Vigo County, Indiana - Chapter 12: Terre Haute - Scenes, Events and Persons of the, 1908 (part 1 of 2)

Past Century

A compendium of early Terre Haute history was printed in 1869, and as that was ahnost forty j^ears nearer the beginning of the town than the present time, some of the facts may be considered as coming from first hands. There are some mistakes in it of not much moment, and the account is given as it was printed. It was said that nearly all the old town plat was woodland, mostly white and red oak timber, with thick Tuiderbrush. The first sale of lots took place October 21, 1816, the lowest priced lots selling for $60, the highest being that on the corner of Water and Walnut. Immediately after the sale, Dr. Charles B. Modesitt built the first log cabin, only about 16 feet square, at the corner of Ohio and Water streets. Henry Redford built the second house (First and Wabash avenue), which was of hewed logs, two stories high, four rooms below and two above, which was the hotel. Lewis Hodge built a cabin on Fourth street. Samuel McOuilkin built a cabin v\'here Mc- Keen's bank now (1869) is (Third and Wabash), and afterwards enlarged it for a tavern. William Mars built his cabin on Fifth near Cherr\% where Harry Ross now lives. Anton Connor's cabin stood on the southeast corner of Second and Mulberry. Cabins were soon built by Malcolm McFadden, on the corner of Fourth and Mulberry,, Adam Weaver, Robert Brasher, John Bailey, Ezekiel Buxton, Isaac Anderson, John Britton, John Earle, George Hussey and others.

Some young unmarried men also arrived, among whom were John Campbell, Lucius H. Scott and Richard Redford, and a number of families were settled around Fort Flarrison, among them Isaac Lambert, John and Joseph Dickson, James Cunningham. Michael Brouillette and Curtis Gilbert. Others arriving during the summer of 1817 were William Haynes. Robert S. McCabe and Benjamin Gilman. John Earle opened the first dry goods and grocery store, on the corner of Poplar and First streets (this honor belonged to Lucius Scott, who was very tenacious of tliis credit). John Campbell was his clerk. The stock consisted of sugar and coffee, salt and whisky, a few bolts of blue calico, a small stock of unbleached muslin and a few trinkets for the Indian trade. George Hussey started the next store, on Walnut street, between First and Water. Demas Deming- opened the next where the Clark House stands (northwest First and Ohio). Later Deweese. William C. Linton, Mr. Jacobs and Mr. Wasson also opened stores, and the town was well represented in that line.

Henry Redford opened the first tavern and Samuel McOuilkin the second. The first frame house was built bv Curtis Gilbert (which also was claimed by Lucius Scott) in the fall of 181 7. James Cunningham built a frame house on the corner of First and Mulberry. Dr. Eleazer Aspinwall arrived in 1818 and built the fourth frame house on the corner of Third and Wabash. John F. King and Chauncev Rose also arrived about this time. Samuel and Joseph Eversole built a log house at the corner of Water and Poplar - a dwelling in one end and a cooper shop in the other. A log jail was built on Second street, between Oak and Poplar, where Thompson's cooper shop is.

Curtis Gilbert was appointed first ]30stmaster at Fort Harrison in 181 3, and John M. Coleman was appointed the first postmaster of Terre Haute in 1817. Dr. Modesitt was the first physician, although Dr. William Clark and Septer Patrick also practiced here. ^Malcolm Mc- Fadden was the first tailor ; William R'lars the first blacksmith : Robert Brasher the first hatter. Other hatters were Adam Weaver, William Haynes and Robert I. McCabe. Henry Redford was the first carpenter ; James Cunningham the first brickmaker ; Ezekiel Buxton the first painter ; John Britton the first surveyor, and Joseph Thayer the first school teacher.

The second sale of lots took place in 1818, and none brought over .'S400. Henry Redford's log cabin was used as a court room, and all the balls and parties were held there. Dancing parties were held about once in two weeks, and four-handed reels were the dances usually practiced. George K. C. Sullivan and General Washington Johnston were lawyers, living in Vincennes. who came up and pleaded law in this county.

Nearlv all the arrivals came up the river in pirogues or large log canoes, and were generally conducted by Richard Redford. Nearly onethird of the settlers died in 1820. Robert Harrison came about this time and bought the Redford tavern. The first two boys born were Hodge (see elsewhere) and William Earle. Mary Ann McFadden, born in 1818, was the first Terre Haute girl. Rev. Isaac Reed preached the first sermon in 1818 (see other accounts). The first street opened was Ohio street, and the report said Lucius H. Scott, William B. Lawrence and

B. i\I. Harrison cut out the trees and undergrowth (which is much to be doubted of the young school teacher, young lawyer and stripling Harrison). The first steamboat was a small Alississippi barge, the Florence, in 1822 (1823). The second was a small sternwheel boat, the Plow Boy. Captain DeHart. There was great rejoicing by citizens and amusement by Indians, who called the boat the "Fire Canoe."

Corn and wheat were so plentiful there was no sale for them (before the farmers had time to raise many hogs there was little market for corn). Coffee was 75 cents a pound: tea, $1.50 to $2: calico. 50 cents a yard, and muslin. 60 cents. The money was mostly old Spanish milled dollars, cut in halves, quarters and bits for change.

The first brick house, except the court house, was built by Benjamin I. Gilman, and was also the office of the first pork packing business. It was standing at First and Mulberry in 1868, owned by Mrs. Deming. John Britton built a brick house at First and Poplar in 1825, and George W. Ruble built one at Main and First that was standing and used as a stable in 1868. The first brick school house was built in 1827. on Fifth and Walnut, by subscription. (C. T. Noble was the first teacher, and W. D. Griswold and Nathaniel Preston also taught here).

John M. Coleman bought up a lot of hogs in 1824-25. loaded them on a flat-boat, and both boat and cargo were sunk below Natchez. He paid one cent a pound for the pork. Benjamin Gilman started porkpacking in 1824.

The reminiscences of Captain William Earle which follow are of much interest, as coming from Terre Haute"s first boy. showing the clinging fondness he had for the village in which he was born, and where he spent some years of his orphaned boyhood. They are taken from the original Terre Haute newspaper, for which he wrote them, March 25, 1871. under the blazing sun of the equator, for he wrote in the captain's cabin of the barque "Emilv Morgan" as she was sailing a few miles south of the equator and about 750 miles west of the coast of Ecuador. S. A., far out in the Pacific ocean. It is a rare picture, in our mind, the sailor, busily writing, while through his mind chase the scenes of the little village on the banks of the Wabash, and the faces of the good old pioneers, the real first settlers, whom he loved so well. Captain Earle thus began, thirty-seven years ago, his retrospect of the Terre Haute of fifty years before :

May I again feel "the touch of a vanished hand," or hear "the sound of a voice that is still ?" As I wander over the realms of memory my feet again thoughtlessly crush the wild flowers of the prairie, or rustle amid the leaves of the primeval forest. My playmates crowd before me again with their happ)- faces. * * * My home has been upon the mountain wave; my sails have whitened on every sea, from the frozen regions of the north to the ice-bound shores of the Antarctic world. I have tasted the bitterness of death from cold and hunger; beneath a burning sun 1 have suffered with thirst till ni\- parched lips cracked and blood flowed from them in streams. I have battled with the mightiest creatures, the hugest monsters of God's creation. Through a thousand perils I have been safely brought. From the puny, sickly boy I became the strong and heartv man, from the green backwoodsman I became what I am - a sailor. Pardon this egotism ; I could not help falling into it while remembering that so manv companions have passed away and I am left. * * *

Mr. George Hussey (the father of Preston Hussey) was a middlingsized man, with thin, sandv whiskers. He was a player on the flute ; how- good, I don't know. lie would come to our house of evenings, play a while on the flute and then sit down and talk about Baltimore, which was the part I liked best. He was always very kind and good to me, and I liked him very much. After he moved to his farm I was often a guest of his. for weeks, when he always kept me tagging after him over the farm. The last time I saw him was in 1853.

Of Dr. Charles B. Modesitt, Terre Haute's first physician, the father of Mrs. Chauncey B. Warren and the Rev. Welton and James Modesitt, Captain Earle said : He was one of those rare old gentlemen that we meet but once in a lifetime; tall, erect, with hair white as snow (he was not vet an old man). He was the very embodiment of "Old Virginia," ave, even Culpeper county itself. He was extremely polite and very kind to us little boys and girls, and kept an orchard of sour apples on purpose for us to rob.

Major George W. Deweese was a grim old man; thick set, with irongrey hair and whiskers, small eyes and a sour look. He was universally unpopular. His two ferocious white dogs made for him most of this reputation with boys of my age. However, he was better than represented, for I know of his furnishing a poor young woman with money to pav her passage to Louisville and refusing to be thanked.

[Something can be added to Capt. Earle's sketch of Major Deweese, who was indeed an irascible old fellow. He once owned the property, afterwards the Preston homestead, on East Poplar street, and built the old, southern-style stone house which still stands upon it, about seventyfive years ago. While living there he was divorced from his wife, a very excellent woman, which in those primitive times was considered a shocking event. The major was a southern man and an ardent Democrat, and in a political discussion with Captain Wasson, who was as good a Whig, Major Deweese shot the captain, but without serious injury. He was tried for this offense at Rockville on a change of venue, in 1833, but suffered no penalty].

