Hamilton County IN Archives History - Books .....Preface And Chapter I - The First Settlers 1901
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Book Title: A History Pf The Formation, Settlement And Development Of Hamilton County, Indiana

A HISTORY OF THE FORMATION, SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF
HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA,
FROM THE YEAR 1818 TO THE CLOSE OF THE CIVIL WAR.
BY
AUGUSTUS PINCH SHIRTS.
1901.


COPYRIGHT 1901
BY
AUGUSTUS FINCH SHIRTS.





Preface.

   Primeval nature left upon rock and mountain and earth a trail so broad that
it may be easily followed by the scientists of this day. Even so, the original
forests of this country distinctively imprinted the soil so that, looking out
over the broad acres we may readily know where the walnut, the poplar, the burr
oak and the beech grew and flourished.

   But in the rising tide of civilization the trail of the pioneer is
obliterated; his stick-chimneyed cabin has vanished, and the plow has gone over
his farm yard grave. While the deeds of these ancestors were great, their trials
sore and their achievements many, yet necessarily they were recorded mainly in
the hearts of those who now slumber in the tomb.

   As one of the few remaining ones who shared the vicissitudes of early life in
this county I have written this book in the hope at least that the materials I
have gathered, and my own personal recollections, aided by many letters of the
times now in my possession may afford some basis for works of greater scope
which the future may produce.

                        AUGUSTUS FINCH SHIRTS. 
Noblesville, October, 1901.

HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY.
CHAPTER I. 
The First Settlers.

   The lands within the bounds of Hamilton County, Indiana, together with other
lands, were purchased by the Government from the Indians in 1818. At that time
there was but one white man permanently located within the present bounds of
Hamilton County. This man was William Conner. He was at that time living in a
double log cabin with his Indian wife. This cabin was situated four miles south
of the present site of Noblesville, on the east bank of White River. His place
was called a trading post. In one room of his cabin he kept beads, lead, flints,
steel knives, hatchets and such other goods and trinkets as were usually
necessary in such a place. These articles he exchanged for pelts taken by
Indians and brought to him for trade.

   Mr. Conner had a brother named John, then living on or near the present site
of Connersville. This brother was the proprietor of a trading post at that
point. Both of these men were taken by the Indians when young, and detained.
This explains their presence among the Indians and also the fact that they had
Indian wives. John Conner received his supplies from points along the Ohio
River, and William Conner received his supplies from his brother John.

   The furs purchased by William Conner from the Indians were dressed,
stretched, and then packed in proper form and sent by him by means of pack
horses to his brother, and in a like manner the goods furnished William by his
brother John were transported from John Conner's post to William Conner's post.
At that time there was no road leading from this point in any direction. There
was an Indian trail leading from the John Conner trading post to William
Conner's place by way of the present site of New Castle and Anderson to the
mouth of Stony Creek, thence down the river to William Conner's place. This was
the route over which the supplies mentioned were transported. The distance from
one post to the other was sixty miles over this trail and no settlement between
the points; all were forests, Indians and wild beasts. Soon after the purchase
of these lands by the Government the people began preparations for moving to the
lands called the "new purchase" for the purpose of selecting suitable homes to
be purchased by them when the lands could be bought.

   A white man, one Marshal lived with William Conner a short time before the
Conner Indians left. When John Conner's Indian children left, this man Marshal
went with them in the late fall of 1818. My father, George Shirts, moved his
family from or near the present site of Connersville, on pack horses, to the
William Conner place, in the month of March, 1819. My father made a trip from
the William Conner place on horseback to the John Conner trading post at
Connersville. On his return trip to this county he was joined by Charles Lacy,
who came with my father and camped upon an old Indian field, now known as the
Tunis Gerard farm. Mr. Lacy did not bring his family with him. He came for the
purpose of building a cabin and putting out a small field of corn. The
implements brought with him were carried on his horses, pack-saddle fashion.

