Elkhart County, Indiana - Chapter 15: The Churches I, 1881 (part 4 of 7)

In jiioneer times the transactions of commerce were generally carried on by neighborhood exchanges. Now and then a farmer would load a flat-boat with beeswax, honey, tallow and peltries, with perhaps a few bushels of wheat or corn or a few hundred clapboards, and float down the rivers into the Ohio and thence to JSIew Orleans, where he would exchange his produce for substantials in the shape of groceries and a little ready money, with which he would retui-n by some one of tlie two or three steamboats then running. Betimes there appeared at the best steamboat landings a number of " middle men " engaged in the " commission and forwarding " business, buying up the farmers' produce and the trophies of the chase and the trap, and sending them to the various distant markets. Their winter's accumulations would be shipped in the spring, and the manufactured goods of the far East or distant South would come back in return; and in all these transactions scarcely any money was seen or used. Goods were sold on a year's time to the farmers, and payment made from the proceeds of the ensiling crops. When the crops were sold and the merchant satisfied, the surplus was paid out in orders on the store to laboring men and to satisfy other creditors. When a day's work was done by a working man, his employer would ask, " Well, what store do you want your order on?" The answer being given, the order was written and always cheerfully accepted.

Money was an article little known and seldom seen among the earlier settlers. Indeed, they had but little use for it, as they could transact all their business about as well without it, on the " barter " system, wherein great ingenuity was sometimes displayed. When it failed in any instance, long credits contributed to the convenience of the citizens. But for taxes and postage neither the barter nor the credit system would answer, and often letters were suffered to remain a long time in the postoffice for the want of tlie twentyfive cents demanded by the Government. With all this high price on postage, by the way, the letter had not been brought 500 miles in a day or two, as is the case nowadays, but had probably been weeks on the route, and the mail was delivered at the pioneer's postoffice, several miles distant from his residence, only once in a week or two. All the mail would be carried by a lone horseman. Instances are related illustrating how misrepresentation would be resorted to in order to elicit tlie sympathies of some one who was known to have " two bits " (25 cents) of money with him, and procure the required Govermental fee for a letter.

Peltries came nearer being money than anything else, as it came to be custom to estimate the value of everything in peltries. Such an article was worth so many peltries. Even some tax collectors and postmasters were known to take peltries and exchange them for the money required by the Government.

When the first settlers first came into the wilderness they generally supposed tliat their hard struggle would be principally over after the first year; but alas! they often looked for "easier times next year" for many years before realizing them, and then they came in so slily as to be almost imperceptible. The sturdy pioneer thus learned to bear hardships, privation and hard living, as good soldiers do. As the facilities for making money were not great, they lived pretty well satisfied in an atmosphere of good, social, friendly feeling, and thought themselves as good as those they had left behind in the East. But among the early settlers who came to this State were many who. accustomed to the advantages of an older civilization, to cliurches, schools and society, became speedily home-sick and dissatisfied. They would remain perhaps one summer, or at most two, then, selling whatever claim with its improvements they had made, would return to the older States, spreading reports of the hardships endured by the settlers here and the disadvantages which they had found, or imagined they had found, in the country. These weaklings were not an unmitigated curse. The slight improvements they had made were sold to men of sterner stuff, who were the sooner able to surround themselves with the necessities of life, while their unfavorable report deterred other weaklings from coming. The men who stayed, who were willing to endure privations, belonged to a different guild; they were heroes every one, - men to whom hardships were things to be overcome, and present privations things to be endured for the sake of posterity, and they never shrank from this duty. It is to these hardy pioneers who could endure, that we to-day owe the wonderful improvement we have made and the development, almost miraculous, that has brought our State in the past sixty years, from a wilderness, to the front rank among the States of this great nation.

Not the least of tlie hardships of the pioneers was the procuring of bread. The first settlers must be supplied at least one year from other sources than tlieir own lands; but the first crops, however abundant, gave only partial relief, there being no mills to grind the grain. Hence the necessity of grinding by hand power, and many families were poorly provided with means for doing this. Another way was to grate the corn. A grater was made from a piece of tin, sometimes taken from an old, worn-out tin bucket or other vessel. It was thickly perforated, bent into a semicircular form, and nailed, rough side upward, on a board. The corn was taken in the ear, and grated before it got dry and hard. Corn, however, was eaten in Various ways.

Soon after the country became more generally settled, enterprising men were ready to embark in the milling business. Sites along the streams were selected for water-power. A person looking for a mill-site would follow up and down the stream for a desired location, and when found lie would go before the authorities and secure a writ oi' ad quod damnum. This would enable the miller to have the adjoining land officially examined, and tlie amount of damage by making a dam was named. Mills being so great a public necessity, they were permitted to be located upon any person's land where the miller thought the site desirable.

Ageioultukal Implements

The agricultural implements used by the first farmers in this State would in this age of improvement be great curiosities. The plow used was called the " bar-share " plow; the iron point consisted of a bar of iron about two feet long, and a broad share of iron welded to it. At the extreme point was a coulter that passed through a beam six or seven feet long, to which were attached handles of corresponding length. The mold-board was a wooden one split out of winding timber, or hewed into a winding shape, in order to turn the soil over. Sown seed was brushed in by dragging over the ground a sapling with a busliy top. In harvesting the change is most striking. Instead of the reapers and mowers of to-day, tlie sickle and cradle were used. Tlie grain was threshed with a flail, or trodden out by horses or oxen.

Hog Killing

Hogs were always dressed before they were taken to market. The farmer, if forehanded, would call in his neighbors some bright fall or winter morning to help " kill hogs." Immense kettles of water were heated; a sled or two, covered with loose boards or plank, constituted the platform on which the hog was cleaned, and was placed near an inclined hogshead in which the scalding was done; a quilt was thrown over the top of the latter to retain the heat; from a crotch of some convenient tree a projecting pole was rigged to hold the animals for disemboweling and thorough cleaning. When everything was arranged, the best shot of the neighborhood loaded his rifle, and the work of killing was commenced. It was considered a disgrace to make a hog " squeal " by bad shooting or by a " shoulder-stick," that is, running the point of the butcher-knife into the shoulder instead of the cavity of the beast. As each hog fell, the " sticker " mounted him and plunged the butcher-knife, long and well sharpened, into his throat; two persons would then catch him by the hind legs, draw him up to the scalding tub, which had just been filled with boiling-hot water with a shovelful of good green wood ashes thrown in ; in this the carcass was plunged and moved around a minute or so, that is, until the hair would slip oif easily, then placed on the platform where the cleaners would pitch into him with all their might and clean him as quickly as possible, with knives and other sharp-edged implements; then two stout fellows would take him up between them, and a tliird man to manage the " gambrel " (which was a stout stick about two feet long, sharpened at both ends, to be inserted between the muscles of the hind legs at or near the hock joint), the animal would be elevated to the pole, where the work of cleaning was finished.

After the slaughter was over and the hogs had had time to cool, such as were intended for domestic use were cut up, the lard " tried " out by the women of the household, and the surplus hogs taken to market, while the weather was cold, if possible. In those days almost every merchant had, at the rear end of his place of business or at some convenient building, a '- pork-house," and buy the pork of his customers and of such others as would sell to him, and cut it for the market. This gave employment to a large number of hands in every village, who would cut and pack pork all winter. The hauling of all this to the river would also give employment to a large number of teams, and the manufacture of pork barrels would keep many coopers employed.

Allowing for the diiference of currency and manner of marketing, the price of pork was not so high in those days as at present. Now, while calico and muslin are ten cents a yard and pork two to four cents a pound, then, while calico and muslin were twenty-five cents a yard pork was one to two cents a pound. "When, as the country grew older and communications easier between the seaboard and the great "West, prices went up to two and a half and three cents a pound, the farmers thought they would always be content to raise pork at such a price; but times have changed, even contrary to the current-cy.

There was one feature in this method of marketing pork that made the country a paradise for the poor man in the winter time. Spare-ribs, tenderloins, pigs' heads and pigs' feet were not considered of any value, and were freely given to all vi^ho could use them. If a barrel was taken to any pork-house and salt furnished, the barrel would be filled and salted down with tenderloins and spare-ribs gratuitous!}'. So great in many cases was the quantity of spare-ribs, etc., to be disposed of, that they would be hauled away in wagon-loads and dumped in the woods out of town.

In those early times much wheat was marketed at twenty-five to fifty cents a bushel, oats the same or less, and corn ten cents a bushel. A good young milch-cow could be bought for $5 to $10, and that payable in work.

