Boone County, Indiana - Chapter 10: Agriculture, 1914

Chapter 10: Agriculture

Boone county is centrally located in the state of Indiana, northwest of Indianapolis, the capital. It is twenty-four miles long east and west and seventeen and one-half miles wide north and south, containing four hundred and twenty square miles or two hundred sixty-eight thousand acres of land, as good as a crow ever flew over. Originally it was heavy timbered and full of bogs and morasses. The table-lands between the Wabash and White rivers, extended across the county from the southwest to the northeast. Within this table-land all the streams wholly in the county had their source. The high lands were in the central part of the county making it difficult to drain until generally cleared of woods. That was why the county was hard to develop into its present splendid farming condition. There are now within the county upwards of ten thousand miles of ditches, most of them tiled, some of the larger are open, forming for miles the heads of streams. All the streams that flow into Sugar creek, Eagle creek and form Raccoon creek and Eel rivers, are first tile ditches, then open ditches until they widen into the free streams. To do this great work took years of patient toil by our forebears. The reward of their toil has been the opening of one of the best agricultural counties of the state.

Boone is pre-eminently an agricultural county. It has no mineral resources except the best of sand and gravel in abundance for building and road purposes. There are very few factory industries in the county except those that are necessary for the immediate wants of the people such as mills, sawmills, planing mills, and later canning factories and dairies. The great resources of wealth are the products of the rich soil. The soil is very arable and susceptible of fertilization by rotation of crops and commercial aids. Its primitive fertility has been preserved, and in fact by the system of farming now in practice, is increasing in productiveness until the aspiring tiller of the soil is now hoping to reach one hundred bushels of corn and forty bushels of wheat to the acre.

Since the organization of the county in 1830, it has grown from a wilderness of miasmic swamps to fine cultivated farms well ditched and well tiled. There are over 600 miles of gravel roads, the streams are all bridged with steel bridges and the farms well ditched. The census of 1910 gives the number of farms, 2,867; number of dwellings, 6.354; number of families, 6,414: number of population, 24.673; males 12,464, females 12,094, colored males 58, females 65. The number of foreign born people, 131, showing that as a county we are nearly all native-born Americans. The total assessment of the county for taxation is given at $23,929,910, or about $1,000 per capita of the entire population. The assessed value of the land of Boone count)- is $44.78, which is the highest in the state outside of Marion except Benton county which is $51.98, which was ditched out of the Kankakee basin. The lowest counties in land value in the state are Crawford, valued at $4.54; Pern- at $4.67, and Brown $5.10. The total receipts of the county in 1910 from taxes and sale of bonds was $400,124.95. Disbursements, $447,178.83, leaving a net indebtedness at the close of the year of $47,053.88. The county expended for roads in 191 1, $30,524 and for bridges $21,487.

The people of this county have always had a high standard of morals, believing in the eternal principles of justice and sobriety. On the 24th of July, 191 1. the citizens of Lebanon voted to refuse to license men to sell intoxicating liquor as a beverage. The vote stood 667 for wets and 861 for drys, giving a majority of 194 for temperance. Two years later the vote on the same issue was taken and resulted in a larger vote against the saloon than the first, showing that there is a trend in the county against the licensed curse. Thorntown and other points in the county were pronounced against the evil, so we now have a county not only rich in soil, rich in wealth, rich in a high standard of morals and on record to stay, opposed to the licensing of men to destroy our homes by making drunken its inmates. There is not a county in the state that excels us in so rich an. investment for peace, prosperity and happiness. As one of the happy results we give the licenses to marry and the divorces showing, although they are bad enough, yet the divorces are not so numerous as in rum-cursed localities. Marriage licenses in 1910, 190, divorces, 24; 191 1, marriages 205, divorces. 17; 1912 marriages 203. divorces 22. If you will follow the statistics of Boone and compare with sister counties in the state you will find that no other county excels in the essentials of happy homes and a prosperous people. (15)

The chief industry of Boone county is agriculture. Her wealth comes from the fertility of her soil. She has no mineral wealth except an abundance of sand and gravel for building purposes and for the construction of roads. There is no building rock in the county, no oil, no natural gas, but her rich soil which abundantly makes up for whatever else she may lack. It was the richness of her soil that attracted the pioneer when she was yet a wilderness. He braved the hardships and privations of the wilderness in the hope that he would build a garden of a home. He was not mistaken; his hopes have been fully realized. The axe that leveled the forest, the spade that drained the boggs and morasses, with brawny arms and brave hearts to push them, the full fruition of all his hopes have been fully realized - the transition from less than a century ago to the beauty and wealth of today. The beautiful homes and magnificent farms that adorn every section of land in the county attests their judgment and is material testimony of their toil and energy. The position that the county holds today with sister counties of the state is additional evidence of her worth. She holds her place among the ten best in the state in all agricultural interests.

When we take into consideration that Indiana ranks among the foremost agricultural states of the nation we will be able to comprehend more fully what it means to rank among the first of so great a state. The leading field crops are corn as king, with wheat the queen as next in order. Then follow in order oats, hay, barley, rye and other grains. There is also a large cultivation of tomatoes, melons, berries, onions and tobacco. In these later years more attention is given to the cultivation of fruits and large areas are being devoted to orchards in the southern and northern parts of the state. The up-to-date methods of fruit culture is bringing good returns and the fruit is of excellent flavor and quality. It is now concluded that with the same care and attention that this receives in what are termed fruit sections, fully as good returns may lie had in sections of Indiana as in any other country.

In 1910, Boone county was among the ten leading counties of the state in total yield of corn, also in the average yield per acre, 44.32 bushels per acre. She was the fifth in rank in the state in the number of horses sold in 1910. She was also fifth in number of horses and colts on hand in 1911, and fourth in 1912, 11,185. In 1910 she was eighth in the production of milk and third in the production of pounds of butter, 810,558 pounds. She was in the ten counties with cattle on hand and sold in 1910 and 191 1, 7,660.

In hogs on hand she was the seventh in 191 1 and in 1912 sold 45,074. In 1910 and 191 1, she was the ninth county in rank in hogs sold, 62,450. In 1910. in the loss of hogs by disease, she was second in the state, only being outranked in this misfortune by her sister county, Tipton. In 191 1 she ranked as the ninth county in the loss of hogs by disease, having lost 14,353. In 191 1 she was the fourth in the state in the production of sheep, 23,612. In 191 1 she was ninth in number of sheep sold, 13,066. In the same year she was tenth in wool clipped, 83,354 pounds, selling value, $15,592. In 1910 she was third in poultry sold, 12,177 dozen. In 191 1 she was seventh in laying hens, 13,362 dozen. Tn 1910, Boone county stood first in the state in the production of eggs, 1,842,006 dozen, selling value, $206,389. In 1910 she produced 275.966 bushels of wheat, an average of 15.98 bushels per acre. Her average yield in 191 1 was 16.73 bushels per acre.