   On the first day of April, 1819, Solomon Finch, his wife Sarah, his daughters
Rebeccah, Mary and Alma, and his sons James and Augustus, then living near the
present site of Connersville, left their home for the horse-shoe prairie, two
miles southwest of Noblesville. Their route was over the Indian trail, spoken of
above. With them came Israel Finch, Amasa Chapman, James Willason, William Bush
and two sons hardly grown. William Bush and Israel Finch were married men, but
left their families at their home until cabins could be built for them. Solomon
Finch was the only one among them who was accompanied by his family.
Wagons and teams were used; to these wagons two yoke of oxen were attached. But
very little household goods were bought. A few tools and implements, a few sacks
of meal, and the children, too small to walk, were all the wagons contained.
Some cattle, two horses, a few sheep and one or two brood sows comprised the
stock outfit. Aaron Finch drove the team. Solomon Finch and one or two of the
men with him were constantly, when moving, in front of the team, axes in hand,
cutting out a road and removing logs and brush.

   James Finch, son of Solomon Finch ,rode one of the horses. I don't know who
rode the other. Those on foot looked after the stock. The weather during their
journey was very inclement—raining or snowing almost every day. When they came
to Blue River, that stream was so badly swollen from recent rains that it could
not be forded, and they were compelled to bridge the stream. This required two
days. This trip to the mouth of Stony Creek occupied nineteen days. When they
came to White River they found it could not be forded, so they hunted up a canoe
or two and ferried their goods, including their wagons, over to the west side of
the river; and then and there the settlers went into camp.

   On the next morning the pioneers gathered up their stock, put their wagons
together, yoked their cattle and harnessed their horses and started in a
northwesterly course across the horseshoe prairie for the timber, when they came
to the first rise in the land above high-water mark. They went into camp and
decided that in that vicinity they would build their cabins and there make their
future homes. Before they had had time to build a cabin a severe storm of wind
and rain came upon them. A large limb from a tree near by was broken off and
fell upon a tub of dishes belonging to Mrs. Solomon Finch, breaking most of
them. This was a great loss, as they were all the dishes they had in the camp,
and none could be had nearer than Connersville, sixty miles from this point.

   After the storm had passed all hands began preparations for the erection of a
cabin for the family of Solomon Finch, a location having been determined upon.
Some of the men began clearing the ground; others began cutting logs, and others
began making the boards for the roof, loft and doors. The following is a list of
the tools used: One mattock, one cross-cut saw, one hand saw, two augers, one
maul, one iron and several wooden wedges, one broad axe, one chopping axe for
each man and one hatchet. The ground being cleared, the logs, boards and
puncheons for the floor being on the ground, they were ready to begin the
erection of the cabin. The size was usually 18x20 feet, story about eight feet.
The sills were placed in position; the corner men, as they were called, took
their positions, axe in hand. The first thing done was to make what was called a
saddle at each end of each sill. These sills were twenty feet long. The next
thing was to notch each end of the short log to fit the saddle on the sills and
place them in position; then another saddle for the next log, and so on up until
the main body of the building was up. The two last logs were on the narrow part
or end of the building, and were about three feet longer than the others and
were called eaves-bearers. These logs projected over the wall, and a hole was
bored in the end of each of them and a stout wooden pin driven into each. Just
inside of these pins the piece of timber called the eave log was placed. The log
for this place was split, the split side being next to the building, and against
this the first tier of boards rested. From the eave to the comb, ribs, as they
were called, were placed at proper distance, upon which the boards rested. These
ribs rested upon logs placed under them that constituted the gable. This done,
the first tier of boards was laid. Three pieces called knees were laid on the
boards, one at each end and one in the middle, the lower ends resting against
the eave log. Above the knee a pole called a weight pole was laid to hold the
boards down, and so on to the top. Joists inside were placed about three feet
apart and boards - for the loft placed on them. The door was of boards riven out
and fastened with wooden pins to cross pieces and hung on wooden hinges. Wooden
latch sleepers, from eight to ten feet apart, were placed to hold the puncheons
for the floor. A log was cut out for a window, some small sticks arranged across
the space; white paper, well oiled, was fastened to these sticks. A space in one
end of the house was cut out for a fire place and a frame of wood was placed
outside of this space. Against this frame the mud jams and back wall were placed
and. a hearth was made of the same material. This was topped out with a stick
chimney laid in clay. A suitable place in one corner of the cabin was found for
a bed. Holes were bored in the walls, one post set on the floor with holes bored
in it, connected with the walls by poles sharpened at each end; boards were laid
across the top for a cord and all were covered with grass. Two or three benches,
a half-dozen stools and a dresser for dishes were made by boring holes in the
wall, driving pins into them and laying boards across them, with chinking
between the logs daubed with mud, the cabin was complete and the Finch family
ready to move in.

