Knight Township

Knight Township

gave to Vanderburgh county, to the state and to the nation a man whose name adorns the brightest pages of history. Gen. Joseph Lane came with his father in 1818 and settled a short distance below the foot of Three Mile Island. In 1S20 he married and became part owner of his father's land where his ten children were born and where his family resided until 1853. When but twenty-one 3'ears of age he made the race for the legislature and won, though pitted against such men as Gen. R. M. Evans and Judge William Foster. He was five times elected to a seat in the lower house of the general assembly and twice to the state senate. In shaping the legislation of the state he acted a conspicuous part, and by his vote and influence contributed largely to a satisfactory and honorable settlement of the linancial complications which followed the downfall of the great internal improvement system of 1835. When war was declared against Mexico in 1846,116 vacated his seat in the state senate, and enlisted to serve in the ranks under that gallant officer Capt. Walker. In rapid succession he rose to the rank of brigadier general, and acted a military career which was without spot or blemish. In 1848, after his return from the field of battle, he was appointed b}- the president governor of Oregon, and subsequently represented that state in the United States senate. At the advanced age of sevent\'-nine years he died April 19, 1881, at Roseburg, Ore.

Another settlement was made about 1813, some four miles above Evansville on the Newburgh road. There lived Isaac Knight, Martin Miller, Samuel Kinion, John Fickas, Adam Fickas, Robert Gibson, Humphrey Barnett and the McCallisters. John Beach settled near what is now known as Howard or Asylum farm. Peter Linxweiler lived north of the Knight settlement and near Pigeon creek; Ambrose Kelsey was between the settlement and the city. Isaac Knight received the honor of having his name perpetuated in the christening of the township. He became a freeholder in the township in 181 5, and lived on the lands bought from the government until his death. His family was among the most respected in the township. The other pioneers named as residing in this settlement were sturdy men, skillful hunters and good citizens.

After the first settlements were made the growth and development of the township was for many j^ears ver}- slow. North of the Knight farm, out toward Pigeon creek, and especiall}' through the lowlands, afterward traversed by the Wabash & Erie canal, there was not a stick amiss. Indeed, it was not until 1S30, and even later, that the land in this locality began to be cleared up and settled upon. Nor were there any settlements whatever in very early times east of Isaac Knight's and west of the county line, except that now and then along the Newburgh road a patch was cut out in the forests and a cabin was raised. With the great increase of population that was ushered in about 1835, Knight township received a very small proportion of the foreigners that came into the county. It, however, filled up with a good class of citizens. A considerable portion of the lands were entered b}' non-residents, the chief of these being the well-known Robert Barnes, who made the last entry of land made in the township. This outline of the condition of the township during its early existence is, of necessity, imperfect.

lioii/nisrcnces. - Adam and Eve Fickas settled near Race creek, in Henderson county, Ky., in the winter of 1806, and thence removed to the Kentucky bank of the Ohio river, opposite Three Mile Island, in 1808, where they remained until 1S17, at which tmie they removed to a farm in War- rick count}', in recent years known as the Simon Lane farm, now owned by Frank Staser. Jacob B. Fickas was one of nine children born to these pioneers. From an account of his recollections of early times in Knight township, the following brief extract is made: "I have vivid recollections of the earthquake which, in iSii, upset the town of New Madrid, Mo., and caused the earth to sink to such an extent that a lake appeared where before the town had stood. The shaking up reached even this part of the country; the shock was sensibl)' felt all along our river settlement. In consequence a religious furore seized upon the minds of the people and the}- thought of little else than attending religious worship. About this time James McGrady, who was the founder of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, appeared in this section and preached to the people. Phineas Ewing and Hiram A. Hunter followed McGrady, and under their inspiration the camp meeting system sprang into existence. A camp ground was opened on the farm of Jesse McCallister in 1815 or 1816. In about two years it was removed to the farm of Isaac Knight in the same neighborhood. The next season the Baptists had a camp meeting in the upper bayou settlement on the farm of Jesse Lane. This system of religious worship was kept up year after year for a period of thirty or forty years. Churches. - The Cumberland Presbyterians from the earliest times have been strong in Knight township. But at the present time there is but one organized class of this denomination in the township, that on the Newburgh road called Hebron. The church was first called Nebo, the name being changed after the erection of a house of worship. The church edifice is a small, neat, frame structure, built about 1S58, mainly through the instrumentality of Rev.

John T. Bates, then pastor of the church. The class had been organized about ten years prior to this time, probably by Rev. William Lynn. The early meetings were held at what was afterward known as the Terry school-house. Among the ministers to this charge, besides those named, have been: Revs. Ritchie, White, Bowden, Cleveland, Darby and Miller, the present pastor. Prominent among the early members were: Mrs. Julia Terry, John Hall, Sqiure Vann, John Fickas and Isaac Knight. The congregation is now in a prosperous condition, though its membership is numerically small.

Christian Order. - Through that part of the township called in early times the upper bayou settlement, or along the river near the Three Mile Island, there has grown up a strong society of those who worship according to the faith of the Christian Order. This sect is an offshoot from the Christian church as established by Alexander Campbell, and was founded by John McCrary, Joseph Wasson and John Boren. The Rev. George Grimm first came preaching in this neighborhood. He was succeeded b}' Rev. Tibbetts, and he in turn by Rev. John T. Phillips, who for several years has been the faithful pastor in charge. Preaching was first held in the district school-house, but in 1868 a neat frame church was erected. Mrs. Elizabeth Aikin is recognized b\' all as probably the most devoted and earnest supporter of this church. The congregation is very large, and the Sunday school is in a prosperous condition.

Little Sisters of the Poor. - A branch of this order was established in Evansville in 1887, through the kindness and charity of Mr. John A. Reitz, the generous millionaire, and thoroughly practical Catholic. He donated seventeen acres of land on Lincoln avenue, in Knight township, one half mile from the city limits, whereon was erected a splendid and spacious building, fitted with all modern improvements, to be the home for the aged poor in charge of the Sisters. The land and building are worth more than $^o,ooo. The building is of brick, threestories, 225x75 feet in dimensions, with two wings half the size of the main building. A statue of St. Joseph, the gift of Mrs. John A. Reitz, ornaments the front of the structure. Sister Albertine is the Superior, and has eight assistants. At present there are forty-seven inmates (male and female), of all nationalities, ranging from sixty to ninety years of age. No needy person who conforms to the mild rules of the institution is excluded, regardless of color, condition, or religious belief.

Hospital Jar t lie Insane. - This state institution is located in Knight township, on what was formerly known as the Howard farm, on the Newburgh road, about three miles from the city of Evansville. The county records show that in 1882, Mr. Samuel Barker, then count}- commissioner, presented resolutions to the board of commissioners setting forth the needs of additional accommodations for the insane in the state of Indiana. Through the efforts of Hon. William Rahm, jr., state senator, Hons. John F. Pruitt and J. W. Spain, representatives, the county and city otlicers and a committee of citizens composed of Capt. H. C. Gooding, Hon. J. A. Lemcke, Dr. M. Muhlhausen, and Mr. Thomas P. Byrnes, the state legislature was induced to visit Evansville with a view of selecting a site for such an as^'luni as the needs of the state demanded. The legislature was handsomely entertained by the citizens of the city, and the advantages of the location were so clearly presented that favorable action was secured. A handsome edifice, built of brick, at a cost of about $250,000, and capable of accommodating 1,000 inmates, was erected in 1886, by P. H. McCormick, of Columbus, Ind., contractor, under the supervision of the hospital commissioners, and after a design prepared by E. H. Ketcham, of Indianapolis, Ind., architect. The asylum farm cost $20,000.

