Full text of "Historical sketches of Old Vincennes, founded in 1732 : its institutions and churches, embracing collateral incidents and biographical sketches of many persons and events connected therewith"

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Smith, Hubbard Madison, 1820
; -1907.

Historical sketches of Old
Vincennes, founded in 1732

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Old Vincennes

FOUNDED IS' 1732

INSTITUTIONS AND CHURCHES, EMBRACING COLLATERAL
INCIDENTS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF
MANY PERSONS AND ETENTS CON-
NECTED THEREWITH

HUBBARD MADISON SMITH, M. D.

SECOND EDITION

VINCENNES, INDIANA

February, 1903

of IVm. B. "Burford,

Indianapolis,

Table of Contents.

1135560

Chapter I.

PAGE

First Missions and Settlement of Vinceunes 11

Chapter II.

Ciinipaign and Capture of Fort Sackville by George

Rogers Clark 32

Chapter III.

Date of Erection of Fort by Morgan Sieur de Vincennes

— Fort's Removal — Camp Knox 57

Chapter IV.

Establisliment of First Courts — Knox County Named —
First Court House Built — Town of Vincennes Organ-
ized— Old Town Hall Built — City Chartered — Its
Commons Lands — Oflftcers of City 74

Chapter V.

Schools: University of Vincennes — St. Gabriel's College
— St. Rose Academy — Common Schools — Sisters of
Providence — Parochial 91

Chapter VI.

Churches: St. Xavier Catholic — St. John's German Cath-
olic — Presbj'terian — Methodist Episcopal — Episcopal
— Baptist — Christian — Cumberland Presbyterian —
German-Protestant — St. John's Lutheran — St. John's
Evangelical 117

Chapter VII.

PAGE

Biographical Sketclies: Francois Morgan Sieur de Vin-
cennes — Colonel George Rogers Clark — Reverend
Pierre Gibault — Colonel Francis Vigo — Francis Bns-
seron 142

Chaptek VIII.

Biographical Sketches, Continued: Governor William
Henry Harrison — General Zachary Taylor — John Dnf-
iield Hay — Nathaniel Ewing — Samuel Judah — Nich-
olas Smith — Cyrus M. Allen — John Wise — Andrew
Gardner — L. L. Watson — J. L. Coleman — William
Burtch — John Law — John Francis Bayard 168

Chapter IX.

Societies: Masonic — I. O. O. F. — Knights of Pythias —
Grand Army of the Republic — Ben-Hur Lodge — Elks
— Red Men — Catholic Knights — Medical — Bar Associ-
ation 207

Chapter X.

Miscellaneous : The Press — University Library — Catholic
Church Library — City Library — Banks — Board of
Trade — Epidemics — Indian Mounds 225

Chapter XI.

Governor Harrison's Residence — His Pow-wow with Te-

cumseh— Battle of Tippecanoe 245

Chapter XH.

Clubs : Pastime — Fortnightly — Gibault Reading — Pal-
ace. Old Houses : American Hotel — Prison — Cotton
Factory — Bonner Mansion — Park- Wise Mansion . . 258

Chapter XIH.

Facts and Legends : Population — First Theatre — The Old
Ferry — Primeval Conveyances — The "Old Trysting
Boulder" — "Alice of Old Vincennes" — Addendum. . 273

—6-

Table of Illustrations.

PAGE

Hubbard Madison Smith, M. D Frontispiece

Fort Sackville 08

Map showing Location of Fort Knox after its removal fi"

Camp Knox Tl

Last Territorial Legislative Meeting Hall ~-i

Old Town Hall 79

John Badollet 82

Vincennes University 9(1

Old St. Xavier Catholic Church 118

New St. Xavier Catholic Cathedral 125

Presbyterian Cliurch 127

Methodist Episcopal Church 132

General George Rogers Clark 145

Reverend Pierre Gibault 156

Colonel Francis Vigo 161

Governor William Hemy Harrison 169

General Zachary Taylor 17-1

Nathaniel Ewing 184

John Wise 187

Park-Wise Residence . . 188

Samuel Judah 190

Cyrus M. Allen 201

Samuel Bayard 204

Old American Hotel 250

Old Cotton Mill 254

Governor William Henrv Harrison's Residence 259

-7-

Letter of Introduction.

The letliargy that lias possessed the people iu regard to the
incidents connected with the early history of Vinceuues seems to
have been happily dispelled l)y that superb historical romance en-
titled, "Alice of Old Vincennes," by the lamented and gifted
author, Maurice Thompson; and, from general inquiry, a contri-
l)Ution on the subject, it is presumed, would be acceptable to
many who take an interest in it.

No other part of the territory of our vast domain can claim
gi'cntfr interest than it does, considering the contentions for it.
and the momentous results that have followed its conquest. Hence,
believing this to be an opportune time to give the public a suc-
cinct and as correct a history as is possible with the materials
known to exist at this late day, I have ventured to assume the
task.

In dealing with the main subject, collateral matters more or
less connected have been treated of and statistical information
given that should be interesting to all Indianians, and more espe-
cially to Viacennes people. The mists of time have been gradu-
ally covering from sight and memory many interesting views and
facts of early years in this region, and, if not rescued now and
made a matter of record, they will soon Ite lost forever. If, in my
efforts to winnow from tradition and isolated records I have
rescued but a few facts and items of interest from oblivion, I
will consider my task of research not to have been in vain.

The author appreciates the encouraging words from friends
in his labor to settle points of doubtful authenticity regarding
Old Vincennes; and he is especially under obligations to the Hon.
Charles G. McCord, for facts gleaned from the records of our
Courts, and Hon. Robert W. Miers, M. C, and^^^^<sC'harles M.
Staley, of the Engineering Department Unitetf^^tates Army,
Washington, D. C, for facts in the Government's archives, and to
the Hon. Jacob P. Dunn, Secretary Indiana Historical Society,
for data relating to the early settlement of Vincennes, through
Hon. John K. Gowdy. United States Consul-General, Paris.
France; and to Mr. Elbridge Gardner, an octogenarian and native
of Vincennes; Mrs. Elizaljoth Andre, now in her ninety-third year,
and Mr. Vital r>ouclne. in his ninety-second year of age.

HUBBARD M. SMITH, M. D.

Vincennes, lud., October, 1902.

Preface.

The attempt to give in a snceiiiet maiinei- a truthful liisiory of
Vincemies from its first settlement has been a difficult one, since
so few authentic records of facts exist; and any one essaying
it must rely upon facts gleaned here and there, and from un-
certain traditions to mal^e a connected whole. This statement
should not be wondered at, since more than a century and a half
of time presents itself as the field from which the grains of truth
must be gathered, often from the chaff of hearsay. Hence, the
task at the start assumed herculean proportions, and, if mis-
takes are not made, the gleaner must be considered infallible as
to opportunities in gathering facts. And, if preconceived opinions
are antagonized and cherished mythical images be shattered by
stern and rugged facts, the possessors of them must draw con-
solation from tlie thouglit that mytlis of traditions are ephenu'ral.
whih' truths must aliide.

Preface to Second Edition,

Having been complimented by tlie exhaustion of the first
edition of my book in a few weeks, and having frequent calls for
it for public and private libraries, at the solicitatiou of friends 1
present the edition now issued, lioping it may meet with like
public favor. THE AUTHOR.

Vincenues, lud., February, 19o:5.

Letter of Dedication.

To the VinreiniCK IliMnrical Sooirfij:

Nearly three years ago you were kind and complimentary
enough to invite me to read a pnper before your body on the
history of Old Vlncenues. My reply was that I was then not
familiar enough with the subject to furnisli you any valuable in-
formation about it, but that I would write a paper on "Vincennes
and Its People as I Knew Them Fifty Years Ago," which I did;
and the effort was flatteringly received and published by the local
press. The commendation given that paper was the inspiration
for an investigation of the founding of the town, and the result
has been the production of the present volume, after much
thought and research. It embraces, I believe, valuable informa-
tion and incidents not hitherto published in consecutive and
permanent form suitable for libraries, and which I now take the
liberty of dedicating to your honorable body.

Your most obedient co-worker,

HUBBARD MADISON SMITH, M. D.

Vincennes, Ind., October, 1902.

-10-

Chapter I.

OLD VINCBNNES— ITS SETTLEMENT.

The historian in his disposition must be patient of labor, persevering, inflexible in liis love
of truth and justice, and free from every prejudice. — Musheim.

VINCENNES is situated on the site of the old
Che-pe-ko-ke, Piankeshaw Indian village, on the
east bank of the Wabash river, one hundred and
fifty-one miles east of St. Louis, Mo. ; one hundred and
ninety-two miles west from Cincinnati, Ohio ; one hun-
dred and seventeen miles southwest of Indianapolis, and
about fifty miles from Evansville, on the Ohio river,
south, and Terre Haute on the Upper Wabash to the
north ; being so centrally located between the leading cities
named, studded with railroads reaching in all directions,
it occupies an ideal location for a large city in the coming
near future.

The site on which Vincennes is situated seems to have
been a favorite location for the habitation of the human
race for many hundred years, its beginning reaching far
back into the distant past, and how many will never be
known. From the heaps of shells, some even from the
seashore, and skeletons found in this vicinity, some his-
torians have suggested that the first race of inhabitants
here were the Fishers, and the next the Mound Builders,
as is evidenced by the many mounds in the immediate
vicinity, and others scattered over a large area in the
county. Then followed the Red Men, who continued to

-11-

12 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

occupy it until dispossessed by the stronger, more
enlightened Caucasian race.

Tliis location, being so ideal in character, surrounded
by beautiful forests, wide-spreading prairies, abounding in
game, from grouse to buffalo, and dotted over in the
summer season with its myriads of gorgeous flowers, like
the stars of the firmauient ; broad savannas bordered by
the gently flowing crystal waters of the placid Wabash
river, swarming with the finny tribe, was well calculated
to ajDpeal strongly to less assthetic tastes than those char-
acteristic of the higher civilization of the Europeans. But
it is not the purpose of the author to try t(» solve the
question of the time of the first occupation of this place
prehistorically, and by whom, but to seek a solution of
the questions, when was the first advent of the white race
to the PiankeshaAv Indian village, Che-pe-ko-ke," and the
time when Vincennes was founded.

riic date of the first settlement (»r founding of Vin-
cennes has been a mooted question for many years, owing
to the inaccessibility of the earliest records concerning
the subject, they being located in Paris, France, and the
number of years intervening since its occurrence. The dis-
cussions have been numy, often based upon misconceptions
received from various sources of information, hence tra-
ditions have been, in many instances, recorded as veritable
history. Then, in seeking solutions of the problem pre-
sented, recorded facts must be' relied on as far as they
exist, as bases, aided by reason and corroborating circum-
stances germane to the question, and by legitimate infer-
ences.

•■"Meaning Brushwood, in Englisli.

OLD VINCENNES. 13

■ In discussing the first settlement of Vineennes we must
enter npon it dispassionately and without prejudice pro-
duced bv preconceived opinions formed on misinformation,
and statements made should not rest upon the ijjse dixit
of anv one, but should have for their bases well-authenti-
cated facts, not traditions.

"To hold their claim upon the Mississippi vallev the
French, in 1702, determined to establish some posts along
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and M. Juchereau did
erect a fort at the mouth of the Ohio. Some writers have
attempted to claim that Vineennes was the site of this
fort, but the records oppose such a view."*

In his Memoirs (to the French Government) in 1702
De Iberville asked possession of the Eiver Ohio, and that
the Illinois Indians might be colonized. He said; "The
Illinois, having been removed, I could cause it to be
occupied bv the ^lascontens and Kickapoos. Verv little
of these removals occurred as planned, but one tribe of
the Mascoutens came to the mouth of the River Ohio and
settled near the fort."f

After Lamotte Cadillac founded a permanent settle-
ment at Detroit and about the close of the year 1702 the
Sieur Juchereau, a Canadian officer, assisted by the mis-
sionary, Mermct, made an attempt to establish a post on
the Ohio near the mouth of the river. :{: The contentions
that Vineennes was the objective point of Sieur Juchereau
and his Canadian settlers is disproved in many ways, the
error occurring through early writers in using the name
of the Wabash for the Ohio river. Judge Law, in his his-

■W. H. Smith's Hist. Ind.. p. r2.

t Minn. Hist. Society, Vol. I, pp. 341-3*3.

: Dillon Hist. Ind., p. 21.

