Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 21: Ixteresting Miscellan'y Connecteh with the Eari.y, 1897

Chapter 21: Ixteresting Miscellan'y Connecteh with the Eari.y

Before the countrv became thickh' settled, and \vhen the people in Madison county lived in the woods hewing from the forests their homes and future habitations, one of the greatest menaces to the happiness of the pioneer and his flocks were the \volves, which were both numerous and ravenous. They roamed at will over the country and committed many depredations in the way of killing sheep and yoimg hogs, and were at times dreaded by the farmer, when he cluinced to meet one alone. So bad did they become that it was a necessity for them to be dealt with by those in power whose duty it was to protect the peace and dignity of the State, and to preserve the happiness of the inhabitants thereof. At the March term 1844, of the Board of Commissioners the}' made the following unique order in relation to his wolfship, and openlv declared war against him :

"Upon petition of many of the good and worth}' citi/.ens of !Madison county, be it resolved ; That for the utter contempt and long iiatred which we have had towards that pernicious animal that prowls around our farms and kills our sheep, and being dulv impressed that the good of the countv requires that a reward should be given for the eradication of the same, we therefore offer a reward of one dollar for every wolf scalp that may be killed in this county and properly proven for the term of one vear from this date."'

This resolution it is supposed had the effect to put all the trappers and hunters on the war path at once, as at subsequent sessions of the Board many allowances were made for scalps produced. It is told by one old timer that an indi\idual who then lived in the county thought it easier to raise wolves than to spend his time and endanger his life hunting them, so he provided himself with a pair of these animals and bred them and sold the scalps to the Commissioners. This he car-

Willis Odem, who is still remembered bv rnanv of the oldtimers of Anderson township, did considerable business in the way of selling wolf scalps to tax payers while the above order was in effect. About the time taxes were due. Willis would come to Anderson with a basket on his arm filled with wolf scalps which he would dispose of to tax pavers at a discount. thereby realizing something for himself as well as the taxpayer. During tax-paying time he was a familiar figure about the court house until the wolvea in the county iiad disappeared.

At the September session, 1889, the Commissioners made the following orders in relation to the capture of John Flinn for the crime of murder, and conveying him to Indianapolis :

" Ordered that Alfred Makepeace, constable of Anderson township, be allowed three dollars and fifty cents for his services in taking John Fliun on charge of murder."

" Ordered that G. W. Remiker and W. B. Adams be allowed each the sum of one dollar and fiftv cents for their services in assisting in taking John Flinn."

" Ordered that Win. Myers be allowed the sum of eighteen dollars and thirty-one cents for money paid as stage agent for the convej'ance of John Flinn and his guard bv stage to Indianapolis." ,

" Ordered that Joseph Howard and John Lewark each be allowed the sum of two dollars and eighty-seven cents for removing John Flinn to Indianapolis, Indiana."

Ordered that John Rogers, jailor of Henry county, be allowed two hundred dollars foy keeping, boarding, washing and making tires in the said jail for John Flinn and other prisoners of Madison count v.'

Madison county at that time did not have a jail sufliciently secure in which to incarcerate criminals guilty of inijiortant violation.s of the laws.

This occurrence took place so long ago that it has almost faded from the recollection of the oldest living inhabitants. There is none who can give a correct account of who it was that Flinn killed.

for the murder of :i man of the name of Perrine, a contractor on the canal, employed in the construction of the branch that extended west of Anderson. Perrine mysteriously disappeared and his body was afterwards found along the river not far from where the farm of Joseph Burke is situated, on what is now known as the Perkinsxille pike.

Augustus M. AVdIiams corroborates Mr. Hughel, and says that Flinn killed Perrine by drowning him : by jumping on him and bearing him down in the water in White river and leaving his body, which afterward (loated down to the place where it was discovered.

Mr. Williams says that Perrine was also a contractor on the canal, and there was a misunderstanding existing between the two men which led to the crime. He also says that Flinn was tried at Newcastle on change of venue, for the crime. The allotment on the canal on which Flinn was engaged at the lime was near what is known as the Wise farm between Perkinsville and Hamilton. Dr. John Darr, one of the early physicians of Newcastle, was made an allowance for medical aid to Flinn.

Ttie First Nuhserv In Madison Coi'Ntv

The lirst nursery in the county was established in Anderson by Benjamin Collins in 1858 on the ground l^ing between the Big Four railroad and Thirteenth street, on what is now south Jackson street.

He operated this for several years and sold it to .Silas Hughel, his brother-in-law, who has continued in the business since on Ohio avenue, and on his farm northeast of the city.

Resicns Thf. Aiditor'S Oi-Fice

It is an old saving that "" a public officer seldom dies and never resigns.'" This, like all rules, has its exceptions. Joseph Howard, who was Auditor of Madison comity back in the '4lis resigned on the 8d of .September, 1844.

He had been elected to fill that place by the people and liad served his time nearly half out when, owing to a misunderstanding with Jesse Forkner, one of the county commissioners, about a claim against the county for services, he, in a passion, resigned. Howard was a Democrat, and Forkner was a Whig. There was not the best of feeh'ng existing between them and it took but little to bring about the state of affairs that led to the result in this instance.

To whom these presents mav come, greeting: Know ye, that I, Joseph Ilowartl. have tiiis day resigned my office as Auditor of Madison county. Given under mv hand this 3d day of September, 1844. Joseimi IIowaku."'

The resignation was promptK' accepted and on the saaie day R. N. Williams was appointed his successor, and filled out Howard's unexpired term. Mr. Howard did not relinciui^h his hold on the people, but was afterward elected county Treasurer, and also served as Sheriff of the county. lie was a prominent and influential politician, and a prosperous business man in Anderson for many years. He was tlie father of T. .\. Howard, so well known in this county, and also of Mrs. G. D. Searle. now of Chicago.

Mr. Howard died a few years ago universally esteemed byall who knew him. His widow now lives in Los Angeles, CaK ^-V daughter also lives in Richmond, Ind., the wife of ex-mayor Perry Freeman, of that city.

Kept Theik Offices In A Shoe Shoi'

Away back in the days of coon skins and hard cider the county of Madison was not the best fixed county in the State in regard to public buildings. The offices were kept in private buildings away from the court house, and it secnSs that the public held such a grip on the temple of justice that it was used for nearly every thing besides what it was intended for, and the County Commissioners had much trouble in restricting the use of it.

At the September session, 1S44. the board made the following order : The board of commissioners have rented from John Galimore, the house now occupied as a shoe shop, for the term of one year, ordered that the clerk and auditor remo\ e their respective offices to said building, and that the court house be ' procured ' by W. H. Allen, sheriff, to be cleaned out and put in good repair, and that the sheriff" be required to lock the same and keep it closed, excepting upon public occasions."

'- Resolved by the board that S. 11. Brattain be allowed to occupv the northwest room up stairs in the court house for one year, upon condition that he will keep the same in repair, and he is hereb}' autliorized to prohibit the holdin<rof religious meetings or schools of any kind in the court house for the present year, prox'ided, however, that tra\eling preachers may be allowed to preach in sail! building."

The lirst mone}' appropriated by Madison countv for the purpose of encouraging agriculture was ordered by the Board of Commissioners on the 7th of March, 1837, as recorded in the minutes of said court, as follows :

" Ordered by the board, that the sum of twenty-five dollars of the county funds he, and the same is hereby appropriated to the agricultural society of said count\'. which sum shall be audited by the clerk, and paid by the county treasurer to the president of said society."