Her crop of corn in 1910 was 3,112,930 bushels. Average yield per acre. 44.32. In 191 1, she produced 1,033,286 bushels. Rye, 4,802 bushels; barley, 500 bushels. This county was more on the bread and meat side of life than on the rye and barley product. The annual product of timothy hay about 20,000 tons annually; 22,177 tons ot clover hay, and about the first county in the state in the production of clover seed, 9,215 bushels in 1910.

The alfalfa has been introduced of late years and is rapidly growing in favor both as to quality and quantity of provender. In 1910 there were two hundred and ten acres and a yield of three hundred and seventeen tons was reported. There has been a rapid increase of acreage since that date also in the yield per acre. Some report as high as six tons per acre in three cuttings. In connection with the growth of the agricultural interest of the county, we would mention the introduction of ensilage within the last few years and the favor with which it is being received; it promises to become one of the leading processes of preserving the crops of the county.

One of the characteristics of the Boone county farmer is to keep abreast of the progress of the world. Under the new intelligent system of farming that is now coming in, we will expect this county with its base of rich soil, to hold its place with sister counties of the state. It was among the first in the state to avail itself of the provision of a county agent provided by law to look after the agricultural interests of the county. With her ten thousand miles of ditching and more coming, her six hundred or more miles of good roads and a spirit that will soon make every road in the county gravel or macadam, we will be placed in the front rank of the state.

We as a county, hold the distinction of having more miles of gravel roads than any other county in the state. Our soil, our roads, our schools and churches, and the progressive intelligent spirit of our people will keep us in the foreground of advancement and we may expect as much uplift in the next three-fourths of a century as there has been in the past. The brush and bogs are now out of the way. The roads are built, streams bridged and public buildings in position, so there is nothing for us to do except to grow in beaut}- and strength. The same energy and push that characterized our ancestors, if projected into the future, will realize all our expectations. In our imagination we look ahead seventy-five years and behold Boone county a very paradise of prosperous homes and a happy people.

Early in the history of Boone county, her progressive citizens began to talk around about an agricultural fair. Other counties were holding them and she did not want to be behind any of her sister counties. She wanted to enter the arena of competition and show her "pumkins" and other farm products against the world. She felt confident that there were none that could excel her in these products. As early as 1853, they began to take steps for an organization. From that time to the present, there has been more or less interest manifested in this enterprise to place the farmers of this county before the world. There were times when things went slow and it took hard pulling by the enthusiasts to keep it going. Its interest was kept alive and like other enterprises it has grown into a permanent institution. It has become a fixed institution of the county and the farmer, the merchant and the mechanic of this day would not know how to do without the annual meeting of the association. Among the men that were active at the very first were H. G. Hazelrigg, A. J. Boone, Levi Lane, William Zion, L. C. Daugherty, John Miggins, Thomas R. Cobb, 1. M. Ball, Samuel S. Heath, Jesse Xeff. Adolphus Wysong, T. J. Cason, William C. Rise, Jacob Kernodle and many others who can lie named and that have pushed the car along the past decades.

The sessions were at first held south of Lebanon, but early in the history of the association, it began to plan to buy land and establish a permanent home. The first that was bought was on the north of Lebanon, where it added from time to time until now it has ample possessions for accommodation of all its interests, and is well provided with buildings and improvements. About the time of the Centennial of our nation, the representatives of the farming interests of the counties of Montgomery, Clinton and Boone held a meeting and perfected an organization for agricultural advancement and arranged to hold annual exhibits and award premiums. The place of meeting was just east of Thorntown on the Strawtown road. There were several grand meetings held at this place and great crowds gathered annually from surrounding counties and from over the state. Finally these meetings closed and all the interest along this line centered at Lebanon, under the management of the Boone County Agricultural Society. After the centralizing of all the agricultural interest in the County Association, it took on new life and soon grew into one of the most active and energetic agricultural societies of the state. We can not follow its growth and activities through all the years to the present but will give the report of the year that marks about the middle of its existence from its organization to the present time. It is taken from the report given in the Lebanon Pioneer, of November, 1886.

The first agricultural fair was held just south of Lebanon, in the fall of 1855, and was well attended and much enthusiasm manifested. Everybody seemed to be wonderfully interested in the success of the fair and looked upon it as their individual interest and were under obligations to make it a great success. It more than came up to the expectations of the management, and every person went home rejoicing and feeling confident that Boone had experienced a great fair of her own, and she would be hencefQrth recognized along with the great counties of the state.

The stockholders of the Boone County Stock Agricultural Society, met in annual session in the circuit court room on Saturday last. The meeting was called to order by President J. M. Ball, when on motion of S. L. Cason, John Higgins was elected chairman. Treasurer B. F. Coombs submitted the following report of receipts and expenditures for the year 1886:

Receipts

The secretary submitted verbal report of insurance now on the society's buildings and the president made report of purchase of grounds, improvements, etc. The certificate of the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture was submitted, showing that our society bad been properly represented at the annual meeting of that board, and that the secretary had made all necessary reports to the State Board. This concluded the forenoon session. At 1 P. M., the society convened and proceeded to the election of officers and directors as follows : Officers - John M. Ball, president ; Riley Colgrove, vice-president; S. L. Cason, treasurer; E. G. Darnell, secretary; T. R. Cobb, superintendent.

The society voted that the Executive Committee be selected by the Board of Directors. The railroad fare of John Higgins to attend the meeting of the State Board of Agriculture was ordered paid by the society. On motion, the Directors were authorized to appoint the committee of revision of premium list for the year 1887, after which the stockholders' meeting adjourned.

Directors' Meeting

The Board of Directors met immediately upon the adjournment of the stockholders' meeting, and, on motion, appointed the following committee on revision of premium list: J. M. Ball, John Higgins, James Nealis and R. C. McCann. The board selected as an executive committee, Benjamin Booher, William Brenton and S. S. Heath.

One Regular Attendant

Boone county can boast of at least one regular attendant at the annual fairs. John Edlin, living south of Lebanon, at the age of eleven years attended in 1855, the first fair and has been a regular attendant to and including the last fair held August, 19 14. He has witnessed the growth of the institution from the beginning to the present and marked the great changes that indicate the growth of the county and the changes of the manners and customs of the people from the ox team of the fifties to the automobile of 1914; from the simple farm implements of his young manhood to the various improvements that mark this day and age.

