Vigo County, Indiana - Chapter 17: Looking Backward, 1891 (part 1 of 2)

WE have now passed over, in the chronological order of their coming, the first years from the first arrival of Joseph Lis¬ ton and his little colony to the year 1818, when there had gathered enough people in the neighborhood of the beautiful spot around Fort Harrison to justify the people demanding and receiving of the State a separate county of their own, which, in a spirit of patriotic pride, they chose to name in honor of Col. Francis Yigo.

In these accounts it is not claimed that a full and complete list of all who came within the years mentioned has been obtained. This, while greatly to be wished, that is, a full and accurate list and some¬ thing about them, as well as their posterity, is wholly impossible of attainment now. And another thing, unless one has faithfully tried it, he can not well conceive the extreme difficulty in fixing with any absolute certainty the exact year of the coming of a few - and how few that number is - that can with certainty be known as arriving at a fixed time. Where they did not tell themselves in their life¬ time, and where there is no one who came with them, or through some circumstance has had the day fixed with any absolute cer¬ tainty, and you are then left to dim recollection, to surmises or to second-hand information, then you will find, if you accept all your information, that there are many whom to your surprise came every year to the new country from the first arrival in 1811 to probably 1820. And still more often in looking over the old files of papers for the published obituaries, the writer was content to say that the deceased was "one of the earliest settlers." Again will be found, perhaps in the published funeral sermon, the general asser¬ tion that the dead was "one of the very first of those who made a home in Vigo county." Indeed, when you find in even historical sermons statements that give day and date with positive certainty, and you note that as a well-established fact, in the course of further investigation you may stumble on the incontestible evidence that the man was wrong by two, three, or, in one case, as I found, five years.

liave it understood that in every case, every instance of the many mentioned, that it is absolutely correct. In a few cases it may be that parties came earlier than that given, and in others later. I can only say that after long and the most dilligent search, I have written conscientiously, and as near the truth as to dates as it was possible to get.

Nor above all do I wish it understood that all who came in the years mentioned are named in the preceding chapters. This will more fully appear in the progress of this chapter, especially of those who are known to have come in 1817 and 1818.

I have before me an immense mass of notes on every variety of subject relating to the history of Vigo county - the most of them to its early history, but many that come to recent times, and it is for the sole purpose in this chapter that I have dropped the plan of giving more of the record year by year, and given it the more gen¬ eral title of "Looking Backward." This will enable me to clear off the huge conglomerate pile of notes and data, and at the same time, I hope, make one of the most interesting chapters of the book, as I will feel free to introduce nearly any important or disconnected fact as I may come to it.

William Naylor was one of Harrison's soldiers who came with him on the expedition and helped build Fort Harrison; was in the fight, and was also one of the brave men at the famous battle of Tippecanoe. The widow of his son George is now a resident of Terre Haute. William Naylor, when the cruel war was over, became a resident of Vigo county, and was one of its prominent citizens, and the name of Naylor, through those nowhere and the dead is as well known and as respectable as any in the county.

In the late years of his life he wrote and published in a Terre Haute paper some very interesting reminiscences of those early times. He expresses the greatest admiration for his old gallant leader, Gen. Harrison, and bitterly denounced his detractors. He was a Ken¬ tuckian, and also defends the names of several of the officers in the command, and pronounces them true Kentuckians and " real born heroes," although he cannot help a little pleasanty at the numerous Kentucky "colonels" there were in the little army. He mentions especially " the brave and gallant Maj. White of Shelby county, Ky., who received five wounds in the battle" of Tippecanoe. He says these Kentuckians, most of the command being from that State, "were all distinguished military men at home, such as generals, colonels, majors and captains."

He, referring to a once well-known citizen of Terre Haute, Capt. Hite, says that he volunteered when a boy about seventeen or eighteen years of age, in Jefferson county, Ky., and of him it was offi¬ cially said, " he acted bravely in battle." This man lived to an ad¬ vanced age in Terre Haute, and was noted, old as he was, as one of the active Union men in the late war. He enlisted the first men, organized the " Silver Grays," and drilled them from day to day, and was active in both sending recruits and aid to the brave soldiers at the front.

Mr. Naylor then mentions the names of Daniel Emmerson, Thomas Emmerson, Benjamin Backus (a lieutenant, he thinks), Capt. Wilson and Thomas Bobbins, as men who were in the terri¬ torial militia in Harrison's army and expedition. He especially speaks of the cool bravery and daring of a little Yankee named Lucius Kibby, who killed an Indian in the battle."

At this point he branches off into another eulogy of Gen. Harri¬ son and a philippic against his detractors, whom he sinks " deep in the vortex of scoundrelism," and then says: " In taxing my recollection of past events, I find I have left out the names of some persons whom I will here notice: William Polk * * Joseph

Liston was with us while Fort Harrison was being built, and the army bought corn of him. He claims the credit of breaking the first piece of ground on Fort Harrison prairie in those perilous times in the spring of 1811. As to his being in the battle of Tip¬ pecanoe or not, I can not say, as my recollection does not serve me now."

He then mentioned an incident of his return to his home, which is illustrative of those times: " I will here mention one incident on our travel home from Busseron creek; at Shakertown, when two fellow soldiers, myself and a wounded soldier left this place for home. We had to travel very slow, not more than ten or twelve miles a day, our wounded brother soldier not being able to travel farther. So we wore the distance of about 140 miles slowly and for the most part we were treated with great kindness and respect, and were charged not a bill for our entertainment; but one evening at a place not far from the Half Moon spring, now in Orange county, we put up with an old Friend Quaker, who did not seem very will¬ ing to keep us all night. We told him he must, because we could not go any farther with our wounded soldier. He consented, but intimated that the Indians had given us about what we deserved. He made us pay a small fare."

He then enters into some general reflections about the expedi¬ tion, and thinks it remarkable that the little army was not all de¬ stroyed by the savages, because, as he says, when we reflect that this little army penetrated into a wilderness country in the vicin¬ ity of a community of savage tribes of Indians who had been stim¬ ulated by British agents to acts of hostility toward the whites and the fanatical prediction and incantations of the Shawnee prophet, and the great distance that the army was then from any aid or succor - a distance of not less than 160 miles to the nearest point,

A incennes, at any other point not less than 250 miles. At that time the Indians could have raised 2,000 warriors in a few days at most, and have exterminated our little army, and why they did not do it is mysterious to me. He then mentions some strange inci¬ dents that came under his knowledge: One soldier had a presenti¬ ment a few days before the battle that he would be killed. Although this, was some days before the fight, he told his comrades, and re¬ quested that when he was dead they should " pull off his shoes and wear them home." He had made no mistake, and his wishes in re¬ gard to the shoes were faithfully carried out. The young man killed was named Fisler, who was shot dead at nearly the first fire in the action. He says there were others who had presentiments they would be killed before they got home, and their presentiments m each case were true. He then proceeds:

" A few reflections on my own individual case: When I went on this campaign I was skeptical on the subject of the Christian re¬ ligion. I had figured out a system of this kind: The Almighty had made the universe and affixed to it laws which were unalter¬ able,. and those laws would govern it according to His will so far as inanimate nature was concerned, and that it had a power to con¬ trol the mental and moral worlds. That, indeed, it fixed the destinj of both, that so far as as our actions were concerned, they neither were good or bad, intrinsically, that we might call one good and another bad and affix punishment to the one and reward to the other, but that in the Divine mind both were equally right, having been produced by the unalterable laws of Jehovah."

He then proceeds to tell how the whistling bullets about his ears in battle separated him on the spot from his " fashionable infi¬ delity, . ami from that moment on he regulated his every action m the implicit faith of the ever-ruling providences of God.

These presentiments were very common in the late war among the.sokhers when about to go into their first battle, but they wore o in time after passing unhurt through many. It is only a natural apprehension of danger liable to come to any man.

William and Daniel Durham, brothers, were natives of Vir¬ ginia that stopped a time in Kentucky and then came to Vincennes m LSib and the next year came to Vigo county. Daniel was the eldev ot the two. Daniel died about 1840. William died in 1848 a? m seveVtJ-ei&llt years. Daniel settled one and a half miles south o lerre Haute, and William about the same distance north of the town. They both brought families to the State. William and Jane Beasley were married in 1793 and had children: Thomas, William Sarah, Daniel, Gabriel, Jane and Pleasant - all dead. Pleasant, the last one, died in 1888 at Kankakee, Ill. Thomas was t le father of V llliam Durham, a resident of Terre Haute. Thomas

Durham was married twice, first to Mary Lindley, daughter of an early settler, and the second time to Rebecca Bales. William is the only survivor of this family. The only other descendants of the first William Durham being Milton S. Durham, attorney, and Mrs. Mary Dickinson, of Terre Haute.

Daniel Durham's children were John, Thomas, William, Daniel, David, and Mrs. Martha Chestnut, Mrs. Catherine Baird and Mrs. Rebecca Dickson, the latter the only survivor. George and Lyman, the sons of Daniel, Jr., are prominent farmers in Prairieton town¬ ship.

The children of William, the son of Daniel Durham, are Mrs. Samuel C. Roger, and Will C. Durham, of the firm of E. H. Bindley & Co., Terre Haute. The eldest now living of all of Daniel's descend¬ ants is Mrs. Mary Hayworth, the daughter of Susan. There were two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Stephenson and Mrs. Mary Jones. Of the latter there are now none in the county, and of the Stephen¬ sons there are Mahlon and Thomas.

