Worth Township

Worth Township

The above township contains twenty-one sections. It was created in 1851, out of territory taken from adjoining townships. There are no water courses here. The extreme headwaters of Fishback have their source in the south part of Worth. The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad passes through from the southeast to th> northwest, dividing the townships into equal parts. Whitestown, on the railroad and near the center, is the voting place and the headquarters for the business transactions of the township. Holmes Station, founded by John Holmes, was in earlier days quite a business place. Mr. Holmes built a warehouse about the year 1860. At one time a large amount of grain was taken in here, but. of late years the business has been discontinued. A separate account of Whitestown will be found under the head of "Sketch of Whitestown." Worth is without doubt the levelest township in the county and contains as fine land as can be found in Indiana. The farmers have tested to perfection the benefit of drainage, thousands upon thousands of dollars having been expended. Could the tile that is buried under the ground be exposed on the surface the ground would be red.

At one time within the memory of the writer Worth Township was a gloomy looking place. In any direction you might look the vast forest would greet you on one hand and a sea of water all around running at will. Among the early pioneers to attack the forests in this part of the county were the following: Beginning in the year 1830 Richard Hull, John and James McCord and James White. This little band were soon joined by Thos. Harmon, Adam Kettering, Joseph White and John Smith. No county can get along without a John Smith, and he came. The fact is he always comes, and it is curious that we don't run out of material, but the supply equals the demand in this as well as other cases. A few years later the following persons came: Philip Lucus, John Neese, Philip

Lucas, Solomon Neese, Abraham Hedrick, Moses Neese, J ohn Isenhour, Louis and George Hauser, David Ray, Benjamin Booher, Samuel Ray, Henry Lucas, George Lucas, Abraham Neese, William Staten, Cristopher Bowers, Daniel Buck, John Peters, the Sanders family, the Laughners, Schoolers, Utterbacks, Engledoves, Harmons, Otingers, Bohannans and Goods. The first school was taught by Henry Lucas, in 1837. He was for many years identified with his township, serving as justice and trustee for several years. He was a good man and a firm friend to his county and township and spent the most of his life here. He died recently in the west, the time and place we are unable to give. Among the early ministers we find Rev. John Good, Sen., J. A. Rudasill, Rev. E. S. Henkle, John Good, Jun., and Rev. Livengood. The number of voters in 1886 was 342; number of school children, 533; number of school houses, 8. The growth of Worth has been marvelous. The population in 1870 was 1,342; in 1880 it was 1,425. The school houses are all of brick. The foljowing have served as trustees: Henry Lucas, Jos. Westner, Geo. Hauser, Geo. Hedrick, John Schooler, and Samuel N. Good, elected in April, 1886.

The City Of Lebanon

In pursuance to an act of the Legislature of 1830, this county was organized, and in conformity to the same act, the Governor of the State was authorized to appoint five commissioners, whose duty it was to locate the county seat of this county. 'Three of these five commissioners for this purpose met near the center of the county about the Ist of May, 1832. It was their duty, according to the law, to locate the site for the county seat within two miles of the center of the county. After prospecting various sites near the center of the county, they finally came on to the tract of land where Lebanon is now located. This tract of land then belonged to Colonel Kinnard, in which it appears that Colonel Drake was also interested. Here then stood a tall, dense forest of large trees, among which the smalF - growth of underbrush and saplings were so dense as to obstruct the passage of man or beast. After two or three days of toil in looking for a location for the county seat, the commissioners stopped on the rise of ground where the court-house now stands, though this particular spot was then surrounded by willow ponds, and outside of these ponds the trees were a hundred feet in height. Here the commissioners were reposing. Meantime quite a crowd of unkempt Hoosiers had assembled to see the commissoners and find the location of the new county seat in the deep, wild woods. The Commissioners had made their decision that here was the county seat; they drove a large stake where the court-house now stands. That. stake was all that was then done in the construction of the city of Lebanon. Then there was not a human being resident in Lebanon - no, not even an Indian wigwam nor a log hut. It was in its native glory; but the name - it was yet without a name. The commissioners had failed as yet to give it a. name; they could not agree. Mr. A. M. French, the youngest of the commissioners, lay near by, quietly sleeping, unconcerned what the name might be. He was aroused and told that the others, having failed in agreeing ou a name for the county seat of the State of Boone, had deferred the name solely to him. He gazed up at the tall trees around him, and the thought of the tall cedars of Lebanon in sacred history - he thought of the river Jordan - here were the tall trees, a little way off was Prairie Creek ; thus the name was evolved in his mind - he shouted " Lebanon." The name was fixed. Lebanon it has henceforth been. ;

