Wayne County, Indiana - Chapter 5, 1912

INDIANS HARRASS SETTLERS - -SETTLEMENT ON THE ELKHORN - EXPERIENCES OF JOSEPH COX - GEORGE HOLMAN AND RICHARD RUE CAPTURED BY INDIANS - ACCOUNT OF THEIR CAPTIVITY - THE HOOVER FAMILY - -JEREMIAH COX - -CHARLES HUNT AND SONS - EARLY MILLS - FIRST ENTRY OF LAND - FIRST CLEARING AT BICHMOND - NAMES OF EARLY SETTLERS - EARLY ELECTIONS AND COURTS - WAR OF I81I2.

When General St. Clair came West as the Governor of the new "Territory Northwest of the Ohio," just organized by the Ordinance of 1787, he found a few settlements scattered along the right bank of the Ohio and in the "then almost unbroken wilds." The hostile demonstrations of the Indians harrassed the settlers and led to a long and disastrous war, which was closed in the treaty of Greenville by General Wayne, Aug. 3, 1795. This treaty secured to the United States Government a large part of what is now the State of Ohio and that part of Indiana east of a line drawn from Fort Recovery (now in Mercer county, Ohio) to the Ohio, opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river. After the treaty of Greenville settlements began to be made slowly in the White Water Valley. In 1795, a few families settled upon the bottom lands on the banks of the Ohio where Lawrenceburg now stands. During the war a line of forts had been built, extending north from Fort Washington (Cincinnati) to Fort Recovery, but as late as 1804 settlements had not been made further north than where Hamilton now is, at which place there was a trading house and a few Kentucky and North Carolina families. Settlers were also scattered up the White Water as far as the site of Brookville, and scarcely had any pioneer explored the country above where Dunlapsville, Union county, is.

In February, 1805, Richard Rue, George Holman and his sons - Joseph, aged seventeen and one-half years, and William, aged sixteen years - Joseph Cox and Mary, his wife (the eldest daughter of Rue), Thomas McCoy, William Blunt, and Patrick

O'Harra crossed the Ohio near the mouth of the Kentucky river to explore the new region just brought into the market by the Government and known as the "Seven Mile Purchase." Joseph Cox and his young wife brought all their possessions along on pack horses, intending to make their permanent home wherever they found a place to suit their fancy. This exploring party passed the settlements near where Hamiltom now is and came up the eastern branch of White Water as far as Short creek, where they pitched their camp, 'Feb. 10, about two-and-a-half miles south of the present site of Richmond. They explored the surrounding forest, passing over the fertile lands watered by the streams now known as Lick creek, Clear creek, West, Green's and Noland's forks, Nettle and Simond's creeks, and on the east, Four Mile, Silver and Hanna's creeks, and were greatly pleased with the country.

After six days spent in prospecting, Rue, George Holman, McCoy, and Blunt returned to Kentucky to make arrangements for removal to the White Water. Valley. Cox anad his wife, the Holman boys, and O'Harra remained to work upon the quartersections of land which Rue and Holman had entered the year before at the Cincinnati Land Office. This land was situated on Short creek, near Cox's camp.

The return of the rest of the colony was expected in a few weeks, but unforeseen difficulties prevented their arrival for over two months. During these two months, Joseph Cox explored and gave names to several of the streams in his neighborhood. Elkhorn was so named from the circumstance of his finding a large pair of elk horns in that creek near its mouth. Lick creek was so named from a "deer-lick" found on its bank. The colony not having returned as soon as expected it was deemed advisable not to await their assistance, so cabin logs being cut, the aid of some Shawnese and Delawares who were passing was obtained and the cabin raised. It was situated on a knoll near Short creek, called Rue's Branch, near the road leading from Richmond to Abington.

A short time before the cabin was built, while Cox and his wife were making sugar, an Indian came to the camp with trinkets and endeavored to force a bargain for Cox's dog. The Indian offered various articles for the dog, but was refused. He increased the amount, but this being also rejected, he sprang to his feet, seized his gun and angrily exclaimed, "Shall swap!" Cox, who had been carelessly stirring at the kettle, but gradually approaching the stump behind which his rifle was, now seized it and ordered the "peddler" to "puck-a-chee" (go home). The scared Shawnee suddenly recollected urgent business at a distance which demanded his immediate personal attention, and left accordingly. The settlers seemed to have formed the acquaintance of some. of the "first families," who sought to do them favors. One morning an old Indian - a frequent visitor - came to the cabin, looking. very sad. He said he had an important secret, must tell it and be. off, for it might cost him his life to be found there. He told them that the young braves could no longer be restrained; they had. determined on beginning hostilities along the frontier as soon as. the leaves got as large as a squirrel's ear. "Take your good squaw. and go back to Kentucky as soon as you can - don't fail to go. soon - good-bye." The next day an aged squaw came and confirmed this statement. She besought them with tears in her eyes. to leave or they would certainly be killed. These voluntary communications of friendly natives, taken in connection with the attempt of the Indian to deprive them of their watchdog, gave the. settlers some anxiety. They took the matter into serious consideration and finally decided to run the risk of remaining, notwith-. standing the protest of the Irishman, who, weak as he was with. the fever and ague, was willing to "foot it" back to Kentucky. Some time after this, while Cox and his wife were both at work a short distance from the cabin - the other men being at thé. clearing more than a mile away - twelve warriors made their appearance and raised the war whoop. Cox told his wife to go to. the cabin and be prepared to let him in and fasten the door immediately, if he should have need of seeking refuge. He then went towards the warriors, while she went to the cabin, arranged the. door, called in the dog, put new priming in the guns and prepared to run bullets in case they were required. Cox approached. the Indians, who were seated on a log, and offered to shake hands. with them; they did not reciprocate his friendliness very warmly, but he insisted on shaking hands with every one of them. The. Indians remained sullen, would not speak a word, so Cox's next move was to examine and pretend to admire their guns, at the same time by a sleight-of-hand movement disarranging the flints. or knocking out the priming. He now thought to run to his cabin before they could discover the trick, when the whole party arose, laughed long and loud, patted Cox on the back and said, "Good,. brave man, brave squaw!" All became mutually friendly and. Cox invited them to the cabin, where his wife entertained them. with the "best the country afforded." The rest of the day the, whole party spent in shooting at a mark, Cox making the best shots. This, one warrior said, was owing to the superiority of his rifle. But Cox let him try it. It would go off as soon as the trigger was touched and before the Indian could draw a sight. Cox reloaded it for him, explained that it had a double trigger and must be touched lightly, etc. The red gentleman this time endeavored to discharge it by blowing upon the trigger, but finally abandoned the idea of excelling his palefaced host. The Indians took leave in a friendly manner, and ever after "Young Kentuck" and his "good squaw" were great favorites with the natives. Their cabin was often visited by some of the noted chiefs and warriors of the Northwest.

Many are the amusing anecdotes told of Patrick's bungling attempts at hunting and of his nervous apprehension of the "bloody red rascals." But no doubt occasion has required it, for Wayne county's first citizen of foreign birth must have proved himself as brave as did his countrymen, who in a later day went forth from the same county to meet a mightier foe and make a greater sacrifice.

Rue, Holman and Joseph Woodkirk arrived in the month of April, 1805, accompanied by their families and three young men - John Collins, Daniel Griffin, and Hermon Warum - whom they met after crossing the Ohio. George Holman is said to have acted as "bell-ringer" to the party most of the way, as the dense forest rendered it necessary that some one should go forward and ring a bell so that the immigrant train could follow along the dim and rugged "boundary trace." In many places the "trace" was discernible only by the "blazes" upon the trees, and they could only be found after diligent search among the exuberant foliage. After eight or ten days' difficult traveling, these first regular train "movers" arrived at the cabin of Joseph Cox.

Rue built a cabin on the brow of the hill northeast from the mouth of Short creek. Holman erected one three-quarters of a mile northeast from Rue's.

The following fall, McCoy and Blunt arrived from Kentucky and settled on the west side of the river within half a mile from Rue's and Cox's cabins. In the fall of 1806, Hugh Cull, Jacob Meek, John Cox (father of Joseph), Lazarus Whitehead, Charles Hunt, and their families arrived, and, with the exception of John Cox, joined the "Kentucky Settlement," as it was called, along Big Elkhorn, It is supposed that Hugh Cull, who was a local Methodist preacher, or Lazarus Whitehead, a Baptist minister, preached

In the year 1806 arrived also Benjamin and Robert Hill, John Smith, Jeremiah Cox, Andrew and David Hoover, Jacob Foutz, Joseph Wasson (a Revolutionary soldier), and John Addington, among others.

Before attempting any further account of the settlements it may not be uninteresting to glance at the histories of some of those already mentioned.

