Pine Township (part 5 of 5)

Mghti/seventh Inffo/tri^.* - The Eighty-seventh Indiana Rei;iment entered the service at a most discouraging period of the conflict. Men enlisting at that time did not anticipate a brief holiday parade and then a discharge without severe and trying service. Thev knew that lon-r weary marches were to be made, hard battles to be fought, and all the privation and sulTering of a soldier's life to be encountered. No permanent advance had been made by the Army of the Potomac. The roar of rebel artillery was plainly heard in Washingtini. The ensign of treason Haunted defiantly in front of our national capital. Buell had left his position near Huntsville, Ala., and with his army was making his way to the Ohio River, as was also his antagonist, Gen. Bragg. Mr. Lincoln issued his call for 500,000 more troops. Indiana, always prompt, was first to fill her quota. The Eighty-seventh was organized at South Bend, in August, 1862. It was composed of three companies from Fulton County, three from La Porte, one from- Miami, one from St. Joseph, one from Pulaski and one from Jasper (Company A). On the 29th of August, 1862, the regiment moved to Indianapolis ; was there mustered in and armed on the 31st, and moved immediately by rail to Louisville, Ky. Great numbers of troops, mostly newly formed regiments from this State, were then concentrating at Louisville, to repel an apprehended attack of Bragg on that city, and to form a part of the army intended to operate offensively against him. We formed a part of Gen. Burbridge's brigade, remaining in the vicinity of Louisville one month, but not being idle by any means. The long marches and counter-marches by night and day, made in all conceivable directions, to meet rumored advances of the enemy ; the dry, hot weather and the suffocating dust were indescribably severe to the new troops and must long be remembered by them. Buell's army arrived about the 25th of September. The Eighty-seventh was placed in the Third Brigade, under Gen. Steadman, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and on the 17th of October, moved with the army in that wearisome but fruitless campaign through Kentucky. On the 6th of that month the regiment skirmished with the enemy at Springfield, and on the 8th was engaged in the battle of Perryville. It is unnecessary to follow the movements of the regiment during the balance of that campaign under Gen. Buell. The soldiers have a painful recollection of it ; and to those who were not there, it will be sufficient to state that it followed the movements of the main army. Buell was succeeded in command by Rosecrans about the 30th of October.

Rosecrans found the array seriously depleted and demoralized by exhaustive marches and indecisive conflict. The campaign was followed by wet, cold, disagreeable iveather, producing among the new troops, whose endurance had been already overtaxed, a fearful amount of disease. Nearly all were sick, hundreds died. Our regiment, like the others then recently formed, lost fearfully. The close of the campaign found the regiment near Gallatin, Tenn., where it remained until the middle of January, when it moved to Triune, one of the principal outposts of the army, fifteen miles south of Nashville. The good weather of the spring brought health to the regiment. We became well drilled and thoroughly prepared for the approaching campaign. The whole army was in splendid condition, having unbounded confidence in its new leader, Gen. Rosecrans, whose appearance among the troops always ex- cited the wildest enthusiasm. The Eighty-seventh marched with the army on the 23d of June, and engaged in the campaign against Tullahoma; was under fire at Hoover's Gap, and was with that part of the army that entered TuUahoma close on the heels of the retiring enemy. It then marched to Winchester, Tenn., and thence over the mountains to the mouth of Battle Creek, on the Tennessee River. It participated iu the great flanking movement that drove Bragg from Chattanooga, and bore a conspicuous part in the battle of Chiokamauga on the 19th and 20th of September, 1863. As it was, perhaps, the most important event in the history of the Eighty-seventh, and which it is one purpose of this meetino- to commemorate, it deserves more than a passing notice. We are justly proud of the part taken by our regiment in that terrible and memorable engagement. Its loss in that battle was much greater than that of any other regiment in the whole army ; and if there was one regiment that did more than any other to save the army from destruction, that regiment was the Eighty-seventh ; not because others did not do their whole duty, for all did as well as they could ; but because, at a favorable moment, it was thrown right in the place where it formed a part of the column that repelled the charge of the enemy, which, had it been successful, would have been attended with the most direful consequences to our army.

After the evacuation of Chattanooga, Bragg was greatly re-enforced from the rebel army of the East, so that his army considerably outnumbered that of Gen. Rosecrans. He determined to retake Chattanooga, and, if possible, destroy the Union army before it could recross the Tennessee River. This he hoped to accomplish by turning the left of our army, and cutting it off /rom any practicable line of retreat. As a conseqence, the right of the rebel army was greatly strengthened. Bragg's re-enforcements not being anticipated, the different corps of our army, in their operations to flank the rebels out of Chattanooga, and in their preparations for further flanking movements, had become greatly scattered. Rapid movements were required to bring them together to meet the designed attack. We marched all night before the commencement of the battle, and formed nearly on the extreme left of the armv. At daylight, after eating a hastily prepared breakfast, we moved a short distance to tlie front and engaged the enemy. During the first day of the battle, tlie figliting along our part of the line was decidedly in our favor, having met and repulsed the enemy iu three ditfereat charges, with great loss to his force. The Ninth Ohio and Eighty-seventh Indiana made a bavonet charge, breaking the enemy's lines and retaking two pieces of artillery previously captured from one of our batteries. The sun went down on a hard day's fight, and on many a lifeless form, pierced and riddled with bullets, through whose veins the stream of life but a few hours before flowed with vigor and promise. Yet it was evident that the battle was not over. Weary and exhausted, the soldiers lay down to sleep, to dream of dear ones at home, thousands of them to be numbered on the morrow with the slain. On the next morning - the same being Sabbath - Col. Van Devere's brigade, of which the Eighty-seventh formed a part, was placed in reserve ready to go when and where the emergency should require. That emergency soon came. Bragg, still intent on turning the left of our army, and interposing between it and Chattanooga, moved Breckinridge's divison during the night to his extreme right. The rebel leaders intended to make the attack at daylight, but were prevented from doing 80 by a dense fog, which rendered all objects indistinguishable at a few yards' distance. At half past 8, the fog having risen, Breckinridge, followed by all the rebel right, pushed heavily against the left of our army, outflanking it, and by a desperate charge gaining possession of the road leading to Chattanooga. At that critical moment, upon which it might almost be said the fate of our army was suspended. Col. Van Deveer's brigade (the Eighty-seventh forming the left of the first line) moved forward and took position in line of battle on the extreme left confronting the advancing trpops of Breckinridge.

