Delaware County, Indiana - Chapter 5: David Gharky, an Interesting Pioneer Figure, 1924

Chapter 5: David Gharky, an Interesting Pioneer Figure

In the considerable list of quaint and rare books relating to the days of the pioneers in Indiana and throughout the Midwest country generally, there are few more interesting or more valuable than that carried under the title of "The Life of David Gharky, as Written by Himself: Also, a Record of the Gharky Family; a Description of Muncietown, Indiana; of His Adjoining Possessions; of His Lands in Bates County, Missouri; Together with His Last Will and Testament. Printed by John Gharky. Portsmouth, O. 1852."

This rare old "Life," printed for private circulation, is a work of 220 pages, pocket size, and is substantially bound in the sheep and "marble" of the period. The copy of the book before the present reviewer carries an ornately bordered book-plate bearing the inscription - "This Book is Presented to Charles F. Willard, of Muncietown, Indiana," and it is through the courtesy of Charles F. Willard, present owner of the book and son of Charles F. Willard, that this quaint old book has been submitted for review. The senior Charles F. Willard was one of David Gharky's contemporaries at old Muncietown. back in the '30s of the past century and was one of the considerable figures in this community in his generation, "a permanent influence in this county's history," as it has been written of him. Charles F. Willard was born at Charlestown, N. H., and was eighteen years of age when in 1830 he took employment with the mercantile establishment with which Thomas Kirby then was connected at Dayton, Ohio. In the next year, 1831, he was sent to Muncietown to take charge of the Kirby agency there in the buying of furs, ginseng, etc., and in the following year became the junior partner in the firm of Kirby & Willard. The commercial interests thus established were extended by Mr. Willard until he became recognized as one of the leading factors in the business life of this part of the state. He died in 1871. In a niche reserved for the purpose, in the Willard building,

The printing of the Gharky "Life" was indeed a labor of love. In his preface, John Gharky, the printer of the little volume, addresses the work to "Friends and Relatives" and then says: "Inasmuch as our father has written the contents of the following pages, and so earnestly requested that the original shall be preserved from age to age as a family relic; knowing that it belongs to Philip, to whom I shall send it, and feeling certain that but few if any of you, would ever obtain a sight, much less a perusal of it, I have voluntarily printed it, with second handed type, on a press of my own plan and manufacture, and presented a copy to each member of the family now in existence bearing the name of Gharky, for which purpose only it is designed. . . . As an apology for the inferior workmanship and the many blunders and errors that occur in the book, which were never seen until too late to correct, I will remark that I am no printer, but a gunsmith. I never took hold of a type until I was 30 years of age; and as the old saying goes: 'It is hard to learn an old dog new tricks.' No other person in existence could or would have printed the work, and if foreordination was to be believed in, here is a forcible evidence of its existence, and I have learned the use of types for no other than this purpose." Certainly a laudable filial obligation, admirably discharged.

David Gharky was a European, born at Stargard, Pomerania (in Prussia), February 18, 1775, and was a son of Johann Christian and Elizabeth (Warburg) Gharky, native spelling Gehrecke - pronounced Yurky. The first part of his "Life" is devoted to a narrative concerning his family and the details of his upbringing, with many interesting and intimate sidelights on same. "My constant attendance and perseverance in study," he wrote (p. 44), "brought me head in nearly every class in school; in Latin I had already made great progress, and my father was often flattered by the testimony of my tutor that I was apt to learn; but I had no intention of becoming a preacher, mainly because I never thought that my father would allow me a sufficiency to pursue my studies at the university; hence I had fully determined within myself to learn some mechanical branch, and my choice was not difficult to make." At the age of fourteen Gharky became indented to a joiner, "for three years' apprenticeship, finding my own clothes, washing and mending, and the half of a bed, besides paying $20 - $10 in hand and $10 at the expiration of my time. Now my drama commenced, and I found too late that I had, agreeable to an old proverb, 'jumped out of the frying pan into the fire." Upon completing his apprenticeship young David worked as a journeyman joiner in his native land until he was twentyone years of age, when he sailed for America "and at 4 o'clock on a Saturday, A. D. 1796, we landed a Philadelphia; it was very smokey, and the sun looked bloody to me.'

Not A Very Encouraging Beginning

'Book II of the Gharky "Life" carries David's ingenuous narrative up to the year 1838, including the story of his arrival at Muncietown. Concerning his stop at Philadelphia David writes that "I got employ with an old German, whose shop was out of town; but whether it was poverty or what, I got a mere nothing for my labor, as for about six weeks' work I got nothing but a rorum hat, mine having been stole on the day we landed." Not a very encouraging beginning in the land of hope and promise. On April 9, 1800, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, David Gharky married Elizabeth Knappenberger. Gharky had been prospecting over in the Ohio country the year before and after his marriage, he writes, "I hired a team and had her things hauled to McKeesport, where we got into a boat, taking her two cows aboard; the river being high, we had a quick, pleasant and agreeable voyage; and landed safely here (Alexandria, Scioto county), May the 2nd, 1800. . . . Nothing of very great import transpired in 1803, except that the Northwestern Territory was admitted as a state, and Scioto county was marked out by our legislature, which is the era from which feuds and strikes are dated. Until this time the inhabitants of Alexandria lived in peace and harmony, like one great family, though nowise related by the ties of blood, but by Christian-like neighborship. . . . The majority of the humane portion moving off and newcomers not caring for its cultivation, this virtue became neglected and a rule brought in vogue, 'Every one for himself.' Portsmouth was now laid out and the generous proprietor, Henry Massie, offered each one here as many lots there as he owned here, on condition that he would move or build there, and very advantageous offers were made. But adhering to the principles of my neighbors, I remained here, to my sorrow, without benefit. The hope of getting the county seat located here kept up a lively - anticipation of the superiority of our place over Portsmouth, until the seat of justice was permanently established there, when we commenced to dwindle into that nothingness which our feuds brought us to."