Joseph Cox, the first settler, was born in Virginia, Nov. 8, 1783. When about ten years of age he moved with his father to Redstone Fort (now Brownsville), Pa., then quite a newly settled region. Soon they removed to Kentucky. John Cox, the father, was a blacksmith and gunsmith and worked at these employments most of the time, leaving Joseph to take charge of the farm. He devoted his leisure hours to acquiring such education as the limited advantages of backwoods life allowed: He became a school teacher, and while teaching at New Castle, Ky., married Mary Rue. Shortly afterwards they came to Indiana, as already mentioned. Joseph Cox served in some of the "three-months tours" in the War of 1812 and afterwards studied law with James Noble, then one of the United States Senators from Indiana, but did not enter into practice until 1819, when he removed to Wabash county. He was employed as one of the counsel for the defense of the Indian murderers - Sawyers and Ridge. In October, 1824, he settled at Crawfordsville and actively engaged in the practice of law for several years. He retired to his farm on the Wea Plains until 1836, when he removed to Rock Island county, Illinois. Here he built a mill and managed a small farm. He also practiced law from time to time, being engaged in some of the most noted cases of that time and section. On June 12, 1848, after an illness of thirty-six hours, of inflammation of the brain, he closed his eventful life. His wife survived him some ten years. They were buried side-by-side in a little burial ground on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, between Hampton and Port Byron.

George Holman was born in Maryland, in 1768. While a boy he came with his family to Kentucky. In his sixteenth year he, in company with Richard Rue, was captured by the Indians and remained in their hands nearly three years. Richard Rue was nineteen years old when captured, and was a prisoner about the same length of time. The story of their captivity is sufficient to form the subject of a future chapter. Rue had been in many Indian campaigns before his capture, and both he and Holman were in one or two after their return. When Rue returned, he found that his brother-in-law, Edward Holman, had administered upon his estate, supposing him to be dead. Not thinking it right to interfere with the claims of the persons who had thus innocently become possessed of his property, he ratified the transaction and began life anew. He afterwards married a relative of George Holman. Holman and he lived many years in Henry and Woodford counties, Kentucky. In 1806, they came to Indiana Territory, as already stated. Their accounts of the new country on their return from the exploring expedition induced many to 'follow them. There grew around them, on the Elkhorn, quite a settlement, known as the "Kentucky Settlement." Rue died in 1845, and Holman died on May 24, 1859, aged ninety-five years, three months and thirteen days, on his farm near Richmond, where he had lived fifty-four years.

As previously stated, these: persons were taken captives and held for several years by the Indians. Some account of their adventure may not be out of place here. On Feb. 11, 1781, Rue and Holman accompanied as guards a wagoner named Irvin Hinton, from Louisville to Harrodsburg, Ky. Hinton was going to Harrodsburg for a load of provisions to supply the block house at the village of Louisville, and more from custom than from fear of molestation, the young man accompanied him. Soon after beginning the journey, a snow storm commenced and continued until after noon. To prevent the snow from dampening the powder in their rifles, they had been fired off. Rue walked ahead of the wagon several rods, while Holman was an equal distance behind. When they reached a hill about eight miles from Louisville, Hinton heard some one say, "Ho!" to the horses. He stopped, asked first Holman and then Rue if they had called out. Each said they had not, but had heard the call and supposed one of the others had made it. While thus standing in amazement, a voice said, "I will solve the mystery for you. It was Simon Girty that cried 'ho!' and he meant what he said." At the same time that notorious renegade emerged from a sink hole near the roadside, followed by thirteen Indians, and demanded instant surrender. Rue raised his gun to shoot Girty, but remembering it was unloaded, took it down and the whole party gave themselves up.

away from so near the forts. They took the harness from the horses and bound the prisoners with the lines. Mounting the horses and leading the prisoners, they hurried towards the Ohio river. They arrived before dark and found three canoes concealed on the south bank of the river. The whole party crossed and hurried toward Wapuccanatta (this Indian town stood near the site of the village of Wapakoneta, Auglaize county, Ohio).

It was late that night before they halted and then they were some twenty miles north from the Ohio. Here they encamped without building a fire. For the purpose of eluding pursuit, if any should be attempted, a feint was made by traveling awhile towards the Indian town near Vincennes. The next day was spent in this detour.

Rue had been in several campaigns against the Indians and had obtained some smattering of their language. Girty generally conversed in the Delaware dialect and from the expressions of Rue's countenance suspected that he comprehended what he said. He therefore contrived to separate Rue from the other captives and inquired of them if Rue had not been in some campaigns against the Indians. Admonished by uplifted tomahawks and reminded if the Indians ever caught them in a lie death was the penalty, they reluctantly confessed that Rue had been in several expeditions. Rue chanced to overhear this conversation and feared that his hour had come. But knowing how highly bravery was esteemed by the Indians, he approached the camp and seated himself on a log by Girty, as though he knew nothing of what had transpired. Presently Girty asked him, "Rue, were you ever in a campaign against the Indians?" "Yes." "How many?" "Four." "Were you with General Clark at the taking of Vincennes?" "I was." "Were you with him when he made his dash against Chillicothe and destroyed the Piqua towns and Loramie's Store?" "I was." Girty sprang from his seat in great rage and exclaimed: "You played h - 1 there; didn't you? I have a mind to split your skull with this hatchet!" But he changed the weapon in his hand and struck Rue only with the handle.

The party relaxed their speed on the third day and, changing their course, proceeded through the White and Blue river countries towards the headwaters of the Wabash. On this journey the Indians generally camped without fire. At night they tied the hands of the captives behind them and made them sleep between guards who lay on the ends of the cords which bound them. The food during the journey consisted of game, hastily prepared.

When within a day's journey of Wapuccanatta a messenger was sent forward to announce their coming. Arriving in sight of the town they saw the inhabitants draw up in two lines prepared ' for the gauntlet. Girty explained the custom to the prisoners. Hinton and Rue passed through and arrived in the council house after having received such blows as they could not dodge. Holman manifested great reluctance to enter and remonstrated with Girty for desiring one so young and reduced by hard marching to go through so severe an ordeal. After a short parley the plan was changed and women and children took the lines with switches. Holman was now told to go through, which he did, all seeming to enjoy it as a joke.

Hinton, who had assumed the appearance of contentment and cheerfulness, so as to deceive his captors, now contemplated an escape. His companions counseled him to wait a while, as something might turn up in their favor. But he kept his plans entirely secret and, in a few nights afterwards, it was announced that "Red Head" (as the Indians called him) had escaped. A general pursuit was instituted. In a day or so all had returned, and they tauntingly shook his scalp in the faces of his companions and asked them "if they could smell the fire on the scalp of their old friend. We cooked him and left him for the wolves to make a breakfast upon! That is the way we serve runaway prisoners." Shortly after this event a general rendezvous of the Indians was called near Detroit, and all the prisoners at Wapuccanatta, Chillicothe and other points were requested to be brought. Girty and his party started to the designated meeting. At the end of the third day's march they arrived at a town near the site of Toledo. It was decided that there the prisoners should run the gauntlet and, as the neighboring chiefs were assembled, the trials of Rue and Holman were determined upon.

As they approached the town the lines were formed for the race. Rue was started down the course, with a stout warrior flourishing an old sword. Rue was well nigh stunned by the blows he received. His pursuer pressed hard upon him and hit him a couple of strokes on the head. Rue leaped over a brush fence, but finding his pursuer had come over also, pretended to stumble and fall. The "big Injun" threateried him with the sword, but he lay still as if unable to rise. The Indian retired several paces and motioned him to get up. Rue motioned his pursuer to get over the. fence, which he did. Rue then sprang nimbly to his feet and reached the council house, without any further blows, amid the cheers of his tormenters, who could not but admire his stratagem. Holman was compelled to pass this time without the dilution of women and switches.

The programme was continued by a feast and scalp dance. The latter performance seemed to betoken no good to the prisoners. A council was then held and at last a vote was taken. Soon after the council broke up, Girty came to announce to them their anticipated doom.

Preparations were made for burning them. Their faces were blacked, as was the custom before administering the "most extreme punishment known to the law."

Some strange éxcitement seemed to pervade the camp. Crowds lingered around the council house, conversing in excited and angry tones. After awhile a noble looking warrior approached the prisoners and spoke a few words to the guard in the Mingo language. He then cut the cords that bound Holman and led him away, had the black washed from his face, and, putting his hands upon the boy's head, said: "I adopt you as a son, to fill the place of one I have lately buried. You are now a kinsman of Logan - once called the 'friend of the white man,' but lately the terrible avenger of his wrongs."