In 1875 there was a movement set on foot to organize an old settlers' society for the county. This was warmly advocated by nearly all the oldest settlers then living. Preliminary meetings were had that year and the proper steps taken which resulted in a meeting in 1875 and 1876, the centennial year, the year in our national history that first awakened any general interest on the sub¬ ject of the history of the pioneers. A permanent organization was effected. From the records of the society is extracted the following : Henry Ross, Thomas Dowling, George K. Steele, Henry Fairbanks, Charles Thomas Noble, being present at the office of Mr. Dowling in Dowling Hall, July 8, 1875. Mr. Dowling acted as chairman. Mr. Fairbanks, secretary. They were ordered by the meeting to give notice in the daily papers of a meeting to be held in Dowling Hall for the purpose of organizing an " Old Settlers' Association." A meeting convened Saturday July 12, 1875, and elected the fol¬ lowing officers : President, R. W. Thompson; vice-presidents, James Hite, Chauncey Rose, John Scott, Curtis Gilbert, Joseph East, Beebe Booth, Sylvester Sibley, Perly Mitchell, Thomas Dowling, Henry Ross, Dr. Ezra Reed, George K. Steele, Alexander McGregor, Samuel B. Gookins, Charles T. Noble, Joseph S. Jenckes, Henry Fairbanks, T. C. Buntin, Harvey D. Scott, R. N. Hudson, Samuel Archer, John H. O'Boyle, Samuel Milligan, Thomas Pugh, Lucius Ryce, N. F. Cunningham, Martin M. Hickox, C. Y. Patterson, Lynus A. Burnett and Joseph O. Jones, and for Nevins township, Josiali Lambert and Tilgliman High; Pierson township, William Littlejohn and Joseph Liston; Riley township, John Ray, Nathan¬ iel Lee and Henry Christy; Honey Creek township, Joseph Greggs and Jesse Jones; Prairie Creek township, Samuel E. K. Fisk and

Robert Pietz; Prairieton township, Aaron Hoggatt and James Lee; Linton township, William B. Eldridge and Phillip Randolph ; Sugar Creek township, John Crews and Jabez Casto; Lost Creek township, John Dickerson, Zadoc Reeves and James Watson; Fayette town¬ ship, Daniel Barbour, Sr., and John Funkhouser; Otter Creek town¬ ship, Anthony M. Ostrander and Aquilla Phillips ; marshals, Col. F. C. Crawford and Capt. J. B. Hager ; corresponding secretary, Capt. S. H. Potter; treasurer, M. W. Williams; recording secretary, C. T. Noble.

It was provided in the constitution: The objects of this associ¬ ation are hereby declared to be the perpetuation of the remem¬ brances of the scenes connected with the early settlement of the Wa¬ bash valley, its history, its personal recollections and friendships and the events which have marked' the earliest struggles of the earliest immigrants to western Indiana.

Books had been opened for some time in which old settlers were invited to enroll their names. A note inserted states that since enrolling their names the following have died: John McGrannahan, died September 28, 1875; Charlotte Wood, died August 3, 1875; Joseph Liston, died September 12, 1875, and Henry D. Williams, died September 2, 1875.

years. Ariel one of the over-ninety ones is the name of the first settler in the county, Joseph Liston, who was here in all those " sickly years" that are so universally a part of the accounts of the early times, and the other is that of the venerable Daniel Barbour, who was ninety-five years old, and who was among the first of the wave that came soon after Indiana became a State in 1817 (he had all the experiences of the pioneer in adversity, and lived to see the complete triumph of the long struggle) ; in its appropriate place, side by side with Daniel, was that of Elizabeth Barbour, aged eighty-eight years.

The appearance of the true mother in Israel among the early settlers at tlieir meeting certainly must have called to the minds of those present that in awarding the meed of praise to the pioneers those grand women who came here were a fit theme for the histo¬ rian, poet or orator. They made the greatest sacrifices, and were, in fact, generally the true heroines. There was generally required of them a moral and often a calm physical courage, greater than that of the men. Alone in their cabins with their babes, and the sav¬ ages flitting through the woods with their beastly cowardice and ferocity, gathering often the scalps of women and children ; in the crude homes they had watched to see the husband go away on his mis¬ sions, when there was not only the terror confronting the wife of the unseen dangers to which he might be going, but the lonely, helpless, despairing dread for the blessed prattlers at her breast and knees. Her work and lot were hard indeed. And then sickness and deaths in her own household; and to her widely scattered neigh¬ bors, and everywhere was she the ministering angel, still strong, patient, meek, but resolute, when the strong man shook, trembled and fell. Then it was that the weak had the strong arms and lifted him up. The husband carried the rifle, she the children, and when the bloody tomahawk beat out the brains of the babes, it was only when the dead mother lay where she had put up her arms and thrust her body to protect them.

In the start to the new country it was the young wives that felt the keenest pangs in bidding farewell to the old home and in the camps along the lonely way they made the fires, cooked the food, cared for the children, and when they were asleep, by the light of the camp fire, mended their clothes and made their cloth or buck¬ skin shoes. In the pitiless storms that came upon them they were the ones to whom the children turned for protection, and never in vain. They learned to mold bullets, make fires (no matches), shoot, ride bareback, care for the stock, children, and generally even the hus¬ band ; to hunt out certain roots and herbs to doctor the sick ; to plant, cultivate, card, spin, weave and make the family clothing, and cook for, feed, protect and educate the young, and above and beyond all drill themselves to think and believe that they were nothing - a mere charge and weight upon " their man," around whom centered the earth. I know of nothing in history to equal their heroic sac¬ rifices, and of course among the greatest of men there is nothing to compare with her self-abnegation. And when their long and stormy day has past, and the setting sun bursts from the clouds in his golden splendor, telling of the fair weather to-morrow, it is then, to look upon the serene faces of these blessed old grandmothers, beaming a world of love, and still to spare, for all mankind, is a privileged glimpse surely at the pearly gates that open upon the Golden Shore.

Old Settlers' Meeting , 1877. - September 11 of this year was another very interesting meeting of the pioneers. Col. It. W. Thompson returned to his home from his duties in Washington as secretary of the navy, and opened the meeting with a well-timed address of welcome. Judge S. B. Gookins was president. The venerable Bev. Aaron Wood opened the proceedings with prayer. Col. Thompson, among other things, said: "I am something of a pioneer. I came to this State in 1831, when it was a compara¬ tive wilderness. I remember the time when we received our mails once a week on horseback. 1 remember the time when the first mail-coach came to the town where I lived. We all went out to see it - men, women and children, and we hailed it as a bright omen of our future. I have seen the immense forests which lay between here and the Ohio river felled by the energy and enter¬ prise of our hardy pioneer population, a population which has nearly passed away and which can never be found again; for, what¬ ever may be said of the enterprise, of the intelligence, of the ar¬ dor of the present race of men, they can not supply that race of men who are passing away. * * * * It is well we should ask ourselves that question now, of how have all these marvelous things been brought about? We are in the midst of a very great crisis. There has been no time in the history of this country when the public mind was in such a state of irritation and excitement as it is now - irritation and excitement growing out of all sorts of con¬ troversies in the religious, the political and the social world. We are moving with lightning rapidity, but God only knows where. * * * * yye may learn lessons of wisdom from these few old men that are yet left to us. Turn back to the pages of our early history and you will positively find more wisdom, more insight into the future, more clear-headed common sense and sagacity in the early legislature of Indiana than have been found at any era since then. In my opinion the day was an evil one for us when we buried the old constitution which they made." | The writer of this desires to say that he had just been giving the first State constitu- tion a careful examination before reading this address of Col. Thompson, and that he not only heartily joins him in the senti¬ ment here expressed, but would add that he solemnly believes it to be one of the ablest State documents to be found in American his¬ tory; and he learns that the controlling mind in its formation was not a lawyer - hence its strong originality. ] The Colonel continued his model address, deploring that tendency of the times to rush on, heedless of the lessons of the past, and the race of law-makers to fill our statute-books with enactments " half, nine- tenths of it abso¬ lutely worthless." He strongly inculcated the lesson " of draw¬ ing wisdom from the Indiana pioneers, learning well the lessons they taught, and then we shall be prepared to perform our duties of citizens," and concluded with "a welcome - thrice welcome to the hospitality of our citizens."

Sylvester Sibley was then introduced, but such was his emotion the reporter could catch but little he said, except that he came here fifty-three years ago and was at that time twenty-three years of age.

W. R. Eldridge then spoke a few minutes. He was eighty-six years old. After telling of the long, hard fight they had, he said they had then no ministers, no churches nor school-houses. " In fifty-eight years that I have seen these things, one can not under¬ stand how it all could happen in that short time. We celebrated at Middletown the Fourth of July forty-three years ago. There were two old Revolutionary soldiers then present, and they were the ob¬ served of all observers. They fought the battle for us, why should we not honor them ? We did the same for you, my friend s."

George B. Richardson, a son of Joseph Richardson, next spoke. He came with his father in 1816, and was then seventy-three years old. He had been in the Mexican war, in California in 1849. A hale and hearty old man.

Elijah Pound next told how he left Ohio with his father's family in 1816 - and there were sixteen in the family; how they landed in Prairie creek after the long and tedious voyage from Ohio.

Mr. Durham then said he came early, and reckoned that he had "tramped" down more weeds than any man in Yigo county, and told how he believed he had killed the last bear in the county.

