History of Indiana
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PIONEER History of Indiana Including Stories, Incidents and Customs of the Early Settlers By COL. WILLIAM M. rOCKRUM Oakland City, Indiana PRESS OF OAKLAND CITY JOURNAL 1907 Entered according to an Act of Congreaa in the year 1907 By WILLIAM M. COCKRUM in the office of the Librarian of Congreaa at Wash ington, D. C. All right* reserved. WILLIAM M. COCKRUM TO Mr WIFE, Who for fifty years has been my faithful partner and true help mate, this book is affectionately dedicated by THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. In this volume many of the early happenings that oc curred during the settling of Indiana are given for the first time and if this opportunity were not improved, a large amount of interesting history of our state would be lost. The writer claims no special credit for securing this his-' tory as it has been a pleasing task, self assigned. If the reader shall gain as much satisfaction from reading this vol ume as the author has from gathering the data from which to compile it, he will be amply repaid for the few hours he is so engaged. It is very gratifying to be able to go back to the settling of Indiana and tell about the brave men and women who first invaded its wildness and from whom sprang the hardy and superior race of people in all stations of life that now live within its confines. For fifty years the data for this volume has been collect ing: Prom personal acquaintance with the pioneers, from a history of incidents transmitted from parents to children and from tradition that is accepted as reliable. From the above three sources it is believed that the truest history of the people of that early date, their manners and customs, the dangers they encountered from the Indians, the hunting for game and the many terrible encounters with sav age beasts, has been secured. In submitting this work to the public the author wishes here to acknowledge his indebtedness to those who aided him in his researches and made the existence of this volume pos sible. These favors have come from all parts of the country— from historical societies, public libraries and men in official positions. The names of those giving the most valued assist* ance is hereby given. 8 PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA. The City Library of Quebec and the librarian of Public Library of Montreal, Canada. The State Library of Indianapolis and the assistant li brarian, Miss Jennie M. Elrod. The Hon. Henry S. Lane, when U. S. Senator from In- . diana, for favors shown me in the office of Public Documents in Washington. The Hon. Oliver P. Morton for his aid in securing a per mit to examine official papers in the War Department. The Hon. Daniel S. Lamont, Ex-Secretary of War, for favors shown me in the War Department. Gen. Lew Wallace for valuable suggestions. Gen. Russel A. Alger, Ex-Secretary of War, for a copy of official documents. Hon. Benjamin Harrison, Ex-President of the United States, for the use of his notes on the unpublished history of Gen. William Henry Harrison. Gen. John I. Nealy for manuscript and data. Joseph P. McClure for incidents of pioneer history. David Johnston for the data for many hunting and excit ing experiences in the early days of Indiana. Woolsey Pride, Jr., for the history of his father's settling at White Oak Springs, near Petersburg, Indiana. Captain Graham, of hear Cory don, Indiana, for the data for many pioneer incidents. Hon. Conrad Baker, Ex-Governor of Indiana, for data. Gen. Joseph Lane, Ex-Governor of Oregon, for interest ing letters. Captain A. Miler for many interesting incidents. Col. James G. Jones and Hon. A. L. Robinson, of Evans- ville, Indiana, for letters corrdborating underground railroad incidents. John T. Hanover, of "Freedmans Bureau," for valuable papers in making underground railroad chapter. Dr. John W. Posey for data on the kidnapping of free negroes. Rev. D. B. Montgomery for especial favors in data and manuscripts of the pioneer days of Indiana. PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA. 9 Charles C. Waters for manuscript and data. Jacob W. Hargrove for manuscript. Delome's unpublished manuscript of his twenty-seven years among various Indian tribes in what is now the State of Indiana. John B. Dillon's "History of Indiana." John P. Dunn Jr.'s, "History of Indiana." President Theodore Roosevelt's "Winning of the West." Goodrich's "History of Indiana." Mrs. Ella C. Wheatley for valuable assistance in prepar ing this work. William McAdams' "Record of Ancient Races. Dr. J. R. Adams, of Petersburg, Indiana, for valuable data. Hon. Oliver H. Smith for valuable assistance. Beard's "Battle of Tippecanoe." Prof. W. D. Pence, Purdue University. Dr. George C. Mason for data. E. C. Farmer for data. Rev. W. P. Dearing for assistance. CRAWFORDSVILLK, INDIANA, April 12, 1902. COL. W. M. COCKRUM, Oakland City, Indiana. My