Shelby Township

Shelby Township

Shelby, named for the county, cif wdiicli it is a sub-division, is the center township in the county, and the second from the southern line. It is four miles from north to south and seven miles from east to west. It^ area ciivers twenty-eight sections of land, erjual to 17.920 acres. It is one of the last townships created by tlie county commissioners, the date being June 26. 1882. It was settled, as was Addison, by pioneers whose names ha\e already beeii mentioned in other chapters. In igoS its assessed valuation was $836,450. The census of 1900 gave this township a population of 1,251. In 1908 it contained eight excellent school buildings, witli an enrollment of 253 pupils.

The Pennsylvania (branch line) Railroad passes through this township from north to south, in a diagonal course, and has a station point at Fenns, in the southern part of the township, and alx^ut t'lve miles to the southwest of She]by\ille. The railroad from IndianaiU'lis to Cincinnati passes througli the extreme northeastern corner of tliis township. This is another one of the feeders for the enterprising city of Shelby\ille. wdiere the majority of trading is accomplished by her hundreds of thrifty agriculturists. Possessing a good and fertile soil and ha\ing been duly appreciated and tilled for a long series of \-ears. it has de'.'el<jped into one of the choicest portions of Shelby county.

Its social and religious in.terests are allie^d largely with the jienple of the citv of Shelbvville. who are their near neighbors on the north.

Liberty lownsliip is on tlie eastern line o\ tliis cjunty ' is east of Rush county; north of Xnhle township, in Shelby cuuniv: west of SIiel]i\- an<l Addison townships and south of Union township. In territorial extent this subdivision of Shelby county is four miles from east to west i)v si.x mile> nurth and south. It contains twenty-four sections of land, amounting to about 15,000 acres. Its assessed valuation, in 1908. amounted to 8686,495.

In its educational advantages, it has always ranked high with its sister townships, having in 1908. as per official rep<:)rts. six schoo!-hou-es, and an enrollment uf 262 pupils, who are taught by none but competent instructors.

Themain line of the Indianapolis and Cincinnati railway passes throu.gh the e.xtreme southwestern corner of Liberty township, with a station at the villag'e of V\'aldron, a place of over four hinidred population at the present time. (See 'A'illagc History.") Anrithcr village was platted \v!lhin this township, June 19, 1S29 - known as ^.liddletown. which was situated on sections 2^ and 26. but has long been numbered among the extinct places of which Shelby county boasts of so many of an early-day make. In iSy^ this village had a population of near two hundred.

Cynl'hianna, another village, was platted August 19, 1835; had one hundred people in 1S76 and now has increased to 202. It is located in the northeastern part of the township. It is eight miles to the east of Shelbyville.

Tliis with Union tr>wnsliip on its north has been noted many years for tlie thrift and genuine prosperity of its excellent class of farmers.

Xoble townsliip is the extreme southeastern sub-division of Shelby county. It is bounded on the east by the county line, also on the south and to iis west is found ^^'ashingto^ township, while to its north is Liberty and two miles of Shelby township. It has the distinction of being the only actually square township in Shelby county, it being made of thirty-si.x full sections of land. Its domain includes 23,040 acres of excellent agricultural lands. The Indianapolis and Cincinnati railway line barely touches its northeastern corner. It was one of the pioneer townships laid off in this county, being one of the original four sub-d!\'isions. and continued so to be until April, 1S40, wiien its territory was cut to its present size and shape.

Its educational advantages are shov/n by the superintendent's report lor 190S, in wliich it is given as iiaving nine godd school buildings, with an. cnrollmer.t ^if- j;'5 pupil.-.

\\'ithin Xoble town.ship there have been lunnerous villages platted, including - Geneva, platted October 28, 1S53: Mt. I'leasant, ])latted June 2, 1S31 ; St. Paul, platted April 4, 1856. ( For an account of these villages the reader is respectfully referred to the chapter on "Towns and Villages" in this volume.)

The churches and schools of this section have kept pace with those of any other part of Shelby county. Its people are highly intelligent and for the most part, are today in a prosperous condition. As an agricultural section this township is indeed one of the best in all this part of Indiana in manv respects.

War With Mexico

War has ever l)een the way (.1 settling great tribal and national differences, even from the first advent mi men on this globe. With all that advanced thinkers. i)hil( ;s. 'ijlicrs. ilieMrists and non-combatants may iiave to offer against war, thns far no great progress has been achie\ed among the people of uncivilized and civilized, yes and Christian nations, save bv the use of the sword and gun. That the da_\- may come when all swords shall be beaten into plow shares or jiruning hooks, is to be lioped. The idea of settling difficulties between contending forces, stales and nations, by means of cool, deliberate arbitration, has cnme now-a-days to assume a hopeful outlook, and will no doubt, sooner or later, obtain in the minds of the great nations existing on this earth.

The first of the great conflicts in this country after the organization of Shelby county was that known indiistory as the ^lexica^ war,, from 1S46-4S. Shelby county proved her loyalty in that short but decisive struggle. Two companies were raised and mustered into United States service f.^r that war from Shelby county. The first of such companies left for the front in Tune, i8.|6. This was Company H, of the Third Indiana Regiment of \'olunteers. Its officers were Voorhis Conover, captain; Samuel :\IcKinsey. first lieutenant; William Aldridge. second lieutenant, and Jonathan Keith, third lieutenant. It was a full compaii}- and served one year. It was in no large engagements, save the battle of Uuena \'ista. It returned home in July, 1S47. Another company was at once organized by Lieutenant ^vIcKinsey. who was chosen captain. P.ut little, at this late date, can be learned of the movements of this company, as the war soon ended after they reached ilexico.

At the date of April S. igoQ. there were at least three :\Iexican soldiers still surviving and living in Shelby county - William Elliott, of Shelbvville; Henry ^l. luisley. of Eairland. and Benjamin I'oon. of Eairland. All are o\-er eighty years cif age.

The Civil War

The Rebellion, or great Civil war. between tlie Xorth and the South, btginn.ing in .\pnl. iSAi. and ending in the defeat of the Southern Confed- erac\\ in the spring- "f 1865. is sn well knt'wn in liist'U'y th;it its cause will not here be entered into. It may bo said in passing, however, that slavery was the real cause of this conflict, and th;'.t the world has never seen so great a civil strife, and one so far-reaching in its general influence in defining, for all time, the true meaning of the woril liberty.

