Shelby County, Indiana - City of St, 1909 (part 2 of 2)

One pioneer who passed through those days of privation and difficulty has said "Was quite an undertaking - this .going to null. It was a two o'r three days' journey. S'luain-ies it was made by a pair of oxen di-awing a twowheeled cart: but fre(|uently the fai-mer ve.it on horse-back, seated on a big bag of grain. This made the journey tedious, and his return was anxiously awaited by mother and children. There are son-ie recollections of 'going to mill' not in poetry of today, but in actual experience, that l;rings a tinge of sadness to one's heart. The true picture of weary watching wife and mother, when nightfall came and the pioneer father and hu.sliand did not return as expected. Too many grists ahead of h.is was the true cause of his long dela\-. These were dismal phases of pioneer life in hidiana. When the darkness closed in upon the anxious luother by the half open doorway and crying children alwut her; the winds beating on the rude cabin, bringing to their ears unwelcome sounds, laden with howls of half stan-ed wolves and when the inmates of the cabin were pressed heavily for .something to eat. But gencrallv s|)eaking, the true h.ousewife became equal to the emergency and sometiiues pressed .the old cofl'ee mill int > service and ground a mess of parched corn for the children to eat until the pioneer returned with 'white fiour.' when a royal feast was enjoyed by all the family."

It is quite certain, from the best evidence at hand at this late day. that the first mill within Shelby county was that built by John Walker on Blue river, at the present site of the Shelby mills. This was a small frame mill, erected and running early in 1S23. Xathan Johnson, was the milKvright. Din-ing the same year. Abel Sumiuers built a mill in Marion whicli stood where later was built the Marion Flouring ]\Iills. Aljout the same time. pos<;iblv a trifie later.

was built tlie Ira Bailey mill, on IMuc river in the town of Frccport : tliis was managed by Latbrop Francis. Tbis mill is still in an excellent state of preservation witb stone piers, stone clam and stone race and flnnic and a h\g\\ jjrade of lliiur i-; made tliere.

It wa,-- tbc law and cn^tcm at an early date to ubiain wliat is known in legal parlance as an cuf quod dainmnn. or a permit to construct a mill-dam, whicb pro\ided for damages in case of (iverilow on crops, etc. Sometimes tbis rig-bt was waived, as settlers wanted mill:^. and tbey did not require tbe process to be perfected before actual milling wa- done. Tlie record sbows tliat Isaac Drake built and operated a flouring mill on tlie nortbcast quarter of section 25. townsbip 11. range 6. on Flat Rock river, some time \n-\o\- to tbe summer of 1823. wlien tbe writ was actually fnirille<l. To nearly all of tbese mills was attacbed saw-mill macbinery. as well as grist mill appliances. A few years later tbis brancb of milling proved tbe better paying of tbe two. and large quantities of lumber were cu.t and sold for building purposes. Oak. poplar, wild clicrrv. black walnut, maple and otbcr varieties of native timber were also cut and sbipjx'd to distant sections of tbe couiUry. wbere suitable timber was scarce.