Our retreating and breaking battalions, falling back from the rebel charge, were allowed to pass ; on came the rebels with a murderous fire of shot, shell and musketry, striking our brigade severely on the left. A well-directed volley brought them to a halt ; the conflict for several minutes raged fearfully, when the brigade, with the Eighty-seventh still on the left of the front line where it was subjected to a terrible enfilading fire, charged the enemy's lines and, pursuing his scattered forces, regained the Chattanooga road. Greeley, in his " American Conflict," gives our brigade the credit of this movement, as does also a work entitled " The Soldier of Indiana." The credit is properly given; but it more immediately belongs to the Eighty-seventh. From its position on the left, it received the great weight of the rebel charge, and in engaging in the charge made by the brigade it was brought in nearer contact with the enemy than the other regiments of the brigade. Had the rebel charge on our left been successful, it is difficult to say what would have been the fate of the Union army. The right of the army was already thrown in confusion. Had the left given way and yielded the possession of the Chattanooga road to the rebels, it is impossible to conceive a difi'erent fate for Rosecrans' army than that it would have been captured or driven pell mell into the Tennessee River. After making the charge just spoken of, the Eighty-seventh took position with the troops under Gen. Thomas, on a slope of Mission Ridge, where desperate fighting continued during the balance of the day. The rebels made the most persistent and determined efforts to dislodge our men from that position, but without success. Again and again they hurled their columns against our force, but were every time broken and scattered with great loss.

During the sanguinary encounters that terminated the battle of Chickamauga, the battle-flag of the Eighty-seventh, as usual, waved in the front line. The distinguished part taken by it in that memorable battle was attended with a deplorable sacrifice of life and limb. No regiment in the whole army - and they were all hotly engaged and lost heavily - suffered so severely as ours. Our losses, too, were, in killed and wounded, not missing, an item that not unfrequently swelled the losses of regiments in battle - often meaning those actually captured, but as frequently embracing the skulkers, who, retiring at an early part of an engagement, failed for several days thereafter to put in an appearance : and while enjoying some safe retreat in the rear, were, in the reports made immediately after the battle, accounted for as " missing." Now, the missing of the Eighty-seventh in the two days' battle was but a small part of the loss, and they were actually captured. The regiment went into the fight with twenty-two officers and 340 men. Of this number, eight officers and thirty-two enlisted men were killed on the field, and four officers and 138 enlisted men were wounded and eight missing - in all 190, or more than one-half of all the officers and men engaged. Troops were never exposed to a more galling and destructive fire, and yet the regiment not only held its own ground, but twice charged and repelled the foe. Its unflinching conduct at such a trying time makes our old regiment peculiarly dear to us. We are proud we belonged to such a gallant coDimand; and while we live, each returning anniversary of the battle of Cliickamauga will be as sacred to us as the Sabbath on which was fought the hardest and bloodiest fray of the conflict.

The regiment was at Chattanooga during the siege of that place. In the re-organization of the army, it formed a part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps. It was at the stormincr of Mission Ridge, advancing in the first line of battle, and was amono- the first that entered the rebel works - losing, in killed and wounded, si.xteen men. It followed in pursuit of the enemy to Ringgold, Ga. On the 22d of February, 1864, it engaged in the expedition against Dalton, and skirmished with the enemy in front of Buzzard's Roost Mountain, near that place. It then went into camp at Ringgold, where it remained until the 7th of May, 1864.

In the great campaign against Atlanta, under Gen. Sherman, it was constantly at tlie front, skirmishing every day, and 'participating in the battles of Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree

Creek, and before Atlanta. It chai-ged and carried the outer worka at Uttoy's Creek, in front of Atlanta, on the 4th of August, 1864, losing, in killed and wounded, seventeen men. It was engaged in the battle of Jonesboro, on the 1st of September, after which it moved into Atlanta. The campaign against Atlanta, considering the rugged mountains, deep, narrow ravines, and thick, primitive woods, over and through which it was fought, the enemy contesting with determined obstinacy every foot of the ground, was the most difficult and laborious undertaking of the war. For 100 days the fighting was continuous, day and night. The firing between the heavy skirmish lines on each side was incessant, filling the air with whizzing, death-dealing bullets. The skirmishers relied for protection on "'gopher holes," as they called them, dug in the ground ; and frequently, men had to remain in these for twenty-four hours at a time, the exposure being so great that it was impossible to send others to relieve them, except in the darkness of the night, and then at great peril of life. As usual, it was the luck of the Eia;hty-seventh to get into warm places. Its battle flag, upheld and defended by unflinching men, always waved where there was danger and hard fighting.

On the 3d of October, 1864, the regiment left Atlanta with the Fourteenth Corps, in pursuit of Hood, who was making a raid to the rear of Sherman's army. It followed the enemy northward, passing over the ground then recently fought over, to Kesaca, and thence through Snake Creek Gap, or rather over the mountain to the Chattanooga Valley. It went as far as Gales ville, Ala., and then returned to Atlanta, by way of Rome and Kingston. Leaving Atlanta on the 16th of November, 1864, it "marched with Sherman down to the sea," passing through Decatur, Covington, Shady Dale, Eaton Factories, Milledgeville, Sandersville, Louisville, Reynolds, Thomas' Station and Waynesboro, and reaching the defenses of Savannah on the 10th of December. The march was diversified by tearing up railroads, heating and twisting the iron so as to make it useless, skirmishing with the enemy, foraging and living sumptuously on fat pigs and poultry, sweet potatoes and sorghum molasses.

