Pine Township (part 4 of 5)

Counterfeiting was an evil which was carried on to a considerable extent within the limits of this county, and caused a great deal of indignation among the honest settlers here. The two classes of outlaws were ited and had their sympathizers everywhere among the early settlers. Indeed, the latter class became so bold in their operations as to take little pains to conceal their work, and so skillful as to deceive the officials of the land office. It is said that a neighbor came upon a blacksmith of this county one rainy day, and found him busily engaged in coining bogus money. He made no attempt to conceal his dies, but said, in a matterof-fact way, that he had just finished making enough to enter another quarter section of land, and proposed to stop the business. This he did, destroying his dies and showing them to his neighbor, but he secured his land and no official scrutiny was ever directed toward his manner of getting his property. This was not an isolated case, and both men were respected as men of high social character and probity, but the theory seemed to exist that so long as the evil was not directed against the home cummunity, it was a venial crime.

The Jasper Rangers. - Such looseness in the public morals, however, had their inevitable re-action, and the reputation and peace of the community began to suffer. Horse-thieving, petty larceny of all kinds, malicious destruction of property, murderous assaults and counterfeit money became prevalent right here, and finally aroused the people to the necessity of a determined prosecution of these offenses. Accordingly, in February, 1858, a company was organized in this county under " an act authorizing the formation of companies for the detection and apprehension of horse-thieves and other felons, and defining their powers." It was composed of two men from each township under the direction of a captain, and each man was constituted a detective to arrest or cause the arrest of any auspicious character. The effect of this company's work was prompt and salutary. Before the organization was two weeks old, it secured the apprehension of a noted horse-thief, and a week later had him safely incarcerated in the penetentiary under sentence of a five years' term. The honest residents of the county cordially aided the company, which in a year or two rid the country of the gang which infested the county. On one occasion, a new wagon of a settler was found mutilated and essentially ruined. Suspicion pointed to a man and his four sons, one of whom was apprehended and examined. Nothing could be elicited, and it was determined to try more forcible means. A rope was procured and the victim pulled up to a tree in the court house yard. After suspending him as long as they dared, he was lowered. But he still remained firm in his denial of any knowledge of the affair. He was again strung up and would probably have died had not one of the Rangers cut him down. Once brought to his senses, ho " gave the whole gang away." This or^^-anization subsequently got upon the track of the counterfeiters' organization, found and destroyed dies of these operators in Union Township, Mc-

Clellan, Bogus Island and west of these places. These places were evidently the workshops of the gang, and contained guns, saddles and bridles, counterfeit coin, dies, provision, etc. There was no serious encounter, though armed men appeared to dispute the party's advance. Finding a determined show of force would not turn the Rangers from their course, they made a hurried retreat. With the growth of settlements and the drainage of these swamp lands, this species of outlawry has long since ceased, and Jasper County bears a reputation for a law-abiding, thrifty population second to no county in the State. Its courts have had no cases of remarkable importance, save perhaps the action of the County Commissioners against a Treasurer of the county, and the controversy in relation to the formation of Newton County. These were both settled in the Supreme Court.

The early reputation of the county in regard to its social as well as its physical characteristics greatly retarded the growth of population in the county. There were no railroads, no newspaper until about 1854, and very poor highways, and so long as these characteristics remained prominent, the unsettled portions of other parts of the State secured the larger part of the immigration westward. The tide began to change, however, soon after 1850, and ten years later a new impulse was given to the community here by the removal of many of the hindrances which had been hitherto operative.

The pioneers of Jasper County came principally from Ohio, Pennsylvania, with a number from Virginia and other Southern States and from New York. Most of these families had been pioneers in older settlements in the States from which they came, or had grown up in frontier colonies, which their fathers had founded, and had been trained in the stern school of experience to meet and conquer the difEculties of a new country. But the problem here, nevertheless, presented difficulties entirely different from those with which their earlier experience had acquainted them. The timber that skirted the margins of the rivers and sent out spurs here and there along the banks of the creeks and marshes, divided the vast open plain of grass and flowers in two great divisions. North of the Iroquois, the deceptive meadow was circumscribed by timber, while on the south the broad expanse of the grand prairie, marked here and there by a stray clump of undersized trees, stretched away toward the south, unbounded save by the horizon, and the pioneer with his little retinue of wagons was lost in this luxuriant wilderness like a convoy of sloops in midocean.

beholder strains his eyes to take in its extent until the effort becomes painful, while its beauty and richness foil the powers of expression. It is a new and wonderful revelation. Strange sights and sounds greet the senses on every side. The piping note of the prairie squirrel, as he drops from his erect posture and seeks the protection of his hole on the first alarm ; the shrill notes of the plover, scattered about in countless numbers, fitfully starting and running over the meadow; the booming of the prairie cock ; the mad scream of the crooked-bill curlew as you approach its nest; the distant whoop of the crane ; the pump-soundmgnote of the bittern ; the lithe and graceful form of the deer in companies of three to five, lightly bounding over the swells of the prairie; the beautiful harmony of color and rich profusion of flowers - it all seems like a new creation, an earthly paradise.

Every immigrant supplied his own means of reaching his destined home. The pioneer from Pennsylvania, Ohio, or the Southern States, betrayed his nativity and prejudice in the schooner-shape wagon box, the stiff tongue, the hinder wheels double the size of the forward ones, and closely coupled together, the whole drawn by a team of four or six horses, which were guided by a single line in the hands of a teamster riding the "nigh wheeler." His harness was of gigantic proportions. What between the massive leather breeching, the heavy hames and collar, the immense housing of bear skin upon the hames, the heavv iron trace chains, and the ponderous double-tree and whiffle-trees, the poor beasts seemed like humanity in a chain gang, or some terrible monsters that human ingenuity could scarcely fetter securely. The Eastern immigrant, from New York or farther east, was marked as far as his caravan could be seen by a long, coupled, low-boxed, two-horse wagon, provided with a seat, from which, with double lines, the driver guided his lightly harnessed pair of horses. There was about each part of the outfit evidences of the close calculation of means to an end, and an air of utility which left no room for doubt as to the purpose of the maker in every part of it.

The prairie country undoubtedly oft'ered opportunities to the pioneer occupant far superior to those of a timbered country ; but the general impression was that only the timber belts would ever" be inhabiteii; the prairie, swept by the fires of summer, and by the piercing blasts of winter, seemed little better than a desert, and for years there was not a cabin m Jasper County built more than one hundred yards from the timber.

Frimitive Sooiel!,.~'nw pioneer, having selected a site on some prospecting tour, or being attracted to a certain region bv the report of friends, came with all his worldly possessions on wagons, and makin.- selection of a farm, chose a site for his cabin, and s^et at once to buiU u Trees were felled, logs of the proper length chopped off and drawn to the chosen site, and willing neighbors for miles about invited to the raising. Rude as these structures were, it needed no little handicraft to rear them, and it was not long before the special ability of each member of the community entailed upon him his special duty on these occasions. The logs, trimmed, "saddled " and properly assorted, were placed in the pen-shape of the cabin ; the gable ends were run up with regularity, shortening logs, shaped at the ends to allow for the slope of the roof; on these the long roof-posts, two feet apart, stretched from end to end, served as foundation for the roof, which was made up of clapboards, riven by the froe from bolts of oak, laid in place and held secure by "weight-poles," made firm by pegs or stones. Then followed the sawing-out of the door-way, and windows, the chinking of the cracks with pieces of riven timber ; the caulking with a mixture of mud and chopped hay ; the construction of floors and a door from puncheons, and the building of the chimneys of "cat and clay." Hinges were supplied from raw hide, and the wooden latch, reached from the outside by means of an attached leather latch-string passing through a hole in the door, was often the only protection against forcible entrance. Later experiences introduced the use of heavy wooden bars ; but the proverbial expression of early hospitality was the hanging-out of the latch-string.

The interior of the cabin was marked by the same general similarity. In each the wide fire-place shed abroad its genial warmth of hospitality or aided in the preparation of the table's cheer. The "crane," hung with iron pots and kettles, and the Dutch oven, half submerged in coals, were in all cabins the " evidence of things not seen," and furnished forth, under the guidance of the deft housewife, a meal which is still sighed for as the " grace of a day that is dead." The " corn pone," or when so exceptionally fortunate as to be able to use flour, the hop-yeast or salt-rising bread, the "chicken-fixings," the game, the fresh, luscious vegetables, are memories that more pretentious days have not dimmed in the hearts of the pioneers. The latter-day inventions of salaratus and baking powder had their prototype in the pearlash, which was prepared by burning the potash, so common then, upon the lid of the "bake kettle ; " the sputtering, greenish flame produced by the process in the meanwhile enforcing upon the childish minds of the household the stern doctrines of the hereafter. The frontier home, as a rule, contained but one room, which served all the domestic and social purposes of the family alike, unchanged. Curtains arranged about the beds suggested the retirement of sleeping apartments, while the cheerful blaze of the fire-place afforded an unstinted glow to the whole establishment.

world did man prove such an unbalanced, useless machine as the unmarried pioneer in this Western wild. While the man, with masterful energy, conquered the diflBculties of a new country and asserted his sovereignty over an unsubdued wilderness, it was woman's hand that turned its asperities into blessings, and made conquered nature the handmaid of civilization. The surplus product of the frontier farm sufficed to supply a slender stock of tea, coflFee, sugar and spices, with an occasional hat for the man and a calico dress for the woman - all else must be derived from the soil. How this was accomplished, the occasional relics of a flax-wheel, brake, spinning-wheel or loom, suggest. To card and spin, to dye and weave, were accomplishments that all women possessed. Housekeeping was crowded into the smallest possible space, and the preparation of linen, of " linen woolsey," and stocking yarn, with their adaptation to the wants of the family, became, to vary catechism, the chief end of woman. About these homely industries gathered all the pride of womanly achievement, the mild dissipations of early society, and the hopes of a future competence ; a social foundation, of which the proud structure of this great commonwealth bears eloquent testimony.