   The attention of all was next directed to getting in a crop. Some went to
clearing, some to making rails and building fences, others to plowing and
planting. After the planting was done cabins were built for those who had left
their families behind, including Mr. Lacy. The pioneers brought meal enough with
them to last until their crops would mature. Some time in June or July they
found their meal had all spoiled. Connersville was the nearest place where meal
could be got; so they purchased a few bushels of corn from William Conner. They
secured a log about three feet long and about two feet across. They set this
block on end, cut a hole in the end, burned it out smooth and cleaned it out,
shelled a part of their corn, placed it in the hole in the log and procured a
piece of timber about three feet long and shaped it into a pestle. They then
pounded the corn until it became as fine as it could be made, and then run it
through a sieve, using the finest of it for bread and the balance or coarser
part they cooked and ate with milk. They soon became tired of the mortar and
pestle, so one of the pioneers, Mr. Bush, secured two good sized stones, faced
them, drilled holes through them and rigged them up in such manner to make meal
out of their corn. This corn, wild onions, greens, milk and butter, and such
wild game as came in their way, constituted their bill of fare. In this way,
however, they lived until some time in the fall of the year, when John Finch, a
brother of Solomon, came, bringing with him the families of those who had come
early and left their families behind, and also some other pioneers whose names I
do not now recollect. After the new arrivals had been domiciled, John Finch, who
was a fine mechanic, and a good blacksmith, with the help of Israel Finch, built
a horse mill. This mill was a small affair, but it answered the purpose for all
the new settlements, including those who settled at Indianapolis in 1820. This
mill was run by horse power, and all persons wanting to grind corn had to
furnish their own horses and pay six cents per bushel toll. But the settlers
were all glad to do this, for the reason that it was their only chance to get meal.

   Some time in August, 1819, probably the last of it, these pioneers were
attacked with chills and fever. This resulted mainly from the stagnant water in
the ponds. The water could not get away then as now. Men, women and children
were all attacked. There were not enough well persons to wait on the sick whilst
the chills and the fever which followed lasted. When we consider that it was
sixty miles to a place where medicine could be procured, and no one able to go
for them, we must admit the situation was serious; but there were roots and
barks with some medical properties that were well known to the settlers. These
were utilized as far as possible.

   Another difficulty was a lack of delicacies, such as our sick of the present
may have. True, their garden products were now ready for use, but they were
hardly palatable to the sick. However, they got along until cold weather, when
the sickness subsided. The settlers raised a fair crop of corn, but they were
not able to gather it. So it stood out all winter, except what they and their
new neighbors used. For what they sold they received fifty cents per bushel in
the field.

   Indians were plenty all around them, but they were friendly and came with
baskets, moccasins, dressed deer skins and venison to sell. As the settlers had
some money, they bought a sufficient quantity of the dressed deer skins to make
moccasins for all, both great and small, and to make leather breeches for such
of them as did not own sheep. The hand cord, the spinning wheel and loom, which
by this time had been provided, furnished woolen clothes for those who had
brought sheep, the most of them, however, wearing the buckskin breeches, and
jackets of the same material.