The regiment made the campaign with the army through the Carolinas, going to Goldsboro, N. C, where it remained until the 10th of April, 1865. It then proceeded to Smithfield, which was held by the enemy. Forming on the left of the road, the One Hundred and First Indiana on the right, it entered the town under the fire of the retreating foe. There we heard the last rebel bullet. May it no more ever be heard in this land ! From thence the Eighty-seventh proceeded through Raleigh to a place near Holly Springs, where it remained until after the surrender of Johnston's rebel army. Thus a mighty army, which had encountered our forces at the Ohio River, menacing an invasion of the North, after being pursued and fought for three long years, laid dovm its arms in the presence of the victorious legions of the Union, and abandoned, as the "lost cause," that for which it had so long and persistently battled. It was a proud day to the Union soldier ; his cause was triumphant - his labors and privations were passed, and visions of home, loved ones and peace were approaching reality. The regiment then moved to Richmond, Va., and thence to Washington City, where it participated in the grand review of Sherman's army. It was mustered out on the 10th of June, 1865, and proceeding to Indianapolis, it was on the 22d of that month publicly welcomed home by Gov. Morton, at a reception meeting held at the Capitol grounds.

The total casualties of the regiment, during its term of service, were : Killed in action, 47 ; wounded in action, 198 ; died from wounds and disease, 214 ; total 459.

I have thus partly recounted some of the principal movements and engagements of the regiment. I have not pretended to follow it in all its marches and skirmishes, or to give anything more than a mere sketch of the movements to which I have referred. To have done more would have occupied too much of your time. As an instance of how little I have presented of the movements of the regiment - I will state that the general course of its march as I have pointed it out, indicates a distance not greater than 1,200 miles, when the distance actually marched by it exceeded 3,500 miles.

Twelfth Cavalry (One Hundred and Ttrenti/-sevt')ith]. - ^Company K of this regiment was made up, principally, of volunteers from Jasper, Newton and Pulaski Counties, and was organized with the following ofBcers : Captain, Daniel M. Graves ; First Lieutenant, Henry H. Graves ; Second Lieutenant, William Chittenden. This regiment, known as the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was organized at Kendallville, Ind., on the 1st of March, 1864. Eight companies were recruited in the Ninth Conorressional District, by Col. Edward Anderson, in the tall and winter of 1863, and were rendezvoused at Jlichigan City ; and four companies were recruited in the Tenth Congressional District, at the same time, and were rendezvoused at Kendallville, for the purpose of completing the reijimental organization, and Col. Anderson was made the Colonel of the regiment. Early in May, 1864, it left camp at Kendallville, and proceeded to Indianapolis. On the (ith, the regiment left the State capital for the field, under orders to proceed to Nashville, Tenn. But six companies of the regiment were mounted, and all of the companies were armed as infantry, for want of cavalry arms, until the regiment arrived at Louisville, when the infantry arms of the six mounted companies, and cavalry arms were issued instead. The mounted portion of the regiment, with the mounted portions of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry regiments, marched from Louisville to Nashville, under the command of Col. Anderson, while the dismounted portion of the regiment proceeded to Nashville by rail, under the command of Lieut. Col. Alfred Reed.

The regiment remained at Nashville in camp of instruction for about three weeks, when it was ordered to Huntsville, Ala., for which place it started on the 29th of May, the dismounted portion proceeding thence by rail, under the command of Col. Anderson, and the mounted portion marching from Nashville, under the command of Lieut. Col. Reed. Col. Anderson was assigned to the command of the railroad defenses from Decatur, Ala., to Paint Rock, a distance of about sixty miles, and to the command of all that district of country lying between the Tennessee River and the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, that region being, at that time, infested with several bands of guerrillas and '-bushwhackers."

The dismounted companies were assigned to the especial defense of the railroad, and to the erection of block-houses, under the command of Maj. Orris Baker. The mounted companies (which were the only mounted cavalry then at or near Huntsville), under the command of Col. Anderson, were employed very actively in fighting and ridding the country of guerrillas, in which numerous skirmishes and engagements were fought, and quite a large number of the regiment were killed and wounded.

For about a month after the arrival of the regiment at Huntsville, the headquarters of the regiment were at that place, when they were removed to Brownsboro, where they remained until the 15th of September, 1864, when the regiment was ordered to Tullahoma, Tenn., to garrison that post, where it arrived on the night of the same day, and reported to Maj. Gen. Milroy. Col. Anderson was assigned to the command of the post, and also retained command of the regiment. During the stay of the regiment here, it was constantly employed in watching the movements of the rebel Gen. Forrest, who, with a large force, was then threatening Tullahoma, and several other points along the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, getting into several spirited skirmishe? in the meanwhile.

Three mounted companies, C, D and H, stationed at Huntsville, under command of Capt. Williams, of Company C, participated in defense of that place with the Thirteenth Cavalry, on the 1st of October, 1864, against the attack of a portion of Forrest's command. These companies subsequently joined the regiment at Tullahoma, and on the 26th of No- vember, upon the evacuation of that post, the regiment proceeded to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and participated in the battle of Wilkinson's Pike and Overall's Creek, and was employed in the several skirmishes in the defense of Murfreesboro against the command of Forrest, in December, 1864. Soon afterward, the regiment proceeded to Nashville, and went into winter quarters ; received new arms, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, Seventh Division, Cavalry Corps.