In the year 1832 Abner H. Longley, the first settler, located in Lebanon, and erected a one-room log cabin on lot No. 1, block No. 16, where the marble front building now stands. In the summer time, in front of his round-log cabin, he set posts in the ground, and of the green leafy boughs of the trees. he constructed a portico, such only as it was. Such was Leb- anon's beginning. Then railroads, gravel roads, telegraphs, telephones, gas, and coal "ile" were uncivilized and unthoughtof institutions. Then cities were not built by electricity nor gas; in most instances their growth was slow. To clear away the great forest which stood where Lebanon now "booms" was no easy task. To drain the willow ponds, then within the limits of the present city, was no small job of work; yet Lebanon did grow - or rather, it has evolved, or been made to evolve. The wonder is, considering its adverse environments, that it has accomplished as much as it has; but it was the county seat, and it had to become something. The county could not exist without the county seat. It was the capitol of the "State of Boone," and grow it must, otherwise it might have become a "distressed" farm, with drain tile privileges. In 1840, when the writer first visited Lebanon, the city copsisted of a few frame buildings, then mostly surrounding the public square. Ina wet time the streets were, in many places, impassable. The sidewalks around the square were made by blocks of wood sawed off and set upon end, and upon these blocks planks were laid lengthwise of the walk, and ina time of high water these became afloat, and passing afoot was not desirable; neither were swimming privileges very good - the pedestrian could often float. The walls of the first brick court-house were up in 1840, but the house then was not finished. It stood where the court-house now stands, the new house being erected in 1856. To " outside barbarians" Lebanon, even in 1856, had no great promise of being anything more than a dull, unattractive town. The first railway (4. @. the iron one) was completed through the city in 1852. This, for the city and county, was a hopeful institution, for, in places, it was above high tide. In growth Lebanon never has had any sensational "boom," though it has what might be called a good and convenient court-house, also an excellent jail, several convenient and substantial church edifices, and an excellent opera building, besides the usual number of good business buildings for a city of its size, and quite a number of fine and tasteful mansions, while the greater number of dwellings are common to very humble. It also has two flouring mills - one of these extra in finish and machinery. It has two lumber dressing and planing factories, one plow-handle factory, two common school buildings, and another one to be erected in 1887. Many of the streets are either macadamized or graveled. The sideways of the streets are average good. The population now is estimated at 4,000; and, in brief, it is now a business center for the whole cou.ty, and does as much trade and business as any city of its size in the state. This fact is fairly conceded by strangers, as well as our own citizens. It never has been much involved in debt and is mainly clear from debt at this time. Hence its people may well commend it as a city of promising and prospective growth and prosperity, while its prospect is only to have a healthful and steady growth; and while it boasts no ancient cedars, nor a rapid Jordan, it can fairly boast of being surrounded by and occupying the center of one of the most desirable counties of soil for agricultural purposes in the state. Such is Lebanon and its environments.

The Midland Railroad was finished to Lebanon in January, 1887. Among the early citizens of Lebanon were, A. H. 'Longley, John Patterson, William Smith, David Hoover. James Ricley was the first tailor, A. H. Sheppard the second. Joseph Hocker was the first attorney. Soon after Jacob Angle came; he was the second attorney, and Stephen Neal the third. The early physicians were, McConnaha, MeWorkman, W. N. Simpkins, John J. Nesbitt, and soon after, Dr. A. J. Porter. The first merchants were, William Zion, John Forsyth. The first tavern keepers, John Patterson, William Smith, A. H. Sheppard. Mr. Olive made hats in an early day.

Stephen Neal

Mr. Neal has said so much about Lebanon, and said it so well, that we have little to add. Every citizen of the county must be justly proud of the county seat. It now ranks among the average county seats in the state, and is rapidly advancing in every way. At this writing (1887) preparations are being made to bore for natural gas, and perhaps before this is in print the flames from a well may light up the city. In December, 1886, the city was first lit by manufactured gas, and it is one of the many improvements made recently.