But with all this helpful self-reliance indoors, there was plenty to engage the vigorous activity of the male portion of the family out of doors. The exigencies of the situation allowed no second experiment, and a lifetime success or failure hung upon the efforts of the pioneer. The labor of the farnd was carried on under the most discouraging circumstances. The rude agricultural implements and the too often inadequate supply of these, allowed of no economical expenditure of strength, and for years rendered the frontier farmer's life a hanii-to-hand struggle of sheer muscle and physical endurance with the stubborn difficulties of nature. The location of the cabins along the lowlands that formed the marjrin of the streams exposed the early settlers at their most vulnerable point. During a considerable part of the year, the almost stagnant water of the sluggish streams 611ed the air with a miasmatic poison that hung in dense fog over stream and gi'ovo like a destroying spirit. The difficultv experienced in securing good water often rendered it necessary for the farmers to drink from stagnant pools, "frequently blowing off the scum and straining the wigglers from tlie sickening, almost boiling, fluid through the teeth." That the "fever and ague" should stalk through the land, a veritable Nemesis, was inevitable under such circumstances, and many a hardy pioneer was cowed and fairly shaken out of the country in the chilly grasp of this grim monster. But having withstood these disoouragementa and secured a harvest, the greatest disappointment came in the utter hick of markets. After a year of labor, privation and sickness, the moderate crop would hardly bear the expense of getting it to market.

How this country was settled and improved under such circumstances can be explained upon none of the settled principles of political economy. Retreat there was none ; and that homely phrase, '- root, hog, or die," was borne in upon the pioneer by his daily experience with a benumbing iteration that must have wrought ruin to any class of people of less hardy mental and physical health.

In a community where " the richest were poor and the poor lived in abundance," there was no chance for the growth of caste, and families for miles around were linked together as one neighborhood, by the social customs of the time", which, in the spirit of true democracy, drew the line at moral worth alone. The amusements of a people, taking their character from the natural surroundings of the community, were here chieiiy adapted to the masculine taste. Hunting and fishing were always liberally rewarded, while log-cabin raisings, the opening of court with its jury duty, and the Saturday afternoon holiday with its scrub horse-race, its wrestling match, its jumping or quoit-pitching, afforded entertainments that never lost their zest. It was a common remark, however, that a new country furnished an easy berth for men and oxen, but a hard one for women and horses. Outside of "visiting" and camp-meetings, the diversions in which women participated at that early day were very few ; husking and spinning bees, and " large weddings," where the larger part of the night was spent in dancing, did not have the frequent occurrence so characteristic of tlie Eastern States, and nothing here seemed to offer any substitute. So long as the community gathered here lacked easy communication with the outside world this state of things continued. There was a market at Chicago at this time, where a fair price could be had for the surplus crop, and the growth of the older settlements further east and south brought the advantages of civilization nearer to these outlying communities, but the lack of roads prevented the early enjoyment of these privileges.

The early lines of travel were along the Indian trails. These were clearly defined paths, about eighteen inches wide, and worn into the sod of the prairie, sometimes to the depth of eight or ten inches. Some trace of these trails are to be found yet in the county. One of these led down from Lake Michigan across the Kankakee, near the Baum bridge, and took nearly a direct course to the Indian village in Newton Township. Another connected this village with the one in the eastern part of the county, crossing the Iroquois west of the county seat, and re-crossing it some distance east. From the latter point the trail extended to the Monon River, and on to the Wabash. Another crossed the county through the " Forks settlement," toward La Porte. These were the principal ones, and were the principal guides between certain points until roads were established. Blazed and staked roads pioneered the way for those that were regularly laid out. The old " horse-head road " was, perhaps, the connecting link between the two classes of roads. This was in the eastern part of the county, and took its name from a horse skull which was placed upon a large bowlder, which was a conspicuous land-mark on this route. The first legally established road was the State road leading from Williamsport, on the Wabash River, and the head of .early navigation to Winamac, important at an early day, as the location of the land office. This road extended from the first-named place by the most available and direct route to the Falls of the Iroquois ; thence to the now extinct village of Saltillo, crossing the Iroquois again, at the old ford above the farm of John Groom, and crossing the Pinkamink on the old bridge at Saltillo, and thence by way of White Post, to Winamac. The Saltillo bridge was the first structure of its kind built in the county, the old grade which was built at either end still remaining to mark its site. The Indian trail road which led from Rensselear northward to the Kankakee River, was probably the second road. This crossed at Eaton's Ferry, or where the Baum bridge now is. Congress early granted a " three per cent fund" for the building of roads and bridges, and in 1835 Thomas Randle was appointed agent for the disbursement of this fund. Porter County was very much interested in having a bridge put across the river at this point ; this Randle refused to aid. He was accordingly displaced. Joseph Schipp moved over the river from Porter, and was appointed agent of this fund. Under the new agent, the bridge, three-quarters of a mile lona;, was started in December, 1837, and §!2,300 expended in getting the log piers built, and the stringers placed. It never got beyond this point, however, as that winter it took fire and was burned. A good, substantial bridge, "'21 feet long, now spans the river at this point, to the southern end of which, this county has made a long and expensive grade. The " Dunn bridge " crosses the river further east in Kankakee Township, but the low character of the ground on the north side of the river renders it less desirable as a route of travel than the other. The meanderings of the river make the cost of bridges an important item in the expenses of the county, but the various road-crossings are pretty well supplied with substantial wooden structures, while in the central and southern parts four durable iron bridges afford a safe and sightly passage over the Irotiuois and other streams. But with all that could be profitably done for the highways of the county, the prosperity of the community settled here languished for the advantages of a railroad. When the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago made its way along its eastern border, the county had greater facilities, but its people had still a tedious journey over roads that were impassable to loaded teams during a large share of the time, and the contrast between the more favored territory and Jasper intensified the already considerable anxiety felt for better facilities for communication with the rest of the world.

Railroadg. - Hopes of securing railroad facilities were entertained as early as 1852, but it was not until two years later that any definite plan was urged. About this time aline of road was projected from New London, Ohio, to Chicago. This passed through the usual changes incident to railroad organizations, until 1857, when the money stringency of that time killed the project. Early in this year, the question in which Jasper County was interested with reference to this road, was the course the road would take from Fort Wayne. Kankakee and Rensselaer were ostensible competitors, and the projectors of the line shrewdly kept the two places straining their resources to outbid each other in the amount of contributions. In this contest, the latter place had interests in common with the towns of Rochester and Winamac, which made the contest not altogether uneven. It was held as a self-evident truth in Jasper that if the road diverged to Kankakee, " Rensselaer would be killed dead as a mackerel," and there was, therefore, a feverish anxiety as to the outcome, and there was a ceaseless activity maintained to help its chances. The railroad was the principal topic of conversation on the street, in which all classes of society joined with but one voice. There were meetings, public and private, and hurried journeys to and combinations with sympathizing towns. The heavy defalcation of the Ohio State Treasurer, upon whose bond some of the men most prominent in this railroad movement were found, sounded the first note of failure. The air line to Rock Island from this point westward was deferred, and after a vain effort to secure subscriptions, payable when the grade should be made and ties placed upon it, the enterprise succumbed to the financial pressure of the times, and was heard of no more.

In 1870 and 1871, this railroad scheme was again revived. The road had been projected in Ohio and Indiana under the general laws. These charters were revived, a special charter obtained in Illinois and New Jersey, and the line projected to Council Bluffs under the general laws of Iowa. In Pennsylvania, this combination purchased an old charter granted to the Continental Railway Company of Pennsylvania, which gave the new combination its name of "The Continental Railway Company." Through each State the organization was independent of any other, and when these several organizations were complete, a gradual consolidation combined the various fragments of the great line into the Continental Company, with a line of road projected in practically a straight line from New York City to Council Bluffs. The local organization in Indiana was known as the Fort Wayne & Western Railroad. Hon. R. S. Dwiggins was, and is still, President of this company, and, under the plan of consolidation, a Vice President and Director in the general company. A branch from Rensselaer to Chicago was projected and chartered, and arrangements settled to make this point the site of large railroad shops, and the important junction by which the Chicago traffic should reach the East. In 1872, some fifteen miles of grade was made eastward from Rensselaer, and some 120 miles in Ohio, from New London to Tiffin, and elsewhere along the line. Jasper County voted $50,000, which was raised by private subscriptions to §75,000 or §100,000, but these were pledged on the condition that the road should be built in two years, and the money raised by taxation was refunded.