February 11, 1865, the regiment embarked, under orders to proceed to New Orleans, but, by subsequent orders, landed at Vicksburg to engage in a raid along the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. These orders were subsequently countermanded, and the regiment, newly armed and mounted, embarked for New Orleans, where it arrived on the 12th of March, 1865, where it proceeded to Navy Cove, Mobile Bay. Under Gen. Canby, the regiment participated in the operations against the forts and defenses of Mobile, a portion of the regiment acting as escort to the General. The balance of the regiment engaged, also, in running a courier line into Florida, from near Fort Blakely, Ala.

After the fall of Mobile, the regiment reported, on the 17th of April, to Maj. Gen. Grierson, and participated in the raid of over 800 miles through Alabama into Georgia, and then across the State of Alabama to Columbus, Miss., where it arrived on the 20th of May, 1865. The regiment was highly and specially complimented by Gen. Grierson in a letter to Gov. Morton for its gallant conduct and military discipline. Here the regiment remained until about the middle of July, when a portion of the regiment proceeded to Grenada, Miss., where the headquarters were established. Companies D, K and L proceeded to Austin on the Mississippi River, in command of Capt. D. M. Graves, where they remained about two months, employed in protecting Government cotton and other property. These companies then rejoined the detachment at Grenada, where this part of the regiment remained until orders were received for muster out.

The remaining six companies remained at Columbus, Miss., and vicinity, engaged in guard lUity, until they were ordered to Vicksburg, to rejoin that portion of the regiment wliich had preceded them. Here, on November 10, 1865, the regiment was mustered out, and subsequently left for Indianapolis, where it arrived on the 16th inst., and was paid oft" and discharged, November 22, 1865.

Fourth Batten/, Light ArtiUci-i/. - This organization was mostly recruited in La Porte, Porter and Lake Counties, though Jasper had a considerable representation in its ranks. The battery was organized at Indianapolis on the 15th, and mustered into the service on the 30th of Sep- tember, 1861, with Asahel K. Bush as Captain. Soon afterward it proceeded to Louisville, and then joined the army of Gen. Buell. During the winter it remained in camp in the vicinity of New Haven, Munfordville and Bowling Green, and when the forward movement of the army was commenced, it moved with it to Nashville. From there it marched to Savannah, on the Tennessee River, with Buell's army ; but for lack of transportation did not cross the river in time to take part in the engagement at Shiloh.

During the siege of Corinth, the battery marched with Buell's army, and participated in the subsequent campaign through Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee, reaching Nashville late in the month of August, 1862. Falling back into Kentucky, and to the Ohio River, at the time of Bragg's invasion, it moved out from Louisville with Rousseau's division of McCook's corps, and took part in the cimpaiga that resulted in driving that rebel General from Kentucky. In this campaign the battle of Chaplin Hills, near Perryville, was fought on the 8th of October. The Fourth Battery and Stone's Kentucky Battery were placed on a high ridge on the extreme left of Rousseau's division, and extending diagonally to the front. To support these batteries, the First Wisconsin was placed on the ridge, and the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania on another ridge running almost at right angles with the one on which the batteries were planted. This formation gave a cross fire, and proved of great value in maintaining that all-important position during the day. Gen. Rousseau, in his official report, says of this movement: "These formations were made in great haste, and in a few moments, but without the least confusion or disorder, the men moving into line as if on parade." The operations at this point saved McCook's left, and secured to the army the Maxville road, upon which stood the entire ammunition train and ambulances.

After this campaign, the Fourth Battery marched to Nashville, and upon re-organization of the army under Rosecrans, it was assigned to the Third Division of Gen. McCook's corps, of which Gen. Sheridan was the division commander. In December, the division marched with the right wing of the army toward Murfreesboro, then the headquarters of Gen. Bragg. On the morning of December 30, the battery moved near the enemy's lines at Stone River, and by order of Gen. Sheridan, opened fire on a rebel battery at 1,500 yards range, and drove it under cover. About 10 o'clock, it moved across the open field near the woods occupied by the enemy, when a rebel battery opened fire on it from the woods, at about 600 yards range, ami Gen. Sill ordered Capt. Bush to place his battery in position in the woods, and silence the opposing battery. This was accomplished after a sharp contest of about two hours, at

450 yards range. As a result, about one-half the horses of the enemy's battery were killed, one of his gun carriages disabled, one of his Lieutenants and twelve men killed, and several others wounded, besides the killing and wounding of a number of the infantry supports, which lay near. The Fourth Battery lost in the contest four men killed and three wounded. After dark, the battery was posted about 300 yards further to the right, in open ground, where it remained till next morning. About daylight on the 31st, the enemy began the attack. The battery replied with canister at short range, until the division was flanked and obliged to retire, the battery moving to the rear of its brigade, and firing canister as it fell back. On reaching the first position of December 30, it made another stand, and fired canister from its howitzers and 6-pound smooth-bores in the enemy's front, and with its rifles drove two of the enemy's pieces from position. In reaching this position, one caisson was lost, every horse drawing it being shot down by the enemy's musketry. Retiring from this position, it moved to a point 800 yards to the left, adjoining Hegley's division, near which point it remained until its ammunition was expended, and then retired to the left. In crossing a dense cedar woods, near the Murfreesboro pike, the infantry were driven rapidly past the battery, causing the two rear guns to be captured by the enemy. These were not abandoned, however, until all the horses except four had been killed, and one piece had become flistened among the trees, and the enemy within forty yards of the two guns. On reaching the pike, Capt. Bush moved his battery a short distance to the rear, and obtained a supply of ammunition, and then reported to the front with three pieces for duty. By order of Gen. Rosecrans, the battery was then placed in park in front, and on the left of the pike. The next morning. Gen. Sheridan placed it in position, where it remained until the morning of the 2d of January, 1863, without further casualties. The total loss to the battery in this battle was six killed, seventeen wounded, two paroled by tlie enemy, and one missing.

