Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 72, 1897

Chapter 72

This township was named in honor of the sixth President of the United States. It contains an area of twenty-eight square miles, and is shaped like the letter \_. It is bounded on the north by Pipe Creek township (a small portion by Lafayette township), on the east by Lafayette and Anderson townships, on the south by Stony Creek township, and on the west by Hamilton county. White river runs through the township from east to west, and Pipe creek through the northwest corner. Stony creek has its source in the south-east corner of the township. As stated in a previous chapter, this township was one of the first settled portions of the county, the first settlers being two families of the name of Kinser and Dewey, who located here in 1821. The Deweys settled just opposite the present site of Perkinsville and the Kinsers on a tract of land that was subsequently entered by Daniel Wise. Just how long these two families remained in the township is not known, but probably not very long, as neither Kinser nor Dewey ever entered or bought land in the county. Benoni Freel was, perhaps, the first actual settler in the township, and there is still a tradition extant among the older residents of that part of the county that he built the first house and cleared the first land in the township. The house and the land upon which it was located were situated south of White river and near where Perkinsville now stands. The next settler in the township was Daniel Wise, who came from Ross county, Ohio, in the spring of 1822, and in the October following entered 400 acres of land south of the river, between Perkinsville and Hamilton. This land is still owned by his descendants. Tiie pioneers who settled in the township between 1822 and 1825 were William, David and John Montgomery, George Cunningham and Robert Blair, all from Ohio ; George, James and Alexander ISIcClintock, Joseph Lee, James White, Lemuel Auter, John Connor, Sr., John Connor, Jr., and Thomas Forkner. In the fall of 1825, as stated in the general history of the county, William Parkins, together with his wife and seven children, came to the township seeking a home, and into camp on the spot where Perkinsville is now situated, -where he remained until he leased a tract of land of Daniel Wise, erected a log cabin thereon and moved his family into it. It was about this time that the IndiJinapolis & Fort Wayne Toad was surveyed through the township, and in the fall and winter following, cut out by the settlers. This was the first mail route through the county.

In 1826 John Ashby came from Ross county and settled near the present site of Hamilton where he remained until his death which occurred two years later. A number of his descendants still reside in the vicinity of Hamilton. Among others who settled at an early day in the vicinity of Hamilton were Joel White, Joseph Lee, Joseph Miller, Joel Epperly, Robert Gather and the Ashbys, Robinnettes, Benefiels and Harlesses.

For several years after the township began to be settled the pioneers were compelled to take their corn to Pendleton to have it ground, the " corn-cracker " at that place being the nearest mill to the Jackson township settlement. It is fourteen miles from Perkinsville to Pendleton, and William Parkins, becoming tired of the inconvenience, not to say hardship, of going that distance to have his corn ground, concluded to construct a mill of his own, which he accordingly did and from that time on the settlers were not compelled to go so far for their corn meal. This mill was operated by hand, the stones or buhrs being made of native limestone and the rest of the machinery out of round poles. This mill could grind about one bushel of meal an hour and was patronized by the early settlers for miles around. In the course of a few years that part of the country increased in population and it became necessary to have increased milling facilities. Mr. Parkins with the assistance of the settlers constructed a dam across White river, opposite where Perkinsville now stands. The dam was made of logs, tree tops and brush and immediatel)' after it was completed Mr. Parkins built a water mill on the north bank of the river. This mill was a rude structure in which he placed one run of stones fashioned by himself and son, James, out of native " nigger heads." Another run of stones for grinding wheat was subsequentlj' added, also a bolting machine that was run by hand. A saw mill was built in 1854 and operated in connection with the grist mill. This property subsequently passed into the hands of Andrew Jackson, of Anderson, who in 1846 erected a large frame building on its site and placed in it the best milling machinery obtainable at that early day. The Indianapolis & Bellefontaine (Big Four) came into possession of the property in the early '50s for stock subscribed by Mr. Jackson for the construction of that road. It was afterwards purchased of the railway company by James M. and David B. Jackson, sons of Andrew Jackson, who operated it for a number of years, when tliey sold out to Jacob Zeller, who improved the property and built up a large trade. During the time he owned the property it was considered one of the best flouring mills in the state. He disposed of it to Alfred Clark and on the night of the 19th of August, 1884, it was consumed by fire together with a large amount of grain. This property has never been rebuilt.