Those might truly be called "close times," yet the citizens of the country were accommodating, and but very little sufiering for the actual necessities of life was ever known to exist.

Prairie Fires

Fires, set out by Indians or settlers, sometimes purposely and sometimes permitted through carelessness, would visit the prairies every autumn, and sometimes the forests, either in autumn or spring, and settlers could not always succeed in defending themselves against the destroying element. Many interesting incidents are related. Often a fire was started to bewilder game, or to bare a piece of ground for the early grazing of stock the ensuing spring, and it would get away under a wind, and soon be beyond control. Violent winds would often arise and drive the flames with such rapidity that riders on the fleetest steeds could scarcely escape. On the approach of a prairie fire the farmer would immediately set about " cutting off' supplies " for the devouring enemy by a " back fire." Thus, by starting a small fire near the bare ground about his premises, and keeping it under control next his property, he would burn off" a strip around him and prevent the attack of the on-coming flames. A few furrows or a ditch around the farm constituted a help in the work of protection.

An original prairie of tall and exuberant grass on fire, especially at night, was a magnificent spectacle, enjoyed only by the pioneer. Here is an instance where the frontiersman, proverbially deprived of the sights and pleasures of an old community, is privileged far beyond the people of the present day in this country. One could scarcely tire of beholding the scene, as its awe-inspiring features seemed constantly to increase, and the whole panorama unceasingly changed like the dissolving views of a magic lantern, or like the aurora borealis. Language cannot couve}', words cannot express, the faintest idea of the splendor and grandeur of such a conflagration at night. It was as if the pale queen of night, disdaining to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had dispatched myriads upon myriads of messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun until all had flashed into one long and continuous blaze.

" Soon the tires began to kindle wider and rise higher from the long grass; the gentle breeze increased to stronger currents, and soon fanned the small, flickering blaze into fierce torrent flames, which curled up and leaped along in resistless splendor; and like quickly raising the dark curtain from the luminous stage, the scenes before me were suddenly changed, as if by the magician's wand, into one boundless amphitheatre, blazing from earth to heaven and sweeping the horizon round, - columns of lurid flames sportively mourning up to the zenith, and dark clouds of crimson smoke curling away and aloft till they nearly obscured stars and moon, while the rushing, crashing sounds, like roaring cataracts mingled with distant thunders, were almost deafening; danger, death, glared all around; it screamed for victims; yet, notwithstanding the imminent peril

Wild Hogs

"When the earliest pioneer reached this AVestern wilderness, game was his principal food until he had conquered a farm from the forest or prairie, - rarely, then, from the latter. As the countrysettled game grew scarce, and by 1S50 he who would live by his rifle would have had but a precarious subsistence had it not been for "wild hogs." These animals, left by home-sick immigrants whom the chills or fever and ague had driven out, had strayed into the woods, and began to multiply in a wild state. The woods each fall were full of acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, and these hogs would grow fat and multiply at a wonderful rate in the bottoms and along the bluffs. The second and third immigration to the country found these wild hogs an unfailing source of meat supply up to that period when they had in the townships contiguous to the river become so numerous as to be an evil, breaking in herds into the farmer's corn-fields or toling their domestic swine into their retreats, where they too became in a season as wild as those in the woods. In 1S3S or '39, in a certain township, a meeting was called of citizens of the township to take steps to get rid of wild Logs. At this meeting, which was held in the spring, the people of the township were notified to turn out en masse on a certain day and engage in the work of catching, trimming and branding wild hogs, which were to be turned loose, and the next winter were to be hunted and killed by the people of the township, the meat to be divided pro rata among the citizens of the township. This plan was fully carried into effect, two or three days being spent in the exciting work in the spring.

In the early part of the ensuing winter the settlers again turned out, supplied at convenient points in the bottom with large kettles and barrels for scalding, and while the hunters were engaged in killing, others with horses dragged the carcasses to the scalding platforms where they were dressed; and when all that could be were killed and dressed a division was made, every farmer getting more meat than enough, for his winter's supply. Like energetic measures were resorted to in other townships, so that in two or three years the breed of wild hogs became extinct.

Histokt Of Indiana

The principal wild animals fonud in the State by the early settler were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, fox, otter, raccoon, generally called "coon," woodchnck, or gronnd-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, mnskrat, opossum, rabbit and squirrel; and the principal feathered game were the quail, prairie chicken and wild turkey. Hawks, turkey buzzards, crows, blackbirds were also very abundant. Several of these animals furnished meat for the settlers; but their principal meat did not long consist of game; pork and poultry were raised in abundance. The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common enemy of the sheep, and sometimes attacking other domestic animals and even human beings. But their hideous bowlings at night were so constant and terrifying that they almost seemed to do more mischief by tliat annoyance than by direct attack. They would keep everbody and every animal about the farm-house awake and frightened, and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. As one man described it: "Suppose six boji-s, having six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would hear such music as two wolves would make."

Wolf Hunts

In early days more mischief was done by wolves than by any other wild animal, and no small part of their mischief consisted in their almost constant barking at night, which always seemed so menacing and frightful to the settlers. Like mosquitoes, the noise they made appeared to be about as dreadful as the real depredations they committed. The most effectual, as well as the most exciting, method of ridding the country of these hateful pests, was that known as the " circular wolf hunt," by which all tlie men and boys would turn out on an appointed day, in a kind of circle comprising many square miles of territory, with horses and dogs, and then close up toward the center of their field of operation, gathering not only wolves, but also deer and many smaller "varmint." Five, ten, or more wolves by this means would sometimes be killed in a single day. The men would be organized with as much system as a little army, every one being well posted in the meaning of every signal and the application of every rule. Guns were scarcely ever allowed to be brought on such occasions, as their use would be unavoidably dangerous. The dogs were depended upon for the final slaughter. The dogs, by the way, had all to be held in check by a cord in the hands of their keepers until the final signal was given to let them loose, when away they would all go to the center of battle, and a more exciting scene would follow than can be easily described.

Bee-Hunting

This wild recreation was a peculiar one, and many sturdy backwoodsmen gloried in excelling in this art. He would carefully watch a bee as it filled itself with the sweet product of some flower or leaf-bud, and notice particularly the direction taken by it as it struck a "bee-line" for its home, which when found would be generally high up in the hollow of a tree. The tree would be marked, and in September a party would go and cut down the tree and capture the honey as quickly as they could before it wasted away through the broken walls in which it had been so carefully stowed away by the little busy bee. Several gallons would often be thus taken from a single tree, and by a very little work,, and pleasant at that, the early settlers could keep tliemselves in honey the year round. By the time the honey was a year old, or before, it would turn white and granulate, yet be as good and healthful as whcQ fresh. This was by some called " candid " honey.

In some districts, the resorts of bees would be so plentiful that all the available hollow trees would be occupied and many colonies of bees would be found at work in crevices in the rock and holes in the ground. A considerable quantity of honey has even been taken from such places.

In pioneer times snakes were numerous, such as the rattlesnake, viper, adder, blood snake and many varieties of large blue and green snakes, milk snake, garter and water snakes, black snakes, etc., etc. If, on meeting one of these, you would retreat, they would chase you very fiercely, but if you would turn and give them battle, they would immediately crawl away with all possible speed, hide in the grass and weeds, and wait for a "greener " customer. These really harmless snakes served to put people on their guard against the more dangerous and venomous kinds.

It was the practice in some sections of the country to turn out in companies, with spades, mattocks and crow-bars, attack the principal snake dens and slay large numbers of them. In early spring the snakes were somewhat torpid and easily captured. Scores of rattlesnakes were sometimes frightened out of a single den, which, as soon as they showed their heads through the crevices of the rocks, were dispatched, and left to be devoured by the numerous wild hogs of that day. Some of the fattest of these snakes were taken to the house and oil extracted from them, and their glittering skins were saved as specifics for rheumatism.

Another method was to so fix a heavy stick over the door of their dens, with a long grape-vine attached, that one at a distance could plug the entrance to the den when the snakes were all out sunning themselves. Then a large company of the citizens, on hand by appointment, could kill scores of the reptiles in a few minutes.

