Carroll County, Indiana - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 17 of those read), 1882

Christopher Vandeventer's Nakrative - Cornelius Williams - Dr. -James H. Stewart - Samuel IJ. Gresham - Robert D. RriYSTEH - The "Old Dominion," well Represented among the EarT.y Settlei:s - Xaxcy Ann, .Jacob and Amos Ball Arrive ki;om J'enxsvlvania - Enoch Stansel and Aaron r,uEGO - Death's Doing--^. TN the winter of 1S29, Christopher Vandeventer left the State -*- of New York for the Wabash Valley, having in contemplation a temporary sojourn, if not a permanent settlement, in this county. From New York he came by way of the lakes to the vicinity of Toledo, Ohio; thence his route lay almost wholly through a wilderness but thinly inhabited, save by Indians and a few French traders located here and there for purposes of barter and traffic. There were no I'oads then, such as we have now, and the Indian trail furnished the only guidance on his route from point to point. It was about the middle of December when he left the lake. He was alone and on foot, carrying with him a knapsack weighing fifty-four pounds. Owing to the sparsely settled condition of the countiy thi'ough which it was necessaiy for him to travel to get here, he was obliged frequently to travel from daylight until dark, and sometimes until late at night, without anything to eat. or a place of shelter. His fare consisted usually of "cold corn-pone," or " corn-dodger," " coon meat " and hominy, for which he had to pay $1 per meal. About the 23d of December, he reached Fort Wayne, and remained there overnight with a little Frenchman, who had a squaw for a wife. Previous to that time, the weather had been wet and disagreeable, considerable quantities of rain having fallen in the meantime, and in the morning, before leaving Fort Wayne, his host infoi-med him that it was forty miles to the next cabin where he could probably find shelter for the night. This information was not very gratifying, inasmuch as his route was ihrough a deep forest, witn no road save an Indian trail, which was indistinct and easily lost. He set out, however, and was mainly guided by the course of the Wabash Kiver. The recent rains had raised the branches and creeks so that they were almost impassable except by swimming, which method of transport, at a wai'mer season of the year, might have been adopted with some degi-ee of indiflerence : but at tliis time, when the water was cold, and the prospect around dark and gloomy, was not the most agreeable. Nevertheless, the unwelcome barriers presented themselves, and the "Rubicon must be passed." In the after noon, the weather became very cold and fi-eezing, yet he traveled on till nightfall, but found no cabin; he had missed the trail and wandered out of the way. It was dark, and he soon began to realize the painful truth that he was lost, perhaps many miles from any habitation, in the midst of a dense forest and surrounded by thick darkness. The air continued to grow cold, and snow began to fall rapidly. There he was alone - wet, cold, tired and hungiy, having traveled since daylight that morning without tasting food or taking a moment's rest. Eveiything was wet around, so that he could not kindle a fire by which his condition for the night could be rendered more comfortable. He made his preparations, however, as best he could, for spending the night, but his blankets were wet and frozen, and the undertaking to sleep, or even to lie down, was hazardous. He was in a dilemma from which he was in doubt Fow he could best extricate himself. His better judgment prevailed, and. instead of lying down in his wet clothes with the risk of freezing to death, he continued on his feet all night, sometimes running up and dowu an adjacent hillside, at others performing such exercises as suggested themselves to keep himself warm. Morning at length dawned, and the snow that had fallen during the night covered the ground to the depth of ten or twelve inches. On looking around for his knapsack, it was no where to be found. In the night, he had wandered away from the spot where night overtook him without taking cognizance of his serpentine movements, and could not tell in what direction it might be from him. After searching in vain for several horn's, he again started upon his jom'uey hitherward, and about noon came to a cabin, where he tarried until morning to rest and refi'esh himself, that he might be in better condition to withstand the fatigue of traveling. Starting early, with the advantage, also, of information received by which he was enabled to correct his latitude and lay his course to better advantage, he directed his steps toward Delphi, where he arrived late in the evening of that day, and was welcomed by the fi'iends and acquaintances who had previously settled here. Upon examining the country, he found everything satisfactory, and accordingly made this the place of his futm'e settlement.

leriod of bis death, some twenty-one lossessed of gi-eat energy of character and judicious business capacity, he was a useful citizen at that early day, and, dm-ing the course of his long residence here, he amassed considerable property.

Dr. James H. Stewart, a native of Kentucky, came here on the 10th of April of this year, and, from that time onward, has been one of the permanent fixtui-es of the county. In succeeding pages we shall have occasion frequently to refer to him in the various positions he has occupied in times past, as they connect themselves more or less intimately with the history of Cai'roll County.

On the 30th of April, Samuel D. Gresham an-ived here fi'om Virginia, and settled down, in possession of the ai-dor and vigorous enei'gy of youth, determined to work out for himself a fortune in this home of his adoption.