The town was incorporated in 1853, by an act of the Legislature the winter previous ; but, as time advanced, its clothes got too short for it, and in 1875 it was incorporated as a city, with the following officers serving as mayors, for it was first organized up to 1886: Samuel L. Hamilton, T. W. Lockhart, W. C. Gerrard, J. L. Pierce, J. C. Laughlin, J. M. Kelsy. The following have served as clerks: W. A. Zion, Charles E. Willson, C. Copeland, C. P. Kern, W. O. Darnall. Treasurers: W.H. Richey, J. M. Conyears. Marshals: Jesse Perkins, J. W. Herrod, O. C. Witt, W. A. Mellett, F. Laugher. Assessors: Lysander Darnall, H. A. Shultz. The following have served as Councilmen: From the first ward, from 1875 to 1886 - A. O. Miller, A. C. Daily, Jesse Perkins, J, Hall, L. 8. Lakin, H. C. Brush, Charles Daily, Jesse Neff, A. J. Sanders, F. M. Kersy, J. P. McCorckle. From the second ward - J. R. Ailsworth, James Males, F. M. Busby, Elias W. Brown, J. W. Garner, Granville Hutchings, James Combs, James Weed, Peter Cox, Patrick Ryan, H. C. Ulin, Jasper J. Cory, D. A. Rice. From the third ward - Sol. Witt, Jasper Kelsy, John L. Crane, M. C. Kleiser, J. A. Alexander, Wes. Lane, C. N. Kellogg, William L. Higgins, W. T. Hooten, Jacob Byerly, J. A. Brown.

No one could write up the early events of the county and forget the above town, for *t is located on historic ground. Not only was it here that the first settlement took place by the whites, but it was the early home and scenes of the red man and the French trader and trappers for perhaps near one hundred years. Here the Indian built his hut; here the braves wooed their dusky mates, and the war dance and songs were indulged in for years before the whites came to make a settlement. Reader, let us go back sixty years. What do we find - here and there a cabin or a vacated wigwam, left by the retreating Indians. About this time a few hardy pioneers settled on Sugar Creek, where the now thriving town stands. Slowly but surely it has advanced - first the cabin, then the hewed log house, then the frame and finally the brick mansion has come to take the place of those rude structures. It has taken time to bring about these changes. Many have fallen by the way. But few if any now remain who were actors in the first settlement of Thorntown. When the railroad was completed here it was the signal for general improvement, and its future became a fixed fact. Up to that time it was the best trading point in the county, outrivaling the county seat. Beautifully located on Sugar Creek, on one of the best sites in the state, amidst one of the finest countries in the state, it could not be less than a good town. With its natural advantages it at once and all the time takes rank among the towns of the great State of Indiana. Thorntown is known far and wide as one of the healthiest places, as well as the most desirable to live in, to be found anywhere. From its few cabins of 1829, it has grown to be a little city of 1,500 inhabitants - industrious, intelligent, thorough-going citizens. The people are justly proud of their place, with its bright past; its future is no less prosperous. At this writing, February, 1887, preparations are being made to dig for natural gas, which is now agitating the people in our state. Thorntown was the first in our county to move in thisdirection. Let us hope her most sanguine expectations may be more than realized, and that light may soon come to them. Following will be found a letter to the Lebanon Patriot, written December, 1886, which will give some very interesting facts in regard to Thorntown and vicinity, which will account for this seeming short article. "This thriving little city is the oldest in Boone County. In the year 1827 a settlement was commenced in this vicinity, and in 1831 the town was surveyed and platted by one Cornelius Westfall. As far back as 1719 there was an established French and Indian trading post at this point. From the year 1840 to 1875 there was not a licensed liquor establishment in the place, and spirits could only be had at the drug stores. "The first church (Presbyterian) was organized in 1831, with Clayborn Young as its minister. The first Sabbathschool was organized in 1834. Rufus A. Lockwood, of whom the Indianapolis News recently gave an interesting sketch, was the first attorney at law in the town. Relatives of this once famous aud eccentric lawyer are still living here. The first school house was built in 1834, and was undoubtedly the first school house in the county. 'To-day Thorntown has one of the finest and best arranged schools in the state, with 375 pupils. Prof. Linnius Baldwin, of Hamilton County, is the present principal, with the following corps of efficient teachers : H. C. Heal, Nelson Hetherington, Frank Moore, Mrs. Mary Gaddis, Miss Kate Beck, Miss Stella Horner and Miss Mattie Matthews. As above stated, the first church organized was the Presbyterian. This church has a membership of about 200, with Rev. Samuel Sawyer as its minister. The Methodist Episcopal Church has a membership of about 375. Its pastor is Rev. Isaac Dale, of La Porte. The Baptist Church jas nearly 100 members at present. This church has no regular minister. The Christian Church has a membership of about 70. It also has no regular pastor. The secret societies are also well represented: Thorntown Lodge No. 113, F. &A. ML, was organized in 1852, and to-day has a membership of 85. Osceola Lodge No. 173, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1856 aud at present has a membership of 85. This order has a beautiful hall, which it erected in the year 1873, at a cost of $5,000. Moriah Encampment No. 83 has 60 members. Eden Lodge No. 149, Degree of Rebecca, has 50 members. Less than two years ago, through the efforts of a few of our young men, a Knights of Pythias Lodge was instituted here, with a membership of about 30. The growth of this order has been phenomenal. To-day they have over 100 members, nearly all young men. This order has suffered a loss of one member (Mr. Frank Morton) since its organization. They havea neat and comfortable hall, recently fitted up, and are in an exceedingly prosperous condition. The P. F. Q. Fraternity, composed entirely of ladies, was organized in 1885. Nothing can be learned regarding this society, as the members will not even give the meaning of the mystic letters representing their order. The Grand Army of the Republic also have a neat hall and have about 50 members. The Knights of Labor have an organization here, but we fail to get any particulars regarding their order.

