First Hand

An Andersonville Survivor's Statement 1867

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After the Civil War, Congress held hearings on the treatment of prisoners of war by the Confederates. This brief statement was made in 1867 by Albert F. Land of Madison. A lengthy history was published in 1869 as the "Report of the Treatment of Prisoners of War by the Rebel Authorities during the War of Rebellion.

I was a private of Company D, Sixth Indiana volunteers. Was captured at Chickamauga September 20, 1863, and was taken to Richmond. I was a prisoner fourteen months. After being a prisoner about ten weeks I was taken to the small-pox hospital. While prisoner at Richmond the ration was so small for a day that one could eat it all at one meal and still want more. We received some clothing sent by the government to us, but we were soon compelled to trade it off for food. February 18 was sent to Andersonville, where we suffered untold misery. The ration was very small and poor. We had no cooking utensils, and "but little wood to cook what we got. The scurvy was awful. The stench arising from those who had it was terrible. I have seen the scurvy sores so full of maggots that the victim would have to scrape them out with a chip, not being able to go for water. These men were allowed to rot to death in the camp. Three times as many died in the stockade as at the hospital. The groans of the sufferers could be heard day and night. I saw one man who had cut his throat to escape from his misery. I knew several who were killed by the guard for going too near the dead-line, or for reaching under it to get a bone or crust of bread which the guards had thrown between the line and stockade to tempt us.

1873: A Visit by a Reorganized LDS Minister

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While there were Mormons in Jefferson County in the 1800s, most of the activity by a church that got labelled as Mormon was by the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. A group that split from the LDS and followed Joseph Smith, son of the LDS founder of the same name., the RLDS did not call itself Mormon and in 2000 was renamed the Community of Christ. There were at least two RLDS branches in Jefferson County in the late 1800s. They probably both failed by 1910. One was on Hall's Ridge, and probably called the Mt. Pleasant Branch, taking its name from the same geographical feature that gave its name to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church when it organized in 1897. The services reported here were for Union Branch, which was in Smyrna Township, not far from Wirt. RLDS records usually refer to it as being at Wirt. The minister who signed this letter, James G. Scott, had brothers, John Scott and Columbus Scott, who were ministers and also worked in Jefferson County

That there were Mormons in Jefferson County before 1900, although no known organization congregation, is made clear by this letter's reference to the Woodburns as having been old church members. The RLDS probably got its foothold by recruiting Mormons. Documents for 1873 and before are clear in reporting residents that were LDS members but not how they came to be in Jefferson County.

The Herald (also called the Saints Herald and True Saints Herald in some editions), Joseph Smith Editor, Plano, Ill., July 1, 1873.

Scottsville, Ind.,
June 27th, 1873.

Br. Joseph:

I have just returned from Jefferson County, Indiana, where. I have held some twenty day's meeting with good results. I had the honor of receiving four members from the city of Madison. Two of them were old church members, Br. Woodburn and his wife; and four from the world; in all eight of the best citizens.

We had a Pentecost; for two hours after confirmation, the Holy Spirit fell on two of the members, and they spake in tongues and prophesied; sang in tongues, and sang the interpretation. One was ordained priest. I do not suppose that such a time ever was enjoyed in the Reorganization; for the gifts were enjoyed by all the Saints. There are some twenty-four members at Union Branch; two priests, one deacon, two elders. The Branch is in good working order. We had a crowded house all the time, from two to three hundred, the people supposed. I was sent for about ten miles north to preach, and was promised a good meeting house; but I could not go at the time. This was in Jennings County. There is a great field in that place. I never enjoyed as much of the spirit of power in my life before. It was that the Lord caused the heavens to bow, for the good of his people. All the honor and the glory be to God. This theme is too glorious to dwell on longer.

Brother Woodburn made a public acknowledgment before all. He is to be esteemed as a brother; and will be a worker. It is believed that he will be sent to England. If I were able I would labor all the lime. May the Lord bless all his; for Christ's sake. Your brother in the new covenant bonds, JAMES G. SCOTT.

1882: A Minister Voices Support for Alcohol

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Southern Indiana has always had a strong anti-alcohol sentiment among its religious groups. However, there have been voices raised in enthusiastic support from the other side by religious leaders. In this 1882 anecdote, a Madison minister argues essentially "that if wine was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me."

Frank Leslie's Sunday magazine, T. DeWitt Talmage, Editor Volume 12 No. 1, July 1882.

The Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Wilson pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, of Madison, Ind., was elected a delegate to the general Assembly, but the New Albany Presbytery refused to send him, for the reason, it is said, that he had objected to admitting a woman to plead before the Presbytery in favor of total abstinence and a prohibitory law. Dr. Wilson has published an open letter to the New Albany Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church in general, concluding as follows: "Thus let the Presbyterian people of God everywhere, and all the Church of God, know that the Presbytery of New Albany makes it a test of ministerial standing that her members shall approve of what Paul has forbidden, and shall co-operate with a self-constituted body of women, who, assuming without right the divine name of Christian, are using all their power and influence to secure the enactment of a law, under which, if Jesus were at a marriage feast in Indiana, and were to make and give to the guests, not for medicine, but as a festive beverage, a quart, not to Say a hundred gallons, of wine, as He did at Cana, He would be fined and imprisoned; and the Presbytery of New Albany, if their advocate, Mrs. Leavitt, is correct, would say He has been served exactly right. I would not consent to this deed, and, while regretting the shameful fact that not another elder was found who cared enough for the honor of his Lord to join in the protest, I thank God for the grace and courage given me to stand alone, with P.ml and Christ as my examples and teachers.

Madison's "Race Riot" 1840

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In the 1880s, writer Andrew Grayson had a column published in the Madison Courier that described what has been labeled a race riot, but which was probably not quite that full-fledged a conflict.

There have been writers who doubted the event happened and no one has previously given a specific date. However, this account, published in Niles National Register of Aug. 15, 1840, coincides with the more detailed version written by Grayson.

While the newspaper gave the story an Iowa headline, it was clearly Madison, Ind., as the town is called Madison, Ia., and Ia., was the abbreviation for Indiana. Also, the account was carried in the Louisville journal. Moreover, there is no Madison, Iowa, although there is a Fort Madison, which would have been called that.

Vol. III Niles National Register, August 15, 1840 Baltimore, 5th series, No. 24.

"We understand, that, on Friday night, there was a conflict between a number of whites and blacks at Madison, la., in the course of which two men were shot and very severely wounded. One of the negroes was subsequently taken to the river for the purpose of being thrown in and drowned, but the interference of some influential persons saved his life. On Saturday night many of the citizens were arming themselves and swearing to exterminate the negroes from the city." Louisville Journal

Dupont, Ind., 1881

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This account was printed in the Madison Weekly Courier of June 8, 1881, after having been originally printed in the Vernon Banner

Dupont is a thriving little village in Jefferson County, on the railroad, two miles from the Jennings county line, and is eight miles south of the heart of the world. The town was laid out in 1839 by Dr. Tilton, father of Mark Tilton, pension agent at Washington, assisted by John Abbott, and was named by William Griffin in honor of a town in Ireland. Although the town was commenced in an early day it did not get its full growth, and was not completed till a few years ago.

There are three general stores here, kept by L.E. O'Neal, B. W. Hughes and T.S. Williams.

We have three doctors and no coffin-maker. Dr. Geo. B. Lewis practices medicine, carries on a drug store and a postmaster, and has farming carried on besides. Very few men can carry on so many kinds of business without spreading them out and making them to thin, but Dr. has his son J.F. Lewis, helping him heal the sick. Dr. J.F. Flanders also comes in for his share of the practice.

G.W. Graston runs a saw and grist mill. W.A. Guthry buys and ships large quantities of timber at this point.

The Methodists have a strong class here and a good brick house with bell and organ; and a Sabbath school that continues all the year round. Rev. Wm. Barton is the preacher in charge.

The Baptists have a large membership and a frame house with bell, organ, etc. and a Sunday school set to run world without end. Their house is tolerably good, but they are determined to tear it down and build a greater. In years gone by this church was blessed with the labors of such men as Taylor Stott, M.B. Ferris and Thomas Hill, father our our Allen Hill, who served nobly their generation. For the last ten years Rev. J. F. McCoy has been pastor most of the time. He is the biggest preacher in Southern Indiana to the scales drawing 233 pounds and still growing. His souls is as large as his body, and he is chuck full of music from top to bottom. He and his wife present a striking contrast--she is small, delicate and rather inclined to be good-looking and weighs less than one hundred pounds.

The morals of Dupont are good and the people are industrious and thriving, but the boys are exceedingly numerous and rough about the cuffs when they stop. No whisky sold and very little drunk in and around Dupont. They have a good school and are abreast of the times generally.

Jefferson County's Notorious Bad Highways 1917

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In 1917, the state board of education issued a wide-ranging study about Jefferson County entitled, "A Survey of Jefferson County, Indiana, for Purposes of Vocational Education." It delved into the county's economic needs, along with making numerous recommendations for consolidation of schools as part of its plan to promote the establishment of vocational education schools. Several state education officers, William Millis, president of Hanover College, The field work was done by Mr. Robert J. Millis and Mr. Fletcher N. Hufford, students in sociology in Hanover College, along with Joseph H. Hanna, County Superintendent of Schools and Professor Glenn Culbertson, Professor of Agriculture in Hanover College. Culbertson grew up in the Scottish settlement. The group approved a report that carried damning information about the county's roads.

REPORT OF THE EVANSVILLE SURVEY FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CHARLES H. WINSLOW STATE DIRECTOR OF VOCATIONAL RESEARCH January 1, 1917 APPROVED BY STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

"A definite program for highway improvement should be adopted. This program should provide for the active construction and repair of roads and bridges with reference to permanency of improvement and within a budget which, while sufficient for tangible results, would not embarrass the development of the county in other respects. The inefficiency of road building and repair in Jefferson County is notorious and is clue primarily to three causes: (1) The lack of a definite program to be followed for a term of years, the result of which is the construction of unimportant roads, while the main highways have been left to deteriorate to the vanishing point. (2) Incompetent engineering. (3) Political abuse of the office of County Road Superintendent. The present county officials are, in the main, efficient, but have little or no control over the construction work. The county has ample deposits of first-class materials for road building, but too often the engineer authorizes poor material and the result is that many roads must be rebuilt before the bonds issued on the original construction have been paid. With this poor return for the money invested, it is significant to find that 41% of the public funds collected from the tax payers is expended on roads and bridges. It is believed by the Committee that this is too large an investment to entrust to the care of inefficient management of road construction and repair in vogue."

Deluge in the Indian-Kentuck Basin: 1908

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The streams in Jefferson County, and probably much of Southern Indiana, once ran clear after storms, my grandfather once said. It was deforestation that turn caused them to turn muddy as they now do. And it was deforestation that produced alternating dry creek beds and raging torrents that drove mills out of business. The forests had once released water slowly, ensuring a steady flow much of the year. This paper by Professor Glenn Culbertson, whose family came from the Scottish settlement in the upper reached of the Indian-Kentuck basin, described an unusual cloudburst whose effects he attributed to the deforestation.

The Twenty-fourth Annual Meeting Of The Indiana Academy Of Science.

The twenty-fourth annual meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science was held at Purdue University. Lafayette, Indiana. Thursday. Friday and Saturday. November 26, 27 and 28. 1908.

Furthermore, we believe that it can be shown that deforestation has a tendency in a region of rough topography, such as is found among the hills of southern Indiana, to localize the hot season rainfall, and to produce conditions approximating those of the so-called "cloudbursts" of the Rocky Mountain regions of the West. A case in point occurred during the past summer in the latter part of July over an area of some six or eight square miles along the divide between the basins of Indian Kentucky and Indian creeks and their tributaries, in eastern Jefferson and western Switzerland counties of this State. The rainfall in this case was unprecedented for the region.

On one border of the given area a government rain gauge, kept by J. R. Shaw, Jr., was filled to the brim, the measurement amounting to three and one-half inches, and then ran over for an unknown period. Afterward the gauge was emptied and received one and one-half inches more, making at the least live inches, and probably much more, in the period of two hours during which the rain fell. Other and more reliable measurements in locations more nearly the center of the storm area were made and a precipitation of at least ten inches in the two-hour period were recorded.

The conditions producing this exceptional and very destructive rainstorm were as follows: The region to the west and southwest of the storm-swept region is one of the roughest topographically in southern Indiana. The whole area for ten or twelve miles in this direction forms the basin of Indian Kentucky Creek and tributaries, and the hills rise in many instances 400 to 450 feet above the valleys, and the slopes are very steep. From the whole basin the forests have been almost entirely removed.

On the day referred to the temperature was unusually high, some thermometers within the area registering 102 degrees in the shade. There was no movement of the air until early in the afternoon, when a gentle southwest wind arose, and this caused the highly-heated air of the whole region to move northeastward. The valley of Brushy-fork Creek, one of the principal tributaries of Indian Kentucky Creek, became the center of the air movement.

About three in the afternoon a cloud began to form above the divide and around the head of the valley of Brushy-fork Creek. The highly-heated air ascended very rapidly on reaching the divide, and the consequent rapid cooling of the air by expansion caused an equally rapid condensation of the moisture of the air. The cloud increased in volume with very great swiftness, and the rain fell in torrents, first over a very limited area and then over a wider region. The center of the storm, however, instead of moving, as is usually the case, remained almost stationary for a period of two hours. During this time the winds from almost the entire surrounding region moved slowly towards the now enlarged area of precipitation. There were few if any clouds outside of the six or eight square miles covered by the storm, but the hot air from the proximity, on reaching this area of rapidly rising atmosphere, constantly added its moisture to that being condensed, with the result that for two hours the downpour continued.

This very unusual precipitation proved exceedingly disastrous to the soil of the cultivated fields, and to the roads and bridges as well as to property of all kinds along Brushy Fork Creek and the larger tributaries of Indian Creek. Both of these streams were several feet above any previous record. Where a few moments before there were dry, rocky creek beds, now became a wild flood from six to ten feet in depth and from 300 to 500 feet wide. Buildings were carried away that had seldom or never been touched by previous floods.

