Washington County, Indiana - Chapter 30: History of Salem, 1916 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 30: History of Salem

Salem was founded in those early days when no one dreamed of railroads, telegraphs, telephones, street cars, electric lights or automobiles. The whole of Indiana territory was still a howling wilderness, overrun with savages and wild beasts. On December 21, 1813, the Legislature passed an act appointing commissioners to form a new county out of parts of Harrison and Clarke, and locate the county seat in same. The commissioners named were Joseph Paddox, Peter Mcintosh and Ignatius Abel, all of Harrison county, and ]\[arston G. Clarke and Joseph Bartholomew, of Clarke county.

In the month of February, 1814, the commissioners met at the house of William Lindley, who then resided on the south side of the creek, where Salem now stands. They spent more than a week's time viewing the several sites offered and selected two spots for the new town, one at Royse's Lick and the other in the forks of Blue river and Brock's creek. The influence of the Lindleys in favor of the final location had much to do in making up the final decision and one hundred and se\-enty-four acres were purchased of Benjamin Brewer and William Lindley for the site of the new county seat, the deeds for this purpose being made to John DePauw, agent, on March i and 22, 18 14.

The Lindleys came from Salem, North Carolina, and again they used their influence to have the town named for their native place, which was done. A short time after the town was located and named the Legislature apijointed Gen. John DePauw agent to lay out, advertise and sell the town lots. Tradition has it that the streets and lots were located and measured with a grape-vine chain and if such was the case the work done therewith was astonishingly correct. DePauw's chief assistants in the work were Levi Wright and Thomas Pitts. On April 4, 18 14, the work was completed and the plat was drafted and filed. The sale of lots was duly advertised and the first recorded sale was of lots 41, 47, 48 and 50, on May 27, 1814, to Zachariah Nixon, the second sale being on June 20, lots 49 and 92 to Joseph Nixon. In September following more lots were sold and from the proceeds of these sales the county buildings were erected.

The original plat contained one hundred and forty-two lots with Main street eighty feet wide. High .street sixty-six. Water street sixty, Market street eighty, Hackberry. ]\Iulberry, Walnut, Poplar and Cherry streets sixty feet each, and Smal' street thirty-three feet. On November 19, 1814, DePauw's second addition was made, consisting of forty-four lots, twentyfour west of Brock creek, five of which were north of Market street. By this addition Mill street was added, sixty feet wi(!e. On November 14, 1815, DePauw's third addition was platted, consisting,- <-{ t\,enty-five lots west of Brock creek and streets running north and south as follow : Posey, Harrison and Shelby, each si.xty feet wide. The fourth adflition was made by Zachariah Nixon, November 16, 1816, consisting of twenty lots, all north of Hackberry and west of High street.

Newby's addition was ir.?<ie on August jo, 1819, consisting of ten lots on the east side of Salem, z<%hl r:'rth of \A^-ilnut street. Hay's first addition was made on Septemu;' 11, 1837, consisting of fifteen lots and one street, Locust, forty feet wide. September n, 1838, Hay's second addition of thirty lots was added. January 5, 1S47, tite eighth addition t'' the town was made by Roger Martin, consisting of tliree lots on east IMarkLi street. King's addition of twenty-one lots was made on March 7. 1851, ruvl King street named. On December 4. 1883, the Iward of commissioner.-^ ^..iatted seven lots and on the following dav twentv-five lots more.

Later additions are as follow: J. F. Persise, April 6, 1887; D. M. Alspaugh, June 7, 1887; McMahan. et al.. May 23, 1887; Robert Morris, April 22, 1889; Hattie D. Manley. March 2^, 1896; R. C. Morris, first, February 4, 1907; Wakefield, October 10, 1907; Monroe Carter, January i, 1912; L. C. Carter, March 4, 1912: Otto Frick, January i, 1912; Charles Hinds, May 6, 1912; Casper Rhetts, first subdivision, November 3, ion; R. C. Morris, second addition, November 2t,. 1911. James L. Tucker, September 19, 1910. Streets which have been added bv recent additions are Morris, Houston Bristol, Mitchell, Spurgeon. Cauble and Berkey.

Clearing The Townsite

When Salem was located the only spot under cultivation was alfout three acres north of Market street and west of Posey, where Benjamin Brewer had a cabin and where there was a fort, which stood in what is now Walnut street. Trees from two to six feet in diameter, covered with grape vines, some over six niches in diameter, were standing thicldy all over the town, while an almost impenetrable undergrowth ni nawoaw^. leatherwood.

spicewood and dogwood covered the ground and made it very difficult to plat the town. In clearing up lots an order from the town agent prohibited any "one from cutting down and felling trees across any street, unless the same was immediately removed.

Immediately after the first sale of lots everybody got busy. The sound of the woodman's ax reverberated up and down the valley; cabins and rough shelters for man and beast sprang up all around. Newcomers dropped in daily and selected spots for new homes. Dr. Simeon Lamb completed and occupied the first house in the town, about the middle of April, 1814. It stood on lot 83 and was little more than a pole pen, with a door cut out and no windows nor chimney. Cooking was done by the chunk fire outside. Other houses sprang up rapidly, cabins in which to open up stores as well as residences, every one looking out for something to do to earn a livelihood. Marston G. Clarke finished the first two-story log house in the town on south Main street, in which the first courts were held and hotel opened. Colonel Dawalt built the first hotel and presided at its board as first "mine host."

In 181 5 Jonathan Lyon erected the first frame building on the west side of the square and opened up the second store. Lamb & Mendenhall had a few months before started the pioneer mercantile establishment in the town on lot 85 on tlie east side of High street. Store shelves were made of clapboards. Joseph Reyman built a cabin ten by twelve feet on the northwest corner of Main and Poplar streets and opened the first physician's oft^ice. The first brick building was put up by Judge Harrison, a one-story house on lot 11, northwest corner of the public square. It remained standing until 1875.

The first trustees of the town were John DePauw, James Ferguson and Thomas Beesly. Among their first acts was an order to clear off the south end of ^lain street and the contract for this work was awarded to Marston G. Clarke and James Ferguson. On December it,, 1814, it was ordered that contracts be let to the lowest bidder for the opening of High, Water and Alill streets. On January 2, 181 5, a new board of town trustees was elected, a^ follow : Jesse Rowland, Marston G. Clarke, James Ferguson. 011\- Scott and Thomas Beesly. This new board let contracts to Ferguson and HiiLipjatt to clear off Market street and one to DePauw and Beesly to clear Main street from the center of the public square to the north end of same. \\'illiani Rowland and John Cooch took contract to clear off Market street tn/m the center of the public S(|uare to wc^t end thereof. Contracts f3Q> provided that all timber he cut, cleared off and burned that did not exceed eighteen inches in diameter and that all fallen timber be removed and no stumps be left more than one foot high

An ordinance prohiljited the firing of guns, running of horses and the falling of timber in the streets and creeks of the town. In addition to the names of merchants above mentioned, the following persons operated general stores in Salem at an earl\- date: Gen. John DePauw, Jonathan Lyon, Christopher Harrison, S. and Z. Leavenworth. Newcomb & Crane, Hess & Grayson, Booth, Jarvis & Newby, Cofifin & Holland, James Wiley, Nathan Kimball and Malott & McPheeters. The latter did a very extensive business, selling most e\erything and bu\ing e\erything the farmers had to dispose of. They sent much of the farm products they collected to the Ohio Falls by teams and then loaded tlatboats for the southern market'^. In this way fi\-e and six !)oatloads of ])roduce were shipped south e\ery s]>ring. Flatboating was kept u]) until 1^40;, when Salem got her railroad.

A Losing Proposition

About 1830 several of the leading business men of the town conceived the idea that a manufacturing and trading comijanw conducted on a large scale, would be profitable to all parties concerned and accordingl\- the Washington County Trading and Manufacturing Company was organized, and Henry G. Young was chosen superintendent. .\n immense stock of goods was purchased and a huge flour-mill was built on the creek at the foot of High street. The concern did a vast amount of business and the mill was operated steadily day and night. Wheat was then bought for fifty cents per bushel. Boatloads of flour and feed were sent south and it seemed for a couple of years that the proprietors of the business were getting rich, but reverses came and debts soon amounted to more than the assets came to - in fact, stockholders lost every cent they had put into the company, several I)arties losing ail they had. It was a check peritN' of the town, which took ^e\eral \ear^

.About the same time the whole countr; known as "wild cat banks." ,tiid Salem h "Salem S.aviugs Institution." It w.is correct' said that it "sa\ed" .all tli.it was e\er left w east side of South M.iin -trcet. a few door-- sented a check at one of these institutions and went away empty handed. When the final day of reckoning came everyone who held any bank scrip was a loser, as it was worthless. The failure of the Salem Savings Bank bankrri])ted a lot of people and financially injured many more.

Manufacturing Enterprises

During the summer of 1814, William Lmdley erected a horse mill on lot T^y, to grind corn. It was liberally patronized and it became necessary to enlarge it and a carding machine was added - the first in the county. Stephen Coffin, a couple of years later, erected a horse-power carding mill on lot 46. In 1825 the Forsey Brothers erected a cotton factory on Mill street, the pioneer factory of the town. It was propelled by the tread wheel f(^r a number of years. Three years before they had started a potash factor}-, but it was not a success and was abandoned. It was located on the west side of Brock creek, on the hillside just below the Market street bridge. .\ long shed was built with a slanting floor and upon this were set twelve large hogsheads into which ashes was dumped from wagons. Water was run into them from a spring that ran out the side of the hill. The lye thus secured was put into large kettles and boiled down till potash was produced. E\-erybody burned wood in fireplaces and the ashes found a market at this factory. The potash was sent to the Ohio Falls and was shipi)ed to New Orleans and abroad, but the price received for the output was not sufficiently remunerative to justify the operation of the plant.

