Washington County, Indiana - Notable Incidents of Early Days, 1916 (part 1 of 3)

Notable Incidents of Early Days

Early emigrants experienced a great deal of trouble in getting across streams that were met with almost every day during their journey. Streams that run dry now the greater part of the year ran bank full during the fall, winter and spring months before the country was settled and cleared up. Water courses were then filled with drifts of large trees, which dammed them up and rendered currents very sluggish, and after heavy rains and spring thaws it took the water a long time to find its way to a free outlet. "On account of high water and floating ice." it was deemed necessary for the county to construct a bridge across Blue river at the foot of Main street in Salem, soon after the town was laid out. Accordingly, on November i8, 1817, James Harbison was awarded contract for the construction of same, for which he received four hundred and seventy-five dollars. It had log piers, with three heavy hewn timbers about forty feet long spanning the stream, to which hewn slabs were pinned. This was the first bridge built in the county. Before it was constructed travelers and teamsters were often held up here for several days at a time waiting for the flood to subside. This was but a fair sample of iiif/St streams that drained the county in early times, and made it necessary tor ferries to be established where leading highways crossed the larger ri\'ers.

The first emigrants would often construct crafts to cross on. when there was no chance to ford streams, and these would l)e tied up on shore with grape vines so that the next traveler could .save time and trouble by appropriating same to his own use. I'he first ferry that was ever kept regularly in the county was across Blue river at Fredericksburg in 1815. It was a raft made of ]ioplar logs, and was used for several years. Theodore Catlin built a ferry boat about 1820, and in 1823 was licensed to operate the same regularly, and to receive tiie following tolls: Footman, six and one-quarter cents: horse and rider, twelve and one-half cents; two-horse wagon, twenty-fi\e cents: four-horse wagon, fifty cents; one-horse wagon, eighteen and thrce-r|uartcrs cents: stcjck of all kinds, five cents per head. For a few years i)rior to 1818 there was a log raft ferry at Millport, when a good boat was built. John DePaiiw put up a mill at this jxjint in the same year, and in 1820 he was regularly licensed to keep a ferry across the Muscatatuck, and was authorized to charge the following rates : Horse and rider, twelve and one-half cents two-horse wagon, thirty cents; four-horse wagon, sixty-two and one-half cents: footman, six and one-quarter cents; cattle, hogs and sheep, four cents Some years later femes were established every four or five miles up and down the Muscatatuck and White rivers, and ferrymen derived a nice little income from the same.

Boats were built about forty feet long and eight feet wide, large enough to carry a four-horse team. Two gunwales were necessary in their construction, which were hewn out of yellow poplar trees, six inches thick and two and one-half feet wide The two ends turned up after the fashion of a sled runner, and a double thickness of two-inch flooring was nailed to the lower edges of gunwales, and also to a stringer running through the center of the boat, its full length. The boat was usually swung to a long rope that spanned the stream by means of two short ropes and pulleys, one at each end of the boat. The ferryman, standing at the end of the boat farthest from shore, took firn> hold of the rope to which the craft hung and walked slowly from that end of the boat to the other, starting it and its load across the stream. When he had walked the length of the boat, he went back, took a new hold and walked again. An extra charge above the legal fee was allowed in operating the ferry between the hours of nine o'clock p. m. and four o'clock a. m. The law compelled a ferryman to be at his post and cross over all parties passing that way, unless he considered it extremely hazardous to attempt a crossing on account of high water or floating logs and ice.

In ferrying cattle, unless the weather was extremely cold, a few leaders would be taken across and the remainder of the herd would be urged into the stream and made to swim across. There was danger in getting too many cattle on a boat at a time, as they were liable to get frightened and push one another overboard, or crowd to one end of the boat and sink her. Sheep were considered the meanest thing to take over. When they got scared one was liable to jump over and then the rest would follow. A sheep is a poor swimmer when his fleece is wet and when they jumped overboard many of them would drown.

In winter, when rivers began to freeze over, boats were drawn out of the water and hauled up the bank to a point where there would be no danger of being carried away by the floes when the spring thaw came on. Accidents would occasionally happen when horses became nervous and fright- ened. If an animal was at all liable to cause trouble he was unhitched from the vehicle before being taken onto the boat. Once in a great while a horse was found with such an unconquerable aversion to the boat that he could not be led into it. In such case he was blind fidded with a coat or blanket when he could be put aboard without much trouble.

An Elopement Beset With Difficulty

An incident is told of a couple tnat ran away from Jackson county and started to Salem to get married. When they came to the ferry the young lady remained in the buggy while the swain stood by the horse's head. When the boat was landed across the stream the horse snorted and backed a little. The girl screamed and the man yanked the horse's head and struck at him, which frightened the horse all the more, and in backing again sent the hind wheels of the buggy over the boat. Of course the buggy tipped up and the girl went out backwards into the water. "Save her," the man cried, but he still held on to the horse. The ferryman saw that the woman was hanging on to the back of the buggy all right, and as soon as the horse had been unhitched from the buggy he went to the girl's rescue and pulled her out of the water. She was taken up to the ferryman's house where her clothing was dried out and ironed up, and the couple were soon on their way rejoicing. On their return trip, late in the day, the horse was unhitched from the buggy before boarding the boat, and the young bride stood up in the boat in preference to taking any chances by remaining in the buggyseat.

On tiie opposite side of the ri\er, from the ferryman's house there usually hung an old-fashioned dinner horn, which was blown when anyone wanted to cross from that side. Quite frequently the ferryman would be out in an adjacent field at work, and a Ijlast from the old cow horn would tell he was needed at the ferry. A skiff was usually a companion of the ferryboat, floatino along l)esi(le it. to l)e used in case of necessity or accident. It was also used in ferrying over footmen, as it could be handled more easily and (|uicker than the lioat. b'erryboat days are passed and bridges span all our streams where travel justifies, and the places that knew them onre will know them no more forever.

White River Steamboat Company

SO as to bring some surplus money into the country. The people living in Washingion county, and the country lying north and west, had no means reaching a market except to haul their proaucts to the Ohio Falls, and prices that netted them f;>r corn, wheat and pork scarcely justified the hauling, to say nothing of cost of production. In the early spring flatboats carried down the Muscatatuck and White rivers a considerable amount of produce of one kind and another, but there was no back haul, all supplies having to come overland at great expense.

To improve transportation facilities the project was conceived of building a steamboat to run up the river as far as Millport, collecting a boat load of grain, meat and whisky, as it journeyed down the ri\er to the Ohio. The inland streams then had sufficient water in them to float a small boat about nine months in the year. Everybody favored the enterprise and accordingly a meeting was called for February 3, 18 19, to be held at Bono, to consider the advisability of the project and the possibility of carrying it through to completion. This meeting was well attended by leading men from all the surrounding country, and two days' time was spent in discussion and starting the preliminary work. Salem was represented by John DePauw and James R. Higgins. DePauw was very much interested in the enterprise, as he had just completed a saw- and grist-mill at Millport, a large plant for that day. At this meeting commissioners were appointed from all surroundmg towns, as far north as Blocmiington, and south to Paoli. the river route "being considered the only practical outlet for all this country. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws for the government of the company, setting forth the aims and the kind of craft that would be best suited to handle inland traffic.

The meeting was an enthusiastic one, and adjourned to meet .at Palestine on February 27, 18 19. The Tocsin contained quite a lengthy article favoring the new project and urging everyone who was able, and felt so inclined, to take stock in the enterprise. Tt showed how the whole country and people would be benefited by this steamboat service, for both freight and passengers, even if stockholders did not derive great returns on their investment. The information was given that from a recent estimate of the number of steamboats on the Mississippi and its tributary streams, there appeared to be thirty-one boats in operation, or ready for use, and thirty more nearly completed : besides the keels of many more were laid, and still more projected. All this had developed since the first steamboat in west- -ern waters was launched at Pittsburgh in i8tt: and it was asked if any

American could reflect on this development without feeling proud of his country. Appealing to a man's patriotism in those days was an argument that was irresistible. The following is a complete report of the meeting at Palestine, the then capital of Lawrence county :

Organization Of Company

"At a meeting of the commissioners of the White River Steamboat Company, convened by public notice, ^t Palestine on the 27th of February, 1819, Gen. John Milroy was called to the chair and Patrick Callan appointed secretary. The names of the commissioners being called over, the following persons appeared and took their seats, viz. : Jas. R. Higgins, Salem ; Dr. Robt. C. Ford, Brownstown ; Samuel Barlow, Dr. W. Foot and John Milroy, Palestine; Benj. Blackwell and Moses Fell, Orleans; Wm. Hoggatt and James Pearson, Paoli ; Wm. Hardin, Bloomington ; Thos. Beezley and Patrick Callan, Bono. The proceedings of the meeting of the 3d of February, 1819, held at Bono, being read, it was on motion. Resolved, That the constitution now submitted to this meeting by the secretary be read by articles and such alterations and amendments made as may be deemed essential to the interest of the company. After which, the articles being severally read and duly considered, the blanks were filled up, and the following unanimously adopted as the constitution of the White River Steamboat Company, viz. :

the subscribers, in order to facilitate the exportation of our surplus produce, the introduction of foreign articles, and to extend our commercial intercourse into distant places, associate ourselves together and do mutually promise and agree to, and with each other to be governed and bound by, the following articles of association, to-wit :

"Article i. A capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, to be divided into five hundred shares of fifty dollars each, shall be raised by subscription. The affairs and funds of the company shall be managed and conducted by seven directors, to be annually elected by the stockholders by plurality of votes; but no one stockholder shall have more than one vote for each share as high as five, and one vote for every ten after, at any election for directors.

