Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 63, 1897

Sam Pence S Lottery

Samuel Pence, who is at this time, a familiar figure upon the streets of Anderson, gave a grand gift distribution and lottery in Anderson at Union Hall on the 24th of December, 18C().

Mr. Pence had for many years been engaged in the livery business, having his stables on South Main street on the ground now occupied by the Bronnenberg block. Becoming tired of the business, and wishing to dispose of his stock to the best advantage, Mr. Pence devised a lottery scheme as the best means of procuring a good price for the same. He accordingly advertised largely throughout the country by means of the newspapers and hand-bills of his grand drawing and distribution of prizes.

On the night when the drawing took phice a brass band was in attendance, and hundreds of people crowded into the place to witness the event. The drawing was conducted to the satisfaction of all, and but few complaints were heard. It was an honest affair. There were no blanks given out ; each and every ticket drew a prize of some kind. On this occasion many were present who lived eight and ten miles in the country. They waited anxiously and hoped for their number to be drawn, and when at last the affair was over the disappointment expressed on the countenances of some was amusing to behold. Many had invested as high as ten, twenty- and thirty dollars drawing minor prizes, while others who had invested only the sum of one dollar drew some of the most valuable prizes. Nearly all the tickets advertised were sold, and brought quite a handsome sum to Mr. Pence for his property.

From the list of prizes drawn upon that occasion we give the following: One horse, "Pete;" one horse, '"Bill;" one horse, ''Sam ;" one mare, "Kit;" one mare, "Jane;"' one mare, " Sis ;" one mare, " Betty ;" one buggy, one double set of harness, one bed and bedstead, one single sleigii, one sad- die, one cutting box, one buB'alo robe, one hog, one sow and pigs, one lever watch, one bureau, one iron kettle, one breakfast table, one bar of soap, one Colt's revolver, one milch cow. Besides the above articles, there were about SCX) numbers each of which drew a one-dollar greenback. It was advertised that every ticket holder would be presented with a picture, which turned out to be the likeness uf Abraham Lincoln, which was engraved upon the back of the ticket.

Some laughable incidents occurred during the drawing. The writer, who was one of the anxious spectators expecting to draw a fortune, was the recipient of a bar of Shultz's Star soap, while Nolly Walden, a colored barber who sat at his side, drew a fine horse. A lady who sat a few feet in front of him drew a sow and pigs, and a minister of the gospel who resided a short distance in the countrv, drew a cutting box. One man drew a grain cradle, and Enoch j\I. Jackson, a prominent citizen of Anderson, drew an iron kettle.

Dr. Absaloji Tarris

Dr. Absalom Parris was an old-timer, who died near Anderson about 1875. He was a doctor of divinitv as well as a doctor of medicine. He practiced medicine during the week and preached in the country churches on Sunday. ^Vhile he was not a thoroughly educated man. he had a fair knowledge of things in general. He had an excellent flow of language, and could preach and pray in a way that would make the haia stand on end, and perfectly amaze his hearers.

He would grow eloquent in prayer, and use some language that was really beautiful. The writer will always remember hearing him wind up a prayer in the Presbyterian church in Anderson. He prayed that when he was to be removed from this " mundane sphere, that he might be wafted forth on angel wings, and conveyed to that beautiful and shining shore, where sickness, sorrow and death never dwell, and be permitted to rest his head on the bosom of the beloved Jesus, and breathe his soul out sweetly there."

He was one of the politest old gentlemen in the country, and always in a good humor. He was a sterling Democrat, always taking stock for his party in the campaigns as they came around. In his practice of medicine he had some few remedies that he prescribed in nearly every case. His head- quarters were at Henderson's drug store. The Hendersons used to think a great deal of him, and made mucli over him when he went into their store, alwaj-s welcoming him with an "eye-opener" behind the prescription case. You could hear him smack his lips clear across the room as he would remark, "Bub, that is excellent, excellent.'"