In 1830 the second cotton factory was erected on East Market street, where Asa Elliott now lives, by Campbell, Booth & Morris. It was operated by steam. It only ran a few }'ears when the machinery was taken out and the house was used for a time as a Lutheran church and Masonic lodge. and still later on as a school house. In 1833 Daniel Knight and Edmund .\e\vby started a cotton factory on North Main street. They manufactured cnttun yarn f(ir weaving jeans, blankets and coverlids. This burned in 1S3X, The Xi.xous ojjcrated a stumj) grist-mill on North Main street from 1N21 till 1N33, when the\- Ituilt the llrst steam mill in the town on lot 136. Tliis nil!! sii.(.(! for ,1 minilier (if years and was last operated by Gayer Kniglit. I'lir many }ears it was the only mill in the town, but it was closed u]i for good about 1875.

The first steam engine put up in Salem was in an oil-mill built by Woodliriilge Parker in i83_>. This mill stood on the north side of West Market street just each of the liridgc. It had a set of buhrs for grinding com.

Flax was largely cultivated in those early days both for seed and fibre. Flax cloth was highly prized for clothing, sheets and towels, while linseed oil was among the most profitable productions. Henry G. Young operated this mill for several years, afl-^r which Thomas Combs owned and operated the plant up to 1850, when the supply of flaxseed was no longer sufficient to keep it running.

Zachariah Xixon built and operated a water-mill on Brock creek, about fort}' rods abo\e where Mullierry street bridge now stands. The water was conducted to this mil! b\' a niillrace on the west side of the creek, extending U]) to the dam that was built near the section line, or northern limits of the town. The largest treadwheel and mill ever built in the town stood just north of where the railroad now runs and about a hundred yards east of High street. It was owned by William Lindley and John E. Clark. The treadwheel was over fifty feet across and it took sixteen head of cattle to operate it. It was built for a saw-mill exclusively, but an effort was made to use it in Ijrick making, but this proved a failure. .A few houses in town were built of these pressed brick, but they proved to Ije soft and crumbly and of little worth.

Some time in the thirties James Lynn started a "fulling" mill on the south side iif Int I :;5. It was fir-;t run by water. The dam was about an eighth of a mile up the creek frmn which the water was carried in a wooden flume. When this ga\e way a tread power with oxen was used, .\liout 1854 Allen & Manky started a woolen-mill on the north side of Walnut, near Mill street. The\ alsn made cotton yarns for wraps in band looms. The Cdtton came fmrn the Snuth. \\"ool was also carded into rolls three feet long, suitable for easy manipulation by the old s|)inniiig wheel. Bundles i)f these VI ills were ])iniie<l in sheets with thorns and taken from the mill to the house by the thrifty dame, often ^ iii horseback. Tn the factory the re "fulled" and put in sli.-qie for the then c imir Idug wear, fulled cloth being much more nadc u|> right from the loom, nrchascd this old ]^l,iin on lot i,:;3. fronting on c largest w o, ,lon-niil! at that time in sdntbern ieet in IniLitb. sixt\ in wiijth and ihror stories ditions to the plant were made fr m' tunc to oiu- luindred and titty person, \nvv\ sicadv lots 20, 30, 121 and 122 and started the manufacture of wagons and buggies on a large scale. The wheel department was two and a half stories high. The smith shop contained nine forges. There were shops for making gears and l)odies, for painting and trimming work and storage rooms. From fifty to one hundred men were employed. They also manufactured hubs, spokes and felloes and shipped them to all parts of the country. They were turning out about one thousand jobs annually when the entire plant was consumed by fire, February 21, 1859. There was no insurance and a loss of over thirty thousand dollars was sustained. The property then went into the hands of C". \\". Alobley, who made wagons and buggies for a number of years and operated a foundry on \\'ater street in the rear of the wagon shops. The business was closed out about 1872.

John F. Keyes carried on a chair manufactory at an early day. Occasionally an olil hickory rush-liottom chair of his make is still to be seen.

The Paynters had a fiour- and saw-mill on the south side of West Market street, which was Inult by b'(.irsey Brothers in 1830, and burned about 1870.

The Star roller mill on Water street was operated for many years by Henry Alunkelt, and after his death was sold to the Salem Farmers' Milling Company, of which Thomas T. Morris is now president and active manager.

The Salem Milling Company began business on South Water street in 1900, and built a large elevator near the depot in 1908. Elvis Stout is president of this company and Charles Hammersmith is manager of the mill.

Berkey Brothers & Klerner o])erated a furniture factory on East Market street, beginning business in 1878. The factory was later sold to Henry Klerner who continued the business until about 1887.

The Union Spoke and Bending Company estaljlished a mill on East Market street in 1909, which was run until 1915, hut is not now in operation. An enameling plant was built on the railroad east of town in 1910, and did an extensive business for three years, when the plant and machinery were sold.

I'he Stout Furniture Company and the Stout, Mehornay, Duckwall Conipan\- arc at present the leading manufacturing concerns of Salem. The former was lirst established in 1900, and later sold to the present company who are extensive manufacturers of chiffoniers, shipping their product to all parts of the country .and employing about two hundred men. The buildings occupy the site of the old woolen-mills.

cabinets and this is one of the largest estabhshnients of the kind in this section of the state. The liuihhngs are situated on the Monon railroad near the East Market street bridge over Blue river.

An ice plant was placed in the large mill on South High street, in ioi-3. by Morris & Roberts. It v/as sold to Dennis Gore in 1914 and is now run by him.

Other Salem Business Men

Among the early shoemakers who carried on the business extensively and worked a number (d" men were Wright N'ermilya and Roger ]Martin. There were no reaih-made shoes kept in stores then, so when a new pair was wanted the order was left with the shoemaker. Martin was a man of good education and bright intellect. He was a stump speaker of note, ran for Congress and arose from the ranks to' be a colonel in the Civil \\'ar.

After Colonel Clark, early ta\ern keepers were William Raird, Andrew Weir, Allen McAllister, Henry Dawalt and Thomas Beasley. The latter opened a ta\'ern as early as the fall of 1814. Lyon & Malotte built a twostory hotel in 1S18 on lot 130, which was for many years a jxjpular stopping place. Parker & Hardy operated the same for several years. Baird had a big wooden Indian squaw in front of his tavern for a sign. He had the honor ni>on one occasion of entertaining Henry Clay, who stopped o\'er night on his way to Vincennes, in the fall of 1820. The \\'hig men and boys of the town, together with a good sprinkling of Jacksonites. formed in procession and marched around to the tavern, which stood on the corner where the jail is now located and called fi_)r Clay. "Old Hal" came forth and began his speech by remarking, "\ou are a set of very patriotic young gentlemen." His remarks were frequeiuly interrupted by cheers, as he was always ready to enthuse any sort of crowd or assemblage of people.

Hotel keepers paid an annual license ranging from ten to tiftecn dollars, and the count\- commissioners regulated their rates, h'or meals the charge was twenty-live cents: whisky, twelve and one-half cents per li.ilf pint; brandy, eighteen .and three-fourths cents per half ])int : I'rench brandy and wine, thirty-se\en and one-half cents per half pint: cider and liwr. twelve and one-half cents per iiint ; porter, per b<ilt]e or cpiart, thirty-'^ex en and one-half cents: loilging, twelve and one-half cent'^: oats or corn, twelve and one-half cents per half gallon: horse to ha\ per night. twent\-li\e cents,

Hats were not sold in stores and orders were left with the hatter for whatever was desired, from the common rough wool up to the silk tile. John Curry had tlie first hat shop. Home-made hats were all the go up to about 1833 ^n*' among those who engaged in the business were Colonel Baird, J. L. Menaugh, James Duncan and Henry Mauzey. James Murphy and John Rife manufactured plug and pig-tail tobaccos and made cigars John McAIahan and Colonel Clark made brick. In May, 1824, McMahan was allowed to burn a kiln on the public scjuare, with a provision in his permit that "he leave the ground in as good order as he found it." Bartlett Scott had the first grocery, or grog shop, in the town.

Prominent Early People

Noah and Levi Wright. J. L. Menaugh, John DePauw, Abe Stover, the Denneys and Logans were the leading politicians of the county for years and controlled the elections. The candidate who had the majority of these men to l^ack him was sure to win out. Judge Parke was by common consent the first citizen of the town, not by any claims to superiority that he made, for he was plain and unassuming in his manners, but by the prestige he won by his natural ability and education. He had the largest private librar\' in the town. He was one of General Harrison's aids at Tippecanoe, was a member of the convention that drafted the first state Constitution and Parke county was named for him. He first lived on the corner of lot !2, east side of the public square, then removed to a brick house built by Nathan Trueblood on lot 41 on North Main street, where he died.

The richest man of his clay was Jonathan Lyon, as was his son Dawson of later date. They were both men of decided character, honorable and e.xact in all their business transactions, loved and respected by all. William H. Carter was a Virginian and having met with business reverses in his native state came to Salem to start life anew. He was county clerk from 1827 to 1838. He won the hearts of all who approached him, there being a peculiar charm in his manner upon all occasions.

One of the most advanced thinkers and noteworthy citizens of the town was John H, Farnham. Next to Judge Parke's, his was the largest library in the place. He graduated at Harvard University with Edward Everitt and was Indiana's strongest advocate for free schools and more education for the masses. His position on this question was far in advance of the (lav and for his public utterances along this line he was bitterly assailed and relentlesslv condemned on every hand. But nothing daunted he battled manfully fur what he thought was right against all opp(Jsition. He was not a jxipular man hut everyone acknowledged liim to he a man of sterling al)ility. He spent his winters at the state capital, both at Corydon and Indianapolis, and there turned many an honest i>enny writing speeches for some of the would-be statesmen m the Legislature. It was said he wrote Governor Ray's welcome address when General LaFayette was a guest at Jeffersonville in 1825. His wife was a Miss Leonard, of Corydon. a sister of Dr. Charles Hay's wife, the mother of John Hay.

