the drivers told them they would haul them around the track 426 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY for a dime. The cars were filled with joy-riders by the time the chauffeurs were ready. When the cars came back the people made a mad rush for them, and away they went again and again. Word went over the ground that the automobiles had come and the drivers were hauling the people around the fair-ground half-mile race track for a dime. Boys and girls left the "hot dog" stands, ice cream counters, and other eating places and rushed down the hill. Men who were selling watermelons and other things to eat were terribly disappointed for their sales were ruined that day. Yet the people enjoyed the sight of the cars, and those who were fortunate enough to get a ride were wild with delight. So these two men were the first men to bring cars to the county. They were from New Albany. Agitation for a new school house was started about 1910 and kept up until about 1914 when a handsome new brick building was constructed. The men who were in favor of the school used all kinds of tactics to secure the consent of certain people in the town and township. The school cost about $15,000. The Jenner garage, which was built about 1917, was a fine addition to the city. The structure is of brick with a work shop below and a storage room above. Mr. Jenner, who built the garage, has a large business in automobiles and is one of the best business men in the town. He sells Ford cars and parts. After the failure of Weathers' and Willetts' bank in Leavenworth in 1897, the branch bank soon fell, too. Many years later the business men of Marengo organized a private bank and chose William Hawkins cashier. No MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 427 one needed to recommend Hawkins for the position. He had been a teacher all his life and was honest and well liked by all. The bank was a great help to the people of the town in their business relations. For many years the people of Marengo had been mak- ing progress in various ways. The Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Red Men had organized lodges. The churches were busy with people. Then came a de- mand for a motion picture hall. So several men who were interested built the Blue Diamond Theater, just across the street from the bank. The building changed hands and is now managed by "Woody" Jenner, who is the automobile man of the county. One of the last factories to be built in Marengo was the shirt factory. It was located east of the Jenner garage on the Milltown road. When running with a full force there are a large number of girls hired. The building was constructed about 1922. The year 1918 marked the death of Professor John- son, about whom many references have been made in this account of Crawford County. A few weeks before his death the writer met him as he was returning home from the town to his house. On inquiry how he was the Professor said that he was getting along as well as could be expected for a "boy" of his age. The funeral was held in the old town church. Many of his former students were present and several delivered ad- dresses, among whom was John H. Weathers of New Albany. The streets of Marengo were graded up well and plans made to build walks on January 26, 1900. 428 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY On June 10, 1901, W. A. Cook's new flour mill caught fire and burned down. The owner's loss was about $3,000. Cook made a very high grade of flour. On Saturday, February 11, 1912, another disastrous fire visited Marengo. The fire was discovered in the Spencer Hotel early in the morning and the guests barely escaped with their lives. Several escaped by the windows. W. E. Gregory's empty store room burned, too. Uncle Jake Gott- fried, who was boarding at the hotel, almost died from suffocation. F. P. Wood's residence also burned. W. E. Gregory began a new hotel which he called the New Grand. It was completed in the fall of 1915 and rented to John I. Stroud, who moved there from Leavenworth, where he grew up. Mr. Stroud was in business there for several years. The town of Marengo was probably the first town in the county to have a veterinarian. Doctor Lancy Conrad, who had just completed a college course in the best schools of the country, moved to Marengo May 24, 1921. The leading physicians of the town have been Doctor J. E. Fetzer, Doctor Patton, Doctor D. F. Davis, Doctor Peter Grant, Doctor Luckett, Doctor Jesse Benz and Doc- tors Edward and George Land. In May, 1920, occurred the death of Professor Temple Dunn at his home in Marengo. He was born in Alton in 1846. All his life was spent in service to his fellowman and his country. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and of the Masonic lodge, under whose auspices he was buried at Alton. He was superintendent of the Marengo schools for several years until he resigned in 1913 to accept the superintendency of the Soldiers' and MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 429 Sailors 'Orphans' Home at Knightstown, Indiana. After several years' service there he resigned and came back to Marengo to live. During the year 1924 and 1925 a Junior Legislature was held at Indianapolis. William E. Jenner of Marengo was elected to the Junior Senate. When the Senate con- vened at Indianapolis Jenner was one of the most prom- inent members. He was elected president of the Senate. Marengo High School was proud of her student. Jenner 's speech on the child labor amendment won him distinction among the boys of Indiana. Jenner is the son of L. L. Jenner, who is one of the best business men in Crawford County. L. L. Jenner visited Ford's automobile factory at De- troit in 1926. He said that he had had two days of the most interesting education of his life. He says the glass plant was capable of turning out 12,000,000 square feet each year, while the other machine shops were capable of doing a great amount of work. The people of English and Marengo were surprised to hear of the death of Mr. Blackford. The theater was built by J. A. Blackford, who was superintendent of the Rice-Fenn hub mill at Marengo for some time. When the factory was sold to Turley he moved with the factory to English. Later he moved to Paoli, where he committed suicide Thursday, March 11th. For some time he had been in poor health. His people had arranged to take him to the hospital that very day, but he secured a shotgun and killed himself. Later Jenner changed the name of the motion picture theater to the 430 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY "Rialto," under which name the new theater is now man- L. L. Jenner sold the first automobile to Willis Pier- son in 1910. He sold the first manure spreader to Jack Archibald, who also bought the first DeLaval cream sep- arator ever sold in the county. The town of Marengo has always been a patriotic town. Many boys joined the Union Army from there. The fol- lowing letter was written home by a Marengo boy in the Civil War. By special request it was furnished the writer. "Folly Island, South Carolina. "August 9, 1863. "My Dear Mother: "Again I have the pleasure of addressing you a few lines, a pleasure that is duly appreciated and for which I am thankful. "We arrived here last Monday, the third, after a de- lightful and pleasant trip from Portsmouth, Virginia. We embarked on the steamer Kennebec at Portsmouth at three o'clock on the morning of July 31st and arrived at Fortress Monroe at daylight, where we stopped to take on water and ice. And at nine o'clock we left the shores of the Old Dominion for South Carolina's sunny clime. We did not get entirely out of sight of land that day. We could see the North Carolina coast and the white sand banks washed up by the old ocean's wild waves far to the west in the hazy distance. How grand and sublime was the scene! I watched the restless motion of the ocean's swelling billows until long after twilight and then went to bed. I was soon lost in slumber, for between the gentle rocking of our MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 431 boat and loss of sleep the night before, it did not take me long to go to sleep. I arose early the next morning and looked out upon the ocean and I confess I felt a little queer when I could not see land in any direction. But I soon became use to it. You can not form the faintest idea of the beauty of the ocean and the rolling blue waves. "We had remarkably fine weather and the sea was smooth, though the swells were heavy. The waters of the ocean are never calm and still and it was perfectly de- lightful to ride the waves. At times we would be right on top of a big wave and a huge hollow below us. It would look as though we were going right to the bottom of the briny deep. I can not describe the loveliness of the ocean for I can not find words to express its beauty. "Our company has been on picket duty ever since we arrived here, but we are going to be relieved in the morn- ing. "This island does not fill my imagination of the Sunny South. It is covered with palmetto and pine trees and low, scrubby shrubbery of different kinds. There is a good breeze stirring all the time in the open, but in the woods it is hot almost to suffocation. The water is most miserable, but what makes me think so more than I otherwise would, I have been slightly ill since we landed here. I am about well now. "The siege of Charleston is progressing favorably, and with every prospect of success. You needn't have any fears of any more desperate charges being made on Fort Wagner or any other fort, for they are going to be reduced by regular siege. Heavy batteries are being planted within 300 yards of Ft. Wagner and our sharp-shooters prevent 432 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY them from working their guns now. When General Gil- more gets ready to open again on Sumter, Moultrie and Wagner, they will fall. I am anxious for the time to come. I want to see proud and haughty Charleston humbled. It will be a proud day for the nation when the old flag waves again over Sumter's walls and the rebellious citizens of Charleston. There is where treason and secession was first nursed and there is where it must fall. "Mother, I would like to know what you all are doing at home to-day. Perhaps you have visitors and I guess, a good dinner. Maybe young potatoes, beans and roasting ears. Wouldn't I like to be there tho, to see for myself! I would like to have a piece of your good lightbread and butter and some sweet milk or a glass of sparkling water from the bottom of the old well. How often I have thought of that since I have to dr^ink this detestable water! But never mind, this is August and it will soon be gone and then I only have eight more months to stay. How short the time is growing! My time expires the 22nd of next April. I guess we will be apt to stay here the rest of our time. If Charleston soon falls I won't care if we do. "How is Ike? I haven't had but one letter from home since June and I 'm looking for some in the next mail. We only get mail here every ten days. Tell Sam he owes me a letter. "Well, Mother, I believe I have written all the news, so will close. Much love to all and be assured of the love and devotion of your obedient son. "Thos. S. Hiestand." MILLTOWN AFTER THE WAR 433 The town of Milltown had grown by 1895 to 400 pop- ulation. At that time the leading business men were; C. W. Rawlins, postmaster; Christian Atz and brother were blacksmiths ; Doctor George W. Baylor was a leading physician ; J. M. Beaty was a leading saloon keeper ; Beatty and Funk ran a sawmill; the Blue River Lime Company was doing a big business ; A. W. Funk was a leading law- yer; Ed. Bush was a carpenter; John E. Funk and sons were grain dealers and also sold agricultural implements; A. E. Gerrish kept a restaurant; Gibbs and Spencer kept a hardware store; F. E. Hancock kept a general store; William Henriott was a carpenter; the Holland Hotel; C. A. Hostetter was interested in poultry; Ed. and E. F. Hostetter ran a flour mill ; Joseph Igert was the shoemaker ; Indiana Contract Company for crushed stone ; Johnson and Bye ran a general store ; I. L. Lewis was the barber ; L. G. Patrick was a cooper; I. G. Pennington was a cooper; C. W. Rawlings was selling cigars; John Rawlings was selling furniture ; William Solbrig was a saloon keeper ; A. J. Sonner ran a grocery store ; Speed and Company had a lime business; A. J. Summers was a carpenter; J. G. Summers was a photographer ; R. Summers was a milliner ; W. S. Swartz was interested in confectionery ; C. P. Teatter kept a general store; Scott M. Walts was a druggist. Probably the greatest lime and rock industry in the state is the Speed Company at Milltown. The company began business about 1885. At first old stone kilns were used but the heat soon ruined them. The crushers were built in which stone was crushed for markets over the state. The Eichels Company was bought after a few years. Gas-producing kilns were built in which the com- 434 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY pany produces the gas used. Two new steel kilns, each of which is about thirty feet in diameter and one hundred and twenty feet high were built. The objection to the old stone kilns was that the enormous heat burned up the kilns. A plan was devised whereby water might circulate in such a manner that the heat was kept from melting the steel kilns. Harry Lemmons has the credit for thinking out the device. The ground has been stripped back and enormous quan- tities of rocks blasted out at a time. Tons of powder and dynamite mixed have been put into the holes. The discharges may be heard many miles away. The terrible jar often ruins cisterns in Milltown and knocks the win- dows out of the houses in some instances. Yet with that tremendous explosion at a time not many men have been killed. A premature explosion killed W. S. Engleman, Neal Miller and James Miller several years ago. Besides the enormous lime industry the company now has a large rock crusher which will take rocks as large as ordinary barrels. These rocks are picked up by steam shovels and dropped into the crusher. One has estimated the amount of crushed rock turned out each day to be about fifty to sixty car loads, each car holding about forty-five yards or loads of stone. Besides the lime and rock business a plant for man- ufacturing hydrate lime that manufactures a patent plas- ter which is ready to use by mixing it with sand and water. Harry Lemmons is superintendent of this great work and Robert Proctor, who has spent many years laboring for the company, is assistant superintendent. The Speed Lime Company has been very generous. MILLTOWN AFTER THE WAR 435 The old Presbyterian church was bought about 1917 and remodeled by the company and given to the Milltown peo- ple for a community house. The people appreciated this gift. The company has been generous on all occasions and it gave aid to the high school which was built in 1925. Milltown at one time was named Leavenworth's Mill, because Seth Marshall Leavenworth built a mill there in the early history of the county. A dam was built across the river, which backed the water up sufficiently to run the mill by water power. Many years after Leavenworth died, Captain Edmund Hostetter and Emanuel Hostetter built a large sawmill on the site of the early mill. Later the saw- mill was sold and Ed. Bennett, Fred Bye, Jim Jackson, W. S. Daniels and Shelby Ross started a flour mill, which later was bought by Ollie Boldt, Henry Boldt and David Stroud, who now own the mill. Nolan Atz, son of Christian Atz, deserves mention here. He attended the University of Louisville for some time. Then he started a chicken hatchery about four years ago in which 150,000 eggs are hatched at a time. This is prob- ably one of the largest chicken hatcheries in southern Indi- ana. The fathers and sons banquet, which was given in the Community house at Milltown March 17, 1922, under the auspices of the Woman's Community Club of Milltown, was one of the most enjoyable affairs ever given in Mill- town. There were about one hundred and sixty-nine fathers and sons present, each one of whom enjoyed the splendid affair which they will remember as one of the most enjoyable occasions of their lives. The tables were 436 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY decorated with green and white. The music for the occa- sion was furnished by Dryer's Orchestra of six pieces from New Albany. Two piano solos were also given by Mrs. A. N. Bobbitt of English. Addresses were delivered by Doctor John McMillian of Louisville, John Mallon of Louisville, Kenneth Bolclt of Milltown, while E. R. Gentry of Speeds acted as toast master. Much praise is due these fine women of Milltown for the success of the banquet. The Republicans of Crawford County held a district convention at Milltown on June 30, 1900, and nominated James E. Stewart for prosecutor. The Airline Republican Club met at Milltown, too, on August 16. The English and Marengo bands furnished the music for the occasion. The special train carried eleven coaches filled with Republicans. Jerry L. Suddarth of English delivered the oration of the day. On September 1, 1900, Doctor Charles Ross entered the United States service as an army doctor. He was the son of W. S. Ross of Milltown and had married Miss Edith Conn of Leavenworth. On Friday, February 15, 1901, word came that he was shot from ambush in the Philippine Islands. Nothing more was heard about the affair until Mrs. Edith Ross received a letter on April 12, 1901, from E. J. Williams, First Lieutenant Fifth United States In- fantry Commanding Post. In this letter he gave the details of the battle of Batiatis on February 2, 1901, in which Doctor Ross was shot through the neck about one o'clock in the day. He died in about two minutes. The remains were brought back to the United States and buried at Leavenworth in 1902. July 22, 1904, Constance Williams met with a terrible .MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 437 accident while running the elevator buckets at the Milltown quarry. He was cut under the chin by one of the buckets and his head dragged to the rock pit. Friends rushed to his assistance and dragged his body away. Williams was a descendant of Addison Williams, who mapped out the town of Magnolia, but had for many years made his home with M. C. Froman, near Pilot Knob. August Atz was found dead Monday, June 9, 1901, out where he had gone to cut some grass for the calves which he had bought recently. He came from Germany and located at Milltown. He was one of the best citizens of Milltown. A very serious accident occurred at Milltown on June 16, 1901. Steven Reichert, who was drilling a hole in the quarry, had both hands terribly mangled so that it became necessary to have his hands amputated. Doctors McNemer, Happer, Rhoades and Baylor assisted in the operation. On September 2, 1901, William Mills was severely cut while sleeping in bed at the Fitzpatrick Hotel. Doctor Morton, who was under the influence of liquor, slipped into the room and slashed him about the head and thighs. Later Morton learned that Mills was not the man he wanted, but in the dark he slashed the wrong man. The people of Milltown built concrete walks during the year of 1905. The basement of the Methodist church was dug out till it was fifteen feet by thirty feet, which was much needed. The school board painted the schoolhouse and papered the walls that summer. William House of Marengo and William Beaty of North Marengo came to Milltown July 2, 1905. While there they engaged in a fight. On their return to Marengo that 438 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY evening House became seriously sick. Doctor Grant was called. He found House with his right arm paralyzed. He grew worse till he died at four o'clock the next morn- ing. The case seemed to baffle the doctors. The people of Milltown were thrown into excitement on December 10, 1905, when they heard that Edmond Walts had committed suicide in the woodshed of Scott Walts. He had been demented for some time, but they had kept a watch over him fairly well until one day he took a revolver and climbed into the woodshed and shot himself. Later he was found by the blood which had dripped down from the loft. The people of Milltown have always been interested in good schools. While Ed. Funk was superintendent in 1916 the state commissioned the high school. David J. Murr started to publish a newspaper at Mill- town during the spring of 1907. The paper was named the Milltown Record. Murr had worked on the Paoli paper a while and was well prepared to do the work but the paper was not a success. In the summer of 1907 Sheriff Hanger raided a blind tiger at Milltown which was run by Buck Shaffer. Hanger found a barrel of booze. Shaffer escaped but "Micky" McDonald was arrested and fined fifty dollars. W. S. Ross, who had been sick for a long time, died at his home in Milltown Saturday night, February 15, 1908. Mr. Ross had been elected clerk two terms in Crawford County. He was buried by the Masons on the next Tues- day. In politics Ross was a Democrat. After the death of his first wife he married a daughter of Albert Conn of Leavenworth. To this union was born one son, William MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 439 S. Ross, Jr.. who furnished the author the account of his experience in the World War. He was one of the best students in Crawford County. During his school days he never missed a day in twelve; years. John Pankey, who was one of the oldest and best known men in Crawford County, died at Milltown on August 21, 1915. lie was elected sheriff of Crawford County two terms, from 1872 to 1876. In 1882 he was elected treas- urer of the county for two terms. That morning in August he was seen walking along the railroad track carrying a traveling bag. When he reached the center of the railroad bridge over Big Blue River, he was seen to fall or jump into the river and sink. This happened about ten o'clock on the above date. Search was made for him but the body was not found till the next Thursday when William Borer and Mr. Bline located the corpse in a bunch of drift near Ollie Boldt's farm, several miles south of Milltown. Pankey was eighty-five years old at the time of his death. The Methodist people of Milltown built a new church during 1923. This church is one of the best in southern Indiana. Much praise is due the good Christian people for the support they gave their pastor. The schools of Milltown for some time were crowded so that agitation for a new high school arose. Much credit is due Superintendent Ferguson with his school board and Trustee Vance for the help they gave in the matter. A site for the new building was selected some distance out on the rock road which leads to English. The corner- stone was laid in June, 1923, and by Christmas of that year the school was being taught in the new building. One of the men who worked so hard to secure the new school 440 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY building was Superintendent J. O. Ferguson. The school board was composed of Harry Lemmons, Luther Flanni- gan and Martin Lynch, while Trustee Vance assisted mate- rially in securing the school. Speed and Company have been generous to donate to the school. The first schoolhouse ever built in the town stood near where the Home Bakery stands. It was a one-room build- ing. Late in the nineteenth century a new addition was built to thq old house. By 1900 it became necessary to build a new house, which was a four-room structure on the hill. In 1912 an addition was built to the house. That year steps were taken to organize a four-year high school course. By 1916, when Mr. Funk was superintend- ent, the school received a commission which it has kept. The school board and the trustee agreed in 1919 to erect a new joint high school. Much opposition arose from various quarters and many of the school men were dis- couraged. The rooms were so crowded that the Community House was used for school purposes. Chester Boss spent one winter in the Community House trying to teach. By 1923 the difficulties were out of the way and a beautiful new house was built. The house cost about $40,000. It will need about $10,000 more to complete it. The house is 55 x 105. It has a beautiful recitation hall which is 36 x 55. There are twenty-four rooms in all. In paying for the school the town pays two-thirds and the township pays one-third of the expense and maintaining the school; both corporations pay according to the enroll- ment. Milltown can boast of being the only town in the county which has a National Bank. The bank was organized in MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 441 April, 1907. It is a member of the Federal Reserve bank- ing system. Ralph Jackson, who is the cashier, is a success- ful business man. The Milltown schools under the leadership of J. 0. Ferguson have made a wonderful advancement. During the year of 1925-1926 the school published an annual called the Millwheel. The staff of editors were: Effie Boldt, Violet Sieg, Madge Kirsch, Irene Swarens, Stanley Proc- tor, Fred Ferguson, Fern Satterfield, Floy Benz, Kathleen Boldt and Pauline Carroll. William L. Lee began a new garage in Milltown in 1917. The building was thirty-four feet by sixty-four feet and cost about $4,000. Mr. Lee lived on Pleasant Ridge for a number of years before he located at Milltown. He was a candidate for sheriff on the Republican ticket in 1922, but was defeated in the primary. Lee has made good at Mill town. The Milltown basketball team of 1925 and 1926 rep- resented Crawford County Saturday night in the sectional tournament at Tell City, Despite the fine team work ex- hibited by the Bristow boys, Milltown held them down to a score of 26 to 20. There were fourteen teams at the tournament, which was held at Tell City March 6th. These boys were on the team: Stanley Proctor, Kedric Harvey, Jesse Heishman, Cleo Deweese, Paul Stephenson, Fred Ferguson, Norman Murr, Charles Deweese, and Mr. Young was coach. OTHER TOWNS OF THE COUNTY After the railroad went through Crawford County, other little towns grew up along the way. Taswell is lo- 442 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY cated west of English about six miles. There are probably one hundred and fifty people in the town. The town has a Christian church, a Methodist pastor, a very good school building, and several stores. In 1882 one finds that John L. Mathers was given a license to sell liquor for one year in Taswell. Later Welk Huff obtained a license on Sep- tember 5, 1883, and ran a saloon there until the fall of 1885 when he moved to Marengo. Henry Goldman also was given a license on September 4, 1884, to sell liquor in Tas- well. Back in the vicinity of Taswell the Knights of the Golden Circle had a castle or lodge. Men say that the members used to meet in a cave near Taswell and other places nearby. At one of their meetings a few boys, who were out hunting, came upon them without being seen, and just for mischief rolled several rocks down the steep hill where the members of the Golden Circle were in a secret session. Thinking that the Union soldiers were upon them, the company vanished from view like a magic scene of some kind. Before they had run a mile they saw that no one was after them and then their hatred toward Wood Cummins and Hall Golden burned hotter than ever. Farther west from Taswell about four miles is the little town of Eckerty. For a long time it was named Boston, but the name of Eckerty was finally chosen in honor of the Eckerty 's who live there. The leading merchants who have been in business there for some time are Michael G. Real and Porter Eckerty. The town has two churches, a postoffice, flouring mill, and other stores. For a long time it was a shipping point for lumber and ties and other products. MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 443 In those early days the wealth of the people was in the fine grade of white oak timber of the country. Farther west is Riceville, which was named after Mr. Rice. It has a few houses and one or two stores. North of Eckerty about two miles and west is the little town of Wickliffe. There is a store, school, and a few houses here. It is off of the railroad about three miles. South of Taswell about two miles is the little town of Mifflin. Benham, near here, in the early days, made much salt. One salt well is still running not far from Mr. Senn 's store. There is a schoolhouse, a store, and a few houses here. The town is on Otter Creek. In recent years coal has been mined near here. South of Mifflin several miles is the little town of West Fork. This town was on the old Princeton Trail. There is a school, a store and a few houses. Much fine timber grew in this part of the county. The coming of the state roads will be a great help when they are complete. State road No. 16 will pass through West Fork on the way to Tell City. GRANTSBURG The town of Grantsburg was laid out about the close of the Civil War. The town was named after the Grants and General Grant. An effort was made by the people of the north and west parts of the county to locate the county seat here in the eighties, but the effort failed. There are about two hundred people living in the town, which contains one or two general stores, school, church 444 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and other buildings. To-day the town is a very busy little country hamlet. FREDONIA SINCE THE WAR When the seat of justice was moved from Fredonia to Leavenworth by an act of the General Assembly in 1843, Fredonia lost much of its prestige and hope of future growth. The jail was soon gone, but the court house stands after one hundred years looking back across the century. The huge locust trees still remind one of the days gone by. Allen D. Thorn, who had been a prominent figure for many years, died in January, 1862. There was a deep snow on the ground and men hitched to a log and dragged it up and down the streets to break the snow drifts so that men could attend the funeral. John E. McFall, who lived in Fredonia then, gave the information. For many years William H. Conrad was one of the leading business men in Fredonia. He moved to Kansas many years after the war, where he died. The town grew some. At the close of 1895 one finds the following people in business there : Sam Horton — Postmaster. F. E. Allen — Barber. F. M. Allen — General store. A. R. Bullock — Painter. T. R. Bullock — Carpenter. Wm. Ghanley — Grindstone maker. Dan Cunnings — Blacksmith. MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 415 C. F. Dantic — Doctor. (Doctor Dantic lived till the spring of 1923. The Masons went to Fredonia and gave him a Masonic funeral.) Henry Dean — Shoemaker. John Enlow — Wagon maker. Robert Everdon — Cooper. William Laber — Justice of the peace. H. Myers and J. Myers — Feed and sawmill. J. P. Rainforth — Hoop and stave manufacturer. Elias Romine — Livestock dealer. Lafayette Stephens — Cooper. Fredonia that year had about one hundred and seventy people. That was the maximum of its glory. The one- room school was crowded with about sixty pupils of all ages, from twenty years downward. Percy Allen, who was one of the leading teachers of the county, was their pop- ular teacher. Many years later the Methodist people bought the old court house and remodeled it for church purposes. The point was in the Leavenworth charge, whose pastor came down and preached for the people there. The leading business men of the town to-day (1925) are Percy Allen, Herschell Rainforth and Joseph Rain- forth. They are managers of the leading stores. Percy Allen is postmaster. While John Springston was county superintendent he held his office there many years till he resigned in 1881. To-day Fredonia has about fifty people, three stores, a schoolhouse, with about fifteen people to attend, while scenes on all sides remind one of the beauty of the site and 446 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the faded hope of the' town. On the eighteenth day of October, 1921, County Superintendent Pleasant, in com- pany with Benjamin Bnrris, state superintendent, brought the Governor, Warren T. McCray, there to visit the schools. Mrs. Joseph Rainforth's daughter gave the Gov- ernor a beautiful rose. He was much pleased with the beauty of the location, but lamented the fact that the school was in such a poor condition. At the time one from the group of visitors pointed out a shed which was sided up out of pure yellow poplar lumber. After cutting the board with his knife Benjamin J. Burris saw that the lumber was poplar. Then he was informed that poplar was very common in the early days of the county. In 1923 a new rock road running from the Peabody crossroads to Fredonia, was built by Samuel R. Bird. Mr. Bird being a good reliable man, constructed the road well. So Fredonia is now on a rock road and can be reached from Marengo easily. Many places of interest may be seen there, one of which is "Thorn's old well." LEAVENWORTH AFTER THE WAR A general view of Leavenworth after the Civil War will now be made. The following is the list of business men who were in Leavenworth in 1866 : Attorneys or lawyers — Horatio Woodbury, Nicholas Peckinpaugh and J. J. McAllister. Auctioneer — M. A. Tucker. Barber — E. Lyons. Boots— Asa Kendall, P. "Hense" Odell, C. Kehrer. Blacksmith — David Smith, R. Sauerheber. MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 447 Cooper — R. Whitten, Mansfield Company. Confectionery — James Fleming. Carpenters — W. W. Conrad & Company, Wm. Scott, Beers & Beers. Cabinet makers — W. W. Conrad and Wm. Scott. Druggists — John E. Peckinpaugh, Henry Jenkins. Dress and cloak makers — Nancy Marsh and Maggie Breeden. Express Company — William A. Jenkins. Milling — Michael Dillman. General stores — Sands and Woodbury, Lyon and Whitten, Henry Jenkins, J. B. Robinson and Mansfield and Company. Hotels — R. D. Tucker and the Overbacker House, run by G. Humphrey. Jeweler — J. P. Steele. Merchant tailor — John Benz. Milliner — Mrs. Nancy Marsh. Painters — 0. E. Smith, Wm. Peet, also paper hanger. Doctors — E. Hawn, J. S. B. Kelso, J. R. Collins and Paul Ray. Saloons — James Riley, William Peet, Joab Wilbur. Saddles and harness — W. M. Ellsworth. Stoves— M. M. Kendall. Wharf — George Humphrey. Wagons — Joseph Webster, Charles Price and E. M. Beers. At that time Leavenworth was the shipping point for much of the southern part of the state. It was still the best business town in southern Indiana. On an old squire's docket one finds this report, which 448 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY happened many years before the Civil War : On October 1, 1842, the President of the Leavenworth Savings Com- pany, with the directors, sued James Harrison and William F. Williams for $27.60. On October 11, 1842, the court gave them judgment and Robert Whitten levied two stacks of hay, one cow, four hundred feet of lumber, one plow and one hoe. He offered the things for sale on October 26, 1842, but no one would bid on them. After a few days the people paid the bill and the matter was settled. On September 4, 1873, the board of county commis- sioners ordered the town of Leavenworth incorporated. The majority of the people had, at an election, in Septem- ber, 1873, voted for incorporation. The election was held on September 22, 1873. The board met at nine o'clock a. m. and elected David A. Breeden, William F. Clark and Thomas Marsh inspectors. They selected one of their number clerk and held the election in a lawful way. After the votes were canvassed it appeared that 112 votes were cast, of which sixty-four were for incorporating and forty- eight were against incorporation. On September 3, 1875, the town board of Leavenworth filed a petition with the board of commissioners, praying that the corporation boundary of Leavenworth be extended to include these boundaries. Commencing at the north side of the Corydon road a a point parallel with Wood Street, thence north 35° east six rods; north 14% ° east seventy rods, to the northeast corner of the cemetery, thence north 75°, west five rods to the southeast corner of William L. Temple's [land. Thence north 4^2 ° to one-half degree west along road at a point parallel with Wood Street, thence north 59° west to Paoli road thirty-six. Thence north 43° east MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 449 eight rods to center of Paoli road. Thence north 66° west 121/2 rods; thence north 78° west fifteen rods, south 81° west 38 rods, thence north 81° east twenty-eight rods, thence south 30 rods; thence south 36° west eighteen rods to the original plat of Leavenworth. The board ordered that tract joined to Leavenworth on September 3, 1875. On October 2, 1876, J. S. B. Kelso reported that George A. Doolittle had a shortage in the common school revenue of the town of Leavenworth for a sum of $116.19 and $67.91 in the special school funds. George Doolittle, who had died, was trustee of the town of Leavenworth. The board ordered Kelso to make proceedings to collect the above sum from his estate. At the March meeting of the board in 1878 Frank Campbell made application for a license to sell liquor in a room known as Mary Sharp's property on the southeast corner of lot 129 on Nelson street in which Tracewell's had their law office. He filed a bond with the board, but E. M. Tracewell filed a remonstrance against him on the ground that he is not a fit person to fill such a position since he had violated the liquor law before. At the same time Colonel D. L. Gibbs made a motion to have the remon- strance set aside. After listening to the argument on both sides the board decided this: The remonstrance of Jen- nings township versus Frank Campbell. The commission- ers ordered the clerk to summon Peter Oberbacker, Tor- rence Connor, Alex Byerly, Joseph Cooper, Lee Gilmore, Joseph Schionharst, Frank Campbell, John Benz, Ben F. Allen, Walter Morgan, Putman McCullum, R. F. Clark, John Clark, Sam Scott, Merrill Breeden, W. L. Temple, Charles Ellsworth and James Mansfield. The matter was 450 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY argued thoroughly, but Frank Campbell asked permission to withdraw the application, which was granted him. Two days later he appeared and filed another application which was about the same as the old one but had a few corrections made. The board being fully advised in the matter decided that the application ought not be granted since during the previous year E. M. Tracewell had filed a petition containing forty-four names. Frank Campbell had withdrawn his petition, and then they had withdrawn the remonstrance, too. But now since the re- monstrance had not been filed against it, it really held for another year. Then William A. Parr signed his name to the papers, refusing Campbell a license. The temperance forces were somewhat active in 1879. William H. Dean appeared before the board on June 3, 1879, with his attorney, W. T. Zenor, and files his appli- cation for license to sell whisky, but E. M. Tracewell files a remonstrance against him. After due consideration the board overruled the remonstrance. The case was then before the commissioners. Then E. M. Tracewell moved that the applicant show the court that he is a suitable person to sell liquor. Mr. Dean objected because the peti- tion or motion was not filed in due time. Dean now appeared, and through his attorney, W. T. Zenor, files a motion to strike out certain parts of the remonstrance. The board overruled part of the motion and sustained the other part. Then Dean files a motion that the remon- strance be made more specific. Board overruled Dean's motion. Then Dean files a demurrer to the third para- graph of the remonstrance, but the board overruled the demurrer. MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 451 Tracewell came now and files certain interrogatories propounded to the applicant. The board heard the case, and being fully advised, decided Dean complied with all the points of the law, and therefore ought to have a license. His saloon was to be in Mary Sharp's room on lot 129 on Nelson Street. The board ordered that Leavenworth be allowed an- other justice of the peace since the town was incorporated. J. J. Clark was appointed. Leavenworth in 1870 was a very busy place. The fol- lowing men were in business there. The locations of their stores are fairly well given: Meat market — W. Baggerly, proprietor. Groceries and dry goods — John Bahr, between Second and Third Street. Merchant tailor — John Benz, Front and Nelson Streets. Boots and shoes — Thomas Bradley, between Second and Nelson street. General store — John B. Carnes, corner of Front and Nelson Street. Furniture — J. J. Clark, corner of Front and Nelson Street. James J. Clark — Sheriff of the county. Office in the court house. Clark and Pankey — Commercial Hotel, corner of Front and Adams Street. Conrad & Company — Furniture business. Between First and Second Street. J. P. Cozine — Editor of the Leavenworth Independent. Located on Front and West Adams Street. 