Encamping near Murfreesboro until Juue, 1868, it then moved with its division in the campaign against TuUahoma, engaging the enemv on the '24:th at Hoover's Gap. After tlie occupation of Tullahoma. it marched witii the army toward Chattanooga, crossing the Touue-isee River at Bridgeport, Ala. Passing over Lookout and Sand ^Mountains, the enemy was encountered at Dug Gap, where a brisk engagement ensued. On the lOth and 20th of September, the battery participated in the engageuieut at Chickauiauga., rendering efl'ective service on both days. It fired fewer shots than at Stone River, but with much greater eftect. After tlie battle, it fell back to Chattanooga until the 21st of September,

History Of Jasper Counti

1864, when the veterans and remaining recruits were transferred to the Seventh Battery. The non-veterans proceeded to Indianapolis, where they were mustered out of the service.

On the 14th of October, 1864, the re-organization of this battery was authorized by the War Department, and on the 28th its organization was perfected with Benjamin F. Johnson (one of the First Lieutenants of the old organization) as Captain. In a few days afterward, the battery joined the Army of the Cumberland, at Nashville, and after the battle at that place was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Rosecrans, at Murfreesboro, where it remained to be mustered out. It returned to Indianapolis, and was mustered out of service and finally discharged August 1, 1865.

Jasper County was represented in other organizations in the army, but concerning whom there is no reliable information. To notice the especial achievements of the volunteers from this county would be a pleasant but an impossible work. Even to note the individual experiences of companies formed ifl the county has been found impracticable. A brief sketch of the regiments of which they formed a part is all that has been attempted, and if this shall show that Jasper County was not wanting in patriotism and sacrificing devotion when demanded by the nation's peril, the object of the foregoing pages will have been reached.

Growth Of Villages Town Of Rensselaer

THE development of Jasper County from one to thirteen political divisions has been noted in the foregoing pages, and the dates of their organization is a fairly correct measure of the growth of the community. In 1840 (the county then embraced the present territory of Newton, Benton and Jasper), the number of polls assessed was 138, and the amount of taxable property was placed at §20,347. This is the financial statement for an area of about 1,300 square miles - equal to the State of Rhode Island. In 1844, the whole amount of revenue of the county, Benton having in the meanwhile been struck off, was $457.87. In the State Gazetteer of 1850, is found the following: "Jasper is the largest county in the State, and contains about 975 square miles ; but Beaver Lake, the Kankakee Marshes and the Grand Prairie occupy so large a portion of it, that its settlement and improvement have hitherto proceeded slowly. It is divided into eight townships, viz. : Iroquois, Newton, Marion, Barkley, Jordan, Beaver, Jackson and Gillam. The population in 1840 was 1,267, it is now about 3,000." In 1856-57, the county revenue was over $9,000, and the ta.xable property was reported at $1,540,000. In 1882, the income of the county, shorn of the territory which is now Newton, was $111,738.11. This in a brief way shows the progress that has been made since 1839.

Five settlements divided the early community that settled within the present territory of Jasper County. Among these, the one most advantageously placed, though not the strongest, was the one at the rapids of the Iroquois. The Iroquois, or the Rockwise, as the earlier settlers knew it, was a famous stream among the Indians and among such trappers and hunters as found their way hers before the treaty. Its waters were famous for the fish it contained and the fowl they attracted, while the game along its course gave this region the reputation of the hunter's El Dorado. These rumors were not lost upon the settlers of the frontier in White County, and in 1831 or 1832 Royal Hazelton, accompanied by Levin Willis and W. J. Wright set out in search of the " bold rapids of the Rockwise." They struck the head of the stream, followed its course as closely as the state of its margin would allow, to a point which is now the site of the iron bridge east of the county seat, and there gave up the search and returned. Not satisfied with this bootless errand, Hazelton, after failing to enlist the enthusiasm and company of the others, started out alone in a second quest of the rapids. Providing himself with two large "corn-pones," a few cooking utensils, his lariat, and accompanied with his five dogs, he set out on horseback for the noted place. He struck the river about twenty-five miles south from the rapids, and then following up the stream came upon the rapids. The place did not meet his expectations. An impassable marsh bordered either side of the stream, and while it afforded all that the savage or hunter might desire, it presented a very discouraging site for the settling of a claim, and he returned after a seven days' absence without any desire to exchange Mootz Creek for the Iroquois.

The solitude of the rapids seems to have remained undisturbed by the white man until 1834, when they were visited and rejected by Randle and Gulp, and later accepted by Joseph D. Yeoman and Nowels. In the following year, the family came and pitched their tent about in the geographical position, now known as Liberal Corner. On this spot the family remained while the permanent home of logs was reared. Mrs. Yeoman chose the site for this structure which was placed on the site of the bridge which crosses the mill race on Washington street. It was nearly winter when the last weight-pole was placed on the top course of clapboards that formed the roof of the new cabin, and the family found it necessary to take possession without waiting for fire-place or door. A log heap in the middle of the room furnished the necessary warmth and light, while a few displaced clapboards allowed the smoke to escape. This served until further improvements could be added. The nearest resident in the county at that time was David Phegley who then lived about five miles to the eastward of the county seat, on the Crockett farm. The family relied upon their own resources in raising the cabin, Mrs. Yeoman manfully doing her share in the heavy work.

In the spring following, Mr. Yeoman was under necessity of going to the Wabash for provisions with an ox team. During his absence, Mrs. Yeoman with two children were left alone, and while thus unprotected a party of fifty Indians came down to the rapids to fish. They camped about where the grist mill now stands and caught wagon loads of fish. Their method was to throw the fish out with paddles, made for the purpose, with one hand, while holding a torch in the other. None but dog-fish were preserved for their own use, however ; a bass or pickerel being brought to the cabin to exchange for bread. The savages were very docile, and oflFered her no discourtesy, though it may be imagined that the solitude was preferable to the presence of such vi«itors.