Isaac Blackford was among the early settlers and was very prominent in public affairs. He owned the lot on High street where the Church of Christ now stands and never would sell it for anything but a church lot. He finally sold it to the Catholics, who built a church there and kept it for a number of }ears. He w.as selected first clerk of the county in Februar}-, 1814. He was made a judge of the supreme court of the state, in which capacity he ser\ed for thirty-five }-ears and issued at the same time his "Blackford Reports" of court proceedings.

Beebe Booth was a prominent business man of the town for many years, and lived just on the brow of the hill, h'ast Market street. Here his son, Newton, was born, who emigrated to Califdrnia upon arriving at his majority, where he became go\-ernor of the st.ate and L'nited States senator, which position he filled with marked ability. He rexisited his native town in Sentember. T876, and was accorded (|uite an o\ation.

Ibiirx l)a\\ah ran liic lir^t licen-ed lioicl in the town and was always at iln- iionl when any ^o^t of new enterp^i^c was sc-t on foot for the up-buildmg of the ciitnmunity. He -i,ent some years tlatlioating down the Missis- .-ippi. C])on one occasion he went "down the river," as was the common \\a\ of speaking >-( a trip to Xew Orleans and the report came back that he had lieeii diaiwned. ( t'l dark night as Mrs. Dawalt was spinning at late bed-time. s]k was staro-d at a knock at the door, and said come in. The door o])ened and in st(.'],|ied her husband. She> was of course greatly sur- ]iri-ed to see the one sjie had mourned for as lost and cried out, "The Lord. Henry, is this you? I thought sure xam were drowned and dead, and here you are."

W'.alter .\lol)le\- came to the county when the country was being filled up and lived to be .almost one hundred years old. He was probably the only in.an in the county who had fre(iiiently seen George ^^'ashington. When a lad hi- father lixed between Mt- \ernoii and Washington City, and he said General Washington .and suite passed by their house every few days, going to and rettuaiing from tlu' ca])ita.l. He said the General would frequently

An enterprising man was Da\'id G. Campbell, who was identified with most every public enter])rise of early times. He was the head of a lirm that for several years operated a cotton- and woolen-mill and cloth fulhng establishment on Mill street. His son, John L. Campbell, was for many years in the faculty of Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, and it was first through his suggestions that the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 was set on foot and to his untiring energy and work the great success of that magnificent exposition was largely due. He was jirominent in the management of the same from start to finish.

L.Awyers Of The Old-Time Circuit

The practice of law in early times included then what was known as the circuit. At one time there were seven coimties in this, the third judicial circuit, and in the list of practitioners at the courts in Salem were a number of the best lawyers in the state - many of whom achieved national reputation.

Joseph G. Marshall was no doubt the greatest orator in the state in his day, at the bar or in the political field. His life was a continued success and he was honored and respected far beyond the borders of Indiana. Col. Dick Thompson, fittingly called the "silver tongued," was the living type of purest oratory. His raven black hair, his piercing eye, his attractive appearance and elegant atldress were the fit settings for the pearls of thought which he uttered. The e\ening of life he spent at his home in Terre Haute. George Dunn was noted for his fierce invective and no attorney was more dreailed b\- opj.o^ing coim-^el. Rand.-ill Crawford was the ablest lawyer of them all when it came down to arguing disputed points of law and his papers were faultless.

Tames W'hitcomb was admitted to the Salem bar in 1824 and afterward became governor of the state and United States senator. Charles Dewey \\a-~ at one time prosecuting attoriiey of the circuit and of him Governor Charles W'iclilT. of Kentucky, who came to Salem upon one occasion to coniliK't the defence in ;i noted murder trial in which Dewey was prosecutor, s;dd. "Xo man's life is safe that Dewe_\- is prosecuting. No man of his great intellectual jiower and ^ast legal learning should fill the office he now diies. Ill his band- tlie innocent man, wrongfully accused, is in very great danger of LUijust conx iction." Judge Otto probably has never had his superior among the judges of the state. He it was who brought order out of chaos when he went upon the bench in this district. Joseph L. White and Thomas J. Henle}- were the most brilhant speakers on the stump of all those who liad aspirations along pohtical lines. A Httle later Cyrus L. Dunham became celebtated as a criminal law)'er, and for his exceptional power in addressing juries, and when it came to discussing political questions he did not ha\e an e(|ual. When it was known that any of the above celebrities were to speak at the old court house, the room was always literally packed with anxious listeners to witness the forensic battles and their results.

Other Industries

Ruth Potts operated the first bakery in Salem. Her shop 'was on the east side of Jilain street between Walnut and Mulberry streets. She was especially famous for the gingerbread she made.

The first automobile in Salem was a second-hand Ford and was owned by W. E. Robertson. The first new machine was also a Ford, bought by Dr. C. W. r^Iurphy in F'ebruary, 1908. About 1901 Ed..Boling improvised a machine out of an old spring wagon which he ran about the streets of the town before he ever saw an automobile.

A Democratic state convention was held in the court house in Salem, in 1824, being the first year of General Jackson's candidacy for the presidency. John McMahan, E. D. Logan and Townsend Cutshaw were delegates in this convention from W'ashington county.

The first barlier in the town to open a shop and carry on a regular business was a yellow fellow named Washington Moss. He charged six and one- fourth cents for either a shave or hair cut. He operated from 1825 to 1835. The next was Sampson Christy, colored, who ran a shop from about 1840 to i860. Henry Schlagel, was the first white barber.

.Mike .'~ltrepy was the first to open up a clock and watch repair shop.. He ;dsa made a great number of elegant wall sweep clocks, some of which are still ]>reserved. The cabinet work <in these old clocks has stood the ravages of a cen.tury remarkably well. George Strepy, father of Mike,, made the first clock in the state. This was manufactured in Charlestown, in 1813, for Peter Smith. Strepy sold a clock of his make to Colonel Geiger, of Touisville, Kcntuckv. in 1801. These clocks sold for seventyfi\e doll;irs in day^ when a dollar was difficult to earn.

The old Presbyterian church on North High street was procured and thousands of silk worms were hatched out and started to making cocoons. He planted ten acres to mulberry trees, but before this orchard developed sufficiently to come into use. the silk factory proved to be a non-paying investment. .Some silk was produced- ami 'woyen into cloth by William Smith, who had a weaving plant on North Main street. A- number of Salem matrons for a time- wore home-marle silk dresses; Smith also made all sorts of homespun lilankets and tlouble co\erlids tliat \\ere 'very, beautiful and popular, and where one is found jiow, very \ alualile, and a Scotchman named Craig also conflucted a wea\ing establishment up ,to 1845; his specialty being, double co\-erlids. . . :

Frorri the date Qi its founding, Salem has beerl incorporated a nufnber of times. For the .first ten years of its existence it seerns that trustees were regularly selected to administer the affairs of the town," but no records have been preserved to show how public matters were carried on. The original trustees were John DePauw, James Ferguson and Thorrias Bfeesly. At the election in 181 5 five trustees were chosen. In 181 7 the town trustees were Jolm K. Clarke, Tiugh McPheeters, John Ribble, John G. Henderson and Jonathan L}on. In 1822 the trustees were Risden Charles, Ebenezer Patrick, Olle Scott, Jeremiah Rowland and William Lindley. From 1824 to 1 83 1 there was no corporate government in the town.

By special act of the Legislature in 1826 the town was authorized to incorporate again, fixing the date of election for March, 1826, but there is no record of any election being held until January 18, 183 1, when, at an election held on that day, there were thirty-one votes in favor and none against incorporation. At an election held January 24, Foster Nixon, Micajab Newbv, John G. Henderson, William Baird and Gus Clark were elected trustees for one year, but this organization was kept up only two years. On March 7, 1840, upon petition, another election was ordered, and on the 24th of said month the following trustees were elected: George Atkinson, lames Brice, Tames Banta, Elijah Newlon and Harry Ashton, making the third tinit; the town had been incorporated'. It seems that this incorporation was short lived, for again on September 13, 1853, another petition was gotten up in favor of incorporatiiig and an election was held on the 30th of same month, and for the fourth time a new set of trustees were elected.

Then the town groped along several years without any regular form of government, until June i, 1868, when a petition was signed by most of the citizens of the town asking for an election to choose a hoard of trustees. This election was held on June 15, 186S, at which time ninety-seven votes were cast in favor of and nine against incorporating, upon which (late the present form of city government was inaugurated. On July 13, 1868. the following trustees were selected; First ward, Edwin Telle; second ward, George R. Harris; third ward, W. W. Weir; fourth ward, John Mauley; fifth ward, Henry Streaker; A. J. Parker was selected treasurer: R. L. Mitchell, assessor; E. W. Menaugh, cleik, and Charles Chapman, marshal.

Of all the marshals the town has had Henry ^^ledlock has l)een most efficient and his terms of office have covered a period of twenty-eight years, beginning in 1882. The present city officers are: Warder Shanks, clerk; Walter Mead, treasurer; James L. Tucker, attorney: and the council consists of Willard Medlock, George Reister, Koscoe Morris. FMward Pitts and John Spurgeoh.

Fire Department

After the burning of Xewby's factory on Xorth r^Iain street, in 1836, it was decided that the town vhnuld ha\e better fire protection, and funds were subscribed to purchase a fire engine to l)e operated by hand. This machine was a cast-off concern that had been laid aside by the city of New Albany and consisted of a large force pump, operated by a dozen or so men who manipulated arms that exteniled down from the truck on both sides of same. No water cisterns were provided, and the first tire that occurred the worthlessnc-s of the engine was demonstrated and it was set aside.