Tozrns. - On April i, 1S37, William Walker laid out .a town in the southeast quarter of section 13, township 6 south, range 10 west, and called it Smyrna. The Wabash & Erie canal was expected to lift the place to greatness, but with the decay of that waterway, Smyrna was abandoned. At present there are no towns of importance in the township. Smythe's station on the L., E. & St. L. railroad is the site of Mr. Henry Sm^-the's extensive tile factory, which has been in successful operation for several years.

Henry H. Barnett, ex-trustee of Knight township, was born in this township December 31, 1846, the son of Humphrey and Emily R. (Caldwell) Barnett. His father was born April 5, 181 1, in this township, and was married to Emily R- Caldwell, April 12, 1838. He and two other men were killed by a stroke of lightning, in Knight township, while moving a threshing machine, August 19, 1850. The mother was born in Kentuck}', March 2, 1820. She was married to Nathaniel J. James, July 12, 1853, and died in 1866. The early life of Henry H. Barnett was spent in his native township, and in early manhood he adopted the vocation of a farmer. He has in connection with farming, dealt in live stock for a number of years past. He was married October 8, 1872, to Victoria Harper, a native of Knight township, born about 1853, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Fields) Harper. She died January 18, 1S77, and on May 21, 1878, Mr. Barnett was married to Nellie E. Harper, a sister of his first wife, born in Knight township, April, 1859. She died

Early Settlement

September 23, 1887. Mr. Barnett is the father of five children: Harry D. (deceased), Ivy M., Charles H., NelHe, and Russell, of whom the last four are the children of his second wife. In 1882, he was elected assessor, which position he resigned in 1884, to accept the office of township trustee. He was re-elected to this latter office in 1886, and has lately retired from six years' creditable service.

George D. Bowen, proprietor of the Crescent City Nursery, was born in county of Norfolk, England, October 6, 1837, the son of John and Harriet (Burton) Bowen, who spent their entire lives in that country. As early as twelve years of age he became employed in a nursery, and he has made the nursery work the vocation of his life. When seventeen years old he emigrated to America, and at Rochester, N. Y., worked in a nurserj' from two to three j'ears. He then went to Eaton Rapids, Mich., and was a partner in a nursery about two years. In the fall of 1858 he returned to Rochester, where he entered into a contract with ex- Mayor William Baker and his brother, Conrad Baker, in pursuance of which in November, 1858, he came to this county and established a nursery, which he conducted until 1863. It was styled the Crescent" City Nursery by Gov. Baker in the spring of 1859. In 1863 Mr. Bowen became the proprietor of the nursery himself, and he has developed it into one of the best nurseries in the state, and his reputation is not confined to Vanderburgh county. He was married February 16, 1S59, to Elizabeth Jackson, who was born in Daviess county, this state. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of one child, William C. Bowen, now ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen are members of the Presb^'terian church. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in politics is a republican. Mr. Bowen has the

John J. Byrne, trustee of Knight township, was born in Beaver county, Penn., March 2, 1832. He is the son of Michael and Eleanor (O'Brien) Byrne, both natives of Count}^ Kerry, Ireland. His father was born in 1800, and was the son of Daniel and Mary Byrne. The father and mother emigrated to America in 1824, and located in Beaver county, Penn., but when John was about twelve years old, they removed to Allegheny county. He was married in Allegheny county, Penn., March 13, 1862, to Margaret Riddle. She was born in that county July 12, 1837, and is the daughter of Samuel and Jane (Turner) Riddle. Her father was born May 4, 1794, son of Samuel and Jane Riddle. Her mother was the daughter of Samuel and Anna (Ewing) Turner, who came across the Allegheny mountains on horseback in a very early da}\ A pair of baskets was suspended across the horse's back in the form of saddle-bags, and in these baskets the children found a place to ride. For one year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Byrne resided on a farm in Allegheny county. In 1863 they emigrated to Vanderburgh county. They moved to their present home on the Washington avenue road, section 35, in November, 1887. Mr. Byrne owns in all 140 acres of land, 100 of which lie in Knight township, and the remainder in Warrick county. The wife of Mr. B^rne is a member of the Christian church, and he is a member of the Catholic church. In 1888 he was elected trustee, raising his party's majority from thirty-six to seventj'-three.

G. W. Clark was born in Pose}- county, this state, August 16, 1S55, the son of Erastus A. and Sallie A. (Grant) Clark, the latter of whom was a second cousin of

Gen. U. S. Grant. In 1861 his parents removed to Gibson county, and a jear later located in Evansville, where, until he was a man, the subject of this sketch remained. During his bo^'hood and youth he was variously employed. At twenty 3-ears of age, on August 15, 1875, he was married to Miss Ann D. Knapp. She was born on the farm where she and her husband now reside, November 12, 1858, the daughter of William D. and Margaret A. (Housley) Knapp, the former of whom was born in Natchez, Miss., and the latter in Warrick county. Her father was the son of Artemus Knapp, once a prominent business man of Natchez, who died there of yellow fever prior to the war. Mr. and Mrs. Clark began housekeeping on the farm they now occupj'. In November, 1884, they removed to Evansville, where for about two years he was engaged in the grocery trade. In 18S6 they returned to their farm of liftv-three and one-third acres. They have four children : Vashti L., Lizzie A. (deceased), William A. and Rosa A. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Christian church.

M.\j. Francis M. Ewixg was born in Knox county, this state, November 6, 1836, the son of Robert W. and Temperance M. (Cook) Ewing, who were respectively natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. His father was born February 22, 1808, the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Booker) Ewing, both natives of Virginia. Robert Ewing was the son of James and Sarah (Edwards) Ewing. The Ewing family, of which the major is a descendant, fled from Scotland during the time of the persecution of the Protestants by the Catholics. The}' settled on the Foj'le in Ireland, near Londonderry, where they suffered in common with others, all the horrors of the famous siege of that city some ten or twelve years prior to the American revolution. Three brothers, named James, Alexander and Samuel, emigrated and settled in Virginia. Francis M. Ewing is a descendant of the first-named James Ewing, who is his great-grandfather. His mother was born October 10, 1808, the daughter of Joshua Cook. She was married to Robert W. Ewing May 20, 1827. When Francis was eight years old his parents removed from Knox to Sullivan county, this state, and at fifteen years of age he accompanied his parents to Edgar county. 111., and located in the town of Paris. Shortly afterward the family removed to Wapello county, Iowa, where his mother died. His father then returned with his children to Paris, III, in the vicinity of which Francis remained until the year 1861. In addition to a district school education, he was a student in an academy at Paris, 111., two years. In April, 1861, he became a volunteer soldier and was mustered as a private in Company E, Twelfth Illinois infantry, with which he served until July 20, 1863, when he was promoted to the rank of captain and was placed in command of Company B, Fiftyfifth United States colored infantry. September 19, 1865, he was promoted to the rank of major. He was honorably discharged at Baton Rouge, La., October 12, 1865. He performed faithful service at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and the siege and battle of Corinth. In the engagement at Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864, he received a painful, though not dangerous, gunshot wound in the left lower limb. The ball lodged between the tibia and fibula bones, from which place it has never been extracted. For two years after the war he was engaged in the cotton business at Vicksburg. Late in 1867, he went to Kansas, where he resided for five y-ears, the greater part of the time in Neosho count}', where he conducted farming interests. In July, 1872, he came to Evansville. During three years he was traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery house, and during two years he conducted a retail grocery store. In January, 1877, he removed to his present home in Knight township. His attention since 1877 has been given to farming and the dairy business. December 16, 1869, Mr. Ewing was married to Mrs. Nancy Caroline Phar. She was born in this countj^, October 25, 1841, the daughter of Humphrey and Emily R. Barnett. She was married to Jonathan Phar January 28, i86j. He died September 16, 1S67. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing have had six children: Estella M., Nettie E., Charlotte T., Grace (deceased), Walter L., Carrie and Bessie. Mr. and Mrs. Ewing are members of the First Baptist church, of which their children, Estella, Nettie and Charlotte are also members. Mr. Ewing is a member of the Masonic and G. A. R. lodges.