From his narrative it is apparent that Gharky had a hard time of it generally. "In the winter of 1804-5 the Ohio tore all my fence away and I went to the Miamis in search of a place to suit me better; but, alas, I was deceived. Not only the Miamis but every little rivulet had overflowed its bank, as I learned from the devastation made on the adjacent grounds, to the injury of the inhabitants, and I returned home contented and satisfied." In May, 1813, Gharky was called into military service in America's second war for independence. "I was two months from home, mostly at Upper Sandusky," he writes. "In this time I at least learned the difference between a camp and home life; but freely would I go again if called on, if I could render any service to my adopted country. I hope, my son, that you will always stand ready to defend the liberty and freedom of that country which gave you birth, without fear or cowardice; and then you will please your aged parent, when, on the contrary, I would scorn to own a coward as a son."

In May, 1814, Gharky sold out at Alexandria and moved to Portsmouth and in the next year when the town was incorporated he was elected a councilman - "against my will, and the board elected me treasurer." In the fall of 1820 he was elected auditor of Scioto county and by successive re-elections held the office until his resignation in the spring of 1830 and removal to Muncietown. Gharky had been active in milling industries at Portsmouth and also for some time operated the ferry. His "luck" seemed to have changed. "Fortune seemed to smile upon me," he wrote, "and all things prospered around me and my property increased." And then family troubles began. "In the fall of 1829," the old diarist wrote, "a disagreement arose in my family, which resulted in a separation; and I boarded in my own house, having the victuals brought there to me until March, 1830, when I resigned my office and went to Muncietown, Indiana."

David Gharky's initial entry regarding his life at Muncietown is as follows: "In March, 1830, I bought a corner lot of Lemuel Jackson, with whom I lived. He entered a half-quarter of land for me in Indianapolis. April the 12th I bought and entered 327 acres of school land [in section 16 of Center township, now covered by the city of Muncie]. In May I entered into partnership with Lemuel Jackson, and we built a saw mill. In July, having already spent $1,000, I went back to Ohio for more money. On my return I took sick with fever and ague. August the 27th the mill began to saw and would have done very well, with good attendance, provided it had not been built on a sandy foundation." Hard luck again knocking at the door.

"On the 13th day of February (1831), being my birthday," the diarist writes, "we had the greatest eclipse on the sun that I had ever seen before. Hart, a Yankee, and his wife kept house for me. I lost a cow in the swamp and laid all winter with severe rheumatism. David [his son] came to see me in March and made me a skiff; shortly after he left here the saw mill settled four feet in the sand, and this prospect was blasted in the bud." The narrative then goes on to say that he presently returned to Ohio and borrowed $500 at 12 per cent interest. While on that visit he "was taken with a writ for charging unjust fees as auditor; returned, dismissed Hart for embezzling my property, commenced a severe but my last drunken frolic, got safely over it and took my seat on the stool of repentance. Since the 22nd day of August, 1831, I have neither drank a drop of spirituous liquor or made use of profane language, and since the 8th of December, 1831, I have used no tobacco."

In February, 1882, the suit against Gharky (as auditor) went against him. He writes: "I went to Portsmouth in time to appeal it to the supreme court. In this month the Ohio was three or four feet higher than it has ever been within the recollection of any white man." The diarist remained in Portsmouth during the summer and then "return to Muncietown, where they had taken one acre of my ground under a writ of ad quod dammum. In March, 1833, I sold all my loose property here for a song, traded the half of the mill and the partnership articles to Lemuel Jackson for four inlots in the town of Muncie [his first use of the shorter name] and then went to Portsmouth. At the October election I offered for treasurer and was elected by nine votes; had my election contested and gained it in court, as also that unjust trial on which the cost was $220. In June, 1834, I entered on the duties of my office by entering into bonds of $16,000, with seven securities. On the 4th of June, 1834, my wife died, and on the 5th of June my youngest son, Manuel, died, both of cholera. . . . In June, 1836, after settling up my official concerns : I came to Muncietown with the liver complaint; boarded with [Patrick] Justice, dug out my mineral spring, which cured me, and I went back to Portsmouth in the fall . . . and bought A. J. Bingham's printing establishment. In May, 1837, John White printed three numbers of the Muncietonian." This was the first newspaper printed in Delaware county, as is set out elsewhere.