"Article 2. Subscription books shall be opened under the direction and management of the following commissioners : Salem, Christopher Harrison, Jas. R. Higgins, John DePauw, James Wiley ; Livonia, Jas. McKinri2-)

"Article 3. Each person at time of his subscribing shall pay into the hands of the aforesaid commissioners the sum of five dollars on each share subscribed for; and the further sum of forty-five dollars on each share subscribed for in such installments, at such time or times and in such manner as the president and directors of the compau}', hereafter to be elected, may order and direct.

"Article 4. The ab(jve named commissioners shall have the power to appoint a suitable person to take charge of the money subscribed and paid, until the first directors of the company are elected, or appointed, and as soon as the hrst directors of the company are elected, the aforesaid commissioners and the person appointed in manner aforesaid to take charge of the subscription money, shall deliver and pay over to the directors, or their authorized agent, all l>ooks, papers and money received by them, belonging to the company, in their hands.

"Article 5. The subscribers of stock, or a majoritv of them, shall meet at Palestine, Lawrence county, Indiana, on the first Thursda}" after the first Monday in June next, or at any time previously, after two hundred shares shall have been subscribed for, and choose by \-ote seven directors, being stockholders, to manage the business of the compan\-.

"Article 6. The seven stockholders having the highest number of votes shall be the first directors of the company, who shall serve for twelve mnnths, and until other directors are elected, and shall have authority to make all and any rules and l)y-laws, not inconsistent with these articles of association and by-laws, for the interest of the company, and its well management.

"Article 7. If an}- sul)scriber shall fail to make the second payment of the sum of five dollars on each share by him, her or them subscribed at the time and in the manner required by the directors of the company for such payment to be made, he, she or they shall forfeit the sum so by him, her or them first paid, for the use of the company, but no forfeiture shall take efl:'ect when the ]ierson owing any share shall die before the time of payment of such installment, or payment, but in such case the heirs of such deceased shareholder shall be chargeable with the interest of such sum or installment unpaid until the same shall be paid.

"Article 11. The directors at their first election, and at each succeeding election for directors, shall choose a president out of their own body, to serve one year. Vacancies shall be supplied in the same manner as often as they occur.

"Article 12. The directors shall have the power to appoint all their officers and workmen, to allow them such compensation, and to make such contracts for the benefit of the company, as they may think proper, consistent with the ninth article of this article of association."

Considerable discussion took place on the subject of the tonnage of the boat, the place most proper at which the boat should be built, and the further arrangements necessary to be made, previous to the opening of the books for subscription, after which the Cjuestion was severally taken on the following resolutions, and carried in the af^rmative.

"Resolved - That the place shall now be mentioned at which the steamboat shall be built, and the same be decided by ballot, whereupon Bono was the place appointed.

"Resolved - That a suitable person be chosen to act as treasurer to the company who shall give bond with sufficient security for the faithful discharge of his duty, which bond shall be taken by the chairman of this meeting in the name and in the behalf of said company; whereupon, Judge Wm. Erwin was appointed.

"Resolved - That the secretary be instructed to have printed a sufficient number of subscription papers and forward a copy to each commissioner with a request that he will use due diligence in obtaining subscribers.

"Resolved - That a pro])er person be appointed to whom the commissioners shall report in the state of the subscription by them respectively taken monthly, and that the same be as often published in The Tocsin at Salem: whereupon, John Rrown, Postmaster at Palestine, was chosen.

"Resolved - That the sum of five dollars on each share subscribed for, wliich IS to be paid into the hands of the commissioners by the persons subscribing, shall be as soon as practicable paid over to the treasurer.

"Resolved - That tht constitution as adopted, together with the proceedings of this meeting, be published in The Tocsin; that the secretary be directed to see the same carried into effect.

"Resolved - That the expense of printing the subscription papers, together with the constitution and proceedings of this day, be equally defrayed by the commissioners now present.

"Moved and seconded - That we now adjourn to meet again on the first Thursday after the first ^londay in June next and that the secretary be directed to notify the commissioners of the time and place of meeting, through the medium of The Tocsin. Carried. ( Signed)

At the meeting m June 'The Tocsin gave a glowing account, and the stock taken justified the managers of the enterprise to order work upon this wonderful water craft to begin at once. A superintendent of the work was appointed, but who this was, there is now no means of ascertaining. No other information concerning the building of the boat is now available, except information obtained some years since from Sydney Pidgeon, who was miller and superintendent of DePauw's mill and store at Millport, and his story of the boat and what became of it is reliable. Sydney Pidgeon said the boat was completed in the summer of 1820. A considerable portion of the lumber and timbers used in its construction were sawed at the DePauw mill and tioated down the river to ESono in rafts. But in the spring of 1820 the company exhausted all the funds it could secure, and it looked as if the boat would ne\er be completed. The work on it ceased for awhile, when a new company was organized of some three or four men, who arranged to take over and complete the boat, put it into service and pay those who had originally subscribed stock and paid money on the same, as fast as the craft could earn it. As soon as fall rains gave sufficient stage of water the boat was floated down to the Wabash, and anchored at Mt. Carmel, where the machinery was duly installed during the winter of 1820. The following sp -ing, as soon as the ice was out of the river, the boat came up as far as Millport. Here it took on bacon and whisky, and finished its load as it went on down the river. The river was full of old trees and snags and the boat sustained some damage in getting out into the Ohio, but its first trip was made successfully and the owners realized a small profit on the cargo. Two other trips were made up White river the next fall, which were reported .to be unsuccessful, and after this the boat was kept in the Ohio river and New Orleans trade, how long no one knows. One thing the original promoters of the enterprise were never able to do was, to find any profits realized from operating the boat, and their first investments were lost entire.

River Transportation Abandoned

As late as 1850 some small boats would occasionally run up White river to the mouth of Driftwood and take out grain and bacon, but by this time the country had largely been cleared up, and except in time of freshets there was never sufificient water in the stream to make navigation possible. The operation of flatboats ceased about the same date, for railroad bridges began to be constructed across all inland streams, and they were built so low that even flatboats could not be floated out in times of high water, or even when streams were in good boating stage.

Days Of The Stage Coach

A great deal of romance was swept from the road with the advent of the iron horse. In no field of improvement has the incoming of machinery operated more toward relentless artificiality than in that of transportation. What is the privilege of hiding shot along a pair of steel rails at sixty miles an hour compared to the glorious exhilaration of bowling u\er a country road of an autumn afternoon, seated on the top of an old-fashioned stage coach drawn by four splendid horses - swaying, lurching, rolling up and over the hills, across vales. "Twas a mad race from start to finish. If you sat mside the coach it seemed that you would, at every tremendous lurch, lie sent through the the roof or window. If you were perched lieside the driver or on top the coach y(ui had to keep a tight grip upon the rail to avoid the catastrophe that you felt was liable to happen at any moment, namely, being hurled head first into the ditch.

Although the excitement, danger and vicissitudes of the road were many, their very existence helped toward a sort of magnetic charm in this mode of travel that never can be experienced when traveling by steam or electric train. Then, ofttimes there was the dread of highwa}' robbers, who might at any time emerge from a willow copse with pistols a half-yard long to separate the passengers from their valuables and go through the mail bags. As long as there were stage coaches in this country a common item of news was that of telling where a lot of people had been held up and what they lost.

Origin Of The Coach

The word "coach" was derived from Kotze, the name of a town in Hungary where the first vehicle of the kind was built, in 1457, for Charles VII, of Paris. The earliest record of the stage coach jiroper goes back to i6f)2, when there were si.x of them in England. It was not long after this date that they were introduced into this country. The\- were \ery much after the style of the first model, the body being flat on top and rounded at the bottom, and swung on heavy strips of leather fastened to heav)- trace,^. On the front end was the e)Te, or seat for tlie dri\-er. and a strimg iron railing about a foot high extended all round the top, to secure surplus baggage and ]>assengers. There was a "boot" on the rear end made expressly for liaggage. So nicely was the contrivance balanced that the least jar would set the box rocking like a cradle. They used the iron linchpin to hold the wheels. Later, wooden pins were used, as they were not so likely to work out, and, finally, when axles were made of iron, steel nuts took the place of pins. The regulation horn was either a four-keved brass bugle, or a

Few there are who appreciate aught ot the mechanical skill expended in the manufacture of a Concord stage coach, for it was in that town am^ug the Xew Hampshire hills that the "coach" of the states had its origin and most of them were made. Every piece of wood, leather and iron entering into the construction was literally of the best and strongest that the eye o^ a superintendent hired for the sole purpose of selecting stock could secure. E\ery piece of oak, ash, hickory and elm had been allowed the exact and proper time for seasoning. Every piece was cut and formed by hand for its particular use and place hx an expert who gave his whole attention to that particular work.