Colonel Blake, continues Captain Earle, was my beau ideal of a gentleman : He was six feet in height, well-proportioned, with light hair, neatly trimmed side whiskers, well brushed forward, always well-dressed, the ruffles of his shirt standing out beyond his vest, with a smooth, glossy hat and polished boots. He would always give me his four pences - I liked him for that. I have heard that he once was engaged in a duel, but no one was hurt. In short. Colonel Blake was the greatest man in Terre Haute in my youthful imagination, except JMajor Lewis. [When this elegant and accomplished gentleman went to Europe some years later, probably on business as a commissioner of the Wabash & Erie Canal, no one thought he had come from the little village on the Wabash.]

Of Lucius H. Scott, I remember very little previous to 1823. He was a thin, erect man, quick in his movements and precise in his speech. He came to Terre Haute very poor, but prospered. The last time I saw him was in 1853. I happened to meet him on the cars and traveled with him nearly 200' miles. Our talk was of the olden time. [It was a tribute to early Terre Haute that Lucius H. Scott, like Captain Earle, loved it and delighted to talk of it] .

This old settler [Robert Sturgis] known as Major Sturgis, was in command of Fort Harrison after Major Chunn, was one of the early sheriiifs of Vigo county and the proprietor of one of the first mills.

John W. Osborn, editor, proprietor and printer of the. Western Register and Terre Haute General Advertiser, was quiet in manner and kind in speech. He was particularly opposed to horse-racing, then a custom of the country universally indulged in, from a moral point of view. He was particularly sensitive in regard to razor strops, but I never could understand why. Mr. Osborn sold out his paper to Thomas Bowling in 1832, a gentleman who held different views in regard to horseracing. He was a candidate for sheriff in 1833 or '34, but was unsuccessful. He afterwards published the Plow Boy at Greencastle.

Mr. Robert Brasher was a hatter by trade, and was one of those good, pious, quiet Christians, inside and out, that we read of, but seldom see. He made excellent hats, with three trifling faults, viz : Uncouth in shape, too soft in body and altogether too durable. I used to delight in the snap, snap, snapping and the twang, twang, twanging of that long bow of his as he beat up the fur. His wife was a very kind-hearted woman and prided herself on her hospitality. She was an excellent cook and much given to novel reading. Her youngest children had several names each. When she stood at the door and called her absent sons (and they were generally absent) it seemed as if she was calling a school. If, however, she happened to be calling her daughters, one would hear half the female characters in the "Children of the Abbey" called.

"Uncle Frank" Cunninofham kept the tavern at the northwest corner of Second and Main streets. "Uncle Frank," as he was universally called, was one of those genial-hearted men that all love ; off-handed, generous, prone to anger, but so easily appeased that his anger often became ludicrous, even to himself. He was much given to horse-racing, as was the entire community in those days; always had fast horses - just fast enough to be beaten. He was postmaster a number of vears and was an ardent Democrat.

James Farrington was for a number of years my "guardian." and a kinder-hearted man never lived. I received a letter from him in 1861, while I was in Washington City. He expressed a heartfelt pleasure to learn that I had turned out so well in the world. He enclosed a letter to the Hon. Caleb B. Smith, secretary of the interior, requesting him to use his influence to assist me in any way.

Salmon Wright was a hatter by trade and worked for Mr. McCabe : but being of a studious turn took to the law, which he practiced successfully for many years. I ne\'er heard him make but one speech, and that was in a murder trial at Marshall. Illinois. We rode home in the night through the almost unbroken forest.

Of William C. Linton I can remember that he kept store on the east side of the public square. He was a small, spare, yellow complexioned man. He would walk back and forth behind his counter when not busv, very rapidly, with his arms swinging as if in fierce debate with some unseen person. He was a very nervous person, but not without courage. I have seen him exhibit that quality in a remarkable manner. No man ever did more for Terre Haute than William C. Linton in his day.

My earliest recollection of John F. Cruft is that his store was at the northeast corner of Water and Ohio streets. Subsequently, his store and residence were on the north side of the square. I do not think any the early settlers possessed a more varied fund of information than Mr. Cruft. At two different periods (1833 and 1861) I was much surprised by the extent and accuracv of his knowledge in regard to the branch of nautical life I had chosen, and his correct ideas of the many out-of-the-way parts of the world I had visited during my voyages. Mr. Cruft was always kind to me and gave me great aid and encouragement when I was a boy.

"Uncle Billy" Mars was the town's first jailer and was employed in the town's business in various ways, as long as any man who lived in Terre Haute. Captain Earle says of him : He was a blacksmith. When I was a little fellow, very little, for I wore petticoats, "Uncle Billy" found me anchored in a snowdrift, opposite his shop, which stood on the corner of First and Poplar streets. He took me into his shop to warm me up, though he did not know whose boy I was. I remember sitting on the forge while he with one hand stirred the fire with a poker and worked the bellows with the other, the ruddy flame up his swarthy features and the unsteady light causing his shadow to perform strange antics on the wall. "Uncle Billy" was a queer stick, very fond of telling stories - especially about having seen Washington in Philadelphia. He was the butcher of the town ; at least, he had the cattle killed and sold the beef. John Eveline, a Dutchman, was the professional butcher.

Although Terre Haute had such a large portion of respectability, it was often disturbed by street fighting. On election days and muster days whisky was drank freely, and then came the fighting. Election day seemed to me to be set aside for some of the older Haynes boys and the Hiners to bring up their old feud and fight over it. When they inaugurated the fighting it was a signal for half a dozen other battles, in which striking, kicking, biting, gouging or anything was legitimate warfare. On muster day the fighting was miscellaneous and desultory and not so bitter, but more like fighting for the sake of making up again,, and drinking whisky over the make-up. Most of these fights would occur near the drummer Davis, who would be rattling away at his drum, regardless of the disturbance around him. This Davis was a very short-legged, long-bodied, red-faced, big-nosed, little man, if you can imagine such a being. He had a loud voice, was awfully profane, and, while beating his drum, he would throw one of his sticks in the air, toss ofif a glass of whiskv, catch the stick in its descent, and never lose a note, some of the bovs said. Davis was in the war of 1812 and came very near being killed. [This Davis whom Captain Earle has photographed so vividly is the character who was said to have threatened to shoot the surveyors if they laid out the road to Durkee's ferry over the graves of some of the soldiers killed at Fort Harrison, which caused the road to be laid out with a bend in it that was not straightened for many years. If this really happened, and Cai>tain Earle knew of it, as he must, it is strange he did not mention the incident.]

The first schoolmasters of the village have been pictured in the reminiscences of Captain Earle. One was Joseph Thayer, who taught in a little log house on the Modesitt lot at Water and Ohio streets. He v^'as said to have been far from temperate during the vacation season, but sober as a teacher ought to be during the school term, kind but a strict disciplinarian. Another of the earliest pedagogues was Mr. Rathbone, upon whom was played one of the tricks characteristic of the early country schools. At Christmas time he was locked in the school room by the big boys, who then burned brimstone under the floor. One of the big boys was Ralph Wilson, a future prominent citizen and member of the legislature.

The Register and Advertiser said in 1823 : Terre Haute "now contains about fifty buildings, besides splendid court house, a jail. etc. There are established in this village five stores, one grocery, three taverns, two boot and shoe stores, two blacksmiths, one gunsmith, three tailors, besides several carpenters, joiners, cabinet-makers." This summary indicates sufficient commerce and industry' to provide the comforts of life to all in and around the village. The presence of fifteen business houses in a town of fifty buildings shows that a large population resided about the town in the county. The storekeepers at that time were I. C. Elston, "cash, ginseng or beeswax" ; J. F. & W. T. Cruft, '"cash, beeswax, hides or furs"; G. W. Deweese. "cash, corn or beeswax"; Bonner, Reynolds & Early (John D.) advertised the lowest prices. C. Rose (April 26) advertised a new and general assortment of goods added to his former stock, to be sold at most reduced prices for cash. Dr. C. B. Modesitt (who was a man of afifairs and activity outside of Indiana) gave notice he would have several fiatboats ready to descend the river and would take pav in corn, pork or wheat.

At First and ^lain, to follow Captain Earle's account, was the twostory Eagle and Lion of hewn logs, weather-boarded, with a swinging sign on two posts. The patriotic emblem of the American eagle was perched on the back of the British lion, whose eyes were in danger from the bird's beak. On the northwest corner of Second and Main was Francis Cunningham's tavern, on the northeast corner was John D. Early's large frame store. Eastward in the middle of the square was J. and S. Collett's store, a two-story frame with red roof, afterwards occupied by John F. Cruft. McOuilkin's large frame tavern, with a sign on a post showing a war horse, stood at Third and Main. Opposite was a two-story house, painted white, with red roof, occupied first bv Mr. Barnett and later by James Farrington.

On Ohio street, on the south side, at the intersection of Water, was Dr. Modesitt's two-story frame house, white with red roof,, sitting back on the lot, and on the same lot near the street was a long low frame structure used for a school house. Across the street was C. Gilbert's twostory house, the first frame structure put up in the town, and occupied as a store. (See Lucius Scott's account.) At southwest First and Ohio was Col. Blake's law office and Dr. Clarke's office - our first judge and congressman and the gallant surgeon of Fort Harrison together. On the northwest corner in Deming's large frame building (afterwards the Green and Clark house). Isaac C. Elston had a store and Dr. Shuler his office.

