Fayette County, Indiana - Chapter 15, 1917

Chapter 15

Indiana is known throughout tlie nation as a Hterary center. Its men and women have contributed thousands of volumes of both prose and poetry, of varying degrees of merit, to the hterature of the country. More than two thousand Hoosiers have found their names on a printed volume and at least a hundred of this number have attained a fame which extends beyond their own state. No fewer than twelve Hoosiers have written volumes of such merit as to be included in the list of "best sellers" of the country. They are George Barr McCutcheon, Meredith Nicholson, Booth Tarkington, David Graham Philips, Gene Stratton-Porter, Charles Major, Maurice Thompson, Mary Hartwell Catherwood, Elizabeth Miller Hack, Marjorie Benton Cook, James Whitcomb Riley and Albert ]. Beveridge.

While Fayette count)^ has never produced a writer who has been classed as a "best seller," yet it has produced a number of writers who have made a state-wide reputation. Two of the best volumes dealing with life in Indiana prior to the Civil War have come from the hand of residents of this coimty. Oliver H. Smith in his "Early Indiana Trials and Sketches" (1858), and Dr. Philip Mason in his ".Autobiography and Original Essays" (1868), have given to the state two volumes which are very valuable for the light thev throw on the early history of the state. The volume of Doctor Mason deals more with the history of Fayette county than the volume of Smith, the Doctor's autobiography being a recital of his career in the county from 1816 until his volume was issued in 1868, and covering a wide variety of topics. He touches on the schools, churches, social and industrial affairs, and the civil life of the county; lists the prevailing ailments of the community and prescribes for their treatment ; tells about farming conditions in the early days and ofifers suggestions to farmers as to methods for obtaining the best results from their efforts: traces the growth of Masonry in Connersville : in short, he offers in his volume the results of his life work in Fa3^ette county.

While the vohiines of Smith and Alason are best known throughout the state, yet tliere are a number of others in the county who have written vohunes that deser\e mention, j. L. Heinemann and Katharine Heron have written extensively on local history. Mr. Heinemann has issued three brochures covering the early history of the county, which are given in full in a separate chapter of this volume. He has been an indefatigable worker in the field of local history for a numl>er of years and has done more research work in the early records than any other person in the county. Miss Heron has also delved into the early history of the county and contributed numerous articles to the local papers embodying the result of her research. During the summer of 1916 she contributed a series of valuable historical articles to the Coiincrsi'illc Ncius, which covered a wide variety of topics touching the history of the county from its organization down to the present time. She has also traveled widely over this country and Europe and contributed travel sketches to newspapers and magazines.

Another local historian is Edward E. Moore, who although not a resideiit of the county at the present time, yet was associated with it for a number of years. In 1910 he issued a volume, entitled "A Century of Indiana," which covered the history of ihe state down to that year.

Walter R. Houghton, who has been a resident of Connersville for a numljer of years, has written a number of historical works of a general nature, none of which, however, were concerned with Fayette county history. Among his writings are the following: "A Portrayal of L'nited States History", "Literature and Geography", "A Conspectus of the History of Political Parties and the Federal Govemment", "The Lives of Blaine and Logan". "History of American Politics from 1607 to 1882", "A Map of United States History" (a large wall map on which were printed the leading events in the states in which they occurred) : "A Map of PoHtical History."

A number of writers have contributed local historical articles to the newspapers from time to time. Among these may be mentioned D. T. Leach, who published what he called "A History of Fayette County" in the Coniicrsc'illc Exani'mcr during 1872. The chapters ran through successive issues of the paper for several months, but were never collected in book form. Samuel J. Little was another contributor of historical articles to tlie newspapers in the seventies and eighties.

A number of \'olumes of poetry have been written by Fayette county people, while many others have contributed verse to papers and magazines. John Reid, a lawyer of Connersville, issued a volume of poems in 1845 under the title of "Gulzar, or Rose Bower." Thomas E. Smiley has contributed a volume of "Lays and Lyrics"; Thomas Trusler, a volume entitled "Poems" ( 1907) ; J. Morris Widdows, a volume of verse, "Rainy Day Poems" (1902).