Do you know these people? Better make their acquaintance. They are the coming folks, bringing comfort and good returns for all labor put upon them. If you welcome them we will assure you that Mr. Al will be good to you no matter how dry and hot the summer becomes. He has a habit of diving deep into the earth and hunting for moisture. He is a comparatively new comer in Boone and our people are not well enough acquainted with him to know all his virtues. He is ahead of Mr. T. and Miss C. is not to be compared to him. It is true you will have to treat him pretty nice when he first comes on your farm or he will not stay. He resents bad treatment or neglect. You must be sure to give him a good bed to lie in. Make it soft and mellow and give him good food to live upon when he is young. Be sure and see that he does not have wet feet. He is very fond of lime, especially, if your soil is full of alkali. Give him plenty of lime and see that it is made into fine meal. You need not cook it. Another thing, you must be careful of, if you desire Mr. Al to remain with you as a permanent boarder and pay well for his keep. It may put you to some trouble and may be some expense. Do not mind this, for we assure you that you will be abundantly rewarded for all your labor and care bestowed. We were going to call your attention to Mr. Al's dislike to bad company. He will not tolerate it for even one season. The fact of the business is, he is not fond of any kind of company. He would rather be alone and selfish-like eat up all the food you prepare for him. But bear in mind that he will not tolerate noxious weeds.

The way to have good Al - Fal - (there I came near spelling out his full name) is the same as to have good boys and girls. Keep them from evil associates. In short you must not have any weeds in the home where you are rearing Mr. Al. It would be safe to observe the same rule with boys and girls. Be sure that you do not have any weed seeds in the cradle, where you put Al to sleep. If you keep this rule faithfully you will enjoy the wonderful effect it will have on the growth of the youngster, and you will thank your stars for the great reward that he will give you for all your care. Just try it and try it faithfully and see, if you will not really love the new comer and will be anxious too for him to remain with you forever. Ask some of your neighbors, who have been boarding and caring for him four or five years and hear what they will say.

What's Si got to do with Al? Much every way. That is the sequel of the story. When Al gets his full growth and wants to come in out of the hot sun, you must have a good place to keep him from harm. Of course the old hay mow will do if you have nothing better, or can build nothing better. You can dry him out and store him away like you do Mr. T. and Miss C. but let me say a word. I want to whisper in your ear. Bring in Mr. Si. He is big and round and can take the best of care of Mr. Al in the world and preserve all his succulent virtues the same as they were in the days of his youth when he was vigorous and growing in the field. Mr. Si will do for Mr. Al what he does for Mr. Corn. He will preserve him in his natural state and in the dead of winter when the snow is on the ground and the wind playing a blizzard around the barn, old brindle will roll up her meek eyes as delighted as when knee deep in clover on a lovely day in June. She will fill the pail with pure white milk from which will come rich layers of cream and golden globules of butter. Can you think of anything more heavenly on a farm? Won't it pay to adopt the new way of doing things?1 What's the use of sticking to the old when there is a better way? You can knock old Boreas back into his northern home and have soft summer tarry with us the year round if you fix for her. Just fix, that is all. It will not take a bit more work. Instead of skimming over twenty or forty acres of ground to get winter food for five or six head of cattle, two horses, six sheep and a few pigs, make a good bed of five or six acres of ground for Mr. Al, tuck him in right and then instead of buying an automobile (unless you have skillets of money), introduce Mr. Si on your farm to take care of Mr. Al and his other friends when the winter is on and you will have summer in your barns all the year and roses will bloom on the cheeks of your children and everything about your home that has life will be fat and sleek and happy.

Story Of An Autochthon

Our folks are not great talkers, for we never have much to say. At one time in our life we are nearly all ears and we can hear lots of things. We learn the name of persons and objects by hearing. The creature you call man has most to do with us, and says lots of things about us. He treats us kindly at times but most of the time he handles us roughly, and we are helpless in his power, and have to take whatever he bestows upon us. We do not know anything of our origin except as we hear it from his lips. He calls us by more than one name. Most people call us corn, others say maize, others Indian corn and still others cereal. We do not care much about the name but there are those who sing praises to it. Like other people we are classed by our color. Some of us are white, others yellow, red and some actually black, so you see all races are represented. Of course this does not make much difference, the color is only skin deep so far as looks go; and we are all taken in as a class and treated pretty much the same. Speaking for myself, I never knew my mother. Our folks do not keep family records; and I never could learn much until my ears grew. Mother must have been good and kind and withal very systematic. She got a stick (some call it a cob), and lined us children all up in rows, stood us up side by side and scrouged us closely together, so we could not run around and get lost. She actually tied us to her apron strings and we had no strength within ourselves to move. We were all treated just alike. There was no outside or top row in the arrangement. There was a stick for each family and we had to stay together, and in this way moved about wherever the man or some other animal chose to place us. We had no power to move ourselves. The fate of most of us was to be eaten by man or beast. Some little animals would gnaw on our backs and torture us ; others would tear ns from our home and crush us with their hard teeth, and man was worse than all. He treats us very roughly as if we had no feeling. He literally tears us from the place where mother put us, and scatters us in every direction ; mashes us, grinds us into powder, cooks and actually devours us with his teeth. Some of us he puts into great vats and steams and soaks, bringing out the spirit of meanness,in us. Then it is that we get even with him and set him on fire and consume his manhood.

Some of our folks are very kindly cared for. The most comely are put to themselves, kept in a dry place away from animals and moisture and cold. They call us seed kernels. In the spring of the year we. are separated from each other as families and thrown into a heap where we nestle close to each other half frightened, wondering what next. When the days warm up in the spring we are taken out of the bin, placed into a small round box where there are iron teeth that grab two or three of us at a time and thrust us down a hole into the ground and bun' us alive. We are dazed. We can't think what to do. We lie still in the darkness a few days, until we get a sup of moisture and the sun warms up our dark chamber, and we learn from whence light and heat come. Then it is our little heart begins to throb and we realize that we are alive. We begin to search our way out of the grave. We first kick out our feet, reaching down in the earth for a drink to strengthen us for our work. Next we lift our heads upwards towards the light, heat and life. In a few days we feel our life and set to work to come up out of the grave.

