Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 1, 1887

MIAMI COUNTY is situated in the Upper Silurian formation. The weatherings of silico-calcareous rock (or magnesian Hmestone, as it may also be termed), have mingled with the Drift, which has reached this latitude, to form the soils of the county. The}' are also often charged with iron which has filtered, while held in solution b}' water, into many of the rock cavities, and been deposited there until again mingled with the soil. This union has given rise to a soil of varied character, but usually of sufHcient fertility to produce good crops.

This county is traversed from east to west by the Wabash and Eel Rivers, and the Mississinewa passes across the south-eastern part. As a consequence a considerable part of the county is alluvial, fertile and productive as such soils usually are.

The highest seam exposed is a limestone equivalent to the rocky band at Delphi, in Carroll county. A light brown colored magnesian limestone, which, from false bedding, is often seen with strata dipping at every angle almost to a perpendicular. In fact this apparently disturbed condition is often referred to oscillations in the earth's crust instead of the true solution. This bed was formerly burned for lime at Duke's quarr\', adjoining Peru, but the kiln is not now in use. It is crowded with skeletonized fossils, \-et still retaining a sufficient modicum of animal matter to prevent the lime from so fuUv slackening in the short time usually allowed for that purpose h\ workmen. Hence, this lime is not suited for plasterers' use, unless the mortar is permitted to remain in damp vats several months before being spread upon the walls of houses. This is too slow a process for our fast age. Yet the Roman architect who built for ages, would onl\- use mortar which had been prepared a year or more before it would be needed by the artificer. The fo.ssils contained were Crinoid stems, plates and heads, Pcii/aiucrus

for thin volume from tho State Gcolot^ical Keport for 1872, and from the "Geological onnoiuunce of Indiana," by Kicliard Owen, IHtiO.

Beds of this stone are generally local and of no great extent, but an outcrop, somewhat purer and ten or more feet in thickness, was formerly worked a mile to the north on the farm of E. H. Shirk, and appearances indicated that this stone could be found in all the intervening area. Similar beds of stone are well developed at John Trippier's, two miles east of Peru and south of the Wabash river; and at Wallick's mill, on the Peru & Indianapolis Railroad, containing the fossills mentioned as occurring at Dukes' quarry, \\'ith F'azvsites and Cyathophylloid corals, Ilalysltcs catcitulata and Brvozoa. At both of these localities lime is burned for exportation as well as local use. It is similar, if not equal, to Delphi lime, slakes perfectly, works "cool" bears transportation well, makes a stroncr and almost hydraulic cement, and deserves a more extended market.

Below these beds of lime rock is found stone which I have called "silico magnesia limestone," adopting the name applied to it by R. Owen. A surface opening has been made at Dukes' quarry, in the northern part of Peru, and it is believed that although a tirst rate stone has not been produced yet because exposed to the action of drought and winters for man}' thousand years, but when mining operations shall have been extended to parts not exposed to atmospheric influences, the product will prove much more satisfactor}-.

Lower beds of stone are found along the river. This is worked at Lyde's quarry, two and a half miles west of Peru, in the low bank and bottom of the river. It is distinctly laminated, or divided by partings containing pyrites and argiUaceous matter. Protected from the weather, this will serve for foundations; but on exposure the argo-pvrite decomposes, and breaks the rock into small shelly fragments. The stone quarried at Tracy's for foundations, although less argillaceous, ought not to be exposed to extreme changes of temperature and moisture. Near the mouth of the Mississinewa are extensive beds of rock suitable for building, showing an outcrop of more than one mile. On the right bank is the brick residence and well-appointed farm of Godfroy, chief (and son of the distinguished leader) of the Miami Nation of Indians. Across the valley is the Osage village, once the residence of Chief Pecan, who was distinguished as statesman and warrior, and lived to the extreme age of one hundred years, universally respected. Many Miami Indians still live in this county, descendants from the princely line of chieftains who bravely led this once powerful Nation in its ineffectual struggle for supremacy.

Ascending the Mississinewa to a point three miles east of Peru we tind the "Pillared Rocks," full of geological as well as romantic interest. Here the river flows directly to the north and infrin<res aoainst a solid wall of chert v silico magnesia limestone, and diverted from its course flows thence to the westward. The action of the rushing river and the unequal disintegration of the rocks has carved the precipitous wall, which diverts the river's course, into a system of pillars, rounded buttresses, alcoves, chambers and overhanging sides, ever beautiful and interesting. The whole is covered with evergreen cedars. It is a picnic ground widely known and justly celebrated. In the overlaying gray limestone an Orthoccras, two feet long, and an obscure Crinoid head, not less than six inches in diameter, were seen. The main wall of stone is straw color, the natural tints of which contrasted well with the autumnal foliage, at the time of my visit, of scarlet, gold and crimson. Still ascending this stream we find a wall-like precipice bounding this ri\er on the north side. On the farm of H. H. Hahn, the following section was taken :

The porous limestone of this section is not easily broken. Blocks of a large size may be obtained, and the unexplored beds, if found sufficiently compact, u ill prove valuable for quarry purposes, as well as for "burning." This deposit shows much false bedding, and dips to the south at an angle of twenty degrees.

At Thomas' quarry, in the pool of Peoria mill dam, fine square blocks of stone are quarried at the water's edge, below the cherty division of the silico magnesia division. This is the best stone seen in tiie count\', but being at or below the ordinarv water line, it will be difficult, if not impracticable to prove its value.

Still higher on the Mississinewa, near Brouillette's, a quarry was opened, and stone obtained for pilaster coping for the Catholic Church at Peru. The modest, neutral tint of this stone contrasts well with the ruddv brick wall, and promises to weather well. This bed will justify its development, as it is very similar to the Delphos stone brought from Ohio.