In the opinion of the writer this cloudburst, which in truth it was, was caused by the intense heating of the deforested region of very rough topography to the southwest, followed by the gentle movement of great volumes of heated air in a northeasterly direction, until in its passage over the divide it rapidly ascended. Becoming cooled in its ascent, the enormous quantity of moisture held in the highly-heated atmosphere rapidly condensed, and the unprecedented rainfall for that region followed.

It may be years before conditions of temperature, moisture and winds would unite to produce another such storm in the same locality, yet the probabilities are that in the future such rainfalls will become increasingly frequent somewhere in such deforested areas of rough topography.

County Facility Inspection and Condemnation of the Jail 1921

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This report of a visitation of public facilities in Jefferson County by the Jefferson County Board of Charities was a fairly typical report for one of the 92 counties. There was one exception, the succinct description of the jail as "a blot upon our civilization." Having visited the jail in a high school field trip about 1966, I'd agree. Unfortunately, the pre-Civil War facility was only replaced in the last few years.

Thirty-First Annual Report of the Board of State Charities of Indiana For the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1920 To The Governor Fort Wayne Printing Company Contractors For Indiana State Printing And Binding Fort Wayne. Indiana

County Poor Asylum, Madison. Visited June 21, 1921. As usual, we found the patients well cared for physically, the building clean, and sanitary conditions good. The efficient superintendent and his wife should have as few handicaps as possible, and we recommend a hot water supply and two bath tubs, one for the superintendent's family and one for the women patients. We note with pleasure new windows throughout the building and a new floor and railing in the court.

County Jail, Madison. Our jail is a blot upon our civilization. We feel that the commissioners should employ a competent person to determine whether to build a modern jail or remodel the old building.

Dependent Children. We have assisted the Board of State Charities in finding real homes for our dependent and neglected children. A member of our board recently visited the Bartholomew County Orphans' Home, where are seven of our orphan children. They are in a large airy building, with an equipped playground and a garden that the children help cultivate. The matron is deeply interested in their welfare. Our colored orphans are cared for at an orphans' home in Indianapolis.

We have made all necessary arrangements to send to the School for Feeble-Minded Youth two young women at the county poor asylum, each of whom has given to the world a feeble-minded, illegitimate child. In a representative republic like ours, where heads, not brains, are counted, it is important that the civilization be of the highest character. We have spent thousands of dollars protecting our live stock against disease and teaching farmers how to raise pure bred cattle; yet we are permitting mental defectives to increase one and one-half times as fast as our normal population. When it is proposed to employ an all-time health officer and have our children examined regularly in the schools, in order to correct easily remedied defects that retard the child's development, a cry goes up against high taxes. May the time soon come when the public will insist upon sanitary homes, supervised playgrounds, swimming pools and community centers, and any social agency that will save the child from unsafe and adverse conditions that surround it.

(Signed) Mrs. EVA P. MeLELLAND, Chairman.
M. L. GUTHNECK, Secretary.

Manville Christian Church: 1834

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The advent of the Disciples of Christ, also known as Campbellites, brought division to many churches in the 1830s. Among them was the Milton Baptist Church, which gave painful birth to the Manville Christian Church in 1831. For example, two messengers who represented Milton in 1830 at the annual meeting of the Coffee Creek Baptist Church, William Yates and John Lanham, were among the first members on the Manville Church roll. Although the first part of that list is undated, they were probably charter members. This letter, published in a denominational publication, hints at the bitterness.

The Christian Evangelist, April 7, 1834

“We esteem the word of God as living and effective and since we got rid of the Babylonians, thirteen of fourteen have been added to our number. Seven of the old folks remain obdurate; two of them were elders and one a Rabbi. We request that Travelling Brethren would call on us in Milton Township, Jefferson County, Ind., two miles from where the road from Madison to Lawrenceburg crosses Indian-Kentuck Creek'

The Slave Catcher Gets Expenses Paid: 1858

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Jefferson County Sheriff Wright or Right Rea (spelled Ray here) was known for his slave-catching ability. In this act of the Kentucky legislature, authorized paying Wright and unnamed others for their role in the capture of Elijah Anderson. Anderson, who had lived in Madison, moved to Cleveland, Ohio, because of the threats stemming from his aiding slaves to escape. But he was convicted of slave-stealing in 1857 and sentenced to an eight-year term in a Kentucky Prison. He was found dead in his cell in 1861, supposedly from a heart attack.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY,
PASSED AT THE SESSION WHICH WAS BEGUN AND HELD IN THE CITY OF
FRANKFORT, ON MONDAY, THE 7TH OF DECEMBER, 1857, AND ENDED WEDNESDAY, 17TH OF FEBRUARY, 1868.

AN ACT for the benefit of Wright Ray, and others. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 1858. State of Indiana, for the sum of twenty-five dollars each, for expenses incurred in attending in Kentucky as witnesses against Elijah Anderson a negro thief, to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated§

2. That this act shall take effect from its passage. Approved February 9, 1858.

Anti-Slavery Petitions from Jefferson County

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The fight against slavery and policies that supported it became the subject of numerous petitions from residents of the north, including Jefferson County. The extracts listed here are very typical in opposing the slave trade, the slave trade in the District of Columbia, the annexation of Texas (which became a slave state) and for the recognition of Haiti. The latter, governed by blacks, was staunchly opposed by the south. The one not very typical item here was the petition of Sept. 26, 1837 by free black citizens of Jefferson County. Unfortunately, as with most other petitions, names weren't provided. The South was successful in passing a rule that no anti-slavery petitions would be accepted, also the subject of a petition here. The hero of this effort was Representative and former President John Quincy Adams who read these into the record despite the official rules.

March 1 1836

Petitions and memorials, praying that slavery and the slave trade may he abolished in the District of Columbia, were presented as follows, viz

By Mr. Carr: A petition of citizens of Jefferson, in the State of Indiana.

Sept. 25, 1837

Petitions and memorials, praying for the abolition of slavery and for the prohibition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia and in the District of Columbia and the Territories of the United States, were presented by Mr. John Quincy Adams, as follows, viz:

* Of James Matthews and 80 inhabitants of Jefferson county, in the State of Indiana;
* Of Jane Phillips and 78 females of Jefferson county, in the State of Indiana;

Sept. 25, 1837
Mr. John Quincy Adams presented memorials remonstrating against the annexation of Texas to the Union of these States, as follows, viz:

Memorials praying for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia, or in the District of Columbia and in the Territories of the United States, were presented as follows, to wit:

Of citizens of Jefferson county, in the State of Indiana;
Of free colored people of Jefferson county, in the State of Indiana

Feb. 14, 1838

Memorials praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia were presented as follows, viz: By Mr. W. Graham, of Indiana: Of citizens, male and female, of Jefferson county, in the State of Indiana;

April 9, 1838
Memorials praying the abolition of the slave trade in the District of Columbia were presented as follows, viz: Of Sarah Reed and 26 other women of Jefferson county, in the State of Indiana.

Monday, Feb. 4, 1839.

Also, the petition of 204 citizens of Jefferson and Scott counties, Indiana, praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and the Territories of the United States; to regulate the slave, trade among the States, and against the annexation of Texas to the United States. Also, the petition of 57 citizens of Jefferson county, Indiana, protesting against the admission of any new State into the Union whose constitution tolerates domestic slavery, and against the annexation of Texas. Also, the petition of 28 inhabitants of Jefferson county, Indiana, praying Congress to regulate the slave trade among the States. Also, the petition of 28 inhabitants of Jefferson county, Indiana, praying the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Also, the petition of 29 inhabitants of Jefferson county, Indiana, protesting against the admission of any new State into this Union whose constitution tolerates slavery ,and against the annexation of Texas to the United Suits. Also, the petition of 43 inhabitants of Jefferson county, Indiana, praying the immediate abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Also, the petition of 4 inhabitants of Jefferson county, Indiana, praying the immediate abolition of traffic in slaves.

February 18, 1839

Petitions praying for the abolition of Slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia, were presented by Mr. John Quincy Adams, as follows, viz:

Of Eli H. Higgins and 72 others, of Jefferson county, in the State of Indiana;

Feb. 1, 1840.

The message was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance, and printed.

Mr. Smith, of Indiana, presented two petitions from citizens of Jefferson county, Indiana, praying the abolition of slavery and the slavetrade in the District of Columbia; two petitions from citizens of the same county, praying the abolition of the domestic slavetrade; also, two petitions from the same, praying the abolition of slavery and the slavetrade in the Territory of Florida; also, two petitions from the same, praying the rejection of all applications for the annexation of Texas to the Union; also, a petition praying that no State, whose constitution tolerates domestic slavery, may be admitted into the Union; and, also, a petition from the same, praying the recognition of the independence of Hayti, and the establishment of commercial regulations with that Government.

March 30, 1840.

A petition of J. C. Tibbetts and others, voters in Jefferson and Jennings counties, in the State of Indiana, praying the House of Representatives to rescind the resolution passed on the 12th day of December, 1838, in relation to petitions touching slavery; which was laid on the table.

Farming in Jefferson County: 1848

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This 1848 letter from John Craig, a Scottish immigrant who probably lived just north of Madison, not far from North Madison, is the most detailed description of early farming in Jefferson County that I have seen. The fact that he boasts about his results on under seven acres of cropland and needed four or five hand during harvest says much about the typical farm in that era.

The Cultivator a Monthly Journal, Devoted To And To Domestic Aid Rural Economy. New Series—Vol. V. Albany, New-York: Published By Luther Tucker, 407 Broadway. Office in New-York City, at M.H. Newman & Co.'s Bookstore, No. 190 Broadway, from the press of Van Benhuysen 1848

IRA HOPKINS having stated in the November number of the Cultivator, (1848.) how thirty bushels of wheat could be raised to the acre. I have concluded to tell you how I raised one hundred bushels on three acres, and eighty-four bushels on three acres and eighty-nine rods, the past season, on land that produced but thirteen bushels to the acre in 1839, which was one of the best wheat seasons in this neighborhood, we had been favored with for the last ten years.

In the spring of 1847, I plowed three acres of clover and timothy sod, as deep as possible. On the 16th April, harrowed, cross plowed, harrowed again, made drills about two feet eight inches asunder, manured the drills liberally, dropped potato sets in the drills, about nine inches apart, covered by running the plow both ways in each drill. Some days after, pulled a little off the top of each drill with a hoe. When the plants were 8 or 10 inches high, plowed the soil from each side of the drills, run a cultivator between to level and pulverise; run the plow both ways, and threw back the soil to the plants.

On the 14th September, commenced raising the potatoes with the plow, by taking eight or ten drills at a time, and plowing round them, the first furrow turned one side off the two outside drills, the next throw out the middle, the next turned over the other side, the next furrow turned up the space between the drills; thus plowing all the ground thoroughly, and so deep as to turn up a little of the subsoil. Used hoes after the plow, and when all was plowed, harrowed both ways. Then plowed the ground as deep as possible into lands, 2 rods wide. Sowed one rod at a round, and on the 30th of September, sowed one and a half bushels of Mediterranean wheat to the acre.

We may let the wheat grow till I tell you of the produce of the potato crop; but I cannot tell you this exactly, though I can tell enough to show that a medium potato crop produces move value than a good corn or wheat crop. I sold 350 bushels at 25 to 30 cents per bushel — $92.07. Kept 101 bushels of the middle-sized for seed. Gave the small ones to the cows, and supplied a family of thirteen persons eleven months, besides a man half of the time, and four or five hands a month in harvest.

I may say that potatoes, last season, did not produce half' as much, as they took the rot during a very wet time in August. When the weather changed the rot ceased, and none have rotted in the cellar. This is the first appearance of the potato disease I have seen, except the two previous years, the end attached to the stem, rotted in a few instances.

You will observe the number of plowings this piece of ground got. From conversing with an Englishman and reading the Commissioner of Patents' Report for 1847, I find that the English and Germans, generally plow the ground twice at least, before sowing wheat.

The three acres eighty-nine rods, was clover and timothy sod also, and was manured in the winter of 1845 and 1846, with 80 two-horse wagon-loads of barn-yard manure, plowed deep and harrowed, and planted in corn. The cultivator was run four times through the corn, but the plow never. I think it produced 60 bushels to the acre. I did not measure it, but I measured another field the same season. The spring of 1847, sowed it with barley, and it produced only seventeen bushels to the acre, and never got more than this of spring barley to the acre.

After harvest, I scraped up all the manure I could get, and scattered it over the stubble, plowed it down, and on the 11th September sowed six bushels of what is called red-chaff wheat, on the furrow, and harrowed it both ways. Reaped on the 22nd June, got it thrashed by a machine, on the 6th September, and had 84 bushels bright plump wheat, rather over 63 lbs. per bushel.

I delayed forwarding this, till I had got out some barley, the produce of three acres and 157 rods, on which I sowed 11 bushels, or 2 3/4 bushels to the acre, which is half a bushel more than I ever sowed before. It was highly manured in the spring of 1847, and planted in corn and pumpkins, and brought about 60 bushels corn to the acre, and an immense quantity of pumpkins. The produce is 70 struck bushels, weighing rather less than 48 lbs. per bushel, which is the legal weight of barley in Indiana. In 1847, I sowed eight bushels on three acres eighty-nine rods, or about 2 1/4 bushels to the acre, and had 61 1/42bushels, weighing 49 pounds per bushel— each producing about 17 or 18 bushels per acre. In 1846, I sowed 11 bushels on 5 1/2 acres or two bushels to the acre, and had but 77 bushels, or 14 bushels per acre. Part of this land was rather flat and wet, and I suppose all my land is too heavy for barley — it bakes very hard alter rain.

JOHN J. CRAIG. Madison, Indiana, January 16, 1849.

Smallpox in Madison: 1907

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Even though smallpox was now longer the massive killer in had been, it still stirred concern when it struck in the early 1900s. This account details the efforts to contain it and also references the condemnation of three city schools. Although not mentioned here, those were the Walnut Street, Fulton and Upper Seminary Schools. This report was issued by J.N. Hurty, the board secretary, who seems to have been much more than simply a recording secretary.

