Hamilton County, Indiana - Chapter 12, 1901 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 12

As early as 1821 two cabins were l)nilt in wliat is now known as Fall Creek Township. One of these cabins was bnilt on the south bank of Fall Creek at tiie mouth of Thorpe's Creek. This creek had not received its present name at that time. The other cabin was built on the north bank of Fall Creek on the land that was owned by John Patterson at the time of his death, and near where the old Indian trace, leading from Noblesville to Greenfield, crossed the creek. These two cabins w^ere found vacated by the first permanent settlers of Fall Creek Township, and they never knew who l^uilt them. The writer of this history learned b)' accident that the last named cabin was l)uilt by a man liy the name of Bridge, and, as will l)e shown hereafter, it is probable that the first named cabin was built l)y a man by the name of Sawyer, who was a brotherin-law to Bridge. Bridge frequently visited the tradingpost of William Conner. There was. at the time, an Indian trail leading past Bridge's cabin from the east to William Conner's trading;- pcxsl, and when asked wliat he was doini^- he said iiunting and trapping. Early in the sprino- of 1824 a hnnting- party of Seneca Indians, consisting- of two men, three squaws and four children, encamped on the east side of Fall Creek about eight miles northeast of the present site of Pendleton. At this time the country was new and the population scattered here and there in the woods. Game was plenty and the Indian hunting grounds had not been forsaken by many of the tribes. The country around the camping grounds of the Indians was a dense, unbroken forest, and although these Indians were friendly, the white settlers felt some alarm and kept a watchful eye upon them. The principal Indian was named Ludlow; the other man was called Mingo. The Indians commenced their season of hunting and trapping - the men with their guns, and the squaws setting the traps, preparing and cooking the game and caring for the children - two boys some ten years old and two girls of more tender years. A week had rolled around and the success of the Indians had been only fair, with better prospects ahead. As the spring was opening and raccoons were beginning to leave their holes in the trees in search of the frogs that had begun to leave their muddy beds at the bottom of the creeks, the trapping season was only just conmiencing. Ludlow and his band, wholly unsuspicious of harm and unconscious of any approaching enemies, were seated around their camp fire, when there apprcjached tliroui^-li tlic wood live wliilc men. Harper, Sawyer, Hudson. i)rid^e. Sr.. and Uridoe. Jr. Harjier was the leader and stepping- up to Ludlow, took hini l)y the hand and told him that his ])arty had lost their horses and wanted Ludlow and Mingo to help fni'l them. The Indians agreed to go in search of tlic horses. Ludlow took one path and Mingo another. Harper followed Ludlow and Bridge, Sr., traile<l ]\Iingo, keeping some fifty yards behind. They traveled some short distance from the camp, when Harper shot Ludlow through the body. He fell dead on his face. Hudson, on hearing the crack of the rifle of Harper, immediately shot Mingo, the ball entering just below his shoulder and passing through his body, killing him instantly. The party then met and proceeded within gunshot of the camp. Sawyer then shot one of the squaws through the head. She fell and died without a struggle. Bridge, Sr., shot another squaw, and Bridge. Jr., the other. Both fell dead. Sawyer then fired at the oldest boy, but only wounded him. The other children were shot by some of the party. Harper then led on to the camp, w'here the squaws, one boy and the two girls lav dead. The oldest boy was still living and Saw'yer took him by the legs and knocked his brains out against the end of a log. The camp was then robbed of everything worth carrying away. Harper, supposed to be the ring leader, left immediately and was never taken. Hudson, Sawyer, Bridge, Sr., and Bridge, Jr., were arrested ami confined in a square log- jail, built of heavy beech and sugar tree logs, notched down closely and fittingtight above, below and on the sides, all heavily ironed. Hudson was a man of about middle size, with a bad

' look, dark eye and bushy hair and about thirty-five years of age. Sawyer was about the same age, rather heavier than Hudson, but there was nothing in his appearance that could have marked him in a crowd as any other than a common farmer. Bridge. Sr.. was much older than Sawyer, his head was quite gray. He was above the common height, slender and a little bent when standing. Bridge, Jr., was some eighteen years of age, a tall stripling. Bridge, Sr., was the father of

: Bridge. Jr.. as T have said, and the brother-in-law of Sawyer. The news of these Indian murders flew upon the wings of the wind. The settlers became greatly alarmed, fearing the retaliatory vengeance of the tribes and especially the other bands of Senecas. The facts reached Mr. John Johnston, at the Indian agency at P'qua. O. An account of the murders was sent from the agency to the War Department at Washington

I the Indian tribes and assured them that the Government would punish the offenders, and obtained the promise of the chiefs and warriors that they would wait and see what their "'Great Father" would do before they took the matter into their own hands. This quieted the fears of the settlers and preparation was commenced lor llie trials. A new Iol;- hnildiuL; was erected in the north part of Pendleton with two rooms, one for the court and the other for the grand jury. The court room was about 20x30 feet, with a heavy ])unclieon floor and a platform at one end, three feet high, 1 .with a strong railing in front. It had a bench for the \ judges, a i)lain table for the clerk, in front on the floor j a long bench for the counsel, a little pen for the pris- ' oners, a side bench for the witnesses, and a long pole in 1 front substantially supported to separate the crowd | from the court and bar. A guard by day and night was ! l^laced around the jail. The court was composed of W^illiam W. Wick, presiding judge; Samuel Holliday and Adam Winchel, associate judges. Judge Wick was young on the bench, but had had much experience in criminal trials. Judge Winchel was one of the best and most conscientious of men. He was a blacksmith by j trade and had ironed the prisoners. He was an honest, but illiterate man. Both associate judges were without any pretensions to legal knowledge. Moses | Cox was the clerk. He could barely write his name. ' Samuel Cory, the sheriff, was a fine specimen of a j woods Hoosier, without fear of man or beast, with a voice that made the woods ring as he called the jurors and witnesses. The State was thus prepared for the 1 trials. In the meantime tlie (Government was not sleep- ! ing. Col. Johnston, the Indian agent, was directed to i attend the trials to see that the witnesses were present ail I to pay their fees. Gen. James Noble. H en u I.'aited States Senator, was employed by the Secretary of War to prosecute, with power to fee an assistant. Philip Sweetzer, a young son-in-law of the General, of high promise in his profession, was selected by the General as his assistant. Calvin Fletcher was the regular prosecuting attorney, then a young man of more than ordinary ability, and a good criminal lawyer. The only inn at Pendleton was a new frame house near the creek. When the day for the trial of Hudson, one of the prisoners, arrived, a number of the distinguished lawyers of this State were in attendance and several from the State of Ohio. Among the most noted I name Gen. James Xoble, Philip Sweetzer, Harvey Clegg, Lot Bloomfield, James Rariden. Charles A\'. Zest, Calvin Fletcher, Daniel E. Wick and William R. Morris, of this State. Two from Ohio were Gen. Sampson Mason and IMoses Vance. Judge Wick was absent in the morning and William R. Morris arose and moved the associate judges as follows: "I ask that these gentlemen be admitted as attorneys and counselors at this bar. They are regular practitioners, but have not brought their licenses with them." Then the following took place: Judge Winchel - "Have they come here to defend the prisoners?" Air. Morris - "The most of them have." Judge Winchel - "Let them be sworn, nobody but a lawyer would defend a murderer." Mr. Morris - "I move the court for a writ of habeas corpus to bring up the prisoners now legally conlined in jail."' judge W'inchel - "For what?" Mr. Morris - "A writ of habeas corpus." Judge Winchel - "What do you want to do with it?" ^Ir. Morris - "To bring u\) the j)risoners and have them discharged." Judge Winchel - "Is there any law for that ?" Mr. Morris read the statute regulating the writ of habeas corpus. Judge W'inchel - "That act, Mr. Morris, has been repealed long ago." "Your Honor is mistaken," replied Mr. Morris, "it is a constitutional writ as old as Magna Charta itself." "Well, Mr. Morris, to cut the matter short," said the Judge, "it will do you no good to bring out the prisoners. I ironed them myself, and you will never get those irons ofT until they have been tried, habeas corpus or no habeas corpus. Motion overruled." Judge Wkk then entered and took his seat betw^een the two side judges. Judge Wick - "Call the grand jury." All answered to their names, and were sworn. Court then adjourned for dinner. After dinner the court met, and the grand jury brought an indictment for murder, drawn by Mr. Fletcher against Hudson. Counsel on both sides - "Bring the prisoners into the court." The Court - "SherifT put a jury in the box." Sheriff - "May it please the Court, Dr. Highday just handed me a lisi of names to call on the jury." Judge Wick ordered the Doctor brought into court. Dr. Highday - "Did Your Honor wish to see me?" Judge Wick - "Dr. Highday, is this your handwriting?" Doctor - "I presume it is."

