HARRISON COUNTY,
INDIANA'S BIRTHPLACE
EARLY
SETTLEMENT
The first known settlement by white men in Harrison County, Indiana,
was in the year 1792, when some members of the Pennington family
settled near Lanesville. Later, when the territory now comprising the
State of Indiana was erected into a territory, adventurers and pioneers
migrated from the eastern states by means of horses, wagons, on foot
and floated down the beautiful Ohio River in search of home and fortune
in that vast wilderness which was then "the unknown west."
One of the most prominent men whose acquaintance extended into Harrison
County, in the early days, was the noted pioneer, Daniel Boone. Daniel
Boone frequently made hunting and exploring trips into the county,
remaining for weeks among relatives and friends. In that day his
acquaintance was co-extensive with the entire county. A few years ago
there was a tree still standing in the eastern part of Posey Township
upon which was carved certain characters pointing to the location of a
supposed "gold mine" found by Daniel Boone, but investigation developed
the fact that the deposit which Boone thought was gold was the common
iron mineral known as "fool's gold."
Squire Boone: One of the most prominent men in Indiana, in his day, was
Squire Boone, who was a brother of Daniel Boone. In 1802, Squire Boone,
with his sons, Isaiah, Enoch, Moses and Jonathan, located on a claim in
Grassy Valley, in Heth Township, about six miles from the Ohio River.
The Bible names given to his sons are indicative of his religious turn
of mind and his sons all grew up to become useful, patriotic citizens.
Squire Boone was an eccentric character, but possessed many excellent
and admirable qualities and was a man of sterling worth. Old settlers
have often found trees in the southern part of the county, upon which
were carved, with a knife, records of his prowess as a hunter, such as
"A bear killed here October i6th, 1802, by Squire Boone," which
inscription is said to have stood for many years on an old beach tree
in Boone Township. In 1803, Squire Boone is said to have engaged in a
hand to hand contest with an Indian, in which the Indian was killed.
This was at a point near Carter's School House in Taylor Township. On
one of his hunting expeditions, Squire Boone discovered a cave near
Buck Creek in Heth Township. At a later time he escaped, by hiding in
this cave, when being pursued by hostile Indians." This cave became one
of his favorite resorts and many figures of birds, beasts, Bible
quotations, "etc., are found on the rocks of its walls where they were
engraved by the hand of Squire Boone. Two of the lines carved in the
face of a large stone are as follows:
"Here I sit and sing my soul's salvation,
And bless the God of my creation."
This old hunter had a design of building a mill of singular
workmanship, on Buck Creek, and had prepared a large quantity of
stones, engraved with many .curious devices and tokens such as fishes,
birds, animals and other inscriptions, to be placed in the building. He
died without accomplishing this work, however, a mill was erected by
his son, Moses Boone, near the spot selected by his father. Squire
Boone was buried, at his own request, in the cave which he had
discovered, and here rested the remains of the noble old pioneer until
his bones were carried away by animals and relic hunters and today,
nothing remains but the inscriptions engraved in the walls of the cave,
by his own hands.
John Ripperdan: In 1807, John Ripperdan came 'from Danville, Kentucky,
and settled in Ripperdan's Valley. Although much of the land in this
valley has been cultivated for more than a hundred years, it is .one
'of the most fertile spots in Harrison County.
Ephriam Fleshman: In 1807, Ephriam Fleshman .came to Harrison County
and settled in Heth Township. He was the first white man to die in the
county. His remains lie in Heth Township.
John Frank moved from Salisbury, North Carolina, to Heth Township, in
1808. He brought with him a large quantity of apple, pear and peach
seeds from which many of the first orchards in the county were grown.
Jacob Lopp came in the same year.
John Simler came to the county in 1807 and a short time after his
arrival he built a wolf pen or trap at Wolf Knob which derived its name
from the large number of wolves that congregated there. The hides of
the wolves were tanned and the leather made therefrom was put to many
uses by the settlers.
Daniel Cunningham crossed the Ohio River from Brandenburg, Kentucky, in
1800. He lived on the Kentucky side of the river but cleared and
cultivated a piece of land on the Indiana side where the Town of Morvin
was afterward laid out.
Edward Smith settled on the land now owned by the Harrison County
Agricultural Society, near Corydon, in 1806. Mr. Smith was born in
England and came to America in 1774, as a British soldier. He later
deserted and came to Harrison county and erected his cabin on a knoll
near the Fairground Spring. Smith died at Corydon in 1828, and while he
was buried on the hill south of Corydon the exact spot cannot be
located. It is not certain that he ever joined the American Army but
the Daughters of the Revolution have erected a monument to his memory.
This was placed in the cemetery at Mt. Zion, near Mauckport, where his
wife lies.
John Tipton settled near Brinley's Ferry on the Ohio River in 1807. At
the first election under the State Constitution he was elected sheriff
of Harrison county, and the records show that at the July term of
court, 1817, he and his deputy, Hiram C. Boone, were fined one dollar
for failing to maintain order in the court room. Tipton served with
Spencer's "Yellow Jackets" at the battle of Tippecanoe. After the
battle an election for officers was held and Tipton was elected Captain
of the company. He was promoted until he became a Brigadier General in
the service of the state,and donated to the state the Tippecanoe Battle
ground. He died at Logansport, April 7th, 1839, and was buried with
military honors.
Spier Spencer came from Kentucky to Vincennes and from there he removed
to Cory don in 1809, coming down the Wabash River and up the Ohio to
Morvin, and thence overland to Corydon. He organized a military company
called the "Yellow Jackets" for the campaign against the Indians which
ended with the Battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811. Captain Spencer
was seriously wounded during the battle and' as he was being carried
from the field a second shot ended his life. He was the first sheriff
of Harrison County and served in that office from 1809 to 1811. For
many years he conducted a hotel in a large log house on Oak Street in
Corydon. After his death this business was continued by his widow until
her marriage to William Boone after which they conducted the famous
"Billy Boone Tavern."
Patrick Shields was born in Virginia in 1773. In 1800 he came to
Kentucky and in the spring of 1805 he came to Indiana and settled on
the banks of the Ohio River about two miles below New Albany. In a
short time the high water drove him from his home and he went
westwardly and built a cabin on the banks of Indian Creek near where
the Town of .Crandall now stands. Mr. Shields was one of the first
judges of the Court of Common Pleas.
Robert Crosier, Dr. Adam Douglas, Anthony Dodd and wife, Adam Dodd and
twenty-three other members of their families came from New York and
settled in Boone Township on the 3rd day of June, 1816. Mr. Crosier
bought a thousand acres of land in that township from the government
for which he paid twelve and one-half and twenty-five cents per acre.
Alexander Hockaday was born in Danville, Kentucky, and moved to Indiana
on the knobs just below New Albany when a young man. In 1822 he settled
in Blue River Township in Harrison County where he started a blacksmith
shop. He died in 1894 at the age of one hundred and one years.
Miss Sarah Davis, was born in Springfield, Kentucky, September 5, 1807.
She came with her parents, to Harrison County, in 1819. In 1825 she was
married to William Gresham with whom she lived near Lanesville until
January, 1834, when Mr. Gresham was killed while performing his duties
as sheriff of the "county. She was afterward married to Nathan Runiley.
She was the mother of Colonel Benjamin Gresham, Colonel William Gresham
and General Walter Quinton .Gresham. She died March 6, 1906, in the
house "where she had lived since 1825.
Colonel Lewis Jordan was born in Virginia, March 14, 1792. In 1819 he
came to Harrison County and settled three miles south of Corydon. In
1828 he moved to Corydon and started a tannery. Colonel Jordon held
commissions in the Indiana Militia bearing the signatures of six
Indiana Governors commencing with Jonathan Jennings in 1822, and ending
with O. P. Morton in 1861.
John Mathes came to Harrison County with his parents from Kentucky,
while Indiana was still a territory. He served with distinction as
State Senator and Representative and was one of the members of the
Constitutional Convention of 1850.
Colonel J. J. Lehmanosky, of the Ninth Polish Lancers of the Army of
France, came to Harrison County and settled two and one-half miles west
of Corydon, in 1833. He was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1773, but left
his native country and went to France. He drifted into the army and was
identified with Napoleon Bonaparte's fortunes until the the Battle of
Waterloo put an end to his commander's career. Together with many other
officers he was imprisoned, but made his escape and eventually found
his way to America.
Henry Funk was born in the southern part of Harrison County November
20, 1809, where his parents had settled a short time before. He is
still living near Elizabeth, on a farm where he has lived since 1832.
When a boy Mr. Funk lived near Corydon and sold fruit and hazel nuts to
the members of the legislatures that were held at Corydon when the
capital was there.
Daniel McRae came to Harrison County in 1814 and settled on the land
where New Middletown now stands.
Robert Denbo settled a short distance south of Corydon, in 1807.
Richard McMahon and Joseph McMahon settled in the same neighborhood in
1808.
James Trotter was born in Armaugh County, Ireland, January 1st, 1811.
He emigrated to Baltimore with his parents in 1816, and in 1826, he
came to Harrison county where he settled near Lopp's Landing.
William M. Saffer was born in Virginia, in 1796, and came to Harrison
County with his parents when a small boy. In 1853, he was elected to
the Legislature where he was very active in behalf of state-wide
prohibition. He was the "temperance candidate" for Governor before the
convention which nominated A. P. Willard. Mr. Saffer was beaten one
vote and Mr. Willard was afterward elected Governor. He died April
a7th, 1869.
Daniel Dean settled about a mile east of where Lanesville now stands,
in 1801.
Other stalwart pioneers who assisted in opening up this unexplored
wilderness to civilization were R. M. Heth, who bought the claim and
cabin of Squire Boone; William Applegate, who came from Pennsylvania;
Henry Watson came from Kentucky; Frederick Mauck came from Virginia,
and bought the cabin of some earlier" settler where the town of
Mauckport now stands. It was he who established the first regular ferry
between Kentucky and Harrison county, operating for a number of years
between Mauckport and Brandenburg. Others were Isom Stroud, Teeson
Byrn, Daniel Stout, Samuel Pfrimmer, David Floyd, Thomas Wilson, Mr.
Westfall and James Samuels. It is said that James Samuels planted the
first orchard in Harrison county.
The mills originally used for "cracking corn" in Harrison county, were
known as "horse mills." The first mill to be propelled by water power
was built by Moses Boone, on Buck Creek, about four miles from the Ohio
River, in 1806. In the fall of the same year Harvey Heth erected a
second mill on Buck Creek about a mile above Boone's mill. The next
year Gov. Wm. H. Harrison built a water power mill at Wilson's Spring
on Blue River. For several years the settlers of Harrison county went
to Shepherdsville, Kentucky, for their provisions. Shepherdsville was
many miles away, but it was then the nearest trading post, and trips
were not frequently made for the reason that the cornfield and abundant
supply of wild game furnished the chief subsistence of the early
settlers.
HARRISON
COUNTY
Harrison County was named after Gen. Wm. H. Harrison and was the fourth
county formed in the state, Knox, Clark and Dearborn being earlier. It
was carved in 1809, from a portion of the territory included in Knox
County. It is bounded on the north by Washington County, on the east by
Floyd County and the Ohio River, on the south by the Ohio River and on
the west by the Ohio River and Crawford County, and contains four
hundred and seventy-eight square miles. In common with the entire
southern part of the state, it is somewhat broken and hilly, but
contains within its borders, some beautiful and fertile valleys and
more than fifty miles of bottom land along the borders of the Ohio
River. As a rule, the people of Harrison County are prosperous and
their generosity and hospitality is unexcelled.
Upon the formation of the county the Governor appointed Patrick Shields
Presiding Judge of the Court of Common Pleas with Moses Boone and John
G. Pfrimmer as Associate Judges. They held the first term of court at
Corydon on May 10, 1809, and proceeded to divide the county into
townships, lay out roads, license ferries, taverns, etc., they having
the jurisdiction now possessed by the Board of County Commissioners.
The first sheriff of the county was Spier Spencer, who was appointed by
the Governor. Dennis Pennington was foreman of the first Grand Jury.
The other members were John Smith, William Nance, George Gresham,
Reuben Wright, Tice Light, Henry Rice, George Crutchfield, John
Livanks, Jacob Conrad, EH Wright, William Vest, Edward Smith, Lawrence
Black, John Smith, Sr., William Branham, Isaac Richardson, John
Hickman, Lawrence Bell, \ /William Pennington and William Sands. The
first election was held in the fall of 1809, and the first officers
were George F. Pope, Clerk and Recorder Spier Spencer, Sheriff and
Treasurer. Thomas Randolph, being Attorney General of Indiana
Territory, appointed W. Dunn, of Harrison County, Deputy.