Jesse Whitaker feelingly told how he had returned to again meet his old friends of Terre Haute. He was of the opinion that he had made more puncheon floor than any man in the county. "I passed through this town," he said, "when there was not a house in it. Where are my old friends who were with me then? The most of them have gone to their long home where I must go soon. I am eighty-six years old. I can recollect the time when we met in my house in Pierson township and had our prayer meetings, there being no churches here then."

William Kuykendall next spoke. Among other things he said in the early days they harvested for one another and a man who hired a hand was thought a villain.

David Smith said he had been on the Wabash sixty years. He spoke of the trials of the early settlers, but insisted they had as much fun on the average as anybody.

C. G. Boord, who had settled in Washington county in 1815, next spoke. He spoke of the trouble with the Indians. He described liow his family had to send to Louisville as their nearest market for everything they had to buy. He says: "When I was a grown man I wore a fox-skin cap to church, and yet I was respected." At the time of the meeting Mr. Boord was seventy-four years of age.

Col. R. N. Hudson said he had lived in the State fifty -three years, and in Terre Haute thirty-seven years. Among other things he said: " Sixty-seven years ago the thirteenth of last month, there floated down the Wabash river by the site of Terre Haute, 400 armed, painted and plumed Indian warriors, led by Tecumseli chieftain and Shawnee Prophet. There then was scarcely a white settlement between here and Vincennes. The whole country was in the possession and under the control of the most warlike Indians this country has ever produced. Notone single civil or re¬ ligious law presided over the country, and that even in the time in the memory of some who are present."

James Hudson [wonder if this was the Hudson that was with Liston?] was introduced, but thought his experience too insignifi¬ cant to say anything about.

Isaac Beauchamp said he came to the State in 1826 ; was married in 1828. He had gone with his father to Shakertown to mill with a grist of grain waiting their turn as long as four or five days.

The following names were added to the register at this meeting: Lemuel Surrell, Terre Haute, aged sixty, residence thirty-seven years; Robert Gilcress, Honey creek, aged fifty-seven, came in 1822 ; Isaiah Donkam, Pierson township, age sixty-seven, came in 1833; William Durham, Kankakee, Ill., aged seventy-three, came in 1822; Ira R. Langford, aged sixty-one, came in 1848; James Merriman, aged sixty-three, came in 1826; John Davis, aged fifty-four, came in 1823.

September 11, 1877, Rev. Samuel K. Sparks was ninety-one years one month and one day old. He with the following old set¬ tlers that day, upon invitation, dined at the Terre Haute House;

William Eldridge, aged eiglity-sis; Zadoc Beeves, aged eighty-one ; John Dawson, aged eighty-seven; Jesse Whitaker, aged eighty-five ; Margaret Merghing, aged eighty-five ; Eli Sinclair, aged eighty-four ; Rev. James Lee, aged seventy-five; Henry Taylor, aged seventy-four; . Rev. W. 0. Blundell, aged eighty-one; Wm. Daniel. Barbour, aged ninety; Sylvester Sibley, aged eighty-two; Alexander C. Rockwell, aged seventy-four; John Davis, aged sixty-sis. As Davis was only sixty-six the others looked upon him as a " kid," and patronizingly called him " Johnnie " and bid him to " run and bring them a drink of water," and they would "dance at his wedding," with other in¬ sinuations at the callow youth. The landlord declared the " boys " boisterous but good matured, and their innocent jokes and mirth richly repaid him.

A Great Woman. - As a rule men have studiously reserved this term as applicable only to themselves and never to a woman. They are willing to call all womankind good, and with bated breath will sometimes concede that certain ones were eminent and de¬ servedly so. At one time in the history of civilization this was very real - women were little more than drudges and slaves, honored even by the contempt of their lords. They were prohibited from all education at first, and then to only the light and ornamental, such as French, music, drawing and needle work. But now this estimate of woman is more apparent than real, and the manner of reserving the word "great" almost exclusively for man is but a fashion or habit. The sure mark and indeed the unfailing measure of the advance of civilization is found in the public judgment as to who are the great men among them and the degree with which this passes from the warriors to the men of peace. When greatness was the number of scalps dangling at the belt, this was pure sav¬ agery and petrified at that, without hope of ever growing out of its ruts. To cut throats is not the supremest work of life, no more than wearing the prize-fighter's belt.

The.;women and children of the early pioneer class have been left to an unmerited obscurity. To my mind they stand so distinct in the history of our country that it is seriously to be questioned if they are not much more in that upon which present civilization rests, deserving of the highest niche in the temple of fame. He who thinks these women were all coarse and ignorant, unkempt in person and mind, is exploiting his own ignorance of his own history, and is liable to give evidences of his own mental degeneration. It has been said that a man may be great to all the world, except his valet. Here his shams and pretentions are uncovered, and the follies and weaknesses laid bare and excite secret contempt. While the great women - more especially the pioneer women, are only great in their homes, in the seclusion of their families, where shine those qualities of the true, the beautiful and the good. The manly man may be truly great whether he be king or coal-heaver. The womanly woman is great in her greatest obscurity, in her little kingdom of the heart where she protects and cares for those about her, not for fame or applause, but because she is a true woman.

In the fall of 1820 Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, with their only child, the late Mrs. Burt, then in her fourth year, traveled in their own conveyance from Hartford to Wheeling and from there to Evans¬ ville in a flatboat, taking with them their horses, ivagons and goods. They crossed over to Mount Carmel, Ill., where they remained until February, 1821. They then removed to Boseville, where their old friend and former neighbor, Chauncey Bose was engaged in the milling and mercantile business, and who had invited them to that place. Here Mr. Fuller purchased a farm on which they resided until 1847, when they came to Terre Haute, and built their resi¬ dence on the corner of Seventh and Mulberry streets. Having purchased thirty acres of land on the Bloomington road, now Poplar street, and made a permanent home on that property, where Mr. Fuller died in 1858 leaving a good estate, which was divided equally between the mother and daughter. Here Mrs. Fuller spent the remainder of her days and died May 31, 1880, within a few days of the age of eighty-five years.

Mrs. Fuller had enjoyed good health for one of her age to within the last year of her life, when she commenced gradually to fail, and during the last month it was evident to those about her that the end was near. Until she became unconscious, about a week before death, she fully realized that her life was closing, and if there ever was one who simply drew the drapery of their couch about them to indulge in pleasant dreams this was evidently the one. There were neither fears nor solicitude, any more for the future than for the past. Her day's work was done and she simply went to sleep.

She left her sister, Mrs. Bull, who had been her loved compan¬ ion for twenty-six years, the only survivor of the family. One of her sisters, Mrs. Wadsworth, settled in Maysville, Ky., at an early day. Her son, William H., became a noted lawyer of that place and a member of congress.

I have said that Mrs. Sophia Bamsdell Fuller was a great woman. Although one of the pioneers* she had read well the best literature of the times; a strong and close observer of men and things, with a mind eminently practical, and an intellectual strength equal in my judgment to that of Margaret Fuller, whose fame will never cease to grow.

of jotting down certain things that she saw, heard or thought, not with the idea of keeping a diary, but simply to put them on paper and perhaps lay them away or destroy them, and that some scraps were forgotton by her and fell into the hands of those who held them sacred because she had made them, are we indebted for the rare privilege of examining them. As the rarest picture ever seen we give some extracts from her jottings about coming to the new country - a pioneer woman's story of the experiences and im¬ pressions written down at the moment. Such as can now be found are scattered and meager, but they are enough to whet the appetite for more and to cause a great regret that she had not written and given us a complete diary of her whole life. It is, however, enough to give us an inside view of the early woman pioneer life to make it one of the most valuable relicts of the century. Seventy years ago she wrote:

1819. Husband sells stock in trade, closes business and returns delighted with the (to him) new world, the love of adventure in¬ creasing every day of his journey I think; but poor me would rather stay.

1820. This is an eventful year of our lives; we break up, sell goods and chattels, leave friends, home, all, to seek our fortune in the far West; we hardly know where, but expect to live in Cincin¬ nati. Our purse contains thirteen hundred dollars ; we have a pair of horses, a neat wagon, our wearing apparel and bedding; and these constitute all of this world's goods that we possess. Oh! if I had health, my friends, I would not leave you with so heavy a heart, but I know and feel that the same God who has hitherto supplied all my wants will never forsake me in my need - farewell.

October 24. This infortunate delay took from our purse one hundred dollars. Thanks to our Heavenly Parent that we are able to prosecute our journey. Our little daughter is quite well and anxious to be on the wing.

October 25. Rode ten miles this day; met kindness and sym¬ pathy as we traveled among strangers; are recognized as the unfor¬ tunate young couple who were sick at Mr. D.'s tavern, - too young

26th. Gaining health and strength every day, and the innocent prattle of our little daughter as we ride over a delightful country drives dull care away.

hotel, but old friends from Hartford soon learned of our arrival and we spend a few days with them ; meantime make preparations for descending the Ohio river. It seems like fate's decree to unite us in friendship with a family from New Jersey, emigrants like our¬ selves, but destined to Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Dr. Ezra Baker and family invite us to accompany them down the river. Our plan is to put our horses and baggage on the boat of Mr. Bissell, from East Windsor, Connecticut, as freight, and Mr. B. is to lash his boat to the Doctor's.