jiuli;e Wick - "Dr. Higiiday, we have no jail to put you in. as the one we have is full, so hear your sentence. It is the judgment of the Court that you be banished from the court grounds until the trials are over. Sheriff, see that the judgment of the Court is carried strictly into execution." Hudson, the prisoner, was brought into court by the deputy sheriff and two of the guards. His a])])earance had greatly changed since his arrest and imprisonment with his comrades in crime. He was now pale, haggard and downcast, and with a faltering" A'oice answered on his arraignment, "Not guilty." The petit jury were hardy, honest pioneers, wearing moccasins and side knives. The evidence occupied but a single da}-, and was ])ositi\ely closing every door of hope to the prisoner. The prosecuting" attorney read the statute creating and affixing the punishment to the homicide, and plainly stated the substance of the evidence. He was followed for the prisoner in able, eloquent and powerful speeches, appealing to the prejudice of the jury against the Indians, relating in glowing colors the early massacre of white men, women and children by the Indians, reading the principal incident in the history of Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton, relating" their cruelties at the battles of Blue Licks and Bryant's Station, and not forgetting the defeat of Braddock, St. Clair and Harmar. Gen. James Noble closed the argument for the State in one of his forcible speeches, holding up to the jury the bloody clothes of the Indians and ai)i)ealing- to the justice, patriotism and love of the laws, not forgetting that the safety of the settlers might depend upon the conviction of the prisoners, as the chiefs and warriors expected justice to be done. The speech of the General had a marked effect upon the crowd, as well as the jury. Judge Wick charged the jury at some length, laying down the law of homicide in its different degrees and distinctly impressing upon the jury that the law knew no distinction as to nation or color ; that the murder of an Indian v/as equally as criminal in law as the murder of a white man. The jury retired in the evening and in the morning brought in a verdict of murder in the first degree. A motion for a new trial w^as overruled ; the prisoner was brought into court and the sentence of death pronounced in the most solemn manner by Judge Wick. The time for the execution was fixed for a distant day. In the meantime Hudson made his escape from the guard one dark night and hid himself in a hollow log in the woods, where he was found and arrested. Time rolled on. The fatal day for the execution arrived. Multitudes of people were there, and among them were seen several Senecas, relatives of the murdered Indians. The gallows were erected just above the falls on Fall Creek on the north side. The people covered the surrounding hills, and at the appointed hour Hudson, by the forfeiture ol his life, made the last earthly atonement for his crime. The other cases were continued until the next term of court.

Monday morning of the next term came, and court met. Jndge Eggleston and Judges Adam Winchel and Samuel Holliday, associate judges, took their seats, with Moses Cox at the clerk's desk, Samuel Cory on the sheriff's platform and Col. John Berry, captain of the guards, leaning against the logs. The grand jury were called, sworn and charged, and court adjourned for dinner. In the afternoon the evidence of the main witnesses was heard. O. H. Smith, prosecuting attorney, had prepared indictments in his office in Indianapolis. These he presented to the foreman of the grand jury. The foreman signed the bills on his knee, and they were returned into court before the adjournment that night. The court met the next morning. It was agreed between counsel for the State and defense that Sawyer should be tried first for the shooting of one of the squaws. The prisoner was brought into court. He appeared haggard and ^-ery much changed by his long confinement. The court room was crowded. Gen. James Noble. Philip Sweetzer and O. H. Smith appeared for the State and James Rariden. Lot Bloomfield. William R. Morris and Charles H. Zest for the prisoner. Judge Eggleston - "Sheriff, call the petit jury." Judge AMnchel - "Sheriff, call "Squire Makepeace on the jury, he will be a good juror. He will not let one of these murderers get away." Judge Eggleseio

Primitivio History Op

Ion, tuniinj;- to ju<l,u'o Winchcll - "This will never do. What, the Court pick a jury to try a capital case?" The jiu'y was soon ini])anc]c(l. Tlic cx'idcncc was conclusive that tlic prisoner liad shot one of the squaws at the camp after the killing of Ludlow and Mingo by Harper and Hudson. This jury, too, were a hardy, heavybearded set of men. with side knives in their ])elts, and all wore moccasins. Mr. Sweetzer opened for the State v^ ith a strong speech. He was followed in able speeches l)y Mr. Alorrison, Mr. Zest and Mr. Rariden for the prisoner. General Noble closed for the State. The case went to the jury under an able charge from Judge Eggleston and court adjourned for dinner. At the meeting of court after dinner, the jury returned the verdict of guilty of manslaughter, two years of hard labor in the penitentiary. Sawyer was immediately put upon trial before the same jury for the murder of the Indian l)oy at the camp. The evidence was heard and was conclusive against the prisoner. Able speeches were made by counsel for the State and also for the prisoner. The jury was charged by the Court and retired for deliberation. After an absence of only a few minutes the jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. The prisoner was remanded and court adjourned. The next morning the case of Bridge, Sr., for shooting a little girl at the Indian camp, was called. The prisoner entered with the sheriff. A jury was impaneled. The proof was positive. The case was argued as in the

The trial was more brief, but the result was the same - verdict of murder in the first degree, but with a recommendation to the Governor for a pardon in consequence of his youth, in which the Court and bar joined. The trials closed, motions for new trials overruled and court adjourned until the next day. The next morning the prisoners were brought into court and the sentence of death was pronounced. The time for the execution was fixed for a distant day, but it soon rolled around. The gallows were erected on the north bank of Fall Creek, just above the falls. When the hour for the execution had arrived, thousands surrounded the gallows. A Seneca chief, with his warriors, was posted near the brow of the hill. Sawyer and Bridge, Sr., ascended the scaffold together, and were executed in quick succession, and died without a struggle. The vast audience was in tears. The exclamation of the Senecas was interpreted, "We are satisfied." An hour expired, the bodies were taken down and laid in their coffins, when there was seen ascending the scaffold, Bridge, Jr., the last of the convicts. His step was feeble, requiring the aid of the sheriff; the rope was ad- justccl. lie threw liis eyes around upon the au(heuce aud then down upon the eoffins, where lay, exposed, the bodies of his father and his uncle. From that moment his wild gaze too clearly showed that the scene had been too much for his youthful mind. Reason had partially left her throne and he stood wildly looking at the crowd, apparently unconscious of his position. The last minute had come, when James B. Kay, Governor of the State, announced to the immense assemblage that the convict was pardoned. Perhaps never before did an audience more heartily respond, while there was a universal regret that the executive mercy had been deferred to the last moment. Thus ended the first trials in the United States where convictions for murder w^ere had and followed by the execution of white men for killing Indians.

Bridge. Sr., Bridge, Jr., and Sawyer resided in Fall Creek Township, Hamilton County, Indiana. Hudson li\ed in Hancock County, Indiana, Aery near Sawyer and Bridge, Sr. It was not known where Harper lived. It was evident that the conspiracy to murder these Indians was formed in Hamilton County, Indiana, and as three of the guilty parties resided therein, it is pro]U"r that the whole circumstance should be related in this work. The main facts in connection with the murders and tlie trials of murderers, I ha\e taken from the re- ])()rts of tlic ninrdcM-s and trials written by (X Tl. Smith and ])ublishcd in his work entitled, "Early Indiana

In March. 1846, the Board of County Commissioners granted William Carlin a license to erect and maintain a ferry across White River at Noblesville. Under this authority Mr. Carlin constructed a flat boat suf^ciently large to hold a wagon and four horses. He then procured a large rope which he fastened to a tree on the west hank of the ri\-er. and the other end to a windlass on the east bank. By means of the windlass the rope could be tightened or loosened as was re- ([uired. Two smaller ropes with pulleys connected the boat with the larger rope. These small ropes were so arranged that when the boat was crossing to the west bank the rope at the cast end would allow that end to drift down stream further than the front. The pulleys ran along on the large rope so that when the boat was imshed from the shore the force of the current would send the pulleys forward on the ro])e. By this means the boat was sent across the stream. On the return trip the rope on the west end of the boat was lengthened and the one on the east taken up. On arriving at either bank an apron attached to the boat was thrown forward which made a passageway to the shore. For foot passengers an old canoe was used. The toll for foot passengers was fi\'e cents each, a man and one horse ten cents, for a wagon, driver and two horses twenty cents, l"(tr a OIK' lidisc \cliiclc lUlccii cents, for wa.^oii and three horses t\\ eiity-fixe cents, for \vai;on and four horses thirt\-live cents, for each liead of cattle two and one-half cents, for each ho^- or sheej) one cent. I\il)lic messengers were ferried free. The writer Avas kee])er of the ferry dnrino- the January flood of 1847. and had some thrillini;" experiences. At one time a man dro\e a two-horse wagon onto the l)oat, leaxing the horses attached to the wagon. Pie had with him a woman and two children. The roj^es were adjusted and the boat pushed from the shore. The river was \-ery high and the cu.rrent strong. The center of the stream had been passed going west when tbe rope at the east end of the boat broke letting it drift down stream, throwing the weight on the rope at the west end. It was a (piestion whether that would hold the boat. If it should break all would be lost. The woman began to scream and the children to cry. A long pole was used to relie\'e the weight on the short ro]:>e and the opposite shore was reached in safety. This ferry was used in time of high water until a l)ridge was built ; then it was di< continued.