G(jtten out at Hrst with no thought ot supplying nther than the numerous roads of Xew England, the call for the genuine "Concord" steadily increased, until, finally, this favorite vehicle, clothed in a color of brightest yellow, was to he seen on most all the roads of this western country, and finally it made its way across the plains, climbed along the tortuous slopes and gulches of Colorado, Utah and Oregon, or toiled over the blinding sands of Arizona and New Mexico, on to California

Type Of Horse Most Desired

The weight of an average coach wa.s from sixteen to eighteen hundred pr)un(ls. There were seat? for six persons inside, and outside as many were taken as could pile on, sometimes there being twenty passengers aboard. The ideal coach horse was of medium sixc and weight, and the old Morgans were considered best of all. .\n animal that was too stocky could not travel fast enough. One too long-limlied amid not pull the load. He had to have sjjirit and action as nearly perfect as possible. The typical weight was about ele\en hundred pounds. "A hcjrse to a mile" was the rule with large coaching conipanies. As a rule a hor'-c wa~- not reijuircd to work more than one or twt) hours out of the t\\enty-four, but it was hard work while he A\as at it. He \\as expected to go at a break-neck speed, and unfailingly made hi^ ten or twelve nules an hour, "i'his done, he was groomed and fed with the utmost care. Craui was his ])rincip;d food, liay not being considered a proper ration for "roading." T'^ach driver groomed and bandied his own team. Xeatsfoot oil wa-. used on the a.\les ; cantor oil was considered too llii.-k. and would not gne liglitner-s of draft or last a- long a^ the neatsfoot

Accidents would happen occasionally to coach and passengers. Sometimes a linchpin would work out and the wheel come off, when passengers would find themselves in a bruised heap by the roadside. An upset would bring about the same results. Then, there was the aggravating trouble of getting stuck in the mire, which not infrequently happened at the breaking up of winter. In such case tourists had to entertain themselves as best they could, while the "guard" or helper, if he was along, was dispatched to the nearest farm house for a yoke of oxen to pull them out. But the jest and spirit of the thing made up in a great measure for all annoyances and mishaps. After the delay out in the road, there was the glory of dashing into the village and up to the tavern, knowing that the advent of the coach was an event of interest to the entire neighborhood. Their coming was always announced by a few spasmodic blasts of the coachman's horn, which was a signal for young and old to run out and get a full view of the galloping steeds coming down the street. While the horses were being changed, and "the small boys inspected the baggage, which usually took about fifteen minutes time, the travelers stirred around and looked up something to eat, or, mayhap, something to drink, as well. But the time for lunch was all too short ere John was at tlie door announcing "all alx)ard," when boxes, bundles, and a promiscuous mess of individuals would again be crowded into the caravan, the horn sounded, the whip cracked, and away they went for the next station.

The stage coach was first started regularly from Salem to jeffersonville about 1830. Baird & Scott were proprietors of the first route established. Col. William Baird afterwards became sole proprietor, and the route was extended to Orleans, and from there to Bloomington. In 1835 Mcl'heeters & Orchard owned the route. McPheeters living in Salem and Orchard at Bloomington. Thomas W'i throw was proprietor of the rtiute from Salem to Jeffersonville in 1844. J'"-' Burwell was proprietor in 1S48. and until the New Albany & Saiem railroatl was comiileted to the foot of the knolis, or about two miles abo\e Providence, or what is now Bordt-n. I'"or a \ear or so James F. Persire ran a hack from Salem to meet the train e\er\- daw which ran up as far as the road was completed

The Salem and Jeft'ersonville stage line made three trips each week, leaving- Salem on Mondays. Wednesdays and Saturdays, I-"or relax- purposes teams were stationed at Salem, New Pro\'idence, Silver Creek and Jeffersonville. Four horses were usually the stage team; sometimes six. The oldest wagon route from Salem to the Falls was by way of Martinsburg, Greenville and Galena, but about the time the stage line was started the route was from Salem down the Martinsburg road to a point near the center of section 14, in Pierce township, thence by way of Pekin and New Providence. Taverns were kept at New Providence by Mrs. Borden; at Siher Creek, aliout one mile southeast of Rennettsville, by John A. Smith. Often when the roads were real nice and the weather temperate the run was made from Salem to Jeffersonville in four and one-half hours. The time allowed for the trip as advertised was se\en hours. A few times there were competing stage lines, and then it was a grand race from start to Finish to see who would get through first.

Drivers were \enturesome if not reckess fellows, but they seldom met with any mishaps. They had no fear of collisions. All other vehicles were required to give the main road to the mail stage and in no manner delay its speed. Hence, when the coachman observed any kind of a vehicle either approaching or going from him. the horn was sounded, and at the signal everything turned out of the way. If, perchance, the. warning note was not heard, the driver would straighten himself, grasp his lines firmly, crack his whip and make a bee-line for a wheel of the heedless wagon, and as sure as it was struck down came the wagon, with the wheel spinning across the road. As if nothing had liap]iened the driver would urge his team swiftly onward, and the greater the wreck the l>etter the coachman enjo\ed the assault, while the passengers had a stirring incident to talk about. Among" tlie names of drivers who are still remembered are those of C. W. Mobley, James King, Jesse Patterson, Bill Martin, George Howard and Sam Rigney.

Characteristic Drixers

Usually coachmen were considered rather tough characters, with lots of nerve, but almost without exception they were kind and accommodating to ])assengers. At one time there was a lanky, well-educated son of Erin named O'Donnell, a\ ho drove from Jctfersonx'ille to Silver Creek. He had a tailing that sometimes contributed much to the discomfort of passengers. ^\'hene\er he fell into the state called "three sheets to the wind" travelers might look (^ut for a terrific exhibition of this jehu's skill. He then bowled along the road at a breakneck speed, seemingly regardless of consequences. Should anyone beg him to "pull in the run," he wouUi laughingly reply:

"Never fear, Captain, you are in safe hands." On such occasions the run from Jeffersonville. to Silver Creek was uncomfortably brief. When safely over, the Irishman would claim a compliment of his lately pallid passengers and say, "But didn't I bring you through elegantly?" Many were always apprehensive of this fellow's driving, but he delivered his passengers into the care of a driver much more to be dreaded. His name was Bill Martin. He was a man of enormous physical power, about thirty years of age and of uncommonly fine appearance. He was for a time the "swell' of Salem and quite popular. His countenance gave no indication of his real character. No one was capable of putting on the apparent gentleman in any particular than was he. It afterward developed that in stage driving he was just taking a vacation from his real profession of gambler and highwayman. He left Salem and secured a position on the New Albany and Vincennes stage line, when he was detected in robbing the mails. Some postmaster had carelessly left the key to the mail pouch sticking in the padlock, and, securing this, it was an easy matter for him to unlock an}- of the Dags he wished and go through them. He was finally detected and arrested, but managed to get away. His robberies extended through Kentucky (his native state), Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, The last ever heard of him was in the early sixties, when he returned to this part of the country, and finding out that he was suspicioned of being the prime mover in several schemes of robbing, and fearing detection, he left for parts unknown.

Another famous character was a driver named James King. He was also a born thief. It was known that the mails on his route were being tampered with, and detectives being put on his track he was detected robbing the mail between Salem and Livonia. His trial resulted in his conviction and a sentence to the state's jjrison at Jeffersonville. Tie was a free man only a short time till he was again convicted of theft and sent back for a longer term of service. When his time expired he begged the prison authorities to allow him to remain in prison, as he had no place to go and no funds to care for him. But he was sent away, and in a short time committed a theft at Paoli, on purpose, as he afterwards said, to get back to prison, where he ended his days.

For a numljcr of years prior to tiie building of the railroad Salem was a great stage coach center. There were regular lines to X'allonia, Paoli, Bedford and Bloomington. There were no bridges across the larger

Streams, crossing being done on ferries, or on the ice in extreme winter weather. Stage coaching, while it lasted, was an institution of unfailing interest to old and young, and the first blast of the "winding horn" from the road coming down the slope southeast of town beyond the old Hattabough place, or from the brewery, was the signal for a general rush to ! front doors, windows, or in the streets, to get a glimpse of the "overland," as it whirled around to the postoftice and brought up suddenly at the tavern

From the time that the first small jiack of hounds took up ihe trail of the native gray foxes of Virginia and Maryland, in the latter part of the seventeenth century, until the present time, hunting Master Reynard with hounds and horses has never failed of enthusiastic devotees. George Washington kept his pack of hounds, and before he became engrossed in affairs of state he loved the chase. Most every Virginia gentleman then owned his pack of hounds, as he did slaves and horses. In most parts of the South today planters ha\e their hound kennels and indulge in the chase when there is time to kill or a guest to entertain.

Foxes were once numerous in Indiana, and there are still many of them left in the hilly regions where lands are too rough and poor for tilling. In the knob lands of this county foxes are plenty, and there are still a few hunters to be found who own hounds and go out for an occasional hunt. The early settlers hunted them more for their pelts than for sport.

