Jay County, Indiana - Chapter 2: The Second Family of Settlers, 1864

Chapter 2: The Second Family of Settlers

On Monday morning, near the close ofl^ovember, 1823, a few persons might have been seen crossing the Mississinewa river, making their way northward from the residence of Mr. Mishack Lewallen, or what is now the pleasant village of Kidgeville, Randolph County, Indiana. The company consisted of John Gain, who was a Dutch Indian-trader, John Brooks, his wife Mary Brooks, and ]N"ancy Brooks, who was then an infant. Mary and her child were riding in a wagon, drawn by one yoke of oxen ; John Gain was driving, while John Brooks was cutting out the way. They were entering an untamed and unknown wilderness, where before only the tragic scenes of the wild forest had been enacted.

pairing, it resigns itself to the jaws of the wolves that have been fleetly chasing it for a day ; the terrible howling and bloody battles over the booty ; the stealthy step of the Indian in pursuit ot his game, and sharp crack of his rifle and exulting "whoop," and upward curling of the blue smoke from camp fires or rude wigwams, and the excitement of the " Indian war dance" - all these were the sights and sounds to which these tall forests had been mute witnesses for centuries. The sound of the white man's axe was the precursor of the dawn of civilization upon that wilderness. The company were endeavoring to follow an Indian bridle path called the " Godirey Trace," which led from the settlement on the Mississinewa to the Indian town on the Salimonie.

The two men kept up a lively discourse upon the new country, the abundance of game, the quality of the soil, the prospect for profitable trade with the Indians, and' such other topics as are always full of interest to the pioneer. Thus slowly wended their way forward the second white family that ever moved into Jay County, and the first one that made it their permanent home.

The day was a most beautiful one, and the weather very pleasant for the season. The mild brilliance of the autumn sunliglit tinted the forests with golden rays, the fallen leaves spread the earth with a carpet of brown, and the air was me- lodious with the farewell songs of the feathery tribes, as they took their flight for the sunny regions of the far South. Save the chirping of the birds and the frisking and chattering of the squirrels, the voices and movements of the company were all that broke the stillness of those dense forests. The scene before and around them was grand and inspiring, and the men moved forward elated and cheerful, while hope painted the future with long lives of enjoyment and prosperity.

On their way they passed over the beautiful knoll on which ISTew Mount Pleasant is now situated, and toward evening stopped for the night, and camped on the banks of a small creek, afterward called Brooks' Creek, in honor of the family which was the first to camp, and subsequently the first to live upon its banks. They kindled a cheerful fire by the side of a large log, and Mary Brooks cooked supper by it, getting water from the stream. Soon after nightfall they prepared to rest, for all were weary with their day's travel. The ground was dry, and they gathered in heaps the fallen leaves, spread blankets upon them, and, with feet toward the fire, all lay down under the star-spangled canopy which overspread them. But Mary Brooks did not sleep. Her heart was full of sadness. To use her own language, "she was sad all that day, as they came through the wilderness." They seemed to be entering an unend- ing forest, and going - she knew not where. She had bidden farewell to friends, society and even civilization, and was going where, besides her husband and child, her only companions would be Indians and wild beasts. Her husband could hunt, trade or travel ; but what could she do to draw her mind from the surrounding wilderness ? A lonely life in a dreary wilderness, beyond the reach of society and friends - a sad, disheartening prospect ! Still more, as they lay upon the ground in the open air, darkness around them,__ the twinkling stars above them, the wolves howled fearfully around the camp. To an old hunter such circumstances are fascinating, but to woman - delicate, sensitive, home-loving woman - they have no charms. So Mary Brooks lay down upon her bed of leaves, and wept bitterly all that long night.

Many times she besought her husband to take her back to the settlements ; but his desire to go forward and try the life of a pioneer and secure a home for his family, led him to deny her urgent request.

Early the next morning they set out for the Indian village, on the banks of the Salimonie, of twenty or thirty huts. The Indians were of the Miami tribe, and Francois Godfrey their chief. A few years afte.rward he built a brick house there, and since then it has generally been known as the

" Godfrey Farm."* The Indians left in 1884, and the farm is now owned by a resident of Kentucky. They reached this town about sunset. The Indians were very kind, and f^ave them a camp to sleep in that night. On Wednesday mori^^ig they crossed the SaUmonie to their home, three quarters of a mile distant. This consisted of two cabins, built by John Gain - one for a dwelling, and the other to keep articles in for traffic with the Indians. They were situated on the low bank of a small prairie. No ground was cleared around the cabins, but the men immediately set to work and cleared seven acres. Mary Brooks, naturally industrious, energetic and cheerful, looked about her and went to work. Though twenty-four miles from any white family, surrounded by forests and savages, yet for the sake of pleasing her husband, whom she devotedly loved, she resolved to be contented.

Having introduced the second family who braved tlie dangers and endnred the privations of pioneer life in Jay, a brief sketch of their former lives may be interesting :

John Brooks, born August 6th, 1791, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was raised a farmer, in Maj'sville, Ohio. M^rj Campbell was born October 19th, 1T99, in Bourbon County, Kentucky.