Isaac T. Sharp, who was a brother of Tovvnsend Sharp, the father of Joseph and Isaac C Sharp, and Mrs. James Wellington, of Anderson, mention of whom is elsewhere made, was for a short time recorder of deeds of Madison county, by appointment. The order of the County Commissioners made in the matter appears in their September session, 18a<S, as follows :

'- Ordered that Isaac T. Sharp be, and he is hereby appointed recoriler of Madison count}-, until the 25th day of October next, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Robert X. Williams.""

Among the many who have served in the capacity of associate justice of the Madison circuit court, none were more prominent than judges Uriah \'an Pelt and William Prigg. They were members of the court in the latter davs of its existence, when the coinitv had assumed the proportions of a large and cultured population ; when litigation was more of

:in important nature than when the country was new and undevelopL'd, when any one who could muster the requisite number of votes to be elected was tiiought to be competent to till tiiis position. Tiiese two gentlemen filled llieir phices on the bench with dignity, and ^vith lionor to tliemselves and their constituency. The Board of Commissioners made the following allowance at the September session, 1844. to tliese two judges for tlieir services, at the close of the term of C(3urt :

" Ordered, that L'riah \'an Pelt and William Prigg be each alloweii the >-vnn of three dollars and a half per tlay, for eleven days' services as associate judges of the circuit court."

Judge \'an Pelt wis the father of Samuel D. \'an Pelt and Capt. Frank Van Pelt, and also of Mrs. Da\id E. Croan, all well known in this county. Judge Prigg enjoyed a large acciua'utance in the southern part of tlie county, and has yet many friends and relatives living in the community.

The associate justice's office was done away with under the Constitution of 1.S52, since wliich time one judge presides at the sittings of the court.

Judges Prigg and Van Pelt were warm personal friends during their incumbency in office. Judge Prigg lived quite a distance from Anderson, and was always a guest at the Van Pelt home during the sittings of the court.

In early times, when neighbors were miles apart and hel]i was scarce, it was a job of no small importance to take care of the crops in the fall of the year after they had been raised.

In order to prepare the corn for market after it had been gathered from the fields the neighbors for several miles around would gather at tlie home of a friend and assist him in shucking his corn, which he had previously gathered from the stalks by pulling the ears off in the husk. These gatherings were called '- husking bees.'"

Those who attended were inviteil by the one who needeil the assistance, and to go to one of these ^vithout an invitation was a breach of eti(|uette of which no one could afford to Ije guilty.

The participants generally chose sides under the leadership of a captain on either side, and the winners made a great ado over a victory won in the contest.

The first red ear husked by a lady was laid aside until a gentleman in the party found one ; then the lady had to undergo the ordeal of being kissed by the gentleman. This was sometimes a pleasant task, especially if the two happened to be loyers. On the contrary, if the opposite was the case, it was not so well relished ; Ijut it was the heigiit of impoliteness not to comply with the established custom.

The most of the corn husking was done in the barn by the young people, while the old folks were preparing a sumptuous meal at the cabin. A good article of whisky was generally on hand, and the party partook of a sufficient amount to become hilarious, but not drunk, although there was always some one in such a crowd, as there would be in the present time, who would become tipsy.

After the husking was oyer the crowd would repair to the house and partake of what would now be termed a banquet, spread by the ladies of the neighborhood, and such a feast as it was is too gootl to think about. Country-cureil liam, home-made molasses, lye homin)*, honey dripping from the comb, pumpkin pie and sweet milk. Johnny cake, corndodger, yenison, hard cider and red apples, home-made sausage, and in fact eyerything that the g-jod old mothers could think of to prepare for such an occasion.

Supper oyer, the tables were cleared away, and the " country fiddler," who was inyariably on hand, began to tune up, and the merry dance set in and was kept up till daylight next morning.

We haye said enough here to put the old-timer's head to whirling as he reads these pages and wanders back in his imagination to the time when he an.xiously hustled to get the red ear when he saw the apple of his eye husk out the first one of the eyeifing.

People may now be more polished in manners and liye on a higher plane, but certainly are not better, not purer or more generous than they of the gooil old days of the husking bee.

Tuk Days Of The Stage Coach

The present generation ^vho enjov the hixur\' of beingtransported to and from different parts of the country behind the swift, snorting steam horse, snugly seated in a parlor car, know but little about the vexations of the early mode of travel in a stage coach, and in tact there are many now living in Madison county who never saw a stage coach. Fiftv jears ago this was the only wav of tra\eling to and from distant points.

The leading State roads that traversed the country were stage routes, and the United States mails were carried over them, generally bv contract with the owners of the stage line, much the same as the railways now transport the mails.

The arrival and departure of the stage coach at the towns and villages along the routes was a thing looked to with more anxiety than the witnessing of a circus parade at the present time.

The last stage coach that ever ran In Madison county was owned by William G. Pittsford, and made its last appearance in Anderson in 1S(')7. Mr. Pittsford was then the owner of the line from Anderson to Marion via Alexandria and Jonesboro. He had a contract with the government to carry the mails, and also with the American Express company to transport their freight between these places and made a trip each way everv alternate day. He also had the contract for the same service as far north as Wabash, but sublet it from Marion north to other parties. This stage line was owned prior to the war by Oliver H. P. Carey, of jVIarion, who volunteered his services at the breaking out of the rebellion, and became Lieutenant Colonel of the Thirty-sixth Indiana regiment of volunteers, under Col. William (jrose of Newcastle, who afterwards became a general in the armj-.

Among many who once were drivers on this line were A. J. Hunt, R. J. Hunt, William McAtee, Samuel Hunt and Marshall Bonner. William McAtee drove the last stage coach into Anderson in 1807. The building of a railroad through Marion from east to west gave them an outlet for travel to Indianapolis and other places, and cut off the mail contract and passenger travel to such an extent that it was no longer profitable and the stagecoach became a thing of the past, and gave way to a hack of small dimensions, which did service between .\nderson and Jonesboro, until the building of the C. \\'. & M. railroad in 1876, when (he line was discontinued. The last owner of the property was Mr. Walker Winslow of Jonesboro.

The old stage line transported the first company of soldiers from Marion that went into the service from that place, to Anderson, where they took passage on the railroad for Indianapolis, where they went into camp.

For many years the post office, at the corner of Eighth and Meridian streets, in Anderson, was where the stage " hauled " up when it arrived, invariably being greeted by a large crowd of anxious people, waiting to see who was on board. The Myers House was for years the popular hotel with the traveling public, and was patronized by the passengers of the stage line. It was kept by William Myers, mention of whom is elsewhere made. Later the Ross House and the Burke Allen House were headquarters for the stage traveling public. Both have given way to more pretentious hotels, but the hospitality of "these old time hostleries will never be surpassed; thev were the homes of the traveler in every sense of the Nvord.

Summitville, Alexandria and Prosperity were all stopping places in this county on the line, and when the blast of the stage driver's bugle sounded giving warning of the coming of that important vehicle of travel and commerce, the population of these villages turned out en masse to witness its arrival and departure.

In the early spring months it was almost impossible to travel over a portion of the route, and in some instances it became necessary to abandon the stage coach for days at a time and traverse the route with a cart with two horses hitched to it to carry the mails, as they had to go through, at all all hazards.

Mr. Pittsford relates that in tiie spring of 18()5, it was so muddy that he drove over the entire route with the front wheels of a wagon on which was placed a queensware crate which served as a receptacle for mail and express matter, and that the only passenger he hauled in the period of three weeks was a Alethodist minister who came to Anderson to attend conference.

tarj' renown h;ive been passengers on this stage line. It was the only outlet north for man)- years, and was patronized by all, high and low.