William Spurgeon, who operated a meat market on South Main street, and, as was the custom at the time, was on his way to open up shop at four o'clock in the morning. When first discovered smoke was issuing from the dry-goods establishment of D. W. Peck & Company. An alarm was sounded and soon everybody in the town was upon the scene, but having no fire apparatus of any kind there was nothing to do but allow the flames to take their course, so men. women and boys went to work heroically to save as much as possible of store contents, and much valuable property was thus rescued from the flames on the first floors, but little could be saved from the upper floors, the smoke was so dense.

The building was three stories high, and there were seven store rooms on the first floor, occupied by as many different merchants, and all were heavy losers. The court house and several buildings round about the burning block caught fire, as the wind was blowing quite hard, but being on the alert and being provided with buckets of water on the roofs of buildings, men succeeded in preventing a spread of flames, which, for a time, threatened the destruction of every building around the public square. In obedience to a telegram to New Albany, a fire engine was sent out on a special train, but it arrived too late to be of any service. The total loss to property owners was over $100,000, the heaviest loss Salem ever sustained by a single fire.

Beginning on the south side of the block, storekeepers were as follow: Dawson Lyon, dry goods; R. L. Mitchell, clothing; H. D. Henderson, drugs; D. W. Peck, dry goods; W. J. Hauger, groceries; A. C. Stanley, harness, and S. Drom, clothing. The Salem Democrat, on the second floor, was entirely consumed, loss being $3,500. and the Masons, on the third floor, .sustained a loss of over $1,000.

As soon as the safe in Peck's store c(nild be reached it had the appearance of having been robbed, parties hax'ing money on deposit there amounting to over $20,000. D. W. Peck was at once suspicioned as the incendiary, it liaving come to light that he was heavily involved and a number of times had used private fimds deposited in his safe to meet debts. He remained in Salem, but a short time afterward removing to Remington, Indiana. He was indicted by the grand jury for arson and brought back to Salem for trial, Init the state failed to make its case against him.

The block wa'^ rebuilt the following year in its present form, a substantial twn-'^tory building. The first building placed on these lots was a log cal)in by Jonathan Lyon in i<Si5. In 1824 he replaced this with a two-

Street Improvements

The work of grading streets and laying sidewalks and making crossings on streets was inaugiu-ated early in the season of 1882, when High street was first to receive attention. The cost of this grading was assessed against property owners in the main, the town pacing for street crossings, amounting to about $400. The next work was inaugurated on August 21, 1883, at which time the town l)oard ordered the public square to be graded and macadamized. John Owens was contractor, for $4,649. The work was completeti in December, 1S83. Other street improvements went forward gradually. In 1914 l^ast Market street was paved with brick, at a cost of $11,100. The public s(|uare was rejjaved and improved in 1913.

As early as 1818 a liljrary association was organized in Salem, v ith Jonathan Lyon, treasurer, and Jeremiah Rowland, secretary. The first court house had an e.xtra room partitioned off in the southwest corner that was not being used at that time, and there the library was placed. Books were purchased with the funds subscribed, and many people made donations, so that some two hundred volumes were placed on the shelves. This library was kept up until about 1830, when the old books graduall\' disappeared, with no funds to put in new ones. In the early fifties some public benefactor donated a considerable sum of money 'to the state for the purpose of establishing a library in each township in the state. The books were all bound uniformily in leather, to make them as durable as possible. These libraries were turned over to the township trustees, who looked after their safe keeping and distribution. A fine was imposed upon all who took out books and did not return them as specified, or who suffered books to become damaged. In the outlving townships these libraries were constantly changing and- Ijooks became scattered and lost. The library at Salem was guarded very carefully and some of these books were preserved for at least a half century.

Shortly after the organization oi the l-'ortnightly Club in Salem, in 1900, the subject of starting a library of sort was discussed, and '^teps were taken to introduce the state free circulating library, which met with liberal patronage. The next step taken by the clulj was to open a frt-e reading room, but this plan was sidetracked to inaugurate provisions for a first-class library l^uilding, and to this end Mrs. W. W. Stevens was made chairman of a soliciting committee to secure funds to carry out the scheme, and Elisha Hobbs chairman of another committee to secure a Carnegie donation. The first donation secured by the soliciting committee was twenty-five dollars from John Hay, at Washington, D. C, so it may be stated that his contribution was the foundation of the fine library building and the volumes of books that are now in circulation.

The Carnegie donation was secured upon compliance with the general rules in such case made and provided. After considering several sites for the new library building, lot 38 and part of lot t,^, on the corner of Main and Mulberry streets, were purchased for the sum of $2,400. The site thus selected is a very desirable one. On August 18, 1904, a contract was awarded to Ambrose Shrum, of Salem, to erect the building for $13,755. Some changes were made in the original plans, which made the total cost $I3'955- Work on the building was begun on August 19, 1904. It was completed and dedicated on July 6, 1905. Total cost of structure and furnishings was $(9,000. The building now stands as a fitting memorial to the energy and perseverance of the members of Fortnightly Club, who started out to find a reading room for the young people of Salem.

Branch state banks were started in 1833, when Salem capitalists, failing to secure one, proceeded to organize the Salem Savings Institution, and a charter for same was obtained, but it met with a disastrous failure. In 1853 the Bank of Salem was established under the free bank law, with W. C. DePauw as its head ; J. L. Menaugh was cashier. It was conducted successfully for several years, when it was mo\ed to New Albany, the name being retained. Salem was then without a bank for several years. In August, 1874, local capital was secured to organize the National Bank of Salem, with $60,000 capital stock. .\. J. t'arker was selected president and James Baynes, cashier. Dawson Lyon was the principal stockholder.

The business was conducted very successfully up to April 25. 1878, when about eleven o'clock at night the town was thrown into a sudden state of excitement, perjilexity and suspense by the announcement that the bank had 1jei-n roblied ami that the ca.shier was missing. Search was instituted for the niis-^int.; man, liut he was nowhere to be found. The following morning a note was found bv Dawson L\'on, Bavnes' father-in-law, in a bank drawer, which revealed the fact that Baynes had absconded, being financiaUy ruined through speculating in Wall street. The books were gone through, but no one ever knew, outside the bank stockholders, what the loss footed up, as Mr. Lvon paid all claims and deposits and put the bank in good shape. In a few months it was closed down and Salem again had no bank.

On September 17, 1S79, the present Bank of Salem was organized, with John A. Bowman, president, and D. M. McMahan, cashier. Shortly afterwards I.. W. Sinclair ])urchased the contnjlling stock of the concern and installed James F. Persise, cashier. This hank has been in continuous operation ever since its inauguration. Its present capital stock is $100,000, with officers as follow : Lee W. Sinclair, president ; J. F. Persise. vicepresident; Lee L. Persise, cashier, and J. \V. Spaulding, assistant cashier. It has recently moved into elegant new quarters in the St. Clair building.

The Citizens State Bank occupies rooms on the south side of the scjuare. Its present oiVicers are: R. J. Wilson, president; Eli W. Menaugh, vicepresident; Theodore Wilson, cashier; \V. W. Shanks, assistant cashier. Ft has a capital stock of $25,000, with a surplus of $23,000.

The Farmers State Bank is the newest institution of this kind in Salem, being organized in tqoq. It has a capital stock of $40,000. and is located in the Red Men's building, southwest corner of the public s(|uare. The officers are as follow: J. T. I. Graves, president; R. C. ^b>rris, vice- ]iresident, and M. Reyman. cashier.

New Albany And Salem Railroad

The railroad built in this state was the New Albany and Salem railroad. The project was started in 1846 and a charter obtained. An organization of the company was effected after considerable effort to secure the necessary capital to build the road, and James Brooks was selected president, with George Lyman, secretary. They remained with the management and assisted in operating the road for a gre;it many years. .'\s soon as the work on the r(iad was begun Salem took on new life. The labor necessary to build a railroad at that time was necessarilv hard and slow, as most of the grading was done with hand ^linvels and teams.

The ground was first liroken in iSiS, .-uid 1)\- June. 1S50. the work was completed as far as Providence (P.nrdenV and cars were running to that point. The stage line-^ met the train, ducc a day. at this tern^inu^ and conveved iiassenrrers back to Srdein rind interior j-ioints. The work of get- ting up the knobs was slow, but the first train landed in Salem on January 15, 185 1. It was a gala day for the town and there was a huge celebration of the event - anvil firing and speech-making. Salem remained the terminus of the road for about two years, before it was projected farther.

The first track was a primitive one. Timbers about a foot square were hewn out of white oak, of various lengths, from twenty to forty feet long, and these were laid lengthwise of the track on cross-sills every four feet. Upon these stringers bar iron, about an inch thick and two inches wide, were spiked down and upon these bars the trains ran. It was no uncommon thing for these bars to spring up at the ends and give trouble to passing cars. Some side tracks of this first pattern were in use up to 1867.

The enterprising citizens of Salem have made effort several times to get another line of railroad into the town, and a few times voted a tax and thought they had a road secured, but the projects all failed. In these automobile truck days a hard surface road to the fall cities will solve the problem of cheap freight rates and passenger transportation.

Considerable loss has been sustained by property holders along the creek bottoms from heavy floods at different times. On July 11, 1889, a two-days' steady downpour of rain raised both Blue river and Brock creek out of their banks and flooded a number of houses in the lowlands and on Water street. Probably the worst flood in the history of the town occurred h'ebruary 14, iqo8. It rained in torrents from Thursday morning until Friday evening, when the greatest damage took place. Those who had taken note of other high stages of the creeks said the water was never so high nor so much damage done. As the downpour of rain began to cease everybody in town turned out to witness the sights and lend assistance to those who stood in need of it. Between four and five o'clock the area between the dejiot and the hill looking south was a vast sea of surging water and a swift current four feet in depth was rushing down the lower end of Water street, carrying all sorts of wreckage - farm implements, fencing, household goods, stock, etc.

machine shops and saw-mills in town were badly damaged and wrecked, and thousands of feet of fine lumber were started for the Gulf of Mexico. T'>e estimated loss was in the neighborhood of $100,000.