November 10. Leave the shores of Wheeling pleased with our new friends. Ho! a steamboat approaches; my husband hails her and obtains a passage for myself and child to Maysville, Kentucky, to visit sister Mary. I can probably stay with my friends three days or more before the flatboat can reach there.

November 16. Boats arrive all safe. Our new friends have prevailed upon my husband to abandon the idea of locating in Cincinnati; we are to proceed with them to Mt. Carmel. This ar¬ rangement afflicts me; it seems to destroy my last hope of being near my dear sister Mary, my only relative in the western country. She is comfortably settled, and suffers few privations except the loss of friends - must I go so far from her and for what? A few acres of land on the beautiful prairie among the hunters and back¬ woodsmen. But sighs and regrets avail nothing; dearest sister farewell - I feel as if we part forever. Mrs. Baker is kind and tries to comfort me. She said to me: Your family is small; should you not be pleased you can return to Cincinnati after visiting with us in our abode. The Doctor had purchased a section of land, prairie skirted with timber, no improvement upon it except a log cabin, and but one family within two miles of us; yet I think I shall be contented and pleased. We shall store our goods at Mt. Carmel, and we shall get along with the log cabin until we can build a larger house. Come, dry your tears; you will, I hope, think so well of this lovely spot and me as not to wish to leave it. The Doctor says he is anxious to have Mr. Fuller buy land adjoining us.

At Cincinnati my husband bought a small boat, put into it our traveling baggage, purchased some articles such as pots, kettles, dishes, tinware, etc. ; we made a bedstead of our wagon bed, and a table of our goods' case, seats of our trunks, etc. Our horses remain on Mr. Bissell's boat and our small boat is lashed to Dr. Baker's large one. With this arrangement we leave Cincinnati for Louisville. Dr. Baker sends his man ashore to kill game as we glide slowly but safely down the Ohio. Wild turkey and squirrels are in great abundance.

on our way to Evansville, wliicli we reached with weather cold and unpleasant. We there disposed of our boats and traveled in our wagons to Mt. Carmel, where we arrived December 20, 1820, and remained here until February. We leave this wild looking country and the people, the men mostly dressed in buckskin, for the Wabash. Stopped a few days in V incennes - a pleasant town ; stop a short time at Honey Creek and then on to Terre Haute.

This is a beautiful spot of earth ; rivers on the west side and east so far as the eye can reach, delightful. Three frame houses and a few log cabins are all that is to be seen. Our destination is yet fifteen miles ahead to the mills of Brooks, Bobbins & Bose - the two latter natives of the same town with my husband.

We reached the mills, a wild romantic looking place, situated on Baccoon Creek, Parke county. There are but few white inhabitants ; most of the population is on Henry's prairie. Several tribes of Indians are near; many of them come to the mill every day, bring¬ ing their venison, wild turkeys, honey, etc., and the squaws their baskets to exchange for fiour and other things.

March 22. Leave our friends' house only to be neighbors; they have built for us a snug log house with three rooms and a shelter to cook under, besides a small house in addition for our meat, flour, etc. My friend, Mrs. Brooks, is untiring in her efforts to make me contented; she is indeed a friend. Mr. Bose and Mr. Bobbins have taken their abode with us.

Now it is December, 1821, and I am just able to move about the house. My husband has the ague yet occasionally and is quite as feeble as myself. Oh! I would we had never seen the Wabash; our little darling prattler is our greatest joy; she is always happy and never tired of play.

These are meager extracts, but they are a fine pen picture of the pioneer wife's western life, crowned with the words - "have become very happy." life referred to her coming to the West. Had she written a full account of each day of what in looking back now we can only think of as a succession of days of dreary monotony, it would have made, touched with the genius of the fair writer, an instructive and inter¬ esting book.

In 1856 she wrote: I am no longer young, yet I may pass o'er some years. I know they can not be many. Several times in my life sickness has come upon me. I did not think I could live. I have met many I thought grievous afflictions in my young days, and in my short-sighted folly for the time being have thought, Oh, that I could die and be at rest; but as all was wrong- I regret it, for many times my griefs all turned into blessings, and as I now look over my past life, I find no disappointment, no sorrow I could well lose, for the cloudy morning has often turned out the fairer day, and my past trials and little grievances have done me good. They were comparatively light, and I bless our Heavenly Father for His loving kindness to me all the days of my life.

In 1859 she wrote: One year ago we followed the mortal re¬ mains of my husband to the cemetery; there we laid him away to rest in the silent tomb. Well, time that seems everything to man has not even an existence with God; in Him I trust now and for¬ ever. * * * * My time is swiftly passing, I know, yet I enjoy life every day, for it is beautiful, but I am admonished to be ready to die. I hope to have my reason and power of speech in my last moments, come when they may, for they will come in God's own good time. I hope to die at home, surrounded by family and friends. * * * There is a place left for me by the side of my husband. After life's fitful fever we shall sleep well.

Again alluding to her husband's death, she wrote: It was hard for him to contemplate the laying aside of the well loved needs of earth for a future state of existence, not having the faith as strong as mine; but he yet did not fear to meet his God. To me it seems that death comes to none except to bring a blessing; yet life is sweet. My husband's last words were, " You have been my good wife always." This remembrance will solace my declining years. February 5, 1870, she wrote: This day brings me to the Fifty-fifth anniversary of my marriage.

Here is a glimpse of her philosophy of life: I willingly concede to every one what I claim for myself - the freest range of thought and expression, and am perfectly indifferent whether the sentiment of others on speculative subjects coincide or differ from my own. Instead of wishing or expecting that uniformity of opinion should be established, I am convinced that it is neither practicable nor desirable; that varieties of thought are as numerous and strongly marked, and as irreducible to one standard as those of bodly form, and that to quarrel with one who thinks differently from ourselves would be no less unreasonable than to be angry with him for having feat¬ ures unlike our own.

Mrs. Fuller was not a member of any religious society. Strong, pure, liberal and tolerant, her life was the gentle woman, her relig¬ ion that type of philosophy calmly contemplating the great cause.

May 24, 1877, she made her will, disposing of her large property, giving liberally to her surviving sister and grandchildren, she provided for the founding of a Home for A ged Females , to be built and maintained on that portion of her property designated in the town of Terre Haute.

The will was contested successfully by the heirs, but was the means of finally securing the establishment of the present Old La¬ dies ' Home.

Old Seiners'1 Meeting, 1885. - Another interesting meeting of the early settlers was held in Naylor's Opera House in 1885, and from the records we extract the following :

The meeting was organized by the election of Col. R. W. Thompson as chairman, and Col. R. N. Hudson, secretary. On being called to the chair, Col. Thompson stated that he was ad¬ vertised to make a speech. They had certainly been misled. The Colonel then related many interesting incidents of old times. When he came to Terre Haute, forty years ago, there was no building where the Opera House stands, nor a building between the cor¬ nel opposite and the Terre Haute House. The old spinning wheel factory, built by John Reynard & Wood, was considered a marvel. Business was confined around the square. Mr. Farrington lived in what is now considered the south part of the city, and it was thought to be a great ways out to his house. One of the best gardens the Colonel ever raised was west of Third street. Charley Noble was clerk of the court. AVe used to get together and discuss politics and settle the affairs of the nation every day, and sometimes twice a day. I he Colonel referred to the enterprise of the early settlers, but they have nearly all passed away. There is not a minister or a lawyer living here and practicing his profession avIio was here then. Some one said that the Hon. Harvey D. Scott was, but the Colonel said that Mr. Scott studied law with him. There was only one mail a week. Then the government gave them a mail carried by boys on horses who had relays every ten miles. Terre Haute people then began to think they were increasing their importance, and devised schemes to advance the interests of the town. He gave an account of the building of the Wabash & Erie canal, and of the impetus thus given the town. Then the National road was projected and started, but the great impetus came when the Terre Haute & Indianapolis railroad was built, through the energy of Chauncey Hose. The first three times the Colonel came west was on horseback, and he made the trip twenty or thirty times by stage. He believed the city has 30,000 of as intelligent and cultivated people as can be found any¬ where.

Rev. Aaron Wood, of Yountsville, offered prayer. He then gave an interesting account of his coming to Terre Haute sixty years ago. He rode from Merom without his dinner, and stopped with "Dr. Modesitt, sir." (This was a favorite expression of the Doctor's, and it caused considerable laughter.) He asked if there were any others in the audience who were here in 1826 besides Mrs. Chauncey Warren. Messrs. J. O. Jones, C. T. Noble and Wolsey Barbour said they were. He related many interesting anecdotes of early days, particularly of the interesting congressional race between Col. Blake and John Osborn and Dr. Shuler for Congress in 1860. Terre Haute was behind in church organization. He was pastor of Asbury church in 1854-58. He remembered the Rev. Mr. Jewett and the founding of the Congregational church.

Capt. James Hook said he had been here forty-eight years. During that time there has not been a house on Main street from the river to the fair grounds that he has not helped to build or saw it in course of construction. There are but four men engaged in the same business now who were here when he came. They are Samuel Musselman, harness maker; Dr. Pence and P. M. Donnelly, druggists, and William Clark, barber. Mr. Clark shaved him fortyeight years ago. He remembered Mr. Wolsey Barbour and Col. Blake.