The campaign of 1S60. in which Abraham Lincoln was nominated l'_>r President, was one of unusual excitement in Shelby coiuit}-. The fad that Thomas A. Hendricks, then of Shelbyvillc, was the candidate for fiovern<jr of Indiana, at tlial time. ga\'e added interest and zeal in the campaign. Rallies were had in all parts of the county, heated discussions ensued, and men on both sides were fullv abreast to tlie great conflict that was about to darken the political horizon of the nation. The Republican clubs and the Democratic "I-Iickiir\" clubs, each had much of the '-pirit of fire. }\\v. Hendricks carried his home county by two hundred and fort\-two \ cites, while he -was defeated in the state by ]\Ir. Lane, by almost ten thousand. This set the pace for party workers in tlie Republican ranks of Shelby county. At the fall election Indiana went strong for Lincoln, and in Shelby county his vote was one thousand nine hundred against two thousand forty-seven for Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln was elected, having received one hun.dred eighty electoral votes out of the three hundred three cast for President. The news soon follow-ed that secession of the Southern states was next in order, at which intelligence many a stout heart faltered.

Saturdav. January 19. iSGr. there was a call fi;r a mass meeting "irrespective of party" to 1)C held at the court-house, in Shelbyvillc. Speech.es were made bv lames yi. Sleetli. James Harrison, and Thumas A. Hendricks, on behalf the Ik-nmcratb. and by Captain I'randwine ami Jasper H. Sprague, Republicans. A dispute arose and lience the double ^-et of resolutions offered did not pass.

"The Faiiwus Boggsloicii Rcsolutious:'' and the meeting at wdiich they were offered, in Sugar Creek township, Shelby county, at a school-house, Saturdav, February 16, 1S61, were the subject of a well handled article by the secretary of that gatliering - William R. Xorris - and from it we make extracts, and draw facts for this historic item, that it may be correctly recorded in the latest local history of the county, where the occurrences transpired.

This meeting had been well advertised; the school-house was full to ovcrike the cnuntrv at large, greatly excited. Tb.e eveand threatening, as was the political aspect of the The meeting was organized at one o'clock sliarp. Wanee as president and William R. Xorris. secre- Shelbyville. at a later date. Then. Sugar Creek d mure deflating talent than any other township in ;inv vears. at Ruggst iwn. the>e deflates had been going on, until all could puMically express their views, whether in good English or not. they had their say on all great suhjects coming up for solution. Old horny-handed farmers and their s<.ns all joined in the debates. There were then three Democrats to one Rcinililicau within Sugar Creek township. I'lic president, or "chairman," appointed T^r. ]. W . '>'.nc]<cv and i\. Xorris as a committee on resnlmions. d"he.-e gentlemen repaired tn the outside and to the back end of the old school-house for consultation. D.xtor Smelser drew from his pocket a "cut and dried" 'set of resolutions, prepared by himself and a cousin from Kentucky - a ^Ir. Fullalove - who had been visiting there two weelo. and who desired to take the resolutions to his home in Louisville. Kentucky, and have the same published as the true sentiment of .the people in one of the banner inland townships of Indiana. Doctor Smelser returned to the building and read the resolutions and spoke twentv minutes on them. Xorris followed in support of the same in an eloquent appeal.

Next the president stood upon his feet and drawing a book from his pocket, proceeded to read in a most excellent manner, a treatise on the "Horrors and Terrors of War." This occupied ten minutes or more. These three "clinchers." in favor of the adoption of the resolutions, seemed to indicate that all was a one-sided afl'air. and that a vote would be unanimous, but a little later Dr. William G. ?iIcFadden. a young physician and ardent Republican who lived and practiced near Boggstown. and who afterward became one of the highly honored citizens of Shelbyville. called for the reading of the resolution again, which \^-as done by the secretarv.

The young doctor took exceptions and made a radical speech against the sentiments contained in the resolutions - especially tlie latter sections. He favored union, if possible without war. but union at all hazards, even if civil conflict must ensue. lie created a profound sensation among those present in the school-house on that eventful occasion. The secretary. ]\Ir. Xorris, sprang to his feet and argued strongly in favor of the proposed resolution, on the ground that "God Almighty and nature designed them to be one indivisible, that as the water of our state flowed to the r^Iississijipi. and the ]\Iississippi to the Gulf - nature herself had pointed out our destiny - that as for his part, he was born with Southern blood in his veins, that he could never go back to his native state, old Kentucky, that he had lived, as they were all aware, for more than two years quite recently, in the land of border ruflians, \\'estern ]Missouri, right in the hot-bed of negro slavery, where they all owned slaves - that to his certain knowledge Western Missouri was a perfect nigger's paradise, that the sla\es w ere well treated, many of them better than the}- deserved." That from his knowledge of Southern slave-holders, he would much prefer going among them if they did secede and leave the Union, to allying himself to the hypocritical, cunning- crafty, foxy, blue-bellied Yankees of the Xew

Doctor Smelser followed with an earnest appeal in liehalf of the Soutli, stating that he was posted al)ont the c^nditiMn in the slave states, and insisted that the "nigger" was a thmisand times lietter off in the care of his good master than in the hands of operators in the Xorlh. who overworked and underpaid them there. He would much jirefer a home among Southern slave-holders, than among hypocritical Pharisees of Xew England, the cold-blooded, calculating Yankees, whose only God was money, who first stole the niggers from Africa and soKl theni in the Soutliland «if our country and whd now wanted to free them so that they could get them North to work for them, pay them small wages, when tliey felt so disposed, and let them wear their old clothes and eat cold victuals, whilsf pretending to be their friends. Ile'.'^aid they would rather steal a nigger from a comfortable home in the South, than to pa)- some poor white man good living wages to do their drudgery.

Aljout this stage of the meeting, Hcmier Palmeter. an old man, and a rock-rooted Jackson Democrat, who read the Xew York Day Enok (an ultra, fire-eating Democrat ])aper), morning, noon and night, took the door. 'Jdie old man's soid was absorbed in its very passion in politics, and who, while illiterate, was well posted on the living issues of his day and generation. Among other things he said : "^Ir. President, we hear much said about coishun (coercion) in the ])apers, they'r full of it. both Dimikratic and Rippublican. I say, ]\Ir. President, let's bring ii right Imme to ourselfs. How would you, Mr. President, like to be coished (coerced) ' I know you wouldn't. We all known you wouldn't. X'ow, if it isn't right to coish (coerce) a man, it ain't right to coish a state. What's right between man and man is right between states and states. 'Do as you w^ udd be done b}'.' is the golden rule of Holy Writ, laid down by Christ himself, and don't undertake to coish (coerce) our Southern britherin."