The Continental Railway, as projected, consumed only fifty- nine miles in curvature over the geographical distance between New York and Chicago, and only ninety-nine miles between New York and Council Bluffs, a geographical distance of 1,131 miles. The line was to be constructed with a double track of heavy steel rails as far as Chicago, and with a single track from Rensselaer westward. The whole equipment was intended to be first class in every respect, and the whole cost placed at $150,000,000. There was no question that the construction of such a road through Rensselaer and Jasper Counties would have been of the highest advantage, and this was appreciated by the people here, but the county was sparsely settled, its early career had been disappointing, and tliere was less of enthusiasm than in earlier years. Still the crrading of the road-bed raised tiie hopeful anticipations of the people to a high pitch, when the disaster of 1873 doomed the enterprise to failure, and the people to another disappointment. The project is still occasionally heard from, and some hope is entertained that the road will eventually be constructed, but the golden opportunity for the county seat to reap the early benefits of such a road has passed.

The next railway project that claimed the attention of the people here was the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad. This company was organized under the general laws of this State, May 13, 1860, with a capital stock of §500,000, consisting of 10.000 shares of §50 each. The company was re-organized September 3, 1872, with the same stock, and projected a line from Indianapolis to Frankfort. Mouticello, Rensselaer, Lowell, Dyer, and thence to Chicago. Its progress toward actual construction, liowever, was quite slow, and it was not until 1877 that active operations were begun toward soliciting subscriptions in Jasper County. In the latter part of this year, Alfred McCoy, R. S. Dwiggins and Ira W. Yeoman took the lead in this movement, and held meetin>:s at the schoolhouses throughout the northern part of the county. The amount demanded from Jasper was $50,000, and in October of this year the gratifying announcement was made that this amount had been pledged, the amount to be paid when the road was constructed and a train of cars run into the village of Rensselaer.

" How it was done," is the caption of an article in the Union of November 1, 1877, from which we extract the following : '' Toward the close of the late canvass for subscriptions to the stock of the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad Company, to aid in building the division between Rensselaer and Bradford, public feeling became quite warm, and rose in intensity as the subscriptions began to hesitate and diminish in size, $-5,000 or so below the quota demanded. Not only was active canvassing done on the streets as people came into town on business, but they were waited on at their homes and treated to most eloquent special lectures ; they were invited to dinners where their generosity and public spirit were appealed to between the elegant courses of the table ; and as a grand conclusion of the canvass, a meeting was held in the court house, to ' close the thing up,' at which the enthusiasm became immense."

On the 3d day of October, 1877, the company contracted with Yeoman, Hegler & Co., for the construction of the road, the latter to furnish all the material necessary for the purpose, and the corps of engineers necessary to lay out and construct the grades. The road was to be three feet gauge ; road-bed, eight feet wide on top, and the rails to be not less than thirty-five pounds to the yard; "to furnish the necessary machinery and rolling stock, and run and operate the same by themselves or assigns in perpetuity." In consideration of these engagements, the company agreed to furnish the right-of-way free of cost to the contractors, and to pay for the construction and equipment of the road, $550,000 in cash and subsidies, $5,000 per mile in first mortgage bonds of the company, and $5,000 per mile in stock of the company. The road was divided into eight divisions ; the first to consist of the line from Dyer to the south line of Lake County ; second, from Lake County line to the town of Rensselaer ; third, from Rensselaer to Bradford ; fourth, from Bradford to Monticello ; fifth, from Monticello to Delphi ; sixth, from Delphi to Rossville ; seventh, from Rossville to Frankfort ; and eighth, from Frankfort to Indianapolis. Payments were to be made on the completion and operation of a division, work to begin at Bradford, and the road from Dyer to Delphi to be completed by the 1st of January, 1879, and from Delphi to Indianapolis by 1st of .January, 1880. Work was at once begun on the third division, and on Thursday, February 14, 1878, Rensselaer celebrated the event of its completion by a barbecue, a free excursion on the road and an enthusiastic meeting. Mr. McCoy furnished the fatted

OX of the occasion; it weighed 834 pounds net. It was estimated that some 2,000 persons were present, and the inland county seat for the first time experienced the advantage of railroad communication. The fourth division was completed to Monticello August 11, 1878, and on the 4th of September, 1879, the road was opened to the public from Rensselaer to Delphi. This is the extent of narrow gauge track that was ever constructed on this road. It subsequently passed into the possession of the Louisville, New Albany k Chicago Railroad Company ; the road from Rensselaer to Chicago was constructed as a standard gauge road ; the part already constructed was widened to the new gauge, and the road opened from Delphi to Chicago in January, 1882, and from Delphi to Indianapolis in early sumiper of 1883.

The Logansport & Peoria Railroad was built through the southern part of Jasper in 1859. This part of the county was then a sparsely settled country, and given up principally to grazing. The Rensselaer Gazette of August 3, 1859, says of this road: "The Toledo, Logansport & Burlington Railroad Company commenced laying the tracK at the junction with the New Albany & Salem Railroad at Reynolds Station, on the 16th ult. * * * 'jljg i-oa(j runs through the southern part of our county. It runs most of the way through rich agricultural and grazing country, and will greatly aid in developing the resources of the southern part of Jasper County." There was no attempt made to enlist the enthusiasm of the county in its aid, as it did not pass through the region best able to afford assistance. It is now under the control of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad Company, and it is known a^ the State line branch of this corporation.

The Plymouth, Kankakee & Pacific Railroad is a line that has been agitated for some ten or twelve years. It is now known as the Indiana, Illinois & Iowa Railroad Company, and at the present writing is building its track through the townships of Kankakee, Wheatfield and Keener. This line passes through a sparsely settled part of the county, and attracts but little general interest through the county. The locality through which it passes will undoubtedly be greatly benefited, but its general importance to the county is not great.

The Pacific, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad have 8. 84 miles of main track, and .45 side track in Carpenter Township, and the L., N. A. & C, twenty-two miles of main track and .88 miles of side track in the county, the combined valuation of which for taxation is $1:80,550. The Western Union Telegraph Company have nine miles of lines in Carpenter Township, 4.7 miles in Milroy, 8.2 miles in Marion, 3.5 miles in Newton, and 6.2 miles in Union; an aggregate of 31.2 miles in the county.

The Press

The newspaper is an important factor in American society, and its establishment marks an epoch in the history of a community. In the main, it reflects the character of its constituency ; it leads to a union of sentiment and purpose, and thus renders the moral force of society more effective. Hand in hand with the church, the school and railroad, it comes in the van of civilization, and society in this age cannot afford to dispense with its power.

It was with something of this sentiment that the people of Rensselaer secured the establishment of the Jasper Banner in 1853. Political lines had not, up to that time, been closely drawn. The majority of the early . settlers had brought with them well settled convictions of the soundness of Democratic principles, and while later years had brought in some representatives of the Whig school, the disproportion of the two parties and the minor differences of political creed, sufficed to keep the party lines from being drawn in local elections. The Banner was therefore started by the subscriptions of members of both parties, upon the conditions that the paper should be politically neutral, and that the subscriptions should be considered as stock and repaid out of the net earnings of the paper. John McCarthy was the editor, a stranger in the county, who signified his willingness to conduct such a paper upon such conditions. It was almost an impossibility in the nature of the times for a man to be politically neutral. The agitation of national questions during the years of 1854 and 1855, was breaking down old party lines throughout the country, and even in the sparsely settled county of Jasper this influence was felt. The Banner caught the infection and showed its party bias by referring to those opposed to the Administration, as " Abolitionists," "Negro-worshipers," etc. In the campaiga of 1856, the lines between Democrat and Republican were sharply drawn, and the Banner openly espoused the cause of the former party. This gave rise to considerable controversy and brought about the establishment, on April 29, 1857, of the Rensselaer G-azette. Its profession of faith was unmistakably clear : " The Gazette will be Republican in politics, ' now and forever.' We will exert all the energy that is in us to advance the cause of freedom, whose standard was so nobly borne aloft last fall by John G. Fremont."

Political differences engendered animosities that resulted in assaults. The " Old Line " party in possession of the post office, sought to prevent the free circulation of the Gizette on technicalities, and for several years a large part of the space in either paper was occupied with recriminations. The Republican school of politics gradually gained in strength, and has since been the prevailing influence in the county. The Democratic party, true to its colors, kept up its organization here throughout the period of the war, and since that time has gathered some strength. During the agitation against monopolies, better known as the " Grange movement," and the succeeding movement in favor of the " Greenback " monetary system, and the " Silver Dollar," the Republican organization suffered defeat, but it is usual to refer to the county at present as " Republican by 300 majority."

The Jasper Banner ceased publication in 1861. The Rensselaer Gazette was founded by J. W. Sullivan and Daniel F. Davies. Mr. Davies sooa afterward became sole proprietor, and in 1S59 or 1860, being elected to office, sold the establishment to I. N. S. Alter and Thomas Boroughs. In 1861, James Spencer bought Mr. Boroughs' interest, and the firm became Alter & Spencer. In the following year, Robert C Mitchell purchased Alter's interest, and the new firm was known as Mitchell & Spencer. The senior partner soon afterward retired, and Mr. Spencer a little later sold the paper to C. H. Tatman. In the latter part of 1864, or early in 1865, Mr. Spencer again became proprietor, and in July or August of that year sold a half interest to A. H. Green. The name of the paper was then changeil to the Jasper Signal. This continued only some two or three months, when the material was sold to R. B. Jaraos, who issueil the first number of the Pra(V/t; Telegrafh, Wednesday, October 18, 1865. It was a weekly, Republican, six-column folio.