"The first merchant in Thorntown was C. H. Baldridge, who opened up a small merchandise store in the year 1832. Of our present business interest we may mention the following: Dry goods merchants - A. Mossler, Stutesman & Son, James L. Sailors and Harris & Gamso. Grocers - Wnm. Curry, W. Matthews & Co., Charles Johnson, A. 8. Stall, J. T. McKim, Dunbar, Barker & Barker, Daniel Hutchings and Mrs. Thomas Maiden. Hardware and agricultural implements - B. Rous & Co., W. 8. Hall and John V. Young & Son. Druggists - W. C. Burk, James Hanna, T. E. Bradshaw and Geo. Coulson. Watchmakers and jewelers - Chas. E. Wasson, Robert A. Stall and Sam Sohl. Boots and shoes - Hanna Brothers, Charles Snyder and H. W. Henderson. Millinery - Mrs. Allie Shilling and M. A. & lL. E. Cheeks. Bankers - John Niven & Co. Our physicians are A. Dunnington, Wm. F. Curryer, M. H. Rose, 8S. W. Hawke, J. A. Utter, D. B. Davis and E. L. Brown. The legal profession is ably represented by the following gentlemen: P.H. Dutch, Samuel M. Burk and Abner V. Austin. Solomon Sharp, L. B. Moore and M. M. McDowell are the gentlemen who deal out justice to suit the occasion. Our meat markets are operated by Dan B. Buser, Charles Buser and Albert Jaques. Witt & Kleiser are proprietors of the steam roller flouring mills. The steam sawmills are owned by Moses Hardin. Photographers - M.

A. Keeler and Fred Hoffman. N.W. Weakly has for twentyfive years, and is still, managing the interests of the " Big Four" at this place. Our corporation affairs are managed by the following gentlemen: City Board, A. C. Clark, M. C. Moore and A. S. Stahl; Clerk, T. E. Bradshaw; Treasurer, James Hanna; Marshal, Green McDaniel; Township Trustee, Isaac Wilson. In conclusion we will say that we have a beautiful little city and by far the prettiest girls of any town in the state." We must not forget the Argus, so long and ably published by F. B. Rose. It speaks for itself every week, and is hailed with delight every issue, by its hundreds of readers. It is one of the fixed institutions of the lively little city of Thorntown. Long may it live.

No town in Boone County is situated in a more beautiful country than the above, located near the south line of Jackson Township, also the county line adjoining Hendricks County, on the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad, also on the State Road leading from Indianapolis to Crawfordsville, on the west bank of Eel River. It is about twelve miles southwest of Lebanon. Jamestown has an interesting history, for it was here one of the first settlements was made, away back at least to 1826 or 1827. The town was perhaps laid out in 1832, by James Mattock and John Gibson, two worthy pioneers. Tt was Mr. Gibson who first built his rude cabin here in 1829. From that time to this Jamestown has survived, and is now one of the principal trading points in the county, commanding a large trade from the adjoining counties of Hendricks and Montgomery. From this little humble cabin in the woods Jamestown has grown toa thriving town of fifteen hundred inhabitants. On the completion of the railroad here the town began to grow rapidly; many substantial buildings have been erected ; a good M. E. Church of brick, which is a credit to the people +n Jamestown and vicinity. The same might be said as to the

Christian Church here, also of brick, well located and of good size. Martin's mill is one of the fixed institutions of the place. We must not forget the school building, one of the finest as well as best the located in county or state. There is no better evidence of a people's industry and thrift than a good school house. The Trotter's Grove adjoining the town on the northeast is one of the loveliest to be found anywhere. Nature has lavished her gifts on this beautiful grove, where annual gatherings are held. Good stores and many tasteful residences adorn the town, which speak ont in tones not to be misunderstood by those visiting this ancient town. Following will be found a sketch written for the Pioneer December 18, 1886, which will be read with interest.