Xumerou.s speeches were made later on. but one must not be left unmentioned in this work, the one delivered by Adam Smith, who distinguished himself later in advocating the theory that the earth stan.ds still and tb,e "sun do move" around it. He had many heated arguments with some of the lighter weight scientific men of his times. Uncle Adam said: "Gentleman, I have been much interested in the discussion of the resolutions, and I for one, am emphatically in favor of their adoption. If it comes to a separation of the states I prefer to go with the Southern nigger drivers all the time, to agoin' with the blue-bellied Yanks. By giddy! Tliem's my sentiments, gentlemen."

Doctor McFadden was left almost entircl}' witlnait supp<jrt - all seemed to have Ijcen con\'erted to the pro-slavery cau?e. by tlie eloquent learnefl a[>- peals of the various speakers. He arose once more and said : "Gentlemen, the peij])Ie of Xew finglancl are not all AboIiticini=ts, and they are not all as bad as has been represented. The Yankees were ^iinnd soldiers in the war of t'.ie Revolution, they heljied us mightily to aehieve our independence. 'I'he Re\olution. vou must remember beyan at Lexiiii::toii and at Bunker Hill. I for one am not williui^" to give u,). Yankee Doodle, Lcxingtmi and IJunkcr Hill."

lien Farmbrouph, the great trading man of Sugar Creek townsliip, was asked for an expression of his sentiments, and responded as follows, in his own peculiar quaint and dry manner: "Gentlemen, you all know I am not a speech maker, but at such a time as ih.is I tliink it stands every man in hand to hnpress his sentiments. I know the Southerners well : 1 have traded in Ole Kentuck: I have bought stock thar and sold stock thar. Whatever a Kentuckian'tel!^ you. you can deperid on: he's fair and scjuar: his word is as good as liis bond. I speak what I know; I have et at th.ar tables, staid at thar houses of nights, arid had lots o' dealings with "em . and thar"s not a more cleverer or a more honorabler set c;f people on the face of the urih than they ar. As tV.r the lilue-bellied Yanks. I've had dealins v>ith them, too; and uve got to watch 'em as well as pray, for prayin" won't do no good; they'll cheat you anv chance thev git. and make a chance if they flon't see one. I tell you the devil will never git his own until he gits the ^'anks. and he will be mighty loth to claim 'em: he knows they ^vouldn't be in hell six months before they cheat him out of his kingd ^m and set up a government of thur own. Xo. he'll not take 'em in if he can help it. he'll just shut the door in their face and tell 'em thro the keyh.ole. that he don't want 'em, for 'em Xo go on still lower down, and set up a kingdom of ther own and cheat it out among themselves. If we had the few good Dimmikrats out o' New England. I would say. go to thunder; we don't want to be associated with you dead-beat- and everlasting cheats no longer. I fur one am fur the South. Them's my sentiment,-."

This speech brought down tb.e house and capped the climax. Xext in order the vote on the "resolution" was called for and had. There were but three \Gtes against the pa'^sage of the resolution - Doctor '^.IcFadden and tu'O whose names are nnt known t j the writer. Mr. Fullalove. mentioned before as being from Louisville, took a copy of the resolutions to his southern home, and were at once copied in the Louisville papers, with a glowing account of the meeting. The whole proceeding was later copied all over the Sottth and West as an index of the sentiment in Central Lidiana, and this was veiy unfair and not the true sentiment of a majority of the people of the Iloosier state. This was at that date Thomas A. Hendricks's home. It was believed abroad that all were ( f the same political Vielief. but not s.x There is little doubt that the circulati(i!i of the resjlutions of the Sugar Creek township meeting, bv the newspaper press from one end of the land to the other, had much to do in stimulating the spirit of real secession and possiblv hastened the advent of that long drawn out civil conflict - the Rebellion.

March 7, i8i')i. C'litained this article: "The followint: are the resohitiuns passed by tlie Sugar Creek union meeting on the i6tli ult. The first and second resolutions were passed unanimously, and the third by three dissenting voices. Tlie n'.eeting was .about equally composed of Democrats and Republicans." The rest 'luii( ins in (|uestion read as follows:

"Whereas, We do acknowleilge and are proud to confess the services of our Congres-meii who are stirring and using their united efforts to promote the best interests and safety of the Union, and.

"Whereas, We do fully endorse the Crittenden resolutions or any fair and honorable adjustment, that will answer as a basis for the seUlcment of our National -affairs, that will be honorable and fair to tb.e interests of all portions of our Nation. Therefore,

''Resolved, That we, the citi7en? of Sugar Creek township, do most earnestly recommend and request the General Assembly of this state, now in session, to make application to Congress to call a convention as soon as possible for the purpose of proposing amendments to the constitution of the United States, leased on the Crittenden resolutions, r any other fair and hop.orable policy, that will amicably and forever settle the slavery questim between the North and South.

"Rcsok'i'd. That while we deprecate the precipitate acti'in of the Southern states, we are oi)posed to the general government using any means of forcible coercion, but believe if proper concessions and compromises are offered by the Northern states with adequate constitutional guarantees, that all these seceding states will readily come back, and a reunion of our glorious Union will be the result.

"Rcsolzwl. That if, after all peaceable eftVjrts have been made to keep the several states ur.ited in one grand confederacy, they must div!<le, and we must be cast with one or the other ])..rti' n. we do of cli^ice prefer to be attached to the Southern Confederacy."

No further attempts were made at holding union meetings in Shelby county for some time after this episode, which uas given a nation;d-\\ ide circulation. The next shot was the firing on Fort Sumpter. which created great consternation in the o/.unty, in common with all the Union. .\t Presitlcnt Lincoln's first call for seventy-five thousand men, no section was iwove in haste. or responded more loyally, than did the people of Shelby county. Inside a week two full comijanics were organized ami ready for the fiebl. while tlie enlistment of five others was almost completed. One of these was accepted by the authorities at Indianapolis and was a-signed the p^jsitirm of Company C, in the Sevoith Regiment, three months volunteer service. It was mustered into service April 22d, ten days after the first shrit had b.een fired at Fort Sumpter, with Jolni 'M. Blair as captain; John M. Flynn. fir^t lieutenant, and Tohn C. Maze, second lieutenant.

