History of La Porte County, Indiana ... History of Indiana ... Illustrated

Front matter

HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY, INDIANA; TOGETHER WITH SKETCHES OF ITS CITIES, VILLAGES AND TOWNSHIPS, EDU- CATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND POLITICA L HISTORY; PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. HISTORY OF INDIANA,* EMBRACING ACCOUNTS OF THE PRE-HISTOIUC RACES, ABORIGINES, FRENCH, ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CONQUESTS, AND A GENERAL REVIEW OF ITS CIVIL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY HISTORY. ILLUSTRATED. CHICAGO: CHAS. C. CHAPMAN & CO., 1880. DONOHUE& HENNEBERRY, BLAKELT, BROWN & MARSH, PRINTERS, BOOKBINDERS, .05 & IO9 MADISON STREET., CHICAGO 155 * 157 DEARBORN ST., CHICAGO.

Preface

. The history of La Porte county possesses features of unusual interest in comparison with those of other neighboring counties. Here the sturdy pioneer located and began to exert his civilizing influence long before other sections contained a settler. This being a delightful section of country, it was early occupied by those com ing West in search of permanent homes. In matters of general public interest and progress, La Porte county has ever taken a leading and prominent position. Here have lived men who have taken an important part in the affairs of State and in molding the political sentiments and destiny of the country. This county has been the scene of conflict between some of the giant intellects of the nation. Here the shrewd and enter prising Easterner, the courtly Southerner and the sturdy, practical Westerner have met and mingled, have assimilated the better traits possessed by each other, and thus have formed a society, a people superior in many particulars to that of most localities.

The original settlers, the earliest pilgrims, have nearly all passed away. Here and there we see the bended form and whitened head of some of these veterans, but they are not numerous; most'ofthera have gone to that country which is always new, yet where the trials, struggles and hardships of pioneer life are never known. Accurate and reliable history is most difficult to write. Those who have never experienced the difficulties incident to such labor cannot realize how nearly impossible it is, or can appreciate the earnest, honest and faithful labor of a historian. After the most careful and painstaking searches and inquiry upon any particular subject, or about any event, he will even then find many donbts as to its accuracy. Each individual will give a different account of the same events, though they be ever so honest and faithful.

This fact is forcibly illustrated by Sir Walter Raleigh. While in prison in a tower of England, he engaged himself in writing the history of the world. One day a brawl occurred in the tower yard, and he desired to learn the particulars. Two of the principal actors came before him, and each related the account of the trouble; yet so

PREFACE.

. widely different were they that he found it utterly impossible to tell what the facts were. He then remarked, "Here I am engaged in writing the history of events that occurred 3,000 years ago, and yet I am unable to learn the facts of what happens at my win dow." This has been the the channel of our experience, and that of all others who have attempted national or local history. Besides mistakes on account of these causes, doubtless there are many others to be found within these pages. To suppose that a volume of this magnitude, and containing so many thousands of names and dates and brief statements would be wholly accurate, is a supposition we presume no sane man will make. While we do not claim for this work critical accuracy or completeness, yet we are quite certain that it will be found measurably and practically so.

Let it rest as the foundation for the future historian to build upon. As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of several representative citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of the day, as well as the pioneers, represented in this department; and we flatter ourselves on the uniform high character of the gentlemen whose portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with those presented, but as a matter of course it was impossible for us to represent all the leading men of the county. As we quit our long, tedious, yet nevertheless pleasant task of compiling the History of La Porte County, we wish to return the thanks of grateful hearts to those who have so freely aided us in collecting material.

To the county officials, pastors of churches, officers of societies, pioneers, and particularly the editors of the press, we are particularly grateful for the many kindnesses and courtesies shown us while laboring in the county; but most of all we wish to thank those who so liberally and materially aided the work by becoming subscribers to it. We feel that we have discharged our duties fully, have fulfilled all our promises, have earned the laborer's pay. C. C. CHAPMAN & CO. Chicago, October, 1880. CONTENTS. HISTORY o* t' INDIANA FORMER OCCUPANTS 17 The First Immigration 18 Th'!