A Methodist society was organized in the township about the j'ear 1824. Benoni Freel took an active part in the organization, and was the first class-leader in the township. The first regular services were held in a log schoolhouse, erected on the Daniel Wise farm by Mr. Dewey. This building is still standing about midway between Hamilton and Perkinsville, and is probably the oldest building in the township, having been erected in 1825. The first minister to preach here was' a Rev. Mr. Reeder. Revs. Nathan Fairchild, C. Bonner and Thomas Ellsberry were among the first ministers to preach in the township.

With the comingof immigrants to the township the society increased in numbers, and late in the '40s a brick church was erected in Perkinsville. This building stood until 1888, when it was torn down to give place to a more commodious and at the same time more pretentious place of worship.

United Brethren Church

It was some time during the '40s that a small number of this denomination met at the house of Samuel Gentry, just -east of Perkinsville, and organized a society. William Parkins took upon himself the leadership of the little flock, and, being a local preacher, conducted the services of the society. He was frequently invited to other neighborhoods to preacli, and on one occasion walked eighteen miles to preach a funeral discourse. Mr. Parkins and wife, Samuel Gentry and wife and Jacob Foland and wife formed the nucleus of the society, and held religious services at schoolhouses and private dwellings up to 1852, when the membership, which had gradually increased in numbers, built a frame church at Perkinsville at a cost of about .t 1,000. This church is still standing.

Methodist Protestant Church

In April, 1866, a society of this denomination was organized by Rev. Elias Wilson at Hamilton. The meetings were held at the homes of the members and in school houses until 1879, when the society erected a place of worship in Hamilton. The building cost about one thousand dollars and was dedicated October 19, 1879, free of debt by Rev. J. H. Luse, President of the Indiana Conference. Silas Busby, one of the most prominent members of the churcii, organized a Sunday school in May, 1879. that at one time had a large membership.

This town is one of the oldest in the county. It was laid out August 1, 1837, by T. L. Beckwith, James Beckwith and Bicknell Cole, on the west half of the north-west quarter of Section 33. This land was entered on the 30th of June, 1823, by John Montgomery.

The founders of Perkinsville wished to name the town in honor of William Parkins, but having confounded that name with " Perkins,'' the plat was placed on record as " Perkinsville. " It is worthy of note that but fe\v of the remaining old-timers of the county or township are aware of this discrepancy in these names, notwithstanding Mr. Parkins' prominence at one time in the township. The town is eligibly situated on the north bank of the river and at one time was one of the best business points in the countv. The absence of railroad communication, or connection, has retarded its growth and it has never had a population in e.xcess of four hundred and fiftypeople. The Indiana Central Canal was projected through the township and Perkinsville was at the heighth of its prosperity, perhaps, just before the collapse of that enterprise. Two years before the town was platted, Thomas L. Beckwith opened a general store and entered upon a career of business that made him prominent, not only in the township but in the county. He not only did a large mercantile business but dealt extensively in stock and during his career of more than forty years as a merchant and trader, handled as much, if not more.

money than any man in the county. He was appointed postmaster in 1838 and held the office for thirty-nine years, or until 1877, when he was succeeded by Moses Jenner, and he by E. C. Stephenson. The present postmaster is Joseph Lennis. Other early merchants were Hedrick & Bristol and Becknell Cole. During the '70s, A. J- Applegate, Luther Lee and E. C. Stephenson were the principal merchants. At the present time there are two general stores, one of which is owned by Reuben Neese, the other by Joseph Lennis. There are also two drug stores, two barbershops, and two blacksmithshops. There are two hotels, one of which is owned and managed by Thomas A. Dean, the present Trustee of the township.

Among the more prominent physicians who have practiced their profession here are Drs. Douglass, Clark, T. L. Carr, Thomas Cook, C. N. Branch, Sr., J. M. Garretson, C. E. Diven, J. S. Hougham, William Garretson and Noah Adair, the last three named being the only practitioners in the town at the present time.

The Schools

Perkinsville has a graded school, the building in which it is conducted being a two-story brick and admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is used. Three teachers are required to conduct this school.

Jackson township has eight school buildings and employs eleven teachers. The school enumeration for 189(5 shows that there are 385 persons of legal school age in the township.

The first school in the township was taught by a Mr. Williams about the year 1835, in a log cabin situated on the Daniel Wise farm. There were not to exceed ten pupils, among whom there were three or four of the McClintock children, an equal number of the Wise family and Joseph Lee.

