Marshall County, Indiana - Chapter 23, 1881

Exciting Amusements

Guosts AND GOBLINS - HAUNTED Hovuses - SvicipeE By HANGING - Gnosts, How THEY Live®, MOVE AND HAVE THEIR BEING - THE HAUNTED BAnNn - THE BABBINGYON HOUSE - MIDNIGHT VISITorns - A Guost Srony - *l WILL MEET you aT PHiLLipri" - EXCITING AMUSEMENTS. : and many of them believed that snpernatural spooks were accustomed to roam abroad at the bewitching hour of night when graveyards are supposed to yawn. That there are plenty of ghosts, in the minds of many, does not admit of a doubt. Hundreds of people have seen them, and are able to describe them even to the texture of their hair and the color of their eyes.

time, and are generally found by timid people, along some lonely path in the woods, iu a graveyard, or in some deserted house or barn where some awful tragedy was supposed to have occurred.

and in fact no one has ever approached near enough to lay violent hands upon them, had they felt so inclined. Upon first sight of a ghost, one's hair is inclined to stand erect on his cranium, and his courage, like the simple Bob Akers, generally oozes out of the ends of his fingers. His natural inclination is to get out of the way as rapidly as the nature of the case will admit, and allow these midnight disturbers of belated travelers to have things all their own way. Ghosts sometimes take after a man and "chase" him along the road, always taking particular care to keep a safe distance in the rear. Ghosts are not all alike by any means. In fact, no two have ever been seen whose description is the same. They are almost invariably enrobed in a white sheet, and float around buildings, glide along roads, and vanish away without any perceptible effort, and dissolve into thin air in the most unaccountable sort of way. Some of them ride great white horses, carrying immense flashing swords, and out of their mouths streams of fire and smoke have been seen to issue like the belching forth of a miniature volcano. Sometimes they ride through the air on great chariots, and sometimes they fly about with wings like sprites from Fairy Land. They never talk - that is, pinaforically speaking - " hardly ever." Sometimes low, gutteral sounds have been heard to issue from the locality where ghosts were supposed to be, but on examination and full investigation, no definite conclusion could be arrived at. So far as is known, ghosts live entirely without eating, at least they have never been known to eat anything. In fact, the places where they are oftenest found are entirely destitute of provisions. They don't use tobacco cigar. They are not presumed to wear clothes, but they usually have modesty enough about them to cover their nudity with a clean white sheet. Just exactly what they are, and what in the name of the Old Nick they prowl around for, no one, however well posted in ghostology, has ever yet been able to tell. People who believe in ghosts, however, assert that they are the departed spirits of dead persons who had committed some awful crime while living. In some of these places where ghosts are supposed to hover about, it has been conjectured that vast treasures might have somewhere been stolen and buried there, and these ghosts are the guardian angels, so to speak, sent to protect these valuables from being discovered and carried away. Of course, all this ghost business, in this enlightened day and age of the world, is the merest nonsense, and no one endowed with a grain of common sense believes there is such a thing as a ghost, or that the spirits of dead men ever return to this mundane sphere after they have "shuffled off this mortal coil" This much has been written simply for the purpose of enabling the writer to speak of two or three buildings which are said to have been, in days gone by, favorite resorts for all sorts of spooks and goblins and ghosts, albeit they have long since ceased to attract attention as having been haunted.

On the place then owned by Charles Ousterhaut, two miles south of Plymouth, some thirty and five years ago, there was a barn a short distance from the house in which, according to tradition, a man committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope fastened to one of the rafters. Whether this story is true or not cannot be definitely stated, owing to the lack of reliable data. But that is neither here nor there for the present purpose. The story got abroad that the ghost of the dead man had taken up its abode in and about the barn, and numerous passers that way late of nights, averred in the most positive manner that the place was haunted, and that his ghost or some unknown apparition answering the same purpose, had been frequently seen flitting around the corners, peeping over the comb of the building, and cutting up all sorts of ghostly didos. Many were the stories that timid mea and boys told of the remarkable sights that they had there seen with their own eyes, and for many years almost every one passing that way looked upon the building and surroundings with "fear and trembling." Of course, there were no ghosts there, but the disordered imagination of timid men, women and children, based on the death of the man who had met an untimely end there, was sufficient to produce any quantity ofunearthly creatures, and so it took the name of the "haunted barn."

What is known as the Babbington House, in West Plymouth on the Brewery road, has for many years been regarded by many superstitious persons, as the headquarters for ghosts and hobgoblins, and many persons have refused to occupy it as a residence on that account. The property was owned by William Babbington, who bore the reputation of being a reckless sort of fellow, having very little regard for the world, the flesh, or the devil, as the phrase goes. He was Deputy United States Marshal during the war, his special business being the hunting up of deserters and "skedaddlers" generally. He was a tall, stoutly built man, and being clothed with a little brief authority, used it, as many thought, arbitrarily. He made many bitter enemies, some of whom charged him with crimes which, if true, would have sent him to the bad without the benefit of clergy. Whether any of these stories were true or not is unknown, as no judicial investi- gation was ever had; but certain it is his enemies believed them, and when he died some years ago, the house in which he had lived and finally died at once became the rendezvous for all sorts of ghosts and nocturnal apparitions, The building was allowed to go to rack for the reason that no one could be induced to occupy moved on in this way until the early part of 1880, when a circumstance oceurred that proved conclusively to the minds of many that the stories of the "haunted house" were partially true at least. The building was occupied by John W. Richey and family, who had moved in a few days prior to the occurrence about to be related. About 10 o'elock one dark and dreary night, Mr, Richey, was aroused from his slumbers by some unknown persons who requested admission. On arising, Mr, Richey was confronted by five men, all strangers to him, three of whom had large carpetsacks, and the fourth a large bag resembling a mail-bag. The oldest man among them seemed to be the commander, and he informed Mr. Richey that they had no designs against him or his property: but one of the number had resided in the house some eight years before, and that they desired the privilege of digging in the cellar. Having received permission - which they would have taken, whether they received it or not - three of the men went down in the cellar, one remained with the family, and the man who did the talking left. The parties worked away in the cellar, the noise of the pick and shovel being heard unceasingly until abont 1 o'clock A. M., when it stopped. Mr. Richey looked into the cellar where he saw the men in the floor of the cellar, and dug a hole three by six feet, and about four feet deep under the cellar floor, came up from the cellar and informed Mr. Richey that they failed to find what they expected, but an examination of the cellar the following morning gave indications of a box having been nnder the cellar, as the impression of it in the dirt was very plain to be seen. Having completed their work, the men hastily got into a wagon in waiting near by, and rapidly drove away. Search and inquiry were made for them but nothing as to who they were, whence they came, or whither they went was ascertained.