Some of us had a hard time this year. We were buried in a few hard dry crumbs of earth. We thought for days we would perish of thirst. Along came the man that buried us with a big roller and pressed the clods down tight on us, so we could not move. Still we thirsted. We tried to press our hands and feet downward but there was nothing there to quench our thirst. The man came along and stirred the blankets about us as if we were too cold. We were warm enough but dying of thirst. If he could only have given us a drink we would have been thankful. We had almost given up all hope of life when the heavens opened and showered down upon us copious blessings. We revived, sprung into life, arose from the tomb, rejoicing with gratitude and joy. The poet sings. "Where near thee rises green the bladed corn," soon we will stand as an army, with banners tossing our plumes high in air, and array all our numerous offspring in close fitting jackets of green looped with finest silks of various delicate tints.

This bill provided for the appointment of county agents in each of thirtycounties for the first year, ending October 1, 1914, thirty appointments the second year and the remainder the third year, providing that number of counties desired such an office.

The appointment is made jointly by Purdue University, the County Board of Education and the State Board of Education. The following is quoted from a letter of Mr. R. W. Imel :

My a'ppointment was made to take effect July 1, 1913. There were previous to that time county agents in three Indiana counties, namely, La- Porte, Parke and Montgomery. At the present time there are twenty-eight men at work, and applications in from other counties, that have not been, filled.

Arriving at Lebanon, Boone county, Indiana, on July 1, 1913, as the first person to fill the office of county agent in that county, I found myself in much the same position that several other men were in at that time. I was an entire stranger to the people and conditions were more or less strange to me, so that the first thing to do was to get acquainted with the people and their conditions, crops grown, live stock produced and amounts of each.

The work being new in the county, as it was over the state, the office was not understood at first. However, office calls came in rather rapidly the first two months and farm visits were made to all sections of the county.

During the second week after being located here the business men of the town gave a reception to which the farmers in particular were invited. Mr. T. A. Coleman, assistant State leader was present and addressed the audience on the "New Vocational Law." This meeting afforded an opportunity to meet people that I would not have had otherwise.

In the third month the school work demanded a large portion of the time and since then the work of various kinds has gone steadily on, occupying all the time.

Demonstration Meetings

Series of demonstration meetings of various kinds have been taken up, the first of which were for the "Selection of Seed Corn." These were held on farms at various points of the county.

Seed Corn Meetings

At these meetings the assistance of J. P. Prigg, of the Extension Department was secured. The plan of meetings was to give a description of ears to select for seed, and then have each person go to the field and select ears and stalks conforming to this description.

The storing of seed corn was also given an important place. While the attendance at these meetings was not large the interest was good, and results of it were noted throughout the county, as man}- made field selections of seed corn as they had not done before. To cite a specific example, I will quote a farmer of Union township:

"Before I attended your seed corn meeting, I had selected several bushels of corn in one day, but after hearing the discussion at the farm of George New, I spent one day in gathering about fifty ears." On other farms, seed corn racks of various kinds were put to use and in the spring individual ear test work was carried on.

Seed Corn Testing Week

The week of March 2-j. was set aside as the week to test seed corn in the public schools of the county. A circular letter was mailed out to each rural teacher, giving instruction how to make the test and the benefit to be derived from it. The co-operation of the patrons was asked and results of school tests carried home to them.

Orchard Demonstration

Orchard pruning' and spraying" has received a rather prominent place in the work. Demonstrations have been held at the following times and places :

Interest was very good at all meetings, and spraying work in particular has been given a heavy impetus. One of the leading drug companies selling spraying supplies, reports selling ten times the amount of material sold in any previous year. Others have sold like quantities. I feel that as much or more progress has been made in orchard work than in any other.

Milk Testing

A small Babcock milk tester was secured and several testing demonstrations were held at rural schools and other meetings. A limited amount of work has been- done on the farms of individual owners. The work appealed especially to school children as results were something that could be actually seen.

I also assisted a member of the Purdue staff, H. S. Moredock, in forming a cow testing association in this county. A testing unit was also planned at Zionsville, but owing to change of plans by the State Department, no actual work was done although one hundred and twenty-five cows were enrolled to be tested.

Farmers in general will be more ready to take up testing in another year, as a branch of a milk condensary is being installed at this place.

Alfalfa Tour

Alfalfa is a coming crop of Boone county. There is approximately three hundred acres of old seeding of from two to four years old. That much more will be seeded in the next year, if weather conditions are all favorable.

In view of the adaptability of much of the soil of the county for alfalfa production, an alfalfa tour was held in which anumber of fields were visited and growing conditions noted. On May 26, 1914. the following farms were visited by fifteen autos carrying thirty-five people: John Powell, Henry Klinger, Carey Powell, Adolphus Wysong, O. H. Starkey, Dr. E. D. Johns, E. B. Bender, John Sicks.

On May 27, forty people in twenty autos, visited the farms of Jerome Kersey, Victor Crane, C. O. Brown, G. I. Neptune, Marley Riley, M. J. Barker, O. E. Dixon, William Montgomery.

This tour attracted more attention than any movement attempted since coming to the county. It was attended by business men and newspaper men, as well as farmers. The newspapers gave the tour much publicity and favorable comment. It is evident that much interest in alfalfa was aroused throughout the county, as I devoted a large portion of my time for weeks afterward answering calls on alfalfa questions. Much ground is in the course of preparation for seeding either this fall or next spring.

Field Demonstrations

When results were checked up five per cent of the untreated check was found to be affected, while there was no noticeable smut on the treated oats. This was carried on with the assistance of T. W. Saltmarsh at his farm.

In conjunction with the Crops Department of the Experiment Station, I am assisting the above men to carry on a variety test of soy beans, three varieties being used.

With the assistance of Mr. Church and in conjunction with the Crops Department this test is being carried on the same as with the soy beans.

" On February 21, 1913, a meeting of those interested in horse breeding in Boone county, was called at the court house to organize a County Horse Breeders' Association. The organization was perfected, electing D. C. Price president and R. W. Imel, secretary.

March 21st, a stallion and mare show was held with forty-one entries. There were one thousand people at the show. Ribbons were placed on the prize winners. Mr. J. Schwab, of Purdue, acted as judge. The interest manifested at this meeting: augurs well for the future.

Cholera Control

During the summer and fall of 1913, hog cholera was prevalent throughout Boone county. At various times throughout the year meetings were held to discuss the control of the disease by sanitary precautions and vaccination.

In addition to these central meetings a large number of office calls and many farm visits have been made to help control cholera. The disease is not nearly so prevalent this season.

School Work

The work in agriculture being new to the teachers, as well as the pupils of the public schools of this county, much time has been devoted to assisting them.

Two talks were given by myself at the Teachers' County Institute in August. All the township institutes were visited at least once during the winter and some of them twice.

