Class _L5J3l2^^ Copyright N^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. HISTORY i>T O F W A R R I C K AND ITS PROMINENT PEOPLE From the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Interesting- Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. '^Uvo-v-. LLUSTRATED NINETEEN HUNDRED AND NINE CRESCENT PUBLICATION COMPANY '^9 1 B o o n \ i 1 e , Indiana b V \H^ ^ TO T TI A T () X E Whose encouragenienl aiul aid resulted in this work THIS V O L U iM E is (iratefullv Dech'iated. LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two COBies Received MAY 17 1909 Copyriunt tntry g COPYRIGHT 1909 NO CLASS A[ ^ XXc. BY MONTE M. KATTERJOHf PREFACE. Tliis volume is doubtless one with many faults, for no history extant is free from errors. Great care was taken in preparing the matter found herein, and all discrepancies were eradicated. I n- just criticism cannot rectify the errors that are sure to apjiear, and the author feels assured that all thoughtful jjeople will recognize and a])preciate the undertaking, also realize that a i)ublic benefit has been accomplished. The biographical sectioii is devoted to the record of men, living and dead. If it is incomplete, the fault cannot be justly attributed to the author. Many people were solicited, but on mone- tary grounds refused to support the publication. Those who read this book, and who know what constitutes a true history, will agree with the author that this volume is sujierior to any ever published in this county, inasmuch as its fine illustra- tions are a single history within themselves. Submitted to the people of Warrick County by MONTE M. KATTERJOHN. A|)iil, 1909. «£L.C^_ A Iron ^ CO o X ts o O O > Eh 2 D O o « o < Indian Traditions—Murder of Athe Meeks—The last of the Shawnees 1ESS tlian one hundred years ago the territory that now comprises[]Warrick eounty was but a boundless field of trees, with here and there only a little path, beaten by wild animals, wending its way through the thick forest to some small stream ^ or watering place. This whole section of country was then a wilderness, in which the red man reigned supreme, and doubtless the wigwams of the savages were located where what is now the streets of the capital of Warrick county. One hundred years ago the rays of civilization had not i>enetrated oiu' forest and tlie advent of tiie white man was in the future. Scattered along the banks of the Ohio river and in the interior of the now Warrick county were the rustic, artless wigwams of the savages. These Indians were principally Shawnees. Situated nt^ar the mouth of Cyjiress creek, on the banks of the Ohio, was an Indian village, \\hich, for many miles arountl, was their central point. Tradition says that this village was composed of some hundred wigwams and six hundred braves with their families, but its sudden disappearance upon the advent of the white man permits little to be known regarding it. The Indians that inhaliited this section of country were generally friendly and peaceable. While they had a few disturbances, the only white man known to have been cruelly murdered by them in this county was a farmer named Athe Meeks. On the banks of Pigeon creek, a short distance from where the iron bridge now stands, lived Settedown, Chief of the Shawnees, with his squaw and only son. Old Settedown was a large man and possessed great muscular strength. He preferred to live in sohtude and had erected his wigwam remote from the village of his tribe. He displayed remarkable skill at the Indian's shooting matches and was always willing to participate in the amusements of the wliite man. Tradition claims he was wealthy and owned many horses and much cattle besides an extensive farm, the eastern boundary of which is now Second street in Boonville. Athe Meeks was an old squatter who made a Hving for his large family by fishing, trap- ping and hunting. Meeks looked vipon Chief Settedown as a nuisance and the redskin retali- ated by looking upon Meeks as a trespasser. The Indian accused Meeks of molesting his traps and fishing nets, and Settedown was accused of stealing the squatter's pigs. The hatred be- came bitter and Settedown plotted for vengeance. Early one morning in May, 1811, several of Settedown's warriors led by "Big Bones" went to the cabin of ISIeeks, there surrounded it and patiently awaited the time when they might j)ioceed upon their purpose. The son of old man Meeks was the first to come outside the cabin and was attacked by the Indians, being shot through the wrist and