452 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Wm. Ellsworth — Saddles and harness maker. Between Second and Third Street on Nelson Street. Ouerbacker's Hotel — Between Second and Third Streets on Nelson Street. George Humphrey was the man- ager; also wharf -master. Caspar Kehrer — Boots. Front and Nelson Street. Mark M. Kendall — Stoves and tin. Between Second and Third Street on Nelson Street, William H. Kendall — Druggist. Between First and Second Street on Nelson Street. Joe Long — Blacksmith. On Nelson, between First and Second Street. Dan Lyons — Boats and skiffs. J. J. McCallister — Lawyer. Kelso and McCullum — General store, near Second and Third Street. Wm. Mansfield Company — Forwarding and commission merchants. Corner of Front and Adams Streets. James M. Mansfield — Recorder of the county. B. Moss — Jeweler, on First and Nelson Street. Thornbury and Tucker — General store at the corner of Nelson and Second Streets. Joe Weaver — Saloon. John S. Whitten — General store. Corner of Nelson Street. Jacob Wilbur — Saloon. Between Second and Third Streets on Nelson Street. W. F. Williams — Factory. Horatio Woodbury — Internal revenue collector. On Nelson between Second and Third Street. MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 453 Woodbury & Peckinpaugh — Attorneys. On Nelson between Second and Third Street. P. H. Odell — Boots and shoes (custom made). N. P. Peckinpaugh — Attorney. On Nelson between Second and Third Street. Volney Price — Maker of wagons. Raing & Company — Cooper. On West Front Street. H. L. Roberson — On Nelson between First and Second Street. J. B. Robinson — General store. On West Front and Nelson Streets. Joe Seacat — Druggist. G. W. Stamp — Saddles and harness. Mrs. A. D. Sibert— Milliner. David Smith — Blacksmith. Andrew J. Stewart — Saloon. Corner of First and Nel- son and Second Street. Fred Stull — Boots and shoes. Front and Nelson Street. There were two churches in Leavenworth in the early days. The Methodists had one as early as 1847. The Presbyterian people built their church about the same time. The high water of 1884 destroyed the Methodist church, but a new one was built about 1886. It is still standing. The old one was used in the Civil War to put the captives in. The company of Captain Hines was kept in it after their capture at the Upper Island. They left the church full of body lice. The old seminary building was used for a school till the town outgrew it. About 1870 work was begun on a new school building. Elias Leavenworth sold the town a 454 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY lot on which the house might be built for $500. At that time the house was one of the best in southern Indiana. There were about three teachers employed till up in the nineties when one taught high school and the other teachers the grades. The terrible storm blew down parts of the Avails when the building was under construction. That same storm blew the bridge down at David Cole's Ferry on Big Blue River. Late in the fall of 1890 Leavenworth was visited by a very destructive fire. Many of the leading business men were burned out. The Hawn Hotel was burned down, also the Democrat Publishing Building with all the files of the old newspapers, which was a terrible loss to the students of history. Hellback's suffered heavy losses and many others, including Lafe Fleming's store, M. M. Kendall's tin shop, Dr. Collins' store, A. M. Scott's store, W. L. Temple's drug store, Hawn Hotel, P. M. Overbacker's store and Doctor Hawn's drug store. Lyman Davis, who was a porter at the Hawn House, had just come from the river where he had met the James Guthrie, a large river boat. A gentleman, with whom he had talked for a few minutes, asked if the moon was not rising or something because it was becoming so light. On investigation they discovered the fire. All means were taken to stop the progress of the fire, but in vain, till the main part of the town was burned. The Royal Spoke and Hub Company began business at Leavenworth in the nineties. Ruel Arnold was one of the chief men in the enterprise. Besides the men employed an outlet for lumber, spokes and staves was thus provided. The Leavenworth Light Plant was established before MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 455 1896. This was the beginning of the electric lights in Crawford County. It was known then as the Royal Elec- tric Light Company. On January 6, 1897, the town board voted to bond the town for $1,000 to build a waterworks system. The reser- voir was situated on a high hill east and north of the town. The mains were well laid. This water question was a difficult one during flood time, for the river generally filled all the wells with dirty water so that one had to clean the wells out when the river went down again. On January 1, 1897, the town board agreed to buy twenty hydrants for three hundred dollars to be used in case of fire. This was the beginning of the Fire Depart- ment in Leavenworth. Sam Wright, Clark F. Crecelius and A. T. Lewis were members of the town board. Since the disastrous fire of 1890 another one occurred on Nelson Street, So the town board was rather fearful of fire. A vacancy occurred in the first ward for trustee in 1898. The following men petitioned the town board to appoint William B. Allen trustee and save the expense of an election : Robert Mode, Jesse Melton, J. M. Mansfield, J. J. McCullum, S. D. Miller, L. P. Shaw, J. S. Miller, Pres Arwick, A. B. Robinson, Guy Straud, J. J. Mcintosh, N. M. Barnett, 0. E. Hawn, E. E. Robinson, M. D. Gibbs, C. M. Callahan, W. H. Callahan, Lee Gilmore, H. W. Davis, T. T. White, Joe Bell, J. W. Pritchard, J. M. Mix, Josiah Shaw, Frank Conrad, Sam Woodford, Arthur Ward, P. M. Overbacker, E. L. Lindsey, Andrew Mock, J. D. Wilkins, M. G. Perkhiser, S. E. Grimes, George Woodford, Reece Conrad, Wick Gibbs, O. N. Whitcomb, Lewis Beers, Uriah Green, Lewis Woodford, W. S. Summers, J. J. Lindley, 456 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Sam Jenner, and many others. The Leavenworth town board received the petition on May 5, 1897, and appointed William B. Allen, S. A. Beals being the clerk. On May 20, 1897, the town board sold all of its one thousand dollar stock in the waterworks to Richard H. Willett for one thousand and thirty dollars. Thus the water system became a private affair. At the same meeting the board appointed a fire board of five members : S. E. Grimes, 0. A. Adams, 0. N. Whit- comb, S. E. McFall and John Ott. A series of by-laws were drawn up : (1). The Fire Department was to meet once each month. ( 2 ) . There was to be a quantity of hose purchased for the Fire Department. (3). The men were to serve without pay. (4). All assistants must obey the command of the chief when under drill. (5). All citizens must obey the orders of the Fire De- partment in case of fire. (6). The men were to meet and organize and lay plans for the welfare of the department. On October 8, 1897, an ordinance was enacted against throwing snowballs, using bean-shooters, flobert rifles, air- guns and pitching baseball on the streets. Another ordinance, No. 18, was enacted granting Mr. A. Mock the right to erect a pair of scales in front of his store on Nelson street. The town board received a petition from over fifty citi- zens of the town asking that a turnpike be allowed to use the streets of Leavenworth and an election be held to ascer- MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 457 tain whether the citizens desired to build a pike at the tax payers expense. The board ordered an election held and the petition was granted. September 16, 1903, the board extended the corporation west and north for school purposes. The school at that time was one of the best in southern Indiana. In 1900 the school board elected Charles W. Dotson of Tell City prin- cipal of their schools. He was a strong school man and worked very hard to get the schools on a high plane of efficiency. On February 25, 1904, the town board issued a quaran- tine against English and Sterling township on account of a smallpox scare. Bill Mood, who had been doorkeeper of the Senate at Indianapolis during the term of the Legis- lature in 1903, came back home with his clothes smelling with strong odors of various kinds. Word was soon out [that Senator Jeff Gibson of Crawford and Perry Counties had died from smallpox and when the body was shipped back home many cases of the disease were contracted. In 1902 Doctor Isaac Doolittle conceived the idea of putting a button factory at Leavenworth. Assisted by friends, he established the factory in the old court house at Leavenworth. Cutting machines were installed and soon a new vocation was started for the boys. Men caught the mussel-shells with brails dragging along on the mussel- shell bar. They were then "cooked out" and the shells cleaned. Various names were used for different kinds of shells, such as "Sand Shell," "Nigger Toe," "Wash Board" and "Skipper," besides many others. After a few years Doolittle left and Mr. Joseph Bell 458 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY secured the management of the factory. He still runs the button business. A creamery and a bank were started in Leavenworth after 1904. The creamery was not a success, but the bank was. Mr. Elmer Merrilees, who had been cashier in the State Bank at English, was employed after Mr. Shrews- bury left. He built up a big banking business. The morning of December 4, 1918, when Elmer Mer- rilees, who was the cashier of the Leavenworth State Bank, entered the bank at eight o'clock, he found that bandits had been there the night before. They had secured en- trance at a window in some way. The vault to the bank was blown open by a charge of nitroglycerin. The safety boxes in the vault were stored with government bonds and war savings stamps. The bandits worked away unmolested till they secured about $35,000 in bonds. They never got the bank safe open. About two o'clock they left in an automobile. When they arrived near William Fesler's farm the car "went dead." They could not get it to run. Then they evidently intended to steal Mr. Fesler's new car, but they could not get it started so they called him out and hired him to take them to Milltown. When he went into his garage he saw the doors open and found that some one had been tinkering with the car. He drove them to Milltown. Here they paid him twenty dollars for the trip. Their old car was left in care of Mr. Fesler. At Milltown the men hired a taxi to drive them to a town over in Wash- ington County where they escaped on a train. The people at Leavenworth had seen the strangers around the town for a day or two. One worked on the car part of the day before the robbery. Several men heard the MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 459 charge of nitroglycerin when it exploded bnt they never made any investigation. The heaviest losers were thought to be S. D. Alexander, Joseph Bell, Peter Overbacker, Will Conrad, Henry Col- lins, Alvin Tower and many others. The matter was in court a long time. Finally the Leavenworth State Bank paid the losers about fifteen per cent, of the amount stolen. The losers were glad to get back that much of the loss. The bank is to be commended for the compromise. The people who bought bonds and war savings stamps enclured many hardships and sacrifices to save the money. Several sold eggs and cream for the money which put Crawford County over the top. One may imagine that there were some mad men in Leavenworth that day, when they learned that the bank was robbed. Mrs. H. H. Deen had a five hundred dollar bond in a big envelope with her husband's life insurance policy. The robbers opened it and saw the policy and threw it down. Many others were fortunate, too, in that their bonds were not found or were overlooked by the men in their haste. In 1913 the town was visited by a very high water. Much damage and suffering occurred in the town. The people of California sent to the flooded city a car load of potatoes and many other things which were of great help to the people. The school of the town was commissioned so that the graduates from Leavenworth might go out and enter the teaching profession. An addition to the building was con- structed and the work of the school was put on a high plane. Among the men who worked so hard to secure success for the school one should not omit these : W. W. 460 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Wells, C. W. Dodson, S. C. Adams, C. R. Williams, V. B. Everdon, Bernie Stewart, S. A. Beals and C. D. Tower. In this brief account many news items have been omitted because sufficient data was not at hand to complete the narration. The leading physician in Leavenworth is Doctor H. H. Deen, who was born in Perry County. He graduated from the Louisville School of Medicine in 1906. That year he located in Leavenworth. During the World War he was a commissioned officer as Lieutenant of the Southwest Sta- tion of Texas and Oklahoma, 1918-1919. He has done post- graduate work in medical centers like New York and Chi- cago. He now holds a captain's commission in the Medical Reserve Corps. He has done much to get the state to build roads in the county. The leading business men of the town are Charley Aus- tin, George Dodson, Hugh Friedly, Roy Melton, Joseph Lee, Chester Elliott, A. Mock, Otho Mock, J. E. Stephen- son, Boone Richardson, Willie Wilkins, Mark Froman, Fred Kirsch, Thomas Stephenson, George Mix, Alva Mix, Captain Everdon, H. 0. Bunch and W. J. Sacksteder. Among the ladies one may mention Mrs. Iona Austin, Claudie Perkins, Mrs. Stewart, Mrs. Hawn and Mrs. Maher. Leavenworth is the home of the oldest Masonic Lodge in the county. The charter shows that Posey Lodge No. 188 was organized about 1856, while the Independent Order of Odd Fellows established their lodge about 1854. S. D. Alexander a few years ago built a new button mill in the town. The factory was under operation a few months when the doors were closed. That left only one MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 461 button mill in the town, which is under the direction of Joseph Bell. In 1921 Ionian Rainforth was appointed postmaster to succeed Tilden H. Gobbel, who had been postmaster for eight years. Rainforth, who was a popular baseball pitcher, was well liked by all the people. Tilden Gobbel opened up a law office in Leavenworth since he retired from the postoffice. One of the best school meetings ever held in the county occurred at Leavenworth Saturday, January 21, 1922. The church in which the meeting was held was taxed for stand- ing room. Superintendent E. G. McCullum of the Jeffer- sonville city schools was present. He took the floor and in his usual manner carried the audience with a storm of applause. He spoke of the needs of the school, the signs of the times and what our parents must do to meet the needs of the state. At noon a bountiful dinner was served to a large audience. The ladies who had charge of the dinner are to be congratulated for the way the patrons and friends were served. The high school orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. Mae Baker, furnished delightful music. The county agent, Horace Copeland, was present and talked to the people on club work. Superintendent Beals of the English schools started for Leavenworth but the ice was so bad that the car was damaged and he did not arrive. E. G. McCullum spoke again in Mr. Beals' place. He de- livered one of the best speeches ever heard in Leavenworth. The large audience agreed to support the school to make it score the fifty points demanded. The people did support the school which scored the fifty points in due season. Posey Lodge, F.' & A. M. No. 188, entertained Thurs- 462 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY day night, April 15, 1921, the Crawford Lodge No. 470 of English with a grand fish fry. About forty of the members from English attended. Over two hundred pounds of fish were fried. The members were pleased with the entertain- ment. Joseph Bell secured the steamer Richard Rhea and took the visitors for a ride on the beautiful Ohio up as far as the new Government Dam No. 44. After the return of the boat the Crawford lodge conferred the Master Mason degree upon Marsh Jenkins of Leavenworth. The English members were pleased to learn that Posey Lodge, which is the oldest lodge of Masons in the county, was in good condition financially. Besides the English members, many attended from Alton, Marengo and Milltown. On January 10, 1921, Thomas P. Ellsworth died at Leavenworth. He had been sick but a few hours. He was born in Leavenworth March 2, 1850. He enlisted and served as a corporal in Troop F, Eighth Regiment, United States Cavalry for five years during the Indian campaign in the West. He was discharged in 1875. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Leaven- worth and a charter member of the Order of the Eastern Star and helped organize the chapter in 1912. Ellsworth was Worthy Patron and his wife was Worthy Matron when the chapter was organized. The funeral was under the auspices of the Posey Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and all that was mortal was laid to rest in Cedar cemetery. Ellsworth was one of the prominent lawyers of Leaven- worth. He never grew tired of relating his experience with the Indians when they were on the "war path." On one occasion about twenty-two Indians were captured by the MARENGO AFTER THE WAR 463 soldiers, one of whom was a Mason. About sunset one day the Captain called him out and ordered him to do picket duty from twelve at night till day. The orders were given to him in a queer way. He never knew just why, but he did picket duty as best he could till he was relieved next day. That morning the guards examined the Indians and one was gone. He was the old Indian who was a Mason. He went by Ellsworth some way on his beat that night. When the Colonel heard about what had happened he was very angry, but no one was courtmartialed. With this narrative of Leavenworth the author leaves the town to its fate. As one stands on the high hill overlooking the town he sees the beautiful Ohio sweep by in grace and beauty around the bend at Indian Hollow. The great boats of the sixties are gone; the Shotwell, the Ben Franklin and the Eclipse run no more. Occasionally one may see a little gasoline boat pass. The glorious days of the past, the hopes of the town and wishes of the people have faded. On the other hand, the motor truck, the six- cylinder car, and the roadster on the state road leave a cloud of dust behind them. CHAPTER XXI CRAWFORD COUNTY IN LATER YEARS The people of Crawford County were still interested in good roads. Willis Pierson of Marengo was probably the first person to own an automobile in Crawford County. Petitions for a pike road election were being circulated freely in Jennings township in 1902. An election was held that summer to see if the people wished to build a rock road from Leavenworth to the Jennings township line north of Turner Cox's home. The election was exciting. The people in the corner of the township near the poor farm were very much opposed to the road. A. J. Batman and many others threatened to hang Captain Everdon because he favored the road. One man said that our grandchildren will never see the bonds paid for in their lifetime. The people who were to be the most helped by the road were the ones who fought it the hardest. The friends of the road were not idle. The writer was informed that they secured a ballot by some means and raised a fund of $25 and a keg of beer. With this slush fund the ballot was fought to the bitter end. Leavenworth, naturally, wanted the road. The trade would be increased and many men out of work would have a chance to secure employment. The northwest part of the township fought every inch of the way. When the votes 464 THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 465 were counted out, the vote for the pike road had carried by a majority of 125 votes. The bonds were advertised, but no one would buy them because the commissioners had changed the course of the road and the time was one day short. There were many other reasons for men not buying the bonds, but the two above were sufficient. The editor of the English News in commenting on the matter said that the people felt that it was a great blessing that the matter lost out. Later on the bonds were sold and the contract awarded to Mr. Fisher, who failed to complete the road. Then it cost the bond of Fisher about $1,600 a mile. After Fisher left M. C. Froman was made overseer. The men were divided into two groups. The groups met at Rufus Temple's home in the summer of 1908 and completed the road. This was one of the first roads built in the county. The election of 1900 was an interesting one. The Dem- ocratic primary was held in the early spring. The Demo- crats nominated a good substantial ticket : Prosecutor, John Luckett ; representative, Charles Myler; treasurer, D. F. Davis; recorder, G. W. Cuzzort; sheriff, John Gilliland; coroner, Bryan Davis; surveyor, Thomas Cunningham; assessor, Lewis Pfeiffer. The Republicans at their county convention held on April 14, 1900, had placed the following ticket in the field : Treasurer, J. A. Blevins; recorder, George C. Smith; sheriff, W. H. Harvey; assessor, W. H. Landrus; commis- sioner, J. M. Johnson ; commissioner, W. H. Scott ; coroner, J. E. Jackson; surveyor, W. H. Ott. When the campaign began to warm up in the autumn the Democratic workers became a little scared. They bor- 466 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY rowed about $500 and put that sum into the campaign funds, as they thought, but it is doubtful if it ever was spent for the party. They planned to elect the majority of trustees who would elect a county superintendent. Of course the county superintendent was to pay off this note. That was an excellent scheme, but the best of plans fail sometimes. The Democrats elected the county ticket. The vote was about as follows: Prosecutor, John Luckett (Dem) 1,694, James Stewart (Rep) 1,507; representative, Charles Myler (Dem) 1,665, George Sloan (Rep) 1,523; treasurer, D. F. Davis (Dem) 1,663, Joseph Blevins (Rep) 1,529; recorder, G. W. Cuzzort (Dem) 1,658, George Smith (Rep) 1,529; sheriff, John Gilliland (Dem) 1,711, Willis Harvey (Rep) 1,464; assessor, Lewis Pfeiffer (Dem) 1,690, W. H. Landrus (Rep) 1,497; surveyor, Cun- ningham (Dem) 1,694, Wm. Ott (Rep) 1,491. The Democrats were not so successful in the trustee election : The following table shows the result : Boone, John Parr (Rep) ; Jennings, A. J. Beals (Dem) ; Johnson, E. E. Lamon (Rep) ; Liberty, Leroy Weathers (Rep) ; Ohio, Luther Jones (Rep) ; Patoka, B. T. McFarland (Dem) ; Sterling, J. C. Longest (Dem) ; Union, W. H. H. Goldman (Rep); Whisky Run, Tom Kelly (Dem). This gave the Republicans a majority of the trustees which would enable them to elect a Republican for a county superintendent. On June 23, 1900, at English occurred the unveiling of the monument of W. H. English, after whom the town was named. Honorable W. H. English, son of the noted W. H. English, presided at the meeting. When all was ready Miss Roma Fleming pulled the cord which released the THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 467 veil. The English Capital Band played "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Despite the heavy rains a large audience had gathered to witness the unveiling of the statue. The Democrats at the fall election had elected the entire county ticket by a safe margin. The commissioners met in session November 3, 1900, and proposed to make a new township. James R. Duffin and Charles Fitzgerald produced maps and papers on which were the outlines of a new township. Just why the board of commissioners, to whom the people had entrusted the management of the county, should make a new township, one can not say. Surely nothing could be gained by it. The board united Boone and Ohio townships, each of which had elected Re- publican trustees. Then the new township was carved out of Union, Patoka and Sterling townships. S. T. Roberson, who was a loyal Democrat, was appointed trustee of this new township, which was named Taswell township. Jerry R. Crews, who was a very obliging citizen of Patoka, was appointed assessor of the new township. At the previous election Mr. Crews had been elected assessor of Patoka township. To fill that vacancy "Pat" Cannavan was ap- pointed. The Democratic paper announced the action of the commissioners very favorably, but when the people heard the story a storm of protest was raised. Politicians claimed that it was a scheme to secure the elec- tion of a Democrat for county superintendent. Since the plan had changed the status of the board of trustees from five Republicans and four Democrats to five Democrats and four Republicans, one could not well deny that argument. Court proceedings were certain because Ohio and Boone townships were not very friendly, but a rope in the hands 468 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY of about fifty men carried stretching argument. So at the February, 1901, meeting the board rescinded its action concerning the new township. The reader may think what lie pleases about the whole affair, but it is the writer's duty to record the facts in the case and not express opinions. On March 30, 1901, James Cates hanged himself with a rope. For several days he had been acting queer and threatening to hang himself, but the boys kept a careful watch over him night and day. On Friday morning about nine o'clock he eluded the boys while they were interested in the last day of school at Cates schoolhouse which stood near his residence. When the body was found much ex- citement prevailed. The school was dismissed and the coroner called. He arrived late that night and held the inquest. Mr. Cates was the Republican candidate for assessor at the recent election in Jennings township. Men believed that the worry over his defeat caused him to lose his mind. The census of Crawford County was taken in 1900 by D. F. Seacat, F. C. Landrus, C. J. Long, Robert McBurney, F. A. Thornbury, A. B. Robertson, M. E. Stewart, J. M. Miller, J. M. Riddle, James Bobbitt, J. R. Solan and Alex Priest. These men had a very difficult task to perform but they did it with distinction. The books of the county officers were run by experts in 1901 and many errors were found. J. D. Fleming was charged with $2,477, W. Q. Ballard, $851 and Richard Clark with $700. Out of courtesy to Ballard one should say that he collected more fees than any other sheriff. He made his salary out of fees and turned in to the county $851 extra. THE COUNTY IN LATER YEAES 469 The people of Crawford County were very much excited on hearing that William H. Cunningham, who lived about two miles south of English, had been severely flogged on December 7, 1901. Eight masked men rushed into the house and seized and tied him to a tree where he was ter- ribly beaten. After being released they informed him that in the future the old man was to attend to his own business. The same night Dave Tyre was caught about four miles southeast of English. They gave him a good whipping, too. John Hollcroft of Alton made public a very interesting letter which was written by a soldier boy in 1863. Below is the letter in full which was published about 1901 : Belles Island, Va., Dec. 27, 1863. E. P. T. Hollcroft, Alton, Indiana. Dear Sir : — ■ I am well at present and hope these few lines will find you the same. I am a prisoner of war. I have written home three times but get no answer. I want you to send me fifteen pounds of buttered crackers and ten pounds of fat bacon. I shall pay you some time. Anything the good people of Alton may send me will be appreciated. Send the box by express to Sergeant S. A. Claycomb, Co. G, 65th Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. A prisoner of War, Belles Island, Richmond, Va. [Signed], 470 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Later Claycomb was sent to Andersonville where the poor boy died from starvation and cruel treatment. The campaign of 1902 was one in which much hard work was done. The Democrats were much encouraged by the election of 1900 in which the county ticket was elected. At a meeting of the committee on January 24, 1902, S. A. Beals was chosen chairman. The Democratic primary w^as fought out that spring. For sheriff T. P. Cummins, M. J. Brown and Pat Cannavan were candidates. Later Cannavan withdrew and Jerry Crews announced from Patoka. Judge Cook and Stock- slager of Corydon were candidates for judge. By a gentle- manly agreement of some kind Perry County agreed to support our candidate for state senator. Then D. T. Stephenson, S. A. Beals and Clark Crecelius became can- didates. M. C. Froman, L. V. By rum and John M. Scout were candidates for county commissioner. For commis- sioner of the second district, David E. Wright and Hardin P. Enlow were the leading candidates. For coroner, Rufus Y. Thomas and S. Miller announced; against Gregory for clerk, Davis for treasurer and Luckett for prosecutor there was no opposition. The fight for the nominee for sheriff was a very bitter one. Much opposition to M. C. Froman arose because of his relation to the new township. L. V. Byrum, who had been a candidate for commissioner in 1900, was in the race again. The primary drew to a close. The vote cast was extremely light. The following figures give the vote : Judge, Cook, 986, Stocklager, 238 ; sen- ator, D. T. Stephenson, 161, C. F. Crecelius, 334, S. A. Beals, 620; prosecutor, John Luckett, 1,188; congress, W. T. Zenor, 1,217; clerk, W. L. Gregory, 1,180; sheriff, T. B. THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 471 Cummins, 427, M. J. Brown, 309, J. R. Crews, 455; treas- urer, D. F. Davis, 1,169; commissioner, M. C. Froman, 426, L. V. Byrum, 489, John M. Scout, 229 ; commissioner sec- ond district, D. E. Wright, 443, Hardin Enlow, 391, Will- iam Landiss, 307 ; coroner, Sam Miller, 880, Rufus Y. Thomas, 275. Much hard feeling existed over the county. Martin J. Brown's friends were angry. The report was circulated on the eve of the primary that the men should vote for Cum- mins or Crews. One can not tell who was responsible for such a report. Brown, who was an old soldier, was an excellent man. No doubt he lost many votes by the report, for men just supposed he had withdrawn, but the matter caused discontent among Brown's friends. The Republican party held a county convention at Grantsburg on June 7, 1902, at one o'clock. James Pro stated the purpose of the meeting. Jerry Suddarth was made chairman and C. A. Robertson secretary. 0. E. Hawn nominated Joseph Bell for treasurer and Willis Har- vey nominated C. A. Pierson. On the first ballot Bell received 133 votes and Pierson 21. For sheriff George Seaton nominated Fountain McMickle and George Wise- man nominated Henry Roberson. On the first ballot Roberson received 108 votes and McMickle 46. Doctor Fetzer nominated Elwood Boyd for clerk. There being no opposition Boyd was nominated by acclamation. County assessor, Eli McKenzie ; commissioner of first district, Sam Bird nominated Walter Coleman and George Jacobs nom- inated Peter Hilgert. On the first ballot Coleman received 95 votes and Hilgert 58. Doctor Hawn nominated Doctor Dantic for coroner and J. W. Senn named John Roberson. 472 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY On the first ballot Dantic received 126 votes and Roberson 28. At the close of the convention State Chairman Good- rich delivered an address. The delegates went home highly pleased with the ticket. No dissatisfaction existed in any form. The Democrats entered the campaign under disagree- able circumstances. They claimed that they had paid off $14,000 of the county debt and had reduced the tax rate, too, during the first eight months of 1902. But they had no reasonable excuse for making Taswell township. Much dissatisfaction existed among the Democrats be- cause Perry County did not support Stewart Beals for state senator. It seems that Allen Payton, who was a prominent farmer of Spencer County, had persuaded the Perry County delegation to support him instead of S. A. Beals. Be that as it may, Payton was nominated at Rock- port on June 31, 1902. The Republican district convention met at Cannelton on September 6, 1902, and nominated Jeff Gibson of Branchville and William Winchell of Tobinsport for state senator and representative respectively. Stewart Beals, who had been defeated for the nom- ination, worked hard for the nomination of Mr. Payton in Crawford County. The campaign was well under way when certain un- kind remarks were made about Payton who had a church on his back. The Republican account of the affair ap- peared in the English News for October 17, 1902. It seemed that the Baptist people had built the Baker Creek church in 1840. At the present time it had not been THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 473 used much for several years. Some one made a fictitious entry on a certain tax duplicate describing the land by congressional townships and congressional lines, so that the people did not recognize the property when the site was advertised for taxes. Payton bought in the site for $2.18 and soon sold it for $100. No one knew anything about the matter till certain men came one day to tear down the old church. Then the whole affair became known, but nothing could be done to right the matter. This occurred in 1894, but the people had not forgotten the affair • so when Payton was nominated the whole affair came up again. Payton, with the church on his back, and the commissioners with Taswell township to account for, made matters very uncertain. Payton offered to pay $150 to the good Baptist people, but they would not accept it then. Certain graves were torn up on the plot of ground and the headstones broken down by the men who farmed it. The result of the election was very pleasing to the Republicans. The vote was : Senator of Perry, Spencer and Crawford, Payton (Dem) 1,455, Gibson (Rep) 1,400; clerk, Gregory (Dem) 1,400, Boyd (Rep) 1,424; treasurer, Davis (Dem) 1,400, Bell (Rep) 1,437; sheriff, Crews (Dem) 1,455, Roberson (Rep) 1,453; commissioner first district, Byrum (Dem) 1,425, Coleman (Rep) 1,430; commissioner of second dis- trict, Wright (Dem) 1,416, Deich (Rep) 1,457. Payton carried Crawford County by 55 votes, but the people in Spencer County ' ' snowed ' ' him under by a large vote. Gibson was elected. Richard Crews of Taswell was elected by two votes. 