A stage driver was one of the envied of idl envious people, and was generally foremost of all in the social world. Many a boy while plowing corn along the highwav where the stage coach passed has looked upon the driver and wished for the day to conie when he could lea\e the farm and become a stage driver.

Air. Pittsford's first experience as a stage driver was at Stockton. California, where he was in the employ of a company driving across the plains and mountain ranges in an eai ly dav.

The hand of progress has made the stage coach a thing only in history, the locomoti\e has driven it out of existence. What disposition electricity will make of the locomotive is left for the future to unfold.

Until the year 1842 no effort was made to bridge White river so that the people could pass and repass from north to south through the county during times of high water, which occurred much oftener in the early times than at present, on account of the countrv not being drained, and the timbered lands being covered with surface water most of the jear, especially in the early spring. Almost everv season we had what was termed the " January thaw," when the snows began to melt in the latter part of that month and the first part of Februarj-, which caused the little streams all over the country to be much swollen, and their waters emptying into White river caused it to become impassable during those periods. A ferry boat was for many years maintained at Anderson upon which the populace crossed in going to and from market to sell their produce. At the March session of the Board of Commissioners, 1842, a move was put on foot to place a bridge across the river. The Board made the following order appropriating money for that purpose.

"Ordered, that ^\)\)) of the B per cent, fund belonging to Madison county be appropriated to the constructing and building of a bridge across White river where the Fort Wayne and Andersontown road crosses the same, or as near as a good situation can be had, and William Sparks, Willis (J. Atherton, Paschal Baker, John Renshaw and William

Young are hereby appointed superintendents of said bridge, and they are empowered to raise funds by subscriptions, and they shall make report to this board."

Thus the matter rested until at the December session, 1S42, when the superintendents aforesaid came into open court and informed the Board of Commissioners that they had failed to agree as to the proper place to locate the bridge, and resigned their places.

" Ordered, that the board of commissioners now take the responsibility upon themselves, and now proceed to locate the bridge at, or near, the lime kiln, below the termination of the bluff at the northeast corner of the plot of Andersontown."

The Board afterward let the contract to Henry and Hugh Rogers to build the structure, which was evidentlj' not completed for c|uite a while, as no final settlement was made for the work until the September session, 184(), when thev were paid $300 as the balance due them on their contract, all of which appears of record. At the same session that the appropriation was made for this bridge, a similar one was made for the purpose of the erection of a bridge across Fall creek, at Pendleton.

The bridge at Anderson was washed away during the liigh water season in January, 1847, an account of which is elsewhere given. The pier on the west side of the river, upon which this bridge stood, is still intact, and is situated not far from tiie foot of Sixth street, close to the Norton brewer^'. It has served for half a century as a place from which the boys who resort to the " old swimmin' hole,"" dive into the ri\er. There is not an " old " boy in Anderson scarcely, who has not plunged into the clear and beautiful waters from this pier. There are men in Madison count}' who are now grav-headed, who have in their boyhood daj-s dived into the river from this place.

After the bridge was washed away a ferry boat was again established there, and for many years did service, in fact, until the year IHHS, when the covered bridge that stood where the present iron structure now stands, near the cemetery, was built. The covered bridge was built b}- an appropriation by the County Commissioneis together with a fund raised by popular subscription. Many who subscribed to the fund gave their notes and never paid them, and tor veais they were carried in the assets of the county treasury, until finally they were certified off' as bad debts, and were filed away in the Auditor's office as dim reminders of the loner ago.

The ferrv boat was owned at different times bv many of liic prominent citizens of the county, it being considered a good piece of property. Joshua Shinkle, one of the oldest living inhabitants of Madison county, at one time operated it, the lion. Wesley Dunham, ex-mayor of Anderson, and Gerry T. Hoover, well known to all of the older residents, each had their time as ferr3man.

It is related that on one occasion when a circus and menagerie was being taken across the river on the ferry boat, an elephant was brought to the water's edge, and urged to step on the boat, when he flatly refused, and bioke away from his keeper and swam across ; stopping on the opposite shore he filled his trunk full of dirty water and gave the hundreds of bvstanders a thorough soaking, spoiling many a new gown and Sunday hat.

This ferry freighted across the river all the hogs and cattle that came to the Anderson market for several years, the waters were high. The covered bridge that took the place of the ferry in IS(j8, was swept away in 1884. and in the same year the Countv Commissioners let the contract to McCormick & Sweeney, who were then engaged in building the court house, for the construction of the masonry, and to the Morrison Bridge company for the iron work.

The covered bridge was a place dreaded bv many pedestrians, in making their wav through its long, narrow passage in the night time, and many blood-curdling tales were told tibout attempts at robberv. But many of them were purely imaginary. It being so close to the cemeterv it was an easy matter for the superstitious to work them.selves up to believe that robbers, ghosts and goblins made their haunts in its dark recesses.

Away back in early times in Madison county to be a graduate from an institution of learning, was an honor enjoyed b}' the precious few. One who enjoyed this distinction was looked up to by the community with eyes full of envv, and was the talk of the neighborhood, by old and young. The first to be accorded this piivilege were Enoch M. Jackson and Augustus M. Williams, the former the son of the late Andrew Jack- son, and the latter the son of Robert X. ^\'illiams. Ijoth of whom were prominent for many j'ears in Madison countv, both socially and politically. Mr. Enoch M. Jackson was the first to attend Bloomington college from this county, having entered that institution in 1845.

In the following year Mr. .Vugustus M. Williams was appointed as a student there by the board of commissioners at their June session, 18415. The laws governing the State educational institutions provide that each coimtv shall have two students annually appointed whose tuition should be free.

The order appointing Mr. Williams is recorded as follows : " The Board now selects Augustus M. Williams as a student in the Indiana University and grants to him the benefits of said college in as full and ample a manner as the laws no\v in force empowers them to do."

Both of these gentlemen graduated from Bloomington with high honors. Mr. Jackson has several years since deceased. He is spoken of in another place in this volume.

Mr. Williams is yet living in Anderson enjoying his old days in a cottage of his own, where all is happiness and contentment. He not ouly enjoys the honor of being one of the first graduates of the county, but he has the distinction of being the first white male child born in Anderson, where he has resided all his life. It is said that he was born in the hut in which the Indian chief Anderson had formerly resided, and whose name the city bears.

He appeared before the c!erk ol the Madison circuit court and made his application in wriiing. and after subscribing to the following oath, was granted his first papers :

"I, Thomas Carlton, do solemnly swear tlial I will -upport the constitution of thel'nited Stales, and the constitution of the State of Indiana, and forever renounce all allegiance and fidelitv to every forcin-ii prince, potentate, state or sovereignty and especial 1\- to the C^iieen of (jreat Britain, so help me God ."'

On the ].")th of Autj;iist. ISld. Mr. Carlton appeared before the judge of the circuit couit and upon making proof of his good citizenship and obedience to the laws of his adopted country, was in open court made a full citizen of the L^nited States of America, anil went on record as being the first foreign citizen to be naturalized in this county. Since that tiiue thousands who have left their native land to seek a home in the land of the free, have gone through the form of being transformed into children by adoption, of the best government on earth.