Tlic li.cal paiRT, tlie folunliW: of April _'5. iS6i. said: On Sahhalh aftenv., ,n last Jeilinsuii's Hall was filled t(v u\eiilo\ving- wilh citizens to witness the presentation of the eleg-ant flag (inirchased by the patriotic ladies nf Shelliyville) tu the first company of volunteers from this countv under the cuiiinKnul cf Capt. Jeihn M. Blair. The ceremonies were of an impressive character. Order of exercise: First, prayer. 1)y Kev. Lynch: second, song. '"America:" third, aildresses, by Re\-s. Montgdmerv, Smvthe. Kent and Lynch; f'lurth, presentation of a cops' of the llihle tiv each of the officers, and a cojiy of the Testament to each vohmieer. The IJihle and Testaments were presented hy the American Bible Society, and a full cojiv of the Bible \vould have 1)een given each member had the agency at this place ha.l a sufficient supply on hand: fifth, presentation of the llag, ]\Iisses Annie Greene. Laurie Sprague and Fannie Robins, in behalf of the lady donors, came forward and presented the elegant flag, procured for the occasion as a gratuity of tlieir zeal for the cause in which their cnu.nir\- men \vere about to engage. The presentation address was quite length}-, but replete with i)atrioti>in, and ended with these words :

Let your motto be, 'A^ictory or Death," and may this flag with its stars and stripes never be trailed in the dust, but "long may it wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

"To the liberal and patriotic ladies of Shelb}ville. allow me. and in behalf of my fellow soldiers, to express our warmest gratitude for this imblc banner. S])eaking is not the soldier's province. Rather, it is their duty to defend that right, when the voice be raised in behalf of the Union and Constitution, l>ut to crush it out when uttered by unworthy men against the Ccnistitution and the glorious old banner, which has so often waved over many a hard-fought battle-field, and never yet been struck at half-mast until assailed by the traitorous hands of our fellow countrymen. We accept this nol)le and generous gift, and with it. the motto suggested by the fair donors, A'ictory or Death.' :\Iay we hope that first sentiment shall crown our efforts. But, for me, and I but reiterate the sentiments of my fellow soldiers, death is more jireferable than this noble banner should ever be disgraced."

The Second Company Organized

April 22. 1 861. tlie ?ccund ci^mpany of volunteers \\as or^q-anized in Shelby county, by the election of T. A. ^Icl'arlaiul. captain: D. T. Sleetli, first lieiuenant and Robert Ceirinor. second lieutenant. The time for this company to recruit was April 17th, Enthusiastic resolutions were passed and forty new . names were added to the roll of volunteers. After givino three rousing cheers for Governor Hicks, of ^Maryland, and three times three for the '"Stars and Stripes,'' the meeting was adjourned. On the 22i\ of thai month the company had filled its quota and had taken on the name of "Shelby Guard of Honor." An invitation was then sent forth inviting the "Freeport Rovers," tlie "Brandvwine Invincibles," the "Home Guard," at St, Paul, and all other militarv companies in Shelby county to meet at Shelby\-ille and thus muster the military forces of tlie entire county. Gjlonels ]\[cKcnzie, Shank, and Captains Colescott and McGuire were asked to assist in the drilling and mustering.

Sword Presentation

Among the many happy incidents at Shelbyville during the Civil war period may here be mentioned the presenting of a beatuiful sword, revolver, sash and belt, to Capt. James E. ^IcGuire, of Company E, Eifty-tirst Regiment. It occurred November 2t,. 1S61 - first year of the war - and was graciously and tenderly jjresented, with a patriotic, sentimental speech delivered by Eden H. Davis, the same being too lengthy for the purpose now at hand. It was touchingly res]i..nded to on the part of the gallant captain, in words as follows:

"Mr. Davis: On receiving at your hands this splendid sword, sash and revolver which ha\-e been purchased with funds voluntarily cimtributed by my personal friends, and by you presented to me, permit me to say tliat I thank ycu most heartily for the favor you thus confer upon me, and allow me to add, that during my eight years' residence in old Shelbv county. I have always been surrounded by friends who are firm and true and tried. I will not boast that I intend to perform great deeds in the future. If I survix'e this war I do not expect to emerge from it wearing such laurels as crowned the Father of my country-, I simply expect in my humble way to faithfully and honestly perform those duties assigiied me, and when it becomes necessary in the performance of my duty, to buckle on tliis -w.jrd and girt about me this sash, sweet memories of those who have preser.ted them will ilash through my brain and ner\-e my arm for the contlict. Should it be my lot to fall in battle I could ask no mere than just such friends would j)lace me in the silent tomb, where I will wake no more to the voice of my commander until Gud shall call and angels muster the long line of resurrection. Floping that this black cloud of war that now obscures the star cf our countrv's destiriv will soon 1)0 disM"patoi. and the Ijri-ln wing of peace nnce more luAer over a iriite.l an,l liappy pci.Ie. the Ship nt State ri.Hiig secnrely at anclior in a tran(|uil harlxir. the stai.s and stripes waving- ,,ver every liill-t,.p and valley on the O'Utincnt. the N-Mier rest.. red to the hofom o\ his family and friends, peace and prosperity reign supremely over our \vh...]e hn.ad land, the h.-nds of the L"ni"n made so strong tiiat an occasion for presenting a swc.rd to defend it mav never occur again, J bid you adieu."

Pcrhap- no event connected with the Civil war created so much con-ternation and excitement as did tl'.e ^h^-gan raid, during the m. .nth of ]ulv. T.%3. when Confederate Gen. John H. Ah.rgan invaded Indiana, crossing tlie Ohi(.i river a.l C><ry<\,>n and at once began his terrible raid across the state, went throu-h A\'a?!iington county, took in \'ernon in Jennings coir.Uv. and directe.l his T ,rce toward I.awrenceburg. He was finally captureil with his daring, foobhardy band of four thousand men.