Samuel R. Fickas was born on the farm he now occupies December 11, 1828, son of John and Hannah (Barnett) Fickas, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in this count3\ His father was born about 1795, and was the son of Adam and Eve Fickas. His mother was bom in the year 1800, daughter of Humphre}' and Nancy Barnett, the former of whom was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and afterward became one of the earliest settlers in this part of Indiana. John Fickas served in the war of 181 2, and was present at the battle of New Orleans. He died in Knight township August 4, 1862. His wife survived him until the 2d of the following November. The early life of Samuel was spent on the old homestead. In 1849 he went to California, where for two years he worked at mining. He then returned to Knight township, but in 1853, went to Oregon. In the fall of 1854 he removed from Oregon to California. During his residence in those states his chief occupation was mining. In January, 1858, he again returned to Knight township. After 185S his undivided attention was given to farming, and in this connection he has been very successful. He owns 320 acres of good land in Knight townsliip, about 250 of which are in cultivation. In October, 1852, Mr. Fickas was married to Nancy E. James, also a native of this township, the daughter of William and Winnie (Lane) James. She died in Oregon City, Ore., June 3, 1853. His second marriage was June 3, 1859, to Miss Sarah James, a cousin of his first wife, and daughter of Nathaniel and Ruth (Parker) James. She died September 8, 1873, and on the 6th day of October, 1877, Mr. Fickas was married to Miss Elizabeth Ann Schofield. She was born in Vincennes, Knox county, January 20, 1837, and is the daughter of Richard and Mar)' Mills Schofield. Her father was born in Rochdale, England, August 22, 1810, son of John and Elizabeth (Clegg) Schofield. Her mother was born in Unsworth, England, May 2, 1814, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Woods) Mills. Her father came to America at seventeen vears of age, and her mother came in 1819. When Mrs. Fickas was born her father was manager of Bonner's Cotton factory at Vincennes. In 1861 her parents came to Vanderburgh county, and located in Knight township. Her mother died June 12, 1865, and her father, February 26, 1878. By his second wife Mr. Fickas became the father of five children: John (deceased), Ruth J., Sarah E., Edna and Clara (twins), Clara (deceased). By his present wife Mr. Fickas was the father of one child, Russell O. (deceased). Mrs. Fickas is a member of the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is an Odd Fellow. John Peter Graf was born in Germany,

August 7, 1S30, the son of Phillip David and Margaret (Bittinger) Graf. He came with his parents to America in 1837. The family landed at New Orleans, where they remained nearly a year. They then proceeded to Cincinnati, where they lived three or four years. Afterward they settled on a farm in Clark county, about 1841. There Mr. Graf was married, November 15, i860, to Mary Catharine Kramb. She is a native of German)', born March 15, 1842, daughter of Phillip Henry and Mary Catharine (Webber) Kramb, the former of whom died when Catharine was but four jears old. Her mother came with her children to America in 1858. For about three years after his marriage Mr. Graf worked at coopering in Clark county. In about 1865 he became the proprietor of an eating saloon in Jeffersonville. In October, 1866, he removed with his family to Evansville and engaged in the grocery business, to which he gave his attention for about thirteen years. In November, 187S, he and familv removed to their present beautiful home, one mile east of the city. He and wife have had nine children: David (deceased), George (deceased), Philip (deceased), Emma M., John (deceased), Katie V., Ida C, Lutie M. and Henry C. Mr. and Mrs. Graf are members of the Lutheran church.

Samuel Grainger was born on a farm three miles east of Evansville, April 6, 1835, son of Ira P. and Phoebe J. (Brumfield) Grainger, the former of whom was born in Sumner county, Tenn., in 1809, and the latter is a native of Kentucky. He grew to manhood on the old homestead in Kni<rht township. In Februar}', 1S57, he was marrried to Jennie Gibson, the daughter of Robert Gibson. She died March i, 1858. August 26, i860, Mr. Grainger was married to Frances M. Barnett. She is also a native of Knight township, who was born on the farm where she now lives, October 14, 1845. She is the daughter of Joseph and Abigail (Gillett) Barnett. Mr. Grainger has spent his entire life in Knight township, with the exception of two years, - from the spring of 1884 to 1 886 - during which he was a resident of Evansville. He has been extensively engaged in the growing of potatoes, having crops as great as 16,000 bushels in a single year. He is the father of eleven children: Jennie F., Mary (deceased), Ira P., James W., Charles (deceased), Henry H. (deceased), Carlos (deceased), Samuel R., Esther, George C, and Maggie O. Mr. Grainger is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodses. He has served his township as constable one year, as assessor fourteen years, and as trustee seven and on?-half years; in all capacities in a faithful manner. The parents of Mrs. Grainger were both born in Knight township. Mrs. Grainger owns a farm of loi 1-2 acres, all of which is in cultivation. She is a good manager and a worth}- and esteemed lady.

John James was born near his present home. May 26, 1S26. He is the son of Henry and Nancy (Barnett) James, the former of whom was born in Virginia. His father and mother were married in this county and settled on the farm where he was born in a very early day. His mother died there May 28,

1830. His father afterward married Mrs. Cynthia Shultz, with whom he moved to Henry county, Iowa. In the spring of 1846 he returned on a visit to this county and died at the home of his son, Hon. Nathaniel J. James, on April 2. John James was married to Martha J. Ringer, August 8, 1S50. She was born in Kentucky-, January 11, wealthiest farmers and most extensive freeholders in Vanderburgh count}'. He owns 619 acres of good land in Knight township. His home farm contains 300 acres, about all of which is in cultivation. The first wife of Mr. James died April 23, 1878. On the 5th day of September, 1878, Mr. James was married to Mary Frances Dewees. She was born in Jackson county, W. Va., July 3, 1858, and is the daughter of John and Sarah (Davault) Dewees, both natives of West Virginia. The first marriage of Mr. James resulted in the birth of three children: John J., Henr}' and Frances M. (deceased). Mr. James and his present wife have had two children: Arthur and Winnie. Mr. and Mrs James are members of the Christian church.