dear Sir and Companion: Your letter of the 8th inst. is received. There is no rule in literary work that two want to follow in the same way. Writing on any subject, they might differ in their way of expression; but there is one rule, as you sug gest, that is safe for all to follow—have your data well pre pared and follow closely the subject. I am pleased to learn that you have been securing data for more than fifty years, and intend writing a Pioneer His tory of Southern Indiana, in which you will give the old heroes that drove the Indians away and blazed the pathway for our greatness, a deserving tribute for their noble work. Why not extend your boundary and include the State for your field of labor? Your lament that the opportunity for a finished education in your day was so limited that you doubt your ability to give the smooth and pleasing touch to your writing that is needed in a book to be read by the cultured people of this date, is not well taken. Let me suggest that your amanuensis may have all that is required, but .good horse sense is not in the market. Your friend, LEW WALLACE. TABLE OF CONTENTS. General Lew Wallace's Letter Page 10 CHAPTER I. French Colonization of Indiana. Explorations. Settlements. Trading Stations. Forts. Relations with Indians. Post Vincennes. Treatment of English Explorers. Pontiac Pages 16-23 CHAPTER II. GEORGE ROGERS CLARK AND THE ENGLISH. Treatment of Inhabitants of the Northwest by the English and Their Indian Allies. Clark's Resolve to Reduce the Forts. His Alliance With the French Inhabitants. Reduction of Fort Kaskaskia. Reduction of Post Vin cennes. Vincennes Recaptured by Lieutenant Governor Hamilton. Attempt of Hamilton to Dislodge Clark and Drive Him From the Territory. Capture of Francis Vigo. Clark's March . from Kaskaskia to Vincennes. Capture of Vincennes. Regaining the Confidence of the Indians. Later Achievements and Failures of Clark. Pages 24-68 CHAPTER III. THE TERRITORY CAPTURED BY GENERAL CLARK FROM 1779 TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. General Todd's Proclamation. The Court of Vincennes. Virginia Cedes Northwest Possessions to the United States. Town of Clarksville Laid Off. Deed of Cession. Ordinance of 1787 Pages 69-75 CHAPTER IV. The Northwest Territory Organized. Laws Governing It. 12 PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA. Governor St. Clair and the Indians. Militia Established and Civil and Military Officers Appointed. Laws Adopt ed at Vincennes. Defeat of St. Clair's Army by the Indians. General Wayne's Victory Near the Mautnee. First Territorial Legislature Pages 76-104 CHAPTER V. Prisoners Recaptured from the Indians. Terrible .Fighting Around the Place Where Owensville, Indiana, Now Stands Pages 105-129 CHAPTER VI. Organization of Indiana Territory. William Henry Har rison, Governor. General Gibson, Secretarj'. Territor ial Judges Appointed. Slavery Question. Laws of In denture. Specimens of Indenture Papers.. Pages 130-148 CHAPTER VII. Settlement of Southern Indiana. The Cruelty of the French Pages 149-152 CHAPTER VIII. The Pioneer. Character. Hardships. Routes Followed. Settlements. Food. Education. Customs. Thrilling and Amusing Incidents. Weddings. Work. Dress. Crude Manufactures Pages 153-196 CHAPTER IX. Land Claims and Territorial Affairs. Indian Depredations. Letters of Instruction and Orders to Captain William Hargrove. Burning of an Indian Town Near Owens ville. Division of Indiana Territory. Elections. Land Offices Pages 197-236 CHAPTER X. The Battle of Tippecanoe. Importance of the Victory. Cause of Battle. The Principal Contestants. Negotia tions for Peace. Collecting Army at Vincennes. Move ment of Army From Vincennes. Fort Harrison Estab lished, j Advance on Prophet's Town. Encampment. The Battle. Governor Harrison's Report of the Battle* PIONEER HISTORY OF INDIANA. 13 Incidents of the Battle. Resolutions Adopted by Terri torial Legislature. Roll of the Army that Fought at Tippecanoe Pages 237-308 CHAPTER XI. Indiana's Tribute to Kentucky Pages 309-310 CHAPTER XII, Further History of Tecumseh and the Prophet.. Pages 311-317 CHAPTER XIII. PIONEER INDUSTRIES. Crude Farming Implements. Cooking. Milling. Flax In dustry. Loom. Whipsaw. Shoe Making. Rope Walk. Bee Hunting. Witchcraft. / Pages 318-341 CHAPTER XIV. Amusements and Sports of the Early Pioneers.. Pages 343-344 CHAPTER XV. INDIANA DURING THE WAR OF 1812. Pigeon Roost Massacre. Attack on Fort Harrison. General Disturbance Among the Indians. General Hopkins Re port to the Governor. Expeditions Against the Indians. Delaware Indians Removed to Ohio. General Gibson's Message to House of Representatives in 1813. Territor ial Government Moved From Vincennes to Corydon. Miss McMurtne's Statement. Treaty of Friendship and Alliance With the Indians. General John Gibson. Gov ernor Thomas Posey. Logan, the Indian Chief. Terri tory Laid Off Into Five Districts. Judicial System Im proved.