Mr. Yeoman made a farm upon the site of Rensselaer, extending from the ravine which reaches the river at the mill on the south to the Western Grove on the north. Here he lived and improved his claim without near neighbors for three years. The family heard of the advent of the Forks' settlement, but the impassable character of the stream between the two locations prevented any communication,

The first accession to the little settlement thus begun, if the father W. J. Wright be excepted, was William Mallatt. He located his claim across the river from Yeoman, and broke ten acres of ground covering the site of Mr. Thompson's residence and others westward toward the bend of the river. He was not allowed to rest long in the possession of this site, as it was taken by a " float" owned by a W. M. Kenton. This was a peculiar way the General Government had of disposing of its lands, and very often worked grave injustice, as in two cases, at least, at the rapids. To discharge certain obligations, the Government granted a warrant for a certain amount of land to be located at the option of the holder on any land belonging to the United States. Until 1837, lands could not be bought here, and settlers made claims with the intention of perfecting their title at the first opportunity. This was sometimes neglected, and while their ''claim" was proof against any similar demand, it was powerless before a "float." In this case Mr. Mallatt was obliged to forsake his improvements, and removed to the Blue Grass settlement.

In the meantime, the county seat had been changed to the Rapids of the Iroquois, and the plice named N'ewton. Mr. Yeoman had determined in his own mind to lay out a village here, and was flattering himself upon the outlook, when he found himself "floated" out of his prospects by James Van Rensselaer. The latter had been a merchant in Utica, N. Y., where he had failed in the panic of 1S37, and becoming' the owner of a " float " issued to some of the Indians, he came West, with this capital to repair his fortunes. The site at the rapid? seemed to ofl'er the opportunity he sought, and he soon became the possessor of a good farm, considerably cultivated, and a portion of it well-fenced. More than this, the site of a village was foreshadowed at this point, and for all these advantages there is no evidence that he allowed his predecessor a dollar for his improvements. It is said that there was a decided opinion entertained as to the equity of the proceeding, and it was marked as an instance of poetic justice that a certain well-fenced corn-field seemed to be the especial prev of all the stock that grazed on the prairies. Donahue's cattle were fre- (juently found to have strayed to this distant point, and superior to fences, were found rioting in the standing corn.

The specifications accompanying the plat explain that " the town of Newton is situated at the Rapids of the Iroquois River in Jasper County, Ind., on Section 30, Town 29 north, Range 6 west. The Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are each 390 by 300 feet ; the remaining whole blocks are each 300 feet square. Block 25 is 295 by 300; Block 26 is 295 by 300 feet. The lots are each 50 by 150 feet, except the middle lots in Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ; they are each 45 by 150 feet. The lots in fractional blocks vary according to the shape of the blocks. There are twenty-six blocks besides the Public Square ; the Public Square is 300 feet square. The streets around the Public Square are each 75 feet wide; Susan street is 63 feet wide; Mill street is 50 feet wide ; the street immediately south of Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, is 50 feet wide till its junction with Mill street, where it expands to 56 feet wide; the rest of the streets are 66 feet wide. It is not intended that Front street should be laid out as a public street more than 50 feet wide, although it is believed it will always remain open to the river. From the junction of Front and Angelica streets westward, it is 66 feet wide." The town thus laid out was divided, commencing on the river by Mill (Short street, near che site of the old mill, near the foot of the rapids), Front, Van Rensselaer, Cullen and Weston streets, and at right angles to these by Susan, Angelica, Cornelia, Washington, Harrison and Rutsen streets. This street was laid out in the name of Van Rensselaer's wife as his pecuniary liabilities would not permit him to hold property in his own name. A public sale of lots was held some time in this year, the first one being disposed of to J. D. Yeoman for a consideration of $100, and is described as Lot 6 in Block 1. The location of the county seat here gave the growth of the town an impetus, bringing several families, among which was that of George W. Spitler. But the growth of the village was destined to be slow. The proprietor came from the old Dutch stock, once prominent in New York, and impressed with certain aristocratic notions and an exaggerated idea of the natural advantages of the site, he refused to sell lots at what they were really worth, or at an approximate price. He labored also under the disadvantage of a lack of money to develop his property, and at the same time sought to monopolize every possible avenue of trade. The result was that the little town stagnated, and for years made no progress. The mill-race was built in 1838-39, and a mill erected at the ravine near the foot of the rapids. This was a combined saw and grist mill, and was among the earliest of its kind in this part of the State. For various reasons, however, it was forced to lie idle a good deal of the time, and other mills were erected. One about a mile further down the river was built by a Mr. Peck, to which Mr. Van Rensselaer took exceptions as infringing upon his right to monopolize the milling business, and resulted in a series of law-suits involving Peck in nominal damages and serious bills for costs, which finally put an end to his business. The " Alter Mill " in Union Township occasioned an ineffectual remonstrance from the proprietor of the county seat, as the dam there was supposed to interfere with the advantages of the mill at the rapids, Mr. Van Rensselaer, while conservative in his policy, and greatly circumscribed in his action by his lack of means, is remembered with respect by those who knew him. After his death, March 12, 1847, his family returned to the East ; the only survivor of the family, now an old man, resides in the city of New York, and still holds a considerable of the original place with all the tenacity of the old policy of his father.

Among the families connected with the early history of the village, in addition to those mentioned, were the Stewarts, Irwins, Barrs, Sparlings, Clarks, etc. Dr. Josiah Clark was the first physician in the county, and settled in the village in 1839. The death of Mrs. Ezra Stewart was the first to occur here, though the first burial was that of Mrs. Irwin, sometime later. The first birth was that of J. J. Yeoman ; the second that of Joseph Sparling. The first marriage is said to have been that of Edward Dryer to Mrs. Elizabeth Barr, which was celebrated in the house where the first court was held, and where the second was not held because of the bed-bugs.