A. Charlton Andrews, a son of Marie Louise Andrews, has issued at least three volumes: "A Parfit Gentle Knight" (1901); "The Drama of Today" ( 1913), and a play, "His Majesty, the Fool" (1913). His mother was one of the leaders in the Western Association of Writers during the life of that organization and contributed one valuable article to the yearbook of the orgaiiization, "Poetry of the Ante-Bellum Period of the West and South" (1890). Another poet of the county was John C. Ochiltree, a newspaper editor, who issued a volume of "Poems and Sketches" in 1890. He also issued one novel, entitled "Handicapped by Fate."

The list of those who have contributed fugitive poems to the newspapers includes a score or more. One of the best known of these versifiers of former days was "Jimuel" Tate, whose real name was James H. Tate. Mr. Tate contributed numerous verses for a numljer of years to the local papers and attained more than a local reputation. The contributions of "Jimuel" were sometimes ordinary, but not infrecjuently they evidenced fully the rugged genius and native wit of the old man whom so many in Fayette county loved. Mrs. W. E. Ochiltree, now a resident of Connersville, has written a number of poems and short stories for papers and magazines. Her stories are of a juvenile nature, two of the best known being "Bayless' Need" and "Why Marianna Stayed."

Mrs. Hamlin T. Risk, who died in 1916, was a prolific writer of occasional and commemorative poems, which were published locally and in church and metropolitan papers.

Dr. Frank Clijtwood of Connersville has written a number of creditable poems which have found their way into the papers. William Dungan, for many years a resident of \\'aterloo township, and now living in Connersville, has a volume of poems written in long hand containing more than one hundred of his productions. Harlan E. Stephens, a native of Orange township and now living on a farm in Fairview township, has written a number of poems which he has set to music. Many of these have been published in sheet-music form and have commanded an extensive local sale. He con-

Earl Williams, now as.sociated with the Coiiiicrsrillc News, has written a number of poems and stories, but lias had \ery few of them published. He has recently completed a no\el which his friends are anxiouslv waitin-i' to read upon its publication. Mr. Williams is a versatile writer of both prose and poetry and all of his work bears the imiirint of real genius.

Among those who ha\-e written on subjects of a miscellaneous character may be mentioned W. F. L. Sanders. John P. Brown. Ryland ']", Brown, Lewis Edwards, Hyatt L. Frost and William H. Tate, a son of "Jimuel". Air. Sanders has been connected with the schools of Connersville and other cities for a number of years and is the author of two text-books which were formerly widely used: "The English Sentence,"' and a "Spelling Book." John P. Brown was the editor of a magazine on arboriculture published in Connersville. Several years later he published a volume entitled "Practical Arboriculture" (1906), which is regarded as a standard authority on this subject.

Ryland T. Brown was a newspaper man, physician, geologist and one of the best known citizens of Fayette county before the Civil War. He spent his later years as a professor in Northwestern Christian University at Indianapolis as head of the department of natural science. He is the author of one of the first text-books on physiologv which was produced in the United States.

Mrs. Jennie Buckley Carter, a life-long resilient of the C(juntv, has written many educational and political articles for metropolitan newspajiers. Hyatt L. l-Vost, a leading lawyer oi Connersville. has written rather extensively regarding automobile touring and other subjects.

I,ewis Edwards, a native of the county, now a resident of Xorman, Oklahoma, deserves inclusion among the literary people of Fayette county. He has always been an extensive traveler and has a happy faculty of describing his travels in such a style as to make them \ery readable. He has been contributing travel letters to the Coinwrsc'illc A'czi's for many years - letters from every part of the world which he has visited. It is safe to say that more than five hundred of these letters ha\e appeared in the local papers.

Frank M. Huston, a brother of M. Helen Huston, of Connersville, has been financial editor of the Chicago Evening Post for a number of years and is considered one of the best writers on general financial subjects in the country. Nathaniel W. Wright, a former Fayette county resident and now living in Toledo, is one of the big newspaper men of the country who may be included in the list of Fayette covuity literary people. He was a resident of Connersville from 1869 to 1904. He is the owner of the Toledo Free Press and at least two other metropolitan papers of wide circulation.