A Ghost Story

The following remarkable ghost story was related by a traveler in Egypt in search of ancient manuscripts some years ago, and is applicable in this connection as illustrating how many of these stories are concocted. Onur traveler went in search of a ruined monastery in the Necropolis of Thebes, whose Coptie library was supposed to be hid away in the region round about. acquainted with a carpenter who related to him the history of the ruined Coptie Monastery, and stated that its library was still in existence, and that he was its guardian. Hecontinnes: "After go to the place where they were concealed at night in order that no one might follow our footsteps, and that I should go alone with him. I agreed to al! this, and on the appointed night we sallied forth after dark. We had only just light enough to see our way across the plain. Skulls and bones were strewn in onr path; and often at the mouths of tombs the night wind would raise up fragments of the bandages, which the sacrilegious hand of the spoilers of the dead had corn from the bodies of the Egyptian mummies in search of the amulets and ornaments which are found upon the breasts of the deceased subjects of the Pharaohs. Away we went stumbling over ruins and escaping narrowly the fate of those who descend into the tomb before their time. Sometimes we heard the howl of tle hyena, but we kept on our way by many a dark ruin and yawning cave. At last, after a fatiguing walk, we deseended suddenly into a place something like a gravel pit, one side of which was closed by the perpendicular face of a low cliff, in which adoorway, half filled up with rubbish, betokened the existence of an ancient tomb. By the side of this doorway sat a little boy. which I discovered to be the carpenter's son. It was here that the Coptie manuscripts were concealed. I now produced from my pocket three candles, which 'the carpenter had desired me to bring, one for him, one for his son, and one for myself. Having lit them, we entered into the doorway of the tomb, and passing through a short passage found ourselves in a great sepulchral hall. The earth and sand which had been blown into the entranee, formed an inclined plane, sloping downward toward another door sculptured with hieroglyphies, through which we passed into a second chamber, on the other side of which was another doorway leading into a magnificent subterranean hall, divided into three aisles by four square columns, two on'each side. On the walls were various hieroglyphics, and on the square piers tall figures of the gods of the infernal regions were portrayed in brilliant colors, with their immense caps or crowns, and the heads of the jackal and other beasts. At the further end of this chamber was a stone altar. The Coptic manuscripts, of which I was in search, were lying npon the steps of the altar, except one, larger than the rest. which was placed upon the altar itself. There were about eight or nine in number, all brown and musty looking books written on cotton paper. Having found these ancient books, we proceeded to examine their contents, and to accomplish this at ow ease we stuck the candles on the ground. "We pored over four or five of them, and while we were puzzling over the fifth one, we thought we heard a noise. 'Ob, father of hammers!' said I to the carpenter, 'I think I heard a noise! what could it be? I thonght I heard something move.' 'Did you? Oh, merchant!' for surely there can be nothing here to make a noise. It is nothing - certainly nothing.' And so saying he lifted up one of the candles and peered about in the darkness, but there was nothing. We proceeded, however, in our examination, until there remained only the great book upon the altar, a ponderous quarto. and this the carpenter's son, with difficulty, lifted from its place and laid it down before us on the! ground; but as he did so we heard the noise again. The carpenter and I looked at each other; he turned pale, perhaps I did so too, and we looked over our shoulders in a sort of anxious, nervous kind of way, expecting to see something - we did not know what. However, we saw nothing. As I bent over the huge volume again, to see what it was about, suddenly there arose a sound somewhere in the cavern, but whence it looked aghast; I felt a gentle perspiration coming on which would Snddenly fhe dreadfn} roar ceased, and as its echoes died away in the tomb, we felt considerably relieved, and were beginning to try to put a yool face upon the matter, when to our unutterable horror, it began again and waxed louder and londer, as if legions of infernal spirits were let loose upon us.

longer; the carpenter and I jumped up from the ground, and his son, in his terror, stumbled over the manuscript, and fell upon the candles which were all put out in a moment; his screams were now added to the uproar which resounded in the cave: seeing the twinkling of a star throngh the vista of the outer chambers, we all set off as hard as we could run, our feelings of alarm being increased to desperation, when we perceived that something was chasing us in the darkmess, while the roar seemed to increase every moment. How we did tear along! 'The devil take the hindmost' seemed about to be literally fulfilled, and we raised stifling clouds of dust as we scrambled up the steep slope which led to the outer door. So then, thought I, the stories of gins, and ghouls, and goblins, that I have read of and never believed, must be true after all, and in this city of the dead it has been our evil lot to fall upon a haunted tomb. Breathless and bewildered, the carpenter and I bolted ont of this infernal place into the open air. We had not been out a moment before our alarm was again excited to its utmost pitch. The evil one came forth in bodily shape and stood revealed to our eyes distinetly in the pale light of the moon. While we were gazing upon the appearance, the carpenter's son, whom we had quite forgotten in our hurry, came creeping out of the doorway of the tomb upon his hands and lmees. 'Why, father,' said he, 'if that is not Old Fatima's donkey which has been lost these two days! It must have wandered into this tomb, and it might have been starved if we had not met with it to-night.'