474 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY This was the worst defeat the Democrats had received for some time. The Republicans were much pleased with the election, but news came that Trustee Jones, who had been elected in Ohio township, had turned Democrat. Such a thing had never happened before in the county. Jones had a legal right to turn Democrat if he wished, but he should have resigned the office. This he did not do, but agreed to enter the caucus with the Democratic trustees and vote for a Democratic county superintendent. He was a close friend of the writer at the time. Whatever his errors were, if he had any, one may now look over and spread the mantle of charity over his weakness. As a business man he was strictly on the square with the township's business. When the news became known about Jones' action, candidates for county superintendent sprang up on all sides. There were Henry Mock of Taswell, who was a brilliant young man, a graduate of the State Normal; T. B. Sonner of English, who had been professor of the English schools for some time. He was born in Harrison County; Luther Flanigan, of Milltown, who was born in a log cabin house over near the Wyandotte Cave. He was a graduate of the scientific course of Danville Normal in 1900; Stuart A. Beals, of Leavenworth, who was reared in the township of Jennings. He had been one of the leading teachers of Leavenworth for several years. The Democratic trustees were surprised at the action of Trustee Jones. They hardly knew what to do. They could not elect anyone by themselves. They had nothing to lose and a chance to gain. So they called a caucus several weeks before election to see what Trustee Jones THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 475 would really do. To their great joy he was one of the first to be present. The four Democrats gave him the hand of fellowship. Tickets were made out of small slips of yellow paper. The five agreed that anyone who received three out of the five votes should be the nominee. One trustee told the writer that at first they folded the papers so that one could not see how each one voted. That was a hot morning. The air was suffocating in the dusty room where they were balloting. The vote stood : Beals 2, Flan- igan 1, Mock 1, Sonner 1. The next ballot Beals would lose one and some other man would gain one. After about three hours of balloting one trustee said that they became careless and threw the ballots into the hat unfolded but name down. He knew that Kelly was for Planigan every time. Suddenly he saw Jones throw his ballot into the hat and it flipped up so that he could see Flanigan's name on it. He quickly wrote Flanigan's name on his ballot and threw it into the hat. By that act Flanigan was nom- inated. Beals was defeated in the caucus. His half-brother, A. J. Beals, who was trustee of Jennings township, went home disappointed. Later pressure was brought to bear upon Trustee Jones. One of his old friends went to see him and had a long talk with him. He urged Jones to come back to the party which had honored him by electing him trustee. Jones listened with courtesy, treated the visitor with kindness but would promise nothing. So the Republicans were disappointed. They saw that Charles Robertson, who was one of the best school men in southern Indiana, would be defeated for re-election. They decided to try another scheme. There 476 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY was a chance that Trustee Beals might vote for S. A. Beals if the four Republican trustees would. By that act they could beat Jones and defeat the caucus nominee. As the election drew near rumors w T ere numerous about Avhat would happen. No one was sure. The fatal day came. All were present. Beals won on the first ballot. Flan- igan, who was a courteous gentleman, took the defeat gracefully, which was characteristic of a warm-hearted and high-minded citizen. Thus ended one of the queerest elec- tions for county superintendent ever held in Indiana. Superintendent Beals took his office in June, 1903. He engaged Doctor Rigdon of Danville and Julia Freed of Corydon as institute instructors for the county institute that fall. The institute was held at Leavenworth in the Presbyterian church. This was the last institute held in Leavenworth. Probably one of the most destructive tornadoes which ever visited Crawford County passed south of English on April 3, 1903. Mrs. Jonathan Cunningham's log house was torn down. Mrs. Cunningham was killed and Sheridan Cunningham was crippled. His trousers were blown from his home to Jerry Batman's farm, about four miles north of Milltown, a distance of about six miles. Batman sent Sheridan's trousers back to him. Martin S. Grant and Walter May, who lived near Sulphur, were going home from English with a team of mules and a wagon. The wind caught them and carried the wagon and team over a hundred yards before they were brought back to earth. The mules had their harness torn off of them and the men were badly hurt. Henry Barnett's house, which was in the path of the storm, was torn down. Joseph Pirtle's THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 477 house was also torn down. Catching fire it burned, but the occupants escaped with their lives. The Democratic party put out a very strong ticket in 1904. One of the strongest candidates they had was Professor Thomas Sonner, who was a leading educator of the county. Richard Crews, of Taswell, who had been elected county sheriff in 1902, was on the ticket again. He was a jolly good fellow who won votes everywhere he went. He was elected by 198 votes over Henry Roberson, while Sonner won by 152. The whole county ticket was elected. The trustees were elected that year. The Democrats elected six. That assured the re-election of S. A. Beals for county superintendent. The trustees were : Boone, Bloom Riddle, Rep. ; Jennings, J. E. Stephenson, Dem. ; Johnson, Lee Wright, Dem. ; Liberty, John Bird, Rep. ; Ohio, William Fesler, Rep. ; Patoka, James M. Tucker, Dem. ; Sterling, Will Brown, Dem. ; Union, Wallace Myler, Dem. ; Whisky Run, Jerry Batman, Dem. The schools of Crawford County were rather short the year of 1904-5. Many townships had only about eighty days of school. Plans were made at Indianapolis by which state aid might be secured for these poor townships, so that they might have six months of school next year. The election of 1906 was a very exciting one. The Re- publican convention met at Grantsburg on August 11, 1906. Chairman Lambdin called the meeting to order and stated its purpose. The following ticket was placed in the field for election: Clerk, E. G. Boyd; treasurer, James Jackson; recorder, E. E. Lamon ; sheriff, D. M. Seaton ; assessor, Perry Sloan ; coroner, Thomas Austin; surveyor, H. A. Bates; commis- 478 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY sioner of first district, Walter Coleman ; commissioner of second district, John Deich ; commissioner of third district, H. A. Switzer. George Hester, who was a candidate for Congress, was present and delivered an oration. Sam Lambdin, who was elected connty chairman on January 26, 1906, was leader of the meeting. The Democratic primary put a strong ticket in the field. Zenor and Cox were running for Congress. Their muddle was causing trouble over the county. The contestants for the other offices were: Clerk, W. L. Gregory, "Ab" Fro- man; sheriff, James Hanger, Charles Roberson; recorder, George Cuzzort, H. G. Heishman; county assessor, James Brown ; coroner, Mitch Snider ; commissioner, Virg Byrum. According to the custom of the party Cuzzort and Gregory were entitled to the second nomination, but to their surprise, Mr. Froman of English and Mr. Heishman announced themselves as candidates against them. The real contest was between James Hanger of Jen- nings township and Charles Roberson of Union township. Both were Democratic war horses. Hanger proposed for the good of the party that he and Roberson should decide the matter with their friends, but Roberson refused to let their friends decide the case. So nothing remained except a bitter contest. The vote showed these men were the nominees and their majorities: Cox, 79; Benz, 577; Gregory, 714; Hanger, 42 ; Cuzzort, 365 ; James Brown, 175 ; L. V. Byrum, 166 ; J. M. Snider, 109. The vote in the fall gave the following results: Congress, Cox, Dem., 105 majority over Hester, Rep.; THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 479 joint senator, Benz, Dem., 169 majority over S. M. Stewart, Rep. ; treasurer, T. B. Sonner, 1,279 ; coroner, J. M. Snider, Dem., 158 majority over Tom Austin, Rep. ; recorder, Cuz- zort, Dem., 250 majority over E. E. Lamon, Rep. ; sheriff, James Hanger, Dem., 93 majority over D. M. Seaton, Rep. ; assessor, James Brown, Dem., 55 majority over Perry Sloan, Rep. ; commissioner, first district, L. V. Byrum, Dem., 200 majority over Walter Coleman, Rep. ; commis- sioner, second district, Wm. Lambdin, Dem., 46 majority over John Deich, Rep.; commissioner, third district, Jerry Russell, Dem., 166 majority over H. A. Switzer, Rep. ; clerk, W. L. Gregory, Dem., 263 majority over E. G. Boyd, Rep. After election trouble came up about the clerk's office. Gregory filed suit to compel Boyd to surrender the office. But Boyd contended that Gregory was not entitled to the office till his term began. The case was carried to the Supreme Court where the matter was decided in Boyd's favor. Stotsenberg and Weathers defended Boyd. At his home in Leavenworth on April 23, 1908, occurred the death of Senator John Benz. He was born in Ger- many May 9, 1834, and came to America when he was a young man. Benz became a tailor. He worked hard to get enough to buy a bolt of goods, from which he made suits for men. He soon accumulated sufficient funds to enable him to go into business on a larger scale. He be- came one of the leading business men in Leavenworth from the time of the Civil War until his death. To know Sen- ator Benz one had to understand him. He was strictly honest in his business. One could depend on what he said about a suit of clothes. In about 1890 he said that he had 480 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY about $5.00 in every church in the county. He was gen erous to donate to all good charitable bodies. At one time Senator Benz knew every man in the county and could tell where he lived. He was a member of the State Senate and House several times. He was elected coroner once. The people of Leavenworth lost a good business man when he died. After the county unit law was enacted in 1908, Craw- ford County voted on the liquor question. The question was easily decided. Only one precinct in the county went wet. Below are the majorities by townships: Boone, 34; Jennings, 46 ; Johnson, 17 ; Liberty, 145 ; Ohio, 26 ; Patoka, 154; Sterling, 218; Union, 86; Whisky Run, 77. The ma- jority in the county was 803. The Dry Run precinct voted wet. After Marshall was elected Governor in 1908 the Gen- eral Assembly enacted a new law known as township and ward option law. Under this law one election was held in Sterling township September 1, 1911. The drys had 152 votes and the wets 58. The victory of the Democrats in 1906 encouraged them to fight hard in 1908. The primary that year was a very warm one. The candidates for judge were John H. Luckett of English and William Ridley of Corydon. For treasurer C. D. Summers of Marengo and A. D. Huff of Magnolia were contestants. Luckett made a hard fight but was defeated by Ridley by a small vote. The Democratic and Republican tickets were : Judge, William Ridley (Dem), J. L. Suddarth (Rep) ; prosecutor, Clyde Lottick (Dem), Waldahmiller (Rep); THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 481 representative, John Sweeny (Dem), James Bobbitt (Rep); auditor, J. E. Jones (Dem), Joseph Bell (Rep); treasurer, A. D. Huff (Dem), Percy Allen (Rep) ; sheriff, James Hanger (Dem), John Bird (Rep) ; coroner, J. M. Snider (Dem), Major King (Rep); surveyor, D. Paschal (Dem), Jesse Thornbury (Rep) ; commissioner, Byrum (Dem), Martin (Rep) ; commissioner, W. T. Beasley (Dem), John Deich (Rep). The result of the election as far as one can determine was: Governor, Marshall (Dem) 1,507, Watson (Rep) 1,309; congress, Cox (Dem) 1,556, Lewis (Rep) 1,368; represen- tative, Sweeney (Dem) 1,368, Bobbitt (Rep) 1,458; judge, Ridley (Dem) 1,463, Suddarth (Rep) 1,491; audi- tor, Jones (Dem) 1,500, Bell (Rep) 1,408; treasurer, Huff (Dem) 1,544, Allen (Rep) 1,359; sheriff, Hanger (Dem) 1,513, Bird (Rep) 1,422; surveyor, Paschal (Dem) 1,463, Thornbury (Rep) 1,379; coroner, Snider (Dem) 1,492, King (Rep) 1,379; commissioner, Byrum (Dem) 1,517, Martin (Rep) 1,358; commissioner, Beasley (Dem) 1,501, Deich (Rep) 1,359. The trustees elected in 1908 were : Boone, Tom Esarey, Rep. ; Jennings, W. O. Beals, Dem. ; Johnson, George Stall- ing^, Dem. ; Liberty, Clark Sloan, Rep. ; Ohio, James Smith, Rep. ; Patoka, C. J. Tucker, Dem. ; Sterling, A. T. Rober- son, Dem. ; Union, Victor Goldman, Rep. ; Whisky Run, S. K. Breeden, Dem. The Democrats elected a majority of the trustees which enabled them to re-elect Superintendent Beals as county school head. These men were elected for a term of four years, but a law enacted later changed the time of election 482 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY of trustees from 1912 to 1914. This was a special law advocated by Homer Cook while he was secretary of state. The time of the county superintendents was extended till 1917 also. The Democrats had won a great victory. They were proud of the results. Watson came to visit English and spoke during the campaign. The people of Temple during the summer were busy building a Methodist church. A lot of ground in the grove was deeded to the Methodist Episcopal church by A. L. Temple and Mrs. Greda Smith. The house was dedicated on September 12, 1906. A large crowd of people was pres- ent that day. Rev. Breeden and the minister from Paoli were the principal speakers. Pledges sufficient to pay off the cost w r ere received by the church officers. During the summer of 1906 D. M. Stewart died at his home in Marengo on October 2nd. Stewart was born December 3, 1829. He went west to California during the gold fever of 1849. He was one of Crawford County's best men. The pike agitation still went on. The first election for pikes was successful, but for some reason the bids were too high or the bonds did not sell. Another pike election was held at English on April 10, 1907, for Sterling township. Heated arguments were made for and against the pike. The time set was a good date, for the roads were certainly bad in April. The vote for the short pike was: For the pike, 257 ; against it, 231. Vote for the long pike was : 230 for and 240 against it. Matters drifted along until late in the summer when the commissioners awarded the contract to Bry Gregory and Company for $18,500. He THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 483 must begin the work by November 8, 1907, and complete the road by November 8, 1909. A very sad accident occurred about four miles north of English on October 2, 1909. James Brown, who was a son of William Brown, went out coon hunting. The dogs ran something up a tree which young Brown began to climb. Brown being an excellent climber was soon in the top of the tree. When he was about 75 feet from the ground he lost hold some way and fell to the ground. He hit the ground so hard that he died from the shock. The Democratic primary of 1910 was held on April 15th. The leading candidates for the various offices were : Joint senator, Sweeny, 538 and Bomar Taylor, 722 ; congress, Cox, 1,109, Voight, 188; clerk, J. E. Stephenson, 600, H. W. Mock, 705; recorder, T. B. Ellsworth, 198, H. W. Key, 438, Ina Dooley, 627 ; sheriff, J. R. Crews, 467, W. E. Cummins, 206, Pleas Baylor, 557, C. M. Goss, 42; county assessor, Bert Hughes, 526, I. N. Froman, 286, Dan Tadlock, 453 ; commissioner of second district, J. P. Cul- ver, 368, Delia Smith, 344, Jerry Russell, 365, L. D. Hed- den, 201 ; coroner, W. J. Trusty, 509, Douglas McDaniel, 344, Enos Wells, 132, Hawn Totten, 236; surveyor, D. C. Paschal; commissioner, W. T. Beasley; treasurer, A. D. Huff; representative, Sam Benz. This was a warm fight. It seemed that "the boys were hungry and wanted a slice of steak." Yet they waged a clean fight. Stephenson and Mock were men of high ideals. They made a thorough canvass. Mock gained strength on the eve of the primary in Patoka and Sterling and won the nomination. 484 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Cox defeated Voight by a huge majority. Voight, who was a very good man, came out at the wrong time. For recorder the race was between Key and Dooley. Dooley living at English had the advantage over Key. Both were fine Democrats and would have made excellent officers. Dooley won the nomination. The race for sheriff was a four-sided fight. Crews, who Jiad been sheriff two terms, had entered the race again. For a long time the race was in doubt, but Baylor gained and won the nomination. Crews, who was one of the most accommodating men in the county, was deserted by certain men on the eve of the primary. Much hard feeling existed among the voters. The contests of the other offices were fought out to a finish. The Republican party held its convention on August 6, 1910. A large number of delegates were present. Ed. Funk, who was one of the delegates, went by where Cadmus Funk was working in the quarry and forced him to go to the convention. Then they arrived at English Ed. Funk mixed up with the delegates from other townships and made so many trades that when the time came to nominate candidates for sheriff Cadmus Funk's name was the only one presented. The ticket which was selected that day was: Clerk, Arthur Stewart of Jennings; treasurer, Alphonso Temple of Sterling; sheriff, Cadmus Funk of Whisky Run; recorder, W. A. Brooks of Boone; assessor, George Real of Sterling; commissioner, second district, John Deich of Patoka ; commissioner, third district, Levi Riddle of Boone. The canvass was made in the usual way. When the election was over the Democrats elected all the ticket but THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 485 Baylor. Funk was elected by six votes. Below are the winners and their majorities : Congress, Cox, Dem., 367 ; representative, Benz, Dem., 205; prosecutor, Lottick, Dem,, 165; clerk, Mock, Dem., 213; sheriff, Funk, Rep., 6; assessor, Hughes, Dem., 32; surveyor, Paschal, Dem., 104 ; commissioner, Beasley, Dem., 140 ; coroner, Trusty, Dem., 105 ; commissioner, Culver, Dem., 185 ; recorder, Dooley, Dem., 63. The telephones lines, which had been built in 1894, were rebuilt in 1899 in many places. In August Wm. Everdon, Luckett, Grimes and Summers bought up the company lines, after the Leavenworth bank failed in 1897. The line was then built to Birdseye. In 1900 the Cumberland bought all the home companies. Later in 1908 Everdon built up the Temple Telephone Company, which lasted sev- eral years until it was divided into separate companies. On December 13, 1912, occurred the hanging of Michael Morgan, who was born in Boone township, and for some years lived in Crawford County. At one time he was arrested and placed in the jail at English for almost a year. He was accused of murdering his grandfather, Har- bin Morgan, of Boone township. After being released from jail he went out west and and located at Grant's Pass, Oregon. Here he had trouble with a man named York and a fight occurred in which York was killed. Mor- gan claimed that he killed the man in self-defense. The trial occurred in which he was convicted and sentenced to be hanged December 13, 1912. When he was led up to the gallows, a Catholic priest by the name of Moore, who was the chaplain of the Oregon penitentiary, gave him the crucifix to hold. Later he handed it back to Father Moore 486 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY and requested that it be sent to his poor mother with a full account of the trial and the hanging. Moore told Mrs. Morgan in his letter that the boy died calmly and that Father Moore was sure that her son was not really a mur- derer at heart, and if he had been defended by a good lawyer he would have been acquitted. Several days before his death he was taken into the Catholic church and he made a complete confession regarding the fight in which he killed York. He claimed that he struck the fatal blow in self-defense. Father Moore said that the lawyer who defended Morgan was incompetent and witnesses were not available, since Grant's Pass was many miles from the scene of the trial. The people of English were surprised to hear of the death of Attorney Jerry Suddarth on February 8, 1913, at his home in English. For many years he had been in poor health, but had managed to keep his law practice going. He was one of Crawford County's best lawyers. The body was interred at Marengo where Rev. Oster officiated. The lawyers of Crawford County were his pallbearers. Sud- darth began the study of law in 1880 at Leavenworth. His ability as a lawyer soon became well known over the state of Indiana. In 1908 he was a candidate for judge against William Ridley. Being in a Democratic district he was defeated, but the good people of Crawford County gave him a majority of 28 votes over Ridley who was a very efficient lawyer of Corydon. Despite their many defeats the Republican party organ- ized again in 1912 by electing Irvin Bobbitt county chair- man on January 29. H. Miller was vice-president, Thomas Austin secretary, and Elwood Boyd treasurer. The cen- THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 487 tral committee consisted of Joseph Bell, Sam Bird and Lawrence Jones in Jennings township; Ilenriot and Rob- ert Proctor in Whisky Run; T. II. Miller and Wal Stewart in Liberty; T. S. Austin, Wm. Moore and Louis Shields in Sterling ; Hazen Sturns and Albert Deich in Patoka ; Irvin Bobbitt and George Seaton in Johnson ; Les Morlan in Union; John Crecelius and Logan Riddle in Ohio, and Thomas Esarey in Boone. The party placed the following ticket in the field : Auditor, Bloomer Enlow ; treasurer, M. E. Stewart; sheriff, Cadmus Funk; commissioner, John W. Bird ; commissioner, third district, II. C. Roberson ; coroner, Alvin Eaton. The Democrats held their primary March 8, 1912. These were the chief contestants : Prosecutor, Charles Brown, 589, Tilden Gobbel, 352; auditor, W. J. Hawkins, J. E. Jones, 102 majority; treasurer, W. II. Finch, 171, D. L. Miller, 123, A. H. Flanigan, 347, J. F. Jones, 299 ; sheriff, L. V. Byrum, 388, M. H. Smith, 301, John Ritchie, 231 ; commissioner, first district, Lewis Pfeiffer, 408, Mitch Snider, 499 ; commissioner, third district, J. P. Culver, 930; coroner, W. J. Trusty, 935. Both' tickets had excellent men on them. Byrum had made a good commissioner, but sometimes a man angers his friends by doing his duty. Just why the Democratic party should turn such men as Byrum and Jones down the writer can not say, but it is evident that they could not hold their party together and both were defeated. The party vote was: President, Wilson (Dem) 1,159, Taft (Rep) 663, Roosevelt (Prog) 554; congress, Cox (Dem) 1,193, Barnes (Rep) 977; prosecutor, Brown (Dem) 1,227, Corbin (Rep) 1,016; representative, Benz (Dem) 1,146, 488 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Bobbitt (Rep) 1,077; auditor, Jones (Dem) 1,115, Enlow (Rep) 1,157; treasurer, Flanigan (Dem) 1,165, M. E. Stewart (Rep) 1,086; sheriff, Byrum (Dem) 993, Funk (Rep) 1,306; coroner, Trusty (Dem) 1,146, Eaton (Rep) 1,059; commissioner, first district, Snider (Dem) 1,060, Bird (Rep) 1,138; commissioner, third district, Culver (Dem) 1,111, Roberson (Rep) 1,099. Jones carried Sterling township by 10 votes, while Flanigan carried it by 119 votes. Enlow carried Patoka township by 62. Byrum lost Sterling by 130 votes but carried Whisky Run by one vote. Snider carried Jennings by 11 votes but Bird defeated him in Sterling by 40 votes. The Democratic party was somewhat shaken by the vote of 1912. The people of Sterling township were shocked to hear of the sad death of William Highfill who lived near the Burnett school. Young Highfill, who lived with his par- ents, was engaged in trapping. Men say that he was one of the most successful trappers in the county. His line of traps ran from Bogard bridge on the English and Leaven- worth road down to Bogard, and after it empties into Little Blue, down Blue River. With his gun young Highfill usually left home about nine o'clock and returned about four o'clock in the afternoon. On the occasion when the fatal accident happened he left home about the usual time. When evening came and he had not returned the alarm was raised. That had been a very cold day. Friends feared that he might have hurt himself and would freeze to death. They gathered at the home of his parents to learn what they could of his route before they set out to search for him. All that cold night men with lanterns THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 489 were hunting' for him. By morning probably three hun- dred people were out. Men were divided into groups, one of which was to go down each side of the stream. About ten o 'clock that morning two men discovered his cap frozen in the ice. They then saw where the ice had broken. The alarm was given. Before long the whole neighborhood was there. Men secured a boat and fished the body out of the water which was about six feet deep. Later his gun was found. He had started to cross Little Blue to get a mink out of a trap. He had thrown rocks out on the ice to test it, but near the other side the ice was thin because a spring ran into the river there. This dreadful affair happened February 13, 1913, about one mile up the river from Carnes' old mill on Little Blue. Evidence showed that he had made a terrible struggle after breaking through the ice before he drowned. The county commissioners wanted the people of Union township to have an election to see if the people wanted to build pike roads. The vote for the pike was taken on May 5, 1913. The result was 177 votes for the pike to Grantsburg and 29 against; 193 votes for the Mifflin pike and 29 against. The majority for both roads was 312. Edmund Hostetter died at Milltown October 17, 1913. He moved to Milltown in 1858 and began milling. When the war broke out he joined Company E of the 38th and later joined the 49th Indiana Volunteers. He married the daughter of Clementina Powers, who was the daughter of E. C. Powers, a prominent citizen of Milltown. Later the mill was built up till he had one of the best mills in the county. The funeral was conducted at the Presbyterian church on Sunday, October 19, 1913. Professor J. M. John- 490 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY son led in prayer, while Rev. F. W. Grossman preached the funeral. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows officiated at the funeral. The Eastern Star Chapter was organized at English on July 24, 1913, with thirty charter members. The Leaven- worth degree team, which consisted of Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Ellsworth, H. H. Deem, S. E. Grimes, D. Moyers, Hugh Friedley, C. T. Allen, William Fesler, Grace Houser, Lou Paxter, Lloyd Curts, Alice Sprinkle, Belle Alexander, Maude Robinson, Rella Rainforth, Margaret Booth, Delia Conrad and Esther Conrad came over from Leavenworth and conferred the degree. On account of the train wreck the Grand Matron and secretary did not arrive till about midnight. The refresh- ments were served at the Commercial Hotel about ten o'clock that night. The officers elected for the newly or- ganized chapter were : Worthy Matron, Mrs. Joel Melton ; Worthy Patron, Henry Mock; Associate Matron, Mrs. J. E. Stewart; Conductress, Mrs Oliver Blevins; Secretary, Nell Thornbury; treasurer, Mrs. Harrison Brown; sentinel, George W. Cuzzort. The Republicans were highly elated over their success at the polls in 1912. So they were eager to enter the fray in 1914. The convention met April 30, 1914, and placed their ticket in the field while in session at Marengo : Clerk, Silas Lambdin; treasurer, M. E. Stewart; sheriff, J. D. Hammond ; recorder, W. A. Brooks ; assessor, George Real ; coroner, Ed. Land; commissioner, J*. W. Bosley; commis- sioner, Valentine Deich. The above ticket was a strong one, but the candidates for trustee were even stronger. The township conventions THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 491 selected the candidates as follows: Boone, E. E. Parr; Jennings, Bing Tower ; Johnson, M. G. Real ; Liberty, Reed Bird; Patoka, George Smith; Ohio, Garrison Bird; Ster- ling, Noble Benbo ; Union, Kenna Senn. The Democratic party held its county primary March 13, 1914. The leading candidates were : Congress, William Zenor, W. E. Cox; sheriff, Benton Longest, 286, M. H. Smith, 415, Jesse Ewing, 477 ; coroner, William Belcher, 584, Samuel Wright, 557 ; commissioner, Dennis Braden, 300, Jerry Batman, 749 ; commissioner, second district, C. J. Tucker, 457, R. M. King, 310, J. A. Tucker, 353. The candidates for trustee in the various townships were : Jennings, Fred Bischop ; Johnson, ; Liberty, John Brown ; Ohio, Joshia Harvey ; Patoka, Henry Rowland ; Sterling, ; Union, ; Whisky Run, John Ferguson. Much complaint was made among the townships. Neither Republicans or Democrats were satisfied. The Democratic primary in Jennings township had nominated Fred Bishop over Stanley Parkhill and various others. The Republicans in Liberty township were not satisfied with the candidates for trustee. The result of the election was a big surprise to all. Below are the names of the successful men and their majorities : Congress, Cox, Dem., 201 ; judge, Ridley, Dem., 190; prosecutor, Brown, Dem., 133; senator, Hirsch, Dem., 94 ; representative, Benz, Dem., 134 ; treasurer, Flanigan, Dem., 136; clerk, Mock, Dem., 146; sheriff, Ewing, Dem., 49 ; coroner, Belcher, Dem., 90 ; sur- veyor, Cunningham, Dem., 103; commissioner, Batman, Dem., 124; commissioner, Tucker, Dem., 55; recorder, Brooks, Rep., 19 ; assessor, Real, Rep., 44. 492 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The trustees were : Boone, Parr, Rep. ; Johnson, M. G. Real, Rep., 9 ; Liberty, J. B. Brown, Dem., 65 ; Ohio, Bird, Rep., 48 ; Patoka, Smith, Rep., 15 ; Sterling, Denbo, Rep., 10 ; Union, Senn, Rep., 14 ; Whisky Run, Ferguson, Dem., 65. The Republicans had elected six trustees and two county officers. That assured them the county superin- tendent when Mr. Beal's time expired. Elder James Bobbitt, who was one of Crawford County's noble sons, died at his home in English on Wednesday, December 1, 1915. He had been planning a series of meetings at the Christian church, of which he was a member. After eating a hearty dinner on Monday he went out to do some work when he sank down suddenly in the yard. Friends were called but he never regained con- sciousness. Lingering in that state he died about 9 :28 p. m. on Wednesday. His funeral was conducted by Elder Samson Cox and the remains were laid to rest at Eckerty. His son, Doctor Franklin Bobbitt, drove through from Chi- cago in his car which was one of the first ones to visit English sometime the previous summer. Mr. Bobbitt had been much honored by the people of Crawford County. In 1885 he was elected county super- intendent of schools. Later, in 1888, he was elected county auditor. The people had so much confidence in him that they voted for him even if he was a Republican living in a Democratic county. Christmas afternoon of 1915 witnessed the fatal shoot- ing of T. B. Roll in C. E. Moore's restaurant near the depot in English. Roll had been in the restaurant that after- noon for some time, when he was seen staggering out and THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 493 going around toward the depot. lie had not gone many steps until he fell dead. The citizens notified Coroner W. L. Belcher who came up and held an inquest over the body after it was moved to John Atkins' undertak- ing establishment. That afternoon Jerry Moore escaped from the town. Later he was acquitted of the charge of murder. During the summer of 1915 Lloyd Froman and Charles Roberson were severely hurt by a blast where they were working on the road. Roberson was blinded and Froman 's eyes were seriously injured. This accident occurred August 6th. The people of Crawford County were passing through a transition period the last four years. The timber was being used up quickly, the game was also almost gone in the county, therefore the men turned their minds to agri- culture from a scientific standpoint. The year of 1917 one could see as many as ten silos being erected between Ma- rengo and Leavenworth. The coming of the automobile encouraged people to build more rock roads. About 1915 Charles Wright, who had the mail route from Leavenworth to Marengo, purchased a car to use in hauling passengers. Doctor Felix Hammond also bought a car from "Woody" Jenner and brought it to English. The editor of the English paper said that the car "looked good to him." This car was brought to English in 1914. Temple Rice Hollcroft, who was attending school at Hanover College, received the highest grades ever given any student in the college. After teaching for some time in the University of Kentucky, he was elected to a position on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin in 1915. 494 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The Marengo Bank, which had been in operation for some time, began to dig the basement of their new building on June 4, 1915. A beautiful building was erected in which the Bank began business on September 17, 1916. The campaign of 1916 was warmly contested. The new primary law, which had recently been enacted, was used by both parties. The candidates for auditor on the Democratic ticket were B. T. McFarland, who was one of the prominent teachers of Patoka township, Ora Tadlock, who was also a leading teacher of Ohio township, and John Spears, of Taswell, who was an old Patoka township boy. For many years Spears was one of the leading teachers of the county. B. T. McFarland, who had made Patoka township an excellent trustee, would have made a good auditor, but political forces were at work which turned the votes to the other candidates. The race for treasurer on the Democratic ticket warmed up some. James M. Brown, who had been elected to vari- ous offices in Crawford County, was the leading candidate. The result of the primary was in doubt for a day or two till certain second choice votes were counted. The Democratic and Republican nominees were : Congress, Cox, Dem., John Edwards, Rep.; prosecutor, Charles Brown, Dem., J. E. Stewart, Rep. ; joint representative, John Ryan, Dem., Horace Trueblood, Rep. ; auditor, Ora Tadlock, Dem., Roscoe Stewart, Rep.; treasurer, James M. Brown, Dem., James J. Smith, Rep.; sheriff, Jesse Ewing, Dem., J. Dale Hammond, Rep. ; coroner, W. J. Trusty, Dem., David Hedden, Rep. ; surveyor, Thomas Cunning- ham, Dem., R. F. Hiland, Rep. ; commissoner of second THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 495 district, C. J. Tucker, Dem., G. N. Doolittle, Rep.; com- missioner of third district, W. W. Blunk, Dem., W. C. Smith, Rep. The above tickets contained excellent men on both sides. The Republicans had nominated J. J. Smith for treasurer over William Fesler of Jennings township by a narrow margin of votes. The national election, which also occurred this year, in- fluenced the votes in the county. The people of the county saAV that we were drifting into war with Germany. Much unrest existed among the voters, too. Matters drifted along without much excitement until a few days before the election when some one from Leavenworth informed Pros- ecutor Brown that Mann Hollcroft had sent up to Leaven- worth a large quantity of apple brandy. Felix Mode of Leavenworth hauled the liquor up to Leavenworth from Big Bend, Kentucky, and the kegs were put off at the wharf. Dave Moyer hauled the brandy up to Charles Aus- tin 's ware-room for safe keeping, till the boat went up the river to Louisville. He put the liquor into his wagon publicly and rolled the kegs back into Austin's ware-room publicly. Acting on the information sent him and fearing that the liquor was for the Republicans, he planned to seize the entire quantity. Certain Democratic candidates considered the proposition, too, but it was finally decided to seize the liquor. When the papers were ready Sheriff Ewing made the raid on Sunday evening before the elec- tion. The kegs, containing 400 gallons of brandy, were rolled into trucks and wagons and hauled to English and stored in the jail for safe keeping. The next day much excitement prevailed. Dale Ham- 496 HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY mond came to Leavenworth and told Joseph Bell that he would make an oath before a notary public that he did not know anything about the brandy. The Democratic men believed that it was Republican whiskey. One can not tell what effect the raid had on the election with any degree of certainty, but the returns were disastrous to the Demo- crats. Below is the result of the election : Congress, Cox, Dem., 229, John Edwards, Rep., Brown, Dem., 16, J. E. Edwards, Rep. ; Ryan, Dem., 9, Trueblood, Rep., Tadlock, Dem., 6, J. R. Stewart, Rep., Brown, Dem., Smith, Rep., 191, Ewing, Dem., Hammond, Rep., 150; Trusty, Dem., 28, Dave Heclden, Rep., Cunningham, Dem., 70, Hiland, Rep., Tucker, Dem., 35, Doolittle, Rep., Blunk, Dem., 10, Smith, Rep. Brown and Ewing were defeated by a large vote, while all the rest of the ticket except Cox were elected by small, votes. After several years the liquor was finally returned to Hollcroft by order of the court. Hollcroft came to Leaven- worth when he heard about it and gave Mr. Mode a severe beating over the matter. Jim Smith, who was elected treasurer, was one of Pa- toka township's noted farmers. Just why the good Dem- ocrats did not vote for Brown is a mystery to some men, for Brown was one of the biggest tax payers in the county. Smith, too, was an excellent farmer, big tax payer, and one of the most respected men of the county. He married Miss Ella Bowman on March 23, 1902, at the home of J. R. Duffin in English. Mrs. Smith was the daughter of John Bowman. After the election foreign affairs with Germany grew THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 497 worse. The German nation sank our ships on the high seas; murdered our men, and drowned the women and children. Finally President Wilson went before Congress and suggested that war be declared between the United States and the German nation. Congress enacted a conscription bill which provided for a selective draft. The bill required all men between the ages of 21 and 31 to register their names. Out of the num- ber who registered various numbers were to be called to the colors. In the meanwhile several of Crawford County's noble sons had enlisted, among whom were Elbert Ewing and Allen Myers. Archie N. Bobbitt joined the navy. The board of registration arranged the boys in classes. Class A contained all single men. From this class the men were to be selected first. Married men and county officers were placed in the deferred lists. The registration was made in the spring of the year, the first selection in the summer. The drafted men were ex- amined by the doctors to see that they were physically fit. Many of them did not pass. When the war was over it was learned that the doctors found about 32 per cent, of the boys unfit for military duty. When the United States entered the war Governor Goodrich appointed Honorable John H. Luckett, Emma Brown and A. H. Flanigan to compose the Council of De- fense for Crawford County. It was their duty to see that no disloyalty of any kind occurred. The Council was to help in the sale of bonds, promote Red Cross drives, and assist the Government in many ways. Professor S. A. Beals was president of the Red Cross in the county. He 498 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY^ was ably assisted by Mrs. Emma Brown, A. II. Flanigan, Sam J. Elsby, J. W. Patton, Lelah Austin, Mrs. Margaret Mayer, J. F. Zimmerman, Webster Ott, and many others. One can not say bow many bonds and war savings stamps were sold or how much was donated to the Red Cross now, but Crawford County always went over the top. Men and women sold butter, cream and eggs and bought war savings stamps and bonds. Every request Pres- ident Wilson made, the people of Crawford County met. When money was scarce, funds low, and provisions needed, our men and women observed meatless days, days without sugar, and submitted to other war regulations that the war might be won. The greatest gift that Crawford County gave was her boys, none of whom, as far as the writer knows, ever retreated or deserted the colors, or was ever guilty of a dishonorable act which would stain their proud repute as soldiers of America, of Indiana and above all, of Crawford County. The writer has done the best he could to get all the names of the boys who were called to the colors. Many errors, doubtless, have been made, but from the newspapers he has obtained the following names : Charles Adams, Cecil Austin, Charles Allard, Edward Atwood, Ora Ash, Nolan Atz, Claud Austin, Atmer Arch- ibald, Logan Ash, Leland Adams, Herman Archibald, Roy Allen, Wallace Alderson, George Browning, Frank Bline, John Ballard, John Bruback, Jesse Bird, Roy Brown, Ollie Brown, Rollie Bolden, Ivan Belcher, Cecil Byrd, Joseph Birkla, Mas Belcher, Cyril Bohnert, Reuben Bates. Levi Brooks, Emory Brown, Murray Byerly, William Boyd, Mc- Kinley Bailey, Will Bell, Isaac Baker, Frank Byerly, THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 499 George Blevins, Arrel Brown, E. R. Blevins, Harry Bab- cock, Harry Bell, Elwood Bird, Bennett Brown, Elsie Brown, Harry Byerly, J. F. Blevins, Ebbie Brown, Vollie Brown, Earl Cox, Joel Crecelius, Will Conway, James Creech, Luther Cunningham, Charles Clifton, Ernest Cox, Ivan Courtney, James Cox, Will Carroll, Claude Carter, Lawrence Cole, Herbert Cox, Ezra Cunningham, Monroe Curl, Isaac Curts, Ivan Curl, Owen Crecelius, Lee Cox, Pearlie Cates, C. R. Critchfield, Ora Curl, C. W. Crecelius, Frank Collins, Jacob Crecelius, Guy Dodd, Raleigh Denbo, Charles Dooley, Oscar DeWitt, John Dubois, Selxon Dot- son, Will Dieus, Clyde Dean, John Derch, James Dunn, Morton Duggins, Cleo Dukes, Will DeWitt, Veil Deal, Homer DeWitt, Floyd DeWitt, Joseph Esarey, Edward Evers, Clarence Eaton, Will Everdon, John Elliott, Orville Eastridge, Claude Enlow, Hiram Enlow, Edward Easter, Conley Everdon, John Funk, Charles Faulkenburg, Omer Forbes, Clarence Froman, Zenor Froman, Earl Franz, James Feltman, Charles Felker, Earl Grimes, Carter Greshman, Elmer Goldman, Marion Grant, Charles Green, Roy Gibbs, Edison Grant, Claude Gregory, Floyd Gilliland, Elvin Goldman, John Gilliland, Grady Goldman, Sam Gil- liat, Monroe Goldman, Russell Grant, Russell Gilliland, Gordon Gibson, Earl Grunden, Louis Haycock, Ralph Har- very, Thomas Hammond, E. Higgins, Everett Hutslar, Asa Hammond, Elmer Highfill, Rupert Higginbathen, Simon Harris, Guy Harvey, Ira Hollen, Cordia Hammond, Har- mon Hammond, Schuyler Hanover, Alfred Hubbard, Charles Hollen, S. V. Humphrey, Floyd Hollen, Ralph Haney, Jesse Handspire, Goldy Hammond, John Huff, Emmett Hurt, Charles Hammond, Robert Isley, George 500 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Ingle, Claude Ingle, Elmer Ingle, J. S. Jones, Charles Jones, Stephen Jones, Elmer Jenkins, Ottie Jenkins, Clyde Jenkins, John Jucld, Oliver Jenkins, Earl Jones, Forest Johnson, Herschel Jones, Earl Jenkins, Raymond Jones, Robert Kemp, Orville Knight, Albert Kaiser, William Keilman, Oscar Klee, John Kent, Paul Koot, William Kel- lums, John King, Daniel King, Frank Kaiser, Edward Knight, Torrence Knight, Henry Knight, Jerry Landrus, Larmon Longest, Claude Lanban, Raymond Leasar, Mar- cellus Lyons, Will F. Long, Joshua Logsdon, Charles Lan- dam, Ed Lindeman, Joseph Lindeman, Guy Lonigan, Peter Limp, Arthur Lane, Hubert Landrus, Orville Landam, Ed- gar Longest, Earl Mallow, George Moad, David Mock, Vic- tor Miller, Will Meton, Ivan Mock, Charles May, Ellis Myers, James Morris, Henry Mitchell, Claude Melcom, Thomas Mason, Will McDaniel, Will Miller, John Meri- water, Jake Moore, Charles Mock, Elwood Mathew, Lee Megenity, Everett Mills, Arthur Mitchell, Simon Mitchell, Herschell McAdams, Thomas Morgan, Walter Miller, Paul McQually, W. 0. Morgan, Ernest Moore, Arthur Mix, Charles Mercer, S. E. Miller, Isaiah Mason, Charles Mauck, Norman McFarland, Dewey McClure, Vessie Newton, Michael Nolan, George Neimueller, John Newton, Dell Norman, Mayo Newton, Ed Newton, E. N. Newkirk, George Paschal, Robert Pleasant, Clarence Pope, James Parr, William Parr, William Parker, Orville Polen, Clarence Polk, Vincent Patalon, Gilbert Partenheimer, Arthur Prauer, A. Elmer Poltker, Robert N. Parr, Tower Parkhill, John Pearson, James Polen, Archie Pigg, Orin Polen, Will Purcell, Orville Pigg, Claude Poe, C. M. Pier- son, Gilbert Pavey, Allie Patton, 0. N. Pierson, Herschel THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 501 Rainforth, George Redden, Ernest Reasor, Mike Rainboldt, Leroy Randall, Dora Rhodes, Charles Rich, Martin Rich- ardt, Douglas Royal, Walter Riddle, Will Redden, James Roll, Robert Richardson, Will Ross, Shelby Rainforth, Bearlie Roll, Harry Roll, Arthur Rothrock, C. E. Rodgers, Yollie Reasor, Grover Roll, Herbert Rawlings, A. S. Roth- rock, Robert Riley, Will Self, Reuben Satterfield, Reuben Small, Floyd Satterfield, Lee Sauer, Ernie Spencer, Ed Swickard, Aniel Smith, Marion Schreiber, James Starrett, Leo Sauer, George Shultz, Charles Standiford, Leo Seu- fert, Herschel Shultz, Charles Sturgeon, Edward Schlin- sker, Eddie Seaton, Albert Smith, Harrel Shafer, Charles Strand, Charles Simcox, John Stepro, David Sillings, Knoefel Sloan, Charles Seig, Vollie Suddarth, Knoeful Summers, E. E. Stone, A. R. Stewart, Wm. St. Clair, Emery Starkey, Perry Saltsgaver, Charles Shotter, Harry Scott, Pearl Shafer, Roy Sloan, Calvin Smith, Clyde Speedy, Thomas Starrett, Ed Sacksteder, Reuben Strand, Raymond Sutton, Omer Stephenson, J. R. Smith, Emery Taylor, Will Toothman, Mack Tucker, Luther Timberlake, John Tucker, Will Taylor, Roscoe Trusty, William Tro- baugh, Clyde Tucker, Stanley Thornbury, Edward Under- bill, Wilba Wiser, Will Wilks, Clarence Walton, W. L. Williams, Craig Wiseman, Roy Weldman, Claud Walts, Dan C. Yanlaningham, Arthur Vernon, Hazel Vance, George VanWinkle, D. T. Vance, Charles Waltz, Orville Wyman, Aden Wiseman, George Williams, Lonnie Waldon, Morse Webster, Jesse Wilson, Varmer Walts, Hobart Wise- man, Oscar Wiseman, Garrett Weathers, Will Wilkins, A. R. Weathers, Monroe Walton, Charles Zimmerman, Sam Zahn, Dan Yates. 