Fountain County IN Archives History - Books .....Temperance 1881
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com August 25, 2006, 4:20 am

Book Title: History Of Fountain County

TEMPERANCE.

   No temperance movement has found long life in Covington. Saloons were always
here. It is said that in an early day, after the erection of quite an extensive
brewery and distillery in Fountain county, one who made whisky his boon friend,
or rather companion, earnestly remarked that "now whisky will be so cheap we
won't need to use water at all." So it would have seemed. Since the days of
license, when the town became partners with the saloon-keepers, permits or
licenses to sell liquors have cost from $20 up to $100. In few instances, if
any, more than $100. In 1877 the movement known as "The Red Ribbon Movement" was
inaugurated by a poor, illiterate, shabbily dressed man, wearing a faded piece
of red ribbon. This man, John King, by repeated efforts, assisted by the Rev.
Neal, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, succeeded in gathering a small
audience of thirty persons at the court-house. The meetings were continued each
evening, more largely attended and livelier interest awakened, until a great
temperance revival ensued from the simple narration by this John King of his sad
experience with the wine cup. At first the few "red ribbon boys" on the street
were the center of attraction, but soon were but a few among the many who
displayed their colors. The interest widened till it reached all parts of the
county. June 20, 1877, the club was duly organized, with John W. Copner as
president. Mr. Copner presided eighteen months, when he was succeeded by H. H.
Doctorman. District organizations have been effected all over the county. The
blue ribbon making its appearance, went with the red to do its mission of mercy.
On February 5,1878, Copner, Doctorman and others inaugurated a movement to
consolidate all the various societies of the county, and a convention was called
at Veedersburg for that purpose. Reports showed that over 7,000 persons had
signed the pledge. The work has been bravely pushed by Messrs. Copner and
Doctorman, Mrs. C. N. Harter, Mrs. Emma Roos, Rev. Neal, and Mrs. Patterson,
whose late death caused a void that can scarcely be filled. Since assuming
county proportions, Wm. Comus, Mr. Turman, John Hurley, J. C. Lebo, Mrs. L. E.
Reid, James Martin, and others, also worked for the cause. Tyler Mason, of
Indianapolis, and Mrs. Emma Malloy, have done much as lecturers. There should be
sobriety in all the affairs of men.

   Troy township and Covington have made grand strides in their progress from a
wilderness of woods to a field of grain and a garden of roses, all proving the
power of even weak humanity when exerted steadily and continuously. Let the
young reader set his mark as far ahead of the present as the present is this
side where his parents began, and strive as industriously to win; then will the
future of our government be grand and glorious.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/fountain/history/1881/historyo/temperan77nms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/

File size: 3.9 Kb