Presently two Indians came to Rue, unbound him, stripped him, and led him to a stake in the center of a circle of dried brushwood. The contention seemed to break out afresh. Tomahawks and knives were brandished and a general melee appeared imminent. The fire was about to be applied, when a tall young Shawnee, son of the victim's captor, sprang into the ring, cut the cords with his tomahawk, and led Rue forth amid the mingled and noisy cheers and curses of the opposing parties. The young Shawnee, regardless of all threats or remonstrances, had Rue washed and clothed, and told his opposers that he took the prisoner for his brother; they ought to be satisfied with the death of "Red Head'; they needed no more victims, especially the blood of these innocent young men; and besides this was his father's captive and they had not consulted him. A majority favored the release, and after some discussion the Shawnee's action was sustained.

was taken back to Wapuccanatta, where he remained most of the time during his captivity. Rue was taken first to the Mississinewa and afterward to the Wabash. He spent two years of his captivity in the countries watered by the Wabash and Illinois rivers and their tributaries, and on the prairies - his accounts of which when he returned home were disbelieved.

The last months of his captivity Rue spent near Detroit. Here his attention was attracted by an Indian fortune teller who was performing with apparent good success. Rue and two other captives concluded to try his skill by interrogating him in regard to their families. So, when a private chance occurred, they held the consultation. The seer spread out a deer skin and covered it with enchanted sand; then, after looking steadily into the sand, he said he saw Rue's folks and gave their number, ages, and appearance with such accuracy as to almost convince Rue that he was a veritable wizard. Presently the seer remarked: "You all intend to make your escape - and you will effect it soon." He gazed again at the sand and concluded: "You will meet with many trials and hardships in passing over so wild a district of country, inhabited by so many hostile nations of Indians. You will almost starve to death; but about the time you have given up all hope of finding game to sustain you in your famished condition, succor will come when you least expect it. I see dimly the carcass of some wild animal taken as game. What it is I can't clearly see. It will be a masculine of some kind. After that you will find plenty of game, and you will all arrive safely at your homes." They denied all intentions or desire to escape, but told him as they had paid him for his professional services they would expect him to divulge only to them the vision he had in regard to their future. He kept his honor.

After awhile they found an opportunity to set out. They traveled as rapidly as possible during the night and remained in the swamps during the day, not daring to make a fire or shoot any game had they seen any. They could not catch even a frog from the stagnant pools around them. At dark they ventured forth and were guided in their journéy by the stars or the moss on the north side of the trees, when the stars were not to be seen. The second day they could catch no game. Although Rue was well acquainted with the country, he dare not go to any of the hunting or fishing places for fear of being recaptured. Notwithstanding they were in Indian costumes, they greatly feared discovery, for the Indians must by this time be aware of their escape and be on the search for them. On the third day, pressed with hunger, they decided that Rue should venture forth in quest of some game. He met with no success. They were now near the Wabash, which abounded with fine fish, but they did not attempt to spear any of them by torchlight, lest the light might betray their whereabouts.

The next day Rue returned from another fruitless expedition. They sat down and felt like giving up in despair. After a little while one of the other men said, "Let me try my luck or lack of luck once more." He took a gun and was soon out of sight. Not much expectation was raised as to his success, as his want of skill! was well known to his companions. But in less than three hours he returned bearing a small buck, which he had killed and partly dressed. The prediction, or sight, or guess, of their oracle came to their minds now. "It is a masculine - after killing it you will find plenty of game, and you will arrive safely at your homes." They made a fire and broiled a portion and prepared more to be taken with them. At night they renewed their march.

Twenty days after they left Detroit they came in sight of the Ohio, about fifty miles above the falls. They made a raft and started for the (then) village of Louisville. Before they had floated half way their raft was dashed to pieces, and with difficulty they swam to the Kentucky shore, losing all the guns, blankets, etc. They struck out through the woods and soon reached Harrodsburg.

When the party which had taken Holman back to Wapuccanatta arrived there, much dissatisfaction was manifested in regard to his release from the sentence of death, pronounced against him. A new council was held and the party for acquittal prevailed by a majority of one. About three years and a half after Holman was taken prisoner a cessation of hostilities was had. The Indians were much reduced by the previous war. Holman offered, if they would give him a companion who knew the way, to go to the Falls of the Ohio and solicit the assistance of a rich uncle in securing them supplies. The necessities of the Indians induced them to accept his proposition, and with another prisoner and a young warrior he set out. They struck the Ohio above Louisville, swam the river and went to Louisville. General Clark, who was in command at that place, ransomed the two captives for a quantity of powder, lead, salt, etc., and Holman arrived at his home three days after the return of Rue.

to contract rheumatism, which afflicted him at times during the remainder of his life. For many years after Rue and Holman removed to Wayne county their old Indian relatives paid them annual visits and were always received with welcome and entertained with the greatest show of hospitality.

The ancestors of the Hoover family were German and had settled in Pennsylvania and Maryland, where they became Quakers. Andrew Hoover removed to North Carolina, where he remained until he came to the Northwest. All his children were born in North Carolina. On Sept. 19, 1802, Andrew Hoover, haying sold his possessions, left Randolph county, North Carolina, with his family of four sons and six daughters, and started for the Northwest Territory. After five weeks' journeying they crossed the Ohio at the village of Cincinnati and pushed on to Stillwater, twelve miles north of Dayton. Not satisfied there, they removed the next spring to near Lebanon, until they could make further examinations. John Smith was also settled in that locality, with similar intentions. Says David Hoover: "Our object was to find a suitable place for making a settlement, and where but few entries had been made. But a small portion of the land lying west of the Great Miami, or east of the Little Miami; was settled at that time." They examined various parts of Ohio, and in company with John Smith and Robert Hill, David Hoover explored the southern part of Indiana, but returned unsatisfied.

David Hoover continues: "Thus time passed on until the spring of 1806, when myself and four others, rather accidentally, took a section line some eight or ten miles north of Dayton and traced it a distance of more than thirty miles through an unbroken forest to north from where Richmond now is. It was the last of February or the first of March when I first saw White Water. On my return to my father's I informed him I had found the country we had been in search of." In about three weeks David and his father, Jeremiah Cox, John Smith, and several others visited and examined the region. In May or June of that year, Andrew Hoover entered several quarter-sections north of Richmond and John Smith entered the section south from where is now Main street. The fall of the same year Jeremiah Cox's family reached here from North Carolina, and he purchased of Joseph Woodkirk the tract now occupied by the northern part of Richmond. This ground had been entered by John Meek, and the previous spring had been sold to Woodkirk.

when he first visited this locality. The farm which he purchased from Woodkirk had a small pole cabin on it and four acres cleared, fenced and planted to corn. They came by Eaton, which had been laid out the March previous. Several cabins were built and the streets were so full of logs and brush that it was difficult to pass along them. From here to the State line they followed the trail of some settlers on the headwaters of Elkhorn. Hence they had to cut out their road through the wilderness of trees, logs, brushes, weeds and nettles. Two.roads were cut out by the settlers this year (1806), one along the route upon which they came, running where Main street now is. The other was cut to haul stones from the river to build Cox's chimney. It is said to have run west from one on Cox's south line. The first road extended toward the vicinity of where New Paris now is; it was the beginning of the road to Cincinnati and was made in that direction so as to connect with the road being constructed from the latter neighborhood to Cincinnati.

On March 31, 1807, Andrew Hoover and his family came. They halted on the bluff a little north from Griffith Mendenhall's residence (two miles northeast from the depot), in the midst of a snow storm. This snow covered the ground until April 10, when clearing was commenced. Several of the Hoover family came out when Jeremiah Cox moved, to build cabins and sow turnip seed. Later, the same season, came William Bulla, John Harvey, William Small, and perhaps some others. At this time there was in this vicinity the Elkhorn or Kentucky Settlement, spoken of on a previous page, and quite a number of families on the east fork of White Water, besides those around the site of Richmond. On the East Fork were the Flemings, Maxwells, Irelands, Hills, Wassons, Perviances, and Adams, along with others. Except Richard Maxwell, those named lived on the other side of the State line.

The family of Jeremiah Cox was the first of the Society of Friends settled in this country; Robert Smith's came soon after. The following autumn:came John Smith, Frederick Hoover, and Elijah Wright. The road which had been cut to this place when Jeremiah Cox came out brought many land hunters to his house. He took pains to show them vacant lands, especially such as he thought would make good citizens, and charged nothing for his services or for board, taking compensation in the satisfaction of assisting in forming a virtuous community. For two or three years this neighborhood settled very rapidly.

"Jeremiah Cox, John Smith and my father," says David Hoover, "were then looked upon as leaders in the Society of Friends. Their location here had a tendency of drawing others, and soon caused a rush to White Water, and land that I thought hardly would ever be settled was rapidly taken up and improved. Had I a little more vanity I might almost claim the credit of having been the pioneer of the great body of Friends, now to be found in this region; as I think it very doubtful whether three yearly meetings would convene in this county had I not traced the line before mentioned."