502 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY From the Gold Star Book the writer has selected the following material which he hopes will be of honor to the relatives of the boys whose lives were lost on the field of battle that the world might be made safe for democracy: (Used by permission of Indiana Historical Bureau.) Alvin Fetzer Byrum, private, was a son of Sampson Byrum and Carrie Byrum; born January 2, 1895, Maren- go, Indiana. Hotel clerk. He entered service at Chickasha, Oklahoma. Went overseas and was killed in action Octo- ber 24, 1918, in Argonne Forest, near Bantheville, France. Place of burial is unknown. Levi Carberry, private, son of James M. and Mary E. Carberry, was born November 2, 1889, in Boone town- ship. He was a farmer. He enlisted in Troop D, First Cavalry, Indiana National Guards, Company M, 152nd Infantry, August 27, 1917, at New Al- bany, Indiana. Sailed for France June 12, 1918. He was assigned to Company B, Eighth Machine Gun Battalion. He was killed in action October 16, 1918, near Meuse-Argonne offensive. He was buried in the Argonne American ceme- tery, Romange Grave 5, second 102, plot 1. THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 503 Clarence Crabtree, son of Lovell B. and Amma Crabtree, was born June 3, 1896, at Indianapolis, Indi- ana. He was a rancher. He en- listed in the regular army February, 1916, at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He served on the Mexican border. Later he was transferred to Fort Jay, N. Y. Sent overseas September 1, 1917, where he was assigned to Company M, Sixteenth In- fantry, First Division. He died of wounds July 14, 1918, which were received in action near Cantigny. He was buried in the American cemetery, Chateau rou-Indre, France. After his death he was awarded the Croix de Guerre with palms. Arthur Stewart Davis, private, was a son of Lyman and Honore Davis. Born November 2, 1891, at Leaven- worth. Was a button cutter. Entered service June 14, 1918, at English. Trained at Indianapolis and Camp Sheridan, Alabama. Assigned to Com- pany D, Ninth Motor Supply Train. Died of pneumonia at Akron, Ohio. He was buried at Leavenworth, Indiana. The American Le- gion Post at Leavenworth was named in his honor. He is survived by a widow, Lelia Davis, and three children. 504 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Cleo Walter Dukes, private, was a a son of John and Emma Dukes. He was born January 18, 1895, near Mill- town. He entered the service June 18, 1918, at English, Indiana. He was assigned to Company A, 334th Infan- ^J | m^ try, Eighty-fourth Division. Later JH was sent to Camp Mills, New Jersey, from which he embarked August 30, 1918. Died of pneumonia October 22, 1918, at Evacuation Hospital No. 9 of Vaubecourt. Buried near Vaubecourt, France. Edward Arthur Easter, private, was the son of Philip and Laura Eas- ter. He was born near Newton Stewart, February 8, 1893. He entered service July, 1918, at English, Indiana. Sent to Camp Taylor, Kentucky, and assigned to the Fiftieth Company, Thirteenth Training Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade. Later he was trans- ferred to the Medical Department Brigade. Died of pneu- monia October 8, 1918, Camp Taylor, Kentucky. Buried at Newton Stewart, Orange County, Indiana. THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 505 Elmer Lester Goldman, private, was the son of David and Minerva Goldman. He was born October 3, 1894, near West Fork, Indiana. He enlisted at English September 19, 1917, and was sent to Camp Taylor where he was assigned to Company I, 119th Infantry, Thirtieth Division. He was sent overseas May 12, 1918. He took part in the battle of Kennuel Hill. Killed in action September 29, 1918. He was buried in Old Hickory ceme- tery, France. Andrew Jackson Goodman was the son of Andrew J. Goodman and Lucy Goodman. He was born June 18, 1888, in English. By vocation he was a meat cutter. Enlisted in the United States Army about 1915 at Louisville, Ky. Served on the Mexican border. Went overseas June, 1917. Assigned to Company A, Sixteenth Infantry, First Division. Wounded July 19, 1918, at Soissons. Re- turned to the United States in February, 1919. Died at New Albany August 4, 1919. Buried at English. He was survived by Mrs. Melissa Walker Goodman. He committed suicide in a hotel in New Albany. 506 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Alphonso Lincoln Hall, private, son of Lincoln and Etta Hall, was born May 1, 1889, near Temple. He entered service September 3, 1918, at English. Sent to Camp Grant, Illi- nois. Assigned to Company D, Fifth Limited Service Regiment. Died of pneumonia September 28, 1918, at Camp Grant and was buried at Temple. Orville Harper, private, son of John M. and Sarah Harper, was born October 21, 1891, near Marengo. He entered service June 17, 1918, at Ta- coma, Wash. Trained at Camp Lewis, Washington. Assigned to Company A, 357th Infantry, Nineteenth Divi- sion. Sailed from Hoboken, New Jer- sey, about September 1, 1918. He was killed in action October 21, 1918, while his company was going in on the Meuse-Argonne front. Buried in Argonne American cemetery, Romange Meuse. Will Hubbard, son of John and Rozella Hubbard, was born March 3, near English. A bookkeeper. En- listed in the United States Navy as second class yeoman, Louisville, Ken- tucky, May, 1917. Transferred to Lexington, Kentucky, May, 1917. Transferred to Newport, Rhode Island, Later sent to Philadelphia for Y. M. THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 507 C. A. work. Sent to London in November, 1017. Served as bookkeeper for Admiral Sims. Died of pneumonia on Octo- ber 22, 1918, in London. Buried with honors at English. Charles Ralph Jones, son of Evan and Annie Jones, was born November 19, 1892, at Temple, Indiana. He en- tered the service September 20, 1917, at English. Sent to Camp Taylor. ->• *" HLw Transferred to Camp Sevier, South •^ fefe Carolina. Assigned to Company P, 4 ' -'-•' :j : 120th Infantry, Thirtieth Division. Embarked May 17, 1918. Died of pneumonia November 4, 1918, at Pay ton, England. Buried in National cemetery, New Albany, Indiana. Luther Lane, seaman, second class, son of Barvella and Nancy Lane, born January 20, 1898, at Eckerty, Indiana. Enlisted in the United States Navy July 12, 1918, at English. Sent to Great Lakes Training Station, Chi- cago, Illinois. Assigned to Company E. Transferred to Puget Sound, Washington, at which place he died of pneumonia October 2, 1918. Buried in the Eastridge cemetery, Crawford County. 508 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Isaac Wilson Lawrence, private, son of Pave and Rosa Lawrence, was horn April 11, 1892, near Eckerty, Indiana. Entered service March 16, 1918, at English. Trained at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Assigned to Medical Department, 166th Infantry, Forty-third Rainbow Division. Sent overseas in April, 1918. Wounded at Bois Echdon, near Samppes, in Champagne-Marne sector, July 15, 1918. Died while being moved to the hospital. Buried at Bussyle Chateau, France, Grave No. 2. Elmer Nolan Level, son of Charles fand Mary Level, was born August 11, 1896, near English. Entered service September 5, 1918, at Eldora, Iowa, where he was working. He trained at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Assigned to the Forty-third Company, Eleventh Battalion, 163rd Department Brigade. Died of pneumonia October 15, 1918, at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Buried at Mount Sterling cemetery. William Kiper Melton, private, was the son of John and Mary Melton. Born February 5, 1889, at Wickliffe. He entered service September 20, 1917, at English, Ind. He received his training at Camp Taylor. Sent to Camp Sevier, South Carolina. As- signed to Company G, 335th Infantry, Company K. Later sent to 335th In- THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 509 fantry, Company L, 119th Infantry, Thirtieth Division. Sent overseas in May, 1918. Caught in barrage while on duty and was killed instantly, August 2, 1918. Buried at Four Elms, near Paperinghe, Belgium. Robert Silas Monk, navy, son of ^ t Thomas and Ida Monk, was born BlBfi^ August 10, 1890, near Marengo, hid. High school student. Enlisted in ■ United States Navy in May, 1906. As- signed to Medical Department on hos- pital ship. Relief. Was with the N * Tinted Slates fleet in the world cruise in 1908. Served on the Columbia when acting as convoy for the transports. Died August 10, 1918, at Chelsea, Massachusetts. Buried at Chelsea, Massachusetts. Survived by widow, Marie Ferguson Monk, who served with her husband in the navy as yeomanette. Roy Lee Hanover, son of James and Cresa Hanover, was born December 30, 1892. He enlisted in Company A, 2nd Infantry, Indiana National Guard (Company A, 152nd Infantry) July 17, 1917. Sent to Jefferson- ville, Indiana. Sailed for France July 7, 1918. Killed in action July 29, 1918, at Chauteau Thierry, France. Place of burial unknown. Thomas Lewis Morgan, sergeant, son of Hiram and Margaret Morgan, was born October 19, 1900, near Taswell. He enlisted in the regular army, May 7, 1917, at Louisville. Moved to Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and then to Camp Syracuse, New York. Sailed for Europe October 18, 1917. Assigned to Company H, Sixteenth Infantry, First Division. Killed in action November 7, 1918. Buried in the 510 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY American cemetery No. 1203, Lelanne Sedan, Ardennes, Franc?. Cited for gallantry in action. Allen Gordon Myers, son of Doc- tor Joseph and Annie Myers, was born in Alton, Indiana, December 1, 1895. School teacher. Entered United States service by volunteering April 19, 1917, at Indianapolis. Sent to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Later he was sent to El Paso, Texas, and assigned to Company A, Sixteenth Infantry, First Division. Sailed for Europe June 14, 1917. Killed in action July 21, 1918, in Aisne-Marne offensive. Buried at Plaisy, Aisne, France. Cited for gallantry in action and meritorious conduct. Later the body was brought home and buried at Alton May, 1921. 1 r ^ I 1 , 1 1 lfc_ ^ Charles Pittman, private, son of George and Alice Pittman, was born November 17, 1892, at Marengo, Indi- ana. He was a steel worker. Entered service June 24, 1918, at English, In- diana. Sent to Camp Taylor. As- signed to Fifty-fifth Company, Four- teenth Battalion, 159th Depot Brigade. Later he was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. There he was assigned to Company B, Twenty-second Engineers' Corps. Sent overseas Septem- ber 13, 1917. He was drowned while bathing in the Meuse River March 27, 1918. Burial Grave 191, Cemetery 614. Survived by his widow, Ercle Brumfield Pittman. THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 511 March 18, 1919. buried at Bethany Union, Indiana James William Polen, son of James and Jane Polen, was born October 6, 1887. Entered service May 6, 1918, at English. Sent to Camp Taylor and Fort Benjamin Harrison. There he was assigned to the Thirty-fourth En- gineers' Headquarters. Sent overseas August 16, 1912. Returned to United States January 20, 1919. Discharged Died June 12, 1920, of tuberculosis and marines. Leroy Randall, son of Charles and Sarah E. Randall, was born April 15, 1890, near Marengo. Entered service September 19, 1917, at English. Sent to Camp Taylor. Went over seas in May, 1918, and was killed in action October 10, 1918, on Ypres front. Buried in the American cemetery, Bony-Aisne, France. Alonzo Joseph Smith, son of Stevens and Linda Smith, was born October 4, 1890, at DePauw, Indiana. Moved to Crawford County in 1908. Entered the service in 1917 at Louis- ville. Later he was discharged and re-enlisted July 28, 1917, and was sent to the Marine Corps. He went over- seas with the first contingent of the Was wounded four times. Sent back to the 512 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY United States as an invalid. Died of pneumonia Feb- ruary 7, 1920, at Camp Meade shipyards, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Milltown. Carl Smith, son of John and Belle Smith, was born at Leavenworth March 25, 1893. Entered the United States service at Louisville July 28, 1917. Trained at Fort Thomas, Ken- tucky, Camp Holt, Pennsylvania, and Camp Green, North Carolina. Sent overseas May 20, 1918. Assigned to Company G, Sixty-ninth Indiana In- fantry, Fourth Division. Died of wounds on November 11, 1918, which he had received at Meuse Argonne offensive. He was buried at Argonne American cemetery, Romagne, France. 1918. widow Clarence Alve Stroud, son of Will- iam and Mary Stroud, was born March 13, 1894, near Temple. He entered the service September 19, 1917. Sent to Camp Taylor and later to Camp Pike, Arkansas. He went overseas in 1918. Was assigned to Company L, Fifty- mmk mm eighth [nfantry, Fourth Division. Was killed in action on November 11, Place of burial is unknown. He is survived by a THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 513 Lloyd Thompson, son of John and Eliza Thompson, was born June 12, 1901, in Washburn, Woodford County, Illinois. He moved to Crawford Coun- ty in 1902. He was trained at the Great Lakes Naval Station. Promoted to second class seaman after one month's service. Died of pneumonia October Marengo. 1918. He was buried at Arthur Roscoe Weathers, son of Alonzo and Rebecca Weathers, was mr^ §£. born October 20, 1892, near Marengo, Crawford County. A steeple painter. Entered service June 24, 1918; at Eng- lish. Sent to Camp Sherman, Ohio. Assigned to Company B, 334th Infan- try, Eighty-fourth Division. Sent overseas August, 1918. Transferred to Sixteenth Infantry, First Division. Served in Meuse Argonne offensive. Died of pneumonia October 21, 1918. Buried at Brozeaux Meuse, France. The boys who gave their lives for democracy were bur- ied overseas, but later several were brought home. The body of Louis Haycock, who was killed in action September 26, 1918, while fighting in a hand-to-hand bayonet charge at Forges, in the Verdun sector, was re- turned to English. The funeral was held at Mount Ster- ling church under the auspices of the Red Men Lodge of Marengo, Leonard Cummins officiating. 514 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY A MEMORIAL FOR A CRAWFORD COUNTY HERO Among the names written on Indiana University's Honor Roll in the World War and presented to the Uni- versity on a bronze tablet with impressive ceremony was the name of Allen Gordon Myers of Alton. He was killed July 21, 1918, near Berzy-lesec, France. He volunteered for service. The September copy of the Crawford County Demo- crat for 1921 contains this account: "World War Hero Who made Supreme Sacrifice Laid to Rest at Milltown. The body of Norman G. Stonecipher, who was killed in action fighting for his country in France, arrived in Mill- town Saturday evening and was interred in the Milltown cemetery Sunday afternoon, Rev. A. J. Oster, pastor of the church, in charge. The obituary read : Norman G. Stonecipher was born April 17, 1894, and was killed in battle of the Argonne Forest October 11, 1918, age 24 years, 5 months and 24 days. He was drafted October 20, 1917. He fought in the battles of Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel and Argonne Forest in which he was killed. The military funeral was under the auspices of the American Legion of Corydon. While these are the ones whose lives were lost, yet one can not say how much others suffered, many of whom had their health ruined by exposure. Herschel Rainforth of Fredonia was captured by the Germans and held a prisoner for a long time. While a captive he was fed on a thin soup made out of cabbage leaves. Willoughby Wiser of Tower was reported missing. THE COUNTY IN LATER YEARS 515 Later he was reported wounded. After about two years he was sent back to the United States. Henry Knight of Mifflin was wounded. Later he had an operation performed which left him partially disabled for life. Besides these many more have suffered in the trenches and on the high seas. CHAPTER XXII By W. S. Ross, Jr. Anyone taking a steamboat ride down the beautiful Ohio from Louisville will remember a bend called the Horseshoe. At its beginning down in behind some hills on a little bottom is Leavenworth, Indiana. Here a few years ago in a small court house was located the county seat of Crawford County. At this time William S. Ross, Sr., was clerk for eight years. During his term a boy was born, a junior. The home was directly upon the banks of the river. His mother was May Conn, a daughter of Albert Conn, who was a musician of much ability and a bandmaster under General Lew Wallace. When the term of office expired the family moved to a farm near Milltown. Here the boy, always interested in history, grew up. His dreams were always of soldiers and biographies of men who had done things in all walks of life. And the World War came. So many people have come in direct contact with this past war that it is only natural for them to want to know about it. Practically everything so far told and written has been upon what has been seen, the political side, the people of Europe and other countries involved, that it may be better to write upon something a little dif- 516 THE WORLD WAR 517 ferent. .Mothers, fathers, sisters, sweethearts, friends and near relatives surely are wondering what are some of the inner thoughts of the boys. What struggles within them- selves did they have to overcome to do such wonderful things and keep the good old American smile on their faces known the world over? The smile that wouldn't come off. The smile that was on their face when they told Mother good-bye and ' ' Never to worry, Mother, I '11 come back. First I must be a man at whatever cost." Men either went by volunteering or by selection. But either way there was a fight within one's self. The papers were full of awful slaughters, of the powerful guns that could shoot so far and burst with such frightful destruc- tion. Of course such would make anyone feel afraid. The time to go came. Many boys had a chance for deferred classification, but how many took advantage of it compared to the number that went ? This was something that had to be decided. Very few made any appeal for it. Am I a coward and an American, too? No, the two do not go hand in hand. So off to camp I go. After reporting at the local board in a case like this and giving your oath, troop trains were sent along to take you away. How many people, if they had not known where their boys were going, would have ever guessed by the boys' actions? Before I left home I thought I was going to war, yet long before I reached camp I had a hard time trying to convince myself that I wasn't going to a picnic. We sang, shouted and waved at every one along the way, had good eats backed up by a ravenous appetite. Long before we were ready we arrived at Camp Sherman, Ohio, June 24th. 518 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Everybody out ! As I was captain of the boys from our county I had to see that all were present, hand in my papers and fall in a rookie. We were lined up single file, marched past a place where ponchos were thrown at us, not handed to us, ordered to be quick, lugged along our grips and led into a building where army doctors soon examined our throats to see that we had no diphtheria. Out of here we went to our barracks for our first inspec- tion of our belongings to see that no one had any firearms nor booze. None was found on any of the thirty-two Crawford County boys. And after a few remarks by the commissioned officer in charge we were told to shift for ourselves, line up — everything was line up from start to finish — get a steel cot, then a straw tick, and our two army blankets, and go to bed. Good thing it wasn't go to sleep, because we didn't have much of that. At eleven o'clock the lights were put out and everyhing got so still and strange that it seemed as if the very stillness itself would crush you. And your heart beats were so strong you often imagined being moved by them around the room. And thoughts of Mother, and boyhood days so dear and all your ones at home and I'm wondering and hoping Mother is all right and that she is not crying herself to sleep, for I know she is. No thoughts of the picnic now. Finally some waves of sleep and we knew no more till next morning. Everybody up. Fall in outside. You're in the army now. Reveille. Fall in. Company, attention ! Reveille over. Follow me, shake a leg, get you a mess kit and get your chow. Talk about mixed feed and spilling coffee and being awkward, a fellow felt like he never could learn how to handle his outfit. Chow over, every boy had to do THE WORLD WAR 519 his own washing of his kit and that funny feeling of being able to do everything for himself. Put your mess kit away and everybody be ready to fall out in five minutes. What next? Another company who had been there a short time knew what was coming. Wait till you get that shot ! Oh, man ! They faint and they drag them out up there. You '11 never go through it. And on the way boys would kid us. Feed that straw hat to the mules. Nobody was in step and we all went hooching along just any old way trying to keep together as best we could. Three shots and three vaccinations within three weeks with many a sick boy and with chasing around to various army departments we were then assigned to regular regiments, given our khaki, began the real change from a civilian into an American soldier. Two of the boys and myself were put into the Engineers. I was in B company for a while and attached to the band. Later I was transferred to headquarters and in the mounted section, trained for scouting, night patrol, road mapping and landscape sketching. A scout to be successful must be quick, not easily lost, and good in a hand to hand fight with bayonet or trench knives, for it is against orders to fire his gun, and he must get his information and get back to headquarters with it as soon as possible. He must be able to withstand all kinds of hardships and not be fatigued. He must draw maps of pikes and railroads, giving their names and direction, blow up bridges or find a place where one can be built. Make a landscape sketch of the country, showing woods, valleys, or hills, and indicate positions for infantry, artiller}^ or where cavalry can maneuver. In the daytime he must travel on the high places so as to see and not be 520 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY seen. At night he must keep off of the high places so as not to silhouette his body to the sky and be seen by the enemy. He must not come out of a wooded place the same as where he entered unless he wishes to be captured by a lurking enemy scout. He may be either mounted or on foot. Sometimes he is ordered to go into the enemy trenches, capture two or three men, and do it with the least noise possible. There may be not more than two or three men with him to do it. In this way different scouting parties along the line will be able to find out how many divisions are opposing your front. It is often necessary to lie in one place a long time or to crawl along only by the use of your arms and wiggling your body, for you must take the other side by surprise and before they can give the alarm. One, two, three and four you heard everywhere all over the camp. The boys were given practice marches, bayonet work, moving pictures for squad formation and how to obey commands without hesitation, athletics, such as box- ing to be quick, same as in baseball, running and wrestling for endurance, pontoon building and tearing down for speed, and practise at the rifle range where practically every boy soon could hit a bull's eye whether at a hundred or six hundred yards, whether slow fire or rapid fire, when he must put in ten shots in a minute. Every boy was carefully taught how to roll a nice neat pack and especially how to wear his gas mask. Inspections were held every week to see that all rifles were kept free from rust and dust, physical inspections to see that your teeth were sound and clean, your hair cut properly and your body kept fit for a soldier to do the best that was THE WORLD WAR 521 in him; bunk inspection to see that you kept your equip- ment there in first class order and had no uninvited "guests" who might annoy you when you should sleep sound, cooties, I guess. "When do we go from here? I want to go somewhere, anywhere; this is killing me," you heard every day now. "Some one said we would get our 0. D. S. soon. We'll get to move right away. They can't move too soon for me." And we did move. August 24th troop trains began mov- ing in for us and we were up long before sunrise rolling packs and wondering what the future held for us. You never know in the army one minute what you have to do the next, for all moves are kept secret as near as possible. You get a sharp command to "fall in." You yank up your pack like it weighs about a pound, thinking some- thing's doing; get ready to move out right away. Stand there for about fifteen minutes strictly at attention. Then you get another order "at ease," but do not remove packs. Search me what is meant at ease with that pack. "Com- pany, attention ! " " Forward march ! Halt ! ' ' You stand then another fifteen minutes. Some officer looks around, says "at ease." Another five minutes. "Company, atten- tion!" Another ten minutes. You don't move a peg. "Halt! Rest! Fall out! but don't lose your formation. Unsling packs ; we may be here for ten minutes ! ' ' You fall out, unsling packs, let out a big puff of relief and get ready to rest. About the time a minute has passed and you get comfortably fixed, order comes, "Sling packs! Fall in! Company, attention ! Forward hooch ! ' ' You circle around about half a mile to get in line with your train which is only a hundred feet away. The ones in the last squads 522 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY have to run to take up the slack of the front ones. You are halted and you feel like your pack weighs a ton, for you have your whole home with you. Your rifle and bay- onet and scabbard, your belt, your canteen, full of water, your mess kit, knife, fork and spoon and drinking cup; rolled up in your shelter half you have your blanket, one or two suits of underwear, an extra shirt, three or four pairs of socks, hairbrush and comb, soap, two towels, tooth- brush and paste, shaving outfit, extra shoe laces, a can of dubbin for your shoes; outside you have your raincoat, overcoat, extra pair of hobnails and then should you hap- pen to be unlucky enough you had your gas mask and hel- met before you crossed. If you thought then you didn't have enough along for your comfort, you might get a lunch or any other articles you wanted to carry. Some say it weighs eighty-five pounds. I think their guess might pos- sibly be wrong. First you stand on one foot like a stork, then on the other, then both; maybe you can hook your rifle under it some way till it falls down; then you lean over, thinking maybe that will help some. By this time some embarkation officer has checked the count and you think you are surely ready to get on the train. It is now eleven o'clock and you started out at eight o'clock in the morning and you look and there's your barracks not over a hundred and fifty feet away from the train ! The cars before you fill slowly and finally your time comes. You file in, bumping every door or seat as you go along till you find your place. You let all holds loose, unloosen your things, your pack goes one way, your canteen another, your knife and fork and spoon rattle out, your rifle falls over in a corner, your bayonet scabbard and belt go just THE WORLD WAR 523 the opposite and you come pretty near letting out a big whoop. I'll tell you just one thing you do think, "Down with the kaiser, the cuss that caused me all this trouble." And that's letting yourself off rather easily. On our trip we w r ent through Columbus, Ohio. At Cleveland the Red Cross greeted us with good things that brought again to us home ties and again at Buffalo. Sun- day we rode for thirty-five miles along Lake Seneca and at noon in Sayre, Pennsylvania, our officers allowed us an hour's layover where we took a swim in the Susquehanna River which brought back to us happy remembrances of boyhood days. It gave us relief from cramped limbs and better thoughts for the remainder of our ride. The rest of the Valley trip was over the mountains and through the Lehigh Valley, revealing scenery that many of us had never seen before and w T e were constantly on the lookout for new sights. Monday morning w r e awoke in Jersey City, marched a short distance, loaded on several different ferry boats and were taken under some of New York's big bridges over to Long Island, boarded a train and went out to Camp Mills for a short stay of ten days. While here we were called out for battalion parades, given a few extra touches on our training, and practically every man in the regiment had a chance for a forty-eight hour pass to Xew York or adjoining cities. Many took their first dip at the beaches as most of our boys were from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois or Ohio. Now was to come our first big adventure. The sub- marines were doing a horrible business and there is noth- ing pleasant about a watery grave. As usual the boys were eager to be on the move and our spirits were higher 524 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY than ever when on September 8, on Sunday morning, we had orders to roll packs and police up our tents and leave them clean and in order for the next to come. We went back practically the same route as before by train and ferry boats to Hoboken where the Red Cross (we'll never forget it) was ready for us with its cakes and sandwiches like at home, and hot chocolate, showing us the ones at home were with us to the very last. Here we were given two cards each, one to send to Mother and one for our sweetheart or wife. Thoughts of home came back to us and all those near and dear, and while I did not see a tear, our hearts were laden and sad; the boys suddenly became quieter and hardly anyone spoke because every soldier knew what the other lad had on his mind. The order was given to get in line single file about four o'clock and the ones at the head of the line began slowly going up the gangplank of an English boat, the Scandinavian. It did not look big at all when you thought about it and the miles of salt water, and of the freedom of our lives heretofore. Here we were ready to be cooped up like so many animals and probably just as helpless in the face of those terrible instruments of war, the torpedoes. Can we stand it with barely elbow room? It was a jam for an hour or more and a long wait for orders until the officers got us straightened out as to our bunking place. This boat had no arrange- ment for space. Everything seemed to be in the way of everything else. Most of us were to sleep in hammocks, one soldier's head one way and the one next to you with his head the same direction as your feet and every fellow 's hammock butted up against that of his buddy. When the time for chow came there was such a congestion that you THE WORLD WAR 525 could only go in one direction for the mess hall, and as no system for going had been arranged, many of us got nothing but the smell. I '11 tell you there is some difference in cooking and we never did get used to that difference while going over. The boat remained anchored that night. The next morning, the ninth day of the ninth month, at the ninth hour, we felt our boat making a slight move- ment and all that could rushed to either side to find we were slowly moving away. All the boys were watching the Statue of Liberty to bid her good-bye and to breathe to her to keep good watch while we were away. As we went steaming slowly out other ships began to move, to go either ahead of us or to follow behind. Little submarine chasers were running swiftly here and there. Aeroplanes were going in all directions, first away ahead and then back of us and directly over us to keep on the watchout for any tricks the submarines might have planned for us. You could scarcely feel any motion of the ship so slowly did it move, and it was not until about five o'clock that we lost sight of land. Then it was that you felt like you were entirely forsaken and hopelessly lost. The lonesomeness that came over all of the boys made them talk barely above a whisper. We looked till our eyes were worn out for the last little speck of the U. S. A. We could no longer hear the whirring of the aeroplanes for they had now turned back, and that made it so much stiller. It was not long till darkness would be upon us. The port holes would all have to be closed soon. There must be no lights whatever upon deck, and no one would even be allowed to strike a match or smoke for fear it would be seen. The only con- solation we had, and it helped more than anything, there 526 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY were sixteen ships, including chasers and one battleship, all going together and working for the same end — to cross the ocean and make it in safety. Every soldier mnst always have his lifebelt on to be ready at any minnte in case his ship was hit and in a sinking condition. Bnt should a transport be hit all the other boats must get away out of danger as soon as possible. This seems like abandoning the boys to their fate, yet it was the safest plan for the largest number of boys to save those on the other transports. The chasers would come to our rescue. They darted here and there and can make time almost like a passenger train. They were better armed and could move so they could hardly be hit by a torpedo. All this time the boys were wondering how submarines could be prevented from coming up and sinking us any time they wished. Every sailor that night had a bunch around him asking him a thousand questions as to how it could be done. We found out that it took a submarine nine minutes after coming to the top and sending off its torpedo, to submerge again. By this time some one on watch would sight it and a well aimed shot would put an end to the submarine. Just about dark the transports began blowing their mournful whistles for the purpose of getting signals for the night and we thought why in the world are they doing that ; they'll be calling every submarine for miles around to pay us a visit. Do you hardly think you would have a pleasant night's sleep? Strange to say, the night time is the safer, although your feelings stoutly denied that. The eye of the submarine is no good without sunlight. The periscope can not be used for there must be rays to be reflected. As a result the submarine must run on the THE WORLD WAR 527 surface and the conning tower must be used. Here again the chasers would soon find the submarine, making quick work of it. The next day the most exciting thing was Hooverizing. And so it went on during all of the voyage, some of the boys were daily breaking Hoover's kind admonition. Yet no one was arrested or put in the brig. People at home were saving and doing all they could to win the war. Here and there you would see some standing like a statue but hardly the same color in the face. Most were yellow or dark green. Try as they would they couldn't do it. They had to go back on Hoover. "Save food and Hooverize. Two bits he comes." The seasick soldier would look dag- gers at you as though it w T ere not safe for anyone near. All over and a smile all over his face. "Ah boys, she's tough, but I'm feeling fine now." The same routine lasted during the entire crossing. First thing, chow. Then the ship must be cleaned. Next came exercise and time off for rest till noon. Chow again. Possibly fire drill and boat drill for manning and lowering the boats should we be hit. During outside hours the boys talked, forming new acquaintances, read what few books they could find, letters to loved ones and lined up at the ship's canteen for oranges, apples, candies until the sup- ply was exhausted or their money was all spent. It seemed nothing to eat could satisfy us. About five o'clock chow once more. The eleventh day out just at dusk the battle- ship left us and we were supposed to be met by another one from the fleet around Europe. By some mishap no ship came until the last day. This caused considerable 528 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY comment. At one time our convoy was as far north as Alaska in its zigzag course. The night of the twelfth day the waves dashed so high they went over the sides of our ship and no one could stay on deck. The ship would go up and down some twenty or thirty feet and at times it seemed that your body did not want to be assembled. Your stomach wanted to go up when the ship went down, your head felt like it was tight, and your seadog legs wanted to go right through your body when the ship was going up and abandon your body at other motions of the vessel. To relieve this we piled in our hammocks, 'anging on a 'ook, as our English sailors say it. Later the lights went out below and finally we could sleep. About four o'clock next morning some one yelled ! ' Land ! Land ! I believe I see the coast of Ireland ! " So it later proved to be. All clay our convoy slowly steamed along the Irish coast. What a great relief to see good Old soil once more, even though we were looking the biggest part of the day at nothing but rugged chalk cliffs. As luck would have it, it was my time for lookout duty and I was stationed on the mate's cabin to watch for "subs." Some chasers thought they had sighted one and eleven shots were fired some distance behind us, but we never learned what the result was. From my post I could £ee in all directions. This was a source of much pleasure to me because we were now going between Scotland and Ireland, the sights here proving to be the most beautiful of any I was to see. The climate here is mild so much of the time and the air so damp and foggy that practically all of the land is green with grass, even the very steep THE WORLD WAR 529 slopes except where there is solid rocks. The fences are so arranged that the slopes leading from the channel look like a great checkerboard with here a green field and next to it a golden one where rye had just been cut. Down at the very edge of the water were castles that I called dream castles. Bobbing here and there were small sail boats skimming along on the water. The boys were once more gay and making merry as if going to a picnic sure enough. No one could think of war in such an enticing atmosphere. We were now nearing the Clyde River and our boats had to go in single file, for we had come to nets which went across to keep the submarines out. We now knew we were going to Glasgow. Part of the convoy had left us to go to Liverpool, England. Night soon came on and we were very sorry we were unable to see anything while going up the river. The next morning when we awoke we were tied up at the wharf of Glasgow, Scotland. We lay here until about two o'clock in the afternoon. As we walked down the gangplank every soldier was given a letter of welcome from King George of England. After a short hike we boarded our first passenger train with those funny little coaches which we later found could make pretty good time. We rode south through cities like Car- lisle, the outskirts of London, and the next day at eleven o 'clock began a march for our camp outside of Winchester, England, at Camp Wembledown. Neither at camp nor on the train were any lights allowed at night. While here we were allowed no privileges outside. On the third day we were once more on the move for Southampton. Just before dark we began moving out of the harbor for our trip across the English Channel. This time we were in no 530 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY convoy. Our's was a steamboat built in the U. S. A. in 1872, which was now run by the British and guarded by some chasers. The channel was as usual very choppy. While in Southampton we were considerably sobered by our first sight of the wounded being unloaded from hos- pital ships. Now the crossing was a second dose. We could see nothing and could hear nothing save the steady pounding of our boat's powerful engines and the splashing of the waves. Two-thirds of the boys couldn't hold on to their stomachs. About ten o'clock while upon deck I had piled down on a settee near the rail and gone to sleep. Some one woke me by leaning directly over my face and made a noise with every now and then quite an accent. Without trying to get up I said: "Be careful there, Buddy." "Oop! All right my Oop !