Alexander Maddux was born in Meade county, Ky., May 7, 1820, the son of Thomas Maddux, who was a native of Green Brier county, Va. The mother died when he was but seven weeks old. His father afterward married Elizabeth Boesinger. When he was fourteen j'ears old he accompanied his father and stepmother to Perry county, Ind., where his stepmother died about six years later. Shortly after the death of Mrs. Maddux, her husband returned with his children to Kentucky, and located at Cloverport, where he died within a year or so. For a year or two after his father's death, Mr. Maddux farmed in Perry county, this state. About 1845 he went to Clay county. Mo., where, during the winter of 1845-6, he taught school, then he returned to Kentucky, and attended school at Hardensburg. He was then a clerk in a general store at Stevensport about one year, and in 1847 entered the employ of Dr. James Graves, of Louisville, with whom he was engaged as traveling salesman three years. February 14, 1850, he was married to Susan Edmond; she was born in this countv,

May 9, 1822, the daughter of John Edmond, who was a native of Somerset count}', Penn., Mr. and Mrs. Maddux lived on a farm in Union township, this county, for a period of fourteen j^ears, and during the first seven 3'ears he was extensively engaged in supplying wood to the Ohio river steamboats. In March, 1863, Mr. Maddux removed to Evansville, where he resided about twenty years. His attention during that time was given to his farming interests, which were very extensive, and to the renting of varipus properties which he owned in the city. In January, 1882, he removed to his present elegant home, one mile east of the ciiy. He owns at this time about 500 acres of farm land in Vanderburgh county. He is also the owner of a number of valuable properties in Evansville, the rentals of which bring him a considerable income. Mr. Maddux and wife have an only child, whose name is Talitha J. She was born December 20, 1852, and was married September 23, 1872, to John J. Brose, bj' whom she is the mother of two children: Susie B. and Effie M. Mr. Brose was born April 7, 1844, and died July I, 1878. Mr. Maddux is a member of the Baptist church and of the I. O. O. F. Besides serving as justice of the peace he has served as a member of the board of county commissioners one term.

Robert A. Pollock was born in Scotland, April 2, 1840, the son of James and Elizabeth (Gray) Pollock, with whom he came to America when he was between two and three j'ears old. His father was born near Glasgow, Scotland. They found a home in the province of Ontario, where Robert grew to manhood. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and also owned a farm. In addition to a good common school education, he completed a course in a commercial college at Toronto. About 1863 he came to the United States, and after a few weeks at Pithole City, Pa., came to Vevay, Ind., where for three years he had charge of the wharf-boat. He was then in the empio}-, first, of John and William Charlton, and afterward of W. B. Owen, and it was his duty to attend to the business of the American Express company. During this time, however, he spent the winter of 1865-6, in the city of New Orleans. In the spring of 1S67, he left Vevay and passed the following summer in Cincinnati. In the fall of 1867 he went back to Northumberland count}-, Ontario, and in 1S68 visited Buffalo, N. Y., Cincinnati, O., Vevay, Ind., and Hamilton, O. In November, 1868, he came ! from Vevay to V^anderburgh count}-, and ' soon afterward purchased a farm in Knight township. Here he settled, and he has since civen his attention to farniin<r. Mr. Pollock was married on New Year's day, 187 1, to Elizabeth H. Aiken. She was born in Knight township, March 7) 185 1, the daughter of Moses and Nancy J. (Fickas) Aiken. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of seven children: Mamie J., Ella M., deceased. Mora D., Cicero D., and Cora A. Mrs. Pollock is a member of the Christian church; he is a member of the Presb^'terian church.

Henry B. Smyth was born in Evansville, March 21, 1849, the son of Thomas D. and Mary L. (Rowley) Smyth, the former of whom was born in the County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1824, and the latter in the city of Evansville. At the age of fifteen he became a student in Behme's Commercial College, of Evansville, in which he obtained a good knowledge of book-keeping. In March, 1864, his parents removed to Knight township, and settled on the farm where he now resides, in section 24. This has been his home ever since. He helped to clear and cultivate the farm until 1871, and in connection with his father, engaged in the manufacture of tile. The firm continued under the name of Thomas D. Smyth & Son, until it was dissolved by the death of his father on the 14th of May, 1880. Since then Henry B. has conducted the business alone. He has also in connection with the manufacture of tile, controlled extensive farming interests. His farm of 176 acres contains a handsome residence and other substantial improvements. There is probably not another farm in Vanderburgh county upon which so much work has been done in the way of under-drainage. It now has between six and seven miles of tile drainage, to which additional lines are added each year. Mr. Smyth was married March 13, 1872, to Emma J. Stroud. She was born in Union township, this county, March 16, 1854, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Sarah J. (Cloud) Stroud. Mr. and Mrs. Smyth have had five children: Harry B., Richard G., Helen M. (deceased ), Mabel C, and Clarence B. Mrs. Smyth is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. In 1880 he was elected trustee of Knight township. He served one term to the entire satisfaction of the public.

Source changes here: from A History of Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana : a Complete and Concise Account from the Earliest Times to the Present, Embracing Reminiscences of the Pioneers and Biographical Sketches of the Men Who Have Been Leaders in Commercial and Other Enterprises, by Elliott, Joseph P. (Joseph Peter), B, published 1897; 7,393 words in this source stream.

Knight Township

Remarkable Adventures of Isaac Knight as a Captive among the Indians - Long Perilous Tramp to Detroit - Sick and Cruelly Treated - Adopted in an Indian Family - Smallpox - Life Afnong the Treacherous Redskins - After Pour Tears He Escaped and Retzirned Home - Adventure of Charles Harrington.

Straggling bands of Indians, mostly of the Shawnee tribe, con- *^tinued to wander about the country, and until the close of the war of 1812, they would return at intervals and camp along the streams for the purpose of hunting and fishing. These Indians caused the settlers considerable anxiety and were constantly pilfering and stealing. The only incident of more than passing interest, which occurred within what is now the territory of Vanderburgh county, was the killing, by a band of Pottawatomie and Kickapoo Indians, of Peter Sprinkle and Jacob Upp, and the capture of Isaac Knight, George Sprinkle and John Upp. This occurred on the banks of the Ohio, in what is now Union township, about the year 1793. The victims, who at that time were all boys, were residents of Kentucky, but as one of the captives, Isaac Knight, became a resident of Vanderburgh county, and as he is remembered as one of the most prominent early settlers and as a most respected citizen, the incident will be read with additional interest at this place. The following is taken from an account of the capture and escape, published in 1839, as narrated by Isaac Knight himself, and written by Rev. Hiram Hunter.

"Isaac Knight, the subject of the following narrative, was born in what was then Washington county in Pennsylvania. The record of his age being lost, the exact time of his birth cannot be ascertained.

" When the subject of this narrative was a child, his father removed west, by water, in company with his father-in-law, Mr. Lawrence Rolinson, and Norod Franceway, who had also married into the same family.

" These all settled at or uear the place uow known by the name of Vienna, on Green river, about eight miles above its mouth, where, with much diflSculty, they lived several years, grinding their corn on hand-mills or pounding it in a mortar. At one time such was the difficulty with which bread stuff was procured, that Isaac's father bought corn at the mouth of Green river, at $1.25 per bushel and conveyed it to his family in a pirogue or canoe. Indeed, the difficulties under which the first settlers of that part of Kentucky labored, were almost insupportable

" For the security of the whites and their families, they were compelled to build and resort to forts in as large numbers as the thinly settled districts would permit. Uniting their energies, they labored by turns in each other's fields, one or more, as necessity required, standing as sentinels.

" During the season in which corn was making, they remained in their forts; but returned to their lonesome and dangerous retreats for the remainder of the year.