At these meetings the work for the month was taken up and discussed, and the teachers given an opportunity to ask questions pertaining to the work in agriculture.

In addition to this, nearly all the rural schools of the county were visited and a short talk given on the agricultural work immediately before the pupils, or on any subject that the teacher was not able to make clear to the class.

Farmers Clubs

There are four active farmers* clubs in the county that hold regular meetings at periods from two to four weeks. Each club has its officers, and programs are arranged, usually, several weeks in advance. The meetings are held at rural school buildings, and the teachers were of very material

Twice each, during the winter months, R. W. Imel .was on the program at these places, either for a talk on some practical farm topic or for an illustrated lecture.

The Purdue Traveling Short Course was with us for three days, December 15, 16 and 17. At this course, practical lectures and demonstrations were given on nearly every phase of farm life. The work was given by eight members of the Extension Department of Purdue. They had with them a carload of live stock and equipment for demonstration purposes. The attendance for the course was approximately 500 and interest very good.

Summary

Office work has constituted no small portion of the year's work. Each morning until nine o'clock and all day Saturday have been devoted to office work. In addition to this, other time has been used as needed.

The calls that have come to the office have been along almost every line of farm work. The following are some representative topics: Setting of orchard trees, pruning and spraying of trees for various insect and plant diseases; fertilizers for wheat, corn and alfalfa; all the different steps in securing a stand of alfalfa and caring for same after getting it; testing soil for acidity, adaptability of soil for certain crops; culture of soy beans and cow peas ; where to obtain innoculating bacteria for different legumes ; feeding of all classes of live stock, balanced rations, comparative value of feeds; use of concentrates, value of milk testing; breeds and breeding; vaccination of hogs, diseases of different kinds of live stock; analysis and value of fertilizers, home mixing of fertilizers; farm management problems, markets.

Meetings have been held throughout the .year to discuss seasonable topics. Some of these are as follows : "Seed Corn Selection and Storage," "Pruning and Spraying of Orchards," "Cholera Prevention," "Alfalfa Growing," '"Milk Testing," "Care and Management of Brood Sow," "Care and Management of Brood Mare," "Feeding of Dairy Cow," "Illustrated Lecture on Live Stock," "Corn Cultivation," "Use of Phosphate," "Co-operation Buying of Fertilizers," "Organizing a Cow Testing Unit," "Catch Crops." "Agriculture in the Schools," "Culture in Agriculture."

These meetings have had fair attendance throughout the year and interest always good. Just how much good results from these meetings it is difficult to estimate, but some evidence is seen, that ideas gained at all of them is being practiced.

Drainage Of Indiana

Almost every one that is able to tell the right hand from the left knows that water runs down hill. There is no need of asking some one to tell you where the high points in Indiana are, and where the lowest are, for if you know the location of the streams you know that the source of the stream is the high point; and that its mouth or where the water empties is the lowest point along its course. The principal river of the state is the Wabash, which drains, with its tributaries, fully two-thirds of the area of the state. It rises in Mercer county, Ohio, flows west to the state line, passing between Ran- dolph and Adams counties, thence north and northwest through Wells and Noble to Wabash counties ; thence west bearing south through Wabash, Miami, Cass. Carroll and Tippecanoe counties ; between Fountain and Warren to the northeast of Vermilion counties ; thence south between Vermilion and Parke, through Vigo towards the southwest to the meridian of Vincennes; thence forming the boundary line between Illinois and Sullivan, Knox, Gibson and Posey counties to the Ohio river a distance of 400 miles. It is a sluggish river, falling about 18 inches per mile from its source in Mercer county, Ohio, to its mouth. Tippecanoe and Eel rivers are its principal tributaries from the north. Tippecanoe rises in Tippecanoe lake in Kosciusko county, Eel rises in Xoble and Allen counties. The tributaries of the Wabash from the east side as you ascend are, first, Patoka, then White river, which constitutes a considerable system within itself, formed by the East Fork and West Fork, which with their tributaries, drain a large portion of the southern and central regions of the state. It flows westward, bearing south between the boundaries of Knox, Pike and Gibson, entering- the Wabash at the southwest corner of Knox county ; Big Raccoon creek, then Rock river, known as Sugar creek in Boone count)- which enters the Wabash at the northwest corner of Parke county, draining Parke, Montgomery, Boone and Clinton counties ; Coal creek drains Fountain county ; Wild Cat drains a large portion of Tippecanoe, Clinton, Tipton, Carroll and Howard counties. Deer and Pike creeks drain the southeastern portions of Carroll, Cass and Miami counties. The Mississinewa river rises in the northwest corner of Darke county, Ohio, flows due west across the northern boundary of Randolph, draining Delaware and Blackford; thence it traverses the center of Grant county, crosses the south boundary of Wabash county: thence northwest, .entering the Wabash above Peru. The Salamonie river rises in the southeast corner of jay county, flows northwest through the northeast corner of Blackford, across Wells, Huntington and Wabash counties, where it enters the Wabash river as its last tributary from the south. As you ascend the Wabash, the Embarrass river, wholly in Illinois, enters the Wabash about the middle of the western boundary of Knox county. The little and big Vermilion rivers, which drain the eastern boundary of Illinois, enter the Wabash river in Vermillion county. The White river rises in Randolph county, flows south and southeast through Wayne. Fayette, Franklin and Dearborn counties, and forms a junction with the Great Miami near Harri- son', Ohio. Drop seven feet per mile. It is the swiftest stream of the state. St. Joseph of the Lake has its origin in Michigan, makes a long, graceful sweep through portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, Indiana, and flows back north and westward and empties into Lake Michigan. The Kankakee drains the lake region of the state, rising in the southern part of St. Joseph, northern part of Marshall, thence through Starke, Laporte, Porter, Jasper and between Lake and Newton counties, where it enters the Illinois river, thence on to the Mississippi. Jasper, Newton and Benton counties are drained by the Iroquois, a tributary of the Kankakee. This is the sluggish river of the state. St. Marys and St. Joseph rivers, the former rises in Ohio, flows northwest until it meets the St. Joseph at Fort Wayne, which rises in Michigan and flows to the southwest through the corner of Ohio and thence into Indiana. After thus uniting their waters and forming the Maumee, these two rivers double back upon their courses and flow to the east and north and empty into Lake Erie. This system drains Allen, part of Adams and Dekalb counties. The St. Marys and St. Joseph are striking examples of Moraine guided streams. Scattered over the northern third of the state there are a thousand shimmering lakes, many of them covering areas of several square miles. The Ohio river forms the southern boundary of the state and drains all the border counties. The highest point in the state is Carlos, in Randolph county, which is the source of tributaries of the Wabash, White river, East and West Fork, and also of the White Water. It is 1,285 teet above sea level. The lowest point in the state is the mouth of the Wabash river at the southwest corner of Posey county, 313 feet above the level of the sea. This southwest corner must always have been the lowest part of the state, for there are no evidences of any upheavals. So the general face of the state must have been from the beginning as it is today; except the hills must have been higher and the valleys deeper than they now are. It is evident that the hills are being carried by the flood tides down into the vallevs. The drainage basin of the Wabash river embraces an area of 33,000 square miles. Of the total number, 24,350 square miles are within the border of Indiana. This is slightly more than two-thirds the area of the state, the total area being 35.910 square miles. Of this portion in Indiana, about one-half is embraced in the drainage areas of the East and West White rivers.