A War Memouv

Thomas N. Stilhvell by the officers of the One Hundred and Thirtieth and One Hundred and Thirty-first regiments, Indiana Volunteers, which took place in camp at Kokomo where the Colonel was organizing troops for the service. The presentation speech was made by the late Hon. Edgar Henderson, a former resident of Anderson, who was at that time a captain in the army, having volunteered from Adams county. From Captain Henderson's address, we quote the followingextracts : "Colonel Stilwell, the connection which for a time has so pleasantly existed between us, being soon to be severed, permit me on behalf of the officers and men of the One Hundred and Thirtieth and One Hundred and Thirty-first regiments, as a slight token of the esteem and respect entertained by them for you as an officer and man, to present to vou this watch and chain. May the shield engraved thereon ever prove a true symbol of your safety from the assaults of vour foes and from the enemies of our country. May tlie chain ever svmbolize the chain of friendship and affection which binds our hearts together, and may its links grow brighter and brighter as time presses on and be as pure and untarnished as the metal of which it is made, and mav its stars and field of blue ever remain so.

"We go to the tented liekl, the field of strife and blood, doubtless some of us to our death, never to return, we trust, until this most causeless conspiracy, this most atrocious rebellion against the best government on earth, ag;iinst the highest, purest and holiest of ho[)es of humanitv, shall have been crushed into ungalherable atoms. We are an.xious that \oii should go with us, but understanding and knowing that voiir business relations are such that you cannot, it would be worse than puerile and heartless to indulge in anv unavailing requests. You will soon retire to tlie walks of private life, not always on a velvety lawn, shaven with a scvthe and leveled with a roller, but often times hedged with thorns, and beset with sharp and rugged corners.""

To this the Colonel responded with much feeling as follows : " Officers and soldiers of the Eleventli Congressional District of fndiana : To say that I appreciate the magnificent present purchased, and just now presented by you through Captain Henderson, in the eloquent words to which vou have listened, does not do justice to my heart. \'ahiable as it is; beautiful as the experienced hand of art could make it, it is not for its intrinsic worth or beauty that I pri/.e it. The remembrance of the links of friendship that unite us, and the kindly sentiments on vour part that suggested its purchase, make me profoundly thankful and aft'ect me with feelings far more agreeable than any that could be possibly expected by the value of the gold and diamonds. I shall treasure the present through all the days to come. It shall remain an heirloom in mv family. I shall keep it as a remembrance of this hour ; one of the most agrecalile in my life. Soldiers, you have nobly responded to the call of your country. The Eleventh Congressional District stands to-day in the tront ranks ot honor in Indiana, and Indiana stands out prominently as the foremost State in everytliing that looks to the crushing of this ungodly rebellion. There are many soliliers among you with whom I have formed a pleasant and agreeable acquaintance, and I know you are ready to sacrifice your lives, if necessary, for the Union, the constitution, and the enforcement of the laws. If I cannot go, you shall have a man more competent than I am to command you, an officer of experience, who has seen active service, and can lead vou through every conflict.

I remember when a banner was presented liy me to the gallant Thirty-fourth regiment, with which I was then connected. Under the folds of that ilag whose inspiration was onward, the members of that gallant regiment fought, and would not forsake it until it should wave over all the land. That banner has returned to this State, torn, pierced with the shot of the enem)', its original beauty gone, but beautiful still, with the stars and stripes thereon, and the remembrance of the conflicts through which it has passed. The brave boys of that regiment have nobly adhered to their oaths. As Indianians

"we liave a glorious part in tlie history ot" the war; no soldiers stand higher than do those of this State. Again, soldiers, accept my heartfelt thanks for your handsome and valuable present.'"

Shortly after this presentation, Colonel Stihvell returned to his home where he engaged in private business, although alive to the interests of the soldiers in the field. In the fall of that year he was nominated by the Republicans of the Eleventh Indiana district, and elected as a member of Congress against the Hon. J. F. McDowell, of Marion, Indiana, an account of which is given in another part of this book.

Captain Henderson, who made the presentation speecii, became a leading citi/.en of Anderson after the war was over. He was prominent in its business aft'airs, and, in ]8Tl5, \vas elected to the legislature and served acceptably for one term. Later on he removed to Kingman. Kansas, where lie engaged in the banking business, and there died. His remains were brought to Anderson, and interred in the cemetery north of the river. His familv at this writing are residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The district schools of Madison county of fifty years ago \vere taught in rude cabins, built by the pioneers in the neighboriinods in a manner to best suit the convenience of the few pupils of the times. Some of the happiest moments of the lives of the country boys and girls were spent in these primitive structures.

The school house was often at a distance of one or two miles from the home of the pupil. The wading through the deep snow and the crossing of the little brook on the foot log by the country lads and lassies, were pleasures pure and unalloyed. Tlie rustling of the leaves of the stately maple that shed its foliage in the pathway to the school house will never again be heard by those who so joyfully kicked and romped in the woodland on their journey to school. In the beautiful month of October, when "Indian summer" was at its height of splendor, who ever heard a sweeter sound than the rattle of the leaves beneath the feet of the country maiden on her way to school .'

Whoever hreatlietl a purer air than the autumn breath, when " tlie frost was on tlie pumpkin vine," as through the woods the scholars romped and played, sometimes too long, making a tard_y mark against themselves for their fun? »

The furniture was of the rudest kind, being composed of slabs made of logs split in two and one side smoothed off for the scholars to sit upon. These clumsy seats were set upon legs driven into the slabs where holes were bored into them. The seats had no backs against which to lean or to rest the wear}' pupil as he conned over his lesson. The teacher was generally the " sii/ar/csl" man in the neighborhood, regardless of his cJ/iratioit, and must be thoroughly competent, physically, to whip the biggest bov in school. The brightest scholar at that time scarcely ever got beyond the -' single rule of three," or, as we now term it, simple proportion.

The great occasion of the country school came on Christmas day, or the dav pre\ ious. On that tlav the large scholars presented to the teacher a petition, asking him to treat on Christinas dav. This, of course, he refused to do, being a part of tlie [ilay.

On the next morning when the teacher came to school he found himself locked out, and the big bovs in command of the premises. The small scholars were almost scared to death by the threats of the teacher to annihilate the whole crowd as soon as he gained admission; Ijut this was understood by the larger ones, and after repeated efforts of the teacher to gain an entrance, all to no purpose, he would start in a threatening manner to lea\e the grounds. .\ntl there is where the fun set in. Xo s-joner would he start tlian the entire gaii^ of h'g boys were on his trail, anil siicli ruiinii'g was never witnessed in any other conte-t. If the teacher happened to be a swift limner, it often took a half day to oserhaid him, and when he was captured he was taken to the brook and sometimes thrown in before he would sign the agreement lo treat. Bat it was always expected that the treat would be forthcoming at a proper time. And after the captive had succimibed. and all of the arrangeinents made, a grand time was had, in which all partook of a feast of striped candy, apples and hard cider.

None but those who have participated in one of these afl'airs can fully appreciate the pleasure thev gave. It is safe to say that anybody who ever did take part in one. now looks back to it with pleasurable emotions.

admit the light of dav, but a log was cut out of the side, and a piece of greased paper was pasted over the opening, which served for that purpose.