*T have related the history of this adventure because on some foundation like this many well accredited ghost stories are founded. Numerous legends and traditions, which appear to be supernatural or miraculous, and the truth of which has been attested and sworn to by credible witnesses, have doubtless arisen out of facts which actually did oceur, but of which some essential particulars have been either concealed or had escaped notice; and thus many marvelous histories have gone abroad which are so well attested that, although common sense prevents their being believed they cannot be proved to be false."

All have heard the expression, "TI will meet you at Phillippi." It originated in this way: Mareus Brutus, after the assassination of Julius Cesar (through the connivance of Brutus and Cassius,) was in command of an armyinAsia. A little before he left Asia, as is recorded in history, he was sitting alone in his tent one night, by a dim light, and at a late hour. The whole army lay in sleep and in silence, while Brutus, wrapt in meditation, thought he perceived something enter his tent. Turning toward the door, he saw a horrible and monstrous specter standing silently by his side. "What art thou?" said he, boldly. "Art thou god or man? and what is thy business with me?' The specter answered: "T am thy evil genius, Brutus. Thou wilt see me at Phillippi." (The plains of Phillippi was where the next great battle was to be fought.) To which Brutus calmly replied: 'Ill meet thee there." When the apparition was gone he called his servants, who told him they had neither heard any noise nor had seen any vision. That night he did not go to rest, but went early in the morning to Cassius and told him what had happened. Cussins, who was of the school of Epicurus, and used frequently to dispute: with Brutus on these subjects, made a reply that no one since his time has been able to answer. He said: "It is the opinion of our sect that not everything we see is real, for matter is evasive and sense deceitful. Besides~the impressions it re- ceives are, by the quick andsubtle influence of imagination, thrown into a variety of forms, many of which have no archetypes in nature: and this the imagination effects as easily as we may make an impression on wax. The mind of man, having in itself the plastic powers and the component parts, can fashion and vary its objects at pleasure. This is clear from the sndden transition of dreams, in which the imagination can educe, from the slightest principles, such an amazing variety of forms, and eall into exercise all the passions of the soul. The mind is perpetually in motion, and that motion is imagination, or thought. But when the body, as in your cuse, is fatigued with labor, it naturally suspends or perverts the regular functions of the mind. Upon the whole, it is highly improbable that there should be any such beings as demons or spirits: or that. if there were such, they should assume a human shape or voice, or have any power to affect us. At the same time, I own I could wish there were such beings, that we might not rely on fleets and armies, but find the eonemrence of the gods in this ow' sacred and glorious enterprise.' But enongh on this subject.

In the early days, before the completion of the railroads and telegraph lines, when only the primitive stage-coach attracted the attention of the people three times a week, and when merchants and business men generally had but a few hours' work to do each day, games of all kinds suited to the fancy of the different turns of mind and the physical eapacity of the individual, were improvised, and many were the amusing scenes and incidents that occurred. When Plymonth was a village of three or four hundred inhabitants, the complicated and entertaining game of marbles was the one mostly indulged in. Ministers, lawyers and doctors, merchants and others, all had their pockets full of "white alleys," and it was not an uncommon occurrence to see these potent, grave, and reverend seniors, " knuckling down" as the final performance indicating the end of a game. The mania for playing any kind of game of chance is generally contagious, and if it is not too difticult to learn, is only a question of time as to the whole population becoming infected. Enthusiasts have been known to become so much interested in the game of marbles that lamps and lanterns had to be provided for the accommodation of the players in the street as the shades of evening drew on. ~ "Town ball" was also a favorite amusement for those who delighted in violent exercise of that kind. And there were many who became exceedingly expert players. They conld throw a ball as straight as a bullet and almost as swift; and there were others who could catch them if they were thrown in catching distance. And woe be to the runner who was fonnd between the " by's," when one of these balls was thrown at him. If he escaped being hit, the surgeon might have lost a job setting a broken limb. "Bull pen" was another favorite game, and many remember even to this day the hard knocks they received in trying to escape the tortures of that classically named inclosure.

Pitching horse-shoes was also one of the favorite out-door games, and he who could oftenest "ring the meg" was considered the champion pitchist. This was a great Sunday game, and there