The next notation in this diary is as of date July 3 (1837), when the diarist notes "I had my thigh bone broke." In the following November he returned to Portsmouth, where he evidently spent the winter. In 1838 he became interested in a Missouri land speculation, in which he apparently presently found that he had been "wronged." In 1840 he notes that he "paid up for my land in Muncie and in August started for Missouri . . . and in November came to Portsmouth; went back (to Missouri) by the way of Muncie in 1841 had a great deal of trouble and came to Muncie. In October had my arm broke by a fall from Cola [his favorite horse] ' and went to Portsmouth in December." In the next spring he returned to Muncie and "sold my printing establishment to Jones for $450, and in September went to Portsmouth." Gharky's affairs in Portsmouth and in Missouri then occupied his attention until in November, 1848, when he "came to Muncietown, had the old cabin repaired, a stable and privy built, a spring dug out, and spent upwards of $300 here April, 1844, and am now waiting impatiently for money from Pennsylvania."

Intimate Items From Old Diary

Gharky was now sixty-nine years of age. He had been a busy though unsettled man and things were going against him. Among the items selected from his diary as of 1844, is the following: "At my double cabin, Muncietown, March 9th - As to my own distress, I have a sore leg; I am out of funds; destitute of clothing and food, besides being deeply in debt." On the 21st he notes that "I have now been afflicted with a sore leg for eight weeks." On the 16th of April he notes "Leg seems to mend - lI long for travel," and then, on the 22d,

"T left Muncietown at noon." 25th - 'Arrived at Cincinnati." 26th - ''Set a tailor, bootmaker and seamstress at work." 27th - "Bought bandanna, socks, razors, hone, apples, watchkey, shoes and sus- . penders." 80th - "Clothes not yet done; engaged passage to St. Louis on 'Louis Phillipe' for $10; leg is sore; got shirts which cost $8." May 1 - "Got clothing, $50; went on boat." 6th - '"'Reached St. Louis; stopped at Vancourt's." Gharky's business in Missouri occupied him until in the following November, his notation as of the 18th of that month (1844) having it that "at daylight we reached Cincinnati." 21st - '"'Arrived at. Muncietown at noon." 25th - ''Moved into my double cabin." Continuing notations through December have to do with his treatment of his sore leg. On the 21st he notes that "Jack's store was broke open in the night and the contents of the safe taken." In the first week of January, 1845, he notes the prevalence of scarlet fever in the vicinity, with the death of five children in one week, in the Gallagher, Baxter, Lockwood, Keasby and Jo Davis families. On the 12th of February he notes that "'my leg is mending finely." 13th - "My 70th birthday - It is bitter cold." The weather must have changed suddenly, for on the 25th he notes that he "had clover seed sown." 26th - "Sodded my door yard." March 6 - "River very high; bridge in danger; no mail." 17th - 'Court begins; I am indicted." 21st - Took sick and shook like the ague." 27th - 'Eight Sappingtons pills have restored me." April 4-5 - 'Meriton surveyed my land; fixed all the plats."" 11th - ''Moses Ebey died without a struggle." 15th - "Levi Bishop cut his own throat." 17th - "Started for David's" [his son in Missouri].

Gave Up His Cabin Home

The old diarist remained in Missouri, where his leg still gave him much bother, until in October, 1845. His diary as of the 26th of that month notes that he "arrived at Cincinnati." 29th - ''Came to Muncie and stopped at Ethell's."" November 3 - '"Lutz hauled furniture to Ethell's." Gharky evidently was giving up his cabin home. 4th - "Sawed, split and carried up into my room one-eighth of a cord of wood in less than two hours." 8th - 'Poulticed leg and took salts." 1ith - "Bought a pew for $2.50 and went to see it." 12th - "Walked through bottom; timber destroyed." 16th - ''Sacrament at Irwin's church." 21st - "Leg is worse; sale of press." 27th - 'Fast day; went to church; pumps froze."" December 5 - "Commenced the use of urine on my leg." 6th - '"'A boy kicked my leg and hurt it se- verely." 9th - 'Urine appears to help leg." 15th - "Drafted my land for Thomas Kirby." 25th - "Children call for Christmas gifts." 26th - "Drafted my land for Jo Anthony." January 7th - "'Drafted land and lots for T. S. Neely." 11th - 'Felt unwell; read the first Muncie Journal." 13th - "Lot 3 in block 4 sold to E. Gilbert through mistake; began a draft of the town." 17th - '"Israel Shoemaker died here." 20th - 'Finished David's plat and began Philip's; a heaviness of mind hangs over me." 29th - "My medicinal spring water has helped me." February 1 - '"Great Methodist meeting." 7th - "Methodists fell into J. Russell's cellar." 13th - '"My 71st birthday; walked to Irwin's." 16th - 'Dreamed of sitting on the wheel of fortune." 21st - "'Great wolf hunt." March 9 - "Bought a hat for $3.50." 21st - "Had an encounter with Coan." April 4 - "John Marshall married the widow Gilbert." 6th - "Began a draft of school section, sixteen inches square." 7th - "Finished the draft for J. Anthony." 10th - 'Cleaned out my medical spring." 12th - "Easter Sunday; ground covered with snow; not sick, yet have no appetite; distressed in spirits and mind." 19th - "Walked twice to spring." 29th - 'Felt sick and took pills.' May 10 - "Saw Shafer and wife baptised in river." 16th - '"Closed mortgage and got $602; horse race and fight." 22d - 'First news of the Mexican war; walked to spring and seminary; exhibition at night." 27th - '"Walked up to my mound." June 3 - '"Drafted Muncietown; slept sound." 13th - "Great gathering for military purposes; Sample elected lieut. col.; Ribble, major; Paff jailed for cutting Ethell's scull."