WILLIAM
HENRY HARRISON
William Henry Harrison, the Father of Harrison. County, was born in
Berkeley, Va., February 9, 1773. He entered the army early and was
appointed Secretary of the Northwestern Territory. On May 13. 1800, he
was appointed Governor of Indiana Territory. On January 10, 1801, he
took charge of the office at Vincennes, which was then the Territorial
Capital. He remained in charge of the executive department of the
Territory until September, 1812, when he was appointed a Brigadier
General and assigned to the command of the northwestern frontier. He
was the ninth President of the United States. General Harrison, in
1807, entered a tract of land on Blue River, at Wilson's Spring. He
there set out a large apple orchard, some of the trees of which are
still standing to mark the spot where a President of the United States
once lived. He was in every sense a man of the people and was known
among the early settlers far and near as "Bill" Harrison.
CORYDON
Corydon, the first State Capital of Indiana, is about the center of
the county and is still the county seat. It is located at the junction
of Big and Little Indian Creeks, and is surrounded on all sides by high
hills, from which beautiful views of the surrounding country may be
obtained. It is located 120 miles south of Indianapolis, twenty miles
west of New Albany, and eight miles east of the famous Wyandotte Cave,
and is reached by the Louisville, New Albany and Corydon Railway, which
operates between Corydon and Corydon Junction, a station on the
Southern Railway, seventeen miles west of New Albany. In 1806 Edward
Smith, a deserter from the British army, settled at the present site of
the Town of Corydon, upon the land now owned by the Harrison County
Agricultural Society and used as a Fair Ground. In 1804 General William
Henry Harrison entered the land where Corydon now stands and held a
certificate of purchase for it. It was afterward sold by General
Harrison to Harvey Heth, who patented it and by a special act of
Congress laid out the Town of Corydon in 1807. Edward Smith brought his
family, consisting of his three sons, John, James and Samuel, and six
daughters, Jennie, Polly, Sallie, Rachel, Isabel and Nancy, to his new
home in the far west. The members of the family became fast friends of
General Harrison, who frequently stopped over night at the Smith home
on his trips between his farm on Blue River and the Government office
at Jeffersonville. It is said that in those days it was impossible to
secure lumber, and mother earth provided the floor of the Smith home. A
platform was constructed in one side of the cabin by planting two
forked poles in the ground and laying a pole from one to the other and
then laying cross poles from this to the logs of the wall. This
platform or gallery was reached by a ladder and provided the sleeping
quarters for the family, as well as any strangers who might happen in
to spend a night. When General Harrison staid over night with the
Smiths he slept on this platform where his slumbers were undisturbed
except by the cries of the wild animals in the forests near by.
Miss Jennie Smith was the proud owner of an old "Missouri Harmony"
which was the only song book in use in those days. Vocal music was not
often to be heard in the wilderness of Harrison County, and upon the
occasions of General Harrison's visits, Miss Jennie was always
requested, by the General, to sing from her song book. His favorite
song was "The Pastoral Elegy," and his favorite singer Jennie Smith.
These are the words of two verses of the song from which the first
capital derived its name :
What sorrowful sounds do I hear,
Move slowly along in the gale;
How solemn they fall on my ear
As softly they pass through the vale;
Sweet Corydon's notes are all o'er,
Now lonely he sleeps in the clay,
His cheeks blown with roses no more
Since death called his spirit away.
O Corydon ! hear the sad cries
Of Caroline plaintive and slow;
O Spirit look down from the skies
And pity the mourner below;
Till Caroline's voice in the grove
Which Philomel hears on the plain
Then striving the mourner to soothe
With sympathy joins in her strain.
This plaintive lament for the death of the young shepherd, Corydon,
sung by the sweet voice of Jennit Smith, suggested to General Harrison,
a name for the town which has borne it for more than a hundred years.
CORYDON'S
EARLY DAYS
In the early days the houses of Corydon were all built of logs and
stone in such a substantial manner that many of them are still
standing. Following Edward Smith, a Mr. Westfall located in Corydon in
in 1807 and started a tan yard. This was later sold by him to a Mr.
Kirkpatrick, who in turn sold it to Colonel Lewis Jordan, who together
with his son, David Jordan, operated it for many years. Near the
tanyard Colonel Jordan erected a substantial log house which provided a
shelter for the Jordan family for more than eighty years. A smaller log
house,which is still standing in the shade of the Constitutional Elm
Tree, was built and occupied by Daniel C. Lane, who later became State
Treasurer of the State of Indiana. In 1808 Richard M. Heth built a log
house on the corner of Poplar and Water Streets. This house served as a
dwelling until 1852, when it burned. In that year also, Jacob Conrad
erected the large stone house on the Corydon Pike known as the Old
Capital Hotel. Many ambitious and substantial men settled in Harrison
County, and in 1809, the Commissioners bought of Harvey Heth and Win.
H. Harrison one acre and four perches of ground for a Public Square.
This parcel of land included the present Public Square and the block
immediately west of the square. Spier Spencer, the Sheriff, was ordered
to contract, by bid, for the clearing and cleaning the Public Square
and for building a Stray Pen on the west side thereof, with a fence
seven rails high, staked and ridered and a good ground chunk. This
contract was let by Mr. Spencer, April 26, 1810, to Henry Berghn, who
was the lowest bidder, the contract price being $33.75. This is
convincing proof that Public Graft was unknown in Harrison County in
1810. The first squandering of public funds and accusation of public
graft in Harrison County occurred while Henry W. Heth was Clerk. He was
charged with giving away English quills to the school children. The
English quills were said to be much better than the .ordinary quills
for pens. .Mr. Heth's extravagance, which caused the sensation,
probably cost the county .as much as two dollars during a period of
several years.
THE
CAPITOL BUILDING
Indiana's First Capitol,.
On the 9th day of March, 1809, a contract was let to Dennis Pennington,
by Judges Patrick Shields, Moses Boone and John George Pfrimmer, for
the building of a Court House. The building of the stone walls was
superintended by Watty Pennington, a brother of Dennis Pennington, and
the roof was put on by Patrick Flanigan. The building was built in 1811
.and 1812 and cost about $1500. The building was erected of limestone
and is forty feet square. The foundation was placed three feet in the
ground and made two and one half feet thick, and the room fifteen feet
high. The walls of the second story are two feet . thick and the rooms
ten feet high. On the roof was placed an iron balance or scales, as
emblematic of justice. The stairway to the upper story was originally
on the inside and the floor was made of stone flagging in the lobby
outside of the bar-rail. Inside the bar-rail was a platform of hewn
timber. Two very large fire places, one on the north and one on the
^south, heated the room.
In 1833, Thomas Farquar removed the "emblem .of justice" and reroofed
the old building. He also hung the bell which, for almost seventy
years, has ^ summoned the citizens to court, church, lectures,
political meetings, fires and even to war, for, many years after, it
conveyed the tidings to an anxious populace that General John Morgan
and his gang of "Guerillas" were coming to destroy Corydon. In 1873,.
the building was remodeled. The steps were removed to the outside where
they are now located and the old stone floor gave way to a modern wood
floor. The fire places were
filled up and the building was replastered. Since that time there has
been no change except the remodeling of the second story by building
new partitions, thereby changing the shape and number of rooms on the
second floor. From the time Indiana became a state until 1825, the
Legislature met in this building. The House of Representatives occupied
the lower room and the Senate Chamber was a large room in the south
side of the upper story. The clerk of the Supreme court occupied a room
in the northeast corner of the second story. When the Legislature was
not in session these rooms were occupied by the Supreme, District and
County courts.
PUBLIC
OFFICES
In the early days the state offices were located in the building on
Walnut street, how occupied as a dwelling by the family of the late
Amzi W. Brewster. A cellar under the building was used as a vault for
keeping the public funds. A one story building on the west was used as
a dwelling by the Treasurer of State. When the capital was moved to
Indianapolis in 1825, this house was occupied by Samuel Merrill, who
was then Treasurer of State. Mr. Merrill was the father of Catherine
Merrill, the authoress and teacher of Indianapolis, and the grandfather
of William A. Ketcham, formerly Attorney General of Indiana, and Hon.
Merrill Moores, now of Indianapolis.
In 1825, the county built a small brick building in the public square,
to be used as an office building, and the Masons built a second story
on it, which was occupied by them as a lodge hall. In 1840, a two story
brick building was erected for use as a county office building. In 1882
this building was torn down and the present office building was erected
in its place. The present handsome jail and sheriff's residence was
built in 1873. It has recently been remodeled and today it presents a
handsome appearance and is a credit to the county.
GOVERNOR'S
MANSION
Governor's Mansion.
The brick building known as the Governor's Mansion was built by Harbin
H. Moore, a noted lawyer, who in 1828, was defeated by James Brown Ray
for Governor of Indiana. This house was substantially built of brick,
mad.e on the lot where it stood, and remained standing until a few
years ago, when it gave way to a modern dwelling. The interior of the
house was finished in hand carved hardwood. While it was known as the
Governor's Mansion, it was occupied by but one Governor, Jonathan
Jennings. Governor Posey declined to live in Corydon on account of his
health, and Governor Hendricks lived in Madison, coming to Corydon at
frequent intervals. While in Corydon, he roomed at the Porter
homestead, which is still standing and is occupied as a dwelling by
Patrick Griffin.
MASONIC
GRAND LODGE
A few yards east of the Governor's Mansion stood a two story stone
house, which had been built by Reuben W. Nelson, also a famous lawyer.
In this house on the 3rd day of December, 1817, delegates from the
various Masonic Lodges of the state, met to make arrangements for
organizing a Grand Lodge for the State of Indiana. The following eleven
Masons attended this meeting; General W. Johnson, S. C. Stevens, Abel
C.Pepper, Christopher Harrison, Henry P. Thornton, Joseph Bartholomew,
John Miller, Davis Floyd, Hezekiah B. Hull, James Dill and A. Buckner.
After the transaction of some business and making preparations for the
completion of their arrangements, they adjourned, to meet at Madison on
the I2th day of January, 1818, and there the Grand Lodge was duly
organized.
EARLY
BUSINESS AFFAIRS
The first blacksmith shop in Corydon was established by Israel Butt at
the corner of Oak and Walnut Streets, in 1808.
Colonel Thomas Posey came to Corydon from Virginia about 1810, and kept
a general store on Oak Street, in a brick house which is still
standing. Colonel Posey was an excellent man and was said to be the
natural son of General George Washington. He never married, and in
1861, he removed to Henderson, Kentucky, where he died a short time
afterward.
Joshua Wilson kept a store at the southeast corner of Market and Walnut
Streets for many years.
David Byrn started a silversmith business in Corydon in 1818.
In 1816, James Giles walked from Vincennes to Corydon and together with
John Moffert engaged in the hat business.
In 1812, Dr. James B. Slaughter passed through Corydon on a military
expedition against the Indians. In 1813, he came back and located at
Corydon.
In 1815, John T. Jamison started a tavern on Chestnut Street in
Corydon, and in 1816, David Craig established one on Elm Street. When
President Monroe and General Jackson visited Corydon in 1819, they
stopped at Craig's Tavern. President Monroe and General Jackson visited
Corydon on the 22nd day of June, 1819, remaining until June 23rd, when
they departed for Louisville, Kentucky.
Thomas Farquar was a Justice of the Peace and also kept boarders.
Spier Spencer kept a hotel in Corydon until his death at Tippecanoe.
His wife conducted the business for many years thereafter.
In 1807, Henry Rice left Washington, Pennsylvania, and came down the
Ohio River on a flat boat, landing at Tobacco Landing. He settled on a
farm six miles east of Corydon where he remained until 1809, when he
removed to Corydon and built a large brick house on Chestnut Street
near Elm where he engaged in the hotel business.
Judan Vigus came to Corydon in 1816, and opened out a tailor shop and
tavern on the corner of Chestnut and Market Streets.
Armstrong Brandon kept store in a house on Elm Street. In his store was
a branch of the Indiana State Bank of Vincennes, which he conducted.
Colonel Samuel Judah, a noted lawyer, practiced law in Corydon for a
number of years. He was afterwards associated with Henry Clay in the
noted Myra Clark case, to recover a large amount of property in New
Orleans.
John Aydelotte started a store on Elm Street in 1820.
CHURCHES
"Old Goshen" church is the oldest church building in Harrison County.
And, today it stands just as it did when the work of building it was
completed by Moses Boone and George Bartley in 1813. Many moss covered
tomb-stones more than three-quarters of a century old stand in the
cemetery near the church. During the ninety-seven years of its
existence, the population of "Old Goshen Graveyard" has grown to about
two hundred.