Of all the sports devised by man fox hunting is one of the most fascinating. "Once a fox hunter, always a fox hunter" is an old and trite saying. The season for the chase always began at Thanksgiving day and ended on St. Patrick's day, so the huntsman who was keen on the hounds had to face some pretty severe weather, and they often sustained some serious mishaps. But hunting did not hurt the hunter to any great extent - a broken bone was not long in knitting together again, and the great consideration of liealth gained by such splendid outdoor exercise always more than offset the momentary need of the surgeon. It has been well said that "the best tiling for the inside of a man is the outside of a horse."

time of his death, about 1898, kept his kennel of fox-hounds. From him was obtained much information relative to foxes and fox hunting as practiced in Washington rounty. When asked how long he had engaged in the sport, his reply was: "Av^out all my life. I was only a small boy when I first bestrided the old family mare and tried to keep up with the bands of hunters that did little else but trail about over the knobs all through the hunting season. I've hunted in Indiana and Kentucky and first and last have had a great deal of pleasure out of it. To my mind, there is no finer music than the cry of a pack of hounds in full chase after a fox, each one giving mouth at every jump as he strikes the scent. Why do they bark? It is possibly their way of expressing their love of the chase. Some people think, the dogs understand one another, but I cOuld hardly say that. It may be that they are trying to urge each other on to a supreme effort. The leader of a pack of hounds goes along steadily and is known by his long, deep note. He is not always in front, for there are some hounds that are more excitable than others and will take short cuts to get in the lead, and will make a terrible noise about it, and a young hound is more boisterous than an old one.

"The pack always knows when a bark means business, when a fox trail has been scented, and if an old hound that they have confidence in begins to bark they all join in the chorus. Every dog barks on his own hook, but each has a diflferent voice. When starting out for a hunt they always seem to know what is expected of them ; they seem to be on to their job. Occasionally a hound takes up side issues, and when not engaged in a warm chase will track a possum, coon, or perhaps a rabbit, until it is treed or put into a sink-hole. But such fellows are looked upon with contempt by the trueblue foxer, who never for a moment thinks of pursuing any sort of game other than the fox, even if it happens to cross his path in plain view.

"And I think the fox enjoys the chase as much as the hounds and sportsmen do. It calls forth all his wits and he enjoys fooling the dogs, though he doesn't always realize the danger he is in. Even a narrow escape doesn't seem to scare him. You may jump a fox today and run him within an inch of his life, but if he gets away you can start him up in the same neighborhood tomorrow. It's almost impossible to scare him awa\- from his old haunts. A fox when pursued always runs in a circle, around and around in the territory near his home : except wiien the chase is a longdr^wn-out one, then he sometimes takes a bee-line for some different location, perhaps miles away, whicii offers him better protection, or caves into which he can take refuge. How long will a fox run ? That depends. Sometimes they lose the dogs and sometimes they keep on running even when tired out and holes are plentiful where they could securely hide themselves. It is only when hard pressed that a fox will dart into a hole for safety, but once in a hole the chase is over, for foxhounds never dig. They a»v trained not to and they know better. They prefer to spend their energy after another fox. But if a fox doesn't lose the hounds or takes to a hole he will sometimes run nine or ten hours with. the dogs on the jump all the while. The experienced hunter knows perfectly well tlie voice of each dog in his string and can always locate him in the chase by the sound. Each dog trails for himself, never running along listlessly in the wake of .sotne faithful leader that might be depended on to keep his trail. Thus they will sometimes be strung out in a line several hundred feet long. On a still night their voices can be heard a long distance, and it is this music that charms the hunter.

Instances Of Fox Cunning

" 'As cunning as a fox' is a. trite saymg, but I have witnessed some of their tricks that it would seem that nothing but art intelligent human being could plan and execute. I have seen a fox tjiat had become somewhat exhausted with long running pass by a thicket where a fresh fox was hidden, and switching squarely off the straight track, would dodge into the brush, and his place would be taken by the new substitute, and the race would go merrily on. Sometimes, when not too closely pursued, a fox will strike a path or trail and take the back track for a few yards, and then by making one long leap sidewise will put the hounds out for awhile, thus enabling him to get a long lead towards freedom and safety.

"The fox seems to know that a burnt-over field or wood does not give out any scent, so if he reaches such a place he runs off to one side and lies down to rest, knowing that it will take the dogs a long time to get onto his trail again. An old trick of his is to jump upon a stone wall, run along on top of it for some distance, and then jump off on the same side, thus fooling the bounds, which have leaped the wall and are hunting the scent on the opposite side. A \nrginia fox hunter tells how a fox, hard pressed, leaped off a sixty-foot bluff, alighting in a river below, and was followed by every one of the dogs. The river was fifty yards wide, but the fox swam it, the dogs close behind. They all landed safely, but the fox was soon run down, not being able to make much speed with his wet coat oi fur and bedraggled tail. I have heard a story about a fox that in the chase came upcui a dead hog. Here he halted, and patting his feet up and down in the ilead carcass, gave two nr three sharp barks, ami with a wide spring darted utY into the wood. When the hounds came up they were unable to take up the scent again.

a ti)x was holed it was usually stopped m and a box-trap was made and placed in the hole so that there was no means of escape except through the box. Reynard was thus caught ali\e and carried out and turned loose for another chase. After being turnetl loose they would ne\er run \er\" far until they w^ould stop to play or feed. The hounds were put upon the trail and usually the race did not last long, as the hounds soon picked him up. These races were put off in daytime and the whole neighborhood usually turned out to see the sport. Guns were positively barred in fox hunting. A man who would shoot a fox while the hounds were after him would be disgraced fore\er and be regarded almost as a personal eneiuy by all true sportsmen."

Fox hunting as a sport could not exist without foxhounds. They are as essential to fox hunting as the fox himself. The foxhound has been . evolved from a cross between the bloodhound and the greyhound, with perhaps some outside blood. He probably gets his running qualities from the greyhound and his scent and trailing qualities from the bloodhound. The greyhound runs only by sight. They have no set type of color, more commonly having a grayish body with black and tan spots. The true foxhound has speed and endurance and will sometimes run ten hours at a stretch, tiring out l>oth men and horses. His sense of smell is very acute, and he follows every crook and turn, every in and out made by the fox. The two leading strains found in this country now are the Walker and Jul\', the former bred in Kentucky and the latter in \'irginia. But all foxhounds are not good ones, and the poor ijues are always discarded wdien, after being given a fair trial, they fail to come up to standard requirements.

-Ml sports have their vernacular, but the idioms of hunting have been e\ohed during nianv vears, and their import is often a mystery to the novice. A few of them may be interesting: A hound is always a hound; to call it a dog is a term of reproach, although it is correct to speak of a dog- hound. "Skirter" is a hound which does not run with the pack, but raxiges off on its own account. A "babbler" is a hound that cannot desist from "giving tongue" even when it is not following scent. "Giving tongue" is the baying of the hounds when they have found their fox. "Voice" is the cjuality and quantity of the music made by the pack in full cry. "Earths" are fox's burrows. "Stopping an earth" is the filling up of a burrow so a fox cannot "hole." "Holding" a fox is driving him into his burrow. "Drawing a covert" is sending a hound in to raise a fox. "Drawn blank" means that M. Reynard is not at home. "Biddable" describes a welltrained pack. Hounds are always spoken of as so many couple; not thirty hounds, but fifteen couple. "Gone awa\" means that the hounds have started a fox and that the hunt is on, and "first flight" refers to the riders who ride straight and hard and keep the hounds in sight. But this they ne\er do in this part of the country, but switch around from one place to another where the experienced hunter knows pretty well that they will cross the trail where the fox and hounds are wont to pass. The passing of the hunter, as well as the fox and hounds, is gradually going on, and soon the country that knew them so well in days gone bv will know them no more forever.

Wolves In Early Times

The wolf was the most to be dreaded of all wild animals by the earliest settlers. It was almost impossible to raise sheep or hogs on account of their depredations, and lone travelers, especially if on foot, were constantly in danger of attack. A single wolf would seldom attack man or beast, but when they got together in considerable numbers, and were hungry, they were dangerous. Movers were often annoyed by these beasts of nights, but a huge Iranfire would always keep them a*^ a safe distance. Not an uncommon method of protecting animals from Indians as well as wolves was to build a sort of lean-to of logs against the cabin, with an entrance into and through the cabin. Horses and other animals were then led into this ])en through the cabin and there was no chance for Indians or wild animals to gain access to them from the outside without storming the "castle" and overpowering the inmates.

When stock, turned out on range, failed to return home at the proper time, search was at once instituted, and not infrecpiently the skeleton was found where tlie wolves had devoured a cow or a horse. When there were several horses t\irned out together they could care for themselves. A pack of hungry wolves, on the rampage, made considerable noise with their barking and screeches, and when their voices announced their coming a band of horses would collect together in a small circle, their rumps touching each other, and heads on 'he outside of the circle. In this form they could bite and paw the wolves and keep them in abeyance. In attacking other animals wolves were very much like dogs, their aim was to get hold of the hind quarters, by which means they could soon throw the animal on the ground where the rest would be easy. But when horses collected together in a bunch, as above, they could do nothing with them, unless a single animal could be induced to get out of the defensi\e position, when he would easily be gotten away with. Shooting amciUg and killing some of the wolves in a pack would not frighten them away when on the war path. A wounded wolf would be eaten up by his fellows, and this taste of blood would only make them all the more, ferocious. The coming of daylight would usually cause them to retire. If the}- were successful in securing a good square meal in a certain place, the same point would likely be visited the following day or night, and the second coming would most likely be in increased numbers.

To ward off attacks from wolves, Indians nearly always kept a fire burning, or had a heap of logs, brush and poles built near the wigwam ready to fire if occasion demanded. But wolves did not remain long, in large numbers, after the coming of the white man into a country. Along with the red man they retired to less frecpiented parts of the country, where they could roam at will undisturbed. A few wolves were to be found m this country as late as 1825, but they were seldom seen, except in the dense forests. They would occasionally come down and breakfast upon a nice fat lamb or a nice litter of pigs. The fox was a lover of pigs, also, and not infrequently would carry away a whole litter if the\- were not secured in a good pen at night.

