Recollections of the Early Settlements of the Wabash Valley

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KECOLliECTIONS

ExVRLY

SETTLEMENT

WABASH VALLEY. BY SANDFORD

C.

COX

LAFAYETTE: ELLS A PART OF HIS INTEREST TO ELS'l'OX, POWERS AND AVJLSON

johnson'.s

of

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tiiic 'rniin:!!,

oi:ai'i;\

—

TIPPECANOE COUNTY ORGANIZED IN 182G COUNTY SEAT LOCATED AT LAFAY'ETTE FIRST ELECTION OF COUNTY OFFICERS DEATH OF SARGEANT DEATH OF JUDGE WILLIAM JONES DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST CABINS IN LAFAYETTE SOL. UAMER's GROCERY DIGRY AND AYRES' GROCEIMES SMITIl's STORE POST OFFICE, cVC. (

liobcrt .lolnisoii,

oui'

i'!l.s(|.,

'nAAVFORPSVILLE, MilV

new tavern

Waljasli river,

tlie

trading house at Longlois, and three

tlie

or four miles beloAv the

Digby, the

].S2o.

kecpci-, lias jnst rctuinod

from surveying a new town on the east Lank of about two miles below

'21,

mouth

pi'oprietor, calls

it

Wild Cat

of

Mr. William

creek.

Lafayette, in honor of the patriotic

who periled his life and fortune for the success of the American arms during the Revolution. Those desirous of purchasing corner lots, can see a ])lat of the new town, by calling at our recorder's oflicc Mr. ('owley, Frenehnian

recorder, or .lohn

Wilson, his deputy,

ing the map, and telling

Iioav

county Ml-.

the

will

it

new county

proprietor thinks when a

gomery, his toAvn

near

stand

good

a

\vill

take pleasure in

lies

to a settlement.

is

laiil

olf

cliaiu-e

.shoAv-.

The

north of Mont-

of

l)cco)uiiig

the

seat.

Johnson says the

ground

is

site is eligible

very thickly

set

after laying off his

sum

a line

with bazid and

vines and large forest trees, which

Three days

I'oi-

made

town,

it

town, altbougli

jdniii

brush, grape

diflicult to

iJigby sold

— reserving, however,

it

survey. to

Samuel

a

small fraction,

the ferry privilege, and twenty acres north-east,

adjoining the

Sargeant for the

of '$240

22

town

plat

— which

twenty acres he subsequently

sum

Sargeant, for the

of sixty dollars.

said

to

fsold

Sargeant,

who was an

enterprising do^vn-easter, and understanding well the

ways

of the

world for a young man, soon hit upon a successful plan to bring out his young town.

As Crawfordsville was

the all-absorbing

centre of business, civilization and every kind

whole country

the

for one

of enterprise for

hundred miles around, he thought if he

could get a few of the prominent citizens of that town interested in Lafayette,

it

would Le more

likely to

come

son, all

and Jonathan

W.

He

to something.

therefore soon struck a bargain with Isaac C. Elston,

John Wil-

Powers, to w^iom he sold five-eighths of

the odd-numhered lots, for the

sum

of !$130.

These new

lot

holders lived at Crawfordsville, and had daily intercourse with travelers,

and fortune makers,

fortune hunters,

ffohn Beard,

as well as wuth

the people's able and popular representative,

would of course have much

to

do with the laying

off of the

who con-

templated new county north of Montgomery, and the appointment

But with

of commissioners to locate the seat of justice.

apparent advantages, Lafayette was quite languid in

and

it

became a serious question with those most would live or die.

often

whether

it

More than

a year after the

the settlers of the

a

wag

flat,'

its

Wabash

jeeringly enquired:

or 'Laugh-at,'

laid out,

"How

rind and go up and grease the

interested,

while some of

1

does your

new town

have a mind

little

of 'Lay-

to take a

bacon

thing, and let the next

The Wabasher

dog

did not deign a reply

to this im2)udence, but turned off with as consec|uential if

infancy,

Avere attending court at Crawfordsville,

come on?

that comes along eat it."

town was

these

all

an

air as

Crawfordsville was then a mere kitchen to Lafayette.

All that wide district of land lying north of IMontgomery county, as far as Lake Michigan, was then called Wabash county,

and was attached to Montgomery for judicial purposes. Those who had law suits, or deeds or mortgages to be recorded, were compelled to go to Crawfordsville to attend to such business, until an act of the Legislature was passed and approved January 26, 1826, entitled "An Act for the formation of a new county out of the county of Wabash, and for establishing the county seat thereof,"

it

was "enacted

that

all

that part of the county of

23

Wabash

contained

form and

constitnte, a

name

the

in

the

boundaries

new county,

to be

therein

specified,

known and

shall

(b'sitj^uated

by

of Tippecanoe."

Elston, Wilson, Powers, and Ilichard d(dinson, as commissioner on behalf of the heirs

shortly

after

his

sale

May, 1826, executed canoe county,

for

a title

of

Samuel Sargeant (who died

Elston and

bond

the even

all

$10,000, to convey said to said county,

to

others),

to the

numbered

lots to said

on

the 4th of

board of justices of Tiplots,

in a

board of justices, as

penalty of a

donation

upon condition that the commissioners appointed

by the Legislature to locate the county seat of Tippecanoe county, should locate the same peiinanently at the town of Lafayette. This

liberal offer of these

gentlemen, with an adilitional dona-

two by Reuben Kelsey, Robt. Alexander, and induced the commissioners to accept their terms, and the justice for Tijipecanoe county was permanently located tion

or

town of Lafayette. Soon after the organization

of the county,

Tippecanoe, wlio were like angels

began to look aiound

visits,

tlie

"few and

for suitable persons to

fill

others, seat of at

the

inhabitants of far

between,"

the various county

offices.

The

sparse settlements were confined mostly to the borders of

and along the streams. At the first election Samuel Sargeant was elected clerk, Daniel Bugher recorder, David F. Durkee, sheriff", John Provault and William Jones associate judges, the Hon. John R. Porter being different prairies,

tlic

held in the county,

Reuben Kelsey and John Bishoj) were elected which T^afayette is and Lawrence B. Stockton was appointed by the (Jircuit

president judge.

justices of the peace for Fairfield township, in situated,

court county surveyoi-.

Samuel Sargeant died shortly after his election, and SamHoover was elected to fill his vacancy. Judge William

uel

Jones (father of the Hon. Mark Jones) also died soon

after

liis

and James Wylie was elected his successor. If I w'as called upon by a lithographer for an original sketch of the town of Lafayette and its suburl)s, as it was Avhen I first saw it, I would in the first place draw the Wabash river, on a

election,

proper scale,

according to Gunter,

meanderings, with a ferry Hat,

skiff,

give canoe,

exact curve and two perogues, and a

its

•24:

keol

iiiooreil

lioiil,

stroet.

1

aloiiy its

next would

aloiiL!;'

on

Ferry

street,

tlio

bank of Uio where

c;i,stcj-u

liank,

.sketcli tliroc or

tlie

liNcr,

lout of Maiia

iicai- tin.'

four rude ralilus, scattered

fioui

Main

street to tlie foot of

canal paeket landing

now

One

is.

cabins would contain Smith's store and the post office Sniitli, tlu' store keepei', lieing the first

post master in Lafayette;

Mr. Smith was quite an cnteiprising, public spirited on the arrival of the hrst steamboats

was

in the

of the

— William and

citizen,

Lafayette landing,

at the

habit of saluting them with a "big gun," by boring a

stump, charging

it

heavily with j^owder, and touching

it off

with

was "rounding-to" to _land at the foot of Main street. And often, wlien trade became a little dull, he wouhl charge a stump and fire it off in order to bring in tln' country people to trade at his store. One morning the report of a heavy cannon was heard near the landing. The a slow match, about the time the steamer

citizens of the village ran

down

(>n passing

to see the steamer.

Smith's store, they saw the proprietor lying upon his back

oil

the floor, and several shelves of broken crockei-y and a shivered

door-facing were lying smashed up around him. They pi(dve(i up the [uostrate merchant, who, after he partially came to himself, eu(|uii-ed "Is Mouser sale? 1 thought 1 Avould give then\ :

a hlizzan/, but 1 guess I've got the worst of

He

{\wi\.

large

explained jnatters

stump that stood not

l)y

far

^louser sale?"

is

it.

pointing to the fragments of a

from his

which he said he

store,

Duponfs liest poAvder, and he had made a sad mistake in

charged with about a half pound of

touched

off l)y a

slow match

— that

putting the peg that served to plug up the auger-hole on the side of the

stump facing

liis

store,

and while he

the door-cheek to witness the explosion, the

Avas

peeping round

powder

ignited, sent

the plug against the door-facing in front of him, shivering

it

to

knocking out a bjg of the house, smashing his crockery, and well nigh using xip tlie ])roprietor. By noon the country pieces,

people for

many

miles aron this pond, which bore the euphonious name of "Lake Htansbur)'," 1 would draw a squad of juveniles skating upon the ice. as T have often seen them, some with skates, somo with shoes, and some bare-footed. Isaac Edwards and family resided in a cabin on the hill, on the ground where the White House now stands, on the corner of

of ground.

(/olumhia and Missouii streets; and his hrick yard lay

John

the hog, Avhere

frame palace, with

\j.

east,

over

Eejaiolds has since built his beautiful

its excpaisite

arbors and surroundings.

would draw ^latthias Peterwhich lay back under the hill, about where Wm. Porter and B. Hait's residences stand, south and adjoining the And,

to complete the diagram, I

son's tan yard,

]>roperty on Avhich Jam(>s Spears' splendid I'esidence (

)ld settlers

unroll the

not

in

map

tlie

is

situated.

you who

lived here as far back as 1826-7,

of youi- memories,

and say whether mj' picture is it will compare \\'ith the

t

!

iinsc of

main

coiiect.

1

believe

diagram imprinted on your memories long time ago. I must now leave Lafayette, and give a brief descrijit ion of the surrounding country and its inhabitants. 1 then will attend to events which (ranspired in thefirst settlement of Fountain county;

then return through A\^)rren county, giving a daguerreotype of old settlers and ette again,

oM

tim(\s in

and take

a

Wan-en; and from thence

to Lafay-

second view of Lafayette, in which will

appear a brief allusion to the held at Lafayette,

at

first Methodist quarterly meeting which the renowned and eloquent John

Strange officiated as presiding elder; the Black a notice of a few

ti-ips

up the Wabash

Hawk

war; Avith

river on steam1)oats,

(fee.

As it dums

will take

tbcii-

proper neighborhoods, according to piiority of settlement,

of

some time to look over the notes and memoranthe journalist, and arrange the names of the settlers in

"Xo seliool to-da\',

.so

support William S

Election organized

tenant.

Edward

tuljoining

arrived,

and

KIVH AT CHICAGO liLACK HAWK DEFEATED OX THE CATT!,K OF THE BT/JE MOUNDS BAXK GV THE MlSSISPIPPi HI.=i CAmVlTY AND DEATH. In a

fiiw hov.r.^ after their

orcjanization,

Captain J.IcGeorge's

company proecsdcl on their march toward Hickory creek, determined to partake of the dangers and glory of the v>-ar. They pressed beyond Hickory creek, as far as the O'Ploin river, with-

Finding no enemy

out meeting with any of the hostile Indians. to cneonntcr,

On

they conelndcd to return.

the

first

night,

as

cncampel ou the open prairie, near a grove they returned, The night and placed out sentinels as usual. crCLd:, Iliekory on v/as dark and cloudy, and it began to rain about ton o'clock, rendering it difii^nlt for the sentinels to keep their guns dry. Captain Israelii. Cox, and a man by the name of Fox, were i}i2y

placed within lifteen or twenty paccs'of each otlier as sentinels,

by the sergeant a

Bkij't

of

vs-liioh

of the gnard.

be drew over

Cox wore liis

gr.n

a shingle-cape overcoat,

lo:::k

to

keep

it

dr3%

which

motion Fox perceived, and, taking him for an Indian, fired upon him, the ball passing through the belt of his overcoat, striking the brass hilt of a dagger which the Captain Avore b}' his side, and then glancing downward through the thigh, fracturing the After a moment's pause, several soldiers ran toward the

Lone.

phxcc where the (lash of the

"Don't shoot him

—

it

was a

gun had been sentinel

who

seen; but a voice,

shot

me!" caused them

92 to lower their guns,

which were cocked and leveled on the

indi-

who fired the gun. They hurried to the prostrate man, whose wound was bleeding profusely, which was soon dressed by

vidual

the surgeon of the company.