One of his favorite remedies was " hydrastis canadensis." He alwaj-s called Charley Henderson " Bub." After being seated at the stove, properly warmed and "tuned up," he would turn to Charley, rubbing his hands, and say: "Bub, have you any of the hydrastis canadensis, known among we medical men as the Golden Seal - among the commonality of the people as yaller root.^ "'

Charley always had some of his favorite prescription ready for him at a moment's notice. Dr. Parris was one of those oldschool fellows whom you don't meet in the present day. He could be religious, and at the same time mix in the pool of politics, take a light drink with the boys and then leave it alone. In fact, a good drink of old rye made him, if anything, more religious. He could give e.xpression to his scriptural views with more vigor and use language not to be found anywhere in the dictionary', when he was keyed up.

He lived west of the city for manj- years, and died in 1875, leaving a memory behind him that will remain green as long as the old-timers around Anderson survive. He also had a brother, William Parris, who was a doctor, and who figured quite extensively in these parts about that time. William was said to be better up in the medical profession than Absalom, but as a preacher and e.xhorter he could not "touch him," neither could anyone else. Absalom Parris stood without a rival in that line.

Among the other great things Madison countj' has produced in its time, is a number of very handsome, \vell-trained and well-developed prevaricators. It is not supposed that there is now, or that there ever was a man in Madison county who would willfuUj- lie to hurt a fellow-man, or even to enhance his own interests, but for your spinning yarns and big story telling, she has had some " hummers."

There was at one time, many years ago, perhaps as far back as 1850, a man who lived here by the name of Blodgett, who was a blacksmitii. He had his shop on the lot where

G16 History Of Madison County, Indiana

Charles T. Doxey's residence now stands, where he used to do Avork for the farmers, shoeing their horses, setting their and '' upsetting" their axes, etc. When not at work he put in the time chaffering and giving the farmers and his customers in general big talks and large snake stories. James !Mohan tells of a story that Blodgett related to him once when he was a boy.

He was sent to Blodgett's shop for some repair ^vork. While he was waiting for his job, Blodgett told him about a barefooted fellow stepping on a piece of hot iron. He said:

" I was cutting some bars for the purpose of making horse shoes, when a big, gawky fellow from the backwoods came in barefooted ; he had gone barefooted so long that his heels where perfectly calloused. I had just cut off a piece of a bar of iron, which fell on the dirt floor and the fellow, with out seeing it, stepped on it with his heel. He stood there for several minutes without moving. I watched him closely, but said nothing. Finally the grease began to run out on the floor ; a terrible smoke and smell arose ; at last I said, 'Stranger, do you know you are standing on that hot iron and likely to get burnt?' About this time the heat began to penetrate the ball of his foot. He made a leap straight up in the air, coming down with a whoop like an Indian. I dropped my work and went to him, catching him around the waist as he again started to jump up in the air. I carried him to the ' slack ' tub and soused him in, feet foremost. Such a sizzing and frying you never heard ! The steam filled the shop so full that nothing could be seen. The horses that I was shoeing became frightened and stampeded, tearing every thing before them. His foot was so hot that the water in the tub was entirely absorbed before it was cooled oft'. By holding him in the water so long it entirely drew the fire out. When I let him out, he sauntered out in town as if nothing had happened, not even thanking me for my aid in his troubles. It took me all afternoon to hunt up the horses that had run out of the shop during the excitement."

James Mohan, James Battreall, Robert Titherington and several other old-timers vouch for the above, not for the truth of it, but that Blodgett really related it as a fact.

History Ok Madison Countv, Indiana

ders ever produceil in this part of tiie country. During their stay they got into trouble with John A. Harrison about the ground upon wliich they showed. A general fight ensued in which Harrison got badly worsted. He had the show party arrested and fined for assault and battery. An execution was at once issued and placed in Thomas J. Fleming's hands, as Deputy Sheriff, for collection. He repaired to the show grounds and incjuired for Mr. O'Brien, the proprietor, who immediately came to the front, and in a very genteel manner listened to the reading of the writ ; after which Mr. Fleming demanded payment. O'Brien explained that he had had a very hard season and was scarce of cash, but would turn out property until the Sheriff was satisfied. This was all he could ask. They entered the tent and walked around in front of a large cage of hyenas.

Mr. O'Brien called one of the attendants and said : ''Jim, open that cage door and let this gentleman have those two hyenas. Open up that next cage of Bengal tigers and - "

but I believe if I was in your place I would appeal this case to the Circuit Court. I think you can defeat it. I'll go on your bond if you will take an appeal," said Fleming, all the time keeping an eye on the cages for fear the animals would get out.