Coming to an accotmt of tbe various inills tbat bavc been built and operated in Sbell)y county from tbe early-day to now it sbould be said tbat in addition to tbose already mentioned tbe Star Mills were establisbed in 1856, erected by II. P. Jolmsou, wbo was a noted grain dealer and pork-packer. Tbe mill was located at Sbelliyville and tb.e upper, or fuurtb. story was all in one large rcrm. fitted up for a ball, and it was called "Jobnson's Hall." Tbis place was used for all public gatberings, sticb as balls, theatrical performances, conventions, mass meetings, etc. In a few years Johnson, the proprietor, failed in business and badly involved many of his numerous friend.s here. He removed to Davenport. Iowa, and was succeeded by the firm of Porter & Dixon, grain dealers, and tbey in. turn by Jasper PI. Sprague, wbo dealt in grain. Xext came Alonzo Swain and Lewis Xeibel, of Jackson township, wbo dealt in grain and manufactured bouiiny. In 1S67 ^Ir. Swain bought bis partner's share in the business, and put in milling macbinery, converting the grain ware house into a mill for tbe production of a good grade of flour and continuei] in such industrv up to the date of his death, whicb occurred in 1S72. After his death tbe Star ^vfilling Company was formed and was composed of Squire L. Vanpelt. Sidnev Robertson. William A. Moore. George W. Kennedy. James Y. Stewart and Michael Snyder, of Hendricks township. It was sold to Peyton Johnson in 1875, and be conducted the same until 1879. when it was sold at Sheriff sale to Samuel Hamilton, a banker of Shelbyville, who bid it in for the amount of bis mortgage against it. amounting to .something like five thousand dollars. In 18S3 George V^'. Kennedy and John M. Brown, a local lumberman of promi'.icnce. bought and remodeled the mill and put in a "new process" or the patent milling appliances known as the roller system of flour-making, then first cuiiiin.<;- into s^encral use. It then had a capacity of one lumdrcil fifty barrels per liny, and tlicse men ctnitinned to snccessfnlly operate until tlie spring of 18S7. wlien James 11. Kennedy. p,m of Georo-c \\'. Kennedy, lioui^ht ^^Ir. Brown . ut. after which th.e firm \va^ (icr-e W. Kci;iK-dy & who i.iierated the mil! f. .r years. In iSi^j the fnll rnller ])n.ces- ( late-t in-.ppveements) were added, and it n^w has a daily capacity of lun hundred harrels of excellent o-rade ll.ur. It is n^w the pr.tperty cf the G. ^\^ Kennedy Millint,^ Company. The Water .Mill, u-ually styled the "Slielhy Mills." was the "old original mill, tu which the siiecesMa' cnmmenced o;)erati''ns many years ago. even before the settlement of the CMun.t}' had amounted to much. Year after vear its ponderous wheel revolved and its nnchinery clanked under the burden of its load. The first saw and fiouring- mill in Shelhv c. >untv was built bv John Walker in iSj2. upon the present site of the Shelby Mills. Earlv in 1842 Tames Elliott imrchased thi- mill pr. .|.crty : it tlien consisted of an old grist mill with two nui of buhrs. and th.e remain.- of an </ld ~aw-inill. The latter was immediately rebuilt. In the spring of 1844 Jdhn Elliott came to Shelbwillc and took a half interest in the jimperty. and tlie same year a wooden, mill was erected just above the race bridge, between the race and the river. In iSj6 the sawmill was removed and the present fiouring mill built on the same site. It was greatly enlarged in 1S56. being increased also to six run of buhrs. Its output was one hundred barrels a day at that time. The jiropertv in 1S50 passed into the hands of Jaojb A'ernon and W. O. Rockwn, ,d. The latter was soon succeeded by Evans Elliott, under the name of Elliott & A'ernon. Steam was added to the water power furnished by the river. On account of an accident the liealth of 'Mr. Elliott failed and h.e was compelleil to retire from the business. In 1859 the mill passed to the hands oi Alexander Cory, whc held the same at the date of his death in 1864. It was then purchased, by David Kemp. but a year or twn later it was purchased by W'illian.i Elliott. r)avid P. Campbell and A. O. Porter, whij operated under the firm name of D. C. Campbell & Company. J. M. Elliott was admitted to the firm in iSf^'r Later the firm was known as Elliott. Kennedy & Company. In 1870 G. \\". Kenned v sold his interest to John Mes.-ick. now president of the First Xati mal P.ank. after which it was operated as Elliott & Company. In 1881 George E. Kent became a partner, and two years later William Elliott retired. Mr. Kent taking his interest, after which the st}de of the milling firm was Elliott, ]\Iessick v^ Company. The mill was overhauled, remodeled and mill" machinery placed in instead of the old time buhr system. In 1884 J-'lin Messick disposed of his interest to George W. Senour. and the firm consisted of the equal partners. J. M. Elliott. George E. Kent and George W. Senour. btit worked under the name of Elliott, Kent iS: Senour. As it stood in 1S87 this mill was fifty by eighty feet, and four stories high. It was about 1894 wdien this milling plant Avas remodeled and the patent, or "roller process" was installed, having a daily

At an early .lay what was style.! the "llan.ner Mills." in the n..rthern part of the e. 'Uiity. .li.l a lar-e tl. mr-niakinL;- htisiness an.l rivaled, if not exceeded the mills at Shelhyvitle. But the-^e mills have l.-.n-- since --.uie to decay, an.l little left to mark the spot .^nce s.) hiisy with the grin.lins;- of .t;-.ilden g'rain. by water ji. iwer an.l the ..Id mill-st.me system. In i.'^;'.) there were three different tlonrin-- mill plants in Shell-yville. and many here and there throughout the ciintv. Saw-mllU and tanneries were aU.) l.^catcl in >-ari..us sections of the e. runty, !)ut ..win- I... a clian-e.l con.liti.ui of industrial life and activities in the c uintrv luanv of the~e once prosperous concerns have disappeared, having hecn swallowc.l up hv trusts an.l .liffcrent mcthoils wdiich have come to obtain in .!ur progressive land. The chief milling business of the county is nowdone at the two great tloiu-ing mills at Shelbyville.