The social dissipations of this period were confined to an occasional meeting, a quilting or a Fourth of July celebration. The first of the latter occasions was held in 1843, and combined the three classes of diversion in one. The programme was projected by Mrs. Spitler. and consisted of a two-story quilting party, to which the whole town was invited. The ladies divided their forces, and worked on two quilts one up-stairs and the other below. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the company repaired to a large oak that stood near the corner of Washiiii^ton and Van Rensselaer streets, and listened to a discourse bv Rev. Mr. Hopkins, of the Christian Church. His topic was doubtless suited to the occasion ; at all events, it did not seem unfitting to close the day with the round of games that were the usual finale of the quilting part3^ Thus

In 1850, the town contained " three stores, two physicians, one lawyer and fifteen dwelling houses," tlie first of the stores being opened by Harper Hunt.

Van Reusselaer, and as early as 1844, the original town's name having been changed to Rensselaer, a neiv town of Newton was platted by William Ivers. This consisted of twenty-four blocks (four of half size) of eight blocks each, and a public square. Some lots were sold, but the prestige was in favor of the older town, and this did not solve the problem. It was subsequently sold to Mervin Clark and Amzi Stanley, who had the old plat recorded in June, 1851, just as it was originally surveyed. It is generally known now as "Newton's Addition," though it is incorrectly stated. The specifications of the plat set forth that "the town of Newton, Jasper Co., Ind., is situated on the northwest half of the northwest half of Section 30, in Township 29 north, in Range 6 west. The northeast corner of Block No. 9 is situated directly south (allowing for the variation of the needle) of the northeast corner of said lot of land, 5 poles, 14 links. The southeast corner of the town identifies with the corner of the forty acres on which it is situated. The town lies with the range and section lines, to wit, north and south, east and west. The blocks are each 276 feet square. The lots are 66 feet wide ; the alleys 12 feet wide." The streets which divide this plat running east and west are South, Jackson and Harrison streets. The streets at right angles to these are Washington, Elza and Jefferson streets. In the same year, Mr. Van Rensselaer added a block on the west end of the first plat and another on the eastern end, which consisted of six lots and a public park. The latter was never improved by the town and was forfeited.

December 8, 1858, L. A. Cole, R. H. Milroy and fifty others signed a petition to the County Commissioners, for the incorporation of the town, with the following boundaries: "Commencing at the southwest corner of Section 30, Township 29 north. Range 6 west, thence north 32.34 rods ; thence east 85.55 rods ; thence north 2,300 feet; thence east 162 rods ; thence south 2,300 feet ; thence east 80 rods ; thence south 321.34 rods; thence west 325.55 rods to point of beginning." The area thus included comprised about 791 acres, and contained a population of 467. An election for the purpose was ordered by the Commissioners and the village legally incorporated, but then the enthusiasm of the projectors of the enterprise ceased. The war ensued and public attention was centered upon national affairs. In the meanwhile, the charter was allowed to lapse, and public enterprise sank to a low ebb. In 1866, the incorporation was revived through the efforts of Simon Thompson, Esq., and public matters began to mend. Since then an eflScient system of board sidewalks has been projected and constructed; a part of Washington street, through the business part of the town, has been improved by macadamizing with gravel ; and several of the princi- pal streets have been provided with tile drains, part on one side and part on both sides of the roadway. At present a grade is being established and a project is on foot to ultimately improve Washington street to the depot. Stock is restrained with unusual strictness, though cows are allowed the freedom of the streets during the summer months.

The revival in public affairs of the town marked also the business improvement, and the consequent improvement in the business houses and dwellings in the village. The Union of October 2, 1879, reviews this period as follows: " It was said in these columns last week that no business man of Rensselaer had gone into bankruptcy since 1868 or 1869, and the fact spoke emphatically for the integrity of the people. It is also pretty good evidence that Rensselaer is a pretty good trading point. Other equally strong testimony may be adduced to sustain this proposition. Within the last two years, while people all over the United States were complaining of stringent times, the people of central Jasper County have paid out $75,000 taxes and voluntary donations to build a railroad ; within the same period those who live in Rensselaer have built dwelling houses and business blocks of the value of the entire improvements of this character in the town previous to that time - that is to say, within three years the value of the improvements in the town of Rensselaer has been doubled. Not' another town in the State of Indiana can truthfully say as much. There is no excitement, no speculation - all is legitimate and calm. The improvements spoken of are all of good, substantial character. Two and three story brick dwidlings and business blocks, that no town of 1,000 or 1,200 inhabitants need be ashamed of - indeed such blocks as the Nowel's Hotel, Alfred Thompson's dwelling, and Willey & Sigler's Opera House, are not inferior to the best buildings of their character found in cities of 10,000 population." This does not seem to be an exaggerated statement of the case. The completion of the railroad to Chicago in 1881, gave additional assurance to the future of the town, and the spirit of improvement is still manifest in the plans made for the coming year.