One of the greatest obstacles to the early settlement and prosperity of this State was the " chills and fever," " fever and ague," or " shakes," as it was variously called. It was a terror to newcomers; in the fall of the year almost everybody was afflicted with it. It was no respecter of persons; everybody looked pale and sallow as though he were frost-bitten. It was not contagious, but derived from impure water and air, which are always developed in the opening up of a new country of rank soil like that of the Northwest. The impurities continue to be absorbed from day to day, and from week to week, until the whole bod}' corporate became saturated with it as with electricity, and then the sliockcame; and the shock was a regular shake, with a fixed beginning and ending, coming on in some cases each day but generally on alternate days, with a regularity that was surprising. After the shake came the fever, and this "last estate was worse than the first." It was a burning-hot fever, and lasted for hours. "When you had the chill you couldn't get warm, and when yon had the fever you couldn't get cool. It was exceedingly awkward in tliis respect; indeed it was. Nor would it stop for any sort of contingency; not even a wedding in the family would stop it. It was imperative and tyrannical. When the appointed time came around, everything else had to be stopped to attend to its demands. It didn't even have any Sundays or holidays; after the fever went down you still didn't feel much better. You felt as though you had gone through some sort of collision, thrashing-machine or jarring-machine, and came out not killed, but next thing to it. You felt weak, as though you had run too far after something, and then didn't catch it. You felt languid, stupid and sore, and was down in the mouth and heel and partially raveled ont. Your back was out of fix, your head ached and your appetite crazy. Your eyes had too much white in them, your ears, especially after taking quinine, had too much roar in them, and your whole body and soul were entirely woe-begone, disconsolate, sad, poor and good for nothing. Yon didn't think much of yourself, and didn't believe that other people did, either; and you didn't care. You didn't quite make up your mind to commit suicide, but sometimes wished some accident would happen to knock either the malady or yourself out of existence. You imagined that even the dogs looked at you with a kind of self-complacency. You thought the sun had a kind of sickly shine about it.

About this time you came to the conclusion that you would not accept the whole State of Indiana as a gift; and if you had the strength and means, you picked up Hannah and the baby, and your traps, and went back "yander" to " Old Yirgiuny," the " Jarseys," Maryland or " Pennsylvany."

The above is not a mere picture of the imagination. It is simply recounting in quaint phrase what actually occurred in thousands of cases. Whole families would sometimes be sick at one time and not one member scarcely able to wait upon another. Labor or exercise always aggravated the malady, and it took General Laziness a long time to thrash the enemy out. And those were the days for swallowing all sorts of roots and "\'arbs," and whiskv> etc., with some faint hope of relief. And iinally, when the case wore out, the last remedy taken got the credit of the cure.

Education

Though struggling through the pressure of poverty and privation, the early settlers planted among them the school-house at the earhest practical period. So important an object as the education of their children they did not defe;- until they could build more comely and convenient houses. They were for a time content with such as corresponded with their rude dwellings, but soon better buildings and accommodations were provided. As may readily be supposed, the accommodations of the earliest schools were not good. Sometimes school was taught in a room of a large or a double log cabin, but oftener in a log house built for the purpose. Stoves and such heating apparatus as are now in use were then unknown. A mud-and-stick chimney in one end of the building, with earthen hearth and a lire-place wide and deep enough to receive a four to six-foot back-log, and smaller wood to match, served for warmingpurposes in winter and a kind of conservatory in summer. For windows, part of a log was cut out in two sides of the building, and may be a few lights of eight by ten glass set in, or the aperture might be covered over with greased paper. "Writing desks consisted of heavy oak plank or a hewed slab laid upon wooden pins driven into the wall. The four-legged slab benches were in front of these, and the pupils when not writing would sit with their backs against the front, sharp edge of the writing-desks. The floor was also made out of these slabs, or " puncheons," laid upon log sleepers. Everything was rude and plain; but many of America's greatest men have gone out from just such school-houses to grapple with the world and make names for themselves and reflect honor upon their country. Among these we can name Abraiiam Lincoln, our martyred president, one of the noblest men known to the world's history. Stephen A. Douglas, one of the greatest statesmen of the age, began his career in Illinois teaching in one of these primitive school- houses. Joseph A. Wright, and several others of Indiana's great statesmen have also graduated from the log school-house into political eminence. So with many of her most eloquent and efficient preachers.

Imagine such a house with the children seated around, and the teacher seated on one end of a bench, with no more desk at his hand than any other pupil has, and you have in view the whole scene. The " schoolmaster " has called Books! books!" at the door, and the "scholars" have just run in almost out of breath from vigorous play, have taken their seats, and are for the moment " saying over their lessons " to themselves with all their might, that is, in as loud a whisper as possible. "While they are thus engaged the teacher is perhaps sharpening a few quill pens for the pupils, for no other kind of writing pen had been thought of as yet. In a few minutes he calls up an urchin to say his a b c's; the little boy stands beside the teacher, perhaps partially leaning upon his lap; the teacher with his pen-knife points to the letter and asks what it is; the little fellow remains silent, for he dees not know what to say; "A," says the teacher; the boy echoes "A;" the teacher points to the next and asks what it is; the boy is silent ao-ain; B," says the teacher; " B," echoes the little urchin; and so it goes through the exercise, at the conclusion of which the teacher tells the little " Major " to go back to his seat and study his letters, and when lie comes to a letter he doesn't know, to come to him and he will tell him. He obediently goes to his seat, looks on his book a little while, and then goes trudging across the puncheon floor again in his bare feet, to the teacher, and points to a letter, probably outside of his lesson, and asks what it is. The teacher kindly tells him that that is not in his lesson, that he need not study that or look at it now; he will come to that some other day, and then he will learn what it is. The simple-minded little fellow then trudges, smilingly, as he catches the eye of some one, back to his seat again. But why he smiled, he has no definite' idea.

To prevent wearing the books out at the lower corner, every pupil was expected to keep a thumb-paper'' under his thumb as lie holds the book; even then the books were soiled and worn out at this place in a few weeks, so that a part of many lessons were gone. Consequently the request was often made, "Master, may I borrow Jimmy's book to git my lesson in? mine haintin my book: it's tore out." It was also customary to use book-pointers, to point out the letters or words in study as well as in recitation. The black stem of the maiden-hair fern was a very popular material from which pointers were made.

The a-b-ab scholars through with, perhaps the second or thirdreader class would be called, who would stand in a row in front of the teacher, "toeing the mark," which was actually a chalk or charcoal mark drawn on the floor, and commencing at one end of the class, one would read the first " verse," the next the second, and so on around, taking the paragraphs in the order as they occur in the book. Whenever a pupil hesitated at a word, the teacher would pronounce it for him. And this was all there was of the reading exercise.

teacher simply visited them at their seats. A lesson containing several " sums" would be given for the next day. Whenever the learner came to a sum he couldn't do, he would go to the teacher with it, who would willingly and patiently, if he had time, do it for him.

In geography, no wall maps were used, no drawing required, and the studying and recitation comprised only the committing to memory, or getting by heart," as it was called, the names and locality of places. The recitation proceeded like this: Teacher - " Where is Norfolk?" Pupil - "In the southeastern part of Virginia." Teacher - "What bay between Maryland and Virginia?" Pupil - " Chesapeake."

When the hour for writing arrived, the time was announced by the master, and every pupil practicing this art would turn his feet over to the back of his seat, thus throwing them under the writing desk, already described, and proceed to '' follow copy," whicli was invariably set by the teacher, not by rule, but by as nice a stroke of the pen as he could make. The first copies for each pupil would be letters, and the second kind and last consisted of maxims. Blue ink on white paper, or black ink on blue paper, were eoFnmon; and sometimes a pupil would be so unfortunate as to be compelled to use blue ink on blue paper; and a " blue" time he had of it.

About half past ten o'clock the master would announce, " School may go out;" which meant " little play-time," in the children's parlance, called nowadaj'S, recess or intermission. Often the practice was to have the boys and girls go out separately, in which case the teacher would first say, " The girls may go out," and after they had been out about ten minutes the boys were allowed a similar privilege in the same way. In calling the children in from the play-ground, the teacher would invariably stand near the door of the school-house and call out " Books! books!" Between play-times the request, "Teacher, may I go out?" was often iterated to the annoyance of the teacher and the disturbance of the school.

At about half past eleven o'clock the teacher would announce, " Scholars may now get their spelling lessons," and they would all pitch in with their characteristic loud whisper and "say over" their lessons with that vigor which characterises the movements of those who have just learned that the dinner hour and " big playtime " is near at hand. A few minutes before twelve the "little spelling-class " would recite, then the " big spelling-class. " The latter would comprise the larger scholars and the major part of the school. The classes would stand in a row, either toeing the mark in the midst of the floor, or straggling along nest an unoccupied portion of the wall. One end of the class was the " head," the other the " foot," and when a pupil spelled a word correctly, which had been missed by one or more, he would " go iip " and take his station above all that had missed the word: this was called " turning them down." At the conclusion of the recitation, the head pupil would go to the foot, to have another opportunity of turning them all down. The class would number, and before taking their seats the teacher would say, '' School's dismissed," which was the signal for every child rushing for his dinner, and having the "big playtime."