Next morning the surgeon pronounced it improper to attempt wounded man along with the company. So he waa left behind in care of his two brothers, Joseph and James Cox, David Marsh and Joseph Crouch, who, after his wound would permit, removed him in a litter to Col. Moore's company of Illinois militia, then encamped on the O'Plein, where the town of to take the

Joliet

now

stands, Avhcre he remained xmder the treatment of tha

surgeon of the Illinois troops, until he was able to be hauled

home in a wagon, which his fiiends caused to be sent for him. It was several months before he Avas able to walk without crutches, and never wound.

entirely recovered

While on war,

may

it

from the lameness occasioned by the

the subject of accidents which occurred during this

not be improper to

name

tw^o other sad

mishaps, that

gloom over the feelings of their companions in arms. "While a company of volunteers were passing through Fountain

cast

a

county, on their

and

file

way

to the point of danger, a

squad of the rank

discovered a large rattlesnake near the roadside, which

they forthwith attacked, and just as one of the paily pulled trigger to shoot the snake through the head, another of the

company

unluckily sprung across before the muzzle of the gun, receiving the

ball that

rifle

turing

The

it

was intended

for the

snake in his ankle, frac-

badly.

other occurred thus:

On

the night of the return

troops from Sugar creek, Illinois,

of our

while Major Milhollen was

marching the troops around the public square of Lafayette to muster them out of service, he commanded them to fire off their guns in platoons, in doing which one of the soldier's guns went off accidentally, and the paper wad struck Jonathan Tanner, one of the volunteers, in the side, producing a deep and dangerous wound, which for a long time threatened his life, but from which he subsequently recovered, after long confinement and much suffering.

Although the main body of the troops from Lafayette returned among the people was

within eight or nine days, yet the alarm

93 Btich that they

tbeir farms,

conld not bo iuduccd for some time to return to

which greatly needed

their attention.

Captain Newell, of Warren county, and twenty-five scouts, pressed out as far as Hickory creek, and beyond, and finding no

enemy, returned just about the time the troops were leaving They met Mr. Hazzleton, of Fox river, and Mr. Reed, Lafayette. of O'Plein river,

who

reported that a party of the Illinois militia

had been engaged vv'ith the Sacs at Rock Lsland, and had been defeated; and that the Indian agent at Chicago deemed it advisable for the people on Hickory creek to retreat to some place of

which information Capt. Newell communicated by

safety;

addressed to John McCormick, of Lafayette, dated

which

letter

was published

May

letter

23, 1832,

in the Lafayette Free-Press,

at that

time printed and published by Major John B. Semans, an able

and truthful journalist, who published the pioneer newspaper of the upper Wabash, and who enjoyed during his long and prosperous career in public

He was

knew him.

a true friend,

life,

the respect and confidence of all

who

a kind and affectionate husband and father,

and on

his death-bed exemplified the appropriate-

ness of the words of the poet: The chamber where tho good man meets

his fate,

beyond tho common walks of Quito in the verge of Heaven. Is privileged

Tho

is under many obligations to Messrs. Luse & Wilson, and publishers of tho Lafayette Daily Journal, for access

writer

editors

to old

lifo,

files

of tho Free-Press,

the oldest newspaper printed in

western Indiana, from which their weekly and Daily Journal has

—

the weekly having been a regular and continuous newspaper for more than thirty years past. He also

descended in a direct line

acknowledges that he has obtained much valuable data by

refer-

once to the pages of the Western Annals, and manuscript letters,

and other memoranda, furnished by

Tho were

friends.

frontier settlements of Indiana,

from Vincennes

to Laporte,

with war news, and the people were upon the look-out invading foe, whose presence was hourly expected by the

rife

for tlio

Even our friends in Clinton county gathered into forts, and prepared for a regular siege; while our neighbors at Crawfordsville had their equanimity disturbed, by the arrival of a courier who entered the town at full speed, with tho startling

masses.

94 intelligence that the Indian forces,

were then actually crossing

tlie

more than a thousand strong,

Nine Mile

miles north of town, killing and scalping

prairie, all

mediately precautionary measures were taken inhabitants,

who were

hurriedly gathered

about t\velv»

before them. to

protect

the

into

tli»

strongosfc

houses, around which sentinels were placed, as well ag at

mouths of the

Im-

th,»

and fords of the river, in th» direction of the enemy. Scouts were sent out under the command of the bravest and most experienced woodsmen, to reconnoitre, and watch the movements of the advancing foe, while others wer» streets,

ravines,

detailed in different directions through the country, to inform th»

population of the rural districts of impending danger, and urging

them

to hasten v/ith their families into town, to assist their fellow

combating the hostile sarages, whose whoops thej momentarily expected to hear echoing through the dense wooda, lying north of Sugar river. Evening caijie, but no Indians, Ai citizens in

nightfall the scouts returned with the

news that the Indians had

not crossed the Wabash, but were hourly expected at Lafayette,

which was reported to be in a state of siege. The citizens of Warren, Fountain, and Vermillion counties were alike terrified by the most exaggerated stories of Indian massacres, and assembled in blockhouses to protect themselves against the hostil*

bands of invaders, which

w^ere carrying

dismay and desolatioa

throughout the country. It turned out that these efforts

as the Indians were not within one

at defence

were unnecessarj,

hundred miles of these tempo-

But that circumstance by no means argued a rary fortifications. want of courage on the part of those who used these precautionary measures. They did not know but that there was actual danger, and they wisely acted upon the principle that "caution is the parent of safety." They were familiar with danger, and the bloody tragedies enacted in the early settlement of Kentucky and There were but few families

Ohio, were fresh in their memories. then residing in the west, relatives

A lev; reports

by the

who had not

lost

some

of their near

hostile Indians.

there were, mostly old soldiers, of hostility were

generally

war-cloud would spend

storm of

tlic

Illinois,

and would never extend as

who

insisted that th»

exaggerated, its

and that th»

violence over northwestera

far east as the

Wabash.

Tb.»

95 massacres of

tlic

frontier settlers in

settlements in Indiana settlers

were

territoiy,

loatlie to return

Kentucky, Ohio, and

tlio

were not forgotten,

early

and the

to their farms, to peril the lives of

themselves and families.

They

required

some

reliable assurances that there

was no danger,

before they would assume so fearful a responsibility.

To

allay

publie excitement, Brigadier General Jacob Walker, of the 20tli

Brigade of Indiana Militia, published a report in the Lafayette he stated that "after continuing at the

Free- Press,

in

w^liich

encampment

at

Sugar Tree Grove a

sufficient

the true situation of affairs, he considered

it

his

time to ascertain

duty to discharge a

portion of the troops," which were marched back into Tippecanoe

county by Major Milhollen, and honorably discharged by him on the public square in the city of Lafayette.

N. D. Grover, sub-Indian agent at Logansport, wrote a to the citizens of Lafayette, under date of the 81st of

letter

May, which

was also published in the Free- Press, stating that the Pottawatomie and Miami Indians would not join the hostile Indians. On the first day of June, Samuel Hoover, John Taylor, John McCormick, John B. Semans, and six or seven other prominent citizens of Lafayette, published an address through the columns of the Free-Press, to the people of Tippecanoe and surrounding counties,

most of the troops from Lafayette had leturned, and that was no danger of the Indians in this locality, as the Miamis and Pottawatomies did not intend joining the hostile Indians, calling upon the people to become quiet and return to their homes without apprehension of danger. Thus assured, the people by degrees recovered from the panic and returned to their farms and crops, which greatly needed their attention. that

there

Among Captain A who

man

's

company

of volunteers, from

but

little

suade him from going to war, but go he would, objections and remonstrances from every quarter.

Troublesome from the

outset,

his fellow soldiers every day.

hundred miles into

how

,

beloved by his Captain and fellow soldiers, regarded him as a troublesome customer, and tried to dis-

Tras a

Illinois,

he became more disagreeable to

When

the

company had got some

the officers were at a loss to knovT

to dispose of this camp-pest,

awkwardness

despite of

whom

they feared would by his

or recklessness accidentally shoot

some of

his

com-

96

The captain made known his dilemma to an officer high command, who said he could relieve him by sending the obnox-

radcB.

in

ious individual as bearer of an "important despatch" to

.

The soldier was called up, and his Captain and the superior officer made him acquainted with the important service he had been That in consideration of the high estimate selected to perform. placed upon his capacity and fidelity, he had been chosen to carry an important express to the town of which demanded that ,

he should travel with

all

possible dispatch, day and night, until

was delivered

the important document

was

True

directed.

to the person to

express faithfully performed the laborious service, with ble

dispatch.

Jaded and travel-worn,

The

important paper.

whom

it

to the trust reposed in him, the bearer of the

he

was broken, and

seal

all possi-

handed over the it

contained the

following words:

"Give the bearer of those

lines

troublesome, disagreeable fellow

Captain and fellow but don't

let

him

soldiers.

a

—a

good kicking,

for he

Kick him or

not, just as

a

you please, ."

return to bother us here.

While matters were going on thus continued to progress in Illinois.

is

pest and a nuisance to his

in Indiana, the

Black

Hawk and

war

still

his warriors,

eurrounded by battalions of well disciplined troops that threatened to

overwhelm him, attempted

to escape to the west

bank

of the

Mississippi.

On

the 21st of

May

a party of about twenty hostile Indians

attacked the Indian creek settlement in Lasalle county, Illinois,

and killed ers,

who

fifteen persons,

and took several young women prison-

in July following were returned to their friends through

the efforts of the Winnebagos.

On the 22d of May a party of spies were attacked, and four of them slain, and other massacres of the frontier settlers followed. The militia, called out by Gov. Reynolds to the number of three housand, rendezvoused in June, near Peru; and marched to Rock river, where they were joined by the United States trooj)s, the whole to be under the command of Gen. Brady.

An additional

force of six hundred mounted men was ordered and Gen. Winfield Scott, with nine companies of artillery, hastened from the seaboard, by way of the lakes, to Chicago, to

out;

take part against the Indians, but did not arrive in time to render

97 aiiy materia! aid

— the western troops having

well-nigh

wound

iip

the war before he arrived.

His troops suffered mueh during their passage over the lakes, and while at Chicago, from the ravages of the Asiatic cholera

— an

enemj^

h)' far

destructive than the hostile Indians they

more dangerous and

made

haste to confront.

Between Rock river and (Jalena, Major Demont, \vith about one hundred and fifty militia, met and repulsed Black Hawk and

two hundred followers. This skirmish took place on the 24th The army continued to mo\'e up Bock river in pursuit of Black Hawk, and overtook him on tlie 21st of Jidy, near tlie Wisconsin river, in the neighborhood of the Blue Mounds, where a severe engagement took place between a party of troojis, under It has been the command of General Henry, and the savages. said that in this battle the Indians had fifty-two killed, while the loss on the part of dleneral Henry's men was one killed and eight his

of June.

wounded.

On

the 28th of July,

river in pursuit of

Mississippi,

the main

army crossed the Wisconsin

Black Hawk, who was retiring toward the

and on the 2nd of August he was overtaken and

defeated on the

bank

of the Mississippi, nearly opposite the upper

Iowa, with a loss of one hundred and whites,

it

has been said that but eighteen

battle of the

Black HaAvk war.

fifty fell.

men, while of the This was the last

Considering his fortunes as des-

was seized by the Winnebagos, and in twenty-five da3^s after the battle, he was delivered to the officers of the United States, at Prairie du Chien, and himself and family were sent as hostages to Fort Monroe, in the Chesapeake, where they remained in June, 1833. perate, the foiled (Jhief fled, but

Black Hawk,

in his life,

says that at the last battle, as also in

the engagement with Major Stillman, his flag of truce was disre-

garded by our troops, and hostilities thrust upon the Indians while they were suing for peace. After his release from captivity, the Chief returned to his native

Avilds,

where he

died.

7

—

CHAPTER

—

THE

—

oi'' i-afayettk foreign attorneys first riiYsiOF LAFAYETTE AND THT'ErANOE COUNTY MINISTERS OF COKI'EL OK THE VARIOUS CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS IN

FirtsT i,A\vYi:r.s t;iANS

XVIII.

LAFAYETl'E. Tlie ea.ly Bar of Lafayette consisted of the following

named

Joseph Cox, Andiew Ingiam, attorneys, viz: David I'atlon, Moses Cox, Albeit 8. While, William M. Jenneis, Thomas 13. Brown, Aaion Finch, ami John I'ettit, who were .lo.scph

Tulnian,

all the resident attornies

up

lo the

Circuit Court for the year IFol. Lal'ayette in the

Hummer

October

teiin of the

of 1832.

The

ioreign attorneys

visited our Courts in those caily times, were

B Ihapman,

C.

Eletciier, P. li. Patterson, 1).

Evans, David Walhu-e,

Heniy d

Caleb B. Smith, T. D. Beard, Thos. J. Stetson, J.

Angle, Jos. A. Wright,

Lane, William P. Bryant, 8. C. Willson, R. A. Chan-

S.

and Bunel B. Taylcr. IMany of these atto.iu'ys came from the most remote sections of

LM-

riding those "extensive; judicial circuits" alluded to in

the Siate a

who

Blake,

P.

toH, Eihvard A. Ilannogan, J.

Ihomas H.

M. Curiy, E. M. Huntington, J. Vanmetre, dames Rariden, W'. Quarrels, C. D. Rogers, dolin Law, Septimus Smith, James Farring-

J.