The Iroquois Press was started in Rensselaer in the latter months of of 1867, by Joshua Healey and Jacob Keiser. It was seven-column folio, weekly. Republican paper. In the latter part of the month of September, 1868, Mr. R. B. James sold the Prairie Telegraph to his son, Horace E. James. Col. Healey became sole proprietor of the Iroquois PresK, and the two ofiices were consolidated, the new paper bearing the name of the Rensselaer Union. This was a seven-column weekly. Republican in politics. In 1874, it announced itself independent of political parties, and was enlarged to a six-column quarto. November 9, 1875, Col. Healey retired, leaving Mr. James sole proprietor.

The Remington Journal was started in Remington, July 3, 1872, by Messrs. 0. E. Do Forest and J. E. Duuhiim. It was a seven-column weekly folio, neutral in politics. Charles M. Johnson bought the ofiice in March, 1871, and continued the publication of the Journal until September, 1874, when it ceaaod publication, and the material was moved to Rensselaer. The Jasper Republican appeared September 18. 1874, being printed on the types and presses of the defunct Remington Journal. It was Republican in politics, but otherwise unchanged in its ^'eneral character from its predecessor.

monthly by Thomas J. Spider, to advertise his real estate business, and was printed by James & Healey. February 1, 1876, H. E. James and C. M. Johnson formed a partnership, united their respective offices in one, and published a consolidated paper under the name of the Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican. The first number appeired February 3, 1876, taking the volume and number of the 'Union. It was a weekly, seven-column quarto, and Republican in politics. Subsequently Johnson retired, and later M. 0. Gissel became partner with Mr. James, under the firm name of H. E. James & Co., the paper in the meanwhile being reduceil co a folio. In May, 1879, Mr. Gissel retired, and the following month started the Rensselaer Standard, a sevea-coluran folio, Republican, weekly. Mr, .Jamei, in Occober, 1879, sold the Union to T. M. Bitters, who also bought the Standard in January, 1880, and merged it in the former paper. In the following July, Mr. Bitters sold the establishment to Calkins k Johnson, but the latter never took an active part in the business beyond the fact of the sale, an.l was succeeded in a few months by a brother of Mr. Calkins, and the firm became Calkins Brothers. May 1, 1881, Messrs. C. F. Overacker and (t. E. Marshall purchased the office, ami August 1, 1882, Mr. Oi^eracker retired, leaving George E. Marshall the sole proprietor. The name of the paper was changed in 1880, by Calkins & Johnson, to the Rensselaer Republican, a name it still retains. It is now a five-column quarto, weekly, and Republican in politics.

The first paper started distinctly as a Democratic paper is the Democratic Sentinel, at Rensselaer. This was first issued February 18, 1877, by James W. McEwen, who came from Monticello, Ind., where he had conducted a similar paper for eighteen years. The Sentinel is an eight-column weekly paper, devoted to the interests of the county seat and the Democratic party.

In October, 1874, Messrs. Shortridge & Winegarden commenced publishing a six-column quarto. Republican weekly paper at Remington, which was called the Guard, but it survived only a few months. In the same month, Messrs. A. J. Kitt and A. B. Clark came from Rochester, Ind., and established the Record at Remington. It was supported by several gentlemen, who supplied the capital for the press and material, and a seven-column weekly paper was issued. This continued until about 1877, when the paper was suspended, and the office was removed. About this time the Times was started by Charles Jouvenat, who continued its publication until the fall of 1878, when he removed the plant to Goodland. Charles Cox then started the Reporter, in which 0. W. Church became interested. This paper continued until January, 1881, when W. H. Coover assumed editorial management, changed the name to the

News, and has since controlled the editorial columns. It is a five-column quarto, and is now published by 0. B. Mclntire. But little attention is given it, save in odd hours taken from abetter paying business. Remington at present presents but a limited field for journalistic ventures, and the News is maintained by the public spirit of its proprietor for the benefit of the village rather than for the hope of any financial return.

But before all these influences, more important than markets, or railroads, or newspapers, to the highest social progress, are the church and school. Whatever success the individual lacking these influences may achieve, a community can never prosper without them. The early settlements were considerably scattered, and it was for some time a diflicult matter to get more than two or three families together for religious services. The pioneer preachers were men of slender education and homely address, but were wonderfully effective in their self-denying earnestness. They visited from cabin to cabin, exhorting, counseling, reproving, as occasion might demand ; they became in every home a welcome guest, and many a weary heart and feeble hand was stayed h\ these simple-hearted servants of the cross. Among the names most familiar here were the Woods, and especially one who was familiarly called '" Long Enoch." Others preached in various parts of the county, the Methodist Episcopal denomination pioneering the way in church work.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Rensselaer was the first church organization in the county, nnd was founded in 1S34 by E. G. Wood. At that time the charge of which Rensselaer was a part included considerable territory in addition to the new counties of Jasper and Newton, necessitating long rides on liorseback to reach the various appointments. For years this organization straggled against the disadvantages of a sparsely settled country and the lack of means, until they achieved a comfortable frame place of worsliiji, which the cliurch still occupies. This is --^TxoT feet, will seat about three hundred per-ous. an 1 the property is valued at about fl,800 ; besides this, the church owns a pai'sonni^e valued at .^750. A movement is now on foot to secure a new brick edifice, which will probably be erected in the near future.

The Independence ^lethodist Episcopal Church oF Gillam Church was organized in May or June, 183(3, at the cabin of .John M. Gilhuu, by Rev. II. Bradenburg, an itiuei'ant preacher. The original membership consisted of ,1. M. Gillam and his wife Mary. George Culp and wife Miiry, Tliomas Handle and wife Nancy, Sarah McJeinsey and Maria Gillam. Their first meeting house was built in 1849 near the present site of Indeiiendence Chapel. It was a hewed-log buildiuL; with glass windows, sliiagle roof, lath overhead, with the plastering put on above the lath, because the plasterer could not make it stick from beneath. The first sermon was preached in it by Rev. George Guild in 1849, the congregation sitting on the floor sleepers. Their present house of worship, known as Independence Chapel, is a neat frame building, 30x50 feet in size, and was built in 1872 at a cost of §2,400.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Remington was organized in 1859, by Rev. J. H. Hull. They have the best house of worship completed in the county. It is a frame building, 50x70 feet in size, well finished, and is valued at $8,000. A parsonage, built in 1875, is valued at $1,600.

Two other societies, organized in 1848, one holding its services at the Watson Schoolhouse and the other at Blue Grass, have never built places of worship of their own, and have been on the Rensselaer charge from the first. There are a number of classes at various points in the county which, with the regular organizations, aggregate a membership of five hundred and fifteen.

The Protestant Methodist Church had at one time a strong following in Jasper County, but it has of late years languished until the membership IS quite small, and no regular organizations are reported. The first organization was made near Carpenter's Grove, by Rev. John Alter, in 1849. The second class was organized at the house of Isaac D. Barkley, in Barkley Township, in 1858, by F. Long. The first circuit was organized by Rev. John Alter and his daughter, Rev. Mrs. Helenor M. Draper, subsequently Mrs. Thomas Davisson, in 1863 or 1864. Mrs. D. served the work as pastor for three years. It was during this time that the question as to the legality of a marriage solemnized by a woman was raised by lawyers. Subsequently classes were organized at schoolhonses in Barkley, Wheatfield and Jordan Townships. In 1876, there were six classes in the county, four in Pleasant Grove Circuit, and two in Grand Prairie Mission, with a membership of about one hundred and fifty persons. Six ministers resided in the county, and two others labored here. The denomination had places of worship of their own, however, and only one parsonage valued at $300

The Rensselaer Presbyterian Church was organized February 10, 1847, by Rev. Edward W. Wright. Its members then were James and Susan Van Rensselaer, Susan C. Weston, Ezra and Martha Wright, Lncinda Mahaffee, Henry Barkley, Ira and Lois B. Allen. Ezra Wright ami Henry Barkley, Sr., were elected Elders. None of these persons now rerniiin. The body of Mr. Van Rensselaer lies buried in the churchyard. The building is a frame structure 36x50 feet in size, and is valued at- $2,000.

The first Presbyterian Church of Remington was organized April 9, 1865, by Kev. Horace A. Mayhew, J. C. Irwin and Elder Cornelius Hutton, a committee appointed by the Logansport Presbytery. The church has a frame building 30x50 feet in size, which was built in 1866, and is valued at $2,000; also a manse, consisting of two lots and a framed two-story house, large barn and other buildings, valued at $1,800. The original membership was fifteen, which was increased to one hundred and ten, but is somewhat less now. The two churches of this denomination now aggregate a membership of eighty-six.

The Rensselaer Baptist Church (Missionary) was recognized by Council, according to the practice of the denomination, in 1851. Its first pastor was Rev. Moses A. Kern, who was succeeded by Reuben R. James. Revs., John C. Post, Lewis .McCreary, James Dunlap and D. J. Huston are among the pastors who have served the church. The society owns a frame church edifice in Rensselaer, 38x46 feet in size, which is valued at $1,000.

The First Free-Will Baptist Church of Rensselaer was organized January 1, 1853, by Rev. Peter Lansing. Its first meetings were held at the residence of Mr. Barney Daughtery, two miles south of the county seat. The first quarterly meeting held in Rensselaer was January 3, 1871. Previous to that time, all of the church work was done outside of the village. At present, the church has a brick structure under way. The two churches aggregate a membership of seventy-six.