At the time Col. Thompson introduced Mr. Wolsey Barbour he said they practiced law together forty years ago. Mr. Barbour said he would speak briefly as he was suffering from partial paralysis of the left side. He came here from New York with his father in 1817. They landed in London, Ind., on the Ohio, from a flatboat. His father and Dr. Durkee went to Vincennes on horseback. At Vincennes they were directed to come to Port Har¬ rison, which was considered the place to locate. Land was held at from $10 to $15 an acre. They did not purchase land on the prairie, but went to Fayette township. The family remained a while in Fort

Harrison. Mr. Barbour is sure it Avas Joseph Liston avIio carried the neivs of the peril of the fort from Indians to Vincennes. He left the fort secretly, and slipped aAvay, going doAvn the bank until Avell out of danger. He gave a vivid account of the battle of Fort Harrison, as told him by those avIio AAmre in the fort.

Mr. J. O. Jones, ex-postmaster Avas next called for. Mr. Jones came to this section in 1816, AA^here he remained until his parents died, Avhen he Avas taken to NeAv York by an uncle, and remained there until he Avas nearly tAventy-one. He then returned to Terre Haute. He spoke of the bad health of the early settlers; of the miasma and fevers. Game Avas plenty and very cheap. Mr. Jones declared himself a Hoosier, and expressed a determination, God Avilling, to die in Terre Haute.

The Hon. Barnabas Hobbs, of Parke county, Avas introduced. Although not a resident of Vigo county, he Avas an early settler of Indiana, and had Avatclied the State groAv from a AYilderness to the present position. Mr. Hobbs revieAAred the early amusements, com¬ paring them Avith those of the present time. He compared the education of the present time to that of the early days. People then believed in ghosts and Avitclies, signs, etc. Education has almost banished such foolish beliefs.

Ml*. C. T. Noble gave exceedingly interesting reminiscences. He came here in 1823, and Avas classed as one of the old settlers. He has lived here as resident since 1825. There are only tAvo avIio can equal him, Harry and John Boss. He has seen the city groAv from a A7ery small A7illage to its present size. He passed his early life as a teacher, and had taught Mr. C. W. Barbour. He AYanted it understood that Mr. Barbour Avas one of his pupils, and he Avould say further that Mr. Barbour Avas a good boy at school. He taught in the first Sunday-school started in Terre Haute. Tavo sisters of John Cruft came here in 1829 or 1830 full of Yankee ideas. He related many interesting reminiscences connected Avitli the school. The Misses Cruft brought Avitli them Sunday-school tickets of various colors, Avhich Avere given out to those avIio committed verses of the Bible to memory. In 1831 or 1832 Zenas Smith came here and also established a Sunday-school. In 1829 Mr. Noble took the census of the village to learn, for his oavh curiosity, the number of inhab¬ itants. He found in October, 1829, that there Avere eighty-tliree families in Terre Haute, and 558 inhabitants. In August, 1835, a bet of 815 on a side Avas made on the population. One contended that the toAvm had a population of 1,500, and the other that it did not. Mr. Noble took the census, and found 183 families, and a population of exactly 1,200. He got the Avagers for his labor. Mr. Noble also taught in the Terre Haute schools. He thinks the schools of to-day do not equal those of the early days. When he

Capt Boorcl gave evidence of remarkable memory for a man of his years. He came to Indiana in 1815. He knew all of the men, with one exception, who composed the company that laid out Terre Haute. He came here in 1821. The Indians were troublesome. He related an incident told him by Johnny Green, an Indian chief. Several Indians went to a cabin below town with the intention of killing the settler and his family. Two of the Indians were sent to the cabin to reconnoiter. They gained a position where they could see into the house. They were in time to see the settler lead in evening prayer. This impressed them greatly, and they returned to their chief and told him the settler was a good man, and that they heard him talking with the Great Spirit. The Indians did not molest the settler.

Col. Thomas Nelson was called for, and responded. Capt. Potter desired to know when the Colonel came to Terre Haute. During his remarks the Colonel said he came here forty-one years ago, and hereafter when anyone asked the Captain how old he (Col. Nelson) was, the Captain could reply "41." The Colonel said he could boast of having brought the first can of fresh oysters into Parke county, the first piano and the first bottle of champagne. (Col. Thompson - "Whisky was there before you came.") The Colonel's reminiscences were listened to with marked attention.

The following is the list of old settlers who attended the meet¬ ing: Edward Cruft, born in Terre Haute, January 30, 1830. William W. Goodman, born in Louisville, near Vincennes, Septem¬ ber 9, 1814; moved to Vigo in September, 1819; farmer. Richard W7atson, born in Spencer county, Ivy., October 7, 1826; came to Vigo in 1828; his father, Scarlet Watson, with family settled in Prairie Creek township, which has been his place of residence since ; farmer. Thomas B. Carr, born in Spencer county, Ivy., July 13, 1816; came here October 29, 1824; residence and post-office Terre Haute; merchant. John L. Dickerson, born in Butler county, Ohio (forgets when); came to Vigo county October 7, 1839; teacher. Charles T. Noble, Jr., born in Terre Haute on November 2, 1842; lived here always; book-keeper. Samuel H. Jackson, born in Vigo county, February 11, 1823; farmer; post-office, Terre Haute; residence three and one-half miles southeast of the city Ebenezer C. Edmunds, born June 10, 1836, in Vigo county; son of Samuel Edmunds, former county commissioner, probate judge and justice of the peace; one of the early pioneers of the county; farmer.

Benjamin F. S wofford, M. I)., born in Randolph county, N. C. (time torgotten), crossed the Wabash river December 4 1834 lived for many years in Fayette township. Sanford S. Ripley, born in Vigo county, Lost Creek township December 19, 1842: farmer Joseph Hearn born in Sugar Creek township, Vigo county, Ind ' February 1, 1826; farmer. George Grimes, Loudon county, Va. ; came to Clay county, fall of 1811; now a resident of Terre Haute.

iQonr Beal6' m°rn in Jackscm county, Tenn.; came to Indiana in 1830; hves m Terre Haute. Samuel Jones, born in Vigo countv Ind., November 21, 1842; son of Uncle Jesse Jones, an old timer; Samuel was several times elected trustee of his township, and was a candidate for county treasurer in 1884, but was defeated. Willi in Prairie Creek township, Vigo county, Ind October 12, 1829; president of the Vandalia system of rail¬ roads. V llliam T. Pittmger, born in Ross county, Ohio, April 22, 18^4, came here m 1827 to Fayette township; farmer; post-office, Sanford Vigo county. John W. Douglass, born in Lebanon county, Penn., December 8, 1818; raised in Frederick countv Va - came here m 1841. William G. Jenckes, born in Lost Creek town¬ ship January 7, 1836; farmer. James M. Turner, born in Spencer county, Ivy., January 31, 1836; when arrived here, one year of age; father s name, John W. Turner. ' J

18^8 came to Indiana ivlien three years of age; family settled in Vermillion county, Ind.; came to Vigo in 1864. Charles M. Warren, born m Terre Haute (he thinks) some time in 1840;

?S5 ^amuel T- Peese' born in Vigo county, Ind., February 22, 18^4; lumberman. Henry T. Rockwell, born in Tioga county, N. Y., March 11, 181o; came to Indiana in 1820; raised in Parke county; y ^,gU,st 6' 1843- Charles B. Brokaw, born in Vincennes, Ind September 20, 1830; came to Terre Haute in 1856; engaged all the time since with his brother, George B. Brokaw, in the carpet business. Isaac Deiter, born in Miami county, Ohio, June 11, 1834; came to this county October 10, 1835. G. Foster Smith, born ?JinGTeS' Dece"ber 27> 1824 5 came to Terre Haute August 30,

August 29, IS 26; came liere in 1842. Mrs. Rich Hebb, formerly Harriet Cochran, relict of Rich. Hebb (who came here in 1835, from Maryland), was born in Fayette county, Penn., November 27, 1822; came here in 1888; married to Mr. Hebb in 1841; now lives in the city. Mrs. Derexa Barbour, formerly of Whitcomb; born in Preble county, Ohio, May 1, 1820; came to Clinton in 1829; married to Hon. C. W. Barbour in 1840. Residence in Fayette township. William Paddock, born in Clarke county, Ohio, near 1818; came to Yigo and settled in Prairie Creek township; formerly auditor of Yigo county; now engaged in milling. Lemuel Surrell, born in Queen Anne's county, Md., October 16, 1816 ; moved to Terre Haute in 1837. E. Duncan Jewett, born in this county; forty-six years old; merchant. Eli B. Hamilton, forty-one years old. Charles W. Williams, thirty years old; clerk of the Terre Haute Gas Company. J ohn W. Smith, fifty-eight years old ; an old Mexican soldier. Wiley Black, farmer; fifty-three years old. John B. Goodman, farmer; fifty-eight years old. Caleb Jackson, farmer; sixty-two years old. Jackson Cox, farmer ; sixty-five years old. Webster W. Casto, farmer ; fifty-one years old. Harrison Dennv, farmer; sixty years old. Mrs. L. L. Denny, fifty years old. Marion McQuilkin, farmer; fortythree years old. W. W. Watkins, farmer; fifty-four years old. James Hook, born in Pennsylvania, aged seventy years; in Yigo county forty-eight years; contractor. O. J. Innis, born in Pennsyl¬ vania; came to Parke county in 1843 ;fifty-eight years old. Thomas Hannon, born in Pennsylvania; sixty-seven years old; been here forty-seven years. John L. Humaston, New York; sixtv-five years old ; been here forty-one years. H. D. Milns, born in England ; farmer ; seventy years old ; been here fifty-two years. George G. Boord, born in Kentucky; eiglity-two years old; been here sixty-three years. H. K. Wise, born in Pennsylvania; aged eighty-tliree years; came to Yincennes in 1824; was here sixty years ago.