Upon the receipt of tlie news that Morgan and his men had reached Indiana soil, the i)eople of this .state generally believed the Confederates liad concluded to diiectly attack and destroy the state, kill its people and continue in the work of reliellion.

In Shelbyville the excitement was fully equal, if not greater than at other points. Steps were taken to repel, and if possible capture this imted, daring Rebel leader with his outlaw gang. The Mayor of Shelbwille at that date was James E. :\IcCuire. He assumed the leadership and issued the following proclamation :

Fcllo:.' Citizens of Shelby Connly: - You are all aware that John Morgan, with bis guerilla b.and >>i from six to eight tb.cusand men. is invading our state, putting to death our citizens, applying- the torch to om- t^wns. ouv railroad bridges, mills and newly gatliered crops : horses, mido^. lieef irattle, wagons, farming implements, e\ervthing that can. be of use lu our citizens is destroyed wherever he goes. He is at this time marching in the direction of our county; he may, however, char.ge his cour.se. but of this we are not certain. And in order to foil his designs upon this place, I call upon the citizens of Shelby county to bring furthwith to this city all rifles, shot gims, and other arms that they may be in possession of. to be formed into companies and squads for the purpose of ambushing, bushwhacking and harassing him in front, until the organized troop.s in the rear r)\ertake him.

Come in. fellow citizens, witliout delay, and let us unite in >oIid, Ixxly and beat back tliis Rebel invader in a manner so terrible and decisive as to roider it their last attemi)t upi.n the state of Indiana. (-^i''^-F-D.) James E. ^^cGL-IIiE.

-\ meeting was called at t'ne ?vIayor's office and the work of organizing companies was begun at once. "The Daily Republican," of a later date, said:

"Our meeting was then adjourned. When we arrixed at the luiblic square it was literally jammed with people, inen. women and chihlren all discussing tlie gra\-e -iluation.. and each one had his own plan of operations. All was confusion. Xo man would stand still long enough tf- hear the other's plan. Th.e j.resent wherealjonts ,,f Jolm Morgan was what the coolcrdieaded ones wanted to know. We inquired by telegraph of Indianapolis, bu.t received no reliable informatLm. Parties began recruiting a coni]-iany of infantrv and others, among them. E. B. Amsden was the leader, commenced recruiting a com]xiny of cavalry, all to be armed with .^uch gun? as could best be obtained in city or country. The .\msden party had the best argument. They would say: '\\'hat do y.iu want to go in the infantry for. ^Morgan's men are mounted and none but mounte.I men can follow him.' which was true.

"Tlie next morning recruiting was resumed with great vigor. Country people came streaming from all directions and by 9 o'cli;ck the city was literally filled with people anxiously inquiring the news. It had been learned that Morgan had passed through Salem, the county seat of Washington countv, taking many valuable horses, and compelling :\Ir. DePauw. the banker, to give Morgan five thousand dollars, and that he had marched out and would strike either \'ernon or SeynK.air. Excitement now ran high and the pei'ple were very earnest, but much perplexed to known what to do. Another effort was niade to hold a meeting at the ]v[ayor's ofiice, but all was to no avail, you might as well have called upon the clouds to come and hover over and give shelter to those on the public square exoosed to the ravs of that burning hot July day.

"One of the details of infantry being posted near George Senour's field across the river, alxjut 10 o'clock at night, tlie squad concluded that pickets ought to have some whiskey; so a purse was made up and one of their number appointed a committee to come into the city and get the "commissary supplies.' The farmers ha\ing heard of the cav.alry and how thev wore seizing horses that were bn.u.clit to town tor the use of new recruits, liitclied their liorses al'in- the fences nr.rth of the river. This committee of one on liis way over to procure tlie needed wh.iskey. (hseovered the Iiorses and went hack and told liis conn-ades tliat .Ahir-an liad already arrived in Shelby ville: that the}- had dismounted and thousands of horses were hitched along- the fences and that the men had gone on in on fr.ot. ^^'hercu[)o^ tlie gaiards fired their guns and started on a run for the city, not taking time to climb the embankment and cross the railroad bridg'c. but waded the river wherever they came to it. All that night men and women stayed upon the public square anxious as to their welfare, ^b;)rning came and with it the news that our troops had a skirmish with some of >.rorgan's men, near ].,awrenceburg. but that >.Iorgan had made his escape, and was marching in the direction of Harrison, Ohio. Then came a g^eneral hand-shakirig' and expressions of great joy on every hand. Hundreds visited the Rebel prisoners in jail. The last dtities our ca\-alry performed was to escort the Rebel prisoners to the train and deliver them to the projicr authorities. Our troops were disbanded and peace and quiet reigned once more in Shelbyville."

Thus ended a highly exciting period in the Civil war. as connected v.ith Shelbv county. The precaution taken by the [Mayor was but the part of wisdom, and had Morgan invaded Shelby county, he would certainly have been frustrated in his plans of killing" and robliery.

With the ad\-ance of the war. and the coming on of another Presidential electirm. ])arty strife began to run liigh-tide again. The DenKjcrats favored the nomination of Gen. George B. [NlcClellan for first place on the national ticket and ^Ir. Lincoln was strongly fa\-ored by the radical wing of the Republican party, while others wanted William Seward for the next President. During- th.e spring nf 1S63 a new Republican paper had been established in Shelbyville. At the state elections, in the autuiun of 1862. the Democrats had made many party gains in strongholds at the North, and all this ga\e new impulse to the campaigns. During the summer of 1863-64 mass meetings were frequently held in Shelby county, at which leading sneakers waxed warm and eloquent. The Republican administration, under Mr. Lincoln, had espoused the theory of emancipating the slaves, which of itself made Democrats more hostile toward the general plan of condu.cting the war that was then at its highest stage - and seemed as if hanging in the balan.ce and liable to go one way or the other within a short time. Democrats were in favor of "preserving the L'nion as it was."' while the opposition party insisted on. Union. e\'en though it become necessar}" to free slaves and arm them so that thev might be of service in ])ntting (u>wn the Re1)ellion.