In former days there was a strong Baptist society in Newton Township, but the organization has dwindled to very small proportions, and no longer maintains regular services.

The Church of God at Rensselaer was organized February 4, 1860, by Elder William P. Shockey. The name of this organization, which is identical with that adopted by the Winebrennarians. has led in some cases to confusion of the one with the other. The peculiarity of their faith consists in the belief tliat immorality is the gift of God, and granted only to the righteous ; that the earth, restored or renewed, is to be inherited by the meek who will " dwell therein forever." They discard, as authority in the matter ofnameaswell as of faith and practice, everything except as prescribed by ordained embassadors prior to the church of Rome. There is an organization of this fellowship at Remington, who worship in the ciiurch edifices of other denominations. At Rensselaer, this church occupies a neat frame place of worship, 35x50 feet in size, and valued at $1,500.

Dne in Barkley Township, which holds its services in the schoolhouse ; the other is at Remington, but has no regular pastor or services at present.

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, near Rensselaer, was organized by Right Rev. J. Luers, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne, in 1866 or 1867. It is connected with St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum and Manual Labor School. The farm consists of 900 acres, about a mile from the county seat, is furnished with good substantial frame buildings, including a place of worship, two dwellings, barns, etc. A fine brick church edifice is now in course of erection in the village, which will cost, when completed, in the vicinity of $8,000 to $10,000. The value of the farm property is placed at $35,000.

The St. John's Church at Remington was organized in December, 1875. They have a neat frame place of worship, neatly finished, 32x60 feet in size, a steeple 100 feet from the ground, and valued at $5,000.

Scarcely second of the active forces that influence the development of society is the public school. In common with the whole " Northwest Territory," Indiana enjoys the advantages of the enlightened legislation of the General Government which laid the foundation of the present excellent system nearly a century ago. On May 20, 1785, when this State was under the unquestioned control of the savage, the Congress passed an ordinance reserving the " sixteenth section " in all the territory northwest of the Ohio, for the maintenance of public schools. Two years later, the policy was re-affirmed in the famous^ ordinance of 1787, which declared that "religion, morality and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools, and the means of education, shall be forever encouraged."

The great principle thus enunciated made but slow progress, however, in this State during the early years, although public-spirited men were not altogether wanting. In 1807, tiie Territorial Legislature incorporated a university at Vincennes ; October 26, 1808, and December 14, ISIO, the Leo-islature provided for the administration of the school lands, the first act authorizing the Common Pleas Courts to lease the reserved sections, for a period not to exceed five years, with the obligation that lessees should clear ten acres upon each quarter section, and the latter act prohibiting the wasting of sugar trees and timber thereon. The constitution of 1816 provided for the enactment of laws for the suitable improvement of these lands, to prevent their sale before 1820, and to adopt measures for the security an 1 proper management of the school fuml. The constitution further provided for a general system of public schools, as follows : " It shall be the duty of the General Assembly, as soon as circumstances will allow, to provide by law, for a general system of education, ascending In regular gradation from a township school to a State University, wherein tuition shall be gratis and equally open to all." In the constitution of 1851, the same provision is made, with the exception of a State University. December 14, 1816, the General Assembly provided for the appointment of Superintendents of School Sections in the several townships, who were authorized to lease the lands for a term not exceeding seven years, every lessee being required to set out each year twenty-five apple trees and tweuty-five peach trees, until 100 of each had been planted. January 9, 1821, the General Assembly provided against "any distinction between the rich and the poor," which eventuated in the first general school law of the State.

It would be impossible within reasonable space to trace the varied course of legislation upon tills important subject. Almost every session of the Legislature has witnessed the passage of some special or general law in relation to the school interests of the State. The difficulties in the way of the early progress of the system were numerous and for a time insurmountable. Funds for the pay of teachers and for erecting schoolhouses were lacking, qualified teachers could not be found, the school districts were sparsely settled, much of the legislation was impracticable, the school fmitla were mismanaged, and more fatal than all, was the strange prejudice entertained by many against popular education under the name of " free scliools." Against the various hindrances, however, the system has slowly made its way, in spite of hostile judicial decisions, until in efficiency of organization and extent of the public fund, the public schools of Indiana are equal if not superior to the best in the Union.

School Funds. - There are eleven sources of school revenues, which the State Superintendent, in his report of 1872, divides into three classes, productive, contingent and unproductive. Of the first class is the Congressional township fund, which consists of the money arising from the sale of the "sixteenth sections, " most of which have been sold and the money placed at interest. 2. The saline fund, which arose from a second grant by Congress to the State in the act enabling the Territory to form a constitution and State Government. This act provided, " that all salt springs within the said Territory, and the land reserved for the use of the same, together with such other lands as may, by the President of the United States, be deemed necessary and proper for working the said spi'ings, not exceeding in the whole quantity contained in thirty-six entire sections, shall be granted to the said State for the use of the people of the said State, the same to be used under such terms, conditions and regulations as the Legislature of said State shall direct. The Legislature afterward saw it proper to make this a part of the permanent school fund. 3. The surplus revenue fund, which originated under the administration of Pre-iiilent Jackson. At this time the national debt coutracted durinsr the Revolutionary war and in the purchase of Louisiana was entirely discharged, leaving a large surplus in the treasury. In June, 1836, Congress distributed this money among the States in the ratio of their representation in Congress, and ^860,254 fell to the share of Indiana. February 6, 1837, the Legislature set apart $573,-502.96 as a permanent part of the school fund. By the terms of this distribution, this amount is subject to be recalled into the national treasury, but the strong probability is that it never will be. -4. The bank tax fund arose from the " State Bank," chartered by the Legislature in 1834. A part of the stock in this bank was owned by individuals and part by the State. Section 15, of the charter provided that " there shall be deducted from the dividends and retained in bank each year the sum of 12|- cents on each share of stock, other than that held by the State, which sliall constitute part of the permanent fund to be devoted to the purposes of common school education under the direction of the General Assembly, and shall be suffered to remain in bank and accumulate until such appropriation by the General Assembly." 5. The sinking fund also originated in the operations connected with the State Bank. To pay her subscription to the stock of this bank, and to assist individual stockholders to pay the second and third installments upon their stock, the State borrowed 31,300,000. A fund was created out of the unapplied balances of this loan, and out of the principal, interest and dividends of so much as was loaned to individual stockholders, for the purpose of sinking the debt of the bank. A section of the original charter provided that after full pay- ment of the bank's indebtedness, principal, interest and incidental expenses, the residue of said fund should be a permanent fund, and appropriated to the cause of common school education. From this source the educational fund of the State received about $5,000,000. The summary of these funds in 1872 was aa follows :

The contingent class of funds arise under the provisioQ of law from, 1. All fines for a violation of the penal laws of the State, which are made a part of the permanent fund. 2. All recognizances of witnesses and persons indicted for crime, when forfeiced. 3. Moneys arising under the statute which provides that " the estate of a person dying intestate, without kindred capable of inheriting, shall escheat to the State, aad shall be applied to the support of common schools, in the manner provided by law." This fund, in 1872, amounted to §17,866.55. 4. From the proceeds of the sale of swamp lands under a clause in the constitution which provides that "all lands which have been, or may hereafter be granted to the State, when no special purpose is e.xpressed in the grant, and the proceeds of the sale thereof, including the proceeds of the sales of the swamp-lands granted to the State of Indiana by the act of Congress of the 28th of September, 1850, after deducting the espouses of selecting and draining the same," shall be a part of the common school fund. These lands were disposed of. not without some loss by peculation, and a considerable fund derived. From " taxes on the property of corporations that may be assessed by the General Assembly for common school purposes." This clause of the constitution is not clear either in its application or purpose, and has not been productive of any revenue to the school fund.

Under the unproductive class fills so much of the sixteenth sections as remain unsold. Nearly all of such lands furnish no revenue to the general fund, though a part has returned sometliing in the way of rents or profits. The summaiy of the school funds for 1SS2 is as follows:

The early settlers of Jasper were not behind the general sentiment of the State in their appreciation of the advantages of schools, and long before the State could give the scattered communities aid, they had solved the problem for themselves, had erected schoolhouses and maintained schools by subscription. Neighborhoods turned out and put up the cabin, and each patron paid the expense of the teacher's salary in proportion to number of children sent. Money was scarce, but anything the settler had was valuable to the teacher, and by exchange the farmer's hog or cow was transformed into the children's education. In the Barkley settlement, the first school was held in the winter of 1838-39, and taught by a Mr. Webster ; in the Blue Grass settlement, the first school was taught about 1840, by a Miss Price, and G. W. Spitler taught the first school at Rensselaer in 1841. The growth of schools here was subject to all the hindrances of a sparsely settled country and the limited means of the pioneers. The slow growth of the population deferred the improvement of these early schools, and in 1853 there were but eight schoolhouses in the combined territory of the present counties of Jasper and Newton. Since 1875, the progress in this direction has been rapid and highly satisfactory, the following statement of the County Superintendent gives a comprehensive view of this period:

The course of study as prescribed by the County Board of Education is thorough and extends through five grades, and the grammar grade, which adds to the common branches of reading, spelling, arithmetic, writing, grammar and geography, those of history, physiology and elocution. The County Board, as an inducement for pupils to complete the course of study, has provided for the graduation of those who do complete it, as follows :

I. The County Superintendent is hereby empowered to issue a certificate of graduation to any pupil in the public schools of this county, who shall have com-

II. Before any pupil is graduated he shall be required to pass a satisfactory examination before the County Superintendent in all the eight common school branches, and shall sustain a grade of at least 70 per cent in every branch.