" Seldom^ would anything short of unmistakable signs of Indian hostilities drive them in the spring of the year from their lonely huts. It is, however, perfectly in the recollection of the author of this narrative, that, when a boy, he heard the report of a gun, which killed his father's near neighbor, one of the finest men in the settlement. Mr. Downs, who was thus shot by the Indian, left a wife and seven children to lament his untimely death. He was most cruelly used by the savage butchers, and left scalped on the ground.

"About this time the country about the Red Banks, on the Ohio river, now known as Henderson county, Kentucky, began to be spoken of as a most desirable section, and Isaac's father, with the rest of the connection, moved to that place where they found that a few families had already located. But one house had as yet been erected - the rest of the families were living in camps. In removing to this place, their property was conveyed by water, except the stock, which was driven overland. Isaac, then a small boy about nine or ten years of age, assisted in driving them.

"They at length arrived in safety at the Eed Banks, where even greater difficulties were undergone by settlers than had been endured by them at Vienna. Here, too, as at the former place, they cultivated the soil guarded by sentinels.

"About this time the smallpox prevailed at Red Banks, and little Isaac was vaccinated. He was, however, still under the necessity of giving moi-e or less attention to his father's cattle, in cutting cane and providing food for them. Accordingly, in company with others, he frequently went across the Ohio river in canoes to cut cane. On one of these routes, accompanied by Peter and George Sprinkle, and John and Jacob Upp. As boys are naturally inclined to do, they began running and jumping, and playing about, as soon as they reached the shore opposite to Henderson. They were all unconscious of their danger, until from behind an ambush, which was made of cane, cut and stuck in the ground for the purpose of concealment, eight Indians, six of whom were found to be Pattowatomies and two Kickapoos, came rushing upon them. In confusion and astonishment the boys all attempted to escape. The eldest, Peter Sprinkle, a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years of age, ran nearly to the river and was shot down, three guns being fired at him at once. Little Jacob Upp, a small boy of about seven years of age, finding escape impossible, stood still and begged for his life, crying, " Don't kill me, don't kill me ; " but it was of no avail - the cruel savages buried the tomahawk in his skull, and put an end to his cries.

"George Sprinkle, who was larger than Isaac, and John Upp, who was smaller, were taken almost on the spot where the Indians were discovered. When the author of this narrative first saw the Indians, he ran, without saying a word ; and on hearing the reports of the guns that killed Peter Sprinkle, he looked back and saw an Indian in pursuit of him. He continued his race, until in a short time he felt a blow upon each shoulder, which he afterward found came from two Indians, instead of one, that had pursued him.

" These blows stunned him so that he fell and in falling he lost his hat. He had no sooner touched the ground thau his savage pursuers had each hold of an arm lifting him up. Even in this predicament he attempted twice to reach for his hat, but failed to get it. He afterward learned from one of the Indians, who took him, that if he had made a third attempt to get his hat he would have killed him. They led the affrighted Isaac to the rest of the company, and as he thought, to the place of execution, but to his surprise when he came there, he found his associates, George Sprinkle and John Upp, in the custody of the savage red men, yet alive.

" Here, in full view of the Red 15auks, the savages liolding up the yet warm scalps of Peter Sprinkle and Jacob. Upp, raised the warwhoop and started with their young prisoners, holding fast to Isaac's hand as they compelled him to run after them. Such was their fearfulness that he would yet escape, that in swimming the bayou a short distance from the river, one still held him by the hand. On reaching the camp where these savages had lain the previous night, they put moccasins on the boys, and comjjelled them to follow them or keep up with them, running all day and traveling all night.

" In the evening of the first day one of the boys, John Upp, became so much exhausted that he could run no longer. The Indians, with a view of compelling him forward, threatened him with their tomaiiawks ; but finding that he could not go two of them assisted him.

" The morning of the second day they came upon three bears, which the Indians had killed ; and in great haste each took a small portion along with him. They crossed the Patoka river, and on the bank they stopped for the first time to cook and eat. The boys by this time were much fatigued, and well nigh worn out by constant and hard traveling. Nothing worthy of note transpired until the evening of the third day, when, after making a small fire of sticks, they produced the scalps of the murdered boys, and after cutting the meat out of one of them, they earefolly put it on sticks before the fii-e, and cooked it ; then, in the presence of the boys, they ate it, shaking the remaining scalp at them. This they did, not because they were hungry, but each that he might thereby say, ' I have killed a white man, and have eaten him.' And thus they acquired no little reputation as warriors. The remaining scalps they then stretched on hoops, made for that purpose.

" That night they danced the war dance, and made their young prisoners walk around with them, and would have had them dance had they not been too much exhausted. This was afterwards their regular employment every other night.

" In their route they attempted to cross a stream in a small canoe, which was only large enough to carry two men ; however, one of the Indians conveyed the boys across the creek, and, on reaching the opposite bank, George Sprinkle being a little fearful, and knowing that he could not swim, leaped from the canoe to the bank. On perceiving this, the Indian gave him a l:)lnw with his paddle across the back, which injured him seriously, so that it was with difficulty he ascended the bank.

"The reader will remember that Isaac had been vaccinated just the day before he was taken by these cruel savages, which was the 8th day of April, 1793, according to his best recollection. In something like a week he became very sick with smallpox, but was nevertheless compelled to travel every day, even when scarcely able to hold up his head, or help himself in the least. The knowledge which his friends at home had of the fact that, if alive, he would be thus afflicted, augmented their uneasiness and anxiety about him. Their fears could but be great that the cruel wretches would kill him ; and if not, that he would die of the smallpox, exposed as he was in an Indian camp. Their niauner of crossing rivers, ponds or creeks was to swim or wade ; and, sick as Isaac was, such was the manner in which he was compelled to pass them. He was under the necessity of swimming a small river, after the disease had appeared upon him which was the means of driving it in so that it made him very sick. 'Then, for the first time the savages displayed some humanity, and after kindling a fire for the night they wrapped Isaac in two blankets and placed him near the fire, in which situation he spent the night. In the morning the pox appeared again and he was some better, but still unable to travel. Nevertheless it was his fate to go, and he endeavored to do so, until, faint and sick, he fell to the ground. His Indian drivers, however, soon raised him and compelled him to go forward.

"Fatigued with traveling and afflicted with fever, he suffered much for water, which they frequently refused him. "\Mien in crossing water he would lift up some in his hand and put it to his mouth, they would push him down in the water. At night, encamping near a small stream he asked leave to go for water ; they granted it, but an Indian followed him to the bank and then kicked him down a steep, where he fell among the rocks, and was badly hurt by the fall. At another time, passing a small branch, he asked permission to drink, which was granted ; but as he put his mouth to the water an Indian with his foot crushed his mouth into the sand. With this most brutal treatment, swelled till shapeless with sores, which were constantly suppurating, and not infrequently, especially in the morning, discharging blood, he was forced to march.

" Provisions growing scarce they spent one day in hunting. In the afternoon, having killed two deer they stopped to cook ; Isaac, being in the way of one of the Kickapoos, he took the liberty to kick him down a descending ground, some twelve or fifteen feet. The kicking was no pleasant thing to Isaac ; and here he found in one of the Indians a fi-iend, who claimed him as his, and was much offended at the conduct of the others.

" In a few days they passed the Kickapoo towns, where the two Indians of that nation left the company for home, and the prisoners saw them no more so as to recognize them. They soon arrived at another town oi some note, on the Illinois river.

" At this place the prisoners were conducted in the presence of, and exposed to the view of, a vast crowd of Indians, many of whom came up with apparent friendship, and gave them a hearty shake of the hand.