We must not forget the Jamestown Tribune, edited by the old veteran, George Snyder, who so long and well has managed it. It is well gotten up, issued weekly, and its appearance every Thursday is hailed with delight. Long may this good old man live to edit the Tribune. The Jamestown band is a credit to the town. Its members are a wide-awake set of young men, and the notes of their band are always received well by the people hereabouts.

"The tuwn of Jamestown was laid out about the year 1832, by James Mallock and John Gibson - John Gibson was the father of G. W. Gibson, one of the present business citizens. The first store was opened by Samuel Hughes on the-north side of Main street. John Galvin, some few years after, sold goods on the corner now occupied by J. H. Camplin & Son. This place being located on the State Road was a town of great importance during the day of stages. Having several hotels and livery stables it was made a central point, and consequently the changes of coach horses. It is now situated on the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad, twenty-seven miles west of Indianapolis, this being built about 1870. Has improved considerable since that time, reaching a population of nearly 1,100, but has labored under several difficulties and misfortunes, there being three large fires, viz: September 5, 1876, which originated in a saloon, burning nearly all the principal business rooms and a large hotel, leaving the town in a rather critical condition, but by some few determined citizens it was mostly rebuilt ; on the morning of November 10, 1880, another fire started in the wareroom of a drug store on South Main street and burned seven of the best business rooms, and September 11, 1883, another one, burning seven large rooms. Since then seven have been erected. No doubt ina year or so all the vacant lots will have as good or better rooms and be in a more prosperous condition than heretofore. But labor under all these fires has somewhat kept up the necessary buildings for business occupancy.

The town is surrounded by as good country and as intelligent, industrious farmers as could be asked, and with all this and our energetic citizens there is no reason why it shall not rise to as good a point as any in the county. The place at one time had a very hard name, about the time of the building of the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad, one or two men being murdered by the gang who worked on the road ; also at that time there were several places of disreputable character, several saloons, which most certainly was the cause. But now we have as quiet and peacable a town as is anywhere to be found. Still the bad name hangs over us, by parties who are not visitors here. We have two churches - Christian Church, under the pastoral charge of Elder Pritchard, and M. E. Church, under the pastoral charge of Rev. E. W. Lawhon.

The high school, which building was erected in 1873, is most certainly in a prosperous condition under the principalship of Prof. P. V. Voris; the faculty are as follows: Academic department, Prof. Voris; Preparatory, Prof. Storm ; Intermediate, Miss Effie Gibson ; Primary, Mrs. Belle Emmons. Our oldest settlers are G. W. Gibson, who has been a citizen for fifty-eight years, and Dr. G. L. Burk, who has been here for forty-six years. The gentlemen who look after the physical welfare of our citizens are Dr. G. L. Burk, A. M. Finch, S. J.

Banta, W. S. Heady, G. M. Van Arsdell and F. M. Austin. The legal fraternity is ably represented by W. J. Darnall and D. C. Brackney. We have four secret societies. I. O. O. F., No. 222, founded June 20, 1861, with a membership of neal one hundred; F. A. M., with a good membership and in prosperous condition; G. A. R., No. 162, with a membership of seventy-five; and Knights of Labor.

The amount of business done in Jamestown is ithe Povse: large. Emmons & Richmond are doing a large business, working about fifteen hands at their sawmill and from five to ten teams hauling logs; have the last year shipped fifteen cars. of walnut lumber, and for contract on railroad works bills averaged at least fivecarsa week. During the autumn months they sawed about 75,000 feet of quartering out, which is used as finishing lumber. This is done only by mills which stand as first-class. This firm deserves great praise for their energy and employment of so many laborers, which has been an aid to many families. In the mercantile department are J. H. Camplin & Son, John H. Cline, W. T. Free, C. K. Slonnegar, W. H. Orear & Co., 'thomas B. Williamson, J. H. Steele, Thomas Porter, J. T. Burhop, 8. B. Summerville and G. W. McKeehan. The Eel River Mills are running night and day in order to keep up with orders for flour and feed. This mill is managed by Wesley Martin & Sons. Mr. Martin, Senior, was our miller in an early day, removing from this county to Minnesota, and returniug only a short time since. Crose & Hendricks are our liverymen. John Huber has been running a restaurant here for the last twenty years. Peter Smith operates a tile factory. Besides supplying the home market with his products he has shipped several car loads to Illinois during the past summer. Our wagon factory is conducted by Richard Miller, who also does carriage painting and ironing."