Second Immigration 20 The Tartars 23 Relics of the Mound-Builders 23 Indians 31 Manners and Customs 34 EXPLORATIONS BY THE WHITES.... 37 Earliest Explorers 37 Ouabache.. 39 Vincennes 39 NATION3 L POLICIES 41 The Great French Scheme 41 Pontiac's War 46 British Policy 46 American Policy 46 Indian Savagery 47 EXPEDITIONS OF COL. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 52 Clark's Ingenious Ruse 64 S ub6equent Career of Hamilton 64 Gibault 65 Vigo ... 66 GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTH- WEST 67 Ordinance of 17S7 70 Liquor and Gaming Laws 74 MILITARY HISTORY, 1790 TO 1800 75 Expeditions of Harmar, Scott and Wilkinson 75 Expeditions of St. Clair and Wayne 78 Wayne's Great Victory 79 TERRITORIAL HISTORY 82 Organization of Indiana Territory 82 First Territorial Legislature 84 The Western Sun 84 Indiana in 1810 84 GOVERNOR HARRISON AND THE INDIANS 87 Harrison '8 Campaign 92 Battle of Tippecanoe 98 WAR OF 1812 101 Expedition against the Indians 103 Close of the War 108 TECUMSEH Ill CIVIL MATTERS 1812-'5 116 Population in 1815 118 General View 118 ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE... 121 BLACK HAWK WAR 123 LAST EXODUS OF INDIANS 131 INDIAN TITLES 132 LAND SALES 133 HARMONY COMMUNITY 134 PIONEER LIFE 136 The Log Cabin 136 Sleeping Accommodations 138 Cooking 141 Women's Work 142 Dress and Manners 143 Family Worship 145 Hospitality 147 Trade 148 Money 148 Milliner 150 Agricul tnral Implements 150 Hog-Killing 151 Prairie Fires 152 Wild Hogs 156 Native Animals 157 Wolf Hunts 157 Bee-Hunting 158 Snakes 158 Shakes 159 Education 160 "Past the Pictures." 164 Spelling-School 165 Singing-School 167 Guarding against Indians 1 68 The Bright Side 171 What the Pioneers Have Done 173 Military Drill 175 " Jack, the Philosopher of the 19ih Century." 176 "Too Full lor Utter mce." 177 Thieving and Lynch-Law 179 Curingthe Drunken Husband 180 The " Choke Trap." 181 MICHIGAN BOUNDARY 185 MEXICAN WAR 186 SLAVERY 194 15th Amendment 197 THE WAR FOR THE UNION 198 Lincoln did not seek the Presidency 198 Slates Seceding '..... 199 The Fall of Sumter 200 A Vast Army Raised in 11 Days 201 Sherman's March to the Sea. 202 Character of Abraham Lincoln 20- The War Ended— The Union Restored.. 204 The Morgan-Raid Regiments 2-27 Six Months' Regiments 229 The 100-Davs' Volunteers 233 The President's Call of July, 1864 224 " Dec., " 234 Independent Cavalry Company of Indiana Volunteers 238 Onr Colored Troops 239 Batteries of Light Artillery 239 After the War 846 DIVORCE LAWS 250 FINANCIAL 251 State Bank 253 Wealth and Progress .-.. 354 Internal Improvements 256 GEOLOGY 262 COAL 264 AGRICULTURE 266 State Board of Agriculture 266 The Exposition 267 Indiana Horiicultural Society 269 " Pomological " 270 EDUCATION 272 Public Schools 272 Indiana Scate University 279 Purdue University 281 Indiana State Normal School 285 Normal School, etc., at Valparaiso 286 Denominational and Private Institutions 287 BENEVOLENT AND PENAL INSTI- TUTIONS 291 Institute fur the Education of the Blind 291 Institute for the Deaf and Dumb 293 Hospital for the

Insane 295 The State Prison South 296 North 297 Female Prison and Reformatory 298 Indiana House of Refuge 300 STATE CAPITOL 301 STATE OFFICERS 302 U. S. SENATORS FROM INDIANA.... 806 REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS. 307 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Of Governors 310 OfU.S. Senators 316 THE SUPREMACIES 319 STATES OF THE UNION CONTENTS.