Old Powderhorns

Modern inventions ha\e robbed warfare of much of its romance and the soldier of much of his old-time picturesqueness. Although the powderhorn as an implement of war disapi^eared long before the magazine gun of today was dreamed of, it was not so long ago, as a matter of fact, that men were carrying them to "keep their powder dry." Some of the soldiers in the Mexican War carried the old flintlock gun and the powderhorn. The powderhorns carried by the fighters in the early days of this country were often of comparatively simple workmanship, each individual manufacturing his own horn to suit his own fancy, and when their days of usefulness ended they were thrown aside and destroyed. A few fancy ones were cherished and handed down from father to son, and from friend to iriend, but they were so very few that collectors have had a very hard time in locating any great number of the powderhorns used in this country; notwithstanding the fact that every man in the country three-score years ago was the proud possessor of one of them, and they had been used in large numbers as far back as the sixteenth century. During the Revolution there were, according to the best estimates, over ten thousand powderhorns in use by the patriots. The Indians carried them as soon they came into possession of guns.

Powderhorns are supposed to have come into use simultaneously with the invention of gunpowder. A way had to be found to carry it safely and conveniently, and men quickly found that there was not anything better or cheaper for this purpose than the horns of an animal swung to the shoulder. They were brought to this country by the very earliest settlers. The oldest horn known to exist in this country bears the datp of 1683. It was generally the horns of their own cattle that the former fighters and hunters of America used. A strain of cattle that grew large horns were prized and perpetuated for that reason, even if they had no other particular merit to recommend them. The bull usually had the largest horns. When cattle were killed good-sized horns were always preserved, if not for use as a powderhorn, they were carried to the comb-maker of the neighborhood and made up on the shares.

Nothing carried the powder so well as the horn, for it never rusted, could not be dented or mashed in ordinary usage or wear, and in the rain and through streams it might be carried without getting the powder even d.'im]). 11ie>- were always worn under the left arm by a strap that went over the right shoulder, the curve in the horn conforming to the shape of the bod\', and thus serving to keep it out of the way of the wearer. Usually a piece of cedar was turned to exactly fit the large end of the horn, on the outer end of which there was a sort of knob or button to which the shoulder-trap was attached. .A^ notch was cut on the small end of the horn to which tiie other end of the strap was fastened. Sometimes the shoulderstrap sup]jorted a shot-pouch as well as the horn, thus doing double duty. There was a stopple in the small end, and without being unstrung this was (13) usually drawn out by the teeth, when the powder could be poured into the right hand, or charger, and thence into the gun. The charger was made from the tip end of a stage horn, and its size was proiiortioned to the gun, or the amount of powder it required.

Hokn.S Often Carifl'Lly Ornamented

in the manufacture of horns they were tirst boiled to clean and soften them, scraped until they were thin and light, and the two ends properl}- shaped. They were then colored with an orange or yellow dye, if a fancy article was desired; otherwise they were left in their natural color. They lent themselves more readily to ornamentation b}- the owner than did any other part of his equipment, and it is this fact which has made them particularly interesting as historical relics. The maker's name was usuall\- engraved on the horn, and not infrequenth', during the times when the whites and Indians were continually at war, horns were found on the body of a dead brave or prisoner, that haH a white man's name car\eil thereon; often a name that was familiar to some of the captors. When the maker was handy with a knife sometimes animals would he carved on horns that were good representations, and easily recognized, and it was this ornamentation, in most instances, which made them particularly interesting as historical relics.

Admiring friends, in the days when powderhorns were in general use, instead of ])resenting a hero with an engraved sword, ga\"e him a finel\- decorated horn. These were often made to order by a professional engraver, and in addition to the engraving many horns were beautifully colored and tinted. Some were painted by experts and dis]ila\ed some nice water scenes, maps, game of different kinds, and in some instances a portrait of the owner. There is probably no relic of pioneer days (|uite s<> scarce now as the old powderhorn, and it is strange that such is the case when they were in such general use and not easily mutilated or destroyed. Proud is that daughter of the Revolution who now has in her possession a powderhorn, however unornamental. that was carried by her honored ancestor through the war that won freedom for the .American colonies.

Whisky And Mt.Ster Days

The time was when from an elevated point on Walnut Ridge the ascending smoke of nine stillhouses could be distinctly seen, and in many other parts of this county there were distilleries at most every point where there was a good spring with sufficient elevation to allow water to be carried in troughs to the vats and tubs used in the process of distilling. The question follows, what was done with all the whisky that was then made, and were all the people then drunkards? Whisky was then the main article of export, and brought into the country more money than anything else. Prior to 1825, the number of people that totally abstained from ardent spirits was exceedingly small. Only here and there was one to be found who was a teetotaler. But it must not be understood that e\en a large portion of those who were tlien accustomed to use intoxicants ever became drunk, or even "funny." Then church members and elders were distillers and sold their product to all who applied for it.

The whisky as then made was pure and unadulterated products of corn, rye and fruit, and did not make demons out of men as the adulterations did in latter days. In those times this beverage was found in almost every household, in every harvest field, at every house or barn raising. At musters or political gatherings ginger-bread, cider and whisky were as common as the ice cream and lemonade stands are today at picnics and Fourth of July celebrations. But manners and customs were very different then. Drunkenness and drinking were totally different ; comparatively few of the intemperate made intoxication a daily business. A toper of 1825 could do a month's hard work and then have a big spree on election or muster day. Upon these two occasions whisky flowed freely. Then free treats and free fights abounded, but there were no stabhings nor pistol shots. Public opinion negated the carrying and use of concealed deadly weapons. The Cainmark of cowardice was the seal set upon the forehead of him who in single fight would dare use any other weapon than the foot or the fist. But with adulterated whisky came the crazy drunks, the dirk and the pistol.

Distillery Was Then Respected

People now look upon whisky and drinking in quite a different way from what they did one hundred years ago. Who would think now of going to a ruling elder of the Salem Presbyterian church to purchase twenty barrels of the best rye whisky that was ever manufactured north of the Ohio river? The time was when that thing could have been done. Who would think now of going to a local Methodist preacher to buy a few barrels of choice old peach brandy - smooth as the richest olive oil? Nevertheless such sales were once made from stills less than five miles from

Elder John Fleenor, who resided three miles northeast of Salem, on the northeast quarter of -ection 4, township 2 north, range 4 east, owned a large pasture field adjacent to his still-house where the militia and rifie companies congregated to muster. A company consisted of about a hundred men and they met here four times a year, in spring and fall. Xearly everybody turned out nuister day. There were many old men not subject to military duty and boys who were too young, who came to see the fun and §hare the treats. It was seldom that there were any general outbreaks at these meetmgs. Often there were fights to settle some old quarrel or to test their prowess in the ring, but everything was lively and everybody bent on having a big day. The drill exercises continued from three to four hours. When these were over came the jolly time. Officers were esteemed "hoggish" if they did not treat their respective companies. The mode of treating made a singular picture. The captains would procure large buckets and invest sixty cents in whisky fresh from the elder's still-house. This investment procured three gallons of the stuff, which was then only twenty cents a gallon. The men were drawn up in line for the treat, and the captain with bucket and cup or gourd in hand, proceeded from one end of tiie line to the other, tendering to each man in turn his whisky ration. Some drank more, others less. The treated men always bestowed profuse praise upon the captain's liberality. Then no one thought it wrong.

Muster Day Customs

If there were candidates on the grounds, and tliere were usually a number of them present, it was then their turn to treat the crowd. These treats made some drunk in earnest, some jubilant, while others touched st) lightly as to remain duly sober. There were always on hand a few women who dealt out ginger-bread and cider, or if there was no cider to be had they brought a home-brewed lieer instead, and niany's the honest "fo-pence" they would turn during the day. The (Quakers in the county, being tipposed to performing military duty, paid their annual assessment of five dollars to be relieved from attending nuisters. They were \ery much opposed to the free use of whisky as was the usual custom m early time. They did much to UKHild public sentiment in opi)iisition U' drinking and drunkeniu'ss and bring aboiU the temperance reform^ that ha\'e gradually been brought about in the past one hundred years.

Training days were of four grades; Company, battalion, drill and regimental. The controlling spirit on these occasions was the captain, who was ver\- proud of his title. He, together with a lieutenant and ensign, was elected by the company, and thus were commissioned by the governor of the state for a specified term of years. The field ofificers were chosen by the battalions and regiments, and included the colonel, major, adjutant and judge advocate. Each company liad its non-commissioned officers, sergeants and corporals. The colonel commanded the regiment, the lieutenantcolonel the first battalion, and the major the second. Such was the militarv machinery of Indiana a hundred years ago. The election of officers from colonel down to corporal was always intensely exciting occasions, for an official place in the ranks of the militia usually meant a civil office later on.

Militia Offices Lf,D To Higher Honors

To illustrate this truth it is only necessary to call up in mind the long list of titled men who were promoted to office in the county. In the clerk's office there were Gen. John DePauw, Col. Jonathan Lyon, Col. Wm. H. Carter and Major Eli W. Malotte. For congress,, senators and other officers there were Maj. James A. Cravens, Gen. Samuel Milroy, G^n. Marston G. Clark, Gen. R. Schoonover, Col. E. D. Logan, Col. Robert Strain, Colonel Baker, Colonel HefTren, Colonel Menaugh and others.