14 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

torical sketch of early Vincennes, made this mistake by
misinterpreting the letter of I^Tovember 9, 1Y12, written
by Father Marest, then stationed at Kaskaskia, in which
he said : "The French, having lately established a fort on
the River Wabash, demanded a missionary, and Father
Mermet was sent them."* That this letter referred to the
Ohio, instead of the Wabash river, will be demonstrated.
This statement of Law conflicts with the claim of the
authors claiming 1Y02 as the time that a missionary first
came to this point with Jucherean. If one had come in
1Y02, why the request of Marest to send a missionary in
1712, when it is said Mermet came here ? From the fact
that up to the middle of the eighteenth century the
Wabash river was regarded as the main stream and the
Ohio as its tributary, much confusion follows in describing
localities. In alluding to this matter of locations of
Juchereau's posts, established in 1Y02 fat the mouth of
the Ohio river), Dunn says: "It is unquestionable.
Its complete history is preserved in contemporary official
documents. It was abandoned three years after it was es-
tablished and existed only as a landmark."f

The Mascoutens and the Prairie Indians, having been
gathered about the fort of Juchereau, Father Mermet was
sent to them at the instance of Charlevoix by Father
Marest, who was in charge of the mission at Kaskaskia.
He immediately engaged in the work of spreading the
Gospel among the Indians. The following is Father
Mermet's statement of his labors: "The way T took was
to confound, in the presence of the whole tribe, the Char-

* Law's Hist. Vincennes, p. 12.

tDunn Ind. Mag. West. Hist., Vol. XII, \). 579. Magazine of Amer. Hist..
XXII, p. 143.

OLD VINCENNES. 15

latan, whose Manitoii or Great Spirit which he worshipped
was a buffalo. After leading him insensibly to the avowal
that it Avas not a buffalo that he worshipped, but the Mani-
tou or Spirit which animated all buffaloes, which heals
the sick and has all power, I asked hiui if all other beasts,
the bear, for instance, and which some of his nation wor-
shipped, was not equally inhabited by a 'Manitou,' which
was under the earth?" "AVithout doubt," said the grand
medicine chief. "If this is so," said the missionary, "men
ought to have a Manitou who inhabits them." "Nothing
more certain," said the medicine man. "Then, ought not
that to convince you," said the Father, pushing his argu-
ment, "that you are not very reasonable ? For, if man upon
the earth is master of all animals, if he kills them, if he
eats them, does it not follow that the Manitou which
inhabits him must necessarily have a mastery over all
other Manitous ? Why, then, do you not make him, instead
of the Manitou of. the buffalo and bear, your Manitou
when you are sick?" "This reasoning," says the Father,
"disconcerted the Charlatan," but, like other good logic in
the world, I am sorry to add, in his own words, this was
all the effect it produced.*

While Father Mermet was at this post, established at
the mouth of the Ohio river, "a pestilential malady soon
broke out among the Indians who were settled around it,
and, notwithstanding the kind offices of the missionary,
they died in great numbers. Witli the hope of arresting
tlie progress of the fatal epidemic, the Indians determined
to make a great sacrifice of dogs. Forty of these animals,
innocent as they were of the epidemic, to satisfy their

'Dillon's Hist. Ind., pp. 21,22.

16 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

suspicious Manitou, were immolated and carried on poles
in solemn procession around the fort. But as tlieir orgies
were of no avail, the Indians soon moved away from the
place of mortalitv. Mermet retired to the village of Kas-
kaskia and Sieur Juchereau abandoned the sickly post."'^

This account of the labors of Father Mermet with the
Mascoutens, given by himself, corresponds with what
Father Charlevoix said in relation to the former's labors
with the Mascoutens at the mouth of the Ohio, at Sieur
Juchereau's post, who made a trip down the Mississippi
from Ivaskaskia in 1721. He said: ''The labors among
the Mascoutens met with little success. The Sieur
Juchereau, a Canadian, had begun a post at the mouth of
the Ohio, which emptied into the Mississippi, constituting
the shorter and most convenient communication between
Canada and Louisiana, and a great many of the Indians
had settled here. To retain them he had persuaded
Father Mermet, one of the Illinois missionaries, to
endeavor to gain them for Christ, but the missionary
found an indocile tribe, exceedingly superstitious, and
despotically ruled by medicine men."f

The testimony given by this distinguished and well-
informed Father, independent of any other authenticated
evidence, ought to be considered enough to give a quietus
to the misstatements in relation to the alleged settlement
that Sieur Juchereau established a mission or builded a
fort on the site of Yincennes in 1702.

In ascertaining the time when Vincennes was founded
the confusion existing' in relation to the names of the two

* Charlevoix Letter, Ed. VI. 333, Charlevoix TII-30: Dillon's Hist. Ind., pp.

21-22.

t Shea's Charlevoix, \o\. \, p. l.!3.

OLD YINCENNES. 17

rivers referred to also obtains as to the words, '^St. Yin
cent" and ^'Vincennes/' the first being the name of an
individnal and the second being only a title inherited from
the Bissot family.

The fief of Vincennes was established in 1672. The
Sienr de Vincennes, who died in 1719, was Jean Baptiste
Bissot, the son of the first holder of the fief. * * *
Lonisa Bissot (danghter) married Seraphim Morgane do
la Valtrie. and her son Francois Morgane (he dropped the
e final in writing his name) was the founder of Post Vin-
cennes. -" * * Sienr de Vincennes must not be con-
founded with the members of the St. Vincent family, of
whom there were two or three in the French service in the
jSTorthwest.*

Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sienr de Vincennes, died about the
year 1717 and his nephew, Pierre (Francois) Morgan, son
of Louisa Bissot, who obtained an ensign's commission in
1709, assumed the style of Sienr de Vincennes, and
retained much of his uncle's influence in the West. He
was sent to the present Indiana to control the Miamis. He
erected a post known as Ouiatenon, and about 1735 an-
other on the Wabash, which took his name — Vincennes. f

Tt will be observed that the date, 1717. in the foregoing
differs by two years from all other writers as to the time
of the death of Jean Baptiste Bissot, and differs as to the
time Vincennes founded the post that took his name, mak-
ing it 1735, when Vincennes' letters from this place, known
to exist, are dated as early as March, 1733, and from the
tenor of them he must have been at the post at least as

'■■Dnnn ITist. Ind., p. 4'.i.

tShcn, " The Hoosier Stnte." in the Cathnlic Xcws, September 10, ISOO.

18 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

early as 1Y32, as he speaks of the fort and buildings hav-
ing lately been erected by himself.

Eoy, in Memories de la Societie Koyal dii C. Canada,
Section 1, 1892, p. 39, has this to say: "Jean Baptiste
adopted the military service as a profession and illustrated
the name Bissot de Vincennes. He was the founder of the
Post Ouiatenon. In 1736 he died, burned by the
Chicachas (ChickasaAvs). The name of the capital of Indi-
ana, Vincennes, is borrowed from that officer."*

This statement is in contradiction of almost all writers
on the subject. Jean Baptiste Bissot died at the Miami's
post in 1Y19, and was not burned at the stake in Louisiana,
but his nephew, Francois JMorgan, Sioiir de Vincennes,
did suffer so in 1Y36 in company with liis commander,
Diron de Artaguette, Father Senat and other prisoners
captured in battle by the Chickasaw Indians.

Having discredited the claim that tliis site was occupied
by Europeans in 1702 by the testimony of Law's History,
page 15, where he said: "Records of the Catholic Church
here make no mention of a missionary until the year 1749,
when Father Meurin came here," and having the testi-
mony of divers authorities that Sieur Juchereau erected
his fort at the mouth of the Ohio river, instead of the
Vincennes site, and that the Missionary Mermet's labors
were at the mouth of the Ohio river, I will try to show
the time when the Indian village Che-pe-ko-ke was first
occupied by Europeans.

The Chronological History of the TTnited States says:
"1732 — Vincennes founds Vincennes, the first European
settlement in Indiana. "f Taking this statement as the

-Edmund Mallet, Ind. H. Soc. p. 5fi.

t Robert .Tamep Bclford, in the N. Y. AVorld's Cliro. Hist. U. S.. p. fiO.

OLD VINCENNES. 19

central point of consideration on the question of the time
as to when Vincennes was first settled, the testimony lead-
ing to its establishment will be next presented.

In relation to the early history of alleged missions and
forts established here, I quote from the Western Annals,
a book published in 1S51 at St. Louis. The author says:
"Charlevoix, who records the death of Vincennes in 1736,
makes no mention of any post on the Wabash, or any mis-
sion there ; neither does he mark any upon his map,
although he gives even the British fort upon the Tennes-
see and elsewhere."* -^ * * Vivier, in his letters of
1750, writing from "Aux Illinoix" and Fort Chartres,
says nothing of any mission on the Wabash, although
writing in respect to Western missions, and speaks of the
necessity of a fort upon the Ouabache. How natural to
refer to the post at Vincennes if one existed. In a volume
of Memoirs on Louisiana, compiled from tlie minutes af
M. Dumont, and published in Paris in 1753, but probably
prepared in 1749, though we have an account of the
Wabash, or St. Jerome, as it was called, its rise and course
and the use made of it by the traders, not a word is found
touching any fort, settlement or station on it.f Vandriel,
when Governor of Louisiana, in 1751, mentioned even
then no post on the Wabash, although he speaks of a need
of a post on the Ohio near to where Fort Massac was
built afterwards, and names Fort Miami on the Maumee.

Mr. Justin Windsor, Librarian of Harvard ITniversity,
one of the late investigators of the settlement of the
Wabash, says: "The Mississippi Company (a. company of

'"A French .Jesuit priest, historian and missionary to Canada, who explored
the western country and the Mississippi river to its mouth. He arrived in Amer-
ica at St. .Joseph, Mich., a trading post, August 8, 1721.

t^Memories Historique Sur Jjouisiana, etc., 1753-Paris.

20 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

traders in pelfry) had urged, September 15, 1Y20, the
building of a fort on the Wabash as a safeguard against
tlie English, and the need of it had attracted the attention
of Charlevoix. Some such precaution, indeed, was quite
necessary to overcome the savages, for now tlie Wabash-
Maumee portage was coming into favor, the Indians had
been prowling about it and murdering the passers.

"In 1724 La Harpe feared the danger of delay. In
1725 the necessity for some such protection alarmed Bois-
briant early in the year. * * * As a result, we find
the Company of the Indies, December, 1725, instructing
Boisbriant to beware of the English, and to let M. de Vin-
cennes, then among the Miamis (who were then included
in the Canadian provinces, and their principal settlement
was at Green Bay, Wis.), know that the rivals were com-
ing in that direction. The next year the company informed
Perier (Septendier 30, 1726) of their determination to be
prepared, and authorized him to concert with Vincennes to
repel the English if they approached."*

Smith says: "There is no correct record of when the
post of Vincennes was established, but it was probably in
1727. In that year Vincennes and his faithful lieutenant,
St. Ange, were at Kaskaskia. * * *"f-

The journal of La Ilarpe, giving fnll particulars of the
occurrences in Illinois and Ouiatenon countries from 1698
to 1722, makes no mention of any post at, Vincennes."

General Ilarmar, who visited the post in 17^7, in a let-
ter to the Secretary of War, says: "I have been informed
by the inhabitants that Vincennes had established a post
sixty years before. That would place it at 1727. "" * *

■The Miss. Basin, p. 14S.

t AV. H. Smith's Hist. Ind., p. 18.

OLD VINCENNES. 21

In the siuimier of 1726 the directors learned tliat their
post was not yet established. "' ^ " Efforts had been
made frequently by this trading company to have a post
established at this point and had held out pecuniary induce-
ment to that end, but had so far failed."

"On the Wabash, near the present site of Vincennes,
was an important Indian village, known as Chip-kaw-kay,
and it is probable that when the French settlers arrived
they heard stories of prior visits made by traders, and
after a lapse of time those traditions became transposed
i.nto facts relating to the first actual settlement. To hold
their claim upon the Mississippi valley the French, in
1702, determined to establish some posts along the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers, and M. Juchereau did erect a fort
iit tie moiith of the Ohio."

1 his same author says, on page 18 of his said work:
''One of the best evidences that it (a post) was not estab-
lished in an earlier year, to which the date (1727) has
been assigned, lies in the fact that all persons concede that
it was established by Francois Morgan, Sieur de Vin-
cennes. He did not succeed to the title until late in the
year 1719. He was a son of the sister of the elder Sieur de
Vincennes, and succeeded to the title on the death of his
uncle, which took place at " " * the Indian village
on the Maumee. It is very possible that French traders
had visited the Indian village of Chip-kaw-kay many years
previously, but the fact is apparent that no settlement was
made or post established before 1727. Some eight years
later a number of French families settled there, and it be-
came the first actual settlement in the State. It was called,

'Dunn Hist.Ind., p. 53.