In March, 1806, Charles Hunt and four sons - George, John, William, and Smith - left Clermont county, Ohio, for the purpose of settling in the White Water valley. They found an indistinct road as far as where is now Fair Haven, but they had to cut the rest of their way to Elkhorn. Here they arrived on the roth of the month, and the next day they commenced building their cabin and finished it by evening. They had gone to work to clear five acres and plant it in corn. In the fall they built a more comfortable cabin and their family and others were brought out.

After clearing the ground and planting corn they commenced the construction of a mill. It was ready for cracking corn in August, but there was little corn to crack until the growing crop ripened. A large portion of the corn was badly frost bitten and people could not think of eating it. However, some were compelled to try it and it is said they got along. pretty well. Hogs were fattened upon beech nuts.

Hunt's mill was on Elkhorn creek, about a mile from its mouth; it was covered by planting poles in the ground with forks at the upper ends to receive poles, upon which other poles, called ribs, were placed. On these clapboards were laid for the roof and on top weight poles to hold the boards in place. This sheltered the hopper and mill very well when there was no rain. Until this mill was put in operation the settlers had to pack their corn on horses to the Miami, or Brookville, to get it ground. There was no means of grinding it near home, except by hand mills or pounding the corn into hominy in the mortar. Mortars were constructed by burning out the hearts of trees or stumps until the caliber was sufficient to hold a peck or more of grain, according to the size of the family or wants of the neighborhood. One good hominy mortar, like a grindstone, generally served the neighborhood while it lasted.

where the woolen factory (formerly Brightwell's Mill) is, in 1807. It was a "tub-mill," covered like Hunt's. The stones were two and one-half feet in diameter and the runner nine inches thick. It would grind two bushels per hour. William Bulla erected a similar mill on Middle Fork. Robert Comer erected one on East Fork and it was run by a never failing spring. It was the first mill sheltered in a log house.

To the list of mills may be added one built a few months after Comer's, by Jeremiah Cox, Jr., on Middle Fork. This was sheltered by a house made of poles, cut twenty feet long, and covered in the usual style. In a favorable stage of water it would grind two bushels of frost bitten corn per hour. The total value of Bulla's, Comer's, and this mill would probably not exceed $500.

According to the record, the first entry of lands within this county was made by Peter Flemming and Joseph Wasson, in the winter of 1804; Rue and Holman also made entries this year. The next was by Andrew Endsley, in the summer of 1805, and by Peter Smith in the winter of the same year.

The first clearing of the ground now occupied by the city of Richmond was an opening made by Woodkirk, near where Jeremiah Cox built his brick house. It was a small piece. The next year, 1807, John Smith cleared several acres, bounded by a fence on the section line passing along where Main street now is, and on the west by another fence parallel with the direction of Front street. That year, ten acres were cleared north of Main street, on conditions that the laborers should have the proceeds of the land for twelve years. In the spring of 1807 a hurricane blew down much of the timber on the land that is north of the Main street section line. The "fallen timber" became a hiding place for wild cats, foxes, coons, and other small vermin, as well as various kinds of snakes, especially rattlesnakes. They were destroyed in great numbers when they would be gathering in for winter quarters along the river cliffs. Two or three years after this storm Jeremiah Cox hired William Cox and Jacob and Isaac Julian to clear a large piece of this ground.

During the summer of 1807 the settlers opened another road to Eaton, into Wayne's Trace which led to Hamilton. It was a nearer route to Cincinnati. "A county road," says Dr. Plummer in his notes, "was early established along the lands of Jeremiah Meek,

Alex Grimes, etc., down the hillside to Cox's mill, and thence up the ravine between Boathill and Buhl's brewery; the land on which Richmond stands then having no roads passing over it."

Among the many settlers who arrived during these earlier years, in addition to those already mentioned, can be named: Andrew Endsley and Benjamin Jarvis, in 1806; Benjamin Small, John Alexander, Peter Flemming, Ephraim Overman, John Hawkins and Ralph Wright, in 1807; John Burgess, John Morrow, and John Townsend, in 1808; John Charles, Valentine Pegg, Andrew Morrow, and Michael Harvey, in 1809.

John Beard came to this county from North Carolina, in October of 1806. Foutz came with him from Germantown, Ohio. They had to come through the woods without any knowledge of the correctness of their course, except their supposition as to the location of the White Water country. They built a cabin and returned for their families. Beard's daughter Jane was the first white child that died in this county, in 1807. Dr. Sackett, the first physician, came in 1808. There is said to have been a fatal malignant fever prevailing along the East Fork about this time.

The following persons (nearly all Quakers) came some time during these years: Isaac Commons, Beale Butler, James Morrisson, Jesse Bond, William Harvey, John Hawkins, Jr., Benjamin Harris, David Bowles, James Townsend, Jacob Jessup, Amos Hawkins, Joseph, Robert and Stephen Comer, Benjamiri Cox, Joshua Pickett, John Clark, Isaac Barberm, Rice Price, Nathan Pierson, David Baily, Robert Andrew, William Bond, Joseph Thornberry, Benjamin Morgan, Israel Elliott, Benjamin Maudlin, Lewis and William Hosier, William Hastings, David Baily, Sr., Christopher and Thomas Hill, Jasper Koons, Nathan Overman, Cornelius Ratliff, Sr., Samuel Charles, and John Pool, all of whom were here as early as 1810. At that time there were about sixty families and 350 persons in this neighborhood, belonging to the Society of Friends. They held meetings, as early as 1807 or 1808, in a log building belonging to and furnished with seats by Jeremiah Cox; Jesse Bond, John Morrow, and William Williams were early preachers. A few years later a meeting house was erected near where the "Orthodox Brick" now stands.

Indiana Territory was formed, in 1800, from that part of the Territory Northwest of the Ohio not comprised in the Territory (soon after State) of Ohio. Vincennes was made the capital and Gen. Willaim Henry Harrison was appointed governor. The new Territory was divided into three counties: Knox, covering most of the present area of Indiana; St. Clair, nearly equal to the limits of Illinois; and Wayne, to Michigan. The estimated white population at this time was 4,875.

In 1802 two other counties were formed within the limits of the State of Indiana - Clark and Dearborn. The latter county was bounded on the east by the Ohio line and on the west by the Fort Recovery boundary. The county seat was at Lawrenceburg.

The settlers of this part of the county had little business at the county seat. Most of the difficulties, when any arose, were settled before Richard Rue, who was chosen justice of the peace and was the only one in this part of the Territory. The early elections were held at Rue's house. His house appears to have been the place of religious as well as political gatherings. Lazarus Whitehead, a Baptist preacher, often held service there. As was the custom of those times, many disputes arising between individuals were settled by wager of battle conducted with those "side arms" only as are furnished by nature. These contests were often followed by indictment and prosecution for assault and battery. For the benefit of those who think that the morals of our politics have not improved since that time it may not be uninstructive to state that it is said that at the first election more than a dozen fights took place.

In very early times a county road had been petitioned for and granted, and Jeremiah Cox was appointed supervisor. He started out to warn his hands to cut out the road, but was told that it would be just as the hands pleased about working, as they did not know that there was a legally appointed supervisor. In this emergency Cox hired Andrew Kennedy to ride to Lawrenceburg, for a certified copy of his appointment, with a legal order to open the road. After this nearly all agreed to do their portion of the work. This road ran in a north and south direction. North of Cox's land, where the Fountain City pike now runs, was a swamp of thirty or forty rods, which had to be "bridged," as it was termed. To accommodate the workers, Cox divided this ground into equal portions, designating each man's piece by number, so that he could readily find it. A few hands living at a distance neglected to make their portions and Jeremiah Cox, Jr., had to make much more than his share.

Isaac Julian taught a three-months school in the winter, about this time, in a cabin a little east from the position of Richmond. A debating society was formed and met in this school-house. Some of the debaters were Eli Overman, Isaac Julian, Henry Hoover, Joseph Holman, William Holman, and Asa Prevo.

Before 1809 there was but a very narrow strip of land in this part of the Territory, between the Ohio State line and the Fort Recovery boundary, granted to the whites at the treaty of Greenville. This strip is about eight miles wide in this latitude. The Fort Recovery line passed in Wayne county, a short distance east of Fountain City, along part of the western limit of Wayne township and a little west of the village of Abington. As early as 1807 nearly all of the land in this strip was taken up. On Sept. 30, 1809, at Fort Wayne, Governor Harrison made the "Twelve Mile Purchase." The line of this treaty runs southwest from Fort Recovery to the Mississippi river, thence nearly southward, at a distance of twelve miles from the Fort Recovery line, until it joins the line of the other grants on the boundary of Ripley county. A number of settlers moved on these lands even before they were surveyed.