Twenty-Sixth Annual Report State Board of Health of Indiana Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1907. Statistical Year Ending December 31, 1907. To The Governor. Indianapolis: Wm. B. Burford, Contractor For Sтaте Printing And Binding. 1907

Madison—On November 2d I visited Madison on account of smallpox. The disease had again taken hold of that city and I found twenty-three cases in the school houses and four cases under quarantine in houses in the city. Only five of these cases were at all severe; others varied from very mild indeed to moderately severe.

As is usual in these epidemics, certain physicians had denied that smallpox existed, and it was this fact that led to the complication With a few of the physicians pulling one way and a few another, the local authorities did not know what to do.

After visiting the pest houses and examining all the patients there, and also visiting and examining all of the patients in houses under quarantine, I met with the public health committee of the council. The conclusions of the conference were that the conference would meet and commence a vigorous campaign against the disease. They promised to purchase fresh vaccine and offer free vaccination and to rigidly enforce quarantine measures.

I took occasion to visit the new school building which is being erected and which is the result of condemnation by this Board of three old dilapidated structures. The new building will be completed by the last of January and the plan showed that every required sanitary feature will be incorporated.

A Letter to Scotland: 1821

2009-04-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Timothy Flint published two sections about the Caledonia Scottish settlement in eastern Jefferson County, following his visit in 182.. In one, he described how recent immigrants had fared. He also published this letter in which on man, who had come to the area in1819, described his own experience to a relative.

From Mr. A. M. to a Relation in Scotland.
Jefferson County, (Indiana,) Oct. 4, 1821.

"You will wish to know how we come on in this land of liberty. Tolerably well, although not altogether so well as we expected. If we have not got quit of all our grievances, we have got a change of some of them.

What improvements we now make are our own, and these are considerable. We have got forty acres of land cleared of all the timber under eighteen inches in diameter, and the remaining large trees well deadened, which, I think, average six trees to an acre. After they stand deadened two or three seasons, by felling them to the ground, they can be consumed by fire without the trouble of rolling them together. We have it all in good fence and in crop.

We have also cleared eight acres and built a neat cabin on another quarter section, half a mile distant, in which R. G. and his wife live at present. Our stocking consists of one horse, four cows and calves, three year .old queys, and thirty hogs. We do not intend to buy any more stock except a mare or two for breeding, as we think it better to raise them for ourselves, and as they do not find a quick market. Horses are not much cheaper here than with you, but cows are sold at only from twelve to twenty dollars each.

This season we have removed all our houses, in the notion of having them in a better situation. Wooden houses are easily raised here, and they are very well adapted to the purposes of farming offices, but are not the most comfortable dwellings. However, we have plenty of stones, lime, and sand, of which materials we intend to build a house soon; and we think the time is at no great distance when we shall have an elegant farm, with good houses, orchard, and well stocked with all kinds of cattle.

Our soil and climate are capable of producing a great variety of vegetables, from the tall grape-vine to the most diminutive of plants. The garden-stuffs that we raise, almost without any trouble, would be a feast for your eyes could we present them to your view. We wish that all our poor friends were here:— How easily we could supply them with the necessaries of life! * * *

Congress, in their last session, passed a bill for the relief of those who are indebted for the price of public lands, allowing eight years for the payment of arrears, at equal annual instalments, or 37£ per cent. discount on prompt payments. All public lands to be sold hereafter must be paid in ready money, at the rate of one dollar and twenty.five cents per acre, which is fixed as a minimum price.

I have just finished the building of a stonehouse, containing three rooms, a kitchen, and a cellar, for one of our neighbours. I worked by the day, and had only one dollar for each, with bed and board, and was paid in money about one third part below specie value. You must know that times have taken a very adverse turn in respect of earning money. Since we came here, (not quite three years ago,) it was easier to earn two dollars than it is to procure one now.

We keep our health well, and consider this to be a healthy place. This settlement has never suffered from any prevalent sickness. Several towns along the river and other low- lying districts are said to be sickly; but according to the best information I can get, I would not exchange this place for any other in America in "point of healthiness. Three months in spring, and three in autumn, I think, excel the climate of Scotland in pleasant weather. The summer is a little too hot and the winter a little too cold."

1845 A Universalist Preacher's Visit

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George Rogers was extremely successful in organizing Universalist churches in Indiana and during his efforts in Switzerland County and Jefferson county he organized societies at Patriot and Madison. Here he describes a reaction to his effort to distribute a denominational publication that epitomizes

Memoranda of the Experience, Labors, And Travels of a Unversalist Preacher. Written By Himself. Cincinnati: John A. Gurley, Publisher. 1845.

Dec. 8. Rode to Madison, twenty-four miles: arrived there between three and four o'clock ; called on the agent for the Sentinel, Mr. Wellington, by whose active co-operation I was enabled to get up a meeting in the Court House that evening, a bell-man having been employed to cry the appointment through the town.

Madison is a brisk and rapidly growing place, handsomely situated on the river : present population four thousand. Lectured there two evenings, to pretty good congregations; nothing short of a good degree of anxiety to hear the gospel

would have induced those to attend who composed my audience on that evening. I have hopes of Madison, ardent hopes; it is a moral and religious place; and in such a place I can operate with pleasure and hope; but save me from places which are characterized by an infidel indifference to all religion ! Too many such on these western, waters. I believe

I entered every store and shop in Madison, soliciting subscriptions for the Sentinel: it would amuse the reader were I to report many of the answers I obtained.

"Where is it published ?'' inquired one. " At Cincinnati," I replied. "Thank God it is so for off," he rejoined. "Subscribe to a Universalist paper!" exclaimed a second : " I would subscribe to have it burnt." "The deuce!" rather angrily responded another — " Think I'll support a paper that I know to be lies from end to end." etc., etc

Crooked Creek Flood 1847

2009-02-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

The Crooked Creek flood on Sept. 3, 1847 is a fairly well-known calamity. This account was original published in the Louisville Courier Journal and was reprinted in New York. Since Eagle Hollow Creek flows into the Ohio River, not Crooked Creek, the mention of it here could mean it was also affected by the flood--or this was simply an error

New York Municipal Gazette May 28, 1847

Terrible Flood And Loss of Property.—A terrible storm of rain occurred at Madison, Ind., on the 3d of September. An extra from the Banner gives full particulars of this destructive calamity.

Crooked Creek, a very small stream running parallel with the Ohio river, between the high hills in the rear of the city, rose above its banks; and the “bottom,” or "commons,” between the Michigan road and the high ground upon which the city is built, was soon converted into a lake or broad river. The culvert under the railroad embankment, across the hollow at the lower end of the city, was choked up with properly, houses, &c. The waters dammed up to a great depth, and there broke through the artificial hill, producing a terrible flood.

All the bridges Across Crooked Creek were swept off, and nearly all the property in the immediate vicinity of its banks was either entirely destroyed or greatly injured. Messrs. Jacob Shuh, Whitney & Hendricks, and Mitchell & McNaughten are among the greatest sufferers. The loss of property is estimated by some at $100,000, and by others at less. The worst remains to be told.

It is certain that nine persons lost their lives by this flood, viz: Mr. Walker and child, drowned in “Eagle Hollow;” Mrs. Judge and two children, in “Irish Hollow;” Mrs. Scott, (daughter of Mr. Cotton,) swept off from the dwelling between Mulberry and West streets: and three colored people—Charlotte, Edward and Israel. It is described as an awful and sublime spectacle. Houses, animals, fences, barrels, and all kinds of household furniture, came whirling along as though they were mere bubbles, or feathers, floating in the air.

The Louisville Journal of Saturday says, the mail boat reports that fourteen lives were lost by the freshet at Madison, on Thursday. Eleven bodies have been found. The amount of property destroyed had not been fully ascertained.—Jour. Com. Sept. 11.

1864: A Black Man Says Why He Fights

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Black soldiers were key to the North's victory in the Civil War. Several Madison soldiers were part of the 28th U.S. Colored Troops. They were among several black units who were sacrificed in the fiasco at the "Crater" at Petersburg, Va. One of them, Osbury Allums, died in the battle, which is the subject of the movie, "Cold Mountain. In a letter to a friend Charles, written on Dec. 3, 1846, Madisonian Morgan Carter gave his reasons for serving in the army.

From a private collection at Fort Ward Museum Historical Park, Alexandra, Va., and reprinted in The Black Civil War Soldiers of Illinois: the Story of the Twenty-Ninth U.S Colored infantry. University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, S.C. Edward A. Miller, 1998.

“Feale a little down but [I] soon rally when i think in what principal i am fighting which is for the benefit of my race,” Carter wrote. “[i] have been in a good many veary close places but by the Lords will I have escaped with my life so far.

i have been wounded twice once by a piece of shell on the long to be Remember [ed] field of blood shed and slaughter of 30 of July. there many a poor fell [low] lost theare life for thear country and theare people. But Poor fellows they died a noble death. and in the course if it is necessary i Will give up my life most willingly to Benefit the Collored Race

you youre self [know] that we have bin trampled under the white mans heal for years and now we have a chance to Ellivate oure selfs and oure race and what little I can do towards it will do so most willingly if i should die before i Receive the benefit of it i will have to consolation of noing that generations to come will Receive the blessing of it.

and i think it the duty of all the men [of] our Race to do so when they can.”

1845: Abolition Face Off on the Ohio

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There were a number of showdowns over fugitive slaves in Jefferson County. This one, reported on national basis, has an interesting legal question that the showdown left unanswered. Since the boat, the Importer, was on the river, it was in Kentucky and the Jefferson County sheriff would have had not authority.

Niles National Register, May 24, 1845,

Abolition fracas at Madison, Ia.

The circumstances we learn from the clerk of the Importer are these: sometime since a free mulatto stole several free negroes from Harrodsburg, in this state and carried them to Indiana. On a demand from the governor of this state from the governor of Indiana to deliver the kidnapper to the authorities of Kentucky, Gov. Whitcomb issued a warrant for his arrest.

He was accordingly arrested by the sheriff of Jefferson county, Indiana, and delivered to Mr. Blackstone and officer from this state, who took him on board the Importer from yesterday morning, at Madison, for the purpose of bringing him here. While the Importer was lying at that place, the abolitionists managed to have a write of habeas corpus issued to bring him before a court.

The sheriff sent three of his deputies on board with the writ who were about breaking the door of the state room open, which Mr. Blackstone and the negro occupied, when the captain of the boat told them not to do it. Mr. Blackstone then opened the door, holding a pistol in each hand, and told the deputies that if they wanted to take the prisoner, they must take him over his body.

The deputies seeing Mr. Blackstone so determined, desisted and the prisoner was brought here last night and lodged in jail. Louisville Courier-Journal April 26

Hanover Tornado-1837

2009-01-06T19:34:00.000-08:00

This letter was printed in the New York Plain Dealer describing a tornado that damaged Hanover and Hanover College, an event that has been written about several times in Indiana histories. But this is the most detailed first-hand account I have seen. It also gives some details about Hanover besides the campus.

The Plain Dealer, New York July 15, 1837

Destructive Tornado.—An extract of a letter, from South Hanover, in Indiana, dated the 6th instant, is published in the Cincinnati Gazette, giving an account of a most appalling and destructive tornado which passed over that place on the previous day.

The letter says: " I sit down in haste lo give you some account of a scene the most terrifick and appalling I have ever witnessed! Our village, that yesterday was peaceful and cheerful is now in ruins. Yesterday evening about six o clock, the heavens wore the appearance of a coming storm, and in one hour a most fearful tornado burst upon us.

The scene was terrific beyond my powers of' description. The boarding house here has the whole one gable end torn out. Mr. Young's store, a substantial brick building, is a heap of ruins—Dr. Matthews' house is taken off at the eves—the house in which Mr. Bishop lived, on the hill, is torn to fragments—one end of Colonel Morrow's house is torn to the ground—Mr. Chever's house is torn to pieces—the college roof is riddled, and the wing level almost with the ground, and about one-fourth of the eastern wall of the main building lying scattered over the earth—Professor Niles' house is torn up from its very foundation, the very floors and sills are carried away —all the furniture and the professor's library are totally lost. Mr. Butler occupied the house, but fortunately there were none of them at home. The new steam saw mill is destroyed.

These are but some of the principal losses: some ten or fifteen other buildings dwellings, out-houses, shops &c. are destroyed. Trees of all sizes and kinds are torn up and dashed to atoms. There are but few buildings in the place, especially in the northern and central parts of it, where all the most important buildings were, that are not racked and seriously injured. The streets are covered with fragments.

This was the work of certainly less than five minutes —yet wonderful as it appears, amidst the crash of falling buildings, the fury of the bursting tempest, the peals of thunder, and the livid glare of lighting, not a soul in Hanover or its vicinity was either killed or seriously injured.

Madison's Anti-Spitting Ordinance 1908

2008-12-25T11:33:00.000-08:00

Public health issues became more important in the early 1900s. While the Madison anti-spitting ordinance may seem minor today, it was part of this focus that developed from a new understanding of how disease was spread.

The Journal of the Indiana State Medical Association. Albert E. Bulson, Jr., B.S., M.D., Editor and Manager Ben Perley Weaver, B.S., M.D., Ass't Editor, Vol. 1, January to December 1908. Fort Wayne.

ANTI-SPITTING ORDINANCE.

Madison, Ind., May 5, 1908. To the Editor:—I desire to report for The Journal the result of our anti-spitting ordinance and how nicely it works. We have nice cement walks and for quite a time after they were made the people seemed to act as if they were made on purpose to be spit upon. So after numerous complaints from the public, our city council passed a very efficient anti-spitting ordinance, with a fine of from $1.00 to $20.00 for its violation. Then the city board of health passed strong resolutions endorsing the ordinance and declaring spitting on the pavements insanitary and a menace to good health, and then had a number of large cards printed warning and notifying the public of the penalty, which they tacked up in all public places. The results are all that could be desired, and we have not had to prosecute a single case for its violation.

Indiana Gazetteer: Madison 1833

2008-11-12T08:52:00.001-08:00

The Madison section of the Indiana Gazetteer was reproduced in the Madison Courier as noted. It contains a good snapshot of many aspects of the cities development and commerce.

Madison Courier May 10, 1875

We take the following the from Indiana Gazetteer published in 1833”

Madison is a flourishing post town, and seat of justice for Jefferson county. It is handsomely situated on the north bank of the Ohio River, and on that part of the river, which is nearest the center of the State.