This vas a society, very strict and secret in its natiu"e. made up of that class of citizens who were against the pi'licic> of the guvernmeni cnncerniny the '.var of the Rehellion. They were in fact traitors toward the Hag under whicli tliey h'ved. They met in secret, secluded, almost unknown places and gave aid and infonnation to the enemy. The men who took either side and fi night in the clear and i>pt.-n, were worthy of the i"espcct of all peoi)le - Xorth and South - but the nian who worked in the darkness and hissed others on, had but few friends in any section of the country. Owing to the sec;"et workings of the Kriighls of the Golden Circle, it is not positively known how niany, if indeed, an}-, such organizations were maintained within Shelbv countv during th.e war, but the local newspaper - "Union Banner," openly charged that sucli was the case, and called attentiini to times and places of meetings. Party strife ran high and man}" persrmal encounters were had between coritending parties.

This organization was found througliout the state. It was for home defense in ca^e of eniergcncy. It had other good features than that of a "Home Guard." It was th.e medium through which man}' good men were induced to enter the army, thus avoiding the dreaded draft. The drilling which tliey gave was also of great benefit, preparing, as it did, men for actual battle warfare, in case they later entered the sen'ice. It was a sort of training school for men who luiglit be called on to fill tip the broken ranks of a compatiy. Shelby county had seven such conrpanies belonging to the Union and the roster of ofticers shows the names of many who led companies to the field of battle at the Southland.

Bounty An'D Relief

In accordance with the wise provision of the general government, through the Secretary of War, volunteering was stimulated much by the payment of bounties earlv in the war, to those Avho should enlist for a term of three years. At first, in iS6i, the amount was limited to one hundred dollars, but froiTi time to time the suni was increased, even to four hundred dollars, owing to time of service. Another inducement was th(; offering of forty acres of land to be claimed under a land warrant upon an honorable discharge. Besides th.e national bounties, many times verv" extravagant local bounties were paid by the count} from which the soldier might enlist. The people said '"This Union must be presen-ed," and cost what it did, soldiers were sent to the front whenever needed. The County Commissioners of Shelby county alwavs rnct these bounties and paid what seemed wise at the tii"ne. The amounts

In the matter of -,,l,Hers' relief. .^h,rlii\- county e\ er met the retiuiremerjt^ of lionie jirovision. for tlie "v>ar Vsid. .\vs,"' as the soldiers' \vi\es Vv-ere g'enerally styled. Supplies were ])aid for fr-Mii out th.e C':'i'nrv fund-, a ta:c hcinc;- levied for this purpose. After the war had Contir.ued a few months, ir was seen how utterly v,!thor>t means the go\ ernment was to provide the liiin.cs needed in field and hospital, to be administered to sick and wounded soldiers. Hence it was not long before Soldiers' Aid societies sprang- up througi-out the Xorth. One was early formed at Shelbyville. by the ladies of the place. Scarcely a week passed that a large shipment of supplies was n.ot seni to t!;c fi.ghtirig fr'jut. These supplies included mittens, socks, l3lapd-:ets. and nianv articles, such as bandages needed in hospiial life. These things were all donated., and in this way many thousands of dollars were sent in way of relief fluid-, that \^ ere not includ.ed in the amounts a])pro}iriated by th.e county.

As the war ijroccL-ded more M..!d;ers were a-kcd tV.r and always forthcoming from Shtlby count}'. Over three thc.usand men were sent to the front from this Counly. v.hicli at the be.ginning of that terrible ce'iifiict iiad Ijcen advertised as disloyal, and, of the "Copper-head" stripe of people. President Lincoln made nine calls for troops durin.g the Rebellion. They ag.gre.gated two million th.ree hundred thou^andi soldiers (_', 300.000). It will of ciurse in a work of th.i- eb.aracter be d iriterc-st t kr.own Ik.^w manful'}' Shelby cninty helpers swell these vast .-'.rmies in nuuibers.

'J'he enrolinicnt of tiie militia in Indiaiia in 1862 gave th.e nuitiber of alile bod.ied men, subject to military duty (aside from e.\emp>tion-.), as tud thousand eight hundred and >ixty. wh.o were subject to draft if such emergency was neces-ary. It was u'llcr thi- enrollment thai the fir-t diaft in Indliana occurred in CJctr.iber. 18^.2. Shelb_\- cumty's quc'ta was -'/rie huivlred and fortyone men. ajjpr.rrioiied in the town^hips as folh.iws; Jackson, twenfi': Xoble.

While the follow ini^- is imt an ahsojulely correct list of the Shelby couiitv soldiers wIid sacrificed life fr .111 the commencement t<> the endinq- of the Rebellion, it is accurate a:, the ai!jut:int^,qenn-als' repcrts of the state afford, and will be given in this conneetiiin iov such facts as it dcies contain:

Compaxv D, Seventeenth Regimext

Burlington, Benjamin E., died at Helena, Arkansas, August, 1862, Crio-ler, Toshua,' killer! at Magnolia Hills, Max i. 1863. Hank, John, killed at ^lagnolia Hills, ^lay i, 1863. Hays, I'imothy, \-eteran. flied ]\Iarch 19, 1864. Hull, Daniel, died at Georgetown, Missouri, September, 1861. Israel, George, killed at ^Magnolia Hills, ]\Iay i, 1863. Littlejohn, William F., killed at Magnolia Hills, Mav^, 1863. McLaughlin, hdm A,, kille.l at A'icksburg, Mav 23. '1863, Miller, '"jamesT., killed at Vicksburg-, ^lay 22, 1S63. McGee, William, died at St. Louis, ?vIissouri. Xovember, 1862. Mann, James X., died at Black River, ^Mississippi, Alay 18, 1863. Morris, Carlno, died at Indianola, Texas, Xo\ember, 1864. Osburn, \\'allace, died in }iIissouri, 1S62.

Gnines, William ]-"., died near Terre Haute, September 26, 1S64. Hyatt. Milton, died at Xew Orleans. October 2^. 1864. Pope. James, died at \e\v O'dcans, September 11. 1864. Woodward. Jolin. died at Xew Orleans, September 2. 1864.

Compaxy I, Eifty-First Regimext

Aldridge. James, killed at Stone River. Deceml.cr 31, 1862. Burr. Lewis R.. died at Louisville. January 7. 1862. Creviston. Aaron, died at Xashville. Maxxh 26. 1862. Chambers. James died at New Orleans, July 14. 1865. Ellington. Albert, died at Bardstown, December 28. 1861. German. Cliarles E.. died at Bardstown. December 29. 1861. Llolden. Charles, died at Stanford, Kentucky, b'ebruary i, 1862. Jan-is. John, died at tluntsville. July 2. 1862. Smith. Samuel, died at Bardstown. February 4, 1862. Williams. Franci- O.. died at Lel>anun. February 6, 1862.