I'or several years after the organization of iliis county an organization of the militia was kept u]). At stated periods all able-bodied men of the age of twentyone and under fifty were required to meet at certain places, designated, for drill and to learn military tactics.

The militia of this county, except a portion in the west part of the county, met at Conner's mill, southwest of Noblesville. After the men had assembled at or near the muster ground, the colonel, or in his absence the next highest in rank, ordered the men to fall in line. Then the officer in command, superbly mounted, with his plume fastened to his hat and his sword at his side, would ride along- the entire length of the line, lining up the men. Then the teaching of the manual of arms began ; then the marching and countermarching until recess. After recess the practice continued for some time, after which the men were dismissed.

Muster day was a gala day. It must not be supposed that none were present except the militia, for every body else were there also for the purpose of "seein" the fun," as they would say. All the athletes were there to exhibit themselves and to make matches. The men and boys who claimed to be fleet of foot were there to win races and wagers if possible. "Old scores" were settled in the manner customary at this time. The man with his jug or keg of whisky was there to pick up his 6^ or 12} cent piece. If it happened to be in the water-melon season, the water-melon vender was there. Many instances of note happened on these occasions. If two men chanced to meet on muster day who were not on friendly terms, they were almost certain to settle their difficultv bv resortinsf to blows, or

il out" ;is tlic encounter wouM he termed, and the hest man was \i)led to have had the honest or rii^ht side of the case, ddiis was not rioht for the reason that mii^ht (hd not make ri,<j;ht then any more than it does at the present time. But it was too often the case that the right or wrong of quarrels were determined in this way in those early times.

On one occasion a man dro\'e a wagon load of melons near the muster grounds ])reparatory to selling them. This was early in the day. vSo he unhitched his horses from the wagon and tied them to the saplings near l)y, and then called his bull-dog and placed him in the wagon in charge of the load of melons, and started away to take a stroll around the grounds. He was told tliat he had better stay with his wagon if he wished to save his melons, but he stopped abruptly in his walk, and with all assurance possible said that he wcmld gi\e the entire load of melons to any man who would be able, in his absence, ''to get on that wagon." Solomon Finch was present at the time and, although he was then one of the County Commissioners, determined to get possession of that load of melons. So he repaired to the mill-race that had just been constructed and filled his hat with stones of the proper size and w'alked to within a short distance of the w^agon of melons. He then began throwing those stones against the wagon bed. taking good care not to hit the dog that was in the wagon. He kept up this throwing and pounding

HAMILTON COUNTY, IND. g^tjai^ainst the waLjon, making- all the noise he could with the stones, until the dog", not knowing" what made the noise or where it came from, became frightened and ran away. Finch then took absolute possession of the wagon and melons and told the by-standers that when the original owner came back he would divide the melons among them. Shortly the original owner appeared and found Finch in possession and his dogabsent. He was filled with astonishment, of course, and manifested a disposition to go back on his word, but it was neither the time nor the place for a man to attempt to do anything- of that kind, so he gave up his melons and they were (li\ide(l among the people present. -

The Underground Railway was the name given to the route over which the friends of slaves spirited these poor, oppressed people from the land of the slaveholder to the land of the free, the destination being, for the most part, in the Dominion of Canada. These friends of the slave gave their time, money and best thoughts to this humane but, at that time, illegal enter- IM'ise, many of them risking their lives and liberty in this cause. They engaged in this work without hope of reward other than that of the consciousness that they had helped some poor soul escape from the lash of the cruel task-master to the land where he could enjoy the fruits of his own labor and to a land where there was no more separation of families at the auction block. Hamilton County bears the distinction and the proud honor of being the home of several depots, or stations, for one or more lines of these Underground Railways.

Referring to the life of George Boxley, as given in this work, it will be seen that the system of Underground Railway had its origin in the slave States. And. referring to our State Constitution and the law^s passed pursuant thereto, it will also be observed that all persons in this State participating in the business of concealing or in any way aiding slaves in their efforts to escape from slavery took great risks upon themselves. But, notwithstanding this fact, many noble men and women in this county did render valuable aid to slaves who were making their escape from bondage. The late Hon. Fred Douglas, in his day one of the most eloquent men in our country, was once a slave and was brought to Westfield by means of the underground railway system on his way to freedom, and remained over night at the home of Ephraim Stout.

But while there were many good men in our county who gave assistance to run-away slaves, perhaps a very large majority of our people not only oppsosed any such aid to the slave, but were just as strongly opposed to the slave himself. This was shown in many w^ays. At one time Fred Douglas was advertised to speak in Noblesville, Init when the time came for him to speak he was met bv a mob that was determined that he should not speak, and his friends were obHged to spirit him away to preserve him from injury. Not far from the same time Douglas was billed to speak at Pendleton, and on that occasion he was actually mobbed and egged, and many men from this county participated in that disgraceful affair. But in the course of a few years the sentiment had wonderfully changed; for after the war he spoke in Noblesvillle to a very large and enthusiastic audience, all of whom seemed to be glad to do honor to this great orator.

Tn 1837 John Rhoads and wife. Louan. and one child, all colored, were taken to the home of Joseph Bailey, west of Deming. in the night time, in a closely covered wagon, where they were to remain in hiding for a few days for the purpose of resting, when it was expected to proceed on their journey to Canada. At this lime John and Louan were slaves and had been from the time of their birth. Here it was that they had toiled from year to year, day in and day out, for their lord and master, and frequently received brutal chastisement from a brutal overseer for trivial and possibly no ofTense whatever. Some have claimed that they were born in Kentucky, but, be that as it may, their early lives were probably spent in the cotton and tol)acco fields of Missouri.

Just why or how it happened T do not know, but from some reason John and Louan, who had become husband and wife and to whom had been born one child, wore taken 1)\ llioir master into the state of Illinois for the purpose of working them as slaves upon the prairies of that State. They remained here, just how long I do not remember, working for their master, but it was fora longer time than six months, when the slave owner began to hear it whispered around that John and T.ouan had lived in a free .State long enough to entitle them, by law. to their freedom. He then concluded that it was time for him to remove his human property from that free into a slave State, and this he did. He purchased a jilace in Missouri and to this plantation he took John and Louan. John had heard of Canada, and while he was in the great free State of Illinois he also had heard of people that were called abolitionists and of the underground railway, and it is possible that he and his wife had talked over these matters frequently and may be some of their conversations had been o\'erheard by their master. John and Louan were ever on the alert. A stranger from one of the slave States farther south did not do much talking around their master's house without being heard by these intelligent, liberty-loving slaves, and their watchfulness was at last rewarded. Tn one of these "overheard" conversations they learned that Louan was to be sold to a southern planter and separated from her husband and child. It w^as then that they began to review all that they had learned of Canada and the underground railway, and it was not long until they began to devise ways to test the worth to the slave of this peculiar railway.

( )ne wlu) had nc\cr been a slaxc could not iiiiai^ine the feeUngs of John ]<hoads and his wife when they learned that slie was to be sold like a dumb brute and separated from her husband and child. Although filled with grave apprehensions and fear, they did not despair. Carefully concealing and suppressing their grief and fears in the presence of the slave dealer and their master, they at once decided u])on a desperate efifort at escape, and with this idea in their minds they at once began thinking- of the possibility, or rather plausil^ility, of an attempt at escape. They were in a slave State, and among those ready at any moment, should they attempt to escape, to pursue and capture them dead or ali^-e. Unfortunately, also, for them, John was at this lime (juite lame from an accident, l)ut he was, nevertheless, strong" and active. They at once beg'an makingpreparations. John secured a saw, an ax and a hammer and packed them into a small bundle. John was to take charge of these and Louan was to take charge of the little boy. Thus prepared they stole out into the darkness from their little cabin in their race for liberty. They had traveled over a road from Illinois to their master's plantation in Missouri, and of course had some knowledge of the country through which they could pass, provided they should take the same route, and this they decided to do.

next (1;'.\'. proxiik'iitially, as it appeared to them, came to a \ er\' large swam]). They entered into this swamp and. 1)y accident or otherwise, fonnd a place where they could lie down and rest during the day. They were not disturbed during this day. and at nightfall they again . resumed their journey, continuing in the same direction in which they started. They traveled as far as they could on this second night and about the break of day found another safe hiding place, and of this they availed themsch'es for another day's rest, but before another night passed they were in a w^orld of trouble.