It was against the rules for more than one scholar to be out of the house at one time, during the hours of study. It was impossible for the teacher to at all times keep his eye on the door, so he had a large paddle made, which he hung by the side of the door, on one side of this was in large letters, generally made with a piece of '- kiel," "OL T," on the reverse side was the word IN.'" Each scholar was required to turn the paddle when going out. and on returning, to turn it back again. Sometimes when two mischievous boys wanted to have some fim. one would go out and turn the paddle entirely over, and after the teacner was engaged and had time to forget who was out, the other would go out and join his partner. This meant an awful whipping if caught and the boys well knew it. To get a whipping at school then was a thing long to be remembered b)' the recipient. A large hickory switch as big as an ox "gad" was the instrument used, and the offending one was drawn up in front of the whole school and a frightful example was made of him, as he stood up and received from fifty to one hundred lashes. Many of the large boys prepared themselves for the whipping (as they were chastised for the most minor ofl'ense). They would sometimes, when they had transgressed the rules, and were expecting to be punished, place sheepskins under their coats which would serve to protect their persons from the severe blows.

The Friday afternoon spelling bees of the country schools were a feature that the present day pedagogues might with profit imitate. The whole school resolved itself into a spelling match, having a captain on each side who chose alternately from the scholars until all the pupils were taken, then the teacher "gave out " to them and the contest was kept up until late in the afternoon, when the exercises were closed by reading " compositions " and speaking pieces.

Dialogues, declamations, essays and stump speeches were the order of the day. The quarrel of Brutus and Cassius, and the speech of Patrick Henry before the Virginia convention, were favorite pieces selected for these occasions. " Ben Battle was a soldier bold," was also often rehearsed with much gusto by the young Cicero of the old log school house times. Mark Antony's oration over the dead body of Cit'sar was left for the big boy who aspired to fame and future greatness, and many who afterward became great in oratory made their first attempt by delivering this address.

The last day of school will never be forgotten by the oldtimers. The term was generally wound up bj' giving an " exhibition," in which the whole school, and sometimes the scholars of neighboring districts, took part. These affairs made an impression upon the minds of those who participated in them, that it would be impossible to forget. The last day was a day of parting, with some forever ; with others only until the next winter, when school again took up.

With all the joyous sports and exercises of the last day of school where is the boy or girl of the old days who has not moistened the pillow with the tears of regret upon retiring upon the night of the last day of school?

Reaping Hook, Cradle And Binder

There are a few yet living in Madison county who reiwember the daj-s of the reaping hook, but precious few who ever used one of them to gather a crop of growing grain. It has been nearly three-quarters of a century since thej' were in general use. In the early settlement of the country, the area of land sown in wheat was quite small as the country was but little cleared, and only a small patch of wheat was cultivated, corn being the principal grain for food for man and beast.

The Reaping Hook

When the time came to harvest the grain, the farmer did not go forth in his field with a hand.some reaper, followed bj' scores of men binding the sheaves as thej^ fell from the machine, but in a quiet manner proceeded with his wife, sons and daughters, and with reaping hooks gathered the waving grain by hand.

The Grain Cr.Vdle

the occasion of a grand " frolic." A little of the pure and "unadulterated product of the still '" was always on hand, as it was thought at that time that the harvest could not be properly gathered without it.

At night after the work was done, sometimes the festivities were wound up witli a dance on the old puncheon floor. The music being furnished by one of the neighborhood boys on a " fiddle," the most popular airs being '- the Money Musk," " the Devil's Dream"" and " the Arkansaw Traveler."

The liardsiiips of llic diiy were entirely lorifotten in the merry dance and obliterated by the swelling notes of the music, and the dance went on until the dawn of morning. There is no doubt as to the enjoynient in those good old times, as there is not one living who ever participated in one of those occasions who does not grow eloquent in recounting tiie many blissful moments thus spent.

As the country opened out ami farms became possessed of wider fields, the demands for better facilities for harvesting the grain became manifest, and the inventive genius of man began to plan, and in his fertile brain conceived and brought forth the grain cradle, which was the implement of the harvest field for many years, in fact, it was the only means of gathering the wheat until in the year liS49 or 1850, when it gave way to the reaping machine.

The cultivation of wheat was largely- increased by the introduction of the grain cradle, and the harxest time became one of the most important seasons of the year. People were more sociable and attentive to the wants of each otiier than now, and the neighborhoods flocked together in harvest time and helped their neighbors gather their grain. Sometimes as many as a dozen men with a cradle each, would be at work on one farm. The cradlers each had a man or boy to follow with a rake, whose duty it was to bunch the fallen wheat into sheaves ready for binding, which was done by a man in the rear. The shockers who followed the cradling party, the boy who carried the sheaves and one to carry water and whisky, made up the party at one of these harvesting bees. The women made as much stir about the uflair as did the men. They congregated together at tiie homes of the neighbors and assisted in preparing the meals for tlie harvest hands, and enjoyed it as much as the present day women do the assisting of each other at the "swell" receptions. An ordinary cradler could cut four acres of grain in a day, and experts could do much more. There was a great rivalry between the cradlers as to their aliilit\', and many matches were made in the fields.

When McCormick invented the reaper he put an end to these merry scenes in the harvest fields, and a new era dawned upon the people, and harvest was made a comparatively easy task as compared with the days of the cradle and the reaping hook. The self-binder soon followed to further lighten the burden, which was soon followed by the machine to bunch the sheaves ready for the shock, which has made the harvest field a place nearer to a scene of pleasure than of labor. What the next fifty years may develop is beyond even conjecture. It may be that in the near future the people of the L nited States may witness the bearded grain felled and prepared for the granary with machines propelled by electricity. Whatever inaj- come to pass, there is one thing that is a certainty, the people will never get back to the simplicit}' of manners, and good fellowship that was extant in the days of the reaping hook.

The halcyon days of om- grandmother, when that good old soul used to go into the flax patch and pull the growing weed from the ground and carry it to the quaint old log barn, and after drying the stems, prepare it for the " break," while her husband was tilling the little patch that he had opened in the forest, for a faini, is long ago passed into oblivion. There are just a few here and there who ever saw such a scene. There are precious few of the old-time women now living in Madison county, who [)ropelled the spinning wheel, or used the " scutching "" knife in the preparation of the flax for clothing with which to cover her little "brood."" The process of utilizing the tlax is almost a lost art to tlie people of this community. ?vlany of the present day do not e\en know how our grandmothers used to toil in the work of providing covering for the bodies of their children, as well as making with her own hands, the clothing for the beds on which they slept.

and then " scutched willi a "scutching" knife made of wood, until all of the shives were taken out of it, leaving the lint ready for the wlieel.-

The good old pioneer women, many of them besides rearing a famil}' of a dozen children and attending to all of their household duties, took the flax from its native state in the ground and went through the entire process of converting it into cloth and from that stage into clothing, making the garments for her entire household. It was also true of all woolens, which she took from the sheep's back and followed it through the diflerent processes until it was converted into clothing, and blankets for the beds. Mothers and daughters of to-day know but little of the work and toil of the pioneers. Tiie preparation for the afternoon reception, the worry about the six o'clock dinner, is nolh'iig to be compared with the anxiety and labor connected with the earlv settlers' wives and daughters in the preparation of the raiment for the family, which had to be taken from the ground in the raw material and worked into manufactured articles.

The shrill whistle of the woolen mill iias drowned the hum of the spinning wheel, and it is only a thing in the memory of the old-timer, and but few of them are left to tell that these were once the implements of industry. The flax break is now a thing of an age passed and gone. We doubt if there ever was a sweeter time in life than when the good old mother sat in front of the fireplace spinning, while her little ones prattled around her knee and roasted potatoes in the ashes in front of her, uniler her watchfid and loving care. Could we be carried back to such a scene we doubt not that it would be a happy one to behold. The mother of those days, was a mother in all the word implies ; no care was too great, no labor too severe for her to undergo for her offspring; her \o\e was as pure and ns simple as the plain and im pretentiousness of her surroundings.