The chief text-books in which the " scholars " got their lessons were Webster's or some other elementary spelling-book, an arithmetic, may be Pike's, Dilworth's, Daboll's, Smiley's or Adams', McGuffey's or the old English reader, and Roswell C. Smith's geography and atlas. Very few at the earliest day, however, got so far along as to study geography. iS"owadays, in contrast with the above, look at the "ographies" and "ologies!" Grammar and composition were scarcely thought of until Indiana was a quarter of a century old, and they were introduced in such a way that their utility was always questioned. First, old Murray's, then Kirkham's grammar, were the text-books on this subject. " Book larnin'," instead of practical oral instruction, was the only thing supposed to be attained in the primitive log school-house days. But writing was generally taught with fair diligence.

This phrase had its origin in the practice of pioneer schools which used Webster's Elementary Spelling-book. Toward the back part of that time-honored text-book was a series of seven or eight pictures, illustrating morals, and after these again were a few more spelling exercises of a peculiar kind. When a scholar got over into these he was said to be " past the pictures," and was looked up to as being smarter and more learned than most other people ever hoped to be. Hence the application of this phrase came to be extended to other affairs in life, especially where scholarship was involved.

Spelling - Schools

The chief public evening entertainment for the first 30 or 40 years of Indiana's existence was the celebrated " spelling-school." Both young people and old looked forward to the next spellingschool with as much anticipation and anxiety as we nowadays look forward to a general Fourth-of-July celebration; and when the time arrived the whole neighborhood, yea, and sometimes several neighborhoods, would flock together to the scene of academical combat, where the excitement was often more intense than had been expected. It was far better, of course, when there was good sleighing; then the young folks would turn out in high glee and be fairly beside themselves. The jollity is scarcely equaled at the present day bv anything in vogue.

When the appointed" hour arrived, the usual plan of commencing battle was for two of the young people who might agree to play a<^ainst each other, or who might be selected to do so by the schoolt^icher of the neighborhood, to " choose sides," that is, each contestant, or " captain," as he was generally called, would choose the best speller from the assembled crowd. Each one choosing alternately, the ultim-.te strength of the respective parties would be about equal. When all were chosen who could be made to serve, each side would "number," so as to ascertain whether amid the confusion one captain had more spellers than the other. In case he had, some compromise would be made by the aid of the teacher, the master of ceremonies, and then the plan of conducting the campaign, or counting the misspelled words, would be canvassed for a moment by the captains, sometimes by the aid of the teacher and others. There were many ways of conducting the contest and keeping tally. Every section of the country had several favorite methods, and all or most of these were different from what other communities had. At one time they would commence spelling at the head, at another time at the foot; at one time they would " spell across," that is, the first on one side would spell the first word, then the first on the other side; next the second in the line on each side, alternately, down to the other end of each line. The question who should spell the first word was determined by the captains guessing what page the teacher would have before him in a partially opened book at a distance; the captain guessing the nearest would spell the first word pronounced. When a word was missed, it would be re-pronounced, or passed along without re-pronouncing (as some teachers strictly followed the rule never to re-pronounce a word), until it was spelled correctly. If a speller on the opposite side finally spelled the missed word correctly, it was counted a gain of one to that side ; if the word was finally corrected by some speller on the same side on which it was originated as a missed word, it was "saved," and no tally mark was made.

Another popular method was to commence at one end of the line of spellers and go directly around, and the missed words caught up quickly and corrected by " word-catchers," appointed by the captains from among their best spellers. These word-catchers would attempt to correct all the words missed on his opponent's side, and failing to do this, the catcher on the other side would catch him up with a peculiar zest, and then there was fun.

Still another very interesting, though somewhat disorderly, method, was this: Each word-catcher would go to the foot of the adversary's line, and every time he " catched " a word he would go up one, thus " turning them down " in regular spelling-class style. When one catcher in this way turned all down on the opposing side, his own party was victorious by as many as the opposing catcher was behind. This method required no slate or blackboard tally to be kept.

One turn, by either of the foregoing or other methods, would occupy 40 minutes to an hour, and by this time an intermission or recess was had, when the buzzing, cackling and hurrahing that ensued for 10 or 15 minutes were beyond description.

Coming to order again, the ne.xt style of battle to be illustrated was to " spell down," by which process it was ascertained who were the best spellers and could continue standing as a soldier the longest Eut very often good spellers would inadvertently miss a word in an early stage of the contest and would have to sit down humiliated, while a comparatively poor speller would often stand till nearly or quite the last, amid the cheers of the assemblage. Sometimes the two parties first " chosen up" in the evening would re-take their places after recess, so that by the " spelling-down " process there would virtually be another race, in another form; sometimes there would be a new " choosing up " for the " spelling-down " contest; and sometimes the spelling down would be conducted without any party lines being made. It would occasionally happen that two or thi-ee very good spellers would retain the floor so long that the exercise would become monotonous, when a few outlandish words like " chevaux-de-frise," '' Ompompanoosuc " or " Baugh- naugh-claugli-ber," as they used to spell it sometimes, would create a little ripple of excitement to close with. Sometimes these words would decide the contest, but generally when two or three good spellers kept the floor until the exercise became monotonous, the teaclier would declare the race closed and the standing spellers acquitted with a " drawn game."

The audience dismissed, the next thing was to "go home," very often by a round-about way, " a-sleighing with the girls," which, of course, was with many the most interesting part of the evening's performances, sometimes, however, too rough to be commended, as the boys were often inclined to be somewhat rowdyish.

Singing-School

IText to the night spelling-school the singing-school was an occasion of much jollity, wherein it was difficult for the average singingmaster to preserve order, as many went more for fun than for music. This species of evening entertainment,in its introduction to the West, was later than the spelling-school, and served, as it were, as the second step toward the more modern civilization. Good sleighing weather was of course almost a necessity for the success of these schools, but how many of them have been prevented by mud and rain! Perhaps a greater part of the time from November to April the roads would be muddy and often half frozen, which would have a very dampening and freezing effect upon the souls, as well as the bodies, of the young people who longed for a good time on such occasions.

The old-time method of conducting singing-school was also some what different from that of modern times. It was more plodding and heavy, the attention being kept upon the simplest rudiments, as the names ot the notes on the staff, and their pitch, and beating time, while comparatively little attention was given to expression and light, gleeful music. The very earliest scale introduced in the West was from the South, and the notes, from their peculiar shape, were denominated " patent " or "buckwheat" notes. They were four, of which the round one was always called sol, the square one la, the triangular oneyiz, and the "diamond-shaped" one 7ni, pronounced me; and the diatonic scale, or "gamut" as it was called then, ran thus: fa, sol, la, fa, sol, la, 7ni,fa. The part of a tune nowadays called " treble," or "soprano," was then called " tenor;" the part now called " tenor " was called " treble," and what is now "alto" was then "counter," and when sung according to the oldest rule, was sung by a female an octave higher than marked, and still on the " chest register." The "old" "Missouri Harmony" and Mason's " Sacred Harp " were the principal books used with this style of musical notation.

About 1850 the " round-note " system began to " come around," being introduced by the Yankee singing-master. The scale was do, re, mi, J'a, sol, la, si, do; and for many years thereafter there was much more do-re-mi-ing than is practiced at the present day, when a musical instrument is always under the hand. The Carmina Sacra was the pioneer round-note book, iu which the tunes partook more of the German or Puritan character, and were generally regarded by the old folks as being far more spiritless thau the old " Pisgah," " Fiducia," " Tender Thought," " New Durham," " Windsor," " Mount Sion," '-' Devotion," etc., of the old Missouri Harmony and tradition.

The fashion of carrying fire-arms was made necessary by the presence of roving bands of Indians, most of whom were ostensibly friendly, but like Indians iu all times, treacherous and unreliable. An Indian war was at any time probable, and all the old settlers still retain vivid recollections of Indian massacres, murders, plunder, and frightful rumors of intended raids. While target practice was much indulged in as an amusement, it was also necessary at times to carry their guus with them to their daily field work.