"Our people composed a colony of the eaidy settlers of Shelliy c.'unty along th.e ..Id State road, and many of them located near ^lid'lletr.u ii. After the bill was ])assed authm-izing a slate road from r^Iadison, on the Ohio river, to Lalce Michigan, in 1822. and tlie s.amc was surveyed, it was found Uj pass through Slielb}- county fr.-m southeast to n'.rth.west. It was on this road. near the crossing of Conn's creek, that our people - the Haymonds. settled. It was here that John ^loore an.l his father located a tannery, the first witliin Shelby cjunty. John :M..ore afterward married Kannah V>. Haynnind. Samuel ]\Ionroe married Dorcas Ilayniond ami settled on the east side of tlie Havmon.l colony, near the east line of Shelby county, and there establi.shed and o] .crated a tannery many years. I have not the names of all this colony, but among them were: Owen and Thomas (commonly called "Long" Tom), They were smiths by trade, and after a while move.l further west, wdien we lost trace of them. About iSjq ^^'ilham riaym.>nd. cousin of my lather and grandson of Edward Hammond, of Revolutionary fame, came to the colony from \'irginia. bought a tract of land and founded ^Middletown. This tract was longer considerably than it w as wide, for it only occupie.I the frontage on either side of the State road for quite a distance either way. It was not long until the town was settled and with the best class of people. It had a hotel built in the

"\Mien the frogs came up from tlie miasmic districts an.l findino ilie village m a sorrowing condition, the king frogs mounted their throne (the frostool) and croaked out in a bass voice: "Wdio lives in ^liddletown?' nelt-nono answer, the trog repeated in a louder strain -Who lives in Middlet-wn -^- After a moment's silence, comes back the answer, il.^ating o\er the murkv waters of Conn's creek and through the silent darkness of th.e niglit: -Cummm's and Connor! Cummins and Connor!' Then it apj)ears the silent spectator is awakened from In's slumbering dreams and remembering his rel'atives fas Dar\^^n would have it) fnrn an opposite and n,-.t far distant direction lie sends his answer at hgluning .peed, through the still, balmv air to tin's honored curt. Tt was s., shrill and so full as to iar the elements to such an extent that the residents were awakened only in time to hear his appeal, uliich was alter this fashion. T.axter, too! Baxter, too!

"Xow, when the t-jwn \\as emerged from this trying ordeal and had regained its former greatness or goodness, it tnj.wed manv vears of j.ro.peritAbut many of the citizens had grown tired of Hvhig witli'in' the borders of the noteil village, so they loaded their plunder int.> carts, to which was generally hitched a yoke of oxen, after the fashion of the times, and went \\'e5t"to grow lip witli tj-.e country and seek their fortune as well.

"Others who had grown tired of living at other places took up their abode within the limits of our t.nvn. so it went on until the time of the building of the railroad, which proved a detriment to our pro,sperity and the town of' the olden time s^on became a Ixack mnr;ber.

"The new town which was built only a mile awav was named Stroupville. (but we call it V>'a!dron, for short). Quite a number of our citizens erew

"Our ]iostnia^ter \va? one of the tired ones: so lie bundled up' the otlice, packed the letters in hi? liat and bu^k departure for the new town to start an ofiice of his own. As a matter of course. >.Iiddlelown was no longer pro.sperous. but yet remains a souvenir of the pioneer davs.

"The rough ex;ierienee oi the roaring, toiling, stormy world may blot out all fither things from the mind, but the ]iirture of our early home must be with u^ forever on tlie walls of menvory ; until the silver cord be loosened and the golden bowl broken.

"The old homestead farm, entered in 1824, by my father, although changed from what it was in my boyl'.ood days, tliere still lin.gers in my memory a beauty that surrounded the old farm. It was there fliat my eyes first beheld the light of day : it was there that I sung, cried and piayed at my mother's knee and surely there was a grandeur and environment that surrounded the place that cannot be firgotten by anyone accustomed to visit there.