To understand the potency of the old militia system, it is necessary to look into its requirements. The law establishing it had stringent penalties. To lie a commissioned officer cost mone}-. The regulation coat, hat, sword and other accoutrements of the division, brigade and regimental officers were not only costly but grand. When the men, mounted on superb horses, decorated with gilt-edged trappings, appeared on parade before then' resjiective commands, the eyes of all were made to stare, their hearts to admire and their minds to wonder. A single dress parade would give a ]irestige that years would not blot from memory.

A case in point occurred in the fall of 1825, when it was the duty of Gfciieral Clark to review Colonel Schoonover's regiment at the October l)arade at Livonia. For some reason General Clark could not attend and Col. Abe Stover was appointed brigadier-general for the occasion. Colonel Stn\tr was a portly man of commanding appearance. He chose for his aid Capt. John Duckworth, a man no less imposing and good looking than himself. In gaudv parade costume and startling equipage these men rode liefore the regiment amid tremendous applause. Their appear- ance was really magnificent, and they made an impression upon the admiring multitude not to be effaced by the events of a month or a year. Colonel Stover made a speech and retired. The influence of their brief hour's military parade induced mai." to regard Colonel Stover worthy of senatorial honors, and he was influenced to enter the field against General Clark. But in those days a pro tempore brigadier-general could not battle successfully against a real major-general, and he lost out.

Funerals Of Early Days

The location of burying grounds was always an afterthought with the early settler. It was the usual custom when a death occurred in the family to start a graveyard on the farm or plantation, marking the spot with a rough stone slab with inscription chiseled out in rude characters and b\- planting out a few evergreen trees, the cedar or pine. Many of these oldtime family burying grounds are still well preserved, while others have been neglected, even desecrated, the head and foot stones having tumbled down and the land cultivated over so that all vestiges of graves have been lost.

In some instances the dead were buried withcnit coffins, the grave Ijeing dug about four feet deep, with a vault cut out of the hard clay. After the body was laid away in this vault it was co\ered over with split sticks and bark and the grave filled in. Xot infrequentl}' coflins were hewn out of logs, dug out with the ax the same as a trough. Sometimes people dit-d while moving through the country, pushing on to the frontier. The\- ^^ere usually buried where the camp was pitched and over the gra\e some sort of a stone monument would be erected, when the train would again move on. The present generation knows little about the graves of the earliest comers into this part of the country, unless perchance some lettered tablet reveals the story. Wooden head marks were put to gra\'es before tlie marble slab was supplied.

The lumber first used for coffins was cut by the whii)-sa\\\ i)rii|ielled by man power, but in a few years after the countrv was settled water] lower saw-mills were started. E\ery carpenter or cabinetmaker in the country was a coffin maker also, as occasion would make it necessary for them to do the work. Most coffins were made of poplar lumber as it was easiest to work. They were put up for two or three dollars. The outside finish was made with Venetian red and sweet milk mixed together to about the consistency of paste and then applied with a rag. When sumach berries could be obtained they made a nice stain. No one ever thought of keeping a stock of coffins on hand, so they were always made to order. Walnut coffins were the finest made and cost about four dollars. When these were made extra fine they were given a coat of varnish. Coffins with raised lids came into use about 1850, and cost six dollars, when made out of cherry or walnut.

The corpse was usually dressed in a white shroud or winding sheet made by the women folks who were neighbors of the deceased, while the men dug the grave, and no one ever thought of charging a cent for the work imposed upon them upon such occasions. The minister also volunteered his services to the family and conducted the funeral, without thought of fee or compensation. He felt that he was simply discharging his duty as a neighbor and friend. Instances were not infrequent when sleds were used to carry the remains of persons to their last resting place, and it was not till some time in the fifties that anything like a hearse was used in this part of the country. About the same time the custom of paying a sexton to dig graves was introduced, but in many parts of the country neighbors still attended to the digging of graves and the burying of friends and neighbors.

The Cholera Scourge

The dreadful epidemic that prevailed in Salem in 1833 almost depopulated the town for awhile, checked its growth and for a quarter of a century was very detrimental to its prosperity. Many of the leading business men sold out and went west and for a great many years there were but few newcomers added to the population of the town. When anyone talked of locating in Salem the cholera plague confronted them, for it was thought to be a doomed spot and no telling when the trouble would break out afresh. People from the surrounding country were for a long time afraid to come to the town to trade, and all the small towns round about thrived at Salem's expense. It was true there were outbreaks of cholera that year in some other parts of the Ohio valley, but there were few places where it made such ravages as it did in Salem. There was scarcely a family in Salem that did not suffer loss of one or two of its members, at least, and at one time there were barely enough well people left in the town to give decent burial -to the dead. All kinds of business was suspended for some weeks, people who could get away having retreated back into the country or some out-of-theway nook or corner, where they continued to remain for some time after the disease had subsided, fearing a fresh outbreak.

The cholera made its first appearance on June J5. 1833, ^""J before it was regarded as an epidemic \isitation Mrs. Goodwin died, house on lot 22, Main street; Daniel Neal, lot 186, DePauw's addition; Mathew Allen's child, corner High and Small streets, and Alaria Jones. Daniel Xeal was a singularly eccentric man, and some time before his death had pledged his body to Dr. Robert Newland for anatomical purposes, but under the conditions in which he died it was not deemed advisable to preserve or dissect the same. On June 28 there were more deaths, all very sudden. Mathew Coffin and his son, Nathan, died on Xorth Main street, Xixon's addition. Mrs. Gus Clark died the same day, on lot- 205, West Market street.

Stores Closed By Fleeing Owners

A panic now set in and there were scarcely enough people left in the town to care for the sick and dead. Merchants closed their stores and stampeded, turning the keys over to those persons who intended to remain and telling them to take such things as might be needed. On Sunday. June 30, there were frequent "heavy showers, and then it would clear oil, and the heat would be intense. Everything looked gloomy, as people were being stricken down on all sides. The. following persons died within a few hour;, after being attacked: Maj. Joseph Green, lot 71, High street; Colonel Harrison, Baird's hotel, lot 17; \V. B. Parke, lot 41. Xorth Main street; Judge Barton, same place; John Allen and wife, lut 37, Xorth Main street; Mr. Morgan and wife, lot 133, Water street, and Samuel H(>bh>, corner Water and Mulberry streets, lot 134. By this tinre the few wlm were left to care for stricken ones had worked themselves into a system, t'otfins were made of rough poplar boards, or they were simply boxes whicli were p'laced outside of David Weir"s cabinet sh(Ji), where the man who (lro\e the death cart could get them as needed. A committee then looked after the jilacing of dead bodies in the coffins when they were taken to the cemeter}- and interred by two or three men who acted as sextons. X'r) attempt was made to hold funerals over deceased persons for se\eral da_\s, or fi^rm funeral corteges.

Robert S. Mills and a yoimg man left to wait on the sick. They were Main street on July i, and found the 1 corpse until midnight, then locked th lodging places. Early next morning rine had the cholera. He made all ha' lying on the floor, having been dead probably an hour. The same day Mrs. Xancy Laforce died, place unknown; Jonathan .\rmfield, North High street, lot 60; George W. Drake, lot 46, North Main street, and Henry Hardman's child, lot 40.

List Of The Df.Ad Grows

On Wednesday, Jul)- 3, the disease appeared more violently again, parties dying were James Henderson, corner of Water and Walnut streets, lot 131 ; Mrs. l^'rances Hogan, corner of Cherry and Mill streets, lot 171, DePauw's addition, and Mathew Allen, lot 94, corner High and Small streets. His child died at the same place. On the afternoon of July 3, there were no new cases reported, and people were flattering themselves that the crisis had passed, but that night and July 4, presented a scene that baflled description. Salem will probably never witness the like again. The grim monster death had cut down elexen persons, most of whom were attending the sick the day previous. These were Samuel King, North High street, near the Presbyterian church; Mr. McCown, a Virginian, at Baird h(jtel, lot 17: John For.sey. lot 38, corner of Main and Mulberry streets; William K. Hite. lot ^y. North Main street; Benjamin Draper, place unknown.

Rev. Jas. McCoy was taken sick at his home on North Main street and his friends undertook to get him out to the country, but he expired in the wagon as they were crossing the creek at the east end of Market street. His wife and son died at the family residence. Mrs. Brazelton died on lot 19, South Main street. Her child died at same place. John H. Farnham, a celebrated lawyer, died on lot 85, I'cjplar street; a child of Capt. William Baird died on lot 17, South .Main street; Mrs. Elizabeth Bates died on the corner of High and Hackberry streets, her daughter also; William Gordon, Sr.. on lot i()8, Del'auw's addition; Mrs. Compton and child, lot 54, North M;iin street: Henry Hoke, ])lace unknown; Leroy Ha.9;an's child, lot 36, North Main street; Isaac Hagan, lot 54, Main street; Mrs. David G. Campbell, lot 133. Water street; Mr. Hiram Kyte. lot 103, Water street; Mrs. Stacy C,.o>well, West .Market .street, between Water and .Mill; Banks W^ Jolly, seconrl story of P)00th's store, where he was clerking; old Mrs. Hagan, lot 54. .Main street; Miss Polly Hayworth and Miss Barbara Briles, place unknown ; Russel .Mien's child. West Salem ; Mrs. Carpenter, lot 57, East Market an-l High streets; |{llen Badger. Bainl's hotel: i'.lizabeth Ni.xon, North Main street; Jolin Sharp, from Jackson county; Mrs. John H, Earn-

There were seven colored persons who died of the same disease. The Annotator gave their names as Dianah, Bass and his two children, Job, wife and daughter.