The contributor of this chapter is pleased to add to the list of local writers the name of the supervising editor of this volume. During 1910 to 1912 Mr. Barrows wrote for such magazines as Colliers JVeeklx, The Stnart Set, The Blue Book and Hearst's Magazine. His financial articles in various national magazines were written under his own name. The bulk of his writing consisted of short stories under the noni de plume, "Frederic Irving." His efforts in this line were abruptly stopped in 19 12 by entering a line of work which left no time for side-lines.

No record of literary efifort in Fayette county would be complete without a mention of George Randolph Chester, of "Wallingford" fame. Mr. Chester here spent the first few months after severing a salaried connection with a newspaper staff, and some of his most interesting characters were inspired during that period. For many years he was a regular visitor at Connersville and an intimate acquaintance of those with kindred interests.

Finally, on word would be complete without mention of Edwin W. Tatman, editor of the Connersznile News, if not the producer, at least the encourager of multitudes of literary effusions. Always a sane critic, he was more - a sympathetic visioner of better things to come.

A Few Samples Of Local Poetry

Following will be found a few of the poems that have appeared from time to time as the work of local poets, interesting contributions to the literature of the White Water valley.

About Little Homer

Little Homer Broaddus came home one Sunday night And called out loudly. "Mother, where's that light;" His mother heard his words and sfiid: "Hush np that noise and go to bed."

He ate a bowl of milk and bread. Then pulled off his boots and went to bed; And all that night had happy dreams. Waking from sleep with the daylight's beams.

[As a matter of history Homer Bromldiis later iiianied Alice Caldwell, but both of them have been deceased for many years. This little ikhmii was written to be read before the Beeson Literary Society, Broaddus being- a niemlier nt the society, and present the night the poem was read by Mr. Dungau - more than thirty years ago.]

The back ground of the Hill is the old, old earth. And the picture itself the picture of my birth ; Molded by nature's indelible hand From the rocks, and the clay and the -sand; ; Enraptured by song of the robin and wren, ,. ~

The cliii-ks in tlu' lumltr.v y.-ird iicciumI from Ihoir coo The boughs in the on-hnnl wciv liogiiiiiiiig In (Iniop; The hjiy MUd the whe;it were stiiiuiing in shocks, As thick on the ground :is the sheep in their flocks; The apples were drying, the berries all canned, And the weather .so hot thai 1 had lo be fanned.

The games that I playeil on the green of old swamp Were played by the players in true, kingly pomp ; My tasks were assigned me and my labors begun, And I studied quite hard to excel everyone; Think you not for a moment that the act was amiss, For the closing of school was simply all bliss.

The .stables prepared for the colts .and the kino; The sheds rearranged to .shelter the swine; The flowers all dead, and the birds flown away, The leaves sprinkled, - it was Autumn's last day; And I hailed with a whoop the season so near - Old Winter ! old Winter ! to boyhood so dear !

I always set my traps for 'possums and for skunks, But all the catches I recall were weasels and chipmunks. The coon I'd often trail to his lofty woodland bower, Though to get his furry coat was beyond my youthful power; In the bramble was the coney, which I also hunted then - But if I killed one running, I can't remember when.

Retrospection

And now I look down the long-trodden lane. From the top of my years to boyhood's plain ; And I turn from the scene with eyes full of tears, And groan 'neath the burdens of on-coming years; Yet I long and I love and I watch and I smile, And I liibor and wait, and trust all the while.

Chrismi'S Time Is Heah

Don't you see dat puddin' smokin'. Don't you see ole mammy pokiu' At de fiah, to heat the oven. Don't you see us all a movin' - 'Cause Chrismus time is heah?

Fayettf. County. Indiana

nou't you know (lis iiiu do diiy When all folks au' iiukpIs say, "Peace on earth, to uieu good-will'.'" Bethrem's Star am shinin' still, On every Chrisuins day.

To The Flag

Then hail to the flag, the red, blue and white. Its stars and stripes tell the stoiy Of the fathers' tight for freedom and right Through seven long years of war's lurid night That gave to the world "Old (Jlory."