Hamilton

This town was founded by Henry Devlin, father of the late Hon. Lafe Devlin, of Cambridge City, in 1836. He was the agent of Messrs. William Conner and John D. Stephenson, of Noblesville. These gentlemen were very active in locating towns and establishing store# along the line of the Indiana Central Canal at the time it was being constructed.

miles east of Perkinsville, near the south bank of White river. Considerable business was done here during the '40s, there being several business houses and a post-office ib. the lown. These have long since disappeared:and the probability is that Hamilton has seen its best days.

Population, Taxables, Etc

The value of lands as returned for taxation is $524,260 ; improvements, $46,885; personal property, $101,413; total amount of taxables, $687,273.

Miscellaneous Matters

The first blacksmith in the township was William Parkins, who established a shop soon after locating in the township. He made hackles and did a general blacksniithing business.

Robert Blair erected the first brick house in the township, on what is known as the Zeller farm, opposite Perkinsville, in 1827. The house is still standing.

An I. O. O. F. Lodge was instituted at Perkinsville in 1859, but surrendered its charter ten years ago. The first officers were: Culpepper Lee, N. G. ; T. L. Beckwith, V. G. ; W. W. Boyden, Secretary, and Jacob Zeller, Treasurer. The Red Men also had a Lodge at Perkinsville during the '80s, which has since passed out of existence.

Mr. Daniel Goldsberry is the oldest living native of the township. He is seventy-one years of age. His home is on the south side of White river, opposite Perkinsville.

Accidents And Incidents A Mysterious Disappearance

A Story is still told by the old-timers of the mysterious disappearance of a stranger at an early day in the township, and it is intimated that certain persons now dead were guilty of his murder. The man was traveling on horseback, as was m the Gustom in that day, and announced that he was visiting this part of the country for the purpose of buying land. The next day after his appearance in the township his horse was found grazing along the road between Hamilton and Perkinsville. The bridle and saddle were on the horse but a pair of saddle-bags, wliich had been seen in the man's possession by a number of persons, was missing. All the circumstances of the stranger's disappearance pointed to foul play, and it was generally believed that he had been murdered for his money. In 1847 Mrs. Samuel Shultz found a pair of saddle-bags in a hollow log near where the stranger's horse was found grazing along the roadside, and a few years ago some laborers, while opening a gravel pit near the same spot, exhumed the remains of a man. These circumstances created no little talk and revived anew the story of the stranger's disappearance. The old-timers, and others familiar with the facts and circumstances, have no hesitancy in saying that the stranger was murdered.

A Fated House

Back in the early fifties a man of the name of Daniel Wise lived on a farm in Jackson township. He had built what was then considered one of the finest farm residences in Madison county,' being a large two-story brick structure, situated near White river, fronting on the Anderson and Perkinsville stage road. He and his family had just got comfortably fixed when, on the 2d of June, 1853, a terrible cyclone swept through that part of the country, tearing his house to pieces, sweeping away his barn and other out-buildings and seriously wounding Lavina Regan, a married daughter stopping at the house.

It was one of the most disastrous storms in the history of the county up to that period. It leveled the timber for quite a wide strip through the adjoining neighborhood, tore down fences, and upturned houses and barns in its path of destruction.

About two miles north of the scene of this disaster another house was blown down, in which James Cusack, Clarkson Snyder and a small boy were badly hurt.

the same route, and again leveled this structure to the ground. Although the storm was a dreadful one, no lives were lost. Mrs. Wise and her family miraculously escaped being killed or receiving any personal injuries. The house at this time is occupied by Susan Wise, a widow, and her family.

Being a woman of fine business attainments and a good manager, she had saved the means left her at the decease of her husband and was able to rebuild immediately after the disaster. As rebuilt, it may be seen by the passer-by, who can yet distinguish the cracks in the brick walls that were made at the time of the first storm. Part of the walls were left standing and were of sufficient strength to permit of an addition thereto.

This is known in the neighborhood as the " fated house." Just why fate should be against this particular locality is hard to tell. It is situated in one of the most beautiful spots in Madison county, on the south bank of White river, overlooking a beautiful valley of fertile fields and meadows on either side.