Adams. George W.. died at Bowling Green. September 7,0. 1862. Adams. John II.. died at Lavergne. Tennessee. June 20. 1S63 Aydelotf. Joseph W.. died at Scottsville, Kentucky. November 27. 1862. Gordon, Zacheus. died at Bowling Green. November 2j. 1862, Gibbons. John W.. died at Sc-.ttsville. December 2. 1862. Hawkin:^," Alexander S.. killed at Resaca. Georgia. May 15. 1864.

Andrews, J^.hn W.. killed at Resaca. May 15, 1864. Arthur, James M., died at Murfreesboro, July 15. 1863. Bassett. San.iuel. killed at Peach Tree Creek. July 20. 1S64. Cox, John, killed at Dallas, Georgia, May 25, 1864. Collins, Leander 'SI., died at Murfreesboro, August 10, 1863. Hulsopple. William, died at }*Iurfreesboro. August i. 1863. Hitlsopple, Andrew J., died at Bowling Green, November i, 1862, Howeiy, Charles, died at Saundersville. January 28, 1863. Howard, Watson C, killed at Peach Tree Creek, July 20. 1864. Hacker, William A., killed at Kenesaw Mountain. June 14, 1862. Joyce, Thnmas S., died at Bowling Green. November 16. 1862. Nichols. Jasper, died at Gallatin, Tennessee, February 22. 1S63. Odell, Jeremiah, killed at Kenesaw, June 15, 1864. Rouse. William T., killed at Dallas. Georgia, May 2j. 1864. Rouse, Philip, died at Bowling Green. November 16. 1S62. Ross, Thomas, killed at Resaca. May 15, 1864. Stewart, James, died at Bi:>\\ling Green. October 21. 1S62.

Spcagfle. George S.. died at Sauilcrsvillc, Deccnilier 19. 1S62. Vanlew. John F., died at Sandersvillc. Teniic.-see, January 15. 1S63. Alexander. Thomas, died at Bi">\vling Green. Xovember i, 1S62. Brady. John, died at Gallatin, Tennessee, April 25, 1863. Grithth, Luke, died at B(j\vling Green. October 13. 1862. Holdrom. Thomas K., killed at Resaca. May 14, 1864. ]\Iiller, Philip, died at Madison. February 20. i8('i4.

Compaxv E, Oxe Huxdked Twex Tv-Tiiikd Kegimext

Anderson, John B., died at Louisville, October 29, 1864. Dodd, John }>I., died at Chattanooga, September 9, 1S64. King, Thomas P.., died at ^lurfrecsboro, December 26, 1S64.

Badger, ]\Iilton J., died at Columbus, Tennessee, August 15, 1865. Newton, Thomas G,, died at Indianapolis. March 3, 1865. Pearson, John J., died at X'ashville, ^L^rch 2^, 1S63. Roe, James ^1'.^ died at Pulaski, May 12, 1S65.

Comi-Axv G, Oxe Iiuxored Forty-Eighth Regiment

Crouch, Geijrge. died at Ciilumbia, Tennessee. April 12, 1865. Keith, William G.. died at Xashviilc. 3.1arch 22. 1865. Mossman, John C, died at Xashville, ^^lay 5. 1865.

Kenedy. Albert, died at Xasliville. 1-ebruary 10. 1863. Kenedy. Xathaniel. died at Xaslnille. .\pril 15, 18(13. Pope. Charles L., died at Xashville. May 3, 1863.

The war with Spain, brought on with this country over the persecutions carried on tor hundreds uf years on the near-by island of Cuba, began by a proclamation of war on the part of the United States government in April, 189S. immediately after the sinking of the United States battleship '-]\Iaine." which disaster was at once charged to the Spanish authorities. Upon the call for troops by President William McKinlty. Indiana, including Shelby county, came gallantly to the rescue in the raising of companies and regiments for the service.

The principal company of men fn.m Shelby ville was known as CiMupany C, of the One Hundred and Sixty-tlrst Indiana Regiment. The colonel of this regiment was W. T. Durbin : lieutenant-culonel, V. M. Backus; majors. Harold C. Megrew and Matt R. Peterson.

The oflicers of company C, largely from Shelbyville. were : captain. 'Thomas J. Hudgins: hrst lieutenant. George E. Goodrich: .second lieutenant. Ivy L. Reynolds: first sergeant, Robert C. Maddox : quartermaster sergeant. Robert H.' Hudgins. Jr.: sergeants. Moses A. Parkinson. John S. Hopkins. Walter B. Ballard. Con L. :Miles: musicians. William A. ]\Iichelson and Henry E. Lane ; wagoner. Walter Cummings.

Including officers and recruits, together with original volunteers, there were about one hundred and twenty-five men in this command. Of this number there were two de-erters. Xo lives were lost during the entire term of enlistment - a record ren.iarkal.)le.

This regiment (of which Company C was a part) was made up of men residing in Hammond. }*[ount Vernon, Shelbyville. }»Iadison, Jeftersonville. Richmond, Xew Castle. Rushville. Monticello. Columbus, Michigan City, and Lawrenceburg. They rendez\oused at Camp }vfount July 15. 1898, and were mustered into the United States seiwice and drilled there until August nth, of that year, then ordered to Jacksonville. Florida, arriving there .\ugust 14th. and were assigned to the Seventh .Army Corps f under Ger,. Fitzhugh I.ee), moved to Savannah, Georgia, October .33d. and on to the Island of Cuba, De- cember 23, 1S9S. arriving- at Havana the i5tli of that iiiontli and campi.'d there two days, then embarked lor Sa\'annah, Georgia, where the regiment went into camp and remained there until March 29. 1S99. Tliey were finally nnistere<l out and discharged April 30, 1899. at Savannah, after which they proceeiled to Washington, D. C. and were reviewed by the i^roper military authorities, came to Indianapolis and were welcomed by the people of that city, :May 3, 1S99.