22 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

in the first record, 'The Post/ 'Old Post/ 'Au Poste/ and
remained the only settlement of whites in the State until
after the Revolutionary war, although a military fort was
maintained both at the head of the Maumee and at Ouiate-
non by the French until the country was ceded to Great
Britain.""

In a Memoir of M. de St. Denis, Commandant, dated
Natchitoches, ISTovember 30, 1Y31, he says: "On the
Ouabache, which has always been neglected, on which, in
my opinion, by the information I have had, we should be
the first to form an establishment, for, by report, it is a
key to the English, by which they would be better able to
get hold of the Province of Louisiana than any other place
and to entice away some of our tribes. I would advance
the number needed there, so to speak, to four hundred
men rather than three."-]-

This statement shows that up to this date there was no
"Post" then established at this point on the Ouabache,
that is, up to JSTovember 30, 1731, and if no post, no mis-
sion, as they could not exist without protection.

In Law's History, touching this officer's movements:
"Vincennes," he says, "was in the service of the Governor
of Canada as late as 1725. At what time he took posses-
sion here is not exactly known ; probably somewhere
about 1732. ":{: He alludes to a sale recorded at Kaskas-
kia, January 5, 1735, and says the document styles him
"an officer of the troops of the King," and ^^ Commandant
au poste du Ouabache,'' and he says further, the will of
Monsieur Philip Longprie, his father-in-law, dated March

•■'Smith's Hist. Ind., p. 12.
t Ind. Hist. Society, p. 296.
+ Law's Hist. Ind., p. 19.

OLD VINCENNES. 23

10, 1735, gives him, among other things, eight hundred
and eight pounds of pork, which he wishes kept safe until
the arrival of Monsieur Vineennes, who was then at the
post. There are other documents there signed by him as
a witness in 1733-4, among them one receipt for one
hundred pistoles, received from his father-in-law on his
marriage. From all these proofs I think it evident that
he was here previous to 1733.

The late Orlan F. Baker, in his article on the "'History
of- Knox County," says, in reference to the French com-
mander, Francois Morgan de Vineennes: ''For gallant
conduct at this siege (Detroit) De Vineennes was restored
to a rank forfeited by a previous disobedience of orders in
Europe and promoted to a command for the King in Illi-
nois, and sent by M. de Vandrial, Governor of Canada, to
Sault Ste. Marie, at which place and Machilamackinac he
remained until 1732, when under the orders of Longen-
ville, for the King, he repaired to the command of the
'Post des Ouabache.'

"The Ouiatenon settlement was now broken up, and
the inhabitants removed to the poste."*

The foregoing corroborates the inference of Law as to
the advent of Vineennes to this place, and doubtless from
the period of his arrival, 1732, may be taken as the time
of the beginning of the settlement or founding of Vin-
eennes.

To settle the question, inference lends its aid while con-
sidering collateral subjects.

Count Volney, who visited America and was in Vin-
eennes in 1796, says : "From the best information I

'■■' Hist. Knox County, \i. 26.

24 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

could obtain from tlie inhabitants; I judged the first
settlement was not much earlier than 1757, but giving the
benefit to the traditions of some of the oldest inhabitants,
the time might be as early as 1735."'^

That a Jesuit missionary may have been here a few
years preceding the advent of Morgan de Vincennes is not
unlikely, for in December, 1726, there departed nine
Jesuit priests from France for New Orleans, where there
were others, making in all twenty-one, to be distributed, by
the order of the Bishop of Quebec, in the Province of
Louisiana. In this distribution we find that the Jesuit
Father, Pierre D'Outreleau, was assigned to the Oua-
bache, 1728, and this is the first mention of a priest being
sent to the Ouabache (except that of Pierre Mermet, who
was with Sieur Juchereau, who was in fact not here, but
at the mouth of the Ohio, then called Ouabache, near the
site of Cairo, among the Mascouten Indians). The
Father's place of residence is not definitely known. It
might have been among the Indians on the Upper Wa-
bash, at Kaskaskia or at the mouth of the Ohio, until his
appearance again at New Orleans, to which place he had
started and came near losing his life on the way by the
Indians in 1730. f

The first advent of an itinerant missionary or erratic
traders could not in a correct sense be called a set-
tlement, even if the Father and some traders had
been here previous to 1732, and it has been shown no post
had been established here prior to that date. Then it
becomes necessary to indicate a period to which a settle-
ment might be reasonably ascribed.

"Law's Hist, of Vincennes, p. 12; History Knox County, 236.
tDunn Ind. Hist. Society, p. 274; from Sister Madeline Hachard's Journal,
New Orleans.

OLD VINCENNES. 25

The arrival of F. Morgan de Viiicenaes and tlie trans-
ference of the colonists from Ouiatenon (near Lafayette)
to the Che-pe-ko-ke village in 1732, may be taken as the
time of the beginning of the settlement of this "'post,"
and the subsequent marriage of Commander Vincennes to
a French lady, daughter of Philip Longprie, at Kaskaskia,
in 1733, but emphasized and gave impetus to the settle-
ment when he brought his bride to the new nucleus of
civilization. Post Ouabache. That the French people of
the Indian village so understood that time as the begin-
ning of the Caucasian settlement, finds corroboration in a
report made to the civil officers of the United States Gov-
ernment in 1790. When Winfield Sargent, Secretary for
the Territories northwest of the Ohio river, was sent here
to organize a county (which he called Knox) he found
much of the land adjacent was claimed by the villagers,
and so reported to the Washington Government, where-
upon he was requested by the same to ascertain of them
upon what authority they based their rights. A commit-
tee of the leading settlers answered, in part, as follows in
their report: "'We beg leave to inform you that their prin-
cipal reason is, that since the establishment of the country
the Commandants have always appeared to be vested with
the jiower to give lands ; their founder, M. Vincennes,
began to give concessions, and all his successors have given
lots and lands." Signed, "F. Busseron, L. E. Delisle,
Pierre Gamelon, Pierre Querez, July 3, 1790."" In this
report it is seen that the French villagers claimed that
F. Morgan de Vincennes was the founder of this settle-
ment or post. This declaration indicates the commence-
ment of the French settlement of Vincennes, according to

"'Letter to Winthrop Sargent: Hist. Knox County, p. 124.

26 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

tlie views of the people themselves ; and, hence, the conclu-
sions, from all the evidence adduced, that the settlement of
Vincennes cannot be rightfully placed at an earlier date
than 1732.

Since the foregoing was written the President of the
Vincennes University received photographic copies of two
letters from the Honorable Jacob P. Dunn, Secretary of
the Indiana Historical Society, written by the founder of
Vincennes, dated respectively March 7 and 21, 1733, and
procured for that society from the French archives by
Consul-General J. K. Gowdy, at Paris. These letters are
timely, as there is an awakening of Indianians about their
colonial historj^, and they add to our scant stock of reliable
knowledge on the subject. While these letters do not fur-
nish the exact date of the settlement of Vincennes, they
come so close to it that they aid us in forming reasonable
conclusions about it. The information gained through the
letter of March 7* settles the question of when the first
fort was built and by whom it was done, and is as follows:

"March 7, 1733 — Monsieur: To make reply to the
honor of yours, I will commence by informing you that
the Ouabache nation is composed of five tribes, which
includes four villages, of which the least is of sixty men
bearing arms, and in all about 600 or 700 men, whom it
will be necessary for the good of the service to gather
together and remove from proximity to the English. It
has been impossible for me to bring together all these
tribes because I have always lacked merchandise in this
place. ■ The fort which I have had built is 400 leagues up
the Ouabache, above the rivers by which the English will

•■'■ Addressed probably to the Governor at Detroit, as no address heads the let-
ter. Ind. Historic Transactions, p. 304.

OLD VINCENNES. 37

be able to descend and open trade with these tribes. The
place is well htted for the location of a large establish-
ment, which I would have made if I had had the troops.
In regard to the trade which can be had, it is in furs. It
is possible to send out from this post every year about
30,000 skins. That, monsieur, is all the trade that can be
secured for the present.

"There has never been so great need of troops at this
place as at present. The Indians, . Illinois as well as
Miamis and others, are more insolent than they have ever
been, and that since the Foxes have been overthrown. The
little experience I have acquired in the twenty years I
have been with them makes me fear some bad return from
these nations, especially mine, which sees an establishment
that I have begun and which there has appeared no desire
to continue in the past three years. The only thing that
can come in the meantime, monsieur, is the loss to us of
all the tribes, both of the lakes and of other places.

"You have done me the honor to ask me to send you a
statement of the works finished and to be constructed.
There is only a fort and two houses in it, and there should
at once be built a guard-room with barracks for lodging
the soldiers. It is not possible to remain in this place with
so few troops. I will need thirty men with an officer. I
am more embarrassed than ever in this place by the war
with the (^hickasaws, who have come here twice since
spring. It is only twelve days since the last party brought
in three persons, and as it is the French who have put the
tomahawk in their hands, I am obliged to be at expense
continually. I hope of your kindness that you will give
special attention to this place and to the trouble which I

28 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

experience, as well for myself as for the little garrison that
I have. It is a favor expected of you by him who has the
honor to be with profound respect, monsieur, your very
humble and obedient servant,

''VH^OENNES,
"Of the Eort of the Ouabache, this 21st day of March,
1733."

M. de Vincennes speaks of "the fort I have built," etc.
Again he says : "Monsieur, you asked me to send you a
statement of the amount of the work finished and to be
constructed. There is only a fort and two houses in it,
and there should at once be built a guard-room, with a
barracks for lodging the soldiers. It is not possible to
remain in this place with so few troops. I will need thirty
men with an officer." This statement indicates that he
had been at this point not exceeding a year, and that he
felt insecure, although he had a fort ; then how could it be
reasonably supposed that a mission had existed there
previously, as the work commenced had not been com-
pleted ? In the letter he alludes to the time of his service
against the Indians, which serves, indirectly, to fix the
time of his advent in Che-pe-ko-ke village. He says : "The
little experience I have acquired in the twenty years I
have been with them, makes me fear some bad returns from
these natives," etc. He speaks of his small force, and
says: "The Chickasaws are menacing me, having been to
the post twice since spring." All of which goes to show
that he had not fully established himself and felt insecure
in March, 1733, and had been there only a short time. It
is stated that in May, 1712, at the instigation of the
English interests in ISTew York, a desperate attempt was

OLD VINCENNES. 29

made to destroy the fort near Detroit. Two villages of
the Mascoutens and Ono-atagniers had been established and
fortified within a pistol shot of the French garrison. The
Indians had determined to annihilate the posts and called
to aid two large bands to help them. On the 13th of May,
1712, Erancois Morgan de Vincennes arrived with seven
or eight Frenchmen. That night a Huron came into the
fort and announced that the Potawattomie war chief
desired to connsel with the French, and wonld meet them
at the old Ilnron fort. Vincennes went over and was told
that six hundred men from the villages upon the St.
Jerome (Wabash) wonld soon arrive and help the garrison.
Upon Vincennes' return Duboison, the Commander, at
once closed the fort and prepared for a siege. The next
day Duboison ascended a bastion and casting his eye
toward the woods, saw the army of the natives of the
south issuino- froui it. They were the Illinois, Missouris,
Osages and other natives yet more remote. The battle
began at once, etc., resulting in a victory for the French
and their allies." This quotation is introduced to show
the time ^l. de Vincennes arrived in Detroit. Xow, bear
in mind the statement, in his letter of March 7, 1733,
when he speaks of his dealing with the Indians twenty
years; and, adding that number of years to the year of his
arrival in Detroit, 1712. and we have the year 1735 as
the time of his advent here.