The average number of houses annually erected in Madison, during the last three or four years exceed thirty-six, mostly of brick, many of which are three stories high and constructed in the best style. Three of the principal streets are paved, or are now being paved, and it is intended, in the course of the present season, to construct a wharf for the more convenient landing of steamboats.

It is estimated that within the months of March and April last, an amount not less than $120,000 in merchandise was imported to this town, which was chiefly sold to country merchants at wholesale, on terms as fair as could be had at Cincinnati or Louisville. One mercantile house imported from the low country 300 bags coffee, 1000 hnds sugar, 50 hnds molasses and other articles in large quantities. The Eastern and Western mails pass this town daily by steamboats, and there is also a mail conveyance in stages thrice a week from Frankfort, Ky., to Indianapolis.

A branch of the Muscatatuck is navigable from within eighteen miles of Madison to its junction with White river and thence to the Wabash and Ohio; and many flatboats annually descend that river laden with the produce of the country. An insurance company was incorporated in Madison in the winter of 1830-31 with a capital of $100,000 which has connected itself with the Farmers’ & Merchants Bank of Indiana and is doing a profitable business and in good credit.

This town contains about 2,500 inhabitants, forty mercantile stores, a steam mill in successful operation, a printing office from which is issued a weekly journal, a book-store and mechanics of almost every trade.—The public buildings are a market house, a jail, a large and commodious courthouse, and four houses of worship, one of which is for the Baptists, one for the Episcopal Methodists, one for the Reformed Methodists, and one for the Presbyterians.

Morgan's Raid and the Local Militia 1863

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Officers involved in combating the 1863 raid north of the Ohio River by Col. John Hunt Morgan each filed reports that detailed their activities in response to Morgan's movements. Col. Sam B. Sering, who led the Jefferson County militia units, spelled out his

Operations of the Indiana Legion and Minute Men. Report of Major Gen. John L. Mansfield, headquarters, Indiana Legion, Indianapolis, Dec. 27, 1864.

On the 5th July orders were received from headquarters to hold my command at Madison — that Morgan was moving in this direction, and calling upon us to use every effort to check his progress and to prevent him crossing the river at this point. The citizens and minute men responded promptly to the call of the Governor, and every preparation made to defend this point and prevent the enemy from crossing into Kentucky.

On Friday the 6th July, Gov. Morton informed me by telegraph, that Morgan had crossed the Jeffersonville Railroad at Vienna, and was moving in the direction of Madison, through Lexington, Scott county, at the same time he informed us that reinforcements would be sent to this point as rapidly as possible. The same evening, the Legion from Johnson and Bartholomew counties arrived, numbering some 400 men. Early next morning we were further reinforced by a regiment of the Legion from Switzerland county, numbering 500 men, also, one section of artillery from the same county — thus furnishing us a force of about 2,000 men, Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery.

A company of Cavalry had been dispatched on Friday evening, in the direction of Vienna with instructions to proceed until they met Morgan's force and to ascertain the direction of his march. Early Saturday morning a messenger from our cavalry, informed us that Morgan's force rested at Lexington, Scott county, some 18 miles west from this place. The troops were immediately called into line, and after making the necessary details for duty along the river and in the city, we at once proceeded on the road leading to Lexington and South Hanover.

After proceeding some 5 miles on this road we took a strong position on the hills covering the turnpike road to Lexington, and also the road to South Hanover, with about 1,800 Infantry and 4 pieces Artillery. This position was greatly strengthened by obstructions thrown across the roads, and by falling trees in the immediate vicinity, which afforded a good shelter in case of an action. These precautionary and valuable preparations were made by the citizens under the immediate direction of Hon. D. C. Branham.

Getting our small force into the best possible position we waited for the appearance of the enemy, who we presumed would attempt to pass through our lines on the turnpike road leading to the river. Until late in the afternoon, we were much annoyed by uncertain and contradictory reports from our scouts in front. Morgan's forces were reported on every road leading in this direction, and until late in the afternoon we were not advised that his main column was moving to the north of us, and thus threatening to enter the city from the north side.

Ascertaining that his whole force had gone in that direction; at 12 o'clock Saturday night, we got our force into column and marched in the direction of North Madison, distant 6 miles. The night being exceedingly dark, we did not reach that point until daylight Sunday morning.

Soon after arriving at this point, our scouts came in and reported Megan's forces again on the roads leading to North Madison. Our troops were immediately thrown into line of battle, and every preparation made to give them a warm reception. Later in the day it was ascertained that the enemy was moving in the direction of Versailles, Ripley county, but fearing that he might suddenly change his direction, our troops were kept in line, resting on their arms, until Monday morning, when learning that the enemy was moving east, we went into camp at North Madison where we remained until the 16th July, when the troops were dismissed from service by order of Gov. Morton.'

A Missionary in Jefferson County, 1843

2008-10-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

The Presbyterian missionary who gave this account did not provide his name and disguised the name of the neighborhood in which he spoke. But it gives a view into how proselytizing worked before the Civil War.

The Missionary Chronicle: Containing the Proceedings of the Board of Foreign Missions and of the Board of Missions Presbyterian Church: and a General View of Other Benevolent Operations. Vol. XI 1843. New. York, Philadelphia.

INDIANA. FROM A MISSIONARY IN JEFFERSON CO. Protracted Meetings — Revivals of Religion. I have been much encouraged in my labours at S**'** Although I spent but one Sabbath in the month with them during the year, yet I uniformly met with them on the Saturday preceding, catechized the young people, and closed the exercise with a sermon, so that they have had two days' preaching every month.

There was a growing seriousness, and frequent additions were made to the church up to the month of August, when we commenced a protracted meeting, which was continued for eight days, and resulted in the addition of thirty-eight persons on examination, to the communion of the church. I was aided by two neighbouring brethren, and as it may be interesting to know something of our mode of conducting the meeting, I will briefly state it. We had a uniform course of services throughout the meeting; — prayer meeting at 9 o'clock in the morning; preaching at 11 o'clock, and, after an intermission of half an hour, a second sermon.

The congregation was then dismissed to return to their homes for refreshment; and after taking a meal which served for both dinner and supper, they met again between five and six o'clock for prayer; and at candle lighting we had another sermon. The evening exercises were usually closed by 9 o'clock and the people returned to their houses for rest. From the commencement of the meeting the assembly was characterized by great solemnity, this grew into deep feeling, manifesting itself usually by silent tears.

There was no outcry, no disorder but the Spirit of the Lord was manifestly carrying on his gracious work in the hearts of the people; and I have seldom found more satisfactory evidence of a gracious change, than was presented in most of the cases. A deep conviction of their lost and helpless condition, as sinners and an entire and cheerful surrender of their hearts to the Saviour, together with an unreserved trust in him as their prophet, priest and king, was characteristic of almost every case.

Eight of the number were heads of families; the others were principally those who had been members of the catechetical class, and children of the church. The state of feeling in this little church seems still to be good, and they are very anxious to secure one half of my ministerial services, but they are poor and burdened with a debt contracted for building a house for worship; when they get clear of this they hope to be able to sustain themselves.

May the Lord reward the Board a thousand-fold for their labors of love.

The Rev. Mathews Visits the Eleutherian College: 1850

2008-09-03T20:52:00.000-07:00

Paychex, Inc. Reports Record Fourth Quarter Results

The story of the Eleutherian College, Jefferson County's integrated, co-educational school is well known, including the destruction of some of its buildings. But most accounts are second hand. In the spring of 1850, the Rev. Edward Mathews visited the college and described the damage he viewed. His description of a password system on the Underground Railroad is also something not common to other accounts about the abolition effort in Jefferson County.

“The Autobiography of the Rev. E. Mathews, the Father Dickson of Mrs. Stowe's 'Dred'.” London: 1867. Reprinted Mnemosyne Publishing, Co. Reprinted by Ayers Publishing, 1977.

Leaving Virginia, I visited Eleutherian College in Indiana; this was not far from Madison, on the Ohio River. It received pupils of all complexions.

The originators of this College were the Rev. Messrs. Craven, father and son, and the Rev. Mr. Thompson, they were self-devoted to their work, and—like those who were identified with similar liberty-loving and slavery-opposing institutions—they had foregone lucrative posts, for their love to the suffering members of Christ.

A substantial stone building had been erected, on the brow of a hill, commanding a splendid prospect in a fruitful country. Students had commenced their course. Two slaveholders had brought their own mulatto children with the slave mothers—had emancipated both the mothers, and all the children, had purchased land near the College, upon which two neat houses had been erected—and were rejoicing in the opportunity they had to elevate those whom they had degraded.

But just as the houses were completed some pro-slavery persons went in the night, set them on fire, and burnt both houses to the ground. I saw the ruins. Mr. Craven told me that as he saw the flames in the night, he trembled for the College, fearing, it also would be burnt—for he had received a message from Kentucky, stating that five hundred men had agreed to cross the Ohio river and set fire to the College. But they did not come.

At College Hill we had full congregations. Sermons were preached by the Rev Mr. Kenyon, the Mr. Fitzgerald, a coloured minister and myself. The inhabitants of the vicinity showed a cordial hospitality. Dr. Tibbits, a neighbour, had in his barn, a secret room—and when in the night—when he was forwarded to the next friend on the way to Canada. The slave had only to ask, “Is this the pilgrim’s house?” and he was provided for. These were the pass-words on the underground railway.

1907 Dr. J.N. Hurty, Madison Health Inspection

2008-08-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Starting in the 1890s, health inspections of schools, business and facilities became increasingly common. This visit by Dr. J.N. Hurty, secretary of the state board of health, was triggered by an outbreak of smallpox, which authorities always worked to halt quickly.

Twenty-Sixth Annual Report State Board of Health of Indiana Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 1907. Statistical Year Ending December 31, 1907.

Madison—On November 2d I visited Madison on account of smallpox. The disease had again taken hold of that city and I found twenty-three cases in the school houses and four cases under quarantine in houses in the city.

Only five of these cases were at all severe; others varied from very mild indeed to moderately severe. As is usual in these epidemics, certain physicians had denied that smallpox existed, and it was this fact that led to the complication

With a few of the physicians pulling one way and a few another, the local authorities did not know what to do. After visiting the pest houses and examining all the patients there, and also visiting and examining all of the patients in houses under quarantine, I met with the public health committee of the council.

The conclusions of the conference were that the conference would meet and commence a vigorous campaign against the disease. They promised to purchase fresh vaccine and offer free vaccination and to rigidly enforce quarantine measures.

I took occasion to visit the new school building which is being erected and which is the result of condemnation by this Board of three old dilapidated structures. The new building will be completed by the last of January and the plan showed that every required sanitary feature will be incorporated.

1838 James Johnston, Presbyterian Churches

2008-07-14T07:29:00.001-07:00

James Johnston was the minister of the Madison Presbyterian church. But like many preachers of the day, he served more than one church. He gives the account I have found of the short-lived Ryker's Ridge congregation. This excerpt was taken from the September 1832 issue of the Home Missionary and American Pastor's Journal.

The Home Missionary and American Pastor's Journal.
Edited by the Rev. Absalom Peters, Corresponding Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society Vol. IV for the Year Ending April, 1832. Published by the Executive Committee, at the Society’s Office, 144 Nassau-Street, New York. Printed by Clayton & Van Norden, No. 49 William-street. 1832

Mr. Johnston is pastor of the church in Madison, but is employed as Missionary one fourth of his time in different parts of the county, in settlements which otherwise would he entirely destitute of preaching. He writes concerning them as follows :

In "Middle-Fork" church [later known as Monroe] the prospects are tolerably encouraging. Two members were added at the sacrament in May; and a number of persons are serious in the bounds of the congregation. The attendance upon preaching is increasing. One Sabbath school is kept up, and a Bible class.

The prospects of the church four miles from town, called "Ryker's Ridge," are still more encouraging. Four were added at the last sacrament; and ten or twelve profess anxiety respecting their salvation me of whom are now indulging a hope of pardon. A Sunday school has existed there for some months; another within the bounds of the church has recently been commenced. A Bible class is also kept up.

The two other churches to which I preach once in four weeks, on a week day, are called "Pleasant township," and "Caledonia." In both of those, much anxiety is felt to obtain a minister. One could nearly be supported by the two, and they would furnish quite an interesting and promising field for usefulness. The people inquire with much solicitude every time I visit them, whether any more missionaries are expected soon.

At the other place where I preach there is no church and not more than two or three professors of any denomination; but the people tend meeting very well, and appear to listen in preaching with interest.

On the whole, the prospects of usefulness were never more encouraging in this region than at present, nor the call for labourers more urgent. In the field in which I perform missionary labour fourth of my time, one or perhaps missionaries ought immediately to be employed the whole of their time. And could the right men be furnished at once I believe much good would result.

Madison's Episciopal Church Troubles 1838

2008-06-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

This denominational account shows that the first Episcopal Church in Madison failed, which I have not seen discussed elsewhere. From the date, it is clear that the current church, Christ Church, was organized soon after this was published.

A Journal of the Proceedings of the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity of the Protestant Episcopal. Church in the United States of America, in A General Convention, Held in the City of Philadelphia, from September 5, to September 17, Inclusive, A. D. 1838. Together with the Constitution and Canons for the Government of the Protestant Episcopal Church. New York: 1838, Swords, Stanford & Co., No. 152 Broadway.

At Madison, where was the next church organized in this Diocese, with far more favorable prospects, and which soon numbered 22 Communicants, we are constrained to acknowledge an instance of almost total failure, and that from want of union, from the frequent change of its ministers, and from other adverse causes. Its church edifice, built and consecrated, has been
sold for debt, and its members scattered. Here, to succeed, to any good purpose, there must be a new beginning, laying a new foundation in unity and brotherly love.

1811 Niles Register

2008-06-09T11:17:00.001-07:00

Dated Oct. 9, 1811, this account of Vevay is among the earliest accounts published about the Swiss Settlement. It is also one of the most detailed accounts available that covers a wide range of activities before 1820.

Niles Weekly Register, Baltimore, Vol. 1, No. 8.

By the politeness of a Swiss gentleman, residing at Vevay, Indiana territory, we have been favoured with the following sketch of the Swiss settlement; New Swisserland is situate on the right bank of the Ohio river, in Jefferson county, Indiana territory, about seven miles above tire mouth of the Kentucky.