With the closings of the great Civil war in 1S65. and the sj^eedy return of the veterans to their In >mes and firesides to ag'ain take up the peaceful \i_)cations of true American citizens, there was nothing more natural than that some soldiers" organization, for re-union of comrade?, if ncithing more. Finally a soldier living in Illinois set a foot and really organized what is known as the Grand Army of the Republic, of which there is scarce a town in all the country v.here posts of this order have not existed. Indeed tliis has come tc; b-e one of the great civic federations and oiie whose ranks are last being depleted by the ra\'ages of old age - none but honorably discharged Union soldier^, h.ave a right to become members. The badge of this order is the simple, but suggesti\e. copper-colored button worn on the coat lapel.

In Shelby coaraty there have been four Grand Army posts organized. They are the George Henry Post, at Morristown: Andrew Winterrowd Post. of Flatrock; Meridith Post, at Mt. Auburn: Dumont Post Xo. iS. at Shelbyville. 'J'hese jjosts v.-ere most organized in the early eighties, and in 18S7 there were about three lumdred members within this county, of which one hundred and eigiity were from the vicinity oi Shelb}-A-ilie. At the present there are but two jiosts in the ccjunty and the membership at Shelbyville. as showii by the roster in A-pril, 1909. was one hundred and eighty-two. The post at Flatrock is now made up of alx)Ut a dozen ex-soldiers who have no regular meeting place rr time, but engage in each returning Memorial Day, and thus keep alive tlie interest in the post. Of thie jwst at Shelbyville. the following is an ejiiiome compiled from the records of the post in .\pril. 1909:

In 1867 a Grand Army Post was organized in Sh.elbyvitle. but there ai>- pears to be no authentic record of the name and numl'er and the department recorils make no mention of any such post.

Others, cx-soldicrs. mot on July 28. 1882, in tlie Rci! Men"s lial!. wliich is nowknown as Grand Arm_\- Hall. J. H. \\'ooden. of Greensbury. was present, and proceeded to muster and organize those present, after which A. P. Boon was elected commander. The first records are railicr incnniplcle and some of them are missing. The post was numbered eighteen ( iS) and named "DunDnt." after Gen. Ebcnczer Diunnnt. of IndianapMlis. It may be said in passing, that Terre flaute lia^ Pust Xo. i : lirazil. Xo. 2: Greensbiu-g X'o. t. ;ind Indianapolis X... 17.

In 1885 the p|'^t held a festival and cleared enough money to pay for the furniture then in the Red Men's hall: it has been the home of the post at Shelbyville fm" twenty-seven years. In that time the post has had twenty-two commanders. Of this number A. P. Boon. J. C, Mcfniire. J. C. Edwards. Xorris \\"interrow(l and G. L. Raymond have died. Henry Byers and S. L. Pierce have been dropped for non-payment of dues and J. II. A'annostrome were granted transfers. At this date there are thirteen (13) jvist commanders of this post, ranking as follows: Elisha \\'eaklev. P. D. Harris, T. Wilkes, S. S. Carson. C. J. Limpus. J. B. Wilson. A. Ah Weed. S. B. ^lorris. J. S. Byors, J. B. Randall, j. W. Xeeves. John Sh.mer and A. J. Ensminger. Besides those there came in by transfer cards, as past connnanders: T. E. Haymond and T. K. Alexander and James C. Bennett was "by Department encampment." re-instated as past commander of the old post, making sixteen past commariders, and J. K. Bowers the present commander.

There have been mustered in and received by tran.sfer cards f')ur hundred thirtv-eight (4.^8) members: ninety-four members have died and th.e most of them have Iieen buried with military honors.

At this date (March. 1909). there are in good standing one hundred eightv-two (182) members. Among this number there is a department commander, IDaniel I. Rvan, a past senior vice-commander. P. D. Harris; a past member of department ccjuncil. T. Wilkes, and several members who have been delegates and aids at national encampments.

In average attendance this post ranks among the foremost of the state, and its influence in state encampments was abvays large whenever it chose to take a hand in the game.

In 1894 this post by unanimous vote tendered its ser\-ices to Governor Claude ?ilatliews. t' > maintain law and order during the "car riots." and received a repiv acknowledging the receipt of the hrst oft'er of assistance and thanking the p<"'St for the same, and saying such offers went a long way toward assisting the state's officers.

Two men succeeded in joining the post illegally, without being in the Union armv; one of them dropped out before his case became known, and the other was court marshalled and dismissed.

This post has a record of the graves of four hundred seventy-two (472) ex-soldiers buried in Shelby county: also the names of. as well as the address of three hundred forty-two (342) ex-soldiers yet living within this countv. more than one-half of whom belong to this post.

The otiicers of Dumont Post Xo. iS. sen'ing in 1909 were as follows: T. K. Bowers, commander: Robert Smith, vice-commander: William Xorris, junior vice: J. B. Randall, quartermaster: T. J- Woods, adjutant.

This corps, a helpful auxiliary to the Grand Army Post, at Shelbyville, was organized soon after the post was formed, and has been really tbie life of the post itself. Too much praise cannot be given these willing patriotic workers.

The Soxs Of Veterax'S

Frank- Talbert Camp. Xo. 85. was instituted January 17. 1S88, at Slicruyville. and meets each Tuesday evening. The first olYicers of this organization were: Commander (then known as Captain). William A. Goodrich; Senior \'ice Commander, Levi Todd; Junior \'ice Commander, Omer Bennefield ; Chaplain, Thomas Briggs ; Horace ^^'eakley, Horace Gerard and Isaac Allen, Camp Council; Hany Griffey, treasurer: Harry Goodrich, musician; J. Marsh Goodrich, sergeant of the guard.

The order has prosi.ered from the start and is now full of tlie true spirit of patriotism. It has between seventy and eighty members. Its present officers are: C<:>mmander. Benjamin F. ^NIcKinney : Senior Vice. James Smith: Junior Vice. Ralph L. ^IcKinney; Chaplain. W. I. Winton: Secretary, J. S. McKinney; Treasurer, Willian-i E. Fagel : Guard, Edward Deitzer: Color Sergeant,' George W. :\IcKinney ; Chief :\Iusician, B. Hines; Picket Guard, Peter Manford ; Patriotic Instructor, Val. Hey.

This order meets at Grand Army hall and' carries out the object fnr which it was organized and is assisted by a woman's auxiliary similar to that of the Relief Corps. It is truly befitting that the sous of the men who fought in tlie Civil war in this ctuiiury sliould lations as one by i^ne the okl \eterans r soon tliere will be no Grand Army of the K take their places in patriotic circles.