Probably the oldest cemeter)- in the county is the one near the spot where the old Smiley mill stood on the old Duwalt farm, east of Salem, near the location of old Sharon church. Two stones there still bear the inscriptions "W. H. H. 1814" and "John Smiley, 1814." In Salem the first interments were made on the rise south of Market street and in and alongside of Harrison street, in front of the old DePauw house, now owned by John Keyes. There were originally more than se\enty graves here, but many bodies were removed to the Crown Hill cemetery, which was first laid out about 1824. Another old cemetery was on the east side of lower High .street. Crown Hill cemetery was so named by the editor of the Salon Democrat in 1874, and at that date was rather a neglected spot, but the town board purchased a new addition to same about that time and ever since a sexton has been regularly employed to keep the grounds in order.

When the Catholics purchased the block formerly owned by Judge Blackford on High street and erected a church thereon, they started a cemetery on the east end of the lot, but nearby residents and those who had wells in the neighborhood objected seriously to a cemetery being located there, when a lot was purchased just north of Crown Hill and is known as the Catholic cemetery.

The first postoffice in Salem was located on the southwest corner of Main and Poplar streets in a log cabin, with two rooms fronting on Main street and one in the rear. One room was used as a trader's depot for patrons and on top of the house was a stuft'ed coon fur a sign to indicate to the trapper where he could disjxise of his pelts. The first postmaster was David Burr. Prior to his appointment all mail matter had been brought by hand from Louisville or Jeffersonville. Burr Bradley succeeded Burr, and kept the office in a log house on the west side of the public square, on lot 4.

When General Jackson became President, in 1820, John Curry was appointed postmaster, which position he held until ICS40, when Harrison was elected. He kept the office in t)iie of the hr<t brick buildings erected in the town, on the northeast corner of the s(|uare. General Harrison apjiointed

Dr. Burr Ilradley as Curry's successor, but when Tyler became President, upon the death of Harrison, Curry was re-appointed. Shortly afterwards Currv died and his wife, Deborah, was appointed to the place and held the office until her death. She was succeeded by John L. Menaugh, who was appointed under the administration of Andrew Johnson. He removed the office to the south side of the public square.

When General Grant became President, James B. Hicks received the appointment, and kept the office on lot 8, north of the court house, for a time and then removed it to the east side and finally, by order of the postoffice department, located it on the south side. Hicks held the office from July 6, 1869, to September, 1885. When Cleveland was elected President, J. D. Alvis was made postmaster, holding the office from September, 1885, to April, i8qo. During Harrison's administration, W. H. Ward was postmaster and held the office until Aiay, 1894. During Cleveland's second administration, Charles Pi. Williams was appointed postmaster and held the office till June, 1898, when H. C. Hobbs took the oilice under the McKinley administration, and held it until July 14, 1902.

Louis Dennis had the office eight years under the Roosevelt reign, from Tulv 13, 1902, to Mav 14, 1910, when S. P. Morris was appointed by Taft, holding the office until June 30, 1914. During all these later years the postoffice was kept on the south side of the public square. On June 30, 1014, Charles R. Morris was made postmaster liy President Wilson and holds the office at this date, occupying commodious quarters on the northeast corner of the public square, in the St. Clair building.

Bu.Stness Directory

The following is a business dii'ectory of Salem in 1915: Berkey Brothers, general store; B. M. Tingle & Sons, harness; Dennis & Armstrong, hai-dware and confections; E. F. Boggs, clothing; J. B. Clarke, toys and queensware; Delos Godfrey, grocer; Menaugh & Chamberlain, jewelry; V. T. Reid, hardware and implements; G. W. Robinson, shoe store; W. J. Hanger, grocer; William Rudder & Company, druggist; Mason Martin, confections; H. E. Johnson, dry goods and groceries; Robertson Drug Company, druggists; Colwell & Richey, milliners; T. l-\ Batt & Company, dress goods and furnishings; ?iliss Tib Streaker, milliner; Dawalt & Etzler, undertakers; W. S. Watson, bakerv ; The P.enua Company, clothing; Justi & Walkei, clothing; H. P. McChord, manager, Cumberland Telephone Companv; .-\lvia Gray, nursery; W. S. Persise, feed; A. Apple & Son, dress goods and notions; H. M. Baker, groceries; Paul Weaver, decorator; Mrs. Lillian Weaver, milliner; William Leonard, meat market; J. W. Etzler. livery; Schocke & Etzler. stock dealers; Mrs. Lou Babbs, hotel; Joe Tipps. clothing; Charles McClintock. druggist; Herman Schlagel, barber; Dennie Gore, groceries and ice; J. D. .\lvis. Alvis hotel; B, W. Alvis, cigars and confections; Western Union Telegraph Company; Bruce C. I'rantz, druggist; O, B. Kyte, jewelrv; Guy Xeal. confections: James Dalton. restaurant: Henrv Oliver, coal dealer; Allie Briscoe, milliner; S. B. Hobbs, stoves and tinware: Ale<lli)ck & Moss, groceries: \, T. Thurman. manager, Hoosier Telephone Company: .Sante Davidson, manager, opera house; Johnson & Trueblood, barbers; Ellis Bundy, shoe shop; B. L. Humbert & Company, poultry ; John Colglazier, lumber ; Ed Boling. machine shop : ,\. L. Stout, furniture; Stout Mehorney Duckwall Company, cabinets; College Grocery, confections; Brown & .Smith, machinery; C. J. Seifert, shoe shop; J. E. Rhetts, dentist; R. W. Owens, monuments; Salem Motor Company, automobiles; Anderson Brothers, groceries: H. H. Routh & Son. furniture; Charles King, cleaning and pressing; Mrs. Fletcher, hotel; Harris Brothers, groceries; J. T. J. Gra\es & Company, implements and hardware; Elrod & Johnson, garage and automoljiles ; Bellows Brothers, garage ; Salem Hardwood Lumber Company, lumber; Union Spoke and Bending Company, spoke factory ; J. W. Lewis, publisher, Rcpithlican Leader; Salem Co-operative Association, machinery; J. Reyman. livery; S. Persise. manager. American Express; W. R. Alexander, produce; C. AL Crim & Son. lumber and hardware; Salem Milling Company, flour and grain; George Reister. l)lacksmith ; Salem Farmers Milling Comi^any. grain and flour: Hanger & Alexander, hardware and stoves; L. B. McCoskey. blacksmith; T. R. Tucker, creamery: Morris Brothers, livery: D. H. Bottorff, meat and li\e stock: W. J, Lee, plumljing; G. H. Hagen, plumber: C. H, Jackson, plumber: O. L. Cauble. flour and feed: Albert E. Telle, architect; Morris & Griffin, stoves and furnishings; O O. Williams. jcAvelry; E, F. Jenkins, restaurant: Havens Brothers, poultry: Hendricks & Griffin, barbers: Justi tK: W.nlker, clothing; Delos Godfrey, groceries: Greene & Greene, real estate an.d insur;mce: Moblev's Gallery, photographs; Smith & ]\rorris, publishers, Salem Dcuwcrat: R. J. \\'ilson, physician; S. H. Mitchell &- Son, attorneys; O. E. Coffman. dentist: Carter & Loudon, real estate and insurance: J. L. Tucker, attornev; Farmers State Bank; FLarvey Morris, attorney; \\'. Oliver ?ilarks. abstracts: Citizens' State Bank; C. W. Murphy, physician: R. W. Brown, attornev: B. T. Radcliff. (k-ntist: Frank ^L ^^'ilson. insurance: Dr. F F.

Kelley, physician; Elliott & Huston, attorneys; Bank of Salem; Charles R. Morris, postmaster; Thomas A. Smith & Son, undertakers; Gabbert & Gabbert, insurance; W. W. Hottel, attorney; C. H. Stalker, physician; James G. Berkey, attorney; VV. G. Mead, attorney; Oscar K. Hobbs, attorney; Hiram Smock, contractor; Kern Shrum, contractor; Claude B. Paynter, physician; Nicholson & Houck, cabinetmakers; Denny Brothers, painters; William Riley, painter; J- D. Clark, painter; J. H. Christie, Dream theater; Dr. J. O. Reister, veterinary; A. H. Alberding, agent, Monon railroad; Richard Land, stock dealer; Robert Colglazier, contractor; L. W. S. Stanley, contractor; Tippen & Tippen, attorneys; R. R. Tash, real estate and insurance; Fred L. Prow, attorney; H. M. Paynter, physician; Loudon, Martin & Carter, lumber; W. T. Pickleheimer, agent, Standard Oil Company; VV. S. Barker, physician; William Overman, physician; N. H. Elliott, real estate; Charles Justi, cabinetmaker; King & Duncan, millinery; Thomas Masterson, attorney; W. H. Paynter, circuit judge.

Centennial Celebration

On Saturday, October 17, 1914, the citizens of Salem held their centennial celebration. About five thousand people were out to observe the day's program, which began with an historical and industrial parade, after which followed a basket dinner, music and speaking. The music was furnished by Dryer's Band, of New Albany; the Concert and Boys' Bands, of Salem, old-time singers and select quartettes. All business houses were closed and there was a profuse display of flags and bunting to be seen everywhere.

