Carroll County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter II 1916
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Book Title: History Of Carroll County Indiana

CHAPTER II.

ABORIGINAL TITLE-INDIANA TERRITORY-LAND SURVEYS-PIONEER HISTORY-GEOLOGICAL
FORMATION-PIONEER PERIODS-RED MAN'S DOMINIONS-FROM WHENCE CAME THE
PIONEERS-ORDINANCE OF 1787.

ABORIGINAL TITLE.

   Indiana Territory was occupied by certain tribes of Indians whose title to
the lands was extinguished by treaties made by them with the general government
at various dates. The title to the lands along the Wabash river, being obtained
by the government, with certain reservations from the Indian tribes, is the
source from which all titles thereto rests. A treaty held at Greenville, in
August, 1795, by General Wayne, Little Turtle, of the Miami tribe, gave the
following review of his tribe's history: "It is well known by all my brothers
present that my forefathers kindled the first fire at Detroit, from there he
extended his lines to the head waters of the Scioto; from there to its mouth;
from there down the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash; and from there to Chicago,
on Lake Michigan."

   This statement is corroborated by the general history of the tribe. Their
villages were found on the St. Joseph, of Lake Michigan, at Ft. Wayne, and on
the Wea Plains, near Lafayette. Charlevoix says: "These villages were
established as early as 1670." This tribe, about the year 1700, formed an
alliance with the French, who were traders. French missionaries visited these
villages and established forts. The vast dominions of this tribe, and its power
and influence, brought it into relationship with other tribes, which is termed
in general history, as the "Miami Confederacy." In 1765, the warriors consisted
of two hundred and fifty Twightwees; three hundred Ouiatenons, three hundred
Piankeshawes and two hundred Shockeys.

   By the treaty of 1818, at St. Mary's, Ohio, nine hundred and thirty thousand
acres of land wrere ceded to the United States. The western line of the ceded
territory ran on the west boundary line of 'Howard county, Indiana. By the
treaty of October 23, 1826, held at Paradise Springs, the Miami chiefs, in
council with Gen. Lewis Cass, James B. Ray and John Tipton, as commissioners on
the part of the United States, conducted a treaty ceding "all their claims to
lands in the state of Indiana, north and west of the Wabash and west of the
Miami rivers." In 1834 the government purchased of this tribe one hundred and
seventy-seven thousand acres, including a strip seven miles wide off the west
side of the reserve, in what is now Cass, Howard and Clinton counties, which was
transferred to the state of Indiana to be used in construction of the Wabash and
Erie canal; from the mouth of the Tippecanoe river, a strip of five miles wide
along the Wabash had been previously appropriated for canal purposes. Hence the
records showing certain lands as canal lands.

   Further concessions were made at the treaty of 1838, and the last in 1840.
This tribe relinquished all rights remaining, excepting certain reservations,
for which a specific sum of five hundred and fifty thousand dollars was paid.
The government records show that the government had received six million eight
hundred and fifty-three thousand acres of land and given in exchange forty-four
thousand six hundred and forty acres, of the value of fifty-five thousand eight
hundred dollars; the aggregate consideration paid for the ceded lands in money
and goods was one million two hundred and five thousand nine hundred and seven
dollars and the total consideration paid was one million two hundred sixty-one
thousand seven hundred and seven dollars.

   Carroll county had in its territory five of these specific reservations,
known as follow: A. Burnett Reserve; the Cicott Reserve; the Connors Reserve;
the Bondee Reserve; and the second A. Burnett Reserve. The lands obtained by the
general government by the treaty of October 23, 1826, held at Paradise
Springs—that portion of which was within the borders of the state—were
transferred to the state, coupled with conditions relating td the Wabash canal,
the Michigan road, and reservations of certain sections} for school purposes.
All present landowners in this part of the country? trace their titles to this
government ownership.

INDIANA TERRITORY.

   The Indiana territory was a part of the Northwest territory, obtained by the
United States from the state of Virginia, under an ordinance of July 13, 1787,
by which it was stipulated that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude should
exist, except in the punishment of crime.

   Indiana, upon its formation as a state, was a free state. Gen. William H.
Harrison was the first territorial governor, May 13, 1800. The population was
estimated at four thousand eight hundred seventy-five white people. Vincennes
was the territorial seat of government. General Harrison issued a proclamation
to the people of the territory, fixing December 11, 1802, to hold an election to
select delegates to meet at Vincennes to consider the expediency of repealing or
suspending the proviso in the ordinance of 1787, prohibiting the holding of
slaves. A memorial to this effect was sent to Congress. Mr. Randolph, of
Virginia, opposed the proposition, and Congress refused to suspend the
provision. January 3, 1805, was fixed as the time for holding an election in the
several counties for the organization of the territorial Legislature. By that
election ten residents were selected, from whom five were to be selected by the
President to constitute the Legislative council. President Jefferson conferred
upon General Harrison the privilege to make the selection, requesting that
"land-jobbers, dishonest men and those who, though honest, might suffer
themselves to be warped by party prejudices," should not be selected.