" From this place they were conducted across the river to a wigwam, where something was provided for them to eat, which very much pleased their palates, as it somewhat resembled small hominy, and they had seen a squaw put a handful or two of sugar into it, after striking a dog over the head and driving him out of the wigwam with the ladle with which she stirred the mess.

" As the evening came ou the Indians began to collect, and as the other two boys had been painted and trimmed by the Indians, previous to their arrival in town, and Isaac was not (though none of them could account for it) it was the opinion both of him and them that it was their intention to burn him ; however, when they were all collected, the young prisoners were ordered out, and the Indiaus in one vast body danced a war dance around a small fire, the prisoners and the warriors that took them being next to the fire, and opposite to or facing them as they danced around, were two squaws, bearing on canes from the Ohio bottoms the scalps of the little boy and the young man who had been killed when the others boys were taken.

" Next morning almost all the Indians of the world (as Isaac thought) collected on the opposite bank of the river for a ball play, where they spent the greater pai-t of the day in that exercise, both men and women sharing in the pleasures ; the sexes engaging apart of each other, and seemed to delight greatly in the employment.

" In the evening a company of some two or three hundred elderly Indians came marching down to the wigwam where the prisoners were kept, bearing two large kettles of hominy, beating their drums, rattling deer hoofs and making music of different kinds. They marched several times around the hut, and then with great apparent solemnity placed the kettles on a handsome green, and when they were all seated around them, two men waiting on the rest divided the contents of the kettles, putting a small portion in every man's bowl (for they all had bowls, and, as was their custom, ladles.) A prophet then, as was supposed, repeated as he sat, a lengthy ceremony, after which they enjoyed their repast in good order and dispersed.

moccasins by a squaw, who also gave him and the other lads something to eat. Soon after an Indian of the company that had taken the boys came in and beckoned to Isaac to follow him, and without a thought that he and his associates were now to be separated until they should meet at home, he followed his guide the whole day up . the Illinois river, wading many swift running streams, which, as Isaac expressed himself, washed off many a scab. By this Indian he was ])i!oted to a wigwam where lived, as he afterward found, the mother of the two warriors that had taken him, and who were detained at the village by sickness, of which one of them died. Here, being delivered to this old mother and being seated by her, she immediately gave him a new blanket and provided him something to eat. This day's travel had again freshened Isaac's sores, and so fatigued him that although he was wrapped up in a new blanket and kindly treated, he had no rest, but felt in the morning almost as bad as formerly.

"The squaw, in whose care Isaac was left with a view to cure him, made preparations for it, and with a sharp flint scarified him and rubbed the sores with a rough piece of bark to make them bleed ; then caused him to jump in the Illinois river. This was all done through kindness, although it was harsh treatment.

" From this place Isaac, together with many Indians, started up the river to an Indian town situated upon a small island in a lake through which the Illinois river passes, now called Illinois lake; this place they gained in five days, nothing very imjjortant transpiring on the route. It was Isaac's fate, however according to the direction of the squaw to whose care he was committed, to jump in the river every morning.

" Soon after this time the smallpox made its appearance among the Indians on the island, and the kind old squaw who had given so much attention to Isaac, and thereby endeared herself to him, was one of the first subjects and victims of that destructive disease. He had for a longtime feared that if that disease broke out among them they Avould kill him, as he had been the means of bringing it among them ; and although he sonietimes hoped that some of the most cruel and barbarous of them would die with it, yet he more frequently desired they might all escape it, as he feared the consequences. Their manner of treating the disease proved fatal in many instances. They invariably at first, in that as in all other cases of comiilaint, took a severe sweat and then jumped into the river; and so terminated the existence of many. The death of this humane and motherly old squaw gave the author of this narrative most unpleasant feelings, and was the cause of mucli distressing exercise of mind. He had found her a true and tender friend, and one who was willing to do for him all that she could but when he saw her taken from him, he found himself far from home without a friend, among strangers, in the midst of foes, and surrounded with sickness producing death in every direction. His spirits sank and all hope was well nigh gone. Xo cheering thought checked his distress - no gleam of hope could light up his countenance, or buoy up his disconsolate spirit.

" The death and burial of the squaw, whom Isaac recognized almost as a mother, was extremely solemn and impressive. Appearing sensible of her approaching dissolution, she gave Isaac to her daughter, who lived with her. She was buried after their manner with great solemnity, and many of the Indians painted themselves black and mourned for her ten days, fasting every day until evening ; but all this was not expressive of Isaac's grief for the death of her who had nursed him with so much tenderness and friendliness. Now left alone he found no one to whom he could unbosom his sorrows.

"A number of Indians died of the disease on the island before they left it. Necessity seemed to compel them to leave the island, and supposing that a change of situation would improve their health, they started, moving a short distance at a time and spending but little time at any one place. They had not moved very far when the squaw in whose care Isaac was left, followed her mother, being a victim of the same disease. Indeed, they lost some at every place they stopped. This squaw left a young child, some twelve months old, which it fell to Isaac's lot to nurse, and besides the attention he had to give that infant, it devolved on him to nurse the sick, to bury the dead, and frequently to do it all alone. AVorn down with fatigue through this ai'duous labor, he devised the means to be relieved of the burden of the child. Accordingly, as he carried it on his back wrapped up in a blanket in Indian style, he drew the blanket tight around it and so put an end to its cries, removed his own burden and terminated its life.

"After the death of an Indian of some note, whom they buried with as much splendor as their circumstances would permit, his squaw and four children, the eldest of whom was large enough to support the family by hunting, left the rest of the Indians and moved down the Illinois river in a canoe.

"Isaac's fears being great, lest he should yet be killed for bringing the smallpox among them, he was undecided whether to tell or not that he had brought it, when he heard two squaws talking upon the subject, and learned from their conversation that the Indians were of the opinion that they had taken the disease from the handling of

"Some weeks afterwards the rest of the Indians turned their course down the river, also taking little Isaac with them ; still some of them were sick and dying. After passing the island in the lake where the disease first appeared among them, they descended the river for some distance ; but how far and how long a time is not in the recollection of the author.

"A short time now elapsed before they started again up the river, passed the town on the island before mentioned, and Isaac, having been committed by some means to the care of another squaw, traveled up this river in the same canoe with her, and passing the place where her husband had been buried, she steered the canoe to the shore, and taking out some venison in a bowl, had Isaac accompany her to the grave. Here she kindled a small fire over the head of the grave, into which she threw some of the venison. Setting down the bowl she told Isaac to eat of the meat, which he did, while she walked to some distance and mourned with loud and sore lamentations for nearly an hour; then she returned to the grave, wiped off the tears, threw .some more meat into the fire and on the grave and bade Isaac to start.

"About this time Isaac began to be threatened, as he learned from the Indian boys, by an old chief who said that he had brought the smallpox among them, and while this was in agitation, one of the Indians arrived who had taken Isaac and who had been left sick at the first town, the place where Isaac had been separated from his associates, his fellow prisoners. This Indian, Isaac met with much joy, as he claimed him as his property.

"A few Town Indians now arrived among these Pottawatomies, selling them goods, trading for furs, etc. These Indians were acting as agents for a merchant at Mackinaw, as is frequently the case.

"To one of the Town Indians Isaac was sold for what he thought would amount to about $500, and was delivered to his new master perfectly naked. He was then told to mount the horse behind the man that bought him, and they rode off across what he now thinks was Spoon river.