As an illustration of the painstaking which characterized pioneer life, we quote the following from Zebulon Ceilings, who lived about six miles from the scene of massacre iu the Pigeon Eoost settlement: " The manner in which I used to work in those perilous times was as follows: On all occasions I can-ied my rifle, tomahawk and butcher-knife, with a loaded pistol in my belt. When I went to plow I laid my gun on the plowed ground, and stuck up a stick by it for a mark, so that I could get it quick in case it was wanted. I had two good dogs; I took one into the house, leaving the other out. The one outside was expected to give the alarm, which would cause the one inside to bark, by which I would be awakened, having my arms always loaded. I kept my horse in a stable close to the house, having a port-hole so that I could shoot to the stable door. During two years I never went irom home with any certainty of returning, not knowing the minute I might receive a ball from an unknown hand."

The Height Side

The history of pioneer life generally presents the dark side of the picture; but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No; for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation, and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish them a good hearty laugh. Among the more general forms of amusements were the " qnilting-bee," "corn-husking," " apple-parino-," "log-rolling" and "house-raising." Our young readers will doubtless be interested in a description of these forms of amusement, when labor was made to afford fun and enjoyment to all participating. The "quilting-bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy little insect that " improves each shining hour" were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon ladies for miles around gathered at an appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, the hands were as busily engaged in making the quilt; and desire a, always manifested to get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass swiftly by in playing games or dancing. " Corn-huskings " were when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a large barn, which was arranged for the occasion; and when eacli gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all husked a good supper was served; then the "old folks" would leave, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation afforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highl}' enjoyed, and quite as innocent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture.

The amusements of the pioneers were peculiar to themselves. Saturday afternoon was a holiday in which no man was expected to work. A load of produce might be taken tp " town " for sale or traffic without violence to custom, but no more serious labor could be tolerated. "When on Saturday afternoon the town was reached, " fun commenced." Had two neighbors business to transact, here it was done. Horses were '- swapped." Difiiculties settled and free fights indulged in. Blue and red ribbons were not worn in those days, and whisky was as free as water; twelve and a half cents wonld buy a quart, and thirty-five or forty cents a gallon, and at such prices enormous quantities were consumed. Go to any town in the county and ask the first pioneer you meet, and he would tell you of notable Saturday-afternoon fights, eitlier of which to-day would fill a column of the Police jVetvs, with elaborate engravings to match.

"We cleared land, rolled logs, burned brush, blazed out paths from one neighbor's cabin to another and from one settlement to another, made and used hand-mills and hominy mortars, hunted deer, turkey, otter, and raccoons, caught fish, dug ginseng, hunted bees and the like, and - lived on the fat of the land. We read of a land of " corn and wine," and another " flowing with milk and honey;" but i rather think, in a temporal point of view, taking into account the richness of the soil, timber, stone, wild game and other advantages, that the Sugar creek country would come up to any of them, if not surpass them.

I once cut cord-wood, continues Mr. Cox, at 31J cents per cord, and walked a mile and a half night and morning, where the first frame college was built northwest of town (Crawfordsville). Prof. Curry, the lawyer, would sometimes come down and help for an hour or two at a time, by way of amusement, as there was little or no law business in the town or country at that time. Reader, what would you think of going six to eight miles to help roll logs, or raise a cabin ? or ten to thirteen miles to mill, and wait three or four days and nights for your grist? as many had to do in the first settlement of this country. Such things were of frequent occurrence then, and there was but little grumbling about it. It was a grand sight to see the log heaps and brush piles burning in the night on a clearing of 10 or 15 acres. A Democratic torchlight procession, or a midnight march of the Sons of Malta with their grand Gyasticutus in the center bearing the grand jewel of the order, would be nowhere in comparison with the log-heaps and brush piles in a blaze.

But it may be asked, Had you any social amusements, or manly pastimes, to recreate and enliven the dwellers in the wilderness? We had. In the social line we had our meetings and our singingschools, sugar-boilings and weddings, which were as good as ever came off in any country, new or old ; and if our youngsters did not " trip the lighit fantastic toe " under a professor of the Terpsichorean art or expert French dancing- master, they had many a good "hoe-down" on puncheon floors, and were not annoyed by bad whisky. And as for manly sports, requiring mettle and muscle, there were lots of wild hogs running in the cat-tail swamps on Lye creek, and Mill creek, and among them many large boars that Ossian's heroes and Homer's model soldiers, such as Achilles, Hector and Ajax would have delighted to give chase to. The boys and men of those days had quite as much sport, and made more money and health by their hunting excursions than our city gents nowadays playing chess by telegraph where the players are more than 70 miles apart.

What The Pioneees Have Done

Indiana is a grand State, in many respects second to none in the Union, and in almost every thing that goes to make a live, prosperous community, not far behind the best. Beneath her fertile soil is coal enough to supply the State for generations; her harvests are bountiful; she has a medium climate, ind many other things, that make her people contented, prosperous and happy; but she owes much to those who opened up these avenues that have led to her present condition and happy surroundings. Unremitting toil and labor have driven ofl" the sickly miasmas that brooded over swampy prairies. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands, and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit. When but a few years ago the barking wolves made the night hideous with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. Only a half century ago the wild whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rumbling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the products of our labor and soil. Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and school-houses and church spires of civilized life. How great the transformation! This change has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the noble aspirations of such men and women as make any country great. What will another half century accomplish? There are few, very few, of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connecting links of the past v\^ith the present. What must their thoughts be as with their dim eyes they view the scenes that surround them? We often hear people tallv about the old-fogy ideas and fogy ways, and want of enterprise on the part of the old men who have gone through the experiences of pioneer life. Sometimes, perhaps, such remarks are jiist, but, considering the experiences, education and entire life of such men, such remarks are better unsaid. They have had their trials, misfortunes, hardships and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western declivity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and laugh and sneer at the simplicity of their ways? Let us rather cheer them up, revere and respect them, for beneath those rough exteriors beat hearts as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast. These veterans have been compelled to live for weeks upon hominy and, if bread at all, it was bread made from corn ground in hand-mills, or pounded up with mortars. Their children have been destitute of shoes during the winter; their families had no clothing except what was carded, spun, wove and mad-e into garments by their own hands; schools they had none; churches they had none; afflicted with sickness incident to all new countries, sometimes the entire family at once; luxuries of life they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inventions and labor-saving machinery of to-day they had not; and what they possessed they obtained by the hardest of labor and individual exertions, yet they bore these hardships and privations without murmuring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospect of realization.

As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful. It has been but three-score years since the white man began to exercise dominion over this region, erst the home of the red men, yet the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the country,, could scarcely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of 2,000,000 people, who in all the accomplishments of life are as far advanced as are the inhabitants of the older States. Schools, churches, colleges, palatial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well-cultivated and productive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up, and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old landmarks. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are onlv remembered in name.

In closing this section we again would impress upon the minds, of our readers the fact that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who pioneered this State, which can be but partially repaid. Never grow unmindful of the peril and adventure, fortitude, self-sacrifice and heroic devotion so prominently displayed in their lives. As time sweeps on in its ceaseless iiight, may the cherished memories of them lose none of their greenness, but may the future generations alike cherish and perpetuate them with a just devotion to gratitude.

Military Drill

In the davs of muster and military drill, so well known throughout the country, a specimen of pioneer work was done on the South Wea prairie, as follows, according to Mr. S. C. Cox:

The Captain was a stout-built, muscular man, who stood six feet four in his boots, and weighed over 200 pounds; when dressed in his uniform, a blue hunting-shirt fastened with a wide red sash, with epaulettes on each shoulder, his large sword fastened by his side, and tall plume waving in the wind, he looked like another William "Wallace, or Koderick Dhu, unsheathing his claymore in defense of his country. His company consisted of about 70 men, who had reluctantly turned out to master to avoid paying a fine; some with suns, some with sticks, and others carrying corn-stalks. The Captain, who had but recently been elected, understood his business better than his men supposed he did. He intended to give them a thorough drilling, and showed them that he understood the maneuvers of the military art as well as he did farming and fox hunting, the latter of which was one of his favorite amusements. After forming a hollow square, marching and counter-marching, and putting them througli several other evolutions, according to Scott's tactics, he commanded his men to " form a line." They partially complied, but the line was crooked. He took his sword and passed it along in front of his men, straightening the line. By the time he passed from one end of the line to the other, on casting his eye back, he discovered that the line presented a zigzag and unmilitary appearance . Someof the men were leaning on their guns, some on their sticks a yard in advance of the line, and others as far in the rear. The Captain's dander arose; he threw his cocked hat, feather and all, on the ground, took off his red sash and hunting-shirt, and threw them, with liis sword, upon his hat; he then rolled up his sleeves and shouted with the voice of a stentor, "Gentlemen, form a line and keep it, or I'll thrash the whole company." Instantly the wliole line was straight as an arrow. The Captain was satisfied, put on his clothes again, and never had any more trouble in drilling his company.