Fatalities Not Confixed To Town

Those who died in the country of the dread disease were Mary A!l)ertson, John Lockland. James Craig, Peter Vancleave, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Sapp and wife, Joseph Trowbridge, Misses Elizabeth and Eleanor Allen. Eli Wright, Mr. Tigner and wife, Mrs. C. Prow, Mrs. Kindle, Mrs. Bunch, Mrs. Hole, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Zink and two sons. Richard Wright and George Killion. While cholera was raging seven persons died in town of oilier diseases, making all told a few over one hundred deaths in about ten days. The disease disappeared almost as suddenly as it came, there being no cases after the 7th of July.

There were a few sporadic cases of cholera in the summer of 1849, the only death being that of Henr\- Yoimg. Salem was again visited by this pestilence, beginning August 20. 1831, when the following persons died: The first was Alfred Markliani and then Mr. Reed, John B. Hendricks. Mrs. Thomas Godfrey and daughter, Mrs. T. ^^'. \\'eeks, Miss Leah .\ickols, Mrs. H. B. Malott. Capt. Samuel Day. Mrs. Branson Lee, Mrs. Peter \angle, Mrs. Simon Drom. Charles Sutler. Henry L^ppinghouse, Eliza Harris. .Austin Harris, Miss Patty Spurgeon, Thomas Lindley, James Wolf. Richard Lockwood, Stephen Baldwin, Celia Lee, Linzy White, Rebecca Deiiiar ; outside of town, William Henry. Thomas D. Weir, Re\ . William Williams, John Botts and one unknown, making twenty-nine. Again a pall hinig over Salem. Again many of her peo|)le removed to other jiarts of the country.

Removing The Cause

Investigation was made and the matter was thoroughly discussed concerning the cause of these cholera outbreaks. It was finally decided that the main cause of the troulile originated from the stagnant water in the old mill-dam, a mile down the creek, which had been built by Win. Lindley and latterly owned by Rodman. A posse of men got together and tore out the dam, which allowed the creek l>ed to be cleaned out by the next flood, since which time there has been no recurrence of the epidemic.

Peace Movement Almost A Century Ago

Very few persons probably are aware of the fact that one of the earhest movements ever set on foot looking toward universal peace, was inaugurated in Washington county almost a century ago. It was one of the initial steps taken in the long ago to give impetus to the general peace principle, and it may have had its influence in establishing the peace tribunal at The Hague upon a basis that some time no doubt will work for and maintain peace among the nations of the world for all time to come. This society existed for several years and the influence it e.xerted no doubt resulted in influencing later generations to take up the work and give their labors and energies to the cause, carrying their influence even up to The Hague tribunal, as some of the descendants of these old enthusiasts did in latter years. In January, i8i8, there assembled in the then new court house in Salem, fifty-seven distinguished men of the county, most of them in the prime of life, their ages ranging all the way between twenty-one and sixty. All of them were emigrants from southern and eastern states, having a short time before come to this western frontier to find homes on its virgin soil.

At that time Jonathan Jennings was governor of the state ; James Monroe was president, and Henry Clay, Thomas H. Benton and Daniel Webster were leaders in the United States Senate. Abraham Lincoln was a boy of ten or eleven, getting the rudiments of an education by pounng over what old musty books he could lay his hands on by the dim light of the fire in the cabin home among the tanglewood of Spencer county, Indiana. There was not at that time any threatening war in the land. The Indian tribes had all been subdued and had retired beyond the Mississippi ; the only spirit of war being manifested was manifested by the mustering and fillibustefing of all ablebodied men upon certain stated occasions, as provided by law, A'hich no doubt were obnoxious to their feelings and principles, and which they wished to check in its embryo, if possible.

A call had been made by publication in the county newspaper for all who favored peace instead of war to meet at the county seat and organize the society. Tiie object of the meeting was briefly outlined by Dr. Benjamin Albertson, a leading spirit in the movement, after which followed the electiim nf officers. The society chose Beebe Booth, president. Dr. Benjamin \H)ertson. secretary, and Nathan Trueblood, treasurer. Matthew Cofifin, David Denney, A\'illiam Hobbs, Jonathan Lyon, Zacharia Nixon and Samuel Lindley were selected trustees, and after ordering two hundred copies of the constitution printed for ilistributinn they adjourned to meet the third day in April following. In The Tocsin nf Mondax-, December 27, 1819, appeared the following notice;

"The annual meeting of the Salem Indiana I'eace Society will be held the second Saturday of ne.Kt nidnth, at two o'clock p. m.. in the town 01 Salem. By order, B. Albertson, Sec, Dec. jo, 1819."

At this meeting. President Booth delivered an alile addre>s dwelling at considerable length u])iin the atrocities (.)f war, together with the amelinrating and beneficent influence of peace. He re\ie\ved the ra\ages and deso lation that had so recently beer, wrought b\- the Napoleonic wars and hoped that the world would ne\er see again >uch w liolesale destruction of life and property, that had retarded the w(.)rl(l jirogress for years, and perhaps ages to come. He urged each and e\er\- member of the society to tr\' and exert an ififluence to spread the gos])el of universal peace all e)\er the land, that the greatest good to the greatest number might be accomplished. Just how many years this society was kept up there is 110 means now of ascertaining. The sterling integrity and exemplary character of the men who were prominent in this peace movement left their imprint upon the generations that followed after them. It is in ]»lace here to note some of the incidents connected with their lives and their posterity.

Leaders Of Peace Movement

Beebe Booth, president of the Salem Peace Society, was a man of culture and for several years was one of Salem's leading merchants. In 184-' he moved to Terre Haute, where most of his latter days were spent. His son, Xewton Booth, emigrated to (/aliforuia during the gold excitement, where he afterward was elected go\ernor and I'nited ."^tate^ senator. Xewton Booth Tarkington, the author, was a grandson of the elder Booth.

Ebenezer Patrick was the founder and publisher of The Tocsin, the first pai>er jiublished in .Salem. His indefatigable labors were rewartled, not in the current coin of the realm, but mo-tly in pelts, wood, game, and eatables of all kinds. One notice m the is>ue of December 2"/. 181Q, reads: "Those who have made engagements to i)a}- for 'The Tocsin in corn, will do us a favor bv compl\-ing with their arrangements as soon as possible. .Ml kinds of country pr(jduce recei\ed in ]Kt\nieiM, as usual."

Dr. Benjaiuin .Mbertson. the secretary of the society, lixed on a farm near Canton. He was known to be a man of the strictest honor, coml)ined with luore than usu.al .aliilitx, and his juiDineiU was often s,,uobt, not a'oue

Phineas Trueblood took a very active part in the peace society, and his son. Dr. Benjamin F. Trueblood, was secretary of the American Peace Society, of Boston, Massachusetts, for many years.

Alathew Coffin was an earnest promoter of the peace society. He was a watchmaker, Init found time occasionally to lecture on the possibilities of electricity. His prophesies were startling for that day and age, antedating Morse and most of the early electricians. Priscilla, a daughter of his, was gifted in the gospel ministry in an unusual degree and traveled in her lalxir extensively through the country, people everywhere flocking to hear her.

Jordan Henly was a member of the peace society and he had a brotlier, Thomas J: Henly, who was a representative in Congress for two terms at the time of the annexation of Texas. He was very much of an orator and lived in Clark county. When the subject of annexing Texas came before Congress he voted for the measure, and for this vote and the admission of Texas into the Union as a "slave state" he was censured by his Quaker brethren very severely, Init he voted more wisely than he knew, as he helped by his vote not only to secure Texas, but California ^nd other valuable territory north of the Montezumas.

It was probably through the influence of the Salem Peace Society that quite a number of persons, mostly Quakers, refused to muster with the militia, or take part in any warlike matters. Accordingly, on February 13, 1822, the county commissioners ordered that a tax levy of four dollars be laid on each person who was conscientiously scrupulous against bearing arms. In the following year the following list of names were returned to the clerk of the county, the same having paid said assessment in lieu of doing any sort of military duty: William Hobbs, Samuel Hobbs, Elisha Hobbs, John Overman, John Cox, Benjamin Albertson, Aaron Cox, Foster Nixon, Nathan Trueblood, John Harned. John Mills, Benjamin Parker, Benjamin Cor.sany, Samuel Moore, Henry Watson, David Denney, Thomas Lindley, Marmaduke Koffin, Joshua Hitchcock, Caleb Trueblood, Richard Day, Jesse Henly, Aaron Bogue, Henry Thornton, Levi Thompson, James Trueblood, Sr., James Trueblood, Jr., \Villiam Trueblood, Jordan Henly, Jehoshajjhat Morris, Aaron Morris, Peter Draper, William Draper, John Brazleton, William Brazleton, Joseph Nixon, William Lindley, Benoni Morris, Micah Newby, Eli Overman, Thomas White, Isaiah Hunt, Robert Dennis, Anthony Dennis, Isaac Chase, James Coffin, Stephen

Coffin, John White, John W. Winslovv, James Winslow, Daniel Winslow, Willis McCoy, Jehoshaphat Sims, Jesse Bogue, William Trueblood, Benjamin 'Overman, Abram Bundy, Thomas Hollowell, William Hodgin. Jacob Cox, Joseph Hodgin, Marl: Bogue, John Trueblood. Nathan Bogue, Jacob Berkey, John Robertson, George Starbuck, John Meredith, Jesse Stanley, James Modlin, Nathan Modlin and Samuel Coffin. Altogether the assessment brought into the county treasury the sum of two hundred and eightyeight dollars. The descendants of many of these people are now residents of Washington county.