Sabbath Day. They have probably forgotten it by this time, and have tmed their attention to higher and holier things as the day of rest weekly rolls round, and these early indiscretions shall not be laid up against them. And there were foot-races in those days, and they sometimes ocewred in the middle of the street, sini there were occasions when great preparations were made for these feats of rapid pedestrianism, And to vary the monotony there was an oecasional " horse-race,"' and when these occured there was generally betting and drinking, and an occasional knockdown to wind np with. And there were jumping matches, too. Run and jump, stand and jump, hop, step and a jump, and a jump baekward and' forward. There were wheelbarrow races in which the contestants were blindfolded, and bag races, and every other conceivable kind of races the mind of man could conceive. And there was "snipe hunting," with greenies to hold the bag: mock trials, and debating societies, and country dances, and social parties, and the like, enongh to make one's head swim to relate them all. And as the years went on, and society became more cultured, most of these amusements were abandoned, and then came the more refined games of checkers, and backgammon, and eucher, and all sorts of games with cards, and chess, and the like; and all kinds of puzzles and problems, and enrious contriyances to test the ingennity and capacity of those who delight to spend their time in working out abstruse and diflicult problems. These things take hold of the people like any other epidemic, and having spent their fury, the patient recovers much in the same way as do people who have had the small-pox, whooping-eough, measles, or any other disease that suddenly takes hoid, and subsides when the feyer "goes down." Among the most remarkable instances of this kind was what was known as the 13-15-14 craze. Nothing like it was ever known before aud probably never will be again. It originated in Boston and within a few weeks spread like wild-fire all over the United States, and probably found its way across the sea. It was so simple and looked so easy of solution that every one who looked at it a minute made up his mind that he could do it in a short time without much difficulty, The solution of the puzzle consists simply in getting the 15 on the place where the 14 stands and the 14 where the 15 is, by moving the blocks without taking them from the board, so that the numbers will all stand in regular order, the last row reading 13-14-15. The little joker was simply fifteen square blocks made to fit a box holding sixteen blocks arranged in this way:

Large rewards were offered to any one who would furnish the correct solution, and as it had the appearance of being so easy of accomplishment, almost everybody went at it - lawyers, doetors, merchants, clerks, laboring men, preachers, women and children, 'old men and maidens and them that stooped for age," all joined in the general panic, and so intense became the excitement that for a week or two business was almost entirely suspended. In the course of a few days, however, it was ascertained that the "thing couldn't be did," and one by one the little boards and blocks were Inid aside, and the monomaniaes who had almost gone crazy ou the subject, resumed their regular ocenpations, and

Spiritual Manifestations

Spiritualism, through the instrumentality of mediums, has at different times during the past twenty years been quite fully tested in different parts of the county, and many remarkable demonstrations have been developed. The qnestion of the existence in a conscious state of the spirits of human beings after death, and as to whether they can in any manner communicate to the living, has long been mooted, and has puzzled the wisest heads of our time. There are many who look upon everything connected with spiritism as being purely and simply humbuggery, while very many are just as confident there is much in it susceptible of complete and perfect demonstration. The manner of the demonstrations has been changed many times since it first took hold upon the minds of the people. The first was by "rapping." This system was made famons and infamous, too, by the Fox girls. of Rochester, N. Y., several years ago, who were detected and exposed as imposters of the first water. The rappings were produced in various ways by themselyes - mostly by a dextrous manipulation of the toes, Then came the cabinet performances of the Davenport Brothers. and others, the tipping of tables, the playing of musical instruments by invisible hands, and, later on, the materialization of persons who had died, all of which were, in the course of time, shown to have been the work of the mediums themselves. prominent among whom was Katy King. whose deception caused Robert Dale Owen to die of a broken heart. Then came the writing mediums, which seem to have, so far, avoided detection, if they have been playing upon the credulity of the people. That there is something in what is known as "Modern Spiritism," does not admit of fa doubt, but that the performances are the work of departed spirits has not, so far as the general public is concerned, been satisfactorily proven, and, of course, never will be. Within a few months past, a fresh impetus has been given to this belief. in various portions of the county, by talking and writing mediums, who aecidentally camo under the influence, as they claim, of the spirits of some of their departed friends. For the purpose of witnessing some of these demonstrations, the writer, in company with a friend not long since, attended a " seance" at the residence of one of the early settlers of West Township. He was here before the Indians were driven away, was familiar with many of them, and was able, at that time, to talk fluently the langnage of the Pottawatomie and Miami tribes. He is a thoroughly reliable man and would scorn to be guilty of deception. The "circle" was formed in one of the upper rooms in his house. A common plain wooden table stood in the center, a stove in one corner, and aside from the chairs used by those present, nothing else was in the room. '~ There were five ladies and nine or ten men and boys present, all of whom seated themselves about the table. The " battery " was formed by all placing both hands upon the table, the left hand upon the right hand of the person seated on the right. The lights were extinguished, and all joined in singing the familiar hymn: "When T can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, Tl hid farewell to every fear And wipe my weeping cyes,"*

A moment of silence, and the right hand of one of the medinms began to have a nervons twitching, which rapidly increased until the table resonnded as from the blows of a mallet. In the meantime, two or three of the other mediums were similarly operated upon, and then the knocking gradually subsided, and finally entirely ceased. Then the audience joined in singing: "We have fathers in the spirit land - Glory, Hallelujah, ' We have mothers in the spirit land - Glory, Hallelujah."

' And so on ad infinitum, Auring which time the knockings increased, and the four mediums were moved by the spirits of as many Indians to join in a regular pow-wow, and for the space of ten or fifteen minutes, it seemed like pandemonium had been Jet loose. So far as could be detected from the sound of the voices, the langnage was pure Indian and was the same by the lady, two boys and the man who were operated upon. The spell went off of all the mediums about the same time, and then al] was again still. Then the audience joined in singing:

There's a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way, To prepare us a dwelling place there."'

After which a stuttering woman, apparently, took possession of one of the lady mediums, and for the space of ten or fifteen minutes a stuttering matinee was performed, which excelled anything in that line ever heard on this muudane sphere. She was asked if she would return again, to which she stammered out: "B-b-b-b-by t-t-t-t-the g-g-g-grace 0-v-0-of G-g-g-god I-L-L-1L-Vl t-t-t-t-try.".. She then disappeared and was heard no more during the evening.