In early day in this State, before books and newspapers were introduced, a few lawyers were at a certain place in the habit of playing cards, and sometimes drinking a little too much whisky. During the session of a certain court, a man named John Stevenson, but who was named "Jack," and who styled himself the "philosopher of the 19th century," found out where these genteel sportsmen met of evenings to peruse the "history of the four kings." He went to the door and knocked for admission; to the question, " Who is there?" he answered, " Jack." The insiders hesitated; he knocked and thumped importunately: at length a voice from within said, " Go away. Jack; we have already four ' Jacks ' in our game, and we will not consent to have a ' cold one ' wrung in on us."

Indignant at this rebnif from gentlemen from whom he had expected kinder treatment, he left, muttering vengeance, which excited no alarm in the minds of the players. At first he started away to walk off his passion, but the longer he walked the madder he got, and he finally concluded that he would not "pass " while he held or might hold so many trumps in his hands, but would return and play a strong hand with them. Accordingly he gathered his arms full of stones a little larger than David gathered to throw at Goliath, and when he came near enough he threw a volley of them in through the window into the room where they were playing, extinguishing their lights, and routing the whole band with the utmost trepidation into the street, in search of their curious assailant. Jack stood his ground and told them that that was a mere foretaste of what they might expect if they molested him in the least.

Next day the pugnacious Jack was arrested to answer an indictment for malicious mischief; and failing to give bail, was lodged in jail. His prosecutors laughed through the grates of the prison as they passed. Meanwhile Jack " nursed his wrath to keep it warm," and indicted a speech in his own defense. In due time he was taken before the Court, the indictment was read, and he was asked what he pleaded to the indictment. " ISTot guilty," he answered in a deep, earnest tone. " Have you counsel engaged to defend you, Mr. Stevenson?" inquired the Judge. " No; please your honor; I desire none; with your permission I will speak for myself." "Very well," said the Judge. A titter ran through the crowd. After the prosecuting attorney had gone through with the evidence and his opening remarks in the case, the prisoner arose and said, " It is a lamentable fact well known to the Court and Jury and to all who hear me, that our county seat has for many years been infested and disgraced, especially during Court time, with a knot of drunken, carousing gamblers, whose Bacchanalian revels and midnight orgies disturb the quiet aud pollute the morals of our town. Shall these nuisances longer remain in our midst, to debauch society and lead our young men to destruction? Fully impressed with a sense of their turpitude, and my duty as a good citizen to the community in which I live, I resolved to 'abate the nuisance,' which, according to the doctrine of the common law, with which your honor is familiar, I or any other citizen had a right to do. I have often listened with pleasure to the charges your honor gave the Grand Jury to ferret out crime and all manner of gaming in our community. I saw i had it in my power to ferret out these fellows with a volley of stones, and save the county the cost of finding and trying a half a dozen indictments. Judge, I did 'abate the nuisance,' and consider it one of the most meritorious acts of my life."

The prosecutor made no reply. The Judge and lawyers looked at each other with a significant glance. A nolle prosequi was entered, Jack was acquitted and was ever afterward considered " trump." - Settlement of the Wabash Yalley.

The early years of Indiana afford to the enquirer a rare opportunity to obtain a glimpse of the political and even social relation of the Indianians of the olden time to the moderns. As is customary in all new countries there was to be found, within the limits of the new State, a happy people, far removed from all f;hose influences which tend to interfere with the public morals: they possessed the courage and the gait of freeborn men, took an especial interest in the political questions affecting their State, and often, when met under the village shade trees to discuss sincerely, and unostentatiously, some matters of local importance, accompanied the subject before their little convention with song and jest, and even the cup which cheers but not inebriates. The election of militia officers for the Black Creek Regiment may be taken for example. The village school boys prowled at large, for on the day previous the teacher expressed his intention of attending the meeting of electors, and of aiding in building up a military company worthy of his own importance, and the reputation of the few villagers. The industrious matrons and maids - bless their souls - donned the habiliments of fashion, and as they arrived at the meeting ground, ornamented the scene for which nature in its untouched simplicity did so much. Now arrived the moment when the business should be entered on. "With a good deal of urging the ancient Elward Tomkins took the chair, and with a pompous air, wherein was concentrated a consciousness of his own importance, demanded the gentlemen entrusted with resolutions to open the proceedings. By this time a respected elector brought forward a jar and an uncommonly large tin-cup. These articles proved objects of very serious attention, and when the chairman repeated his demand, the same humane elector filled the cup to the brim, passed it to the venerable president and bade him drink deep to the prosperity of Indiana, of Black Creek, and of the regiment about to be formed. The secretary was treated similarly, and tlien a drink all round the thirty electors and their friends. This ceremony completed, the military subject melted into nothingness before the great question, then agitating the people, viz., " Should the State of Indiana accept the grant of land donated by Congress for the construction of the Wabash and Erie canal, from Lake Erie to the mouth of Tippecanoe river?" A son of Esculapius, one Doctor Stone, protested so vehemently against entertaining even an idea of accepting the grant, that the parties favorable to the question felt themselves to be treading on tottering grounds. Stone's logic was to the point, unconquerable; but his enemies did not surrender hope; they looked at one another, then at the young school-teacher, whom they ultimately selected as their orator and defender. The meeting adjourned for an hour, after which the youthful teacher of the young ideas ascended the rostrum. His own story of his emotions and efforts may be acceptable. He says: " I was sorry they called upon me; for I felt about ' half seas over' from the free and frequent use of the tin- cup. I was puzzled to know what to do. To decline would injure me in the estimation of the neighborhood, who were strongly in favor of the grant; and, on the other hand, if I attempted to speak, and failed from intoxication, it would ruin me with my patrons. Soon a fence-rail was slipped into the worn fence near by, and a wash-tub, turned bottom upward, placed upon it and on the neighboring rails, about five feet from the ground, as a rostrum for me to speak from. Two or three men seized hold of me and placed me upon the stand, amidst the vociferous shouts of the friends of the canal, which were none the less loud on account of the frequent circulation of the tin and jng. I could scarcely preserve mj' equilibrium, but there I was on tlie tub for the purpose of answering and exposing the Doctor's sophistries, and an anxious auditory waiting for me to exterminatehim. But, strange to say, my lips refused utterance. I saw 'men as trees, walking,' and after a long, and to me, painful pause, I smote im' hand upon my breast, and said, ' I feel too full for utterance.' (I meant of whisky, they thought of righteous indignation at the Doctor's efirontery in opposing the measure under consideration.) The ruse worked like a charm. The crowd shouted: ' Let him have it.' I raised my finger and pointed a moment steadily at the Doctor. The audience shouted, ' Hit him again.' Thus encouraged, I attempted the first stump speech I ever attempted to make; and after I got my mouth to go off (and a part of the whisky - in perspiration), I had no trouble whatever, and the liquor dispelled my native timidity that otherwise might have embarrassed me. 1 occupied the tub about twenty-five minutes. The Doctor, boiling over with indignation and a speech, mounted the tub and harangued us for thirty minutes. The 'young school-master' was again called for, and another speech from him of about twenty minutes closed the debate." A vive voce vote of the company was taken, wliich resulted in twenty-six for the grant and four against it. My two friends were elected Captain and Lieutenant, and I am back at my boarding house, ready for supper, with a slight headache. Strange as it may appear, none of them discovered that I was intoxicated. Lucky for me they did not, or I would doubtless lose my school. I now here promise myself, on this leaf of my day-book, that / will not drhik liquor again, except given as a medical prescription ."

Thieving And Ltnch Law

During the year 1S6S the sentiment began to prevail that the processes of law in relation to criminal proceedings were neither prompt nor sure in the punishment of crime. It was easy to ob- tain coutiuuances and changes of venue, and in this way delay the administration of justice or entirely frustrate it. The consequence was, an encouragement and increase of crime and lynch law became apparent. An event this year excited the public conscience upon this subject. A gang of robbers, who had been operating many months in the southern counties, on the 22d of May attacked and plundered a railroad car of the Adams' Express company on the Jeffersouville road; they were captured, and after being kept several weeks in custody in Cincinnati, Ohio, they were put on board a train, July 20, to be taken to the county of Jackson, in this State, for trial. An armed body of the " Yigilance Committee " of Seymour county lay in wait for the train, stopped the cars by hoisting a red signal on the track, seized the prisoners, extorted a confession from them, and hanged them without the form of a trial.