O'Brien went up town and appealed the case. It was carried up to the Supreme Court, where it hung along for years. Finally it was decided in O'Brien's favor. After that time you could not hire Tom Fleming to tackle a showman with a legal process of any kind.

In the happy days of the old court house the boys around there used to have a great deal of fun. There was no formality in the mingling of men of those times. The court house was the center of gravity. When the country people came to town, as soon as their trading was done they went over to the court house to visit the officers awhile and exchange stories with them. In those days the jury was generally selected from among the farmers in the country. It was like the meeting of a small legislature, and was looked forward to with great anxiet}-, especially the winter terms. In the long evenings the jury generally congregated about some of the county offices, where they told jokes, sang songs, ate apples, cracked hickorynuts, drank cider, and enjoyed themselves until late bed time. One occurrence of those good old days comes to mind. During a term of the circuit court an old man from near the Tipton countv line came into court, asking a divorce from his wife. He stayed around, waiting for his time to come, for several days. He wanted his divorce so badlj- that he was nearly '- frozen."' He was not the most intelligent liuman being in the world, and did not know much about courts and their modes of procedure. Isaac Forrest was on the jury that term. He noticed the old man staying around, and hnall)- inquired of him what he wanted. The old man related his " tale of woe." Ike told him that if he would come up to the court house that night he would get his case tried. The old man was delighted and was on hand at the appointed hour. In the meantime, Ike had informed the bovs, who were all promptly assembled at the court house after supper. Some one of the jurymen was selected to act as attorney for the plaintiff. Forrest presided as Judge. The case was tried, which took until uearlv midnight. The evidence was voluminous and of a rich character. The old man charged adultery as his cause of action. His testimony was given at full length, in his own way, whereupon "Judge" Forrest took him through a severe cross-examination. It was one of the funniest proceedings that ever transpired in the old court house. '- Judge "' Forrest linally granted the old man a decree of divorce, with the provision that he should never marry again and should at once leave the country. The decree did not exactly suit him, so the next morning he tackled Judge Craven about it and wanted it amended. Craven did not understand it. After awhile it leaked out. Judge Craven was hot about it, and came very nearlv bringing the boys over the coals. The old man had an actual case pending in court, and thouglit he was really divorced. A side lecture from Judge Craven taught the boys that it was not just the thing to " monkey"' with cases on the court docket in sham trials.

Thomas J. Fleming And The Colored Preacher

erest men in the world, but about that time he was exceedingly so, from the fact that he was a candidate for clerk, which caused him to get in his best licks. During this time a negro preacher came along, and engaged the court house to hold " meetin' " in, there being no colored church here at that time. The sheriff, Mr. James H. SncU, rather objected, as he did not want to be detained to look after the house and close it up at night after services. Fleming had an eye to getting the colored vote, so he volunteered to act as sexton. The hour arrived for services. Fleming rang the bell that adorned the cupola of the old temple of justice. The deacons, and brothers and sisters, and dusky maidens of all sizes came to church. The preacher was one of the old-fashioned, hard-shell Baptists - a regular " Hepsidam" orator, whose voiie could be heard for a mile distant. Fleming concluded that he would kill two birds with one stone ; while the meeting was going on he was behind his desk making up court records. There was but one lamp in the house, which was one of those large-sized coal oil burners. It was arranged on one corner of the judge's stand, where it served to give light to the preacher, and also to Fleming at his work. A familiar hymn was sung and "meetin' " broke loose in earnest. The preacher took a text from away back, where it took " monstrous" hard "preechin'" to sift it down. He preached and preached at the top of his voice, till he got his hearers all shaken up. He swayed back and forth, ripped around, and pawed the air with his fists, winding up his sermon by saying : "My beloved bredern, I'se cum all de way down from Randof county, ah, I'se left my wife as a widder and my childun as ofFens, ah ! to preach de gospel to a lost and ruined congreation, ah!" Making a mis-lick at this point, he struck the lamp with his fist and upset it, spilling the oil over the desk and clerk's books, leaving the audience in total darkness. Fleming flew around like a chicken with its head cut off until he got matters straightened up. The sisters screamed and the deacons raved like animals. At last, quiet was restored, and the minister wound up his sermon in the dark by saying: "My bredern, as I said afo', I'se preachin for de good ob de soul, and not for money ; but if any ob de bredern have any ole close to spah, I wouldn't mind takin' a few of 'em."' After singing the doxology the meeting was dismissed. This was the last colored meeting held in tFie old court house.