Among others who, about this time, sought and found comfortable homes within the linjjts of this county, may be noticed Robert D. Royster, a son of the Old Dominion, who, in early life, emigrated thence and settled in Fayette County, in this State' where he resided until the period of his location on the banks of Deer Creek, above Delphi, on the 8th day of July, 1830. He continued here, in the enjoyment of the privileges seciu'ed to himself by his eai-ly settlement, vintil his death, many years since.

In the month of October of this year, Nancy Ann Ball, Jacob and Amos Ball - the first a native of Pennsylvania, and the rest of Ohio - settled in this county, and then became fully identified with its early history.

As has been before noticed, Enoch Stansel settled here some time in November, having, a year or two before visited the county, in company with Aaron Gregg, with the purpose of selecting a permanent home.

While accessions were being made to the population of the county by the arrival of persons from different partsof the United States, death was making its inroads into the enjoyments of these yet infant settlements. During the month of September, 1830, there were nine deaths in the county, and seventeen more during the remainder of the yeai'. These adverse circumstances had a tendency somewhat to retard the progress of imjirovements and chill the energy of enthusiasm among the settlers; but it was only temjiorai'v.

PIONEER KEMINISCENCES-CoNTiNUEn. Experiences of Cabin-Building and Finishing - .Some Experts - John R. Bai.lard one of them - Other Good Qualities of Mr. Ballard - Nurse and Undertaker- Inxidents in His Career - Reci'RREnces to the Past - C0MPARI.S0N.S - Saw-Mill . - In Delphi - Evidences of Proore.ss and Improvement -

IN some of the earlier chapters, reference was made to the fact that, when the first houses were being built in the county, there was a serious want of the materials necessary for the completion of iriicDinits ii(hi|iti'(l even to the wants of the times - and that, as ail i-vi.lcnc.' ..f tlic inventive power which necessity calls forth, in iiiiliT to Mipply tlie di'liciency occasioned by the absence of sawed lumber, boards were prepared for the various purjjoses of finishing cabins by the use of the broad-ax; in other <vords, boards were hewed out, instead of being sawed. This practice prevailed for a long time, and to a very considerable extent, in this county, owing to the fact that saw-mills in those days were not very numerous, and that such as were in the county occupied locations too far removed fi'om the settlements to enable the poor and often illy provided settlers to avail themselves of the use of lumber fi'om them, because of the great expense attending its transportation thithiu-. It was a circumstance of not very unusual occurrence that boards made by splitting them from the ti-ee, and straightening and squaring them with the broad-as, were used for laying floors, making doors and door and window casings, and in the construction of corner cupboards and shelves, such as pioneer housewives were wont to i-ecognize as kitchen furniture of superior workmanship and extraordinary diu-ability. Not only was a large proportion of the kitchen furniture manuf actirred in this way, including, also, tables and chairs, but bedsteads and cradles, ornaments of the sleeping apartments, were wi'ought out by the same skillful process of handiwork. Among the more cunning artificers in this depai'tment of mechanics, it is proper to mention the name of John R. Ballard, many evidences of whose ability in this particular remain to this day.

It is related, also, of Mr. Ballard, that his skill was frequently required in the manufacture of articles other than those of a household nature. Here, as elsewhere, sickness and death prevailed, though to a limited extent; the one required the assistance of a careful niu'se to soothe the pains and administer to the wants of the suffering; while the other, after the attention of kind friends and neighbors had ceased to be of advantage in restoring them to health, and the dread desti'oyer had mai'ked them as his victims, required the services of a careful undertaker to prepare them for their final rest. As a careful and vigilant nurse, the reputation of Mr. Ballard was co-extensive with the limits of these early settlements, and his example stands pre-eminent, as many now living can fully attest Wherever sickness and want prevailed, he was always present, ready and willing to render 'whatever assistance his generous nature and Vigorous manhood enabled him to bestow. Whenever a funeral occurred, he discharged the last sad duties of coffining and sepulture to the dead. At the time of the death of Benjamin D. Angell, on the 16th of September, 1825, there was not in Carroll County a saw-mill where phink could be procm-ed, nor a cabinet-maker by profession who could construct a cofim in which his remains could be deposited prepai-atory to their occupancy of the grave. In this emergency, Mr. Ballai'd was looked to as the only som'ce of help, and he, by his practical skill as a " worker in wood," took of the boards that had boen prepared for covering a house in the neighborhood, and, by the use of his broad-ax, straightened and smoothed them, and consti'ucted therefi'om a coflin, in which the ashes of Mi'. Angell now rest. This is only an incident in the eai-ly history of CajToll County, which goes to show the characteristics of the times, and of the people of that age. There were privations then suffered and endm-ed, heroically met and overcome, which would jiut to blush the fancied privations and hai'dships of the present day. The determined character of those early inhabitants was a sure guaranty against weak nerves and the inclination to abandon trial when difficulties were deemed insuperable. These qualities were adapted to the ncd'ssitirs of tin' times.