The French King decided to establish two posts in 1731
— one at Illinois and one "at the Ouabache," "to com-
mence Tulv 1, 1731."|- Let it be remembered that Com-
mander M. de St. Denis, Commandant at T^atchitoches,

"•'Duboison's Diary, 11. 2.

t Inrl. Hist. Society Pulilications, v. 297 (1902)

30 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

as late as November 30, 1Y31, deplored the fact that no
establishment had been erected np to that time on the
Onabache, and the only evidence to show that a post was
commenced that year is the half-yearly allowance made to
the officers from Jnly 1 of that year (1731). Erom the
time the edict was issued to the time the same wonld reach
M. de Vincennes, would be probably six months, and then
the year 1732 would have been ushered in, but the officers
would rightfully draw half-pay for that year, which they
did. The allowance for salaries for one-half a year is not
positive evidence that Vincennes arrived here in 1731.
The presumption is that his orders did not arrive before
January 1, 1732. In 1732 the first full year's salary was
allowed. Taking into consideration the fact of the little
work done on the fort and buildings up to March, 1733, as
given in the late published letters of Vincennes in connec-
tion with the one given by St. Denis (that no fort had been
established in 1731), just stated, the legitiuiate conclusion
to be drawn from them is that the year 1732 is the earliest
date of the founding of Vincennes.

The foregoing facts and arguments set forth about the
first European settlement in Indiana ought to be consid-
ered sufficient proof as to the period Vincennes was first
settled. The French government occupied the country
until Canada and the ISTorthwest Territory wore ceded to.
Great Britain at the conclusion of their war, 1763, when
it became a bone of contention between the latter govern-
ment and the federal colonies of ISTorth America. It
proved to be a point rich in splendid results, and a prize
worthy of the most astute diplomacy and consummate
strategy and prowess in warfare, and the contention for it

OLD VINCENNES. 31

eulminated, finally, on February 25, ITYO, when it passed
under the control of the State of Virginia, through the
agency of Colonel George Rogers Clark, whose skill and
daring had not been surpassed by any military officer in
American history. The subject is full of interesting inci-
dents, but to enter upon a more elaborate history would
require the presentation of more facts and statistics than
would be profitable or interesting to the casual inquirer.
Francois Morgan de Vincennes, military commander,
having taken possession of Che-pe-ko-ke late in lYSl, or
early in 1732^ a stockade and two houses were built for
defenses against the attack of the Indians, and as a protec-
tion to the traders. He remained in command here until
1736, when he was ordered by the French Governor of
Detroit to join M. D'Artegette in his campaign against the
Chickasaw N'ation with a force to be sent from ISTew
Orleans; but owing to misha]>s, the forces did not form
a junction, according to instructions, and the commander
made the attack with his own troops and was defeated,
captured and burned. For his heroism in the battle he, it
Avas said, was sainted by his church, and the post chris-
tened "Post St. Vincennes," and was so called until the
simple name of Vincennes was adopted. About the year
1749, the fort's name became that of Fort St. Ange,
in honor of the successor of Vincennes in command of the
post, he having, it is said, improved the church and placed
on it a belfry and bell.

Chapter II.

CLARK'S CAMPAIGN.

COLONEL GEOKGE ROGERS CLARK, having
been sent out by Governor Patrick Henry, of Vir-
ginia, with a small army of Virginia and Kentucky
volunteers, to capture the outposts of Great Britain in this
part of the Northwest Territory, and having succeeded in
capturing Kaskaskia, on the Kaskaskia river, her greatest
stronghold in 1778, mostly by boldness and strategy, he
conceived the idea of making a dash for the seizure of
Vincennes, having learned of its weak condition and the
friendliness of the citizens of the village through a resi-
dent priest of Kaskaskia. To this end he sent there Father
Pierre Gibault, the priest, an intelligent gentleman, wlu»iii
he had found to be friendly to America, to ascertain the
obstacles to be overcome in the accomplishment of the
scheme. The priest assured him that although secular
matters did not pertain to his calling, yet if the Colonel
would commit the whole matter to him, there need be no
further uneasiness, for he might give them such spiritual
advice as w^ould do the lousiness. Accordingly, on July 11.
1778, Father Gibault. with Dr. LaFonte, Civil Magistrate ;
Captain Leonard TTelm, representing tlie military, and
Moses Henry, Interpreter and Envoy, were sent to Vin-
cennes, and the peaceful reduction of the fort was under-
taken. Fort Sackville was then garrisoned by the militia
under St. Maria Racine. Governor Abbott had gone to

-32—

OLD VINCENNES. 33

Detroit the month before to assure the militarv officer
there that the rumored demonstrations from the Ohio i)or-
der must prove futile.

The commissioners of Chirk, having arrived at tlie vil-
lage, and commnnicated with the traders and citizens, a
meeting was called at the church, the time seeming pro-
pitious for a. covp dieted, and on the 6th of August Francis
Busseron, the Mayor, to whom the priest had imparted an
account of what had occurred in Illinois, and the purpose
of the visit to Vincennes, arose in the church, at the close
of the services, and in the presence of the detained audi-
ence, interrogated the holy Father so skillfully concerning
the power of the arms of Virginia and the justice of the
cause of the colonies against England that all the assembly
were at once inclined to make friends with the new power.
"Then," said Busseron, "why delay? Let us show him
that we are his friends, and if Virginia will receive us, let
us become her subjects."* LaFonte said that he was au-
thorized to accept their allegiance and to pledge them the
whole power of the Confederate Colonies to protect them.
Without a word more, a roll of citizenship was displayed
and each adult, attaching his name in America's Doom's
Day Book, * * * repeated after the priest a vow
of fidelity to republican institutions. ^ ^ ^ Tl^ie
assembly with great joy, after electing Captain Helm to
command, with drum and instruments of music, marched
to the fort and received from the wily commander the
master keys. In a few hours after the glittering stars
and blazing stripes climbed the bastion of Sackville and
floated out in the summer air to the astonishment of the

Busseron was commissione<l Csiptain by Clark, Augu^^tTi. 1778.
[3]

34 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Indians, who were told tlieir Old Father, the French King,
had come to life again.*

Judge Lasselle, a citizen of Logansport, Indiana, has in
his possession Captain Busseron's account book, which fur-
nishes hitherto unpublished matter in relation to accounts
against Captain Leonard Helm. Captain Busseron was
authorized by him to organize a military company. So we
find a jjart of the record runs :

"!N"ovember 4, 1778 — For haying raised the company,

500 (presumably francs).
"IsTovember 12, 1778— Paid to St. Maria for 5 ells of

red serge for the flag, 5.
Paid to Mr, Dagenet for 3^ ells

of green serge at 10-37-10.
Paid Madam Godare for mak-
ing flag, 25."

Judge Lasselle adds: "^Trom these entries we can
obtain almost a full and precise description of the flag. It
consisted of two stripes, one of red and the other of green ;
the extra link of the red stripe of one and three-fourths
ells. The French ell being forty inches in length, and
taken off to form the shield in its proper place, left the
flag about eleven feet in length. * * * It was a
famoiTS flag for reason that it was the first American flag
in all that vast extent of territory of the present United
States, extending westward from the Blue Pidge moun-
tains in Virginia to the Pacific ocean."

This is the flag around which Maurice Thompson has
woven the thrilling incidents pictured in his popular
romance.

' Hist. Knox County, p. 4.

OLD VINCENNES. 35

Thus, it will be observed, without the firing of a gun,
through strategy, Fort Sackville was delivered bv its
militia officer, St. Maria Racine, into the hands of Captain
Leonard Helm, and the interpreter, Henrv. The Indians,
who were the friends of the English, immediately sent
runners to Detroit to inform the British commander there
of the result at Post Vincennes, and preparations were
commenced to retake the fort and village ; to this end
Langlade was dispatched to assemble the Indians near the
village, while Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton prepared a
fleet to take through the lakes to the head of the Wabash
river; and early in October he and Major Hay, with
eighty-four soldiers and one hundred Indians, started to
recapture Yincennes and destroy Clark's forces at Kas-
kaskia. Captain Helm, fearing that he could not be rein-
forced at an early day and suspicioning that a Detroit
force might be sent against him, sent out a spy to keep him
advised of any approaching danger, but his messenger was
captured and killed and all his papers seized; thus the flo-
tilla of Hamilton and his army from Detroit arrived
within tliree miles of tlie village l)efore it was discovered.
Captain Helm and his interpreter, Henry, were the sole
occupants of the fort when its surrender was demanded by
Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton, the native militia failing
to sup]»ort Captain Holm. He stood by one of the can-
nons, it is said, with torch in hand, ready to fire it, and
thus answered Hamilton: "Bv Heavens, no man enters
here until I know the terms." jLjLt3*3v5oU

"You shall have the honors of war," responded Hamil-
ton, and then, as the British army, at parade rest, saluted
the lowering of the flag, the officer with his conmiand of

36 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

one man, with military precision, marched ont of the forti-
fications.* Thns again. Fort Sackville, withont bloodshed,
passed nnder the sway of Great Britain, bnt not long- to
remain so. The re-establishment of the English with
increased forces and Indian allies all around the post,
Clark's situation at Kaskaskia became critical, if not really
untenable, and Hamilton conceived the idea of capturing
him by surprise. He sent out scouts for that purpose, but
the winter was so inclement and traveling so bad, they
failed to get to Kaskaskia. In the meantime Clark was
concocting a scheme to surprise and take Hamilton and his
forces. Although the time of enlistment of many of his
soldiers had expired, and their places were to be filled with
ihe new citizens from conquest, he determined to send an
envoy to Vincennes to learn the temper of the people
there, the probable number of Hamilton's force, the
strength of the defenses to be overcome, and then take his
chances for victory. After retaking the fort at Post Vin-
cennes, it is somewhat remarkable that Hamilton did not
follow up his success by pushing on to Kaskaskia and
engaging his opponent, whose strength had been weakened
by the expiration of the enlistments of the bulk of his
soldiers, and before his little army could be recruited and
reorganized and reinforcements could arrive, promised by
the Governor of Virginia.

The presumption is that the British commander felt so
secure in his quarters during the very severe winter, then
at its worst, and so sure that no successful campaign could
be waged against him by Clark's little army at that time of
flood and ice, he could afFord to wait until s]iriiig before

'■' Ilist. Knox County, p- 43.

OLD VINUENNKS. 37

entering upon his campaign against Kaskaskia. The result
then, in his estimation, being an inevitable success, as he
could be reinforced by that time with several hundred
Indian warriors. As pride and over-confidence often go
before their fall, this fateful and imagined security proved
disastrous to him and his army ere the flowers began to
bloom and the birds began to sing to cheer his army on in
their anticipated triumphant spring campaign.

Colonel Clark's indomitable will, forceful mind and
resourceful ingenuity to meet emergencies was pnt to the
severest test in devising ways and means to thwart the
schemes of his more powerfid adversary and gain success
himself. Great commanders are not made, but born so.
What would have appeared insurmountable obstacles to
some men, to him were not beyond attainment. So with
firm resolve, stout heart and optimistic mind, he com-
menced evolving a scheme, the beginning of which would
be to learn, authoritatively, from Vincennes what he
would have to encounter to have his efforts crowned with
victory. In order to accomplish this, he says, in a letter
to his friend, Mr. George Mason: "I sent oft' a horseman
to St. Vincent to take a prisoner, if possible, by Avhich we
might get information, but found it impossible on account
of high water ; but, in the height of our anxiety, on the
evening of the 29tli of January (1779) Mr. Francis Vigo,
a Spanish merchant, arrived from St. Vincent, who was
there at the time it was taken by Hamilton, and he gave me
every intelligence I wished." The name of this good
friend of the American cause should ever be held in grate-
ful remembrance for his patriotism and generous deeds in
advancing to Colonel Clark funds and helping to keep the

38 HTSTOETCAL SKETCHES

colonial scrip at par. He was rich and spent his fortune
to advance and maintain American credit and supremacy.
The name of C^olonel Francis Vigo is well worthy to be
embalmed in the memory of the citizens of Vincennes with
the heroes, General George Rogers Clark and M. Pierre
(Jibault.

He said: ''The Governor's party consisted of about
800 men when he took possession of the post, on the 17th
of December last. Finding the season too far spent for
his intention against Kaskaskia, he had sent nearly the
whole of the Indians out to different parts to war, but to
embody as soon as the weather would permit, and he could
complete the design."'" Having the information he desired.
Colonel Clark quickly proceeded to organize as large a
force as possible, drawing from several adjacent recruiting
stations. His plan was to send a portion of his force by
boat, with provisions and war equipments and artillery
taken from the fortifications at Kaskaskia, down the Mis-
sissippi river to the Ohio, and thence up the Ohio to the
Wabash, up the latter river to within nine miles of Post
St. Vincent, where a junction was to be made with the
land forces under his command, as he would go directly
across the country to that point. On the 3rd of February,
1779, Colonel Clark wrote to the Governor of Virginia,
explaining his situation and lack of reinforcements prom-
ised, being sensible of his peril without them, which, at
that time, he hardly had a right to expect, and added: "I
shall be obliged to give the country to Hamilton without
a turn of fortune in my favor. I am resolved to take
advantage of his present situation and risk the whole on

"Colonel Vigo's report to Colonel Clark.