Oliver C. Davis And His Peculiarities

As long as any person lives in Anderson wlio knew Oliver C. Davis his name will be perpetuated. lie was a friend as true as steel. His word was his bond. If he owed a dollar he was as sure to pay it on the day it fell due as the sun rose and set on that day. If he made a bet he held it as sacred as the most binding obligation. If he lost, the money was forthcoming witiiout a sigh or a groan. He would give it up so gracefuU}' that it made one feel good. If he won he expected prompt settlement, and he everlastingly hated the man who would not pav his bets. He had a very droll way of expressing his approval or disapproval of things going on around him, but always nailed the center when he "remarked."'

One time he was coming down town on a verv hot summer day, and passed a house where a man was sitting in the shade of a house, while his wife was out in the yard splitting wood. Oliver stopped, took off his hat, wiped the perspiration from his face, and said : " Well, I have; seen many and many of a lazy man, but you had ought to bin a Injun."

He bought land for taxes. A good old farmer came in one day and wanted to get him to assign a certificate to a piece of land on which the farmer had a lien. " Very well," said Oliver, " I will assign it for $25."' That took the old man's breath. It was too much, so he walked oat. The next day the old man returned, and called on Davis and told him he liad concluded to take the assignment. " All right," said Oliver, " it will take $50."'

We have mentioned Uncle Billy Myers several times during the writing of this work, but he did many things that will long be remembered bv old settlers, when called to mind. He kept such an extraordinarv good house, it was so clean and nice in all its departments, that it was a pleasure for the weary pilgrim on the road to reach Uncle Billy's, and lodge with him. He prided himself on always being on hand to do all that was in his line to be done to make his guests comfortable. He boasted that he never let a lodger over-sleep himself, but always got him ofF on tlie proper train. Onetime a drummer went there, who had important business at Logansport, and must go on the 1 :30 train that night. He w'as afraid to go to bed for fear of missing his train. About 9 o'clock. Uncle Hilly came into the bar room, where he found the fellow snoozing and nodding around, dead on his feet for sleep. "Why in the devil don't you go to bed?"' asked Uncle Billy. " I am afraid of missing that night train. I wouldn't miss it for a hundred dollars."

" Go to bed. You must think I keep a devil of a hotel. I never let a man miss a train in my life ." With this assurance the man retired and was soon oblivious to all the world around him. Uncle Billy concluded he would lie down on a buffalo robe and quietly snooze along until all the trains got out. He was soon snoring the plastering off the house. After awhile the shrill whistle of the engine back of his house brought him to his feet. The 1 ;80 train was passing. Up stairs he Hew, rapping and thumping on the drummer's door until he awakened every one in the house. " Why don't j'ou get up, you d - n fool, the train's been gone fifteen minutes.'' The man informed him that if the train was gone, it was no use to get up, and he turned over and went to sleep again.

The Falling Of The Stars In 1866

In l!S66, it was predicted by some cranks, or crooks, as you may please to call them, that on a certain night in November the stars would fall. Great excitement prevailed in Anderson as well as throughout a large part of the United States. The people of the town remained up all night to witness the grand spectacle. A man of the name of Winters kept the United States Hotel then, and had a choice set of young gentlemen boarders, such as Albert C. Davis, Hampton Ellis, George Darrow and many others. Winters was just from the country', and in his first experience as hotel proprietor was so green that the cows bawled at him. The bovs persuaded him that a grand dance and banquet was just the thing for this occasion, so he employed an orchestra, prepared a sumptuous feast, and the merry dance was al)out to begin, when some one threw some stones upon the roof of the house and they came down through the skylight with a great crash. The old bell on toji of the house began to ring and the guests commenced flying in all directions. Enoch Roacli made his appearance on the scene about this time and informed the people that the grand spectacle was now on. There was another shower of stones and the landlord tlew, even deserting his family. A young man by the name of Riley, who was clerking for him, tied to the country and never came back. Al Davis, Hampton Ellis, and others, cleared the table of all the roast chicken, duck and everything else that was good to eat, and carried it back into Swank's grocery, where the boys assembled and had a bountiful feast. The dance was " busted " up. Winters, in a fe\v days tumbled to the fact that all the stars that fell landed on his hotel. The boys " roasted " and " guyed "' him so much that he shortly afterward sold out to Fred Cartwright, who kept the United States Hotel as long as it was run as a place of lodging.