   My father was expert in dressing deer skins, and he taught the settlers the
art. The process is as follows: The deer skin with hair on, after all flesh has
been removed, was placed in weak lye at intervals until the hair would slip,
then the hair was removed. A sufficient amount of brains of animals was then
secured and soaked in water until a liquid was formed similar to the liquid
extracted from oak bark. This liquid was then placed in a trough and the skins
placed in it. From time to time the skins were drawn out and rubbed dry, or
nearly so, and this process was repeated until the skin became perfectly
pliable, and was considered finished.

   After this the settlers bought no more dressed deer skins from the Indians.

   A man by the name of Baxter came to this settlement in 1820; he built his
cabin south of the road running east and west from the old mill, in the fall of
1821. This man Baxter sowed the first wheat ever sowed by white people in this
county.

   The first graveyard, used exclusively by white people, is situated a little
north and west of the point where Solomon Finch's cabin was built. Two of Curtis
Mallory's children were buried there, two Finches, one Chapman and one
Willason—this is all the names I can recall. Coffins were made from walnut
timber, split as fine as could well be done. The broad-axe was used to dress the
timbers, and they were pinned together with wooden pins. Some small trees
indicate the location of this graveyard, south of this settlement.

   A spring branch came from the west, through the land now owned by Peter
Paulsell and Mr. Voss, and flowed into the river. North of this branch, on the
river bank, was an Indian graveyard, and south, near the Gerard farm, was an
Indian village. At one time, it was said, this village was destroyed by General
Harrison and his men in one of his raids asrainst the Indians.

   When the Government bought this land, in 1818, the contract to survey it was
let to a man by the name of Wallace. Wallace sub-let the work to McLaughlin,
and the Government gave notice that as soon as the survey was completed the land
would be put upon the market. There was no homestead law then, but there was an
understanding among pioneers that where a bona fide settler selected a piece of
land and improved it he would have the right to enter it. This was the idea and
intent of the pioneers of whom we have been writing. These lands were placed on
the market in 1822. The land office was at Brookville, Ind. John Conner lived at
Connersville and was wealthy. He secured the numbers of all the lands selected
and improved by these pioneers, except Lacy and Willason, and entered all of it.
The first the settlers knew of this was notice by Conner for them to vacate.
They had cleared, fenced and broken about 300 acres of land, and it is said that
John Conner refused to pay for any of the improvements.

   Three incidents connected with the trip of the pioneers from near
Connersville to the mouth of Stony Creek are worth relating. Before starting out
one of the men was selected, whose duty it was to see that fire would be on hand
at the time of going into camp each day. Israel Finch was selected and directed
to attend to the matter. It is recorded that he carried fire from day to day in
a kettle.

   When the pioneers arrived at the present site of Anderson they found the
great Indian chief, Anderson, encamped there with a part of his tribe, but as
they were friendly the pioneers had no fear. Amos Chapman, one of the pioneers,
was the owner of a fife and could play well. So, after supper, Chapman proceeded
to furnish music. This pleased the Indians so well that they proposed a dance.
Anderson's wife was present with her baby boy, and she decided that her boy
should do the dancing. Prior to this time some person had cut a large tree,
leaving the stump smooth. The Indian boy was placed upon this stump. Chapman
furnished the music and the Indian boy did the dancing.

   One morning James G. Finch, son of Solomon Finch, was placed upon a gray pony
and told to ride it that day. Soon after starting a snow storm came upon him.
The boy was only ten years old and but thinly clad. He was soon suffering
severely and when discovered was in a bad condition. He was taken into a wagon
and cared for and soon recovered. This same boy, now a man past ninety years of
age, lives in Kansas and is the only survivor of that pioneer band.

   I have related the manner in which the pioneers secured their winter wear,
but not their summer clothing. It was soon discovered that nettles grew in great
abundance in the river and creek bottoms and that the lint on them was equal to
flax or hemp. So they cut and cured the nettles just as they would flax. They
hackled, broke and cleaned it in the same way. The spinning and weaving followed
in the usual way, so that they did not lack for summer wear until flax could be
raised.