Richard Rue and Ephraim Overman were elected Representatives for Dearborn county in the Territorial legislature, in 1809. They were re-elected the following year and John Templeton was elected as their colleague. They had long, tedious journeys of 200 miles, on horseback, through the forest, to Vincennes.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Ordinance of 1787 excluded slavery from the whole Northwest Territory, it was not long after the organization of Indiana Territory until its introduction was strongly advocated. Efforts were made to effect the repeal of the article in the Ordinance prohibiting it. The excitement ran high, and after several years' agitation this question was made the test in the election of a delegate to Congress on May 22, 1809. Thomas Randolph, a native of Virginia, was the candidate of the pro-slavery party, and Jonathan Jennings, of Pennsylvania birth (afterwards first Governor of the State), was supported by those opposed to the introduction of slavery. There were then four organized counties. In Knox and Harrison, the western counties, Mr. Randolph received 314 votes and Mr. Jennings, 66 votes; John Johnson received 81 votes in Knox. In the eastern counties - Dearborn and Clark - Mr. Randolph received 88 votes and Mr. Jennings received 362. Mr. Jennings was thus elected by a plurality of twenty-six.

The southern and western parts of the Territory were settled by immigrants from the Southern States, while the eastern portion was occupied, in part, by settlers from the free States. The canvass was heated and the vote close. The White Water Valley may claim credit for doing the noble work. Indeed, the honor may be placed nearer home. The greater part of the inhabitants of the Territory was from the South and mostly in favor of slavery. The Eastern born inhabitants were opposed to the system. Now there had come out of the Slave States those who were wanting in faith and admiration for the peculiar institution, Quakers from North Carolina, and honest, hard-working yeomen from Kentucky and Virginia. In explanation of the position of the Quakers upon the subject of slavery, nothing need be said. Of some of the other class, James Daugherty, an early settler, says: "The Kentuckians were not of the half-horse, half-alligator stripe, but with very few exceptions were a moral, industrious, upright, kind people; and almost to a man anti-salvery."

These were the people who gave American slavery its first defeat. This action of Indiana exerted a controlling influence upon Illinois; which made a similar decision some years after. It is not a little strange that those who should first stop this giant's progress were those who had to flee from its blighting influence. And there seems somewhat of a poetic justice in the fact that it was at last slain by the children of those whom it had driven forth to toil or perish in the forests and on the prairies of the Northwest. But this adversity was the drill master that prepared for triumph; and that too, under the leadership of the son of a refugee.

In November, 1810, the northern part of Dearborn was formed into two new counties - Franklin and Wayne. The boundaries of Wayne county are given in "The Western Gazetteer or Emigrant's Directory," of 1817, as: "On the east by the State of Ohio, on the south by the county of Franklin, on the west and north by Indian Lands" (1. e. the Twelve Mile Purchase line).

Although Governor Harrison had the appointing power he gave the people the privilege of choosing their own officers. At an election held for this purpose, Peter Fleming, Jeremiah Meek, and Aaron Martin were elected judges; George Hunt, clerk, and John Turner, sheriff. At this or another early election Richard Rue was elected justice of the peace for the precinct in which he resided and John Cox for the district afterwards known as the Abington Precinct. George Hunt held his office on his farm about two miles east from where the village of Abington was afterward laid out.

County Court was held by the above named judges and county business was done before them. The minute book of this early court consisted of half a quire of old English paper, shaped somewhat like a school copybook, without a cover. By this record it appears that the first court was held Feb. 25, 1811, at the home of Richard Rue. The three judges, clerk and sheriff were in attendance. James Noble (afterward one of the first United States Senators from Indiana) appeared as prosecuting attorney. The court first proceeded to divide the county into two townships and appoint constables, overseers of the poor, etc. For the first township, David Railsback and John Shaw were appointed overseers of the poor; Abraham Gaar, John Collins and Lewis Little, fence viewers. For the other township, David Gailbraith and George Smith, overseers of the poor; William Foutz, Nathaniel McClure and Robert Hill, fence viewers. The following persons appear to have been appointed as a committee to adjust the accounts of the overseers of the poor: David Carson, Timothy Hunt, Samuel Jobe, Jacob Meek, Elijah Fisher, and George Holman. The necessity of the court for a seal was met by "a wafer and a piece of paper turned over it, with the letters, Wayne County, written thereon."

The first session lasted but one day. The second meeting was on March 11, when a grand jury was impaneled for the first time. The persons composing it were: Jesse Davenport, David Foutz, Joseph Cox, Charles Wright, John Burk, Wright Lancaster, Robert Gailbraith, Isaac Williams, John Smith, Benjamin Small, John Burgess, William Blout, Michael Snider, Peter Weaver, Benjamin Harvey, Joshua Meek, John Beard, Benjamin, Jarvis, James Gordon, Harvey Miller, Lewis Little, William Graham, and John Townsend - twenty-three in number.

About this time an accident occurred to George Holman. As has been already remarked, the pioneers were accustomed to submit difficulties to the arbitrament of single combat. It seems that George Holman, who previous to and ever after that time, lived peaceably with all men "within the forest shades," indulged in this custom. The grand jury found a bill against him for assault and battery. He was returned guilty and fined twelve and one-half cents. He appears to have been one of the grand jury at this same time. Whether he aided in finding a bill against himself or not the record does not say. The persons on this jury were: William Sacre (foreman), Samuel Woods, Thomas McCoy, J. Keslank, George Holman, J. Hodges, Samuel Walker, Richard Maxwell, Bennett Starr, Robert Bennett, John Williams, Aaron Wade, John Addington, William Meek, Isaac Harvey, Delsuan Bates, Josiah Easton, Jod. Woodkirk and William Burk.

This is said to have been the first petit jury trial on our records. The names of the jury who sat upon Holman's case were as follows: John Benton, John Drake, John Armstrong, Nathaniel Scire, Thomas Bulla, Samuel Hunt, Harvey Druley, David F. Sacket, Joel Furgison, Benjamin Smith, and Jesse Davenport.

The Territorial laws provided for a court of criminal and civil jurisdiction in each county, the first term of which was held in Wayne county at the house of Rue on June 17, 1811. Benjamin Parke, who had been appointed to a seat on the supreme judiciary bench of the Territory some years before, was in attendance. The records, kept on a single sheet of foolscap, say:

"At a Court of Nisi Prius, Oyer and Terminer, and general jail delivery, held at the house of Richard Rue, Esq., in and for said County of Wayne, on the 17th of June, 1811. Present the Hon. Benj. Parke, Judge."

The court is said to have adjourned from the house to a log in the edge of the woods, where the session was held, the grand and traverse juries retiring in different directions to discharge their several duties. A grand jury and also a traverse jury were impaneled.

The members of the grand jury were: Joseph Cox, foreman, and Isaac Williams, William Townsend, Samuel Jobe, John Starr, Timothy F. Hunt, Shadrie Henderson, John Meek, Sr., Thomas Addington, John Pool, Benjamin Maudlin, Nathan Pierson, David Bailey, John Morrow, Jasper Kontz, John Hawkins, Sr., David Bales, Stephen Comer, John Clark, William Bulla, Amos Hawkins, and William Price.

The traverse jury consisted of Henry Hoover, James Morrison, Jacob Griffin, James Jacobs, John Ireland, John Stephens, Andrew Endsley. Henry Hoover was the last surviving member of these juries.

The first and only case on trial was the United States vs. James Pettit, a boy living- in the family of Henry Byran. The boy was charged with stealing a Barlow knife from John Smith, who was keeping a store on the ground since occupied by Richmond. He was found guilty and sentenced to pay to Smith twelve and one-half cents (value of knife), to the Territory twenty-five cents and costs, all of which appear to have been promptly paid.

An incident took place at this trial which will do to repeat. The Territorial courts practiced under the forms of the English Common Law, with its prolix expressions and redundancy of terms. The indictment in this case was drawn up by James Dill, an Englishman, and a stickler for old forms. He. had alleged in this instrument "that the said James Pettit, not having the fear of God before his eyes, and being moved and instigated thereunto by the devil, did then and there wickedly, unlawfully and feloniously, with force and arms, steal, take and carry away," etc.

Dill being absent, Henry Hoover was selected to manage the case. He accordingly read the indictment, emphasizing the terrible words. Jeremiah Cox, who seems to have been on the jury, though his name does not appear on the list, remarked with his peculiar simplicity, "That he believed the boy stole the knife, but did not think it was so bad; the indictment was rather too bold for so slight an offence."

The court was styled "general jail delivery,' which sounds singular, since there was no jail in the county. A story is told of Squire John Cox punishing a witness, guilty of contempt, by ordering his neck to be put under the corner of a rail fence. The offender was strong and threw off the weight. Cox had him put under again and directed three men to sit upon the fence.

