Vigo County, Indiana - Chapter 11, 1891

AFTER three years of war - 1812-15 - and peace once more came to the country and especially to the northwest, then again were the great doors to the new country thrown wide open to the eager and waiting people in the old States to go to the good land in search for homes and fortune. It was like the breaking away of the obstruction that dams up the waters that rush forward when the way is cleared, bearing all before them.

If taken by itself there is a strange peculiarity marking the movement of the pioneers. That is this: They would travel over hundreds of miles of country that Avas unsettled and often as rich and beautiful as was presented in the face of nature, yet hardly looking to the right or left on the way until they had reached that point of destination they had in their mind when starting from the old homes. They were indifferent, apparently, to what they saw as they traveled and camped on the long road, where they would some¬ times have to stop for days beside swollen streams, or a Avagon broken, or some member of the family sick. There were chance cases where families had matters thus determined for them, and who located at long distances from the intended point, but these were exceptions. It was the wars and marches of armies through por¬ tions of the upper Mississippi valley that first carried back to the old settlements the news about the new country and its natural wealth. Then when the first pioneer came he was eagerly watching for an opportunity to send back word to the friends he had left be¬ hind, and urging them to come at once, and this would fix the ob¬ jective point to the movers. It was the social and gregarious in¬ stinct combined with the attachment to friends and the playmates of youth, more than the difference in the sections that so often deter¬ mined the question. But there were some who started in a general way to the promised land, and after many weeks they would go into camp by a spring of sweet water on the edge of a beautiful grove, and the next morning, when rested, would look out over the beauti¬ ful landscape, and inform the family that they were " at home." This was the start of many places where are now flourishing cities. Such was the story of the first settlers at Springfield, Ill.

There is no official record of course, in reference to what is now Yigo county, from the first comer to 1816. Here are six years that, so far as record facts go, is a complete blank. We must rely on tradition, the scant references to this locality in the general history of Indiana, and circumstances that are tolerably well established facts. In conversing with those who are now aged citizens, but who came here mere infants, or were born here, they can tell you who they re¬ member, and where they lived and who, as they often heard, were called old settlers when they can first remember, but they can only now recall whose farm had a few little sour seedling apples, where they went with such keen appetites to get some of them when very young, and they can remember whose cabins looked to their young eyes as being very, very ancient. These can give you some idea of the comparative periods of settlement of many of the pioneers, but, what the historian so much likes, no fixed day or date. Then the next thing is that here and there you will find an old man who will tell you very accurately what, as a child, he had heard talked over by the older people. Some of these brave woods¬ men were like the old soldier who, in old age, would often shoulder his crutch and show how battles are won.

In his reminiscences of Fayette township, Dr. B. F. Swofford says that Jacob Newcomer (in this case there was certainly a pe¬ culiar fitness in the name) came and settled in Yigo county in 1813, and squatted on land just north of the village of Sandford. He was not a land buyer, and could hardly be considered more than a transient settler. However he put up a little round pole cabin and lived in it a year or two - probably until the fall of 1815 or 1816 and then pulled stakes and went west to grow up with the country, and be another newcomer to the local historians even away

It will be remembered that at that time these lands were for sale at the Vincennes land office, on the credit system, therefore Newcomer was not deterred from buying for want of ready funds, but he had his plans, no doubt, and what was the use of going to Vincennes when he had no one to dispute his claim to everything west of the river, not only to the State line, but for that matter within thirty miles of the Mississippi river. This typical new comer filled his little place in the new country, and is entitled to recollection merely for his coming and going. So far as now is known he was the one arrival in Vigo county in the year 1813. Jacob could not have been a very social or even talkative being. He brought his family, and when lie went away they went with him. All of them have long since ended their earthly pilgrimages, and let us hope their shades are resting in peace and perfect happiness.

Curtis Gilbert. - December 20, 1815, came Curtis Gilbert. The arrival of this bright youth was an important day to the then future county of Vigo. He was nineteen years of age when he arrived bringing on a keel boat a stock of goods for his employers to Fort Harrison to trade with the Indians. Here he spent sixty-tliree years of his honorable and useful life. Gilbert and Demas Dem¬ ining were cousins, and it was his influence, therefore that brought some of the best of the first settlers to Vigo county. The Gilbert family were noted for longevity, and either of the males or females there were few that did not live to be past eighty years of age.