This same committee, to the number of 75 men, all armed and disguised, entered JSTew Albany on the night of December 12, forcibly took the keys of the jail from the Sheriff, and proceeded to hang four others of these railroad robbers in the corridors of the prison. They published a proclamation, announcing by printed handbills that they would " swing by the neck until they be dead everj' thieving character they could lay their hands on, without inquiry whether they had the persons who committed that particular crime or not." -^

Curing The Drunken Husband

Another case of necessity being the mother of invention occurred in Fountain county between 1S25 and 1S30, as thus related in the book above quoted :

A little old man, who was in the habit of getting drunk at every log rolling and house-raising he attended, upon coming home at night would make indiscriminate war upon his wife and daughters, and everything that came in his way. The old lady and the daughters bore with his tyranny and maudlin abuse as long as forbearance seemed to be a virtue. For awhile they adopted the doctrine of non-resistance and would fly from the house on his approach; but they found that this only made him worse. At length they resolved to change the order of things. They held a council of war, in which it was determined that the next time became home drunk they would catch him and tie him hand and foot, take him out and tie him fast to a tree, and keep him there until he got duly sober.

decree. True to their plan, when they saw him coming, two of them placed themselves behind the door with ropes, and the other caught him by the wrists as he crossed the threshold. He was instantly lassoed. A tussle ensued, but the old woman and girls fell uppermost. They made him fast with the ropes and dragged him out toward the designated tree. He raved, swore, remonstrated and begged alternately, but to no effect; they tied him to the tree and kept him there most of the night. They did not even untie him directly after he became sober, until they extorted a promise from him that he would beliave himself and keep sober for the future, and not maltreat them for the favor they had conferred upon him and themselves.

Two or three applications of this mild and diluted form of lynch law had an admirable effect in restoring order and peace in that family and correcting the conduct of the delinquent husband and father. The old woman thinks the plan they pursued far better and less expensive than it would have been if they had gone ten miles to Esquire Makepeace every few weeks and got out a writ for assault and battery besides the trouble and expense of attending as witnesses, $10 or $20 every month or two, and withal doing no good toward reforming the old man.

About 1S08, in the neighborhood on the east fork of White river, there occurred a flagrant breach of the peace which demanded a summary execution of the law. A certain ungallant offender had flogged his wife in a most barbarous manner and then drove her from home. Bleeding and weeping, the poor woman appeared before Justice Tongs for redress. The justice wrote out an afiidavit, which was signed, sworn to, and subscribed in due form. A warrant was soon placed in the hands of a constable commanding him to arrest and forthwith bring the offender before Justice Tongs, to answer to the charge preferred against him. After an absence of some five or six hours, the constable returned with the prisoner in custody. He had had a vexatious time of it, for the prisoner, a gigantic man, had frequently on the way, after he had consented peaceably to accompany him to the magistrate's oQice, stopped short and declared he would go no further, observing at the same time that neither he (the constable) nor 'Squire Tongs had any business to meddle with his domestic concerns. It was during one of those vexatious parleys, the constable coaxing aud persuading, and the prisoner protesting and swinging back like an unruly ox, that the constable fortunately spied a hunter at a short distance who was armed and accoutred in real backwoods style. The constable beckoned to the hunter, who then came up to his assistance, and who, after hearing the particulars of the affair, cocked his rifle, and soon galloped off the prisoner to the 'Squire's office.

But this was only the beginning of the trouble in the case. The witnesses were yet to be summoned and brought before the justice; even the complaining witness had unexpectedly withdrawn from the house and premises of the justice, and was to be looked after. The hunter could not possibly stay long, as his comrades were to meet him at a point down 10 or 15 miles distant that evening. The prisoner was quite sullen, and it was evident that the 'Squire could not keep him safely if the constable and hunter were to leave. Although the 'Squire's jurisdiction extended, from the west line of Ohio far toward the Rocky Mountains, and from the Ohio river north to Green Bay, yet so sparse was the neighborhood in point of population, and so scattering were the settlers, that he and his faithful constable found that it would be but little use to a call upon the ^Msse comitatus. But in this critical situation of affairs, the fruitful mind of the justice hit upon a first-rate plan to keep the prisoner until the witnesses could be brought. It was simply to pry up the corner of his heavy eight-rail fence near by, make a crack two or three rails above the ground, and thrust the prisoner's head through the crack, and then take out the pry.

As soon as the 'Squire made known his plan to the company they with one accord resolved to adopt it. The constable immediately rolled out an empty " bee-gum " for a fulcrum, and applied a fence rail for a lever; up went the fence, the justice took hold of the prisoner's arm, and, with the assisting nudges of the hunter, who brought up the rear with rifle in hand, they thurst the prisoner's head through the crack, nolens wc>?e«s, and then took out the prop. There lay the offender safe enough, his head on one side of the fence and his body on the other. The hunter went on his way, satisfied that he had done signal service to his countr}', and the constable could now be spared to hunt up the witnesses.

The prisoner in the meantime, although the crack in the fence was fully large enough without pinching, kept squirming about and bawling out lustily, " Choke trap! The devil take your choke trap!" Toward sunset the constable returned with the witnesses. The prisoner was taken from his singular duress, and was regularly tried for his misdemeanor. He was found guilty, fined, and, as it appeared from the evidence on the trial that the defendant had been guilty aforetime of the same ofiense, the justice sentenced him to three hours' imprisonment in jail. There being no jail within 100 miles, the constable and bystanders led the offender to the fence again, rolled up the "bee-gum," applied the rail, and thrust his head a second time through the fence. There he remained in limbo until ten o'clock that night, when, after giving security for the final costs, he was set at liberty, with not a few cautions that he had better " let Betsey alone," or he would get another applicaon of the law and the " choke trap." - Cox' Recollections of the Wabash Valley.

Michigan Boundary

About the year 1834 Michigan claimed that her southern boundary was properly about 10 miles south of the parallel fixed by Congress, that is, a line drawn from the extreme southern extremity of Lake Michigan directly east to Lake Erie, thus including Toledo. Ohio and Indiana, especially the former, stoutly opposed this claim. The contest grew so warm that military organization had actually commenced, and a war was expected. This was called the " Toledo war," and for a time there was as much excitement as on the eve of a great revolution. But the blustering "Wolverine was soothed to rest by an offer of a large extent of territory north and west of the Strait of Mackinaw. Had that State succeeded in establishing its claim by decree of Congress, Indiana would have been cut off from the lakes, thrown entirely inland like Kentucky, and lost a very valuable strip of country. This State also would have probably lost the co-operation of Ohio in the conduct of the Wabash & Erie canal, the greatest and costliest pet of the State. It is amusing to observe, by the way, that the people of Michigan at first thought that their reward for yielding 'the golden strip on her southern boundary was a very meager one, thinking that she had naught but a barren waste and a large body of cold water; but behold, how vast are now her mineral resources in that same bleak country, the " upper peninsula! "

The Mexican War

During the administration of Gov. Whitcomb the war with Mexico occurred, which resulted in annexing to the United States vast tracts of land in the south and west. Indiana contributed her full ratio to the troops in that war, and with a remarkable spirit of promptness and patriotism adopted all measures to sustain the general Government. These new acquisitions of territory re-opened the discussion of the slavery question, and Governor Whitcomb expressed his opposition to a further extension of the '' national sin."