The parade consisted of five sections, the historical one leading. In this there were a band of men on horseback dressed up like savages, ladies on floats, and wigwams and trappers. The emigrant section came next, with their canvas-covered wagons, feed boxes on wagon bodies, not forgetting the ever-present tar-bucket hanging on the rear end of the coupling pole and "yaller dog." A log cabin, with stick chimney, made an interesting float. The third section was the industrial, showing spinners and weavers at work, together with women piecing quilts, knitting socks and manufacturing clothes. The fourth section was a display on horseback, showing the habits of the forefathers and foremothers in matters of dress, many costumes in the section having been preservetrl more than one hundred years, and having been worn by the ancestors of parties displaying them. The last section represented the mothers of long ago. a float made up of ladies past eighty years of age, who really dated back to the times when the country was being developed.

The various lodges nf the town and business establishments all had out appropriate floats that were novel and interesting. To the club women of the town all honor was due for the entire display, they having the entire matter in charge from its inception to the close.

Incorporation Of Salem

From the date of its fcjunding, Salem has been incorporated a number of times. Fur the first ten years of its existence it seems that trustees were re,i,'-ularly selected to administer the affairs of the town, but no records have been preser\ed to show how public matters were carried on. The original trustees were John DePauw, James Ferguson and Thomas Beesly. At the election in 18 15 Five trustees were chosen. In 181 7 the town trustees were John E. Clarke, Hugh ^IcPheeters, John Riblile, John G. Henderson and Jonathan L\on. In 182 J the trustees were Risden Charles, Ebenezer Patrick, Olle Scott, Jeremiah Rowland and William Lindley. From 1824 to 1 83 1 there was no corporate government in the town.

By special act of the Legislature in 1826 the town was authorized to incorporate again, fixing the date of election for March, 1826, but there is no record of any election being held until January 18, 1831, when, at an election held on that day, there were thirty-one votes in favor and none against incorijoration. .At an election held January 24, Foster Nixon, Micajah Xcwiiy. John G. Henderson, William Baird and Gus Clark were elected trustees for one year, but this organization was kept up only two years. On March 7, 1840, ui'.un iietitiun, annther election was ordered, and on the 24th (if said niMinh the following trustees were elected: George Atkinson, billies lirice. [anies Banta, Elijah .Xewlon and Harry .\shton, making the third time the town had been incorporated. It seems that this incorporation was short lived, for again on September 13, 1853, another petition was gntten u\) ill favor of incorporating and an election was held on the 30th of same month, and for the fourth time a new set of tru-stees were elected.

Then the town gro])ed along sfx-eral years without any regular form of fro\ until June i, 1S6S. when a jietition was signed by most of the

Chapter Kxxi Revolutionary Soldiers

Benjamin Brewer, who r-eceixed the original grant to the land now occupied by the town of Salem,, wa.s a colonel in the War of the Revolution, li\ing at that time in Pennsylvania. He moved to Kentucky in 1807, and to Washington county, Indiana, in 1809 or 1810, where he died and was ])uried in the Cooley graveyard, south of Salem, in this county.

Charles DePauw is buried in the Crown Hill cemetery, Salem, and the following inscription is found on his vault: "Charles DePauw, born in the city of Ghent, in Europe, March 11, 1753. He left his native land for America and participated in battles for the independence of those states, lie was wounded in the siege of York, of which wound he ultimately died tlie 31st of August, 1814, in the sixty-second year of his age. He was also a \dlunteer under Governor Shelby at the battle of the Thames."

J(jhn Kyte was born on Octolier 20, 1755. in Essex county, Xew Jersey. Me (lied on February 13, 1834, in Washington county, Indiana, and was buried in the ^Mill Creek graveyard, four miles southwest of Salem. Pie enlisted in. the Revolutionary War as a private under Capt. Hendrick Smock, with Michael S. Taylor as his colonel. He again enlisted in June, 1777, under Capt. John Burrows, of New Jersey, with David Truman as his colonel. He was captured and carried to New York and held a prisoner for eight months bv the British. He again enlisted at Chaptauk, Maryland, in .\pril, 1781, and served nine months under Capt. John Cain, with Henry Downs, of Maryland, as his colonel. He moved to Clermont county, Ohio, near Moscow, in 1782, and married Elizalaeth Carter, and there seven sons and two daughters were born. He then moved to Washington county, Indiana, near Salem, in 1815, and was married to Sallie Carnes on February 5. 1827.

Arthur Parr died on March 21, 1S33. at the age of seventy-tive years. He is l)uried in the Franklin cemetery, one mile northeast of Canton. His wife, .Mary Parr, is buried by his side, having departed this life on January 3, 1837. at the age of sevvUty-one years. His stone bears this inscription:

Jehu Reese was born in Wales, in 1740, and settled in Delaware, after ward moving to Tennessee, where he was married to Elizabeth Elsbury, his second wife, and where he lived for a number of years after serving in the Revolutionary War. He moved to W^ashington county, Indiana, where he died, and was buried in the Posey graveyard, in IMadison township, in section 13, township i, range 2, being the first man buried there.

James Garrison was born on July 8, 1760, and served in the War of the Revolution. He died on February 3, 1859, in Washington county, and was buried in the cemetery at Beech Grove, in section 12, township 2, range 5, in Franklin township.

Enoch Davis died in Washington count}'. Indiana, in ^larch, 1837, at the age of ninety-seven years. He is buried in Crown Hill cemetery, at .Salem. He ser\'ed in the War of Independence.

Jesse Alvis enlisted in the Revolutionary War from \'irginia, and afterward nio:-ed to Shelby county, Kentucky, coming to Washington county in February, 1816, with his son, David, and family, who located near Pekin. He died in this county and was buried at ^It. Washington, section 26, township I, range 4, in Pierce township.

Jacob INIartin is buried in the graveyard at Livonia, Indiana, where he died in 1828. He was a member of Captain GrafPs Company A', Pennsylvania troops, enlisting in Philadelphia. He was the father of Rev. W. W. Martin, a pioneer Presbyterian minister, and grandfather of Rev. W. .\. P. Martin, who went to China, in 1850, as a missionary, and who was prominent as an educator and writer.

Josiah lohnson ser\ed in tlie Re\olntionary ^^'ar. died in Washington countv. and is buried on the Dawson Purkheiser farm, in section 2, township I, range 3, in Floward township.

Ambrose Garriott was a Revolutionary soldier, living at one time in Washington county, having six sons, three of whom moved to Kentucky, the others remaining in Washington county. He may have been buried in Kentucky, but probably died in Washington county, and was buried on the Garriott farm, near Xorris. no definite record on location being obtainable.

George (or possibly Samuel) Long is buried on the Thomas Lockwood farm, three miles north of Kossuth; he was probably a Revolutionary soldier. His wife is also buried there.

Jacob Doan served in the War of the Revolution, and is buried on Honey creek. He located on Honey creek in 1809 and was the first permanent settler on that creek.

Nathaniel Chambers settled in Jefferson township in iSii, where he lived to be over one hundred years old. He is buried at the old Monroe graveyard.

James Buckman was buried in the cemetery near the old Baptist church in Salem, but his remains were taken up by the Daughters of the American Revolution and removed to Jeffersonville.

Daniel Hole, a Revolutionary soldier, li\ed in the Mill Creek neighborhood with his son's family, and is buried in the Mill Creek cemetery, but the e.xact spot of his grave is unknown.

Daniel Bush was a Hessian, who had been employed by the British during the Revolutionary War, and decided to remain in the United States. Coming west early in the century, he located in Washington county, and was buried on the Bush farm near Martinsburg.

George Beck, Sr., who ranked as a major in the War of Independence, came from Brown county. North Carolina, with his family, locating at Bear Grass, now Louisville, in 1807, and soon after moving on to this county, where he died. The exact location of his burial place is not known.

Daniel Zink settled on the farm where his son, Peter, lived for many vears, two and one-half miles southwest of Salem, and is probably buried at Salem.

Srimnel Illuiit came ti> the- United States from Germany, served in the War iif Independence, came we-t. and is liuried in tlie Little York graveyard.

J'lscph John-^iin, hnried in the .Mounts cemetery, was seen in 1851 by 1'. T. Munden. w hd has furni>~hed the data for the Revolutionary .soldiers hnried in (lih^nn lM\\ii>hip, and at that time JiihnsDii was in his one hundred and first year.

A Kevulutionary soldier by the name of Hogg is reported to be buried in I'olk towu'-hip. but nci defii>ite facts can be learned concerning him.

The militia organization in Washington county, while not actively engaged in service during the War of 181J, met at frequent intervals for nuister di ilK. and ser\ed to create a feeling of comparati\'e safetv among the revickiUs. and on a few occasions did actual service to the community in the pur.^uit of Indian raiders and horse thieves.

In iSr4 John Del'auw was colonel of the Xinth ]\Iilitia Regiment and Idioiua^ Denny, ."-^amuel Huston, George b'rench, Absalom Sargent. John r.L-ck, Henry Daw alt, Charles Busey and John Royse were captains of the coniji.mie^ com])osing the regiment, and all members of these companies were resident-- of the county. Later, in 1814, Clifton Glazebrook. Jesse Roberts. William Kennedy, Je^se Durham and John Maxwell were cajrtains, rmd Je--e Roberts was ni.ade maji.ir of the regiment. All citizens of the count}-, wiio were not crmscientiously opposed to militar_\' ser\-ice, were at one time or another considered members of this local militia, and many of the more prominent citizens became officers. Training days were held at intervaL, 1)ut these days became popular rather as days of frolic and sport than as serious preparation for milit.ary duty, although none can doubt that with the character of men who compo-ed this militia a call for active service, or an\- need for the defense of homes or countrx-. would have been answered prom])tl\- b\- \aliant ser\-ice and courage unexcelled.