John George Pfrimmer, a United Brethren Minister, organized all of the
United Brethren Churches in Indiana. He built Pfrimmer's Chapel in
1818. The original church was a small log building and stood on the
present site of the comfortable frame building now known as Pfrimmer's
Chapel.
James Armstrong, a Methodist Preacher, settled near Lanesville in 1800,
and for many years preached at churches, school houses and camp
meetings throughout the state.
Roger's Chapel in Posey Township was built by a Mr. Rogers and a Mr.
Potts, and is one of the oldest churches in the county. The original
building has long since disappeared but the present church stands on
the same site.
On July 31, 1824, John Hughes deeded the land, where Thompson's Chapel
now stands, for a Methodist Church and school house. It was named in
honor of William Thompson, a pioneer preacher, who accepted such
donations as were given him by the people for his services.
During the early years of Harrison County a Dunkard Church stood in
Morgan Township, near Bradford. The church has been gone for many years
but the location is fixed by a cemetery containing many tombstones
nearly a hundred years old.
Mt. Solomon church in Scott Township was built in August, 1835, and was
the first Lutheran Church in Indiana. The present church was dedicated
about the year 1860 by the Rev. P. A. Peter, now of Verona, Ohio.
Levi Long was a noted Baptist Preacher. He was born about the close of
the Revolutionary War and when a young man he came to Indiana. He
traveled over the state preaching for a number of years. He helped to
build the old state house and put in some coins when the corner stone
was laid.
The noted Republican meeting house was built in Ripperdan's Valley in
1828. It was built by the .united efforts of the neighborhood and was
free to all denominations. The first Baptist preachers were Revs. Lone,
Armstrong and Levi Long. Lutheran ministers were Henkle, Reiser and
Krack. Presbyterians were Martin and Dunbar. Methodists were Revs.
Daniels and W. C. Smith. The Methodists organized there about 1838, and
in 1847, organized the first Sunday school, with Aaron Bean as
superintendent. In 1873, the old church building was removed to New
Amsterdam and in 1884, it was washed away by high water.
The present Christian Church, in Corydon, was. originally a United
Brethren Church was bought by a small membership of the Christian
Church in 1852.
In 1810, Rev. Dr. Crowe, of Hanover, organized a Presbyterian Church in
Corydon with Henry Rice and Mr. Armstrong, as ruling elders. A small
church was erected in 1819. Its first pastor was William W. Martin who
was commonly known as Father Martin. He had three sons, D. N., William
A. P., and Claudius B. H., all of whom became ministers, the two former
going to China as missionaries. W. A. P. Martin is still in China, as
an aged missionary. For many years he has been President of the
Imperial College at Pekin and was a trusted adviser during the Boxer
uprising in that country.
The Catholic Cathedral at Lanesville is one of .the finest churches in
the state. The congregation was organized in 1843 by Father Opperman.
The first church was built in 1849 by Father Neyron. In 1854 Rev.
Alphonse Munshine took charge of the church and erected a school and
parsonage for the Sisters of Providence. The present magnificent church
was begun in 1856 and completed in 1860, and dedicated by Bishop de St.
Palais in 1864. Father Munshina was pastor until 1893, when he was
succeeded by Rev. A. Peckskamp who is still its pastor. Since assuming
charge, Father Peckskatnp has made many improvements in the interior of
the church and has built a handsome brick school building.
INCORPORATION
OF CORYDON
On Monday, the 3rd day of March, 1817, the citizens of Corydon met to
consider the propriety of incorporating the town. General John Tipton
presided over the meeting and Reuben W. Nelson was elected Secretary. A
vote was taken and the following qualified voters expressed themselves
favorable to the incorporation:
| Joseph McMahon |
James B. Slaughter |
David S. Collins |
Anthony Gwartney |
| George Jones |
James Kirkpatrick |
Wm. P. Thomasson |
Patrick Flannagan |
| H. P. Coburn |
Jonathan Houser |
Milo R. Davis |
John T. Jameson |
| Daniel Craig |
William Johnson |
Dudley Gresham |
A. Brandon |
| Lyman Beeman |
Henry Rice, Jr. |
Robert A. New |
Thomas Spencer |
| James G. Smith |
William Smith |
Harbin H. Moore |
Ezekiel Wood |
| Samuel Ruth |
|
|
|
There being no opposition to incorporation, it was so ordered. On
Monday, the 17th day of March, 1817, the qualified voters met at the
court house, in Corydon, for the purpose of electing five Trustees for
said town. General John Tipton presided and Davis Floyd was chosen
Clerk of the election. The following named persons were there elected
to serve for one year: Henry Rice, Richard M. Heth, A. D. Thorn, James
Kirkpatrick and Milo R. Davis.
This incorporation was permitted to lapse, but the town was
incorporated again on the 24th of January, 1835, and John Smith, W. A.
Porter, Lewis Jordan, Thomas Craig and Benjamin Aydelotte were elected
Trustees.
The incorporation lapsed again and Corydon lost its charter a second
time, but it was re-incorporated again in 1849, and James G. May, T. C.
Slaughter, S. K. Wolfe, Thomas Posey and Benjamin Aydelotte were
elected Trustees.
CORYDON
THE CAPITAL
By an act of the General Assembly of Indiana Territory, at Vincennes,
which was approved on the 11th day of March, 1813, the seat of
Government of the territory was fixed at Corydon, Harrison County,
"from and after the first day of May, 1813."
In conformity with a joint resolution of both houses of the General
Assembly of the Territory, Acting Governor Gibson prorogued them to
meet at Corydon on the first day of December, 1813. Corydon remained
the Territorial and State Capitol from that date until the 10th day of
January, 1825. Its population during that time was about five hundred.
It has since grown until the population is now about twenty two hundred.
The Territorial Legislature, in 1813, enacted thirty-two laws, among
which was the act providing for the removal of the Capital of the
Territory from Vincennes to Corydon. In December, 1813, the General
Assembly duly convened at Corydon, and Governor Posey, who had been
inaugurated on May 25, 1813, delivered his message on the first day of
the session.
Governor Posey, who was in ill health, declined to remain at Corydon
and in an official communication addressed to the President of the
Legislative Council, on the 27th day of December, 1813, he wrote the
following:
"I wish you to communicate to your honorable body, that the delicate
state of my health will not admit of my longer continuance at this
place (Corydon). I find m5'self badly situated on account of medical
aid. My physician is at Louisville, and I have taken all the medicine
brought with me."
Immediately following the delivery of this message, the Governor
removed to Jeffersonville. During his absence, on the 6th day of
January, 1814, the Legislative Council adopted the following resolution:
"Whereas, both houses of the Legislature did, on the 4th instant inform
the Governor that they had gone through their Legislative business, and
were ready to be prorogued, and
Whereas, the expense of near $50 per day doth arise to the people of
the
territory by reason of the Legislature being kept in session—all of
which evils and inconvenience doth arise from the Governor leaving the
seat of government, during the session 'of the legislature, and going
to
Jeffersonville, and the Legislature having to send their committee on
enrolled bills to that place, to lay them before him for his approval
and signature; be it, therefore,
Resolved, that, in order to prevent any further expense accruing to the
Territory at the present session, that the President of the Legislative
Council and Speaker of the House of Representatives be, and they are
hereby, authorized to receive the report of the Governor, of the laws
by him signed or rejected, and his order of prorogation, and
communicate the same to the Clerks of their respective Houses, who
shall insert the same in their journals, in the same manner as if the
houses were in session."
The House of Representatives concurred in this resolution, and the two
houses adjourned sine die.
This was a cool rebuke to the Governor for his careless lack of regard
for public extravagance as well as an illustrative .example of the
spirit of economy with which Indiana's early legislators guarded the
public funds and the interests of their constituents. The publicity
which this resolution received resulted in the defeat of Governor
Posey, for Governor of Indiana, by Jonathan Jennings in 1816.
The General Assembly of Indiana Territory, which met at Corydon on the
first Monday in December, 1815, on the I4th day of that month, adopted
a memorial which was presented to Congress, by the Territorial
Delegate, Jonathan Jennings, on the 28th day of the same month. This
memorial contained the following passages.
"whereas, the ordinance of Congress for the government of this
Territory has provided, that when there shall be sixty thousand free
inhabitants therein, the territory shall be admitted into the Union on
an equal footing with the original States; and, whereas, by a census
taken by the authority of the Legislature of this territory, it appears
from the returns, that the number of free white inhabitants exceeds
sixty thousand—We, therefore, pray the Honorable Senate and House of
Representatives, in Congress assembled, to order an election to be
conducted agreeable to the existing laws of this territory, on the
first Monday of May, 1816, for Representatives to meet in Convention,
at the seat of Government of this Territory, on the day of -1816, who,
when assembled, shall determine, by a majority of the votes of all the
members elected, whether it will be expedient or inexpedient to go into
a State Government, and if it be determined expedient, the Convention
thus assembled shall have the power to form a Constitution and frame of
Government; or, if it be deemed inexpedient, to provide for the
election of Representatives to meet, in Convention, at some future
period to form a constitution."
"And, whereas, the inhabitants of this Territory are principally
composed of emigrants from every part of the Union, and as various in
their customs and sentiments as in their persons, we think it. prudent,
at this time, to express to the General Government, our attachment to
the fundamental principles of legislation prescribed by Congress in
their ordinances for the government of this Territory, particularly, as
respects personal freedom and involuntary servitude, and hope they may
be continued as the basis of the Constitution."
The memorial was referred to a committee, of which Jonathan Jennings,
the Delegate from Indiana Territory, was the Chairman; and on the 6th
day of January, 1816, this gentleman reported to the House of
Representatives of the United States, a bill to enable the people of
Indiana Territory to form a Constitution and State Government, and for
the admission of such state into the Union on equal footing with the
original States. This bill, after having been amended in some
particulars, was passed by Congress, and became a law, by the approval
of the President of the United States on the 19th day of April, 1816.
The following is a copy of the act:
ACT
OF CONGRESS
An act to enable the people of the Indiana Territory to form a
Constitution and State Government, .and for the admission of such State
into the Union on .an equal footing with the original states. (Approved
April 19, 1816.)
Section i. Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of
Representatives, of the United States of America, in Congress
assembled; That the inhabitants .of the Territory of Indiana, be, and
they are hereby authorized, to form for themselves a Constitution and
.State Government, and to assume such name as they shall deem proper;
and the said State when formed, shall be admitted into the Union upon
the same footing with the original states, in all respects whatever.
Section 2. And be it further enacted, that the said State shall consist
of all the territory include'' within the following boundaries, to-wit:
Bounded on the east by the meridian line which forms the western
boundary of the State of Ohio; on the south by the River Ohio, from the
mouth of the Great Miami River to the mouth of the river Wabash; on the
west, by a line drawn from the middle of the Wabash, from its mouth to
a point where a due north line drawn from the Town of Vincennes would
last touch the northwestern shore of the said river; and from thence,
by a due north line, until the same shall intersect an east and west
line drawn through a point ten miles north .of the southern extreme of
Lake Michigan; on the north by the said east and west line, until the
same shall intersect the first mentioned meridian line, which -forms
the western boundary of the State of Ohio;
provided that the convention hereinafter provided' for, when formed,
shall ratify the boundaries aforesaid, otherwise they shall be and
remain as now prescribed by the ordinance for the government of the
Territory north west of the river Ohio; provided, also that the said
State shall have concurrent jurisdiction on the river Wabash, with the
State to be formed west thereof, so far as the said river shall form a
common boundary to both.
Section 3. And be it further enacted, that all male citizens of the
United States, who shall have arrived at the age of twenty one years,
and resided within the said Territory at least one year previous to the
day of election, and shall have paid a county or territorial tax, and
all persons having in other respects the legal qualifications to vote
for Representatives in the General Assembly by the said Territory, be,
and they are hereby authorized to choose Representatives to form a
Convention, who shall be apportioned among the several counties within
the said Territory, according to the apportionment made by the
Legislature thereof, at their last session, to-wit: From the county of
Wayne, four representatives; from the county of Dearborn, three
representatives; from the county of Switzerland, one representative;
from the county of Jefferson, three representatives; from the county of
Clark, five representatives; from the county of Harrison, five
representatives; from the county of Washington, five representatives;
from the county of Knox, five representatives, from the county of
Gibson, four representatives; from the county of Posey, one
representative; from the county of Warrick, one representative. from
the county of Perry, one representative.
And the election for the representatives aforesaid, shall be holden on
the second Monday in May, One thousand eight hundred and sixteen,
throughout the several counties in said Territory; and shall be
conducted in the same manner, and under the same penalties as
prescribed by the laws of said Territory regulating elections therein
for members of the House of Representatives.