(father of Ralph), and on the east side of the square about the back of C. C. Smith's lot was the store and dwelling of W. C. Linton, white with red roof. At that time little business was centered about the square. The numerous red roofs and white walls among the large trees still standing must have given the town a more picturesque appearance than one would imagine of a primitive community.

Going back to First street, on the west side near Mulberry was James Hanna's chair shop, a little frame building. At the opposite corner of [Mulberry was Enoch Dole's large two-story house, and south of that was another large house occupied by Redford.

On Second street, the second lot north of Main, in a two-story frame, the first newspaper office had been opened in 1823, the Western Register, bv John W. Osborn. At the southeast corner of Second and Mulberry Mr. Jacquess, the wheelwright, had a two-story log house, and around the corner on Cherry, at the northeast corner of the alley, a little square frame house was occupied by Charles Thompson, shoemaker, ])robably the first man killed in Terre Haute, being shot bv a foolish little boy of nine who pointed a gun at him in play.

On the west side of Third street, between Cherry and Mulberry, was a dwelling back in the lot, and another on the same side near the corner of Mulberry. The last house on Third street was on the same side, near Eagle, occupied by Mrs. Patty Nelson, whose son became sheriff of the county. On north Fourth street were only four houses, one small frame being near Eagle.

At or near Fourth and Oak lived Mrs. Hodge. The only building on Fifth street was William Mars' frame blacksmith shop (on the corner now occupied by the Terre Haute National Bank), and his home of hewed logs was at the corner of Fifth and Cherry. At northwest Fifth and Mulberry was a rough hewed-log school house, and west of the school house was a two-story log residence.

Turning to the south part of town eighty-five years ago, we find the trend of both dwelling and business in that direction. On the south side of Walnut near Water was George Hussey's dwelling, part log and part frame, and on the northwest corner of those streets was a small log house. At Poplar and Walnut was Mr. Earle's store until he died in 1819,, and south on the same lot was the residence, log and frame, story and a half, where Captain Earle was born September 22, 1818. Between these two houses was a pretty little flower garden with a border of currant bushes. At southwest Water and Poplar was a decayed log house and a blacksmith shop. Between Poplar and Swan stood a story and a half, square-log house, in front of which on the river bank was the slaugther house, and a similar house was all that occupied the next square to Oak.

On First street below Ohio was a small frame house occupied by Bacon, the car])enter - a small lean-to house adjoined it on the north. Opposite it on the west side was McCabe the hatter's shop. Next came the two-story house of Ezekiel Buxton, the painter, and farthest south was a blacksmith shop, at the northeast corner of First and Poplar,

On Second street below Ohio was Major George W. Dewcese's store of round logs, and a one-story frame dwelling back of it, which was quite a contrast to the house he built on East Poplar, now occupied by Mrs. Preston, which was a very fine house at the time. At southeast Second and Walnut was Robert Brasher's home and hatter shop. On two comers of Second and Poplar were two large hewed-log houses. Between First and Second, on either Swan or Oak, was the log jail.

On Third (or Market, as it was then called), south of Ohio,, lived Hannah Austin, in a two-room frame house, and opposite on the west side near the alley, was George Ellison's blacksmith shop. At the southeast corner ;.i Third and Walnut was a frame building occupied by M. McFadden, and owned by Joseph and Samuel Eversol, who had a log cooper shop south of it. On the west side, near Poplar, was Robert McCabe's dwelling, two-story, hewed logs, afterwards occupied bv Salmon Wright, who weatherboarded it. On the opposite side of Third Dr. ^Todesitt owned a large two-story hewed-log house, in which he lived at one time.

Only one house of round logs was on South Fourth street at the northwest corner of Walnut (where the city building is), in which lived alone a little old white-haired negro, who was a fiddler, and hauled water for the town on a sled made of the fork of a tree, drawn by an old horse. Nearby was a tumble-down old mill, which supplied Jacob with fuel.

In the next few years brick houses began to go up. The Ross brothers were then making brick. B. I. Oilman, the pork packer, built a brick ofiice at northeast First and Mulberry in 1824. The Lintons built a two-story brick at Second and Main. L. Scott's two-story brick store and dwelling on southwest Third and Ohio was built in very fine style, and a large garden adjoined. Joseph Miller had a two-story brick on Chestnut east of Water, where his mill was later. James and H. Ross each built two-storv brick residences, facing, at the end of Second street. These all, and three other one-storv brick houses, were built prior to 1828. 1 The principal road was the Vincennes road, down Second to Poplar, thence to First and Oak, then south. Another road, once known as the Indian trace, much used by the Indians,, left the corner of Water and Poplar, down the hill to the bottom land, and south along the bank to the Indian ford. Another road north followed the river bank to the Indian Ripple ford two miles north of town. Doubtless along these roads passed the Indian messengers of the Prophet and Tecumseh himself, nearly one hundred years ag:o. Poplar and \\'alnut streets ended in galleys which ran through the hill to the river, and were to some extent useful for draining of water from the town. Some of the streets were already worn, but roads and paths crossed the town in all directions.

In the davs referred to trees had been cleared out in the town proper, but stumps stood in the streets and logs lay about in some parts. Willows and sycamores lined the banks south of Modesitt's on Water street, and north was a heavy growth of maple, cottonwood and sycamore, with w^illows near the water's edge. Captain Earle describes a line of hazel and oak brush growing along the alley from Walnut to Swan between Water and First, thence east along Walnut to Second, south to near Poplar and then back diagonally to Third and Walnut, and thence southeast to the prairie line. It also meandered around from ^^^ater and Walnut to Second and Cherry, and out to the prairie line at Fifth and Mulberry. There were several fenced fields east of Fifth on the prairie.

neighborhood - made up a party of fifty or sixty gentlemen and more than half that number of ladies. I remember that some voung people came from the Shaker prairie. It was altogether a delightful affair. The military band from the fort was on hand, including Billy Hogan with his fiddle. The 'medicine chest' had yielded certain necessary stores - the Declaration was read - speeches made, toast drunk, a good dinner eaten, and a ball at night, prolonged until the beautiful unbroken prairie began to glimmer in the bright beams of the morning sun. Thus passed the first Fourth of July ever celebrated in Terre Haute," and few since then can have equaled it in pleasure and genial good cheer.

Lucius H. Scott was identified in many notable ways with the early historv and development of Terre Flaute. Among other things for which the countv is indebted to him, he preserved in his personal letters several intimate accounts of the town and country in the pioneer times, and by means of what he has written we approach closer and become famiUar with some phases of history that otherwise might have passed into obhvion. He first appeared in Terre Haute early in June, 1817, after a three days' tramp with knapsack from \'incennes. He called on John Britton, who with frontier hospitality welcomed him to his boarding place in a small log cabin, the home of Daniel Barnes. As the cabin was well filled by the family, Scott left the next day to present a letter of introduction to Major Chunn at the fort. The major insisted that he make his home at the fort until he found employment, which he was glad to do as the first tavern of the town was not yet finished. In a day or two he set out toward the home of Major Markle, taking letters of introduction. His w^alk led him to an eminence in the midst of Otter Creek prairie. Looking over the broad expanse, "not a tree, or a house or a fence, or plowed field or other indication of home or civilization presented themselves to view, but all was one boundless, magnificent bed of beautifully variegated flowers." His eyes finally caught sight o fa column of smoke among the trees at a distant corner of the prairie, where, on arriving, he found a family in a small log cabin just occupied. From there he was directed to the Otter Creek mills, the home of Major ^larkle. He was received with the frank, graceful hospitality for which Markle was widely celebrated. He was a splendid type of pioneer. "T thought him," was the way Scott expressed his admiration, "the most magnificent specimen of manhood I had ever seen. He stood a head and shoulders above them all."

Scott being an intelligent young man working for a start, the farmers about Honey creek built a small log cabin and hired him to teach a term of school, which was interrputed by a severe illness. He next rented a room in Dr. Modesitt's house, put in counters and shelves, brought up a stock of goods from Vincennes, and a representative of the firm of Wasson & Sayre displayed them for sale on January i, 1818 - the first stock of merchandise offered for sale in Terre Haute. The stock was withdrawn in four months, but from that time Mr. Scott was closely identified with the life of the town and county. He was appointed county agent by the board of commissioners and deputy sheriff by Blackman. He was the first sheriff regularly elected in \'igo county, at the August election of 1818. In 1S22 he was elected to represent \'igo and Parke counties in the legislature at Corydon. In the fall of 1822 he opened a stock of goods at Roseville by arrangement with Josephus Collett, and lived there until 1826. In 1827 he erected his home on the corner of Third and Ohio, which was one of the first brick dwellings in Terre Haute. Mr. Scott spent the latter years of his life in Philadelphia, where he died April 22, 1875.

I04 Greater Terre Haute And Vigo County

Scott was a New Yorker, and set out for his home in the west in 1817 in company with John W. Osborn, another well known pioneer. By schooner they went to the month of Genesee river, on foot to Rochester and to Olean Point, the head of navigation on the Allegheny, where they joined an emigrant family in building a boat to float down the river to Pittsburg. From that city they took a raft of pine timber to Cincinnati, being two weeks on the raft, and journeyed on to Madison in a skiff. Selling the skiflf for a dollar they loaded their baggage on a wagon and tramped to Vincennes. In Vincennes, Osborn, being a printer, found employment, but Scott saw no opening, and through his acquaintance with John Britton proceeded on to Vigo county, where he lived so long and usefully. He was the first senior warden of Masonic Lodge No. 19, and in 1862 was grand master of the Pennsylvania state lodge.