This settlement was began in the spring of the year 1803 by some Swiss of the canton of Váud, formerly a part of the canton of Bern, their principal object is the introduction of the culture of the grape vine in this country. This settlement, or rather the place down the river to the mouth of the Venoge Creek, known by the name of Indian creek, about four miles and a half fronting the river, and extends back for the quantity of about 3700 acres of land—2500 of which they have purchased under a law in favor of J. James Dufour and his associates, allowing them twelve years to pay for it from 1802, the time of the purchase; the remainder they have bought as other purchasers, and paid for it.

The lower end, about two miles along the river, is occupied by thirteen Swiss families, containing sixty-six individuals, of every age—10 of those families have successively come to join the three first who had began the settlement. Had it not been for the difficulties in crossing the ocean, it is believed the whole distance of four and a half miles would have been filled up with as many more of those indubious people.

The improvements of the of the Swiss are considerable, Considering the time when they began, the few hands employed in them and their inexperience in the way of improving lands in this country. They have now about 140 acres in cultivation, about 8 or 9 acres more planted in vines, which are not yet bearing; and they continue planting more every year. The crop of wine of 1810 has exceeded the quantity of 2400 gallons, the quality of which has been thought, by judges of wine, superior to that of the claret of Bordeaux.

Out of the quantity about 120 gallons was white or yellow wine made out of Madeira grapes. These two kinds of wine are the only two which have hitherto succeeded, but others are going to be tried and it is very probable that some of them will also produce good wine.

When the vines are older and the vine dressers are able to let their wine acquire age before they sell it, the quality will certainly will be greatly superior to what it is now, and there is no doubt that, in the course of the number of years, the United States will be able to do without imported wine. The precious culture of the vine will be tried in different parts of the union and will undoubtedly multiply with rapidity. The Swiss will encourage it with all their power. They give vine slips gratis to whoever will plant them with instructions and directions for their cultivation

The Swiss also cultivate Indian corn, wheat, potatoes, hemp, flax and other articles necessary farmers, although in small quantities. Some of their women make straw hats, which they sell in Cincinnati and on the river to trading boats, which usually stop there to purchase them to carry to the Mississippi country where they are very ready for sale.

They are made quite different from the other straw-hats, by tying the straws together, instead of plaiting and sewing the plaits. One of Mr. J.F. Dufour's sisters first brought the art to this country, from Swisserland. As the Swiss, enlarge their vineyards every year more and more, their settlement will of greater consequence to the United States, not only in producing good and wholesome wine, but also in being a model for those who may establish new vineyards in other parts of this comment which may be found suitable for their culture.

New Swisserland has the advantage of two roads —one is a fork from the road leading from Lawrenceburg to Port William, taking off to the right, about one mile and half before arriving at Venoge, or Indian creek, and leads to Dufour's ferry. The other leads from the upper end of Jefferson County, down to Madison, all along the river. There is a post office, by the name of Vevey, which is the name of the town intended to be shortly laid off, for the accommodation of mechanics.

* On account of the great number of creeks in the United States called by the name of Indian the Swiss, who own its mouth, have thought proper to alter its name to that of Venoge, a small river in the Pays de Vaud, on the banks of which some of the Swiss spoken of here were raised.

1861 Agate (Civil War soldier)

2008-06-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

This letter is part of a much longer account by a Switzerland County soldier who signed as "Agate". Using such pseudonyms was common in newspapers in the 1800s. His account gives an unflattering accounting two Madison men that he accused for attempted profiteering. The rest of the letter has more details of how the merchants and their cohorts got the ship, the "Stephen Decatur" to not stop at Vevay in an effort to avoid spending money on food for the Union soldiers. The Col. Wharton mentioned was apparently William G. Wharton, commander of the 22nd Regiment Indiana Infantry

Vevay Reveille, Aug. 29, 1861

On board the steamer Stephen Decatur on Aug. 26, 1861

In regard to the manner in which we were shipped and fed. Col. Wharton and Bob Lodge of Madison, who superintend the feeding and transportation of these troops, are to blame for our not being provided for in the proper manner. Situated in a country in which everything pertaining to our health and comfort can be had at a moment’s notice and with but little expenses, it was neither just nor right that we should be compelled to subsist for 24 hours on dry bread and raw bacon and warm muddy water.

One of the greatest acts of villainy, trickery and swindling,. but little short of the acts of some of the arch traitors of the southern conspiracy on the part of Col. Wharton and one or two others has just developed itself Indeed some of the signs of it was manifested by the Capt. of the boat refusing to land at Vevay The same trick was attempted at Cincinnati and had the captain of the boat delayed the landing a little longer than he did, he and his assistants would have been roughly handled. Then it was the mutterings which might have been heard, like distant thunder all the morning, burst forth in a fury, and had the boat attempted to pass the city she would have been taken by the officers of the soldiers and run ashore.

It appears that there should have been six boats at Madison to receive the six companies, but Col. Wharton, wishing to make a handsome little sum in the operations provided only four boats for the transportation and crammed the troops aboard entered in league with the commanders and gave strict orders to rush the troops through to Pittsburgh without supplies, without accommodations for cooking and then pocket the spoils—charge the United States Government with the expense of six boats, draw the money and divide it among themselves but thanks to the energy and firm determination of Carlan and Danglade [two officers], Col Wharton’s villainy was thwarted.

The "Steven Decatur" [sic, Stephen] was landed, the steamer "J.H. Done" was chartered and the Fayette County company transferred from our boat to it. Col. Wharton was then told that he had got to provide provisions and ice for the use of the soldiers, which request he was compelled to comply with. Consequently, we soon had a place to cook plenty of provisions and a good supply of ice stowed away on board. Why such acts of high-handed villainy are tolerated by our executive is quite a mystery. It is certainly a grand oversight on the part of officers in high quarters to allow such villains as Col. Wharton to go unpunished.

Isaac Reed 1819

2008-05-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

Writing from New Albany on Oct. 5, 1819, the Rev. Isaac Reed, who later left lengthy writings about his travels in Indiana, gave a brief account of his stops in Clark, Jefferson and (although he didn't mention the county names) Switzerland Counties.

The Christian Spectator, conducted by an Association of Gentlemen for the Year 1819
Volume I. No. 1 New Haven.

In August, I visited the counties of Clark and Jefferson, and attended the installation of the Rev. John M. Dickey at New Lexington, the first Presbyterian minister installed in this state. This is a church gathered and organized by your missionary, the Rev. O. Fowler, the last autumn. But, alas! the majority of the people, among whom I travelled, in this tour, are literally as sheep having no shepherd; and every one does that which is right in his own eyes. Here and there one has known better days; enjoyed greater privileges; and is now mourning over the destitute state of the country. At Madison, in Jefferson county, I found a missionary just arrived from the Missionary Society of young men, in New York City; and there seemed considerable prospect that the people will settle him. I think he merits their confidence. Madison has nearly l,000 inhabitants, but very few Presbyterians. There is, however, a brick meeting house building for that denomination; and religion seemed to have gained since I was there a year before.

On my return, I preached in Charleston, one evening, during the week of the circuit court. The attendance was numerous. One of our brethren preaches there two Sabbaths in a month. Another place of my preaching was New Providence, on Silver Creek, where there are a number of Connecticut people; and among them one male and several females professing religion. They arc very anxious for missionary labors. I would encourage your hearts, and strengthen your hands, in the cause of missions, to hear them converse, and pray for yon and your servants."

Soon after I again visited that part of the state, and preached in a settlement on Indian Creek, where are several people who were educated Presbyterians. Some of them have been there eight years, and have never before seen a Presbyterian minister in their settlement. On my return, I stopped a while with a man in the woods, who was clearing a little spot round his cabin. He said he had the Bible in his house, but had been but twice at meeting in a number of months, and that because he had not known »here to find one. — Oh ! how much we need Missionaries in these parts! '

State Board of Health 1911

2008-05-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

There were a number of reports regarding the Madison water supply during 1911. The general conclusion was that the supply was unfit for consumption. The report below is the most clinical in detailing the problem. Water was drawn from wells under the river bed, and was supposed to be cleaned by filtering layers of sand. Studies found the wells had been infiltrated by river water. A letter in August concluded the municipal water was totally unsuitable for drinking.

Thirtieth Annual Report of the State Board of Health for the fiscal and board year ending September 31, 1911. Statistical year ending December 31, 1911. Indianapolis, Wm B. Bradford, contractor for state printing and binding, 1912.

Upon receipt of the second report, the Water Company requested an investigation of the conditions at their pumping plant and water supply, which, was made June 6, 1911. Before this Investigation was made a third set of samples wits analyzed. The results, as shown in Table C, were not satisfactory.

The water is taken from an intake in the Ohio River about 180 feet from the shore line, when there is an 8-foot stage at Cincinnati. The average daily pumpage is about 300,000 gallons. The water is lifted by a centrifugal pump, coagulant being added at the discharge, to two large wooden tanks, their combined capacity being 100,000 gallons with a total settling capacity of about eight hours.
From the settling tanks the water flows on the filters, which are of the Jewell type, with mechanically operated agitator, revolving prongs doing the work. The average run of these filters is from three to five hours.

The water there flows from the filter to the clear water reservoir with 50,000 gallons capacity. At this point the water is pumped to a steel tank 280,000 gallons capacity which is located on one of the high hills.

The trouble at this plant seems to be the inefficiency of the filter, and this is largely due to the method of mixing and regulating the application of the coagulant. The sulphate of iron tank is about six feet in diameter and seven feet deep, with a capacity of 1,470 gallons. The lime solution tank is six feet in diameter and sixteen feet deep, capacity 3.370 gallons.

There are no regulating devices on either tank and therefore no knowledge of the amounts of chemicals used is obtainable. An amount of lime, weight not known, is mixed and drained into the lime solution tank below. When the tank is started the attendant throws sulphate of iron in a small solution box and at various intervals adds additional small quantities, the weight at no time being known. The attendant uses his own judgment as to the proper amount of material to mix and add. The entire operation is uncontrolled and unchecked.

Before any steps were taken in the matter two mere sets of samples were analyzed, the first being taken by myself at the time of the Investigation, June 7, 1911, while the second was sent in July 15, 1911. The first of these. Table D, showed fairly good counts, but coli was present in both filter effluents. A sample taken at a tap In town showed a lower count with gas present. The last set analyzed showed fair counts with coli present In the effluent from filter 1 and absent In filter 2, while a town tap gave coli present.

The town has a population of 4,400 and about 450 water services, which supply about half the people. While there is no unusual amount of sickness at present, the public water supply is liable at any time to be the source of an epidemic. Since the effluent to all appearances is a good drinking water, that is, as far as taste and turbidity is concerned, and is used for all drinking and domestic purposes, it is recommended that a hypochlorite of lime plant be Installed to prevent future trouble.

Lingle: Madison 1871

2008-04-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

William S. Lingle gave an enthusiastic endorsement of Madison. The West Lafayette journalist was not a completely un-biased observer. He was the son of Hinds of Madison, who was first married to his mother.

“We have been accustomed of late years to hear Madison spoken of as one of the dead cities of the Northwest, and while everybody conceded the rare beauty and remarkable healthfulness of her situation, the insisted they every element of development had been paralyzed and her days were numbered.

Everybody who knows Madison by heart, loves the place—loves the people, and while mourning her departed greatness, they were ready to believe that when a good man died in the tribulation of such ‘earth-earthy’ places as Lafayette or Chicago, he went straight to Madison for eternal purpose. But we enter protest against the popular verdict, and having visited Madison within the past ten days, we beg to say if sin her behalf that if dead she is a very lively corpse. By courtesy of old-time friends we went through her shipyard and marine railway, where one hundred and fifth men are employed—through her starch factories, where labor, the soul of a city’s growth, finds remunerative rewards, and were eighteen hundred bushels of corn are consumed daily! We visited its extensive sirup factories, where the saccharine, maple flavored, golden and toothsome, is manufactured from corn on the Belgian process. We found, in short, to epitomize the memoranda of a three days’ inspection, that the manufacturing industry of this modern Herculaneum averages over a million dollars a per month.

Actual production and value of raw material. She manufactures saddle trees by the thousand, and can launch a new steamboat for her marine railway every sixty days—all complete, with engines, boilers, and entire outfit of Madison manufacture. Dead, indeed! Why there is not a vacant house in the city-not one.

Of course there is not the bustle and activity that distinguished Madison in that earlier epoch when her line of railway monopolized and all commerce and communication with Indianapolis and the State stated the erection of new works of greater capacity. The total cost of the new works will amount to about $800,000. When the mains and connections shall all have been completed, an abundance of pure water, both for manufacturing and household purposes will be supplied to consumers of low rates.”

John Hawkins 1819/1820

2008-04-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

In his letters to his family in Baltimore, John Hawkins spent most of his time expressing religious views. But his letters also contains nuggets of information about daily life in the Madison area.

"Life of John H.W. Hawkins, compiled by his son, Rev. William George Hawkins A.M.."

New York: 1859. Sheldon Blakeman & Co.

Bedford, Ky. Nov. I7, 18I9.

I have been working for a Mr. Thompson, in Bedford, eleven miles from Madison, ever since the 23d of August, and expect to work for him all winter. I get better wages than I got in Baltimore or anywhere else. Board is low, — two dollars and a half per week. I shall soon be in want of some linen, but do not like to pay what they ask for it in this country. Linen that you can get in Baltimore for fifty cents, they ask one dollar and a half for here, and this is too extravagant. If you can possibly find an opportunity of sending me enough for the present, I will compensate you for it if I am ever privileged to see you again, which I hope I may next spring.

Madison, Indiana, Dec. 2I, 1819.

Bring tea and coffee with you, for these are scarce articles here; coffee sells at fifty and sixty-two and a half cents per pound, tea at three dollars and fifty cents per pound. I know not when I shall see Baltimore again; perhaps not before next fall; it may be not before a year from that time.

Madison Feb. 26, 1820.