Morris,

Tippecanoe

Buius A. Lockwood moved to

foiniL'i-

ail

I

chapter of this woik.

'I'o

show

the eneigy,

industry,

pei-severance of those pioneei- attorneys, in the prosecution of

t biir

chosen prolession,

1

wcnild state that

John Law came from

Hunlinglon and Farrington fiom Terre Haute; •Fletchoj-, Q,!ari-els and Alonis from Indianapolis; Raridan iiora Uichnion .; Caleb B. Smith from Connersville; Chapman fiom Lapoiie; \Vright and Bryant IVom Rockville; Evans, Patterson, llauiicgin and Wallaic from ( oviiigion; Chandler from WilliamsVin.eiine.^; Blake,

iio.i:

au.i

Lane,


'as

called

of the self-

Avrested the administra-

hands of the legally constituted authorities

of the State, and were meting out

and death

life

the accused

to

according to their caprice, or the hasty, ill-digested evidence pro-

duced before their clamorous court, w'hich was selected from the heterogeneous mass of citizens

who chanced

be present at the

to

wanton assumption of power on the part of the committee, and demanded a fair trial for The power and popularity of the committee wero the prisoner. then in their zenith. They insolently demanded the prisoner of trial.

Lockwood loudly denounced

the sheriff,

this

and threatened personal violence to Lockwood

persisted in his

demands

for a

legal

trial

if

of the prisoner.

he

He

hurled defiance at these "lawless, bloody inquisitors," as he termed them, and warned them, in return, that unless they ceased from their mobocratic murders, he

would soon have them dangling on

the limbs of trees, as high as ever they had their lawless violence.

Judge Lynch's

swung

the victims of

sherifis, bailiffs

and posse

hovered round to grab this lone defender of the law and the right, but a sight of the revolver and l)Owic-knife which peeped from the belt that encircled his stalwart form,

caused theui to shrink

back without executing their designs, and this legal Hercules, clad in the panoply of the law, single-handed, like Luther and Tell, withstood the brav,-ling

moral ate

mob, and displayed

a physical

courage that challenged the admiration of his

foes.

Sm-h

lofty

heroism

presents

a

happily illustrated by Goldsmith's beautiful

most

suldimc

and

inveter-

spectacle.,

lines:

Like some taU ciilT that reurs it:^ towering form, Swells from the vale, and iiiiUwav haves th« sionu; Thou.tch rouiul its breast the rolling ehuulK

Kternal siiiiBhine settlrs mi

its

iire

^prejul,

head."

that hour the power and intluence of the vigilance commitbegan to wane, and in a short time law and order resumed Lockwood's character for nerve their sway in the o

sto.m

party set out on their jounu^y, a severe snov/ which continued with unabated fuiy umil afiernoon, u^lg(>)^ ruts, and wreathing tlie cop>e and caudirakes

)n after the

set in,

filling tlij

in a rijli white robe, until

mother

ivinding-.sheet of spotless purity.

eartii

appealed to

lie

prone in a

Lest the melting snow might

112

dampeu

powder

the

the guards tired

in tlieir rifles,

intending to reload them as soon as the

storm ceased.

them ofl', Hinton

urged on his horses, while Rue walked briskly a few rods ahead of the Avagon,

and Holman about the same distance

they ascended a

some

heard

hill

one

As

beliind.

about eight miles from Louisville, Hinton

"ho"

say

to

Supposing that

the horses.

something was wrong about the wagon, he stopped, looked around and asked Holman

why

Holman

he called to him to halt.

said

had not spoken. Hinton then said: "Rue, was it you that cried 'ho' ?" Eae replied in the negative, but said that he heard the voice distinctly, and supposed that it was Holman, or liimself, that had spoken. At this time a voice cried out, "1 will solve the mystery for you. It was Simon Girty that cried *ho!' and he meant what he said!" at the same time emerging from a sink-hole a few rods from the roadside, followed by thirteen Indians, w'ho immediately surrounded the three Kentuckians, and demanded them to surRue instinctively iaiged his gun to his render, or die instantly. face to shoot down Girty, but on remembering that it vr&s empty, that he

he took ty, at

it

down, and the

party,

little

making a

once surrendered to this renegade white

Being so near two

allies.

making

forts,

Girty made

He

fast his prisoners.

virtue of necessi-

man and all

his Indian

possible speed in

stripped the harness from the

horses, selecting the lines, and such ropes

and leathern

straj^s

as

might be needed on the journey, and prepared for an immediate Ohio river. After securely binding the prisoners, by passing ropes under one arm and over the opposite shoulder,

flight across the

they cut

off

the legs of their pantaloons about four inches above

the knee, and started the horses could trot

them

off

barrels, standing in the road.

of the best of Hinton's

A Delaware

through the deep snow, as

fast as

—leaving the wagon, containing a few empty A

tall

Shaw^nee warrior rode one

team horses, and

led

Rue

as his captive,

Chief rode another of the horses, leading Holman

Avith a portion of the lines Avith Avhich the Avagoner

his lead horses.

Hinton, although he had a

Avife

had guided and six chil-

Avhom he had that morning left at the Falls, Avas likewise put into leading-strings, and hurried along after a fierce-looking The remaining ShaAvnee, mounted upon another of his horses. dren,

horse

Simon

Girty, the generalissimo of the band, appropriated

113

own

]iis

Jto

u.se,

company, then he told

if

alternately dashing

along at the head of the back and talking with the prisoners, whom valued their lives, they must keep profound

falling

tlioy

and make no attempt to escape. The party arrived at the Ohio river before dark that evening, where three large bark silence,

canoes were secreted in a cove on the south bank of the river, some twelve miles above the Falls. The prisoners, weary and benumbed witli cold, were placed in one of tlie canoes, under the care of Girty and tlieir respective captors, and two other Indians,

who paddled other crafts,

the canoe.

Tlic rest of the Indians brotight over the

swimming

the horses over by the lower side and stern

of the canoes.

After crossing the Oliio river, the prisoners were huriied witli great speed into the wilderness of the North-Western Territoiy,

The party made no halt when they encamped without striking a

towards Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta. the

first

night,

until iire,

late

about

some twenty miles north of the Ohio Here a brief pai'lcy was held between Girty and the Indians, in which the point was iliscusscd, whether it would not half a mile from the trace, river.

be best for the party, in order to elude pursuit, to strike immediately for the Indian

town

at

Vincennes,

Girty and a few of the party were

in

the

(^n

Wabash

cennes, while the majority were of the opinion that safest to

proceed at once to Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta.

decided to

make

by traveling awhile

a feint

river.

favor of hastening to Vinit

would be it was

Finally

in the direi'tion of

Vincennes, then change their course and steer through the White river country to the Auglaize.

At dawn next morning the party were threading the town on the Wabash, with

in the direction of the

haste, keeping a spy a few

hundred yards

in

body, and anotlier about as far in the rear.

wilderness, precipitate

advance of

They

diverging about as far from the

the second night also,

tlie

main

traveled late

path as

they did the previous night, and encamped again without striking a

fire

—

a precaution always observed

of this kind, to prevent

by the Indians on marches any pursuing party finding their encamp-

ment, and surprising them while asleep. night, the invariable rule

was

On

retiring to rest each

to place the captives in the middle,

with their hands tied behind thani, and then a large, active Indian was

plai;cd

on

(sach side,

with tomahawks within reach.

114 so that

if

an attack was made on them

in

the night, they woukl

or dispatch the prisoners, if

he ready to meet an invading foe,

ahout to be rescued hy their friends. 'The few

Girty was morose and taciturn.

generally in the Delaware language.

Ivue

words he spoke were

had been

in several

campaigns against the Indians, and had obtained a smattering of ^Jirty at length thought he could several of the Indian dialects.

by the shad(;s that passed over line's countenance at was not entirely ignorant of the Indian language, and took occasion during his temporary absence (which he art-

perceive

times, that he

fully contrived for the purpose), to enquire of his fellow captives if

he had not been in some of the campaigns and battles against

They were admonished

the Indians.

the Indians ever caught

them

in a lie,

to

tell

the truth

death would

l)e

— that

if

the inevi-

'Ihcy hesitated giving an answer. The was pressed with a menacing flourish of the tomahawk. They replied that he had been in several campaigns against the How many? Three or four, v/as the response. Hue Iiidians. table

consequence.

(iitestion

chanced

to

colloquy.

overhear this

He thought

his hour

had

knowing that bravery was esteemed one of the highest virtues by the savages, he approached the camp tire as if he knew nothing of what had transpired, sat down his brass kettle of water he had been ordered to bring, and took a seat on a logby the side of Girty, in a quiet, confident manner. The old At length he muttered out, bo""us savage appeared mood^^ come.

]>ut

"line,

was you ever out

"Yes,

"Was "Yes."

1

was."

in

campaign against the Indians?'* "Four," replied the captive. ('lark at the taking of Yincennes?" a

"How many?"

you with (Jcneral

"Was you

with iiim

when he made

his dash against

and destroyed the Piqua towns and Loramie's store?" At this Girty sprung from the "I was," was the ready reply. while with a ghastly frown lot>', rage convulsed his whole frame, Chillicotlie,

—

muttered' "You played h 1 there! didn't you! I have a mind to split your skull with this hatchet!" but he changed the weapon in his hand, and struck the prisoner a blow ou the head

lie

with the handle. Simon Girty was a white man,

a

Pennsylvanian by

Avas brave, ambitious, and unscrupulous.

of the Indians

He

(whose prisoner be had been

birth.

He

espoused the cause for

many

years,

in

115 Ijoyln'oil j,

iiLs (.'urly lii.s

he vied with

tls'^

most and

his old friend^,

ingenious tortu.es.

and

('rawford,

ami

tlieia

It'il

From

white bn^thicu.

and

cruel

put

thi'Ui

was

lie

on,

tliatthey wer--

i)ut

apostacy.

to

dealli at

the

\>y

most

and

cruel

(he huruing of

(

'olouel

other brave soldiers; and so

S!'\eral

coolly looked

lilundy massac-res ol

tioai'lici-uiis

relentless .ravages (u circuiuveut

pi-esent

>ave them IVoni

attemj)tiHg to

many

to

time of his

tlie

the

with a demoniac

far from most exermdating death, he

satisi'action,

and lohl

lliejn

gel ting their just deserts.

cd' his unparalleled cruelly, ami i'r(;m was announced they were the captives of Simon

Tlie prison;'rs Jiad heard

the

time

i(

(Jirty, they

i'elt

weic subject

that tliev

and bloodthirsty man, j>assion might dictate.

to the

Avould kill

'.vho

or

caprice of a cruel

spare, as interest

oi

blow he had given Kue over the head \vith his tomahawk handle, accompanied by a volley of cui^es. tended to incivase the settled hatred and disgust of the

who weie

t'aptives,

possible,

and

TIu'

forced

dastai'dly

every hour that some one, instead of the h.andlf! of dislied over ih^ir

heads

their

contentment,

dislike as

much

as

when they expected

might feel the edg« tomahawk, which was often brau-

or all of them,

th.e i

c(jnccal

to

affect a feeling of

hrough

slieer

wantonness

o|'

tlieir bi'utal

captors.

The

third

day

aftci' I'lDS.^ing

the Ohio,

the party,

lind.ing that

they were not pursued, relaxed their speed, and turned aside

foi-

and resting themselves and their p)risoners, who were all much fatigued by the forced maixdics, and lack of rest, the two preceding days and nights. Their scanty store of provisions having given out, huuter> the purpose of bronsing their horses,

were sent small

out,

deei-

who,

after a

few hours' absence,

and two turkeys.

returned with a

These were dressed and hastily

broiled on the coals, without salt, and were divided out

among

the

company. Turtle soup, or cookeil i'rogs, would not have been a more savoiy dish to a Frenchman, than were these fragments of wild

game

to the

famished, travel-worn prisoners;

who now

felt

they wei'C beyond the reach of aid from their friends, and weie

doomed

to a fearful captivity,

among

exasperated savages,

who

considered themselves and the whole Indian race trampled upon

and abused hy the steady and systematic encroachments of the white man,

who had

diiven thmn from the shores of the Atlantii"

116 across

the

Allegliauies,

tlio

Mississippi

and were seeking

The

river.

prisoners

them west of remembered the cruel

to drive

circunivention and cohl blooded murder a few j'ears before,

of

the noble Cornstalk, a leading Chief of the Shawnees, his brave

son Ellinipsieo, and the young Chief Ued Hawk, near the mouth of the Great

Kanhawa, and did not know but they might be the would be sacrificed to appease the manes of

three victims that

these lamented chieftains.

From

changed their course for Wa-puc-cathrough the White river and Blue river countries, crossing the head waters of the Wabash east of where Fort Wayne this point the party

nat-ta, passing

was afterwards

On

built.

arriving within a

tood but little of their harangues.