Some record of property transfers by Lucius H. Scott, one of Terre Haute's pioneers and wealthiest citizens, shows how town property that originally was bought almost at cost of country farm land had increased several times in value even during the early history of the town. For instance, he bought outlot 65. containing 49.70 acres, and outlot 68, containing 17.91 acres, for $536 in 1831. In 1846 he sold 2 acres of this for $150; in 1847 sold .6 acres for $450, and 5.9 acres for $590. In 1835 he bought town lot 6 on south Fifth street, the second lot above Poplar, for $100, and later sold three-ciuarters of it to J. H. Hager for $450. and the remaining quarter for $300. Outlot 65, bought in 1831 was worth in 1846. $2,200. The southwest corner of Wabash and Third, at that date was valued at $6,000, and outlot 68, bought in 1831, was valued at $5,000. In 1833 he bought outlot 71, containing 29.4 acres, for $239.20. He bought town lot 119, at Third and Ohio, for $175 in 1827, and lot 120, for $200 in 1826, and in 1836 when he sold 45 feet at this location to the bank he received $1,500 for it, reserving 30 feet to the east of it for his garden, valued at $1,000.

W. C. Linton was another who had many dealings in Terre Haute real estate in the early days. There is a description of the fine nld-fashioned house at Third and Ohio showing a large garden near it. and the larder, wash room, bath room, milk room and smoke house were all essential features of a house of that period.

The Terre Haute House was built bv Chauncey Rose in 1840. and was opened by Theron Barnum. of Baltimore, who conducted it about a year. It was a fine hotel but unprofitable. In 1841 it was closed, to remain so for eight rears. The carpets were rolled up and packed in iron-bnund boxes, and the linen and plate, etc., stored -in rooms. It was finally opened by Mr. Buntin, and began a remarkable history as a hostelrv where many famous nien have been entertained. At the old house boarded the best people of the town. D. S. Danaldson and wife and INIr. and Mrs. D. Deming lived there as brides and grooms. The dining rpom was formerly on the Seventh street side, and across the court were the rooms occupied by J. Richard Beste, the English gentleman who included in his unique book a most interesting account of Terre Haute.

No better account of the table d'hote at the Prairie House, in 185 1. can be given than that by Mr. Reste, who with his wife and eleven children enjoved the hospitality of ^Ir. Runtin. It was a June Sunday, and I\Ir. Beste had just arrived. He said:

"At one o'clock the hateful gong sounded and we all went to dinner. The eating room was of handsome dimensions. The tables were laid out with great neatness and propriety and from 50 to 100 guests were seated at them. They were of a class far superior to what I expected to find here, and some few of them w'ere evidently gentry by birth and education. Mr. Buntin. our fat landlord (more truthful than polite, for Mr. Buntin at one time weighed over 300 pounds), dressed in the height of fashion, and with carving knife and fork in hand, politely guided us to our places; and then took his own stand at the side table v.-liich groaned under the profusion of well cooked joints. One respectable-looking negro waiter with ten or twelve boys were in the room. The dinner, however, was what in England would be called an excellent plain dinner. I felt a craving for something to warm my inside and asked for wine. It was not usually drunk in the house and, except champagne, I\Ir. Buntin had only one or two bottles of a quality of which he knew nothing. He brought me a bottle of excellent Sauterne.

"We elected our room and had a sitting room to ourselves, which looked upon a space of ground as yet unbuilt on, between the inn and -the citv of Terre Haute and which therefore was an airy, open grassy common. (It was open to Sixth street then and was the square now occupied by the McKeen block, the Post Office, etc.) The ranting voice of some ranting preacher was still audible from a large church on the opposite side of the commons at Sixth and Cherry streets (alas that the revered Rev. ]\I. A. Jewett thus should be spoken of, but the Bestes were Roman Catholics. )

"I paid my bill at the Prairie House. Five dollars a week was charged for each grown person for board, lodging and attendance. The charge for the servant was half that, and ten shillings, or $2.50 was charged for a horse. Mr. Buntin added the moderate charge of $4.00 for the extra lights and expenses occasioned by illness in my family. Thus, then, for about twenty shillings per week, a man ma}- be lodged and fed on the fat of the land in America.''

]\Ir. Beste's description of Terre Haute in the summer of 1854 begins the Prairie House, "situated at the entrance of the town, on one side of the National road, and was separated from the town by a common." Near bv were the homes of Dr. Read and of some of the weaUhier families. "From the hotel to the town was a very disagreeable, hot walk in the sun, for it was not bordered by trees. At the end of it began the High street of the town, which was lined on each side with stores. Then there was a square on the lefthand side,, where trees shaded the pavement all around from the boiling sun. On one side of this square was the other hotel of the town, 'Brown's House.' It was considered to be more noisv and frequented than the Prairie House."

T. C. Buntin died in Terre Haute January 11, 1892. He was born in Kno.x countv in 1815, son of Captain Robert Bttntin, who was born in the north of Ireland, his mother, a sister of Lord Baltimore, of that faniih- which founded ^Maryland. Robert Buntin, it is said, was a runaway, and was brought to this country while a lad. ]\Iary A. Lyons, who in early years was remarkable for her beauty, was a daughter of Captain Robert Buntin. Robert Buntin settled in A'incennes in 1793, and was a noted citizen.

After much roving, T. C. Buntin came to Terre Haute as clerk for J. D. Early in 1847, 'ind reopened the Prairie House, which had remained closed for eight years. He went to the Buntin House in 1852, and was there until 1861, when he went to the war, and became c|uartermaster of the Fourteenth Regiment and later brigade quartermaster on General Kimball's staff. From 1868 to 1 87 1 he was proprietor of the Terre Haute House, and in his later years,, from 1878 to 1892, he was identified with the banking affairs of this city, being president of the Savings Bank.

No records exist of town goyernmeut prior to 1838. There is nothing to show that there was a borough goyernment between 181 7 and 1832 but one isolated record. There were probably no such officers as a borough ]iresident, since when Henry Clay visited Terre Haute in 1831 and was receiyed with all possible honor, the only officials among the citizens on the reception committee were county officers, none to represent the town. The isolated clues to show that there was some borough organization were, the act of the county commissioners turning the court house square over to the citizens to embellish as they pleased, and the fact that small parts of town lots were sold at public sale to satisfy delinquent borough ta.x - only pieces of lots were sold as the delinquencies amounted to only a few dollars at the most.

Terre Haute was incorporated as a town by act of the legislature. January 26. 1832, under the title "president and trustees of the town of Terre

Haute." At a meeting of the citizens held at the court house in ^[arch the town was divided into five wards, and a trustee elected for each, as follows: James Warren, James B. McCall. Thomas Houghton. James Ross and \\'illiam Hcrrington. Thev might be called the first councilmen of Terre Haute. These trustees elected the first municipal officers : James B. McCall. president ; James T. Moifatt, clerk ; Charles G. Taylor, assessor ; Samuel Crawford, treasurer ; William i\Iars, constable and collector. The trustees were elected annually, and their duties consisted in the passing of ordinances for the government of the town and the selection of the executive officers.

This system lasted until 1838, when a charter was secured from the legislature. This charter ]iro\-ided for the election of a mayor and councilmen. The charter, when submitted to the people, was adopted by a majority of 63. The first Monday in May, 1838. the first officials were elected, among them appearing some of the well known historic names of Terre Haute : a group of men as representative of substantial citizenship as those of any council ever elected in this citv.

The council first met in 1838 with the dignity of a mayor and clerk and ten councilmen, comprised of be'"it citizens, who appreciated the importance of their duties under the new town charter, and their records show the struggle to emerge from the chrysalis of twenty years old into the full-fledged importance of a city, and city ideas mingle with village conditions in the records.

The couiicil chose Charles T. Noble clerk; B. M. Harrison, marshal: Samuel Crawford, treasurer. In three months Mr. Tillotson resigned his office and was succeeded by Dr. Marvin Hitchcock, father-in-law of the future mayor, G. S. Cookerly. Dr. Hitchcock resigned in the followingyears, and B. M. Harrison was elected mayor bv the people, being reelected during the next four terms of one year each.

The first charter, approved February 17, 1838, lodged with the town government powers - I. To suppress and restrain disorderlv houses and groceries, houses of ill-repute, billiard tables, nine or ten pin alleys, and to authorize the destruction and demolition of all instruments for the purpose of gaming. 2. To regulate and determine the times and places of bathing and swimming on the river near the town. 3. To restrain and punish vagrants, mendicants, street beggars, etc 4. To prohibit the rolling of hoops, playing of ball, flving kites or anv other amusements or practices having a tendency to annoy persons passing in the streets or endanger their safety or to frighten teams within the town. 5. To regulate and restrain operators of steamboats and stages. 6. To regulate cartmen and draymen. 7. To regulate the quality of bread and provide for the forfeiture of bread of a different quality.

The same meeting which ordered the first fire engine might direct tliat certain hngering stumps on principal streets should be removed, or order a fence to be put around the old cemetery, while it provided for the purchase of a fine site five times as large for future use as a cemetery.

The first council consisted of C. Gilbert, Robert \\^allace,, James B. Edmunds, T. A. Madison, Thomas Houghton, John F. Cruft, Jacob D. Earlv, Ransom Miller, Russell Ross, and John Burton (Armory Kinney elected in his stead when he resigned). Elijah Tillotson was the first mayor, but resigned in August, 1838, and was succeeded by Dr. jMarcus Hlitchcock. He in turn resigned, and Britton M. Harrison was elected mayor in June, 1839.