Curtis Gilbert was born in Middletown, Conn., June 8, 1795. He died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. W. S. Warner, at Palma Sola, on the Manatee river in Florida, Sunday, October 28, 1877. His early life was devoted largely to the acquirement of a thorough English education, and at the age of seventeen, the school visitors of his native town granted him a certificate to teach school. He had completed his education in the Middletown high school. He taught school one term in his native place. October 31, 1813, he left his home to seek his fortune in the far west. He traveled in a boat to Amboy, N. J., then by land to Borden town, and em¬ barked for Philadelphia, on arrival there stopped at the old West¬ ern hotel. There was a stage line from there to Pittsburgh, but the fare being $30 he concluded to save this and walked the entire dis¬ tance, having made arrangements for his trunk to be forwarded.

In penning these sentences, the writer had recalled to his mind most vividly, a trip made a few years ago from Pittsburgh to Phil¬ adelphia in the fall of the year, about the same season and probaably substantially the same route over the mountains where Curtis Gilbert trudged afoot so many years ago. The writer spent the whole time in crossing the mountains on an observation car, and the overwhelming magnificence of the scenery, the rapid unwinding of this unequaled panorama, made the strongest and most interesting picture upon his mind that was ever presented. It was at that nature's supreme and sublime work of peaceful and quiet beauty; such rich coloring; such blending of harmless flowers, brawling brook, away to mountain top; such billows of boundless variegated colors winding away from the deep gorges to the end of the powers of vision into the morning brightlight, and the numerous bouquets of rainbows over there in the soft and velvety banks; then again in great promontories of spangles, arched and sweeping drapery, and the entranced beholder, as he sped along, could readily fancy that the hand of the angel was the magician unrolling this stupendous scenery. To the infinite regret of the looker-on the foot of the mountain on the other side came too quickly, and the picture faded away.

The young man spent more days than the writer did hours between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Did he, do you suppose, in after years, when come the reminiscent days, ever attempt to con¬ vey to his friends' minds some of the pictures of the Alleghenies that he must have carried with him to the grave?

At Pittsburgh he had to await the arrival of his baggage ten days. Now, a young man would esteem it a great hardship if he could not go to bed in Philadelphia and be promptly on time next morning at Pittsburgh for breakfast. The river at Pittsburgh was very low, and he had to wait for a rise. He took passage on the first keel boat and reached Marietta, from there on foot to Zanes¬ ville, and from there he pushed on to Springfield, Ohio, where he met Col. William Wells, to whom he had a letter from John Pratt, of Middletown. This letter was as follows:

" This I place in the hands of Mr. Gilbert, a young gentleman who leaves for a tour in your country for the purpose of satisfying his curiosity respecting the advantages offered there to men of industry, enterprise, education and correct principles, all of which, you may be assured, he carries with him. He is the son of one of my very respectable neighbors, who is anxious for the welfare and happiness of a beloved child. I have, therefore, taken the liberty to introduce him to your polite attention; your kind notice will be thoughtfully acknowledged by your friend, and you may thereby claim the abundant blessings of his affectionate parents and family."

A model letter of credit, which was verified to the full in the long and noble life of the bearer. It secured the young man a good friend. Business was so dull at Springfield that his friend sug¬ gested he should go to Newark, but here it was the same, and he returned to Springfield and taught school a short time, and he soon obtained a place in a store in Zanesville with Mr. Walpole, and this man was the prime cause of Mr. Gilbert's coming eventually to \ igo county. He left Zanesville in a pirogue and went to Marietta, where he made the acquaintance of a man named Robinson, who wanted to send a horse to Cincinnati, and thek young man accepted the opportunity to go there. At that time there were only about 2,500 people in the place. He waited here until Mr. Robertson came down on his boat and offered him transportation to New Orleans, which the youth accepted. It took them a month to reach the latter place. An uncle of Mr. Gilbert lived in New Orleans, and with him he remained two months. But the threatened British invasion was so depressing to business that by the advice of his uncle he retraced his way up the river on a barge to Louisville, and from there on foot to Cincinnati, where he arrived December 4, 1814. He was a clerk a short time in the store of Bailey, Green & Bailey, when the firm decided to send a stock of goods to Vin¬ cennes, and selected Mr. Gilbert to go with Mr. Bailey in the enter¬ prise. They, came down the Ohio, and up the Wabash, but on the way young Gilbert was taken sick and had to be left at Harmony. Recovering, he joined Mr. Bailey at Vincennes, where he had charge of the firm's business. In the fall the Vincennes house determined to send a stock of goods to Fort Harrison. A keel boat was fitted out and landed at its destination December 20, 1815. The boat was located on the western shore opposite the fort as the safest place, and a part of the goods taken into the fort. Soon after this the partnership of Bailey & Gilbert was formed, by the terms of which Bailey was to send goods, and Gilbert to manage and sell to the Indians, at and above the fort, and share equally the profits. In the summer of 1816, Mr. Gilbert made a trading post at the mouth of the Vermillion - built three log cabins, one a store, one Indian quarters, and one to smoke venison hams. He had an interpreter he brought up from Vincennes. At first he took goods to this point in a boat, but afterward they were carried on ponies. Mr. Gilbert was taken very sick that fall, and as soon as he was able to clamber in a skiff came to the fort. The Indians were now hostile, and he was warned to return his store to the fort.