Section 4. And be it further enacted, that the -members of the
Convention, thus duly elected, be, and they are hereby authorized to
meet at the seat of . government of said Territory, on the second
Monday of June next, which Convention when met, shall first .determine,
by a majority of the whole number elected, "whether it be or be riot
expedient, at that time, to form a Constitution and State Government
for the people within the said Territory; and if it be determined to be
expedient, the Convention shall be, and hereby are authorized to form a
Constitution and State Government; or if it be deemed more expedient,
the said Convention shall provide by Ordinance for election of
representatives to form a Constitution or frame of government, which
said representatives shall be chosen in such manner, and in such
proportion, and shall meet at such time and place, as shall be
prescribed by the said Ordinance; and shall then form, for the people
of said Territory, a Constitution and State Government; provided, that
the same, whenever formed, shall be republican, and not repugnant to
those articles of the Ordinance of the thirteenth of July, One thousand
seven hundred and eighty-seven, which are .declared to be irrevocable
between the original states and the people and States of the territory
northwest of the river Ohio; excepting so much of said articles as
relates to the boundaries of States therein to be formed.
Section 5. And be it further enacted. That until the next general
census shall be taken, the said State shall be entitled to one
Representative in the House of Representatives of the United States.
Section 6. And be it further enacted, That the following propositions
be, and the same are hereby offered to the Convention of the said
Territory of Indiana, when formed, for their free acceptance or
rejection, which, if accepted by the Convention shall be obligatory
upon the United States:
First: That the section numbered sixteen, in every township, and when
such section has been sold, granted or disposed of, other lands,
equivalent thereto, and most contiguous to the same, shall be granted
to the inhabitants of such township, for the use of schools.
Second: That all salt springs within the said Territory, and the land
reserved for the use of the same, together with such other lands as
may, by the President of the United States, be deemed necessary and
proper for working the said salt springs, not exceeding in the whole,
the quantity contained in six entire sections, shall be granted to the
said State for use of the people of the said State, the same to be used
under such terms, conditions, and regulations as the Legislature of the
said State shall direct; provided, the said Legislature shall never
sell nor lease the same for a longer period than ten years at any one
time.
Third: That five per cent of the net proceeds of the lands lying within
the said Territory, and which shall be sold by congress, from and after
the first day of December next, after deducting all expenses incident
to the same, shall be reserved for making public roads and canals, of
which three-fifths shall be applied to those objects within the said
State, under the direction of the Legislature thereof, and two-fifths
to the making; of a road or roads leading to the said State under the
direction of Congress.
Fourth: That one entire township, which shall! be designated by the
President of the United States in addition to the one heretofore
reserved for the use of a seminary of learning, and vested in the
Legislature of the said State, to be appropriated solely to the use of
such seminary by the said Legislature.
Fifth: That four sections of land be, and the same are hereby granted
to the said State, for the purpose of fixing their seat of Government
thereon, which four sections shall, under the direction of the
Legislature of said State, be located at any time in such township and
range, as the Legislature, aforesaid, may select on such lands as may
hereafter be acquired by the United States, from the Indian tribes
within said Territory; provided that such locations shall be made prior
to the public sale of the lands of the United States, surrounding such
location; and, provided always, that the five foregoing propositions
herein offered are on the conditions; that the Convention of the said
State shall provide by an ordinance irrevocable, without the consent of
the United States, that every and each tract of land sold by the United
States, from and after the first day of December next, shall be and
remain exempt from any tax, laid by order or under any authority of the
State, whether for State, county or township, or for any other purpose
whatever, for the term of five years, from and after the day of sale."
In conformity with the provisions of this act, an election for members
of a Convention, to form a State Constitution, was held in the several
counties of the Territory on Monday, the I3th day of May, 1816. The
members of the Convention were elected according to an apportionment
which had been made by the Territorial Legislature, and confirmed by an
act of Congress. Their names and the names of the counties which they
represented, follow:
Clark County, five members: Jonathan Jennings, James Scott, Thomas
Carr, John K. Graham and James Lemmon.
Knox County, five members: John Johnson, John. Badollet, William Polke,
Benjamin Parke and John Benefiel.
Dearborn County, three members: James Bill, Solomon Manwaring and Ezra
Ferris.
Harrison County, five members: Dennis Pennington, Davis Floyd, Daniel
C. Lane, John Boone and Patrick Shields.
Wayne County, four members: Jeremiah Cox, Patrick Bank, Joseph Holman
and Hugh Cull.
Franklin County, five members: William H. Eads, James Brownlee, Enoch
McCarty, Robert Hanna, Jr., and James Noble.
Switzerland County, one member: William Cotton.
Jefferson County, three members: David H. Maxwell, Samuel Smock and
Nathaniel Hunt.
Washington County, five members: John DePauw, Samuel Milroy, Robert
Mclntyre, William Lowe and William Graham.
Gibson County, four members: David Robb, James Smith, Alexander Devin
and Frederick Rapp.
Warrick County, one member: Daniel Grass.
Perry County, one member: Charles Polke.
Posey County, one member: Dann Lynn.
The Convention, with all of the members present, commenced its session
at Corydon, on the 10th day of June, 1816, and continued to meet from
day to day, until the 29th day of June, when, having completed the work
of forming a State Constitution, the members closed the session by
final adjournment.
Hon. Jonathan Jennings was President, and Hon. William Hendricks was
Secretary of the Convention. Both of these gentlemen afterward served
as Governor of Indiana.
On the third day of the Convention, the President, Mr. Jennings,
announced the appointment of the following committees:
Committee to prepare a Bill of Rights and Preamble to the Constitution,
Messrs. Badollet, Manwaring, Graham, of Clark; Lane, Smith and
Pennington.
Committee relative to the distribution of the Powers of Government,
Messrs. Johnson, Polke, of Perry; Floyd, Maxwell and McCarty.
Committee relative to the Legislative Department of Government, Messrs.
Noble, Ferris, Milroy, Benefiel and Grass.
Committee relative to the Executive Department of Government, Messrs.
Graham, of Clark; Polke, of Knox; Rappe, Shields, Smock, Smith, Ferris
and Brownlee.
Committee relative to the Judicial Department of Government,_ Messrs.
Scott, Johnson, Dill, Milroy, Noble, Cotton, Lowe, Parke and Hunt.
Committee relative to Impeachments, Messrs. Dill, Cox, Hunt, Eads and
Carr.
Committee relative to general provisions for the Constitution not
embraced in the subjects referred to other Committees, Messrs. Maxwell,
DePauw, Robb, Scott and Baird.
Committee relative to the mode of revising the Constitution, Messrs.
Hanna, Pennington, Devin, Johnson and Graham, of Washington.
Committee relative to the change of Government and preserving the
existing laws until repealed by the State Legislature, and providing
for appeals from the Territorial Court to the State Courts, Messrs.
Floyd, Lemmon, Holman, Mclntyre, Manwaring and Benefiel.
Committee relative to education and the universal dissemination of
useful knowledge, and other objects which it might be deemed proper to
enjoin or advise the State Legislature to provide for, Messrs. Scott,.
Badollet, Polke, of Knox; Lynn and Boone.
Committee relative to the Militia, Messrs. Dill,. Hanna, Carr, Cotton,
Robb, Holman, Cox, DePauw, Noble, Rappe and Benefiel.
Committee relative to Elective Franchise and! Elections, Messrs.
Ferris, Lemmon, Grass, Polke, of Perry; Cull, Smith and DePauw.
Committee on Prisons, Messrs. Carr, Pennington, Milroy, Grass, Hunt,
Graham, of Washington; and McCarty.
On June 29, 1816, the following ordinance wasadopted by the Convention:
Be it ordained by the Representatives of the people of the Territory of
Indiana, in Convention met at Corydon, on Monday, the tenth day of
June, in the year of our Lord, Eighteen Hundred and Sixteen, That we
do, for ourselves and our posterity, agree, determine, declare, and
ordain, that we will, and do hereby, accept the propositions of the
Congress of the United! States, as made and contained in their act of
the nineteenth day of April, Eighteen Hundred and Sixteen, entitled,
"An act to enabled the people of the Indiana Territory to form a State
Government and Constitution, and for the admission of such State into
the Union, on an equal footing with the original States."'
And we do, further, for ourselves and our posterity, hereby ratify,
confirm, and establish, the boundaries of the said State of Indiana, as
fixed, prescribed, laid down, and established, in the act of Congress
aforesaid, and we do also, further, for ourselves and our posterity,
hereby agree, determine, declare, and ordain, that each and every tract
of land sold by the United States, lying within the said State, and
which shall be sold from and after the first day of" December next,
shall be and remain exempt from any tax laid by order, or under any
authority of the said State of Indiana, or by or under the authority of
the General Assembly thereof, whether for State, county, or township,
or any other purpose whatever, for the term of five years from and
after the day of sale of" any such tract of land; and we do, moreover,
for ourselves and our posterity, hereby declare and ordain this
Ordinance, and every part thereof, shall forever be and remain
irrevocable and inviolate, without the consent of the United States, in
Congress assembled, first had and obtained for the alteration thereof,
or any part thereof. Jonathan Jennings,
President of the Convention. Attest: William Hendricks, Secretary. June
29, 1816."
The following is the Preamble to the Constitution' adopted at that
Convention:
We, the Representatives of the people of the territory of Indiana, in
Convention, met at Corydon, on Monday, the tenth day of June, in the
year of our Lord, Eighteen Hundred and Sixteen, and of the Independence
of the United States the fortieth, having the right of admission into
the General Government, as a member of the Union, consistent with the
Constitution of the United States, the Ordinance of Congress of One
thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and the Law of Congress
entitled, "An act to enable the people of Indiana Territory to form a
Constitution and State Government, and for the admission of such. State
into the Union on an equal footing with the original States," in order
to establish justice, promote the welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain, and establish
the.following Constitution or form of Government; and do mutually
agree, with each other, to form ourselves into a free and independent
State by the name of The State of Indiana.
THE
CONSTITUTIONAL ELM
When those hardy, pioneer delegates met at Corydon on the loth day of
June, 1816, to draft a Constitution for a state that was destined to
become one of. the greatest commonwealths of the Union, and to
formulate plans of government, for a great people, most of them had
left the rude log cabins which they called home, and had traveled many
miles through an almost unbroken wilderness, infested with Indians, and
wild animals of almost every specie.
These early settlers were accustomed to all classes of hardship and an
outdoor life, and rather than be seated in the large, commodious room
of the "Ancient Capitol" building, during the warm days of June, while
the Convention was in session, they hied themselves to the inviting
shade of the spreading boughs of a hugh Elm tree, near the banks of Big
Indian Creek and about two hundred yards northwest of the Capitol
Building, where they spent the greater portion of that memorable period
of twenty days in devising ways and means of securing to their
posterity, a wise and good government.
The old Elm Tree, under which the first Constitution of Indiana was
framed and adopted is still standing in all of its grandeur. It is one
hundred and twenty four feet from tip to tip of its branches, five feet
in diameter and about fifty feet in height. This mammoth tree is sacred
to the hearts of the inhabitants of Corydon and an attempt to mutilate
it would likely be met with acts of violence on the part of many of the
citizens. .
THE
FIRST ELECTION
The Convention that formed the first Constitution of the State of
Indiana, was composed of clear minded unpretending men, many of whom
possessed but a limited education, but all of whom were endowed with a
liberal supply of common sense, rugged honesty and unquestioned
patriotism. Realizing the importance of good government and absolute
freedom, they had familiarized themselves with the imperishable
principles and theories of that grand instrument, the Declaration of
Independence. The constitution of the United States was also cherished
by them as a sacred document. The Constitution that was there adopted
for Indiana, was clear and concise, comprehensive and just, for the
maintenance of civil and religious liberty, designed to protect the
rights of the people, and to provide for the public welfare.
The officers of the Territorial Government were required to continue to
discharge their duties until superseded by officers elected under the
Constitution of the State. The President of the Convention was required
to "issue writs of election, directed to the several sheriffs of the
several counties, requiring them to cause an election to be held for
Governor, Lieutenant .Governor, Representative to Congress, members of
the General Assembly, Sheriffs and Coroners, at their respective
election districts, in each county, on the first Monday in August,
1816." At the general .election which was held on that date, Jonathan
Jennings, of Clark County, was elected Governor over Gov. Thomas Posey,
of Harrison County, who was then the Territorial Governor. Mr. Jennings
received 5,211 votes and Gov. Posey received 3,936 votes. Christopher
Harrison, of Washington County, was elected Lieutenant Governor, and
William Hendricks, of Jefferson County, was elected Representative to
Congress.