"The approach from the ^outh was by a winding road through a beautiful grove of stately sycamore trees and hard by a rippling stream. Deer creek, where many happy hours were spent fishing, swimming, catching chipnnniks in grain sacks, and other amusements, common to the time. The approach from the north was over an undulating woodland: a heavy growth of hard maples of wliich we were proud for we called it the sugar camp and anxiously looked to the time when we could take the old horse and sled: di'aw in the sap; boil it to a sugar and have a 'stir-oft' and a general good time.

"Another place of interest v.-as the old-fashioned orchard with an abundance of ])cach trees and a great big dry kiln. This lay between the sugar camp and the house and was our natural play ground, as may be witnessed bv the many that have been parties to our Sunday romps, such as playing town ball, hide-and-go-seek, and m.any other amusements of the times.

"When I write the memories of early life, my mind becomes so crowded with the things which were a necessity in pioneer life that I hardly know where to begin or which to give first place. Things that are long ago out of date : things that have been superseded many times by modem improvement ; things like sickles, the mowing scythe, the wheat cradle, the hemp or flax brake, a machine made of wood and worked l)y hand to brake the woody fibre that the lint might be separated therefrom.- which was done over the end of an upright board with a sword-shaped knife, made of wood. This was called scinchino- ,M- sin-linjr tlic hem,. ,,r tlax : next wn,. the hackle to prepare this lint for si)iiiniii-: wa-^ tlie spinnin- n\ heeh the !a)-e one tor wool rolls ami the small one - tread-wheel - t"or the >pinniii- of llax. The reel, the machine to form the threads into a skein: then the windin- blades to hold the skein, while the threads are wound into a hall; next the warpin- mill a machine with uprioht arms which turn around on which the warp is"f,,rmed' f r, .m tlie balks and is thereby made ready for the lo,,m uhich wa^ a convenient necessity in almost every h;nisehold and occu])ied a prominent place, especially in winter, when next wear's clothing; .was to be woven: next, in way of curios, was the rope w..rks. which was l"astened to a tree at one end and a cart made for the purpose at the other end. The .listance between the tree and the cart was measin-ed by the len;>th of roj)e de-ired. made.

'-While we are in the w.:o,l, xve think .,f other thing., that would seem strange to the >,.unger jieople of the twentieth centurv : such as the burning ol hmc. by making a gre:U heap or pile of l,,gs ,,11 which the hme rock was place.l. '1 he log. were burned in thi. way and also the Im^e rocks were converts! into lin-e. which wa^ u^ed for cliir,king the cabin and building the chimney of olden times.

"'idle farm impleinenis were very few and rude. The Ijreaking i);ow was made entirely ..f wood; the hay-fork was made from a limb of a tree in the wo.xls: the .sled was a convenient luxury used for hauling th,e crop- to the barn : the barn was made of li.gs covered either with rye straw or b. .ards. The pioneer farmer was i.rond of hi^ barn. The harness (when horses were used) was a combination of n.pes. corn husks and leather. m;id.e up at home at odd times. Coming back to the-house. whicii was also made of logs, we find it furnished with a great fire-place in one end. in which was fastened a forked iron bar whicli was called a crane and used to hang pots and kettles on for cooking purposes: connected with these was the large oven, with lid turned up at the outer edge to hold the djals of fire: this was to bake bread and especial- 1}- the old-fashioned sweet corn pone. The Johnny cake was made out thin and baked on a board set up in front of the fire. Idie best artificial light was' made from the tallow dip or candle: the common light was obtained fi-om a wick burned in a saucer cif grease called 'dip.'

"Ingenuity was greatly taxed in making furniture for the house: nur-ing cradles were sometiines made by splitting a hollow tree and cutting it the proper length. The children of the pioneers never wdre stockings or sIhjcs. excejit in the severest weather in winter: they usually slept in the garret or loft, which wa.- reached by means of a lailder. The fare was of the coarsest kind: C(irn l)re:id and i).i:k were the sta])les of diet. Sometimes wild turkey or venis...n were added. Thi^ was a luxury, however. The mail wa-, carried on JKM-seback. when the streams and road,, were ])as^able: the postage on a

"There were, of cnur.-e. no theaters nor .i|K.'ras. but social dancing- was a favorite pastime, while these were a few of the conveniences of pioneer life. Soci.ibility wa^^ ne\er lo.-t sjoht ,,f: the laieh-lrins^ was always out. Snnie writer has said that S(,eial liiV had then it> --oldoi periodi." and we are led to helie\-c it.