— boy— Oop ! I won't — Oop — get any of it — Oop-pon you." This was merely one incident. So many of them — Oopea — that you could scarcely walk up and down the stairs. By midnight all of us that could possibly pile down had found a place in the main passenger cabin, even though many slept in a sitting position or on one leg, some on shelves, and a few on a wiggly table. By one o 'clock a wave too much for the table turned the whole bunch over on the floor. The boys under it were jerked back to life in a hurry by the crash. The packs piled by it were all that saved the ones close by. Of course we all laughed to see so many sprawling around. But it didn't matter much, for the ones who had been on the table straightened it up again and crawled back just as if nothing had happened. By two o'clock that morn- ing — but we didn't wake up to know — we had landed. At THE WORLD WAR 531 daylight when we got up we were at La Havre, France, September 25, 1918. And so this is France ! First thing a hike to some camp — supposed to be a rest camp — we never did know where beforehand. As it was, we hiked quite a distance along the sea up a hill that we thought would never quit rising. The houses were as beautiful as one could wish to see had it not been for those houses on our backs. For what seemed to us some two hours we were still climbing and at last found plenty of mud where we could pile down in tents ready for us. Each squad was directed to its place, but or- ders were given not to unroll packs until told to do so. About one o 'clock we ate our dinner and then an early sup- per when we were told to report back by eight o'clock. No lights were allowed in the open. Trenches were close by as this place had been attacked by air raids. Formation was called at ten o'clock with packs. No rest camp. By eleven o'clock we were once more on the go. We got our first taste of cobblestones marching down hill. The city seemed as if deserted, no lights, noJbody to be seen any- where. By one o'clock we had arrived at some railroad station. We were to have our first car ride in French box cars — box cars de luxe — eight horses or forty men — eight cheveux, forty hommes. And with our packs, our corn willy, canned tomatoes and canned beans, and a few loaves of bread there wasn't much extra space. Here was to be our domain for three days and almost four nights, but we didn't know it. When my time came to pile down my place was taken by an empty tomato box. The sliding door was shut and the train moving and no place to put the box. What else could a fellow do but give the box a sling and 532 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY let somebody else take care of it. A little sling sent it to one end of the car. Some sleepy fellow mumbled out : " Who throwed that box ? " Nobody answered. He passed it on. The next stuttered: "How'd this box get here?" On he passed it and cracked some one on the head. So it went on for about three hours until about everyone had been hit by it, while I lay there laughing to myself. One would say: "Why, here's that box. I don't want it." Another would yell : ' ' Here 's that old box again. I '11 bet it's hit me fifty times. I don't want the old thing." Everyone of them was too sleepy and tired to throw it outside. The last I knew before going to sleep it was still making the rounds. Sometimes we could get off the train, make a rush for a coffee canteen and get back on. We soon lost our seadog legs. When the time came to get out on the fourth night we were pretty stiff. We had passed through Versailles and on almost to Bordeaux. We got off at a little place called St. Astier. As we started out we thought we would rest in that town but we went around and around for a while, got on the wrong road, had to retrace our steps and finally started out in the country. Every time we came to a little village of two or three houses we felt surely this is the place. On we would go till finally at twelve o'clock we reached a little town called St. Ger- main, to be billeted with the French. My bed was in what was once an old monastery, in a basement upon some solid concrete where it was plenty damp and cold after my being so sweaty. This was to be our final training for the front. Part of the division soon left for there. Here we got our first taste of French life. In less than three weeks we moved THE WORLD WAR 533 out in the country, because many of the boys were dying of the flu. The boys cut pine boughs to put upon the ground, put ferns upon these and with our two blankets each, two men in a pup tent had a little home to themselves. This wasn't so bad, but we were put on quarter rations now, and having no letters from home since September 9th, made us a little more serious. We never could get any direct news from the front, only hearsay and that was very unreliable. About the second week in October our Colonel told us the war would end in less than ninety days, yet we wouldn't believe it. During this same month we received three orders to go to the front. For some unknown reason these were changed. We supposed it was on account of the flu. Our- scouting w r ork went on, our bayonet training to be ready at any moment. For over five weeks we stayed at St. Ger- main and this country camp which we call Thistle Hill. Mail time was our happiest. We wrote home always telling them to write and keep on writing even when they did not hear from us. Mail above everything else. We didn't want them to send us candy, nor cakes, nor sweaters ; what we wanted was mail and letters are what will keep us happy. The first week in November we moved again. Made a march of twelve kilometers and didn't know any better than that this time we were going to the front. We thought anything was better than to remain in one place. I never heard one American soldier say he wasn't ready to go up. Instead we moved by train from a town, Mussidan, through Nantes to St. Nazaire and were ordered to Mon- toir, a little town some four miles away, where there were 534 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY sixteen miles of warehouses. Here on November 11 we heard for sure that the armistiee had been signed. Well, I imagine the people in IT. S. A. had a bigger jubilee than we did. We didn't know what to think of it. Of course we were glad, but we couldn't hardly believe ourselves. Although the war had ended, our work, being engineers, was not finished. We had hospitals to build for those who could not be sent home just yet. Two companies were sent to Savenay at a big base hospital there to put up more barracks. Two companies were sent to Brest to do work about the docks. Provisions still had to be sent out and many of our men were kept busy keeping the roads in repair for big heavy army trucks. Some of the time our boys guarded German and Austrian prisoners who did much of this work. Times were better for us now for we were at a permanent camp. Then we got our first overseas furlough. Most of us went to St. Malo on the English Channel. Here you could see many curios. This is a walled city and I saw some of the timbers that were in one of the ships of Cartier when he sailed up the St. Lawrence River. Old time armor, muskets, swords, daggers and bows and arrows as used by the English at one time. This place and others near Divard are great resorts for English as well as Americans in civil life. Mt. St. Michel is a wonderful mon- astery built upon a high rock which used to be an island. Parts of it were built in 1200 and are still standing. Our next furlough gave us permission to see much of the battle front. Many of us went by Paris, Chateau Thierry, Soissons, Rheims, Chalons-sur-Marne, Verdun, Toul, Nancy, Metz and other cities along that line. Most of our interest centered around Chateau Thierry, for here THE WORLD WAR 535 it was our American boys first started the Hun back on his homeward run which he never stopped until the finish of the war. Verdun with its underground citadel gave us much to wonder about and its strong underground forts which the Germans never could pass. Paris is a great art city, with all its great paintings and history connected with it. The Eiffel tower can be seen anywhere in the city. The Ferris Wheel is known the world over. The palace at Ver- sailles can never be forgotten. Rheims had only fifteen houses standing, when before the war there were enough to shelter 150,000 people. And so it was all along the front, one ruin after another. Anyone seeing these French people taking heart after all this surely would be strength- ened by it. Everywhere you could go they would be build- ing up their homes again. While out in the country in Belleau Wood a party of us stopped at a farm house to get a drink. The lady told us hoAV they had to leave and go to Paris during the battle. She no longer had a husband and had lost two sons. She was left with just a little daughter of five and a boy of seven, yet she was going ahead trying to do what she could. Most of them would say, "It is war." I have never heard a soldier say he was in favor of universal military training. Why should we take up just what we have been fighting against? Isn't this the very thing that brought us over here? Ask the boys and they w T ill tell you it was the officers who needed the training and they all say if this country wants to do anything in the line of training let Uncle Sam train more officers. The enlisted men can do their part. An old story is told about a night attack by German 536 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY aeroplanes. A private was asked why he didn't get under cover in a dugout. "I did try," he said. "I rushed as fast as I could, but when I got to the entrance I couldn't get in. Why? It was full of officers and second lieuten- ants." Very few soldiers were ever able to find acquaintances while overseas. In many instances boys from the same home went in the same outfit, but when otherwise, a soldier was not likely to see anyone else he knew. Soldiers look so much alike that you wouldn't know an old friend unless you came face to face with him. I never passed a soldier unless I looked directly at him, yet I never ran across any- one I knew in my eleven months across. The divisions were scattered so much. Men, men, men everywhere. Any place you went, big city, little city, town, village and every cow path in France was trod by them. Any time you saw an American uniform you always felt free to ask for any information, and no matter how big a hurry, you got it. This is a courtesy known only by soldiers. I will now invite you to go in a tent of fif ers and drum- mers. Snoozing time — best in the world along about 5 :30 in the morning by the watch, which is set one hour fast, so you see it is really 4 :30 ; and then this time is about six hours faster than ours. Along comes someone outside to wake us. Oh, Sarge, time to get up ! Just fifteen minutes. All right. Sarge then calls Parker. I'm awake, Sarge. Parker speaks gently to Jewell. Jewell! No answer. Jewell ! a little louder. Jewell ! Jewell ! Jewell turns over. Soon Parker yells, Oh, Jewell ! Get up ! Jewell laughs and says he's been awake all the time. Anderson answers to his call. Roney does. Some one tells Paul its THE WORLD WAR 537 time to get out. He grunts a little and says ''I'm belavin' I'm going to be sick some o' this days — I think I sleep some more." From outside comes another call, everybody out. Only five minutes. Hurry up, fellows. All jump into their clothes and are out in about three minutes. The boys make their round like the buglers to waken the camp, noisily banging on their drums to the tune of "Hail! Hail ! the Gang's All Here." Reveille over — all rush for their mush and bacon and eat it like its good. Back to the tent. "I wonder when its going to quit raining. I'll be glad when we get out of this hole. I wish it would quit raining. ' ' You see it had only been raining every day for sixty days. ' ' I believe I 'd rather have some mail from home than any- thing in this whole world outside of anything else. I know. What time is it? When do we eat?" One fellow says he's learning the book of rules on the army. (1) Never talk back to your superior officers. (2) Never ask any questions. (3) Never volunteer for anything. (4) Always keep your bowels open. This covers a multitude. The other day I heard about a fellow who had the head- ache, rheumatism in his right shoulder, his left leg thrown out of socket and a few minor scratches too trivial to men- tion. When he was brought before the doctors and pill rollers they merely said : "Give him a C. C. pill and paint him with iodine. Next ! " It really did seem that iodine would cure all diseases incident to humanity by the way it was used. One of the boys said he had a dream last night, so they all listened to him. He had made a trip to visit the President back in Washington, D. C. Without any trouble whatever he was ushered in to see the first man of the land. Upon entering it seemed that this soldier was 538 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY a little wabbly. There was something wrong with his legs between his knees and ankles. Upon looking down he saw that he wasn 't as tall as usual and he had an extra ball and socket joint between his knee and ankle. He was walking on this joint part of the time and his feet were dragging along behind him. He faced the President and stood at attention who said : ' ' Arise, my brave young American soldier from overseas and state the purpose of your visit. You're at ease." Trying to rise with such legs, joints swinging in any and all directions was indeed a thing worthy, so after just a momentary pause he succeeded in saying these few terse words : ' ' Sir, Mr. President, if you will allow me, I am sorry to say I can not agree with you about your visit to Europe. I am afraid it will get us into entangling alliances which will lead to serious future trouble. It is something no President in office has ever done before. You will please remember what George Washington said about it. ' ' By this time the soldier had a chance to notice the effect of what he had said to our President. He noticed slippers upon his feet and the round old-fashioned footstool made of tomato cans and covered with carpet near his rocking-chair, his vest was only but- toned at the top button. Why, the President wasn't shaved. He hadn't even polished up that day at all. Just then the tears began to roll down the President's face. This soldier boy happening to look up saw standing near, Miss Margaret. She said quietly to him: "My brave young man, you need not let it bother you. Paw has't been feeling very well here lately anyhow." Just a dream! Everybody out for chow. With a whoop and rattle and bang all the boys rushed out to get in line for eats. THE WORLD WAR 539 Finally word came to our section of the camp that we were really on the sailing list for home. The first night the boys put on a regular parade. From all directions you could hear some one yell: "I want to go home." The officers told us if we didn't quit that they would keep the last one of us in France. Then the boys thought for a change they would have a little turnout and put on a parade of their own. A bunch of them hunted up some red flaring costumes like troopers and led the outfit. Two were dressed like clowns and rode two mules which they managed some way to put overalls on. Three boys carried a big design of the Statue of Liberty. Four of the fellows carried a soldier draped in a blanket to represent the end of our stay in France. The band and the fife and drum corps made little music and much noise. Around and around the streets of our area we went yelling and singing and assembled on the drill grounds in a circle to hear jokes, see some weird dances, listen to speeches or anything funny the boys could think of. Such a happy bunch of soldiers would be hard to find. June 30 really found us on a good American ship, the Walter A. Luckenback. She left France July 1st and reached New York the afternoon of July 11th. From now on we did not notice sights much. Our hearts were full to overflowing for a sight of our homes. Before leaving them we had had some awful struggles within ourselves. All the things came crowding upon our minds of the awful carnage and of the lives lost and the horror of the frightful guns; many having to leave a mother alone, it was enough to make one afraid. But that would never do ; it would be a disgrace and a stain upon one's name forever. Thou- 540 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY sands had a chance for deferred classification. A definite course had to be decided upon. When once done one would become calm and a changed person. Here it is: "I am coming back. I am looking for funny things everywhere. I feel that I can go into battle, do anything and not be killed." And it is wonderful what this did. All fear passed away never to return again. The time came to say good-bye to home folks and it was said without a tear. There were only smiles for them. You can imagine how much easier it was for them. It wasn't a case of being hard-hearted. Oh, no. And has the war brutalized our boys? Absolutely it has not. Ask one, as a soldier, and see how quick he is to do something for you. The boys are broadened. Life holds for them a better insight into the other man's life. They know how to give and take and do it cheerfully. So the boys took with them and brought back with them something that shall never wear off, some- thing that is known the world over, the smile of the Amer- ican soldier. The English and the French had tried out heavy cast steel on their tanks, but the German guns had cracked them like walnuts. It fell to the Americans to bring forth a steel that was to prove successful in tank warfare. An lore discovered in Colorado was just what was needed. The new steel which was molybdenum steel was pressed into sheets just a little thicker than a quarter of an inch. The French and English laughed at the thickness but it was of tough material and could not be cracked as had been the case with their heavier tanks. A machine gun could only make a blister on it and it took a German one-pounder mak- ing a direct hit to pierce it which did not often happen. THE WORLD WAR 541 The Germans had their famous Hindenburg line which they thought could never be broken, but we shall see. The American Army called for volunteers so that every state in the Union would be represented. One of these boys was no other than Corporal Frank Elliott of our own Crawford County, then in the Sixty-fifth English Corps. He thought if other boys could go he could do anything they could. Frank was then at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. On February 20, 1918, he left for Camp Meade, Maryland. Left Camp Meade on the 23rd. Marched for New York. There he boarded the Olympic for a fourteen days' trip to England. He was sent to Lullworth, England, and trans- ferred to the Thirty-first Heavy Tank Corps when his out- fit trained for five months for the big drive. There were many things a tank had to be equipped with in order to be efficient. There were big wide trenches to cross, muddy places to pull out of and barbed wire to smash. Every tank carried with them a vesene which was placed across a trench too wide to cross, in case a tank ready to be drawn around on track to catch in mud and 3^ank it out. As to barb wire, guns were used as well as having the tank powerful enough to ride it down. In the first big drive there were fourteen Heavy tanks twenty-eight feet long by eight feet wide manned by a corporal and seven soldiers. Each man had an assigned duty, yet must in case of loss of a comrade be able to do anything. Some tanks were called male and some female. The male carried French seventy-fives and the female, machine guns. These guns were mounted in sponsings in order to move guns in any position. On top 542 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY of each tank was a semaphore to give signals. A periscope was the eye. In order to get tanks up ready for battle they were moved at night and hid in day time. The American patrols would go ahead using a white tape line so tanks could see it to follow. The tanks were to make an attack on a seven hundred yard front. This placed the tanks about fifty yards apart. Sometimes the German patrols would slip out in the dark, move these tape lines and fool our patrols as they knew the country better. A time or two they caused some of the tanks to move fifty or sixty feet of German trenches. The Germans knew these tanks were getting ready for a drive but probably thought they could capture them. But the Americans beat them to the zero hour. Up till the time set the boys felt uneasy. As soon as in battle this feeling left. Boys who felt like they were going to get bumped off generally got it. Cambrai Drive, Septem- ber 29, 1918, at 5 :40 a. m., a large gun boomed out a signal to the Allies to begin the great barrage. These big guns shot just a short distance ahead of the tanks. The shells were shot up overhead in the shape of an arch. This fire was so continuous and heavy as to cause the Germans to keep down in dugouts and trenches. The fire of shells is then sent farther and farther on to tear up as much barbed wire entanglements and put out of commission as many guns of Germans as possible. A time and distance is set for each advance and then repeated again. The barrage had begun, the big tanks moved forward, with the infantry behind them. The time had come to break the famous Hindenburg Line. The tanks rode down the barbed wire THE WORLD WAR 543 so the infantry could get through. The Germans came out of trenches and hand to hand fighting started. One Ger- man got on top of Frank's tank and threw in a hand grenade which exploded and was filled with pieces of iron something like brads in a window. The boys made quick work of him with their 45 's and trench knives. As they advanced a German got in the way of their tank and they mashed him as flat as a flap-jack. The tank at the left was struck with a large shell and six of the boys were killed. A tank on the right was struck by a tracer bullet, a bullet to set things on fire, the gas caught and burned all three of the boys. Tanks kept advancing until they came to a great trench which was of concrete eighteen inches thick, about twelve feet wide and six feet deep. The boys took a wheel, or what they called a vesene, which was on top of the tanks and placed it in the trench so the tanks could cross. It served as a bridge. This battle lasted about three hours. Prank's tank was put out of running order and had to be left on the field until the Germans were driven back far enough so that it could be repaired. Most generally the army making an advance loses most men. In this battle the Americans lost ten men to the Germans one. So many of our boys of the infantry were killed that there were two rows of them piled eight feet high and an eighth of a mile long. The rule of the tanks was to keep in the tank a wounded comrade as long as possible; if dead, bury him with part of tank plate as a marker. Corporal Frank Elliott was in five drives and under shell fire seventy days, from St. Quentin to Johnny Court eight miles, or in what was known as the big Cambrai drive. Second drive October 6 at Bellecourt. Third drive at 544 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Waincourt October 10. Fourth drive October 17 at Businey. Fifth drive October 25, Le Quesney to Salty France. This time it was raining and at night. The boys had left their tanks and were in what is called a bell tent. The German aeroplanes had sighted the tanks and shelled them all night but did not hit them. Finally one did hit in a few feet of a tent and they went into a barn wading through mud half knee-deep. When out in the open the boys always moved into the newest shell-hole as the Ger- mans would move the range of their big guns and that hole was the safest place. No battle was as hot as the first one as the Germans were always from that time on on the retreat. Finally, November 11, the war was ended and no more shells came over. The biggest thing in view was home. Coming back through Marseilles by the Rock of Gibraltar best part on the President Wilson or what was formerly Kaiser Franz Joseph I. ROY DEWITT'S EXPERIENCE My company left about the middle of August for France. The weather was lovely on the seas as we went over. When our ship, which was the President Grant, entered the danger zone several submarines were sighted. One fired at our ship but missed us which in turn fired on the submarine. Men reported that bubbles of air were coming up to the surface which meant that the ship was sunk. Our ship landed at Brest, France, about September 3rd. One can not describe how he feels when he steps THE WORLD WAR 545 on foreign soil for the first time. We were anxious to learn all about France. The city of Brest is a very old city. It is built on the hills overlooking the sea. The houses appear to be about five hundred years old, many of which are built of stone. We soon went to a rest camp to get back our legs, for one knows that we weave much like the ship when we first try to walk. After several days rest we set out for the front. The cars were much smaller than our's. My car had about fifty in it. The car had been full of quick lime. So when we piled down to sleep the lime soiled our clothes and almost ate our clothes threadbare. When we landed at Saint Flourence it was about mid- night. Three of the boys were sick. My squad was de- tailed to care for them while the rest of the company went out about three miles and lay down on the ground to sleep. My company soon found billets for the sick boys and then I crawled under part of the wall seat in a depot so that my face was protected from the other boys who might step into my face in the dark. There we lay and slept without any covers or pillows. Next morning my squad had to hike out, carrying our load which consisted of our rifle, a pack and a box of corn winnies which weighed about seventy pounds. Our boys soon became tired of the box because it was so unhandy to carry. Letting it fall we bursted it open and divided up the load among our crowd. This helped us very much. A little later we found a supply train and stored our load in it. The trip was nineteen kilometers. The boys kept drop- ping out and lying down by the roadside till we reached 546 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY the end of the way. When we reached our quarters I was ahead of almost all the company. During our few days there I bathed in a little creek and ate our hardtack and a little greasy rice and a strip of bacon out of a fat hog. We were almost starving. Men said that the company needed provisions up where a big drive was on. We young men just went out and l ' munched ' ' a little. That word means "begged." The French would gather around us and give us eggs, meat and bread to eat when they were starving too. They would talk to us with all their might, but we could not understand a word they said. In a few days my company was sent to the evacuation camp, from which we were to be sent to the trenches. At this camp there were hundreds of boys, but only four lines through which the boys went to mess. Hence, each man had to be ready when the time came. The rations at best were rather slim, but we managed to get enough to eat. I happened to get acquainted with a big Indian named Bill Harlen. From him I learned many valuable lessons. When we were loaded to go out to the lines, the men left at night so that we did not have to go up near the lines in daytime. When day came we found all sorts of trenches, shell holes and dugouts, but the enemy had been driven back several miles. My company was east of the Nancy sector in the St. Mihiel sector. Here we joined the Eighty-ninth Division, Company I, of the 356th Infantry which had just come out of the trenches to have their ranks filled up and rest awhile. Men told me that they were in Alsace-Lorraine. The few days we stayed here the men made the trenches THE WORLD WAR 547 safe for the soldiers who came out to rest. During these days we were all over the woods. Here we found German shell-holes which were almost thirty feet deep. We found all kinds of wines in these holes which were deep down out of all danger of a shell fire. After about three days we were lined up to go to the trenches near the Germans on the firing line. The men went in a single column a few at a time. There might be about fifteen in a single column and then a wide gap be- tween this column and the next column. That way the Ger- mans did not find at one time a large bunch of men, lest "Jerry" should send over one of his G. I. cans. About nine o'clock we decided that the Germans were throwing over too many gas bombs to enable us to get up to the line. The bombs made a shrill noise which one could hear a long distance. Our company came back about a mile and found a number of dugouts in which we were to sleep that night. My corporal and I were unlucky. We lay out on the ground. I wrapped my rain coat around me well and lay facing the east. That night it became cold. Later the rain fell. Next morning we were routed out and had to run to the woods. We stayed in the trenches till about 9 o'clock when we were sent to the trenches on the firing line. By all means we were not to expose ourselves and keep quiet so that the Germans might not find us. So we stayed under cover of the underbrush. My squad had to do guard duty. There were eight of us. We divided up the time so that each had to stay about two hours. When I went on guard it was about as dark as a stack of black cats, but as I had a wrist watch I did not 548 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY stay any longer than my time. Our beat was a path through the woods. I soon learned to follow it well. I used to sit under a little ash tree when off duty. One day I was called out to help dig a communication trench. That day a bomb fell near where I was and just filled the air with dirt. A large shrapnel shell fell at the root of the ash causing a terrible concussion. That night we were routed out about midnight and told to be ready to move quarters in short notice. We marched out till about daybreak. Then we were near the enemies. We were told to get into the woods and not let ourselves be seen out of the woods all day. At night we were lined up to go into the trenches. I was one of the guides in the march. It was so dark that one could hardly see his hand before him. When we were out of the woods it became lighter so that we could see dead animals on all sides. Occasionally we stepped into a shell hole which almost jolted our head off. As I was getting out of a hole I smelt something which was terrible. I whispered "gas," meaning it for a joke, but everyone kept whispering till everyone along the line pulled on their gas masks. Those in front could not keep up their pace with their gas masks on and the others crowded upon them till the whole crowd stopped. Then an officer came along and ordered them to take off their masks and proceed. He never knew that I was the one who started the rumor. Finally we landed in the trenches and I was ordered to dig the rest of the night. The trenches were* marked out in some places. In others they were about one foot deep. I did not care whether I dug any or not. After a few min- THE WORLD WAR 549 utes a shell came along and machine gim balls were whis- tling- over my head. I then began to dig in earnest. Next day I was still digging in the trenches when I noticed the Germans shooting at an aeroplane. They hit the plane when two Americans came out and ran before the tank exploded. That night I got my gas. We had worked hard all day without any dinner, for they could not get any dinner up to us till night without getting the "chow" detail shot. About nightfall the chow detail brought us food. The cans were opened and our boys began to eat when suddenly the Germans set over some gas in a bomb. One shell came so near me that it knocked dirt all over me. I smelt gas and put on my mask, but since I had not shaved that day it did not fit so well. Next few minutes the general ordered all masks off, thinking it was a joke about the gas. The next day the inspector found enough gas to put a man out of commission. There were nineteen out of two hundred and fifty who did not have to go to the hospital. I thought that I was all right. I helped lay out so many of the boys who were deathly sick. About nine 'clock a first aid man came around to see how many would need to go to the hospital. I told him that I would not have to go, but after examining me I was ordered away too. 1 had not been on the way long till I became sick too. In a little while I was almost blind but managed to reach headquarters. Here the ambulances were brought, but I was too sick to ride in one, so I was carried on stretchers. One man came up and said that there is a very sick boy. They sent me back to Nancy. While I was here they wrote a letter home and told my people about the matter. Soon 550 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY I broke out with sores which were not healed well for sev- eral months. My cough became worse too. It has not entirely left me yet. We were sent to the Mediterranean coast for a while and then back to central France. From here we were shipped home to New York. When I arrived in New York I felt all right. They allowed me to go out over the city. On certain occasions we were entertained by the "Chateau Thierry" Club. On the night before I was to start to West Baden for treat- ment I became sick and was taken to my room. Next day I felt better till I boarded the train, then I became deathly sick. For several weeks I hardly knew anything. My father came to see me but I never knew him. He got me discharged on August 14, 1919. While there they kept me in a straight-jacket. I did not know what went on at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Superintendent H. W. Toney wished me to accept a school in Union township, but before I could get there some one else was hired. I now get a compensation from the services I rendered and also for my ruined health. It is a wonder that I have any sense at all. CHAPTER XXIII ODDS AND ENDS The items listed here are more for curiosity than any- thing else. Others are not. The county commissioners on March 1, 1876, allowed Wilk Huff $1.50 for three fox scalps. Also allowed Joseph Rainforth $1.50 for three fox scalps. The law then allowed men fifty cents for fox scalps. There were so many foxes that they were a nuisance to farmers and often destroyed many chickens. March 3, 1878, E. M. Tracewell filed a claim for $40 for professional service and was granted $17.50. June 8, 1881, G. H. Abel asked for $10.68 but was allowed $8.00. The same day Doctor H. H. Setser filed a claim for $46.50 and was granted $24.00. In March, 1847, John Waddle was fined $2 for swear- ing two profane oaths. Later he was fined again for swearing. Zebariah Hawn and John Headers were also fined $3 and $1 for swearing on February 23, 1846, and September 3, 1846. March, 1848, Ben Bullington was fined for working on the Sabbath day. Ordered that Joshua Pruett of Patoka township be released from paying poll tax on account of his bodily condition and he being poor and unable to pay the same. 551 552 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY If he ever becomes well then he shall be listed again. Also ordered by the commissioners that Jesse Spears be released from the payment of all taxes on account of his disability ; up to the present time all tax cancelled. Nath Morgan was allowed $5 for a coffin which he furnished John Mix on December 3, 1877. Granted John McCallister $35 for taking Thomas Thurston, who was insane, to the National Hospital at Washington, D. C. Allowed James Key of Sterling township $10 for caring for a foundling child which some one left at his door step on the night of May 8, 1877. The board ordered him to care for it at $1 a week till further notice. The child was named "Little Belle May." William E. Jenner on June 7, 1883, presented a claim for $7 and received $4. Doctor Kimes presented a claim for $5.50 and received $4. Christian Atz filed a claim for $83.30 and was allowed $45. The above shows how the board ran expenses down. Board released George W. White from paying tax on the ground that he was wounded in the battle of Stone's River, from which he was disabled. A list of postoffices of the county in 1866 contained these names; Alton, Fredonia, Magnolia, Milltown, Pilot Knob, Down Hill, Grantsburg, Marengo, Mt. Prospect, Wickliffe, English, Leavenworth, Mifflin, Padiria A list of the students who have been sent to Indiana and Purdue Universities as county students are : William Ridge, David Tadlock, Luke Wood, B. F. Reynolds, Allen T. Fleming, Benjamin F. Martin, Oliver Leavenworth, William A. Jenkins, Nathan S. Jenkins, John D. Mansfield, ODDS AND ENDS 553 John S. Mansfield, John S. Whitten, John R. Weathers. Seth M. Leavenworth was a trustee of Indiana University from 1828 to 1840. Seth M. Leavenworth, Junior, was born at Milltown, Indiana, July 30, 1821, and died at Mt. Vernon, Indiana, in 1866. He received his M. A. and B. A. degrees from Indiana University in 1839. A QUEER CASE IN COURT Stephen R. Jenner of Marengo and Arthur W. Ward of Leavenworth were partners in constructing a new plow, the name of which was the convex concave Rotary Mold Board Plow. Ward was sent to Washington City to get the copyright or patent on the plow. On his return Jenner wanted Ward to pay back to him the amount of money which Ward had left over out of the expense money which Jenner furnished Ward for the trip. It seems that Ward agreed to pay Jenner the difference, but Jenner then de- manded $98. Suit was started in the Squire's court. Jerry Collins was the constable and served notice on the parties to meet February 10, 1858, at ten o'clock. The case was tried before a jury of five men: William T. Will- iams, John Pleasant, John Bell, Andrew J. Shaw and Henry Doolittle. The jury found Ward guilty, but as- sessed the damage at $50 instead of $98. James Smith and Ella Bowman were married at the home of James R. Duffin Sunday, March 23, 1902. William H. Scott of Grantsburg officiated. Miss Bowman, who was the daughter of John Bowman, was one of the leading teachers of the county. The English city schools began October 5, 1914, in the new building. Lee M. Taylor was superintendent and Har- 554 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY rison Toney was principal. The other teachers were Cum- mins, Blevins, Toney, Melton and Miss Clinn. The canning factory at English had a very successful run during the year of 1914. In October of that year the company had canned 200,000 cans of tomatoes. The Marengo Light plant was completed October 20, 1914. George W. Churchill, who was the manager, had fifty-five street crossings and sixty-two other lights in the system. Churchill worked well to give the people good service. Sam Elsby bought W. L. Luckett's interest in the bank at English Monday, March 28, 1902. Plans were made to start a new bank which became the well known Crawford County State Bank. The people of Crawford County always turn out well to honor a man to whom honor is due. On May 11, 1902, S. E. McFall, W. L. Gregory, J. H. Luckett, C. W. Dot- son, G. R. and F. W. Hazelwood, E. R. Gobbell, C. A. Rob- ertson, Robert Tucker and Charles Conn of English attended the funeral of Charles Austin Ross at Leaven- worth. Ross, who had been killed in the Philippine Islands, had been brought home for burial. The famous white sulphur well was discovered in the 'sixties. Men were drilling for oil when they struck the stream of sulphur water. The water gushed out with terrific force. Men say that the tools were carried out of the hole by the force of the water. For a long time a fine