As soon as the master discovered that John and his family had left, he knew they were on a runaway trip, but he did not know the course they had taken, and neither did he know their objective point. And after quite an amount of inc[uiry and search without becoming any the w'iser, he resorted to the blood-hound theory wdiich he proceeded to put into practice. The hounds were finally secured and placed upon the tracks of the runaways. It has been said that future events ; sometimes cast their shadows beforehand. Be this as it I may, John Rhoads was much disturbed in his sleep on ; this last night, for he had what he called a vision. In his ' sleep he saw two fu.gitixe slaxcs with a child lleeing from a brutal slave-owner and his hounds. Tie had the feelings of a husband and father that this awful scene meant that they might be torn to pieces by the savage j blood-hoimds, or that, what was worse, fann'lv ties broken, himself sent to one portion of the Gulf States, his wife to another, and still his little boy to another, where there was incessant toil with nothing- but despair and unrequited ser\-ice for u'lfeeling and inhuman tackmasters. John awoke in excitement. It was near nio-htfall. They hastily partook of the little remnant of food they had taken with them, emerged from their hiding- place and again began their journey. Thev continued traveling in this way, sleeping and resting in daytime and traveling- at night, and all the time subsisting upon corn, potatoes and such things as they could gather without being seen. They were conscious most of the time that they were being pursued by hounds, and this was the case ; but they managed in some way to throw them of¥ their trail. At last they came to the Mississippi River, and John at once began the construction of a raft. This rude boat was made from logs and poles cut from the banks of the river. These were tied together with hickory bark and pliant saplings. At last all was ready. He cut a good pole for a paddle, placed the tools upon the raft with which it had been constructed, and after he. his wife and child had placed themselves upon this rude craft, John pushed for the opposite shore on the Illinois side. When about onethird of the wa}- over his pursuers, with their dogs, reached the banks of the river, and they hastily prepared a raft, but before they could get it ready John and his family were safely on the opposite shore. They roaclicd the shore at a point where no one lued and ' started for the interior of the country as fast as tliey could go, and before tlieir ])ursuers could get their raft ready and had crossed to the Illinois side. John was far beyond them. The pursuers, however, did not give up j the chase. Init 1)egan hunting the trail, and offered large ' rewards for their cajiture. and advertised extensively for information. By these means they were able to learn the direction the fugitives took and at last found their trail. John, in the meantime, was going on his way for j, liberty as fast as he could travel. 1)ut at last he was i caught and he and his family were placed in jail to await the procurement of the proper papers to enable him to remove slaves out of a free State back into a slave State.

The reflections of these poor people were anything but pleasant, for if this effort to escape should result in nothing but a return to slavery, their lot would be all the worse for having made the effort. But the news of their capture flew like "wild-fire." and as there were abolitionists m that section of the State, John's help was much nearer than' he supposed. . Meetings were held by these abolitionists and resolutions were adopted looking to the rescue of these liberty-loving people. Communications were soon opened u]) with John, and this resulted in a plan for the release of him and his little family. The time was fixed for the rescue, and so perfectly had all been planned that John and Louan and their child were taken from the jail and placed upon the nnilerground railway. By this means they were spirited across the State of Illinois into Indiana, and finally into Hamilton County, landing- as before stated at the home of Joseph Bailey, near the little town of Deming-. John's pursuers had lost trace of him as completely as if he had been drowned in the river, and they finally returned to the State of Missouri.

John's purpose was to go on to Canada, but his many friends around Deming prevailed upon him to remain there, assuring him that he could never be taken from there, so the counsel of his friends prevailed. He and his family were almost worn out and almost starved, but after resting a while they entered upon the career of freemen. Some one furnished them a home, and this neighbor gave them one thing and that one something- else, until they were prepared to go to housekeeping and to work. They found plenty of w^ork. which they performed willingly and w^ell. At last John purchased a little patch of ground upon which he built a cabin and lived in his own home, but he slept as it were with one eye open. No window was ever placed in this cabin and there was but one door. John never did feel absolutely secure. He always had an ax at the head of his bed. He feared that under the laws as they then were he might }'et be captured and taken back into slavery, and as after events jiroved, he had ample reasons for harboring such fears.

A man by the n;inie of ^^Tr. \'aiii;]in claimed to be the owner and master of the Rhoads family, and he it was that followed them so closely with his liuman liunters and blood-hounds. The sla\e name of John Rhoads was Sam Rurk. On account of this assumed name it made it all the harder for A'anghn to get any trace of his former slaves, and the way he finally ol> tained information concernim;- them illustrates how aii innocent remark may, at times, do an innocent part) much w rong-. or cause him a g'reat deal of trouble.

A kind-hearted old Christian gentleman l)y the name of Abel Gibson moved from near Mooresville, ^forgan (A)unty, this State, to Adams Townshi]:), this county. and learned of the history of the Rhoads family, and afterward, when making a visit back to his former home in AForgan County, stopped over night on his wa\- with an acquaintance, near Bridgport. by the name of ]\Territt, and to this man he innocently related the story of the Rhoads family up to that date. This man Merritt afterward moved to Missouri and. by chance, located j near the Vaughn plantation and became a neighbor of j Mr. Vaughn. Vaughn related his story of the loss of f his former slaves to Mr. Merritt, and Merritt re\-ealc(l the whereabouts of that unfortunate family and came all the way with the slave hunter to Indiana to hel]) cajiture them. Merritt visited his old friend Abel Gibson and i)ret ended to be in the business of bu)-ing fur. and pretended to want to see John Rhoads for the pui pose of bu}ing' fur of him. and so learned the way to liis honse. lie called at the Khoads cahin and, while pretendinii" to talk business, examined the house inside and out. and learned all the approaches, and on that very ni,i;ht lead the slave-hunters to the cabin. Before that nig-ht. however, the slave-hunters procured the proi)er papers from "Squire Tyson, a Justice of the Peace at Strawtown. which would enable him to place the Rhoads family under arrest. So, with Merritt as a g-uide, and with a proper officer, the slave-hunting party proceeded to the home of John Rhoads in the night lime. John, as usual, had securely fastened the door and had his ax standing at the head of the bed. As stated before, the cabin was puri)osely l)uilt without a window, so the only way to get in was either through the door or chimney. At last when the forces were properly distributed around the cabin and all was ready, Rhoads was called upon to surrender himself and family and peaceably go with his old master back to Missouri, but this J(dm emphatically refused to do. John had lived here a number of years by this time and his family had increased in size, and while ])reparations were going on on the outside, preparations were also going on on the inside of the house. John and his faithful wife hastily made a sort of breastworks out of the little furniture they had for the protection of their children, and then John took his station at the door with his ax and his wife at the fireplace, which had the ordinary pioneer

Slick cliimiK'v. l.ouaii kept up a lire in llic lircplace to prt'\cnt tlicni clinihiii!:;' down the cliinincy. An assault, lio\\c\cr. was uiadc u\)t)U the cliininey and door at the same time. The door resisted the lirst assault, but the clay and stick chimney soon gave way and was torn down. X'aus'hn ordered his men to enter by way of tlie nreplace, l)Ut l.ouan stood there with a lon^- stick cjf hard-burnt cla\' in each hand, declaring- her intention of killing' the In-st man wlio undertook to enter the cabin, and John and his trusty ax did not look at all inviting at the door. Since all had refused to obey orders, Vaughn concluded to make the atteni]>i himself, but no sooner did he undertake it than Louan knocked him down with a lump of clay which sent him s])rawhng quite a little distance from the chinuiey o])ening, and still Louan stood at her post as flciiant as ever, inviting the next one to make an atteiupt to enter, but the next one did not care about ha\ing X'aughn's ex perience. John and I.ouan, in the meantime, had called loudly for help, and Owen AMlliams and Jesse Baker were the first to respond, but they were halted by tlu slave-hunting party and officers, who were well supplied arms. Joseph Baker next arri\cd, and the men ordered him to assist them in making the arrest, but this he refused to do, and made for the door of the cabin which John oi)ened f(M- him. John and Louan had made a gallant fight, indeed, but they were largely outnumbered and began to desj^air. but Jose])h Baker's appearance ga\e theni new conrage and they were again ready for the tight. Owen A\'ilHams and Jesse Baker soon spread the news, and it was not long until people from Deming and Westfield heard of this attempted arrest and were upon the scene. John Rhoads' friends hy this time outnumbered his enemies and they demanded to know what \'aughn"s intentions were toward the colored family, and he said that he wanted to take them before a magistrate so that he might legally identify them. This resorted in a sort of parley, and it was suggested that he had worked his former slaxes in a free State long enough to entitle them to their freedom ; but John's friends finally suggested that the family be taken to Westfield, saying they would let that be done if he would agree to it. This was agreed upon, or at least Rhoads' friends acted upon that understanding, and the entire party - sla\'es, masters and all - were taken to the home of Martin Anthony for breakfast. After procuring a team and wagon the Rhoads family was loaded into the wagon and a start was made for \\'estfield, as the friends of Rhoads supposed, the friends of the family remaining with the party. But A'aughn was determined that the wagon should l)e driven toward Noblesville, and threatened to shoot any man who attempted to drWe toward Westfield with the Rhoads family. This place of parley was at the cross roads near what is known as No. i school house in Washington Township. At that place the La- t'a\otU' (liajL^oial road lca(liii|Li' toward X(il)lc.s\ illr \\acrossed anotlicr diai^onal road, leading- in ;i sonthwcslei'iiK- direction toward Wcstficld. When the .Missourian made his tlireat a man by tlie name of J'aiisle\' Wade said. "I)ri\e on. I'll catcli the sliot."' and at the same time lield ont Ids hands as tliou^-h lie was in the act of trying to catch a l)all. Vaughn and his men had placed themselves in front of the team, but a young man by the name of Daniel V. Jones, then of W'esttield. sprang into the wagon, seized the reins, which the former driver only too gladly gave up, ordered the men to get out of the wa}-. told them to shoot if the_\- dared, ga\'e the sjMrited horses a sharp cut with the whip and turned toward \\'estneld. ddie horses sprang forward so suddenly that the tongue of the wagon struck the horse of one of the officers, hurling him out of the rt)ad and at the same time disarmed him. Jones started toward Westfield in a lively trot and had to drive near the old "Dismal Swamp" that all the old settlers in this ])art of the country know al)Out. Jones looked steadily ahead, attending strictly to his driving, and while doing so his passengers "spilled out through the cracks of the wagon bed," and Jones drove on to Westfield with his empty wagon. Vaughn and his party, seeing that they were outgeneraled as well as out numbered, turned toward Noblesville soon after Jones had distanced them in his drive toward Westfield. Vaughn employed lawvers and began suit against those whi^ had assisted in the escape of his former slaves. A long, protracted trial followed (a change of venue having been taken to Marion County), which resulted in a finding that John Rhoads and familw liaNing 1)een worked in a free State for a period of six months and over, were entitled to their freedom. This trial cost the defendants about $600.00 in attorney's fees and much loss of time, but they had saved this ])oor colored family from separation one from the other and from being again doomed to the condition of slavery.

