Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 1: Introduction and Epitome, 1896

ehind the squaws like birch canves, B The steamer rocks and raves, And city lots are staked for sale Above old Indian graves. J hear the tread of pioneers Of nations yet to be Anda phantom forms are often seen Where rolls a human sea. - - John G. Whittier.

VU There comes to me out of the past A voice, whose tones are sweet and wild, Singing a song almost divine, And with a tear fn every line. - Longfellow.

EN love to read the aéhievements of the past, and especially of those M events in which they, or their immediate ancestors, are most closely related. The history of Miami county is full of interest to its people Its progress has been remarkable. It is a political division of a great

The history of this county is yet within the memory of living men. But the venerable pioneers, who followed closely upon the heels of the government surveyors, are rapidly going the way of all the world and few are the number left to tell the story. It is therefore essential, at this time, that a camplete history ot this county be written. 'Io the writer of this history, no dearer spot is found in all Hoosierdoom, than what is found withir the limit of this county. It has been a yreat pleasure to recall the scenes of boyhood, and retrace the hills, dales and creeks, which memory loves so well. To meet the old, gray-haired fathers and mothers and hear their story of pioneer days; to trace the golden thread of happy, prosperous lives: tu piece up the broken traditions of a passing generation and hand them to posterity is au irspiring duty.

When Indiana was admitted to the Union in 1816, a great flood of immigrants poured in mostly from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Virginia. This influx was steady and continuous for thirty years. The whole state was 'rapidly organized into small political divisions to further the ends of government. Miami county, lands proved seductive to the home seeker and thousands located here and founded happy, prosperous homes. On the first day of March, 1834, this territory, now known as Miami county, was organized by act of legislation into a distinct political territory. Following the nimrods, came the thrifty settlers, the lesson of whose lives are toil and economy, and the 384 square miles or 245,760 acres have increased many told in value. The large forests have been converted into well cultivated fields and beautiful dwelling places. Acre by acre has been thoroughly drained, malaria wiped "away and this county will now suppurt as many people as any other equal territory of no older civilization. Good, free pikes interconnect every part of the county; a network of railroads furnish easy and rapid transportation to all the great commercial centers; and every section is drained by the Wabash, the Eel river and their tributaries. Great abundance of gas flows from the gas wells in the south part of the county and a number of very extensive manufacturing industries, that are healthy and thrifty are located in various parts.

How wonderful and how rapid has been all this change! But a few years ago, a most powerful tribe of Indians inhabited tbis section - the Miamis - after whom the county»was named. This, at one time, was one of the most powerful tribes in the United States. 'They lived in villages, had a rude code of morals and law, cultivated the ground to some extent and had horses and cattle. They were not easily excited to arms, but when once aroused, their treachery and ferocity knew no bounds. But under the steady wave of civilization westward, the Indian could not long remain in his sylvan solitude. The eastern margin of his happy hunting ground was daily further west. In 1838, about one thousand Pottawattomices were taken to the south-western part of Kansas. In 1840, the Miamis relinquished all their rights to all lands in Indiana, except certain specific reservations, and they were removed in 1847.

The first trading post was established at the Seven Pillars, about five miles east of Peru, on the Mississinewa. Here, iu a cave of the pillars, was a large room. Here was where a number of the great land bargains were made. The poor Indian had vo idea of ownership or value. He knew nothing about deeds and mortgages. Many men, in the cleft of this rock, by the aid of a little firewater, made their fortunes. 'The first white men made their homes about this trading post. John McGregor was the first permanent settler on the site of Miamisport, now a part of Peru. The first commissioner's court was held in 1834 and the board was composed of John Crudson, John W. Miller and Alexander Jamison. 'he first county road was surveyed and laid out in September, 1834, running between Peru and Mexico. The Erie canal was opened from Ft. Wayne to Peru in 1834 and the first boat reached Peru, July 4th of that year. The Indianapolis & Peru R. R., now the L. E. & W. was completed to Peru in 1854: the Wabash was completed between Peru and Logansport in 1856 and the Pan Handle was built through this county in 1867.

The broad provisions for education as made by the ordinance of 1787 has been the admiration of Americans and the praise of all foreign countries. Indiana has for years stood foremost in education among the states of the world. Miami county has kept pase with the other counties of the state. If there is anything that the people of this county should point to with pride, it should be to their schools. The population of this county is now about 30,000. The school population according to the census of 1895, is 9,725. Of this number 3,412 attended in the city of Peru. 'There are now 168 colored children enrollei in the county, all attending school in Peru.

The financial history of the county will show a gradual and rapid development. In 1844, ten years after the organization of the county. there were only 118,060 acres of assessable land. The assessed vaiue of this was $398,- 413; the improvements, $69,031; personal, $113,600; total of taxables, $668,~ 748; school tax, $227.40. In ten years, 1854, the value of lands and improvements were nearly four times as much and the personal property more than ten times. The school tax then amounted to $3,021.17 and a special school tax was then levied amounting to $1,208.59. 'The total value of taxable property in 1864 was $5,665,744; in 1874, $10,057.880. According to the assessment of 1894, the value of lands was $5,965.150; improvements, $1.386,220; personal property $2,988,030; telegraph, telephone, etc., $32,645; railroad, $1,949,625; total of taxable property, $14,367,270; tuition, $1,858,- 483; special school, $3,110,603; number of polls, 4,579; total amount of taxes $209.430.13.