I feel indebted to you for your fatherly advice; certainly, you could not do me a greater favor, at present, than to forward me such wholesome food. Receive my sincere thanks, for it is the only reward I can offer you at present. You know the way; go on, and God will, in the end, take you to himself. I must now give you some detail of the times in the West. There is general suffering among the people. I never witnessed such distressed families as I have seen in the past few months. Only reflect; it has now been eleven months since I left you, and I have done but five months' work; this, certainly, is discouraging. I must leave the country. If I could raise the money I would come on to Baltimore immediately.

John Jacobson 1853

2008-03-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

John Jacobson's description of his descent of Madison's inclined plane on the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad is probably the most detailed account yet found of what was apparently a hazardous journey. He made the trip as part of his return from visiting Moravian churches in Indiana.

The Moravian Miscellany, March 1853, No. 3 Vol. IV

Br. Clauder and his daughter Ann Eliza accompanied me to Madison, the former to proceed to Louisville, on some business connected with the Enon Church, and his daughter to go with me to Bethlehem, where she was to enter the Female Academy as a teacher. We arrived in safety at Madison about 4 o'clock, P. M. The descent of the inclined plane for several miles, before reaching the town, seeamed to be rather more hazardous than the ascent ; on approaching it, the train stopped, the engine was removed, every part of the cars was carefully examined, the doors thrown open, so as to leave an unobstructed view from one end of the train to the other, guards were placed at every door, who kept a watchful lookout, the passengers were requested not to leave their seats, the wheels were partially locked, and thus we descended by the momentum of the cars, sometimes with considerable velocity.

Apparently beyond the application of any human skill or power, we felt ourselves, as it were, borne along by the hand of Providence; a deep silence prevailed among the passengers, until we finally stopped on the level.

Having walked down to the landing together, our dear br. Clauder, after bidding a final adieu to his daughter and myself, stepped on board the Sea-gull for Louisville, while we repaired to the Madison packet for Cincinnati. The boats started about 5 o'clock; it was a lovely evening and we enjoyed the beauty of the river banks for several hours, until night drew its curtain over the scenery

1859 Eliza Potter

2008-03-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

Eliza Potter spent many days in Madison, although her account does not give many details. She gave more space to Drennon's Lick in Henry County, Ky., which had an important place in Madison's social life at the time. She described Drennon's Lick as "Drennon's Lick, a watering-place in Kentucky, which at that time was attended by all the fashionables of Cincinnati, Louisville,Lexington, Ky., and Madison, Ind. This segment captures the emotional horror of a cholera breakout.

A Hairdresser's Experience in High Life

By Eliza Potter

By Eliza Potter Published 1859 Cincinnati published by the author
284 pages

Being afraid to go to Cincinnati, as the cholera was very bad there, I went to Madison. One of the wealthiest families in that place took me to their house
and gave me one of their best spare rooms, where I was very sick for several days.

After I recovered I learned some of the horrors of Drennon. As I before told you, the cholera broke out about twelve o'clock on Thursday night, and I left at two o'clock on Friday. From twelve on Thursday till twelve on Friday there were twenty-three deaths. Some of those ladies who bade me go in peace and sin no more, were stricken down, and had no time to leave. In their sore sickness they had no help, no aid, no physician, and their eyes were closed in death; without help of any kind they entered that bourne from whence no traveler ever returns. In their agony and helplessness many of those who had laudanum and morphine took it, and slept themselves away.

I learned, by those who were there helping to nurse the sick, that it was one of the gloomiest nights ever witnessed on earth. They had few lights, and even those seemed to glimmer away; it appeared as if they could not burn brightly amid so much misery, where nothing was heard but groans and sighs of agony. Bells were rung, but there was no one to answer them.

The sick had to take care of the sick, and the dying to bury the dead. The proprietor and his family fled, taking with them all the medicines, leaving nothing, nor even letting the boarders know they were going. As I before said, many ladies were there whose husbands were gone, and many who had some member of their family sick, and could not leave them.

Charles Sealsfield 1828

2008-02-29T17:51:00.000-08:00

Charles Sealsfield's tour of the United States contained a fairly standard dismissal of the quality of the wine raised at Vevay. His description of Madison as a town is somewhat standard. But his account of John Sheets' [whose first name he doesn't mention] killing of the boatman [White, not named] , combined with the statements about Sheets' financial dealings provides an unusually negative view of one of Madison's leading merchants.

The Americans as They are: Described in a Tour Through the Valley of the Mississippi Long: 1828 Hurst, Chance and Co. St. Paul’s Churchyard Original from Harvard University. Digitized by Google.

VEVAY, in Indiana, became a settlement twenty years ago, by Swiss emigrants, who obtained a grant of land, equal to 200 acres for each family, under the condition of cultivating the vine; they accordingly settled here, and laid out vineyards. The original settlers may have amounted to thirty; others joined them afterwards, and in this manner was founded the county town of New Switzerland, in Indiana, which consists almost exclusively of these French and Swiss settlers.

They have their vineyards below the town, on the banks of the river Ohio. The vines, how-ever, have degenerated, and the produce is an indifferent beverage, resembling any thing but claret, as it had been represented. Two of them have attempted to cultivate the river hills, and the vineyards laid out there are rather of a better sort. The town is on the decline; it has a court-house, and two stores very ill supplied.

The condition of these, and the absence of lawyers, are sure indications of the poverty of the inhabitants, if broken windows, and doors falling from their hinges, should leave any doubt on the subject; they are, however, a merry set of people, and balls are held regularly every month. In the evening arrived ten teams laden with fifty emigrants from Kentucky, going to settle in Indiana; their reasons for doing this were numerous.

Although they had bought their lands in Kentucky twice over, they had to give them up a third time, their titles having proved invalid ; but still they would have remained, had it not been for the insolent behaviour of their more wealthy neighbours, who, in consequence of these emigrants having no slaves, and being thus obliged to work for themselves, not only treated them as slaves, but even encouraged their own blacks to give them every kind of annoyance, and to rob them—for no other reason than their dislike to have paupers for neighbours. My landlord assured me that at least 200 waggons had passed from the Kentucky side, through Vevay, during the present season, all full of emigrants, discouraged from continuing among these lawless people.

Madisonville, [sic Madison] the seat of justice for Jefferson-county, on the second bank of the Ohio, fifty-seven miles above its falls, contains at present 180 dwelling-houses, a court-house, four stores, three inns, a printing office—with 800 inhabitants, most of them Kentuckians. The innkeeper of the tavern at which I alighted, does no credit to the character of this people. He was engaged for some time in certain bank-note affairs, which qualified him for an imprisonment of ten years; he escaped, however, by the assistance of his legal friends, and of 1000 dollars. The opportunity of testifying his gratitude to these gentlemen soon presented itself. One of his neighbours, a boatman, had the misfortune to possess a wife who attracted his attention. Her husband knowing the temper of the man, resolved to sell all he had, and to move down to Louisville. Some days before his intended departure, he met Sheets in the street, and addressed him in these words: " I ought to chastise you for making such shameful proposals to my wife;" so saying, he gently touched him with his cane. Sheets, without uttering a syllable, drew his poniard, and stabbed him in the breast. The unfortunate husband fell, exclaiming, " Oh, God ! I am a dead man!"—

"Not yet," said Sheets, drawing his poniard out of the wound, and running it a second time through his heart; "Now, my dear fellow, I guess we have done." This monster was seized and imprisoned, and his trial took place.

His countrymen took, as might be expected, a great interest in his fate. With the assistance of 3000 dollars, he even this time escaped the gallows. I read the issue of the trial, and the summons of the jury, in the county paper of 1823, which was actually handed to me in the evening by one of the guests. But a more remarkable circumstance is, that the inhabitants continue to frequent his tavern. At first they stayed away for some weeks; but in less than a month the affair was forgotten, and his house is now visited as before. The road from Madison to Charleston, leads through a fertile country, in some parts well cultivated.

The distance from Madison is twenty-eight miles. It is the chief town of Clark county, and seems to advance more rapidly than Madison, the country about being pretty well peopled, and agriculture having made more progress than in any part of the state through which I had travelled.

Eliza Steele 1841

2008-02-27T19:57:00.001-08:00

This account is taken from the book written by Eliza R. Steele and published in 1841. The author's introduction says she traveled 4,000 miles throughout the United State and that it was compiled from notes she took and letters written during that time.

A Summer in the West Published 1841 J.S. Taylor and Co.
United States
278 pages
Original from the University of Michigan, digitized by Google Books

A Summer in the West

Published 1841
J.S. Taylor and Co.

United States

278 pages

Original from the University of Michigan, digitized by Google Books

Madison, upon the Indiana shore, is the place where we were to strike the Ohio, if we had journeyed through Indiana as we proposed at first. A railroad leads from this town to Indianapolis, ninety-five miles, and is completed to Vernon, twenty-five miles. From Indianapolis to La Fayette is a Macadamized road, and another rail-road will soon be completed from the latter place to Lake Michigan.

That would have been our route, and we should have seen some of the best towns in Indiana. Madison is a very pretty town, and larger than any we had passed. It is built principally of brick, and we counted six churches and a court house, besides banks, foundries, factories, mills and boat yards. The streets are wide and Macadamized. It is situated upon a sloping bank of the river, while behind it, the hills which rose up to nearly three hundred feet, were covered with farms, dotted with sheep and cottages. Some handsome mansions were erected among the hills in conspicuous situations and must have commanded a fine view of the town beneath, and the river winding away through bluffs and forests in front of them.

The population is about two thousand. Madison is fifty-three miles from Louisville, and twenty miles farther is Vevay, settled by a party of emigrants from Switzerland. The river here stretches away to the north, leaving a point which is the county of Switzerland, bathed upon two sides by the Ohio, and containing very fertile soil.

Here the transplanted Swiss have made a new home, and it is a very beautiful one, occupying themselves in raising grapes. Their vineyards are very flourishing and they make much good wine. They cultivate the blue grape, Madeira grape, and the native county grape, which makes good wine. The hills here, no doubt, often resound with the songs of their father land from which they are so many miles distant.

Thomas Hanson 1774

2008-02-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

Thomas Hanson was a surveyor who accompanied Col. Floyd on an expedition on the Ohio River in 1774. He description of surveying 2,000 acres, seven miles of bottom land that was three and a miles below the mouth of the Kentucky River, suggests that he surveyed the land just upstream from Carrollton.

Thomas Hanson's Journal, April 7-August 9

Journal from his trip on the Ohio River in 1774.

edited by

Avi Hathor

21st. Mr. Floyd surveyed 600 acres of land on the lower side of the mouth of Kentucky which takes in little Kentucky for Col. Preston. The land is very good, but I think some of it overflows.

22nd. In the evening we embarked and went down the river three miles & half, leaving a letter at the mouth of Kentucky to direct any Person or Persons that followed the line how to find us.

23d. As we were on a bottom, Mr Taylor surveyed 1000 acres & then Mr Douglas began at his line, & Surveyed another 1000 acres, which took in the Bottom, except a small point at the lower end. It is 7 miles long. We campt at the lower end, Good land. 24th. Mr. Floyd went on the top of the hill from the River & surveyed a tract of land which is good and well Timbered & watered. We encampt 5 miles below on a small bottom, where it rained in the time.

25th. Mr Floyd surveyed the Bottom and some upland to the Quantity of 1000 acres. It was Showery weather.

Black Hoof (Shawnee) 1802

2008-02-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

In this meeting with President Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia, the Delaware and Shawnee made a number of requests, including asking for a grant of land for George Ash, who had lived with them. The description, four miles down the Ohio river from a point opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River, puts much of the tract in Jefferson County. Ash signed as a translator.

National Archives
Records of the Office of the Secretary of War,
Letters Sent, Indian Affairs, Vol. A.

Conference held with the Delaware and Shawanoe
Deputation, February 5-10, 1802.

The other Interpreter is a man we raised from a Child and look on him as one of ourselves, we therefore with to give him Four miles down the river and one mile up the land, his name is George Ash and the plac[e] we meane for him is at the mouth of Kentuckey on the Indian boundary line[.]

John Woods 1821

2008-02-10T20:50:00.000-08:00

John Woods was on his way to the English settlement inn Albion, Ill. His was one of several accounts of the town that touched upon the Ohio River Valley. Besides giving a brief, first-hand account of Madison, he repeated hearsay about the quality of wine in Switzerland County.

Wood's Two years' residence in the settlement on the English Prairie--June 25, 1820-July 3, 1821

27th. At dusk we passed the Kentucky, a river of the state of the same name, and navigable some distance up the country. After dark we passed Vevay and New Switzerland, and soon after got stuck on a sand bank; some of us got into the water and turned the ark

around, and then we floated off again, and about midnight anchored. This day, twenty-five miles. I regretted passing Vevay after it was dark, as I much wished to land to inspect the vineyards belonging to a Swiss colony settled there, who cultivate the vine on a considerable scale, in the manner of their native country. In the twilight we had a glimpse of their vineyards, but too far off to see much of them.

I have since learnt that a few Swiss emigrants settled at New Switzerland in 1805, and in 1810 they had eight acres planted with vines, and in full bearing, and from which they made two thousand four hundred gallons of wine, then said to be very good. Since that time their vineyards are considerably extended, but their wine of an inferior quality. They also cultivate wheat, Indian corn, hemp, and flax. They are represented to be a sober, industrious people, and much respected in the country. They speak the French language, most of them having come from the frontiers adjoining France.

28th. We landed at Port William, Kentucky, a small place, and procured some very excellent bread. As we proceeded slowly I landed on the Indiana side, and went to two or three cottages; at one of them I got a peck of fine peaches, for which the inhabitants would not take any money. They were hardly ripe, but made very good puddings; as the settlements were new, none of the trees were six years old. At one cabin a man showed me a tree on which there was then growing at least a bushel of peaches; he had planted the stone from which this tree sprung in the spring of 1816. We landed at a cabin in Indiana, where there were a few vines cultivated after the [Note Port William, now Carrollton, is situated at the mouth of the Kentucky River. In 1789-90, General Scott built a blockhouse at that point, which was occupied until 1792, when the town of Port William was laid out.--Ed.] [RWS note: This editor's note is from the 1904 publication, apparently. The narrative was first published in 1822.]

29th. Early in the morning we reached the town of Madison in Indiana, capital of the county of Jefferson, of sixty or seventy houses, a mixture of brick, frame, and log; it has a steam-mill, &c. The country less settled, and on the banks a much less number of horses, cows, sheep, pigs, geese, &c. to be seen.