Stabbing Affray At Perkinsville

On the 15th of September, 1873, a serious stabbing affray occurred in the village of Perkinsville, in Jackson township, the facts of which are about as follows : Thomas J. Thurman had a lawsuit in which Columbus Wall was a witness against him. After the termination of the suit, Thurman sought a quarrel with Wall about his testimony in the case, which -ended in blows. Wall struck at Thurman, but the blow was warded off. Thurman then caught Wall, whom he tried to stab with a large pocket knife. Fortunately, the point of the blade struck a rib, along which it passed, making a gash about six inches in length.

A bystander by the name of Isham Benefiel, at this juncture, in order to save the life of Wall, caught Thurman and held him until other parties wrested the knife from his hands. Wall, being freed from his antagonist, picked up a stone, which he threw at Thurman, missing him, and striking Benefiel in the face, cutting an ugly gash in his cheek and over his eye.

Both of the combatants were arrested by the Constable of the township and taken before 'Squire James M. Garretson, where Wall plead guilty as to his part in the transaction. Thurman's crime being of a more serious nature - that of as- sault and battery with intent to kill - was bound over to the Circuit Court, in the sum of two hundred dollars, which he gave and was released from custody, to answer the charge in the Circuit Court.

Death Of A Band Teacher

In the year 1874 a tidal wave swept over the country whereby the temperance people of the United States, in one solid phalanx, made warfare against the liquor traffic. Indiana was no exception to the rule, and in Madison county the excitement was carried to almost a fighting point. Women camped on the streets of Anderson, and prayed and sang in front of the saloons for months at a time. They sat in little booths in front of the places where liquor was retailed and registered the names of each individual who went within and partook of drinks there offered for sale. The movement became so widespread that it entered largelj- into the politics of the city, and was the cause of the defeat of the nominees of the Democratic party in the city election of that year, the Democracy having taken open issue against the crusade. Other towns and villages in the county had a similar experience, but not on so large a scale. In the town of Perkinsville considerable excitement prevailed and had about quieted down when a man of the name of John J. Sims dropped into that usually quiet precinct with the intention of opening up a saloon for the retailing of ardent spirits. This was the first licensed saloon ever opened in that place. Prior to this event liquors in that vicinity had been sold by the druggists.

On one coiner stood the store of John S. Hougham, where drugs, notions and liquors, for medicinal purposes, were sold, and it is said that in his back room beer could be obtained. He was succeeded by a man of the name of Lee, and a Mr. Ward, now deceased, who kept the store for a considerable length of time. On the opposite corner Mr. A. J. Applegate conducted a general assortment store, where groceries, -drugs, dry goods and liquors were sold. These gentlemen were the dealers in ardent spirits when the temperance wave struck the town. About this time the Perkinsville band, memorable in the annals of the village history, was at the zenith of its glory. A young man of the name of Frank Brewer, talented as a musician, a large, good-looking fellow, came to town and took charge of the band as its teacher. However, like a large portion of common humanity, he had a weakness for liquor. He boarded with William H. Wise, who was a member of the band, and who lived south of the river and east of the cemetery. On Sunday night, the 24th of Januarv. 1875, it was very cold and the river had been frozen for weeks. Mr. Brewer had been in town that night and had been drinking with some of the band boys, and left them apparently not worse for the liquor he had taken. He crossed on the ice in the river and started for his boarding house which, ho\vever, he did not reach, and in the morning was found dead in the grave yard. Above the river evidences of a desperate attempt to go across and up the hill in the cemetery were displayed by the footprints in the broken snow. It was a solemn and tragic scene on that quiet cold morning to behold the upturned face looking towards the sky, and his head resting beside a gravestone. Mr. Brewer was last seen alive by his friend, Mr. Elliott Lee, on the evening before his departure for his boarding house. Great excitement prevailed throughout the neighborhood over the finding of his remains. The band boys took possession of his body, buried it in the village cemetery, and afterward erected over his grave a handsome tombstone, the inscription thereon being as follows : "Frank Brewer, died January 25, 1875, aged 35 years. A member of the Perkinsville band."