At an early age she moved to Ohio, where, in her seventeenth year, she married John Brooks, July 15th, 1816. They farmed mitil, in June, 1817, Mr. Brooks came to Ridge ville, Indiaua, to see his sister, Hannah Lewallen. He was so fascinated with the country that he would not return to Ohio, and sent for his wife. Mary, willing to follow the fortunes of her husband, immediately prepared for the long trip, bade her friends what proved to be a last farewell, and set out on horseback. Her youth, tine health and adventurous spirit made her anxious to see the "new country." She arrived safely at the frontier settlement.

In a few weeks her first child, Elizabeth, was born ; but it died in thirteen months, and was the first person buried in the cemetery at Ridgeville. There were but three families in that settlement prior to her arrival. They were Joab Ward-, Mishack Lewallen and Stephen Jones.

One day, one of the men shot an Indian whom he caught stealing cabbage from his garden. This aroused the anger of the Indians, and the settlement was very much alarmed lest they should all be murdered. They made a fort of Lewalien's house, and the four families lived in it for two weeks, in constant fear of an attack. But their enemies did not come, and they again ventured forth to their usual avocations. During the sum- mer of 1823 Mr. Brooks made two visits to the Godfrey Farm, and there became acquainted with John Gain, who offered him $60 a 3'ear if he w^oiild bring his family there and keep house. Desiring to get money to enter some land, he accepted the offer, and in November Jolm Gain took the family as heretofore narrated, to his home on the little prairie.

John Gain soon began to think that he could do better at Fort "Wayne, and in February, 1824, moved there. This greatly embarrassed Mr. Brooks. It deprived him of the expected incomfe, and left him there alone with the Indians, with no means of conveying his family to the settlement. In the spring he planted the cleai-ed ground in corn, and there was a fine prospect for a crop until the blackbirds came by thousands and destroyed the most of it. Mrs. Brooks says it seemed as if there was a bird for every ear. Fortunately John Brooks was a favorite with the Indians, and they taught him their arts in hunting and trapping, and these were now his only dependence. During his stay there he killed thirteen wolves, besides large numbers of deer, raccoon, and other animals. He sohi the furs in Fort Wayne at high prices. In this way he supported his family the first year. The second spring he again planted corn, and raised an abundant crop. After a while he got a yoke of oxen, and then commenced trad-

One time when Mr. Brooks was preparing to go to Hidgeville, he got an old Indian woman, who was the mother of Francois Godfrey, the Chief, to stay with Mary during his absence. She was a kind old "squaw," and Mrs. Brooks avers was quite good company. They passed the time pleasantly together, until one day an Indian came there and gave her some whisky, and she drank freely. That night she was taken very sick. Mrs. Brooks did everything possible for her relief ; but she grew worse. About two o'clock in the morning she brought her blanket, sat down on the floor, and leaned her head against Mrs. Brooks, and there, supported by her pale-faced friend, in a few minutes she breathed her last. Mrs. Brooks laid the corpse upon the floor, covered it np and waited alone with the dead until morning, when the Indian who had been there the evening before, came, and she sent him to the Chief with the news. A large number of Indians then came down to Brooks', and showed many signs of sincere mourning. By their request, Mrs. Brooks baked a large cake in the ashes, and they buried it with the corpse. The friendship of the Indians, and especially of the Chief, for the Brooks family was now greatly increased. Mr. Brooks' business kept him much of the time away from home, and tlie Chief took great pains to see that the family was not molested. lie gave orders to his tribe that any Indian who would disturb them should be killed ; and whenever Mr. Brooks was absent, this Chief would send his son almost every day to inquire of Mrs. Brooks' welfare. During the several years in which the Indians were their only neighbors, no unfriendliness or cruelty was shown them.

In June, 182i, Mr. Brooks started to Stillwater for provisions, expecting to be gone several days. His wife and child were to be left alone, as was usual in such cases. She saw no one for several days, except a traveler on his way to Fort Wayne, who called for a meal. A heavy rain caused an unprecedented rise in the streams, rendering it impossible for Mr. Brooks to reach his family or get nearer to them than Ridgeville. Mrs. Brooks now began to fear for her husband. She knew that he would make eveiy effort in his power to reach his family, and greatly feared that he would risk too much and get drowned. But apprehensions of her own safety soon added to her perplexities. Her provisions were nearly gone, and the Salimo'nie remained so high that she could not cross to the Indian village to get relief. Her forebodings and anxieties increased until, on the thirteenth day of her husband's absence, she gave the last mouthful of food about the house to her