During the year 1811 preparations were made for establishing a permanent county seat. By an act of the Territorial legislature which organized Wayne county, "John Cox, George Holman and John Adenton, Gentlemen," were appointed commissioners to meet and locate the county seat on or before "'the first Monday of the following May." Until the court house should be completed, the court was to continue meeting at Esquire Rue's. At the June term, 1811, the commissioners appointed by the act of the legislature having failed to discharge their duty according to law, in selecting a seat of justice for the county, the court declared their duties ended and appointed in their stead Samuel Walker, Richard Maxwell and Benjamin Harris. These new commissioners were directed to proceed immediately to the business assigned. On the third day of the term they reported "that the permanent seat of justice is and shall be on the donation of Samuel Woods, of sixtyfive acres in the 13th township, range 3, with a small reserve." The court ordered the report to be entered as it was received by the clerk, "that the town in Wayne, or the seat of justice, shall be called Salisbury." The ground thus selected is situated on a hill, a short distance south from the National Road and two and a quarter miles west from the bridge at Richmond. Having secured

"A local habitation and a name," the next thing to do was to make their town cease to be "airy nothings" and become a reality. Accordingly, Smith Hunt, Sam-~ uel Woods and James Brown were appointed trustees to lay off the lots, and Andrew Woods and John Meek, Sr., to superintend the building of a jail and estray pen, under the direction of the court. There is no record of any order for the erection of a court house. But a minute of the October session of 1811, says:

"At a County Court held at the house of Richard Rue, Esq., on the 28th of October, 1811, is opened, etc., and the court having been previously informed that the court house was raised, the court therefore adjourned to sit one hour in the court house in the town of Salisbury. Accordingly the court met at court house in town of Salisbury in the county of Wayne on the aforesaid 28th day of October and proceeded," etc.

The lots were laid off the following May. A log court house and a log jail were built as soon as the town was located. Afterward, a brick court house was erected. Great was the expectations and a high destiny was prophesied and anticipated for the new village. The following description, in the handwriting of George Hunt, the clerk, is on the back of the record plat:

"The town of Salisbury stands on a beautiful site on the waters of Clear creek, Wayne county, Indiana Territory, in a fine neighborhood, environed by rich land, etc., etc. There is no better water in the world; the air is salubrious; and its elevated situation commands an extensive and beautiful prospect. And we flatter ourselves that in a few years, Art, with her sister, Industry, will convert it from a forest to a flourishing inland town. Several gentlemen of property have purchased lots, both in the mercantile and mechanical line, which will greatly enhance its value."

The records of the courts held in this place for several succeeding years are preserved, but contain few items of interest now, and those that are may be condensed into the following synopsis:

The second term of the court, having criminal and civil jurisdiction, was held at Salisbury, June 25, 1813 - James Scott, judge. Four criminal and five civil cases were on docket, though for some reason it was not shown that any business was transacted. James Noble, James Dill, and Elijah Sparks are lawyers whose names appear on the docket.

Third term: Oct. 31, 1814. Elijah Sparks, judge. Order book says, "that as Col. George Hunt has been appointed clerk of the court and has not been sworn into office, and as there is no one to swear the jury, the court stands adjourned."

Fourth term: January, 1815. Sparks, judge, with Fleming and Martin, associates; Hunt, clerk, and Turner, sheriff. Several criminal cases disposed of. First suit ever tried: viz., Thomas Neley vs. Christopher Roddy and wife. John Test, Amos Lane, William Hendricks, and Edmond J. Vawter, admitted to practice. Hon. Joseph Holman, a member of the jury, was the last survivor of those who figured in this court.

Fifth term: March, 1815. James Noble, judge. Nothing of interest done. Robert Harvey, afterwards of Hendricks, and Absalom Williams, of Wayne county, were the last survivors of the grand jury.

Seventh term: March, 1816. Jesse L. Holman, judge; Fleming and Hoover, associates. At this term was tried the case of Henry Chryst for the murder of Chambers. The jurors trying this case were: Richard Lewis, David Noland, John. Brattan, John Patterson, Caleb Harvey, Jacob Meek, John Steward, Lewis Hosier, William Clawson, Michael Neiss, John Small, and Balden Ashley. John Test assisted the prosecuting attorney, and James Noble defended.

The circumstances of this case were these: There seems to. have been some ill feeling existing between Chryst and his sonin-law, Chambers, arising from complaints made by his daughter that Chambers neglected to provide for her. It seems that Chambers' wife had gone to her father's house (on the east side of Noland's Fork, eight miles southwest from Centerville). Chambers came here and his wife refused to return with him. Chambers accused her parents of inciting her to leave him. This they denied and a fierce altercation ensued. Chryst becoming enraged, seized a gun and threatened to shoot Chambers. Knowing the violent temper of Chryst, all cried out for Chambers to run. He did, but Chryst raised the gun and fired. The ball passed through Chambers' body and he fell dead some six or eight rods from the house.

Chryst is said to have been a man of violent passions and at times allowed them to get complete control of him. Otherwise he appeared an honorable, high-minded man. When he found what he had done he went to Justice Joseph Flint and confessed his guilt. He was committed to the circuit court. His trial came off at the time mentioned. During the trial he bore himself nobly. His family had to give evidence against him. His son, quite a lad, was the most important prosecuting witness. While being examined by the prosecuting attorney the: boy showed much emotion and hesitated in answering, knowing that his father's fate depended upon his testimony. Perceiving his hesitancy, Chryst said: "Tell the truth, my boy, though it should hang your father, speak the truth." Intense excitement prevailed in the court room and deep sympathy was felt for the unhappy boy. Chryst was found guilty of murder in the first degree and the death sentence was passed upon him.

After the trial he was taken back to the little log jail at Salisbury. He might have made his escape at almost any time, had he not felt too great a sense of honor to make the effort. He was hanged on the public square in Salisbury, April 1, 1816. A large concourse of people witnessed the execution. John Turner was still sheriff at that time. Chryst's son stood nobly by his father to the last and then conveyed the remains, alone, on a small sled, over an almost impassable mud road, to his home, which he reached late at night.

This was the first execution in this county and the murder and trial created great excitement. In June and October of 1816, sessions of Court were held. The same officers were present. These were the last terms under the Territorial Government.

In thus following up the account of the courts many events which occurred during the years named have been passed over. Before continuing the history of Salisbury it will be proper to devote some attention to the Indian troubles and the war of 1812.

When settlement was commenced in the Upper White Water country all the land in Indiana belonged to the Indians, except the small strip east of the Fort Recovery boundary, a tract around the town of Vincennes, another near the Falls of the Ohio, a small one where Fort Wayne stands, and two other small ones on the Wabash, between Fort Wayne and Vincennes.

The land in and around Wayne county was occupied by the Delawares and Shawnees. The former first appear prominently in American history as the tribe with whom William Penn made his famous treaty. They lived at that time on the banks of the river which bears their name, but the rapid settlement of the English in Eastern Pennsylvania compelled them to move west to the Alleghany mountains. They settled first on the Muskingum and afterwards removed to Indiana and occupied the land along the banks of White river. At the time Wayne county's settlement commenced they were collected on the upper courses of White and Blue rivers.

The Shawnees were a restless, quarrelsome tribe, more warlike than their neighbors, and may well be termed the "Ishmaelites of America." According to their traditions they had quarreled with nearly every tribe from New York to Florida and had wandered over the territory east of the Mississippi. They had no lands of their own, but attached themselves to such tribes as would grant them foothold, and there remain until they fell out, then the best party retained possession. The Shawnees were as often vanquished as victors. They never stayed in the presence of a conqueror, but sought new friends to test their hospitality or new foes to tempt their prowess. At the time of the English colonization of North America they were found among the tribes northwest of the Ohio river, where soon the emergencies of their hosts gave them occasion to exert their energy against the common enemy, the "Paleface." After the treaty of Greenville they were still dwelling with the tribes in this part of the country. Large numbers of them came to central Indiana and were on friendly terms with the neighboring Delawares and Miamis.

The Miamis had their villages on Wabash and Mississinewa rivers. They were originally a large confederacy and claimed the lands now embraced in the entire State of Indiana and the western half of Ohio. But as the advance of the'whites compelled the Indians to seek hunting grounds farther west, the Miamis relinquished much of their broad possessions to the unfortunate brethren.

The Wyandottes, a tribe originally from Upper Canada, were living on the lands about the headwaters of the Wabash and Miami rivers and towards Lake Erie.