No sooner was the news circulated in town that Brewer's bodv had been found in the cemetery than the church bells commenced to ring. It was whispered around that a man had died in the graveyard and that he had been drunk. The people became wild ; they soon congregated at the churches and a quasi organization was effected by the appointment of a committee whose duty it should be to call upon the liquor dealers and notify them to cease their ungodly trafhc. Fanaticism ran high and men who usually displayed ordinary common sense in business matters were entirely beside themselves. James \Vebb was appointed Marshal, and ordered the people to keep away from the saloons and off the streets. The committee first notified Sims, who was smart enough to see the drift of things, and without in any way crossing them in their desires proposed to sell his liquors to the committee and go out of the business.

Then the committee went to the store of A. J. Applegate, who did not readily consent to give up a profitable trade, but finally succumbed to the inevitable. After this the liquor trade was for a time centered in the hands of one J. M. Gar- retson, a leading temperance worker who sold liquors only for medical purposes. During the excitement some one entered his cellar and bored holes in the barrels and let his liquors out during the night.

A great deal of bitter feeling prevailed about the village during these times. The matter was referred to the Anderson newspapers and many articles pro and co7i were written upon the subject. Enemies of Mr. A. J. Applegate charged that he had sold the liquor to Brewer. Mr. Applegate had some very warm friends, who wrote to the papers in his behalf^ severely criticising the temperance people. It was even' denied that Brewer came to his death from any cause connected with the purchase of drink or alcoholic stimulants. Medical authorities were cited on the manner of Brewer's death, and at the Coroner's inquest, held by David B. Simms, Coroner of Madison county, it was revealed that a powder had been found in the pocket of the deceased. One physician testified, on being questioned by Attorney Ryan, of Anderson, that the powder was morphine, and that he could tell it at sight. Another swore that he could not tell whether it was quinine or morphine, but there was no evidence at all adduced that Brewer had taken any of the powder. And thus the mystery surrounding his death failed to be unraveled by even expert medical witnesses.

The temperance meetings were continued for some time, and man}- hundreds signed the pledge. Inflammatory speeches were made, and the horrors of intemperance were depicted. The meetings to a great extent furnished a kind of recreation during the long winter evenings, and oflfered the people a place to go. As spring came on the people resumed their usual avocations, and the spasm was over, but as already stated the temperance agitation in Perkinsville had its political efTect, as well as in the larger cities. In fact, it caused men who had never wavered in their political principles, not only to vote against the party with which they had always acted, but to fight it to the bitter end.

The Democrats in this section of the county were large gainers, because those who had been engaged in the liquor traffic were of the Republican persuasion.

Burning Of A Barn

Mrs. Laura Moore, a widow living in Jackson township near Perkinsville, had her barn and all of its contents destroyed by fire on the night of April 29, 1876.

The building contained six hundred bushels of corn, three horses and a number of farming implements, all of which -ivere destroyed. The fire was supposed to be of incendiary origin, but why anybody should apply the torch to the property of a helpless widow was more than anyone could imagine.

On the 9th of July, 1881, an unprovoked murder was committed in Jackson township on the person of William Hougham, a respectable and well-to-do young man about twenty-five years of age. The perpetrator of the crime was James Dallas Cook, one of the leaders of the notorious gang of young desperadoes that had disgraced that township, known as the " Peanutters." The particulars of this revolting crime were about as follows : It seems that at a party given on the evening of the day mentioned at the residence of John Roller in Perkinsville, several of the " Peanutters " had put in their appearance, as was their custom on such occasions, without being invited. They were kindly treated by the host .and all the guests present, who stood in fear of them. They were invited into the house and were treated to ice-cream. Not contented with what had been given them they repeatedly demanded more, but were told that there was none left, and that it was impossible to comply with their request. Young Hougham, who was present as a guest, being apprehensive of trouble went so far as to invite them out on the back porch to convince them that the refreshments had been consumed. Shortly after Hougham came back into the house a stone was thrown through the window, which struck him on the head near the temple, producing a fracture of the skull, from the effects of which he died the following Sunday morning.

On the death of Hougham a warrant was sworn out and placed in the hands of Constable Young, for the arrest of Cook. The Constable knowing his character and fearing to make the arrest alone, summoned a posse of twelve to help him catch the offender. Cook resisted the officer and his men, who fired several siiots, none of which took effect. He was finally arrested and taken to Anderson, and lodged in jail, and was held to await the action of the Coroner. On the Monday morning following, the Coroner proceeded to Perkinsville to hold an inquest on the body of young Hougham. He took with him Dr. Geo. F. Chittenden to make a post mortem examination. This was done and revealed the fact that Hougham's skull had been fractured in front and that a pus cavitv had formed just under the fracture, from the effects of which he died. Witnesses wlio were examined by the Coroner substantiated the fact that Cook was the one who threw the stone and a verdict was rendered against him in accordance with these facts.