')"he first celelivati'ii of the National bideendcnce in Shelby county wa^; had in i8j2, rnid was in man_\- waxs the nio.-t intere^ting occasion e\er bad in this CMU'.ity. on a >imilar h.ibday. The T,egi-lative Comnii>>ii had just fii-iished the wurk of locating the cou.nty seat of this county and the annomicement was made at tlie celebrati' mi gathering lield at Shelbyville. Among other e\-cnts a great barbecue \va- bad. in-imediately north of the present fair then filled with live cals. John Cherry went out that m..rnino- and killed a j four-])ronged buck and brought him in as his contributi.n-.. ".Abither" Voung to produce anything equal to it today. Our tables were ha>ti!v g..tieii up' by ; - driving forked sticks into the ground: pok-. were then put 'crosswise, 'and ; Upon these were placed slabs.

'-When all things were ready to put upon the table, we were brought to a ' dead standstill for want of dishes upon which to serve our meats. Fuit our

--I remember well, on that memorable day, riding through the beautiful fertile bottom, later owr.ed by ^^lessrs. Gordon and Senour. upon a horse fifteen and a half hands high, carrying a stick in my hand to keep the nettles out of my face and eyes. There is one more incident of that day which left a deep impression on my mind. It was this: About fifteen persons formed a circle, one of them had a fiddle. It was passed around, each one plaving a tune: after which we dispersed and all went home, well satisfied and contented. This was the first fourth of Julv celebr:itii.n in the newlv organized countv of Shelby." . ' '

At an early day Shelby county was iiifested by many snakes, including rattlesnakes, vipers, adders, luilk-snakes, garter, water and blacksnakes. Alanv of these were deadly poison. In sectii>ns of this crjunty, it was the cu-tom for settlers to form themselves into companies, armed with a stick, mattocks and

_^^-ith tlie settlement of the'country. a large proportiMn of the deadlv species o| .lakes disappeared. leaving a few of the !es. harmful ones, win h arc found at this dav in small number^ tne deer, w, ,. bear, panther, wild-cat. f,,x. otter, raccoon, ground-hog. skttnk. mink, weacel muskrat. r.ppos.um. rabbit and squirrel. For the first few vears the meat used by the pioneers was selected from the best of tlu-e wild aninnk the venison being the most extensively used. The most tn.tible.ome of all was the woh. he being the common enemy of the sheep an<l other domestic animals, riie- n.ght was made hideous by their unearthlv howlino-s Bears and panthers were common, bttt not nearly so numerous. ' One thrilling incident must here f^nd space, showing as it does the furv of the wild beast^^as in Snelby county, when white men first set foot on the vir-in s(,il-

"On one occasion in the year 1821 one Lewis Hendricks, who lived near Schoo, Section Fonl. went to a neighbor bv the name of Solomon George, who was a skillful hunter, and a^ked him to shoot a deer for him. George consented, and the two started up^i the chase. Thev had not o-r.ne far when they suddenly happened ui-m tur. Noung bear cub's mediately said-'Xow we'll have some fine sport.' He directed Hendricks to pinch the ears of the cu1)s. Their loud and piteotis cries soon caused the mother bear to appear on the scene of action anri defend her voun"- Geor^-e then took deliberate aim and fire.l. Tlie bear turned back and ran! and Hendricks, being confident that she was fatally wmmded. hastened to pursue her He had not gone far. h.Avever. before the bca.- turned su.ldenlv upon her then

With the settlement nf every new emnlry. each -ecti^n has had its own peculiar manner of dress, dwing tn the part of the cnntry in which tlieir lot lias been cast, the climate and oth.er elements enterin-- into the (piestinn. al-o.

In Shelby county the dress of the pioneer father and son was either a coon skin cap or home-made wool hat for the head. Tlic feet were covered with moccasins made of deer skins and shoe-packs of tanned leather. l>ut shoes were worn by most of tlie pi'nieers in Slielby ci -imty. except in tiie summer m(inths, when both male and female went barefooted. The blue linsey hunting- shirt was worn by men and boys, and as has been said liy an early pioneer. "T never felt so happy and healthy since I laid it off." It was made with wide sleeves, open before, with ample room so as t(i envelop the body almost twice around. The pantaloons of the masses were ma<le of deer skiti> and lin-^ey. but to the early settler in Shelby county, cotton and jeans were more comnMn.