The first night after John Rhoads and familv had "s])illed" out of the wagon, they were taken to a haystack, belonging to Robert Tomlinson, where they remained till morning. Early the next morning Riley Moon brought them across the "Dismal Swamp," w^et as they could be, to the home of - - - Lindley, where they were provided with food and dry clothing. They were then concealed in a large piece of timber near the Lindley home, for the day. ar.d at night brought to the house again, where the\- were provided wath a warm meal. They remained concealed in woods and the "swamp'' until it was safe for them to emerge again from hiding, and after the trial they settled on a piece of land in the northern part of the county belonging to Lindley. where John resumed his old occupation of doing good days' work. There he lived, undisturbed as to slavery, until death claimed him and his brave and faithful Louan for his own.

In 1S41 jaiiR-s Carter, then living- near White Kiver. l)el\vcen the north Hne of Marion County and Broad Ripple, employed a free negro by the name of Eli Terry who also li\ed near Broad Ri])])le, to drive a team to Missouri and to do other work thereafter. The term of service was one year. Preparations were at once begun and soon comj)lete(l for the journey. Nothing of note occurred on the way to Missouri. They arrived at what Terry supposed to be their destination. After a short stay in Missouri Carter announced to Terry that lie was ready to return to Indiana. Carter had with him one son. Agreeable to contract, Terry was paid by Carter turning over a horse, saddle and bridle. Without further notice of the time of starting back, Terry was called up one night to make ready for the journe\ . So Carter, his son and the negro started from a wilderness part of Missouri for Indiana, as the negro supposed, and as Carter had promised. After travelingseveral days the negro said to Carter that he did not believe they were going in the right direction. Carter said that he knew it. but said he wished to go to the Arkansas River, where he had a brother living that he wanted to see on liis way back, and when they got there tliey would sell their horses and then go by water, as it was nuich the easier way of traveling. Accordingly, when tliey got there Carter pretended that his brother had removed to Red River in the State of Texas, and that there was i^Teat necessity for his seeinj;- his ])rother. They must therefore g-o to l\ed J\i\er, which they did l)y going- through the Choctaw Nation of Indians. Wlien they arrived at the boundary line of Texas Carter told the negro that it was contrary to the laws of Texas for a free colored man to remain there, as he was subject to be taken up and sold, consequently the negro must acknowledge Carter as his master. Clarksville is sixteen miles from Red River, wdiich is the dividing line between Texas and the Choctaw Nation. All things being arranged to Carter's satisfaction, they went within two miles of Clarksville and put up. The negro was left there, while Carter and his son w^ould go to town, transact their business, then return and proceed on their journey home by Red River. They W'ent to Clarksville, where Carter changed his name, calling himself Brewer, and then sold the negro to a man by the name of West for $600.00. one-half in money. West giving his note for the other half. The note was drawn in the name of Brewer and was then traded to a man by the name of Reed for a tract of land. The land was then sold for cash. Carter and his son returned in the night to wdiere they had left the negro, took all the horses and other property and left the next day. West claimed the negro as his property. Then for the first time the negro saw into the trick. Terry asserted that he was a free negro, but this availed nothing and he was carried at once into a state of bondage. Terry was in l)on(laL;e about cii^hl years Ijcfore his people in Indiana knew what had heeomc of him. When tliey learned that Eli was in Texas and in slavery an appeal was made and ])lan arranged for his rescue. This a])peal w^as met l)v the Friends in Hamilton County, mainly from W'ashin^ton Township, with lil)eral donations of cash. Thomas W. Council was selected and placed in charge of the expedition to Texas for the liberation of Terry. Paris Harrison, of Hamilton County, and a Mr. Ryman. of Lawrenceburo-, were selected by Mr. Council as witnesses to prove that Terry w^as a free man. Harrison was selected for another reason; he was a small man, but his courage and fighting qualities had been tested and found good. It was expected there would be plenty of fighting to do before Terry could be taken out of Texas. On the 9th day of December. 1849. Mr. Council, accompanied by Mr. Harrison, left home for Indianapolis. On the next morning they left Indianapolis for Madison. Ind.. via Madison & Indianapolis Railway. Arriving at Madison, they proceeded to Lawrenceburg, where they were met by Mr. Ryman. A discussion arose as to how Mr. Council and his men should equi]) themselves for the journey. Several citi/^cns joined in the discussion, the majority of whom favored arming the parties wdth revolvers and bowie knives. Council, how^ever, decided to go unarmed. It is proj^er to say that the Friend Quakers came forward with most of the funds necessary to defray the expenses of the expedi-

{\L>n from Lawreuceburg-. The party proceeded by boat tLi Cincinnati, where they took passage for New Orleans. Their first object was to procure passage up Red River. The party secured passage on a boat bound for Shrevesport. When they arrived at Shrevesport they learned that it was 500 miles to Clarksville. Finally they secured passage on a small boat to a town called Jefferson. Here the party hired horses and went to Sulphur Fork. Crossing Sulphur Fork, the party pushed on in the direction of Clarksville. Coming to a house about two miles from Clarksville, the party halted and stayed all night. The next morning they went into Clarksville. The party succeeded in making two good friends from among the best citizens in the place, through whom they learned that Terry was in that vicinity. The man West who had bought the note from Carter had refused to pay it. He was sued on the note and had kept it in court up to that time. When Council and his party came on the stage West had sold the negro to a man by the name of Chatfield. He was on the eve of starting to New Orleans to sell Terry. Council and his party arrived at Clarksville on Sunday, and early on the following morning they got out a writ for the release of Terry and put it into the hands of the sheriff, wdio in a short time had Terry in custody. This was done before the affair became public, but as soon as the negro was taken in charge by the sheriff the news spread rapidly. It had been appointed that the sheriff should lake tlu- iic.^ro to the oltice of Lawyer Moirell. i IJefure the sheriff could i^et there the house was ' crowded. 'Ihis was a moment of awful suspense and anxiety for Council and his party. On one hand stood a crowd who had often put the law at defiance, and on j the other hand stood the law. If the law jM'evailed j Council and his party were safe, but if the mob prevailed : they were gone. The judge seemed to be a man of ! great determination and his appearance gave him the j ferocity of a beast, with no well defuied marks of Ini- j manity. The jndge interrogated the negro by asking | him if there was any one in the room with whom he had ever l)een ac((uainted in Indiana. The negro cast a wild glance around the room. At length his gaze fell on Harrison. He suddenly cried out. "There is Mr. liar- ' rison, he knows T am a free man." At this the enemies j of the party looked vengeance, llie judge continued j to ask questions in reference to things in Indiana, all of which he answered satisfactorily. A very shrewd lawyer present undertook to defend the case for West, who j was absent. This lawyer made some heavy threats, I which caused things to look squally for a time. The ' judge at this stage postponed fiu'ther hearing until ' West returned. The negro was turned over to the sheriff. Council and his party escaped without \\o- - lence further than an attempt to intimidate the ])arty if | possible by pointing out a tree, which stood in the town, i upon which the mob had already hanged six men. It ; was nine days before West retnrned. Conncil and his friends were in constant dani^-er of a visit from the mo1), l)ut the}' were l)ra\-e frontiersmen and knew no fear. On West's return the jnd,^-e was prevailed upon to take the case up again. The crowd came together again, threatening destruction to everything coming in its way. The witnesses were examined and cross-examined Ijeyond reasonable evidence. After all the evidence had been given in the lawyers made longspeeches, after which the judge promptly decided tliat Terr}' was a free man. At this the opposing party were thrown into a great rage and swore they W'ould appeal the case. Council notified them that he was prepared for that, and if they did they should pay for every day's work Terry had done, and for every lick he had received, but if they would let the matter drop there Terry would sign a statement releasing them from all action or cause of action against them. This proposition w as accepted and the negro was turned over to Council and his party. Terry was fully identified by Harrison, who was ready to fight, if necessary, in defense of Terry. Council and party now turned their faces homeward, taking the negro with them. As long as they were on Texas soil they were liable to attack. Their journey home was uneventful. Arriving at home, the only duty to perform was to restore Terry to his family and friends.