OLD VrNCP]NNES. 39

a single battle. I shall set <>iit in a few days with all the
force I can raise of my own troops, and the few militia
that I can depend npon, anuninting to only one hundred
and seventy men, sonie of which go on board the small
galley. '" " "" I shall march across the land myself
with the rest of the boys. The principal persons that fol-
low me on this forlorn hope are Captain Joseph Bowman,
John Williams, Edward Worthington, Richard McCarty
and Francis Charleville, Lieutenant Brashear, Abraham
Keller, Abraham (Jiaplin, John Bailey and several other
brave subalterns. ■"'■ "' "' I know^ the cause is desper-
ate, but, sir, we must either quit the country or attack
Llamilton. [NTo time is to be lost. Were I sure of rein-
forcements, I would not attempt it now. Who knows what
fortune will do for us ? Great things have been effected
l)y a few men well conducted. Perhaps we may be fortu-
nate. We have this consolation, that our cause is just, and
that our country will be grateful and not condemn our
conduct in case we fall through ; if so, this country, as
well as Kentucky, I believe, is lost."*

Hoping almost •without the least foundation for a hope
to rest upon, knowing that Hamilton's force exceeded his
by four to one, and that the enemy would be behind de-
fenses w^ell equipped, Colonel Clark, with his little, but
heroic band, set out for Post St. Vincent, February 5,
1779, saying he would '^conquer or die." In his letter to
a friend and patron, George Mason, of Virginia, he wrote:
"I had a large boat prepared and rigged, mounting ten
four-pounders and four large swivels, manned with a fine
company of forty-five men, commanded by Lieutenant

■•■■Colonel Clark's letter to the (iovernor of Virginia.

40 HISTOKJCAL SKETCHES

Kogei's. She set out the evening of the -ith of February,
with orders to force her way, if possible, within ten miles
of Post St. ^^incent and lay until further orders. ^ * *
I got everything complete and on the 5tli, at 3 o'clock p.
m., marched, being joined by the volunteer companies of
the principal young men of Illinois, commanded by Cap-
tain Charleville and Captain McCarty. Those of the troop
were Captain Joseph Bowman and Edward Worthington,
of the Light Horse."

The little army's travels and doings, from Kaskaskia to
the near approach to Vincennes, will be given from Cap-
tain Bowman's diary, as they were clearly recorded in his
journal, in preference to that taken from the letters of
Colonel Clark in his memoirS;^ because the latter were
written several years after these events occurred, when his
recollection might have been faulty. He says: "Having
crossed the Kaskaskia river on the 5th of February, 1779,
the first day's journey was about three miles through mud
and water." For some days following they found the
conditions to be of a similar character and made slow
progress.

" "On FelDruary 10th crossed the Eiver Petit Fork upon
trees that were felled for that purpose, the water being so
high there was no fording it. Still raining and no tents.

"On the lltli, crossed Saline river.

"12th of March crossed Cat Plains and killed numbers
of buffalo ; the road very bad and immense quantities of
rain had fallen. The men much fatigued ; camped on the
edge of tlie wood. The plain is meadow, being fifteen or
more miles across. It was late in the night before the

•■■' Colonel Clark's letter to the Governor of Virginia.

OLD VINCENNP]S. 41

baggage and troops got together. Xow within twenty-one
miles of St. Vincent.

'''13th — Arrived at the two Wabashes. Although a
league asunder, they now made but one. We set to mak-
ing a canoe.

"14th — Finished the canoe, and put her into the river
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

"15th — Ferried across the two Wabashes, it being then
live miles in water to the opposite hill, where we camped.
Still raining. Orders not to fire any guns for the future,
except in cases of necessity.

"16th — Marched all day through rain and water.
Crossed Fox river. Our j^i'ovisions began to be short.

"iTth — ^larehed early, crossed several rivers very deep.
Sent Mr. Kennedy, our commissary, with three men to
cross the Eiver Embarrass, if possible, and proceed to a
plantation opposite Post ^"incent in order to steal boats or
canoes to ferry us across the Wabash. About an hour by
sun we got near the River Embarrass. Found the country
overflowed with water. We strove to find the Wabash.
Traveled until 8 o'clock in mud and water, but could find
no place to camp on. Still kept raining on, but after some
time Mr. Kennedy and his party returned. Found it im-
possible to cross the Embarrass river. We found the water
falling from a small spot of ground; stayed there the re-
mainder of the night. 1 )rizzling and dark weather.

"18th — At break of day heard Governor Hamilton's
morning gun. Set off and marched do^^^l the river.
■" * " About 3 o'ch^ck came to the bank of the Wa-
bash ; made rafts for four men to cross and go up to town
and steal boats, but they spent the day and night in the

42 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

water to no jtiirposo, for there was not one foot of di-v
land to be found.

"lOtli — Captain McCarty's company set to making a
canoe, and at 3 o'clock four men returned after spending
the night on some old logs in the water. The canoe fin-
ished, Captain McCarty, with three of his men, embarked
in the canoe and made the third attempt to steal boats,
but soon returned, having discovered four large fires
about a league distant from the camp, which seemed to
him to be the fires of whites and Indians. Colonel Clark
sent two men in the canoe down to meet the bateau, with
orders to come on day and night, that being the last hope,
and we starving. Many of the men much cast down, par-
ticularly the volnnteers. JSTo provisions of any sort now
two days. Hard fortune.

"20th — Camp very quiet, but hungry ; some almost in
despair. Many of the Creole volunteers talking of return-
ing. Fell to making more canoes, when about 12 o'clock
onr sentries on the river brought to a boat with five
Frenchmen from the Post, who told us that we were not as
yet discovered; that the inhabitants were well disposed
towards us, etc. Said Captain Willing's brother, who was
taken in the fort, had made his escape, and that one Mason-
ville, with a party of Indians, was then seven days out in
pursuit of him, with much more news to onr favor, such as
repairs done on fort, the strength, etc. They informed us
of two canoes they had seen adrift some distance above us.
Ordered that Captain Worthington ^vitli a party go in
search of them. Returned late with one only. One of
our men killed a deer, which was brought into camp.

"21st — At break of day began to ferry our men over in
canoes to a small hill, called 'Mammelle' (a prominence, a

OI.l) VINCENNES. 43

kimll nr snuill hill risiuii' ;iliu\-c the \v;U(,'r, called sd liv rlu'
French, which is likened nnto the niaunna or breast rising
above the surface of the chest. This is nearly opposite
the town of St. Francisville, Illinois.) Captain Williams,
with two men, went to look for a passage and were discov-
ered by two men in a canoe, but could not fetch rliciii to.
The whole army being over, we thought to get to town that
night, so we plunged into the water, sometimes to the neck,
for more than one league, when we stopped on the next
hill (at or near St. Rose Catholic Church grounds) of the
same name (Mammelle), there being no dry land on any
side for many leagues. Our pilots say we can not get
along — that it is impossible. Rain all this day. ]^o pro-
visions.

"22d — Colonel Clark encourages his men, which gave
them great spirits. Marched on in the water. Those that
were very weak and faiiiishod from so much fatigue and
hunger went in the canoes. AVe came one league further
to some Sugar camps (situated alxiut foiu* miles below
town, to the right, going south of Cathlionette road),
where we stayed all night. Heard the evening and morn-
ing guns of the fort. Xo provisions yet. Lord, help us.

"23d — Set oif to cross the plain, called Horseshoe Plain,
about four miles long and covered wdth water breast high.
Here we expected some of our brave men must certainly
perish, having frozen in the night, and so long fasting.
Having no other recourse but wading over this plain, or
rather lake of water, we jdunged into it with courage,
Colonel Clark, being the first, taking care to have the boat
try to take those that were weak and numb with cold into
them, l^ever were men so animated with the thouo-ht of

44 IIISTOIUCAL SKETCHES

avenging the wrongs done to their back settlements as this
small army. About 1 o'clock we came in sight of the
town. We halted on a small hill of dry land (two miles
south of town, to the right of same road from town) called
'Warriors' Island/ where we took a prisoner hunting
ducks, who informed us that no person suspected our com-
ing at that season of the year."

Having followed Captain Bowman's account of the
march of Colonel Clark's army to Warriors' Island, the
writer will give the record of Colonel Clark himself from
that on of the succeeding journey to the town. He says:
"To our inexpressible joy we got safe on terra firma
within half a league of the fort, covered by a small grove
of trees, and had a full view of the wdslied-for spot.
* * * We had already taken some prisoners that
were coming from the town. Lying in this grove some
time to dry our clothes by the sun, we took another pris-
oner, known to be a friend, from whom we got all the intel-

NoTE. — Warriors' Island, alluiled to by Captain Bowman in his foregoing
journal of the route traveled, is a piece oi high ground situated a quarter of a

mile southwest of the residence of Mr. Cline, on the Cathlionette road. Mr.

John R. Glass, now an elderly citizen, informs me that he liveil on this farm
land, from early childhood, with his grandfather, Mr. Deleria, until he was
thirteen years old, and said: " The current opinion in early days was that the
hill received its name from the fact that it was once occupied by some Indian
warriors." It is really not an island, as the reader might infer, but high ground
on the lower prairie, which appeared only as an island during an overflow of the
river. The nature of the route traveled to the village excludes "Bunker Hill,"
in the line of march, as some have asserted. The army could not have
reached this hill, had it so desired, on account of the large deep pond and miry,
swampy slough, that laid between them. During the driest time of the year
such a feat would have been difficult to accomplish by starving and exhausted
troops. Besides, the route by the way of the hill would have been longer and
out of the direct line of march, and, if it could have been gained, another ravine
and slough would have intervened between them and the next hill, which would
have been difficult to reach on account of the high stage of waters then existing.
The army took the only practicable route, although it was covered with water
that was in many places, the narrator says, " waist high."

OLD VINCENNES. 45

ligence wished for; but would not suffer him to see our
troops, except a few. '" " ^ I resolved to appear as
daring as possible, that the enemy might conceive, by our
behavior, that we were very numerous, and probably dis-
courage them. I immediately wrote to the inhabitants in
general, informing them where I was, and what I deter-
mined to do, desiring the friends to the States to keep
close to their houses, and those in the British interest to
repair to the fort and fight for their King; otherwise
tliere would be no mercy shown them, etc. Sending the
compliments of several officers that were known to be
expected to reinforce me, to several gentlemen of the
town, I dispatched the person off with this letter, waiting
until nearly sunset, giving him time to get near the town
before we marched. As it was an open plain from the
wood that covered us, I marched in time to be seen
from the town before dark, but taking advantage of the
land, disposed the lines in such a manner that nothing but
the pavillions (flags that the ladies of Kaskaskia had given
him) could be seen, having as many of them as would be
sufficient for one thousand men, which was observed by
the inhabitants, who had just received my letter, and who
counted the different colors, and judged our numbers
accordingly. But I was careful to give them no oppor-
tunity of seeing our troops before dark, which it would be
before we could arrive at the village. The houses
obstructed the fort's observing us, and no alarm was
evinced, as I expected, by the inhabitants. In order to
giA^e them time to publish the letter we laid still till sun-
(hA\n, when we began our march, all in ordei", with colors
flving, and drums braced. After wjidiug to the edge

46 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

of the water, l)reast liigli, we mounted the rising ground the
town is built on. (This ground is now occupied by the
Catholic cemetery and O'Donnell's field.)

"About 8 o'clock Lieutenant Bailey, wuth about fourteen
men, were dispatched to fire on the fort while we took
possession of the town, and ordered to stay until he was
relieved by another party, which was done.

"We were informed that Captain Lamont, with a party
of twenty-five men, were out on a scout, wlio, liearing our
firing, came back." Early in the night the Indian chief.
Tobacco, friendly to the Americans, approached Colonel
Clark and told him he could muster twenty-five braves, and
requested that he might lead them, saying that "they
would climb the fort." Clark thanked him and said: "Tell
them to go to their houses ; they might be mistaken for
foes." He acquiesced, says a narrator, in this decision, but
stayed with Clark, at the latter's request, during the
remainder of the night, well pleased, and gave him much
valuable information.