As to Itow the women of early days went dressed, the fidlowinv; is quoted as being tlie vivid recollections nx Aunt Susan Goodrich., g-ixen in her own language : "X'ow let me tell you how we luade our dresses. \\'hen the right time of the year would come arountl. father. Cynthia and I wouM piu up the flax-brake on the b;ig sled and haul it dowi; near th.e river, where there were plenty of nettles. Cynthia and I would carry nettles to father and lie would break them. It took an armful to make a handful when it was broken. We would work on in this way u.ntil motlier would say we had enough for one piece, and then we would hackle and spin it for chain : then take a-.i equal quantity of wool cord and spin it for filling. We would then dye it in different colors by using different kinds of bark, place in the loom a-.id weave it when we-would lia\e beautiful strijied linsey."

This, then, is the simple story told of a very simple process that was fraught, however, with great labor in producing cloth at an early day right here in Shelby county, now so well supplied with all the latest fashion plates and goods (factoiy made) to produce all sorts of garments for b^ith men and women. If the present generation are ever given to thinking the}- have a hard lot in life let them think of the early struggles our forefathers had to undergo in order to lav for u~ the foundations upon which tf'day re.~ts our great industrial life.

".Afy Iii(h;in ;iiicl luinting: cxixMicurc- arc vci\- Hiniiccl. I never saw an Indian licre. nv killed a hear cr wmIi. Tlie ..nly heai -i-rv 1 have is. that one night a hear att.acked a h-.g- of ,.ur~, h.ut v>e were afraid' t.. interfere and he made a good meal l-.r the hear. Wdule going to mill 1 often saw several deer. but never killed one. We often heard packs of lumgrv wolves howling in the nig-ht. Onr doi.-. were -mietimcs injured hy attacking ])orcui.ines and getting their quills in their luouths. necks and jjaws. S.|uirrel> were very plentiful and fre.|uently ate nearly all the corn we planted, hefore it came through tile groimd: then in the autumn time would take a share of it as it was earing. The ea.rly settlers formed hunting parties, "took sides' atid offered premiums for s,|uirrel scalps, the side kdiir.g the greatest numher hcing awarded the ]Mize.

"In the early days the settlement^ were all confined to the low h.ntom lands, and we dreaded the fever .and ague an<l liilious iV\-er as we would now cholera, if it mailc its annual \isits. This was hefore the davs id' qiunine as a .specific. Then the wo. mIs were .nie dctise forest, the underl)ru.sh heing nettles and pea-vines, often s.j thick one could scarcely jienetrate them. Uaxing no grain to fee<l, oiu" horses were compelled to run out nights i^i order to ohtain foo(l. ;riK'y would ha\-c to be hunted in th.e morning when the dew was on the vegetation, and a luan would get very wet ch.asing them, and then go to work plowing in wet clothes and keep so until ncarl\- noon.

"I have often w.^ndered how a community could live with as little money as we had. The county was mostly settled by Kenluckians and Ohioani, with a few from Tennessee and the Cao.linas and still less from Pennsvlvania. It being just after the Indian wars <.f iSij-i^. there was no f.ireign dennnd. We had nothing to sell, no one had money with which to buy. l-:verything was bartered: one d(.illar then wfiuld go as far as ^ix now, but then it was really nominal, for we rarely handled a dollar.

"What little wheat we raised was cut by sickles, it being before even the (la_\-s of cradles, and of course before rea])ers. We thought this never would be a wheat cmntry. as the groun,] was so rich that the grain would fall down. After we began to rai.sc more than we needed for home consum[)tion. the nearest market place was Lawrenceljurg and Michigan City - this wav to the Ohio, and the other way to T,ake Michigan. The old Michigan road woi,!,] be lir.ed up with wagons containing f r> iii ten to fifty buslvels of wheat ilrawn bv one

Tliey would be lu the read ten days or two weeks, take their Iior<e feed ;ind pnjvisions along with them, and bartered their wheat t'or salt, leath.er, cotton.