In July, 1816, Gov. Posey issued Bailey k Gilbert license to trade with the Indians " at or near Raccoon creek." The partner¬ ship with Bailey having expired, he formed the new firm of Gilbert Brooks (Andrew), with whom he continued in business until he was elected clerk of Vigo county.

December 4, 1817, he was commissioned by the postmaster-gen¬ eral as postmaster at the fort, and acted as such until that office ceased, October 26, 1818. His first quarterly report showed the office in that time transacted $15.68. Letters were advertised in the Western Sun, Vincennes. Postmaster Gilbert was notified by the department April 6, 1818, that Congress had just established the route "Fort Harrison, through Monroe and Lawrence counties to Brownstown," and requested information as to distances, towns, streams and mountains, and added at the end of the letter "No expense should be incurred in procuring information." It is hardly necessary to add that there was no prosecution of Mr. Gilbert as a "star router." This office at the fort was discontinued and an office opened at Terre Haute, and the following is the receipt explaining the change:

Received of the postmaster at Fort Harrison, Indiana, unpaid letters, which have been advertised, to the amount of six dollars and ninety-six cents; paid letters to the amouut of eighteen cents, and one free letter; also of unpaid letters, which have not been advertised, to the amount of $10.80, and one free letter; and of un¬ paid newspapers to the amount of thirty-eight cents, a roll of blank forms, a letter box and a key for opening the mail.

The post-office was moved from the fort in October, 1818, to the two-story frame building erected by Mr. Gilbert on the northeast corner of Ohio and Water streets. This was Mr. Gilbert's property at the time of his death. He had secured the lot by a private arrangement before the sale of lots by the town company, and the price was fixed after the building was erected. This was the first frame building in Terre Haute. There were four or five log cabins and, among others, the once famous Eagle and Lion Tavern, on the corner of Wabash avenue and Second street. The upper part of this building was, iu fact, the court-house until the first court-house was built.

Mr. Gilbert was elected first county clerk over Mr. John M. Coleman, and continued to fill the office of clerk and recorder of Vigo county for twenty-one years. His commission for recorder bearing date March 4, and for clerk, March 11, 1818. The next year he was appointed judge advocate of the odd battalion of the First Brigade of Indiana Militia.

In 1821, a sickly year, he lost his wife and only child. In 1823 he made a visit to his old home in Middletown. September 6, 1824 he was elected to the board of trustees of the public library of Vigo county. He took an active part in organizing the Branch bank in 1834, and was made a director of it. He was prominent in the movement to change the drainage of Lost creek as it is now. This movement excited much opposition at the time, but was forced through, and was one of the most important improvements for the health of the people. The act authorizing it passed the legislature January 21, 1837, and the following March the county commis¬ sioners appointed James B. McCall, James Barnes and Joseph Barnup, commissioners to cause a survey. They reported the route, which was adopted.

Mr. Gilbert was chosen a member of the first two councils and was made temporary president thereof at the first meeting. At the expiration of his third term of office in 1839, he declined a re-elec¬ tion, and in 1843 he gave up his town residence and removed to his farm on the east side of town, where he made his family residence until the time of his death. He lived to see his cornfield platted in town lots and the farm become a part of the city.

He was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge No. 19, organized here at an early day, and was the survivor of all his fellow charter members. Mr. Gilbert was elected president of the Terre Haute branch of the State Bank, November 4, 1845. The general depres¬ sion over the country affected this institution, but by his untiring energy and prudence it was established in the public credit as first class. This position he resigned on account of ill health in 1849, but was re-elected in 1850 and served until June 22, 1853, when he was succeeded by Levi G. Warren. At the expiration of the char¬ ter he was again made president with full authority to wind up its affairs. This trust was forced on him by the directors, and so suc¬ cessfully was this task performed, that it added, if that were possible, to his reputation for financial skill, integrity and energy. This ended his official and public life, and he then gave his time exclusive¬ ly to his large private affairs.

