Pioneer Founders of Indiana 2014
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The Society of Indiana Pioneers "To Honor the Memory and the Work of the Pioneers of Indiana" Pioneer Founders of Indiana 2014 The Society of Indiana Pioneers is seeking to identify Indiana Pioneers to recognize and honor their efforts in building early Indiana foundations. Each year, 15-20 counties are to be selected for honoring pioneers at each annual meeting. The task of covering all 92 counties will be completed by 2016, the year we celebrate the centennial of the founding of the Society of Indiana Pioneers. For 2014, the Indiana counties include the following: Adams, Decatur, Fountain, Grant, Jasper, Jay, Jennings, LaGrange, Marion Martin, Owen, Pulaski, Ripley, Spencer, Steuben, Vermillion, Wabash, Warrick Office: 140 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2207 (317) 233-6588 www.indianapioneers.org [email protected] The Pioneer Founders of Indiana Program 2014 “To honor the memory and the work of the pioneers of Indiana” has been the purpose and motto of The Society of Indiana Pioneers from the very beginning. In fact, these words compose the second article of our Articles of Association. We carry out this mission of the Society in three distinct ways: 1.) we maintain a rich Pioneer Ancestor Database of proven ancestors of members across one hundred years; 2.) Spring and Fall Hoosier Heritage Pilgrimages to significant historic and cultural sites across Indiana; and 3.) educational initiatives, led by graduate fellowships in pioneer Indiana history at the master’s thesis and doctoral dissertation levels. To commemorate the Society’s centennial and the state’s bicentennial in 2016, the Society is doing something new and dipping its toes in the world of publishing. We will publish two books – one piece of historical fiction about the pioneer period, Deep Forest, with its meticulous research by former Pioneers president Emsley Johnson, Sr., and this Pioneer Founders of Indiana project, a non-fiction work that shines a light on everyday pioneers from all 92 counties. We invited Hoosiers in Indiana and beyond to submit sketches of pioneers they wished to recognize. What a wonderful way to carry out our purpose embodied in our motto, which is really all about our preserving the history of Indiana’s pioneer period. The Society of Indiana Pioneers membership has a deep and long literary tradition. Two Honorary Members – Dr. Donald F. Carmony and Dr. James H. Madison – have written extensively about the history of Indiana, including the pioneer period. Carmony penned the seminal Indiana, 1816-1850: The Pioneer Era, while Madison has written The Indiana Way: A State History and, most recently, Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana. Among our regular Pioneers members over the decades, Eli Lilly wrote Prehistoric Antiquities of Indiana; Mary Quick Burnet Art and Artists of Indiana; Theodore L. Steele House of the Singing Winds: The Life and Work of T.C. Steele about his Hoosier Group artist grandfather; and Dr. Ralph D. Gray has written about topics as diverse as automotive pioneer Elwood Haynes to famous Hoosier author Meredith Nicholson. It is within this literary tradition of the Society that we launched the Pioneer Founders of Indiana project in 2010, with democratic outreach to Hoosiers everywhere. It has been a labor of love for our pioneer heritage, begun under the sponsorship of past Society presidents Carolyn Rose and Stanley Evans. Thus, it is our pleasure to present this fifth, and final, installment of the Pioneer Founders of Indiana series. James P. Fadely, Ph.D. President The Society of Indiana Pioneers Page 2 of 146 A Hoosier Saga 1813-1913 by Alpha Loretta Ward (Mrs. Bert) Shriner Read at the Lafuze Family Centennial Held at the Union County Fairground Near Liberty, Indiana 21 August 1913 From the dark woods of Pennsylvania Then a merry group of laughing girls Where the red men caught wild game, With rosy cheeks and golden curls; Near the source of the Monongahela Of this group of three, first was Jane; Two precious tiny babies came. Lydia and Mary in quick succession came. The boy, A Lafuze, called Samuel Samuel chip off the old block, came on Was as brave a child as e’er was born; And was quickly followed by the stalwart John The little girl was Eleanor Harper Then Eleanor and Margaret fine, As Fair, and sweet, as she was forlorn Which made the spirited group of nine. All of which born had been Of a father’s love and protecting care. In the Keystone State e’er 1810. For both fathers slept in patriots graves, After Ohio was admitted as a state Shot down, in defense of their country, And was formed the territory Indiana, By wicked Tories and hireling knaves. They decided to go westward Leave the old state of Pennsylvania