   About this time Indiana had its boundaries fixed as they are now. The first
General Assembly assembled on July 29, 1805, and Benjamin Parke was selected as
territorial delegate to Congress. A census had been taken of the population of
the territory, and on the 28th of December, 1815, the General Assembly adopted a
memorial for statehood which was presented to the Congress, showing that the
white population numbered sixty-three thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven.
The Enabling Act was passed on January 5, 1816.

   An election was held on May 13, 1816, at which delegates were elected to the
first convention to formulate a state Constitution. There were then thirteen
organized counties. The convention met at Corydon, then the seat of government,
on the 10th of June, 1816, and Gen. Samuel Milroy, of Washington county, was a
delegate.
The state of Indiana was admitted into the Union by a joint resolution on
December 11, 1816. James Noble and Walter Taylor were elected by the General
Assembly to the United States Senate. Jonathan. Jennings was elected first
governor. The territorial government of Indiana was superseded by a state
government on the 7th of November, 1816.

LAND SURVEYS.

   After the general government had acquired by treaties the lands north of the
Ohio river known as the Northwest territory, it proceeded to have surveys made
to meet the demands of the people who were emigrating into this territory very
rapidly from the Colonial states. The Congress on March 26, 1894, passed a Land
Act and directed the surveyor-general to cause the survey of the public lands
north of the Ohio river and east of the Mississippi river, into townships, six
miles square. A subsequent Act, of 1805, provided for the division of the public
domain, the marking of corners of sections and subdivisions of sections into
half and quarter sections. The system was known as the "rectangular system."

   A township should contain twenty-three thousand forty acres, and each section
one mile square, containing six hundred forty acres. Quarter section, or half
mile posts, were established by the government survey. The subdividing of
quarter sections was left for the county surveyors to establish the corners. The
surveyed public lands were divided into districts, which were defined by
boundaries. The district covering the lands along the Wabash river, of which
Carroll county was a part, was known as the "Crawfordsville District." A land
office established at Crawfordsville was the place to which the early pioneers
went to select lands, which were sold for one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre. This land office was established in 1824.

   There were certain Indian reservations, made at the time of the making of the
treaties, which had their boundaries fixed but were not established by the early
surveyors, but were later established by government surveyors in Carroll
county—the Cicott Reservation, the two Burnett Reservations, the Connors
Reservation, and the Bondee Reservation—in the years 1820, 1827 and 1835.

PIONEER HISTORY.

   In this article is embraced the habits, customs, manner of living, manner of
farming, social affairs, schools and churches, from the date of the first
settlements to the date of the organization of Carroll county.

   The first white settlers were Henry Robinson and family, Abner Robinson, a
son, and his family, and his brother, Samuel. These families came to this
locality on December 31, 1824. They settled on land entered by Henry Robinson at
the Crawfordsville land office. He bought the land on December 21, 1824, paying
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. At that time the dense forest had not
known the woodsmen's ax, and the game, which was plentiful, had not seen a white
man, unless they had run across the early surveyors. Land seekers were in
evidence daify, and the first settlers' homes were their abode while they were
making their selections. They came by the Indian trails, which skirted the
Wabash river. The building of cabins was the first work. In the dead of winter
this job was certainly a hard task. The descriptions given by the pioneers,
which will appear elsewhere in this volume, will give the reader some idea of
what they endured. They brought with them tools and provisions sufficient to
last one year. Some of them were carpenters, masons, millwrights, doctors-and
preachers.

   In 1825 the emigration increased rapidly, some forty families coming here.
Among them were John Ballard, Thomas Sterling, Daniel Baum, James Odell, Sr.,
John Odell, John Carey, Dr. E. W. Ewing, R. Manary, W. Wilson, David Baum,
Benjamin D. Angel, Aaron Merriman, Aaron Wilds and Jeremiah Ballard.

   In 1826 the emigration had swelled the number to several hundred persons.
Saw-mills were erected, grist-mills built roads cut out and a log school house
erected. Among those who came this year were Isam Atkinson, James McDowell, John
Kuns and Gen. Samuel Milroy.