Isaac Beauchamp, born in Kentucky; eighty years old; came here fifty-seven years ago. Henry Boyll, was born in Kentucky; farmer; sixty years old; came here fifty-seven years ago. Abram Baum, was born in Kentucky; seventy-one years old; came here fifty-three years ago. Philip Staub, born in Germany; eightyseven years old; be^n in America fifty-nine ^ears. John Jackson, born in Illinois; sixty-five years old; been here sixty-four years. Stephen Hedges, born in Kentucky; sixty-four years old; been here thirty-four years. Edward S. Hussey, born in Baltimore; seventyone years old; been here fifty-five years. Samuel Dodson, farmer, sixty-seven years old; been here forty-one years. John Ray, born in Ohio; seventy-four years old; been here sixty-seven years. A. W. Sheets, born in Yincennes; seventy-three years old; been here sixty-five years. J. A. Littlejohn, born in Kentucky; sixty-one years old ; been here forty-six years. William Peppers, born in Ohio ; seventy years old; been here fifty-two years. Thomas A. Reed, born in Ohio; seventy-one years old; been here sixty-nine years. James M. Sanford, born in New York; sixty-five years old; been here forty years. William H. Chadwick, born in Vermont; car¬ penter; seventy-one years old; been here fifty years. David W. Rankin, born in Pennsylvania; seventy-four years old; been here fifty years. T. 0. Buntin, born in Vincennes; president of Terre Haute Savings Bank; seventy years old; been here forty years. Joseph O. Jones, born in New York; seventy-one years old; been here sixty-nine years. Elisha Sibley, born in New York; seventy one years old; been here sixty -nine years. Jesse Lee, tailor, born in Virginia; seventy-two years old; been here fifty-three years. Benjamin F. Havens, born in Indiana; forty-six years old; been here eighteen years. Samuel C. Preston, born in Putnam county, Ind. ; thirty-nine years old; been here fourteen years. John A. .Hall, farmer; seventy-four years old; been in Indiana fifty-five years. Mrs. Bishop (widow of Cyrus W. Bishop), sixty years old; been here thirty-eight years. Mrs. M. M. Riddle, forty-six years old; been here twenty years. Peter Malcolm, farmer; seventyseven years old; been here forty years. J. W. Smith, farmer, seventy-five years old ; been here sixty-four years. H. L. Sin er, farmer; seventy-three years old; been here sixty-three years. George E. Hedges, carpenter; fifty-six years old; been here "fortyfive years. Peter Lyons, farmer; seventy-two years old; been here fifty-five years. William Huffman, eighty-five years old; been here fifty-six years. William Clark, barber; sixty-five years old; been here forty-six years. Charles C. Knapp, contractor ; seventytwo years old; been here fifty years. Harvey Evans, farmer; sixtyseven years old; been here sixty-six years. Mrs. Alice Fischer, forty-nine years old; been here twenty-five years. Alfred Pegg, farmer; sixty-four years old; been here forty-eight years. Mrs. Ann Pegg, fifty-eight years old; been here forty-seven years. Mrs. Elizabeth N. Buckingham, sixty-nine years old; been here fortyfive years.

Peter B. Allen was one of the early settlers, and soon became one of the prominent men of Vigo county. The family arrived here June 4, 1819. His children in the order of births were Catharine, Henry, Ira, Myron H., Amanda, Peter B., Adaline, Harriet and Chloe. Adaline married Britton M. Harrison, both dead; had three children: George, Porter and Edward. Amanda married Silas Hoskins; family all dead except Eliza, living in Wisconsin. Chloe married Carlton Belt; they had four children.

not only a curiosity, but it has an interesting history as well as any of the other pioneers. By canal and flatboat and packhorse it made the long trip successfully, and was one, if not the first of its kind in the county. It is quite tall, and if there had been houses there with ceilings to the rooms it would have had trouble in finding one tall enough in which to stand. But the early cabins ran to the roof as a rule, and by putting it under the low peak it could in this way be put up. It told the time in Mr. Allen's house faithfully until he died, when it was sold at the sale, and for years it did duty for strangers, until Edward Allen, grandson of Peter, became grown and heard the history of grandfather's clock, and went and purchased it, giving in exchange a new, high-priced brass clock, and now back in its old family it merrily is ticking away, no doubt good yet to keep the time for Ed's children, grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

When that clock came west, few as were the people here, clocks and watches were comparatively fewer> then than now. If the sun would shine men could look at it and know very closely the time of day. The women had marks, generally at the door by which they counted the time and regulated their meals, and the blowing of the dinner horn. At night or cloudy weather they had to guess at it the best they could. Nothing was then, as now, cooked " by the clock." In the night watches, in extreme cases of sickness, they would roughly estimate the time by the burning of the tallow dip, if they could afford one, if not, they made out the best they could. It was probably quite a time after the original settlement before there was a man in the county wTho carried even a bull's eye watch, with its silver case upon case that from the size of a small saucer would peal off something like a hard boiled egg. At the beginning of this century watches were scarce and expensive as well as cumbersome and crude.

Fifty Years Ago. - While the story of Gen. Peter Allen's old clock goes back over seventy years ago it induces the following reminiscences that run back only half a century:

Fifty years ago the flint and steel were used in many a farmer's household for kindling the fires. Matches, not so plentiful as now, were called " locofocos," a name also for a time applied to the Democratic party.

Gentlemen wore ruffled bosoms, "stocks " in place of cravats and high shirt collars. False bosoms, termed "dickeys" tied on with strings, served such as would make a pretense of wearing a shirt.

Shoemakers in the country made everybody's shoes and never kept their word. The village tailor sewed baggy trousers and black coats, generous in creases, and our fathers wore them with contented and placid minds. A suit of clothes a year was the aver¬ age limit.

Pantaloons and boots were frequently, when worn with straps, taken off and put on together to save time and trouble. The boots were "Wellingtons." The gaiter was little worn.

Long, heavy cloaks, reaching quite to the heels, were worn by our elders. Such a cloak lasted almost a lifetime. Jesse Lee, the tailor, is, we believe, the only person still wearing one in this city.

Silver watches were large in dimensions. The vulgar called them "turnips." They were wound up with a key, which was al¬ ways getting lost, and in the winding the machinery was noisy.

Some of the styles and changes in cut and fashion were even more marked than those of to-day. At one time gentlemen wore a summer garment called a " blouse," though very unlike that of the French workman. It was of linen, reaching to the knee, belted at the waist, buttoning in front from the skirt to the bosom, and pleated above and below the belt. It resembled the old-time American hunting-shirt, and was a very comfortable and becoming garment. At another period men wore white duck-linen jackets, much shorter than the present sackcoat.

Gentlemen put their feet in pumps, or low slippers, at balls and dancing parties. Dancing then in shoes or gaiters would have been deemed as great a lack of propriety as would be going to an even¬ ing party now in a pair of rubber boots.

The ballrooms were illuminated by candles stuck in sockets on the walls. Or, if more pretentious, in a chandelier suspended from the ceiling. The candles would drip, and the ladies' and gentle¬ men's apparel frequently testified to that fact. " Pound dances " were barely tolerated - waltzing was scandalous.

Some of the " steps " peculiar to that period required no small degree of agility on the part of the gentlemen. The " pigeon wing ''and the "double shuffle" lifted a man quite off the floor, and would startle a modern ballroom. The ladies lifted their skirts so as not to interfere with their freedom of pedal locomotion, and were not adverse to the display of well-turned ankles. Striped and colored hosiery were unknown.

Custom had not then sanctioned feminine skating. A girl on skates in 1843 would have been a phenomenon. So would also have been a feminine swimmer.

Vegetables were far less in variety than now. Tomatoes were regarded with suspicion. They were called " love apples," cultivated as garden ornaments and suspected of poisonous tendencies. Canned fruits and vegetables were generally unknown.

Children were more respectful to their elders. Boys were required to bow and girls to "courtesy" in entering and leaving the school-room.. Boys said "sir" when addressed by a grown person, a juvenile habit now generally dispensed with and swept away by the march of progress.

Party spirit was never more bitterly demonstrative than to-day. Sworn foes existed in every village, who had not spoken to each other for years on account of political differences. Men cried like children because Henry Clay was not elected President. The old aristocratic families who had held office since the time of Washington and who deemed Federal office theirs by a sort of divine right, held firmly to their hatred of Andrew Jackson until relieved by death of their capacity for hating. A congressman then had a standing in the community which, in many cases, might now be envied.

The bottle of the period was a very thick, very heavy, very clumsy, very dark green and almost black "junk bottle." That, too, has gone out of existence with the "old soldier of the Revolutionary War" and warming-pans. The common lantern of the time was of tin, pierced with many holes somewhat after the fashion of the nutmeg-grater, through which the light from a candle-end glim¬ mered and was often blown out by the strongest blast.

On the schoolboy's map of that period the " Indian Territory " covered a great area, now occupied by prosperous States. California was known only in connection with hides and tallow. West of the Rocky Mountains, all save a small area of Oregon, was wild, vague and misty, and consequently mysterious and fascinating.