In order tiiat the wheel that plaj-ed such a conspicuous part in the early times in this and other counties in the early settlement of the country, may not be lost in ol)li\ion we have procured a photo of one of these ancient implements of lahor and reproduce it here in contrast with the wheels witii which tile mother and daughter of to-dav are wont to employ their leisure moments. The one here produced is one of the oldest extant, having been made early in the present century, in Wayne county by an old wheelwright, who, almost a century ago., went to his final rest.

It was once the property of Mrs. Lj'dia Forkner. of Union township, who was one of the last women in Madison county to make use of the spinning wheel. She died in .\ugust, 18U5, at the residence of her son Alfred, at the ripe old age of ninety-three. She was the last of a tvpe of women the like of whom will never again live in Madison county, and we are made happ}- by here perpetuating her memory and to speak well of her noble deeds.

Mrs. Mary Hull, widow of the late Rev. Matthew R. Hull, a noted minister of the gospel of the M. E. Church, who for many years was a prominent figure in both church and political matters in Indiana, kindly posed for the illustration here given. She can \'ividly remember the days when the spinning wheel was one of the household necessities. Siie has for many years been a resident of Aiulerson, with her daughter, Mrs. R. H. Cokefair, and is one of the best known and highly respected ladies in the community.

Of the four boys who carried the mail to Anderson sixty years ago, there are but two yet living, the Hon. M. L. Bundy, of New Castle, and John R. i?oston, of Pendleton.

The other two, Mr. Britton Braskett and Mr. A. K. Russell, are both dead. Mr. Russell died five or six years ago, and ]\Ir. Braskett died in Anderson but a few months previous to this writing.

These boys, as they were then, braved the storms and hardships in all seasons of the year and made their regular trips to and from Anderson with the mail pouch on horseback.

Judge Bundy S Letter

"I am asked to give a description of Anderson and other villages of Madison county as well as such old-time citizens as came under my observation while I carried the mail on horseback for a year, beginning October, 1834, and ending October, 1835, also the route 1 traveled. The eastern end was Centerville, in Wayne county, and the western, Noblesville, in Hamilton county, and the service was once a week. Centerville was the most important town on the route, because there was a newspaper published there by Samuel C. Meredith, who at this date still lives. The great lawyers and politicians of the

White Water valley lived there, and there was an excellent dry-goods store kept by Myer Seatoii. Leaving Centerville my route took in Jacksonburgh, Nettle Creek (since called Hager.stown), Boyd's, on Flat Rock, New Caslle, Middle, town, Che.sterfield, Ainicrsoiitoivii, as it was then called, Pendleton and Noblesville. Five days were allowed in which to make the trip in eacli week, Siituiday and Sunday being daj-s for rest. The late William Silver, of Pendleton, but then re-

In the fall of 1884, Chestertiekl was probably a place of tnore importance than it is at this day, for Allen Makepeace had the best store and largest trade in the county, and generally was recognized as one of the best merchants in the country. A man of genial address, he never failed to attract people to his store. His father, then an elderly gentleman, was the postmaster to whom I delivered tiie mail, ami William Dilts had a large brick house which he used as a dwelling for his family- and likewise to entertain the public, and there I stopped for dinner twice a week. I can never forget the family and the kindness with which they always treated me,. though I was a mere boy.

Anderson

row roads had been cut to enable teams to pass, but on either side of which a person could hide in the bushes in a few steps. and become invisible. The physical condition of the town had not improved since the Indians left it a few years before. It had long been an Indian town, where, tradition tells us, the great warrior, Tecumseh, was born and spent his boyhood. The county seat had been removed from the thriving town of Pendleton to Anderson, but no public building had been erected, and business was transacted at the house of the public officer in 1834. I do not remember who filled the office of sheriff, but R. X. Williams was clerk, recorder and postmaster, and I doubt if his compensation for all these public trusts amounted to $500 a year. The citizens of the town I best remember, because I saw them every week, were ^Villiams, the postmaster ; Andrew Jackson, afterward clerk : and Colonel Berry. Fred Bronnenberg I often saw either in Anderson or Chesterfield, the same genial companion then as now, though sixty-two years have elapsed. He is I he only person then in active business that I can call to mind as now living, which shows the transitory nature of our existence.

Which was my next stopping place, was then a thriving village, full of enterprise and gifted men. There was Palmer Patrick, Dr. John H. Cook, James Gray, and the Doctors Richmond, father and son, who would have been men of mark in any community, my landlord, Jesse Boston, who took care of me two nights each week, had immigrated from Baltimore the year before and erected a family residence and house of entertainment combined. Before leaving Maryland he had evidently caught the railroad fever, then prevalent there, because his tavern sign liad painted on it the picture of a locomotive engine, which attracted much attention because of its novelty. The men of Pendleton then in active life, it is needless to say, have all passed away.

I was retiuired to go from Pendleton to Xoblesville and return the same day. The country between these two towns at that time was a howling wilderness and one could tr;;vel several miles without seeing a human habitation. Much of the land was covered with water which in the winter time froze over and formed a solid bridge for miles, but in the spring of the year there seemed to be no bottom to the road.

Nobleville was a stiaggling villa<!;e on White river and while it looked more like a town than Anderson, it \vas greatly inferior to Pendleton. The public business was transacted after the manner of Anderson, for General Stephenson was clerk, recorder and postmaster, and the emoluments of his several offices hardly exceeded those of Williams at Anderson. He was able, however, to take a Philadelphia newspaper, a luxury forbidden to most pioneers on account of poverty, but he did not know until I told him twenty years afterwards that his paper was read each week several times before it saluted his eye. On mv westward trip the people would collect from the surrounding country at some of the offices, knowing about the time the " great eastern " mail would arrive, and clamor for the news, apparently supposing the carrier knew the contents and could tell them. To satisfy them I would take out Stephenson's paper and read to them for an hour the foreign and domestic news, the markets and often editorial comments on Jackson and \'anl5uren. Clay and Webster, besides other noted politicians, who at that time occupied the public attention. This was repeated several times before reaching Noblesville, much to llie delight of the jieople, because it was the only means they had of procuring information. 1 was young, but having been raised among the Quakers, could read well, because these people never neglect early education. If the late A. E. Russell, who was mv predecessor in office, were alive, I could appeal to him for confirmation of much that I luue written, and his intelligent widow, Caroline, who still survives, must lie an authoritN- on the early events of Madison county. M. L. Bundv.

In the summer of 1S6S, John O. Hardesty came to Anderson unheralded and unannounced. He purchased the material,of the " Loval American," a newspaper published by John C. Hans in and ex-postmaster H. J. Brown, and started the .liii/crsoii I/cra/d, a " red hot " Republican sheet. It was but a little while until the people knew that he was in town, especially the Democratic part of the communit}-. as he commenced a warfare at once on the ramparts of the Democratic camp.

incurred bv the County Board, footed up to the snug sum of $37,000, not an extraordinary amount for a county like Madison, but the figures looked big, and sounded large to the taxpayers.

Hardesty took this exhibit for his text for the campaign that was soon approaching, and the way he handled it was a caution to the old settlers.