Source changes here: from History of Boone County, Indiana : With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Old Families, by Crist, L. M. (Leander Mead), published 1914; 2,888 words in this source stream.

Worth Township

Among the first pioneers to attack the forests in this part of the county were the following who came in the year 1830: Richard Hull, John and James McCord and James White. This little band was soon joined by Thomas Harm, Adam Kattering, Joseph White and John Smith ; a few years later many others came. The first school was taught by Henry Lucas, in 1837. Among the early ministers we find Rev. John Good, Sr., J. A. Rudasill, Rev. E. S. Hinkle, John Good, Jr., and Reverend Livengood.

Our Foremothers

Today all over our land, orators will speak and editors will write of the glorious deeds of our forefathers; ours be it to keep green the memory of our foremothers. We are glad that in many parts of the country our national anniversary is being observed as Foremothers' Day; it is most appropriate that on this day dedicated to patriotic memories, the organ of the largest organization of women the world has ever seen should recall some of the mothers who have so wrought that their names are worthy

Foremothers is a most appropriate title, for ever since the world began mothers have been at the fore wherever hard or heroic work was to be done.

First, alphabetically and as regards her influence in shaping the nation's destiny, is Abigail Adams, wife of one president and mother of a second. No other American woman ever bore this honor, and it came to her, not accidentally, but as the natural result of her character. It is not too much to say that had Abigail Adams been a weak, silly woman, neither John Adams nor John Quincy Adams would have been fit for president. Through all those terrible years when the fate of the nation trembled in the balance, she was in reality "the guide, philosopher and friend," who held steady the often wavering faith and courage of her husband. During these years she was carefully training her son for his life-work, instilling into his mind those principles which shone so conspicuously when he became Chief Executive. In an age when it was considered a disgrace for a woman to be "learned," she was a thorough student, though it had often to be by stealth; she bore all the burdens of the family care during the long years that the country's service demanded her husband at the seat of government or in foreign courts. As Charles Francis Adams, speaking of her power to adapt herself to most opposite duties, says : "She is a farmer, cultivating the land, and discussing weather and crops ; a merchant reporting prices-current, and directing the making up of invoices; a politician speculating upon the probabilities of peace and war; and a mother writing the most exalted sentiments to her son."

It is proof of the excellent way in which she conducted business that, as her husband relates, the neighbors used to remark that they could always tell when John Adams was at home, for he did not keep the farm up as well as Abigail did in his absence.

Her studies of political economy, and her good, hard sense, early brought her to a conclusion which a century has not sufficed to make clear to some of her daughters. Writing to her husband while he, as a member of the Continental Congress of 1776, was wrestling with the great question of an independent nation, she said : "I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you to remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable than your ancestors were. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands."

Her oft -quoted utterances show that even then she foresaw that the ballot in the hands of woman was a necessity for a stable, pure government. No less than emphatic was her conviction of the need of higher education for women. August 14, 1776, she wrote: "If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women. The world, perhaps, would laugh at me and accuse me of vanity, but you, I know, have a mind too enlarged and liberal to disregard this sentiment. If much depends, as is allowed, upon the early education of youth, and the first principles which are instilled take the deepest root, the great benefit must arise from literary accomplishments in women."

Another foremother of Revolutionary days, described by Lossing as the "Lady of Three Manors," is Mrs. Van Cortlandt Beekman, of whose courage and patriotism many instances are related. Once a party of Tories rode up to the manor-house, and insultingly demanded of Mrs. Beekman : "Are not you a daughter of that old rebel, Pierre Van Cortlandt?" Drawing herself up to her queenly height she answered : "I am daughter of Pierre Van Cortlandt, but it is not becoming for one like you to call my father a rebel." He raised his musket to strike her, but she never flinched. Instead, she looked him square in the eye, reproved him sharply, and bade him leave her house. Abashed by her courage and her flashing eye, he slunk away like the coward he was.