III. At least two months before the close of the term, the teacher shall report to the Superintendent the names of those pupils who are finishing the course of study and are preparing for the examination.

V. There shall be no more than one examination held in any one township within a year, and all examinations shall be held some time between the 1st of February and the 1st of July.

VI. The Superintendent shall determine from such examination and from other information whether the applicants are worthy to graduate and shall notify the teacher and Trustee of his decision.

VII. At a time and place designated by the Trustee, the schools of the township shall be assembled, and the successful applicants shall be called upon to recite orally, in the presence of the assembled schools, patrons and visitors, in such manner as may be directed by the Superintendent, or, in the event of his absence, by the Trustee.

IX. At the conclusion of such exercises, the certificates of graduation shall be publicl}^ presented to the graduate by the Superintendent. Trustee or some other person selected for that dut}'. Said certificates shall tie signed by the Superintendent, Trustee, Director and Teacher.

X. A record of the names and age of pupils, date of graduation, name of the school, and of the teacher under whose tuition the pupils gi-aduate, shall be kept by the County Superintendent and Township Trustee.

The following exhibit give.s the status of the county's share of the general school fund as shown in the report of the Board of Commissioners of the County of Jasper, in the State of Indiana, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the year ending the last day of May, 1S82, as required by the 105th and 106th Sections of the School Law :

Secket Societies

Prairie Lodge, No. 125, of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, was organized at Rensselaer, under a charter from the Grand Lodge of Indiana, issued May 29, 1860. Its predecessor, Jasper Lodge, No. 125, was organized under a dispensation of the Grand Lodge, and held its first meeting July 19, 1851. Its charter members were : John Test, Joshua Clarke, Peter S. Benham, Presley Dunlap, G. A. Moss. R. Purcupile, E. Whitson and J. Langel. The lodge subsequently came to a disagreement among themselves, and surrendered the old charter in 1859. Steps were immediately taken to form the present organization as above, when D. T. Halstead was appointed Master ; I. M. Stackhouse, Senior Warden, and W. S. Hopkins, Junior Warden. The lodge meets in a pleasant hall in Newels' Block. Their assets are limited to their fixtures, the demands upon their income for charitable purposes being so large as to prevent the accumulation of any considerable fund.

Remington Lodge, No. 531, of the same order, was organized at Remington, under dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, June 24, 1867, by Isaac M. Stackhouse, of Rensselaer.

The Iroquois Lodge, No. 143, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized at Rensselaer under dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Indiana, May 15, 1854, by D. D. G. M. William B. Davis. First meeting, June 9, 1854. The first officers were : J. M. Troxel, N. G. ; R. Brearly, V. G. ; D. P. Spears, Sec. ; A. F. Reed, Treas. The

Schuyler Lodge, No. 284, of the same order, was organized at Remington July 10, 1857, by D. D. G. M. James H. Loughridge, of Rensselaer. It numbers about thircy-five members, and has no accumulated fund. The calls upon it for assistance have been considerable, and there has not been felt any special ambition to amass any considerable resources.

Remington Lodge, No. 58, of the order of the Knights of Pythias, was organized February 18, 1875, by Mr. Carnahan, of La Fayette, Ind. The order did not seem to thrive, and in 1877 or 1878 the lodge surrendered its charter.

IN the early wars of the Union, the Revolution, the war of 1812, the Black Hawk war in 1832, the war with Mexico in 1846-1:7, Jasper County took no part. The county was scarcely settled at this later period, and while several of her citizens were represented in the Indiana troops that were organized at that time, the county was not marked as the scene of especial enthusiasm or military ardor. In 1860, while still one of the most sparsely settled counties, Jasper was one of the few counties of the State that had a militia organization under the law of 1855.

" From the formation of the State to 1830, the State militia was in high repute, and afforded the surest channel through which to achieve civil distinction. Four years later, the organization was entirly abandoned, and public sentiment seemed to re-act, and render the later efforts to revive the system a failure. On the 14th of June, 1852, an act was passed for the organization of the militia by Congressional districts ; and on the 12th of February, 1855, an 'Act concerning the organization of voluntary associations ' was passed, providing for the formation of military companies by filing articles of association in like manner as provided for organizing, building, mining and manufacturing companies. These laws were practically of no value, merely providing, in a general way, for the organization of the militia without regulations sufBcient to secure any successful result. Many commissions were issued, in most cases for the mere purpose of conferring honorary military titles upon the recipients ; but with the exception of probably a dozen companies (most of which had but a brief existence), formed in various parts of the State in 1859-60, aggregating about 500 men, no organizations were made."* Such was the condition of the military force of the State when Fort Sumter surrendered on the 13th of April, 1861, and when on the 15th, Gov. Morton telegraphed to President Lincoln the tender of 10,000 men, " for the defense of the Nation."

The Senatorial campaign of 1858, with the succeeding Presidential contest in 1860 (in both of which Lincoln was the exponent of the political principles that were rapidly gaining the ascendancy in Jasper County), served to fix the attention of this section upon the political storm which seemed to be gathering with portentous mutterings over the southern portions of the country. It is doubtful whether hope or fear predominated in the minds of the people as the day approached when Lincoln was to be Inaugurated, but the hope and expectation of the great majority was that in his grasp, the serpent of secession would be strangled, as Jackson had done before in the case of the " Nullifiers." It was in this state of vacillation between hope and fear, that the reverberations of Fort Sumter's guns assailed the ears of the eager North. It was this explosion, echoing round the world, that united the various political elements, and made men Union or non-Union. Niceties of political distinctions were almost entirely lost sight of and while the change of front was too sudden and radical to secure the adhesion of all to one party, Jasper County, in the main, presented but one sentiment, and that for the support of the Union.

There existed, however, a disloyal feeling at the North that was especially prominent in the State of Indiana. The first burst of patriotism which led men to struggle for the honor of defending the country in her armies, silenced all disposition to give expression to this feeling, but when the disastrous result of McClellan's futile campaign gave pause to the nation's enthusiasm, it sprang up hydra-headed to work its disgraceful mission, concisely stated in the Adjutant-General's report: "It showed itself strong enough to take Indiana out of loyal hands in 1862, and leave her nothing but the iron will and unfailing sagacity of her Governor to prevent her own soil being made the scene of endless and ruinous local war. It was strong enough to endanger the loval control of Congress. It was widespread enough to cripple the army by encouragement of desertion, and to provide protection for deserters in every township. It organized secret societies in the interest of the rebellion, of which the members were sworn to resist the just demands of the Government and obstruct the prosecution of the war. It murdered draftoiScers, and destroyed enrollment papers. It distributed arms for treasonable uses, and plotted the destruction of Government arsenals and storehouses. It conspired to release rebel prisoners and arm them for a raid upon our own soil. It created riots in nearly every county of the Northwest, and in the East it excited the most inhuman and dastardly mob ever known in this country. * * * * Tiie righteous wrath of loyal men for awhile awed it into silence, if not into inactivity. But the disasters of the Government, and the failures of men whom its own intluence had awakened or depraved, encouraged it to show itself again within a year."

Jasper County shared in this gonoral state of things to some extent. Opposition to the general course of the State and National administrations was strongly manifested by a minority, though no violent demonstrations wore made here, as in many other counties in the State. One episode only served to mark this period here. In 1862, H. H. Dodds, of Indianapolis, made a violent speech, denouncing the policy of the nation, -(yhich so aroused the indignation of the loyal element of the county seat that they caused his arrest. This was probably a hasty and ill-considered action, and the speaker was subsequently unconditionally released; but the hot-headed sympathizers among the political minority in the county organized a band of vindicators with avowed intention of burning the town. There was a show of force sufficient to alarm the citizens, and for two or three weeks a cordon of pickets was maintained in the suburbs of the village to resist any eiforts that might be made to carry out such intentions. The "besiegers " appeared in some force at two points several miles distant, and several camp-fires about the town served one night to give a show of reality to the raid ; but the event passed without significant result, and the story of "Dodds' Raiders" is told simply to illustrate the decided difference of opinion that existed in this county in 1862.

Saturday, April 13, 1861, Fort Sumter fell. The rumors of the night before was confirmed on Sunday, and on the 15th Gov. Morton telegraphed to the President his tender of 10,000 men " on behalf of the State of Indiana." On the same day, the President issued his proclamation calling forth the militia of the several States of the Union to the aggregate number of 75,000 men. The quota of Indiana was subsequently fixed at six regiments of infantry, comprising in rank and file 4,683 men, to serve for three months, if not sooner discharged. No militia existed in fact, and on the 16th inst. Gov. Morton issued his proclamation, in which, after stating the cause, he called " upon the loyal and patriotic men of this State, to the number of six regiments, to organize themselves into military companies, and forthwith report the same to the Adjutant General," etc. The response from every part of the State was prompt and unanimous. The day after the call there were 500 men in camp; on the 19th there were 2,400 men, and in less than seven days more than 12,000 men had been tendered. Contests to secure the acceptance of companies were earnest and frequent, and all seemed anxious to discharge this perilous duty of citizenship. The response from Jasper County to the Governor's call was prompt and enthusiastic. A grand rally brought the citizens together from every township. R. H. Milroy took the lead, and called for volunteers, who crowded forward and filled the ranks of one of the earliest companies in the State.