The annals of the early councils present a varied mass of details, but it is of interest to note them in order to see how our city first did business as a corporation and to know the origin of some of our institutions. The sum of $150 appropriated for enclosing the graveyard with a plain and substantial fence was one of the first uses of town money, and we can imagine Thomas Houghton and Russell Ross in their official authority superintending the job. The action of the council in allowing Jacob D. Early $65 as part pav on freight of engfne from Philadelphia to Terre Haute reveals the beginning of a fire department with more efficient apparatus than buckets. About the same time the volunteer engine company was organized, the city paying the cost of its necessary equipment. The market house as a town institution receives attention when an order is recorded for paving the floor and whitewashing the building. The site for this market house was bought of Dr. Hitchcock for $1,400, being lots 63 and 64, where the city building now stands. Imagine the stump of a tree obstructing traffic in Fourth street, as one must have done in 1838, since there is an order for its removal from in front of a glazier's shop. Other similar orders show that a reckless driver might have come to grief on the principal streets of early Terre Haute.

The first records of the council are in the neat and legible handwriting of B. 'SI. Harrison. W. D. Griswold was the next clerk, and then came John Crawford and J. O. Jones. Some of the acts by the first marshal throw interesting light on town aflrairs of the time. Several suits were brought against well known people for selling goods without license, and two for keeping open house on Sunday. Thomas Dowling, William Herrington and Daniel Johnson were named in the first records for trespassing on the public square. Jacob D. Early was one who felt the authority of the town because he obstructed the streets, and one citizen offended again.st both health and police regulations by leaving a dead calf on the street.

the last restiiio; place of citizens as well as for the rejrulation of their "welfare in life. John F. Cruft. C. Gilbert and Robert \\"allace are the names composing' a committee charged with the duty of causing lots in the graveyard to be grubbed and trees to be pruned, leaving such trees as should be useful and ornamental. In J^muary. 183Q. lots 37, 38. 47. 48 in section 16 fa little over twelve acres) were bought for $fS20. A little later it was ordered that lot 47 be fenced and surveyed, and the lots marked out be oflfered for sale. Another interesting order directs John F. Cruft to buy a hearse and harness for use of the town, and in 1839. tbe superintendent of the graveyard was ordered to attend funerals whenever requested with the public hearse, and be allowed Si. 30 for each funeral, to be paid by those employing him.

When Curtis Gilbert bought outlot No. 50 on Sixth street it had a graveyard on it. He had buried his young wife and child there years before, and built on the lot a dwelling from which a window looked out upon the little enclosure which surrounded it. The history of this yard is not obtainable, and it was left for the diggers preparing the foundations of the post office and adjacent buildings to exhume mouldering bones which showed that graves had been scattered over outlot 50 and as far as Seventh and ^^'alnut. AMiy the pioneer chose to bury here instead of in the official lot on north Water street is not told. But the latter was not so accessible. It was well grown with trees, while this was open, and far enough from the village to suit. The Terre Haute Company were not residents, and hence did not concern themselves about the burying place, but when this ground was sold the funerals probably ceased if thev had not some time before. At the same time the old cemetery, the one with the misnomer of "Old Indian Orchard" (the Orchard being farther north) had been used for a number of years during the twenties and thirties, since the town about 1839 bought a new burying ground (Woodlawn).

The father of Georgfe A. Bettcher, now of North Liberty, Indiana, was sexton of Woodlawn cemetery during the forties. While he was sexton he was hired by persons who had friends and relatives buried in the old Indian graveyard along the river bank to remove the bodies to the new plot. He had several helpers, and thev removed quite a number. A\'hen the canal was dug along the west side of the Indian burial ground, many bones were exposed.

In the old cemetery but four headstones remained in 1880, and only two with legible inscriptions - Stephen Law, died in 1839, and Polly C. Buchanan. November 22, 1828.

A public water supply became a subject for discussion and action in Terre Haute at an earlier period than in most cities. In 1838 Curtis Gilbert and T. A. Madison were made a committee to procure a survey to ascertain if water could be brought from the streams and springs on the east side of the prairie. The following year the committee reported" a survey made by William D. Wood, engineer. Suitable springs or streams had been discovered in the hills on the north side of the Bloomington road on land owned by D. Deming. Engineer Wood reported the head of the route to be in a small swamp, which would receive water from the lowest of the springs, the head being thirteen feet and one inch higher than the top of the step or sill of the court house entrance door. Other springs were in the hills about, the hills forming a crescent which was well adapted for a large reservoir, which could be formed by raising a dam across the swamp four feet high, giving four feet additional head. Such a reservoir would contain two weeks' supply for thousands of people, give a uniform supply for domestic consumption and extinguishing fires. The quality of the water was claimed to be superior to water from deep wells in town, being soft and of excellent taste. The cost of complete waterworks, including pipes in streets and fire plugs, was estimated at eight thousand dollars.

In the meantime firefighting continued by primitive means. To stimulate competition between citizens who furnished water in hogsheads for fighting fire, the council offered three dollars for the first barrel of water delivered at a fire, two dollars for the second, one dollar for the third, these prices being in the nature of prizes for speed. After the first three hogsheads, a uniform price of twenty-five cents per hogshead prevailed imtil the fire was extinguished.

The removal of stumps from the streets has revealed one feature of the early thoroughfares. Some other records are equally instructive. The mayor was ordered, in 1839, to have the north end of Alarket street from Sycamore to the corporation line cleaned out and made passable. Complaint was made of a large hole in Third street, and instead of causing the cavity to be filled, the committee recommended that some logs be placed in such a manner as to turn travel to the safe side of the street. At the same time the committee reported a large mud hole in Wabash in front of lots 17 and 40, between Eourth and Fifth streets, and asked for $20 to repair the same.

The council chiefly concerned itself with providing protection against fire. It ordered a supply of poles with hooks, chains and ropes and four ladders so constructed as to splice for reaching two and three stories. In January, 1840, fire cisterns were ordered built, $100 being set aside for that purpose in the first ward, and $50 for each of the other wards. Each ward had its fire warden, those in 1840 being: ist, E. V. Ball; 2nd, Zenas Smith ; 3rd, Thomas Houghton ; 4th, Septer Patrick, and fifth G. A. Chapman,, all prominent men. In February, 1840, the organization of the iiook and ladder company brought in some other active citizens, T. A. j\Iadison, foreman: John Crawford and A. L. Chamberlain, laddermen ; James Hook, axman ; John Warner, bookman ; Z. Smith, ropeman. etc. At the same time the fire engine company made an even more distinguished array - Groverman, Blake, H. Fairbanks, Danaldson, ]\IcGregor, J. K. Grati', L. G. Warren, S. C. Crav\'ford, James Farrington, Thomas Dowling, J. F. King, A. B. Fontaine. C. Gilbert, Jonas Seely, and others.

Treasurer Crawford's report for the eight months ending in Jan- , uary. 1840. presents some statistics. The receipts during that period had amounted to $2,382.17, and the disbursements, $2,133.98, leaving a balance of S248. 19. Some items - from grocery and tavern licenses came $502.50. The tax on shows and theatricals brought in $30. The use of the public hearse produced a revenue of only $2.50, while $95 worth of lots in the new cemetery was sold. An account of the real estate and other property belonging to the citv about this time will invite some comparisons between the town government of that time and of the present. The real estate consisted of the market house lots 63 and 64, lots i and 2 of subdivision of 96, the unsold graveyard lots in section 16. The engine house was located on county property. The fire department owned one engine and one bell, one hose cart, 150 feet of hose, 2 buckets, i glass lanthorn. I speaking trumpet, I coal stove and pipe, and 2 cisterns in the court house yard (these being the first fire cisterns). The public hearse and harness for one horse was kept at the fire station. The furniture of neither the mayor's nor clerk's office was gaudy. In the latter's office were mentioned four brass candlesticks, a jiair of snufifers and two snuffer travs, articles closely associated with pioneer days. William Mars, the market master, had a brass beam and scale for weighing butter, a patent balance for beef, and an assortment of copper measures for grains, etc.

No stated salary was paid the mayor up to 1842. The council worked without compensation, and perhaps for this reason councilmen frequently resigned (now one of the lost arts). The Express said "it is generally understood that our city fathers have to work for prosperity and receive their pay, if any, from the same source," and the hope was expressed that there were men patriotic enough to take the positions for which few were an.xious.

In 1842 ]\Iayor Harrison presented a bill for various work and material furnished the town. He explained to the council that in addition to the above bill "I have rendered many services in manner and form that I have kept no account of, and it was impossible to do so, as I am frequentlv called to arrange the grades for streets and sidewalks, cuts and fills in streets, and examining houses, stables, stores, etc., all of which consumes some time for which I feel justified in asking of the common council some

Ex-President Van Buren visited Terre Haute in 1842 and the citizens prepared an elaborate reception. L. H. Scott as chairman of the committee of arrangements invited the mayor and common council to participate in extending hospitality. The council resolved that as citizens they would be most happy to extend every courtesy, but as a body respectfullv declined filling any conspicuous place in the civic procession. It was on this trip that Mr. Van Buren was tipped into a mud hole on the National road by a stage driver.