In the campaign of l,Sfi() the Republican party made a great hit by organizing what they named the "Wideawakes." It was a semi-military organization, uniformed with oil-cloth capes, caps and a coal-oil lamp or torch. They flashed it on the countrv at a given period simultaneouslv all over the United States. It was a winning card. Many young men were carried into the Republican ranks by this gaudy military array. Many first voters were lured into it who are now veterans in the Republican cause. The Democrats tried to counteract its influence by organizing the " Douglas Guards,'' uniformed with yellow oil-cloth capes, caps and coal-oil lamps. They were mounted on horseback. Their organization came too late, however. The yoinig blood had caught fire in the Wideawake camp. Nothing could turn the tide.

Anderson was no exception to the general rule. She had her Wideawake company, a fine organization of the best men of the town, old and young. Many who belonged to that company are now gray-bearded veterans. Many are beneath the sod in a southern clime, where they lost their lives in the real battles of the country, not as Wideawakes, but as defenders of the flag of the Union.

A. B. Kline was the captain of a company, and was as " brave a lad as ere commission bore." He was a young man of fine appearance, stately as the sturdy oak, handsome and gallant, having the respect of his command, boasting of the finest W^ideawake company in Indiana. He took his company far and near to the Republican gatherings tiiat year, making a fine impression wherever it made its appearance.

Time drifted on, the election came and passed, resulting in the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. The war soon followed, and the young men of the countr)' responded to the call in vast numbers. Nearl}- all who iiad been members of the \\'ideawakes drifted into the army. They had had a taste of military life, enough to give them a desire to go into the real scenes of armv service.

Nearly all of Kline's company enlisted. He was at that time one of Anderson's best and most prosperous young business men anil liad a business he could not well leave, so he did not join them.

George Nichol, Colonel M. S. Robinson, Lon Makepeace, Captain Allen, D. F. Mustard and many others of Kline's old friends went to the front. George Nichol faced the booming cannon as a quartermaster. Mustard was a musician.

One night while in camp, around the blazing fire, cracking jokes, singing songs, writing letters to loved ones at home, the minds of the party settled on Kline, and his many virtues were discussed. Finally some one suggested that they have some fun at his expense. So they went to work and whittled out a long sword made of pine, stained it from end to end with red ink and finislied with the inscription : " Presented to Captaiti A. 15. Kline bv his comrades-in-arms for chivalrous and meritorious conduct during the late Wideawake campaign." It was sent to him by express but no name disclosed the donors. It was a secret among the bovs and a mystery to Kline.

Years rolled on, the war wa^ o\er. Kline became cashier of the First National Bank of Anderson; George Nichol was auditor of Madison county, and Mustard was acting as deputy treasurer. Niciiol's office was a kind of headquarters for the old-time boys to gather in and chat, tell stories of tiie army days, etc.

One afternoon a partj' had gathered in, among whom were Captain Allen, Mustard, Nichol. Captain Anderson and Kline. The subject of the war soon came up. During the conversation the subject of the wooden sword was brought up. It leaked out that Nichol and Mustard were in the scheme. Kline immediately '-caught on."

This brought down the house. Kline closed the argument on the army subject. His response was in keeping with his usual run of wit. He hardly ever missed a center when he shot off his mouth. Many of Captain Kline's old sayings will live in Anderson as long as the name of Kline lives. His friends who knew him in his better days have the same love and admiration for him dead that they had for him alive.

A Famous Resort

The old " Henderson drug store" is one of the landmarks of Anderson. It was erected away back before the war, perhaps as far back as 1860, and has been occupied as a drug store ever since its existence. It is now occupied by the Cassel Bros. The late Dr. John W. Westerfield for many years did a flourishing business there, and the major part of his handsome fortune was made there. During the war the firm was Westerfield & Menefee. Dr. Menefee retired about 1866, and removed to Alexandria, where he started his famous "onehorse " drug store, and made a fortune, which he left when he died a few years since.