Another song was sung, and the medium again came under the "influence." This time the spirit had been an Irishman while in the flesh. He seemed to understand himself and talked glibly in his native tongue without hesitation. He introduced himself to the audience by saying :

Brown. She said "what a glorious thing it is that the spirit cannot be put away, while the body can be put away in various places. Twenty years ago, I was put away by three men in a rag house at Fort Wayne, Ind. One of the men whose head is whitened for the grave is tottering on a cane." She became indignant upon being asked in regard to the manner of her death, and declining to give the names of the men engaged in the affair, she took her departure.

A description of the foregoing " seance" has been given as applicable toall others. As said in the beginning, there are many who believe that the action of the mediums is caused by departed spirits, and many conscientious, religious people are as thoroughly conyineed that it is the work of the devil, and believe any one who gives countenance to it is in danger of going to eternal perdition, while another class of matter-of-fact sort of people, among whom the writer is one, incline to the belief that it is produced by certain laws governing electricity and mesmeric influences, which, in the " world's to-morrow," may be fully and completely explained. Less than two years ago, when it was announced that people could talk with their friends hundreds of miles distant over telegraph wires. through the instrumentality of the telephone, not one out of each one hundred thousand believed that it could be done. Still it has become a veritable reality. Even the tone of voice can be distinguished hundreds of miles, and yet no one has been able to explain how it is accomplished. It is known that electricity is one of the agents, but what electricity is no one has yet been able to satisfactorily explain. Platinum, certain mechanical devices and the sound produced by the human voice are all necessary to the operation, but behind all this there is a controlling power, supernatural it may be, that completes the workings of this little mysterious machine. The same general laws that produes electrical currents, mesmeric and spiritual manifestation, socalled; that produce miraculous conversions during exciting religious revival meetings, and that took away the appetites of drankards during the blue ribbon excitement, are all one and the same thing. But suppose it could be demonstrated beyond the possibility of a doubt that the spirits of our departed friends are in a state of consciousness after death, and are able to manifest themselves to finite beings through the instrumentality of mediums! what of it? What good can it possibly do in preparing us, while strutting our little time on this stage of existence, for the mysteries and realities of the unknown world to which all are fast hastening. None whatever. Therefore, even as a scientific subject, it is only barely worth investigation by those who have the time, inclination and ability to engage in it.

Conclusion

'Tis done! The labor attending the preparation of this work has been long continued, laborious and irksome. As the days and nights passed by, one after another, with weary head and tired body, at times human endurance seemed to be exhausted, and as one discouragement after another came in quick succession, serious thoughts were entertained of easting the manuscript into the devouring flames and abandoning the work entirely. But, through the encouragement of kind friends, perseverance has stimulated the performance of the work laid out in the beginning, and the end has af last been reached, This little work - the first of its kind in Marshall County - with all its imperfections (and they are many, no doubt), is now sent out to the people to undergo the ordeal of public criticism, and to stand or fall on whatever merit it may be found to possess.

The work has been compiled and written, not for the purpose of obtaining notoriety, but simply asa "labor of love." All reference to the author, except such as was necessary to properly perpetuate historical events with which he was connected, has been omitted.

The big "I" and little "we" nowhere appear, and sentences have been so constructed, so far as was possible, as to avoid the use of the term, "the writer," so that it cannot be truthfully said that he has written the work as 4 sort of autobiography for the purpose of sounding his own praise. No such thought entered his mind, and it would have been infinitely preferable to him if all mention of his name could have been omitted. This much is written for the purpose of forestalling any unfavorable criticism that wight otherwise be made in this respect.

As to the matter contained in the work, there is no doubt that many errors of omission and commission will be discovered by the critical reader. Personal recollections haye been proven to be very imperfect, and seldom two persons could be found whose statements could be made to harmonize. Many who read these sketches, and knew all about the facts attempted to be recited, will observe these errors, and will, doubtless, think it strange that the writer and " everybody else" did notknow them also. Such persons were the very ones it was desirable to interview, but time and opportunity did not permit. The records of the several county offices have been searched from beginning to end, and even these, in the eurlier days especially, on account of imperfect indexing, and failure to make full and complete records, in many important transactions connected with the early history of the county, have been found to be very unsatisfactory. Even the county newspapers, wp to about fifteen years ago, were very deticient in items of a local nature, and many times matters of importance were disposed of in a general way, withont giving the particulars necessary to impart the desired information. The future historian, however, will have none of these annoyances to contend with, as the details are now carefully given, and everything worthy of note finds a place in all the local publications.

The matter prepared for and published in the Plymouth Demoerat of February 24, 1876, several historical sketches written by the author and published in the same paper before and after that time, have been utilized, so far as the same could be made applicable, without giving credit, as would have been done had not the same been originally produced by the writer of these sketches. Some statistical and other matter, written by Rev. Warren Taylor, and published in the Marshall County Republican in the early part of 1859, has been appropriated without, in every instance, giving credit to the source from which the information was derived, as it became necessary to change the verbiage, and the proper credit could not be conveniently inserted without going out of the way to do it. Full credit is therefore given here. The sketches of

Mr. Taylor were the first attempt at preserving the history of the county, and to him are the people indebted for the preservation of much useful information that otherwise would have beer entirely lost.

The work has grown to such an extent that much interesting matter already prepared must be entirely omitted, and many scenes and incidents that it was desirable to elaborate have been eliminated to the smallest possible dimensions consistent with a true statement of the facts.