Central Drift Plan

The central part of Indiana, the basin of the Wabash river and headwaters of all our principal streams constitute a Great Drift Plan. The sand, gravel, clays and buried trees all point to the period when there must have been a great force passed over this section more than wind and heavier than water. The trend of this force was from the northeast towards the southwest. The great boulders on the surface of our soil all through this section are the tracks of a monster giant of strength that at some former period passed over this country. This vast undulating plain of glacial drift and accumulations possesses a deep, mellow soil unexcelled anywhere on the continent for fertility and productiveness. The principal crops grown are corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and hay.

Our Native Forest

A little story about the trees of Boone county may be interesting to the children of this age. Very few of our boys and girls know about it. The parents and grandparents that lived in the woods have passed away. The story grew old and passed away with the trees. Less than one hundred years ago the entire county was a dense forest except a few bogs and morasses where it was so wet that a tree could not grow ; also a tract in the southern part of the county that had dignity and scope enough to be called a prairie. Can you imagine how it would look if instead of the beautiful farms and homes we have now with good roads, bridges, schools, churches, towns and cities, there was nothing but continuous dense forest with denser undergrowth so that you could see but a little distance in front of you, and you would have to push the bushes aside to pass through. It will take a big stretch of our imagination to see the picture. If you had been dropped down anywhere in the county one century ago you would not know which way to go, unless you found an Indian trail or path leading to his wigwam, spring or favorite hunting ground. At that time he was the only living human being that lived here "In the Woods;" no path; no idea of direction; no sight of sun by day or of moon or stars by night. Nothing but woods and woods impenetrable all around you, one continuous army of great trees with crowds of little ones at their feet. We have a few representatives of each family with us to this day as living monuments of the vast army that has fallen before the woodman's ax.

Chief among all is the oak, the giant and king of the forest. He is the oldest, strongest and largest except the tulip tree. His family name is Quercus and there are about three hundred species ranging in size and strength from the smallest to the greatest. They do not all live in Boone county. Like people they are of all colors and so named, red, black, white, yellow, green, gray, etc., from the color of their bark and wood. They are also distinguished from each other by the kind of fruit they bear. The fruit or seed is called acorn. There are various kinds, ranging in size from the Bur-oak down to the Pin-oak called Chinkapin. If you stand by a great oak and look at its grandeur and then at the tiny fruit it bears, you will wonder how so great a tree can be wrapped up and packed away in so small a space as the little hard nut called - rock barnacle. A story is told of a man who lay dreaming under a pin-oak one sleepy day in October, and in his dream he thought God did not know how to make this world, when he put the little acorn on the great oak, and the big pumpkin on the sprawling vine unable to lift up its head. He was awakened by a nut coming down, and striking him on the head. He concluded that God had arranged things best after all, for where, oh, where, would he have been if the pumpkin had been placed on the oak. Both the nose and the pumpkin would have been ruined by the fall. We can only mention here some of the names of this most important and magnificent family of the forest. They are, viz. : black-jack, (Q. Nigra) ; basket, (Q. Michauxii) ; blue, (Q. Douglasii) ; bur, (O. Marocarpa) ; chestnut, (O. Castanea) ; chinkapin, (Q. Prinoides) ; gray, (O. Coccinea) ; Indian oak, (the Teak tree); cow-oak, basket-oak, black-oak bitter, (0. Tinctoria). Next in order is the maple, Queen of the forest. Our story would not run right if we did not place her by the side of the King. There are about eighty in this family, most of them foreigners, only a few of them native to Boone and to this country. This is the beauty of the forest, and the hard maple or sugar is the very Queen, not only of the family but also of our forest, and oh ! oh ! how sweet. Even the Indian loved her for her beauty and sweetness most of all, and called her Sa-na-min-dji. We would love to stop here and tell you all about this tree and the pleasure she gave to pioneer life, but have only time for a few of her names, viz., hard or rock-maple (Acersaccharinum) ; silver, (A. dasycarpum) ; swamp-red, scarlet, (A. rubrum) : the black or sugar tree, (A. nigrum) ; striped, whistle wood, or moosewood, (A. Pennsylvanicum) ; large leaved or California, (A. macrophvllum ) : mountain, (A. spicatum) ; English field, (A. campestra) ; Sycamore, (A. pseudo-platanns) : Xorway, (A. platanoides) ; Tartarian, (A. Tartaricum) ; Japan. (A. Japanicum) : ashleaved, or box elder, (negundoaceroides).

The Tulip Tree

The maple may be Queen, and the oak King of the forest, but the largest and most graceful of all the trees is the tulip, incorrectly known as the Poplar. The family name is (Liriodendrom Tulipiferae), closely allied to the magnolias, found in American forests from Canada to Louisiana. It has a straight, cylindrical trunk of ten, eight or nine feet in diameter and ioo feet high. Its bark is ash colored, large saddle-shaped leaves that distinguish this tree from all others, and large greenish-yellow tulip like flowers, marked with orange inside. Its wood, which is light, soft, straight-grained, easily worked, with the heart yellow and the sap cream color, is used extensively in carpentry and cabinet work, and is perhaps the best timber that is native to Boone county. There are three varieties, the yellow, which is the best, with very light sap, the white, which has thick sap, and it has blue streaks in it, so it is called blue-poplar and is very heavy and tough to work. Some of these trees reached their maximum height and size in this county, notably in Jackson township. We must not confuse the tulip tree with the poplar, for it does not belong to the same family. There are about twenty varieties of the poplars, (genus populus) the white or silver, (P. alba), the Lombardy (P. dilatata), Cottonwood (P. monilifera). Balsam (P. balsamifera), Downy poplar (P. heterophylla). American aspen or quaking asp (P. tremuloides.)