The

council broke up.

told that their cases were not finally disposed

The

prisoners were

of,

but were con-

tinued for the presence of other Chiefs ami waniors. tlie

Scioto and 15ig Tliaini,

davs.

who were

who

expected to ;uiive

lived on in

a few

118 llintuirs iiiiud

impending

fate

was

lilled Avitli

He

liver liim.

gloomy forebodings of u cruel saw in the trial (which

tlioiiglit lie

had been continued for the presence of other chieftains,

and pcrhaj^s more cruel than those who had council) unmistakeable signs of a hard fate.

and children

at

his thoughts

by day.

home,

Avere in his

sat

in

e(|ually,

ihe former

VisiouN of his wife

slumbers by night, and

filled

Could he escape from the ruthless savages, and again press those loved ones to his bosom? Oi-, must he passively await whatever doom they might .determine to inflict upon him? were questions that constantly presented themselves

He

to him.

cautiously whispered his feelings and intentions to

his fellow captives,

manifold sorrows.

who could only sympathize with him in his He said that the affection he bore for his wife

and children Avould impel him to desert upon the

He knew

nity.

— that

him-

first

opportu-

weie greatly against

that the chances of escape

he was recaptured he Avould be killed forthwith,

if

His fellow prisoners i-emonstrated against his

without doubt.

They advised some circumstance might transpire to their advantage. But Hinton was determined in his plans, which w^ere kept entirely secret, and a

attempting to escape, as hazardous in the extreme.

him

to

remain with them and abide the

few nights afterward

it

was announced

trial

that

—

that

"Red Head,"

as the

had escai)ed, taking with him an Indian's

Indians called him,

gun and accoutrements^

There was

a geueial flashing of eyes

tomahaAvks around the encanipnient.

"Look

and

well to the other

many savage lips, while menacing words and gestures evinced how deep -was their chagrin at the unexpect-

prisoners," broke from

whom

ed escape of the prisonei-,

such a thing.

From the

first

a quiet, stoical indifference,

and happy one of the ence enabled

him

three.

they least expected meditated

day of his captivity, Hinton affected

and appeared

to

to school his feelings

the most docile

l)e

The advantages

of age and experi-

and hide his

real intentions,

so that his sudden exit struck the whole village like a clap of thunder

from a

clear sky.

Pursuit was immediately instituted.

of infuriated savages thronged the find

some

aim

for the

might

A

woods

trace of the fleeing fugitive,

Falls

of

the

in the outset start in

stricter

who

in it

Scores

every direction to

was supposed would

Ohio, but as a matter

some other direction

of

precaution

to elude pursuit.

guard was placed over the remaining prisoners, who

110 were plainly told that should they attempt to escape, and

do

so,

fail to

they would immediately be put to death, and they could

not promise

in

how mild

or .sovero

manner; that Hinton's

a

escape had exasperated the tribes, and that the two remaining prisoners;

would most

likely receive less

clemency

at their

pending

trial.

Next morning the most of

tlic

Home

pursuers returned.

eight

or ten only had pressed on to a point where they expected to intercept Ilinton on his

way

to the

Ohio

river.

They were

in their calculations, for late in the ai'tcrnoon of the

man was

right

second da}-

woods about Randusky to the old At times he would stop, and from some log Chillicothe town. or high piece of ground overlook the surrounding country, as if he were a spy. Thus he walked into the midst of an ambuscade after his escape, a

seen gliding through the

half a mile from the trace that led from

of his wiley pursuers, who, after watching his motions for awhile,

crawled from one hiding place to another until they had completely invested

him, before he was aware of danger,

simultaneous ami prolonged fatigued traveler,

whom

yell,

'i'hey uttered a

and rushed upon the lone,

they recognized to bo Ilinton, tiring two

or three shots as they pressed around him, Avithout any other effect

than increasing his consternation at his truly appalling condition.

and disainied, and told to prepare for a cruel death: had often admonished him of the danger of attempting to they would be found as escape, and that " Indians would not lie" good as their word; that night he would be burned at the stake, that the severity of his punishment might deter others fi'om attempting an escape. He told them that he did not care so niuch for his own life; that it was his love for his wife and childi'en in

He was

seize:!

that they

—

Kentucky that caused him

to i)reak

as for himself, he could soon have

away Aom

his captivity; that

become reconciled

to their

mode

and made himself happy by hunting and fishing. His touching appeal to the heart of the husband and father, in behalf of the dear ones far away whose welfare now caused a deeper of

life,

solicitude than his

own

desperate condition, failed to excite the

sympathy of his inexorable captors, who immediately set about making preparations to burn their devoted victim. He earnestly implored them to shoot or tomahawk him, and not protract his sufferings unnecessarily; but thej^ turned a deaf ear to his entreaties.

120

and consummated ing of

tlieir

tlieir

arraugemeuta for

evening repast,

\vhicli

liis

death.

After partak-

they shared Avith their fatigued

and hungry victim, they drove a stake into the ground in the cendry sticks and brush wliich they had gathered for They then proceeded to strip and black the prisoner the purpose.

ter of a circle of

— a preliminary usually attended

to in such sacrifices.

After tying

the prisoner to the stake, burning faggots were applied to the

brush in several places; the war-whoop thrilled through the dark surrounding forest like the chorus of a band of infernal spirits escaped from

Pandemonium, and the scalp-dance

v\uis

struck up by those

demons in human shape, who for hours encircled the roasting victim, brandishing their tomahawks and war-clubs, and venting their indignant execrations on the helpless sufferer, who meekly submitted to his immolation, and died about midnight from the effects

As of the slow intense heat, vrhich literally roasted him to death. the ground, the u|)on Indian who first discovered fell he as soon him

that evening in the

his skull above the ear,

woods sprang in, sunk his tomahawk into and with his knife stripped off the scalp,,

which he bore back Avith him to the town as a trophy, and v/hich was tauntingly thrust into the faces of Rue and Holman, with the interrogation, "Can you smell the fire on the scalp of your old red-headed friend? We cooked him and left him for the wolves

—

to

make

a bicakfast

upon: that

the

is

way

Ave serve

runaAvay pris-

oners."

Shortly after the cruel murder of Hinton, a deputation arriAcd from Detroit, stating that the contemplated movement against the

whites on the Kentucky borders had been postponed; that calls had been made for a general rendeA^ous of the Indians at Detroit;

and

for those at Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta,. Chillicothe,

and intervening

them any captives they might have in their possession. Girty and his party, Avith the ^jrincipal portion of the Avarriors then at Wa-puc-ca-nat-ti, took up their march for the point designated. At the end of the third day's points to

come

on, bringing with

march, the party approached an Indian village situated on the Maumee River, a few miles above the spot Avhere the city of Toledo noAV stands.

It

was determined that the prisoners should be made

to run the gauntlet again at this place; and as the Chillicothe

Chiefs, and those residing at the it

Avas determined that the

Mad

postponed

River toAvns Avere present, trial

of

Rue and Holman

121

should be brought to a final conclusion.

A

generallialt

Their approach was heralded to the town.

was made.

The usnal

lines of

The

painted savages were drawn up on either side of the path.

was the same as at Wa-puc-ca-nat-ti, except that Hoiman's portion was not diluted with women and switches. A tall, active Indian was placed behind Eue with an old sword in his hand. At the given signal line darted down the line, receiving many blows from the clubs and hatchets of the Indians in the line, which stunned him so that his pursuer overtook him and hit him a couple of severe strokes over the head, which well nigh felled him to tbe ground. At this point he had reached a brush fence that enclosed several angles of the village, and, making a bound, cleared the fence and alighted on the other side: but finding his pursuer had crossed the fence at almost the same instant of time, Eue affected to stumble and fall to the ground. The Indian waved the sword over his head and motioned for him to get up and run. The prisoner laid still. The Indian stepped oft' eight or ten paces, and again told him to get up and run. The prostrate prisoner motioned with his hand for him to get back over the brush fence, which the Indian did, Rue feigning inability to proceed. The Indian with the sword then walked back some ten or twelve paces from the fence, and urged the prisoner to run. As nimble as a cat Rue sprang from the ground, and darted into the council house order of the chase

before his pursuer could get within ten paces of him, amidst the

deafening yells of the savages,

who seemed

to

admire the stratagem

used to avoid the jionderous blows of his pursuer. then passed

down

the lines, and

made the

flagellation as his savage tormentors

Holman was much

goal with about as

thought he would be able to

bear.

The

usual feast was then spread.

After the feast was over, the

Chiefs and warriors indulged in the scalp dance, which the prisononers regarded as an

ill

omen

to precede the council that

decide their fate for weal or for

v.-e of iinding

passing over so wild a district of

many

will almost starve to death all

in

game

;

hostile nations of Indians.

You

but about ihe time you have given

to sustain

you

in

iip

your famished condi-

when you least expect it. I see dimly some wild animal taken as game, what it is I cau't It will be a masculine of some kind after that you (deai'ly see. will iind plenty of game, and you will all ai'rive safely at your homes." They stoutly denied any intention or desire of escaping but at the same time told the wizzard that as they had paid him tion,

snecour will come

the carcass of

—

;

for his professional

revelations, that they

thathe'would not divulge, except

had implicit conhdenee any shadowings of

to themselves,

the future that llitted over his sand-covered deer-skin.

The

old

Prophet, acting upon the principle of letting every one attend to their

own

cast their

Whether

business, said nothing about the "eoniing events whieh

shadows before" his

in regaid to the escape of the jtrisoners.

silence proceeded

with the determinations of the elations he

might make,

had confided

from his not wishing to meddle fates, or

their all to his prophetic

jure his Imsiness;

oi'

from

a fear that

any

rev-

affeeting the interests of his patrons -who skill

and honor, might init was

sim])ly iVom a sense of moral probity,

difficult to judge.

At length the set tinu> I'oi' theii- departure ariived, and they commenced their dubious journey thro' the wide wilderness, infested

with wild beasts, and wild and bloody-minded savages,

128

whoso tender mercies, (with

few noble exceptions) they had

n

They knew

long since learned were cruel.

that as soon as they

were missed they wonld be pursued, and they pushed ahead as fast as possible the lirealc,

whole of the

without

fire

first

night,

and encamped about day-

by a swamp. Having eaten the scanty

in a thicket, almost surrounded

Here they lay concealed the whole day.

amount of victuals they had been able to stealthily abstract from the camp the morning they left, they began to feel pressed with hunger, but dare not venture from their concealment, lost they might be discovered and recaptured by the Indians, whom they well knew would h-ang upon their trail and ferret them out if possible.

They saw no game in gun might

the sound of a

their

swampy

retreat,

and had they

disclose their hiding-place.

They

crawled around and tried to catch some frogs which they saw

plunging about

in the stagnant waters that

At

were unable to catch even one frog.

surrounded them; but

dai'k they

ventured out

from their lurking-place, and pursued their perilous journey thro' the woods, gnided by the stars, when they shone, and when they were obscured, by the moss that grew on the north side of the trees

—

a

fact

well

known

to

all

woodsmen.

Just before day

they found a suitable place to ensconce themselves, where they laid

down without

striking a

fire,

weary and hungry.

night they had made several fruitless

efforts to

During the

catch rabbits, and

game that they had started up during their nightAlthough Rue was well acquainted with the country through which they were passing, (having traveled it over and over in company with his adopted brother, who saved him from the stake, and from whom he might have made his escape at different times) and where he might find any quantity of game yet he well knew the imminent danger that would attend their other kinds of ly journey.

;

appearance at a deer-lick, or fishing-place frequented by the In-

Well knowing the cunning and persistent efforts that would be put forth by the Indians to retake them, they deemed dians.

it

rashness in the extreme to

mined not

fire off

their guns,

and were

deter-

do so, excej)t to prevent starvation. The morning of the third day found them so weak and exhausted by travel and hunger, that it was determined that Rue, who was a good hunter, to

He spent the most of the hunting but found no game, not even a bird nor a squirrel

should venture out in quest of game.

day

in

129 to appease their

gnawing hunger.

ed the streams that led into the

abounded with

fine fish,

By

but having no

wire to construct any out

ui",

this

Wabash

fisii

they deemed

tempt to spear any by torch-light. night without eating, or stopping to

they had reachwhich Rue knew hooks witii them, nor ti;iie

river,

it

too hazai'dous to at-

80 they traveled on all that rest, but with the returning

morning they sought a secure hiding-place as usual. to become insupportable, and although the woods and streams showed strong and fresh signs of Indians, determined that Iiiie, their Nimrod, must go in cpiest of it was game at all hazaids. lie scoured the woods for miles around, up hill and down dale, but strange to say, he could find no game of any description. A jay bird or a wood-pecker would have been a beams

Tiieir

of the

hunger now began

delicious morsel to these starving fugitives

appeared to

be, like themselves,

About the middle

— but birds and beasts

hid amidst their woody fastnesses.

of the afternoon

Hue returned

to camp, weary, them in the face. Had they wandered thus far on their weary march to starve in the inhospitable wilderness, and their bodies become the food of the night prowling Avolf whose habits they had recently adopted, at least as far as nocturnal rambling was concerned. At length another one of the fugitives arose from his prostrate position on the ground, and said, "Suppose 1 try my luck, or lack of luck Then shouldering the best gun in the company, he once more." walked slowly oft', and was soon hid in the darksome forest that surrounded them. But this persistent effort on the j^art of their comrade brought no hope to the minds of Rue and the other man, who well knew the want of skill on the part of the tleparted But the race is not always to the swift nor the battle to hunter. the strong, wliich was fully verified by the fact that in less than three hours after he started from the camp, the amateur hunter returned tottering under a small three-pronged buck, which he had killed and partly dressed. As he threw it upon the ground "Jtis a masculine after killing it you the words of the conjurer will find plenty of game, and your hardships will mostly be over." flashed across the mind of Rue, who now felt fully confirmed in the oracular wisdom of the old Indian, whose prophetic ken had

dejected and luckless.