The causes which led to a declaration of war against Mexico in 1846, must be sought for as far back as the year 1830, when the present State of Texas formed a province of New and Independent Mexico. During the years immediately preceding 1830, Moses Austin, of Connecticut, obtained a liberal grant of lands from the established Government, and on his death his son was treated in an equally liberal manner. The glowing accounts rendered by Austin, and the vivid picture of Elysian fields drawn by visiting journalists, soon resulted in the influx of a large tide of immigrants, nor did the movement to the Southwest cease until 1830. The Mexican province held a prosperous population, comprising 10,000 American citizens. The rapacious Government of the Mexicans looked with greed and jealousy upon their eastern province, and, under the presidency of Gen. Santa Anna, enacted such measures, both unjust and oppressive, as would meet their design of goading the people of Texas on to revolution, and thus afford an opportunity for the inflictioia of punishment upon subjects whose only crime was industry and its accompaniment, prosperity. Precisely in keeping with the course pursued by the British toward the colonists of the Eastern States in the last century, Santa Anna's Government met the remonstrances of the colonists of Texas with threats; and they, secure in their consciousness of right quietly issued their declaration of independence, and proved its literal meaning on the field of Gonzales in 1835, having with a force of (186)

500 men forced the Mexican army of 1,000 to fly for refuge to their strongholds. Battle after battle followed, bringing victory always to the Colonists, and ultimately resulting in the total rout of the Mexican army and the evacuation of Texas. The routed army after a short term of rest reorganized, and reappeared in the Territory, 8,000 strong. On April 21, a division of this large force under Santa Anna encountered the Texans under General Samuel Houston on the banks of the San Jacinto, and though Houston could only oppose 800 men to the Mexican legions, the latter were driven from the field, nor could they reform their scattered ranks until their General was captured next day and forced to sign the declaration of 1835. The signature of Santa Anna, though ignored by the Congress of the Mexican Eepublic, and consequently left unratified on the part of Mexico, was efiected in so much, that after the second defeat of the army of that Kepublic all the hostilities of an important nature ceased, the Eepublic of Texas was recognized by the powers, and subsequently became an integral part of the United States, July i, 1846. At this period General Herrera was president of Mexico. He was a man of peace, of common sense, and very patriotic; and he thus entertained, or pretended to entertain, the great neighboring Republic in high esteem. For this reason he grew unpopular with his people, and General Paredes was called to the presidential chair, which he continued to occupy until the breaking out of actual hostilities with the United States, when Gen. Santa Anna was elected thereto.

President Polk, aware of the state of feeling in Mexico, ordered Gen. Zachary Tayloi-, in command of the troops in the Southwest, to proceed to Texas, and post himself as near to the Mexican border as he deemed prudent. At the same time an American sq\iadron was dispatched to the vicinity, in the Gulf of Mexico. In JMovember, General Taylor had taken his position at Corpus Christi, a Texan settlement on a bay of the same name, with about 4,000 men. On the 13th of January, 1846, the President ordered him to advance with his forces to the Rio Grande; accordingly he proceeded, and in March stationed himself on the north bank of that river, within cannon-shot of the Mexican town of Matamoras. Here he hastily erected a fortress, called Fort Brown. The territory lying between the river Nueces and the Rio Grande river, about 120 miles in width, was claimed both by Texas and Mexico; according to the latter, therefore, General Taylor had actually invaded her Territory, and had thus committed an open act of war. On the 26tb of April, the Mexican General, Ampudia, gave notice to this effect to General Taylor, and on the same day a party of American dragoons, sixty-three in number, being on the north side of the Eio Grande, were attacked, and, after the loss of sixteen men killed and wounded, were forced to surrender. Their commander. Captain Thornton, only escaped. The Mexican forces had now crossed the river above Matamoras and were supposed to meditate an attack on Point Isabel, where Taylor bad established a depot of supplies for his army. On the 1st of May, this officer left a small number of troops at Fort Brown, and marched with his chief forces, twenty-three hundred men, to the defense of Point IsabeL Having garrisoned this place, he set out on his return. On the 8tb of May, about noon, he met the Mexican array, six thousand strong, drawn up in battle array, on the prairie near Palo Alto. The Americans at once advanced to the attack, and, after an action of five hours, in which their artillery was very effective, drove the enemy before them, and encamped upon the field. The Mexican loss was about one hundred killed; that ot the Americans, four killed and forty wounded. Major Ringgold, of the artillery, an ofiicer of great merit, was mortally wounded. The next day, as the Americans advanced, they again met the enemy in a strong position near Resaca de la Palma, three miles from Fort Brown. An action commenced, and was fiercely contested, the artillery on both sides being served with great vigor. At last the Mexicans gave way, and fled in confusion. General de la Vega having fallen into the hands of the Americans. They also abandoned their guns and a large quantity of ammunition to the victors. The remaining Mexican soldiers speedily crossed tlie Rio Grande, and the next day the Americans took up their position at Fort Brown. This little fort, in the absence of General Taylor, had gallantly sustained an almost uninterrupted attack of several days from the Mexican batteries of Matamoras.

When the news of the capture of Captain Thornton's party was spread over the United States, it produced great excitement. The President addressed a message to Congress, then in session, declaring " that war with Mexico existed by her own act;" and that body. May, 1846, placed ten millions of dollars at the President's disposal, and authorized him to accept the services of fifty thousand volunteers. A great part of the summer of 1S46 was spent in preparation for the war, it being resolved to invade Mexico at several points. In pursuance of this plan, General Taylor, who had taken possessiou of Matamoras, abandoned by the enemy iu May, marched northward in the enemy's country in August, and on the 19th of September he appeared before Monterey, capital of the Mexican State of N"ew Leon. His army, after having garrisoned several places along his route, amounted to six thousand men. The attack began on the 21st, and after a succession of assaults, during the period of four days, the Mexicans capitulated, leaving the town in possession of the Americans. In October, General Taylor terminated an armistice into which he had entered with the Mexican General, and again commenced offensive operations. "Various towns and fortresses of the enemy now rapidly fell into our possession. In ISTovember, Saltillo, the capital of the State of Coahuila was occupied by the division of General Worth; in December, General Patterson took possession of Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, and nearly at the same period. Commodore Perry captured the fort of Tampico. Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, with the whole territory of the State had been subjugated by General Harney, after a , march of one thousand miles through the wilderness. Events of a startling character had taken place at still earlier dates along the Pacific coast. On the 4th of July, Captain Fremont, having repeatedly defeated superior Mexican forces with the small band under his command, declared California independent of Mexico. Other important places iu this region had yielded to the American naval force, and in August, 1S46, the whole of California was in the undisputed occupation of the Americans.

The year 1847 opened with still more brilliant victories on the part of our armies. By the drawinu- off of a large part of General Taylor's troops for a meditated attack on Yera Cruz, he was left with a comparatively small force to meet the great body of Mexican troops, now marching upon him, under command of the celebrated Santa Anna, who had again become President of Mexico.

Ascertaining the advance of this powerful army, twenty thousand strong, and consisting of the best of the Mexican soldiers, General Taylor took up his position at Buena Yista, a valley a few miles from Saltillo. His whole troops numbered only four thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine, and here, on the 23d of February, he was vigorously attacked by the Mexicans. The battle was very severe, and continued nearly the whole daj', when the Mexicans fled from the field in disorder, with a loss of nearly two thousand men. Santa Anna speedily withdrew, and thus abandoned the region of the Rio Grande to the complete occupation of oar troops. This left onr forces at liberty to prosecute the grand enterprise of the campaign, the capture of the strong town of Vera Cruz, with its renowned castle of San Juan d'UUoa. On the 9th of March, 1S47, General Scott lauded near the city with an army of twelve thousand men, and on the ISth commenced an attack. For four days and nights an almost incessant shower of shot and shells was poured upon the devoted town, while the batteries of the castle and the city replied with terrible energy. At last, as the Americans were preparing for an assault, tire Governor of the city oilered to surrender, and on the 26th the American flag floated triumphantly from the walls of the castle and tlie city. General Scott now prepared to march upon the city of Mexico, the capital of the country, situated two hundred miles in the interior, and approached only through a series of rugged passes and mountain fastnesses, rendered still more formidable by several strong fortresses. On the Sth of April tlie army commenced their march. At Gerro Gordo, Santa Anna had posted himself with flfteeu thousand men. On the 18th the Americans began the daring attack, and by midday every intrenchment of the enemy had been carried. The loss of the Me.xicans in this remarkable battle, besides one thousand killed and wounded, was three thousand prisoners, forty-three pieces of cannon, five thousand stand of arms, and all their amunitions and materials of war. The loss of the Americans was four hundred and thirty-one in killed and wounded. The ne.xt day our forces advanced, and, capturing fortress after fortress, came on the ISth of August within ten miles of Mexico, a city of two hundred thousand inhabitants, and situated in one of the most beautiful valleys in the world. On the 20th they attacked and carried the strong batteries of Contreras, garrisoned by 7,000 men, in an impetuous assault, which lasted but seventeen minutes. On the same day an attack was made by the Americans on the fortified post of Churubusco, four miles northeast of Contreras, Here nearly the entire Mexican army - more than 20,000 in number - were posted; but they were defeated at every point, and obliged to seek a retreat in the city, or the still remaining fortress of Chapultepec. While preparations were being made on the 21st by General Scott, to level his batteries against the city, prior to summoning it to surrender, he received propositions from the enemy, which terminated in an armistice. This ceased on the 7th of September. On the Sth the outer defense of Chapultepec was successfully