In the preparation of the work, it has been the aim of the writer to state fects, embellished with such rhetorical flourishes at his command as the subject seemed to require, and in no instance has he ventured an opinion of his own as to the propriety or impropriety concerning any subject about which he has written. He has aimed to oceupy the position of a witness, sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, testifying before those

Thanks and credit are due to a host of kind friends who cheerfully assisted in various ways in imparting information askud for, and, did space permit, it would be a real pleasure to hand their names down to posterity by inserting them here.

| concerning "the days of Auld Lang Syne,' many scenes and incidents, forms and faces rise up like some weird apparition, as in mockery of earlier and happy days, now gone, alas! never to return. "Tis a time

Hoping and trusting that that charity which covers a multitude of shortcomings, will be extended in all its fullness; and invoking the indulgence of the reader in behalf of whatever may be found amiss, the worn pencil, the faithful pen, the "intelligent" scissors, the historical paste-pot, the half bushel of notes, data and memoranda, used in compiling the matter preceding this, are each and all deposited in that literary sepulcher from which there shall be no resurrection; and the writer, bidding each and all a " heartwarm fond adieu," truns his face from the " dead past" to the opening scenes of a brighter and better future.

Union TownsHi1P - ORGANIZED MAY 1, 18383 - EARLY SETTLEMENT - Log CaBins - GOING TO MILL - NEIGHBORLY ACTS - FEVER AND AGuE - First Docrors - FirsT ScHooLs - Knicurts or Sr. Cris- PIN - PREACHERS - PETITIONERS FOR TOWNSHIP - MARMONT - MAXENKUCKEE - HIsTor1CAL - NAMES OF First SETTLERS - First CEMETERY.

however, the only ones now known, who were there in that year. In the spring of 1836, in the vicinity of Maxenkuckee Lake, and farther north and east in the direction of Plymouth, the Voreises, Morrises, Thompsons, McDonalds, Dicksons, Brownlees, Houghtons, Blakelys and others arrived and made a permanent settlement. From this on, the settlement of this region was rapid and permanent. Except that portion of the township known as the "Burr Oak Flats," the land was thickly timbered and full of undergrowth. Cabins of the roughest kind of logs were ereeted and coyered with clapboards "rived" out of oak timber which were held to their place by logs fastened on the laps. Chimneys were built of small poles, and the cracks in the house and ehim- If it was desirable to have a window, part of a log was taken out, a rough frame, covered with greased paper, would be put in. The furniture, except such articles as had been transported by wagons when the emigration came, was of the most primitive workmanship. At this time there were no white people nearer than the Michigan road, and few there. The Indians outnumbered the whites two to one, and it was uncertain at that time whether cr not the treaty entered into between them and the Government by which they were to leave the country could be carried ont. The tympanum of the average Indian that inhabited this region could hardly be made to see the justice of being forced to leave his hunting-grounds for the accommodation of what he looked upon as being a few white adventurers, and until they were driven away two years later, they were the imaginary terror of timid men, women and children. They were peaceable, however, and the anticipations of danger were never, in a single instance, realized. No disturbances of any kind ocenrred.

There were no roads or bridges in those days, and he who did the milling for the neighborhood, blazed his way as he went, and if he succeeded in making the trip to Logansport (the nearest grist-mill) and returned in two weeks, he was applauded as having accomplished a great feat. Sometimes he would break his wagon; sometimes his oxen would get stuck in the mire, and other unforseen accidents befall him by which he would be delayed. Then the rations would run short, and those dependent upon his return would have to crack corn with such appliances as were at hand, live on lye hominy, and such wild game as the Nimrods of the neighborhood could procure. If the fire went out at night, which was not an infrequent ocurrence, a "chunk cd were considered essential in every well-regulated family. People then knew nothing of friction matches; nor did they enjoy the Inxury of tea, coffee, sugar, molasses, or anything of that kind. They were not to be had and if they could have been bought, there were no "greenbacks" or "dollars of the daddies" to buy them with. There were no churches then, no schoolhonses, no country stores, no shoe shops, no blacksmith shops, no wagon shops, in fact - nothing that the people needed. Home-spun flax pants, and shirts of a little finer material, the sleeves and collars fastened with a needle and thread, an inferior straw hat, and boots or shoes of an inferior quality, generally badly worn, constituted the average Sunday outfit at that time and for sometime afterward. The country was full of swamps and wet places, and the malaria that arose therefrom in the spring and summer was suflicient to prostrate more than half the population. Such a time with bilious fever, "ager" and other bilious diseases, as was had for several years was never known before nor since. The proper medicinal remedies could not be procured, and many died for want of care and proper medical attention. Dr. Thomas Logan, who came with those who arrived in 1836, was the first doctor who practiced his profession in this region. He saved many lives, and did much to alleviate the suffering that was everywhere prevalent. Later, Drs. Crum, Hard, Bennett and White got a foothold here and practiced the healing art for several years. But these "doctors," too, had to suceumb to the fell destroyer, and all have long since passed away.

The first schoolhouse, or rather the first house where school was tanght was located on the farm, near the residence of Jeremiah Mosher, It was taught by Thomas MeDonald in the winter of 1536-37, He taught school during the day, and at night by the light of a "turnip" lamp, mended and made boots and shoes for his family and neighbors, This schoo] was afterward taught by Unele Ed Thompson, Hugh Brownlee and others. Here the writer of this learned his A B C's, and Jaid the foundation for such education as the very inferior schools of those days afforded. Patrick Logan was one of the early shoemakers of this township and for the facilities at his command was an excellant knight of "St. Crispin." Among the first religious services held in the township were at the honse of Grandfather William Thompson, who conducted the services and preached the Gospel to the original sinners in that neighborhood. Uncle Henry Logan and Grandfather Voreis, also preached there and at other places in the vicinity. It would require a volume, however, to relate one hundredth part of the early scenes and incidents that occurred in this section within the knowledge of the writer, and want of space will not permit of further elaboration.