Robert Johnson 1789

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The incident discussed here places a battle between settlers and Indians within the boundaries of modern Switzerland County, assuming Johnson’s description of the site—25 miles before the mouth of the Big Miami—is accurate.

Robert Johnson, Lt. of the County of Woodford, to the President of the United States.

DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY, 22d August, 1789.

About the 10th instant, two men were fired on by a party of Indians, but no damage sustained; only one of the horses the men rode was killed; the Indians took the saddle and bridle, and the night following, they stole eleven horses; our men pursued them, next day came up with them, and retook all the horses, together with the said saddle and bridle, and killed two (one of which was a white man.)

On Sunday, the 16th, six negroes were taken by a party of Indians in ambuscade, about three quarters of a mile from my house; they carried them about one quarter of a mile, where they were surprised by the noise of some people riding near them; they tomahawked four, two of which died, two were left for dead, which are now in a hopeful way of recovery; the other two made their escape while they were murdering the rest.

The day following, the party was seen twice, and the evening or night of the sixteenth they stole some horses from Captain Buford; we pursued them as quick as possible, with about forty men, to the Ohio, about twenty-five miles below the mouth of Big Miami, where twenty-six volunteers crossed the Ohio after them; we came to a large camp of them, early in the morning of the 20th, about twelve miles from the Ohio; we divided our party, and attacked them opposite, on each side; they fought us a short time in that position, until they got their women and children out of the way, and then gave back to a thick place of high weeds and bushes, where they hid very close; we immediately drove up about forty of their horses, and made our retreat across the Ohio.

We lost three men and two wounded. The Indians wounded one of our men as we returned.

William Corbett 1818

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William Cobbet’s 1818 trip down the Ohio River produced one of the highest praises for the wine of Switzerland County. He went on to Louisville without stopping in Jefferson County.

A year's residence, in the United States of America. Treating of the face of the country, the climate, the soil, the products, the mode of cultivating the land, the prices of land, of labour, of food, of raiment; of the expenses of house-keeping, and of the usual manner of living; of the manners and customs of the people; and of the institutions of the country, civil, political, and religious... By William Cobbet. 1828. First edition. New York, 1818.

1818

June 16th.--Left Cincinnati for Louisville with seven other persons, in a skiff about 20 feet long and 5 feet wide.

492. June 17th.--Stopped at Vevay, a very neat and beautiful place, about 70 miles above the falls of the Ohio. Our visit here was principally to see the mode used, as well as what progress was made, in the cultivation of the vine, and I had a double curiosity, never having as yet seen a vineyard. These vineyards are cultivated entirely by a small settlement of Swiss, of about a dozen families, who have been here about ten years. They first settled on the Kentucky river, but did not succeed there. They plant the vines in rows, attached to stakes like espaliers, and they plough between with a one-horse plough. The grapes, which are of the sorts of Claret and Madeira, look very fine and luxuriant, and will be ripe in about the middle of September. The soil and climate both appear to be quite congenial to the growth of the vine: the former rich and the latter warm. The north west wind, when it blows, is very cold, but the south, south east, and south west winds, which are always warm, are prevalent. The heat, in the middle of the summer, I understand, is very great, being generally above 85 degrees, and sometimes above 100 degrees.

Each of these families has a farm as well as a vineyard, so that they supply themselves with almost every necessary and have their wine all clear profit. Their produce will this year be probably not less than 5000 gallons; we bought 2 gallons of it at a dollar each, as good as I would wish to drink. Thus it is that the tyrants of Europe create vineyards in this new country!

Bowen 1855

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Title: Rambles in the path of the steam-horse.: An off-hand olla podrida [These are the words in the online title], embracing a general historical and descriptive view of the scenery, agricultural and mineral resources, and prominent features of the travelled route from Baltimore to Harper's Ferry, Cumberland, Wheeling, Cincinnati, and Louisville.

Author: Bowen, Eli, b. 1824.

Publication Info: Philadelphia,, Baltimore,: W. Bromwell and W. W. Smith;, S. B. Hickcox, agent, 1855.

Some twenty-five miles below Lawrenceburg, in Kentucky, the Big Bone Lick empties into the Ohio river. This is a celebrated spot-being within a short distance of the Great Bone Lick Springs. The water is thoroughly impregnated with salt; and the place is so called because of the great quantity of bones of the mastodon and of elephants found scattered around the vicinity, in the alluvial surface of the earth. "The first account of the visit of any white man to this place was by Douglass, of Virginia, in 1773, who made use of the rib bones of the animals for tent poles!" These animals, as appears from their remains, were much larger than any existing, or more recent species of which we have any knowledge, and their bones are scattered all over the western country, thus showing that they once constituted a numerous race. Two tusks found at this spot measured eleven feet in length, and at the large end over six inches in diameter. A collection of these bones was made in 1803, by Dr. Goforth; another in 1805, by order of President Jefferson; and various others have been made since, from time to time, by different parties. This is the place where, according to the tradition of the Delaware Indians, as related by Mr. Jefferson, such herds of the Mammoth came to destroy the game of the Red Man, that the Great Spirit took pity on him, and, seizing his lightning, descended to a rock on a neighbouring hill, (where his seat and the print of his feet are still to be seen,) and hurled his bolts among them until all were slain except the Big Bull, who presented his forehead to the shafts and shook them off as they fell; missing one, at last, it wounded him in his side, whereupon, springing round, he bounded over the Ohio, the Wabash, the Illinois, and finally over the great lakes, where he is still living. The village of Warsaw, with its pork-houses, its tobacco factories, its groceries, its flour-mills, and twelve hundred live population, looks very sprightly in its nest among the hills. It is the countyseat of Gallatin, and belongs to " Old Kentuck." Warsaw is only one mile from New York. New York [Modern Florence] is in Switzerland county , in Indiana. It contains about five hundred inhabitants. It is no relation, we suspect, to the pompous New York on the Hudson river.

The town of Vevay is the seat of Switzerland county, Indiana. It was settled some fifty years ago by Swiss emigrants, who subsequently received a grant of land from Congress, and commenced the cultivation of the grape on an extensive scale. Wine now constitutes a principal item of the productions of the vicinity. The flavor and quality are similar to claret. Population about three thousand.

Carrollton is ten miles below Vevay, and forty-five from Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky. It is the county-seat for Carroll, in that state, and has a population of one thousand. It was first settled in 1784, by a Mr. Elliott, whose house was shortly after burned by the Indians, and himself killed. In 1786 a block-house was put up, but the inmates were driven off by the savages. Some time subsequently, however, the post was fortified by Gen. Charles Scott, and was occupied until 1792, when the present town was laid off. The Kentucky river here empties into the Ohio. It is navigable for flat-boats about one hundred and fifty miles; but by means of slack-water, it has been rendered navigable for steamboats as high up as Frankfort.

Madison is the seat of justice of Jefferson count, in Indiana. It is beautifully situated in a valley of a few miles in length, enclosed by steep and rugged hills, and occupies a position sufficiently high to protect it from the high-water encroachments of the river. It is ninety miles below Cincinnati, forty-four from Louisville, and eighty-six from Indianapolis, the capital of the State, with which it is connected by a railroad which has been in operation several years. Its situation for extensive trade, is splendid and advantageous, a fact simply demonstrated in the extraordinary increase of the city from a population of less than four thousand, in 1840, having reached some thirteen thousand up to the present time.

It is connected by the numerous steamboats, owned by its citizens, with all the towns on the Ohio and Mississippi; while it enjoys communication with every section of the interior by means of numerous railways which seek it, it is the nearest and most desirable outlet for produce.

The city is paved, and lighted with gas, and comprises some of the finest houses and manufactories to be found in the state. Pork-packing is probably the leading feature of its trade; but it has also numerous factories of cotton, oil, wool, iron and machinery, besides others of smaller extent. The scenery, in this vicinity, is very fine, and presents more of the picturesque and wildness of nature than usually characterises the Ohio.

Saluda Township 1870

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This description Saluda Township was not attributed to any one author.

Daily Courier Feb. 6, 1870

Seeing some statistics from Monroe Township in your papers. I thought something of the same kind might be acceptable from Saluda. I do not expect to do better than “Adz” has done, but will do as well as I can.

Saluda contains about 38 square miles, consisting of parts of Cong. Twp. 2 and 3 R 9 and 10. It contains two grist mills, two saw mills, 12 sorghum manufactories, eight has presses, three blacksmith shops, and quite a number of cooper shops. Also four stores, three of which sell liquor. Now for the Intellectual and religious statistics: Saluda has eleven schoolhouses, all frame; one of which is a model. Of the teachers who preside in these temples of learning, three are female and eight are males. Nine of these teachers are residents of the Township and one resident is teaching in Clarke county. Saluda has also a Teachers’ Institute which meets semimonthly and is well attended.

The number of schools in the township is 642, length of the school-term in 1869, 100 days; also the best Trustee in the county.

Saluda has four churches,; one Methodist; one Baptist; one free to all; and one Universalist. It has over three hundred voters, a majority of whom are Republicans.

North Madison 1849

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This account of North Madison was written by the editors of the Daily Banner.

Daily Banner Sept. 18, 1849 Thursday

NORTH Madison—On Sunday we visited this neighboring village, and were no less gratified than surprised to perceive the great and wonderful improvement that has taken place in its general appearance and businesses within the last twelve months.

Many very fine and comfortable dwellings have been built, and are now tenanted, and fifteen or twenty builders, of various dimensions, are now being erected. Several of these are large and commodious dwellings, and will, when they are finished, and the ample grounds by which they are surrounded shall be tastefully arranged and ornamented with shrubbery, add much to the beauty of the place.

The centre of the town is occupied by buildings for the shelter and protection of the locomotives and the various appurtenances belonging to the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad Company, together with numerous others used as foundries, forges, carpenter shops, and, in fact, by every branch of trade necessary for the construction of locomotives and cars.

These shops afford active and constant employment to a very large number of industrious and ingenious, mechanics, some of whom are buildings in various metals, some are planning and turning brass and copper, and others are engaged in dressing wood by the most improved machinery and in fashioning it into cars of almost every kind. The freight and burden cars that are used upon the road, and they are almost in numerable, are kept in complete repair, and the extent of these shops admit of all repairs, that may become necessary either from accident or wear, being substantially and promptly done.

The railroad company has exhibited a very laudable pride in the exertions it has to make render the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad as safe, durable, and permanent, as any other road in the United States. This has been accomplished by untiring energy and perseverance and the outlay of a heavy capital; but the immense business the road is now doing, and which it is inevitably destined to do in all time to come will amply reward the company for all its expenditure.

Branham & Elvin is the principal hotel. It is a very spacious brick building, exceedingly well arranged in all its departments, and containing fifty-six large, well ventilated, and light rooms, affording a beautiful view of the surrounding country. The dining room is one of the largest to be found anywhere in the county, and the crowded state of its neatly and well set tables is a most convincing evidence that the best fare is always provided by the ever attentive and gentlemanly proprietors for all their s guests and patrons. Adjoining the hotel is a large lot tastefully laid off and beautifully ornamented with the choicest flowers and plants of the rarest varieties, and appropriately set in shrubbery of nearly, ever species. Nowhere can a better or pleasanter hotel by found than the Branham House.

Immediately on the north of the town is a fine fresh-water pond, fed partly by clear springs from the land above. This pond, in winter and summer, affords an abundant supply of water for stock. It is conveyed down in pipes into the Branham House, the various foundries and shops of the railroad company, and the saw-mill. Thus the expense of cisterns and force-pumps that would be incurred were it not for the pond, is entirely saved. In additional to all this, the locomotives procure their supplies of water from this source.

The astonishing growth of North Madison will be the more astounding when it is generally known that its site, which but four or five years ago, was almost uninhabited, now contains an industrious and busy population of about one thousands souls. Altogether, it is the most business-like and flourishing village anywhere to be found.

Monroe Township 1870

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This snapshot of Monroe Township was attributed to a writer identified only as ADZ.

Daily Evening Courier Friday Jan. 28, 1870

Hoping the following statistics of Monroe Township may produce some from other townships, Ithem

Monroe Township consists of Con. Town 5 N of Range 10 E 36 sq. miles. It contains two grist mills, five saw mills, two grocery and liquor and one grocery store; four blacksmith shops, two wagon maker’s shops; and four coopershops; six sorghum manufactories, four hay presses, seven churches (three Methodist, two Presbyterian, one Baptist, and only one Christian;) ten schoolhouses, three frame and seven stone; being the eleventh of all the stone schoolhouse in the State. Nine of the schoolhouses are supplied with teachers residents of the township; one of these has taught the township 32 years and another 30 years. Two other resident teachers are employed out of the township—one in Shelby and one in Jennings county One doctor said he would have starved (such is the salubriety of the climate) only for his being employed outside of our limits.

There are a little over three hundred registered voters. There are 539 children enrolled. No. of days taught in 1869 were ninety. Five male and five female teachers. All pure Saxon white, no black, red nor yellow. ADZ

David Thomas, 1816.

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A New Yorker, David Thomas gave the second detailed description of Madison when he visited in the summer of 1816. He also made detailed observations in his brief notes about the countryside.

Travels through the western country in the summer of 1816 : including notices of the natural history, antiquity es, topography, agriculture, commerce and manufactures ; with a map of the Wabash country, now settling. Thomas, David, 1776-1859 NOTES First edition. Howes, U.S.-iana, T 162. Title page, p. 50-153, p. 270-307. Scanned from original version published: Auburn [N.Y.] : Printed by David Rumsey.

Half a mile east of Indian Kentucky, we saw stones of the gun flint kind, in the road. The surface is chalking, orange, or red. These form between the limestone, a regular stratum which spreads over a large tract of country. Like the strata in Washington county, it is visible in both sides of every little valley that we crossed. The texture is excellement; and these give fire with the steel equal to the imported flints; but the cracks, or lines of division, are numerous. Though these stones are siliceous, the singularity of their situation, induced the celebrate Saussure to ask, if calcareous earth, in any circumstances, can be transmuted into flint? Certainly not; but silex in solution appears to displace a large* portion of that earth, and to combine with the residue so silenty as even in many cases to preserve the original form+ of the stone. In vegetable petrifactions this earth is so accurately in situated, that the sap vessels remain visible; and even the coloring matter of the wood, as we observe in the Irish home.