The Indians in this part of Indiana Territory were friendly toward the pioneers of White Water. They frequently passed through this country on their way to trade at Cincinnati and Hamilton. When John Smith opened his store, in a log house on the site of Richmond (near the west end of Market street), the Indians purchased large quantities of corn, ammunition, etc., from him. For several years the settlers got along agreeably with the Indians, who frequently came among them. They were considerably annoyed, however, by begging Indians. After the Fort Wayne Treaty, in 1809, which 'resulted in the cession of large

The genius of Tecumseh and the craft of his brother, the Prophet, did much to arouse hostile feelings towards the whites among most of the Northwest tribes. Undoubtedly the Indians had been wronged in the treatment which they had received from the whites, but since the treaty of Greenville (1795) there had beén comparative peace and it seemed to be the desire of both parties that it continue. Early in 1805 Tecumseh and the Prophet were residing at one of the Delaware towns on White river (now within the limits of Delaware county). Here the Prophet began the enunciation of his principles and proclaiming his mission. Much excitement and dissension followed, and the next year they removed their headquarters to Greenville, Ohio, to which place they were accompanied by a small band of Shawnees. In the spring of 1808 they again removed to the banks of the Wabash, near the mouth of the Tippecanoe. Their settlement here was afterwards called the "Prophet's Town."

Tecumseh traveled much during the years following their leaving the Delawares for the purpose of inciting the Indians in the Northwest, West and Southwest to band against the whites. His brother seemed occupied in gathering together followers at his town.

The sale of more land to the United States Government, by the treaty of Fort Wayne, furnished a pretext for complaint for Tecumseh's use. He frequently visited Governor Harrison at Vincennes and expressed dissatisfaction at the acts of the Government and complained much of their injustice.

Continued complaints and rejection of peaceful overtures, followed soon after by acts of violence, determined Governor Harrison to take decisive steps against the combination at the Prophet's Town, as he strongly suspected it to. be encouraged by British agents. He therefore marched against the town, and on Nov. 7, 1811, signally defeated the Indians on the banks of the Tippecanoe river.

This battle and the prospects of war with Great Britain alarmed the inhabitants of Indiana and they turned their attention to means of defense.

In the spring of 1812, Governor Harrison directed the frontier to be prepared for the threatened hostilities. Block houses and picketed forts were erected along the borders of Knox county, on the branches of White river, eastward of Vincennes, and in Harri- son county. The propriety of erecting similar posts of defense on the frontiers of Clark, Jefferson, Dearborn, F ranklin, and Wayne counties was to be determined by disposition of the Delaware Indians. Said the Governor:

"Means will be taken to ascertain this disposition as soon as possible and the result communicated. The Indians who profess to be friendly have been warned to keep clear of the settlements; and the commander-in-chief is far from wishing that the citizens should run any risk by admitting any Indians to come among them, whose designs are in the least equivocal. He recommends, however, to those settlements which the Delawares have frequented, as much forbearance as possible toward this tribe, because they have ever performed, with punctuality and good faith, their engagements with the United States, and, as yet, there is not the least reason to doubt their fidelity. It is also certain that if they should be forced to join the other tribes in the war, from their intimate knowledge of the settlements upon the frontiers, they would be able to do more mischief than any other tribe."

On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain. During the preceding month a grand council, at which nearly all the Northwestern tribes were represented, was held on the Mississinewa. The tone of the speeches was favorable to the preservation of peace with the United States Government. All denounced the actions of the Prophet, no difficult thing to do, as that schemer was now defeated and a fugitive. The Wyandottes and Miamis were friendly to the Americans and the Delawares went so far as to defend the intentions of the Government. The other tribes were hypocritical in their profession and soon after the commencement of hostilities were upon the warpath. Tecumseh, himself, was at the council, endeavoring to explain his brother's conduct and regain his own influence. He went away dissatisfied and in a few weeks joined his fortunes with the British, at Malden, and fell in the battle on the Thames, Oct. 5, 1813. The Shawnees waited until their corn ripened and then part of them followed their illustrious chief.

As has been said, the Indians in this neighborhood were friendly and no fears of trouble had been entertained until after the battle of Tippecanoe. The Indians were often trading with the whites at Salisbury and along the White Water. About this time a man named Samuel Carr got into a quarrel with one of a party of trading Indians and foolishly followed them, when a scuffle ensued, in which Carr shot his opponent. The Indian did not die, but his tribe felt very resentful for this occurrence. Shortly after this affair, a pretty little light haired girl, named Lydia Tharp, daughter of Boaz Tharp, was stolen from near the present site of Milton. This created much excitement. Nearly the whole country turned out to search for her, but no trace of her could be found. Ten years afterward she was seen at an Indian encampment on the Wabash. She was married to an Indian, and when an effort was made to get her she was secreted, and never again was seen by the whites.

_ A great panic was caused by a white man killing an Indian whom he suspected of robbing him. This took place near Salisbury and the people were in great apprehension that the Indians would undertake to avenge the death of their comrade. The murderer fled to Kentucky and nothing serious resulted from his rash act.

Early in 1812 Governor Harrison visited this county for the purpose of warning the citizens and having them prepare for the coming war. He reviewed the militia at Beeler's, a few miles south from the present site of Richmond. This review was witnessed by some thirty or forty Indians. They were the last large body of red men seen in this county until after the war.

The reverses which the American arms suffered in the West during the summer and fall of 1812 inspired the hostile Indians to commence a general assault along the Indiana frontier, first at Fort Harrison (Terre Haute), then at the "Pigeon Roost Settlement" (Scott county), Fort Wayne, and elsewhere. This state of affairs threw the Wayne county people into great excitement. Several block houses were hastily built for the protection of the variour neighborhoods. Hon. Joseph Holman, who moved on the "Purchase" in 1810, speaking of this period says:

"The Indian warfare commenced in our midst. We were all thrown into confusion, some killed, some ran away, some remained, built block houses and continued during the war. Captains Holman, Whitehead, and Farlow were placed (and built forts) on the line of Wayne county, then the Indian boundary. Most of those who were left had to serve three months' tours, under the order of the Government, then returning to their block houses, having to kill game, such as they could find, to support their families, having spies to watch for them; this was worse than grinding on hand mills. Many nights were spent watching the port holes to keep the Indians from the fort."

"The settlers mostly left their locations and removed to places of more security. Those who remained built forts and block houses.' The settlers in this neighborhood mostly stood their ground, but suffered considerably with fear. George Sugart then lived where Newport (Fountain City) now stands, some miles from any other settlement. In the language of the Friends, he 'did not feel clear' in leaving his home, and he manfully stood his ground, unmolested, except by those whom we then styled the 'Rangers,' from whom he received some abuse for his boldness."

Among the block houses erected in this county can be mentioned Rue's and Meek's stations on the east branch of White Water. One mile below the site of Abington was a block house, enclosed with pickets. On the west branch of White Water there was Lewis's Station above the Walnut Level. Still further west was Jenneys' Station. At the upper end of the Walnut Level was Martindale's Station, a large block house with pickets. On the Walnut Level, below this one, was a stockade fort known as Boyd's Station. All these stations were furnished with troops by Col. George Hunt. There was a line of block houses near the Indian boundary, to protect the sparsely settled country, and also several in the more settled part. Families near each other generally made preparation for mutual protection. On an average, it may be said, every fourth house was so strengthened as to be equal to block houses. Part of the men remained to guard the forts, while the others marched to meet the enemy, under officers of their own choosing. .

Across the State line the settlers were also called out to defend the forts along that part of the frontier. Besides Greenville, there were Forts Nesbit and Black and perhaps one other, in Darke county, Ohio. Greenville and Piqua were important rendezvous.

When General Harrison was appointed to command the Northwest army, after the surrender of Hull at Detroit, he called upon the Wayne county regiment for one company to join the expedition north. This regiment, styled the Eighth, was commanded by George Hunt, colonel, and Smith Hunt and James Brown, majors. The required company was organized and marched as far as Piqua, when the Indians commenced depredations upon the frontier of Wayne county. The company petitioned Gerieral Harrison that they might be returned and be stationed in this part of the country. The petition was granted and they returned to protect the border of this county.

The Indians stole a number of horses from the settlers and killed three men in the western part of the county. These murders produced considerable dismay throughout the entire country and admonished those on the frontier to retire to their places of safety, for they did not stay in them all the time, but only during seasons when danger was apprehended. Maj. Smith Hunt says: "I spent the entire summer of 1813 finding my own horse and provisions, in raising troops and arranging to protect the frontier. But not having been enrolled in the regular ar ps I could not derive any pay under the pension laws."

There lived in Green's Fork about the commencement of the war a Delaware Indian named "Johnny Green."' He is said to have been a man of more than ordinary talents and ferocity, shrewd but of ill disposition. When drunk he would brag of killing palefaces in Kentucky. He appears to have lived very near the whites for the greater part of his life and to have been frequently among them. His drunken babblings and his crafty ability gave him an unenviable reputation, which, together with his known influence in his tribe, made him a personage to be feared.