At another time her regard for her promise, aided by her womanly intuition, saved West Point, and with it the nation. Colonel Samuel B. Webb, father of James Watson Webb, and his brother John, known as "Lieutenant Jack," were on General Washington's staff, and frequent visitors to the Beekman mansion. One day Jack rode up hastily, gave his valise, which he told her contained a suit of clothes and a considerable sum of money, to Mrs. Beekman, charging her not to deliver it to any one without a written order from himself or his brother. A fortnight after, Joshua H. Smith, one of her neighbors, came and asked Mr. Beekman for Jack's valise, saying he wanted it in a great hurry, and had not time to write an order. Mr. Beekman sent a servant for it, but Mrs. Beekman refused to give it to him. In vain Smith pleaded, and finally new into a passion, urging that his knowledge of the valise being there, and that it contained Lieutenant Jack's uniform was sufficient evidence that he was authorized to get it. But, as Lossing tells us, "Mrs. Beekman persisted in her refusal. She felt an intuitive and indefinable distrust of Smith, and even the expressions of displeasure by her husband for such treatment of a neighbor did not move her." The result proved her distrust well grounded. That uniform was wanted for Andre, who was just Lieutenant Jack's height and figure. Had he secured it, his escape, in all human probability, would have been accomplished, and West Point would have fallen into the hands of the British.

The preservation of that vast domain "where rolls the Oregon," to the United States is due, in large measure, to the heroic endurance of Mrs. Spaulding and Mrs. Whitman, the first white women to cross the Rocky Mountains, and by their crossing, proved the path was possible. We honor Fremont as the Pathfinder, and inscribe his name on mountain pass and peak. This is well, but on the same rocky tablet which bears the inscription, "Fre- mont, 1842," should be inscribed "Mesdames Whitman and Spaulding, 1836," their names above his, for they were six years in advance of him. Read the story of these heroic women, as told by Barrows, in "Oregon," if you doubt that here, as everywhere, women were "to the fore."

During the third decade of this century two parallel columns of the English race were marching across this continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The one represented men's occupancy, "seeking to perpetuate wilderness and propagate fur," for which work no woman's hand was needed; the other sought to carry Christian civilization beyond the Rockies, and realized that without woman's aid no Christian civilization is possible.

The Hudson Bay Company was the embodiment of the first idea; and Prince Rupert's Land illustrated its development. The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions embodied the second idea, and its realization is seen in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Four Nez Perce's Indians had brought from the far Pacific coast the Macedonian cry, " 'Come over and help us,' by giving us The Book," and the missionary boards responded. To send men over the thousands of miles of trackless wilderness was difficult enough; to send women was declared impossible. But the American Board feeling that without true family life, such as can exist only where husband and wife together build their home, it was useless to attempt either to civilize or to Christianize, decided to send two newly-married couples on this hazardous mission. Dr. Whitman was first chosen, and, with his fiancee, accepted the trust. Before his marriage he went over the ground and returned, pronouncing it possible, though very difficult, for women to make the journey. Mr. Spaulding and his bride were chosen to accompany the Whitmans. Mrs. Spaulding was just recovering from a long fit of sickness. Her husband said to her, "It is not your duty to go, your health forbids it; but the decision shall be left to you after we have prayed together." After their prayer the young bride was left alone. Ten minutes later, with a radiant face she called to her husband, "I have made up my mind for Oregon."

We leave to your imagination the storm of entreaties from friends - the pictures they drew of the dangers of the way - a three-thousand-mile journey, two thousand miles by canoe, saddle, or on foot, the danger from savages, but to all this her answer was : "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die on the Rocky Mountains for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." This spirit actuated both these heroic women, and enabled them to surmount all the difficulties of the way and, arriving triumphant at their journey's end, proved to the world that Oregon was accessible from the east, and that it was a country worth saving to the nation.

Besides the name of Mrs. Spaulding and Mrs. Whitman, we would inscribe that of Jesse Benton Fremont, worthy daughter of a noble sire, without whose help and inspiration the work of her husband never could have been accomplished.

All frontier life is full of the heroic deeds and the more heroic sacrifices of the foremothers of civilization. No records show, no honor can overestimate the debt America owes to her pioneer foremothers.

Among the mightiest forces of civilization is the press ; the foremothers of the press deserve our recognition today. The world's first daily newspaper was established and edited by a woman, Elizabeth Mallett, in London in 1702. The reason she gave for establishing it was "to spare the public half the impertinences the ordinary papers contain." Woman's journalism today, by its high tone, its freedom from scandal and personal vituperation, testifies to Elizabeth Mallet's clearness of insight, and is the realization of her faith concerning what woman in journalism would accomplish.