James Dallas Cook was a young man about nineteen years of age, ratiier slender in build and of sandy complexion. He stoutly denied the terrible charge laid at his door and protested with great vehemence his innocence. He ^vas an orphan, alone in the world and had not even a sister, but had a half-sister, who resided with his step-father at Yorktown, in Delaware county. Public sentiment in Jackson township was strongly against Cook. He had been in other scrapes of a serious nature; among other things it was charged that he had struck John Albright, of that township, with a stone about a year previous to this occurrence, from the effects of which he never fully recovered. Cook waived examination before Mayor Dunham, preferring not to go into an investigation of the affair, and was remanded to jail to await the action of the Grand Jurj-.

Sheriff" Randle Biddle guarded the jail very closely for some time during Cook's confinement, from the fact that rumors had reached his ears that the incensed citizens of Jackson township contemplated a hanging without judge or jurj-, but the sober judgment of the people prevailed and this was averted.

Cook was indicted and placed upon trial at the following October term, being defended by Hon. W. R. Myers and D. W. Wood. The prosecution was conducted by Thomas B. Orr, who was then Prosecuting Attorney for the counties of Hamilton and Madison, assisted by the late Colonel Milton .S. Robinson. Both sides were ably represented, it being a battle of giants at the bar, which has seldom been repeated in

Killing Of Lewis Hayes

The village of Perkinsville was greatly excited on the 21st day of July, 1882, by a tragedy which occurred at that place, which resulted in the killing of Lewis Hayes by a man of the name of Clint Wilson. Hayes was a member of what was known in tjiat neighborhood as the " Peanut Gang," a crowd of boys and young men in Jackson township who had organized themselves as a body of embryo desperadoes. While they were not so desperate in their character, or did very many bad deeds, they were, nevertheless, a menace to the locality. They were in the habit of visiting schoolhouses at singing and spelling bees and church meetings, and generally kicked up a row of some kind. The neighborhood was afraid of them.

On the day above spoken of these young men had been drinking in Perkinsville and Wilson, while in the act of passing Hayes, who was accompanied by a young lady, gave him a push, which exasperated Hayes, who immediately drew a weapon and was about to assail Wilson, when the latter drew his revolver and shot Hayes in the heart. He fell dead in his tracks, and never showed any signs of life after the ball entered his body. The alarm was at once given in the neighborhood and the Coroner of the county sent for. An incjuest was held over the remains and Wilson was placed under arrest for murder. The occurrence took place in Hamilton county, just on the line of Madison county.

Wilson was indicted for manslaughter and was placed on trial and acquitted on the grounds of self-defence. The late Colonel M. S. Robinson defended him.

Burning Of William Perrv'S House

William Perrj-, farmer, of Jackson township, met with a very serious loss on Monday night, the 28th of September, 1885, when his residence and household goods were destroyed by tire. Tliere was no one at home at the time, except Mrs. Perry, ^vho was quite aged and infirm. She was badlv burned in attempting to save a portion of the household goods.

There was a granary in the adjoining building, which contained 500 bushels of wheat, and this was also destroyed. The loss to Mr. Perry was in the neighborhood of !t!2,000,with no insurance. It fell very heavily upon him, as all he had was but a small farm, upon which he lived, and -some personal property. Besides, he was well advanced in years.

Fire At Perkinsville

The residence of M. A. Willetts, at Perkinsville, was consumed by fire on Sunday night, the 16th day of May, 1886, together with all its contents, with the exception of a few minor articles which were taken out by the neighbors. Even the family wearing apparel was destroyed, with the e.xception of what the members had on their backs. The occupants of the home were all absent at church at the time the fire occurred. It was thought to have originated from a stove pipe that ran through a closet. The building was insured to the amount of $400, which did not cover the loss. Mr. Willetts was also loser ot forty or fifty dollars in money which he had in the house at the time.