This is the most valuable timber that grows in this county, especially the black variety. It was abundant all over the county, its fruit is called Jupiternut. If it was all standing that was here when our fathers came, it would be indeed a gold mine to each farm. The butter-nut is called the white-walnut ( Juglans alba). The hickory tree (genus carya) belongs to the walnut family. There are several varieties and the family name is Juglandaceae. The shell bark is fall, graceful, white wood, hard and very useful. It is indigenous to America and is found in no other country in the world. (Carya alba) the white, is the best nut. Pignuts, butternuts and mockernuts are its inferior.

There are several varieties of this family called Ulmus Americana. It is noted for its spreading top, and is the way-side tree of the New England states, but also forms the most remarkable feature of our domestic landscape. The white or water elm, (U. Americana) ; the red or slippery or moose-elm (U. fulva) ; the bread elm, cork or rock elm, (U. racemosa), are the varieties found here.

The Linden

The Linden, usually called basswood or bee tree family (Tiliacea), is a soft white wood, with heart-shaped leaves and small clusters of cream-colored flowers full of nectar for the bees, and with flowers joined to the vein of a large leaf-like bracket, is a most beautiful tree.

The Beech

This is a very important tree of the genus fagus, of the oak family ( cupuliferae ) the American beech (Fagus Feruginea) is large, with close, ash gray bark, with extending horizontal branches of spray. Its nut is peculiar in shape, triangular and edible - often called beech mast. It, with

Flowery Trees

In this group, in addition to those we have named, are the Locust, bean family (Leguminosae), yellow and black, wood very durable and very valuable for fence posts. The catalpa of the bean family (Bignoniaceae) soft wood and lasting, with beautiful panicles of bell-shaped flowers. The Dogwood, tree of the genus Cornus Florida familiar for its white bloom that marks corn-planting time is a favorite with everybody. Judas-tree (CercisJ of the bean family flaming in its purple flowers before the leaves come, is greatly admired. The Buckeye or horse-chestnut (Aesculus) of Boone is symmetrical, and valued as an ornamental shade tree. The sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) marks the course of our streams with its white, outstretched arms and is called buttonwood for common with us. The wild cherry, genus (Prunus cerasus) and (carvium) are the ancestors of the cultivated cherries - was valued by pioneers for medicine.

Hackberry (celtis occidentalis) resembling the elm and belonging with it to the nettle family, with sweet edible fruit as large as bird cherries, called also sugar berry, nettle tree, false elm, Mulberry genus Morus family (moras nigra) and Indian mulberry (morinda citrifolia) are valued for fruit and shade. The Birch, genus Betula, is the most shy and lady-like of trees and belongs to the beech family (cupulifera. The wood is close-grain and susceptible of high polish. Although our last it is by no means least of the trees of the forest, for it furnished the long, pliant slender rods for the pioneer pedagogue so far famed in story and song with which he taught the young idea how to shoot.

The Passing Of Pisa

Some time after Columbus discovered the new world there was an acorn dropped from some parent oak into the mold that is now enclosed in L. M. Crist's grove. The warm sun came up from the southland and sent new life into the vegetable world. The moisture and warmth softened the hard shell of the acorn, set its heart to throbbing and there came forth the tender blade. The shell was burst, the delicate drapery that wrapped the germ of life was unfolded and the baby tree was born. A manifestation of God's third day miracle, recorded in Genesis 1 .g-13. The little tender plant lifted its tiny hands toward heaven and unfolded its leafy banners as wave offerings to God who gave it life and began at once to rear its First temple. It ran the gauntlet through babyhood of treading feet and devouring beast. Year after year it lifted its head higher and higher until it was able to stand above feet and rapacious maws. It became a tree. There came the buffetings of the storms. It murmured not nor gave way, but stood its ground in the breast of the forest, sending its roots deeper and deeper in every battle so as to be ready for the next. By its steadfastness it slowly grew into strength until it became a bulwark to the forest. It was a wind break to shield others from the blasts of the hurricane. At one time in his early life Pisa had more than he could bear.

He was forced to bend before the fury of the gale. Many of his companions were swept away. He held to his anchorage yet bent before the blast. He bears in his form to this day the marks of that battle. As the twig is bent so the tree is inclined. He was christened in 1S84 Pisa by Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Crist because he looked like the Tower of Pisa, leaning 13 feet from his base. The latter is twice as high. For centuries he has stood in this position needing all the more anchorage to hold him against the storms from Kee-way-din, the northwest wind. He is the patriarch of this grove. Only one companion, King Oak, is left standing in this Sylvan retreat. Surely he was the monarch and wore his crown most regally. If he could only speak he would unfold volumes of history. He has outlived generations of creatures. "The century living crow" grew old and died in his branches. The red man lived and passed away. His contemporaries in the forest have molded into dust at his feet. At the last he must go the way of all living. Old age crept upon him. The heat of the summer of 191 1 and the rigor of the following winter was too much for him. He had no strength to robe himself in the spring of 1912. His long crooked arms stood bare against the sky. The woodman was called in to lay his axe at his root. He dealt blowon blow with his shining blade that sent shivers through the dying form of this old giant of the forest. Friends stood around in sober reflection. God by sunbeams had lifted him up and held him in his place for centuries.

Through all these years he had served faithfully, giving shelter and food to beast and man and was a retreat in his spreading branches for the birds and nimble creatures. It comes the duty of man, the delegated master of all things on earth, to lay him away. With a few strokes of his strength this monarch of the forest is brought low. We prostrate his form upon the earth. His body will be made into lumber and then into furniture to bless and serve man for centuries to come. The grand old oak will still serve and bless mankind and at the last perchance furnish him his last sleeping casket.

A bullet was found by the workmen in the body of this oak, so the tree was estimated to be three hundred and fifty years old, by count of its concentric rings.

Prize Essay

One of the prize essays written by the school children of Indiana on the subject, "To what extent should Indiana be reforested? Give reasons." Prizes of $10 each were offered by the board of forestry.

The forests of Indiana are being cut down so rapidly that if some restraint is not. put on this work of destruction the forests will, in a short time, be only a remembrance among the "Hoosiers." The people in early days can be pardoned for cutting clown trees, for they had to do it to clear places for their homes and to prevent beasts and enemies from hiding around. Besides they were not taught the economical importance of the forests. There were many trees then, but wood for fuel and lumber is becoming so scarce now that the preservation and restoration of our forests is a very important problem, hence the question "To what extent should Indiana be reforested?" confronts us.