The
election of members of the first General Assembly, under the
Constitution of the State of Indiana, resulted as follows:
SENATE.
Knox County—William Polke.
Gibson County—William Prince.
Posey, Perry and Warrick
Counties—Daniel Grass.
Wayne County—Patrick Baird.
Franklin County—John Connor.
Washington, Orange and Jackson
Counties—John DePauw.
Jefferson and Switzerland
Counties—John Paul.
Dearborn County—Ezra Ferris.
Harrison County—Dennis Pennington.
Clark County—James Beggs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wayne County—Joseph Holman, Ephriam
Overman and John Scott.
Franklin County—James Noble, David
Mounts and James Brownlee.
Dearborn County—Amos Lane and Erasmus
^ Powell.
Switzerland County—John Durmont.
Jefferson County—Williamson Dunn and
Samuel Alexander.
Clark County—Benjamin Ferguson,
Thomas Carr and John K. Graham.
Harrison County—Davis Floyd, Jacob
Zenor and John Boone.
Washington County—Samuel Milroy and
Alexander Littell.
Jackson County—William Graham.
Orange County—Jonathan Lindley.
Knox County—Isaac Blackford, Walter
Wilson and Henry I. Mills.
Gibson County—EdmondHogan and John
Johnson.
Posey County—Dann Lynn.
Warrick County—Ratliff Boone. * Perry
County—Samuel Connor.
FIRST
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The men above named duly assembled at Corydon, and the first General
Assembly of the State of Indiana, commenced its session on Monday, the
fourth day of November, 1816.
John Paul was called to the Chair of the Senate pro tempore, and Isaac
Blackford was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
On Thursday, November 7th, the oath of office was administered to
Governor Jennings and lieutenant Governor Harrison, in the presence of
both houses. Immediately after the administration of the oath of
office, Governor Jennings delivered his first message to the first
General Assembly of the State of Indiana. In his message Governor
Jennings had the following to say:
"Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: The period has
arrived which has devolved on you the important duty of giving the
first impulse to the government of the State. The result of your
deliberations will be considered as indicative of its future character
as well as of the future happiness and prosperity of its citizens. The
reputation of the State, as well as its highest interest, will require
that a just and generous policy toward the general Government, and a
due regard to the rights of its members respectively, should invariably
have their proper influence. In the commencement of the State
government, shackles of the Colonial should be forgotten in your
untried exertions to prove, by happy experience,that a uniform
adherence to the first principles of our Government, and a virtuous
exercise of its powers, will best secure efficiency to its measures and
stability to its character. Without a frequent recurrence to those
principles and administration of the government will imperceptibly
become more and more arduous, until the simplicity of our republican
institutions may eventually be lost in dangerous expedients and
political design. Under every free government the happiness of the
citizens must be identified with their morals; and while a
constitutional exercise of their rights shall continue to have its due
weight in the discharge of the 'duties required of the constituted
authorities of the State, too much attention cannot be bestowed to the
encouragement and promotion of every moral virtue, and to the enactment
of laws calculated to restrain the vicious, and prescribe punishment
for every crime commensurate to its enormity. In measuring, however, to
each crime its adequate punishment- it will be well to recollect, that
the certainty of punishment has generally the surest effect to prevent
crime; while punishment unnecessarily severe, too often produces the
acquittal of the guilty, and disappoints one of the greatest objects of
legislation and good government.
The dissemination of useful knowledge will be indispensably necessary
as a support to morals, and a restraint to vice; and on this subject,
it will be necessary to direct your attention to the plan of education
as prescribed by the Constitution. I recommend, to your consideration,
the propriety of providing, by law, to prevent, more effectually, any
unlawful attempts t» seize, or carry into bondage persons of
color legally entitled to their freedom; and at the same time, as far
as
practicable, to prevent those who rightfully owe service to the
citizens of any other State or Territory, from seeking, within the
limits of this State a refuge from the possession of their lawful
owners. Such a measure will tend to secure those who are free from any
unlawful attempts to enslave them, and secure the rights of the
citizens of the other States and Territories as far as ought reasonably
to be expected."
Thus was the Territorial Government superseded by a State Government,
on the 7th day of November, 1816, and the State of Indiana was formally
admitted into the Union, by a joint resolution of Congress, approved on
the 11th day of December, 1816, which resolution was as follows:
RESOLUTION
FOR ADMITTING THE STATE OF INDIANA INTO THE UNION.
Whereas, in pursuance of an act of Congress passed on the nineteenth
day of April, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, entitled "An act
to enable the people of Indiana Territory to form a constitution and
State government, and for the admission of that State into the Union,"
the people of the said Territory did on the twenty-ninth day of June,
in the present year, by a convention called for that purpose, form for
themselves a constitution and State Government, which Constitution and
State Government, so formed, is republican, and in conformity with the
principles of the articles of compact between the original States and
the people and States in the territory northwest of the river Ohio,
passed on the thirteenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and
eighty seven.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That the State of Indiana
shall be one. and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of
America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the
original States, in all respects whatever. Approved, December n, 1816.
STATE
OFFICIALS
The following named gentlemen served as State officers during the time
that Corydon was the State Capital. The names of the State officers are
followed by the names of the United States Senators and Representatives
in Congress.
GOVERNORS.
Jonathan Jennings, from November 7,
1816, to December 4, 1822.
William Hendricks, from December 4, 1822,
to .February 12, 1825.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS.
Christopher Harrison, 1816 to 1819.
Ratliff Boone, 1819 to 1825.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
Robert A. New, 1816 to 1825.
AUDITOR OF STATE
William H. Lilly, 1816 to 1829.
TREASURER OF STATE.
Daniel C. Lane, 1816 to 1823.
Samuel Merrill, 1823 to 1835.
SUPREME COURT JUDGES.
James Scott, 1816 to 1831.
John Johnson, 1816 to 1817. (Died.)
Jesse L. Holman, 1816 to 1831.
Isaac Blackford, 1817 to 1853.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
James Noble, 1816 to 1831.
Waller Taylor, 1816 to 1825.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS
William Hendricks, 1817 to 1822.
William Prince, 1822 to 1824. (Died.)
Jacob Call, 1824. (To fill vacancy.)
OLD
CAPITAL HOTEL
The principal hotel building at which the members of the Constitutional
Convention of 1816, and the members of the General Assemblies that
followed, while Corydon was the State Capital, boarded, was built in
1809, by Jacob Conrad, who came to Corydon from Pennsylvania. The Old
Capital Hotel is located oil the Corydon and New Albany Pike about one
mile east of Corydon. Our readers may not be able to understand why a
hotel a mile away from the State House would be patronized in
preference to those located nearer to their place of work. But we must
remember that in those days, most of the statesmen traveled many miles
through a roadless country, many of them walking to and from the State
Capital, and when we consider the many privations and hardships to
which they were accustomed we realize that a walk •of a mile, morning
and evening, was no task in their estimation. Besides this, the genial
proprietor of the Old Capital Hotel furnished good pasture for the
beast of the weary traveler without additional compensation, and many
places for amusement were maintained on the hotel grounds, where the
Sundays and evenings -were spent in pitching horseshoes, running,
jumping and wrestling.
The cut shown presents an excellent likeness of the Old Capital Hotel
as it appears at the age of 101 years. There are many rooms in the
building. The .walls are twenty feet high and eighteen inches thick.
Each L is about twenty feet long, and the building is .constructed of
hard blue limestone, taken from an inexhaustible quarry in the
immediate vicinity. The fact that the estimated weight of the masonry
of this old building is 618,790 tons, causes us to realize the
magnitude of this building in its palmy days. The building contains
3,412 feet of blue ash flooring. The joists were prepared with the
broad-axe and whip-saw. All of the wood-work, not exposed, remains in a
perfect state of preservation; the giant walls remain intact and the
mortar used seems impervious, although it has been exposed to the
elements for more than a "hundred years. In fact, centuries may come
and go, 'but the lodging house of Indiana's first statesmen will stand
intact. The small stone building nearby, is a spring house,
through which flows, a large spring of pure, cool, refreshing,
limestone water. It is said that in those days, a little of this water
blended with a reasonable quantity of apple or peach brandy served as
;au excellent preventative of malaria, chills and ague and snake bites
and it is barely possible that it wasused by some, as a remedy for many
other ailments. It is said that toward the close of his public life
Governor Jennings became intemperate to such a degree that his
usefulness was greatly impeded.
The Old Capital Hotel property is now owned by Mrs. Agnes Hess, widow
of former County Auditor George Hess, who occupies it as a dwelling.
ANTIQUE
RECORDS
A search of the Old Public Records of Harrison County reveals copies of
many peculiar and interesting documents.
On the commissioners' record, dated August 13 1817, appears the
following:
On application of Ebenezer McDonald, Esq.,. Clerk of the Supreme Court
of the State of Indiana, by Davis Floyd, it is ordered that Mr.
McDonald be permitted to keep his office in the northeast corner room
of the upper story of the Court house when the said room is not
occupied by any court of Indiana, or the Legislature.
"Ordered that John Tipton be allowed the sum of four dollars and fifty
cents, with interest, for so much money advanced for wolf scalps,
killed previous to the late law, as per certificate filed and that the
county treasurer pay the same out of this year's levy."
' 'Ordered that the Sheriff do on this day let out to the lowest bidder
the cleaning of lot No. 44, being. one acre & perches, and the
cleaning half of the
streets adjoining the same, and also the building of a. stray pen, of
hewed logs, twenty four feet square, to be fixed on nine good blocks
two feet long, one of the feet sunk in the ground, the pen to be six
feet high including the one foot of the blocks—to have girders. across
the corners well pinned on, the door to be faced and well pinned on and
a strong shutter to the door with a common padlock, and that the said
sheriff take bond with good security in double the amount of the lowest
bid, to be completed within four months. The money to be paid at the
expiration of the time aforesaid."
The following order, entered on record on Tuesday, the 4th day of
April, 1809, also appears.
"Ordered that the Sheriff of Harrison County collect agreeably to law
and agreeably to the commissioners list from each person chargeable
therewith on each horse, mare, etc., above three years old, fifty
cents, and on each slave one dollar, on each horse the rates of the
season, on each Ferry, except George Doups, four dollars, on Geo.
Doups' ferry, two dollars, on each tavern licensed four dollars, on
each one hundred dollars valuation of land ten cents, and pay to the
county claimants the sums respectively allowed.
Ordered
that the taverns be rated as follows, towit:
For each quart of whisky 37 1/2cts
For every quart of bounce 37 1/2cts
For every quart of brandy (French)
$1.5O
For every quart of Peach brandy 37
1/2cts
For every pint of whisky 18 3/4 ctc
For every pint of bounce 25cts
For every pint of French brandy 75cts
For every pint of Peach brandy 18
3/4cts
For every half pint of whisky 12
1/2cts
For every half pint of bounce 18
3/4cts
For every half pint of French brandy
50cts
For every half pint of Peach brandy
12 1/2cts
For a breakfast and dinner each
25cts
For supper 25cts
For a cold breakfast, dinner and
supper, each. .16 1/2 cts
For a horse per night, stabling and
hay 25cts
For a feed of grain, per gallon 12
1/2cts
Lodging per night 12 1/2 cts
Wednesday, April 15, 1809.
In the Recorder's Office, we find the
following records:
Know all men by these present that I, John Elliot, of the County of
Knox, and Indiana Territory, have for and in consideration of the sum
of four hundred dollars, to me in hand paid at or before the inseating
and delivery hereof bargained, and do by these present bargain and
sell, unto John George Pfrimmer, of the County of Harrison, in said
Territory, a certain Negro woman named Betty, with her mulatto child,
named Selina, which said Negro and child was purchased of my father,
Robert Elliott, of said county of Knox; by bill of sale dated on the
7th day of January last past, which said bill of sale with its
conditions and assurances I do hereby assign and guarantee unto the
said Pfrimmer, his heirs and assigns, and will by these presents
warrant and defend.
Given under my hand and seal in the said county of Harrison, this 10th
day of Feb., 1811.
John Elliott. (Seal.) In presence of the words "Four hundred &
Woman" Being first' indented. William Henry Harrison, Henry Rice.
Recorder's office, 15th March, 1811.
I, Richard M. Heth, recorder of Harrison county, do certify that 1 have
recorded the within Bill of Sale in my office.