The council in 1842 got in earnest about parts of Third and Fourth streets, which were dangerous for the passage of vehicles and also to health because of the collection of large amounts of water which stood until removed by evaporation. The council had passed an order concerning this work some six months before, which had been unobserved, and now it directed the mayor to take charge of the necessary work and report progress at every meeting, and charge the cost to the property owners. Mayor Harrison drove this through energetically.

In his annual report of December, 1842, the mayor said that no tax had been levied the previous year, and as state and county taxes were much reduced the board in June had levied a tax of ten cents on the $100, and a poll of fifty cents, the whole revenue from which was to apply to the debt to the bank. The current expenses of the corporation had been met by revenues from fines, licenses, etc., but in 1842 this revenue fell off sixty-five per cent. It was shown in this report that the new cemetery had nearly paid for itself by sale of lots and would soon be producing revenue.

Until 1843 ths town government rented its official quarters, having leased some new rooms of the Linton estate in 1842. Now S. F. King and J. H. Watson were appointed a committee to confer with the county commissioners in regard to building jointly for public offices. The court house had become inadequate for the county records and business, and in 1836 the commissioners had prepared to construct a fireproof room for the clerk and recorder. Both town and county government needing a home, they effected an arrangement in 1843 by which the town was to deed the county an undivided half of lots i and 2 of the subdivision of 96, and the county furnishing $1,085 ^"d the city $515, a two-story, fireproof building, thirty-three by fifty, was to be erected, with the clerk and recorder's office on the lower floor and the offices of the town upstairs. This building was generally known as the town hall, and was consumed by fire in 1865. One item of the records states that the hall was furnished with one dozen chairs, a cherrv table and the windows

The old town hall stood next to the northeast corner of Third and Ohio. It was constructed to provide fireproof offices for the county, and the second story was used by the town officials. The fireproof building was burned, but the records were saved. The county then took over the lot, bought the adjoining one in the corner and built the court house offices, which were opened in 1866, at a cost of $24,000.

It would be pleasant to know how the shrubbery and flowers that adorn our streets and parks and lawns were brought to this vicinity. There is no exact knowledge that can be depended upon, and the men or women who first carefully guarded and carried to this kindly soil by the Wabash the beautiful prairie rose, the honeysuckle, the trumpet creepers, the snowballs and flags, must rest content without the reward of memory for these acts. It is said, however, that the first lilacs, evergreens, loo-leaf roses, were brought to Terre Haute from Vincennes and Evansville by Dr. Modesitt.

In 1844 Rev. Mr. Lalumiere petitioned for permission to purchase one acre of ground in the cemetery for a Catholic burying ground. There was a classification of burial lots about this time. The choice of lots cost from ten dollars to twelve dollars. A block of lots in lot 37 were priced at one dollar, called the dollar lots. One block was set aside for indigent and transient persons, and four blocks were set aside for the burial of black or colored persons. A fine of three dollars was fixed against the famil}- or estate which caused the burial of such person in any other block, and a like amount against the person or persons assisting in such burial.

Another experiment was made in municipal government in 1843 when by special act of the legislature the office of mayor was abolished and the enforcement of the ordinances left to the magistrates, while the duties of mayor were to be performed by the president of the council. Under the new constitution of the state, a general law (June 13, 1852) provided for the incorporation of cities, authorizing towns of three thousand population and over to have a census taken on petition of onethird of the people. The United States census of 1850 gave Terre Haute 4,051.

April II, 1853, a council committee, I. Brown, Z. Smith and J. T. Mofifatt, reported on the propriety of having the town of Terre Haute incorporated as a city under the act of legislature of 1852. The town had more than the necessary 3,000 people, and one-third or more of the legal voters had petitioned the council to take the necessary measures. The

The members of the council who certified this vote were B. M. Harrison, I. M. Brown, J. T. Mofifatt, W. E. Carter, H. Fairbanks, Joseph Cooper, Zenas Smith, James H. Turner and H. Ross (president), who thus launched Terre Haute into cityhood. The old town council held its last fneeting at the town hall May 3, 1853. The election of city officers was held May 30, at which time a total of 752 votes were cast, and on June 6th the new officers and council met at the town hall (which now became the city hall). W. K. Edwards presided as mayor, and the members of the first city council were : Noah Beymer, George F. Lvon, S. R. Franklin, H. Fairbanks, James T. Wyeth, R. N. Hudson, Thomas I. Bourne, Henry Ross, James H. Hudson and Zenas Smith. J. B. Edmunds was clerk, James Oakey, city engineer, B. B. ]\Ioffatt, city attorney, and James T. Moflfatt, street commissioner.

1842 - Seymour Gookins and John D. Murphy made an able report on Ransom and William Miller's slaughter house (said to he a nuisance) and on certain parts of Fourth and Fifth streets reported by the mayor as being nuisances. The committee said it "was well aware of the hardness of the times and the difficulty with which money can be raised. They know also that labor can be obtained at a much cheaper rate." They were forced to the conclusion that the streets must be graded.

1S43 - Modesitt resigned as town clerk in January, 1843, and was succeeded by Danaldson. The mayor's office was offered for rent in April, and was taken by A. Lange at $75 per annum on condition that the board pass an ordinance requiring all hay and coal sold in town to be weighed.

Dec. 4. - The Council met at the new town hall, the members being: Schultz, East, Madison, Grover, Wallace, Danaldson. H. Ross, Blinn, J. F. King, Bond in ot.

On February 10, after Isaac Myers had been assaulted, dangerously wounded and robbed, the council offered $50 reward for apprehension of the robbers, and handbills were distributed announcing the reward. Myers offered $50 additional for recovery of property stolen.

1S48 - Council offered $20 reward for information leading to conviction of persons who pulled down signs, water pipes and other property on new year's eve.

April 3 - W. K. Edwards offered resolution: "Resolved, That in consideration of the eminent patriotism and distinguished public services of the late John Quincy Adams we will publicly celebrate his virtues on the 13th day of May next, and the Rev. M. A. Jewett is requested to deliver eulogy on his life and character." C. T. Noble, John Crawford, John Strain, Jesse Conard and S. G. Dodge were the committee on arrangements.

The town was building a dam on the west side of a sand hollow in Market street to prevent earth from washing into said hollow: also was filling the sidewalk and cutting through hill at Fourth" and Chestnut to run wat'c^r from Fourth into Chestnut street.

Fourth street was opened to Canal, and Wabash street from the Prairie House to the alley west of First (and east to the cross-cut canal) was graded under the superintendence of C. Rose. A levy of $1.87% per hundred was made on the property in Wabash street to pay for this gradmg.

In December a proposition was made to the council to take fifty shares of stock of the T. H. & R. Railroad, which marks an early stage in the construction of this road.

One of the earliest boards of health consisted of Dr. Azel Holmes, E. V. Ball, Ezra Read, G. W. Clippenger and William Miller. This board in 1848 recommended that the council provide a building for a hospital. A special meeting was called to consider the board's report on packing and slaughter houses and the best disposition of offal, and what would be the result of putting it in the river. The board recommended putting the offal in pits with a sufficient quantity of lime, and covered with six feet of eai'th, and the council concurred in the recommendation.

April - A tribute was paid to Dr. Septer Patrick. The council having learned that the "highly esteemed fellow citizen, Septer Patrick, would remove to California," deemed it proper for themselves and the community to express their feelings on the loss of a valued citizen (for nearly 31 years), and in the resolution commended him as an "upright and careful citizen and a valuable

The condition of some of the streets is revealed by the council orders and plans for improvement. Sycamore street was to be graded so as to carry water over the grade of Market at sand hollow and into the canal, and it was proposed to grade Fourth and Fifth to carry the water going into sand hollow the same way. At the corner of Lafayette and Market was a pond, which was ordered filled.

August - The town had suffered from house-breaking and robbery this summer "to the injury and against the peace and quietude of the town," and as it was the duty of the town board "to afford protection to citizens and to bring all offenders against the laws to speedy, retributive justice," the council therefore offered a reward of $50 for the arrest and conviction of each individual guilty of breaking into and robbing dwellings and storerooms.

Samuel Hager, when he succeeded R. N. Hudson as weighmaster, was permitted to remove the hay scales from the market house to his shop on Wabash avenue.

1850 - The council in April, 1S50: James M. Random and R. N. Hudson, Joseph Cooper and W. D. Griswold, Isaac M. Brown, Sam Conner and B. M. Harrison, V. S. Burnett and William Naylor. B. M. Harrison was president, and D. S. Danaldson clerk. John P. Usher soon succeeded Griswold.

A case of smallpox being reported at the office of Overseer of Poor McFadden, the council ordered a suitable room to be procured for the patient, to prevent spreading of disease.

A dignified communication to the trustees of the Wabash and Erie Canal protests against obstructing the streets, and requests that a bridge be built at Chestnut and Canal at once.

The Wabash and Erie Canal, through its trustee, Thomas Dowling, presented a communication on its obligations to build bridges, in which it was claimed that the canal trustees were only bound to build bridges over state and county roads, and the bridges built and which they may erect hereafter are built in a "spirit of kindly feeling and accommodation," not built under "legal obligation" on the part of the trustees.

The council took up the grading of Second street. The expense was estimated at $S1S.76, for which a tax of $2.50 per hundred was levied against the appraised value of propertj' amounting to $54,298.

July 1st the council agreed to a report of a committee that opposed giving M. McFadden $50 as a gift for attending certain smallpox patients, on the ground that the board had no power under the charter to tax citizens and give the money away.