As time passi^d, Iiow.v.t. ..bstacles became less numerous and formidable, so that it is douliiful now whether those persons who figiu-ed most exti'usively in days of yore could meet and overcome the obstructions, which, iifty-tive years ago, were pushed aside almost without a thought of their magnitude.

vantages of the location were many yet susceptible of im2irovement, the extensive privileges bestowed by the Aiithor of natiu-e upon the regions round about continued to be brought into requisition, induced by demands of progress. In Januaiy, 1830, a new saw-mill was erected in Delphi, which added a new impulse to the movemeiitsof the people and the imjirovement of town and country. The small number of mills designed for the manufactm-e of lumber, before this time, had a tendency in some measure to cheek the progi-ess of building and of enlarging the limits of the town. By this time, however, Delphi, which had been the seat of justice for CaiToll County about two J'ears, began to assume a position and a name n the land. Many of the inhabitants in the vicinity round about had emigi-ated fi-om Ohio, Eastern Indiana, Kentucky, New York and Virginia, and, by reason of the inter-communication estalilished between these and their friends at home, induced many of the latter to look forward with interest to the evidences of prosperity as manifested from time to time - some with a view to the well-being of their friends here, while others were prompted with a desire to come and participate in the toils, privations, and In the prospective prosperity of the country.

The countiy, as well as the town, was advancing rapidly in the clearing-up and cuiltivation of farms, the enlargement of the ai-eaof trade, and the development of the vast resources with which the country abounds. These evidences were exerting an influence abroad, as well as at home, toward bringing it to that prominence of position to which the natm-e of things justly entitles the locality.

On the 18th day of February, 1830, Daniel Baimi was again appointed Treasurer of the county for one year, by the Boai'd of Commissioners, then in session. He filed his bond to the approval of the board, with Gavin Black and Isaac GrifBth, secm'ities. At the same session, Messrs. Scott and McAlister were authorized to establish a feny across the Wabash River, opposite Forsythe's cabins, and empowered to collect tolls at given rates for the period of one year. Ferries, it will be remembered, in those days afforded almost the only means of transit across the large streams except swimming, which, at that time, was not an imfrequent necessity. Dr.'Vandeventerwas allowed 845 for extra services to date, as Clerk of Carroll County, upon whom devolved the duties now divided amongst the Clerk, Auditor and Recorder.

The session of May 10, 1830, of the Board of Commissioners, was held in the rew Clerk's office, just then erected and put into a habitable condition. Gavin Black was appointed Seminary Trustee for Can-oil County, and entered into bonds in the penalty of $300, with Isaac GriflSth and William George as securities for the faithful discharge of his duties.

For the reader's gratification in the way of novelties, we will introduce here a report of fines assessed by William George, Justice of the Peace, under the misdemeanor act in force at that time : "State vs. James Quick, for profane sireariiig, fine §10. State vs. Thomas Ivers for AsscikU. fine $1, State vs. Ephraim Dennison. for Profane Swearing, fine $h State vs. William Craigh and Martin Thornbm-g, for Sabbafli Breaking, fine $1 each."'

The summer of 1830 was extremely dry, and was the occasion of much sickness, more than usual, which gave rise to the general reputation, for years after, that Delphi was the most sickly place on the Wabash, It is true that for a time there was a large amount of sickness, and unusual fatality, particularly among children ranging in age from infancy to five years and upward; but, notwithstanding this temporary scourge, the epidemic ceased, and in a few years Delphi came into better repute, though the name of the j)lace often - indeed, very generally - carried with it the ancient idea that children here could not be raised to a greater age than about five years, and that for adults even, the assurances of health and long life were extremely precarious, A reputation of this character is generally very hard to overcome; but time, the gi-eat corrector of all in-egularities, has demonstrated the fact that Delphi, the shire town, the city, at this period stands above reproach on the question of healthfulness, and pre-eminent as a beautiful location, enjoying the occupancy of one of the most delightful positions in this section of the Wabash Valley,

In the days, however, of which we have been wi-iting, when the area of Carroll Coivnty was almost an unbroken wilderness, the dense forests shutting out the sunlight necessary to dissolve the unwholesome vapors, which, becoming stagnant fi'om the want of his mollif}-ing influence, became an active agent in the production and maintenance of diseases stimulated by malaria - the fi-equeney of unhealthful conditions could not be gainsayed. Hence the reputation of the past; and hence, also, in the changed condition of things, the high repute of the present.