\\\ 1845 Jacol) Dye caught three cuIj l)cars near the Redman school lioiise on the Patrick Sullivan farm. He took the young bears home and undertook to tame them. He succeeded tolerabl}- well with two of them, but the other one refused to be comforted and longed for his freedom, but Dye kept him chained. When this l)ear was three years old Dye offered to bet $300.00 that the bear could whip fifty of the best dogs in the neighbchrhood. The bet was taken. The time and ])lace for the fight were fixed at Dye's mill in March, 1848. At the appointed time and place Mr. Dye was on hand with his bear, and so were the farmers. Some of them were from Hamilton and some from Boone County. The first half of the day was consumed in procuring a barrel of whisky and preliminary arrangements for the fight. The whisky was purchased with subscription money raised on that morning for that purpose. This was not much of a task, as there were three or four hundred persons present. The barrel was taken to the old mill, turned on end and the head knocked out. A board w^as laid across the head and tin cups placed thereon. Boarding was arranged for those who intended to stay until the fight was over.

The fight was to be to a finish ; the bear to be killed by the dogs or the dogs to be killed by the bear, unless one side or the other should choose before the fight ended to forfeit the monev staked and eu'-l the fight;

This being all arranged, the ground was selected where the fight was to take place. Bruin was brought out and chained to a small tree. The dogs were marshaled in array by their several owners, and all appeared ready and anxious for the fray.

^^'hen night came quite a number of persons who had arranged to stay over night assembled at the mill and played cards, mostly for fun, but in some cases for the filthy lucre ; and as usual, there were quarrels over the whisky and cards. Mr. Brock and Mr. Byrkett, I remember, who were playing cards for money, had a severe quarrel and threatened a fight, the friends of each taking sides ; but this blew over and the crowd dispersed for the night.

The next morning most of the crowd were drv and repaired to the old mill, and, to quench their thirst, visited the whisky barrel. Brock and Byrkett soon renewed their quarrel of the night before and determined to settle their dispute by a fist fight. A ring was formed and the friends of each prepared to see fair play. The battle began. Both were adepts in the art and both were powerful. The battle was therefore a savage one, but like all battles, it came to an end. Then all parties repaired to the spot where the bear was chained and the preliminary arrangements for the fight were made. By this time it was noon. The arrangement was for five of the best dogs to be turned into the ring at one time. The selection was made and each dog was held by the owner, awaitincr the word "sro."

One of the l)e.st of tliis lot of (los;s beloiii^cd to (ieori^T Aston, a notorions lnill\-. and the next best doi; helonj^ed to a (juiet farmer hy the name of Norris. When the word '',^0" was g-iven these two dogs, instead of attacking" the bear, engaged each otlicr in l)attlc. which s(^oii l)ccame terril)le, and wliich finally ])ro\(>ked a (|uarrcl l)et\\een the owners. Tliis dog hght made it an easy matter for the bear in tlie lirst round. Result: Two dogs killed by the bear and one nicjrtally wounded, and two disabled by fighting each other. The ro]ios were again tightened and the second batch of dogs awaited the signal. For some time the result of the second round was in doubt, but Bruin concluded to tr\- the S({ueezing process. 'Idic l)ear jiicked uj) one of the largest dogs and without difficulty comi)lctely demolished him. This scared the other dogs and made the \ ictor)- easy for the bear. This process was repeated until the close of the fifth round. When the call for the sixth round was made not an owner could be found who would let his dog go into the ring. The fight w-as tlierefore at an end and the bear was the w'inner.

This day wound up with a terrible fist fight between Aston and Norris. Aston, as I said, was a great bully, while Norris was a cpiiet farmer. Aston crowded Norris. while Norris avoided and feared him. Finally. Aston cornered Norris, and the battle began in earnest. Norris, when he got fairly into the fight, fought for life. and Aston foueht with full confidence in himself. But lie had tackled the wroiis;" man and lie rccei\ed a terrihle beating. This closed the second day's ])erfonnance. and at night card plaxing and drinking were in order, bnt before the crowd separated arrangements were made with Mr. Dye for an old-fashioned shooting match for the bear the next day with six prizes. The writer hereof had th.e i)leasnre of eating a ])art of one of the liams of the bear.

In January, 1847. occurred the most destructive flood since the year 1828. All the bottom lands along the ri\er were covered with water and driftwood; fences were washed away; grain that had remained in the bottom fields in cultivation was washed away by the water; shocks of corn and fodder, securely tied as it had been left in the fall before, were frequently seen floating down the river. I remember seing a pig on one of these shocks floating past Noblesville. It was eating corn, apparently as unconcerned as it w^ould have been in the barn lot at home. On another shock was a chicken floating quietly down stream. The mill dam across the river where Clare is now situate washed out. Also the mill which stood at that place w^as washed away. The part of the mill fixtures called the "hoppers" floated down the river. The water on this occasion came over the bank at the west end of Conner Street in Noblesville and flowed south through the old canal. A part of the old cemetery was covered by the water.

'J'hc fall season of 1841 was \ cry (lr\-. TcniMc tires, burning timber, fences, grain and the like, prevailed all over the county, occasioning great ])ccuniary loss to the owners of the same.

During the summer of 1848 a heavy wind and rain storm prevailed throughout the county, doing great damage to crops. The flood and fires of 1847 the rain and storms of 1848 caused so much damage and Joss that a large number of the citizens of the county appealed for and w^ere granted a new assessment and a reduction of their taxes assessed the previous year.

An Old Settlers' Society has been in existence for many years in this county. I am not advised as to the time and place of holding the first meeting, or who was instrumental in its consummation. The object, however, was a laudable one and deserved the consideration, not only of the pioneer fathers and mothers themselves, but the generation coming after them. All should have respect for the memories of the past and the participants in the various processes whereby the mighty changes have been wrought in this beautiful county of ours, manifested by a comparison of the same surroundings of three-fourths of a century ago. \\ith the immediate present. It is only 1)y cultivating inquiry concerning the numerous incidents of real life stored in the minds of the pioneer period and by them in some

But little interest was in the beginning manifested in these meetings other than the old settlers themselves, but as time passed the interest in the meetings increased until they became very popular, so that each year they were held. People came from all parts of this county and from other counties as well to attend them. This is as it should be. and I predict that this interest will not cease, even when the last pioneer has been laid in his grave.

Prior to the 22d day of January, 1829. the Legislature of this State passed an act recommending the formation of societies as a means of enlarging the area of agricultural operation, and securing the better modes of culture. These statutory regulations received the approval of the Governor on the 22d day of January, 1829. Among other things these regulations provided that the several boards of commissioners in this State should give notice that the people of their county would meet at a time and place mentioned in the notice to arrange for the organization of such societies. The Board of Commissioners gave such notice about the year 1831. I have not been able to find from the records that any such meeting was ever held, or that any such steps were ever taken with a view to such organization. Little, if anything, was done to advance the ao-ricullural interests of the county until after the passage of an act which was approved Fel)ruary 17. 1852. Under this latter law, however, the farmers of Hamilton County, some time in the year 1855, organized the Hamilton County Agricultural Society. In their report to the State Society in 1856 it is shown that at a regular meeting of the society, held on the 14th of April, 1856, the following persons were elected as officers: Dr. T. T. Butler, president ; Samuel Colli]) and John Burk, vice-presidents; D. C. Chipman, secretary; H. W. Clark, treasurer; E. B. Cole, librarian; with nine directors, one for each township. The outlay and expenditures of 1855 were so considerable that the society concluded to have no fair during the year 1856. In 1857, becoming discouraged from the want of a permanentlv inclosed fair ground, and from other causes, the society again failed to hold their annual fair. Taking courage again in the spring of 1858, some of the more faithful friends of agricultural inprovements met and elected new officers and a board of directors, who went vigorously to work and in due time arranged for holding a fair, which, notwithstanding the adverse circumstances im])en(ling. was sufficientl\- successful to gi\-e encouragement to the society in the future. After a transitory existence, however, in which there was a want of interest and a want of the practical knowledge necessary to maintain a healthy organic movement ]iromotive of success, the societv disbanded for ;i season, to be reorganized iiiuler more fa\oral:)]e auspiees. This was the last meeting" of this society. A count}' fair was held, however, on ground owned by D. R. Brown, adjoining the city of Noblesville. for a few years, but was finally discontinued.