hotel was doing a big business but it burned down several years ago. The well runs about fifteen hundred gallons of water a day. A Chicago company bought it in 1926 and will build a large hotel there. ODDS AND ENDS 555 During the spring normal at English in 1902 William Patton met Florence Riddle. Later the couple were mar- ried on Wednesday, August 24, 1902, by Martin J. Brown. To-dajr Patton is one of the leading business men of Eng- lish. During the summer of 1902 Doctor John E. Fetzer of Marengo sold out his office to Doctor L. E. Grant of Syra- cuse, New York. Doctor Fetzer, who was a leading Repub- lican, was a popular physician. Otho Mock of Leavenworth and Lou McDonald were married at Corydon Thursday, September 28, 1902. Mock, who is one of the leading business men of Leavenworth, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Mock. Another popular couple from English were John Tem- ple and Roma Fleming. They were married by Martin J. Brown September 21, 1902. Temple is one of the best business men of English. The town of English bought out the light plant for $1,300 on October 10, 1902. The town paid down $300 and paid the rest by installments. H. H. Weathers, who was born in 1806, and spent most all his life in Crawford County, died in 1902. Elder Samp- son Cox preached his funeral. The interment occurred in Liberty township October 2, 1902. Professor John M. Johnson and Roy Jack of Corydon conducted a spring normal in the old academy at Marengo beginning April 13, 1903. This was the last normal in which Johnson took a leading part. Doctor Felix Hammond, who received his dental license about July 10, 1903, bought out J. B. Blessing's dental office on June 5, 1903, and began dental work. The same 556 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY year Guido B. Hammond graduated from the Louisville School of Medicine and began practice at English. Both brothers have made a success in their professions. Alton was visited by a very destructive fire on Septem- ber 26, 1903, about four a. m. The ware-house of Peckin- paugh, Harrison and Company burned down. The fire probably caught from the ashes in the coal bucket in the blacksmith shop. The loss was estimated at three thou- sand dollars. The mussel industry on the Ohio River has its danger- ous features. On Wednesday, September 24, 1903, Felix Mode, who was "musseling" for shells near the Diamond Rock, not far from Fredonia Landing, was caught by the brail and thrown into the water. The weight of the brail caught in his clothes and pulled him to the bottom where he drowned. Later his body was recovered. Probably this was the first life lost in musseling. Crawford Lodge No. 470, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized under special dispensation of the rules in 1874. The Grand Lodge dispensed with the rules in 1872 and then gave the lodge a charter. A hall was built and used many years until the members sold the old hall in 1903 and bought over the bank building. Here the Masons met till the new hall was complete in 1922. Then the Odd Fellows bought the old Masonic Hall for their building. Crawford lodge is located at English. Probably one of the most noted masters is Henry W. Mock, who has held the position for many years. William Shelby Ross completed the twelve years' work in school at Milltown March 25, 1904. During that time ODDS AND ENDS 557 lie never missed a day. One night he studied till morning in order to get his lessons out well. Township elections in 1904 in Crawford County showed that these men had won : Sterling — John Brown, trustee ; Ina Dooley, assessor. Patoka — J. M. Tucker, trustee; D. M. Murray, assessor. Johnson — Lee Wright, trustee, Miles Mullen, assessor. Union — W. W. Myler, trustee ; Martin Smith, assessor. Jennings — J. E. Stephenson, trustee; Jesse Dean, as- sessor. Whisky Run — Jerry Batman, trustee; Sylvester Du- bois, assessor. Ohio — William Fesler (was the youngest trustee ever elected) trustee; Jacob Wiseman, assessor. The Leavenworth Button Mill was organized with a capital stock of $10,000. The leading stockholders were H. H. Setser, James H. Doolittle, P. M. Overbacker, S. D. Alexander, T. P. Ellsworth and J. F. Lindley. Later Joseph Bell became manager of the mill. One of his most efficient men is Lyman Davis whose duty it is to sort the shells. The Liberty township pike was let to the Marengo Rock Road Company Saturday, July 7, 1904. The leading citi- zens of Marengo made up the company. The pike was to cost $10,481.74. W. V. Weathers, who was a major in the Union Army, was appointed superintendent of the road. Cyrus Gresham, who lived near Taswell, was a soldier in the Mexican War. He died at his home March 15, 1902, and was buried at Mifflin. He drew a pension for dis- abilities received in the Mexican War. 558 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Citizens, take notice! I shall call on you for your taxes in a few days and shall expect you to have the money ready to pay your taxes. Further indulgence can not be given. J. S. McNaughton, collector of taxes, August 16, ;1838. The above notice was taken from the Leavenworth Arena. At that time men paid taxes differently from our modern method. Joke on Senator John Benz. He was complaining about the county going dry and his not getting any beer to drink. Senator Hugg introduced a resolution to the effect that a committee be appointed consisting of Senators Goodwine, Moss and Crumpacker to buy Senator Benz a cow so that he would have buttermilk to drink. Committee was ap- pointed February 22, 1907. From the Leavenworth Arena of July 19, 1838, Abra- ham Edwards had this article : ' ' Stop that Thief. Stolen from the subscriber on Wednesday night, two linen shirts, three or four ladies ' capes, one shaving box and several other articles. The person who stole these articles is a large man. He wears a fur cap, dark striped trousers and a blue coat. I shall give ten dollars reward for his delivery and the return of the articles. ' ' The Marengo postofnce was robbed July 26, 1907. The person who entered the office secured about three hundred dollars' worth of stamps and three hundred and eighty dollars of Anna Turner 's money. She was deputy post- mistress. On January 22, 1915, W. B. Deuschar's store building was torn down and moved away to a new location on High Street. This building was built by Rice B. Lease and. Peter Claycomb for Nathaniel Hollcroft and E. P. T. Hollcroft ODDS AND ENDS 559 in 1860. On that very same spot Marcus Gaither built the first shack in Alton about 1830. The Jersey Cattle Club met at the Red Men's Hall in Marengo May 15, 1915. Congressman Cox and Professor George of Purdue University were on the program. Car- rolton Ball tested thirty-nine samples of cream which he said was as good as he ever tested. William Veatch was president and C. J. Tucker was secretary. The Jersey Cattle Club has done much good in Crawford County. Below is the record of a county normal held at English in 1900 : Grover Fleming, Charles Gregory, John Bunch, Earl Boyd, Novy Gobbell, Jesse Whimster, Huldah Beaty, Harry Boyd, Cressa Lomax, George Weil, Harry Beaty, Mattie Bund, Thomas Frick, Ida Smith, Emma Scott, Willie Patton, Blanche Pro, Bertha Moore, Alma Beaty, May Dearborn, Bertha Gregory, Joe Ray, Leonard Cum- mins, Florence Riddle, G. H. Wiseman, Elmer and Jessie Merilees, J. E. Nolan, Mattie Lane, Maude Newton, Laura Fields, Ira Lamon, Albert Mock, Perry Walts, Owen Duf- fin, Luther King, Ollie Sanders, Will Snider, Maggie Jacobs, Jane Mandlin and Jesse Brown. Professor Lewis Terman and P. A. Simons were instructors. The number and members of the Odd Fellows Lodges in Crawford County on July 31, 1911, were: Alton Lodge No. 697 — 102 members. English Lodge No. 596 — 56 members. Grantsburg Lodge No. 407 — 68 members. Leavenworth Lodge No. 142 — 86 members. Marengo Lodge No. 611 — 53 members. Milltown Lodge No. 447 — 128 members. 560 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Sulphur Lodge No. 861 — 53 members. In all there were 546 members in the county. The people of Crawford County have always been of a religious turn of mind. Probably the first church ever built was over near English. It was called the Blue River meet- ing house. Rev. David M. Stewart was one of the pastors. Another old church was built in Leavenworth in the early days. It was called the Universalist church. One finds the citizens complaining about the boys breaking out the windows of this church in 1838. That same year E. B. Manes preached in the house. On September 14, 1838, J. Miller advertised that the Methodist people would hold a three days' meeting in Leavenworth. The old Universalist church was used for a school, too. On August 15, 1839, M. J. Woodford opened a school in the church. He charged $3.25 for the higher branches and $2.50 for the lower branches. The Baptist people were on the ground early in Craw- ford County. They held services in an old log house near the old El Bethel church. No one knows when the old log church was built. The frame church which now stands at the Pilot Knob postoffice was built about 1890. The Methodist class at Tower was organized in the old log cooper shop of Gaines Patrick. Many people joined in and built the Tower Chapel church about 1858. Old log seats were used. The old schoolhouse was used for church purposes. The old log church was remodeled about 1870. Long seats were put into it and the old split logs were taken out of it. Many noted pastors have preached in the Tower ODDS AND ENDS 561 Chapel, among whom one may name Cheeseman, Steele, Breeden, Walker, Collins, Shafer, Rosier and Dalrymple. The Union Chapel was built on Bowman's farm which is now the Everdon farm. The church was moved to the Tower cemetery about 1890. Here the people constructed a new frame church which was called Everdon 's Chapel. This was a United Brethren church. Noted men have preached here too, among whom one may name Crawford, Andy Winsett, Patterson, Hobson and many others. The church house was sold to Willie Beals about 1920. At that time no church had been held there for many years. The Methodist people under the pastorship of Valen- tine Deich built a new church at Mansfield about 1916. It was dedicated under Reverend Rosier 's preaching. Much credit is due to Mrs. J. E. Parkhill and her friends for the success of the undertaking. Reverend Dalrymple, who was born in Scotland and came to America, was the Methodist pastor for several years. He labored hard to build up the church. Later Leavenworth was made a station and given a full time pastor. The Methodist church bought Charlie Scott's farm for a home for their pastor. Reverend Wagoner, who now is the pastor, lives on the farm and holds services at Pleasant Ridge, Fredonia, Mansfield and Tower Chapel. The old Sheckels schoolhouse, which was built by Abra- ham Sheckels back in the early days, was used for a church till the United Brethren built their church after the Civil War. The old Sheckels schoolhouse was burned down about 1896. This building had replaced the old log school- house. The Baptists and Methodists built churches on Pleasant 562 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Ridge. The seats in the Methodist church at Pleasant Ridge have been made out of walnut lumber which was very common about the time of the Civil War. The Latter Day Saints began preaching at Baker's schoolhouse in Jennings township about 1893. Later a class was organized. The church sent elders there occa- sionally for a two or three days' meeting. George Jenkins, Kelly, Porter, Scott, Isaac Beggerly and many others have preached there. At present the class is not so progressive. The old-time church service was so different from the modern worship. The Sabbath School came first. Then preaching service. Once or twice a month they had class meeting. All the members were expected to attend. The members were expected to give their testimony. They stood up and testified for the loving Jesus and prayed that God would take care of them. The neighbors were to pray for them, too. The sermons were long ones. In many cases they lasted over two hours. The ministers of these good old days were excellent speakers. The audience would not tolerate a man's reading a sermon. The more he could quote from the Bible the better men respected him. Not one church in a hundred ever had a piano or an organ. The songs used were the old-time hymns, among which one may list the following : There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel's veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. ODDS AND ENDS 563 The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day. And there may I though vile as he Wash all my sins away. Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing thy power to save, When this poor lisping, stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave. — Written by William Cowper. When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I bid farewell to every fear, And wipe my weeping eyes. Should earth against my soul engage, And fiery darts be hurled; Then I can smile at Satan's rage, And face a frowning world. There I shall bathe my weary soul In seas of heavenly rest, And not a wave of trouble roll Across my peaceful breast. — Written by Isaac Watts, The above songs are illustrative of many others which were used by the pioneers in the early days. The name of one of the leading hymn books was the Christian Psalmist. The old-time Christian was filled with the spirit. When he became happy he shouted all over the church house. It was a common sight in the pioneer days to see a dozen shouting during an old-fashioned camp meeting. The Catholics have one church in the county. It is 564 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY located south of Milltown a few miles. The pastor of the church is a prominent priest who lives over near French- town. The writer is unable to tell just when the church was built. Most of his inquiries were never answered so that definite information could not be had relative to any of the churches. The Indians were still in Crawford County when the white men first came. Chief Ouiska lived up near the Big Springs in Marengo. Later the natives called that little creek Ouiska Run which was corrupted to "Whisky Run. That venerable old chief was friendly to the white men. His people were supposed to be Shawnees. Another settlement of Indians lived in Jennings town- ship. That high ridge of land between Mark Froman's crossroads and Fredonia was called Indian Ridge, while Indian Hollow is hard-by. On Mitchell Creek, not far from Eckerty, another tribe lived. There is a large flat rock near where the tepees stood. There on that rock one may see the hole where the Indians ground their corn. This hole is cut out of the rock and is about two feet deep. The hole is round. Men say that the Indians put their corn into the deep hole in the rock and then took a rock hammer and beat the corn into meal. The hole is about six inches in diameter at the top and probably twelve inches in diameter at the bottom. It looks something like a vase. It will probably hold a bushel. The information about the above hole in the rock where the Indians ground their corn was given to the writer by David M. Matherly of Jennings township, one of the teach- ers of Crawford County. ODDS AND ENDS 565 MEXICAN WAR LETTER State of Indiana, Orange County, Nov. 20, 1846. Dear Father : I embrace this opportunity of informing you that mother, the children and I are all well at present. Thanks be to God for favoring us with such glorious health. None of us ha'nt been sick since you all left home, hoping that these few lines may find you all well. Thomas B. McDonald is a good boy to do what I tell him and says that he wants you to bring him a Mexican gun and that he wants to see you very much when you come home. I have gathered and bust my corn about five hundred bushels. I had three wagon loads over a crib full. I sowed some wheat and it looks tolerably well. You wrote to me to sell some of the cattle if I could do so. I sold five head for money and work. There is not so much mast as we thought there was. My hogs are getting in purty good order, though I am going to put them up soon. I wrote to you that I had made a trade with Elias Newkirk to build a chimney to the loom-house. I inform you that he got it half built when he took sick about five weeks ago and is not able to work any yet. I sold a heifer to Uncle Abner McDonald for a brass clock. I felt so lonesome of nights when I would wake up and not know what time it was. Let him have the one you got from him back. 566 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Louisa is well and "harty" and can run and play with Mary- Ann. I am here at all times adoeing the best I can for you till you get home. I received six letters from you that gave me great satis- faction to hear from you all three by mail, one by Harve Morris and two by Colonel William A. Bowles. This is five letters I have written to you. Uncle Clement and Hawn landed at Uncle Abner Mc- Donald's in 17 days and as it happened I was there when he came next day. They went to Captain McDonald's and the next day they started home. They were tolerably poorly though they said they were getting along well. Health is good here at this time. It is tolerably cold to- day. So nothing more at present but write to me as often conveniently will permit you to. Love to hear from you all. So I will subscribe myself, yours till death. This from William McDonald, Harriett McDonald, Lavina Mc- Donald, William McDonald, Harriett McDonald, Fanny McDonald, Thomas McDonald, Mary McDonald and Louisa McDonald to his father, Eli McDonald. P. S. George Teaford he let me have 2 bushels of May wheat to sow and I sowed it and it looks tolerably well. He is cleverer a man than I thought he was. He said form me to give their respects to you and my uncle in my letters he has for me. William Ditte is about to make up a school for us and he says for me to give his best regards to you. I will say a few things about my connections. Dear Uncle I now take the opportunity of informing you that ODDS AND ENDS 567 [your families is all enjoying good health at this time. Tell Uncle McDonald that we need him here to help skin the Whigs and Tories for they have come to life again and say that the war is unjust and that the Democrats caused it and now the Whigs has to fight it. Dear Cousin : I take my pen in hand to inform you that your families people are enjoying good health at this time. Give my respects to all my old friends. Nothing more at this time. Tell Abner Mayfield that his mother is enjoying health as far as I know. Tell David Apple that his father and brothers is well at present. Tell Martin Gobble that his fathers and brothers and wife is well at present. Tell him that Hiram is married. So I will say nothing more at present. Tell Stallcup and J. Palmore that their families are well. Tell Elisha Pruitt and James Dooley that their fam- ilies are well at present. I wrote this letter by candle light. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. The above letter was written to Eli McDonald, who was a soldier in the Mexican War. Mr. McDonald, who lives near Taswell, furnished the writer the above copy from the original letter. Mr. A. W. Stroud copied it for Mr. Pleasant June 13, 1920. The above T. J. McDonald is the grandson of Eli McDonald. CHAPTER XXIV The campaign in Crawford County was fought out in 1918 under the new primary system. Not many contests occurred among the Republicans. For clerk, A. N. Bobbitt and John Sloan were the con- testants. For county assessor, William Fesler of Jennings township and Sherrod King were aspirants. The candi- dates for the other offices were unopposed. The main fight occurred between Sloan and Bobbitt. Sloan belonged to one of the oldest and most respected families of the county, one of whom was J. G. Sloan, who defeated Sam Sands for representative in Crawford County in 1840. At that time Sloan was a Whig and Sands was a Democrat, Locofoco, or V. B. (Van Buren). In the cam- paign of 1840 Sloan was elected by seventeen votes. Bobbitt was a young man who had taught school two or three years. He gained strength as he ran. He was the son of Irvin Bobbitt of Eckerty and a nephew of Elder James Bobbitt, who for many years was one of the leading citizens of the county. The Democratic party had a real love feast that year. The leading candidates for the various offices were : Congress, W. E. Cox, J. L. O'Bannon and Robert C. Brown; state senator, Joseph Hirsch and S. A. Beals; prosecutor, Charles Brown and Floyd Cody; representa- 568 POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 569 tiye, Sam Benz and W. R. Colglazier; clerk, J. Ed. Ross and A. G. Stephenson; treasurer, J. F. Jones and J. Ben- ton Pierson; recorder, Lloyd Froman, W. W. Myler, A. R. Reason and J. B. Wood; county assessor, L. V. Byrum, Benton Longest, Alva Roberson and John Ritchie. Much bitterness existed among certain candidates in the assessor's race. The primary, which was held on May 7, 1918, showed that each received the following votes : Congress, Cox 810, O'Bannon 129, and Brown 85; state senator, Beals 754 and Hirsch 216 ; prosecutor, Brown 644 and Cody 364; representative, Benz 799 and Colglazier 204; clerk, Ed. Ross 650 and Stephenson 346; treasurer, Jones 555 and Pierson 428 ; recorder, Froman 501, Myler 281, Reason 92 and Wood 141 ; county assessor, Longest 409, Byrum 222, Roberson 222 and Ritchie 212. On the Republican side : Clerk, Bobbitt 304 and Sloan 240: county assessor, Fesler 430 and King 94. The candidate who received the largest number of votes in each case was the nominee. During the summer Bobbitt withdrew from the ticket and entered the Navy to fight for his country. The county central committee selected John Sloan to fill the vacancy. The November election was not so successful to the Democrats. They elected all the county ticket except James Jones, who was defeated by James Smith. Mr. Lincoln defeated Charles Brown for prosecutor. Dunbar of New Albany defeated Congressman Cox, while Mr. Beals of English was defeated by a narrow margin of votes. The following trustees were elected: 570 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Boone, E. E. Parr, Republican; Jennings, John Mc- intosh, Democrat; Johnson, Reuben Cox, Republican; Lib- erty, Halleck Miller, Republican; Ohio, J. P. Rainforth, Republican ; Patoka, Joseph Riley, Democrat ; Sterling, Charles Miller, Democrat; Union, C. E. Ford, Republican; Whisky Run, John W. Ferguson, Democrat. Later Ferguson resigned and Willard Vance was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy. The primary in 1920 was held on May 4th. As usual the Democrats had a lively primary. Jones of English and Pierson of Marengo were the candidates for treasurer. Jenkins and Froman were the leading candidates for county commissioner. The vote given each candidate is listed below: Representative, Benz, 619, Colglazier 100; treasurer, Jones, 358, Pierson 367 ; commissioner, Froman 288, H. Jenkins 362; governor, Isenbarger 88, McCulloch 182, Risk 103, Niblack 287; congress, Buskirk 41, Brown 21, iEwing 381, Minton 210, O'Bannon 97. The Republicans filled their ticket with few contests. J. W. Bird of Marengo and T. S. Austin of English were candidates for treasurer. Hiser and Johnson were can- didates for commissioner. The result of the primary showed that each man had received the following votes: Treasurer, Austin 317, Bird 135 ; commissioners, Hiser 292, Johnson 128; for president, Harding 37, Johnson 97, Lowden 115, Leonard Wood 222 ; governor, Fesler 166, Mc- Cray 247, Toner 46. The complete tickets were : President — Warren Harding, Republican, 2,290; James M. Cox, Democrat, 2,193. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 571 Governor— Warren T. McCray, Republican, 2,287; Carleton McCulloch, Democrat, 2,190. Congress — James W. Punbar, Republican, 2,296; John Ewing, Democrat, 2,254. United States Senate — James Watson, Republican, 2,290; Thomas Taggart, Democrat, 2,177. Judge — Thomas Wilson, Republican, 2,222; Win. Rid- ley, Democrat, 2,286. Prosecutor — Philip Seacat, Republican, 2,147; Elimore Crecelius, Democrat, 2,351. Auditor— Archie Bobbitt, Republican, 2,270; Ora Tad- lock, Democrat, 2,267. Treasurer — T. S. Austin, Republican, 2,245 ; J. B. Pier- son, Democrat, 2,256. Sheriff— H. M. Rainforth, Republican, 2,228; S. M. Cunningham, Democrat, 2,292. County Commissioner — Joseph Hiser, Republican, 2,263 ; Henry Jenkins,, Democrat, 2,221. County Commissioner — Chas. Lane, Republican, 2,396; Zimmerman, 2,105. Representative — Hays, Republican, 2,202 ; Sam Benz, Democrat, 2,286. After a very thorough canvass, in which much speaking was done on each side, the election was a landslide for the Republicans. The vote on the state ticket was about one hundred Republican. The vote of each candidate as far as available, is placed after the man's name above. During the spring and summer of 1921 a large crowd of citizens near Pleasant Ridge planned an old-fashioned barbecue. The committee selected the site for the occasion 572 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY on the hill above Schooner Point. Uncle Richard Pierson, who was an old soldier in the Civil War, was selected to manage the cooking. He went to work with a will and managed the cooking well. A large crowd of citizens was present. Reverend Stamm of the Presbyterian church of English, who was present, delivered an oration. George Morris was chairman of the day. This was the first bar- becue held in the county since 1900, when one was held at the Rocks on Blue River above Leavenworth. The people of Crawford County had been working for better roads. Doctor Deen of Leavenworth was one of the men to whom more credit is due than most men allow him. At his request H. H. Pleasant drew a map of Crawford County and sent it to Governor McCray. On this map the road from Leavenworth to Sulphur was indicated, and the road from English coming by Grantsburg was outlined. The Governor replied to the letter stating that he had turned the map over to the Highway Commission. Later the commission allowed the two roads which have been un- der construction for several years. The good people of Mifflin turned out well to attend the funeral of Sam McKinsey, who was a soldier in the World War on December 26, 1921. He had been overseas many months, during which time he was wounded three times. One time he was shot through the body. Later he was "gassed." After returning to America he became worse. He was taken to the Deaconess Hospital at Evansville where he died December 24, 1921. He had been married to Miss Eva Redden some time in the spring of 1921. He was buried in the Pleasant Ridge cemetery in Union town- ship. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 573 Another Crawford County boy, about whom not much has been said, is Cecil Bird. He was wounded in the charge across "No Man's Land." A big piece of shell was shot through his arm. He retreated as far as he could and lay down suffering intense pain. While he was lying there an officer came along and saw him and said: "What are you doing there?" On hearing Bird's reply he cried out that "you had better get out of there and run for the rear or the Germans will get you. They are coming right back. ' ' Bird arose and made his way the best he could till the ambulance found him and hauled him away. Bird lived south of Milltown about five miles. In 1921 a new bridge was built over the creek at Indian Hollow which is about one mile west of Leavenworth. Bids were received and opened on May 2, 1921. The contract was to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The International Steel and Iron Company of Evansville was awarded the contract. The last bridge built there had fallen down. The material out of which it was constructed was not suitable. The Evansville company went to work with a will. Yet the citizens were not satisfied. John W. Fisher watched them for some time to see that the men mixed the proper amount of sand and cement. The bridge was completed in the summer of 1921 but trouble arose. Men said that it was not built according to the specifications. The claim of $4,500 for the bridge was not allowed by the commissioners. The matter was carried to the State Board of Accounts. That body sent A. L. Donaldson, who was a civil engineer, to Leavenworth to examine the bridge. On December 1, 1921, he made an extended report to Jesse Eschback, field 574 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY examiner. From that report the following is taken: "The records show that the contract was awarded to the Inter- national Steel and Iron Company of Evansville for a sum of $4,500. The bid is written in ink except the amount and signature which is written with pencil. The contract was indefinite. The engineer claimed that he did not put the figures on the plan and did not know who did but just guessed at the height of the abutments. The company's part of the contract was indefinite, too." The specification for the steel structure read : ' ' The bridge shall be sixty feet long and have a roadway fourteen feet wide. The bridge was to be pinned or riveted but found to be bolted. The bridge was also out of line. That no pay shall be given for the work till the engineer certifies that the work has been built according to the contract." Much confusion arose and the bridge was not used for a while until the commissioners finally paid for the bridge. The. same company built one over a creek west of Marengo about two miles while this quarrel was going on. The com- pany certainly did a good piece of work there, hoping, no doubt, that this might influence the commissioners in the other case. New pike contracts were awarded to Samuel R. Bird and Martin Laswell to build roads in Jennings and Ohio townships. Bird's road ran from the Peabody crossroads to Fredonia. Laswell had charge of the pike in Ohio township at Riddle. Bird's contract was given on June 6, 1921. The Omer Sturgeon and Herschel Rainforth pike, which had been built, ran from Fredonia to Schooner Point. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 575 The William Boss road in Whisky Run township was approved. D. M. Miller and John K. Batman were ap- pointed road reviewers for the road in Liberty and Whisky Run townships on April 8, 1921. Also W. Y. Lance was appointed superintendent of construction of the Zimmerman and Jacob Eckerty for the E. T. McFarland road. The road connecting English and Marengo was finished in 1922 and an extension running from Mr. Bosley's to white oak hill was completed. The greatest road contract for the year of 1922 was awarded to Wolf Brothers of New Albany. The men were to re-surface the road from Leavenworth to Marengo, for which they were to receive about $43,000. The work was not completed till late in the summer. In some places men said that the contractors did not put the rocks thick enough. The men were finally paid for the road, but much hard feeling existed among the taxpayers. The pike road running from Riddle south toward Beechwood was completed about 1923 and the road run- ning from Burnett's schoolhouse across to Grantsburg was finished. The Schooner Point road was completed by H. M. Rainforth and Omer Sturgeon the year of 1923. Work on the state roads was progressing nicely by 1923. Road from Corydon went through Leavenworth, then out the English road for about one mile; then west by Beechwood. The state road No. 22 came south through English and Grantsburg and intersected state road No. 16 near the Wiseman schoolhouse. Much hard work was done by the men when they built the bridge over Turkey Fork at Princeton Ford. 576 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY During 1922 and 1923 the Government dam at Leaven- worth was booming. Several hundred men were employed to accomplish the feat. The little town of Leavenworth was a busy place again. Besides the Christian men and women, who were so helpful in the church work, many undesirables ones came. The order in the town was not enforced very well. The canning factory at Marengo, which was reorgan- ized in 1916, was running full time in 1923 and 1924. More tomato pulp was turned out in 1924 from this factory than any other factory in the United States. There was a great market for tomatoes. Many farmers made consider- able money by growing tomatoes. The campaign of 1922 was an interesting one in Craw- ford County. The Democrats and Republicans were anxious for office. For senator, Howard, Ralston, Sanders, Shively and Simms entered the race. For congress, Brown and Ewing were rivals. For recorder Myler, Belcher, Doo- ley, Dicus, Bird and Harvey were aspirants. Ingle, Owen Johnson and Green Satterfield were running for sheriff. For county assessor, S. K. Breeden, Jobe, and Benton Longest were candidates. Other officers were unopposed. For the township offices many bitter contests were waged. In Jennings township Jesse Dean filed for trustee. Then Rufus Temple and John Mcintosh entered the race. For a long time the race was in doubt but near the close of the campaign the tide turned for Dean, who was a prominent farmer living near Tower. For township asses- sor, Leland Adams, D. M. Stephenson and Ishmael Carver were running. The primary resulted in the nomination POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 577 of Dean for trustee and Carver for assessor by large pluralities. Much hard feeling existed after the campaign. The candidates for trustee in Whisky Run township were Willard Vance, Perry Walts and Mr. Summers. A bitter fight was waged for the nomination. Vance, who had been appointed trustee when Mr. Ferguson resigned, was nominated by a large majority. In Union township Henry Knight and Arthur Johnson were candidates for trustee, while E. D. Baggerly and Or- ville Mullen were candidates for assessor. When the vote was counted Knight and Mullen were nominated for trus- tee and assessor. Curtis Bennett, Cyrus Mills and Willie Longest were candidates for trustee in Sterling township. The fight re- sulted in the nomination of Bennett. Patoka township had three candidates for trustee : Charles A. Miller, Clad Murray, Charles A. Tucker. For assessor, Aaron Crews and Charles Huff were candidates. Clad Murray defeated his opponents for trustee, while Huff was the nominee for assessor. A bitter contest was waged in Johnson township. Lee Wright, Wm. Cummins and Silas Cook were candidates. Wright defeated his opponents by a good margin. On the Republican side many candidates were out. In Boone township Clay Kemp and Roy Brooks were the leading candidates. In Liberty township Halleck Miller, John Ross, Clark Sloan and Wellman Bosley were out for the office. In Ohio township George Morris, John Crecelius and David Hedden were candidates. 578 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY In Union township Ernest Eaton, Arthur Goldman and Mr. Wright were candidates. Chester Lamon, Sherman Jones and Daniel Fields were candidates in Johnson township. The candidates in many of the other townships had no opponents. The primary day drew near and the men labored hard to convince the people that they were the ones for whom the people ought to vote. The candidates for the senate were New and Beveridge. The candidates for sheriff were Rainforth, Smith and Wm. Lee of Milltown. For recorder, Parker, Merryman and Mrs. Roberson were candidates. Mrs. Roberson was the first woman can- didate to run for office in the county. Her husband had lost his eyesight by a premature explosion while working on the public road. Naturally she made a strong appeal to the voters. For commissioner of the second district Charles Lane and Mr. Newton were candidates. For commissioner of the third district Balding and Doolittle were candidates. The people went to the polls on May 2, 1922, and selected their candidates. Below is the vote. The one who has the largest vote in is the nominee : United States Senator — Howard, Democrat, 120; Shively, Democrat, 120; Ralston, Democrat, 1,088; San- ders, Democrat, 172; Simms, Democrat, 138; Beveridge, Republican, 618; New, Republican, 756. Congress — Brown, Democrat, 298; Ewing, Democrat, 1,400; Lambdin, Republican, 1,094. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 579 Joint Senator — Ernie, Democrat, 1,072; McCullough, Republican, 880. Joint Representative — Bierly, Democrat, 1,072 ; Sieg, Republican, 413 ; Wiseman, Republican, 714. Clerk — Ed. Ross, Democrat, 1,517 ; Claude Carter, Re- publican, 979. Treasurer — Benton Pierson, Democrat, 1,422 ; T. S. Austin, Republican, 1,111. Sheriff — Ingle, Democrat, 172 ; Johnson, Democrat, 090; Satterfield, Democrat, 812; Wm. Lee, Republican, 326 ; H. Rainforth, Republican, 716 ; Smith, Republican, 434. Recorder — Belcher, Democrat, 419 ; Bird, Democrat, 350 ; Dicus, Democrat, 237 ; Harvey, Democrat, 219 ; Doo- ley, Democrat, 361 ; Myler, Democrat, 406 ; Merryman, Re- publican, 207 ; Parker, Republican, 278 ; Roberson, Repub- lican, 1,031. Coroner — Bolden, Democrat, 1,182 ; Crawford, Repub- lican, 929. Surveyor — Sam Tucker, Democrat, 1,208; Deich, Re- publican, 959. County Assessor — Breeden, Democrat, 643 ; Jobe, Dem- ocrat, 705 ; Longest, 525 ; Alderson, 575 ; Benham, 647. County Commissioner, Second District — Brown, Demo- crat, 730 ; Reasar, Democrat, 877 ; Lane, Republican, 723 ; Newton, Republican, 433. County Commissioner Third District — Felker, Demo- crat, 1,085 ; Balding, Republican, 555 ; Doolittle, Repub- lican, 592. The candidates for trustee of each township are listed here : 580 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Boone — Sydney Purcell, Democrat; Clay Kemp, Re- publican. Jennings — Jesse Dean, Democrat; William Fesler, Republican. Johnson — Lee Wright, Democrat; Chester Lamon, Re- publican. Liberty — Ott Hanger, Democrat; Halleck Miller, Re- publican. Ohio — No Democratic candidate; John Crecelius, Re- publican. Sterling — Curtis Bennett, Democrat; Standi- ford, Republican. Patoka — Clad Murray, Democrat; Ed. Ridenour, Re- publican. Union — Henry Knight, Democrat; Arthur Goldman, Republican. Whisky Run — Willard Vance, Democrat; Ollie Boldt, Republican. The candidates for assessor were : Boone — East, Democrat; Jesse Wiseman, Re- publican. Jennings — Ishmael Carver, Democrat ; John Saltsgaver, Republican. Johnson Kendall, Democrat; Brown, Republican. Liberty — No Democratic candidate; Mitch Stewart, Re- publican. Patoka — C. E. Huff, Democrat; Joseph Suddarth, Re- publican. Union Mullen, Democrat ; Powell, Re- publican. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 581 Sterling — Standiford, Democrat; No Repub- lican candidate. One ought to say a few words about the defeated can- didates who were excellent men. Several were defeated by a narrow margin. Much dissatisfaction existed among the candidates of Boone, Jennings, Liberty and Union town- ships. In Boone many Republicans voted for Purcell, who was the Democratic candidate. The Birkla trouble influ- anced many voters, some men thought. As far as known Boone township has not elected a Democratic trustee since the Civil War, but Purcell, who was a clean gentleman, made a great race. In Liberty township much hard feeling existed over the primary among the Republicans. Miller, who was an ex- cellent man and had made a good trustee for four years, was not able to hold the party together. Certain factions were angry because he did not open certain schools which had been closed for several years. To this dissatisfaction the Democrats played a joke on the Republicans by en- dorsing Mitch Stewart for assessor. Stewart had been a hard worker for the party and had been postmaster for a long time in Marengo, but now he was in a queer position and could not do much for the party. The contest in Union was a hot one. Goldman might have been elected, but all over the county the absent voters' law was abused, and Goldman, who was a good man, could not hold the friends of the defeated candidates together. Boldt made a strong race in Whisky Run township, but lost the north precinct and was defeated by Willard Vance by thirty-seven votes. Much confusion arose up 582 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY there. Vance and Seacat had a little fight one day when striking proofs and knock down arguments were used. The closest race was in Johnson township. Wright, who had been trustee for one term before, was nominated again. The Republicans had nominated Chester Lamon, who was a young man of about twenty-nine years old, but he was a good organizer, and with the help of his friends, held the Republicans together and at the same time made inroads on the Democrats, many of whom voted for Lamon. The Republican county central committee made a hard fight for the party, while the Democrats, under the chair- manship of Mr. Brown, who was a master politician, met the issue. Mrs. Roberson made a hard fight for the office of re- corder, but Belcher gained strength the last few days and defeated her. The final vote in November showed these men were elected : The entire county ticket on the Democratic side and all the trustees but Crecelius and Lamon. Ross car- ried the county by eight hundred votes and Belcher by one hundred and seven votes. Lamon, on the face of the returns, defeated Wright by three votes. The Democrats demanded a recount in John- son township. Judge Wilson appointed Leonard Cummins, Elwood Boyd and John Wright to count the vote. After careful counting the new board declared Lamon elected by nine votes. The Democrats had given the Republicans a terrific beating, but the party lived over it. The new law relative to the amount of the state aid was made more strict in 1921 and 1922. The ruling of the POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 583 state required all the schools to score fifty points on the designated score card. It was a hard blow to the schools in Crawford County. At that time not many of the schools would score fifty points. The patrons of the schools rallied with willing hands to help in any way they could. Meet- ings were held and working days appointed on which patrons labored to improve the schools. Pilot Knob and Pleasant Ridge school at Myers held working days, the din- ner being furnished by the ladies of the community. County Agent Copeland and Superintendent Pleasant were present at the Myers school. Fredonia, Dillman and many other schools labored with a will to make the schools score. County Superintendent Pleasant estimated that the work done in Crawford County by donation was two thousand dollars. When the time came for the schools to score all made a score of fifty points or more. Mae McFarland, who taught at Crecelius school that year, was the first school teacher to get her school to score the fifty points. Early in the year of 1923 the basket factory at English burned down. Soon a large number of men was employed to clean off the debris. The company put up a new factory and were running again by May 1st. The Farm Federation of Crawford County since the coming of the county agent had made much progress. A meeting was held at English Saturday, December 30, 1922, when A. G. Stephenson was elected chairman ; Henry Bald- ing, vice-chairman ; Ira Haycock, secretary, and Alva Rob- erson, treasurer. Meetings were held in various parts of the county where farm topics were discussed by learned men from Purdue and other schools. 584 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The county commissioners held a meeting at English on the first Monday in January, 1923. The board organized by electing Joseph Hiser, president. The bonds of the new county and township officers were approved. The trustee's office in Jennings township became vacant in January, 1923. Jesse Dean, who had been elected trus- tee of Jennings township over William Fesler by eleven votes, came to English and resigned his office. The auditor of the county being a Republican appointed William Fes- ler to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Dean. Mr. Fesler came to Leavenworth and filed his bond and assumed the office. The Democrats of the township were a little angry about the matter, but Mr. Dean, who was one of the leading farmers, never asked their advice. It was not long till Willard Vance, trustee of Whisky Run township, sold his farm and resigned. Mr. Batman was appointed to fill the vacancy when Mr. Vance moved to Illinois. In the summer of 1924 Sydney Purcell of Alton sold out and prepared to move to Indianapolis. The trustee intended to offer his resignation to the commissioners and let them appoint a Democrat, but who was the Democrat? Purcell was not much pleased with the prospective can- didates and he changed his mind and resigned before the county auditor. Certain Democratic politicians made a trip to Alton but did not get any satisfaction out of Pur- cell. When Bobbitt received the written resignation from Purcell he accepted it and appointed Peter Fullenwider trustee of Boone township to fill out Purcell 's unexpired term of office. Peter Fullenwider belonged to one of the POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 585 oldest and most respected families in Crawford County. He filed his bond and assumed the duty of the office at once. The pike road running west from Leavenworth, which was to be built by John M. Froman, had never been com- pleted. Froman had completed part of the road, but due to high prices and the war he failed to finish the work. Action was brought about the matter and after much con- fusion it was decided to let Martin Laswell build a road from the Leavenworth corporation line to the intersection of the Marengo and Alton road at Campbell's farm about two miles west. This road was not completed till about 1926. The Longest schoolhouse, which was probably one of the oldest in Crawford County, was burned down about four o'clock Monday morning on January 1, 1923. Men thought the fire was caused by a tramp who stayed in the schoolhouse that night. Trustee Bennett had the building insured. The campaign of 1924 opened up with a spirited pri- mary. The Democrats did not lack for candidates. On the ticket for Governor were : Batt, Cravens, Critten- berger, Durgan, Holt, McCulloch, Priest and Risk. The primary vote showed that each man had received the fol- lowing votes : Batt, 87 ; Cravens, 351 ; Crittenberger, 51 ; Durgan, 31; Holt, 87; McCulloch, 67; Priest, 53, and Risk, 48. For Congress, Erni, Brown and Gardner were aspir- ants. For joint representative, Bierly, Brewster and LaHue were candidates. 586 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Sam Vogt, who had been elected prosecuting attorney in 1922, received the party's vote in 1924 for renomination. For county auditor, John H. Pleasant, John Spears and A. G. Stephenson were candidates. The men made a thor- ough canvass trying to explain to the voters just why each one should be elected. For treasurer, J. F. Jones, John Bernardi and W. 0. Beals were the aspirants. For sheriff, Owen Johnson was entitled to the second nomination, but Bland of Patoka township announced against Johnson. Just why Bland came out against John- son no one can say. The other candidates had no opposition for renomina- tion. The Republican party had few contests in the party. With the exception of Hiser and Austin for treasurer no contest existed for any county office but the Governor's race. There was Bush, Davis, Dulberger, Jackson, Shank and Toner. The primary was held on May 6, 1924. The following figures will give one an idea of how the votes went : Governor — Bush, Republican, 71 ; Davis, Republican, 19 ; Dulberger, Republican, 8 ; ; Jackson, Republican, 278 ; Shank, Republican, 30 ; Toner, Republican, 51 ; Batt, Dem- ocrat, 87 ; Craven, Democrat, 351 ; Crittenberger, Demo- crat, 57 ; Durgan, Democrat, 31 ; Holt, Democrat, 87 ; Mc- Culloch, Democrat, 451 ; Priest, Democrat, 53 ; Risk, Dem- ocrat, 48. Congress — Barlow, Republican, 357 ; Erni, Democrat, 105; Brown, Democrat, 85; Gardner, Democrat, 1,062. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 587 Representative — Wiseman, Republican, 357; Bierly, Democrat, 211; Brewster, Democrat, 456; LaHue, Demo- crat, 423. Prosecutor — No Republican candidate. (Later Seacat was put on the ticket for the fall election) ; Sam Vogt, Democrat, 856. Auditor— Leasor, Republican, 363 ; Pleasant, Democrat, 338; Spears, Democrat, 539; Stephenson, Democrat, 530. Treasurer— T. S. Austin, Republican, 237; Joseph Hiser, 205; W. 0. Beals, Democrat, 624; J. F. Jones, Dem- ocrat, 260; John Bernardi, 469. Sheriff— Scott Rothrock, Republican, 382 ; Bland, Dem- ocrat, 302; Owen Johnson, Democrat, 1,038. Surveyor — No Republican i candidate ; Sam Tucker, Democrat, 1,009. Coroner — No Republican candidate; Bolden, Democrat, 945. Commissioner of seventh district — Bird, Republican, 319 ; Harvey, Democrat, 920. Commissioner of second district — Gaither, Republican, 333; Felker, Democrat, 899. ' The vote which each man received is placed after the man's name. Many people in Crawford County did not like the Klan. Not much is known about the Klan in the county. Elder Lindley Barlow, pastor of the Christian church at •English, was running for congress. He had incurred the ill will of all moonshiners and bootleggers. One one occa- sion in English when he was washing his car a man named Jenkins came up and dealt him a blow over the head, knocking him to the ground, but Barlow rolled out and 588 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY ran to get his gun. Jenkins laughed about the matter and Barlow had him arrested and brought before the squire who fined him liberally for assault. The Horse Thief Detective Association was organized in Crawford County. Andrew Rhodes, who had been a prom- inent policeman in Indianapolis, was one of the leaders in catching moonshiners. As a result of the activities of the people hatred existed over the Klan. As the campaign drew to a close political lines were badly shaken. Archie N. Bobbitt, who had been elected district chairman of the Republican party to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Jackson, who was unable to stem the tide despite his popularity and ability as a party worker. The result of the election was disastrous to the Repub- licans. The Democrats carried Crawford County by a -landslide. The entire county ticket was elected by 600 to 800 votes. Such numbers are appalling in Crawford County. Barlow, the fighting parson, was defeated for congress by about 4,000 votes in the district. It was a stunning blow to the Republican party. The people of Crawford County were much surprised to hear that Elmer Stewart, who had been the publisher of the English News for many years, had committed suicide at his home in Louisville on June 20, 1925. He was the son of David M. Stewart, who was one of the ' 'forty- niners." The township trustees met at the court house in Eng- lish on June 1, 1925, to elect a county superintendent for another term. On the first ballot John D. Murray received all the votes. Mr. Murray was born in Patoka township. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 589 After graduating from the Birdseye High School he be- came a teacher. In 1924 he completed the course for an A. B. degree and went to Colorado where he taught school one year. Mr. Murray is a conscientious worker, a man of high ideals, and worthy of the respect and confidence placed in him. Mr. Murray employed Doctor Rigdon to help in the county institute. The teachers were persuaded to do ex- tension work in their institute. During the summer of 1925 the county agent interested the farmers in a county-wide tuberculin test. The week of June 29 to July 3 a series of meetings was held in Craw- ford County. The farmers were anxious to have the tests made. A move was made to secure the appropriation of money under the "Carney Act" to defray the cost. The following men had petitioned : Pete Fullenwider, Ernest Cummins, George Lee, A. G. Stephenson, Henry Jenkins, Jesse Brown, Atmer Hanger, Hugh May, George Benz, Robert Mills, Thomas Dunn, Doctor Lancy Conrad, Chris Seigler, Russell Zimmerman, Owen Gilmore, E. F. Kaiser, John Lambdin, Ernest Batman, Andy Brown, Orville Polen, J. R. Crews and W. B. King. The County Council rejected the petition. The Bird Hollow schoolhouse, which was located about four miles north of English, burned down about six o'clock on the evening of October 10, 1925. The fire probably started from a defective flue. Trustee Bennett had the school insured for $1,200. Trustee Bennett rented Charles Gregory's modern hen-house for use till better arrange- ments could be made. The town election was hotly contested. The citizens 590 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY ticket, on which Claude Stewart, Otho Jackson and W. S. Stephenson were running for trustee, was elected by a large majority over the Republican ticket on which 0. L. Alderson, J. W. Bird and Ira Stewart were candidates. H. W. Key was elected clerk. At Milltown there were two tickets in the field — the Citizens ticket, on which Charles Foster, L. 0. Dunn and Edward Gibbs were running for trustees, and the Peoples ticket, on which Albert Judd, Edward Atz and Robert Baker were candidates for trustee. The Citizens ticket was elected by a large vote. The citizens of Crawford County are much interested in a new state road which will run east and west through Crawford County. This road will probably connect Jasper and Corydon. Those who went to Indianapolis in Novem- ber, 1925, to meet with the state highway commissioner were : G. B. Hammond, F. R. Gobbell, F. G. Hammond, C. C. Funk, 0. S. Johnson, A. T. Temple, V. C. Deich, W. J. Hawkins, L. L. Jenner, C. D. Summers, M. V. Stewart, J. J. Johnson, J. A. Whaley, Straude Wiseman, L. 0. Lee, L. 0. Dunn and Ollie Sanders. The road was assured them and will be put on the building program for 1927. The new gymnasium, which was built in English by F. G. Hammond, was dedicated Friday, November 13, 1925, by a double-header basketball game between English and Marengo. A large crowd was present to see English de- feat Marengo. The new gymnasium was much needed by the town. The father and son banquet, which was held by the Ben Threlkel Bible class at Leavenworth, November 13, 1925, was an enjoyable event, One hundred and fifteen people POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 591 were present. The refreshments were served by William Wilkins. Elmer Merilees, president of the elass, gave a short message of welcome. L. H. Conrad gave a toast to the fathers. Willard Merrilees responded for the boys. Then Ben Threlkel delivered a short address, at the close of which he introduced the speaker, Professor Richmond, of Louisville. The event was one long to be remembered. Milltown was visited by a very destructive fire on No- vember 23, 1925. The slaughterhouse and a large crib were discovered on fire by Henry McWilliams, engineer on a westbound freight. He notified Mr. Lincoln who owned the property. The loss was estimated at about $2,000. The store of L. L. Jenner of Marengo was robbed dur- ing the summer of 1925. A large quantity of automobile supplies was taken, besides many other things. Later in the fall it was robbed again. Shotguns, knives and other articles were taken. Through both robberies he lost about $1,600. Probably Alfred Turley is one of the best business men in Crawford County. In the fall of 1925 he bought out the Karges Wagon Works of Evansville and moved the equip- ment to English. He will be able to take the timber from the stump and make every part of the wagon made of wood. Turley 's sawmill will saw all the lumber used. He has one factory 90 feet x 150 feet and two stories high for making hubs, rims and spokes. Turley 's Wagon Factory is 50 feet by 200 feet and two stories high. He has several other large buildings, all of which will cover five acres of ground. Iron is about all Turley needs to buy for his wagons. The farmers' short course which was given at Marengo 592 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY on December 3 and 4, 1925, was a success. The first day there were one hundred and fifty men and one hundred and ninety women present. At night President Deering delivered his address, "The Other Fellow," to a record- breaking crowd. The count showed that six hundred and thirty-eight people were present. Professors Gannon, Aneta Beadle and K. E. Beeson of Purdue were present and lectured to the farmers. On Friday evening at six o'clock luncheon was served to over three hundred people at the Red Men's Hall under the supervision of Mrs. George Robinson. That night President Deering addressed the audience again. Many were turned away because there were no seats or standing room. The people are to be commended for the interest shown in the short course. The many friends of Henry Newton Wiseman will be pleased to hear that he was appointed assistant director of the budget at Washington City. "Newt" is the son of George E. Wiseman of Beechwood. He served his country well during the Spanish- American War. For a while he worked in the postoffice at St. Louis. In 1907 Wiseman was promoted to a clerkship at Washington. He was clerk in the new budget system for awhile until he was made assistant in January, 1926. The Crawford County Bankers' Federation was organ- ized at Marengo on August 18, 1925, when representatives from the five banks met with Claude Kitterman of the Indi- ana Bankers' Association. Sheriff Johnson of English was present. The committee working with the sheriff was com- posed of L. Helmbrecht, E. L. Brown, Elmer Merilees, W. J. Hawkins and R. E. Jackson. The association will pay $1,000 for dead bank bandits and $500 for live bandits. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 593 Sheriff Johnson appointed a number of deputies who were supplied with arms and placed under bond. Their identity was concealed. Posters were placed in various parts of the county and the season is open on bandits in Crawford County. No license is needed. The program began on January 1, 1926. On January 1, 1926, Horace Copeland withdrew from Crawford County and H. LeGrand of Salem was elected county agent. Copeland had served the people of Craw- ford County for four years. He was a hard worker, a good organizer and a courteous gentleman. On Christmas day he and Ida Toney, the popular primary teacher of English, were married at the home of John Toney. On July 25, 1923, occurred the marriage of James Tower's two daughters and son. The weddings took place at the Fairview farm which is about one mile from Leaven- worth. Juanita Tower married Bert S. Leech of Chicago ; Mary Tower married W. Russell Wells, of Hanover, Indi- ana, and Harold Tower married Miss Arzella McDonald of Laporte, Indiana. Reverend Edward Rosier and Rev- erend E. A. Boston officiated. The ring ceremony was used. The marriages occurred at sunrise. Then a wed- ding breakfast was served. After breakfast the three couples left for the camp near Beck's Mill where they spent their honeymoon. Mr. Tower, who is one of the leading farmers of the county, belongs to one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the county. As far as the facts are known this is the first case where three chil- dren of the same family were married at one time. The primary in 1926 was held on May 4th. The Dem- ocrats had a large number of candidates in the field. For 594 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY United States Senate the following men were candidates for the long term: Cullop, Frederick, Rauch, Slack and Stump. For the short term Woollen was unopposed. For congress Frank Gardner was unopposed. For joint sen- ator, Sam Benz was unopposed. For representative Brew- ster was unopposed. For prosecutor, J. B. Pierson and Avery. For clerk, Leonard Cummins and Owen Gilmore. For treasurer, W. 0. Beals was unopposed. For recorder, Nelson Belcher was unopposed. For sheriff, John Bolden, Green Satterfield and Ott Hanger. For county assessor, Henry Knight, S. K. Breeden and Jobe. For surveyor, Sam Tucker was unopposed. For coroner, Dooley and Snider. For commissioner of the first district, Harvey and Jacobs. For trustees the townships had a number of fine men running. In Boone township P. N. Fullenwider and Jesse Wiseman were candidates. No one on the Democratic ticket filed. Jennings — Democrats, Alva Brown and Quimby Shaw. Republicans — William Fesler and Joseph Hiser. Johnson — Democrats, Kendall, Smith and Wright. Re- publicans, Jones and Newton. Liberty — Democrat, H. W. Key, Republican, Alspaugh. Ohio — Democrat, Highfill. Republicans, H. M. Rain- forth and J. A. Wright. Patoka — Democrats, Gregory and Tucker. Repub- licans, George C. Smith and King. Sterling — Democrats, Bennett and Longest. Repub- licans, No one filed. Union — Democrats, Mullen and Reasar. Republicans, Balding, Neal and Wright. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 595 Whisky Run — Democrats, Batman, Baylor, Byrum and Senn. Republicans, Boldt and Jones. The Senate race — Long term, James E. Watson and Claris Adams. Short term, Graham, Robinson, Norrel, Iliner and Ryan. For Congress — John Paul and Martin. The campaign was an interesting one. The contestants made a thorough canvass. The voters on the Republican ticket did not know that Norrell was a colored gentleman. He received thirty votes in Crawford County. Who voted for a negro in Crawford? In the county the candidate having the largest number of votes was the nominee. The vote showed the following results : Senator — Long term : Democrats, Slack, 304 ; Stump, 250 ; Cullop, 178 ; Curry, 166 ; VanNuys, 242 ; Rouch, 194. Republicans, Watson, 832 ; Adams, 163. Senator — Short term : Democrat, Woollen. Repub- licans, Arthur Robinson, 632 ; Graham, 89 ; Hiner, 49 ; Norrell (Negro), 30; Ryan, 48. Congress — Gardner, Democrat, 1,325 ; Paul, Repub- lican, 377; Martin, Republican, 407. Joint Senator — Sam Benz, Democrat, 1,525 ; Rowe, Re- publican, 409 ; Sieg, Republican, 355. Representative — Brewster, Democrat, 1,025 ; Fonts, Republican, 603. Prosecutor — Pierson, Democrat, 1,325; Avery, Demo- crat, 411 ; Allen, Republican, 283 ; Deich, Republican, 569. Treasurer — W. O. Beals, Democrat, 1,468; No Repub- lican candidate. 596 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Recorder — Belcher, Democrat, 1,402 ; Denbo, Repub- lican, . Sheriff — Bolden, Democrat, 340; Hanger, Democrat, 368; Satterfield, Democrat, 1,462; Goodson, Republican, 629. County Assessor — Jobe, Democrat, 490; Knight, Dem- ocrat, 952 ; Breeden, Democrat, 589 ; Morris, Republican, 679. Surveyor — Tucker, Democrat, 1,192; No Republican candidate. Coroner — Snider, Democrat, 717; Dooley, Democrat, 720 ; ? ? ? Commissioner — First District, Harvey, Democrat, 896; Jacobs, Democrat, 639 ; Peterson, Republican, 562. Commissioner — Second District, Reasor, Democrat, 979 ; Lamon, Republican, 605. Township Trustees and Assessors: Boone — Trustee : No Democratic candidate ; P. N. Ful- lenwider, Republican, 80; Jesse Wiseman, Republican, 47. Boone — Assessor : Democratic candidates, ? ? ? ; L. H. Brooks, Republican, 43; C. M. C. Kemp, Republican, 54; Ivan Mock, Republican, 30. Jennings — Trustee : A. T. Brown, Democrat, 218 ; G. Q. Shaw, Democrat, 93 ; William Fesler, Republican, 150 ; Joseph Hiser, Republican, 35. Jennings — Assessor : Ishmael Carver, Democrat, ; No Republican candidate. Johnson — Trustee : Kendall, Democrat, 34 ; Smith, Democrat, 77 ; Wright, Democrat, 107 ; Jones, Republican, 70; Newton, Republican, 40. POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS 597 Johnson — Assessor: Wallace Buford, Democrat, 102; J. M. Miller, Democrat, 95 ; Isaac Kellams, Republican, 52 ; John King", Democrat, 54. Liberty — Trustee : H. W. Key, Democrat, 150 ; Alspaugh, Republican, 75. Liberty — Assessor: Democratic candidates ???; C. P. Merriweather, Republican, 58 ; George C. Stewart, Repub- lican, 33. Ohio— Trustee : Highfill, Democrat; H. M. Rainforth, Republican; J. A. Wright, Republican. Ohio — Assessor : Wm. Satterfield, Democrat ; A. J. Cummings, Republican. Patoka — Trustee : Gregory, Democrat, 201 ; Tucker, Democrat, 145 ; George Smith, Republican, 65 ; King, Re- publican, 54. Patoka — Assessor : Aaron Crews, Democrat, 137 ; Arley Flick, Democrat, 144 ; Austin Lytle, Democrat, 87 ; Re- publican candidates ? ? ? Sterling — Trustee : Curtis Bennett, Democrat, 379 ; Longest, Democrat, 167; Republican candidates ??? Sterling — Assessor: Larman Longest, Democrat; R. E. Lee, Republican. Union — Trustee ; Mullen, Democrat, 153 ; Reasar, Democrat, 89 ; Balding, Republican, 69 ; Neal, Republican, 43; Wright, Republican, 41. Union — Assessor : V. W. Belcher, Democrat, 82 ; Chris Felker, Democrat, 151; William Fitch, Republican, 54; James F. Powell, Republican, 84. Whisky Run — Trustee: W. Batman, Democrat, 164; Baylor, Democrat, 63 ; Byrum, Democrat, 84 ; Senn, Dem- ocrat, 53; Boldt, Republican, 131; Jones, Republican, 59. 598 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Whisky Run — Assessor: Crecelius, Democrat, 116; W. A. Key, 203. Republican candidates??? The men listed above will be the standardbearers of the party for 1926. The writer trusts that the majority will select the right man. The board of commissioners met in regular session Monday, April 4, and appointed the inspectors for the pri- mary. They were : Jennings— No. 1, Roy Melton; No. 2, A. P. Smith; No. 3, 0. R. Scott. Whisky Run — No. 1, Ray Jones; No. 2, Joseph Kelly. Liberty — No. 1, Dave Apple; No. 2, W. J. Hawkins. Sterling— No. 1, J. F. Jones; No. 2, J. S. Melton; No. 3, Cyrus Mills. Patoka — No. 1, Bryan Starrett; No. 2, Albert Kaiser. Johnson — No. 1, Hugh May. Union — No. 1, George Farmer; No. 2, J. T. Baggerly. Ohio — No. 1, Frank Lynch; No. 2, Elsie Brown. Boone — J. E. Neville. CHAPTER XXV POLITICS IN CRAWFORD COUNTY A history of the county would not be complete without a chapter on politics. Our men and women certainly like politics. It is as dear to some of them as their religion. Party lines were tightly drawn in 1840. The Demo- crats held their mass convention at Milltown when they put a ticket in the field. During the campaign many speeches were made. On one occasion the Whigs sent Van Buren a tub of butter weighing about three hundred pounds. One can not learn much about this affair. Our county Whigs no doubt were urged on by outside Whigs. They wanted Van Buren to be a slick politician. No doubt he would be slick if they greased him with all that dirty, stinking butter. Before the war men voted at just a few places. There were no precincts then. The Australian ballot system was not used. A man could get his ballot down in town and come up to the polls and deposit it. Of course everyone could see how a man voted. On one occasion the Democrats played a good joke on the Whigs. It seemed that the Whigs had bought a certain man's vote. The Democrats got his boy, who was about fifteen years old, and gave him a Democratic ballot and 599 600 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY told him to stand by the polls till his father came up to vote and then ask to see his father's ballot. Some other man was detailed to engage the* man in a conversation about the merits of his wolf dog, so after looking at the ballot he thought he might slip the Democratic ballot and let him put it into the box which the old gentleman did. Later he found out about the joke and the old man was furious. The campaign songs of 1840 were full of spirit. The Whigs sang, "Van, Van, Van, you are a done man." The Whigs sang their songs with glee, but after the death of Harrison their joy died out. The campaign of 1844 was still warm. The Whigs had nominated Clay, who was the "mill boy of the slashes." The Democrats called him "the old Whig coon." They said that they would "skin that old coon and stretch his hide." The Whigs, who almost worshiped Clay, called him "old Henry Clay." At the close of the campaign in 1856 the people of the county did not know who was elected for about a week. The Democrats had a big cannon called "Old Bet." For two or three days the Fremont guns were firing. After several days one night the people heard "Old Bet" fire. Then they knew that Buchanan was elected. The Whigs had ceased to run candidates, but a Republican party had taken its place. On that ticket Fremont and Dayton ran in 1856. Back in the good old days men bought votes on all sides. Prices ran all the way from a quart of liquor to sums of money. POLITICS IN THE COUNTY 601 Many years after the Civil War a noted Democrat had been nominated for treasurer. This candidate, who lived up at Marengo, had incurred the ill will of one of the lead- ing Democrats at English. He told a gentleman of Ma- rengo about the matter and asked his advice. The can- didate knew that he would be beaten if the politician did not keep the Democrats in line for him. So the gentleman told the candidate to give him twenty dollars and he would go over to English and "fix" the politician. Getting the twenty dollars, he went to English. As fortune would have it, he went into the barber shop and sat down. He was not in the chair long till in came the noted politician. While he was being shaved the conversation drifted to politics and the recent primary. Listening to the men discuss the relative merits of the candidates for awhile, the man with the twenty dollars arose, knocked the ashes out of his pipe and said: "Boys, I never voted for a Republican in my life and I do not intend to do so, but I am sure of one thing." At that every one became quiet and Mr. G. watched carefully the gentleman from Marengo. Then he began again: "I do not want one of you good Democrats to go out and tell what I say, but I am sure Mr. W. will be beaten this fall." At that Mr. G. turned in the chair and looked directly at the man with the twenty dollars. The man began again : "I would not be afraid to bet any man twenty dollars that Mr. W. will be defeated." At that the man from English arose and asked Mr. N. if he meant that and on being informed that he did Mr. G. said that he would just take that bet. The wager was made. Mr. G. of English went out and worked like a Turk to win the bet. Mr. W. carried English and was 602 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY elected. Mr. G. won the twenty dollars, but he never knew that it was a trick bet to get him to work for Mr. W. Probably one of the shrewdest politicians the county had in the 'nineties was Walter Q. Ballard. When John Deich was elected trustee of Patoka township in 1894 the Democrats prosecuted him for buying votes. When the case came up Jerry Crews, who was a leading Democratic politician of Taswell, asked him to let them have a few Democrats on the jury. Ballard agreed to this, but in some way objection was made to each Democrat till only a few of the jury were Democrats. Deich was acquitted by the jury. The campaign of 1896 was hotly contested. Men be- came mad at their best neighbors. The Democrats closed their campaign with a big speaking at Leavenworth in the old court house. E. E. Richardson, who had been a Re- publican all his life had turned Democrat. He was billed to speak at Leavenworth that night. The Republicans fought every inch of the way. They had a big speaking, too, in the old store building on the corner of Nelson street at the river. The house is used for a show room now. Bob Tracewell was to speak. The Republicans got their cannon out and were firing it down on the river bank. Henry Green was loading it so fast that it became so warm the powder caught afire as he was loading it. Henry was badly burned by the explosion. Up at the court house the Dem- ocrats were having a warm time. Several fights occurred at Chester Elliott's saloon on Nelson Street. Fortunately no one was hurt except Levi Wiser, whom some one knocked down the stairs at the court house, and Henry Green, who was severely burned. POLITICS IN THE COUNTY 603 A noted Democratic song during the campaign of 1888 was this; Here comes China Harrison ; The least man of all. Backed up by Banker Morton, Together they will fall. A Republican song of 1896 was: Long they waited on the train For the hero of the Platte, With his silver cross and crown of cactus on. And they blew him up with air On the day they paid his fare, And they hooked the blower to his windy horn. Hip ! Hip ! Hip ! Hurrah for Hobart ! Swing your hat for McKinley ; swing it high. These men will always do; they are just the truest blue If you vote for them you will never sigh. Soon again we'll hear the sound Of the workmen all around, Of the factory and the very busy loom. On our banners we shall read That protection is our need; And we '11 strike no bonds in Bill McKinley 's boom. Look! Look Look! we have them running, And we have them all split up. And the best we can do Is to stand up to the brave and true, And we'll whip them like the Dutchman whipped the pup. 604 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The above verses were sung to the tune of "Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching. 1 ' The Democrats in 1912 in many parts used the famous Missouri dog song. It never became popular with the people. The leading verses, which were written as nearly like the original as possible, were as follows : Once me, and Lem Briggs, and old Bill Brown We took a load of cawn to town. And Lem's old dog, the onery old cuss, He would naturally follow us. As we driv past Sam Johnson's store A passel of j^aps came out of the door. And Jim, he stopped to smell a box, When they shied at him a bunch of rocks. They tied a tin can to his tail And run him down by the county jail. That just naturally made me sore, And Lem, he cussed and Bill, he swore. Me, and Lem Briggs, and old Bill Brown, We lost no time in jumping down. We licked those young bucks all around For kicking that old dog about the town. Chorus : Every time I come to town The boys keep kicking my dog around. It makes no difference if he is a hound, They got to quit kicking that dog around. POLITICS IN THE COUNTY G05 SUPPLEMENT County Auditors : James Lemonds 1852-1860 Dunbar Patrick (R.) 1860-1868 Malachi Monk 1868-1876 Alexander Sipes (D.) 1876-1883 John E. McFall (appointed Aug. to Nov. in 1884) W. L. Temple 1884-1888 James Bobbitt (R.) 1888-1892 James D. Fleming (D.) 1892-1900 Sam McFall (D.) 1898-1906 J. Evan Jones (D.) 1908-1912 J. B. Enlow (R.) 1912-1916 Ara Tadlock (D.) 1916-1920 A. N. Bobbitt (R.) 1920-1924 John Spears (D.) 1924-1928 County Treasurers : Joseph A. Thornton 1848-1855 W. H. Whitten 1855-1857 Marcus Clark 1857-1861 Thomas Yance 1861-1865 Walter Seacat 1865-1867 W. L. Temple 1867-1871 E. P. Roberson (D.) 1871-1875 Sam G. Highfill (D.) 1875-1879 C. T. Crecelius (D.) 1879-1883 John Pankey (D.) 1883-1887 Arthur Stewart (R.) 1887-1891 606 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Joab Stroud (D.) 1891- (Died in office and Pierce Walts was appointed) F. P. Walts (D.) 1891-1897 Pete Brown (D.) 1897-1901 D. F. Davis (D.) 1901-1903 Joseph Bell (R.) 1903-1905 T. B. Sonner (D.) 1905-1909 A. D. Huff (D.) 1909-1913 A. H. Flanigan (D.) 1913-1917 James Smith (R.) 1917-1921 Benton Pierson (D.) 1921-1925 W. O. Beals (D.) 1925-1927 County Recorders : William Samuels 1818-1825 E. E. Morgan 1825-1846 Samuel Sands 1846-1848 C. W. Kendall 1848-1855 I. A. B. Crecelius 1855-1859 Joseph E. Allen 1859-1863 James Miller 1863-1866 James Mansfield (D.) 1866-1870 C. F. Crecelius (D.) 1870-1878 Elijah J. Stroud (D.) 1878-1886 Isaac Johnson 1886-1894 J. M. Brown (D.) 1894-1903 G. W. Cuzzort (D.) 1903-1911 Ina Dooley (D.) 1911-1915 W. A. Brooks (R.) 1915-1919 Lloyd Froman (D.) 1919-1923 Nelson Belcher (D.) 1923-1927 POLITICS IN THE COUNTY 607 County Sheriffs: R. S. Kay 1854-1856 John Stroud 1856-1858 W. W. Cummins (D.) 1858-1862 Martin II. Tucker (D.) 1862-1866 James C. Clark (D.) 1866-1870 Joseph Landiss (R.) 1870-1872 John B. Pankey (D.) 1872-1876 John N. Benham 1876-1880 James H. Turner (D.) 1880-1884 Thomas B. Cummins 1886-1892 B. B. Brown (D.) 1888-1892 James Hughes (D.) 1892-1894 W. Q. Ballard (R.) 1894-1898 John Gilliland (D.) 1898-1902 J. R. Crews (D) 1902-1906 James Hanger (D.) 1906-1910 Cad Funk (R.) 1910-1914 Jesse Ewing (D.) 1914-1916 Dale Hammond (R.) 1916-1918 Steve Cunningham (D.) 1918-1922 Owen Johnson (D.) 1922-1926 County Superintendents : John Springston 1873-1875 John Batman (Appointed by the County Com- missioners, but law was changed so that the trustees could be elected). John Springston 1875-1880 Jerry Hall (Appointed and then elected) 1880-1883 E. J. Bye 1883-1885 608 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY James Bobbitt 1885-1887 W. A. Pierson 1887-1889 John Zimmerman (D.) 1891-1893 James R. Duffin 1893-1897 Charles A. Robertson 1897-1903 S. A. Beals (D.) 1903-1917 H. W. Toney (R.) 1917-1921 H. H. Pleasant (R.) 1921-1924 S. C. Adams (D.) 1924-1925 John Murray ( (D.) 1925-1929 County Surveyors : . Samuel G. Highfill 1853-1860 John MeCollister 1860-1862 Michael Dillman 1862-1870 Samuel G. Highfill 1870-1876 A. M. Duffin 1876-1878 Dan Paschal 1878-1890 Sherman Smith 1890- ( Resigned and Paschal was appointed). Dan Paschal 1890-1894 J. M. Johnson 1894-1896 D. J. Paschal 1896-1900 Thomas Cunningham 1900-1922 Sam Tucker 1922-1926 CHAPTER XXVI WHO'S WHO FROM CRAWFORD COUNTY Shelby C. Adams, son of Mr. and Mrs. 0. A. Adams, of Jennings township, is a graduate of the Indiana State Normal. He has a B. A. degree from Indiana University and an M. A. degree from Columbia University. At pres- ent he is superintendent of the Marengo city schools. "Doc" Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen, of Fredonia, is one of Ohio township's noble sons. He is one of the leading dentists in the West. Clyde Bird, son of Mr. and Mrs. Reed Bird, of Liberty was born in Johnson township. After graduating from the Marengo High School he entered the Indiana State Normal School, in which he received his elementary train- ing. After teaching in the schools of Crawford County for some time he went to Florida where he was employed to teach in one of the best high schools of the state. Arthur Garfield Bobbitt was born in Crawford County. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bobbitt. Young Bob- bitt entered Indiana University where he became a brilliant student of history. His thesis on the Alabama Claims is 609 610 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY one of the best ever written. Mr. Bobbitt was employed to teach in the Oak Park High School of Chicago where he has held his position for many years. He is a member of the Republican party. Archie N. Bobbitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Bobbitt, was born in Jackson township. After graduating from High School he became a teacher. In 1918 he was nom- inated for clerk on the Republican ticket, but later enlisted in the Navy during the World War. Returning from the war he was nominated by the Republicans for county auditor. After a thorough campaign he was elected by a majority of twenty-three votes. In 1922 he was elected county chairman and in January, 1923, when Thomas J. Jackson became postmaster of New Albany, he was elected district chairman of the Republican party. Those men voting were all the county chairmen of the district. Later, in 1924, he was re-elected by a unanimous vote. Mr. Bobbitt married Frances Adams, who was a very talented lady in music and art. At present Mr. Bobbitt is a gasoline collector for the state of Indiana and has his headquarters in the state auditor's office in Indianapolis. Franklin Bobbitt, son of James Bobbitt and wife, was born in Crawford County about 1876. After completing the elementary course he entered college where he became a great student of education. To-day he is probably the most outstanding figure in all education. He confined his work chiefly to the Curriculum, which was published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1918. Since 1908 he has WHO'S WHO 611 been associated with Professor Judd in the School of Edu- cation of Chicago University. Miss Orphia Brown, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, was born in Sterling township. She became a teacher. She was employed at Marengo two years. She is a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School. Later she entered Indiana University where she completed the course for the B. A. degree in June, 1925. Miss Brown is a devoted member of the Christian church of English. In the summer of 1925 she was employed to teach in the city schools of Alfordsville. Miss Brown is full of fun, a good girl, and a hard worker in any school where she may be employed. Her noted remarks are: "There is a reason and a "howling success." > i Jesse A. Breeden was born in Crawford County. He became a teacher. Assisted Emmett Taylor and Professor Johnson in the normal at Marengo. Entered the ministry about 1897 and had charge of the Methodist church at Leavenworth and Tower for several years. He married a lady by the name of Louden. After leaving the Leaven- worth church he has been assigned to various other churches by the Methodist Conference. At date of writing he has been stationed at Worthington, Indiana. He is a man of high ideals, a good citizen and a loyal worker for the church of the living God. Frank Crecelius, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Crecelius, was born in Leavenworth. Later he moved to Kentucky where he arose to distinction and was elected secretary of 612 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY state of Kentucky. At present he is one of the leading dentists of Kentucky. Doctor Lancy Conrad, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Con- rad of Tower, is a native of Jennings township. He at- tended common school at Archibald. He entered veter- inary college at Terre Haute in 1916 and studied several terms. Then he entered the college at Indianapolis where he graduated. He was the only licensed veterinary in Crawford County. At present he is located at Marengo where he has a large practice. John W. Collins, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Collins, of Tower, is a native of Jennings township. For many years he has been one of the leading pastors of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He has been located in Indiana for several years. Girard Chambers of Marengo is an engineer of note. He platted out the ground on which the Jamestown Expo- sition was built, After leaving Marengo he was elected county surveyor of Hampton Roads County, Virginia. This occurred about 1907. Belvia Cuzzort, who was born in Sterling township, was a graduate from the common schools in 1901. That year she won the medal in a declamatory contest held at Marengo. She entered the State Normal School about 1904 where she graduated in 1910 with distinction. After teaching in the public schools for several years she went to Washington, D. C, where she has an excellent position. Miss Cuzzort is a lady of high ideals and ambitions. WHO'S WHO 613 Court Coleman was born near the Dillman schoolhouse in Jennings township. He was engaged to teach at Mag- nolia in 1895. After teaching several years in the schools of Crawford County he moved to Texas where he engaged in business in which he became successful. He is a younger brother of Walter Coleman of Tower. Leona P. Donaldson was born in Patoka township. She taught school several years in Crawford County. She at- tended school at Terre Haute several years. At present she is located at Petersburg, Indiana. Charles Deich was a native of Patoka township. He became a teacher. In 1902-3 he taught school in Missouri. In 1904 he was granted a sixty months' license in Indi- ana. He married Miss Bird of English. He received a life license from the state of Indiana. After teaching sev- eral years he became dean of Huntington College, later president of Hedden College, Professor of Education in the Methodist College at Indianolo, Iowa. From there he went to the Pacific coast where he now holds a position in one of the best colleges of our country. Deich is a brilliant student, a loyal friend, and a jolly good fellow. Aaron Deich was a native of Patoka township. After graduating from the common schools he became a teacher. He studied in the Central Normal College several years where he was granted a B. A. degree. Later he entered Indiana University and received his B. A. degree. For several years he was superintendent of the city schools of Ossian. The state of Indiana granted Mr. Deich a life license to teach in Indiana. 614 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY The last few years Mr. Deich has been one of the lead- ing men in the Lafayette Life Insurance Company. He is widely known in insurance circles. At date of writing he lived in a beautiful home in the city of Danville. James R. Duffin was born near West Fork. After graduating from the common schools he entered Central Normal College where he became a brilliant student. In the caucus of township trustees, held at Grantsburg in 1891, he received several votes for county superintendent, but was defeated. In 1893 he was elected county superin- tendent of schools. He held this office till 1897 when Charles A. Robertson defeated him. On retiring from office he went to New Albany and Louisville where he engaged in business. Being an ener- getic man he soon made a success. He lived there at date of writing. Victor B. Everdon, son of William and Alice Everdon, was a native of Jennings township. After graduating from the common schools he entered the Leavenworth High School where he graduated in 1911. He entered the Indi- diana State Normal from which he graduated. The Leaven- worth School Board engaged him as superintendent of the city schools where he was employed for several years. In 1924 he was employed to teach at Clifford, where he was supervisor of three schools. Elbert Ewing, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Ewing, was born in Perry County. He moved to Crawford County in the spring of 1904. He became a teacher. He graduated WHO'S WHO 615 from the Leavenworth High School in 1910. He entered the State Normal School in 1910, from which he graduated. When the United States entered the World War in 1917 he volunteered. After spending several weeks in the training camps he crossed the seas and was on the firing line for a long time. At the close of the war he returned to the United States and engaged in teaching. At date of writing he is a teacher in the city schools at Markle. V. Ed. Funk was born in Milltown. After graduation from the Milltown High School he entered Central Normal College where he studied law. He taught school for ten years in Milltown. He was superintendent of the Milltown High School when it received its commission in 1915. Since 1922 he has been assistant reporter of the State Supreme Court. John B. Funk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mack Funk, of Milltown, was cashier of the Milltown Bank. He married Miss Ola Bird of Marengo. He is now head of the leading bank at Central City, Kentucky. J. Frank Jenner was educated at Leavenworth. He is now one of the leading Methodist Episcopal ministers of the state. At date of writing he is located at Petersburg. Torrence Fields, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Fields, was born near Eckerty. After studying several terms in Dan- ville he entered Indiana University where he received his B. A. degree in 1925. Fields became interested in insur- ance work. He has been engaged for some time in writing 616 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY life insurance for the Lafayette Life Insurance Company. One may predict for Mr. Fields a bright future. Charles Gilliland, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Gilli- land, was born near Beechwood, Indiana. After attending school at Jerico for several years he graduated from the common school. After studying at Danville several terms he became a teacher in Crawford County. Later he moved to St. Louis and became a dentist. Being energetic he built up a large patronage. He is to-day one of the lead- ing dentists of that city. Jessie L. Hanger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Han- ger, was born near Marengo in Liberty township. After graduating from the Marengo High School in 1911 she en- tered the teaching vocation. In 1916 the Indiana Central College conferred on her the B. A. degree. Since graduat- ing from Indiana Central in 1916 she has done post-grad- uate work in Chicago and Harvard Universities. In 1925 she returned to accept the English Department of Indiana Central College. Doctor 0. E. Hawn, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Hawn, of Leavenworth, was born in Leavenworth where he received his early schooling. Later he studied dentistry. On re- turning from dental college he began practicing in Leaven- worth. After several years' work in Leavenworth he moved to Indianapolis where he has a large practice. Doctor Hawn married Miss Grace Allen, who was one of the pop- ular girls of Leavenworth. She was a daughter of W. B. Allen. Mr. Allen is a strong supporter of the Republican party. WHO'S WHO 617 Arthur B. Harris is a Crawford County boy. He worked in the Southern Railroad office at Marengo for some time. He was president of the Marengo School Board for awhile. He became agent for the Aetna Insurance Company where he is now one of the most important agents in the state. Not many in the United States have a better record than A. B. Harris. At present he lives in Indian- apolis and has a beautiful office in the Terminal Building. John Hanger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Hanger, was born in the little town of Alton. After graduating from the Alton schools he studied for the ministry. The Meth- odist Conference gave him a church. After serving in many fields with honor to the church and credit to himself he located in Indianapolis. From there he travels far and wide doing evangelistic work. Temple H. Hollcroft, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Holl- croft, was born in Alton where he received his early train- ing. After completing his high school course he entered college where he became a great student of mathematics. At present Professor Hollcroft has been teaching mathe- matics in one of the best colleges in New York. Professor Hollcroft is related to Captain Hollcroft who fought so gallantly in the Civil War. While attending Hanover Col- lege he made the highest grades ever given any student by the college. L. A. Helmbrecht was born near Taswell in Patoka township. After teaching school a year or two he was engaged to travel for the Yeast Foam Company. Later 618 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY he became interested in banking. He is now employed as cashier of the Crawford County State Bank at English. Mr. Helmbrecht is a good business man whose faithful service has added much to the success of the bank. Lewis Gresham Jones was born near English. When he was a small boy Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Beasley took him to raise. He studied in the English schools for some time. Making license he was engaged to teach. He married Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Froman's daughter, but the marriage was not a fortunate one. He was defeated for county superintendent on one occasion by one vote. Later he moved to Kansas and Oklahoma where he is making good. In politics Lou was a great worker for the Democrats. William H. Kendall, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Ken- dall, was born in Leavenworth where he received his ele- mentary and High School education. He entered the sem- inary where he studied for the ministry. He was given a charge in the Presbyterian church in Illinois. Later he located in St. Louis where he was a pastor for several years. In 1924 he received a call to come to the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis where he is located at present. Aunt Rebecca Kendall of Leavenworth, prob- ably one of the earlier members of the Methodist Episcopal church, was his grandmother. Franklin Columbus Landrus, son of William H. and Alice Landrus, was born in Jennings township. After graduating from the common schools he studied for some time in the Leavenworth High School. After teaching WHO'S WHO 619 several district schools he entered the Indiana State Nor- mal from which he graduated. He was employed to teach in the Westland High School, in Hancock County, and later entered business there. Mr. Landrns has been one of the most brilliant boys of onr county. Elmer McCullum, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan McCullum, is a native of Leavenworth. After graduating from the Leavenworth High School he taught school several years in Jennings township. Then he was employed to teach in Leavenworth. From there he went to English as super- intendent of the city schools. Then he was employed as principal of the Jeffersonville schools where he later be- came superintendent. He is a graduate of the State Nor- mal and has done much work in Indiana University. Mr. McCullum is a gifted speaker. Charles Melton, who is a native of English, is a son of Joel Melton. He is a graduate of Indiana State Normal. He taught school in Tippecanoe County one year. Then he was engaged to teach in various high schools of Indiana and Illinois. Mr. Melton has the quality which wins friends everywhere he goes. Monroe Melton is the son of Joel Melton of English. He is a graduate of the Indiana State Normal. He was employed as superintendent of the English school for sev- eral years. He traveled for the Macmillan Company for some time and returned to the teaching vocation. At pres- ent he is superintendent of one of the best high schools in Illinois. 620 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Otto Moery was born near Wickliffe, Indiana, and taught school for several years in Patoka township. While teaching at Jasper he met Miss Green whom he married. He is a graduate of the Indiana State Normal. Mr. Moery entered the weather bureau at Washington and was sta- tioned at Terre Haute. He has won many promotions until to-day he is one of the leading men in the department. Albert Mock is a native of Patoka township. He grad- uated from the common schools and taught several schools in Patoka township. He entered Indiana State Normal from which he graduated. While teaching at Plainville he met Miss Killein, whom he later married. Being tired of teaching he entered the weather bureau at Wash- ington. Later he returned to the teaching profession and became superintendent of the city schools at Mulberry. After teaching at Mulberry several years he accepted a position to teach in Butler College. Mr. Mock has his A. B. and A. M. degrees from Indiana University. Frank Mock, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Mock, was born in Leavenworth. He graduated from the Leaven- worth High School and studied dentistry. After complet- ing his course of study he located at Marengo. He married Marie Shrewsbury, daughter of Mr. Shrewsbury, cashier of the Leavenworth Bank. After living in Marengo a few years Mr. and Mrs. Mock located in Louisville where he has built up a great practice. He is a hard worker, a faith- ful friend, and a good citizen of his country. L. C. Murr, a native of Crawford County, leading WHO'S WHO 621 Methodist minister of Indianapolis. He is now chaplain of the Reformatory at Pendleton. J. E. Murr, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Murr, is an- other Crawford County boy who has won the respect and confidence of all good people. At present he is district superintendent of the New Albany Methodist church. Ivan Noblitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Columbus Noblitt, grew up near Taswell. He graduated from the Indiana State Normal School and has been employed as a teacher in the West Terre Haute city schools for several years. William B. Pleasant and Walter A. Pleasant are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pleasant. After teaching school a few years their father sold his farm in Union township and located in Ottawa, Kansas. Here the boys entered the practice of law. W. B. Pleasant married a Miss Proctor of Milltown. Both have been elected state attorney and representative of their county. In the practice of law they have made good. Tower Parkhill, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Parkhill, is a native of Jennings township. He graduated from Leaven- worth High School and attended Purdue University. He served in the United States Army during the World War, and after being discharged was engaged to teach in the schools of Quincy, Illinois. John Paris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Paris, was born in Leavenworth. He graduated from the Leavenworth 622 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY High School. He studied law in New Albany and became an active politician. He was elected judge of Floyd County on the Democratic ticket. Paris is one of the most pop- ular judges of southern Indiana. David A. Rothrock is a native of Crawford County. He has been one of the leading teachers of mathematics in Indiana for many years. He has his Doctor's degree from one of the best schools. At present he is dean of Indiana University. He is a gentleman who is well liked by his pupils, a good citizen, and a leading legislator of Indiana. M. W. Rothrock, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rothrock, was born at Wyandotte, Indiana. After teaching school several years he entered medical college at Louisville where he completed a course. At present he is one of the leading doctors of Evansville. Logan Riddle is another Crawford County boy who made good. He married a Miss Lyons of Schooner Point where he lived on a large farm for some time. At present he is located near New Albany. Floyd Roach was one of the popular teachers of Craw- ford County for several years. He married a sister of Mrs. Logan Riddle. He is located near New Albany. Jesse Riddle, son of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Riddle, was born in Ohio township. For many years he was one of the leading teachers of the county. At present he is located in St. Louis, Missouri. WHO'S WHO 623 Charles T. Kiddle, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Riddle, is a graduate of the Central Normal College. He taught school several years in Ohio township. He was superin- tendent of the English schools one term. He is one of the leading business men in Missouri. John Shafer, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Lincoln, Illinois, is a native of Jennings town- ship. He has been a leading minister of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. Lyman Schoonover, a native of Whisky Run township, is one of the leading United Brethren ministers of Ander- son, Indiana. Knoeful Summers, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Summers, was born in Marengo. He graduated from Marengo High School and received his B. A. degree from Indiana Uni- versity. He was superintendent of the Marengo city schools for four years. At present he is one of the leading bankers of Louisville. Elzie Lee Stewart, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Stewart, was born at Tower. He graduated from Leavenworth High School and entered the State Normal from which he graduated in 1911. After receiving his B. A. degree from Indiana University he taught for several years at South Bend. At present he is teaching in one of the leading cities of Michigan. Sam Shaw, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Shaw, was a native of Jennings township. After teaching school a few 624 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY years he entered the Louisville School of Medicine where he graduated. At present he is located at Shaw, Colorado. Edward A. Tower was born near Leavenworth, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana State Normal in 1891. He mar- ried and located near Battle Ground where he was super- intendent of the Battle Ground schools for many years. He is one of the leading farmers of Tippecanoe County. Emmett Taylor was born near Marengo. He studied in Professor Johnson's Academy. He taught school at Alton several years. He was also principal of the Jeffersonville city schools for a time. He is now located in the South. Mack Tucker, son of A. B. Tucker and wife of Eckerty, attended school at Danville. He was in the World War and went overseas for several months. He returned to Amer- ica and graduated from Indiana University with distinc- tion for hard work and manly conduct. At present he is teaching in northern Indiana. Lee Taylor is a native of Sterling township. He grad- uated from the leading school of our county. Has studied in the East. At present he is one of the leading teachers of the state. Ethel Beatrice Tower, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Tower, is a Jennings township girl. She graduated from the Leavenworth High School in 1910. She was educated at the Terre Haute State Normal. She was a teacher for several years in the Leavenworth city schools. She is now located at Allendale, Illinois. WHO'S WHO 625 Joel Timberlake is native of Boone township. Many years ago he moved to Mount Carmel, Illinois. In the fall of 1924 he was elected county superintendent of the schools out there. Ora Isaiah Tower, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Tower, of Tower, was a native of Jennings township. He graduated from the Louisville School of Medicine. He is located in California where he has made good. Alfonso W. Tower was a native of Jennings township. He graduated from DePauw University and is located in Los Angeles, California. Simon Vandiveer was born near English, Indiana. After teaching school a few years he engaged in the study of law and located at Princeton where he is now one of the prominent lawyers of the state. He was appointed judge of Gibson County March 1, 1913. Charles Wood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benton Wood, was born in Boone Township. He was graduated from the In- diana State Normal School and is now teaching manual training in the city schools of Marion, Indiana. W. G. Willis, a native of West Fork, attended school at Danville. He is one of the strongest teachers ever sent out from West Fork. Garrett Reed Weathers, son of Major and Mrs. W. V. Weathers, of Marengo, is one of the leading manual train- 626 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY ing teachers of Indiana. He was educated at Terre Haute State Normal. Elmer Lee Weathers was born in Marengo, Indiana. For many years he was one of the leading teachers of Crawford County. At present he is located near Ham- mond, Indiana. John Henry Weathers was born at Marengo. He stud- ied in the academy with Professor Johnson. He read law at Leavenworth and entered the race for judge in 1896, being defeated by Judge Cook by fifty-two votes. He continued the study of law. At present he is one of the leading lawyers of Indiana. He is a man of high ideals and is now located at New Albany. John Richard Weathers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Weathers, was born in a log house near Marengo in 1847. He enlisted in the army in 1861. An account of his war experience is found elsewhere in this book. After the war Mr. Weathers became a teacher. He was principal of the Cannelton schools many years, at the close of which they gave him a gold-headed cane. He went to Washington in 1890 as a clerk and held this position until 1920. For many years Mr. Weathers has been writing a grammar. From his long experience in school work and his knowledge and use of the English language, one may expect this book to be a valuable gift to all. THE END BIBLIOGRAPHY A. Accounts and Published Documents. a. Documentary Journals of Indiana, 1825-1865, 34 vol. These books were very valuable for statistics on farm products and various other information. b. De La Hunt's, Thomas James, History of Perry Coun- ty. This book is very valuable. It has an account of Hines' Raid on pages 239-242. c. Esarey's History of Indiana in two large volumes. This history is one of the best ever written on the In- diana history. The writer has taken much informa- tion from it. d. Indiana State Laws, 1818-1865, 29 volumes, all of which may be found in the State University Library and the State Library at Indianapolis. e. Indiana School Journal, 1856-1891, 35 volumes. Pub- lished by the Indiana State Teachers' Association. f. Indiana Year Book, 1917, Indianapolis, Indiana, 4 volumes. This book gave the vote on all elections and state primaries. g. Indiana University Catalogs, 83 volumes. These catalogs contain the names of all students from Craw- ford County. h. Indiana House Journal, 1816-1865, 43 volumes. A very valuable book on legislation. 627 628 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY i. Leavenworth's Genealogy Book, 1634-1870. This book tells about the life of the Leavenworths. j. Register of Graduates, 1830-1916, Bloomington, Indi- ana. This book contains the names of the graduates of Indiana University. k. Report of the State Auditor, 1848-1865. In all 15 volumes. These books contain data relative to the sale of the school land and other matters of interest. 1. Report of the Secretary of State, 1830-1920, 40 vol- umes in all. These volumes contain statistics on the elections and various other matters of interest to the state and county. m. Souvenir Biography of Crawford County, 1818-1889. This account is very interesting. Much valuable in- formation is in the volume. n. State Superintendents' Reports, 1853-1910, 57 vol- umes in all which contain much interesting work on the schools of the state and county. B. Manuscripts. a. County Clerks' Records. The records of the county are very well written and contain a store house of information for the student of history. They are written in old journals which are very well preserved. Ouley's trial is in them. b. County Commissioners' Records. Many volumes in all. They are written on old journals like the Clerks' Records. They are full of information which will in- terest the student of history. The first book was lost but the records are full from 1824 down to the present time. BIBLIOGRAPHY 629 c. Deed books of Crawford County, several volumes. They contain an account of all land transactions. Found in the county recorder's office at English. d. Ear Mark Book. It contains the names and the de- scriptions of all the ear marks of the men back in the early days when stock ran out. e. The Indenture Book. This book contains the names of all the boys and girls who have been bound out in the county. f. Synopsis Book. This is a book written in an old jour- nal by the township trustees of Ohio township back in the early days. It is a very valuable book telling the record of the early trustees from 1837 till about 1856. Found in the township trustee's office of Ohio town- ship. g. Tract book of Crawford County. This book is writ- ten on an old journal. It contains the account of the sale of the land in the county when it was bought from the Government. From it one can tell who bought all the farms of the county. h. Early census of the United States of 1820. It is a copy made from the original census taken on the above date. One is in the State Library at Indianapolis, Indiana. C. Newspapers Consulted in Preparing the Volume. a, Crawford County Democrat and English News from 1890-1926. A very valuable collection of papers. Both papers prior to 1890 were burned in the big fire which occurred in October of 1890. 630 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY b. Leavenworth Arena, Leavenworth, Indiana. This paper was published from May, 1838, till May, 1841. The three years of the paper are found in the State Library in Indianapolis. It is a very valuable book of great worth to the historian. c. Indiana State Journal, 1827-1890. Copies are on file in the State Library at Indianapolis. d. Indiana Daily Sentinel, Indianapolis, Indiana. e. New Albany Tribune, 1847-1864. f. New Albany Ledger, 1852. Contains much interest- ing news about river trade and other matters. g. The Western Sim. Published at Vincennes, 1824- 1827. This reference contains news of the elections and the sale of the public land and lots at Fredonia and Leavenworth, Indiana. D. Oral Information Furnished by these Men: a. P. A. Allen, Fredonia, Indiana. Grandson of W. H. Conrad. b. W. B. Allen, Leavenworth, Indiana, who saw the bat- tle at Big Blue River when Hines' army was cap- tured. Gave valuable information about Morgan's raid, too. Died last year, 1925. c. Levi Brown, English, Indiana, was a member of the 23rd Ind. Vol. in the Civil War. Died last year. d. George Balthis, Marengo, Indiana, one of the oldest business men in Crawford County. Furnished infor- mation about Hines' raid and the growth of Marengo. e. S. A. Beals, English, Indiana, Ex-Count}^ Superin- tendent of Crawford County. BIBLIOGRAPHY 631 f. Mrs. Henry Collins, Tower, Indiana, granddaughter of Martin Scott. g. Tom Ellsworth, Leavenworth, Indiana, furnished the writer valuable information abont Hines' raid and Morgan's raid. He was a drummer boy at that time. Died in 1921. h. M. C. Froman, Pilot Knob, Indiana, furnished much information about the early roads in Crawford Coun- ty. Died last year. i. Henry Green, Marengo, Indiana, grandson of Judge Henry Green, who helped preside at the trial of Ouley in 1818. j. Luther L. Jones, Schooner Point, Indiana, gave the history of the early Jones family. Died in 1924. k. Elias Leavenworth, Leavenworth, Indiana, furnished the writer much information about the town of Leavenworth and the use of the Leavenworth geneal- ogy book. Died in 1920. 1. Mrs. Peter Ouerbacker, Leavenworth, Indiana, fur- nished information about Doctor Hawn, her father. Also the story of Press O'Bannon. m. Mrs. Sallie Peabody, Leavenworth, Indiana, fur- nished information about Hines. She saw him and talked to him as his army passed her home on the raid. n. M. R. Pierson, who helped capture Hines' men and who was in Captain Aydelotte's company who routed the Knights of the Golden Circle at Brownstown in 1864. o. Andrew Rothrock, English, Indiana, gave much in- formation about the Wyandotte Cave. 632 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY p. M. E. Stewart gave much information about the death of Briley and the hanging of Ouley at Mt. Sterling, q. Turley brothers of English gave much information about Ouley 's grave and his death, r. A. E. Weathers, James H. Weathers and W. V. Weathers gave much information about the county history and the war. s. George E. Wiseman, Beechwood, Indiana, gave the author much information about the Civil War and the early settlers, t. Mrs. Maher, Leavenworth, Indiana, Leavenworth schools, trustee. E. Other Sources of Information. a. Terrel's Reports. These books contain the war rec- ords and the names of the soldiers of the Civil War. b. World Almanac. It contains the vote for president. c. Old Whig Almanac. It gave the vote from 1828 down till about 1852. A wonderful book for such informa- tion. d. The Life of Oliver P. Morton, by Foulk. It has a fine account of the Knights of the Golden Circle. e. Many other sources too numerous to mention. WORLD WAR ROYS The list of the boys submitted here could not be ob- tained in time to list them with the first list which con- tains the names taken from the newspapers. The first list contains the names of boys from other counties, too. At that time there was no way of getting the exact list till the National Government sent the names to the State and then the Adjutant General had to get the names sorted out. So these given here are additional ones : Army George Abel Carter Adams Arthur Adkins Clarence Arter Will Archibald Wm. Armstrong Claud Atkins Fred Atkins Ivan Atkins Benny Austin Guy Austin Omer Baker Roy Baker Russell Barry Forest Bell Coy Bennett Herman Bennett Sam Bennett David Benz Chas. Black Aian Bitner Raymond Bolden Arnel Boman Ray Boss Will Bowman Louis Brandenburg Jesse Brandenburg Claud Brown Rosco Brown John Buchanan Arthur Bullington Oliver Bullington Burgess Burton John E. Byrd Zenor Campbell Levi Carberry 633 634 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Frank Carroll Win. Carroll Raymond Carter Rush Carter Earl Carver Chas. Cline Herman Collins Cressy Cooper Earl Corbett Oral Cornelison James Courtney Wm. Crawford Clarence Crabtree Emmitt Cummins Ezra Cummins Seottie Cummins Victor Cummins Bryan Cunningham Chas. Cunningham Clyde Cuzzort Arthur Davis Clarence Davis Roy Davis Reuben Davis Howard Davis H. H. Deen Omer Deich Raleigh Denbo Torrence DeWitt Vollie DeWitt George Dooley Lewis Dooley Thomas Dooley Chester East Edward East Ernest Elliott Edward East Fonnie Elliott Elbert Ewing Bayless Fears Thomas Finch Tom Fishers George Fitch Harry Foutch Wm. H. Foutch Fred Frans Floyd Fleming Garland Froman Ray Froman Ernest Funk Edward Gaither James Gaither Joseph Galey Lee Garriatt Earl Gilmore Newton Gilmore Arthur Goldman Cecil Goldman Floyd Goldman Oscar Goldman Andy Goldman Benny Goodwin Chas. Green Peter Grant Gordon Green Harry Green Eli Gresham Wm. J. Grime Everett Hall Alphonso Hall Orvil Hall Roy Hall Clarence Hamer John Hammond Lincoln Hammond Esarey Hammond WORLD WAR BOYS 635 Major Hancock Ernest Hanger Ollie Hanger Jonas Handspire Burnes Head Floyd Hedden Frank Henden Frank Henderson Roy Heninger Rupert Higginbotham George Highfill John Highfill Loran Highfill George Hilgert Jesse Hilgert Roy Hobson Temple Hollcroft Harry Hollen Nathan Hollen Thurman Hollen Leslie Hollowell Orcel Hooten George Hoten Claud House Arvil Jenkins Ernest Jenkins Chas. Jones Max Jones Fred Judd Wilbur Judd Wilford Judd Clarence Kaiser Win. E. Kellams George Kellams Wayne Kelly John W. Kemp Henry Kennison John Key Luther King John Land Lane Land Wm. O. Land Chas. Lanham Orville Lanham Walter Laswell Tom Lavin Isaac Lawrence Ernest Leasor Nolan Level Louis W. Lewis Bert Lockhart Harry Lofton Russell Lofton Wm. Lofton Manford Lowe Emery Lynch Chester Lynch Sam McAdams Wm. McDonald Oscar McDonald Wm. McDonald Wm. McDonald Norman McFarland Chas. McGovern James McGovern Chas. May Chas. Melton Wm. K. Melton Dudley Meriwether Joe Miley Ray Miller Chas. E. Mills Chas. H. Mills George Mills Robert Mills Lon D. Mitchell 636 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Earl Mock Floyd Mock Ellis Moore Felix Moore Dewey Morgan Thomas T. Morgan Allen Myers John Myers George Newkirk Delle Norman Owen Okes Jacob Osborn Wm. J. Parke Sanford Patton Zelbert Pavey Chas. Pearson Forest Pearson Chas. Pittman Leonard Paul Russell Pro Johnie Proctor Thomas Eails Mike Eainbolt Herbert Rawlings Roy Real Earl Rhodes Harry Roach Harmon Robertson Omer Robertson Oscar Roberson Everett Rogers Gordon Root Joseph R. Ross Hubert Rothrock Ed Sacksteder James B. Saltsgaver Perry Saltsgaver Floyd Satterfield Arthur Sauerheber Chas. Shotter Albert Scott George Shafer James Sharp Zell Shaver Chas. Simcox Lewis Simson Alpheus Sloan Chas. Sloan George Sloan Carl Smith Chas. Smith James H. Smith James R. Smith Wm. Smith Lester Snider Knoeful Spencer Emery Starkey Ernie Stephenson Ralph Stephenson Arthur Stewart Earl E. Stewart Leonard Stewart Oliver G. Stewart Norman Stonecipher Arlus Stonecipher Chas. Stroud Ernest Stroud Ivan Stroud Reuben Stroud Chas. Sturgeon Jacob Sturgeon Ernest Sturms Raymond Sturms Addie Summers Ermal Sutton Orval Sutton WORLD WAR BOYS 637 Raymond Sutton Vivian Taggart Lon Taylor Merle Taylor Wm. Taylor Fred Thornbury Wm. D. Thornbury Roy Timberlake Ervin Toney Harold Tower Clarence Trinkle Loran Trobaugh Wm. Trobaugh A. R. Turner Carl Unselt John Unselt Douglas Vance Silas Van Winkle Wm. VanWinkle Ben Walls Ben Walton John Walton Ollic Walton Wm. L. Walton Albert Weathers W. H. Weathers C. W. Wells Edgar White Willie White Archie Whitlow Lindell Whitlow Floyd Williams William T. Williams Marion Wiseman Marshall Wiseman Oscar Wiseman Chancy Wright Dan Yates Chas. Zimmerman Navy Lewis Agan Rufus Baker A. N. Bobbitt Ernest Brown Ray Crews Isaac Curts Fred Davis Lloyd Dean Harvey DeWeese Earl Dodd Win. Dooley Roscoe Everdon John Glazier Elmer Hanger Reuben Harris Kay Hollcroft Loniel Howell Chas. Hubbard Wm. Hubbard Elmer Jenkins Wilford Jenkins Raymond Jones Walter Landers Luther Lane Howard Melton James Mills Jesse Mills Iris Mock Arian Mock Robert Monk 638 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY Leonard Newton David Sharp Wm. O. Newton Felix Sloan Elwood Ott Claude Speedy Nolan Pedoga Claude Stephenson Lyman Rainforth James Tadlock Novie Eoberson Floyd Thompson Ivirby Rogers Cecil Weathers Gort Rogers Lynn Weathers Ernest Satterfield • Leroy Wellman Carl Sharp Martin Zahnd GENERAL INDEX GENERAL INDEX ( X umbers after names refer to pages) Arena-Paper 47 Assessors 71-216-226 Agricultural Society 98 Adoption Book Ill Alton 120-122 Attwood 123 Attendance 207-209 Avers 220 Allen 270-271-279-455 Allstott ..277 Adams 380-400-498-379 Batman 7-21-361 Bank 216-426-458-592 Ballard 468 Beals 19-329-377-425 Bell 457-459 Benz 382-390-479-558 Beasley 6 Birkla 126 Bird 574 Biller 224 Bloody 144-247 Black 228 Blue River Meeting House.. 10 Big Springs 153-218 Big Blue Bridge 213-324-332-353 Board of Review 113 Bowles 118-261-278 Brown 494-401-400 641 Bobbitt 372-390-497-571 Boyd 389-477 Bogard 403 Button Mill 457 Byrum ....487-481-597 Bye 371 Bulls 99 Briley 22 Boone 10-110 Cave 114-421 Canning Factory 424 Carnes 199 Carding Machine 101 Census 81-99 Clark 28-140-468 Campaign of 1840 103-104 Campbell 449 Claycomb's Letter 469 Charivari 170 Conrad 44-45-39 Crews 470-473 Cost of the County 111-216-227 Coffee 166 Courting 175 Coal 178 Cole 179 Coxey's Army 411 Cuzzort 415-465 County Board 116 642 HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY County Seminary 64-65-140 Curry 's Grocery 38 County Seat 34-343-406 Collins 234 Deuschar 127 Dexter ' . . 195 Dunn's Article 248-428 Davis 503 Deen 460 De Witt 's Article 544 Doolittle ' 457 Dry Eun Bridge 317 Election of 1824 71-73-74 Election Contested 78 Elections 79-90-92-100-101-104- 117-144-412-414. Election of 1836 93 English 150-381 Earmark 164 Everdon 174-321 Examiners 206 Enumeration 206 Editor of School Journal ...211 Election of 1864 220-324 Elections Continued 222-224-334- 325-347. Eckerty 443 Elliott 541 Ellsworth 462 English Monument 466 Ewing 494 Faulkner 's Whisky 323 Fullenwider 9-10-328 Floyd 11-21 Funk 16-226-487 Froman 319 Flanigan 391-475 Flatboat 141-143 Ferry Rates 67-75 Frye 43. Fields 27 Fredonia 30-444 Fell 's Letter 100 Fund Report 136 Forty-Ninth 238 Fifty-Third 241 Fire Department 436 Green 8-21 Glenn 8-21-129 Goodman 155-406 Golden-Ed Hall 279 Gray % Governor 's Letter . . 346 Goldman 374 Gregory 470 Gold Star Book 502 Hall 21-26-134-367 Hammond 385-394-493 Hanger 478 Hawn 355-471 SUPPLEMENT Jail Received 112 Jennings 3-12 Jones 4-474-475 Jenkins 141 Jerico School 200 Johnson Township 216 Johnson 423-430 Keye 597 Kemp 17 Kendall 146 Kelso 320 Kinkaid 9-10 Knight 279-500 K. G. Circle 256-275 Leavenworth 20-42-49-53 Leavenworth Arena ..47-95-100 (i i:\ERAL INDEX 643 Leavenworth Town 48-56-57-62- 67-446-454. Leavenworth Manufacturing Co 59 Leavenworth Seminary ..63-202 Leavenworth Incorporated 67-448 Land Tax 77 Leavenworth State Lines ... 96 Lyceum 101 Liberty Township 108-154 Hartford 80-186 Harrison 154 Hines 263 Hiestand Letter 432 Hollcrof t 20-124-126-493 Hobbs 190 Houghton 201 Highf ill 488 Huff 480 Indian Hollow Bridge ...11-219 Little Blue 113-217-399-402 Leavenworth and Salem Eoad 132 Leavenworth-Clay Turnpike 135 Lime Kiln 173 Log Schools 185-210 Lemonds, James 217-219 Lynch 225 Liquor 324 Luckett 389-409-470 Land Sale 398 Lee 441 Lodges 559 Mansfield 18-244-262 Mail in 1830 46 Magnolia 118 Marengo Fair 401-418 Masons 556 Market in 1838 95-97 Mifflin 443 Mill Creek Bridge 351 Mullen 597 Milltown 151-152-435-438 Mexican War Letter 565 Methodist Church 70-142-176-177 Mock 483 Morgan 19-485-280 Morton 260 Myers 125-497-516-514 Murray 380 Monk 74 Mount Sterling 2-4-11 McCullum 255 New Albany Ledger 155 Neal 227 Ouiska 3 Ouley, James 21 Occupations 156 Ohio Township 209 Officers in 1860 215 O'Bannan Press 320 Parr, Burton 18 Parker 396 Pankey 439 Payton .' 473 Panic 410 Patrick 216-222-5-6 Pepper 7 Presbyterians 70-146 Peckenpaugh 4-160-162 Pilot Knob 139 Pierson 373-269 Pike Elections 464-482-557 Princeton Eoad Pleasant 378-380 Poor Farm 109-110-148-149-214- 350. 644 HISTORY OP CRAWFORD COUNTY Poor 74-108 Raiuboldt 461-490-514 Rice 388-392 Reunion 384 Railroad 507 Republicans 471-472-484 Ridge 227 Reynolds 137 Riddle 101 Ross 436-516 Royal Hub Co 454 Robertson 376 Rothrock 142 Roads 128-138 Seventeenth Regiment 230 Sixty-Sixth 242 Slick Run 318 Stewart 356-10-21 Springston 360-362 Speed and Co 434 Stephenson 483 Smith 11-15-46-495 Summers 480 Sonner 387-474 Suddarth 391-486 Stock Law 349 Scott 329-11 Soldiers' Claims 272 Sands 11 Scott Township 52 Seat of Justice 66-76-106 Sloan 80 Stoves 98 Salt 98-165-167 Sands 112 Sheckels 11-18 Supervisors 71 School Election 121 Shooting Match 169 Spelling 180 Walter Seacat 220 Tadlock 14-58-184-214 Thorn 30-32-40-46-35-32-34 Tavern Rates 37 Tax Rates Ill Twenty- Third 230 Turley 387-393-591 Toney 77-554 Totten 10-73 Township Trustees 145-223-482- 193-223-492-477. Turnpike Co 414 Thomasson's Donation ..92-108 Township Boundary 87 Tucker .1-36-73 Township Superintendents . . 74 Taswell 441 Vote of 1839 101-104 Voorhees 259 Voting Precincts 356 Union Township 40-79 Walker 4-20 Weathers 12-13-283-406 Wiseman 15 Williams 17-228 Whigs 105 Wyandotte 142-215 Wilks 90 Woodford 100-18-19 Wiley, Elam 66-107 Wolf 's Horse 218 Wright 493 White Caps 338 Whiskey 496 Who's Who 609 Wiser 514 Zimmerman 375 um E Rsrf7oF.amois-uBBANA ^ScRWOR&TY.INI)^ 30112 025377968