Still the Salimonie overflowed its banks, and relief came not. Her child lived on milk, but cried almost continually, while her own sadness and hunger were overwhelming. The belief that Mr. Brooks was drowned, added to her own hunger, made her desperate. In this suflering and despairing condition did the poor woman and her child live for three days. By this time she gave up all hope of ever seeing her husband again, and supposed she must starve ; but preferring a watery grave to the slow torments of starvation, she resolved to go to the Salimonie and drown herself and little one. Taking the child, she went to the river, but her weakness compelled her to rest several times on the way. Probably the sight of the swollen, angry current startled her, for she sat down on a log when she reached the water's edge. To use her own language : " It was the thought that my husband was dead that so discouraged me, and I concluded to go half way across the foot log and throw myself into the stream." While there weeping she saw a person coming toward her on the opposite side of the river. Seeing he had a hat on, she knew it was a white man. After wading a long distance he reached the foot log and came across to her. She was so weak that her joy quite overcame her, and for a time she could not answer his question - "What is the matter?" At length she replied - " I'm starving !" It was her old friend John Gain, returning for some things he had left there. On learning her condition he went with her, and carried the child back to the cabin, and then went over to the JLndian village for food. He got eighteen pounds of flour and six of bacon, and started back, but by the time he reached the river it was night. "Wading to the foot log, he found the water had risen during his absence, until the sweeping current was above it. To attempt crossing would be certain death, and those whom he was trying to succor would also be lost. He stood pondering what to do until the increasing darkness placed him in a new danger. There were many deep holes along the bottoms, and knowing that the darkness would prevent him from avoiding them, he dared not return. Standing in three feet of water, a woman and her child starving for want of the flour and bacon he had on his back, while to go forward or backward would be almost certain death, he was in a sad dilemma. But there was no alternative - he must stand there ; so there he stood, sides deep in water, the night long ! Kever was tlie gray dawn of morning welcomed more gladly. He then made his way back to the town and inquired for a canoe, but there was none nearer than three miles up the stream. He gave a young Indian one dollar to bring it down, and charged him to make all possible haste. But the Indian took his leisure, and it was noon before he returned, and one o'clock when John Gain reached the cabin with the longneeded refreshments. He staid and saw the famished ones eat the first meal for nearly four days. Their gratification and thankfulness amply compensated him for his efibrts to relieve them. Then he went his way, and Mary Brooks was again alone. It had now been seventeen days since her husband's departure, and during that time the only human beings she had seen was the traveler before mentioned and John Gain. On the nineteenth day she was greatly rejoiced at the sight of her husband. He left his oxen at the Indian town, crossed the Salimonie by falling trees and wading. They then set about making a canoe, or "perogue," as they were then called, and after rolling it three-quarters of a mile, they got it into the stream and brought over their provisions. The Salimonie continued so high that it was nine days before the team could be brought home. Thus ended one of the severest trials early settlers are ever called to endure.

The only visitor Mary Brooks had while living on the prairie was Mrs. Hannah Lewallen, from Ridgeville, who came twenty-four miles on those occasions, which, as Fanny Fern says, "involve the increase of the census." At one time Miss

Barbary Quick came to work for them, walking Mr. Brooks twcnty-fonr miles in one day. This great distance from any settlement was at all times, especially in cases of sickness, a serious inconvenience. Once one of the children was very sick. All the curativ^e arts which a mother always knows seemed of no avail, aud they began to fear their wilderness flower was to be taken from them. John Brooks set out on foot for Fort Wayne, the nearest place where medicine could then be obtained. He performed the journey in two days and nights, and on his return found the child better, and it was soon well.

The second person born in the county, and the first who is yet living, was Allen Brooks, March 4th, 1824. He still lives in Jay, and is a respectable citizen. The next one was William Brooks, October 20th, 1825.

While Mr. Brooks was trading with the Indians he went to the Big Miami, in Ohio, for some things, and brought back a barrel of apples, which he took to Fort Wayne and sold at a very high price. Saving seven choice ones, he brought them home to his wife. Like a prudent woman, she saved the seeds and planted them. They came up nicely, and Mary was so proud of her little nursery that she visited it nearly every day. But of this and what came of it more hereafter.

Brooks' Creek around wliere they camped on the way out, and always said he would enter land there. The place was then called Cherry Grove. As they had lived on the prairie about two years and a half, and no settlers had come in, they determined to move to Cherry Grove, which would bring them within twelve miles of the Ridgeville settlement.

Early in the spring Mr. Brooks hired a man named Richard Swain for one jnonth. He was a traveler. The two men went to Cherry Grove, built two "half-faced" camps, and cleared a small spot of ground, where Mary Brooks' orchard now stands. "Half-faced" camps, as they were called, must be mentioned frequently in this work, and should be described. Generally, they were made thus : poles were cut, and built up at one end in the form of a log house, while the other end was left open, and the end of the poles placed between posts which were withed together. The whole M^as covered with clapboards. The open end was the highest, and answered the purpose of door, window and fireplace. This fashion was often changed in some particulars. Sometimes the back end was built against a large log, and poles only on the sides. Frequently the roof was only brush or bark. Hunters' camps were still less substantial. Four forked poles were driven into the ground, connected at the top by other poles laid across and covered with bark, while brush was pilej:l around the sides. Sometimes the better class of camps were supplied with bark floors. These were of course only intended to aflbrd a shelter for the family until a cabin could be erected.