In the year 1838 Francis B. Cogswell and Ira Kingsberry were opposing candidates for Representative in this county. Cogswell lived in Noblesville on the north side of the square and was in the mercantile business. Kingsberry lived near Strawtown. Cogswell was a Democrat and Kingsberry was a Whig. Election day came and the friends of the candidates were at the voting places early. During the forenoon, however, Cogswell and his friends were ^'ery confident that he would be elected. About noon, however, Cogswell's friends discovered that Kmgsberry was getting more votes than Cogswell, and that something must be done. The situation was reported to Cogswell, who immediately secured the services of two friends, who, after properly disguising themselves, procured a barrel of whisky. This they rolled out into the street in front of the Cogswell house. They then set the barrel on one end and with an axe knocked the head out of the other end. They then secured two or three tin cups and announced that any voter who would thereafter vote for Cogswell could have all the whisky he wanted to drink. This action on the part of Cogswell's friends turned the vote lo Cogswell. A large majoiil}' of the \ otes cast in the county were at the time cast at Noblesville and Strawtown, so that when the vote of Noblesville and Strawtown was counted and put together it was known who was elected. Before dark that evening the return of the Strawtown vote w-as made and it was learned that Cogswell w^as elected. When this announcement was made Cogswell's friends threw off the mask and made public the manner in which they had won. This announcement was the signal for trouble. The first brick court house had been finished only a little over a year and there were plenty of stones and brickbats to be found on the square. Kingsberry's friends armed themselves with stones and brickbats and when Cogswell appeared upon the street soon after he was attacked by them. Cogswell and his friends took refuge in his house and store until they could procure stones and other missiles. When this was accomplished they ventured into the street. They were met by the Kingsberry men and a battle wdth stones and clubs ensued. The Cogswell men retreated to the house, then the house was attacked. The windows and doors were broken. The Kingsberry partv entered the house, but Cogswell and the men wdio had given out the whisky had in some manner escaped and could not be found, and as the Kingsberry men had no cause for complaint against any one else, the fight came to an end, but the night was far spent before the streets were clear of the rioters.

About the year 1832 James Shirts was serving an apprenticeship with F. B. Cogswell to the farmer's trade. By custom he was entitled to all the dog skins and ground hog skins when tanned. A dog skin was tanned for a lad from the country about James's age and size. The country lad, when the skin was ready to deliver, received it on his promise to pay for it in a given time. When the time was up James called on the lad for his money, but was put off for a time. Again demand was made and further time asked. This proceeding was continued from time to time until James Ijecame tired of it. So meeting the lad in Noblesville one day. he demanded his pay. Payment was not made, so James informed the country lad that he must pay then and there or take a thrashing. The lad said that was a game two could play at. They prepared for the fight and went at it. The fight was an even one for c|uite a while, with odds rather against James. By this time several persons had come upon the scene, and as was the custom, there was to be no interference until one or the other said enough. James finally succeeded in getting one of the lad's ears in his mouth and chewed it vigorously. This was too much for the lad, so he gave the word enough. James's teeth, however, had Ijecome set, and had to be pried apart before the country lad could be released. After the fight was over Tames, who was about thirteen vears old, walked into a justice's oflice and, addressini;- him, said: 1 tanned a do.L;- skin for (naming liim) and lie refuses to pay me. I have now tanned his hide and I want to pay llie l)ill." The crowd had followed him to the justice's office. The speech was so novel and delivered with so much earnestness that the justice was taken by surprise. He said : "In view of the ])rovocation and the xouth of the offenders the said James will be permitted to go hence without Ijail." It was customary in those days to settle old scores in this way, but not debts, so the peo- ]de looked upon it as a natural result of a quarrel. The countr}- lad afterward became a good business man.

Al)out the time of the removal of the hrst court house to the scjuare a fight between two men occurred in Noblesville. One of them was arrested on the charge of assault and battery and was taken before a justice of the peace. There was a large number of witnesses, so the justice held the trial in the court house. After hearing all the evidence and arguments of the attorneys the justice directed the constable to lock all the doors leading from the court room. When this was done the justice delivered an opinion. He said that it appeared from the evidence that the parties who engaged in the fight differed in a conversation between them upon some matter not made clear to the court : that they had fought an honorable l)nttle and that there was doubt in the mind of the court as to which of the men was the ai^gressor; that the prisoner was entitled to the benefit of this douln. The court finds that the justice and the constable ha\e done all the work in this matter and that the audience has had all the fun. It is therefore ordered that tlie audience pay the costs of this trial and that they remain in the court room until the costs are paid. The joke was such a good one that the costs were then and there paid and court adjourned.

About the year 1833 <^^pt. Howe came to Noblesville. Soon thereafter he purchased the eighty acres of land north of the Noblesville and Westfield pike on the east bank of Cicero Creek. Soon after that he married one of Daniel Gunion's daughters. There was no house on the land purchased, so he hired a man to cut and haul logs for a cabin. After the logs w^ere hauled upon the ground the Captain invited the neighbors to come in and help him raise his cabin. On the day fixed for the raising the neighbors came and as was their custom, they appointed a foreman to give orders. This did not suit the Captain, who claimed to have commanded a vessel of some kind, so he mounted a nearby stump and proposed to give orders himself. - It soon appeared that Howe knew nothing about raising cabins and his orders could not be obeyed. He persisted in giving orders and became so annoying that the settlers caught him and tied his hands behind hini and then tied him lo a tree. The Captain swore like a sailor. The settlers continued their work, finished the cabin, released Howe and departed for their homes. Dinner had been served and Howe had been allowed to eat, but was bound again. The Captain afterward said they served him right. Thereafter they were all good friends. The Captain was at all times ready to assist them in return for what they had done for him.

The pioneers, their wives and children had but little time to waste in amusements, yet they had many ways in which to enjoy themselves, some of which would not perhaps be considered enjoyment now. The husband and father enjoyed the friendship of his neighbors ; he enjoyed his tramp in the Avoods with his gun on his shoulder and his dogs at his heels in pursuit of game ; he enjoyed a visit to his traps; he enjoyed his advance in improvements ; above all he enjoyed his quiet evenings at home, where he could smoke his pipe in peace and listen to the hum of the spinning wheel run by his wife or daughter The wife was perhaps without much enjoyment except as she enjoyed looking after her children. True, she enjoyed the religious services held at some point in each neighborhood; the visits made to her by her neighbors, and those visits made by her in return; the visits of the pack peddler, through whom she received all the news; she enjoyed the quilting bees given by the women. The young ladies enjoyed themselves as all young ladies in all ages have done, by accepting what there was in store for them and by being content therewith. There were young men in those days as well as now. so the young ladies endeavored to secure the best young men for partners at the dance, to attend her to church, to accompany her home from the quilting bees, to take them to the sugar camp, where the best wax was made, to the pumpkin peeling, and finally to secure the best young man in the neighborhood for a husband. The young man had a wider range than any of the parties named in which to seek amusement. They enjoyed all of the sports entered into by the father and many others. They had their dogs and guns and were permitted to retain the profits of the chase; they also had their steel traps and the old pole traps for 'coons. It was a real pleasure to them when upon visits made to these traps they found a 'coon or mink imprisoned therein. Then there was the old swimming hole with the old historic log reaching from the shore out into the water, whereon the boys could make a short run and from wh.ich they could leap far out into the stream ; then the dixe ; then the swim backward and forward, up stream and down ; then the kicking and splashing of the water. By these means the }'oung men were about as near heaven as they wanted to be. Next we find them gathering up the young ladies, and in a body, at the proi)er season of tlie year, they march to the sugar camp, where arrangements had l)een made for tlie old-fashioned wax party; then the wood chopping and ([uilting bees, and after that the social party ; next is the husking bee and pumpkin i)eeling. which is the most exciting of all their amusements. The corn was taken from the stalk with husks on the ear. then hauled and ])laced in a ]ien near the corn crib. The ])umpkins were gathered in a hea]:» in the cabin where the cutting was to take place. The young ladies were invited to cut the pumpkins into rings, peel them and hang them on ])oles suspended from the joists by strings or pieces of bark. The young men were invited to husk the corn and place it in the crib. At the corn pWe there was at the beginning great excitement on account of the fact that the first young man finding and husking the first ear of red corn was. l)y custom, entitled to a kiss from any young lady at the ])unipkin peeling. This kiss was not refused by the young lady* selected:

After the introduction of fanning mills in this county and when the farmers began to raise a surplus of wheat, they found they had no market for it short of Cincinnati, Lawrenceburg or Lafayette. The roads were so ])oor that the farmers, when going to any of these markets would get three or four teams together. They loaded twentv bushels of wheat in each wagon, then added feed for the horses and ]>rovisions for the driver snfificient for the round tri]:>. In the event that any of the wagons stuck in the mud the other teams were near by to give them aid. From four to five days were consumed in getting to market. There they received anywhere from 37} to 40 cents per bushel for their wheat. This was exchanged for a l^arrel of salt at $6.00 and a half-side of Spanish sole leather, usually costing $2.00. The load of wheat at 40 cents per bushel brought them $8.00. Three days were usually consumed in making the return trip. The settler received for his seven or eight days and his twenty bushels of wheat $8.00.