Suicide Of Miss Edith Foland

Miss Edith Poland, a young lady living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Poland, in Jackson township, committed suicide on the 15th of October, 1888. Por some time she had been keeping company with the son of a neighboring farmer, a Mr. John Neese, to whom it is said she had been engaged to be married. Unfortunately the young man was attacked with sickness which undermined his health, and caused him to break off the engagement, which fell so heavily on the young lady that in a fit of despondency she sought relief in death. She took a powerful dose of poison and in a few moments thereafter she was a corpse. Her parents were very much distressed over the matter, and she was very much missed in the community in which she had lived. Her funeral occurred at Perkinsville on Tuesday following her death, a large concourse of people being in attendance. Young Neese was present on the occasion of her funeral and was very much affected by the sad scene.

Killed By A Horse

On the 29th of June, 1889, the family of Henry Kemp were horrified to find that he had been kicked to death in his barn, by one of his farm horses. No one was present to tell how it was done. His lifeless body was found by some of the family and after the excitement of the moment was over the neighbors were called in, and the Coroner, Dr. C. L. Armington. was sent for, who held an inquest, returning a verdict in accordance with the facts.

Mr. Kemp was one of Madison county's oldest and most highly respected citizens. He was a large farmer, and had accumulated quite a large fortune. He was the father of Daniel W. Kemp, the farmer and stock raiser of Jackson township, who yet survives him. The death of Mr. Kemp was severely felt in the community, as he was a leader among the farmers in his neighborhood. He was a Christian gentleman, ;;nd a staunch member of the Republican party, and always took an active part in politics, especially in local aflfairs. He was respected by his political opponents for his open avowal of his principals, and his manly way of warfare. He was seventy-five years of age when the occurrence took place. Mrs. Kemp, his wife, died at the old homestead in December, 1896.

A Triple Drowning

On the 19th day of July, 1889, while a number of young men and boys were in the river bathing near the village of Hamilton, about four miles west of Anderson, at a spot known as the McClintock ford, Philip Hosier, aged twelve years, and a boy named Todd, the son of Samuel Todd, about nine years of age, were drowned. As the river was somewhat swollen from recent rains, the older boj-s refused to let the small ones go in with them for fear of an accident. The lads, however, went farther down the river, and taking off their clothing waded in. They struck a swift current, which carried them beyond their depth, and before the larger boys could help them they were drowned. Everything that could be done to rescue the drowning lads was done, and one of the older boys came near losing his life in the effort to save them. The drowning boys were soon swept out of sight. The neighborhood was immediately aroused, and everybody turned out and patroled the shores in the hope of finding the bodies, but without success. The search was continued the next day and night, and on Sunday morning hundreds of people flocked to the river to render what assistance they could. The bodies were finally recovered at a considerable distance below where they had entered the stream, on the opposite side, and taken to the respective homes of their sorrowing relatives.

less workers in the attempt to rescue the bodies of the boys, also lost his life. He had been in the water almost constantly from early in the morning, and about noon, when some twenty or thirty feet from the shore, lost his hold of a rope that had been stretched across the river and was swept away in the swift current. He made frantic efforts to regain his hold of the rope, but the persons holding it seemed to be paraljzed by the scene, and, instead of dropping the rope down to him, pulled it away. He was considered a good swimmer and struggled hard to reach the shore, but the current was toomuch for him and he was dragged under and drowned. His body was found two miles below, where it had lodged against the bank. He left a wife and four children. His funeral took place from the family residence on the Tuesday following his death, and was conducted by tiie Red Men, of which. order he was an active member.

Swap Candidates

The old adage that " politics makes strange bedfellows," was verified in the campaign of 1882 in Madison county. In Jackson township the Democracy placed on their ticket for the office of assessor, Frank Shively. The Republicans met in convention in a few davs thereafter, and placed in nomination, for the same office Andrew J. Poland, and so the political tight set in. It was but a short time until, from some cause, the Republicans became lukewarm toward their candidate and doubted his sincerity, and strange to say, the Democrats thought their man was not just the "clear grit," and things got into a bad muddle. Finally, the party managers of both sides got together and concluded to trade c.indidates. The terms were agreed on, and the candidates both assented, the naines were changed on the tickets and the " band played on.'' The fight was a bitter one and never let up till the last vote was in, and the polls closed. At the counting of tlie ballots, it was discovered that the Democrats had won the victory. Mr. Foland, the successful candidate, took the office and made a good assessor, and has remained a Democrat good and true ever since. Mr. Shively has likewise been true to his Republican associates, and has been a good citizen of his township.