1851 - In April the trustees of the Methodist church asked if they had legal right to erect a dwelling or parsonage on the lot which had been reserved for and occupied by Asbury chapel. After consulting the town attorney and other lawyers, the council decided that the trustees had no power to erect such dwelling.

May 2G - Permission granted to ladies of Baptist church to give a "strawberry feast" in town hall. A little later the hall was granted to Mr. Childs for a school exhibition, and to Baldwin church for a "raspberry doings."

Sept. - A blow was given to street improvements by the decision of the circuit court that the council had no power to levy tax for street improvements, and all such work was suspended.

To spare the feeling of those who might be incarcerated, the council rescinded its offer to call the town prison "calaboose." It was always called that, however.

According to a report from a committee, the improvements on Market street from 1848 to 1851 had cost $2,015; on Fourth street, $505: on Cherry, $263; on Chestnut, $496; on First, $354.

The papers had been receiving pay for publishing ordinances, order, etc. Mr. Danaldson executed a "scoop" on his rivals by offering to publish same for the year without charge, and was declared printer for the town board.

1852 - Levi Warren asks, "W^ill you please give the privilege to dig a well on the west side of Fourth street against my lot 73," etc.? Granted.

road to construct tracks along Tippecanoe street and across such street and others streets and alleys to the river. W. K. Edwards asked for the St. Louis and Alton the right to use one of the streets for its track, a petition that was tabled until the street should be designated and the survey made.

October - A. C. Isaacs having engaged to form a "Choral Society," petitions for the use of the town hall for two nights in the week free of charge, which was granted provided it did not interfere with the previous grant to the German Song Club.

The old dray and bucket system of fire-fighting had become recognized as a failure, and the citizens petitioned the council for a first-class fire engine and necessary fixtures. Mr. Hickcox reported for the committee that such engine would cost $2500 and other necessary expenses with one year's cost of maintenance would amount to $7500, causing a levy of from 35 to 40 cents on each $100 of taxable property. The citizens could not stand this tax, and furthermore the town had not the necessary supply of water. In view of this report the petition of the citizens was tabled.

April 5. 1S52. Samuel Crawford resigned as treasurer of the town, having held that position nearly twenty years. He was succeeded by William B. Warren.

In December. 1S52, a very feeling and laudatory resolution of respect for Cephas C. Holden. for a number of years a member of the council, was offered and adopted. He was an upright and public spirited citizen, owning property on Fifth street.

April 14, 1853 - Council accepted report of Fairbanks, Brown and Smith to build ten fire cisterns of 200 barrels' capacity each, at a cost of $700, three to be located near the court house square.

When A. Lange resigned as clerk of the council, on February 7. his resignation was couched in language very characteristic of that gentle and fine spirit. "In dissolving the connection hitherto existing between the board and myself. I shall be pained to think that any other but kind and respectful feelings shall mutually be cherished. Certain I am that I myself entertain no others towards the individual members of the board." His successor was D. S. Danaldson.

Mr. Harrison offered resolutions for the purchase of two fire engines, for enclosing the wharf lot, and for enclosing the public square in Linton's addition and planting shade trees on it. The motion was laid over for further action. He also offered a resolution that suitable conductors be placed to conduct the water underground from the roof of the Farrington block, at the northwest corner of Third and Wabash, to the public cistern at the crossing of said streets. The motion was adopted.

September - Dan Rice asked for a reduction in license for his hippodrome and menagerie within corporation limits, and was permitted to give three performances for $60.

The Hoosier fire engine and apparatus was granted to a company styled the Native Fire Company. Whether the company was composed of natives of the soil or "Know Nothings" (an ac^'- e organization at the time) does not appear.

July 24, 1854 - Samuel Crawford resigned as councilman, as the nature of his other duties did not allow time to perform the council duties as he should. He had been almost continuously in public service since 1832, and long before active in the borough.

March, 185.5 - T. A. Madison offered a resolution that the erection of works for "the generation of gas is an enterprise demanded by the pride as well as the interest of every business inhabitant, and that the council will afford every facility to the company constructing such works," etc. A unanimous vote adopted this resolution.

Aug. 6, 1855 - The Congregational church, through H. Ross, offered the use of its steeple for the town clocV- The offer was accepted and the clock ordered, not to cost over $400. G. P. Shaeffer was appointed winder at $50 a year. The clock was set up in 1856.

The salaries of city officials in 1856 - Mayor, $600; marshal, $600; clerk, $300; treasurer, a percentage on collections, and councilman, two dollars for each meeting.

Citizens subscribed to help build fence around the Linton square in 1856. B. M. Harrison asked to be appointed superintendent of the square, and his request was granted. Neat boxes were placed around the trees, and the square was sown with blue grass and clover.

In 1857 a resolution in the council to gravel Wabash street from Seventh to the river and gutter it with stone curbing was at first defeated, but at a subsequent meeting, when backed by a petition from property holders, it was carried, and work was ordered begun at once on the portion between Fourth and Sixth.

1859 - Mr. Hlte, in behalf of the Union Prayer Meeting Society, asked for the use of city hall for holding morning prayer meetings every day. The request was granted and the mayor's court was held in the court house during this period.

William H. Stewart was mayor in 1861. On the death of Douglas very eloquent resolutions were adopted by the council, and a copy sent to his wife.

I20 Greater Terre Haute And Vigo County

The Fire Companies in 1S59 - The president of the fire association in 1S59 was J. B. Edmunds and the secretary George S. Nelson. The chief engineer was R. S. Cox, the first assistant was J. C. Yates, and the second assistant A. A. Coltrin. Of the company whose quarters were at Ninth, between Ohio and Wabash, Joseph H. Blake was president. The Vigo Engine and Hose Co. No. 2, on Market street, had as its president in this year John Evans, and W. M. Burton secretary. The Northern Liberty No. 3 was on Market street, between Chestnut and Canal. James Henry was president, and Charles Duddleston secretary. A. Kaufman was president of the Union Hook and Ladder Company No. 1.

Joseph O. Jones was postmaster at Terre Haute both in pioneer and modern times. Before the office was raised to the presidential class he was appointed, July 29, 1839, by Amos Kendall, then postmaster general. In February, 1841, when the office received a new classification, he was commissioner postmaster for four years by Van Buren. Dr. Graff, his predecessor in office, had the office on First street, on the west side, a few doors north of Main street. Mr. Jones soon moved the office to the one-story brick in the rear of the Rose buildins:, corner of Ohio and Second streets, and next to a two-story frame building on Second, west of the old court house ; then to the three-story brick Linton block, corner of Main and Third.

After his first term as postmaster Mr. Jones was in Washington as clerk in the sixth auditor's office, and as special agent to collect balances from postmasters in southern Michigan, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, had many hard and interesting experiences in traveling by stage coach, often with his pockets weighted down with gold and silver coin.

May 6, 1853, Mr. Jones was appointed postmaster by President Pierce to succeed James T. Moffatt, who had been appointed in 1849. He held office until February 23, 1854, and was then commissioned by the same president four years longer. At the beginning of the Fremont campaign of 1856 he openly severed his connection with the Democratic party, which action ended his official career. When he succeeded Judge Moffatt the office was in a one-story frame building on the south side of Main street, a few doors east of Fourth street. Chauncey Warren then built the three-story brick on Fourth street, south of the Warren block, corner of Fourth and Main, and there the office remained until Dr. Read moved it to Sixth street. March 28, 1861, Mr. Jones was again appointed postmaster by Pi-esident Lincoln, and at the end of four years was re-appointed by the same president, but the appointment was not confirmed before the assassination. President Johnson then commissioned him, and he served till the summer of i86fi. After an interim of fifteen years he again became postmaster under Garfield's appointment. It is notable that he was postmaster under two mart_vr presidents. He served his full term during Arthur's administration, and was finally relieved of official cares in June. 1885, nearly forty-six years from the date of his first appointment. During his last term the office was on Sixth street.

Rev. William Stevenson, who lived in Vigo county from 1836 to 1857, returned to visit the county in 1892 and contributed some valuable reminiscences to the Gazette issued May 21st of that year. His article is given here almost entire :

Fifty-six years ago today I caught my first view of Fort Harrison prairie and ttie village of Terre Haute. The view was obtained from the bluff east of the village. There then were neither trees or improvements to obstruct the view. Then along the National road there were but one or two small houses until the bridge that spanned Lost creek was reached. To the mind of a boy who was born and grew up in a great city the view was one of great novelty and of surpassing interest. In our Philadelphia home I had been an attentive listener to the glowing descriptions of this western country, given by Mr. W. C. Linton, who never wearied in depicting the beauty and fertility of this prairie, the grandeur and wealth of these primeval forests and of the bright picture that awaited such as should grow up with this wonderful state. I cannot remember that he mentioned the swarm of green-headed flies, or muscular mosquitoes or frisky fleas that were sure to greet the newcomer, or the Wabash shakes that were sure to stay with you; but had these been mentioned it is not probable that it would have changed the thoughts and fancies that culminated in the scene before me.

Then Terre Haute was an unpretentious village, of perhaps eight hundred inhabitants scattered along the bank of the Wabash river, extending east as far as Fourth street, north as far as Cherry (though Sibleytown had just been laid out as an addition), south as far as Poplar, though there were a few buildings south of that point on Sixth street. But even then it possessed in its population, pursuits and diversity of character and employments, all the elements of an incipient city. As I run over the list in memory I think that in proportion to the population there were as many merchants, mechanics, professional men and gentlemen of leisure as now - perhaps dudes and dead beats were not so numerous.