Straw brooms were made "round" and "flat." The round broom, for floor sweeping, is obsolete. The country wife's favorite duster for cupboards and corners difficult of access was the wing of a wild goose.

Trollope's book criticising so severely and justly tlie raw American manners and customs of that time. Our fathers swallowed criticism with a very wry face, especially when its origin was English.

All men in these days chewed fine-cut tobacco. The spittoon was found even in the family pew. Cigarettes were unknown. The richer and older families kept sideboards in the dining-rooms well stocked with liquors. The parson, making a parochial call, was still open to a cheering glass of spirits. A big jug of New Eng¬ land rum always accompanied a " house-raising." The whole village would turn out to help. Bed-nosed deacons were not uncommon. Prosperous merchants sometimes walked unsteadily home about 5 or 6 o'clock in the evening. Such a gait and its inference was not then laid up against a man as now.

Unpainted houses were plentiful; otherwise the color was a glaring white, " picked out " with green blinds. Shades of color in house-painting had not appeared.

At the theater, the entertainment commenced with a farce, was sometimes sandwiched with a pas seul by a danseuse, and did not terminate before midnight.

The coarseness of the farce and also the play would not be tolerated by the respectable audience of to-day as it was then. The " gags " were sometimes vulgar and indecent.

Church members were never supposed to enter the theater. From the moral standpoint, it was dangerous; from the religious, a "dark and bloody ground." Barnum, the showman, at last made matters easier by inventing the temperance drama and calling his theater a "lecture-room." Good people, ministers and deacons went to see this play and sugar-coated their consciences by the thought that they were learning " a great moral lesson." though had the same lesson been preached from the " lecture-room " stage instead of played on it, they would have paid no money to hear.

There were boys then ten years old and more who had never worn trousers, and in some cases the age of a youth was big enough to* go " a-courtiug " when he got his first pair of trousers, whether buck¬ skin or butternut. One man tells, and with the stamp of truth on every word, that when nine years old he was sent off a long distance to a liigli school, and on the way they stopped at a very fine hotel. He had never tasted coffee, and as the waiter gave him a cup he supposed he had to take it aud the torture he endured in forcing it down, and then his hopeless horror when without asking the waiter filled it again. He had never seen plastered walls and ceiling and when his eyes fell upon it how he supposed the room had been cut of solid rock.

Another western boy, when seventeen years old, was sent to Jef¬ ferson College, Pennsylvania, going by steamboat to the Ohio and up it to Pittsburgh. He reached the latter place in the night, and being alone confided his dilemma to the porter of the boat, who for 50 cents carried his leather trunk so beautified with those bier brass tacks, to the noted Monongaliela House, at that time by far the finest hotel west of the Alleghanies. He was told to register his name and was at once sent to his room. Here all was a new world to the excited boy's imagination. He was fresh from a western prairie farm, and had often been to the little village near by, and with wide open eyes and bated breath had seen the great old Concord stage come into town with four prancing horses, and was nearly blinded in looking upon the great man who held the lines and the beautiful long whip - the observed of all - the glass of fashion and the mold of form. He had at one time the temerity to clamber up and look into the coach, with its brass furnishing, and leather, and what an Aladin's cave met his eyes! Could he ever hope to ride in such splendor? He could only compare it to the ox-wagon of the farm on which he had often rode in a boy's highest pleasure. He had seen the stage tavern, the only one in the place, and envied the royal high life of its board¬ ers - the village lawyer, and doctor, and hatter, and a merchant and others who worked at their trade in the little town. All these were favored even great people, but their lights paled when the whip stepped forth with that peculiar swagger, now a lost art to the world, of the stage driver, chewing twist tobacco and who always wore a broad leather belt instead of suspenders. He was the man of au¬ thority, with whom even the school teacher would esteem it a most distinguishing honor to have been found in company with or in con¬ fidential conversation. It was in this western life the boy had grown up that now found himself in a splendidly furnished room, with the gas jet's bright blaze filling every nook and corner of splendors. On the door he saw a printed notice to guests, which, late as it was, he care¬ fully read, and stood appalled at the information that the price was and the exclamation stopped. He could go no further. He quickly slipped into bed, and with a healthy boy's appetite was soon sound asleep. As on the farm, he was wide awake with the daylight, and listened in vain to hear others moving in the kitchen preparing breakfast. He was soon dressed, and started with apprehension to find his way to the office; soon took the wrong route, which was cor¬ rected by a friendly scrub girl. Finally he reached the office with its marble floor - the magnificent clerk and the "fronts" in a row on their bench. The room-bells began to tingle and the boys scamper off, while our hero was drinking in the marvels all around him. After awhile men, each with a paper in his hand, began to gather in the reading room, and he wandered in there, too. Ashe en¬ tered the door of this room a mirror just opposite gave him the im¬ pression of an open door into another room, while it looked much like the room he was entering, yet its immensity was astounding. He found a seat and picked up an old paper, pretending to read, too. By this time the immensity of the building began to come to him, and he had discovered that below were steam works of some kind. Suddenly a sound came he had never heard before - a frightful, hideous sound that under the most favorable circumstances would have sent tremors to his soul, and as the crowd quickly sprang up, the hero sprang even quicker and led out into the office. There was the magnificent clerk serene, and then he knew that the steam works had not exploded. He even in his terror did not wholly betray himself, and soon found out it was the gong announcing breakfast, and the crowd were simply going to eat. He followed and soon was seated at the table. Now on the farm it was the custom to put everything on the table, and when he was seated and had stealthily looked up and down the long table the only thing he could see to eat was a small piece of stale bread at each plate lying on top of an inverted tumbler, and of course at this moment he remembered the " two-dollars-and-a-lialf-a-day." The abhorrence of his life was the sour light bread of that day. The gorgeous negro waiters in their clean white uniforms, and the military movements as they were directed by the tallest one of the lot by striking a glass for every movement. They came rushing down, each with a pitcher of water taking his place, and then a stroke on the glass every arm was poised, and with the precision of one machine every glass was filled with water. And there he was, two dollars and a half a day and a glass of water and piece of light bread ! As the piece of bread was small the youth attacked it bravely. His training was to commence eating as soon as seated. He used the water so freely to wash down the bread that he emptied the tumbler, when the gorgeous waiter refilled it. He ate all before him, including the second glass of water, and as trained, when through he pushed back his chair and mournfully walked out. Two dollars and a half a day and that was the kind of breakfast they gave, and he wished he was back on the old farm where board was only fifty cents a week, if any charge at all was made.

That boy probably learned more of the practical world on his way to school than he did in it. One of the differences between the old and the new is that then people traveled but little, and now you can find babes that have been across the continent, and others before they can talk have probably nearly encircled the globe. A man now goes to California or Europe and returns before his neighbors even learn that he has been out of town.

Here is another instance of less than fifty years ago: A farmer in a neighborhood but little more than twenty miles from the city was getting ready to go to the city with two or three wagon loads of farm products. The fact was known several days before he started for miles around. An enterprising lad living three or four miles away was the possessor of five cents, and finally prevailed on his parents to let him ride "Old Charley" over and send his money to the city by the neighbor for investment. He arrived at the man's house the afternoon before he was to start very early the next morning. He announced his errand and handed over his five cents, and accompanied it with instructions as to what he wanted bought about as follows: "A top, a dozen marbles with white alley, a fiddle, fishhook and line, a knife, a blacksnake whip with a tassel on the handle and a pony and saddle." The good man kept his face and promised to fill the important mission and return him the change. Of course it was easy enough on his return to give back the five cents with the story that before he got there some other boy had sent five cents and took all those kind of things there were in the city.

Now the children of that day, it must not be inferred, were fools, compared to the children of to-day. They knew less about some things than children now know, but about other things they knew a great deal more. So far as meeting and fighting the real battle of life goes, they were no doubt far in advance of the aver¬ age children of to-day. The young pioneer boy carried within himself resources and a self-reliance that wTould be phenomenal in a boy to-day, if we except the street gamins and waifs of the cities.

Sixty Years or More Ago. - The following list of old settlers, those who have been residents at least fifty years, and many of them much longer than sixty years ago, was furnished by Mr. Henry Warren, and was chiefly made up from the recollections and information he had from his uncle, Rev. Welton N. Modesitt, of New York. It is already a valuable list, but in a few years it will be far more valuable, and it will be turned to with still increasing interest as the centuries pass away: Thomas Rogers, Horace Baker, George W. Demense, Thomas Peters, Robert Harrison, B. M. Harrison, Noah Burnner, John Burnner, James Tribue, Gercliam Jaques, John Prather, John Jones, William Hodge, Jonas Baker,

A Centenarian. - And now past her hundredth year by nearly three years, according to her own count, and past it by over two years according to the count of her friends.

of Terre Haute. The true record is: Born October 24, 1789, and has spent nearly the century of her life, or, rather, much the larger part of it, in Terre Haute. And, all things considered, is wonder¬ fully strong and vigorous, mentally and physically. Serene and pleasant, with a life of much sunshine and happiness, she has outlived her kith, and iu that is alone, but not lonely, as she has kept her heart full with the young generations that have come on to know her and to venerate and respect her.