The Brooks camp was covered with bark, and the sun soon curled it up until it was very little protection against rain. But Mr. Brooks soon built a cabin and moved his family into more comfortable quarters. He cleared three acres of ground, and planted it in corn that spring. He also resumed his usual employment of trading with the Indians, hunting and trapping. At one lime he took one hundred and eighteen raccoon skins to Fort Wayne and sold them. He always preferred teaming to hunting, and after the country became somewhat settled, that was his chief occupation.

These years passed slowly and drearily' for Mary Brooks. Her husband was absent most of the time ; she had no neighbor with whom to exchange visits, and the calls of Indians or travelers were few. It seemed to her as if she was caged in a wilderness, out of which she could not even see, much less escape. Much of the time she was sad and lonely. Her heart yearned for society and friends. And no wonder, for she lived there seven years loithout seeing any other house than hei' own! Think of that, village mothers, whose neighbors, within a few steps from your door, are counted by scores ! Think of that, farmers' wives, the music of whose ringing farm-bell is answered by the sweet chimes of half-a-dozen neighboring ones ! Seven years in the wilderness, without neighbors ! Though the Israelites were kept in the wilderness, they had their whole tribe of relatives for company.

But she had other trials. While living in this lonely condition, a man named George Porter and family, now a resident of Blackford County, moved through there and settled oa the prairie by the Godfrey Farm. This made no nearer neighbors, for it was twelve miles there ; but Porter and Brooks would sometimes go after provisions together. One time they went to Newport, Wayne County, on this errand. As was frequently the case, they were unexpectedly detained several days, and Mrs. Brooks, with five children, found she was entirely out of flour or meal. She had plenty of cheese, milk and sugar, and upon these they lived for three days. They suflfered much, especially the children, until Mr. Porter came along with some meal, which Mr. Brooks, who was a long distance behind, had sent forward. Mrs. Brooks tells of a similar occurrence at Ridge ville, while Mr. Lewallen was building the first mill at that place. He had a number of hands at work, av/i orot entirely out of Hour and meal. The hands were called together, and Mr. Lewallen stated the case to them. They were all so anxious to get the mill done, the}^ said they would work without bread while he went to mill. The}^ did so, and worked a whole week without bread ! They had, how^ever, plenty of meat, potatoes and squashes.

Mrs. Brooks had carefully taken up her apple tree nursery on the prairie, and set it out at Cherry Grove. There were thirty-three in all, and when they reached the proper size, she had them set out as an orchard. This pioneer orchard grew rapidly, and by the time the country was being generally settled, bore an abundance of fine fruit. To this da}'' thirty-one of those trees are living, still luxuriant and prolific. They are now extraordinarily large trees. The body of one, two feet above the ground, measures five feet and two inches in circumference, while the top spreads out to forty feet in diameter. The body of another is five feet in circumference, and the top forty-four feet in diameter. The writer measured them in December, 1861. At that time the joists in front of Mrs. Brooks' fireplace were hanging full of nice drying apples, while a basket of the beautiful fruit was sitting near to regale the visitor. That year, while most orchards failed, she had a bountiful supply. It is the oldest orchard in Jay

County, and for thirty years those mammoth apple trees have rewarded a hundred foki her early foresight and care. This is what came of the seven choice apples.

Ahoat the year 1833 a man named William Van Sickle and his family came through there from Muncie, on their way to Fort Wayne. As he was out of money, he concluded to stop a short time at Cherry Grove. Accordingly he built a cabin and staid there three years. This was the lirst white neighbor Mrs. Brooks had had for ten years ; but they were mere sojourners, and moved away again.

At last, after long years of waiting and hoping, settlers began to move in with their families, their industry and their civilization. The wilderness now began to look like a neighborhood, and Mary Brooks was greatly rejoiced. The first one who moved near them was Mr. Adam Zeigler, who settled within on6 mile and a half. Mrs. Brooks was so delighted to have a neighbor, she thought it was but a "few steps" to Mr. Zeigler's.

John Brooks died on the 4th of February 1844, of dropsy. Kev. George C. Whiteman preached the funeral sermon, and Mr. Timothy Stratton was Administrator of the estate. Thus departed the tirst man who became a permanent resident of Jay County.

house built by her husband, in the southeast corner of Knox Township.* She is the mother of eleven children. Three of lier sons were born March 4th, viz. : 1824, '27, '31. She is now in her sixty-fourth year. Her life has been rough and wild, and full of privations and suffering, yet she retains more of womanhood than could reasonably be expected. While giving the author these sketches, the painful recollections they brought up often caused her to weep. Let us honor her as the oldest inhabitant of Jay County still living within its limits.

Chaptek Iii Orman Perking The Hawkins Family And Their

Several years after Peter Studabaker left his cabin on the Wabash at New Corydon, Orman Perring and family came there, making the third family of settlers in the county. The exact date of his arrival is not known. Mrs. Studabaker gives it as about 1826. The "first cabin," however, was already gone. It had been pulled down, a few logs at a time, and made into rafts on which travelers crossed the river. Mr. Perring lived there until about 1837, when he moved down the Wabash. He lived chiefly hy hunting and keeping travelers who passed that way.