"At the first fire the various troops took positions.
Charleville took a position among the houses on the south
side of the fort ; Bowman and his company at the foot of
Busseron street, on the river bank ; while Lieutenant
Bailey opened fire on the front and flank of the fortress."
So comjilacent was Ilamilton in the belief that Clark
would not dare so rash an attempt as to attack the fort,
and so well had the secret of his ap]n'oacli been kept, of an
invading force by the citizens, that it was only after a Brit-
ish soldier had been shot down at a port hole he realized
that the Americans confronted him in battle array.

"The firing continued all night, the cannon of the fort
shattering houses, but almost useless against the riflemen,

OLD VINCENNES. 47

protected by the houses and picket fences. The embraz-
ures for the cannon had to be frequently shut, for the
flash of the guns but invited the sure aim of fifty besiegers.
Two American troopers were wounded in this night
attack, while the English lost three killed and four
wounded. Major Bowman commenced to entrench on
Main street, preparatory for the use of the cannon,
expected hourly by the bateau, with which he expected to
blow up the fort's magazine." Early in the morning Cap-
tain Lamont's force, which had returned the night before,
were hovering around the town, seeking to enter the fort.
Clark sent a detachment to intercept and capture them,
but finding it fruitless, withdrew his troops a little from
the garrison, in order to give them a chance to get in,
which they did, much to their credit and his satisfaction,
believing if they did not get in at daybreak, they would go
off and join other Indians. He says: "Several of the
number, however, were captured, among them a famous
Indian partisan of the name of Masonville." He was cap-
tured by two Indian boys, it is said, who tied and took him
near the fort, and fought behind him as a breastwork, sup-
posing that the British woidd not fire at them for fear of
killing him. The news coming to Clark, he ordered them
to take him to the guard house, which they did, but were
so inhuman as to take a part of his scalp on the way. When
the firing ceased, at daylight, the troops being nearly fam-
ished and exhausted from incessant labor and long fasting,
Clark, in order to give time for rest and victualing the
troops, sent a flag of truce with a letter of a bluffing kind
to Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton. During this truce
interval the ladies of the village busied themselves in giv-
iuii' the famished soldiers the first full meal thev had had

48 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

for about five days. Colonel Clark's note to Lieutenant-
Governor Hamilton reads: ''Sir — In order to save your-
selves from the impending storm that now threatens you, I
order you tr) immediately surrender yourselves, with all
your garrison, stores, etc. Eor, if I am obliged to storm
you, you may depend on such treatment as is justly due to
a murderer. Beware of destroying stores of any kind, or
letters that are in your possession, or hurting one house in
the town, for, by Heavens, if you do, there shall be no
mercy shown you. (Signed) C R. Clark." To which the
British commander replied : ^'Lieutenant-Governor Ham-
ilton begs leave to acquaint Colonel ( 'lark that he and his
garrison are not disposed to be awed into any action
unworthy British subjects." Then the firing was renewed
and continued at the end of the truce with more vigor than
ever, and the men were in favor of storming the citadel.
Hamilton, becoming depressed, sent that evening a flag of
truce and a proposition to Colonel Clark, as follows:
"Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton proposes to Colonel Clark
a truce for three days, during which time he pledges that
there shall be no defensive works carried on in the gar-
rison, on condition that Colonel Clark shall observe, on his
part, a like cessation of defensive works ; that is, he wishes
to confer with Colonel Clark, as soon as can be, and prom-
ises that whatever may pass between them two, and
another person, mutually agreed upon, to be present, shall
be secret till matters be finished ; as he wishes that what-
ever results of the conference may be, it may tend to the
honor and credit of each party. H Colonel Clark makes
a difficulty of coming into the fort, Lieutenant-Governor
Hamilton will speak to him by the gate. February 24,
1Y79. (Signed) Henry Hamilton."

OLD VINCENNES. 49

Clark was sure that the delayed boat Avould arrive in
three days, when he would be reinforced with men, ammu-
nition, stores and artillery, and could well afford some
delay on that accoimt, yet he was so confident that he was
master of the situation, he lietermined to press his advan-
tage to the utmost, and accordingly returned the follow-
ing answer:

"Colonel Clark's compliments to Lieutenant-Governor
Hamilton, and begs leave to inform him that he mil not
agree to any terms other than Mr. Hamilton surrenders
himself and garrison, at discretion. If Mr. Hamilton is
desirous, of a conference with Colonel Clark, he will meet
hiin at the church with Captain Helm. (Signed) G. R.
Clark."

This note had the effect to bring about a conference
at the churcli. When tliey met Clark had little to say,
as he considered Hamilton and his officers as murder-
ers, and intended to treat them as such. The conference
brought about no agreement, although Hamilton was dis-
posed to surrender on conditions favorable to himself and
followers. After stating the terms and Clark not agTce-
ing, he asked: ''What more do you want?" Clark re-
plied : 'T want sufficient cause to put all the Indians and
partisans to death, as the greater part of these ^dllains are
with you." All of Hamilton's propositions being rejected,
he asked Clark if nothing would do but fighting. To which
Clark replied: "I know nothing else." Clark then states
that Hamilton begged him to stay until he should go to
the garrison and consult with his officers.

The Kickapoo Indians, who were friendly to the Amer-
icans, about this time discovered a party of Indians, whom

[41

50 HISTOEICAL SKETCIHES

Hamilton had sent out for scalps, coming over the hills
back of the village, and gave the information to Clark,
and a party was sent out to meet tlieui on the connnons.
They conceived our troops to be a party sent bv Hamilton
to meet and conduct them in — an honor commonly paid
them, "I was," said Clark, "highly pleased to see each
of the party whooping, hallooing and striking each others'
breasts, as they approached in open field, each seeming to
outdo the other with the greatest signs of joy. The poor
devils never discovered their mistake until too late for
many of them to escape. Six of them were made prisoners,
two escaped and the rest were so badly wounded, as we
afterwards learned, that but one lived. I had now as fair
an opportunity of making an impression on the Indians as I
could have washed for — that of convincing them that Gov-
ernor Hamilton could not give them that protection he had
made them believe he could ; and, in some measure, to
incense the Indians against him for not exerting himself
to save their friends ; and I ordered the prisoners to be
tomahawked in the face of the garrison. It had the effect
I expected. Instead of nudging their friends inveterate
against us, thoy uj^braided the English for not trying to
save their friends, and gave them to understand that they
believed them liars and not Avarriors." A thrilling inci-
dent, it is said, occurred at the execution of the captured
warriors. The leader of them proved to be the son of a
Frenchman named St. Croix, a meud)er of Captain
McCarty's volunteer ('om])aiiy fi'om ('ahokia, Illinois. He
was painted like an Indian, aud not even his father recog-
nized him while standing guard over liiiu with a drawn
sword, to see that he did not escape. At the critical

OLD VINCENNES. 51

niomeut, when the ax was about to fall, he cried out: ^'O,
save me.'' The father recognized his voice, and you may
easily guess at the agitation and behavior of the two per-
sons. Clark, who had so little mercy for such murderers,
and had such a valuable opportunity for example, knowing
that there would be great solicitation to save him, says he
immediately absconded; but so exceedingly well had the
father performed his duties in the service, at his earnest
request, the officer in charge granted a reprieve on certain
conditions.

After this episode the chief officers met in council again,
consisting of Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton and Major
Hays, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, on the part of
Great Britain, and Colonel Geora'e Rogers Clark and Cap-
tain Joseph Bowman, representing the Americans, and
Captain Leonard Helm, mutually selected as a witness.
Hamilton produced articles of capitulation, which were
rejected by Clark, and they separated.

Tow^ards the close of the evening Clark sent ILuiiilton
the following articles:

"Tst. That Lieutenant-Governor Hamilton engages to
deliver to Colonel G. 11. Clark, Fort Sackville, as it is at
present, with all the stores, etc.

"2d. The garrison are to deliver themselves up as
prisoners of war. and march out with their arms and
accouterments.

"3d. The garrison to be delivered up to-morrow at 10
o'clock a. m.

"4th. Three days' time to be allowed the garrison to
settle their accounts with traders and inhabitants.

"5th. The officers of the garrison to be allowed their
nccessarv bacffac'e, etc."

52. HISTORICAL SKETCHES

These terms were accepted by Hamilton, and lie deliv-
ered np tlie fort at 10 o'clock a. m., Eebruarv 25, 1779,
and the stars and stripes, wliicli had been hauled down
when Captain Helm delivered up the fort to Hamilton,
and so dear to that ideal patriotic heroine, "Alice of Old
Vincennes," mounted up the flagstaff again to kiss the
morning breezes, fanned by the wings of Liberty, as she
hovered over and welcomed home and blessed Old Glory
with benisons of love.

Colonel Clark immediately changed the name of the
fort to that of Patrick Henry, in honor of the then Gov-
ernor of Virginia, dating his official papers at Fort Patrick
Henrv.

Soon after capitulation was effected it was learned that
an expedition was on its way from Detroit, and was
expected shortly, in aid of Hamilton, by the way of the
lakes and the Wabash, composed of soldiers, stores, muni-
tions of war, etc. Captain Bowman, who had been pro-
moted to the office of Major, was ordered by Colonel, now
General, Clark, by promotion after the capture of the
town, to intercept it. Accordingly, on the evening of the
26th, with three boats, armed with swivels, taken from
the fort (the bateau from Kaskaskia had not yet arrived),
under the command of Major Legare and fifty volunteer
militia, started on the expedition up the river.

Goodspeed says in his history: "They journeved up it
and stopped at the foot of an island at Belgrade, under
overhanging willows, and there the boats were tied up and
a party with light canoes were sent to explore the waters
above." At Point Couppe, about sunrise the next morn-
ing, the descending fleet, consisting of seven bateaux, was

OLD VINCENNES. 53

descried. Frederick Melil, one of the Virginia troops, who
led the reconnoiteriug party, puHed rapidly back to Bow-
man and gave information of the strength of the approach-
ing fleet. On the evening of the 2d day of March the
unsuspecting Canadians came into the narrow channel
between the island and main shore, where the Americans
lay entrenched. A cry of ''Round to and come ashore,"
was the first intimation the party from Detroit received
that an enemy of the King's lay in these waters. The hail
was quickly responded to when followed by a shot fired
across the path of the descending fieet, and a demand
made for its surrender. Bowman sent out boats with
Major Legare, who ordered those in charge to make fast to
the shore. When this was done Adiniar, a caj)tain of the
commissary, formally turned over the fleet, with thirty-
eight private soldiers as prisoners, and stores and pro-
visions and baled goods.

The expedition returned at once to the town and the
soldiers and boats, filled with booty, were turned over to
the American commander. This capture, with that of the
fort in the town, yielded Clark seventy-nine prisoners, be-
sides ofiicers, twelve pieces of artillery and stores to the
amount of 50,000 pounds.

On March 7th Captain AVilliams and Lieutenant Rogers,
with a detail of twenty-five men, were ordered to escort
the prisoners to the Ohio Falls, among whom were Gov-
ernor Hamilton, Major John Hay, Captain Laniont, Lieu-
tenant Schiflin, Monsieur de Jean, the Grand Judge of
Detroit, Pierre Andre, his partner, Dr. McEboth, Fran-
cois Masonville and Mr. Bell Fenibb, together with
eighteen privates; many others were paroled.

54 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Lieutenant llogers liad orders to conduct tlieni to Wil-
liamsburg, Vii'uiiiia, fr()ni the Falls, where tliey were
ironed and confined in jail until Septeuiher 25tli follow-
ing, when they were ordered to Hanover Court-House,
where they were released on parole, to remain within cer-
tain limits.

Thus ended GJeneral George Rogers Clark's campaign
against the English in the Northwest, achieving victories
as brilliant as any recorded in American history, whose
far-reaching and beneficent results were commensurate
with the most astute diplomacy the ISTation has evolved.

Following the capture of Vincennes by General Clark,
with Virginia and volunteer troops from Illinois, in 1779,
and the treaty of peace with Great Britain having been
made in 1783, with the United States, Virginia ceded the
conquered territory of the Xorthwest to the United
States in 17SL In 1787 the N^orthwestern Territory,
embracing the regions between the Ohio and INIississippi
rivers and the Great Lakes of the north, was organized.
Congress, in 1788, appointed Arthur Sinclair (iovernor of
this Territory, with his capital at Marietta, Ohio, and he
appointed Winthrop Sargent, in 1790, to come to Vin-
cennes to lay out a county and to establisli a court. The
county was named Knox, in honor of (ioneral Henry
Knox, then Secretary of War ; and for a like reason, in
1788, while Major Hamtranck was stationed here, at the
suggestion of General Ilarmar, Fort Patrick Henry was
changed, in name, to that of Fort Knox.