R. M. Heth, Recorder."
This indenture made the nth day of October, in the year of our Lord,
One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eleven, between Squire Boone of Harrison
County, Indiana Territory, of the one part, and Thomas Currance, of the
State of Kentucky, and county of Henry, of the other part, witnesseth
that the said Squire Boone for and in consideration of the sum of fifty
pounds current money to him the said Boone in hand paid the receipt
whereof he doth hereby confess and acknowledge hath given, granted,
bargained, sold and confirmed, unto the said Thomas Currance, his heir
and assigns one tract or parcel of land lying and being in Henry County
out of a 2000 acre survey made in the name of said Boone seventy-five
acres. Beginning at a Hickory, Ash, and white Oak, thence n 45 e. West
the old line 72 poles to a white oak and two black oaks, Thence S. 45
E. 167 to a white oak, dog wood & hickory, Thence S. 45 W. 72 poles
to a hickory, beach and red oak, Thence n. 45 W. 167 poles to the
beginning. To have and to hold the said 75 acres of land be the same
more or less with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto
belonging unto the said Thomas Currance his heirs or assigns to the
only proper use and benefit and behalf of him the said Currance
forever, and him the said Boone of himself his heirs assigns the said
75 acres of land with all the appurtenances unto the said Thomas
Currance his heirs or assigns against the claim or claims of any person
or persons claiming by from or under him the said Boone will warrant
and forever defend.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the
day and year first above written. Squire Boone. (Seal)
Recorder's Office, October 11, 1811. I, Richard M. Heth, Recorder of
Harrison County, Indiana Territory, do certify that I have recorded the
within deed in my office this 11th day of October, 1811.
R. M. Heth.
From the Senate Journal, December 9, 1818, we copy the following:
"The President laid before the Senate a written communication from R.
A. New, Esquire, Secretary of State, relative to sundry contracts for
printing the laws, &c. &c. as follows, to-wit: To the Honorable
the President of the Senate of the State of Indiana:
In obedience to an existing law of this State the Secretary thereof
respectfully represents, that the following contracts have been entered
into for and on the part of the State.
A. & J. Brandon have contracted to print the bills, laws and
journals of the General Assembly for 50 cents per thousand Ms. and 50
cents per token press work; with the addition of 50 per cent for
figured and one hundred per cent for ruled and figured work— the paper
being a separate charge at cost and carriage. The work to be done in a
workmanlike manner, on good type, at the rate of thirty-two octave
pages per week, if required; and they will fold and stitch the same,
and have them ready for delivery in a week after the printing is done,
at the following rates: If the book contains not more than twenty
signatures, at six dollars per hundred; if more at 10 dollars per
hundred copies. But nothing in this contract is be so construed as to
prevent an application to the Legislature for a further compensation,
if the money be not paid within thirty days after the work is
completed. They contracted also to furnish the Legislature with
stationery at the following rates: Letter or post paper at 5 dollars
per ream; writing or cap No. 1 at 5 dollars; No. 2 at 4 dollars and 50
cents, and No. 3 at 4 dollars. Quills, wafers and ink-powder at the
current retailing prices—subject to the same provisions as to payment.
Ephraim Gwartney has contracted to furnish the Legislature with fuel at
ninety-eight cents per day.
Bond and approved security has been given for the faithful discharge of
their several contracts.
I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
R. A. New,
Secretary of State.
(From Senate Journal, December 9, 1818.)
MURDER
OF WILLIAM GRESHAM
In January, 1834, Levi Sipes, a young man of Blue River Township,
became enraged on account of a whipping which had been administered to
his brother by a school teacher, and run amuck. County Sheriff William
Gresham was sent for and when he arrived and attempted to arrest Sipes,
the infuriated young man .shot him and afterwards cut him in a number
of places with a knife. Mr. Gresham died and Sipes was arrested and
tried for his murder at Corydon in April, 1835. Sipes was defended by
Hon. John Rowan, of Louisville, Kentucky, and the prosecution was
conducted by prosecuting attorney Charles Dewey, who was a relative of
Admiral George Dewey of Manila fame. Sipes was convicted of
manslaughter and his punishment fixed at twenty-one years in the
penitentiary and a fine of one thousand dollars. In 1840 he was
pardoned by the Governor. William Gresham, the murdered man, was the
father of Walter Q. Gresham, who was Secretary of State under President
Cleveland's last administration.
THE
"WHITE CAPS"
The first case of "White Capping" in Indiana occurred in 1812, in
Harrison County. At that time Colonel Posey was a Pension Agent. A
pensioner named White came to Corydon to draw his pension and during
his stay he" boarded at the Spencer House where a stranger named Cooley
was also stopping. In the evening the two men went out together and
White became helplessly intoxicated. The next morning it was discovered
that he had been robbed and suspicion was at once directed toward
Cooley. A party of citizens among whom were John Tipton, Judan Vigus,
Fred Kintner and other prominent men, accused Cooley of being the
thief. Cooley denied that he was guilty of the crime whereupon he was
taken out and tied to a tree and whipped with switches until he
confessed and told where he had secreted the money. A search revealed
the money, which was returned to its owner and the culprit was allowed
to depart.
In 1868, James Keen was accused of stealing from his neighbors in Scott
Township. He was taken from his home and thoroughly whipped and allowed
to return to Kentucky, his native state.
In 1873, there came into existence, a secret organization, under the'
pretentious name of "Harrison County Regulators." This society is said
to have had signs, grips, passwords, by-laws and blood curdling
.obligations. The official disguise of the "Regulators" was a white
hood, worn over the head and face, with holes provided for the eyes.
From this regalia came the name of "White Cap." Each council of "White
Caps" was governed by duly elected officers and meetings were held at
stated intervals in secluded barns or spots in the woods or ravines. At
these meetings, reports were received from investigating committees
.and punishment for alleged offenses was voted. The members were then
provided with switches cut in the surrounding thickets, and at the
command of their .captain, galloped away upon their mission of
vindicating the offended law or custom.
Within the next few years more than thirty cases of "White Capping"
occurred. The punishment inflicted ranged from twenty-five to one
hundred lashes across the bare back. On one occasion a citizen sat at
home during the greater part of a winter and required his wife to haul
logs and limbs from the woods .and chop and split them into stove wood,
most of which was used for the purpose of keeping this worthy
.gentleman comfortable. One moonlight night at midnight, he was called
from his bed by the "White Caps" who took him out and harnessed him to
an old fashioned .wood sled. From midnight until almost dawn he "played
horse" for the "White Caps" and hauled wood for his wife and children.
At dawn he was released and told by the "White Caps' " leader that he
could retire. This would have been the extent of his punishment but for
the fact that he then informed the leader that he usually curried his
horses before he stabled them after hard work. The "White Caps" not
desiring him to be neglected, promptly tied him to a convenient sapling
and gave him a hundred lashes with a hickory limb.
The first sacrifice of life in these hazardous expeditions occurred in
Blue River Township on the night of April 26th, 1880. Henry Long was
termed a "Jackleg-lawyer" and was accused of stirring up strife in the
neighborhood. He was a man of well known courage and in order to avoid
danger to themselves, the "White Caps" had him arrested on some
frivolous charge which they had trumped up and had the trial set at
night. The trial was called before Squire Archibald Boston and a long
array of witnesses prolonged it until a late hour. Toward midnight the
"White Caps" appeared. Long had been disarmed but some friend had
secretly given him a revolver. The first man who attempted to enter the
door was promptly shot by Long. The man lived but a short time, and
proved to be Louis Henriot, one of the leading citizens of the
community. After the first shot the revolver failed to fire. After
being shot in the head, Long escaped from the Regulators, but he died
in a few days from the effect of the wound.
On Friday, June 7, 1889, James Devin and Charles Tennyson, of Floyd
County, went to the home of James Lemay, four miles northeast of
Corydon where they represented themselves to be stock buyers and asked
for supper and lodging. They were given their supper and a sleeping
room was put in readiness for them. While they were eating their
actions aroused Mr. Lemay's suspicions and he armed himself with a
revolver. When the men were told that their room was ready, one of them
drew a revolver and ordered the family, consisting of Mr. Lemay, his
wife, his two nieces and a hired man, into a room and closed the doors.
When the doors were closed Mr. Lemay attempted to draw his revolver,
and one of the men began firing at him. Mr. Lemay fired three shots and
was wounded five times, and Miss Lucy Lemay was shot in the arm. After
emptying his revolver, Devin ran out the door and Tennyson jumped
headlong through the nearest window Miss Matilda Lemay ran out and rang
the farm bell for help, but the men escaped. They were captured at New
Albany the next day and taken to Corydon where they were placed in jail
to await trial.
At midnight on the night of the I2th day of June, 1889, one hundred and
fifty mounted men rode into Corydon and after throwing guards about the
vicinity of the jail, battered down the jail doors and took Devin and
Tennyson to the bridge across Big Indian Creek at the west end of
Walnut Street where they were hung.
The closing act of the "White Cap" drama was enacted in "Conrad's
Hollow" in Boone Township, on the night of Saturday, August 5, 1893.
Samuel and William Conrad lived in a little log cabin here, with their
mother and sister. A few months prior to that date, their father,
Edward Conrad, had been found in a d)dng condition a short distance
from his home. The two boys were accused of having murdered him, and
they were arrested and tried at Corydon, but the evidence being
insufficient, the trial resulted in a prompt acquittal.
George K. Gwartney, who is still practicing law in Corydon, was their
attorney and he received from them two shot-guns in payment of his fee.
Upon receiving an intimation that they would probably be
"White-capped," Mr. Gwartney returned the guns to his clients. The
Conrads returned to their home and when a few days later their dog was
mysteriously poisoned they realized that they would soon receive a
.call from the "White Caps." Secreting themselves behind an old fence
they patiently awaited the coming of the Regulators, and prepared to
welcome them in an unexpected manner.
After several nights of waiting and watching, the Regulators quietly
appeared and entered the cabin from the rear. After thoroughly
searching the house, they appeared on the front porch when the two
vigilant brothers promptly opened fire with shotguns charged with
double loads of buckshot. Five men fell mortally wounded and the others
fled It was not until eight o'clock the next morning that the bodies
were found. In the meantime the Conrads fled to Kentucky where they now
live.
The men killed were Edward Huston, Lewis Wiseman, Willis May, John
Timberlake and Alfred N. Howe. While all of the dead men were
prominent citizens of the vicinity the Conrads were never arrested.
This was the last act of the organization that made Harrison County
notorious as "The White Cap County."
SLAVE
TROUBLES
Major Horace Bell was born in New Albany, December 11, 1830. When he
was two years of age his parents moved to Harrison County and settled a
short distance above the Town of Mauckport.
In 1849, Major Bell went to California in search of gold. In January,
1856, he joined the Walker army of occupation in Nicaraugua and at the
close of the war in 1857, he was in command of a battalion and was one
of eighteen left of the original three hundred and eighty-five. In 1858
his father and brother, Charles, were arrested and placed in jail in
Brandenburg, Kentucky, on a charge of assisting slaves to escape.
Because of the bitter feeling between the north and the south there was
no hope for their release. Horace and his brother, John, were called
home from California and on a day when many of the citizens of
Brandenburg were away attending a picnic, they went to Brandenburg,
forced the jailer to open the doors and liberated their father and
brother. The four ran quickly to their skiff and started to cross the
river but they were soon discovered and pursued. Horace stood up in the
boat with a revolver in each hand and by keeping up a rapid fire, held
the pursuers at bay until they reached the Indiana shore, when the
chase was abandoned.
Horace Bell returned to California in 1860, but in a short time he came
back to Indiana and joined the Sixth Indiana Regiment at Camp Morton.
On April 18, 1866, he was mustered out a Major. After the war he went
to Los Angeles and engaged in the practice of law. He is now one of the
leading citizens of Berkeley, California.
THE
MORGAN RAID
On Tuesday, the 7th day of July, 1863, General John Morgan appeared at
Brapdenburg, Kentucky, on his way to Indiana. Shortly afterward the
steamboat, T. J. McCornlgs, landed at Brandenburg, and was promptly
captured by Morgan's men. The McCombs was taken out to the middle of
the river and a short time later the Alice Dean came steaming up the
river. A distress signal was hoisted on the McCombs and when the Alice
Dean came up to render assistance, she was also captured.
News of the capture of the McCombs and the Alice Dean was conveyed to
Lieutenant Colonel William J. Irwin, of the Indiana Legion, who was
then at Mauckport. A short time later the Lady Pike landed at
Mauckport, on her way up the river and was sent back to Leavenworth
after a six pound gun and reenforcements. At midnight the Lady Pike
returned with the gun and a handful of men under command of Captain
Lyons and Colonel Woodbury. At daybreak Wednesday morning, the gunners
opened fire on the rebels but the Morgan men had planted a battery at
the Court House in Brandenburg and one at the lower end of town, with
which they opened fire on the Indiana gun, thereby causing the
defenders to beat a hasty retreat.