Old Settlers Day

Wednesday, September 29, 1875, was one of the marked events in the history of Washington county. It was the occasion of the first coming together of the earliest settlers of the county to recount, in old-fashioned style, the scenes and incidents of backwoods life. It was a very fortunate occasion, as ere another old settlers' meeting was held several of the first settlers in the county had been gathered to their fathers, thus making it impossible again to get from first mouth a recital of stirring events of pioneer life. The meeting was held at Hobbs' grove, long since cut down, situate one and one-half miles northeast of Salem, on the Canton road. Most of the pioneers then living in the county were present and participated in the exercises. There was no orator of the day to rehearse legendary accounts of the trials and tribulations of the first settlers in the country, the gray-haired old-timers being allowed to tell in their own way what they had experienced in carving out homes in the wilds of primeval forests and among warlike savages.

George Beck, who had located in the county in 1807 and who was then in his eighty-fourth year, was first to be put upon the platform. He mounted the platform with a firm, elastic step, without assistance, his long white hair falling down to his shoulders, and he spoke in a strong, mellow voice as he recounted some of his early recollections of primitive life. He said he crossed the Ohio river at Louisville late in the fall of 1807, with his father and brother, John. He was then a lad going on sixteen, but he felt that he was the equal of any redskin as they started back into the .unbroken wilderness to locate a home. His mother and the smaller children were left in Louisville to winter. . They followed the old Vincennes trail about as far as where Greenville stands, when they turned off into the forest, where there was not even the sign of a trail or a tree amiss. The third day they pitched a temporary shelter by the side of a big log made of boughs, grass and leaves, and concluded to remain there till they looked about and found a desirable location.

While they were pros]3ecting and hunting, the Becks managed to get up a cabin made of poles. The only tool they had with them was one ax, but with it they got up a very nice pen by Christmas. This first cabin was in section 31, in Howard township, where David A^oyles afterward located and lived. Early in the following spring the whole family was located in the cabin. While out hunting with his brother, John, George Beck found the big spring, afterward called "Organ spring," and a little later came upon the "Cave spring," and at once reported the fmd to their father, who inspected it and decided at once to lucate there permanently. During the spring and summer of ih'oS a good, roomy, one-roomed cabin was erected at the Cave spring, and plans were matured for a mill. A small patch of com was raised down in the forks of the creek on land that had been cleared up by the Indians.

There were Indians all about, Init they were friendly, and settlers tried to treat them right. Beck said the boys put in most of their time hunting and trapping, while their father worked in the mill, after the cabin was made comfortable. His father went to Louisville in the fall of 1808 and got a set of mill stones, about two and one-half feet across. He traded pelts for them which the boys had gathered in from their hunting and trapping excursions. The boys would leave home and be gone sometimes a week before they would return. W'hen out on a hunt and night came on they would camp by the side of a big log, raking the snow away and making a bed of leaves as best they could close up beside or under the log if possible. They always carried with them a tinder box, in which there was a good flint and some punk, which enaljled them to kindle fires when needed to warm by or cook their meat.

After the mill was started it was run. day and night, the old man and boys taking their turns in keeping it going. People would come to the mill all the way from Jackson county, many traveling twenty-five and thirty miles horseback to get a sack of meal. Sometimes, when there was a big run, they would have to stay at the mill two or three days before their turn came. The first wheat that was raised in the county was ground as fine as it could be done on the corn buhr, and then bolted with a hand sieve. This was a slow process, but they called it flour and from it the richest people made biscuit everv Sunday morning, or when compan}- came. Two or three acres of wheat was a large crop in those early da)s, for it had to be cut with a sickle, threshed out with the flail and minnowed with a sheet. Beck said his old mother could cut more wheat than any man she ever raced against. Xo one could reach into the grain with the -fickle as she ciiuld, and while she lived .she would go to the harvest field and help save the grain. The scythe and cradle came into use about 1840.

For many years there were no churches round about that part of the country, and traveling ministers of various denominations preached at the homes of their brethren. When a preacher happened along runners were sent out through the neighborhod and people generally turned out to take part in the services. The discourse was delivered in a sort of sing-song, monotonous chant that would now rack the veins of a modern churchman. Until the Beck mill was started the settlers went to Louisville for all their breadstuffs and to Royse's Lick for salt. The Becks wore buckskin clothes and Indian moccasins altogether for several years after coming to the territory. For the first two years they lived here their nearest neighbors were the people who were located at Royse's Lick and a few families down near what was afterwards known as Hardinsburg. Beck said he was only a lad of fifteen when his father came west from North Carolina, and he walked all the way with a gun on his shoulder. His main companion was a cur dog that was worth his weight in pewter spoons. He said that nearly every Saturday night they all went visititig or had company. The women folks and small children were put on a horse, while the men and boys walked. Sundays, till time to go home, the old people sat around and talked, while the boys went hunting or fishing.

John W. Reyman

The next speaker was John \V. Reyman. His father settled on a quarter section of land about a mile north of where Salem now stands. He said they emigrated first from Virginia to Kentucky in 1803, ^rid in 181 1 came over to Indiana territory. On this journey it was his job to drive the cows. They had three head. He got along very well, excepting when there was a stream to cross, when he usually had to wade with the cattle. His father could go up the creek and in half an hour most any day come home with a deer slung across hi? shoulders. He made a practice, when a newcomer stopped in the neighborhood - and all were accounted neighbors those days who lived within a circuit of four or five miles - of going out and killing a nice fat buck and taking a juicy ham bone to the home or camp of the new arrival, thus welcoming them into the wilderness.

Royse's Lick was the capital of all this section of country at that time, and most of the settlers thought it ought to have been made the county seat, but the commission appointed to select a site came farther down the creek, thinking the "forks," as it was called, was the better place. What one man had in those days, all had. A whole lot of time was spent going to neighbors to borrow something that was needed - a plow, hoe, fire, sugar or coffee - or to return an article that had been borrowed - to pay it back, as they termed it.

when their clothes got wet they were anything but conifortable. The pants pushed out at the knee and behind, and when they dried out it was a job to get into them again. He said he was never much of a marksman and seldom went hunting, but told how he, with some others, went out northeast of their home where the dogs treed a bear, which was killed and made a fine feast for all the neighbors.

John Beck got up and said he could beat that for a bear story. He said he and his two brothers started from the Cave spring one day to go out mto the barrens for a hunt. They went but a mile or so when their dog was heard barking a short distance away, and going to him found he had something in a sinkhole. They could hear something growling and were afraid to venture in, so they went back home and told what had happened, when all hands, including his mother, went to see what kind of a varmint it was they had found. It was Christmas day. the first one they had spent in Indiana. Reaching the hole, or small cavern, his father peered in but could see nothing on account of the darkness. Several shots were fired into the hole and considerable growling was heard inside, but after a time all was quiet. The elder Beck, providing himself with a torch, then ventured down and found Bruin in a dying condition. With the aid of some good stout hickory withes he was pulled out and weighed four hundred and fifty pounds. Beck said they lived big for a while.

Reyman said that in clearing up his father's farm huge poplars, five and six feet through, walnuts and oak three and four feet across the stump, were cut down, rolled into log heaps and burned, only the very choice butt cuts being saved to be split up into rails to fence the land. No one then dreamed that the country would ever stand in need of good timber or that it would ever be worth much more than the cutting. Reyman told what an expert blacksmith their nearest neighbor, George Brock, was, and h<>\\ he used to amuse the Indians who would visit his shop and watch him l)eat out spear points, tomahawks and hunting knives. He said the first p;nr of pants he ever had other than buckskin his mother made out of cloth of her own spinning and weaving, and he was not sure but she did the carding also with small hand cards. The Reymans raised some cotton which matured sufiiciently to give a fair yield before fall frosts. It was a difificult matter to raise sheep, but they had to have wool and the only way to keep the animals from being eaten up bv wolves was to pen them up of nights.

Col. John

John L. Alenaugh .said hi.s parents came to the territory in 1809. They hved at the Lick for a few year.s and until Salem was mapped out. There were a great many more Indians than whites and they were all friendly until about 181 1-12 when they stole a great many horses and made threats that they intended to kill off all the settlers. People were very uneasy about their being raided, killed and scalped for several years. The men all carried guns wherever they went and while working in the field always had the rifle within easy reach. Many women were good marksmen and kept a loaded gim on the rack above the door, ready for any emergency.

All the country was grown up with reeds and pea vines. Stock of ail kinds grew fat on the wild pea. It retired from the country with the Indian. When quite a small boy Menaugh went with his father to old man Brocks to have some pewter spoons! moulded. Very few people in those davs were able to have silver spoons, or even brass on'es. For knives and forks they depended on the blacksmith or went without - a hunting or butcher knife ofttimes being the only knife belonging to a family. Menaugh said for many years they used wooden forks and ate on benches for tables - just a huge hewn slab with legs stuck in each gorner. He pointed to Mr. Rexman and said "that fellow made the first real dining table that my father ever owned." He said he was almost grown before they had any chairs, using instead benches and stools. If you wanted to lean back you had to get your seat against the wall.

They had very few tin vessels - buckets and tubs were all home made. There were plenty of coopers who made and sold wooden ware of all kinds. The milking was done in a piggin, a wooden vessel shaped like a Jjucket, but holding only a half gallon or a litde more, with one of the staves extending a few inches above the top for a handle. They were made of cedar usually, but when that could not be procured wild cherry was substituted instead.