   In 1827 the population was much augmented. Two stores were built,. one at the
house of Daniel Baum, by D. F. Vandeventer, and one at the sawmill, on Deer
Creek, four miles east of Delphi, by Isaac Griffith, Sr. The settlers went to
Lafayette or to Craw fords ville for goods and mail. In the latter part of this
year the people were anxious to form a county government, and sent petitions to
the General Assembly for that purpose, and were successful. The Act of the
organization of Carroll county was passed on January 7, 1828.

   The pioneers endured the greatest privations in the year 1827. Their supply
of provisions was well nigh exhausted, and much sickness prevailed. .As might
have been expected, some came with scant supplies, and this forced others, who
had to spare, to divide, which was done cheerfully.

   The first death occurring was that of James Gilbreth, September 8, 1825. The
second death was that of Benjamin D. Angel, September 16, 1825. From the first
date of settlement to January 1, 1828, twelve deaths occurred. Corn bread and
hominy were the staple diet, while venison, wild turkey and squirrels were
served on many of the tables. Hogs run at large and were wild, and were fatted
on the mast, and shot in the woods when wanted for meat, later on, wheat and
flax were grown, and the flax was used for making clothing, being woven by the
mothers. The new country was not adapted to sheep raising and it was not until
later that, wool was raised to any extent. The people were happy, contented and
very sociable. Singing schools and spelling matches were frequent and greatly
enjoyed. The early -settlers saw very few Indians. Religious meetings were held
at private houses. Many of the pioneers lived to a ripe old age, some were four
score years and ten when they died. Out-door work, hard though it was, seemed to
favor longevity.

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION.

   Geology is the science which treats of the structure and mineral constitution
of the earth, the causes of its physical features and its history. Without
entering into any wide range of the opinions and discoveries of geologists as
they deal in rock stratifications, Carroll county is classed in the Devonian
system, the soil of which is chiefly derived from the disintegration of the
Devonian rocks. The soil derived from this decomposition is among the most
fertile. Lands rich in fertility are not rich in mineral wealth, and this
geological fact precludes this territory from coal deposits.

   Limestone quarries are found here, indicating from geology as stone belonging
to the Upper Silurian age. This stone is adapted to building purposes,
possessing great strength. It is not like the oolitic limestone, which lies in
mass from twenty to seventy feet thick. Limestone is found in all parts of the
county. The limestone and burnt lime produced here is regarded as of a superior
quality. Quarries have been worked for sixty years, and the supply seems
inexhaustible. The clay in this county makes an excellent quality of brick for
buildings. It is also thought that the lime in this country will in the near
future be in demand for fertilizing purposes.

   Gravel, which was supposed to be of very little value and scarce in this
county, is well distributed and in great quantities, and is being generally used
in road making. Experience shows it has no superior for that purpose. A good
gravel bank is a source of profit to any one fortunate enough to have one.

   The depth of the limestone formation here is from five hundred to six hundred
and twenty-five feet. The elevation here above sea level is six hundred and
twenty-five feet.

PIONEER PERIODS.

   The first pioneer period of the settlement made in the territory now
comprising Carroll county dates from December 31, 1824, to 1828. The second
period dates from January 1, 1828, to 1850. The third period dates from 1850 to
1880.   The fourth period dates from 1880 to 1915.

   The first period relates to the people who came to this part of the country,
places of settlement, their lives and industrial pursuits. It embraces the first
land entries, the work of home construction, social habits and religious
tendencies.

   The first white families came on the 31st of December, 1824, and settled on
land previously entered. Henry Robinson and family, his son, Abner, and family,
a daughter, and one or two others, who assisted them in moving; About a dozen
families came during the year 1825, all locating about the same locality.

   The emigration of 1827 was much larger, and located at various points in the
community. The first thing required was a cabin to live in. The next thing was
to clear off as much timber as possible to plant corn and vegetables and to
provide shelter for their horses. House raisings and log rollings called
together all the available men in the community, and this work continued many
years. The next thing of importance was the construction of roads. This was hard
and laborious, as the land was heavily timbered and much of it wet and marshy.
The next thing necessary was the erection of saw-mills and mills to grind corn.
All of these things were attended to and accomplished, during the first period.
The second period embraces the time when law and order was established pursuant
to an Act of the Legislature, January 7, 1828. The laying out of the county, the
fixing of the seat of justice, dividing the county territory into townships,
ordering elections, fixing tax rates, locating roads, building public buildings,
and all matters of a civil character took place in this second period.

   The third period, from 1850 to 1880, was a continuation of the legal
operations put into motion. The courts were in full operation, elections held
regularly, as by law required, the exercises of power more manifest, public
improvements adopted and carried out and new public buildings erected. During
this period the Civil War occurred and Carroll county sent to the front its full
quota of soldiers.