Gharky took a trip over into Ohio, visiting his old home at Alexandria, his notation as of July 2 having it that he "walked to Alexandria grave yard; tomb very much defaced." He left Cincinnati on the 8th "at sun rise' and "reached Muncietown at 314 o'clock p.m." July 11 - "Three children buried; Marshall spoke." 23d - "Drafted all my lands for William Robey." August 1 - "Horse company paraded." 2d - '"Rode to spring, which runs strong." 6th - "Commenced a draft of all my possessions in a superior style." 13th - "Leg very bad; poulticed with live-forever." 31st - ''Camp meeting people going home." September 10 - "Appraisers allowed me $8 for gravel." 22d - "Verdict against me for $125.25." 24th - 'Got a new trial by paying costs, $43.16." 28th - "Wrote to my sister; mind uneasy." October 5 - "Put the writing on three superb drafts." 8th "Went to funeral (Spencer Moore) ; grand menagerie here." 13th - "Ethell took his sign down." 19th - "Glorious news from the Mexican war." November 17 - "Wrote my will; leg is painful."

First Plans For Coming Railroad

During the following December and January Gharky was at Portsmouth, returning to Muncietown on February 15, his diary noting that he "came to Ethell's; my room occupied." February 23, 1847 - "Rode to spring and cleaned it out." 29th - ''Moved to Andrews'; warm but dark room." March 5 - '"Walked on mound." 11th - 'The Halstead trial came on." 12th - 'Some swore false; verdict for me, $25.81." April 3 - "Squirrel hunt." 4th - "John Parker, cow thief, ran off with Isaac Tildon's daughter." 21st - ''They got trees from my land to plant in the public square.' May 1 - "Rain spoiled the youngsters' sports." 7th - '"Had my last two apples wasted." 12th - "Doctor Clark died."? 22d - 'Mexican volunteers started for Marion." 31st - "Walked to farm, grave yard and mound." June 3 - "Temperance speeches delivered." 5th - ''Horse company paraded.". 14th - "Went up into the court house steeple; bell weighs 491 pounds; hangings, 300 pounds." 16th - "Raised a club and sent for eight Sat. Couriers." 26th - "Railroad meeting; corresponding committee appointed." July 4 - "Ate my last apple; walked to Franklin's." 10th - "'Camp meeting at Campbell's creek." 11th - "Had a light chill and burning fever." 13th - '"Took 28 pills and feel no better." 16th - '"Feel some better; walked through town." 20th - '"'Wrote reminiscences of Capt. Samuel Gunn's vicissitudes." 29th - "Leg gets worse; employed Dr. Anthony." August 2 - "Leg no better; warm election day." 20th - '"Railroad route determined." 26th - ''All gone to the grand show; leg better." September 3 - ''Took eight ague pills; leg uncommon sore." 4th - "Tom Thumb came to Muncietown." 26th - "Charles F. Willard's Frances died." 28th - "Circus with a bear without fore feet." October 1 - '"'Use Mahon's salves and leg mends." 26th - "Walked to the farm." November 4 - '"Caravan and circus here." 9th - "On hand: Gold, $70; paper, $57; silver, $2.50." 18th - ''Smallpox made its appearance here."

On November 22 the diarist "eft Muncey at 10 o'clock, a. m." and on the 26th "came to Portsmouth," where on the 28th he notes that there is "high water and bank caving very much." On December 7 he notes that "my daguerreotype was taken by Shewell." 13th - "Leg severely sore; plaster inflames it; torment, confusion, loss and dismay." He returned to Muncie on the 29th and his notation as of the 30th has it that "smallpox is raging fearfully." January 1 (1848) - 'Made fourteen gifts and took to children; A. Kennedy was buried in Indianapolis." 6th - "Town meeting; resolution adopted respecting Kennedy's death; committee appointed." [It will be recalled that Andrew Kennedy read law at Connersville and soon after his admission to the bar in 1830 located at Muncietown. In 1835 he was elected to represent this district in the Legislature; in 1838 was elected to the state Senate, and in 1841 was elected to Congress. He was the choice of his party for the United States Senate in 1847, and would probably have been elected by the Legislature which was precipitately adjourned on account of the smallpox scourge to which he fell a victim on December 31, 1848.] 7th - 'Doleful times; bell tolls at 9 o'clock." 12th - "Sleighing and log hauling is all the rage." February 10 - - "Jo and Tom Buckles rented my farm." 22d - "Grand ball and turkey dinner." 28th - "Fire in the prairie." March 6 - "Dismal cold and river frozen over." 21st - "Smith [Oliver H.] lectured on railroad: books opened." April 13 - "Walked to my farm and mound." 22d - "T rode to the dam, bridge and spring."