On the 8th day of March, 1829, two families moved into Jay County and settled on a beautiful bank at the forks of the Little Salimonie. The 3* men, Johtn J. Hawkins and George Tucker, had been out the fall before luokinij^ fur land, and concluding to settle on the Saliinouie,had built three half-faced camps, and now brought their families to them.

It was the first warm, beautiful spring day, and all nature seemed waking from its winter slumber. It was an appropriate time for the settlement of a pioneer family. The foundations of rugged Winter were breaking up, and mild, charming Spring was delightfully rei?uming her sway. So these families had broken away from the busy, selfish, conventional society of an oldsettled country, to enjoy the freedom and warmheartedness of the wilderness. They came from Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, and though the distance was but fifty miles, it took them eight days. Their camps were built against the side of an immense log, covered with bark, the cracks stuffed with moss, and the front end open for a fireplace. The "Recollections, by J. C. Hawkins," speaking of this, says : " That fire-place was ' as big as all out doors,' and it was easy to suit our fires to the changes of weather. If it was warm, we could use a bundle of sticks that a boy could carry; if it was cold, we could put on several cords at a time, and have plenty of room for more." Their " back-logs" and "fore-sticks" were drawn to the fireplace by the team.

And Their Ancestors

Mr. Hawkins and his family were delighted with the country ; but Mrs. Tucker was so much dissatisfied with it that she soon prevailed on her husband to move back to the old settlement, leaving their neighbors alone in the wilderness.

As the Hawkins family were so intimately connected with the early history of the country, a sketch of them will be in place here : The ancestors of John J. Hawkins emigrated from England early in the 18th century, and settled on the Shenandoah River, in the Colony of Yirgiuia. They were slaveholders, and spent their time in horse-racing and fox-hunting with hounds. They were descendants of Sir John Hawkins, of whom Blake's "History of Slavery and the Slave Trade" says:

" Sir John Hawkins was the first Englishman who transported slaves from Africa to America. This Was in 1562. His adventures are recorded by Hokluyt, a cotemporary historian. He sailed from England in October, 1562, for Sierra Leone, and in a short time obtained possession of 300 negroes, partly by the sword and partly by other means. He proceeded directly to Hispaniola, and exchanged his cargo for hides, ginger, sugar, &c., and arrived in England after an absence of eleven months. The voyage was very prosperous, and brought great profit to the adventurers."

ran away from home and engaged in the Revolutionary War. At the close of the war he married Christian Worthington, joined a company of emigrants, and settled in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and was engaged in the Indian Wars, and after General Wayne's treaty came to the Ohio Territory, was the first white man who moved across the Miami, and soon after settled where the town of Eaton, Ohio, now stands. When the war of 1812 broke out he became a colonel. A call was made for thirty-days' volunteers, to go to the relief of Fort Wayne, which was besieged by the Indians. He went, and when within about nine miles of the place he was, through a mistake, shot by one of his own men, which terminated his life in about one year afterward. His son, John J. Hawkins, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, on the 25th of September, 1789. He married Nancy Sellers, and at that time could neither read nor write ; but his wife became his instructor, and he soon possessed sufficient business qualifications to be elected Sherifi" of Preble County, in which capacity he served for two terms with popularity. In some speculations he lost his property, and sought a home in the wild lands of Indiana. In the war of 1812 he was a lieutenant, and had been a scout through the country bordering on the Mississinewa, and had visited it afterward on hunting excursions. His wife, Nancy

And Their Anoe8Tok8

Hawkins, was the daughter of Nathan Sellers, of Irish descent, and was born in the celebrated county of Bourbon, Kentucky, on the 4th of June, 1T89, to which place her father had moved from Pennsylvania.

Nathan Sellers served in the Revolutionary "War, and distinguished himself in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. While in Kentucky he became a magistrate, and finally Sherifi", which office he resigned because of the inhumanity of the laws he had to execute. A common mode of punishing negroes there was to nail their ears to posts, and then whip them ! Although offered one thousand dollars per year for the deputyship, he refused to have anything to do with the execution of such laws. He was strongly opposed to slavery, and seeing no prospect of its abolition in Kentucky, he moved to Ohio in 1809, and in 1826 died as he lived, a consistent Christian. Several of the ancestors of Nancy Hawkins served with Daniel Boone in the war with the Indians, and were victims to the tomahawk and scalping-knife.

There were six children in the Hawkins family when they reached Jay County, as follows : Samuel, the oldest, then aged eighteen, Nathan B., Benjamin "W., A valine (afterward the wife of James Simmons, of Eandolph County), Joseph C, and Caroline (now the wife of B. W. Clark).

