HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY  37

taverns in pioneer days. The average intervening distance between any
two of them having been, practically, but a mile and a half. Starting at
Croy’s Creek and moving westward these inns were kept by James
Townsend, Preston Morgan, George G. McKinley, Hull and Wishard (at
Brazil), Phillip Hedges (later Cunningham’s), William Kennedy,
Scranton and Sullivan (at Williamstown), LaMaster, and George
Carpenter (at Cloverland).
    The keepers of these houses sold to these moving people provender
for themselves and their teams, and frequently served them meals and
lodging, which was a source of daily income, and in some instances a
source of substantial profit.
    This thoroughfare was at no time more thronged, perhaps, than
for the two years preceding the Civil war, 1859 and 1860, when, during
the summer and fall months, especially, it was dotted all along with
the regulation white canvas-covered wagons, at times so numerous that,
with an unobstructed view, the observer might count from five to ten
within sight. Occasionally there was seen in the procession a wagon of
stout build on which was constructed a miniature house of light lumber,
affording nominally comfortable quarters for house-keeping on wheels.
A considerable percent of this constant flow of emigration for the two
years named were adventurers, attracted by the Pike’s Peak gold dis-
covery and sensation. It was no unusual thing to see inscribed or
lettered upon the side of their wagon-covers the destination of the
occupants, with, sometimes, gratuitous additional information or senti-
ment for the gratification of the inquisitive wayside Hoosier, not a few
of which were laughter-provoking from their lack of conformity to the
recognized Websterian code. On one outfit, as remembered, were lettered
the words, “To Pike’s Peak or Bust.” Two months or more later in
the season this adventurous gold-seeker passed through Brazil on his
return trip, the inscription having been changed so as to read, “To Pike’s
Peak and Busted,” with an interjection added significant of his disap-
pointment and disgust, of doubtful eligibility to the pages of even
profane history.
    In the year 183— the legislature of the state of Indiana appealed
to the general government for a mail route on the National Road, which,
in due time, was granted and put in operation, the mails conveyed
and handled by stage lines. From that time on to the building and
operation of the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad, up to 1852 or
1853, perhaps, the mails between the Capital city and the Prairie city
were transported over the Cumberland road by stage, by way of Harmony,
Brazil, Williamstown and Cloverland, one arrival of mail each day from
each direction. The details of the service then required the arrival of
the mail at every office to be announced by the blowing of a bugle or
whistle on approaching the office as notification to the postmaster to
be in readiness for the change of mail, as well as notice to the patrons
of the office, also. As a feature of the stage-route system there were
“relay” stations at intervals along the road, where horses were changed.
One of these stations, the first one out from Terre Haute, was located on
the site of Brazil. Of this station W. F. B. Gray, of Perry township, has
been heard to say: “When I made my first trip from the East to Clay
county, Indiana, in 1840, over the National Road, traveling by stage,
the relay station at what is now Brazil was the only building to be