He married his first wife in Terre Haute, Catharine, daughter of Gen. Peter B. Allen, September 15, 1819. She died February 6, 1821. He married Mary C. King, November 26, 1834. She died October 20, 1858, in her forty-seventh year. She wras born in West Suffield, Conn., and came to Terre Haute in 1831.

By the last marriage there were ten children, seven of whom survived him - three sons and four daughters. During the last six years of his life he spent the winter months in Florida, where, at the residence of his daughter, at Palma Sola, on the banks of the Manatee river he died. A short time before his death his friends were alarmed at the evidence of his rapid waning strength, but on the bright and beautiful Sunday that was his last on earth, he was unusually bright and cheerful, but in the evening he quietly and painlessly passed away. In the language of one who knew him long and well: "He has well and truly performed the duties of life, leaving behind no stain or blemish to mar the history with which his name is blended. He was a brave, strong man, and although so

Some bright writer who wrote of old times ill Terre Haute and who personally knew him, says: "Curtis Gilbert was a pioneer here. He was the first clerk in this county. His fine, correct, neat, wellkept records will never cease to attract attention. He was essentially accurate in all he did. He was of medium size, thoughtful and serious looking, and exceedingly regardful of the sensibilities of his fellow-citizens. No man perhaps ever lived and died in Yigo county more universally respected than this firm, earnest and honest man."

The children of Curtis Gilbert are: Harriet (Gilbert) Beach, wife of John S. Beach; Joseph; Mary C. (Gilbert) Blake, wife of Joseph H. Blake; Helen C. (Gilbert) Warner, wife of Warburton 8. Warner; Edward Gilbert; Henry C. Gilbert, and Martha Gilbert.

Joseph Richardson. - A few months before Curtis Gilbert ar¬ rived at Fort Harrison with his boat, Joseph Richardson and Abra¬ ham Markle had come out to the new country in the search of fut¬ ure homes, coming on horseback all the way from Geneseo, N. Y. They continued their course through the wilderness, until they found a resting place under the hospitable roof of Fort Harrison. These men looked with admiration on this beautiful land, and after resting a short time in the fort started back to New York after their families. These men were delighted with their exploration, and immediately upon their return they set about preparations to come here and bring their families.

When all was ready they crossed the Alleghany mountains in wagons to Olean, on the Alleghany river. Here they constructed three boats, one of the three belonged to Mr. Richardson, another to Abram Markle, and the third to Daniel Stringham. Some of the others in this convoy of boats were Joshua Olds and family, Mr. Redford, the latter died on the way, and his widow and four sons, Henry, Richard, Moses and James, and one daughter, Sarah, came on to Fort Harrison. This daughter became Mrs. John F. King.

Daniel Stringham, whose son became the noted Commodore Stringham, and whose daughter became Mrs. Jane Wedding, the wife of Judge Randolph Wedding, also the Fitch family, was in Markle's boat on this trip. The May family were also of this com¬ pany. Andrew Brooks, a gunsmith in the fort, and who fixed many an Indian's gun, married one of the May girls. These three rudely constructed boats bore the first important colony of families that ever came to Yigo county. True, they only reached here and un¬ loaded their boats at their new and permanent homes in the early part of the year 1816, yet they were practically here and had the month of February. The convoy floated down from that point to Pittsburgh, and down the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, and with poles pushed the boats up to Fort Harrison.

The safe arrival of the colony was a fete day to the soldiers in the fort. . They were welcomed with unaffected joy. A salute of fifteen guns was fired as they hove in sight. The little garrison were out in their gayest and best uniform, their guns brightened up, and all were precise and very dignified as they presented arms, but when the women and children began to clamber up the bank the soldiers and officers forgot dignity and all that, and broke ranks, hurrahed, and threw up their caps. It is said that at once a basket of wine was produced for the ladies, and something "just a leetle stronger" for the men, from the medicine chest.