As soon a~ they were settled in their camps, without waiting to build a cabin, Nancy Hawkins says, " every one old enough to pick a stick went to work to clear some land." They cleared and planted that spring about seven acres, and raised a fine crop of corn and garden vegetables. Though they had but three dollars in cash when they arrived, they managed to secure an abundance of the necessaries of life.

During the summer and next winter Mr. Hawkins spent much of his time in hunting. Killing game was one of the principal means of support for all the earliest settlers. It provided meat for their families, and the sale of skins and furs supplied them with money. In October Mr. Hawkins built a comfortable cabin, and moved into it, having lived in the camp fof eight months. On the last day of the year he went hunting, and killed three deer near together. " After dressing them, he hung the two largest without difficulty ; the third being a small one, he did not . ke the necessary pains to fix a suitable place, an while endeavoring to slide it up the side of a tree with a fork which proved to be too limber, it fell and wrenched liim severely in the chest. He was not alarmed at first, but hoping further success, he returned slowly homeward, and as he had become warm by his exertions, he took a violent cold, and his feelings were such as to convince him that his work was done."* From that time forward he declined. lie went to Eaton, and remained several months, receiving the best medical attention, but it was of no avail. His physicians told him his case was hopeless. Finding that his days were numbered, he was very anxious to return home and die in his cabin with his family. After his return an Indian called Doctor Duck exhausted all his Indian arts to cure him, but in vain. He died on the 15th of March, 1832. Thomas Shaylor and Joseph Williamson, a young man who lived with him, dug the grave, assisted by the orphan boys. The next day he was buried. Those present from this county were Thomas Shaylor, William Brockus and Philip Brown, and their wives, and Joseph Williamson. A few persons from Randolph County were also present. That was the first death and burial among the early residents in Jay County.

The grave was just in front of the cabin, overlooking the Salimonie from a high bank, but not now alone. Other graves have since been dug there to receive the mortal remains of loved ones of the family. One son of the pioneer, Judge Nathan B. Hawkins, a daughter, Avaline Simmons, and several grandchildren are sleeping by his side. George Bickel, one of the -earliest pio- neers, and others, are also buried there. The marble shown in the centre of the cut above marks the tomb of Mr. Hawkins. The modest inscription is :

Here Lies John J. Hawkins

The estate was settled up, and ISTancy Hawkins had just one hundred dollars' worth of property left her ; but this pittance, coupled with her own perseverance and fortitude, and the energy of her oldest son, Samuel, kept the family together, and they prospered. She entered the land by sending her son Samuel to Fort Wayne with a yoke of oxen of her own raising, which he sold and paid for the land. They passed through many hardships, however, until the country became pretty well settled. The boys cleared land, carried mail, hunted, and "showed land" to strangers. In these pursuits they obtained a comfortable livelihood. Some incidents which happened while the boys were carrying mail will illustrate their love of principle as well as one phase of life in Jay County in those early days.

The Fugitive Slaves

8AMUEL and B. W. Hawkins carried the mail by turns, from Winchester»to Fort Wayne, by way of Deerfield, Hawkin's Cabin, New Corydon and Thompson's Prairie. One evening in the month of February, 1834, Samuel reached his mother's cabin, on his return from Fort "Wayne, while a heavy, snow was falling. It was already about ten inches deep, and continued to fall so fast that objects could be seen only a few rods from the door. It was a dreary night out doors, but the family were enjoying themselves around a comfortable cabin fire. A loud rap was heard at the door, and, upon its being opened, eight negroes, six men and two women, presented themselves and begged for a night's lodging. Their request was granted. The men were all common looking negroes, except one. He was tall, broad-chested, very muscular and well proportioned. He possessed affable manners, and an intelligent countenance, and was the leader of the company. One of the women was about twenty years of age and very black ; the other was a mulatto, and the wife of one of the men. She was thinly clad and in feeble health. The canal through Fort Wayne was then being dug, and was attracting laborers from great distances. This company said they were going to work on this canal. The next morning they started on their way northward, and Samuel Hawkins went on to Winchester with his mail. There he learned that the negroes were fugitive slaves, and met their pursuers, who had been waiting for him. They asked if he had " met " the slaves. He replied that he had not. This was technically true, but was designed to deceive the man-hunters. There were then two routes from Fort Wayne to Winchester ; one by the way of the Hawkins' Cabin and New Cory don, the other by Brooks' and the Godfrey Farm. Supposing, from Samuel's reply, that the fugitives had not gone this road, the slave-holders took the other route, feeling certain that they were on the right track. The reward for the apprehension of the slaves was^ $1,000, and Samuel Hawkins, by simply giving the information in his possession, might have taken the money. It was a great temptation for one so young and needy, but he did not for a moment entertain a thought of betraying the fleeing company. He said if they would undertake that long, dangerous and woarysoma journey on foot and through the deep snow, to gain their " Liberty," he could not lind it in his heart to betray them into bondage. lie had the feelings of a man in his bosom, and acted accordingly. A¥hen the pursuers took the wrong track, he hastened to return, and overtook the fugitives at the Wabash where JNew Corydon now stands. The snow was so deep, and progress on foot so difficult, that they had only been able to reach that distance. Thinking to have some sport, he rode up hastily and cried out, "Run for your lives, your masters are after you !'' The feeble woman, who was several rods behind the others, uttered a wild shriek and sank down in a swoon. The men were all armed with flint-lock guns, and the first word spoken was by their leader, "Look to your priming, boys !" then turning to the mail boy, with a look of terrible determination, he said : " Young man, our blood may be poured out like water, but no7ie of us will ever he taken P'' Such firmness and daring Samuel Hawkins never before saw depicted in a human countenance, and he believed it was well for their pursuers that they were never overtaken. He hastily corrected his deception and told them the facts. Dismounting from his horse, the fallen woman was placed upon the saddle, and he aided her as far as his time would permit, and, giving them directions, he returned to his route and never heard of them afterward. Perhaps they were George and his company, described by Mrs. Stowe in " Uncle Tom's Cabin."