Notwithstanding its hardness, much of this earth is annually held in solution to supply the needs of vegetation, and profession Davy has even shown that the hollow stalked grasses derive firmness from this essential ingredient.

As we approached the banks of Indian Kentucky, hearing shrill screams over our heads, we looked up and first saw the parroquet. These birds, which are about the size of wild pigeons, are sometimes seen on the Miami.

This Creek now scarcely flows, though it has a channel wide enough for a heavy mill stream. Indeed, most of those through this country are very shallow,--bottomed on horizontal lime rock; and in some places, this stone has been whirled up by the water into heaps. The cavities thus formed are now ponds. It is remarkable that where horizontal rocks lie near the surface, the streams diminish greatly in drowths, whether these are calcareous or aluminous.

The north-west side of the Ohio was a wilderness after the adjacent parts of Virignia and Kentucky were settled; and the streams of these states were consequently named before many of the opposite side were known to the white people. To such creeks, with the word Indian prefixed, the appellation of the southern branches are transferred; and thus we have Indian Short Creek; Indian Wheeling, and Indian Kentucky; which denote that Virginia Short Creek, Virginia Wheeling, and Kentucky River, join the Ohio in those respective neighborhoods.

On ascending the hill from this creek, we traveled several miles on a winding ridge, in many places only about the width of a turnpike, with gulphs on each side awfully profound. I estimate these hills at 500 or 600 feet above the Ohio River; and on all parts below the limestone strata, which appears on their sides, the soil is extremely fertile. [This country, in general, is wretchedly cultivated; very little wheat appears, and corn constitutes the staff of life. But even this is greatly neglected, and wherever moderate marks of industry were observed, we felt pleasure from the novelty. We have never before seen to much difference in the growth of corn; some being scarcely six inches high, and some four or five feet.

On the hill side, which bounds the flats on the Ohio above Madison, I saw for the first time, a horse stripping bark. I had long since understood that such practices prevailed in new parts of our south-western states, where these animals receive no food from their owners in winter; but we think it remarkable that bark should be preferred to grass. The nettle tree (Celtis occidentalis) here called hack-berry, which grows in abundance over all these hills, is the favorite, thought sugar-maple and some others do not escape. He had stripped the butt to the height of three feet.

We had not seen the Ohio since we left Rising Sun, until we arrived on these flats, though we chiefly kept within a few miles. Vevay, noted for its vineyards and Swiss inhabitants, is situate on the banks of the river, but our road led to the right. This morning, the sun shone faintly through the thickening veil of clouds, and soon disappeared. Moderate rain without wind succeeded; and having traveled through it a long time, just before sunset as the sky was brightening in the west, we arrived at Madison, wet and fatigued. Here we met the members of the Convention, who had come from the eastern part of the state, now on their return home. Corydon, the seat of government, is 40 miles below this village, which place they left this morning.

7 mo. 1—Madison is the set of justice for Jefferson county. It is situate on an upper flat of the Ohio, and back, a few hundred yards, from the river. It consists of sixty or seventy houses, the principal number of which appear new. Indeed the larger part of the improvements which we have seen in this territory is of very recent date. Many of these houses are small and of hewn logs.

The jail is about twelve feet square, of the same materials, and, in aspect as well as in strength, forms a great contrast to those gloomy piles which older communities have erected in their own defense. With surprise we had also remarked one of similar appearance at Boone Court-house in Kentucky; and though these buildings neither shine much in topographical description, nor add to the beauty of these villages, yet posterity, from such specimens will learn from interest the simplicity of new founded empires; for in a few years these will be only remembered.

From the great number of small houses, and an apparent regularity in the streets, the aspect of this village is not imposing. With these impressions, my companion asked one of the convention how long this little town had been laid out. Whether the dignity of the ex-member was offended by such approach—or whether he thought this country undervalued—I leave for his biographers to determine; but assuming all of the majesty of repulsive greatness, he exclaimed, “I hope you don’t’ call this a little town.” It is true my friend had seen some cities, if not characters rather greater, but we think this is a thriving place, and from its situation on the river, will rapidly augment in wealth and population.

Alfred Falk, 1876

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Alfred Falk’s brief description of Madison in 1876 was optimistic, according to most accounts of the time.

Trans-Pacific sketches; a tour through the United States and Canada by Alfred Falk ...Falk, Alfred, 19th cent. Melbourne [etc.] G. Robertson, 1877. Left Sydney in 1876

Lawrenceburg and Aurora passed by the steamer are flourishing little towns in Indiana, and have a rather considerable shipping trade. Big-Bone Lick on the Kentucky side, is so called from a quantity of mastodon bones having here been found. Carrollton stands at the junction with the Ohio of the Kentucky river, which is navigable for about 200 miles, and possesses very picturesque scenery. Madison one of the principal cities in Indiana presents a very imposing appearance from the river; it is well built and is a place of importance, having a large commerce.

Caleb Atwater 1829

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Caleb Atwater's description of Madison at the end of the 1820s was similar to other accounts of the period which remarked on the city's brick houses.

Writings of Caleb Atwater. A description of the antiquities discovered in the western country.--Remarks on a tour to Prairie du Chien; thence to Washington City, in 1829. Atwater, Caleb, 1778-1867. Columbus [Ohio] Published by the author, printed by Scott and Wright, 1833. The first paper was originally published in 1820 in Archæologia americana. Transactions and collections of the American Antiquarian Society. v. 1; the second, separately, at Columbus, Ohio, 1831.

“Leaving Louisville the next day after my arrival, in a steam boat, I arrived at Cincinnati the same day, and gladly set my feet on the soil of Ohio once more. This was on the 24th day of September, 1829. Between Louisville and Cincinnati, fifty miles above the former and a hundred below the latter, stands the beautiful town of Madison, on the north side of the river. It contains more than a hundred beautiful brick houses, a suitable number of stores and taverns, and is a very thriving town. Vevay, with its beautiful vineyards, is higher up the river, on the same side with Madison. The Indiana side of the river is fast improving.”

William Owen, 1825

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William Owen was passing through the Ohio Valley, when he stopped in Cincinnati and talked with a person of Swiss origin who had lived in the settlement in Switzerland County. The unflattering description was not unusual.

Diary of William Owen from November 10, 1824 to April 20, 1825 ed. by Joel W. Hiatt. Indianapolis, The Bobbs-Merrill company, 1906.

Tuesday, 9th Dec.

I likewise talked for some time with a Swiss, one of the first settlers of Vevay, Indiana. He came 20 years ago from Switzerland. He said the vine did not produce so much as was expected. They grow Cape and Madiera vines. All the production is consumed near them. About 60 Swiss families are there now. All do not grow the vine. We had on board several Ohio Navigators, which we found useful and amusing. Twice during the day we took in wood on the Indiana shore. We visited two families and found them only tolerably comfortable. They did not much like their residence. One woman said it was lonely and unhealthy. She seemed to prefer Ohio.

James Flint, 1820

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James Flint gives the earliest account of the Scottish settlement in eastern Jefferson and western Switzerland County that I have found. His account of Madison and the surrounding farms are valuable for the detail they provide in a few paragraphs.

Flint's Letters from America, 1818--1820 [224] LETTER XIX

Jeffersonville, (Indiana,) August 8, 1820.

On the day succeeding the date of my last, I descended the river to Madison, a new, town on the Indiana side of the river.

About twelve miles north-east of Madison, and extending from thence eastward, is a new settlement, consisting chiefly of Scots, who amount to thirty-three families. The land which they have fixed on seems to be of the second rate quality. It is uneven, and intermixed with many deep ravines; in most of which the water is now dried up. The greatest natural disadvantage of this situation is, the difficulty of having roads over ground so much broken; but the industry displayed by the settlers may remedy this before the present generation passeth away. In the above enumeration of Scots, I used the term families for want of a better; but it deserves notice, that two of these establishments consist of two young men each, and one of them of three.

Amongst the bachelor cultivators I recognised one of the passengers who came over with me in the ship Glenthorn. Another of them was lately a journeyman tailor in Edinburgh. He has thrown aside the tools of his former business, and taken up, in their stead, a more formidable weapon. I had an opportunity of conversing with five of these people.

The supposed horrors of a back-woods life, aggravated by a state of celibacy, has by no means shed a gloom over their countenances. Whatever their privations may be in the mean time, they have at least a reasonable prospect of having them speedily removed. The lands which they improve are their own. Whether they continue to cultivate or to sell them, their capital will increase: and even in the event of their taking wives, the probability of their children becoming paupers must be greatly lessened, in consequence of their emigrating to America. The excessive emigration of the men occasions a considerable paucity of females in all new settlements. While at Pittsburg, I saw a young widower with two infant children on his way for the military lands, in the State of Illinois. Some one hinted to him, that to marry again would be a prudential step on his part. He gave his assent to the truth of the remark, but expressed some doubts of his finding a wife where he was going. "I have lately been in that country," continued he, "and I believe that the girls there are all married up."

During the early stages of the settlement of the colonies, the excess of male population must have been thought a great inconvenience. It is on record that the settlers of Virginia procured ladies from England in exchange for tobacco. The necessity of importations of this kind has been long ago removed, in that State; and the two sexes are now nearly equal in point of numbers, although not quite equally distributed over the country. Before dropping this digression on celibacy, I must mention my conviction that a very great proportion of Scotsmen remain bachelors in America. This is not asserted as a fact that applies to every part of the country, but in [226] so far as my observation has gone, I state it with much confidence. Whether we are less ardent in the pursuit than other people, or whether we are more under the influence of the prudential principle,--or whether our imputed loyalty, or some other national peculiarities, make the fair daughters of this land repulsive to us, I am not prepared to say.

To return to the Scots settlement; J. M. lately a blacksmith in the county of Edinburgh, has settled here. He arrived with his wife, seven sons, two daughters, and a son-in-law, about ten months before I met him. He has purchased 480 acres of land, built two log-houses and a small stable; cleared and inclosed about 22 acres, which is nearly all under crop; deadened the timber of about 80 acres more; and planted an orchard. In addition to these improvements, his sons have wrought for a neighbour to the amount of a hundred days' work. He has a horse, a cow, a few hogs, and some poultry.

I inquired if he felt himself happy in a strange land; he replied, that he would not return to Scotland though the property, of which he formerly rented a part, were given to him for nothing.

Madison is a county town, consisting of about 100 houses. It is situated on a northerly bend of the river Ohio; and is, therefore, a place well adapted for intercourse with the interior of Indiana, and, on that account, it may soon become a considerable town. While I was there, the circuit court of the State was sitting. Two respectable personages were on the bench, and several lawyers of polite address were attending to the business on hand. The number of litigants is extremely great when the thinness of the population is considered.

The roads are merely narrow avenues through the woods; felling and rolling away the timber being, in most cases, all the labour which is bestowed upon them. Withered trees, and others blown down by the wind, lie across, forming obstructions in many parts. T

he few bridges which we do see are made of wood. In Indiana, the roads are opened and occasionally repaired by an assessment from every man who has lived thirty days in any particular county. In the present year this statute labour has been increased from two days' to six days' work; and the alteration is unpopular, because the poorest men in the State are obliged to pay as much as the wealthiest landholders, and non-resident landholders are exempted. I have seen several labourers who left the State to avoid this obnoxious tax. I am not informed whether the increase mentioned has been exacted in every part of the State. An act of the legislature fixes six days' labour, or a money commutation of the same, as a maximum, leaving the actual increase in the option of county commissioners. It does not appear probable that the road law can exist long without being modified, as popular opinion regulates every thing of the kind here.

On the 29th of June, wheat harvest was commenced on several farms to the west of Madison. Oats, at that time, were headed out and luxuriant; but the heat of the climate is uniformly unfavourable to the ripening of this kind of crop. Its weight, relative to measure, is usually about half of that of good grain in the better parts of Britain. The growth of Indian corn is this season luxuriant. The only injury it has suffered arises from squirrels that gathered a considerable quantity of the seed in many fields. Squirrels are not so excessively numerous in the uninhabited woods as in the vicinity of cultivated fields. Potatoes are small and of a bad [228] quality.

Thomas Nuttall 1819

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Thomas Nuttall did not visit Vevay in his trip down the Ohio. But his interview with French and Swiss who knew the area produced a highly negative account of wine making in the Vevay area.

Nuttall's Journal of travels into the Arkansa territory October 2, 1818-February 18, 1820.

Nuttall, Thomas, 1786-1859.

CREATED/PUBLISHED
[Cleveland, Ohio, A. H. Clark, 1905]

Reprint of original published in 1821

Page 63

I descended about 30 miles, and lodged with a very polite and hospitable Frenchman, three miles above the Swiss towns of Vevay and Ghent. He informed me that he had emigrated the last summer from Grenoble, and had purchased land here at the rate of 10 dollars per acre, including the house and improvements which he occupied. He complained how much he had been deceived in his expectations, and that if he was home again, and possessed of his present experience, he would never have emigrated.

He did not give a very favourable account of the settlement of Vevay, and he and others, particularly a Swiss whom I called upon, informed me that the wine here attempted to be made was of an inferior quality. It sold at 25 cents the bottle, but soon became too sour to drink, and that instead of obtaining the northern vines for cultivation, as those around Paris, they had all along attended to the southern varieties.

So the vineyards of Vevay, if not better supported, will probably soon be transformed into corn-fields. The wine which they have produced is chiefly claret, sometimes bordering on the quality of Burgundy, for the preservation of which their heated cabins, destitute of cellars, are not at all adapted; we do not, however, perceive any obstacle to the distillation of brandy, which could be disposed of with great facility and profit. The quantity of [34] wine said to be yielded to the acre, is about 500 gallons, which, if saleable, ought to produce a considerable emolument, and materially benefit the country .

William Cobbett, 1818

2008-01-31T06:07:00.000-08:00

William Cobbet’s 1818 trip down the Ohio River produce one of the highest praises for the wine of Switzerland County. He went on to Louisville without stopping in Jefferson County.

1818

June 16th.--Left Cincinnati for Louisville with seven other persons, in a skiff about 20 feet long and 5 feet wide.