October 24, 1889, the people celebrated her centennial birthday, when she received her friends at the Home for Aged Women. These friends had made up a purse of one hundred gold dollars, each one giving just one dollar, the total representing one hundred years of her life, and each dollar representing one cent for each year. Of course, one of her chief visitors was Mrs. Sarah Tilletson, in her eighty-seventh year at the time. These two old ladies had been acquaintances aiml friends much longer than it is peimitted most persons to live. The visitors were greatly enter¬ tained at the many reminiscences of these two venerable ladies - the most recent gossip of theirs was of things that happened more than sixty years ago. "Aunty" Baldy, when the day came and she realized that she was one hundred years old, met the realization as in a profound and silent re very ; her mind evidently going back to hei well-i emembered babyhood and those who had been dead for nearly a century, but this soon passed, and when there was but a few minutes until the clock would strike the hour, she would still say, "If I live twenty minutes more I'll be a hundred." Evidently foi many years she had been prepared to go at any moment; when she got up in the morning it was in her mind, " if I live till night," and when she went to bed it was, "if I live till morning." &Slie has long neither feared nor courted death - come when ft may, it will simply be the tired child sweetly going to sleep.

Those who made up the purse of one hundred dollars as a memorial gift so eloquent of their love and respect for the old lady, and which affected her most profoundly and warmed her heart as had seldom been in life by the precious token, were the following among others: Eliza B. Warren, Lucy C. Wonner, Joseph Gilbert, Mrs. Joseph Gilbert, Mrs. C. E. Fuller, J. H. Turner, James Boss, Mrs. L. Surrell, W. E. Donaghoe, Mrs. J. H. Sykes, E. W. Kemp, P. J. Kaufman, W. W. Kaufman, Jacob Baur, Joe Miller, Mrs. H. D. Milns, Mrs. C. M. Warren, Mrs. J. A. Parker, Harry Bon¬ ham, Mrs. Jennie C. Turner, Mrs. Isaac Dale, A. E. Meyzeek, Mrs. Samuel McKeen, Mrs. Samuel Beese, Henry Warren, Mrs. Bobert Geddes, S. C. McKeen, J. F. Gulick, James Hunter, S. Swope, Theodore Stahl, J. Q. Button, Mrs. Bobert Huston, Miss Guerineau, Mary E. Whittaker, Mrs. B. N. Hudson, Harry Boss, John Brake,

The following names were signed to a call upon the old settlers to organize an old settlers' society. It was stated in the call, which was issued in May, 1885, that all were included who had been here forty years and over: H. Boss, Griffin Gray, Grafton F. Cookerly,

Another Centenarian. - John Dawson was born in Stafford county, "V a., November 15, 1789, the son of George and Namcy Dawson, one of five children. H© was a lad ten years old when Washington died, and can distinctly remember the thrill of sorrow that reached his backwoods home in Virginia on the announcement of the sad event. A number of Washington's relatives were his neighbors. His father owned his farm about ten miles from Dum¬ fries on the Potomac river. When John was seventeen years of age his parents removed to Kentucky - 700 miles, and at that time a perilous voyage. He regards it yet as the leading event of his young life.

The trip was a severe one, and made under very great hardships. It was late in the fall, and during the entire trip, which was made in fifty days, continuous bad weather prevailed. There was a cold rain and sleet most of the time. To add to these discomforts the little party was often forced to remain in camp for several days at a time by the severe weather. They settled in Nelson county, Ky. At the age of twenty the subject of this sketch was married to' Miss one son and one daughter. The children all died. In the fall of the same year, 1812, came the announcement of the war, 1812-15. Dawson joined a regiment, the Seventeenth Kentucky Volunteers, and served through the war under Gen. W. H. Harrison. He made the campaign from Kentucky to Canada. His regiment did some skir¬ mishing, but was in no hard battles. Returning from the war in 1815, Mr. Dawson went back to Nelson county. Shortly afterward he was married to Miss Lucetta Bridwell, and two years later removed to Indiana, settling in Lawrence county. His migration occurred in 1817, and was but two years after the Indians had evacuated that part of the State. The State was then in its infancy, and Mr. Dawson devoted a great deal of his time at that period to hunting. Many the deei he has slain in that section, and many the huntino" stories he can relate of his experiences at that time. It was at this period that he fitted himself for the position of school teacher. He has been a great man to change his location, and in the next forty years he tanglit school in perhaps a half dozen counties in this State. A great number of men who have come into promi¬ nence in commercial and political circles received from John Daw¬ son their rudimental education. He taught school until about thirty years ago, when he retired from the work.

Fifteen children came to bless Mr. and Mrs. Dawson's wedded life - five boys and ten girls. Of these only four are now living: Hilton Dawson, lives at Shelburn, Ind. ; Frank Dawson, at Hawville, Ind.; Mrs. Elizabeth Douglass, at Terre Haute with her father, to whom she is a most loving and devoted daughter; and Mrs. Martha Douglass, of this city. Mrs. Dawson died in 1872. Fifteen years ago Mr. Dawson removed to Terre Haute, and has since resided here. Of grandchildren and great-grandchildren there are a large number. Some of them are not even known, having removed to distant sections of the country. As nearly as can be estimated there are thirty grandchildren, sixty-four great¬ grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

The great lapse of time since the birth of this republic has served to throw a halo of romance about all stories of revolution¬ ary days, but Mr. Dawson can recollect the times when the stern cruelties of those days were new, even fresher than those of the late war. He said: "Of course, as a boy, I paid particular atten¬ tion to war stories, and many times did I listen with bated breath to the recitals that were told by the old soldiers, my father's comrades. My father served the seven years of the war under George Washington, and while he was away my mother had a hard fight for life. While he fought for his country and freedom she fought so keep her children warm and to keep the wolf from the door. After I was born the veterans used to talk over old times together, and many times have I seen brave, strong men with tears running down their cheeks. The memories of their sufferings did what the actual war could not do, it brought them to tears.

Elisha U. Brown whose name is so prominent on the records as one of the organizers of the county, had settled on what is now known as Spring Hill farm - the present property and for some years the residence of Hon. Bichard W. Thompson. Mr. Brown's family were relatives of John P. Usher, and were no doubt the cause of that gentleman's coming to Terre Haute to locate. Mr. Brown died at his home on Spring Hill in 1837.

Joel H. Kester, long familiarly known to everybody as " Uncle " Joel Kester, died September 28, 1881, aged seventy-seven years. He was one of the early settlers in Vigo county. He was born in Welby, now Spencer county, Ky., February 29, 1804, and came to

Indiana in 1827 and settled in Prairie Creek township. In 1824 he was married to Naomi Carr, and had three children: John, who died a young man; Sarah married Gilbert Thomas, and Mary, widow of Virgil Sparks.

In 1850 he removed to Terre Haute and engaged in business, keeping a grocery store for several years on the northeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets. He was trustee of Harrison town¬ ship and served a term with credit in that office. In the death of Mr. Kester the entire community felt the loss of a good and an honorable man.

George Jordon, of Honey creek, was a representative of one of the oldest families in the county. He was born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1798, of Scotch parents. When four years old his parents removed to Rose county, Ohio, where the son grew to manhood, and had the sparsest opportunities for an English education. In 1817 Mr. Jordon came to Honey Creek township and made a crop on Isaac Lambert's farm. In 1819 he walked back through the woods to Ohio. In 1824 he married Judith H. Bennett; they had eight children, all survived their father.

Samuel Sparks came here and cultivated a crop of corn in 1812. He attended an old settlers' meeting in 1875 - ninety years old; born near Louisville, Ivy., in 1786. He reported having seen much trouble with the Indians. One night seven horses were stolen, and he described the pursuit and recapture of fourteen stolen horses, by making a night attack on the Indian camp and killing seven of the red skins. He spoke of the early clothing all made of animal skins; of their cedar " poridgers," wooden dishes and forks; how he came as a "ranger" in 1812 and bought land from a man named Ross. [Can find no other tradition of R. - J Samuel Sparks had been a preacher for forty years and had established a half dozen Baptist churches in this section.

Mr. St. Clair came in 1818 from Iventucky, first stopping near Buck creek, where were thirty Indian camps. He never had any trouble with the red men except on one occasion, when he and the Indian shot the same deer and "discussed" the right of prop¬ erty. Mr. St. Clair was eighty-two years old in 1875.

At this meeting a call was made for all present who had been in Fort Harrison for protection or were there immediately after the battle; one man responded - Mr. Richardson. Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Wilkin, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Haynes and Mrs. Wedding also indi¬ cated that they were in the fort. Mr. Richardson described the alarm given by the Indians; how they were encamped opposite the fort across the river, awaiting their annuities; the men had gone to Vincennes mostly from the fort and left the women and children but. poorly protected; the Indians suspected that they were to be cheated; in the night the traders awoke the people in the houses outside the fort walls, including himself. It was discovered that the fires of the Indians had been put out and their dogs were howling. The Indians danced their war dauce and came over, but on seeing the people in the fort and prepared to defend themselves, they looked about and left, after stealing several horses and some articles from the houses outside.

Lewis Pucket was a younger brother of the noted Tom Pucket. He lived nearly his entire life in Yigo county, coming with hie family in 1816. He lived in Honey Creek township, where he died August 16, 1873, aged sixty. He was a plain, unassuming farmer and known by all as an honorable good man.

Benjamin McKeen was born January 1, 1803, in that portion of Mason county that is now Lewis county; at the age of five years with his father's family, went to Adams county, Ohio, where lie remained until 1811, at which time, young as he was, he came with his two brothers to Knox county, Ind. The family were Shakers and the boys stopped at the settlement in " Shaker Prairie " on Busseron creek.