Until this township was organized, March 1, 1840, it was a part of the territory of Green Township. The petitioners for the organization of the township were: Vincent Brownlee, William Thompson, John A. Shirley, Lewis Thompson, John Dickson,

William Hornaday, John M. Morris, James Houghton, Elihu Morris, D. C. Hults, Thomas McDonald. John Morris, John EH. Voreis, Platt B. Dickson, Elias Dickson, John MeDonald. Eleazer Thompson. None of these are now living except Vincent Brownlee and Elias Dickson. No change has been made in the boundary line of this township since its organization.

Marmont, on the northwest shore of Lake Maxenkuckee was laid ont in S44. Bayless L. Dickson was the original proprietor, It was first called Union Town, but when a re-survey was made in 151, it was renamed, and has since been known by the name of Marmout.

Maxenkuekee, situated on the east bank of the lake from which it derives its name, has not been regularly laid ont as aw town, but, as the merits of the lake as a summer resort become better known, A list of the business men will be found elsewhere, and a description of the lake and its surroundings is incorporated under the head of "Rivers and Lakes." and other matters pertaining to this town. ship appear under various heads. thronghont this work.

The following notice appeared in the Marshall County Repubican of February 15, 1858, and indieates that the people of this part of the county were alive, even at this early date to the importance of preserving the early history of the county: consideration the propriety of forming a society to be known as the 'Antiquarian and Historical Society.' for the purpose of ecolleeting as many of the cirewnstances and incidents relative to the settlement of this region of country from the first settlement by the white man to the present time - that it may be read by posterity - which we believe will be of great interest. Union Town, February 15, 1555,"

Who the movers in the matter were, or whether the organization was effected nothing can be ascertained. Bayless L. Dickson, who was founder of Union Town, and one of the earliest settlers in that region, probably, was at the head of it. Isaac N. Morris, who was something of a historian, and lived near by, was, undoubtedly, of those who were interested in preserving the history of that locality. But these early pioneers, and many others who resided here then, have passed away, leaving no record to perpetuate the history they helped to make.

Early Settlers The First Cemetery

in an early day are there buried, and as the years go by, those who drop by the wayside. are laid here, and this silent city of the dead is now one of the largest in the county outside of the towns.

Thomas Houghton

Thomas Honghton was born in Rush County, Indiana, January 4, 1824. His father, James Houghton, was a native of England, and came to the United States when a young man. From New York he removed to Fayette County. Indiana, and married Miss Hannah Morris in S24. They were the parents of nine children. named respectively: Phebe, John, Thomas, Clarissa, Rachel, William, Elvira, Edward and Jefferson,

Thomas. the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm, and in maturer years adopted the pursuit of farming as his permanent occupation, He has continued it with marked suceess, aud by years of industry and good management has accumulated a comfortable fortune. On the 27th of March, 1851, he married Miss Naney M. Mitchell, who died Mareh 18, 1854, leaving two sons, Lorenzo M.and James BE. On the 6thof April, 1855, he married Miss Mary E. Bird, and on the 9th of April, 1875, his second wife died. Four children -blessed this second union, viz.: Charles E., Thomas E., John C. and William N.. of whom Charles E. and John ©. are deceased. On the 15th of December, 1576, Mr. Houghton married Julia A. Myers, his present companion, They are the pafents of three children - Orlando M., Luther P. and Bertha E.

Mr. Honghton is one of the substantial farmers of his township, and a representative mun of the community in which he resides. He feels a commendable pride in the cultivation of his fine farm, and his estate bears evidence of his skill as an agriculturist. In all his dealings with the world he has been governed by pure motives. and his integrity is above question. He has contributed liberally to the public enterprises of the county, and has always been the warm friend of public education.

Uriah 8. Hults

Mr. Hults was an early settler of Union Township, and, for many years, one of its prominent citizens. He was born January 22, 1823, in Marion County, Indiana, to which county his father, Daniel C. Hults, had removed form the State of New York. In 1536, the family came to Marshall County, Indiana, where the subject of this sketch was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred on the second day of December, 1850. Like the majority of children of pioneer parents, he enjoyed few opportunities for acquiring an education in his younger days. The subscription schools furnished him the elements of knowledge, and for whatever he acquired in later years, he was indebted to his own efforts. He learned to follow the plow at an early age, and soon became familiar with all the details of farm life. As he arrived at years of discretion he decided to adopt the pursnit of farming as his life-work, and in this pursuit he achieved success. His father dying in 1844, he became the mainstay of the family, and took upon himself the management of the home farm, His life was plain, uneventful; but of him it may be truly said that his career was exemplary of the purest principles of manhood, and all his transactions were marked by the strietest intogrity. As a member of the Reformed Church he led a consistent life, and as a citizen, friend and neighbor he was always esteemed.

Union

UNION - On the 7th of May, 1864, he was united in marriage with - Miss Hannah Engle, who still survives. This union was blessed by two children, Carrie Belle and Cora Dove.

Eli Parker

Mr. Parker is a prosperous merchant at the town of Maxenkuckee, in Union Township, and one of that class whose prosperity is traceable to their good management, and determination to sneceed. He was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1831, and when about two years of age, came to the State of Indiana, in 1833, with the family of his father, Dunham Parker, who was a native of New Jersey. His father settled at Logansport, Indi- | ana, where he was engaged at the tailor's trade until his death. His wife was Miss Mary Demoss, a native of Ohio. She survived her husband. dying in Fulton County, Indiana, in 1874.