- Dr. G. N. Hilligoss was for many years a clerk in the Westerfield and Menifee drug store, before starting into the practice of medicine. In the year 1868 Doctors William A. Hunt and J. F. Brandon formed a partnership under the firm name of Brandon & Hunt, and purchased the stock of drugs in that room, where the}- did business until they sold out to the Henderson Bros., Edgar and Charles A., who for many years occupied the room and did the largest business ever done in Anderson in that line.

Their store was headquarters for everyone - politicians, school teachers, lawyers and preachers. It was run on the " liigh pressure " plan and was never closed. Day and night, Sundays and weekdays, it was wide open. Both of the Hendersons were politicians by nature, and called around thein all of the leading lights in politics.

Hendersons' drug store was a power in local, as well as State politics. Alany a candidate has made his start from that store, and when once in the race, with the Hendersons behind him, lie generally went through. It was while in this room in business that Major Henderson made his race and was elected to the legislature. He afterwards made a brilliant race for

State Treasurer, but was tlefeated for the nomination by a small majority. It was from that place that Charles A. Henderson started in the race for Clerk of the Madison Circuit Court and was triumphantly elected. Newt Pence was a clerk in the Henderson drug store ^vhen he was a candidate and elected City Clerk of Anderson. Albert C. DaYis started from there and was elected City Clerk in 1870, and after serving his term, went back in the store where he remained for some time and in 1878 made a race for County Recorder and was elected. While many men who started from there for office were elected there have been many aspirants quietly taken into the back room and retired from the field.

This famous and long-to-be -remembered old landmark has to Andersons old-timers many hallowed memories clinging around it. It had its brighest and happiest days when occupied by the Henderson Bros. It was there that such men as Colonel Stilwell, John F. Wildman, Colonel W. C. Fleming, J. M. Dickson, Joseph Pugh, ex-Mayor Wesley Dunham, James H. Snell, Andrew J. Griffith and George Nichol, who were the lights in politics, met. It was their rendezvous at night, and a place of meeting of Sunday afternoons to discuss the situation; to make and unmake candidates. The Hon. Green Clay Smith, of Kentucky, Cassius M. Clay and George Francis Train have all met with the Anderson gentry there in social conclave. These last named gentlemen were often the guests of Colonel Stilwell in his lifetime, and of course much of their time was spent with the genial Hendersons and their friends. While the old building is rather a back number in appearance, it stands as a monument to a great part of Antlerson's history.

The Old Ginseng Days

In gathering dates and facts for a work like this a person has often to call upon the old-timer. He can furnish one with a date that could not otherwise be gotten. In coming in contact with them a person learns to love them, and to listen to their stories with an interest unabated. Often the point you wish is entirely forgotten, and you have been led off in a direction different from tiie one in which you started. In the old-timers of Madison county there is material for a book as big and as good as the Holy Bible. Their trials, joys and hardships are as sacred to them and as instructive to those strong, but, to appreciate it, "cultivate" the old-timer, as we have done. In the halcyon days of the pioneer of Madison county money was a legal tender just as it is to-day, but there was but little of it to tender, and people didn't make much fuss about free silver or a gold basis, as they do nowadays. Coon skins, tan bark, venison and wolf skins were good enough for them, and ginseng was a staple article. Many people made quite a little money by gathering this root and drying it for sale to the traders that came around at intervals and took up their stock on hands.

Ex-Mayor Dunham is one of the old-timers. He came to Anderson in 183'.), and is authority on all points of "ancient history" relative to Anderson. Air. Dunham has in his possession a day-book, or blotter, used by one of the early merchants of Anderson. Ginseng, hoop poles and wolf scalps were entered upon the book as cash payment for various articles purchased.

There is to-day a man living in Anderson who earned a livelihood in his boyhood days by digging ginseng. A ginseng factory was at one time located on Central avenue, near the spot now occupied by the armory, and the proprietor did a thriving business. The establishment was afterwards turned into a spruce beer factory. This has long since disappeared, but many of the older residents of Anderson will have a distinct recollection of it.