Under cover of their batteries, the rebels began crossing their troops
to the Indiana side of the'river where they were met by about a hundred
men under Captains Hays, Huffman and Farquar. The enemy soon became too
strong for them and they fell back, leaving Jeremiah Nance, of Laconia,
and James Current, of Heth township, dead on the field.
Dispatches for help were sent to New Albany, where government troops
and artillery were stationed and every effort was made to delay Morgan
until reenforcement could arrive or until General Hobson, who was in
pursuit of Morgan, could come up. While the fighting between Mauckport
and Corydon delayed Morgan five hours, Hobson was still "four hours
behind."
On Wednesday afternoon, the Home Guards, with Colonel Jordon in
command, gathered a force of three hundred men and marched south on the
Mauckport road about four miles to a point where Peter Glenn lived. A
body of rebel cavalry had dismounted at Glenn's house and shot John
Glenn, who appeared on the porch with a gun in his hand. Before the war
Mr. Glenn had preached at many points in Kentucky, and occasionally he
had bitterly denounced the institution of slavery. It is said that by
so doing he had incurred the displeasure of a number of Kentuckians who
were then with Morgan's command. When the Home Guards arrived the
rebels rushed for their horses and Mr. Glenn shot one man who was
delayed in his efforts to release his horse. The rebels later killed
Mr. Glenn and burned the house in which he lived.
About 11:30 o'clock Thursday morning the report reached Corydon that
the enemy were coming. The Home Guards, under command of Colonel Lewis
Jordan, Provost Marshal Timberlake and Major J. S. Pfrimmer, formed a
line of battle on the hill about a mile south of Corydon and threw up a
temporary breast works composed of logs, brush and fence rails. When
Morgan's Advance Guard appeared they were repulsed by the infantry
under command of Captain G. W. Lahue. In that fight Harry Steepleton
was killed. The rebels had three killed and seven wounded. Before this
skirmish was over the enemy appeared in force, when fire was opened by
the "Henry Rifles" under command of Major Thomas McGrain. However
Morgan's men soon opened fire with three pieces of artillery, thereby
demoralizing the defenders and causing them to fall back, each man
fighting for himself.
The rebels soon planted a battery on the hill south of town and
proceeded to make arrangements to bombard the town. After a couple of
shells had been thrown into town a white flag was hoisted, Corydon
surrendered, and the people and property were at the mercy of General
Morgan.
Before the rebels entered the town they captured County Auditor S. W.
Douglas and State Senator S. K. Wolfe, who had been with the "Henry
Rifles," and required them to ride in at their head declaring that a
shot from the citizens would be the signal for their death.
Then it was that the noted General Morgan begun the important part of
their warfare. The general stores of Douglas, Denbo & Co., and S.
J. Wright were robbed of about three thousand dollars each. The drug
store of Dr. Reader and several other small stores were also relieved
of such stock as could be used by the raiders. A tribute of $500 each
was levied upon the two flouring mills owned by Leffler & Applegate
and Wright & Brown, the payment of which -was necessary to save
them from the torch. A like ransom was levied on Mauck's Mill, about
one-half mile west of town. John J. Mauck, the owner, could not be
found and this sum was paid by S. J. Wright and Harbin Applegate.
The "Guerillas" robbed Treasurer Hisey of seven hundred and fifty
dollars, raided every home, stable and hen-house and all of the ribbon
found in the stores was utilized to make streamers and ornaments for
the rebels and their horses.
The total Union loss was three killed and two wounded. The dead were
William Heth, Nathan McKinzie and Harry Steepleton. The wounded were
Jacob Feree and Caleb Thomas. The rebels had eight killed and
thirty-three wounded.
After stealing everything that could be found of any value, that was
light enough to carry, they left about five o'clock in the evening. The
next day General Hobson entered Corydon in pursuit. General Basil Duke,
in his History of Morgan's Cavalry, estimates the number of Home Guards
in the Corydon fight at four thousand and says "They defended their
rail piles manfully." That was certainly an industrious cornpan}' of
men who caused General Duke to see four thousand men where there were
but four hundred.
The War Department recognized this engagement by inserting the name of
Corydon in the official list of battles of the Civil war.
HARRISON
COUNTY TOWNS
Besides Corydon, the county seat, there have been many other towns laid
out in Harrison County. The following is a brief history of each.
LANESVILLE.
The original plat of the Town of Lanesville was sworn to by Edward
Pennington on December 11, 1817. While the town was not platted until
1817, there had been a settlement there since about 1800. For many
years the population of the entire county obtained their supply of salt
from a salt spring in the creek bottom below Lanesville on the land
entered by James Armstrong. The town was named for Mr. Lane, a
Government Surveyor, who surveyed the town. A subsequent addition was
laid out on August 11,. 1855, by Robert Biggs. Captain Speir Spencer's
company in the Indian War was largely recruited in and around
Lanesville as was the noted "Yellow Jackets."
ELIZABETH.
The original plat of the town of Elizabeth wassworn to by William D.
Littell, before John Tipton, Justice of the Peace, on April 17, 1812.
The Town was incorporated March 8, 1819, and was named for Elizabeth
Veatch, whose husband gave the land.
MAUCKPORT.
The original plat of the Town of Mauckport was sworn to on April 17,
1827, and recorded May 7, 1827. The town was laid out on land owned by
Frederick Mauck, who settled on the site of the present town in. 1811.
LACONIA.
Laconia was platted on March 9, 1816, by John Boone.
PALMYRA.
The Town of Palmyra was leased by Hays. McCallen, November 14, 1810,
and was originally known as McCallen's Cross Roads. It was laid out
inforty-eight lots in October, 1836, and named Carthage. There being
another Carthage in the state,the name of the town was changed to
Palmyra, March 25, I&39- It *s sa'd that McCallen secured the land
from an earlier settler who complained that he had become too crowded
because Fredericksburg had been settled four mile on one side of him
and Greenville six miles on the other.
BOSTON.
Boston was a flourishing town in Taylor township, .on the Ohio River
and a short distance below Evan's Landing, in the fifties. A cut in the
river has washed the town away until nothing remains at this time.
NEW
SALISBURY.
New Salisbury was platted by John Kepley, August 28, 1839. It was named
for Salisbury, North Carolina, which was Kepley's home before .coming
to Indiana.
MORVIN
Morvin was platted by Harvey Heth, September 7, 1816. Morvin, a^ a
town, was a failure and the last house in the town was demolished by a
cannon ball from one of Morp"- 1's guns July 8, 1863.
TRENOHTOWN.
Frenchtown was settled in 1840 when a colony of about fifty families
from France settled there. The place was first called St. Bernard,
which was the name of the church there, but when a postoffice was
established there the name was changed to Frenchtown.
NEW
AMSTERDAM.
New Amsterdam was platted September 19, 1815, by Jacob Funk and Samuel
McAdams. Daniel Funk and Henry Funk, who were soldiers in the
Revolutionary War are buried one mile below the town on the bank of
Indian Creek.
BRIDGEPORT.
Bridgeport was laid out in September, 1849, by Thomas Joyes and David
M. Farnsley, but its growth has been slow. The postoffice has always
borne the name of Locust Point.
NORTH
HAMPTON.
North Hampton was platted by James Riley, May 25, 1815. It is said that
the place was noted during its existence of fifteen years for its
drinking, gambling, horse racing and fighting. It is now almost unknown.
BUENA
VISTA.
Buena Vista, in Taylor township was laid out by William Wallace in
1850. It was here that a meteor fell about four o'clock in the
afternoon of March 28, 1859. The falling of the meteor was attended
with great rattling and hissing noises which were heard for miles. The
meteor was secured by Dr. E. S. Crosier and it is. now in the British
Museum in London.
BRADFORD.
The Town of Bradford was platted by Ulrich H, How, July 20, 1838. The
old Indian trail across the northern part of Harrison County passed
near the town.
NEW
MIDDLETOWN.
New Middletown was laid out by Henry Sechrist,. October 16, 1860. The
town is surrounded by some of the best farming land in the county and
the people are prosperous and well educated.
BYRNVILLE
Byrnville was settled by Temple C. Byrn in 1809,. and platted by him in
October, 1838.
Wynnsboro was laid out by John R. Wynn, April 25, 1820.
Hurstown was settled by John Hurst in 1800. ^ Moberly is a prosperous
settlement in Spencer Township. The date of its settlement was about
1850.
Valley City was platted in November, 1859, by James H. Trotter and
Jacob C. Lopp.
Fandale was platted by John McPheeters, October 15, 1867.
Crandall was platted by Cornelius F. Crandall, June 11, 1872.
Central City (Mott) was platted by George A. Crosby, May 12, 1883.
DePauw was platted by Felician Henriott, April 8, 1884.
Gresham is that part of Corydon Junction lying north of the railroad.
It was named for Walter Q. Gresham and was platted November 14, 1883.
O'Bannon is that part of Corydon Junction lying south of the railroad.
It was platted September 3, 1889, by Joseph Deweese.
Jackson City (Ramsey) was platted by H. C. Ramsey, March 14, 1883.
Central was platted by William Smith, May 31, 1890.
NEWSPAPERS
The first newspaper published in Harrison County was the Indiana
Gazette which was launched in November, 1818.
The Corydon Democrat, the present Democratic weekly, was established in
1856 by Simeon K. Wolfe. Other editors have been A. W. Brewster, Askren
& Stockslager, George K. Gwartney, Thomas & Ellis, and Lew M.
O'Bannon, its present owner.
The Corydon Republican, the present Republican weekly, was established
in 1868, by Henry Jordan and W. T. Jones. It later passed into the
hands of Self & Adams and then to George W. Self, its present owner.
ROADS
AND RAILROADS
Closely following the building of the Louisville, Evansville and St.
Louis Railroad through the northern part of Harrison County, the
Louisville, New Albany and Corydon Railroad was built from Corydon to
Corydon Junction. The first train was run over that road November 27,
1883, (Thanksgiving Day). This train consisted of a small engine and
one coach and made the trip from Corydon Junction to Corydon, a
distance of eight miles, in one hour and five minutes. It is said that
at the end of the run one of the officers of the company remarked that
a change in the roadbed would have to be made at one point and gave as
a reason that the track was straight at that point for more than a
quarter of a mile when a curve could have been made.
The first turnpike in Harrison County was the New Albany and Vincennes
Turnpike which runs through the north-eastern part of the county. This
road follows the old "Indian Trail" and was constructed in 1841.
On July 8, 1851, the New Albany, Lanesville and Corydon Plank Road
Company was organized. This road was completed about 1853.
HARRISON
COUNTY OFFICERS
JUDGES.
The first Judges of the Common Pleas Court were Patrick Shields, John
George Pfrimmer and Moses Boone, May 10, 1809. At the June term of the
court Peter Mclntosh succeeded John George Pfrimmer.
The first Judges of the Circuit Court were Jesse L. Holman, president,
and Daniel C. Lane and Patrick Shields, associates; November, 1814, to
April, 1817; These gentlemen were succeeded by David Raymond,
president, and Patrick Shields and Peter Mclntosh, associates,
November, 1817, to April, 1818; Davis Floyd, president, and Peter
Mclntosh and Fielding M. Bradford, associates, April, 1818, to
September, 1820; David .Floyd, president, and James Kirkpatrick and
Peter McIntosh, associates, September, 1820, to March, 1823; Davis
Floyd, president, and James Kirkpatrick and Abijah Bayless, associates,
March, 1823, to June, 1823; John F. Ross, president, and James
Kirkpatrick and Abijah Bayless, associates, June, 1823, to May, 1824;
John F. Ross, president, and John Harrison and Moses Boone, associates,
May, 1824, to April, 1831; John F. Ross, president, and Craven Lynn and
Moses Boone, associates, April, 1831, to October, 1834; John H.
Thompson, president, and Fielding Cromwell and .Craven Lynn,
associates, October, 1834, to October, 1836; John H. Thompson,
president, and Fielding 'Cromwell and John Hogan, associates, October,
1836, to April, 1845; William P. Otto, president, and Fielding
.Cromwell and John Hogan, associates, April, 1845, to April, 1852;
William P. Otto, sole judge, 1852; George A. Bicknell, 1853; T. C.
Slaughter, 1872 to 1879; .George W. Denbo, 1879 to 1880; Samuel Ramsey,
1880 to 1886; William T. Zenor, 1886 to 1897; Robert S. Kirkham, 1897,
C. W. Cook, 1898 to October, 1909; William Ridley, October 1909 for a
term of six years.
JUDGES
OF PROBATE COURT.