"They then traveled for some days north of the Ohio river, to the hunting ground of the Indian who had now purchased him. Here the "Big Buck" was killed and a feast prepared to have Isaac adopted into the family.

"In his nose they put six silver rings. His hair, being long, was divided and plaited, one half before and the other half behind ; the hinder part ornamented with beads, and the forepart filled with silver brooches.

"The season for making sugar being over, they moved to the mouth of the Chicago river and commenced making arrangements to go to Mackinaw with their skins and fui's.

"As the route which they had to go led them near the shore, they encamped every night on it, where, for the security of both the canoe and its loading, they were under the necessity of unloading, drawing it out of the water and turning it upside down, thus making it answer the purjjose of a wigwam. They continued this route for some days and arrived at a small island, on which were a number of Indians; where they landed and spent the night. Between that place and Mackinaw they landed on another small island, inhabited by Indians, with whom Isaac was left until his Indian father and mother returned from Mackinaw.

"Isaac's Indian father and family now started with him and their fresh supply of goods to return to Chicago. Nothing of importance transpired on the route. Sailing along the shore of Lake Michigan, they encamped every night as before, and at length arrived at the mouth of the Chicago river, where they had embarked for Mackinaw. Here, having raised their canoe on forks and so secured it, they removed from place to place, principally up the river, trading with the Indians and making a living by fishing, and later they started for the old hunting grounds on the Illinois river.

"Toward spring, but while the snow was yet on the ground, they turned their course again for Chicago, spending their time in hunting and trading, until they arrived at their old camp just in good time for sugar making.

"Before they left the sugar camp they had many drunken sprees, in some of which Isaac's life was greatly endangered, but by some means preserved.

" Arrangements were now made for another trip to Mackinaw; and, having collected all the skins they could, they thought of taking Isaac along with them ; but fearing that he would get away, they called in an old prophet in whom they placed great confidence, and who went into what they called a sweat-house to powwow, and informed them of such things as they wished to know, as to what would happen in the future. Accordingly, Isaac went to work to prepare the sweat-house within the wigwam, covering it with skins and blankets, and rolling in a large hot stone upon which the prophet poured water, and leaving an opening at the top of the wigwam for the steam to come out. Into this house the prophet entered, powwowing and singing, while Isaac and his little brothers danced around it, waiting on the prophet as he ordered, until the smaller boys becoming tired laid down and went to sleep. Some time elapsed and the prophet came out. Isaac immediately, as if worn out and overcome with sleep, threw himself down upon some deer skins and pretended to be asleep. The old prophet took a seat near his Indian mother and commenced speaking. She asked him many questions, and he answered them. But none of them were of much interest to Isaac until she wished to know if she would keep him if she took him all the way to Mackinaw. The prophet, much to Isaac's gratification, told her she would, but she must be careful not to let him talk much to white people.

" Now, full of glee and in fine spirits, they loaded their bark canoe and, started. After many days toiling and sailing, they all arrived in safety at Mackinaw.

" Here, unloading the canoe, and preparing to encamp under it, Isaac was conducted by his Indian mother, in company with her two eldest boys, to the house of the merchant for whom they traded. After .showing Isaac to them, and suffering him to talk but little with them, the merchant's lady gave each of the boys a slice of bread well buttered, which Isaac received very gratefully and ate. It was the first bread he had tasted since he last ate at his father's table.

" Here Isaac was permitted to walk about in company with the Indian boys, but was generally accompanied by his Indian mother, and sometimes by an uncle and aunt who had come with them to that place in a little bark canoe.

"As he walked along the beach with them he saw a ship lying at the wharf, and a man standing near, whom he supposed was the captain. Their attention was mutually drawn towards each other. The captain, perceiving that Isaac was white, asked him where he was taken jirisoner; he replied from the Red Banks on the Ohio river. Isaac asked him, <Are you the captain of this vessel ? " He said he was, 'AVhere are you bound ? " said Isaac.

"Here Isaac was commanded to hush and was taken away by his Indian friends. Towards evening Isaac was called to convey his Indian father, who was drunk, across an arm of the lake, in a little bark canoe, belonging to his uncle, as the Indian wished to join a company of his friends who were over there drinking and carousing. Having done this Isaac returned late in the evening, and landing near the camp, drew his little bark partly on the shore and went to the camp contented as usual. Here he found an English soldier, who seemed to feel much solicitude about .him, and whom Isaac told he would rather live with the Indians than with the white people. Fearing that such interviews with the white men would lead Isaac off, his Indian mother made him lie down by her, for she had gone to bed. The Englishman went away. Isaac, however, did not sleep, but waiting until he thought the rest of them were lost in the quietness of a pleasant nap, he caught his blanket in his teeth and softly stole from behind his mother, drawing his blanket after him. He got out, straightened himself and listened ; he could hear no stir, except the quiet music of the lake before liim, which invited him to liberty. He stepped softly to the little bark canoe he had drawn to the shore, and seating himself in it, he moved as gently as possible around the picketing that enclosed the town and extended into the lake, and again turned to the shore. Giving his canoe a push into the lake, he steei-ed his course for the vessel on which he had learned he could make his escape. When he reached the vessel the captain was walking about on the deck, and seeing Isaac approach he met him and told him to follow him. They went together into the cabin. The captain was much perplexed to know what to do with Isaac, so as to secure him, and screen himself from the censure of the Indians, with whom his greatest trade was carried on. At length, however, he told him, ' I have a little negro boy in the kitchen who will find you out, let me do with you what I may. If you go to him and tell him your situation and object, he can take care of you ; but do not tell him that I know anything about you.' Isaac went into the kitchen and awoke the negro, but he appeared unwilling to have anything to do with him. Fearing that, between them he would have to go back to the Indians, Isaac told the little negro that his master knew that he was there, and had told him to come to him. ' Then,' said the negro, still lying in his bunk, 'get in here.' Isaac tumbled in with him but not to sleep. His fate, as yet, was too uncertain. By the side of the sleepy headed negro he laid and watched for the day to dawn. Seeing the first appearance of light in the morning, he awoke the little negro with much difficulty and said to him, ' You must do something with me - this is no place for me.' The negro arose, unlocked the lower part of the cupboard, and told Isaac to get in there. He did so ; and the boy locked him up and left him.

"He had been there but a short time when he heard the voice of his Indian mother and brother, as they came down the hatchway in pursuit of him. Presently the captain sprang out of his bed and began to rail out at the Indians for disturbing him in that way before he was out of bed. The Indians being easily cowed by a white man of some character, and especially an officer, Isaac's Indian mother soon left the vessel.

"Fortunately for this captain, as well as for Isaac, a large barge which had lain at the whai'f, started that same night about midnight for Montreal, which circumstance affiarded the captain an opportunity to make the Indians believe that Isaac had gone on board of it, and to convince them that he was innocent and knew nothing about him, he remained there until 8 o'clock in the morning.

"Eight o'clock in the morning, the wind being fair, the Nancy's sails were hoisted, Captain Mills commanding, and Isaac started for the land of freedom.

"Isaac bade Captain Mills adieu, and gave him his hearty thanks for his kindness and protection. He started, and soon found himself at the gate, and passing the pickets, when the sentinel, a raw Irishman, cried, 'Who goes there?' 'A friend,' said Isaac, and added in a hurry, 'I am running away from the Indians and want you to protect me.' 'Oh! be Jasus, my good fellow, come here,' said he, 'and damn the one of them that shall hurt you.' With this sentinel, Isaac waited patiently for some minutes, when the relief guard came around. The sentinel then informed the sergeant that he had a prisoner. Isaac, being delivered to the guard, was taken to the guard house, where the curiosity of the soldiers kept him up all night, giving a history of his suffi?rings with the Indians.