In the fall of 1833, while he was carrying the mail, four negroes called at his mother's ta stay all night. They were large, fine appearing, well dressed young men, carrying gold watches, and had plenty of money. They stated that they were from Richmond, and were going to Fort Wayne to work on the canal. They told their story so plausibly that it was believed. The next morning, Benjamin set out on horseback for Fort "Wayne, with the mail, and the negroes started also, traveling leisurely on foot. Upon reaching Fort Wayne, the landlord informed the mail boy that a gentleman was there, waiting to see him. He was taken to the room and introduced to Dr. Campbell, of Kentucky, owner of the celebrated Warm Springs. Hearing that the boy's name was Hawkins, the Dr. entered into a very friendiy chat, and asked many questions about the family, and soon learned that John J. Hawkins was a cousin of his. Thus endeavoring to gain the confidence of the boy, he said that he was in search of four runaway slaves. He described their appearance so accurately that Benjamin knew they were the ones who had stopped at his home. He, however, said nothing. The Doctor went on to tell how ungrateful the negroes had been ; that they were his musicians for the Springs, and that only during the watering season did he ask them to do anything, and then only to play for visitors ; that all the rest of the year they were allowed to go and do as they pleased ; that they went to Louisville and other cities, and gave concerts, receiving the proceeds themselves, and that they were better dressed than their master. "ISTow,^' said he, " I am ahead of them ; they left Eichraond for this place and are not here yet. They are coming on either the Quaker or Godfrey Trace, and if you will keep on the lookout on the way back, you will likely meet them, and if you will secure them and send me word I will pay you 8800 reward." The doctor kept his cousin mail-boy with him in his room that night, and treated him very kindly. On his return the next day Benjamin thought the matter over thoroughly ; he was poor and the money would be a great help to him and his mother's family, besides, Dr. Campbell was his cousin, and had been a special friend of his father, and he need not do anything but send the Doctor word. But then, on the other hand, if he accepted the money his conscience would not be clear. Should lie take $800 for sending four men into life-long servitude ? The temptation was very great, but this thought settled him in the determination not to do an act which would afterward make him unhappy. Having decided to do right, and supposing he would soon meet the fugitives, he went cheerfully forward through the longwoods, whistling a favorite tune. He met them at Yellow Creek, in Adams County, and told them they were in the wrong road. They inquired why. He told them they were runaway slaves and that their master was at Fort Wayne ready to take them when they arrived. They boldly denied being slaves, but he told them where they came from and who was their master, and they were forced to acknowledge the truth. He then said he did not believe slavery was right, that he hoped they would escape, and that if they would turn back a few miles he would put them upon a road by which they could go around Foi't "Wayne. They were deeply cast down and much alarmed, and fearful that he was trying to betray them into a trap. But thej finally took his advice, and went back with him, walking very rapidly, bade their rescuer farewell and took the other road.

Bird Hawkins, from Eaton, Ohio, visited liim, and Joseph C. Hawkins was also at his house. This Bird Hawkins was a very wealthy, aristocratic pro-slavery man, and, finding that J. C. Hawkins was a free-soiler, he undertook to show his erring nephew the foolishness of such a belief. Joseph was always ready for an argument, and so they went into a debate. Finding that he w\as not convincing his young relative of the divinity or christianizing influence of slavery, Mr. Hawkins said he w^ould give an instance which would show beyond question the wickedness of "abolitionism." He then related as follows :

" Last summer I spent the watering season at Dr. Campbell's Springs, in Kentucky, and he told me of a great loss he had sustained. You know he is our cousin and a very nice man. He had four well-trained musicians whom he kept in the highest style of luxury and ease. They played for company during the watering season, and had all the rest of the year to travel over the state and make large sums of money for themselves. They were better clothed than their master, and enjoyed all the pleasures the country afforded. But while they were giving concerts in Louisville, they crossed the Ohio river and escaped into Canada. He expended much money in hunting for them, and finally got a letter from them saying they had landed safely, had joined the king's army, and that they would never have left him except that at his death thej would have been sold. The Doctor immediately set out for Canada, and tried by every means in his power to induce them to return. He offered to make out their free papers in advance, and then pay them a high price if they would return to the Springs. He was immediately arrested and thrown into jail, charged with trying to induce the king's soldiers to desert, the punishment for which was death. He sent to Kentucky for a lawyer, and after much trouble and an expense of $1,000, he was released from prison and allowed to return home. ]^ow yon see how kind Dr. Campbell was to his slaves, and how outrageously they treated him."