W. A. Porter, November, 1829, to February, 1834; Lyman Leslie,
February, 1834, to November, 1834; .George Bently, November, 1834, to
November, 1842; Charles D. Murray, November, 1842, to May, 1843; Lemuel
S. Leonard, May, 1843, to August, 1847; T. C. Slaughter, August, 1847,
to August, 1848; Craven Lynn, succeeded Judge Slaughter.
Judges Of Common Pleas Court.
William Morrow, January, 1853, to November, 1856;: Fred W. Mathis,
November, 1856, to February, 1861; Amos Lovering, February, 1861, to
April, 1864; B. P. Douglas, April, 1864, to August, 1864; W.W.
Gilliland, August, 1864; B. P. Douglass, August, 1864, to December,
1864; Patrick H. Jewett, December, 1864, to December, 1872. Charles P.
Ferguson succeeded Judge Jewett.
CLERKS.
George F. Pope, 1809 to April, 1811; R. M. Heth, 1811 to 1818; Henry W.
Heth, 1818 to 1852; Hugh Neely, 1852 to 1856; George W. Deubo, 1856 to
1860; E. M. Jones, 1860 to August, 1864; S. W. Douglass, August to
November, 1864; William Hancock, November, 1864, to 1868; B. P.
Douglass, 1868 to 1872; John Ridley, 1872 to 1880; D. F. Lemmon, 1884
to 1888; Alva Smith, 1888 to 1892; Amos I^emmon, 1892 to 1896; Otto
Cunningham, 1896 to 1900; Charles A. Bline, 1900 to 1904; James A.
McRae, 1904 to 1908. Charles H. Kintner succeeded Mr. McRae for a term
of four years.
TREASURERS.
Gillis McBean, 1818; Thomas Posey, 1818 to 1824; Armstrong Brandon,
1824 to 1828; John W. Payne and Robert Vance, 1828 to 1849; John
Tabler, 1849to 1853; George W. Denbo, 1853 to 1^55, John Deweese, 1855
to 1857; James W. Starr, 1857 to 1859; Willison Hisey, 1859 to 1863; E.
H. Richards, 1864 to 1869; Edward Harbeson, 1867 to 1871; Lewis W.
Bowlling, 1871 to 1875; William Benson, 1875 to 1879; Lewis W. Bowling,
1879 to 1883; John C. Graves, 1883 to 1887; Z. T. Funk, 1887 to'iSSg;
Patrick Griffin, 1889 to 1893; William Meyer, 1893 to 1895; John W.
Marshall, 1895 to 1897; Levi Sappenfield, 1897 to 1902; Edward
O'Connor, 1902 to 1906; John M. Baelz, 1906 to
1908; William D. Barnes, 1908 to 1912; Daniel Pitman was elected in
1910 to succeed Mr. Barnes.
CORONERS.
William Heth, 1834 to 1838; William Booker,. 1838 to 1842; William
Applegate, 1842 to 1844; Samuel Littell, 1844 to 1846; David Groves,
1846 to 1848; Harvey Steepleton, 1848101850; Job Robinson, 1850 to
1853; James H. Richards, 1853 to 1854; William R. Hunter, 1854 to 1856;
Upton Boone, 1856 to 1860; Z. B. Cooper, 1860 to 1862; George O'Conner,
186210 1870; James Wilson, 1870 to 1880; George Kintner, 1880 to 1884;
Andrew J. Glaze, 1884 to 1894; William Windell, 1894 to 1896; Peter S.
Wright, 1896 to 1900;: William S. Nye, 1900 to 1904; Peter S. Wright,
1904 to 1906; James M. Blake, 1906 to 1908; Henry Wise, 1908 to 1910;
William S. Nye succeeded Mr. Wise in 1911.
SURVEYORS.
Adam Crosier, 1854 to 1856; James Armstrong, 1856 to 1868; John
Brewster, 1868 to 1882; Sam Roberts, 1882 to 1883; Lafe Crosier, 1883
to 1884; AmosZenor, 1884 to 1887; William B.Douglass, 1887; Lew M.
O'Bannon, 1887 to 1890; A. J. Armstrong, 1890 to 1892; J. V. Denton,
1892 to 1894; William Churchill, 1894 to 1896; Joseph E. Bunch, 1896
to1898; Thomas J. Wright, 1898 to 1899; Dan Sharp, 1899 to 1903; Hugh
Rhodes, 1902 to 1907; Arvel Snyder, 1907 to 1908; John L. naylor, 1908
to 1910; Mr. Kay lor was re-elected in 1910.
RECORDERS.
H. W. Heth, 1841 to 1855; L. S. Leonard, 1855 to 1859; N. B. Boone.
1859 to 1862; Conrad Hottell, September 30 to October 8, 1862; Marion
Hise, 1862 to 1866; M. M. Hon, 1866 to 1870; William Zollman, 1870 to
1874; William B. Hunter, 1878 to 1882; Edward Hunter, 1882 to 1884;
Henry Wright, 1884 to 1886; John M. Baelz, 1886 to 1890; L. M.
O'Bannon, 1890 to 1894; E. S. Tuell, 1894 to 1898; Henry W. Denbo, 1898
to 1902; Frank M. Wilson, 1903 to 1907, Julius Rothrock, 1907 to 1911;
Charles H. Ginkins succeeded Mr. Rothrock in 1911, having been elected
.for a term of four years.
Auditors.
T. C. Slaughter, 1842 to 1847; S. J. Wright, 1847 to 1851; B. P.
Douglass, 1851 to 1859; S.W.Douglass, 1859 to 1863; William Miller,
1863 to 1867; B. P. Douglass, 1866 to 1867; S. J. Wright, 1867 to 1871;
W. W. Brewster, 1871 to 1875; C. M. Miller, 1875 to 1879; A. W.
Brewster, 1879 to 1887; James Wood-ward, 1887 to 1889; Leslie Trotter,
November, 1889, to November, 1890; C. W. Cole, November, 1890, to 1894;
T. S. Getzendanner, 1894 to 1898; James A. Watson, 1898 to January,
1903; George Hess, 1903 to April, 1904; Frank E. Watson, April, 1904,
to 1909; William Taylor succeeded Mr. Watson for a term of four years.
Sheriffs.
Spier Spencer, 1809 to 1812; John Hurst, 1812 to 1817; from 1817 to
1834 tne dates of the term of sheriffs cannot be definitely fixed, but
the following gentlemen filled that office during that period: John
Tipton, Joseph Paddocks, Jesse Shields, Frederick Lesle, William
Gresham and Dennis Pennington; Jesse Shields, 1834 to 1836; Dennis
Pennington, 1836 to 1838; William Madden, 1838 to 1842; James Giles,
1842 to 1846; William Gwinn, 1846 to 1850; William McMahan, 1850 to
1854; James Giles, 1854 to 1856; Jacob Stockslager, 1856 to 1860; John
F. Cunningham, 1860 to 1864; Henry Zenor, 1864 to 1868; Peter Endris,
1868 to 1872; Silas Crayden, 1872 to 1876; Xewis Brown, 1876 to 1880;
Joseph L,. Marsh, 1880 to 1884; S. J. Bence, 1884 to 1888; Claiborne
Shuck, 1888to 1892; Nathan McElfresh, 1892 to 1894; William Blake, 1894
to 1896, J. M. Baelz, 1897 to 1900; Philip Lottich, 1900 to 1905;
William Ludlow, 1905 to 1907; Alver G. Ward, 1907 to 1911; Peter S.
Wright, 1911,. for a term of two years.
NOTED
CITIZENS
During her existence, Harrison County has been the home of many noted
men and women, among whom are the following: William Henry Harrison,
ninth President of the United States; Colonel ThomasPosey, Territorial
Governor from 1813 to 1816; General John Tipton, Captain Spier Spencer,
Colonel Lewis Jordan, General Walter Q. Gresham, who was United States
Judge for the District of Indiana from 1869 to 1882, Postmaster General
from 1882 to 1884,. Secretary of the Treasury in 1884, and was
appointed Secretary of State by President Cleveland in 1893;. Colonel
Thomas Posey, Jonathan Jennings, first Governor of Indiana; Allen D.
Thorn, Adjutant General of Indiana; Daniel C. Lane, first State
Treasurer,Davis Floyd, Dennis Pennington, General Sparks,. Land
Commissioner during Cleveland's first administration; Robert J.
Tracewell, Congressman and Controller of the United States Treasury;
Nathaniel Albertson, Congressman; W. T. Jones, Congressmanfrom Wyoming;
S. M. Stockslager, Congressman and Land Commissioner under President
Cleveland; Josiah. Lincoln, uncle of Abraham Lincoln; Simeon K. Wolfe,
Congressman; William T. Zenor, Congressman; T. C. Slaughter, Assessor
of Internal Revenue and Indian Agent; Harbin H. Moore, Reuben W.
Nelson, William A. Porter, Colonel G. W. Friedley, James H. Jordan,
Judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana; General James C. Veach, George
W. Self, Reporter of the Supreme Court of Indiana; Mary IJ. Nealy, who
wrote as "Mary Neal," Brainard Williamson, poet and writer; Miss Abbie
Siemens, whose poems attracted considerable attention during the Civil
War; William Ridley, Grand Master of Indiana Masons, and many others.
THE
CORYDON FAIR
The first "County Fair" was held at Corydon by the Harrison County
Agricultural Society September 11, 12, 13 and 14, 1860. The officers
that year were Edward W. Aydelotte, President; P. D. Bean, Vice
President; Eli Wright, Treasurer; and David Jordan, Secretary. This
fair was attended by about fifty people and is described by many old
people who attended it as being similar to the old fashioned "Basket
Meeting." The Corydon Fair has been successful and has grown in
magnitude until today it ranks among the best county fairs in the state
and an attendance of less than twelve thousand on the "Big days" is a
disappointment to every native. The grounds lie just across "Little
Indian" Creek from the business portion of Corydon and are beautifully
shaded. ./*
There we also find a never failing spring of pure, cold water, a
natural amphitheater, a modern half mile race track and every
convenience that goes to make a mod.ern up-to-date fair grounds.
HARRISON
COUNTY TODAY
In Harrison County, today, many changes and improvements are noticeable
to the eye wh'ich has been absent for twenty years. The land of the
county has more than doubled in value; great forests of gigantic oaks,
walnut, poplar and other valuable woods of , twenty years ago have
given away to fertile fields and green pasture lands. The farmers are
prosperous and progressive and no county of Indiana possesses more
modern farm machinery and implements. She is noted for her fine
poultry, thoroughbred horses and Jersey cattle. It has been correctly
termed the county of peace, happiness and plenty. Many miles of free
macadam roads have been built and travel today is a pleasure and
convenience when compared with the old days of the hillside path and
creek bottom road. Many improvements in methods of farming have been
inaugurated and there are now few farms in the county that do not
possess handsome residences and comfortable roomy barns. Few counties
can boast of schools that equal those found here, and the teachers of
the .county bear a state-wide reputation. Mrs. Julia Fried Walker, a
teacher and Institute Lecturer of more than state-wide reputation, is a
native of Corydon, as are Prof. Orlin Venner, Lucien Morris, Walter
Bean and many other noted educators Creameries have been erected in
nearly every town in the county and many distilleries exist within her
borders. Harrison County now produces more fruit brandy than any other
county in the world, the bulk of this product coming from Mauckport and
New Amsterdam. In 1894, an electric light plant and water works system
were built in Corydon by William H. Keller. Both of these industries
are now operated by Mr. Frank R. Wright. In 1903 the Town of Corydon
built another water works system. Corydon also has a large canning
factory, two ice and cold storage plants, two national banks, one
savings and loan association, one trust company, two flouring mills,
one grain elevator and many other modern business houses and
enterprises of various kinds. One of the largest and best equipped
wagon manufacturing plants in the country is located at Corydon. It is
owned and operated by a corporation, The Keller Manufacturing Company,
of which William H. Keller is president. This plant employs more than
one hundred men and has a capacity of more than seven thousand
completed wagons annually. Harrison County is now and has always been a
hotly contested political ground. Many notable men have campaigned
within her borders. A spirit of pride in the public welfare impregnates
the atmosphere and the boy of Harrison County, from his early
childhood, is taught thrift, politics and morality. Harrison County may
always remain in the "pocket" of the majestic Ohio; she may always be
"out of the way;" she may always remain "slow" and "conservative" but
so long as her name remains'- unchanged, the world will, at least,
occasionally, be reminded that she occupies a place upon the map of
that great state that was bora and reared in her bosom—INDIANA.
Yon sun that sets upon the sea;
We follow in his flight,
Farewell awhile to him and thee,
My native land—Good Night.
—Byron- Childe Harold.
Indiana's birthplace: a history of Harrison County, Indiana By William
H. Roose