The first call for troops by the President was April 15, 1861, for 75,- 000 men for three months' service ; the second was May 3, 1861, for 42,034 men for three years' service ; the third call was August 4, 1862, for 300,000 men for nine months' service ; the fourth call was June 15, 1868, for 100,000 men for six months' service ; the fifth call was October

History Of Jasper Countt

17, 1863, for 300,000 men for three months' service ; the sixth call was July 18, 1864, for 500,000 men for one, two and three years' service, and the seventh call was December 19, 1864, for 300,000 men for one, two or three years' service. Up to the sixth call, Indiana furnished her quota of troops without resorting to draft, but under this demand something over 12,000 men were conscripted. The record of Jasper County under this call is as follows :

By Voluntary Enlistment

But little difficulty was felt in obtaining volunteers during the first two years of the war, and no eftort was made by the county to stimulate enlistments by the offering of bounties. In fact, the financial condition and resources of the county would not permit any extravagance, however urgent the necessity. In August, 1862, an order was passed by the County Commissioners to pay a bounty of $25, but was subsequently rescinded. On November 24, 1863, the subject was again brought forward, and an order passed to pay $60 to volunteers credited upon the quota of the county under the call of October 17, 1863, and this amount was increased in the following month to $100, which resulted in the payment of $4,900 as bounties by the county. Various measures of relief for the families of soldiers were introduced, which were carried out at an expense of $4,641.77. The various townships, in their independent capacity, added to the general expenditure for both objects, as follows:

Bounty Relief

The ladies also formed a Soldiers' Aid Society at Rensselaer. This was not completely organized, nor auxiliary to the city organization, but patriotic ladies, with earnest hearts and willing hands, busied themselves in providing such articles as the hospitals and the boys in the field stood in greatest need. The society met at the residence of its members, and worked up the material that some member, or the donation of some merchant, had provided. Donations of the usual kind were solicited in the country and town ; -' boxes " were sent to volunteers of the county ; contributions to general hospitals were made, and wherever the demind seemed most urgent, the labor and contributions of these ladies were freely given. The amount thus expended cannot be estimated, but there is no doubt but that it would compare very favorably with the amount of the -' relief" fund expended by the county treasury.

ninth Infantry. - In the Mexican war, the State had five regiments, and to avoid historical confusion, the regiments raised for the war of the rebellion were designated by numbers, beginning with six. The Ninth was therefore the third regiment organized, for the war of 1861-65. This regiment was organized and mustered into the service for three months, at Indianapolis, on the 25th of April, 1861, with Robert H. Milroy as Colonel. In this regiment Jasper County was represented by a full company, the original officers of which were Robert H. Milroy, Captain; Gideon C. Moody, First Lieutenant ; and Edward P. Hammond, Second Lieutenant. In the organization of the regiment, this company was ranked G; the Captain promoted to the Colonelcy of the regiment, and the regular promotion of the Lieutenants, placing Albert G. Guthridge in commission as Second Lieutenant. Company G may be said to be the nursery of Jasper County's military renown, as from its organization rose one General, three Colonels and a number of line officers.

The Ninth was the first regiment that left the State for Western Virginia, departing from Indianapolis on the 29th of May, and arriving at Grafton on the 1st of June. From this point it marched toward Philippi, in the column commanded by Col. Kelley, and took part in the surprise of the rebel camp at that place on the morning of the 3d of June. This march of twenty-two miles over muddy roads, in an intensely dark and stormy night, was the first introduction of the regiment to the drudgery of army life. The affair at Philippi was but little more than a skirmish, the enemy, after a momentary resistance, making a precipitate retreat. The expedition returned to Grafton, when the Ninth was assigned to Gen. Morris s brigade. By July 4, 1861, the army at Grafton, under the immediate command of McClellan, numbered 30,000 troops, and operations were at once begun against the enemy who had taken position at Laurel Hill. Here the rebels made a more vigorous resistance, but, trreatlv outnumbered, they gave way iu a disorderly retreat, not, however, before inflicting a loss of some fifty killed and wounded upon tlie Union forces. Here Comiiany G lost one man killed. Retreating across Cheat River, the commander of the rebel forces turned at bay at Carrick's Ford. From this position the enemy was promptly dislodged after short resistance, and pursued by a part of the army under Gen. Hill. This closed the campaign of the Ninth under their three months' term ot enlistment, and in the hitter part of July, the regiment returned to Indianapolis and was discharged.

Oil its return, tlie regiment found the early idea that the war would be over in ninety days e.xplode<l, and promptly reenlisted for three years. The new organization was completed at the rendezvous, at Westville, La Porte County, under command of Col. R. H. Milroy, and mustered into the service at La Porte September i"), 1861. The Jasper Countv company retained its original position, promotions and re-organization, however, making considerable changes in its officers. The ori.'inal officers

Soon after its organization, the regiment was moved to Western Virginia, proceeding by rail to Webster, where it disembarked and marched to Elkwater Valley, and from thence to the scene of its former exploits, going into winter quarters on Cheat Mountain summit, where it remained until January 9, 1862. In the meantime, the regiment participated in the engagements at Greenbrier October 3, and at Allegheny December 13, 1861. It then marched to Fetterman, Va., where it remained until it was transferred to Buell's army, February 19, 1862, being transported by rail to Cincinnati, and ' thence to Nashville by boat. Here it was assigned to Gen. Nelson's division, and marched on the 29th of March for the Tennessee River, reaching there in time to participate in the second day's fight at Shiloh. On the opening of the fight on the morning of the 7th of April, 1862, Nelson's division on the left of Buell's army and near the center of the line, attracted the fire of half the enemy's forces for several hours, and lost 739 men out of 4,541 on the division. From thence the regiment moved with its division to Corinth, Miss., and after its evacuation took part in the pursuit as far as Booneville. From thence the regiment marched to Nashville by way of Athens, Ala., and Franklin and Murfreesboro, Tenn. From thence it moved to Bowling Green, Ky., and back again to Nashville. From the latter place the Ninth marched to Louisville, Ky., and from there in the pursuit of Bragg, through Bardstown, Perryville, Danville, Camp Dick Robinson, Crab Orchard and London to Wild Cat Mountains, and returned to Nashville through Crab Orchard, Somerset, Columbia and Glasgow. During this march the regiment was engaged in the battles of Perryville, Danville and Wild Cat Mountains. The Ninth then marched to Murfreesboro, where it participated in the battle of Stone River December 31, 1862, and 1st and 2d of January, 1863, after which it marched across the Cumberland Mountains and the Tennessee River to Chattanooga. On the 19th and 20th of September, it was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga. After its return to Chattanooga, it participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain, November 24, and Mission Ridge on the 25th, after which it marched over the Cumberland Mountains to Bridgeport, Ala., and from there to Whiteside, Tenn.

At the latter place the Ninth re-enlisted as a veteran organization, on the 12th of December, 1863. The regiment returned to the State on veteran furlough, and on February 21, 1864, left Valparaiso, Ind., for the front, passing through Indianapolis, Madison, Louisville, Nashville and Chattanooga to Cleveland, Tenn. In the spring of 1864, the Atlanta campaign was commenced, the Ninth participating in all the marching of that campaign, through Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Kingston, Calhoun, Cassville, around the Allatoona Mountains, through Ackworth, Big Shanty, Marietta, the investment of Atlanta, in the flank movement around Atlanta, through Jonesboro and Lovejoy, and back again to Atlanta, taking part in the skirmishing on the route and in the engagements at Taylor Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Dalton, Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy. It then participated in the retrograde movement in the pursuit of Hood's army, to Dalton, and thence through Summerville, Ga., Galesville, Bridgeport, Stevenson and Huntsville, to Athens, Ala. From thence it marched to Pulaski, Tenn., arriving there on the 1st of November, 1864. Falling back before Hood's advance, on the 26th of November, it was engaged in the fight at Columbia, in the heavy .skirmishing that followed on the route to Franklin, and in the severe engagement at that place. On the 1st of December, the Ninth entered Nashville, and on the 15th participated in the battle of Nashville, after which it joined the pursuit of Hood as far as Huntsville, Ala., when the pursuit was abandoned. At this point the regiment remained from January 6 to March 13, 1865, when it marched into East Tennessee, beyond Bull's Gap and back again, reaching Nashville on the 25th of May. Soon after it was transferred to the vicinity of New Orleans, and subsequently to Texas, where it remained as a part of Sheridan's army of occupation until September, 1865, when it was mustered out of service and returned to Indiana.

Fifteenth Infantry/.- - When the six regiments, under the first call for troops, were organized. Gov. Morton, unable to stay the tide of volunteers within the limits of the three-months service, tendered to the Secretary of War six additional regiments, engaging in case they were accepted to organize them within six days. Communication with Washington City by telegraph being cut oft', no response to this ofter was received, but the Governor determined to anticipate the further calls of the Government, and to this end, to organize on his own responsibilitv as the Coniniander-in-Ohief of the militia, five regiments of twelve months' volunteers for the defense of the State, or for general service as the future miglit re(piire. There were at this time twenty-nine companies at the general rendezvous, Camp Morton, besides sixty-eight companies that had been raised and tendered to the Governor for active service. On the Tth of May, 1861, orders were issued for the organization of sutBcient of those companies to form six regiments, the Legislature having indorsed the action of the Governor, and added one more regiment to the number, the camp rendezvous of the Fifteenth being established at Camp Tippecanoe, La Fayette. On the 11th of May, five regiments were reported as havin^^ the full complement of men, with a surplus of six companies in camp from with new enlistments to form the sixth regiment. In the meanwhile the second call, of May 3, 1861, had been received, and the question of entering the United States service for three years was at once submitted to the State regiments. The Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeeth Regiments promptly accepted the proposition, except a few hundred who declined to volunteer for three years, and were at once discharged.