Mr. Richardson brought on his boat a covered family carriage, and it goes without the saying that this was the first ever seen in what is now Vigo county. It will be remembered that Gen. Harri¬ son's headquarters chariot, when he came here as the head of the army, was an ox-wagon, and that the next morning out from the fort on their way to the battle of Tippecanoe one of the General's oxen had strayed off during the night, and this nearly left the great commander on foot with bag and baggage, and his army was mate¬ rially weakened by sending out men to hunt the lost ox. This fam¬ ily carriage did not long remain a covered one. It was all the seven wonders in one to the Indians, and it could not be guarded from their stealing strips of the leather cover until it was very soon all gone.

Mr. Richardson had for that time a large supply of such farm implements as were then used. He had selected his place to make a farm on F ort Harrison prairie, but by circumstances, among others to save a debt of loaned money, he went to Clark county, Ill., and took in payment of his debt the lands on which he laid out the town of York. Thus Vigo county was cheated of one of its earliest and best settlers. Rut at all events two of his children became resi¬ dents of Terre Haute as will appear farther on.

Joseph Richardson had married Mary Bennett. He died at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Richardson died in 1851. Their children were John, William and George Berkley, and three daugh¬ ters, Martha, Aula and Elizabeth.

George Berkley Richardson was born in Geneseo, N. Y., Decem¬ ber 25, 1804, one of a family of eight children. He was twelve years old when he came with his parents to Fort Harrison. At the breaking out of the war, although aged fifty-seven years, he prompt¬ ly responded to the President's call to arms, and performed active and faithful service for his country. He became a resident again of Terre Haute, in 1868, and this was his home until he passed away, May 21, 1880, at his residence, 306 South Fourth street. His ailment was a long and painful one, that wholly baffled the under¬ standing of all the physicians. It lasted nearly two years before the end came. A post-mortem examination revealed the fact that it came from a fish bone, which he had unconsciously swallowed; it was shaped something like a fish hook, and penetrated from the rectum to the bladder, yet the communication between these two ves¬ sels was so slight that it could only give the physicians the faintest hint as to the trouble. His strong constitution bore up nearly two years- under this attack, which was little else than one prolonged agony.

George B. Richardson was a man of quiet, unassuming nature, possessed of a high sense of honor, and regarded the adherence to the obligations of truth and honesty imposed upon mankind as sacred duties. He died peacefully, apparently unconscious that he was passing away. He left a son and a daughter (Mrs. Aula Mc¬ Donald) and three sisters, Mrs. Dr. Edward V. Ball, died in August, 1890; Mrs. Dr. Tutt, of Kentucky, and Mrs. Henry A. Steele, of Newark, N. J.

In 1828 Sarah Elizabeth Richardson, who was only three years old when the family arrived here, was married to Dr. Edward Y. Ball. In 1830 he built his residence on Second street, No. 28 north, now occupied by his venerable widow and daughter, Mrs. Mancourt. On this spot Mrs. Dr. Ball has made her home sixty years. It is yet a fine large two-story frame mansion, far more massive and imposing in appearance than when it was first occupied by the newly married couple. It has been raised to a two-story, and additions added from time to time, simply keeping step with the general advances of the town. When built it was rather to the out¬ side of property to the east, but nothing like so far out of the heart of the city to the east as it is now' to the west.

Dr. Edward Voorheis Ball died at his residence in Terre Haute, March 29, 1873, after a lingering illness of more than eight months, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was widely known in the Wabash valley as one of the eminent physicians, and highly respect¬ ed for his many virtues of head and heart. " He came to this local¬ ity," says one who knew him long and well, "for then there was no village of Terre Haute, in 1817, from near Morristown, N. J. He studied medicine in Vincennes, with Dr. Schular. He regularly commenced the practice of his profession in Terre Haute, in 1825. He was truly kind and Christian in all his ministrations, liberal and considerate. In 1842, during a religious awakening, while Henry Ward Beecher was preaching here temporarily, he united with the First Congregational Church. * * * For a number of years

He left surviving one son, Dr. L. Ball, and three daughters, one the wife of Rev. W. M. Cheever, the others Mrs. Charles R. Peddle and Mrs. Mancourt, of Terre Haute.

Mrs. Sarah Ball, relict of Dr. E. V. Ball, died at the old family residence, in Terre Haute, August 9, 1890, nearly the last of those interesting early pioneers of Yigo county.

D. C. Allen died at his residence in Prairieton township, Mon¬ day, June 30, 1890, aged sixty- two years. He was a son of Henry Allen, one of the first settlers of this county, and in an early day sheriff of Yigo county.