Htarvation

now

stared

—

—

—

so far penetrated the future as to see the carcass of tluit deer,

which was 9

so opportunely killed to save tliem from death by fam-

130 If

ine.

it

Avas a

they considered dled,

it

mere coincidence, or shrewd guess of the seer, strange beyond parallel. A fire was soon kin-

and a small portion of the deer

Tne

Avas broiled.

experi-

ence and sound judgment of the prisoners prevented their eat-

ing too

much

them

of the delicious repast.

They now had enough

and the last words of the conjurer threw the rainbow hues of hope over the to last

several days, until they could kill more,

remainder of

their

toilsome

When

journey.

night

arrived

they pursued their journey with renewed strength and courage, carrying with them the fleshy portions of the venison, feeling

comparatively

safe.

from where they

Alt bought they had traveled

started,

reach of their pursuers,

and

j^et

in

all

many

probability were far

they relaxed

birt little in

miles oiit

of

the prudent

course they adopted at the start, of night traveling, and lying

by

and thus they entirely avoided discovery by the red men of the forest, who thickly inhabited the region through which they had passed. Had they been discovered by the Indians Avho inhabited the different portions of the country through which in the daytime,

they passed, they would most likely not have been recognized as

white men, for their dress, gait, manners and general appearance were completely Indian, from the painted feathers and porcupine quills that crowned the turban that encircled their foreheads, to the beads and ribbons that adorned their moccasins, and variegated the fanciful belts that surrounded their waists, bristling with

They found game plenty, and scalping-knife and tomahawk. would have had a sufficient quantity of amunition to enable them to supply themselves with provisions to the end of their journey,

had not an accident occurred, which reduced them again

to a state

of great destitution.

On

the twentieth day after they

Detroit, they struck the

The

Ohio

made

river,

their escape

about

fifty

from near

miles above the

which they had not seen and they set to work to construct a rude raft out of logs, to bear them down its sparkling current to the village of Louisville, where their toilsome and dangerous journey would be brought to a close. But before they had floated half the way to Louisville their frail raft was dashed to j)ieces by the white-caps raised by a stiff gale that swept up the river, and the three passengers with their guns.

Falls.

sight of this beautiful river,

for over three years, sent a thrill of joy through their bosoms,

131 blankets, und provisions were spilt out into

they rCcached the Kentucky

fic-ulty

shore,

tlie river.

With

dif-

and crawled up the hank

lookiny, as they aftervvartls said, like drowned rats.

They

lost

guns but one, the whole of their provisions, and the most In this sad plight they struck of their amunition and clothes. out through the woods for llairodsburgh, where they arrived in

all their

safety, greatly fatigued and worn down by their long, perilous, and wearisome journey through the wilderness, und to the surprise and joy of their friends, wlio had long mourned them as

dead.

Edward Ilolman,

Rue's brother-in-law, after a lapse of two

latter was taken prisoner, concluded he had been murdered by the Indians, proceeded to administer upon

years from the time the

Rue's

and sold a lour acre out-lot, adjoining the village of

estate,

House now was regularly executed

situated not far i'rum where the Court

Louisville,

stands, at very low ligures, and the deed to the purchaser.

On hnding his out-lot

concluded tion

;

and

whom

is

his worldly effects

all

settled

improved and occupied by to take I

air

up

in

good

faith,

and

innocent purchaser, he

no steps to disturb the premature administra-

suppose his numerous descendants and heirs (one of

the writer

of these pages

—-Richard

Rue being the ma-

ternal grandfather of the writer,) feel but little inclined to disturb

a proceeding,

however

extra-judicial,

which had been so long

ac-

Rue married a relative of captivity and was in several

quiesced in by their worthy ancestor.

George Holman, his companion in campaigns against the Indians, after his escape from captivity. On the return of Holman's party of Indians to Wa-puc-ca-nat;

ta,

much

dissatisfaction existed in

regard to the manner of his

from the sentence of condemnation pronounced against him by the council. Many were in favor of recalling the council, and trying him again; which was finally agreed to, and the young

release

man was

again put on

trial for his life,

with a strong jarobability

condemned to the stake. Both parties used strenuous efforts, one to condemn, and the other to acquit him. The votes were counted. The party in favor of the prisoner's acquittal prevailed by a majority of one, and the j^oung captive was again rescued from the stake. While with the Indians Holman saw them burn Richard Hogeof his being again

132 land, a Keiituckian,

who was taken

prisoner at the defeat of Col.

They commenced burning him and continued roasting him until ten

Crawford.

at nine

night,

o'clock next morn-

o'clock at

During his excruciating tortures he begged some of them to terminate his life and sufferings with a gun Finally his cruel tormentors promised they would, or tomahawk. and cut several deep gashes in his flesh with their tomahawks, and than shoveled up hotashas aai e!nb3ro and threw them into the gaping wounds. When dead they sLripp3:l off his scalp, cut him to pieces, burnt him to ashes, which they scattered through the ing before he expired.

for

town, to expel the

evil spirits

from

it.

About three years and a half after Hohuan was taken piisoner, The prothere was a cessation of hostilities for about one year. tracted war had brought great distress upon the Indians, who wished to recruit themselves, and get more trading bouses estabHolman unlished to furnish them with the necessary supplies. derstanding their wishes, proposed if they would send a young Indian with him

who knew

would make application

whom

they could obtain as

necessities induced

them

the v/ay to the Falls of the Ohio, he

to a rich uncle of his in

much

Kentucky, from Their

goods as they wanted.

to coui|Hy with

Holman's proposal. He

in company with another prisoner and a young warrior, started from Wa-puc-ca-nat-ta- for the vicinity of liarrodsburgh, KenThey struck the Ohio river a few miles above Louisville, tucky.

Ky., where General Clark was then stationed with troops and

On arriving at the river, Holman and his two companions lashed their guns and blankets upon their backs, and taking advantage of the current, swam over to the Kentucky side They stayed all night with Gen. Clark, at Louisof the river. military stores.

ville,

who,

after learning the object of

their mission, told

them

to call for whatever they wautjd to procare the ransom of the Thus Holman and his fellow captive, for a two captives. powder, lead, salt, handkerchiefs, &c., were in small sum, paid and in a few days Holman met his Clark, Gen. ransomed by friend and fellow captive Rue, at

Edward Holman's

residence, in

Rue had arrived only three the vicinity of Harrodsburgh, Ky. days before, and the reader can imagine, better than I can desscribe, the transports of joy that thrilled the bosoms of those two noble young Kentuckians, on being released from the perils, toils

133

and sufferings of society of

protiactcd captivity, and restored to the

tlicir

their friends

unexpected retnrn.

— who

were equally delighted with their

Hue and Holinan were hoth

campaigns against the Indians, under Gen. Clark, from

in one or

two

after returning

their captivity.

Both Eae and Holman lived many years in Woodford and Henry counties in Kentucky and in the year 1805, they, with their families, removed to Wayne county, Indiana Territory, and settled and lived close neighhors, on the same section of land, the remainder of their lives, ahout two miles south of where the city ;

of

Richmond now

stands.

Thej^ assisted in the organization of a separate Baptist Church Klkliorn, of which they continued worthy and useful at memhers as long as they lived, and enjoyed the confidence and good will of all who knew them. The hardships and exposure Rue suffered during his captivity with the Indians, undermined his mrturally

years of his

strong constitution; and for the last twenty-five

life,

he was so disabled by chronic rheumatism that

he could not attend to any kind of manual labor, and for the most

was confined to his house and bed. He was gathered some fifteen vears ago; having lived to see all of a numerous family, mostly daughters, married and settled around him. Holman, who also raised a large family, mostly sons, lived of the time

to his fathers

to quite an advanced age, retaining his physical and mental vigor to an astonishing degree, until the last

moment

of his

His

life.

Hon. Joseph Holman, was a member of the ConConvention that framed the first Constitution of Indi-

oldest sou, the stitutional

ana, in 1816; represented

Wayne

county in the State Legislature;

dackson appointed to a place in the Land office at Fort Wayne, and now resides at the old homestead near Richmond. His second son. Rev. Wm. Holman, was for many years

and was by

(.tcu.

Presiding Elder, and Stationed Minister of the M. E. Church at

Another

the city of Louisville, Ky.

represented

Miami county

in

tliLi

son,

Washington Holman,

State Legislature

many

years

since.

Many

years after peace had been csiablished, their old Indian

relatives, as they called

and Holman annual a time.

I recollect

them, were in the habit of paying Rue

visits,

stayiug from one to two weeks

that grandfatlier and

INIr.

at

Holman made

a

134

men and squaws tliat and ordered their ponies to be well cared i'or. For hours together these ohl companions of the iorest, wouhl sit and

great parade over the old vvrinkleil Indian visited tliem;

converse in broken English, and in the Indian dialect, by signs,

motions, looks, and

manner of ways, which used to both asmembers of the family, who were their pipes, and report the contlition of the

all

tonish and amuse the younger often called in to light ponies.

First at Rue's, then at Holman's, and back again, once

was the usual order of these peiiodical which were continued during the liletime of their Indian relatives. Nothing that Rue or Holman possessed was deemed or twice during their stay, visits,

who were always

too good for these guests from the forest,

missed with the utmost

affection,

and

with presents in the shape of tobacco,

their ponies

salt, flour,

dis-

weie loaded

and other nick-

remember that on witnessing these acts of kindness on the part of my grandfather and Mr. Holman towards these swarnacks.

I

thy children of the wilderness, culiar taste: very different

kind.

But when we

thought they evinced quite a pe-

reflect that their lives

their necessities supplied full

1

from mine, and the majority of man-

had been spared, and

by these their adopted

extent of their abilities

— we

relatives, to the

are constrained not only to ap-

prove, but to admire such demonstrations of gratitude for favors conferred in the hour of extreme need.

Holman departed this life on the 24th day of May, 1859 aged 99 years, 3 months and 13 days, on'' his farm below Richmond, where he had resided for fifty-four years. He was calm and re;

signed to the will of his Divine Master.

After conversing fieely

and affectionately with the relatives and friends who surrounded him, he gave diiectious in regard to his coffin, pall-bearers, and plan of burial, and died without a struggle, closing his

own

eyes.

CHAPTER XX. TO TURKEY CREEK PRAIRIE POTTO «"ATT0MIE MILLS LAKE MAXITAU LARGE SERPENT SEEX IX THE LAKE INDIAX TRADITIOX IX RELATIOX THERETO P.EXXACk's FORD OX TIPPECANOE RIVER BEXXACK's want of HOSPITALITY YELLOW RIVER COUXTRY M'caRTXEY's, ox TURKEY" CREEK PRAIRIE HEAD OF TIPPECAXOE INDIAX W031EX, THEIR PONIES, PAPPOOSES, &C.

T^RIF

On

the 10th day of January, 1834r, Maj. C. and myself, accord-

ing to previous arrangements, set out from Lafayette to explore that portion of Indiana comprised within the present boundaries

of the counties of Fulton, Pulaski, Marshall, Stark, Kosciosko

and Elkhart.

A

journey of one or two hundred miles was not then, as now,

performed in a few hours.

It

took some forethought and prepa-

ration for such a tedious and fatiguing journey in those days.

Good

horses, saddles,

and saddle-bags, well

stuffed

with necessa-

The first day we reached Delphi about 1 o'clock P. M., and stayed over night .at Lockport. The next day we reached Logansport by noon, ries for a frontier

ranger were carefully provided.

and the same night stopped at a farm house some six miles north of Logansport on the Michigan road: having ridden leisurely and •examined the lands on Eel river for the most of the afternoon being "land hunters" on the look out for land to enter. frontier landlord advised us to

erected at the outlet of

go on

to the

Our

Pottowattomie Mills,

Lake Manitau, some twenty miles north

of where he lived, and from that point to keep up the Tippecanoe

Turkey Creek Prairie. and took up our lonesome journey along the frozen Michigan road, which led through a dense conriver to its head near

We followed

tinuous forest.

his directions

In the afternoon we arrived at a Mr. Bozarth's,

near the Pottowattomie mills.