severely tomahawked. Hearing the noise outside of the cabin the old squatter rushed outside only to be shot dead by "Big Bones." William Meeks who had surmised the whole affair rushed from the cabin and repaid "Big Bones" by shooting him and then started out in pursuit of the other redskins who had not taken to flight. The younger Meeks had crawled to a place of safety in the forest and remained there for several hours after William Meeks had returned to the cabin to fortify it. The boily of the older INIeeks had been dragged into the house and placet! under a bed. By crawling with his knees and elbows the younger Meeks made his way to the cabin and secured admission. As soon as news reached the white settlement at French Island a band of settlers started out for the Indian village to secure justice for the recent outrage perpetrated. Tradition has Warrick and Its Prominent People. two entire! V (lifFereiit stories of tlie affair from here to tlie death of Chief Settedown. Arriviiif^ at the Indian caini) the men found it deserted, ei<;;lit hoiii.s or more having elapsed since the murder and tlie Indians hud sufficient time to f^et safely Ijeyond the reach of their pur- suers. However, the party secreted themselves in auil)ush surioundinf? the deserted cam]) to watch for the return of the Indians. \\ nijflitfall an Indian, wl.o had Keen out huntin<r for two or three days, retiu'ne<l to the camp. He liad not been aware of what had been done in his ali- .sence and upon beholdin<j the lonely and deserted camp stood motioide.ss with astonishment for several moments. He was surjirised l)y the whites and taken a prisoner. He was placed in a log cabin for kee|)ing over the night but was found dead the following morning, and Uiiliam Meeks is the one su])posed to have killed him. A small oi)ening, just large enough to STREET SCENE IN BOONVILLE IN 1860 allow one to thru.st the nui/.zle of a mu.sket was in one side of the cabin, and it was in this manner that the Indian was killed. This is one .story of the affair. 'I'lie other is that the |)arty of men arrived at the .settlement and found Chief Settedown and son, captured them and placed them in the cabin; that Settedown was killed in the man- nt-r described ai)ove and that tlie redskin's son was j)ermitted to return to his mother. Tlie Shawnees were never heard of again in this locality. The son of old Settedown, it is claimed joined the forces of old Tecmn.seh and the IVophet and were doubtless participants in the war of 1812. "Hig Hones" l)efore dying, after l)eing shot by William Meeks, crawled to the fork of an old tree where he died. A year later his bones were found by a meml)er of the Meeks family and his skidl was used as a drinking cuj) and his other bones as mallets and hammers. Warrick and Its Prominent People. Reduction of Territory — Naming the County Ratliff Boon, first Representative—John Sprinkle, first settler Darlington made the Capital ""Baily's Roost.'' Warrick county is situated in the soutliwestern part of Imiiaiia, and is hounded on the east l)y Ijittle Pigeon creek and Spencer county, on the west by Vanderburgh, on the north by Pike and Gibson, on the south by the Ohio river. Its area is about 388 square miles, or '•248,3'-20 acres. This is tlie Warric-k county of today. The Warrick county of nearly a hundred years ago was as follows: "All that territory whic'h lies south of a line commencing at a point on the Wabash river at the southwest corner of Gibson county, and running east to the western OLD WARRICK COUNTY COURT HOUSE RAZED IN 1904 line of Harrison comity, thence south to the Ohio river." -I'liis included all the territory which now comprises the counties of Pose}', Vanderburgh, W^arrick, Spencer, Perry and a portion of Crawford. The rise and decline of W'arrick county follow in quick succes.sion. Scarcely had it risen as the pioneer county of Indiana Territory ere the decline of its dominions was marked by the o gaiiization of a county on the east, one on the west, and so Oii, reducing its territory on all sides, until Warrick with its limits as above stated is left. The county was named in honor of Captain Jacob Warrick, who was killed in the mem- orable battle at Tippecanoe. Little is known regarding the life of Warrick, except that he was one of the heroes at Tijipecanoe, where he distinguished himself by his bravery. Gen. William H. Harrison, who was a personal friend of Warrick's, has said the following in reference to his death: "Warrick was shot immediately through the body.