May 7, 1800, the Territory of Indiana was organized,
including in its boundaries Michigan and Illinois (its pop-
ulation then being 4,875), under the name of Knox
county, and its capital established at Vincennes.

OLD YIXCENNES. 55

In 1800 (leiici'iil William Ilciirv liarrisdii \vas
appointed ( JovcriKir of the TcrriTorv, l»iit he did not enter
n])on his dnties until Januarv, l.soi. A Territorial Gov-
ernment was then formed, bnt the legislative branch did
not r)rganizc until the 2lith of July, LsOo, when it met in
the house on the south corner of Broadway and Second
streets;"" a little later, in 1809, in the first court house
erected on the northwest corner of Buntin and Third
streets. 1'here is another contention as to the house and
place of meeting- of the Territorial Legislature, and that
is that it met in the upper rooms of the two-story frame
building on the southwest side of ^Liiu street, al)out the
center of the block, between Second and Third streets, ac-
cess to it being by an outside stairway. I think these dis-
crejiancies may be reconciled by supposing that the legisla-
tive l)o(ly did meet at the respective buildings named. The
first meetings occurred on Broadway; subsecpiently they
were held in the first court house, and finally in the build-
ing on ]Main street, just preceding the removal of the seat
of government to Corvdon. The latter building is said to
have been removed to Upper Third street, this side of the
park, and near the southwest corner of Third and Hick-
man streets. What makes the latter statement plausible
is the fact that a house stands at the point indicated, the
southwestern side, showing, l)v the pieced weatherboard-
ing, that an outside stairway once gave entrance to the
upper rooms. The house is in a fair state of preservation
and is owned by ^Ir. Thomas Murphy, who inherited it
from an aunt. The house, he says, was moved from Main
street in 18.") 8 to the present site. It is said by renters

•■ W. H. Smith Hist. Tn.l., ].. 200.

56 IlISTORK'AT. SKETCHES

who occupy it now that the iii^por part of the l)iiil(ling con-
tained oi'iginallv but one room, a])out twenty feet square,
but is now divided into smaller rooms. Mr. Murphy showed
the writer an iron lock, taken off the cellar door, of huge
proportions, weighing several pounds, 8x12 inches in width
and length, with a key about ten Inches in length and
w^eighing one-half pound. They are thought to be of Eng-
lish manufacture, the tumbler and key being of an intri-
cate nature, and well fitted to baffle lock-pickers and bur-
glars. The lock was probably used to secure valuables
and gives color to the claim that the house was once the
meeting place of the Legislature, or was the office of the
receiver of public moneys. It is in a fair working condi-
tion, despite the ravages of the rust of time, and works
and looks as if it could endure use another century. Gov-
ernor Harrison retained his office a year after he fought
the battle of Tippecanoe, when ho resigned, having been
appointed to command the Army of the N'orthwest, on the
24th day of September, 1812. General Thomas Posey
succeeded him and was installed May 25, 1813. On June
80, 1805, Michigan Territory was set off from Indiana
Territory, and March 1, 1809, Illinois was detached from
it, leaving Indiana Territory with its present boundaries.
Vincennes ceased to be the capital March 11, 1813, it then
being moved to Corydon, where, on June 10th, the first
meeting of the convention to form a State Constitution
met. Corydon continued to be the capital until the Terri-
tory assumed statehood, in 1816, wdien it was moved to its
present site, the city of Indianapolis.

chapter IIL

FORTS— TOWN AND COUNTY.

THE first authentic mention of the erection of a
fort at the trading Indian village, Che-pe-ko-ke,
the site of the city of Vincennes, is found in a
letter" written by Morgan de Vincennes, March 7, 1733,
and was in answer to his superior officer, asking what
progress he had made in establishing a post at this place,
he having been ordered here through an edict from the
French Government, which was dated Paris, France,
January 1, 1731. Many efforts had been previously
made to get a post established here by the commandant
of the "Illinois country" and interested trading com-
panies, but had failed up to this time. It would take
some time for the order to reach this country, and
the likelihood is that it did not reach Vincennes be-
fore the latter part of the year 1731, or the begin-
ning of 1732. This view of the case may be inferred, as
the records show that he only drew one-half pay in 1731
for services at this post, and full pay in 1732. In his
answer to his superior he stated that he had built a fort
and two houses, but needed a barracks, thirty more sol-
diers and an officer. This statement, made in March,
1733, indicates the erection of the fort the previous year,
and that the year 1732 is, no doubt, when the first fort
was built. Having been called to Louisiana in 1736, with

* Ind. Hist. Pub. for 1902, p. 29.

OLD VINCENNES. 59

liis coinniaud, to join other troops from the South, to give
battle to the Chickasaw Xation, he was slain there, and the
fort at the Indian village was, in memory of him, chris-
tened Fort St. Vincent, and was known by that name until
changed l)y the next commander, Louis St. Ange, to his
own name, bv which it was known until this part of the
country was ceded by France to England.

Colonel Ramsey, on taking possession of the fort in the
name of Great Britain, renamed it Fort Sackville, in honor
of an English soldier and statesman, then in the zenith of
his glory and popular favor in 1764.*

There has been some difference of opinion as to the
exact location of the fort on account of the tendency of
some to multiply the old defenses of the town. Beyond
doubt it was located on the ground in front of the old
Catholic church, as it looked northwest, and included lots
numbers 34, 35, 24 and 25, near the river bank, and lots
numbers 23 and 26 on the north, reaching to Vigo street,
according to the plat of the city by Emison & Johnson,
made in 1821. The town was not before laid off, and the
streets made by the aforesaid survey and lots numbered, I
think, give the exact location, and a good idea may be
formed of it by the following boundaries: Taking the
river as one side, Barnett street as another ; a line parallel
with the church property looking north as another, and
Vigo street as the last. The fort and the church faced
each other, the former looking southeast, the latter north-
west, the two being, it is recorded, about eighty yards

'•■■" (ireorge G. Sackville was an English A'iscount. and served with distinction in
the British army in 1743-69: was .Secretarj- of State, for the colonies, during the
Revolution, and especially distinguished for his bitterness toward them. Born,
1716: died, 1785. Supposed to be the author of the Letters of Junius.— Peoples'
Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 1533.

GO HISTORICAL SKETCHES

apart. The grouiKl occTipied by the fort, as re^Dreseuted
in Goodspeed's History, was an irregular ineh>sure, being
about sixty feet at the narrowest part, and two hundred in
width, containing between two and three acres. As to the
character of the defenses of the fort, discrepancies exist.
The historian above alluded to says: '^Upon the river's
side, and within forty feet of the water's edge, two lines of
palisades, reaching twenty feet above the surface of the
earth, constructed of large timbers from the forest,
planted firmly in the ground, were backed by a line of
earthworks thrown up about eight feet high, behind which
were mounted four six-pounders, en harhette. Along the
line of Vigo street, at right angles with the river, and
crossing First street, was the principal entrance, a gate-
way; and opening uj)on the latter highway, protected by
this, were similar lines of defense, protected by guns of
the same caliber at each angle, mounted upon platforms of
heavy timbers. At the elevation of twenty-five feet at
each side of the gateway were swivels, trained to conmiand
the approach along the street. The entire walls were
pierced at convenient heights by a row of port holes, from
which musketry could be fired. A similar palisade,
defended by two guns of ten-pound caliber, protected the
flank next to the church in the rear of the works, south of
Barnett street, where there were two towers, or bastions,
pierced for musketry, made exceptionally strong against
an assault by a line of heavy timbers joined tightly
together and covered with earth. Within the fortifica-
tions were barracks for one thousand men, a magazine and
ofiicers' quarters."

Other pictures of the fort do not show that it was a for-
midable one at the time it was delivered to Captain Helm,

OLD VINCENNES. 61

on August 6, 1718, or when Hamilton recaptured it from
Helm, in December following, for he described it as a very
poor affair, and gave inmiediate attention to strengthening
the defenses, and said: "I built a guard house, barracks
for four companies, sunk a well and constructed two large
block houses of oak with embrazures above for five pieces
of cannon each ; altered and lined the stockades, and laid
tlie fort with gravel." And, in speaking of his surrender,
and giving a reason for it, he said : "The officers, who had
continued in tents all winter, were exposed to the fire of
the enemies' riflemen, as the picketing of the fort was so
poorlv set up that one might pass the clenched hand
between the timbers of the stockades." Count Volney,
who visited Vincennes in 1790, in speaking of the defenses,
says : "Adjoining the* village is a space inclosed by a ditch
eight feet wide and sharpened stakes six feet high. This is
called the fort, and is a sufficient protection against the
Indians."*

It will 1)6 seen by the foregoing description that the
fort must have been as it was when "added to and remod-
eled" by Hamilton, and at its best; and that by Count
Volney, seventeen years later, when it had become deter-
iorated, and when forts in this region were becoming more
ornamental than useful.

As to the number of forts said to have been erected in
Vincennes, the writer addressed an inquiry to an official of
the War Department, Washington, D. C, asking if there
was any evidence on file there showing that there was ever
more than one fort erected here, and if so, had it ever
been moved out of the town. The following reply was

■' (xooclsiiecd. Hist. Knox County, p. 235.

63 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

received : "The following writers, who have said more or
less on the history of Fort Sackville (otherwise known as
Port St. Vincent, Fort Patrick Henrv and possibly identi-
cal with Fort Knox), make no mention of it ever having
been removed from its original location: Butler's History
of Kentucky, Dunn's History of Indiana, Brown's Old
Xorthwest, Albuck's Annals of the West, Brice's History
of Ft. Wayne, Davidson & Stevenson's History of Illinois,
Law's History of Vincennes and Dr. Ilass' Indian Wars of
West Virginia."

Dunn, in his history (p. 265) says: "A fort was built
in 1787 and named Fort Knox by General Harmar." This
is evidently a mistake, but one that might have been easily
fallen into. At the time specified Major Hamtranck was
in command of this post, when some correspondence
occurred between General Harmar, then at his post in Cin-
cinnati, and Major Hamtranck, located at "Post Vin-
cennes," which in part is as follows:

"Fort Harmar, October 13, 1788.

"Dear Major — "' * * Let your fort be named
Fort Knox, et«."

One need not conclude, from this expression of General
Harmar, that a new fort had been built. There was prece-
dent and reason why the name of the old fort should be
changed. First, For many years the name of the fort at
Vincennes had been changed by each successive com-
mander; second. General Knox was then Secretary of War
and it would be paying him a compliment to give the fort
his name. On the accession of Virginia to the ownership

OLD ymCENNES. 63

of the coimtrv the fort's name was changed from the name,
of Sackville, to that of Fort Patrick Henry (the then Gov-
ernor and Coimiiander-in-chief of the Virginia forces), by
General Clark. Third, "Why wonld llamtranck desire to
bnild the fort when there was one already constructed?
In ITSS the rights of Virginia had passed to the United
States (lovin-nment, when a United States army officer was
placed in charge of the post ; then the pretty compliment
to the Secretary of War, (Jeneral Knox, was suggested by
General Ilannar to Major Ilauitraiick: ''Let vour fort be
named Fort Knox."

A further extract from the official of the War Depart-
ment above mentioned says: ''As there seems to be no
mention of the construction of this fort (Fort Knox), it is
quite correct to su]iy)ose that it Avas identical with Post
Vinccnnes, and that the change of name was merely one of
honor (to General Knox) and was made in connection with
the revival of the military at that ]iost, under the direction
of Major llamtranck."' And thus it was that Fort Knox,
by the stroke of the ])en, which is sometimes mightier than
the sword, without the aid of axe, pick or shovel, sprang
into existence, and Uy its metamorphosis ^Major llamtranck
has given historians a world of trouble in regard to this
alleged ucav fort. From the same War Department official
I will further quote, as folloAvs : ''Dunn, in addition to
this, states immediately after the surrender of Fort Sack-
ville, the name \\as changed to Fort Patrick Henry, by
which name // irns Jniotrii for nhoul ioi years.''

Let it be remembered that thc^ life of Fort Patrick
Henry was just about the lapse of time needed to inaugu-
rate another nanu — Fort Knox — by Major llamtranck.