citement in religious circles, made her advent in Madison county in the month of June, 1886, when she pitched her tents in the beautiful grove along the river banks, near the village of Perkinsville, where she carried on her camp meeting for several weeks with great success. At that time she and her husband were living together, he doing the business for the firm, and she did the preaching. He had nothing to do with her large tent in which she held these religious services. He took charge of the eating stands and establishments for the sale of merchandise and luxuries that was dispensed to the hungry multitude. The first Sunday of the meeting a " grand opening" took place, after which services were conducted in her unique and singular style. She seemed to have a wonderful influence over people who were not very strong mentally and who were naturally inclined to be verv zealous in their religious beliefs. She did not preach but a short time until severa' of her congregation were laid out in trances, as stiff as boards. This kind of procedure was carried on to such an extent that the whole western part of Madison county was worked up into a state of religious excitement. Many converts were added to her already large congregation.

Mrs. Woodworth, in the following year, came to Anderson and established herself in Ruddles' grove, east of the city, on the banks of the old hydraulic canal, where she, for several weeks, held similar meetings. Here she made many converts, among whom may be named. Judge William R. West and Casper Hartman, an influential farmer of Lafayette township. In the following year an organization was effected, known as the Church of God, situated on South Brown street. Great excitement prevailed in Anderson during her stay, and for several years after her departure it was the subject of discussion in the beautiful temple situated at the place named. Mrs. Woodworth while here incurred the displeasure of some of the newspapers, which gave her a "sound roasting," and she figured quite extensively in a suit for libel, which resulted, as nearly all suits of that description do - to the disadvantage of the party bringing the action, and little gain for the fees paid to the attorneys and officers. Mrs. Woodworth is mentioned elsewiiere.

Jacob Zeller, An Old Citizen

He was owner and operator of the Perkinsville mills. His mill was the life of the town. Hundreds of teams came daily to his place to get their "grist" ground. Perkinsville was at that time one of the best trading points in Madison county. It had no other particular inducement to bring people than the fact that Jacob Zeller had his flouring mills there and that he was noted far and near as an honest, jolly old miller, who made the best of flour, gave good returns and took light tolls. But the old water mills, like all of the old inventions, gave way to the modernized idea of machinery. So Jacob's mill at last became a thing of the past, began to decay and was finally destroyed bj' fire. But its history and the history of its owner will long remain green in the meinory of those who have been its patrons.

Uncle Jake, as he was familiarly called, besides being a good miller, ^vas a great politician, strong in Democratic faith. He was the pillar of the Democratic temple in this locality. For years the party looked only to him to bring up the proper majority in his township, and he generally did it.

The campaign of 1868 was a lively one in Madison county. Mr. Zeller took more interest in the election of Hon. Horatio Sej'mour than he ever displayed in any previous election in his life. He seemed to think the entire "pressure" rested on him, and went to work with willing hands to do his duty.

About this time he purchased silver instruments and organized the first cornet band that Perkinsville ever had. It was fitted out with uniforms, a wagon and other necessary -equipments. Uncle Jake went far and near to the big rallies with his band, always riding alongside of the band wagon, giving directions and orders.

During the campaign a county rally was held at Anderson. Thomas A. Hendricks addressed the multitude at Jackson's grove. The people were numbered by acres. It was the largest political meeting in the history of the county. Jacob Zeller attended the meeting with his band. Before leaving Perkinsville he had his men get into their wagon, which was drawn by four elegant iron-gray horses. Mounting his charger, he ordered them to give three cheers for Seymour. "Yes, sir." "Now, poys, I tell you vat you do. You goes to Anderson to-day "to elect Seymour. Yes, sir. Ven you gets to Anderson, as you go up Ryan's hill, I vants you to play 'Killpatrick's Day in the Morning.' Dat elects

Seymour. Yes, sir ; and if you don't play dat piece, I takes dem horns from you. Yes, sir; I py dem horns myself. Dem's my horns. Yes, sir."

The trip was successfully made. When the head of the procession reached Ryan's hill (the old post-office corner) the band played "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning," after which they were halted and again ordered to give three cheers for Seymour. "Dat elects Seymour; yes, sir." Seymour was, however, badl^' defeated. His defeat could not possibly have hurt him worse than it did Jacob Zeller. He never got over it. He was so thoroughly wrought up to the belief that he would be elected that he could not see why he was not. This was his last active work in politics.