Eli, the subject of this sketch, was reared at Logansport - then a very small town - -and received such an education as the common schools of that day afforded: but he was endowed by nature with gifts that even the limited educational advantages of his youth could not subdue, and which ultimately developed into the qualities of a successful business man, In 1554, he removed to Fulton County, Indiana, and two years later, deciding to start in life for himself, he came to Marshall County, and, locating in Union Township, invested his small capital in a stock of general merchandise, thus founding the establishment of which he is still the proprietor. His success was not due to any rare advantages secured by his venture, but is fairly attributable to his prudent management and rigid economy. Year by year his surplus increased, and his stock was enlarged as much as was consistent with the principles of safe business, until it reached its present | proportions;and amounted to several thousands of dollars in value. In 1860, he wedded Miss Catherine Spangler, daughter of Samuel Spangler, Esq., a highly respected citizen of Fulton County, Indiana, and with the satisfaction of a prosperous business came the pleasures of a comfortable home. Six children, in all, were born of this happy union, and all now survive. Their names are: Jennie L., Dunham C., Francis M., Nellie M., Edward E. and Bertha E. :

As a merchant, Mr. Parker deserves more than a passing notice. He came to his present location poor in purse, and threw into his work an enthusiasm that made his business grow, and by honesty and fair dealing established his trade upon a sure foundation. He has invested his capital in land at various times, until his possessions in real estate now amount to 400) acres. His life has been a success, and he has secured and ever retained the confidence and esteem of those who know him.

L. T. VANSCHOIACK. Mr. Vanschoiack was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, December 18,1812. His early life was marked by no event of particular interest, until the year 1533, when he left the familiar haunts of his childhood, and removed to the State of Indiana. He located in Wayne County, and in 1845 removed to the State of Illinois. After a residence of five years in that State, he returned to Wayne County, Indiana, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1863. He came to Marshall County in that year, and purchased the farm upon which he now resides. In his early life he enjoyed but few educational advantages, yet he possessed a keen desire for knowledge, and availed himself of every opportunity for gratifying that desire. By a diligent course of study he prepared himself for the vocation of teaching, and taught school during the winter seasons. He was always provident, and made it a rule to save a portion of his income, however small] it might be. Thus, as years rolled on, he found his fortune growing, very surely if very slowly; and as it increased, he wisely invested his means in land, establishing his prosperity npon a sure foundation. Throughout his life he has made it a practice to operate within the bounds of legitimate business, and avoid all speculations or enterprises of an uncertain nature; and while he has made no rapid strides, he has progressed, step by step, to a positon of independence, and has acquired a competence in wordly goods. His farm, which is situated on the bank of the beautiful Maxenkuckee Lake, is one of the finest in Union Township, and in all its various departments, bears evidenee of cultivation by a skilled hand. It has been the aim of its owner to conduct his farm in such a manner as to merit the title "a good farmer," and this ambition has stimulated him,to the exclusion of all desire for notoriety through the channels of public office. He is a plain farmer, and his life has been even and uneventful; yet to those who know him, he is a superior man; honorable and upright in all his dealings with the world, kind to the poor, and liberal in his support of publie enterprises and religions and educational institutions, he has gained the good will of his fellow-men, and is honored by all who know him.

On the 27th of March, 1838, he was married, in Wayne County, Indiana, to Miss Esther Bulla, who has proved a loving and devoted wife, and whose assistance and cheerful encouragement bore a conspicuous part in her husband's struggle with poverty, and his ultimate trimmph. They are the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are now living, viz: Francis A., Isaac A., Lavina E., Louisa J., William J., Elizabeth R., Elza B., and Edward E.

David R. Voreis

Abraham Voreis, the father of our subject, was a native of Holland. He was born in the City of Amsterdam, in 1768, and like many of his sturdy countrymen, came to the shores of the New World to improve his fortune. He lived, at various times, in the counties of Preble and Butler, in the State of Ohio, and subsequently in Union County, Indiana, removing from the latter to Marshall County, in 1536, when the locality in which he settled was almost an unclaimed wilderness. He was a noble type of the pioneers by whom this county was settled - strong and brave, and not afraid of work. He died in 1855, respected by all who knew him.

David R., his son, was born July 1812, in Preble County, Ohio, and accompanied his father's family in their removal to Butler County, Ohio, Union County, Indiana, and finally to Marshall County, where he has since continued to reside. Two years after his arrival in this county (in 1838), he married Miss Mary A. Logan. This union, though a happy one, was brief, for, in 1841, his wife died, leaving two children, Oliver H. and Mary A. In 1542 he married Miss Sophia Dickson, who shared with him the trials of pioneer life, and traveled life's pathway with him, cheering him in the struggle with poverty, and rejoicing in his success, until she, too, was removed by death, in 1879. Seven children blessed this second union, and five still survive, viz: Joshua, Nancy J., Martha, David P., and Thomas M.

Mr. Voreis bore his part bravely in the pioneer days, and labored earnestly to accumulate a competence for his support in the years when the infirmities of advancing age should render him incapable of performing active labor. He has succeeded in this, and having retired from work, still resides with his daughter upon the old homestead, whose broad acres were redeemed from the wilderness by his hand. Thronghout a long residence in this county he has ever been recognized as an upright, honorable citizen, and in the public improvements of the county he has been an interested participant, contributing liberally to all public enterprises designed to promote its interests,