In pioneer times the transactit)ns df c >mmercc Nvere u>iinll\' unlx- nei,c;T.- borhood exchanges. Cash was Httle kni>\\ n : indeed they had but small ii~e f^r it then. The barter system was a rather ela^tic vet qnite complete in its wnrkings. Pelts came nearer bei'.iL;- '"muncy" tlian anything else, a? it came to be the fashion to estimate the \;due nf aIniMit ar.y cmmoditv bv the present value of a C"(in skin. Even siaiie tax collectors and postmasters were known to take ]ieltries and exchange them for mi-ncy required b\- the goxernmcnt. The products of the farm not needed at home, were taken to Lawrenceburg. by of the State road or to ^^adison. b}" way of the ^lichigan road. Jan.uary 24. 1S24. Flati-'ock river was declared a navigable stream, and the public highway fnmi its mi mill to Little Flat Rock and Blue rivers was declared navigable tu the nr.rth line of Shelfiy crunly. January 2S. 1S2S. Sugar creek was declared navigable to .Manan"s Mill, in Moral township, in Shelby county, and \\'illiam Doble was made commissioner to keep it free fmrn obstructions. Elue river was the first of these avenues of coiv-merce used. The Goodrich Brothers, in the latter part of the twenties, l.iuilt a llat-boat. loading it with \ariou- kiu'Is of produce. launched on its placid waters, hca.ded for Xew Orleans. This l.)'>at was a large one. and to get o\er the dam on Driftwcjwd river, near Rockford. was of great caiccrn to boatmen of those days. On this occasion Xathau Goodrich accompanied his father as far a« the dam: there he left the boat andi returned on foot. A man named 1-ley lauticbed a I)oat the next seasnn. William Farris and a man named A'anasdo] sent two boats from near Frecp^rt. John C. \\'a!ker built and =ent twn boats from Shelbyville. Aunihcr was sent from Wolfs Mill, and still another with its cargo of lumber from tlie nii .nth > a' the Brandywine. In all abr.ut ten boats were thus sent out of Shelby county and landed finally at the wharf in Xew Orleans. The facts herein contained are largely gleaned from liisfiric items gathered in the eighties, concerning this CMunt\' and may be relied uprn as true, being written as tlic\' were l)y men who had pa.ssed through the jiioneer years of the country, with their fath.ers having been numbered among the "first settlers."

The Log Caeix

Owing to the vcrv nature of things, the American log cabin will ever ha\-e a place - a warm spot in tlie heart - in our natiraial aniia!>^. It was the?c rude. >ct <|n!le c.imfcrt.ible ahink--. which ?hclicre<l our lVireirithcr,s rmd their famihe? from the hhndini;- Jtornis o\ winter and the fmious heat of a lurid sutnmcr sun. In it the infant was born and in it the young maiden died. Bcncatli its rough pole and ".-hake"' roof, the voice of evening and morning prayers ascended. Here weddings were solemnized and here political parties were founded. In such dwelling places as these log cabins, were born the great and emineni ^tatcr-nicii. pocis arjil autlurs of by-gone years. Manv a President, including Lincoln, tlr^t saw tlie light of day within the dingy walls of such a building. There are a few log houses left within this state - fewer occupied, but saved with a tender, almost sacred care, as relics - a place where graml father and grandmother were married, or died, perhaps.

Before the last man who has seen such a buiUling made, or lived within one, has gone from earth, it is the duty of the historian to make same befitting record of the manner in which these jjrimitive buildings were erected, that those who follow after us may be informed on so interesting a question as the architecture of a log cabin, within the old Hoosier state.

After selecting a suitable location, near living water, a spring or running stream, if p':i?sil)le, trees of a uniform size were selected from the then everpresent immense f'lresis. Owing to the size of the pioneer family. InU li\gs usually ab'jut twelve to eighteen feet long were chosen and hauled to the building site, the underbrush having first been cleared away. On an appointed day the few neighliors wlm were available would assemble and jirncced tn have a '"'huuse raising." Each end of even- log was saddled and notched so that they would lie as close down as possible; the next day the proprietor would proceed to "chink and daub" the cabin which h.is friends had made quick work at "raising."' The house and chimney had to be re-daubed each autumn time, to be made warm and snow- tight for winter use. The usual height of the house was from seven to eight feet. The gables were formed by shortening the logs gradually at each end of the building near the top. The roof was made by laying very straight small logs or stout poles suitable distances apart, generally about two and a half feet from gable to gable, and on these poles were laid the clapboards, after the manner of shingling, showing about two and a half feet to the weather. These clapboards were fastened to the poles by "we'ght piles" corresponding in place with the joist just described and these again were held in place by "runs"' or "knees."" which were chunks of w-ood eighteen to twenty inches long fitted between then", near the eiids. Clapboards were made froni the m'cest lioards in the vicir.ity l.iy chopping or sawing them into four-f<'<it blocks and riving them with a "ivcw."