   The fourth period, from 1880 to 19.15, is an expansion over the periods
stated, the laws being extended over the rights and franchises of corporations,
public utilities being under supervision of state commissions, and drastic
legislation enacted to protect the elective franchise. During this period
agricultural conditions advanced to high attainments, attention was given to
upbreeding of stock and the installing of new industries, the introduction of
motor vehicles and protection from contagious and transmissible diseases. During
this period the telephone, electric system and traction roads have been
established, and the mail delivered to the doors of the people throughout the
country. The various periods mentioned merged into each other gradually, and
development will so continue throughout all time.

RED MAN'S DOMINION.

   Before the white man took possession of .this vast country, it was held by
the red man, and while under his dominion, the wild game was only taken for his
subsistence. That accounts for the large number and great variety of game that
was found here by the first settlers. The fate of the game was no better than
the fate of red man—the white man demanded possession and got it.

   War upon Indians and wild game was waged, the red man ceded his rights away,
and quit the premises, while the wild game was destroyed eventually. Some
incredible things were done by our government, and were done on the theory that
the ends justified the means. Among the extinct animals we mention the beaver,
which was a most remarkable animal. His fur was of the rarest. He had a tail
resembling a trowel, and used much like a mason. He built dams across water
courses, causing great territory to be flooded. It is supposed that the object
was protection from its animal foes. They would with their teeth hew down trees
a foot or more in diameter.

   The destruction of the forests, as well as the game, have forced upon the
government and state problems of how to replenish the waste places and how to
re-establish game as food for man. The work of destruction has been going on for
fifty years, and the re-establishment of the forest or re-gaming the country can
never be accomplished as it was by nature.

FROM WHENCE CAME THE PIONEERS.

   The people who came to the Wabash valley to make homes for their families
were from various states, chiefly from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio and
Kentucky. There were representatives from other eastern states. Many of them had
been pioneers in their previous locations. Some of them were men who had been in
the Revolutionary War, and in the War of 1812. They were schooled to hardships,
skilled in handling firearms, robust and firm of purpose. Many of them traced
their ancestry to England, Scotland, Germany and Ireland. Living on the borders
of the then civilization, they were watching the development of the great
Northwest. They knew that the Indians occupying the western territory were
hostile, and they depended on the government for protection. The emigration
drifted to the southern part of the territory, knowing that Gen. W. H. Harrison
was stationed at Vincennes with a military force. Many of the first emigrants
had been massacred. The depredations of the Indians became so bad that General
Harrison, in 1811, with a large military force, went across the country, to the
Wabash, and the memorable battle of Tippecanoe took place on November 7, 1811.

   The savages fled and dispersed, and from that time on the early settlers
lived in comparative security. Emigration began to pour in from the eastern
states, public lands were bought, counties were organized, a territorial
Legislature assembled at Corydon, and the machinery of law was set into
operation. The people complying with the provisions of the organic Act, Indiana
territory was admitted as a state in 1816. The sparsely settled counties along
the Wabash were about ten years without county government. When the population
was sufficient the Legislature made the necessary provisions for their
organization. The class of people who came to this part of the Wabash were
people of high religious views, some of them fairly educated, and all
industrious and law abiding. Their children were sent to the log school houses
and the best-qualified men and women were selected to instruct them in the
elementary branches. These pioneers "builded better than they knew." They left
their children and their children's children a splendid civilization.

   May all know from whence came the pioneers.

ORDINANCE OF 1787.

   At one time the state of Virginia possessed all that territory embraced in
the states of Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. The Ordinance of
1787 ceded to the United States all that portion of the Northwest territory
embraced in the above named states, which was accepted by the United States. The
ordinance contained a provision that "slavery or involuntary servitude should
not exist in said territory, except for crime." An attempt was made before the
state was admitted into the Union to have Congress repeal or suspend this
provision, so that it would be possible for slavery to be established when the
state was received into the Union.

   There were many people from the southern states in the territory, who were
desirous to retain that institution. It was known that President Thomas
Jefferson was opposed to the proposition, as being in direct violation of the
ordinance, and would be an act of bad faith. Mr. Randolph, one of the most able
and eloquent men of Virginia, opposed the proposition, and Congress refused to
accept the proposition. The title held by the Indian tribes had to be obtained,
and Gen. W. H. Harrison had been appointed secretary of the Northwest territory
by Virginia, and from this territory had been a delegate to Congress in 1799.
Through his efforts large grants of lands were changed so that private
corporations could not hold large grants. Few citizens realize how near this
state came to being a slave state. They have a good reason to remember the "Sage
of Monticello."


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA

ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS
BY
JOHN C ODELL
With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families

ILLUSTRATED
1916
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.
Indianapolis, Indiana


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