The first American newspaper of which we have any record is the Massachusetts Gazette and News-Letter. Its founder died, and his widow, Margaret Craper, conducted the paper for several years after his death. Her pluck and persistence are shown by the fact that the News-Letter did not suspend during the British siege and occupation of Boston, and it is the only paper of which this can be said.

Mrs. Marion McBride, secretary of the National Woman's Press Association, among other interesting facts on this subject tells us that Rhode Island's first newspaper was owned and edited by Anna Franklin. It was started in 1 732 ; she not only edited it, but with the assistance of her two daughters, set the type, and their servants worked the printing press, steam presses being then undreamed of. History records that for her quickness and correctness she was appointed printer to the colony. Among the other documents issuing from her press is an edition of the Colonial Laws, of 340 pages. Today a woman, Myra Bradwell, stands acknowledged head of legal printers and editors. Her reports in the Legal News are received as author- ity in courts East and West, North and South. While visiting New Orleans with her, I heard Hon. E. C. Merrick, for many years one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, tell her he had on file every number of her paper from its commencement, eighteen years ago ; this shows the value he attaches to it.

Today the country is flooded with picture advertising cards; so common are they it seems that, like Topsy, they "weren't made, they growed." But think back twenty years, if you are old enough, and you will remember that they were then unknown. How they came to be is in this wise: A young lady, Mary E. Wilson, was employed in the photographic gallery of Gutekunst, Philadelphia, as a retoucher; she had much artistic taste, and in idle moments sketched flowers on the back of his advertising cards and sent them to her friends. They were so pleased that it occurred to her to suggest to Mr. Gutekunst that such flower pictures would enhance the value of his advertising cards. She painted two, a trailing arbutus, and a flowering quince. At once he seized the idea and had them lithographed. He sent them out broadcast, and this new method of advertising spread like wildfire. If Mary Wilson had patented it, she would be a rich woman today.

Frances Power Cobbe says that when left free to act, woman naturally gravitates to the philanthropies. That this is true is proved by the fact that in the philanthropies woman is always "to the fore."

Elizabeth Mallett's newspaper was a reformatory journal; and if today you look through the literature devoted to, or springing out of, the philanthropies, you will find that it emanates largely from the brain and heart of women. We doubt if there is in America a church in which the women do not outnumber the men, yet in the majority of churches their voice must not be heard except in singing and Sabbath-school teaching. They are to the fore in all missionary enterprises, and what they are doing for temperance let the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, with its forty well equipped, well-conducted lines of work, testify.

Today we would especially remember the services of those robust angels of the camp and field, Mother Liebreich and Mother Bickerdyke, both of Illinois, whose ministry on battle field and in hospital "was worth ten thousand men." No pension makes their infirm old age comfortable, but thousands of soldiers recognize, if the government does not, the value of their services. Grant once said of Mother Bickerdyke, "She outranks me."

The same spirit that actuated these brave women of national and international reputation, was exemplified by the women who braved the hardships and privations of the wilderness, when they came with their husbands and fathers into the wilds of Boone county, during the twenties and thirties; and helped with hand and heart to build homes. The woods of this country were as uninviting and dangerous, as the wilds of Oregon or the Rockies. The savage Red Man was here, the same wild beasts, the same privations and hardships. The young wife and mother that came into this wilderness and faced all these privations, hardships and dangers had the same daring spirit; the same bravery and heroic courage that actuated the courageous women whose names are inscribed -on the roll of honor in national history. If you could lift the impenetrable veil that shuts in the deeds of the women, that were to the fore in the settlement and development of Boone county, you would discover just as brave and heroic heroines as ever faced and overcame difficulties. Look into the round log cabins of one room, planted in the almost impassable forest without neighbors in sight or hearing; with prowling beast and wild men; perhaps, no shutter to the door and at times all alone, and you may form some conception of the solitude and the dangers that the brave heart had to face. You might be able to imagine, the bravery that was required to face such perjls day after day, but you could not enter into the full conception, without the actual experience of those who endured. If there had not been just such courageous spirit as this of woman, to walk right into the face of danger and hardship necessary to redeem the wilderness, and make it into homes, it would never have been done by man alone. There is not a settlement in Boone county, but what had its heroines. Their names may not be in the niche of fame, but nevertheless, they were here and their names are written on the true record, and will come to light in the Day of Great reckoning. It is the same old story expressed in Shakespeare, one heroine sung ten thousand perished in the wilderness unknown.