From the year 1835 ^o 1840 the first settlers produced a surplus of hogs and cattle. In the fall season the merchants bought the surplus in hogs, bunched them together and drove them to Cincinnati and sold them. They paid from Si. 50 to $1.75 per hundredw-eight gross.

A trip to Cincinnati was made by me during my minority. I will describe it. ^^"'e left Noblesville about the 3d day of December, w-ith ten hands and three teams. For two or three days we had fair weather and It then began to rain and the Idy. Some of the hogs traveled faster than others, so the hogs were divided into lots. The tired hogs would be placed in the wagons and hauled to the stopping place for the night. These tired hogs were lifted out of the mud and placed in the gg^ PR1MITI\'I': ]IKSTC»li^ (IIwagcMis by the hands in charj^c of tlic hindmost lot. After the rain set in these men wonld be at night wet to the skin. The men were kept on the road until dark and sometimes later. It frequently happened that after turning in at night the men were required to gather corn from the fields to feed the hogs that night, and the morning after. The hogs were usually fed about 4 o'clock in the morning and turned into the road at daylight. This process was continued from day to day until Cincinnati was reached, then the hands were turned loose with money enough to take them home. From twenty-one to twenty-two days were consumed in the trip. We wore the same suit of clothes all the lime. At night we would dry them and the next morning rulj the mud off and put them on. For my service I received 18 cents per day and board. Cattle were bought at a certain price per head by feeders. They were then fed, bunched up and driven to market and sold. The merchants, generally speaking, bought goods in the spring and fall of the year at Cincinnati. The merchant traveled to the city on horseback, made his purchases and returned the same way. Men with four-horse teams were hired to haul these goods from Cincinnati. \\"att Alurph}-, of Strawtown ; Abraham Williams, of Delaware Township, and Gardner Davis, of Noblesville, did this hauling, or most of it, for a number of years. They were generally loaded going out with ginseng, beeswax, furs and wheat. It usually required fourteen days to make a round trip of this kind.

By this lime sawmills had hccii erected on ahiiost ah of the streams in the neis^hl^orhoods first settled. Mechanics of all grades were constantly coming i \ so that one by one the pioneer cal)ins began to go and substantial frame buildings went up in their stead. In some instances brick buildings took the places made vacant by the remoxal of the cabins.

The old wooden mould board was discarded about this time and the metal one su1:)stituted, dispensing with the wooden paddle which had before that time hung on one handle of the stock ready for instant use.

The heroism of the women of the pioneer days was manifested in more w'ays than one. A circumstance that occurred in about the year 1828, in Noblesville, will serve as an illustration. A hired girl was left alone with a small boy in a house immediately opposite a store. The family remained away from home until dark. This fact was known to the pro]n-ietor of the store, and he concluded to have some fun by scaring the girl. He had in his store false faces for sale. So about dark he rigged up one of these false faces, lighted it up with phosphorus, passed from his store to the rear of the house, then around the end of the house to the front door of the room where the girl was. It so happened that the girl was scrubbing the floor with an old-fashioned split broom. This broom, as a weapon, was equal lo a Miiall maul. Instead nf 1)cing' scarcl. as the sIdtckceper ex|)ccte(l. tlic s^irl drew a Ijead nn the false i:u\- ami struck the man fairly in the face with the scrub broom, knocking- him down. He resa^ained his feet and left the premises in haste. He never mentioned the incident, but the .L^irl did.

.\s far back in our history as the Re\'olutionary War, we hear of the "]:)ack peddler." Among the most valuable spies of that time was a person known to (ien. \\'ashing"ton and upon whom he relied for secret information, and this man was a pack peddler. He went among- the people carrying his pack filled with such goods and trinkets as would please the peoi)le. He visited the homes of the Tories, as w^ell as those of the colonists and displayed his wares wdth as much earnestness to one as he w^ould to the other. He did a fair business, it is true, but his real object was to gather information for General Washington. He boldly entered the lines of the British and dispensed his wares to the soldier-. but all the time he w-as treasuring in his memory all that he saw and heard. He was, to all appearances, neutral and ne\'er at any time manifested any interest in anything he heard or saw. Then he would have a secret meeting wdth Washington.

pack peddler followed them with his pack upon his back, visitin^e: from one settlement to another. He was always a w-elcome visitor in those early days for tw'o yery good reasons. He generally carried goods of light weight, but at the same time indispensable to the families of the pioneers. Besides this he carried the new^s h'om one neighborhood to another. Communication between settlements ten to fifteen miles apart was quite different then from what it is in this day. So the pack peddler was a news gatherer and a news dispenser as well. Families who had been formerly acquainted with each other would not hear from each other for months at a time, perhaps, except through these welcome visitors. If he visited the settlement at Horse Shoe Prairie and had passed through the one at Strawtown, he was presumed to kno\v all that had happened recently in the latter settlement. If there had been a marriage, a death or a birth since his last visit, the pioneers would learn the fact as well as the details from the pack peddler, and the same was true in reference to all other items of news. To us, at this day, this seems to be a small matter, but not so to the pioneer mother who had a married daughter or son in some one of these other settlements. Many of these pack peddlers were very honorable men, who paved their way to good business and wealth. At the same time they were very useful as a part of pioneer life.

In 1832-3 taverns so called were numerous on the leading highways, and the business was not, by any means, a bad business. A and B lived upon one of these highways about one and a half miles apart, each of them keeping tavern. This was indicated to the traveling public by some kind of a rude sign board stuck up about their premises. Sometimes considerable rivalry mixed with some jealousy existed between the two houses, and it is safe to say the best of feeling did not at all times exist between the proprietors thereof. Al)Out | half way between these two houses lived C, who was friendly to A and B, but was thoroughly honest, despising a man who would do little, mean things, and hating petty thieves. Neighbor A, as he believed, was losing corn from his crib in small quantities at a time, and as that commodity was scarce, and for that reason, among others, was precious to the tavern keeper, A was very much annoyed by the discovery; finally he made the situation known to Neighbor C, informing him at the same time that he suspected Neighbor B. Neighbor C is all attention now, making many inquiries. Finally he went to A and said, "Have you any hickory rails on your place?" A replied that he had, then C said, "Well, T can tell you what to Ao. Saw a few blocks from the end of a rail, split them into pins very fine, then dress them down, sharpening them at botli ends, then break up a lot of your corn, one ear at a time, insert one of

pins into each end of the ear, then put the ear together again. Return the corn to the crib then, placing the ears in a conspicuous place, and if you miss any of it let me know at once and I will assist you in catching the thief." A did as he was directed. On the following morning he went to the crib before daylight for the purpose of making observations. He carried an old tin lantern and when he opened the door he found that his corn was gone. He hastened to the house of Neighbor C and informed him of the fact and together they went to a grove near the stable of B to await developments. About daylight B came to his stable apprehending no danger of detection, proceeded to feed his horses, and immediately left for his house. Scarcely had he entered when A and C left their hiding place and entered the barn. They took the corn from the feed trough, placed therein by B and quickly returned to the grove, where they found that each ear contained one of the splinters placed there by A. Neighbor C went to B's house and called him out, telling him that he wanted to see him at the stable. They started in that direction, but C led the way past the stable to the grove, where A was waiting with the corn. A at once accused B of stealing his corn and produced the proofs so conclusive that B confessed and begged for mercy. He was told by A and C that they had no desire to prosecute him; that if he would pledge them then and there to live an honorable life and steal no more the secret should be kept. He readily iiiadc the promise and failht'iillx kc])l it. so far as the i)iil)lic knew. The story was nexcr lokl outside the families interested until after the death of Neighbor B.

In the early pioneer days in this country when settlements of white i)eople were few and frecpiently \ery far apart, and whilst soldier barracks, forts and fortifications were still in use. the necessaries of life, including powder and lead, were frequently trans])orted from Government stores or trading points to these settlements on "pack horses." The country being full of roving bands of Indians, it frc(iuentl\- ha]^i)enc(l that parties engaged in this business on ])ri\ate s])eculation or for the Goxernment, joined their forces and traveled in company through the forests.