Early in 1813 a scouting party, reconnoitering the frontiers, approached the Indian town of Blue River. The inhabitants of this town were at peace with the whites. Johnny Green happened to be there and requested the scouting party to let him accompany it to the white settlements. His request was granted and a promise was given that he should not be injured. But no sooner had they got fairly beyond the reach of his friends than they bound him, and some even insisted on taking his life then and there. He was finally taken to the house of Col. George Hunt, where a number of men assembled to decide on his punishment. There was much division of opinion and a conflict seemed near at hand. The tribe to which Green belonged was on peaceable terms with the Americans, and as yet Green had done nothing to interrupt the existing friendly relations. Notwithstanding this, the majority was for immediate death. Thomas McCoy and a few others were stoutly opposed to this treacherous and inhuman decision. Finding their remonstrances unavailing, to prevent the wanton act, in defiance of his opposers, McCoy cut the rope which bound Green, mounted him on his horse behind him, and carried the warrior beyond the reach of his more savage captors.

A settler named Charles Morgan was present. He was an unrelenting hater of the Indians and on this occasion was clamorous for blood. Shortly after this (March 10, 1813) Morgan and his two half-brothers went to boil sugar water near Martindale's Station. Next morning they were found dead, scalped, and one of them had been thrown into the fire.

Some time previous to this murder a young man named Shortridge was shot three miles southwest from Boyd's block house. He wore at the time parts of the dress of a George Ish, who had indulged in threats against the Indians, and it is supposed that Shortridge was mistaken for that man. The murder of the Morgans following created great terror and numbers fled from the frontier. But it was evident the Indians intended to harm only such as they thought hostile to them. "Candor compels me to say," writes David Hoover, "that, as is usually the case, we Christians were the aggressors."

Early in the existence of the Territorial government the Society of Friends had memorialized the legislature for an amendment of the law imposing fines for not mustering, so as to exclude religious societies conscientiously opposed. After the battle of Tippecanoe they were re-enacted with great severity. A large part of the settlers of the White Water Valley were Quakers and the war brought them trouble. Until then no notice had been taken of the differences of faith among the settlers. All shades of opinion lived together harmoniously and rendered each other such neighborly assistance, as was customary among pioneers. But the breaking out of the war demonstrated the fact that Quakers would not bear arms, and their refusal caused them to be characterized as "Tories." ;

During the winters of 1812-13-14 the poor settlers who refused to leave their families exposed on the extreme border had their axes, plows, and farm implements taken by the officers and deposited in a building at Salisbury, and when more room was wanted the articles on hand were sold.

Some were drafted and their property taken as fines; at the next call drafted again, fined-or taken to jail, as though a man lying idle in prison, when the country was already drained by war, was of service to the community. Four young men were thrown into the county jail during the inclement cold weather. Fire was denied them until they should comply, and had it not been for the kind heartedness of David F. Sackett, who handed them hot bricks through the grates, they would have suffered severely. Suit was afterward brought for false imprisonment. The trials were held at Brookville, Franklin county. Damages were recovered.

sented a memorial to Congress, asking that an election be ordered for a constitutional convention. An election was held on May 13, 1816, and four members of the convention were elected from Wayne county, viz: Jeremiah Cox, Patrick Baird, Joseph Holman, and Hugh Cull. The last named was placed on the antislavery ticket to secure the vote of the Methodists, in which denomination he was a local preacher. The anti-slavery candidates were elected with little or no opposition. Wayne county had 1,225 white males of twenty-one and upward, and 6,407 inhabitants, being sixth in number of population.

On the first Monday in August, 1816, a general election was held for State and county officers. Patrick Baird was elected State senator, Ephraim Overman, John Scott and Maj. James Brown, representatives. The last named died before he took his seat and Joseph Holman was chosen to fill the vacant place. David Hoover was elected clerk; John Turner, sheriff; and Thomas J. Warman, James O'Dell, and Thomas Beard, commissioners. These commissioners met for the first time, Feb. 10, 1817, and divided the county into five townships: Washington, Jackson, Perry, New Garden, and, apparently having exhausted their knowledge of appropriate names, dubbed the remaining one by the same name as the county - Wayne. They appointed John Beard as treasurer.

As the war was drawing to a close steps were taken to build a town near the banks of Noland's Fork, and on Oct. 20, 1814, the village of Centerville was surveyed and platted by Henry Byran, on land donated by Israel Elliott and Ethan Stone. The sale of lots took place the next year. The first lot was bid in by Christopher Roddy, an old soldier under Wayne, who claimed that privilege in consideration of having named the place. Isaac Julian purchased the "corner" where the American House formerly stood.

The new town being three miles nearer the geographical center of the county, it became a successful rival of Salisbury. (Those were times when railroad connections and the aggregation of inhabitants had not rendered geographical centers unimportant considerations.) The subject of removing the county seat soon began to be warmly discussed. The legislature passed an act, Dec. 21, 1816, ordering the county seat to be removed to Centerville.

The first term of the Wayne Circuit Court under the State Constitution was held at Salisbury, March 17. John Test was judge and William McLane and Jesse Davenport, associates. At this term there were seventeen prosecutions, fifteen of them for fighting. The men of those days seem to have continued the pugilistic method of arbitration long after the establishment of the courts. Perhaps many of these cases grew out of the discussion of the antagonistic claims of Salisbury and Centerville to the court house.

On Aug. 11, 1817, the Board of Commissioners adjourned from Salisbury to Centerville, Warman dissenting, however. Before the county seat could be legally removed the trustees of Centerville were to erect, without expense to the county, a court house, jail, and estray pen in that town, on or before Aug. 1, 1817, of the same dimensions and as well finished as those at Salisbury. Failing to do this the county seat was to remain where it was. Short as the period was, the buildings were up in time, some citizens of Centerville subscribing $1,000 to $1,500.

The October term of 1817 was held in Salisbury. Associate Judges Davenport and McLane only were present, and as the docket shows, "After consultation, the court being equally divided, as it respects the place of holding the courts in said county, it is therefore considered that all causes be continued until court in course." This is the first allusion on record to the vexed question of the location of the county seat.

The March (1818) term of the Circuit Court was held in Centerville, in a little log house on the north side of Main street. Courts were held in Centerville the next two terms without any opposition, as far as the records show. However, at the February term of 1819 (held at Centerville), the question was brought before the court whether Salisbury or Centerville was the legal county seat. John Watts was presiding judge. On the meeting of the court the first day, Daniel J. Caswell moved an adjournment, because, says the record, "Some doubts being entertained as to the propriety of sitting at Centerville, in the county of Wayne, and that the court and parties may take the matter under mature deliberation, the Court stand adjourned until to-morrow."

Next morning the Court said: 'The subject being now submitted to the Court, and solemn argument having been heard on both sides, the Court decides and determines that the seat of justice was permanently established at Salisbury and that the act of Dec. 21, 1816, not having a sufficient repealing clause, had not removed it; but the act of Jan. 28, 1818, authorized the court to hold their pro tempore sessions at Centerville, until the legislature should otherwise direct." The legislature never otherwise directed, so there the matter rested.

Shortly after this decision Samuel Woods, the grantor of the land upon which Salisbury was built, brought suit to recover the grant, claiming that the condition of the donation was forfeited, as Salisbury had ceased to be the seat of justice. The suit was two years in the United States court before judgment was rendered. Meanwhile, Salisbury was rapidly depopulating. The public business gone, nobody cared to remain, and the suit met little opposition. The United States marshal came and gave Woods possession, moving out for the time the remaining residents. The court house was taken down and the bricks were used in the "Ham Building." Many other houses were removed to Richmond.

Thus ended the brief career of Salisbury, not without angry and bitter contentions, which did not die until long after Salisbury was a cornfield. At the height of the contest, the ill feeling between the two parties was so great that when any of them met it was almost sure to result in a fight. No citizen of either place would visit the other unless he was bully enough to run the risk of having to whip the whole town. Even the children would take up the quarrel. Men of opposing sentiments would not work together. An old citizen tells of a man who hired some Centerville men to do the masonry about his new house, and some Salisbury men to do the carpentering. A quarrel arose between them and Salisbury drove Centerville from the field, and the work was not finished for months. At elections and musters the hostile spirit was plainly evinced. Men of one party would open their barrels of whiskey and invite all who agreed with them to partake freely and without price, but strongly intimated to those of the opposite opinion, that they, though "confined to fast in fires," should not have one drop to cool their tongues. An enthusiastic citizen of Salisbury declared that it was destined to be another Moscow. This expression was received with so much jeer by the opposite party that the term "Moscow" bade fair to supplant that of Salisbury for a while. But both are now nearly forgotten.

While these contentions were going on in the years of 1816, 1817, and 1818, Richmond was laid out and was being settled. Salisbury seems to have been pulled down to build the new town. on the east bank of the White Water.