Let me read some of the names: Among the merchants were the Early Brothers, the Crawford Brothers, Linton & Lindley, Groverman & Brown, Wm. Steele, J. O. Jones, the Warren Brothers. Mr. Flint kept a book store and Mr. Suydome was engaged in business, but I cannot recall the kind. Mr. St. John kept the leather and harness shop. R. McCabe kept a hat shop and store. Most o£ men transacted business on the west and north sides of the square. One peculiarity of the business was its general character - druggists sold eggs, and sugar, flour and whiskey were dealt out in a dry-goods store. The credit system was universal - farmers paid their store bills but once a year - that was when they killed their hogs, threshed their grain, or shipped their corn. A farmer's credit during the year was measured by their resources. The merchant's profits had to be in ratio with the risks run. Such a system would be deemed ruinous today, and yet the history of these merchants show that they all amassed wealth. Of all the merchants above mentioned but one remains; new men have taken their places, new methods of business prevail, and the whole order of things is changed.

The physicians of that period were Septer Patrick, Dr. Hitchcock, Sr., Dr. Ball and Dr. Modesitt, though the last had retired from practice. The physician of that day earned more than he collected. Then there were no villages in the county, and consequently no village physician. Their territory embraced the entire county. There were then no specialists. They were required to treat all classes of disease with no facilities to reach the most distant patient except horse power, with roads well nigh impassable for one third the year, without the protection against the inclemency of weather furnished by modern appliances. They braved every storm, responded to every call, reached every cabin, ministered to the wants of every sufferer. During certain seasons of the year an unbroken night's rest was the exception. They were the real benefactors of the race and of more value to the hardy pioneer than the president of the United States.

tt is true their materia medica was limited, but was commensurate with the diseases then prevalent. In nothing are the changes more marked than in the diseases of that day when compared with this. Then diptheria, cerebrospinal meningitis, bronchitis, typhoid fever and even consumption were unknown. The diseases then common were ague, bilious fever, diarrhoea, dysentery, flux, with an occasional case of what was termed winter fever and congestive chills. The methods of treating diseases have undergone changes that are unknown to the present generation. Then there were no anesthetic agents for the relief of pain. Chloral, chloroform, cocaine, injections of morphia were unknown, bleeding and blistering outward applications were resorted to. But these men have passed away. Their thousand remedies have been superseded, but their work remains and their memory still lives, at least with those who knew them.

At that early state the village had its legal luminaries, among them S. Wright, A. Kenney, T. H. Blake, E. Huntington, S. B. Gookins, C. W. Barbour and G. W. Cutter. The first two were law partners, were men of good common sense and of sufficient knowledge of law as to command at that day good practice. Col. Blake I remember as a man of peerless personal appearance, tall, and of faultless form, fastidious in dress; in any place he would attract attention as no ordinary character. Besides these advantages he was an orator of more than ordinary ability.

E. M. Huntington was a young man gifted with a judicial mind developed by careful legal training. Of faultless general disposition, he aspired to and early reached the judge's bench, a position that I think he held through many promotions until his death.

S. B. Gookins was just entering upon his career as a lawyer. He was a man of sterling sense, of unbending integrity, of tireless industry, a man in whose veins flowed the blood of human kindness. It is not strange that he gradually but surely rose to distinction in his chosen profession and occupied a commanding position even among the giants who soon after appeared. Distance may lend enchantment to the view, but in this year of 1892 I associate with the name of S. B. Gookins the idea of a model gentleman, a conscientious lawyer and earnest, consistent Christian.

C. W. Barbour was just entering upon practice. I remember him as a modest, unpretentious young man, never seeming unemployed, never triflingly employed. He was not a brilliant genius, but a painstaking, careful, laborious student. He was not distinguished for his magnetism, but had a mai-velous memory and, having looked for facts, he did not soon forget them. My information is that after long and successful labor at the bar he retired to his farm and spent the remainder of life amid the peaceful pursuits and enjoyments of life in a quiet home.

G. W. Cutter was, perhaps, the youngest of the list. He was a Canadian by birth, a Hoosier by adoption, and ultimately became a Kentuckian by adoption. He was by nature a poet, by accident a lawyer, in induration a politician and in his general make-up was a restless, roving, fickle spirit which never stuck to one thing long enough to make the pre-eminent success that his ambition sought. He had the gift of poesy, and had he confined himself to the cultivation and development of that he might have taken high rank in the world of letters. He had some of the intuition of a lawyer and the elements of an orator and had he confined himself to law would have been successful as a criminal-pleader. In the field of politics he could never have attained to statesmanship. He was elected to the legislature, reached his zenith as a politician, married an actress of some celebrity and for a time disappeared. Was next heard from as captain of a cavalry company in the Mexican war. The last I heard from him was in 1848 when he delivered a speech in the old court house in favor of the election of Gen. Taylor to the presidency. He will he remembered for what lie wrote rather than for what he was. His songs of "The Miser," "The Stream" and "The Lightning," now rank with the best lyrics of the century. There were attorneys practicing at the bar in Terre Haute in that early day who have not been surpassed by any who have since followed in their footsteps - such men as E. A. Hanagan. Tighlman .4. Howard, James Whitcomb, John Law were men it would be difficult to duplicate even today. But not one of this list is left to witness the changes that have taken place.

Then Terre Haute had three resident ministers who held pastoral charges. The Methodist church worshipped in a small brick building on the lot now occupied by Asbury. The congregation was served by Smith L. Robinson, who died that autumn and was succeeded by J. A. Brown, who still lives. The Congregationalists were then building and soon occupied their present building; the minister was M. A. Jewett. The Presbyterians occupied a small frame church somewhere in the neighborhood of Walnut and Fourth streets and were served by Matthew Wallace. The Baptists occasionally worshiped in the court house and were served by Samuel Sparks, It is no disparagement to say that in learning, eloquence, piety and devotion they were the peers of their successors. I have no means of verifying the statement, but think that the ratio of church membership to the population was as great as now. These ministers have, all save one, gone to their reward, and it is not probable that five per cent, of the membership remain. The Congregational church is the only public building now standing that existed then.

The press was then as now a power. The Wabash Courier had succeeded a paper published by John Osborn. Its proprietor and editor was Thomas Dowling. Few men were better fitted for the place and position he occupied. He was a printer by trade, an editor by instinct, full of wit, a fine controversalist. a capital story teller, a liberal partisan, though an ardent Whig. He was popular with all classes, being a power on the tripod, in the social circle, and on the stump did much in moulding and directing the public sentiment of the people.

The educational interests of the youth of the village were committed to Benj. Hayes. Charles T. Noble had taught the year before, but had retired, and Uncle Benny, as he was called, had undisputed sway. His schoolhouse stood somewhere near where the Congregational church stands. Though a teacher of the old regime, he possessed some of the elements of a successful teacher in any eye. But we seek for the old schoolhouse; it has gone. We ask for our early teacher, he has passed away; we inquire for the scholars of '36, with few exceptions they have passed away. Only two. Rev. F. McCabe, a prominent Presbyterian minister of Topeka, Kansas, and Captain Earle can be found.

The village had a general postmaster in the person of Francis Cunningham. There were mails twice a week. Money orders, registered letters, envelopes and postage stamps were unknown. Each letter cost the receiver twenty-five cents.

There were two banks, one the State Bank of Indiana, of which Mr. Preston was president and Mr. Fontanil was cashier; it was located on the south side of the square. The other was a private affair kept by John W. Watson. It issued shin-plasters and for two or three years furnished a fair share of the circulating medium of the county.

Ezra Jones filled the office of sheriff; Curtis Gilbert was county clerk. Even then Terre Haute had its capitalists and gentlemen of leisure, among them Chauncey Rose, Lucius Scott, John and Harry Ross, Demas Deming. These are all gone.

The principal industries were pork-packing, coopering, the building of flat boats and shipping of corn to New Orleans. There were two flouring mills, one on Water street, kept by the Wallace brothers. The other a tread mill owned and operated by Samuel Sparks; it stood on Sixth street.

Greater Terre Haute And Mgo Couxty

dealt in ardent spirits. But tiiere were two professional gamblers, one of tliem. Worrel Gregg, being the only man in the county who wore a full beard, which until after the Mexican war was worn by no other class of men.

The only surviyors of the locust trees that bloomed so sweetly until 1858 are a few melancholy ragged old stumps of trees on North Third, opposite Hudnut's office. A few branches still bear blossoms. When they were in their prime the yard showed the old-fashioned flowers - a Washington creeper with red trumpet-shaped flowers, lilacs, blue and jnirple flags, besides several kinds of berry bushes. Over the old smoke house hung the branches of a cherry tree, loaded with Morello cherries in season, and there was a peach tree grafted with an apricot branch that never bore. The frame work of the old house was built by Horace

The greatest event in Terre Haute's early history was the visit of Henry Clay, then in the meridian of his fame and the most popular man in the west. Senator Clay had made a trip by way of Vincennes through Illinois to a farm which he owned in Illinois, about twenty miles west of Terre Haute. A deputation of citizens of Vigo county was at once sent to invite him to visit Terre Haute. He responded graciously to the invitation and was met on the road by a cavalcade of two hundred citizens, who accompanied him to the ferry and across to the village on the eastern shore of the Wabash.