Efficacy Of Waters Of Gharky Spring

On the 25th the diarist left Muncie for Missouri and on the 26th notes that he "saw the first operation on the lightning line." On the 28th he "left Cincinnati on the Neplus Ultra" and on May 2 "at night we arrived at St. Louis." On June 2 "a cloud bursted over St. Louis, overflowed the town, ruined roads and bridges." On the 21st he "arrived at and left Cincinnati" and on the 24th "reached Dr. Andrews' in Muncietown." 25th - 'Walked over farm and to spring." 26th - "Great speeches delivered at court house." 30th - 'Feel better from drinking my spring water." July 1 - "Great railroad election." 6th - "Three eastern mails a week established." 11th - Trouble in camp concerning the clerkship." 20th - "Rejoicing over the arrest of horse thieves." 22d - "Great quarterly meeting." 26th - "Wax figures not shown on account of storm." August 7 - "Election day; nursed my sore leg." 9th - "Ball at Hoon's." 23d - "Walked to spring; hole shot through cup." 25th - "Went to spring; hole shot in new cup." September 1 - "Leg worse; poulticed it with carrots." 3d - "Horse thieves broke jail." 4th - "One thief caught." 12th - "I was sum: moned before the grand jury." 14th - '"Had one tooth pulled; two and a stump left." 16th - "Walked to the spring; tin cup there." 22d - "Leg mends and I have a good appetite." 26th - "Great gathering for show." October 5 - "Began railroad draft; leg mends fast."

7th - "Paris cut Nottingham with a hatchet." 12th - ''Apple peeling and dancing at Dr. Andrew's." 14th - '" A painful bile on my cheek." 19th - "'Great excitement in love affairs." 22d - '"'Granny Thompson died, aged 98 years." 30th - "Anxiety of mind during sleep." November 7 - "Presidential election day; I voted for Zack." 10th - "Much sickness prevails in this section." 18th - '"Excitement concerning railroad and depot." 16th - '"Garst petitions for a charter for a hotel." 19th - 'Walked to railroad route; more healthy." 23d - Freemasons buried old Mr. Miller." December 30 - '"Presented Dr. Willard my crockery ware." January 8 (1849) - "Rumor of railroad route being altered." 26th - '"Sick, and went to bed at 10 o'clock." 29th - '"Wrote to Myers in great distress." February 8th - "Feel some better and walked into town." 11th - '"Negro preaching; dined at James Truitt's." 13th - "I am 74 years old; I dressed, went up town and found nothing right." 20th - ''My farm looks bad." March 17 - ''O. H. Smith lectured on railroad." 20th - ''Sam Orr's speech; exposure of Sample's." 30th - '"Cleared and harrowed the mound."

Excitement Running High Over Railroad

The old diarist's vacillating mood evidently was changing for the better. He apparently was again taking an interest in his labors. On April 7 he "walked to mound and spring" and on the 12th he again "walked to mound." On the 13th he noted that there was an "exhibition at the seminary," which he no doubt attended, and on the next day (the 14th) he noted "high discussion on location of depot," in which he no doubt took part. April 20 - "Wrote a description of my Missouri land." 24th - ''Had overalls tore by a dog." . 28th - "Excitement runs high on railroad." On May 1 he notes a new physical pang - 'rheumatic pains in knee." 4th - "Wrote release of right of way for railroad." 5th - "Lightning struck Waters' house and stunned his daughter." 'Tth - 'Both knees begin to pain me." 8th - "Exhibition of the Shaking Quakers." 14th - ''Rheumatism left me." 17th - 'First marble tomb arrived from Dayton." 19th - "Hydraulic ram erected on top of saw mill." 22d - "Rheumatism again in right knee.' 26th - ''Walked to both springs." 29th - "Wisner lectured on phrenology."

Local contentions over the routing of the coming railroad apparently would not down. On June 1 Gharky wrote - "Confusion about railroad." 9th - "Resurvey of railroad; quarterly meeting." 11th - "Commissioners levied railroad tax." 17th - "Saw two women bap-

_ tised in river." 20th - "Felon broke jail." 25th - ''Walked to farm; nothing goes right." 27th - "Town in commotion about railroad route." 28th - 'Kept in bed all day and took medicine." July 1 - "Rode to farm and spring." 10th - 'Cholera in Bluntsville; several leave town." 11th - ''Despondency prevails; street and pond draining committee; Caleb Wilcoxon died, cholera." 12th - "Stage stopped running; Burlington and Bluntsville deserted by set of cowards." 18th - "California fever supersedes cholera." 15th - ''Dent Smith died of cholera." 16th - ''John Barber, Joseph Williamson and Aaron Stockham died of cholera." 17th - "John Wilcoxon died of cholera." 18th - "Aretta Andrews, Eliza Boldman and Thomas Williamson's son died." 23d - 'Funeral of Jesse Moore's child; horse race." 25th - ''J. Wesley Redhead died of cholera." 27th - "California fever rages still higher." August 3 - "Left leg sore; took five pills."' 6th - '"Election day and horse race." 19th - ''My cough increases; feel weak." 25th - "Quarterly meeting; feel vastly better." September 3 - ''Robbery committed at Osborn's house." 19th - '"'Walked to spring; both tin cups gone." 20th - '"'The great 'I Am' held forth in the court house." 22d - "Felt bad and took three pills." 28th - 'Had a severe shake of the ague."

Christmas Gifts For The Children

The "California fever" apparently was finding abatement through an outlet. On October 1 the diarist makes a brief note, "Californians started." Significant date for this hardy bunch of local '49ers. The railroad question still was exciting much local comment. On the 22d there is this note in the diary: "Loud vociferations against railroad depot." November 1 - ''Walked to spring, hurt my left leg." 2d - "P. Moore bought my wood; eight acres for $80." 10th - 'Brewery on fire.' 11th - ''Man died of milksickness." 14th - '"Walked on railroad to Levi Bishop's land." 29th - ''Smallpox in town." 30th - "Confined to house by rheumatism." December 4 - "Walked to show damages on my mound." 9th - 'John Russey died; didn't leave the house." 10th - '"Osborn died; smallpox; Masons buried R." 20th - "T read by candle light at noon." 25th - ''Done up nine Christmas gifts for children." Despite his afflictions, the old man's heart remained mellow. 31st - '"'New Year's ball at Joseph Anthony's.". It is easily conceivable that David was there getting a bit of cheer.