Plis small,

double cabin, which

136

now

stood near where the town of Rochester

come

us

wight to

—being

the only house

Here we stopped

started in the morning.

was a wel-

stands,

we had

seen after

for tho night,

we

and were

well entertained by Mr. Bozarth and his pleasant and interesting family, Avho, though domiciled in the wilderness, would have

graced the better circles of metropolitan After early breakfast

we

started on

Pottowattomie mills during the ped

for a short time

iirst

life.

our journey, j^assing the

We

half hour's ride.

stop-

and viewed the celebrated Lake Manitau, or

"Devil's Lake," where the Lidians averred a huge monster had

been seen in the shape of a serpent, which defied to snare

it.

all

human

efforts

There was a tradition existing among the Pottowat-

tomie Indians that there was a monster in the shape of a serpent existed in this lake long before they crossed the "hard waters of

the north."

Their superstitious dread of this lake was such that they would not hunt upon

its

borders, nor fish in

ring the anger of the Evil spirit that

woodland

lake,

its

waters for fear of incur-

made

its

home

in this little

which is perhaps some three or four miles

in length,

with a breadth averaging from one-fourth to a half mile, quite irregular, sometimes cjuite narrow for several hundred yards, resembling a narrow sluggish

river, at other places

widening

intO'

more extended sheets of water, that reflected sky and forest like a mirror. The appearance of the ground indicated that it had originally been much larger, and that its waters had gradually receded; which fact was confirmed by some of the earliest settlers of the neighborhood, who said they had fished years before in portions of the lake which had become partially, or entirebays, and

ly

dry land.

When wattomie

the

Government

mills,

officers

were about erecting the Potto-

the Indians strenuously objected to the erection

of a dam at the outlet of the lake, lest its accumulated waters might disturb and overflow the subterranean chambers of Ma nitau, and the exasperated demon rush forth from his watery dominions and take indiscriminate vengeance on all those who resi-

ded near the sacred lake

— and

to

convince the government

of the real existence of this monster, of rage,

which were

and

his terrible

offici als

paroxisms

periodical, they stated that at certain seasons

of the year, the fishes

became so alarmed that they rushed

pell

137 mell to the outlet of the lake iu largo schools, or shoals, to escape the exasperated monster that threatened their destruction. I have been informed tluit Austin W. Morris, who completed the survey of the lake fortlie erection of the mills, said that seveof his iiag-men, while assisting in its survey had hecorae alarmed and made to shore, declaring that they had seen a mon-

ral

water

ster in the

a

man

to carry

— and

it was difficult for him to get a Whether they really saw anything

for awiiiie

the red Hag.

were meiely the result of an

terrible in the water, or their fears

excited imaginalion, after hearing the Indian legends, Mr. Morris

never pretended to say.

In confirmation of the tradition above alluded 1837, there appeai'cd

in the

columns

of the

to,

in the year

Logansport Telegraph,

a communication supposed to have been written by our Artist George Winter, giving a more particular and circumstantial des-

him by a fishing had seen the serpent, which they represented

cription of the monster from an account given to

party

who

as being

said they

"about sixty

feet long, the frontal

bone three

feet across,

with eyes as large as saucers."

The correspondent's description of the monster produced quite among the good people of Logansport and the sur-

a sensation

rounding country, and a party of

fifteen or

twenty daring

spirits,

inchuling several scientific gentlemen, was formed to go to the lake,

on a certain day, with fishing tackle after the manner of

Barry Cornwall's fisherman, haipoons, spears, the Leviathan,

Demon,

or whatever

it

&.C., to fish

might be that by

out

this time

had got a character equal to a first class sea serpent. A sickly season, combined with other circumstances, prevented this grand piscatorial enterprize, which had been planned on a magnificent scale, and publicly advertised throughout the country for

weeks

and his wonderful snakeship escaped the

;

levi

athan

hooks and snares which had been ])repared to lift him from his watery houv, and (perhaps) his capacious stuffed skin from being

Barnum all over the world. From Lake Manitau we proceeded on our

exhibited by

pecanoe.

Our

trace passed

journey up the Tip-

through the timber land of the Yel-

—

low River country which reminded me of the dense forests of Hamilton and Boone counties. We were told that we would no see a

house

after leaving the mills, except that of

Bennack, a

half

138 breed, and one of the head

men among

the crossing of Tij/pecanoe river, nntil

an ohl Indian

trailer,

we

the Pottowattomies, at

arrived at McCartney's,

on Turkey Creek Prairie; but as examining

the face of the country, with a view of entering

our

ject of

trip,

wo had no

objection to see

]an(], it

was the ob-

in its primitive

grandeur, unmarred and unmolested by the hand of man.

About twelve o'clock we

arrived at the crossing of Tippecanoe,

about half a mile below Bennack's village

Here we alighted and

partook of our noon lunch, and examined the ford where our road

The ice had melted away fiom the shore Avhere more than a rod, while the rest of the stream was coveied Avith ice which appeared sufficiently strong to bear up our horses, piovided we could get them upon it. As the horse I rode was the lightest, we concluded to lead him in and pass him over first, which was done with much difficulty, as the edge of the ice where the horse first reached it, struck him about the middle of his breast, and he by much uiging spiaing upon it with a bound. It With diffibore him up, and he was led to the opposite shore. crossed the river.

we were

culty

for

we got

the Majoi's horse to the edge of the

much coaxing and bound

— the

patting upon his head,

ice broke;

—he made one

he

made another

spring, and

and

ice,

we got him it

to

after

make

a

broke again

plunge after another until he broke the ford open

from one side of the stream clinging hold of the

to the other,

l)ridlo jcins

the Major meanwhile

on the upper side to prevent the

deep strong current from drawing the horse under the

ice.

We

mounted our horses shivering with cold, and rattling with icicles, and hastened to Bennack's to warm, and dry ourselves and horses. Imagine our surprise and chagrin, when calling at his cabin door for admittance, he, alter

much

dcday, cautiously opened

a few inches only, and asked what

sad plight, and that his

lire.

we wished

He made no

we wanted.

tlie

door

We told him our

to stop a few minutes to Avarm

by

reply, but immediately closed the door in

our face. The Indians peeped out from their wigwams which surrounded Bennack's cabin, with evident surprise and mortification at his

would

want of

stop at a

hospitality.

For a moment we thought we

wigwam and warm by

the Indians' camp-fire, but

changed our mind, and rode on along the trace Prairie, wet, cold, and slightly out of humor.

to

Tuikey Creek

Late in the evening we arrived at McCaitney's, on the south

139 side of Turkoy Creek Prairie, near the cluster of lakes that form

McCartney had married a daugliter of trip to Washington City, to pro-

the head of Tippecanoe.

Bennack, and was absent on a

cure a patent, as we were informed, for a section of reserve land,

which he had married with

his

young squaw."

"pretty

Ben.

Murst, Esq., one of Indiana's okUist lawyers, and one of General Harrison's aids at the

I^attle of

Tippecanoe, resided at McCart-

ney's during his absence to Washington, to sujjerinteud his business; and to guard his wife

who had become

father,

Mary from being

spirited

dissatisfied ^vith the match,

away by lier and declared

the marriage a nullity:

having been solemnized by an

Cass county, on Indian

territory,

the jurisdiction of the

We

sj^i^'it

the big and

of what

twu

little

now

lies

which he

insisted

officer of

was without

officer.

or three da3's in looking at the country surrounding

Turkey Creek

Prairies,

and passing over portions

within the limits of Marshall, Elkhart and Kosci-

osco counties, then a wild, uncultivated region, which contained fifty

Indians for every white man.

But few white families had

peaetrated this front ier region, and the Major and myself conclu-

ded tluit although the land was rich and productive, it was so remote from schools, churches, and other advantages of civilization ihat

we

way

place-

did not

feel like

pitching our taberacles

in

that out-of-the-

Every day we met with Indians, who were exceed-

ingly friendly, and invariably inquired for Good-ne-tosh (whisky), offering to exchange moccasins, fur skins, or even

pay the cash

One morning a troop of about twenty squaws and pappooses mounted on ponies i'ollowcd lis for more than a mile, beseeching us for whisky, which was a contraband article, prohibi-

for it

ted by law from being bartered to the Indians. rid of

flask of

whisky from

with us

to doctor our

his

In order to get

Majur pulled out a pint saddle-bags, (which we had taken along

such an escort over the horses

prairies, the

in case they

became sick) and held

up as a prize to whoever could ride and take it out of his hand, meanwhile spurring up his horse to a gallop. Helter skelter

it

dashed along the squaws on the ponies to seize the prize, the Major urging up his horse, and the squaws and pappooses goadOne old squaw dashed ahead of ing on their ponies to full speed. the rest and seized the

She took out

the cork

bottle.

The

rest

soon circled around her.

and drank our "verv good health," and

140

handed

it

to another until

and children touching pass

it

it

passed ronnd

it

;

the younger .vomeii'i

The Major told them to and the empty hottle thvowm.

but lightly.

around again, Avhich was done,

The old squaw thanked us politely for the wliislcy, and a few crackers wo had given to the children, and invited «b in the grass.

to their

camp about

a mile

off,

which invitation we courteously

declined.

The

liquor soon

made

the old

woman

feel like

pOAvers of horsemanship, and after telling the

rode behind her to"hold fast," dashed off at

followed by the ers

rest,

pin's jugs, as far as

urchin that

speed of her pony,

the children clinging on behind their

and aunts, dashed from side

upon

full

exhibiting her

little

we

to

side,

up and down,

moth-

like Gil-

could see them, and their wild halloo rxnag

the air for several minutes after they turned into the timber

where

their village stood.

While

McCartney's we got sight of

at

his

"handsome young

squaw," of whose beauty we had heard so much. She appearetl to be about twenty years of age, of medium stature, thick set,, and was handsomely dressed in Indian costx;me.

many handsomer her being

I

have

seen.'

Indian women, and thought at the time, that

Bennack's daughter, and owning a section of land,

added charms that could not be appreciated by every beholder.

A graphic

Bennack may be seen in a group of porhead men, and warriors of the Pottowattomie nation, in the studio of our able artist George Winter, whose paintings are much admired by all judges of the fine artslikeness of

traits of distinguished Chiefs,

This group of portraits of the chiefs and braves of a once powerful

the

and warlike

Wabash, and

race,

with

many

landscape views af scene.? on

other rare productions of his pencil, are of ines-

timable value to posterity, on account of their tions.

lifelike

delinea-

CHAPTER

XXI.

eXEAMDOAT TRU'8 TO LOOANSPOKT AND PERU IN 1834-'o5 DIFKlCOLTIES OF NAVIGATION, HOW OVERCOME AFFRAY AT PERU, AND THE STEAMER SCIENCE DRIVEN FROM THE WHARF F>Y THE EXCITED LABORERS ON THE LINE OF THE CANAL. Altliongh Lafayette was generally regarded as the Lead of steamboat navigation on the Wabash, yet many boats ascended as high np the river as Delphi, and even higher; and Logansport

and Peru put

in their claims for the

steamboat navigation.

The merchants

honor of being

the

head of

of these two last mentioned

towns, having previously had their goods landed at Lafayette and Delphi, became tired of hauling them in wagons, or conveying

•them by keel-boats the balance of the way, were anxious

would engage

to deliver

them

at the

to

ship

and Pittsburg, that

their goods on boats at Cincinnati, Louisville

wharves of their respective

towns.

A

few light draught steamers were secured, whose masters to gratify those merchants, in case the stage of the wa-

promised

permitted

vtet

when they

During the June

arrived on the upper

Wabash.

freshet in 1834, a little steamer, called the

Republican, advertised that she would leave the wharf at Lafayette

for

Logansport on a given day.

A few

of us concluded to

take a pleasure trip on the Republican, and be of the pioneer

steamboat that would land at Logansport, a thriving town situated at the coniluence of the

of a beautiful and

fertile

Wabash and Eel

region of country.

rivers, in the

At

heart

the hour appointed

the Republican

left the landing at Lafayette, under a good head of steam, and " walked the waters like a thing of liib."

We

— 142 soon passed Cedar Bluffs, Davis' Feiry, the nronlfis of Wild Cat and Tippecanoe, and began to anticipate a Cjuick and sncces.sful trip. But soon after passing the Delphi landing, the boat stuck fast

upon a sand-bar, which detained us for several hours. Anotlier and another obstruction was met with every few miles, which were overcome with much difficulty, labor, and delay. At eacli .successive sand-bar the most of the boat's crew, and many of the, passengers

upon

i^ot

out into the water and lifted at the boat, or pulled,

a large rope that Avas extended to the shore

— an important

auxiliary to steam power to propel the vessel over these obstruc-tions.

Night overtook us stuck

fast

upon the bottom

of the river-

below I'ipton's port. "Tired nature's sweet

i-estorer

—balmy

sleep,"' re-invigoratod

hands for the labors of the following day, which Avas spient in a similar manner to the afternoon of the day before, in lifting in At length we arrived at the water and pulling at the capstan.

all

Georgetown Rapids, about seven miles below Logansport, which we was informed was the only shoal water we would have before reaching our destination.

Here extraordinary

efforts

were made to ascend the Eapids.