The places that should be reforested are the sections of land not adapted to agriculture. Hilly country is not suitable for farming, it can not be easily tilled, and the soil has generally been washed off the rocks. There are many acres of such land in Boone county. If the lands that have always been poor or have been made so by improper usage should be properly reforested, the leaf mold caused by the fallen leaves would enrich them and make them valuable. A great many tracts of land are located so as to be unprofitable for agriculture. They may be too far from town or from the owner's home.

Some plots are too small, being cut off from large fields by railroads, creeks or roads. Many streams wasli banks and make them irregular. If the right kind of trees were set out, they would have a tendency to hold the banks in.

Public property and lands not used for anything else should be utilized lor trees. If trees were neatly and tastefully arranged around churches, school houses, jails, libraries, halls and court houses, they would be a protection, would beautify the surroundings and around the school houses, would serve as a shade for the pupils during play time. Trees should be set out on roadsides and public highways, to serve as windbreaks for the protection of the traveler and to beautify the roads. Of course the old question would arise concerning the drying of the roads. It should be a supervisor's duty to keep the roads well graded, the trees well trimmed and it would not be necessary for the roads to be muddy. There are large government reservations not being used at present which should be reforested.

Trees should be set out along the streets of our towns and cities, between the sidewalk and the curbing. The street indeed looks beautiful that is shaded by tastefully arranged trees. Every town or city should have a park to beautify it or to be a place of pleasure. What is a park without some trees?

Where or who is the farmer that does not like a beautiful country home, which cannot be made so unless some trees are used ? How pretty is the small wood lot near the home of the farmer? Every farmer should have a wood lot. Ten acres would be the required amount "on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Boone county. The wood lot serves as a protection to the buildings and orchard, also a convenient place to put young animals in, if it is placed near the home. The trees should be planted in straight rows and a certain number to the acre. The number depends on the kind of trees. The dead trees and the trimmings from the others would furnish enough wood for domestic science.

There are many things which lead us to believe Indiana should be reforested. The high price of lumber and fire wood is due to the scarcity of trees. Some day there will not be any coal, for it takes decayed leaves and other plants to form it. The people then will have to depend entirely on wood for fuel. Trees retain moisture by their leaves and roots. The leaves form a thick carpet over the ground and prevent such rapid evaporation. Thus by reforesting the natural resources would be increased, the home would

The Tree As An Engineer

The better we are acquainted with a tree the more we appreciate it, and we are at times astonished by an intelligence which seems to be almost on the border of reason, says C. S. Harrison in Nebraska Horticulturist.

Take a tree standing in the open. It is seventy-five feet high and the limbs have a spread of fifty feet and it is filled with leaves, the whole presenting an immense frontage to the winds which are blowing at the rate of sixty miles an hour.

Just hand that problem over to a civil engineer, the best educated one you can find. Tell him of the immense leverage the tree gives to the wind and that the base where it touches the earth is only four feet through and he must strengthen it that it will not blow over. What would he say if you told him he must erect a house seventy-five feet high and fifty feet broad, all on a base of only three or four feet. He would tell you it could not be done. That to be safe you want a foundation as broad as the house itself, and that it was not in the power of human skill to meet a problem like that.

And yet, that tree without having been to school, without studying engineering and without a knowledge of the higher mathematics, quietly goes to work and solves the problem without a mistake and a most difficult problem too.

A Plea For Trees

"Any fool can destroy trees. They can not run away; and, if they could, they could still be destroyed, - chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark, hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones. Few that fell trees plant them; nor would planting avail much toward getting back anything like the noble primeval forests. During a man's life only saplings can be grown, in the place of the old trees - tens of centuries old - that have been destroyed. It took more than three thousand years to make some of the trees in these Western woods, - trees that are still standing in perfect strength and beauty, waving and singing in the mighty forests of the Sierra. Through all the wonderful, eventful centuries since Christ's time, - and long before that - God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanche, and a thousand straining, leveling tempests, and floods ; but he can not save them from fools - only Uncle Sam can do that." - John Muir.

It took cycles of centuries to shape this country where Boone county is located for the habitation of man. There are no indications that the mound builder:, or any prehistoric race of men ever lived here. There are no land marks like in other sections of our state that he ever inhabited these woods. The American or Indian is the first race of which record is made. All the centuries of preparation were for his benefit and to prepare the land for his comfort. Just how many great growths of timber and vegetation were produced and pressed away by the resistless drifts of ice there are none to report. Tt took all this to level up the country and make it habitable for man. After the Indian came the white man. We cannot enter into a minute account of the white man's struggle to obtain possession of this country. The Colony of Virginia was the first to lay claim to this territory. They claimed that their territory extended westward indefinitely, hence included all of what is now Indiana, which was carved out of the Northwest territory ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1884, which included all the lands now in the states between the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers. This was the foundation of the English title to the land. The French came in as adventurers, traders and missionaries before the English and laid claim to the lands by settlements. It is stated that as early as 1705 there were traders at the head of the Maumee river and that a trading-post was established at that point and called Ke-Keon-ga, wow the site of Fort Wayne. Sieur de Vincennes found these traders as early as the above date and strengthened the post. Eleven years afterward the post was established at Vincennes, 1816. which is considered the oldest military post within the bounds of Indiana. The French missionary, Allouez, as early as 1676, states that Kekeonga, at the source of the Maumee river, was the capital of the powerful Miami Confederacy. Since that date we have some reliable historic facts concerning this early nation of red-men. Four vears later Baron La Salle came to Kekeonga with Bible and crosses and was welcomed by the natives. For the next score of years or more the French were busy in their efforts to establish military and mission points in this new land in order to gain a foothold for their mother country. The next point to the west was at Ouiatenon, on the Wea prairie near the Wabash, and also at a point farther down the river, Fort Knox. It is claimed by some that the military post at Vincennes was established as early as 1716. During this period the French were very enthusiastic and active in their operations and projects to obtain possession and military control of the country occupied by the Miami Confederacy and other Indian tribes in the west. It was during this period of French activity that the Indian village Ka-we-ah-ke-un-gi, on the banks of Sa-na-min-dji, known to us as Thorntown, on the banks of Sugar creek, were visited and a permanent trading and missionary point established. The best authority that we can gather fixes this date in what is now known as Boone county about 1717 or 1720. This is 100 years before the Indian reserve of one hundred square miles was made to the Eel river tribe of the Miamis October, 1818. ("The history of this reserve is given elsewhere in this work.) It was bought back by the United States in 1828. While the Indians were yet here the irresistible pressure of the white man was driving his stakes in this territory before the county was organized and in this section boldly driving their stakes while the Indian was yet in possession. It is stated that some of our most venturesome went into partnership with the Indians in real estate.