The mothers thus left to care for their babes Were brave and true, and they, by nature How should they go? Nothing but the Indian trail In strength of body and mind and soul, In Place of highways, in that day; Ranked above the common stature. No railroads, steamboats or canals, Just the billowy streams and blazed way. So these patient, loving mothers Reared their children with great care, “But we will find a way, or rather make it, Saw their Samuel to strong manhood There is a river,” the father said, And sweet Eleanor grow more fair. “The oak, the flax, and the pitch of the fir tree” Then to the forest, the way he led. Then it was that old Cupid Always ready with love’s darts, First selecting the strong wood of the forest, With the arrow from his quiver Which happened to be the straight columned oak, Pierced their young and tender hearts. They at once began at hard earnest labor Of felling these trees, with stroke upon stroke. So that in Seventeen Hundred and Ninety Five Eleanor Harper for woe or weal Of their great, broad, shining axes, United her life with that of Samuel Which by strong, brawny arms were wielded To which, of approval, God set his seal. Sending shivers through every fiber, until the trunks With all their quivering branches yielded A fair and numerous progeny came Then into strong beams and great thick boards. To this happy couple in course of time Of honest, vigorous and upright souls, This timber they hewed, split and planed; Which around them, like olive plants, did twine. And with chisel, mallet, saw and auger, First, William came in Seventeen Hundred and Ninety A strong and ponderous flat boat made Six They pitched it without and within with pitch Who gladdened their hearts with boyish tricks; In order to make it water tight, With violet eyes and sunny hair, Then with the neighbor’s aid they launched it. Next came Elizabeth, yet more fair. And found it in every way to be all right. To adorn the old cabin with the rare grace By her sweet ways and smiling face Then came the day for moving Yes, Elizabeth, born a wildwood flower And from early dawn ‘till dark, Who, their hearts made happy every hour. They were transferring their belongings Thus getting ready to embark. Page 3 of 146 When all was aboard and in order, Now this numerous family, which numbered, And safely arranged within the boat, A full baker’s dozen, thirteen, ‘Mid farewells salutes of friends and neighbors, To feed, clothe and care for, in our day The river boat began to float. Would be a great undertaking, I ween. In a few days they entered the swift Ohio But our grandparents did it successfully, And following the windings adown the stream They raised, spun and wove for the household, With its wooded hills all lit by sun and moon Then cut and made garments and bedclothes Made their journey like a pleasant dream. Which were to shield and protect from the cold. With naught to mar their happiness, For their food, parched corn was used, On they swept for days and nights Or, instead cornmeal, ground at the mill, When one evening, as dark came on, Which took three days ride on horseback, They saw through the trees the glimmer of lights. To get twenty miles away, at old Brookville. Then they knew the rest of the journey This with wild game form the forest, On the river, would be short Also wild berries and nuts For they were nearing the little village Milk, eggs and products from the garden, Of Columbia, their destined port. Amply supplied all their wants. Here they moored their craft and disembarked And now as to the pioneer religion, And move into a temporary ??chal’e; When the work and chores were all done for the night, Then the father pushed o’er the wooded hills, Their meetings were first in the homes, And crossed the fertile Miami valley. And always held at early candle light. On into the territory of Indiana, Then in the barns, log school houses and churches In search on the earth of some garden spot, And when the Sabbath day came around Until he reached the Whitewater basin, Conscience was the bell that chimed And here he decided they’d cast their lot. And all in their accustomed seats were found. So, two miles, northeast of Liberty, For those who were unable to walk the distance In the wilderness, and here alone, The horses, bridled and saddled were led to the stile With an axe to hew, and gun to defend And the old trail down Bear Creek was followed He began to build his cabin home. To the Silver Creek Church, away two miles. He cleared a space to build his cabin, The children were reared religiously And when it was ready with strong puncheon floor, They were taught to love and fear their God Wide fire-place and huge outside chimney, While the government at home and school A narrow greased window and just one door Was on the plan to birch and hazel rod.