Col. Pollard and Job B. Eldridge, Esq., of Logansport,

goods on board, and were both laboring

in the

capstan, were particularly anxious that Captain

who had

water and at

that place, and his boat have the honor and advantage of

the

first

steamer that had ascended as high as that

ceive a bonus of several hundred dollars, that a

premium

the'

Towe should reach, p)oint,

being,

and

re-

had been offered as

to the captain of the first steamer that should land at

their wharf.

Several days and nights were spent in fruitless attempts to get

All hands, except the women, and a few others, were frequently in the water up to their chins, for hours together^^ endeavoring to lift the boat off the bar. The water fell rapidly, and prevented the boat from either ascending farther up, or return-

over the rapids.

ing ral

down

the river.

While

at this place

companies of well dressed and

fine

we were

visited

by seve-

looking Miami and Potto-

all ages and sexes, who would sit for bocrs on the bank admiring the boat, which they greatly desired to see

wattomie Indians, of

in motion, under a full head of steam.

After four days and nights^

143

was abaudoucd by

the boat

ineffectual efforts to proceed,

all

ex-

cept the captain and part of his ciew.

Two

weeks afterwards over a dozen yokes of large oxen

or three

were brought down from Logansport, and the Eepiiblican was hauled over ripples and sand-bars to Logansport, and the citizens of that place,

and the surrounding

coxintiy

had the luxury of a

Towe had

steamboat arrival on the 4th of July, and (!aptain (doubtful) honor of being the commandei- of the that visited Logansport; for

ijeen

cost

it

and

after its arrival in port,

its

him

which bilged soon

hull, years afterwards,

lying sunk to the bottom of the

with the waters of Eel

his boat,

Wabash

the

steamboat

first

near

might be

conlluence

its

river.

During the next summer there was another June freshet in (he Wabash, and the steamboat Science was advertised for a trip to Logansport, Peru, and Chief Godfroy's Village above the mouth of the Mississmnewa. The unusually high stage of the river gave fine promise of a successful trip, and some seventy or eigiity of the citizens of Lafayette,

went on board

a majority

for a pleasure trip

of

whom

were ladies,

At Delphi and accessions were made to

up the Wabash.

other points along the river, considerable

The boat reached Logansport without any

our company.

diffi-

There was a large increase of passengers fi'om this point. TheTiptons, Lasselles, Durets, Polks, dohnsons, and many others

culty.

town turned

of the old settlers of the

out,

many

of

them

Avitli

their entire families, for a steamboat excursion, to visit the neigh-

boring town of Peru, and their aboriginal neighbors, and valuable customers at Godfroy's Village.

The boat

left

the wharf at Logansport under a full head of

steam, which was considered necessary to carry her over the rapids a short distance

the ripple

—and

above town.

after

Our gallant boat

pufdng and snorting

without gaining over forty

feet,

failed to

for about

make

two hours

she dropped back to the foot of

the rapids, wdiere several hundred of the passengers went ashore to

walk round the

rapids,

and preparations were made

tra effort to ascend the rapids.

were freely cast into the

fire,

longer and stronger effort was vain.

for

an ex-

Rosin, tar, and sides of

bacon

to create

made

more steam, and another

to get over the rapids, but in

Several old men, and invalids, and quite a

dies remained

on board the boat.

On

this second

number

of la-

attempt to get

— 144 over the rapids,

who remained on tho boat were in great lives. By some means the boat became un-

all of

danger of losing our

us

manageable, and darted in a backward and

wards an

lateral direction to-

rapid current could carry

island, swift as the

it.

On

seeing this sudden change in the course of the boat, the captain,

mate, and several of the boat's crew leaped overboard with a large cable in their hands, on witnessing which

"We

cried,

aie all

soma

The women

lost!"

of the passengers

shrieked and clung to

each other and their male friends in knots in different parts of the ladies' cabin.

I

remember

as I pressed to the door of

ed to spring out into the

ladies' saloon,

rivei-;

tricity the

would go with me,

if

me

to

swim

I intend-

my arms and coat skirts, deQuick as elecwould be immany holding fast to me;

I left the boat.

thought flashed through

possible for

danger, no danger,"

from which

but on opening the door, I found

three female acquaintances clinging to

claring they

"no

of saying,

tlie

my mind

ashore with so

that

it

and just at that moment the keel of the boat near the middle struck upon a stone in the bed of the river, which turned the boat

out into the stream, and she darted like an arrow past the island, upon which she would have been dashed to pieces, had she not, providentially, hit upon the stone, to which circumstance the captain attributed the saving of his boat, and perhaps the lives of a

majority of those on board at the time. After thus narrowly escaping the destruction of his boat, the

down to Logansport again, and Over two hundred barrels of flour and salt were taken off the boat, which hxid that night at tho landing at Logansport and one hundred or more of the citizens of Lafayette and captain deemed

.it

prudent to drop

lighten the boat.

—

Delphi shared the hospitality of their neighbors at Logansport. After

all

the hotels and boarding houses were

filled to

overflow-

accommodate those who could not get lodging oix the boat, and next morning scores were willing to bear witness to the kindness and hospitality of the citing, private houses were

thrown open

to

izens of Logansport.

After breakfast the most of the passengers walked round the rapids,

and the steamer passed over them the

first

effort.

All

joined in congratulations for the success of the morning, which

was considered afavorobleomen for a successful and jileasant trip. We soon reached Miamisburg and Peru, two little rival towns on

145 tlie

west bank of

lived a mile or

and rode out

up

to tire

Having business with

Wabasli.

tlie

two above Pern,

to transact

moutb

my

a

man

wlio

I left the boat, procured a liorse,

business, wliilc

tlie

steamboat passed

of the Mississinnewa and Godfrey's Village, to

and premium of the Old Chief, who and who no doubt well

receive the congratulations,

was highly delighted

to receive the visit,

compensated the Captain

town. I hurried back Peru just as the boat landed on

for his call at his

from the country, and arrived

at

I made haste was stepping upon the plank that led on to the boat, a fight or two commenced between a party that came up from Logansport and some Peruvians, which blocked up The excitethe gangway so that I could not get on the boat. ment ran high throughout the large crowd, and the battle waxed warmer and bloodier. I stood and looked on for several minutes, and was of the opinion that there were at least eight or ten fights The Logansport party was all progressing at the same time.

her return from the

mouth

of the Mississinnewa.

on board, and just as

to get

I

about to prove too hard for their antagonists, out for help.

who began

There were several hundred Irislmien near

&

working on the Wabash and considering it a free

to sing

at

hand,

Erie Canal, who, observing the foray,

fight,

could no longer resist the tempta-

tion to pitch in; and gathering their picks and spades, they rushed in platoons

upon the

who had proved

belligerents,

and soon vancjuished the party them to betake

strongest in the melee, compelling

themselves to the boat, in double-c|uick time, shouting,

Greek

!

the Greek !!"

On

looking up and

down

"the

the line of the

canal for a mile and a half in either direction, Irish recruits were

seen pressing for the scene of action, with picks in their hands, and

wrath on their foreheads. jabers !" rung like a knell

crew,

who

pushed

"We

at the Captain's

off into

Avill

upon the

sink your d

—d dug-out, be

ears

of the astonished boat

command

pulled in the plank and

the river, to keep the enraged Hibernians from

demolishing his vessel.

At

first

the boat dropped slowly along with the current,

the Captain from the hurricane deck motioned for those failed to get

and

who had

on board, to follow along the shore, where he would

land and take us on, after he got beyond danger from the "Greeks," as the Hoosiers in those days called the Irish.

The

assailants

watched the motions of the Captain, and determining to thwart 10

his purpose, .1

wharf

pursued iherioating palace aloug shore for more than

and prevented the landing

mile,

Avith

my

port-maiiteau on

of the boat.

my

I stood at the

arm, a sad spectator of the

panorama that was passing before me, in -which, for a At length I was disa figure in the back-ground. was while I covered amidst the wreathing, swaying crowd, and recognized as shifting

one of the passengers belonging to the boat. A son of Innisfail sung out, "This divil belongs to the boat!" whereupon I was

by moie than a score of the exasperated late to get one blow in the fight, and One felt like wreaking their disappointed vengeance upon me. remarked, "T would as lave kill him as a snake," while another muttered out, "and I, too, would as lave kill him as a nager." I told them that it was true that I came up as a passenger on the boat, but that I had no interest in the boat, nor in the belligerinstantlv surrounded o-ang, Avho

ents

had arrived too

who had

occasioned the hub-bub.

Angry

glances were cast

on me, and several persons at different times lifted their picks to I kept pressing gradually towards the hotel, and dispatch me. crowd kept circling closer around me. At length augmented the one of the party said: "It is a shame to impose upon a lame man

—

see,

he limps."

In an instant the scene changed

protecting the "poor lame

—

all

were for

man," and no returning Roman con-

queror was ever marched through the streets of the seven-hilled

was marched through the woods where mvself and five others from Lafayette, two men and three women, were compelled to remain imtil we could find some way to return home, which was quite a difficult task, as there were no stagecoaches or other public conveyances then lunning between Peru city in greater

by

triumph, than

I

this troop of impulsive Irishmen, to Tarkington's hotel,

and Logansport. I soon learned the cause of the hostility of the Irishmen, and

On the at the thought of the narrow escape I had made. Sabbath before my arrival, one Hoosier and two Irishmen were said to have been killed, and several Irishmen wounded, in a fracas which took place a few miles above Peru; and but a few quaked

weeks before the Governor of the State ordered General Tipton to call out the militia to suppress the riots that ever and anon disturbed the quiet of the laborers on the line of the canal.

A

short time before,

James B. Johnson, one

of the canal

com-

147 iiiissiouers of tlic State,

was robbed

between tliirtv ami which he carried in a large pair of saddle-hags, for the purpose of paying out to contractors on the canal. The money was taken from the store of a friend and acquaintance of the commissioner, where it had been placed for safe kee2:)ing. Suspicion attached to a young man who slept in the store, Avho had hitherto maintained an unblemished character. The young man appeared to be surprised and mortified that his honesty should be susj^ected. His conduct Avas closely watched during the whole of the next day, without observforty thousand dollars of

tlie

in J'eru of

jniblic funds,

ing the least circumstance calculated to strengthen the su.spicion.

A

consultation

was

held.

It

was decided that the

susj^ected

individual sliould be arraigned and tried that night before Judge

Many

Jjynch. assist in

respectable

and

influential citizens volunteered to

procuring for him a speedy and

appointed, the young

man

fair trial.

Avas escorted to a thick

At the hour woods neai-

and told that unless he confessed his and gave up the funds, they would l)ind hiin to a tree and whip him until he was willing to d so. H his pistol,

In a few minutes the scouts returned, with informa-

reconnoitre.

that

tion

the

enemy had taken possession of a grocery near Jameson said that he fell in with one

Fullenwider's store.

who had

advance guard of the enemy,

of the

gun; that he

a

cocked his pistol and demanded him to surrender;

biit

not being

was compelled himself to Wilson showed him that he had not fully cocked the Elated with this discovery, Jameson was for rushing back

able to find the trigger of his pistol, he retreat. pistol.

upon

his adversary, but the captain prudently restrained his ardor,

and gave command forces.

At

for a general

this time

old acquaintance of mine,

Bush

—that

it

and simultaneous charge of our

Jameson and James told

was "no place

me

for a

forced to retreat, I could not run.

army, and told tliem

make

if

to

Miller, the druggist, an

go back and take care of

lame

man"

— that

if

they were

I insisted on going with the

they expected to run, they had better not

At the word "charge," given in a low tone, our little squad moved forward with guns, pistols, axes and clubs, while I occupied the position of Marshal Ncy in the retreat from Moscow, bringing up the rear, being unable to keep up with the main body. The grocery was soon surrounded, and our captain demanded the enemy to surrender. After a biio'" |i,iilcy, two or the charge.

150

eame out tn ngree upon terms of capitulation. who they were that had caused the discovered was As They alarm, our captain's wrath coukl scarcely be restrained. were a few drunken revelers of the town, who, to get up an excitement, had fired off guns, cried murder in the Irish brogue, smashed in the windows and doors of the grocery, pounded on empty whiskey barrels with hoop-poles, (fee. all for fun. Capt. Wilson three of the insiders

soon as

it

—

felt

so indignant at the drunken rowdies, that he pulled off his

shot-pouch and hung

it

upon the muzzle of

his gun,

which he

leaned up against the side of the grocery, and was about to thrash a few of the leaders of the maudlin band.

Next morning a few of the ring-leaders of the bacchanalian band were arrested, tried, mulct in heavy fines, and sent down to Logansport and imprisoned for several weeks there being no jail in Peru at the time. Three weeks after leaving Lafayette, to which place I expected to return with the boat, I luckily met with an opportunity of returning, in company with some of Mr. Bush's relatives, who had been attending him during his protracted illness.

—

CHAPTER

XXII.

COLLEGES AT CRAWFORDSVILLE AND GIIEENCASTLE ORGAXIZED FIRST APPEARANCE OP CHOLERA ON THE WABASH REMOVAL OF THE INDIANS DEATHS OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN STATESMEN MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS CLOSING REMARKS.