In the Fifteenth Regiment, Jasper County was represented by a full company, which was assigned the designating letter " H." its original ofEcers being Samuel Miller, Captain; Horace K. Warren, First Lieutenant ; Alex S. Burnett, Second Lieutenant. The regiment was mustered into the United States service at La Fayette, on June 14, 1861, with George D.Wagner as Colonel. Soon after, it moved to Indianapolis, from whence it proceeded by rail on the 1st of July for Western Virginia, stopping at Cincinnati until the 4th of July. Proceeding by rail to Clarksburg, it marched thence to Rich Mountain, where it arrived on the 11th, while the battle was in progress, and next day formed apart of the pursuing force, assisting in the capture of many prisoners. The regiment was afterward stationed in Elkwater Valley, where it remained until November 19, taking an active part in the operations of Gen. Reynolds that season, among which were the repulse of Gen. Lee and battle of Greenbrier. The Fifteenth left Huttonsville on the 19th of November, and reported to Gen. Buell, at Louisville, the last of the same month. It took an active part in the campaign under Gen. Buell, arriving at Shiloh on the second day of the fight; was constantly on duty during the siege of Corinth, and took part in the closing scenes of the battle of Perryville. In the pursuit of Bragg toward Cumberland Gap, the duty was arduous, forced marches and skirmishes being the daily routine for some time. In November, 1862, the regiment marched to Nashville, where the army was re-organized under Gen. Rosecrans, Col. Wagner being appointed a Brigadier General on the 29th of November, and Lieut. Co). Wood being commissioned his successor. In the march toward Murfreesboro which followed, the regiment participated, and in the battle of Stone River, on December 31, 1862, and January 1 and 2, 1863, it bore a conspicious part, losing 197 officers and men killed and wounded, out of 440 engaged. After this, the Fifteenth remained at Murfreesboro until June 24, taking part in the various expeditions sent out from that place. It then marched to Tullahoma, where as part of Crittenden's corps, it aided in turning the rebel position on the left, compelling the evacuation of the place. The Fifteenth then remained in camp at Pelham, Tenn., until August 17, when the army advanced on Chattanooga,

Gen. Wagner's brigade, of which this regiment was a part, being the first to enter the city. Here the regiment performed post duty from September 9 until shortly before the battle of Mission Ridge, in which engagement it participated, suffering heavily. Its loss was 202 out of 334 engaged, being over sixty per cent. The day affer the battle it marched, with other troops, to the relief of Gen. Burnside, at Knoxville, marching the whole distance, over 100 miles, in six days - a great many of the men without shoes, and all on very short rations. The regiment remained in the vicinity of Knoxville, on very severe duty, without baggage or tents, and with very little to eat, until February, 1864, when it was ordered to Chattanooga to do garrison duty. While there, a portion of the regiment re-enlisted on the 15th of February. It remained at that place under Gen. Steadman until the 16th of June. 1864, when in obedience to orders from Gen. Thomas it left for Indianapolis, to be mustered out of the service, its time having expired on the 14th of June.

Seventeenth Infantry. - A detachment of veterans and recruits were left behind at Chattanooga by the Fifteenth, when it returned to Indiana to be mustered out, and these were transferred by order of Gen. Thomas to the Seventeenth (Mounted) Infantry. Of these, thirty were from Company H. The Seventeenth had re-enlisted in January, 1864, and while in Indiana on veteran fui'lough. the regiment was allowed to purchase horses, and from that time forward acted as mounted infantry. Wlien reached by the Jasper County veterans, the Seventeenth was with Gen. Sherman at Kenesaw Mountain. From this time forward the regiment was conspicuously engaged at Marietta. Chattahoochee River (being the first troops to cross this stream), Stone Mountain, Flat Rock, New Hope Church, Rome, Coosaville, Leesburg and Goshen. On the 1st of November, 1864, after turning over its horses to Kilpatrick's cavalry, the regiment left Home, Ga., for Louisville, Ky., where, on the 24th, it was re-mounted. Moving from Louisville on the 28th of December, it reached Nashville on the 8tli of Januarv. 1865. from whence it marched to Gravelly Springs, Ala., arriving there on the 2oth. Here it remained until the 12th of March, when it marched with Gen. Wilson's cavalry command into the interior of Alabama. On the 1st of April the commands of Roddy and Forrest were overtaken and attacked at Ebouezer Church, on Bogue's Creek, twenty-nine miles from Selma: the Seventeenth participateil and charged the rebels gallantlv. capturing 100 prisoners and one gun, ami losing eight killed, eleven wounded and five missing. On the 2d, it participated in the engagement at Selma, and in taking tlie rebel works surrounding the town; the Seventeenth first drove the enemy into these forts and then out of them, and afterward drove them from the interior works and their position behind the railroad embankment into the town, taking all the forts from No. 18 to the river on the west side of town. Four pieces of artillery and about 300 prisoners were captured. Out of 421 oiScers and men engaged, the regiment lost twelve killed and eighty wounded. After the battle, the regiment moved to Montgomery, and from thence to Columbus, Ga., from which point it marched to Macon, near which place it engaged the enemy on the 20th of April, and drove him into the city, saving two important bridges, which the rebels were in the act of firing. By a ruse, the enemy were led to believe that our force was but the advance of two divisions of cavalry, and the city was surrendered. With the city fell into our hands four Generals, 3,000 troops, including officers of all grades, five stands of colors, sixty pieces of artillery, and 3,000 small arms. The Seventeenth had in the action during the day 451 officers and men, of whom one was killed and two wounded. Camping near the city for a month, it moved into Macon on May 22, where it did post duty until the 8th of August, 1865, when it was mustered out of the service. Leaving Macon soon after, the regiment reached Indianapolis August 16, with 675 men and twenty-five officers, and on the following day was accorded a public reception. A few days later it was discharged.

Forty-eighth Infantry. - In this regiment, Jasper County was represented by Company K, which drew its full complement of officers and men from this county. Its original officers were David S. Snyder, Captain ; Albert J. Guthridge, First Lieutenant, and John Miller, Second Lieutenant. The Forty-eighth Regiment was organized at Goshen, on the 6th of December, 1861, with Norman Eddy as Colonel, and left for Fort Donelson, via Cairo, on the 1st of February, 1862, where it arrived the day after the surrender. It then moved to Paducah, where it remained until May, when it moved up the Tennessee River and engaged in the siege of Corinth. After the evacuation, it was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division of the Army of the Mississippi, and took part in the marches and counter-marches in pursuit of Gen. Price. On the 19th of September, it participated in the battle of luka, losing 116 men in killed and wounded out of 420 men engaged. On the 3d and 4th of October, it was engaged in the secoad battle of Corinth (under Rosecrans), and lost twenty-six killed and wounded. The regiment next moved down the Mississippi Central Railroad as far as Oxford, Miss., and on its return marched to Memphis, where, in January, 1863, it was assigned to the First Brigade, Seventh Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. After remaining here two months, it was transported down the Mississippi, and, joining the army of Gen. Grant, marched with it to the rear of Vicksburg. During this campaign, the regiment participated in the skirmish of Forty Hills on the 3d of May ; the battle of Raymond on the 13th, the battle of Jackson on the 14th, and the engagement at Champion Hills on the 16th of May, losing in the latter battle thirty-three killed and wounded. It was actively engaged in the trenches during the long siege of Vicksburg, and took part in the assault on the 22d of May, losing thirty-eight in killed and wounded.

After the surrender of Vicksburg, it remained in that vicinity until August, and then moved up the river to Memphis, and from thence marched across the country to Chattanooga, and while in the vicinity engaged the enemy at Tunnel Hill. From the latter place, it marched back to Huntsville, Ala., and while stationed there, in January, 1864, the regiment enlisted as a veteran organization, and returned home on veteran furlough, reaching Indianapolis, February 6, with 369 veterans, and on the 8th were publicly received by Gov. Morton and others.

After the expiration of its furlough, the Forty-eighth proceeded to Huntsville, Ala., where it remained until June. It then moved to Cartersville, Ga., and was kept on duty in that vicinity, looking after guerrillas and protecting Gen. Sherman's railroad communications during the campaign against Atlanta. It was continued on this duty until Hood's invasion, when it joined Sherman's army and marched with the First Brigade, Third Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, in its campaign from Atlanta to Savannah. From Savannah it first moved to Beaufort, and then on the campaign through the Carolinas, going through Columbia, Cheraw, Fayetteville and Goldsboro to Raleigh. From this place it moved northward, after the surrender of Johnston's army, making the distance from Raleigh to Petersburg, 16') miles, in six davs. From Petersburg, the Forty-eighth went to Washington, but soon after its arrival was transferred to Louisville, Ky.. where it was mustered out of service on the loth of July, 1865.