"About this time Isaac learned that a captain and a company of soldiers were about to start for Fort Maumee, and having obtained permission from the captain to accompany them, Isaac made ready, and early next morning, bidding his kind host adieU and drawing rations in common with the soldiers, he went on board the boat, and sailed

"Spending a few days at this place, some wagons came to the fort, bringing goods and presents for the Indians, in the interest of Wayne's treaty, and as these wagons were said to be returning to Cincinnati, Isaac asked permission of the wagon master to go with them, stating to him his situation ; he gave his consent and drew rations for him accordingly.

"At Cincinnati he presented himself to the officer commanding, and was told that he could draw provisions until he met with an opportunity to go on. Perfectly composed he lay down to sleep, but was presently aroused and informed by the soldiers that a man by the name of David Pea, who had carried stores from Vincennes, on the Wabash river, to the army at Detroit, was then returning, and was hunting for him. Isaac immediately went in pursuit of Mr. Pea; and, finding him, they drew provisions and started for Louisville in a skiff.

"After running some days they landed at the mouth of Harden creek. Here Isaac met a young married woman, with whom he had gone to school before he was taken by the Indians. They recognized each other, and she informed him that his father and friends had removed from the Red Banks to what was then, and is now called Knight's Fall on Green river. He was here advised to land at the Yellow Banks, which he did.

"From this place he started alone and afoot along a path some twelve miles in length, to the house of an old acquaintance, a Mr. Vanada, with whom he had often been forted at Vienna, when but a child.

"Next morning the kindness of Mr. Vanada and one of his sons impelled them to accompany Isaac in a canoe down Green river to his father's house.

"After Isaac's arrival at home, he learned that his fellow prisoners, George Sprinkle and John Upp, had returned some three months before him.

The boy had been a captive about four years. He had become perfectly acquainted with the redskins' cunning, and learned their habits, manners, and methods of life to an extent that afterwards availed him in guarding against their sudden and unexpected attacks. Until the return of Sprinkle and Upp his parents knew nothing about him. Naturally they supposed him dead. He was overjoyed to get back home again. Four years of such experience as his had made great changes in his life.

Charles Harrington

Charles Harrington settled in Evausville about 1830. He was one of the prominent and active business men of the city until 1860. Having acquired considerable property, he retired from active business and passed his declining years in comfort, in the enjoyment of the fruits of the labor of his earlier years. His residence was on First street, near the corner of Ingle street, at which place he died in 1874. He was born near Nashville, Tenn., in 1794. His father, William Harrington, moved to Indiana territory in 1804, and settled about one mile west of where the city of Princeton is now located. The first court in Gibson county was held at the residence of William Harrington, it being the largest house in the county. The Hon. Isaac Blackford was the presiding judge.

The following experience of Mr. Harrington gives us an idea of the dangers and hardships endured by the early settlers of this state. At the beginning of the war of 1812, in anticipation of trouble with the Indians, a company of rangers was organized in Gibson county. Charles Harrington and his brother George joined the comjiany. Afterwards the company joined General Harrison's forces at Vincennes, when it became rumored that Tecumseh was marching toward Vincennes for the purpose of attacking the town. Volunteers were called for to form a scouting party to go out and try to ascertain the position of Tecumseh and the number and character of his forces. Both Charles and George Harrington volunteered to join the scouting party. General Harrison, after inspecting those who had volunteered, selected sixteen whom he thought the best qualified to perform the dangerous services required of them, among the number so selected were the two Harrington boys. Just after dark they started on their perilous undertaking. After leaving Vincennes they went in a northerly direction, as Tecumseh was supposed to be approaching from that direction. They followed almost the same course that is now occupied by the tracks of the E. & T. H. railroad. The country north of Vincennes at that time was an unbroken wilderness of dense trees. During the night, and until about eight o'clock in the morning, they were constantly moving forward, watching, as only experienced frontiersmen could, for any signs that might indicate the presence of Indians. Having traveled about fifteen miles, and being tired and worn out, they stopped for a rest, it then being after eight o'clock in the morning, the sun shining brightly. They did not expect an immediate attack, for it was the common practice of the Indians to make their attacks about daybreak. Being very tired, the scouts decided to take a short sleep. Two of their number were selected to stand guard while the remainder lay down to rest. While the others were sleeping the guards concluded to prepare something to eat, and went a short distance away to a branch to get some water with which to make coffee. At that unlucky moment a large number of Indians rushed upon the sleeping scouts. When Charles Harrington awoke they were surrounded by Indians. As he arose to his feet he shot down an Indian that was coming at him with an uplifted tomahawk. At the same moment his brother George fell pierced by a bullet and almost at the same instant Charles Harrington received a bullet through his right arm, breaking the bones between the elbow and wrist. Being disabled and his comrades all being either killed or wounded, there was but one chance in a thousand of escaping, and that M'as to dash through the Indians that surrounded him and dodge the blows of their tomahawks and their bullets, if possible. To think was to act. That one chance in a thousand proved to be his, and the next second found him plunging through the dense undergrowth of bushes and weeds that grew in the forest. Being an unusually swift runner he gained on his pursuers, and when he became exhausted from running and loss of blood he hid in some thick undergrowth. Several times during the day Indians that were hunting for him passed within a few feet of his hiding place. He soon discovered that it was necessary to do something to stop the flow of blood from his wound, to keep himself from bleeding to death. He took his hunting knife and cut strips from his shirt with which to bandage his arm. As he could only use his left hand he found it a difficult matter to get a bandage around his arm tight enough to stop the flow of blood. He remained in his hiding place until after dark. He then started for Vincennes, where he arrived in th« morning. Only two of his comrades escaped. Thirteen were killed.

Gen. Robert M. Evans

The author's first knowledge and acquaintance of Gen. Robert M. Evans was in February, 1837. At that time General Evans was a little past middle age, but showed signs of the effect of camp life while engaged in the war of 1812-1813 in suppressing the Indians that in-

He was a general under General Harrison, whose headquarters at that time were at Viucennes, Indiana. He was at the battle of Tippecanoe in command of a regiment or brigade, and was on the staff of General William Henry Harrison.

General Evans located in New Harmony, Indiana, about 1826 and kept a hotel at that place. He came to Evansville a second time about ] 828 and bought a half interest in Hugh McGary's purchase, and laid out the city of Evansville above Main street, known as the original plan of Evansville.

General Harrison and General Evans, so long as they both lived, were warm friends, and in 1839 General Harrison visited him at Evansville. This country was then full of military enthusiasm and there were three substantially equipped, volunteer companies, well-drilled in this city and county.

Three companies escorted General William Henry Harrison and General Evans, who went arm in arm from the Evans homestead through the various streets of the city.

It is said that in the early part ot 1827, Rev. Alexander Campbell visited New Harmony and stopped at the community hotel, and while there General Evans had a lively religous controversy with the celebrated divine. General Evans' family consisted, at this time, of himself and wife, son Cornelius and daughter. Miss Julia Evans, a beautiful young woman. His brother's name was Leyle, and his sisters were Mrs. Dr. Thompson and Mrs. John Schnee. When he was a candidate lor Congress he stumped the district.