The Wabash

College, at Crawfordsville,

was projected

in 1832,

under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church. In the Fall of 1833, a Primary Department was organized under the charge of Professor Mills,

who

ever since has

been connected with said

College, except one term he served in the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for this

State.

granted in the Winter of 1833-4. of the

The College

Piev.

charter

was

Elihu Baldwin, pastor

Seventh Prcsbvterian Churcli of

New York

citv,

was

;i5i

DecemLer, 18o4, with the followingE. (). Hovej^ Trofessor of Ehetoric and

elioseu its first President in

faculty

and

Belles

Lettrcs; Calelj Mills,

ofiicers, viz:

Thompson, Professor

Languages; John S. and Robert C. Gregory,

Profcssoi- of

of Mathematics,

Doctor Baldwin Avas a

Esq., Treasurer.

of heart and urbanity of manners.

man

of great kindness

His style of eloquence was

simple, persuasive, charming. His valuable services terminated by death on the 15th day of October, 1840. The students in a body visited him on his death-bed, and when asked, "Have you any message for the students?" his reply was, "Tell them to seelfirst the kingdom of God; mi/ heart's desire and proi/er to God is, that they may he saved." These were his last words. The Indiana Asbury University, at (Jreencastlc, was incorporated January 10, 1837, under the patronage of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the State. The "Preparatory Department" was opened June 5, 1837, Rev. Cyrus Xutt, A. B., Principal. Rev. Matthew Simpson, A. M. (now Bishop Simpson), was His associates were Rev. elected first President in May, 1839. C. Nutt, Professor of Latin and Greek; Rev. J. W. Weakley, A, B., Principal of Preparatory

Department; the I'rustees named in

the act of incorporation were: Robert R. Roberts,

John Cowgill,

A. C. Stevenson, Wm. IL Thornburgli, William Talbott, Rees Hardesty, Joseph Crow, John W. (Jsborn, Thomas Robinson, Hiram ll Talbott, James Montgomery, Daniel Sigler, Isaac

Watkins, Tarwin

W.

Cowgill, W^m. Lee,

Wm.

K. Cooper, Cal-

vin Fletcher, Gamaliel Taylor, Martin M. Ray, Isaac C. Elston, S. C. Leonard.

W. W.

Hitt,

Joseph A. Wright, Tighlman A.

Howard, and Jacob Hays. Several

additional

Professorships have

been

added to these

Colleges, which have steadily increased in popularity, influence

and favor among the people. In almost every State and territory of our beloved Union, and in foreign lands may be found those

who

look back to these institutions as their

A/ma

Muter.

In the year 1840, Mother Theodore, of France, established

Mary's of the Woods, a Catholic

Female Seminary,

county, about four miles west of Tcrre Haute.

popular and prosperous institution, the Catholics, as well as countrv.

many

and

is

This

in is

St.

Vigo

a very

largely patronized by

Protestants, throughout the western

152 Prior to

tlie

year 1880, a Mr. Eapp, from near Pittsburg,

Pennsylvania,

settled his

New Harmony,

in

colony of Harmonites in the town of

Posey county, Indiana.

His plans in regard

to his society, not succeeding to his wishes, he disposed of his

town to Robert Owen, of Scotland, father of David Dale Owen, our State Geologist, and of Robert Dale Owen, late interest in the

resident Minister of the United States at Naples, and author of

World."

"Footfalls on the Boundaries of Another

Mr.

Owen

used every

mon commimity; pointment. the

effort to

interest of his

com-

but his sanguine hopes were doomed to disap-

Like the majority of similar associations based upon

common community

proved a

promote the

the

principle,

New Harmony

colony

and property in the village greatly depreciated in value. Houses and lots which cost from six to ten hundred dollars, were afterward sold at from two to four hundred dollars, on long credits. failure,

On the 4th day of July, 182G, Ex-Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson passed to the spirit land, while the peans of liberty were echoing throughout the length and breadth of the The news of their death was received by the pioneer settlers of Crawfordsville with profound sorrow. Every conversation in regard to the departed j)atriots and sages, was a eulogy from the hearts of their admiring glorious Republic they assisted to rear.

countrymen. In September or October of the same year, the celebrated and eccentric preacher,

Lorenzo Dow, visited Crawfordsville, and

Many anecwho was of were related many years

preached several sermons, drawing large audiences.

dotes and sayings of this world-renowned minister,

"Methodist warp and Quaker after his visit to the

On

Wabash

filling,"

country.

the night of the 12th of November, 1833, the heavens were

literally

filled

with blazing meteors,

darting about

in every

direction from the zenith to the horizon, resembling falling stars,

presenting a suljlime and terribly grand spectacle.

Many

thought

the day of judgment had come, and that the stars were flying from before the face of the angel that was descending to place one foot

upon

the sea and the other

can be no longer."

upon the

land,

and swear that "Time

Serious consequences resiilted to

account of this brilliant display

many on

of a'rial fire-works.

Some,

153 according to accounts given in the newspapers, fainted and

foil to

became insane, and a few sickly and nervous individuals died of the fright produced by this supeinal illumitlie

others

earth,

nation.

The

passed up and

down

when

several cases occurred on boats that

the river.

During the Stmrmers

1854, this dreadful malady swept over the land, desolation.

and many

many

of

was

hrst appearance of the Asiatic cholera on the Wal)ash,

in the Spring of 1833,

Almost every town and

localities in the country,

of their oldest

like

of

1849 and

an angel of

village along the

Wabash,

were called to mourn the loss

and most worthy

Lafayette,

citizens.

during these two memorable Summers, lost over six hundred of her citizens, mostly adults, among worthy inhabitants.

In the

Summer

the grey squirrels.

of 1834, there

scores of

—which

were

many

was a remarkable

of her

travel

most

among

Their appearance was sudden, and in a short

time the woods and prairies or three weeks.

whom

literally

Men and boys

swarmed with them

laid aside their guns,

for

two

and killed

them with clubs, imtil they became tired of the slaughter at first was entered into as a matter of sport, but soon

became an urgent business transaction, to protect their growing crops and granaries from the depredations of these hungry invaders;

who,

like the locusts

and frogs of Egypt, were not only a

great annoyance, but threatened to destroy the substance of the land.

The the

Bank at Yincennes, Wayne, and the opening of new impetus to the business

establishing of the Branches of the State

Terre Haute, Lafayette, and Fort

Wabash & Erie canal, gave a Wabash valley, and gave a bright

of the

premise of a prosperous

future.

During the years

of iSoO-G,

the land speculation ran high

throughout every portion of our country, and

all

were entered either by residents or speculators.

the vacant lands

The Hon. Henry

L. Ellsworth (late deceased), for himself, and as agent for eastern capitalists,

swept whole townships

at a purchase, situate in

Tip-

pecanoe, Fountain, Warren, White, Benton and Jasper counties, in this State, as well as large quantities of land in Illinois, Mich-

igan,

Iowa and Wisconsin.

The hard times

set

in shortly

after

154 these entries, and the owners,

money invested, besides made it for many years a

who had

to lay out of the interest of

that paid on the taxes of the land,

the

doubtful investment.

But the return

made company immensely rich. the Mississippi was a mel-

of prosperous times, and the consequent rise of property,

many

Mr. Ellsworth and

The removal

others of the

of the Indians west of

ancholy, but necessary duty.

The time having

arrived for the

emigration of the Pottawatomies, according to the stipulations contained in their treaty with the United States, they evinced that reluctance

common among aboriginal

tribes,

on leaving the

Love bosoms of all mankind, by the hand of the Creator. The Laplander and the Esquimaux of the frozen North, who feed on seals, moose, and the meat of the polar bear, would not exchange their country for the sunny clime C olor and shades of complexion have nothof Araby the blest " Then we ing to do with the heart's best, warmest emotions. .should not wonder if the Pottawatomie, on leaving his home on the Wabash, felt as sad as ^-Eschines did when ostracised from his native land, laved by the Avaters of the classic Scamander; and the noble and eloquent Nas-waAV-kay, on leaving the encampment on Crooked creek, felt his banishment as keenly as did Cicero, when thrust from the bosom of his beloved Rome, for which he

homes of

their childhood,

of country

is

and the graves of

their ancestors.

a principle planted in the

.

'

'

had spent the best

efforts of his life,

and

for

whom

he died.

Li July, 1837, Col. Abel C. Pepper convened the Pottawato-

mie nation of Indians at Lake Ke-waw-uay, for the purpose of removing them west of the ^Mississippi. That Fall a small party of some eighty or ninety Pottawatomies was conducted west of the Mississippi river by George ber were

Profifit,

Esq.

Among

the

num-

Ko-waw-nay, Ne-bash, Xas-waw-kay, Pash-po-ho, and

niany other leading men of the nation. The regular emigration of the l*ottawatomies took place under Col. Pepper and Gen. Tipton, in the

Summer

of 1838.

Hearing

that this large emigration; Avhich consisted of about one thousand of all ages

and sexes, would pass within eight

or nine miles

west

of Lafayette, a few of us procured horses and rode over to see the

wended their way toward the was a sad and mournful spectacle to witness

retiring band, as they reluctantly

setting sun.

It

these children of the forest slowlv retiring from the

home

of their

155 •childliood, that coiitaiucil

ancestors, but

many

woukl ever recur

as

They

wilderness.

not

(.ulytlu'

graves

i

liicii-

i-iivcred

which their memories sunny spots along their pathway through the eiulcaring scenes to

felt

that they were bidding farewell to the hills,

valleys and streams of their infancy; the more exciting hunting-

grounds of their advanced youth; as well as the stern and bloody battle fields, wliere they had contended in riper manhood, on

which they had received wounds, and where many of their friends and loved relatives had fallen, covered with gore and with glory. All these they were leaving beliind them to be desecrated by tlie plowshare of the white man. As they cast mournful glances back toward these loved scenes that were rapidly fading in the distance, tears fell from the cheek of the downcast warrior, old men trembled,

matrons wept, the swarthy maiden's cheek turned

pale,

and

sighs and half-suppressed sobs escaped from the motley groups as foot, some on horseback, and others wagons sad as a funeral procession. I saw several of the aged warriors casting glances toward the sky, as if they were

they passed along, some on

—

in

spirits of their departed heroes, who were down upon them from the clouds, or from the Great Spirit, who would idtimately redress the wrongs of the red man, whose broken bow had fallen from his hand, and whose sad heart

imploring aid from the

looking

was bleeding within him. Ever and anon, one of the part}- would start out into the brush, and break back to their old encampments on Eel river, and on the Tippecanoe declaring that they would rather die than be banThus scores of discontented emigrants ished from their country. returned from different points on their journey, and it was several

—

years before they could bo induced to join their countrymen west

of the Mississippi. Several years after the removal

Miami nation was removed

to

of

the

rottawatomies,

their western

the

home, by coercive

They were a proud and once powerful nation; but at the time of their removal were far inferior, in point of numbers, to their Pottawatomie means, under an escort of United States troops.

gnests,

whom

they had permitted to settle and hunt upon their

lands, and fish in their lakes and rivers, after they had been driven

southward by powerful and warlike shores of the northern lakes.

tribes,

who

inhabited the

156

The news of tlie death of General William H. Harri.son, within one month after he had been inaugurated President of the United which office he had been called as if by acclamation, gloom over the whole Eepublic, and the nation was mantled in mourning. The general grief was universal. Funeral processions and ceremonies were inaugurated all over the land; and orations were delivered, and eulogies pronounced, in every As Indiana city and hamlet from the Balize to the Penobscot. had been the theatre of the early struggles and most valuable services of the departed chieftain, and Tippecanoe county contained a glorious battlefield, consecrated by the blood of fallen it patriots, that had been won by him and his gallant compeers was deemed brrt meet and right that the citizens of Lafayette ghonld join in solemn ceremonies, that would evince their sorrow A meeting was called, comfor the great national bereavement. mittees were appointed, a day w\as fixed for the assemblage of the citizens, the order of procession was arranged, and on the 17th States, to

cast a deep

—

day of April, 1841, the Hon. Albert 8. White delivered an able and eloquent oration, in which he reviewed the life, character and eminent services of the de^jarted statesman; whose memory will be cherished by every patriot throughout the land, and more especially the people of the northwestei-n territory,

which sprang

into States under his wise guidance.

In less than

five years after the

death of General Harrison, the

mourn the death of Ex-President Andrew Jackson, whose name will ever occupy a bright page in nation was again called to

the civil and military history of his coimtry.

tinguished for his cabinet and in the

T)old, field.

decisive

A

Tippecanoe county Avas held, for

of

public meeting at

He was

alike dis-

and energetic character,

in the

of the citizens of

which preparations

w^ere

made

an appropriate observance of the funeral obsequies of the Hero

New

Orleans; and on the 28th day of June, 1845, George

Santvooid, Esq., delivered an able eulogy on the

life,

and public services of the deceased, which was listened

Van

character to with

profound attention by a large audience, composed of members of all parties, who assembled to pay the lasttiibute of respect to the memory of the departed hero. The death of John