Though we have no turreted castles old With moss and with lichens hoary. We've a heritage richer far than gold - 'Tis a birth-right which h.is never been sold, Our freedom under "Old Glory."

Then fresh garlands bring to our (Jod and King: Tell millions unborn the story. Let loud anthems ring as His praise we sing And proudly to heaven our banners fling. While over all floats "Old Glory."

Then hark to the song as it rolls ak Its theme is our country's story. Cheer, cheer, the old flag, till from hi The echoes ring hack, "Old Glory."

In tlie course of a hundred years Fayette county has produced a few artists wlio liave won. more tlian local fame. Probably the first of a number was Adam Robe, a nati\e of Connersville, and a resident of the county up to the time of the Civil War. In that struggle he was connected with Harper's Weekly as pictorial correspondent and his drawings of battlefields and other events of the war were known throughout the length and breadth of the country. After the war closed he drifted West and Connersville lost sight of him. The next time that local people heard of him was at the time of the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893, when he appeared as the director of art exhibits of one of the Western states at the exposition. His death has occurred within recent years.

The only artist of recent years who has made painting the means of a livelihood is Rozzie Morrison, a daughter of Alexander Morrison and a sister of J. H. Morrison. She was born in Connersville and early in life developed talent for painting. For several }-ears she has maintained a studio in Washington, D. C, where she dex'otes her time to miniature work. She is one of the direct descendants of Joshua Harlan, one of the first settlers in Connersville, and the donor of the present court house square.

A'ccording to the opinion of Theodore Heinemann, who may very properly be called the dean of Fayette county artists, and who has furnished all of the data for this article on the artists of the county, the most gifted natural artist of the county is Frederick Conwell, better known as "Fritz" Conwell. He is the son of William Conwell, another gifted artist of the city, but in a totally dififerent line than his son. The junior Conwell is employed by a Chicago firm as a designer and interior decorator, and also as an outside painter of artistic ad\-ertising signs. He is strictly a commercial artist, but his work in his line stamps him as being a genius. His mother is still living in Conners\ ille. Philip Braun, Jr., the son of Mayor Philip Braun, has shown considerable artistic aljility as a commercial artist. He is a protege of Conwell and has already done considerable work of a creditaljle character.

Among the younger generation of artists the name of E. Pierre Wainwright is probably the best known, ^\''hile his work thus far has been largely of a commercial nature, some of it in the shape of newspaper cartoons, yet he has shown considerable native talent. He is now giving most of his time and attention to interior decorative work for a Chicago firm.

Tliere are a score or more of local painters of more or less ability, most of whom are women. .\s in every city the size of Connersville there are a number of women who do a little china painting or pastel work. Drawing is taught in the city schools and the teacher in charge usually has had art-school training. The ])resent teacher of drawing in the city schools is lone Reynolds and she does very creditable work herself, while she has had excellent success- in helping her pupils to a l^etter appreciation of art, e\en though they may not be able to become artists themselves. There can be no question that tiie teaching of drawing in the public schools w ill result in more artists in the community within the next few years.

l'~inally, the historian desires to pay a tribute to the best landscape artist the county has ever ]iro(luced. .\ny one who has had the ])rivilege of examining the scores of landscapes of Theodore Heinemann, a native and lifelong resident of Connersville, will recognize in his work the brush of a lo\er of Fayette county scenery. He has preserved for future generations views of many landmarks which have already disappeared and many others which will soon be lost to the eye fore\-er. His pictures cover a wide variety of subjects: Sketches i)\ the old canal from various viewpoints; bits of scenery up and down the White Water \alley and around Connersville; old houses, churches, mills, streets of the city and many other points of interest have found in him a faithful delineator. In connection with the history of the Catholic church set out in this \dlume is reproduced a sketch of the first Catholic church, which he made when a small boy, the only sketch of any kind extant of the church. The artist has never taken a lesson in painting, but nevertheless is able by virtue of his inherent talent to produce work which compares very favorably with that of many others who ha\-e had technical training.