Of course the amount expended included all paid out for eyery purpose, including the courts and the officers' salaries, and the keeping of the poor; but in looking over the list of \(Michers, Hardesty discovered that the only money that had been paid for improvenicnts of the public buildings was an item for putting a new shutter on the court house. This was enougii for him, and he at once began an agitation of the subject through the columns of his paper, and week after week alluded to the thii ty-se\en-thousand-dollar window shutter, until he liad all of the Republicans, and half of the Democrats in the county believing that it actually cost that amount.

He had a full sized cut of it in his paper standing during the entire campaign, and the papers in the neighboring towns took it uj) and it became a topic of general talk over the State that Madison county had a shutter on its couit house that cost $37,0()0. In the street parades, at political meetings, wherever the Republicans had speakings, the window shutter was on hand ; some one always brought up the rear with a transparency with the shutter p'inted on it.

This shutter was tinally taken otT the court house and carried in a procession at Indianapolis at the " State ralK' '" that year, and caused an endless amount of mirth.

The Democrats wished many times before the election came around that the shutter was in hades, and Hardesty close by, but the shutter was still there ; it would not down.

Whilst the agitation on this subject did not defeat the candidates of that year, on the Democratic ticket, it '' laid the egg" for a grand cleaning out in the election in the ne.\;t campaign.

In the year 1870, the succeeding election for State and county officers, but two of the Democratic candidates were elected, the Clerk of the courts and the Coroner, and the)- had no opposition, or they would probably have fared the same as their rimuing mates.

To John O. Hardesty, more than any other person, is due the credit of turning the tide in a county with a solid majority of 80() against his party, and landing the candidates of his political complexion in the best offices in the gift of the voters in the community.

The window shutter, and the waj' it was handled bv Hardesty, was a play that was hard to beat, and one that argument would not serve to change.

We doubt if Mr. Hardesty is fully appreciated by the newer and younger members of his party, from the fact that he at one time moved away from the county, and for a time lost his identity, but the old-timers well remember his stnig-

Some .Severe Tornadoes

The first tornado or cyclone in Madison county known to the old settlers occurred in 1828, about three and one-half miles south of Anderson. It was one-half mile wide, the efi"ects of which were for a long time known as the '' Fallen Timber," having felled the forests, in its track. The next was in 1843. It commenced a little northwest of Pendleton, passed east through what is known as the Dismal " to the north of Huntsville, then up the gravel ridge just south of Anderson, ending about where the Big Four and Pan Handle railroads cross. ^\long the ridge or hill road to Huntsville large trees were blown out by the roots. Little mounds of earth still show ^vhere it swept through.

The third was in the west part of the county, in 1853. Its course was just south of Perkinsville, east and northeast. It took the second stor\' off of Daniel Wises brick house, an account of which appears elsewhere. It passed south of Florida. Some men who were building the grade for the Pan Handle railroad, seeing the storm approaching, took shelter in a log house close by. One man, probably more timid than the others, huddled down in one corner and said : "Now, Billv," meaning the wind, " see what you can do ; do vour best.'" The words had scarcely left his lips when the house ^vas blown from its foundation. Another man ran out and caught hold of a small bush and was terribl}' bruised and shaken up. He, so far as reports go, was the onlv man hurt by the tornado.

In June, 1880, a fourth severe tornado passed over this county. It commenced in Hamilton countv, literallj- sweeping the town of Cicero, injuring (juite a number of people. It came into this county about Perkinsville. and in its eastern course took ofi' for the second time the roof of Daniel Wise's house. The repaired walls show the extent of the damage. It did considerable damage in its course, striking very hard in the west side of the Joseph (jroff farm, four miles northwest of Anderson, where it completely demolished about twentyacres of timber ; farther east it did but little damage. Bolts of dry goods were found in its track, probalilv from the v\recked stores at Cicero.

over the north part of the county, about lialt waj' betwcLMi Frankton and Elwood, May 12, 188ti, strikin<r \\ith terrible force the old Caleb Canaday homestead, destroying the house and barn and doing other damage. The house was all blown away except a room occupied bv the family. The " nigger head"' corner stone of the barn was turned out of its place. James Legg's residence, close by, was made a perfect wreck, killing his son John, breaking an arm and leg for his wife and otherwise injuring her. The balance of the family escaped with less serious injury. Its ravages extended through the county. This, so far as now can be ascertained, was the only fatality.

Prior to the civil war there were but few colored jieople in Madison county, and but little respect was paid to the few who did live here. In fact, they were not looked upon as human beings by most people. The only ones who had any sympathy for the colored brother were the Abolitionists, who were but few, and confined to the Qiiakers and their descendants.

A striking illustration of how the colored man was held by his wiiite brother is to be found in the record of deeds at Anderson, where there is recorded a deed to a piece of land in Monroe township, in which the land is conveyed to the " State of Indiana for the purposes of a burying ground so long as the same may be used therefor, provided that no ' nigger " shall ever be buried therein, in which case the land shall revert to the owner and his heirs."' The name of the donor is withheld, as it is useless, at this late day of enlightenment, to stir up the old feeling that at that time existed, besides, no doubt, the one who conveyed the land has long since relented, and has a warm place in his heart for the sons of Ham.

^\'hile the pioneer farmers had their l"un and frolics at the logrollings and house raisings, the good old mothers tlitl not miss tlieir opportunities to liave an entertainment once in awhile.

In the spring of the year after the flock had been sheared and the fleeces washed, they invited in the neighbor women and indulged in a " wool-picking," which consisted in picking the " burrs '" and '- Spanish needles " from the wool, so that it could be prepared for market, and for the spinninj^-wheel. These gatherings were what the ladies now term " hen parties," no men being allowed to take part in the proceedings.

The guests parceled out to themselves a task of quilting, while the hostess prepared a sumptuous repast which was served after the day was spent. While these gatherings were a help among the neighbors, with their manv labors, they also served as a pastime, and to lighten the path fif life through the wilderness in which they lived.

Thestoiies told of the wool-pickings and quilting-bees, bv the old ladies who took part in them would make an interesting book. There are but few left now who can relate personal e.xperiences in these scenes of long ago.

The loom and the spinning-wheel are things that represent an age gone by, and there is just here and there one who remembers the days of their usefulness.

The first thing the early settler did after entering his land from the government, was to " deaden " several acres of the dense forest covering his possessions. In the course of a vear the timber would die and become sufficienth" dry to be easily burned. The trees were felled with axes and prepared for the log iieap. The process of getting the logs in proper lengths was generally by building fires across them at different places and " niggering'" them off by throwing one log across another and firing them, then it would not take long to burn them in twain. The owner of the land and his family consisting of male and female members, would spend davs and nights in the clearing, and through smoke and fire, would work without cessation until several acres were prepared for the " log rolling." Then the neighbors for miles around were invited and a rolling "bee'' was indulged in.

While this was a hard job, it was also a time for great joy and merriment. It was the time for all to congregate and exchange greetings, and between the hours of labor and refreshments give themselves up to story telling and merrv making, the whole ending at night with a dance where voung and old enjoyed themselves in boundless mirth.

shaved and prepared tor the purpose, calletl " hand-spikes,"' generally from four to six under each log. The men would pair off in twos, one at each end of the spike and there's where the "tall lifting" set in. A man would lather be buried alive than to be " lifted down." The logs would be carried to some favorable spot and piled in heaps ready to burn, and when the rolling was over the heaps were tired. The fires in the clearings were a beautiful sight to behold at night, ligiiting up the skies for miles around.

At these rollings whisky was always furnisiieil in copious quantities. Some would become hilarious, while others wi>uld get "full," but good feeling generally prevailed, although there haYe been cases where old grudges were settled between enemies by hand-to-hand tights when they happened to meet in the clearing.