Joseph replied that the case was an unanswerable argument for his side of the question ; that it showed how strong was the love of freedom in the human soul, if these slaves would prefer to leave all their luxurious living and endure the hardships of a soldier's life, tor its sake.

During the relation of the story, E. W. Hawkins was sitting by, smothering a hearty laugh, for it was the first he had heard of the slaves since he had left them in the woods, while neither Bird nor Joseph knew of the part he had borne in the transaction.

Late in January, 1832, William Simmons, from Henry County, Indiana, came to visit liis brotherin-law, Thomas Shaylor, who lived on the Salimonie, three miles above Portland. The weather had been very stormy for several days, and the snow lay upon the ground ten or twelve inches deep. The bushes and limbs of the trees were bowed by the weight of snow that hung upon them. But a tierce west wind came up, scattered the snow, and the weather became extremely cold. Mr. Simmons called at the cabin of John J. Hawkins, who was then an invalid, and inquired the way to Mr. Shaylor's, saying that he would return that way the next day. But the next day

Williaim Simmons

"passed, and lie did not come ; and the Hawkins family were uneasy lest their stranger friend had got lost and perhaps frozen. On the morning of the third day, Mr. Shaylor called at Mr. Hawkins', inquiring for the lost man. He stated that Simmons had gone hunting, but had now been absent two days and nights. All were much alarmed, for in all probability he had become bewildered and lost. In the deep snow and terrible cold he would perish. Shaylor, who had been drinking for several days with some boon companions from the Mississinewa, inquired of Mr. Hawkins what should be done. The " Eecollections" by J. C. Hawkins on this point says: " Father told him that what they decided to do must be done at once, for if the man was lost he "was exposed to peril in various ways ; - he might have lost his flint or wet his powder, or become bewildered, like ' Limber Jim,' or it was possible that the wolves might have attacked him. ' Sam,' said he, addressing the eldest son, 'you see how it is. Shaylor and those other men are not able to stand much so soon after their spree ; it therefore remains for you and Edward Simmons to do what is to be done. What do you say to it?' His answer was, ' I'll make the trial.' 'Well, then,' father added, 'get ready; you have no time to lose. You need no gun ; take my tomahawk ; - your knife is good ; carry several flints and the best punk ; set lire occasionally to dry trees, so that if you liud him you can carry him to the nearest, thereby you will save time. If he is benumbed and drowsy, don't bring him too close to the lire, but rub him and make him take exercise. If his feet are much frozen, cut a hole in the ice and put them in, or rub them with snow. Don't let him eat too much at once. And now remember your mother will not expect to see you until you can bring tidings of the lost man !' "

Thus explicitly directed and equij^ped, the two young men hastily entered the snowy woods. Shaylor and his companions followed a short dis. tance, but soon turned back. After traveling three or four miles the young men came to his track ; following this a short distance, they found he had been crossing his own path, and must be completely bewildered. About 11 o'clock they found him. He was in a terrible condition. He was slowly dragging himself along, both his feet being badly frozen and burned. He would put his stick forward and then draw himself up to it. In this way the poor man was endeavoring to save his life. He was so exhausted by hunger, exposure and suffering that, had not help reached him, he would soon have lain down and perished. The sight of the young men greatly rejoiced him, foi' he hoped to be restored to his family. He was found on the knoll where Liber College now stands, between the college building and the delightful Spring on the bank of the Little Salimonie. He immediately asked for something to eat, and the rescuers happening to have an ear -of corn with them, parched it for him.

After hunting imtil it was time to return, he had gone down Butternut to the Salimonie, intending to take up stream to the mouth of the Little Salimonie, and then up that to Shaylor's. The mouth of the Little Salimonie is very narrow - like a small run - and coming to this, he thought it could not be the place, and passed on up the Big Salimonie, one or two miles above Portland. Finding that he had missed the way, he returned, and when he reached the little prairie opposite where Thomas Jones now lives, he was too much exhausted to proceed further. lie then tried to strike fire, but his flint entirely failed. He soon found his feet were freezing. He cleared away the snow, and by dancing around managed to keep awake all night. Early the next morning he again tried his flint, and the flrst stroke made fire. In thawing his shoes he burned his frozen feet terribly, and could not again put on his shoes. He then made a pair of mocassins from the skin of a wolf he had killed the day before. He left his gun, and, with the help of a staff, dragged himself along ; found the mouth of the Little Salimonie, and was going up the stream when found by the young men. He was immediately taken to his home, where one leg and the toes and heel of the other were amputated. He lived for many years, and afterward revisited the county.