Some Bloodless Duels In Early Days

Under the Constitution of 1816 dueling was not made a crime in Indiana, but there were some laws enacted to prevent the growth of the barbarous practice. But with the revision of the Constitution in 1852 it was made a criminal offense to either gi\e or receixe a challenge and the killing of a -person in a duel was murder in the first degree. Wliile duelling was never common in the state, "the code" was recognized to some extent. The practice was inherited from the old country and was cjuite prevalent in the South for a long time before the Ci\-i! War. ;\Iany of the early settlers of Indiana came from the Southern states, and while they were generally peaceable and orderly, they retained their southern ideas about duelling. Public sentiment was pretty lax on the subject in early times and the fact that a man had fought a duel and "killed his man" did not disfjualifv him for office or lessen his popularity. Duelling was formerly very common in England and is still practiced to some extent on the continent. Of American statesmen, Jackson, Clay, Randolph, Benton and De\Vitt Clinton fought duels. The fatal duels between Burr and Hamilton, and Graves and Cilley are historic, the latter illustrating that foolish feature of the code which re(|uired the second, in some cases, to take u]) the quarrel tor his princii)al, even though there had ne\er Ix'cn the --liL^htest trouble l.>etween the contending parties. The sad results of these last two duels called the attention of the public mind to their linitahty, which causetl wide indigna tion all over the land, and which led to the enactment of laws in both states and nation, to suppress the same. One of the last fatal duels fought in the United States was that between Terry and Senator Broderick of California, in i8'59, in which the latter was fatally wounded.

Killing Oi-- Lieutenant Jennings

The earliest shooting affray in Indiana, except those between whites and Indians, occurred on June 24, 181 1, when Capt. Thornton Posey, commander at_ Ft. Kno.x, Vincennes, shot and instantly killed Lieut. Jesse Jennings, an officer of the fort. As far as is known there has never been a duel fought on Indiana soil, though a number of challenges have been sent and accepted between irate individuals. The intercession of friends in every instance, brought about a satisfactory settlement of difficulties without bloodshed. Here in Washington county many quarrels resulted in an agreement to settle the matter in dispute by a "fist and skull" duel, but these never resulted seriously. The old "stray pen" down on Water street was the scene of many of these encounters. When both parties were satisfied with the result, there was usuall)- a handshake, followed by a social glass of "old rye," which ended the broil forever.

.\mong the "near duels" in the state was an affair between Jesse D. Bright and Joseph G. Marshall, both very prominent men in their day, Marshall being one of the^reatest lawyers the state has e\er had, while Bright was a great lawyer and a United States senator. The troubles grew out of politics. Marshall was a very passionate man, which got him into many troubles. He once had a fight with Judge Otto, who for some years presided over the circuit court in this county, and was afterward assistant secretary of the interior under Lincoln. Marshall got the best of Otto in the scrimmage, but afterwards wrote him a letter of a])ologv. The Marshall and Bright trouble culminated in 1851. The two agreed to meet in Louisville to settle the difficulty. Dr. James S. Athon, of Charlestown, and McKee Dunn, of Madison, accompanied Marshall, and James Guthrie, of Kentucky, afterwards L^nited States senator and secretary of the treasury, was second for Bright. Both parties had gone to Louisville expecting to fight, but through the efforts of mutual friends and advisers, the difficulty was adjusted. Though the principals then shook hands, they never spoke to each other afterward.

\\'illiain McKee Dunn was a member of Congress from Indiana just prior to the ri\il \Var, and opposed the extension of slavery. Politics ran hij.;h those days, and he got into an argument on the floor of Congress with

;\]r. Rust, of Arkansas. Rust was known as a "lire eater," and belie\ed in the code. Feeling that Dunn had grie\ousiy wronged him, he sent hnn a challenge, which w av accepted. L ,-^^sul^ .M. I'lay was Dunn's second, and rifles were selected as weapons for the occasion. Dunn went into practice with his weapon with apparently no fear a> to the outcome, as he had accepted the challenge from a sense of duty and lielie\ed that right would prevail. Every prelinnnary arrangement had l.'ccn made the effort^ of friends on both Mdes a sati-lactc _ the duel did not take place.

l'rubab!_\ the last "near-duel" iu the stale and w able talk at the time, nccuired in l-'ebruar\ . iSoi, liet\ tlie Legislature then in sessinn at Indianapoli';. 1' Horace PJeffren, a Democrat, who \\a^ then u\ the ] manhood, was representative from Salem, \\ a-^hlUL;ton

.discussion, G. C. Moody, of Xewtmi c charges or allusions reflecting on the m was very near the hearts of the good pc resented the remarks in a scathiup rebuke physique and Mood\- an unusually -mall iii; advisory secimd, iibjected to tin- and dfferet fight with knives. Heffren'< second would ii -aying his principal had no ill feeling towardhim ill a dead!) euc luiUer. Then rifle-- were the tmuble. Knnwing the CHn--titulion of within Its Ixirders. the ])arties ,ill proceei meuts were CMni]>leted for the hL;hl. It w meet in dea<n\- encounter on the banks ot XewiHirt. KenUick\-. in a s,,rt of hollow an appearance, but it was discovered that the man who was to have brought the guns had forgotten to put them in his carriage, and he was at once sent back after them. The delay caused by this embarrassing incident was improved upon by the seconds and their assistants to adjust, if posisble, the difficulty without bloodshed. Principals were urged to make concessions, as far as practicable, to heal the breach, and both agreed to withdraw a part of their offensive remarks, made in the heat of passion, and thus the affair was terminated, just as the guns were brought on the ground. The constitutional provision against duelling was in force at that time, but there was then no statute on the subject relating to such crimes and consequently no action was taken in the courts in regard to the transaction.

The Ou1 Wholesale Pudiilek And His Teams

A chapter of Indiana's development that will soon be as sealed pages to the coming generation, is that period which ch/onicles the passing of the great four and six-horse notion-wagons and the era of their prime prosperity, in which small fortunes were made by the men who engaged in the "Yankee-notions" trade. Up to a period dating about the time of the close of the Civil War, commercial travelers, or "drummers" were hardly known. Country merchants and retailers everywhere usually made semi-annual trips to the large cities or wholesale-trade centers to lay in not only regular lines of staple goods, but all sorts of notions as well. It was always a difficult matter for them to stock up on odds and ends, and profitable trade was often lost because of their inability to furnish customers with the numerous articles demanded in this line. New inventions and increasing manufactured products were constantly coming out, all of which were called, in a general way, "Yankee notions," and to bring these to the door of the retailer came the idea and development of the wholesale peddler's wagon.

By this means the country merchant was able to replenish and keep up his stock of goods right along between the. periods of his annual or semiannual visits to his supply houses in some far-away city. This wagon trade grew rapidly from the start, and proved to be very profitable to those who entered into it and knew how to conduct the business. The plan originated in the Eastern states, but it did not take long for it to reach out and take in what was, something over a half century ago, known as the "western country." Its final decadence was due solely to the fact that city jobbers saw its magnitude and realizing its importance, started out their "drumri4) mers" and put forth extra efforts to capture the trade, until by superiur facilities which they possessed, forced a conipetitic:)n that was in the end disastrous to the wholesale peddler and forced him to retire.

The outfit of one of 'hese traveling merchants was literally a wholesale jobbing establishment on wheels. The stock carried was in \ariety equal to that of many of the large wholesale stores of the metropolitan cities, and was replenished from time to time at difTerent stations along the regular route traveled, these stations drawing their supplies in large (|uantities direct from manufacturers, and hrst-hand as much as possible. The successful wholesale peddler knew how to buy, as well as how to sell, to insure the largest profit, and give his customers satisfaction. There was no selling by sample, with the uncertainty of getting the thing as ordered, and there was no opportunity for any market variations between time of purchase and delivery. The merchant just selected the goods he wanted from the stock at his door, with the certainty that he secured exactl}- the articles purchased at the prices named on the spot. The stock carried in a wagon was usually worth several thousand dollars. It embraced everything in the Hne of small wares and notions, including silk, linen and cotton threads, handkerchiefs, cuffs arid collars, suspenders, knives, scissors, shears, soaps, perfumes, pins and needles, buttons in endless \ariety. trimmings, table-cutlery, jewelry, in short, a thousand and one articles "too numerous to mention."

The sale of watches and jewelry was an interesting and profitable feature of tne trade The jewelry was not all of high class. Ijut the kind the people demanded - something showy and not ex]>ensive. Traders in horses and cattle were the principal buyers of watches The ])urchase of an animal valued at fifty dollars, for twenty dollars cash and a "gold watch" was good money in the pocket of the trader, to say nothing of sale profit on same animal, and then the seller was satisfied, so no harm was done. During the Civil War, if a wagon merchant could strike a regiment of soldiers that was flush with bounty money, his fortune was made, ior every one of the boys felt that they needed a watcn and rings were nice presents to send back home.