John Jacobson 1853

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

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.