Moore paid me on the timber, $45." 6th - 'Rode to Gough's chapel; dined at Franklin's." 8th - "Sick; took pills; settled with Buckles and Homer, $110.3914." 10th - "Pills did not operate; balloon ascension." 16th - William Calvert was married to Miss Reeves." 17th - "T rode to Calvert's; William's infare on hand." 20th - "I walked to Franklin's and dined." 31st - '"'Ate my last bellflower apple." Friends apparently were good to the old man and his invitations out seemed numerous. His notation as of February 1 states that he "walked to John A. Moores and dined." 3d - '"Turkey dinner here - at D. H. Andrew's." 6th - '"Tucker and girl fled and sheriff pursued." 8th - "'Settled with D. H. Andrews, $126.911%4." 11th - 'Tucker is bound over; his bond is $350." 13th - '"I am 75 years old; walked to John Moore's." 19th - 'Horatio Gilbert was married ; I was invited." 27th - "I rode to Philip Moore's and dined." March 1 - "Drafted railroad for Jo Buckles." 4th - '"Italian exhibition; music bad." 6th - "Great fight; river high; mill dam gone." 14th - 'Dined at Jacob Calvert's." 16th - '"D. H. Andrews shot sixty pigeons." 26th - "Got badly mired at the spring." 29th - "Unwell; took morphine and six pills." 31st - 'Rode to Josiah Williams'; had appetite."

High Honors For Fanny Lee Townsend

April 1 - "H. Smith started to N. Y. with horses." 2d - "The killed child was buried."' This item seems to stand alone, the diarist having made no previous mention of apparent tragedy. 7th - "Walked with John Ethell up on mound." 14th - '"'Walked to Franklin's ana dined."" 15th - "I walked to Lloyd's and dined." 20th - Great excitement over Fanny L. Townsend." 21st - "Rode to Parkers and dined." 22d - "Rain kept me from seminary." 26th - ''Negro performance and music." 28th - 'Walked to John A. Moore's and dined." May 1 - ''Bell tolled at Fanny Lee Townsend's departure from Muncietown." 14th - "Rode to spring with Dr. Willard." 16th - "Burned stumps in the new field." 17th - "Fatigued and cramp in the thigh all night." 20th - '"Walked to spring; letter from my sister." 27th - 'Signed power of attorney for J. S. Buckles." June 2 - "Rode to spring; lost whip; dined at John A. Moore's; supped at Wilcoxon's.'' 3d - "'By burning logs in the road I fired the woods." S8th - "I rode to spring; tin cup gone." 14th - "Daniel Burt found sand in my mound." 21st - ''Depot excitement runs extremely high." 23d - "Dined at Franklin's; rode to William Bridget's funeral; left fifty persons at my spring." The popularity of this old mineral spring evidently was growing. 28th - '"Finished railroad plat." 30th - "Walked to spring with Ethel and Willard." July 4 - Walked to Moore's shanty; the boys have a picknick dinner."' 11th - 'Wrote a letter to my sister." 12th - "Sick, took pills and got wet by the rain." 16th - '"'Dr. Willard and I walked to the spring." 17th - ''Saw California gold, sent home by Spear." 20th - '"Felt a slight dysentery; walked to spring." 21st - ''Moses Neely and I walked to the spring." 22d - ''Took Cola [his horse] to Calvert's; squared accounts with Moses Neely." This is the last entry in this engaging old diary. In brackets following this entry is a notation, probably in the hand of the son who printed the book, stating that "the probability is that he (David) left Muncietown on Tuesday, the 23d day of July. He arrived at Portsmouth on Saturday, the 27th; was taken sick the same day and died on Friday, the 9th of August, at 8 p. m., under the treatment of Dr. J. M. Shackleford." In the "Family Register" carried in this little old book, under the heading ''Deaths" the notation relating to Gharky's death has it that he died of cholera in the Franklin House at Portsmouth.

A notation in Gharky's diary as of February 1, 1848, has it that he "wrote to page 4 to C. F. Willard." 8d - 'Wrote to page 8 to C. F. Willard." 8th - "Wrote to page 12 to C. F. Willard." 11th - "Finished writing to Willard, on page 16." The old man then was about to enter upon the seventy-fourth year of his life. He had written his memoirs, detailing with frank intimacy the varying courses of his changing fortunes. In March, 1844, at his double log cabin in Muncietown, he wrote that "it has seemed surprising to me, yet nevertheless it is a fact, that during my long, wearied and chequered life a perceptible change took place with me, either for good or evil, septuannually; or, rather, a new epoch appeared in my life every seven years." Four years later he apparently felt the urge further to express himself, and it is thus that there is carried in his "Life" the following "Extracts From an Address to Charles F. Willard," dated at Muncie, February 1, 1848, a singularly interesting human document: in its train all the miseries of believing in hobgoblins, elves, fairies, spirits, ghosts and witches. A retrospective view of my infancy now pictures in my mind the fear, dread and horror such tales nightly told by my father's servants produced on my infant mind. Although my father was not a believer in ghosts, he firmly believed in witches, and on every Walpurgis night (May the 1st) he made me make three crosses with chalk on every door and blind.