The men of those daj's generally dressed in homespun clothing, consisting of a hunting shirt made of '- linsey " with pants, coat and vest of blue jeans. In this rough garb their hearts beat with honest pride as they toiletl for their future wealth and greatness.

In those days at the log rollings many used oxen to assist in bunching the logs for the heaps. Many of the present generation have never seen a " yoke " of o.xen. They were not only beasts of burden fifty years ago in the woods in logging, but served as a means of hauling wagons upon the roads.

An early scene along the old National Road, and the road leading to Strawtown, was one of a continual stream of ox wagons, moving the pioneers to the wilds of their new homes in the far west.

The yellow hound was also an accompaniment to the ox wagon. He generally brought up the rear of the procession, keeping faithful watch over the children and the faniilv cow that followed behind.

At the log rollings and barn raisings there was as muL-h formality and etiquette in some respects as prevails among the " swell " society people of to-day. When a new comer made his advent into a neighborhood he was the recipient of all favors, and made the guest of honor on all occasions until he was duly initiated into the ways of the new home he had sought in the wilderness. If he proved true, and was made of the proper material, he soon was one of the community in all its meaning; if not, he was in a \ery short time dropped. It did not take the neighbors long to form an opinion of the

The fellow who alwajs had fault to find with the ways of the country and was continually comparing the mode of procedure with the way they did "in yander" where he came from, and making unfavorable comments of this sort, was set down as an ass, or what we would in this day say, a '- smart Alec," and the people had but little use for him.

In the days of " the cabin in the clearing ,'' of which the Hon. Ben. Parker, of Xewcastle, has so sweetly sung, the "Johnny cake " cut quite a figure. To bake a "Johnny cake" was an accomplishment that any woman was proud to possess. The cake was made of corn meal and water, being well mixed with lard for " shortning." and laid on a board and set up in front of the lireplacc, which generally occupied one whole end of the cabin, and was baked by the heat thrown out from the tire of huge logs rolled in by the sturdy pioneer. Some times a gnod fat opossum was served with the "Johnny cake" with an abundance of "sop"' for the children. A person who did not like that kind of eating was at once set down as not being properlj' "raised."

Who ever sat in front of one of those old-fashioned fire places and looked into the fiaming lire as it threw out its warming raj'S, and listened to the lullaby of the mother's evening song, that does not wish that he could wander back to those scenes of simplicity, and for a time live over aj^ain the happy moments thus spent?

It would not be exaggeration to say that a million dollars worth of timber has been burned in log heaps in Madison county. Many handsome walnut trees have thus been devoured in order to get them out of the way of the plow, that would now be worth at least one hundred dollars each.

For a number of years it has been customary at intervals to have meetings in different parts of the county, of the old settlers, for the purpose of talking over old times and mingling together in amusement and speech making. The first meeting of this kind of which we can find any record, was one held in Pendleton in 185(5. Among the prominent persons who took an active part on this occasion and made speeches were [ohn Markle, Able fohnson, Samuel D. Irish, John H. Cook. Conrad Crossley, Thomas Silver and Isaac Busbv. \\ e

In the vear of 1873, another meeting was held at Alexdria, in luly, which was largely attended by people from different parts of the county.

The next meeting of importance took place in the jear 1874, on the banks of White river, near the village of Perkinsville, which was largely attended by Ijoth the residents of Madison and Hamilton counties. The meeting was called to order by Andrew McKenzie, of Hamilton county. (General J. D. Stevenson, of Noblesville, was elected president, and the Rev. J. F. Rhodes, of Perkinsville, was elected secretarv. The meeting was addressed by Rev. John W. Forest, Ji'dge Johnathan Colburn, James HoUingswortli, Noah Waymire, H . G. Finch and Thomas L. Beck with. A good deal of merriment was occasioned by the speech of Mr. Finch, who gave it as his opinion that the country would be better off without either ministers or churches. Various relics of the pioneer times of the county were e.xhibited, among which was an old *' shot pouch " and powder horn, worn by a Mr. Fislier. who was killed by the Indians, not far from where this meeting was held, an account of which is given elsewhere. A permanent organization was effected for the two counties by Thomas L. Beckwith being elected corresponding secretary and General Stevenson president.

At various times since, there have been other meetings of the old settlers at different points in the county, but it seems that no attempt had been made to keep up a regular organization, and the meetings were held simply by calls being signet! by ditTerent persons, which assembled them together.

One of the largest meetings held for many years, occurred at Chesterfiekl in the year 1887, at which Judge Winburn R. Pierse, Hon. James W. Sansberry, Samuel Myers, W. C. Fleming and many old timers, delivered addresses. This meeting was on White river, north of the \illage, near a gas well on W. B. I?ronnenberg's farm.

At a meeting held at the court house in Anilerson, on the Kith of July, 1894, upon the call of Samuel Hardin, Rufus H. Williams and others, steps were taken to more thoroughly organize the Old Settlers Association, since which time thev have held annual meetings and a record of their proceedings has been kept. John L. Forkner presided, and William P. Newman acted as secretary at this meeting. It was decided to hold the first annual meeting at Ruddle's grove on the ;}Oth of August, of that year. Francis Watkins was chosen president and a vice-president was elected for the association for each township in the county.

When the day of the meeting arrived a large concourse of people assembled in the beautiful grove and were welcomed to the city by the Hon. John H. Terhune, at that time Mayor. Addresses were made by J. M. Farlovv, Hon. James W. Sansberry, Dr. Ward Cook, of Pendleton, James Hollingsworth, Samuel Myers, Hon. David S. Gooding, of Greenfield, Charles Fisher, of Fishersburg, Abisha Lewis and many otheis whose names if recorded here would occupy too much space. The oldest married couple in the county was present in the persons of Samuel and Rebecca Stevenson, of Anderson township, they having lived in the holy bonds of wedlock for tiie term of sixty-three years. The Lapel brass band under the leadership of Prof. D. K. Elliott, furnished most excellent music for the occasion. The venerable Samuel Myers, in his address predicteol that this would be his last meeting with the association, which proved true.

The next annual nit'eting was held on the '2{)th of August, 1895, at the same place. Francis Watkins, the president of the association, being absent, the meeting was called to order by James Hollingsworth, and Hon. M. M. Diinlap, Mayor of Anderson, welcomed the visitors in a very happv speech and extended to them the freedom of the city. The weather being very threatening, it was not so largely attended as the former one, but a general good feeling prevailed and a very happy time was had by those who were in attendance. Among those who addressed the meeting were Dr. William Suman, Byron H. Dyson, James HoUingswortii, W. V. Shanklin, Mrs. Lucinda Harden, Mrs. G. N. Hilligoss and Abisha Lewis. Dr. N. L. Wickersham read an original poem prepared by himself for this special occasion which contained many good points in reference to the old cabin days, which was well received and was highly entertaining to those who had the pleasure of listening to it. At this meeting a committee was selected consisting of Edward Roberts, Neil Mauzy and Thomas Harmeson, to select names for permanent officers of the association for the next year, who accordingly reported for president, Samuel Hardin ; secretary, John L. Forkner, and treasurer. David Conrad. Thev appointed a meeting to take place at the same locality one year hence.

These meetings have thus kept alive the spirit and enthusiasm of the old settlers of Madison county and by keepinij a record of their annual proceedings in the years to come it will be interesting to the new generation to peruse the account of their doings and sayings.