The chimney, an imjiortant factor in the caliin. was made by lea\'i;ig the original building with an opening fnan five to eiglu feet in one wall. There the fire-place was made. Often large en. >ugh wa-^ the opening t" admit of fire-wood inm six to eight feet lung. The pioneer did n<<i begrudge the \V(iM(l oiii^uuK'd wiiliin iiis luiiiili!o caliin. for what was imt tlnis coiisnnifil. he had tu haul into inniieii>c pilo and hum. in (M'tk-r to ck'ar up hi^ laud suitahk' for cultivation of crojis. In the intL'rior, over the hre-i>laee was a mantle, or wide shelf, ou which ih.e t.allow dip or candle- -tick was placed by the orderly hou-ewife. If Mrtunate enou-h f . posses> one. the old fanulv clock was also set up there and ticked away the hours oi the good i)ioneer\s life, while his hnsy wife prepared the nieal^ li\- the crackling- fire on the andirons, which were kept hriL^hi and clean. The cookini.;- was accomplislied by means of a crane >u,-])ended from the side (if the hre-iilace. and from it Inniy' the various pots and kettles, used in tlm^e da_\ s. In one corner of the pioneer's cabin stood the bedstead for the "old folks."' while underneath it. throut;h the. day was the children's o -y trundle-bed. In nnothcr corner stood the old family spinuinf^ wheel, while on the wall, away from the fire-])lace. Iiuii.l;' the C'ld riile and accompruixiuL;' jiowder h(jru. Here .uid there wei'e to lie seen rude home-made stools or chairs, and. a good sized table. These simple caljins were inhab,ited b}- a k'ind and true-hearted people. They were strangers to modern fla}- mock modesty, and the traveler seeking lodgings for the night, or desirous of spending a few da}'S resting up from a long- journey in land hunting, was always welcome. .\ single room was made to answer for kitchen, dinnig room, sitting room, bed room and parlor.

Some of these log houses were built two stories high and were made of Jiewed logs, and were really very substantial, and such as this stood for many }-ears. as monuments of pioneer ingenuitv and workmanship.

In Indiana the log cabin was to her early settlers wdiat the stone buildings were in Xew England and Penn-yhania to inoneers there, and .^er\ed as did the scl houses of Iowa. Xebras'ka and the Dakotas. as alxnles while the settlers were adiu>ting themselves to a better mode of living. To a true American it is no disgrace to ha\e it said in his biography that "he was born in a log cabin." for such were most oi the earlv generations in the Middle West born in .while they obtained their early schooling in log school-houses.

Prices Tiiex Axd Xow

In looking at th.e old newspapier files away back before the days of the "Civil war. and then contrasting their market (|uotation-. with prices since tlie close of that struggle, and even at the oi)ening years of the twer.tieth cen turv, one ol.iserves great differences, esijccially in the price current of certain articles used now as well as then, by the masses. For examjile, in 1855 the price of eggs in Shclbyville was 7 cents per dozen: feathers, t,^ cents a pound: hogs (live weight). Si. 90 ])er hundred-weight: cffec. per pound, best. 18 cents: print (calico). 25 cents: d(imestic sheeting, jo cent-- a \ar(l: nails. 15 cents per poun'i; iron. 10 cents; whiskv, per gallon, 3; cents; salt. i)er barrel. S3. 50. *

With 5-cciU calico, shcctino S ccnt^. >ali Si.;,o. ei;j;s 2J corns. Initter aU.ul the same as e-i^s. with hog^ (hvc wci.i^ht) ai S6.00 per hundred-weight, one is set to thinking what lia- liroughi these singular chatiges in market prices of these staple articles. The general reply may he it is the result ni an increased ]X>pulation in the United State.-: also the iniroiUiction ,,i' Lioni- and Other machinery; the result o\ the Ci\il war. in a measure, which has tended to equalize wages I'or the jiroducing cla<>e-. In the matter of tw,, items, salt and whisky, it should lie .-tate.l that the salt well> and mine,- have Ix-en discovered and manufactured hy cheap proce>-es in manv parts of this countrv since the quotations of 1855. referred to ahove. As to \\hisk\, the demanil is greater, owing to force of increasing hahit, as well as an increased population, living far distant from distilleries. Then the matter of from one to two dollars on each gallon of spirits, imposed hy the general Government, since 1862-63. has greatly added to its actual cost.

A day's work in 1909 at the average occui^ation in this cuuntrv will atYord more of the staple, even the luxuries of life, than ever before in the hisiorv of the country. Generally speaking, prices of what we live on are more than in early days, hut the wages and means of earning a dollar, more than compensates for this rise. Another tin'ng should not be lost sight of - the matter of transportation - this has radically changed the prices of many articles.