"During my apprenticeship I grew more bold working among coffins, which was my principal occupation, and we sometimes had a cellar full on hand, concerning which I have heard many superstitious tales, and loud raps or whacks on them. After my apprenticeship, in traveling among entire strangers, my fears gradually grew less; not because I never witnessed anything incomprehensible to me and bordering the mystic if not supernatural order, yet I never obtained the sight of any apparition, although it was devoutly to be wished for; not only in order to procure knowledge of a future existence, if any there be, but through it to pry into futurity itself. For this purpose I have climbed mountains to see them there at sunrise; descended into mines to spy the mineral ghost; at midnight there have I called on murdered men to reveal their murderers to me, all of which availed me nothing.

"During these unsuccessful trials in which my impetuous daring had often led me, to obtain sure and undeniable proofs of invisible or spiritual beings existing in another world, a number of my intimate friends, who heretofore had joined me in the midnight revel, in joyfully draining the cup of pleasure, even to intoxication, over bacchanalian songs, tales and jokes, as John Collins and others, were suddenly converted into Methodists. This occurrence brought the following question to my mind: 'Can these professions be real?' In order to ascertain this I had a private conversation with each of them on this subject and they all assured me that the change in them emanated from God alone, with whom they held converse in their prayers, and that not only I but every wicked sinner would obtain this long by me sought intercourse by humble, penitent and incessant prayers.

"Now, dear Charles, my mind was made up to follow their instructions, placing implicit reliance in the truth of their statements to me, in describing their peculiar feelings and excessive happiness, their certain and assured salvation in the Kingdom of God and the delightful feelings they had possessed since their so desirable change, as it were, into newness of life. Therefore I adopted the prescribed rule and offered up in private, sincere and penitential prayer to the giver of all good, stipulating only that if such power existed, or such gifts as my friends pretended they had obtained could be granted to me, to convince me of the fact by giving me a sign of assurance in my dreams or otherwise. How long I kept up this mode of private prayer, apart from all my family, I do not now recollect; but at least I thought it long enough to be heard and granted, when suddenly some of these converted and holy brethren backslid and relapsed into their former sinful state, and laughed at their own deception and being deceived themselves. This caused me to pause and reflect, and not having the least intimation of the reality of the feelings described as being so supernatural by the converts of this sect, I formed an unalterable belief that all of these well described and defined feelings were but a farce, and henceforth I treated them as such.

"Under such circumstances was it to be wondered at that I lost all respect for religious creeds? I had witnessed palpable perjury and gross partiality in one sect; fraud, cheatery and deceit in another; bickerings, backbiting and distrust in the third; and the general abhorrence one sect has for another throughout, although all pretend to be christians, and all expect to enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the narrow gate.

"Although I never had my children christened or instructed in any sectarian creed or principles, I exempted every preacher of the gospel, no matter of what denomination, from paying anything for crossing at my ferry, even in high water, when a mile and a half of rowing was required and the price for man and horse, $1. And during camp meetings and on Sundays I permitted every church goer to go free; yet I seldom attended meeting myself. Widows and their children until they became of age, also went free of charge whenever they chose to cross at my ferry. These are the outlines of my religious character and principles when in March, 1830, I entered Muncietown.

"During the severest part of my rheumatism my son David visited me very unexpectedly. I rejoiced at seeing him, and it ameliorated my agonizing pain and misery to see one son at least who seemed to care for me and would accept of some of my hard earnings as a gift worthy of the donor. Hence I offered him my 100 acres, upon which was the millsite, but judge my astonishment when in flat terms he refused my offer, and said he would not thank me for my whole possessions, and the town into the bargain, as it did not lie in the right place. He built me a skiff, which done me very essential service, in crossing the mill pond back of the house. From his departure my misery, both external and internal, increased and prosperity with me became only a dream."

In this "Life of David Gharky," under date of 1846, there is the following description of the county seat of Delaware county: '"Muncietown is the seat of justice for Delaware county, state of Indiana, situate on the south bank of White river, on an elevation of about 30 feet above its bed. It was laid out in 1827, by four different proprietors, in the form of an oblong square. The principal streets are 45, and the alleys 10 feet wide. The lots are 125 feet long and 6214 feet wide. It contains about 600 inhabitants; a superb court house and jail; a handsome seminary, with an accomplished teacher of different languages and sciences; a printing and postoffice; a Presbyterian and a Methodist church; a flouring and saw mill; a woolcarding and fulling machine; four taverns; eight mercantile and two drug stores; two groceries and a proportionable number of mechanics of every description. Some large brick buildings for. mercantile purposes are now in progress of construction, and the building of others next season is under contemplation. Two weekly stages pass from Muncietown to Indianapolis, which lies about 61 miles southwest."