The Forks Settlement

This settlement, which was early formed in the forks of the Iroquois and Piukamink, while not developing a well-defined village that has remained to the present, did dtwelop a community that early disputed the leading place in county iniluence with the settlement at the Rapids and had not the natural advantages of the situation prevented, would have probably secured the honor of furnishing the site for the county seat. The first settlors, Randle ami Culp, came from Virginia in 1833, and settled in White County. They had secured a stack or two of prairie hay and prepared to make a claim there when a prairie fire destroyed the result of their labor, and they set out to see the Rapids, of which they had heard. As before noted, they chose a site in the " forks " of the river, and were soon joined by others. In the summer of 1836, Royal Hazelton returned to this section and joined this settlement, but soon afterward sold his claim to John G. Parkinson. The latter was a son-inlaw of Simon Kenton, famous in the border wars of Kentucky and Ohio. The widow of Kenton came with her daughter to this settlement, where she died in 1856. Henry Barkley, Sr., came in soon afterward and gave his name to the township of Barkley. Others joined the settlement as noted in preceding pages, and the community rapidly grew in importance. Here was one of the earliest points visited by itinerant ministers, Mr, Gulp's house furnishing a place of worship. The first marriage was that of J. M. Iliff to a daughter of Mr. Parkinson, and the first death was that of an infant son of Mr. Randle. In this settlement also was the first blacksmith shop, store and schoolhouse in the county.

Mr. A. J. Guthridge opened the store here in a little log cabin situated a half a mile north of William Parkinson's place, on the farm of Mr. Casad. His stock was confined to the actual necessities, but which became almost impossible luxuries when only acquired by a long, tedious journey. His patronage, though not large, was drawn from the Kankakee to the Monon River. The blacksmith shop opened by Henry Freshaur, in 1839, was patronized from far and near, until that of Rial Benjamin and others south of the Iroquois and Pinkamink, divided his trade. In this settlement, also, was the first brick dwelling in Jasper County, which was erected by Thomas Randle. This was placed with the corners toward the northeast and southwest, as he feared the strength of the furious storms which swept over the country. It is related that the Indians were especially attracted this dwelling, and often came on begging errands, much to the discomfiture of Mrs. Randle, who could never learn to bear their presence with equanimity. Her corn cakes were their especial admiration. It was their habit to wait their cooking, and take them warm from the griddle, showing their appreciation and approach to civilization, however, by laying down a quarter, and leaving in silence. The squaws were frequent visitors, and it was not an infrequent thing to see two or three papooses stood up against the outside of the house while the mothers were inside.

Of the early members of this settlement, none are left to repeat the story of their experiences. They were earnest, influential men, and left their impress upon the character and institutions of the county. Pleasant Grove, a post oflBce station, is all that distinguishes it from the less favored political divisions in the northen part of the county.

Saltillo, Davidsonville. - The settlement in what is now Gillam Township was the earliest one in Jasper County, and while of marked importance during the first years after the county was formed, it did not maintain its early prestige after the organization of the county. Until that period, however, it was the point for voting, and Donahue held the ofiBce of Justice of the Peace for several years, which made it the seat of justice for the time. The families of John Gillam and Joseph McJimsey came about 1836, and others soon after. The State road from Williamsport to Winamac went through this settlement, which gave a shght impetus toward the growth of a village. The weekly mail, which was carried through the village, gave color to its " manifest destiny," and Saltillo came into being. It was a spontaneous growth, but never became a matter of record. A house or two and a post office were all that gave importance to the location, the site of which is now only marked by the old bridge grade, nearly two hundred yards south of where the Rensselaer & FrancesviUe road now crosses the Pinkamink.

Davidsonville was laid out by Moses E. and Lewis Davidson, the plat of which was recorded June 18, 1850. This village was located a short distance up the stream from the crossing at Sahilio, and consisted of two blocks, one street and an alley. It attained the prominence of a mill, a grocery, a shop or two, and several dwellings. If the Continental Line Railroad had reached it, the village might still have retained a place in the geography of the county, but fate was unkind, and its site is now marked by the ruins of the old mill and a house or two. A short lived still threatened to change the name of the place, and it is locally known now by Haddox Mill Pond, or Haddoxville, from the proprietor of the still. Saltillo and Davidsonville, are still to be found marked on the old maps, though with so much variation in location as to satisfy the claims of any one ambitious to claim its vicinity. The early community which settled within the present limits of Hanging Grove Township was closely allied to that of Gillam, from the necessity of their natural surroundings. The name of the township originated in a grove of oaks, which by a freak of nature drooped their branches almost to the ground. Here the families of Robert Parker, Robert and William Overton, eame in March of 1837. These families were natives of Pennsylvania, but came here from Rush County, in this State. In May following, John Lefler came herewith a drove of cattle to graze, and subsequently came here to live. Donahue came to this section in July of this year, and in the latter part of the year, Joseph Oosley came here from Kentucky. Michael Lefler came in 1839, and the settlement gradually increased until it became independent under township organization.

History Of Jasper Couxtt Blue Grass Settlement

The settlement in Xewton Township is another community, " proud in that strange spell - a name." The Indians congregating in large numbers at the village in Xewton Township had run out the wild grass, the blue grass coming in natural order to replace it, gave the distinctive name to this community. The Benjamins, Lewis Elijah, the Thomas family, Alvah Yeoman, William Mallatt, and others, formed a community that was early in securing the advantages of the church and school, but made no attempt to found a village. One of the earliest '" corn-crackers " was erected here by S. H. Benjamin. This was a peculiar contrivance of principally home invention. It stood on the stumps of two trees cut off about eight feet from the ground. Its custom came from ten or fifteen miles around, and served until bsuer mills were established. The distinctive name of the settlement is still maintained, though it is now generally appropriateil by the scboolhouse in the vicinity.

The settlement of Jordan Township was rather an adjunct of Rensselaer than independent. Its principal members came in about 1836, and were, in addition, Mr. Jordan, Samuel Sparling, his wife, father and mother and brother, Samuel Benson, wife and chil 1, and John Franklin, wife and two children. These all came together in two wagons, from Allegany County, N. Y., drawn here b? the representations of Augustus Bingham, a brother-in-law of Sparling, who had settled in Newton County in 1835. Sparling settled near the Iroquois, at the " cut off," to which point the river was reported as navigable at that time. Franklin settled four or five miles further down the river. Sparling subsequently moved to the county seat, and was one of the early families here.