   Early in 1820 Mr. Audrick came to the settlement and built a cabin. James
Wilson came about the same time, but he built his cabin on the east side of the
river just below the mouth of Stony Creek. About the fourth of May, 1820, Curtis
Mallory came to the settlement. In the spring of 1820 John and Israel Finch
started a blacksmith shop. The settlement had now assumed considerable
proportions and they proposed raising corn on the prairie, and improvements
generally began to be made. By this time iron and steel had been brought from
Connersville. They made plow shares, fluke shovels, shovel plows, steel hoes,
knives, hatchets, axes and many other things. Evidences of this industry can be
found there today.

   The first school taught in Hamilton county to white children was taught this
year by Sarah Finch in a small cabin, built for that purpose near the
settlement, and in this house Curtis Mallory organized the first Sunday-school.
The first sermon preached to white settlers was preached this year at the house
of John Finch, and the services were afterwards had at long intervals as long as
the settlement remained in this condition. The Fourth of July was celebrated
this year by the reading of the Declaration of Independence, making speeches and
the singing of patriotic songs. When this was over a dance was proposed. So all
hands went to work with a will, building a bower of bushes and clearing the
ground, under the bower, of all obstructions, and thereupon the dance was
enjoyed by all.

   The settlers raised a fine crop this year. One or two persons settled at
Strawtown in 1820 and a great many at Indianapolis, so they found sale for their
crop at fair prices. When the Indians sold their land, they reserved the right
to occupy it for three years. Many of them, including the wife and children of
William Conner, left in 1820, and in December of that year William Conner and
Eliza Chapman were married. This was the first marriage of white people in this
settlement.

   In the early spring of 1821 a man by the name of Foster built a mill called a
corn cracker, on the north bank of Stony Creek, a few rods below what is known
as the Dill mill dam, and built a cabin on the hill on the south side of the
creek. This was the first water mill built in Hamilton county, and although a
small affair, was patronized in 1821 by the people of Indianapolis, as well as
the settlers of Hamilton county.

   Soon after the purchase by John Conner, from the Government, of the lands
described above, he let the contract for the digging of a mill race, and the
construction of a dam across White River, and employed all of the men in the
neighborhood who were willing to work for him, in getting out timber for a large
grist mill and saw mill. He also moved his family into one of the cabins
heretofore mentioned. He also brought from the East skilled workmen, such as
millwrights and carpenters, and put them to work on this mill.

   The settlement up to this time had not been increasing in number very fast.
People had been waiting for the land to come upon the market. The pioneers were
moving along in the old routes—some of them wearing their moccasins and some
their buckskin breeches. A few of them had begun to tan cow hides and hog skins
by the oak bark process. This was done by securing a large trough, bark was
stripped from oak trees, water put into the trough, skins soaked, hair taken
off, and the skins then laid in the water, with a layer of bark pounded as fine
as it could be, between each piece of hide. This bark was replaced by fresh bark
at intervals of about four weeks until the hides were tanned. This changing
process, however, never occurred in the winter season. In this way the first
leather ever made by actual settlers in Hamilton County was made in this first
settlement.

   The living of the pioneers at this time was somewhat improved. They relied
upon corn for bread, wild game and fish for meat and on butter, milk and
vegetables.

   About this time Josiah F. Polk, a lawyer from the East, came to this
settlement, or rather to the trading post, kept by William Conner. He and Mr.
Conner concluded that the county seat would be located at or near the present
site of the city of Noblesville. So they entered all of the land necessary for
such location, in order that they would be in a condition to offer inducements
by way of donations for public buildings and the like. Subsequent events proved
the correctness of their views.

   At this time the nearest cabin to the present site of Noblesville was the
cabin of James Willason, situated at the mouth of Stony Creek, one mile south.
During the latter part of this year many persons from the East came here for the
purpose of examining into the condition of the country, quality of the land, and
future prospects, with the view of entering the land, if conditions were favorable.



Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF THE FORMATION, SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF
HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA,
FROM THE YEAR 1818 TO THE CLOSE OF THE CIVIL WAR.
BY
AUGUSTUS PINCH SHIRTS.
1901.

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