Expresses Opinion Concerning Neighbors

In addition to these published reminiscences and letters in the Gharky "Life" there are numerous other bits of this pioneer's writings preserved by Charles F. Willard, of Muncie, who had them from his father, the elder Charles F. Willard, who was Gharky's chief confidant and adviser during the time of the latter's residence here. One of these letters is so expressive of the temperament of Gharky and of his attitude toward some of the members of the early community here as to be worthy of preservation in this connection. This is a letter to Charles F. Willard (the senior), dated September 21, 1848, and is as follows:

"Dear Charles: All the spite, malice and intrigue brought on against poor ME by Judges, Lawyers, Jurors, Witnesses and individuals, consisting of Rogues, Scoundrels and Villains, who have greatly harmed me here, probably under the Idea that I should be induced thereby to give my property away and leave here, and I fear for further trouble, loss and damages, as I have sustained largely heretofore. But to convince you (the only one known to my secrets) how little I dread their chicanery, I have not only made a sliding scale of the progress in price of my property; but I am determined to stare these evil wishers of mine in the face till I have obtained the price stated here by yours truly, David Gharky." And then followed an elaborate schedule of the Gharky property, by lots and parcels, with a "sliding scale" of prices.

Tradition has it that Gharky bore himself somewhat more "loftily" than was common in pioneer communities and that this exhibition of apparent arrogance invited retaliation on all sides, so that often his life perhaps was made miserable by such as declined to take his European notions seriously. Particularly were the boys of the town "down" on him and their pranks, not always free from malice, gave him no end of annoyance, especially when they would befoul his cherished spring or shoot holes in the tin cups he was wont to keep at the spring. The above letter is evidence sufficient of Gharky's opinion of the community at large, which he seemed to people largely with "rogues, scoundrels and villains." His irascibility at times knew no bounds. It is related that one time he took a notion that Jacob H. Wysor had taken from his woods lot a pole. So incensed did he become at what he considered an act of encroachment on his preserves that he would not listen to Mr. Wysor's denial of the charge and announced to the latter that he not only did not care to be addressed by him but that he never again would speak to him nor have anything to do with him. So consistently did he adhere to this resolve that thereafter in passing the Wysor home he would cross the street and walk by on the other side. The present Charles F. Willard was eight years of age when David Gharky died and he has distinct childish recollections of the pioneer, and particularly of the latter's distribution of Christmas presents to such children of the community as he favored.

In the collection of Mrs. Julia (Andrews) Williamson there is the time-worn copy of David Gharky's "The Works of Lord Byron, Including the Suppressed Poems," published in Philadelphia in 1829.

Gharky Punished For Slander

Gharky's unbridled tongue sometimes got him into trouble. In the orders of the March term of the circuit court for 1843 it appears that an action for slander against Gharky, on the relation of Dr. George W. Garst, went for the complainant, the jury assessing the latter's damages at $75.

In the minutes of the board of county commissioners for the September term, 1846, under the head of 'David Gharky's Claim for Damages," it is set out with a somewhat facetious pen that "and now at this day David Gharky files his pathetic and cogent epistle to the county commissioners and an invitation to view his mound near town, and also an account of $12.30 for 158 loads of gravel taken by supervisors from his said mound, with a prayer that said sum, and as much more as he can get, to be allowed to him as damages by the board. Whereupon the board appoints Stewart Hoon and Eleazar Coffeen to go to the mound and look at it with eyes of righteousness, feelings of kindness, and a regard to what they are about, and make out what them gravel stones was worth, if anything; not forgetting the law and the need of gravel on the roads, and then come back and set it down in writing to this or the next session; and they must not omit or consider it bad to decide." And then, in the record of allowances for that term, it appears that Hoon and Coffeen each was allowed 75 cents "for services in viewing for Gharky mound," and that Gharky was allowed $8 "for damages to land as per report of viewers." It will be recalled that in his diary notes, above, Gharky makes. note of this allowance of his claim.

The Famous Old Gharky Mound

In this connection it is interesting to recall that pretty much all the streets in Muncie were graveled from the great natural deposit of gravel in the Gharky mound, which gradually thus became leveled to the common grade, the finishing touches being added when Mound street and Gharky street and others in that section of the city were being graded through in the early '90s. When Mound street was being graded a substantial brick cistern was revealed in what became the center of the street. The contractor, recognizing the substantial character of the construction, was careful not to break the walls and by excavating around it carted it off to his own home, half filled

During the memorable flood of March, 1913, when Muncie, along with many of the river towns of Indiana, suffered considerable loss by reason of the high water, the Star observed that "news is running now to modern floods, forgetting marks of floods which no doubt occurred ages ago and left their impress in our midst. The great mound in the west part of Muncie, known to old residents as Gharky's mound, is no doubt the result of action of the waters in the prehistoric age of the world. A great scientist who had made ancient land and water marks a life study, visited Muncie before this mound was leveled to get the sand and gravel, and clearly demonstrated that the constant whirling motion of White river against the high banks skirting the north and west bend gradually forced the sand and gravel inward and upward to this central point, thus forming the mound and proving that the remote prehistoric race of mankind that existed here saw greater floods than those of this generation." The flood of 1913 in Delaware county was not as destructive as in many other sections of the state and the loss at that time did not exceed $300,000, according to estimates made at that time, and much of this was borne by the railroads on account of damage to roadbeds. In March, 1904, there was another spell of high water, which the newspapers referred to as the "most disastrous flood in the history of Muncie." Whiteley, Walnut Grove, North Side, Riverside and Westside were particularly affected, the damage being estimated at thousands of dollars. The Yorktown bridge was washed away and this and damage to roads and culverts cost the county about $5,000. From time to time dredging operations have been carried on in White river with a view to averting flood damage.