HISTORY OF I* A PORTE COUNTY. The Dinner *?* Second Annual Reunion 4o7 Third « " 459 Fourth " " ?60 Fifth " " 462 Sixih " " 464 Seventh " " f> Eighth " " 469 Nfith " «0 Tenth " " 4™ Eleventh " " "■■«? Death Roll. . . .458, 460, 461, 463, 466, 468, 470, 472, 475 Old Settlers' Roll 476-507

Introduction

331

Chapter I. Geography And Geology

336 History as Connected with Time and Place |3« Boundary ■»' Original Territory of Indiana ™ Altitude ■*» Surface. '.'.'. '..".'.'. 340 o ul ia<_o .,, Lakes «0 JJ»»-*--*** .... SoU 311 Productions 342 I LI.IUUV Ll'ill.- - Minerals 3™ Theoretical Geology 344

CHAPTER X.

± MMMAMJMMOMMMaMM, MM^\J.\r^J - - - - ~ ~ Economical Geology 347 THRILLING ACCOUNTS AND PER- SONAL INCIDENTS 508 A Case of Accidental Drowning 509 Mary Garrotitte 509 Was Freedom Dead? 510 A School-House on a Rampage 511 A Distressing Case of Poisoning 511 The Dangers of the Forest 512 Daniel Webster's Estimate of Children. 5t:i The Spirit of the Devil in Politics 513 Murder of James F. Smith 514 A Band of Counterfeiters 515 He Died that His Boy Might Live 515 Minor Incidents 516-18

Chapter V. Chapter XI

EARLY SETTLEMENTS 399 RECORD OF THE REBELLION 519 The Flood of Empire Taking its Westward Way. 399

CHAPTER XII. CHAPTER VI.

POLITICAL. 536 The Issues of the Great Campaigns 536 PIONEER LIFE 413 Election Returns 540 Pioneer Homes— Log Cabins 413 The Benedict House-Raising 413 Pioneer Work 416

CHAPTER XIII.

Prairie Plowing by the Pioneers 417 Harvest-Time 419 THE COURTS 549 Religious Meetings 420 .... &. . TT 3*1 0..1 .„ /lOl Criminal Record 553 School-Houses ana Schools 421 The Penalty of Death 554 Socialties 423 The Divorce Record 555 Marriage Record 558 County Officers 556-'8

Chapter VII. 556-'8 Indian Incidents 426

CHAPTER XIV.

Au Indian Legend 429 - . . __ __ tt ....a — .on Indian Advancements in Knowledge 430 Incident at Door Village 431 THE SCHOOLS..! 562 List ot County Examiner* and Superintendents 565 Course of Study for the County Schools. 568 Henry Clvburn's Ox 432 The Sac Indian Horse-Thieves 432 The Black Hawk War 432 Statistics 571 John Beatty and the Indian 434 Course of Study for the Westville High School 578 Miss Carter's School 434 A Case of Indian Justice 435 The Last of the Red Man 435

CHAPTER XV. CHAPTER VIII.

LITERARY RECORD 580 John B. Niles 580 CIVIL ORGANIC HISTORY . 437 Mrs. Emma F. Malloy 584 Act of Legislature Establishing the County -. - 437 Welcome to the 87th 586 Hon. Jasper Packard 589 Organization of the County into Townships 438 Detatchment from Starke County 44". Further Acquisition of Territory 442 Benj. F. Taylor 591

CHAPTER XVI. THE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTY.

593