The only musical instruments in the whole country for many years were the fiddle and dulcimer. People sang a great deal, not so much for the music they made as for the sentiment of the songs, all of them being f|uite lengthy - say twentv to thirty verses - being the recital of some story, with a tragic ending in most cases. The hostess and guest usually sang by turns and some of the old folks would occasionally take part and render a

Mrs. EHas Da\is was next called on, \\ho said her father came to the county in 1809. They first settled a short distance north of where the Quaker school house and church now stand. The first mill they went to was Beck's. Their first cabin was made of poles and was only alxiut fourteen feet scjuare. Her mother spun, wove and made all their clothing. The dresses of those days were quite different from what they are now. There was but one pattern - but one style of dress made for years and years. She said she did not have a calico dress till she was about grown. She had a vivid recollection of the day when news came to them that \\'right's fort had been attacked by Indians, and for them to seek a place of safety. The man who brought them the news then galloped off t(3 the next settlement. The boys got their guns and her mother bundled up the girls and they started for the woods. Her mother was crying, for she expected they would all l)e killed and scalped, hut the girls told her there was no use to cry, but let them all die in peace. They found shelter beneath a rocky cliff down alonji' the liank of the creek, where they reiuained all day long. Towards evening liiey heard some one calling and sopj. !r 'heir fears disiielled, as the alarm hatl been a false one. Warlike Indians were about but they made no attack at that time.

Their first caliin had no windows or door shutter, an old (|uilt being hung up to keep out the cold and wind. She s.aid they did not suft'er much from cold e\en in mid-winter. Children never had shoes to wear in summer time, one pair and those home-made, was the full allov.'ance c\en in the best of families. In skipiung about barefoot, hunting cows or wil<l fruits and nuts the children had to keep a sharp lookout for rattlesnakes which were \'er}- numerous. The\- lived in dens in winter lime ;ind sometir.ies the ;icn.ss .me or these dens and l;ill do/en^ nf these She s.-lid that many wanmuK -he had helped her le men ti.lk-; a sort of oat made like a shirt. I)Ut *ront. It w;is usuallx ni.uk- of red liusev and in e brought tugether and t'ed in front, ercises were (i])'.'ned with an dld-time song by ."^rnnuel \-e;irs .ago." s.iid the old man. '"there came to this

Mobley Meadors and he located on a farm. He was a song writer and composed the song I shall try to sing, as near as I can, as he used to sing it" :

Ttehind the counter stands a fop, looks somewhat like a human: His doulilc name I'vr sure forgot, yet nothing more than common, lie whispers low the ]iri<e he'll take, his li]is are always honey, Yciui name upon his books he gets, and next your surplus money.

Old Parson Rlackcoat, on the stage, exhorts you to repentance; 'I'hat sin is bound to bring about that awful dismal sentence; He tells you hea\en is hard to find, the roads so rough and stony, i'xcept ycnn- hearts incline to pave the way with ready money.

'I'he miser, he's the worst of all, he doles upon his riches; While moping round in dirty rags and worn-out leather breaches; He little eats and little sleeps, lie sells his corn and honey. He nothing reads and nothing fe.-irs. but ii.arling with his money.

Gary Thompson

Carv Thoinpson said it wa'^ the first time in all his life that he had atteinpted to speak lie fore an ;iudieiice. He said his father came to Washington county in the spring of 1800. Their first trouble was to get breadstiifl" and had to go to Clark countv fnr it. They had pack saddles, made -(J tlu\ could lie tightly and firmly strapped to the horse so he could not even get them ofi" 1)\- King down. They used a rope for a girth. By this means one man cmld take two horses besides the one he rode, all laden down with grain for grinding. It usually took three days to go to Clark (41-) county and back. When they killed a hog or shot a deer they distributed it around among their neighbors and when their neighbors butchered thev did likewise, so they nearly always had fresh meat. As a lad most of the men's clothing was made cf buckskin while the women wore home-spun and went to meeting in their linsey dresses when there was any meeting to go to. If they had a calico sunbonnet to wear they considered themselves very fortunate.

Thompson often saw men and women go to church barefooted. He said his father tanned the first leather that was ever maile in I'ranklin township. He dreaded the briars when he started out to hunt the ci>ws, Init they were not dangerous like the copperheads and rattlesnakes. When a fellow was bitten by one of these \-enomous snakes he was considered a goner. They had no saw-mills for several years near them. Their puncheon tioor was not so bad, as his father was an expert with the broad ax and the hewing was done so neatly that there were no splinters hit to snag a fellow's bare feet, but they would shrink and through the crack a snake would sometimes crawl into the room and coil up under the bed.

In the summer time thev always looked into the trundle bed very carefully every night to see that it was free from snakes. Upon one occasion a rattler was pushing his way among the puncheons overhead, when by accident he fell down on the bed. He was gi\'en all the room he wanted - in fact the whole bed - in a very few seconds, as no one cared to divide room with his snakeship.

John C. Thompson

John C. Thompson, the next speaker, said : "My father came here in 1809, and built the first log house in Gibson township. Mv nmther was very much dissatisfied with the location. Our nearest neighbors were three miles away. We saw Indians much oftener than we did wliite pecjpk-. They were continually on the trail from Royse's Lick to a village they hail over on Elk creek. All the country down east of the kncibs w.is swnnipy and no one thought white people would ever be able to live there. With the Indians who stopped over in the northeast part of the count\- was a white man named McColough. He had been a trapper and tlirnueh expdsure had contracted rheumatism and was confuied tD the wigwam for a year and a half, during which time an Indian si|uaw cared for him. They became verv much attarhed to each nther and wert married. Mci'dli'ugh remained with the Indians, and when the\- lin.all\- mmeil l.irtlier we-t he acc< inipanieri them.

"My father cleared up a piece of ground, some three or four acres, and we raised there our first crop of corn, tending it with a hoe, regular Indian fashion, digging out small holes where each hill of corn was planted. It made a fair crop, enough for bread and feed for a cow and team of horses through the winter. We only had to feed when snow was on the ground."

Joseph Denny

Joseph Denny spoke as follows: "My father located on Walnut ridge in 1810. There were nine or ten families in that settlement and they built a fort near where Plattsburg now stands. I'll never forget the night after the Pigeon Roost massacre. Word reached us that the redskins would .attack the Hattabough fort next. The women and children were all bundled up and taken down into the knobs where there were no Indian trails and would not likely be found. The men gathered at the fort and made all necessary preparations to give the savages a warm reception. There were fifteen men and boys stationed in the fort armed and ready for fight. Strict guard was maintained through the night, but no Indians came. They had crossed the Muscatatuck up east and soon were out of reach of their pursuers.

"I was too young to handle a gun and was sent away with the women folks. We made beds as best we could out of leaves and trash, but the women slept but very little, expecting every minute to hear the crack of rifles, and the war whoop of the Indians as they stormed the fort. Next morning they came for us and we all went to our respective homes, but we had to keep about half the men in the settlement scouting about and doing guard duty while the rest tended the crops. That season we lost some horses bv thieving bands of Indians. One of our horses that would not stand hitched, came back soon after he had been stolen, with some paw-paw l)ark around his neck, which the Indians had attempted to tie him up with. Those were the times that made me always hate an Indian and I have never had any sympathy for them since."

James L. Thompson

James L. Thompson related his experience: "We came to this county in 1810 and first stopped in a little log cabin about a mile east of this place, then called E\ans Lick, from the name of a man who first located at the place and made some salt, .\iidrew Pitts was the first man my father became acquainted with. \\'e brought a little bacon with us from North Carohna, but were mighty saving with it, substituting deer meat instead whenever it could Ixf had. In the fall father entered a quarter section of land about a mile and one-half north of the lick, where I have resided ever since. I was then six years old.

"Milling 'was a difificult task in those days. Beck's mill was closest. My father once carried a grist to the Falls, but there were so many ahead of him that he could not bring it back. He went again for it and still they were several days behind with their grists and he then brought it back to Beck's mill, but had to go for it again there, so that he had to ride over ninety miles to get that grist ground and intn his house. As soon as corn got hard enough in the fall it was grated and as soon as it could be shelled it was taken to Beck's. The first year out there I had more plays with Indian boys than with the whites. After peace was made with the Indians they all left the country and white people came flocking in pretty rapidly."

Cadwali.Ader Jones

Cadwallader Jones, the next speaker, said: "I was born in Xorth Carolina the 29th of October, 1791, and will soon be eighty-four years old. I was always afraid of Indian's - they ne\-er looked good to me. Many a night have I laid awake, listening lor the red beggars to make a raid on the house, getting up occasionally when some little noise was heard outside and peering around as best I could to see if any of them were trying to slip in upon us unawares. About the first thing we learned to do in those early days was to work up flax, while the girls were taught to spin and wea\'e. Much of our clothing was made of fla.x and tow.

"People had very little use for doctors then. ]\Iost every housewife had laid by a collection of roots and herbs and when any of us were ailing they knew just what kind of tea to make or poultice to apply. Old Doctor Lamb couldn't half way make a living practicing medicine, so he started the first store in the county at Royse's Lick, but his stock of dry goods was not very extensive. I cnuld have carried it all at one armful." Question: "Didn't thev churn in bottles?" "If we had ;m}-tliing in bottles it was better than cream. I have manufactured many gallons of whisky. I knew how to make it mid how to drink it. It wasn't poison then as it is now."

Archibald Johnson

Mr. Johnson was the only speaker of the day who seemed to be at all pessimistic. He said: "I was born in 1802. My parents came here in 1812. Considering the past by the light of the present, in one sense we have gone backward. In health and vigor we have grown weaker. The rising generations are not the equals of their fathers in any way. I can now in my seventy-fourth year do as much work as many of the young men - more than some I know. I could give reasons for all these things but have'nt time to do so now. We seem to be growing in some respects. Our lands ha\'e been opened up and we have new houses, new bams and new school houses convenient for all ; but we were better off when we had the old, well-ventilated houses; we had better health then. We all need more fresh air than we are now getting. The more we circulate about and keep out of impure air the better will be our health and the more vigorous men and women we will be."

Old Relics Displ.Wed At The Reunion

A walnut slab boot- jack which was used by Gen. William Henry Harrison when governor of Indiana, presented by Judge Parker of Vincennes, with whom the governor boarded.