64 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

As there is no record of a second fort having been bnilt
here, or removed elsewhere, the only rational solution for
the discrepancies that can be fonnd is in the change in
names, as suggested, and no new fort was erected at that
time. If Major Hamtranck actually built a fort in Vin-
cennes in 1788, as some historians assert, where was that
fort in 1796, only eight years later, when Count Volney,
a distinguished French traveler, visited and remained
some days here, and described the town ? Mention was
made by him of but one fort, and to suppose that this one
was the new alleged fort built by Major Hamtranck is to
suppose an unreasonable thing. At the time of t'lie
alleged building of a second fort for defense the necessity
for forts was passing away, and dismantling them was the
order of the day, if the condition of Fort Knox was truly
represented by Count Volney when he wrote of it in
1796. At that time the Red Man was turning his face
toward the West, to return no more, and Great Britain
had been whipped into good behavior. Thus it will be
seen that Yincennes never had but one real fort, although
during the passing years subsequent to its erection and
the successive officials controlling it it received many
names, viz. : Fort Vincennes, in honor of Morgan de Vin-
cennes, the founder of the village, a French officer sent
here to build the fort and be its commander; St. Ange, in
honor of his successor; Fort Sackville, in honor of Lord
Sackville, an English General and nobleman; Fort Pat-
rick Henry, in honor of the then Governor of Virginia,
and, finally, Fort Knox, in honor of General Henry Knox,
Secretary of War in 1788, when one officer sought to
compliment his superior, as other officers stationed here
had done before, by calling it Fort Knox.

OLD AaNCENiVES. Go

Another statement lias been made that the alleg'ed fort
was bnilt by Hamtranek early in Jnly, 1788, and that it
was moved to a site three miles np the river on the east
bank of the same. The fact is, ^Lajor Hamtranek did not
arrive at Vineennes nntil Jnly 25 of that year to be com-
mandant of the post. And. no evidence exists to show that
he bnilt a fort here, exoept the mere snggestion of General
Ilarmar, October 13, 1788, "Let your fort be called Fort
Knox" ; nor is there any evidence to show that Fort Knox,
or any other fort, was removed from Vineennes to any
place ontsidc of town.

There is a tradition existing that the Frencli citizens
living in the vicinity of the fort complained to Governor
Harrison that the soldiers at the garrison gave the:n great
annoyance and petitii~)ned him to remove tlie:u ; that he
gave heed to their prayer, and that in 1803 the garrison
was removed to the high gronnd facing Buntin street, west
of Water street, abont the place where the Baltimore Sc
Ohio Southwestern Railwav freight depot stands, and that
the palisades of the old fort were nsed in making tlu' ncnv
one."" The late A. B. McKee told the writer some years
ago that one of his aunts, a Mrs. Buntin, '"Ali'^e of Old
Vineennes," avIio lived just al)ove tl'e L]ro;!dwa^■ mill site,
told him that by looking init at her window north she
could see a fort. And traditi"n savs that the ])alisades of
the old fort were used to buihl it. ]\Iv investigations in
relation to these traditions corr(d)orate the contentions.
After Governcn- Harrison came here the Hnitod States
troops were mostly withdrawn from this post, and militia
troops took their jihice. This being the case, he wouid

•■' Hist. Knox County, p. 239. (This is an error, a? to date, as fort was stanilinp
there in 1803; see accompanying map.)— Author.

[5J

66 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

have jurisdiction over the defenses and management of
the garrison, hence we can readily see that the Governor
might wish to please the people and grant their prayer for
the removal of the soldiers. Another consideration
might have influenced him to take this step, and that is,
that the garrison moved up to the position named would
be nearer his residence, and could the more readily pro-
tect him in case of an Indian attack. As no record exists
on file at the War Department in Washington City of the
removal of the fort,' the foregoing explanation given may
account for the existence of the second one, called Fort
Knox. ISTo published record exists, to the author's knowl-
edge, of this second fort, but from facts recently devel-
oped* he is constrained to accept the traditions as facts,
for the following reasons: First, Through his friend,
Flonorable Charles G. McCord, Abstractor of Land Titles,
an old deed was discovered which General W. H. Har-
rison made to one George Wallace in 1804. In the
description of the property mentioned in this deed the
instrument recites: "Beginning at a place situate about
210 yards above Fort Knox, at Vincennes aforesaid,
called the Stone landing place," etc. This description indi-
cates that the fort occupied the ground covered now in
part by the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railway
freight depot, on the west side of Water street. Second,
The writer has a map in his possession which is a certified
copv of one of the Vincennes Land Districts, made in
1803, by Thomas Freeman, the original being in the
archives of the War Department, on which a fort is indi-
cated, and it was doubtless the one mentioned in describ-
ing the property in the deed from Harrison to Wallace.

'■' Deed Rec. Book 13. 155, Vincennes.

MAP MADE IN iSo?, SHOW-
ING FORT KNOX AT UP-
PER BORDER OF TOWN.

68 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

The tradition that a fort was built here in 1788 by
Major Tlamtranek, and afterwards removed to a site three
miles above the city, on the east bank of the Wabash
river, about the year 1812, is not substantiated by facts.
What could have been the object of removing the fort
from town to an isolated place up the river about three
miles ? The fort was for the protection of the citizens
of the town. Upon the map above alluded to, and here
given, such a fort is not designated, although the mouth
of Mill creek (now called Kelso's creek) is plainly dis-
cernable, and the mouth of Maria creek, ten miles above
the city, is also to be seen. If a fort had been there it
would have been plainly marked on this map. That a
United States garrison was at the point now called ''Fort
Knox" is not questioned, but that it contained a United
States fort and removed there from the town is not pre-
sumable, for the further reasons that no record of it exists
in the War Department, and from the following additional
fact that I now give:

Through Mr. C. G. McCord the writer has seen an
instrument of writing wherein eighty-five acres of land
was secured from Jeremiah Buckley for the use of a gar-
rison in 1803 by the United States Government, and for
which his heirs were paid the sum of "two hundred and
eighty dollars in full compensation for the use made of
the timber and land while the troops of the United States
occupied the said land.""" It makes no mention of a
fort being there, but distinctly states the land was for
garrison purposes. This land endiraces what is called
"Fort Knox."

'See Act of Consiess, July, 1832— Re c(. id R. p. 4-*.

OLD VINCENNES. 09

Why a i>;in'is()ii was established up the river three-
miles is only conjeetural. .Vs some TTnited States troops
had to be retained in this region so as to be near at hand
in case of raids by Indians in the connty, and to give them
something to do in the way of tilling the soil and exercise,
and thereby lightening the expense of the commissariat,
may have been, and doubtless were, the reasons for a
transfer of a portion, if not all, of Fort Knox's garrison
to that place; and when the fort was disnunitl('(l and its
inmates removed up the river it is presumed the place was
dubbed, by courtesy, Eort Knox. The spot the garrison
occu])ied is a ])ictnres(pic one, of which a pretty pic-
ture is given in this connection, and it has been a popular
place for picnics and members of the boating club and
their fair yonng companions, and doubtless will be in all
time to C(une, in memory of the soldiers once stationed
there and foi- its beauty."

T'ntil the writer investigated the history of our city he
lia<l supposed that the site was once occupied by a neigh-
borhood fort, like a dozen other so-called forts in different
parts of the country ; for instance, those in Widner were
called Fort Widner, Fort Chandjers, Fort Lemon, Fort
Polk and Fort Taylor; the largest of these, Widner, con-
taining three-quarters of an acre of ground, was what
is called a stockade fort. One was at Emison's .Mill, eight
miles above the city, and one at ]l>ruceville ; another in
Busseron township, called "Ochiltree Fort," near the cele-
brated pear tree, ^Svhicli was twelve feet in circumference
at the base, oue hundred and twenty feet in height and had
a lateral spread of one hundred and twenty-six feet, yield-

'■•■■See Aft of Cunyruss, July. 1832; Uefor.l U. p. 48, at Court House.

70 ITISTORTOAL SKl^yfCHES

\uiX iiiiiiiially Hftv Imshols <»f fruit.""" Another existed in
Palmyra township, caUed ''lice's Fort," and one at Pur-
cell's. The one erected at Emison's Mill, owing to the fact
that most of the men were absent on duty, and the gar-
rison consisted of ladies, was dubbed "Fort Petticoat. "f
The laudable suggestions that have been made from
time to time that memorials be placed to mark noted
places in the early history of our city are to be com-
mended, and if practicable should be acted upon. But the
first step should be the erection of a monument to the
memory of George Pogers Clark. Yet, if our patriotism
becomes so broadened as to embrace every so-called fort
that once existed in this region, I fear that our benevo-
lence will be overtaxed, and failure will follow.

CAMP KNOX.

Camp Knox is so closely connected with the history of
Old Vincennes that it deserves a niche in this volume. It
was the site of a garrison of United States soldiers early
in the last century, whither they were removed from Fort
Knox in the village. It is situated three miles above the
city on a blufl^ of the eastern bank of the Wabash river.
It overlooks the river far into Illinois, and beautiful views
present themselves to the eye, as the borders of the land-
scape on either shore are set with silver linings by the
environment of water, which calmly reflects grove and
sky, or dances in coruscating, sunlit wavelets in answer to
the calling winds.

While the garrison was stationed there, the home of Dr.
Samuel McKee, United States Army Surgeon, was the ob-

* History Knox County, p. 72.
fHistory Knox Ci iinty, p. 77.

OLD A^INCENNES.

j'('('ti\'c ]uiiiit iif 1'r(.'(|U('iit (iutiiii>'s of GovcM'iior William
liciii-v Harrison and his friends, the Governor often re-
niavking that the viands served ont there seemed more taste-
fnl tlian tliose in town.'"

f^^^.:^.^iJn^^fj ..\

CAMP KNOX. SITE OF A GARRISON OF UNITED STATES ARMY, ESTABLISHED IN iSoJ.f

When the soldiers were encamped there it was, without
donl>t, a central place of interest to the country folk, as
well as the denizens of the town, as little toil, plenty of
leisure and amusements combined to enliven the barracks

"This information came from the late A. B. McKee, who was a son of the
Surgeon, received through his aunt, Mrs. Capt. Robert Buntin, then a resident of
Vincenues.

tCamp Kno.x, the Second, had its origin during the early days of the Civil
War, and was located northeast of the city one mile.

72 HlS'l'olMCAL SKKTC]11':S

dav.s and iiioiitlis; l)ut \\itli tlio ])assiiig- awav of the "pomp
and cii'cniiistancc of war/' tlic cnuubliiiii", corroding' hand
of time and decay rohhed it of its artificial gh^ry, strewn
there by the hand of art, and left it for Nature to restore
to it again its pristine beauty and loveliness. And yet,
bereft of its camp adi»i'nments, it presents many points of
attraction, and needs only a willing hand, reinforced by
taste and enterprise, to restore to it the glory of the past.

Its inaccessil)ility to visitors, except by water, prevents
it from becoming a place of more frequent resort for the
worshipers of beautiful scenery. By row or sail boat noth-
ing is more inviting than a jaunt on the "rolling deej)," in
spring's balmy mornings, when the shores of the river are
garlanded with myriads of flowers, or in autumn's calm,
invigorating evenings, when the parti-colored foliage of
October, in the adjacent forest-lined shores, rivals
in beautv the shimmering meteoric showers that stud the
firmament during the twdlight-ides of a November evening.

Yet unadorned by the hand of art, it is an ideal spot for
lads and lassies to while away the rosy hours of day, as
"love's young dream"' clothes it with a halo of glory, Avhile
woodland songsters warble their sweetest notes, embowered
in the shady groves, and the piping notes of quail and lark
eclio back responses from copse and bush.

But in contemplating these scenes, a tinge of sadness
casts a shadow on the wings of thought, as one realizes that
within these precincts forgotten heroes lie, "unwept, un-
honored and unsung," who will never more waken until
Eternity's reveille is sounded on the receding shores of
time.

OLD VIXCENNES.

ri:A("E TO 'PjiKii; asiii:s.

Tliey sensed their coiuitry in its time of need,

Aud tliougli remembered not, in uame or deed,

Their resting place, although theii' souls have fled.

Should sacred be, in memory of the dead;

And honored be the hands, in spring's bright hoiuvs.

That strew their lonely graves with beauteous flowers.

SUPPOSED LAST TERRITORIAL LEGISLATIVE MEETING HALL.

Chapter IV.

FIRST TOAVN AND COTTNTY ()R<;ANIZATIONS.

SUBSEQUE^TT to the capture of Post Viiiceiines by
Colonel Clark, Colonel John Todd was appointed
Governor and commandant of it, by the execntive
and legislative council of Virginia, whose conduct seems
to have been erratic and brief. He arrived in May,
1779. While here he exercised autocratic powers and
disposed of much of the public domain, although the
Virginia Legislature had forl)idden such action. B[e
organized a court wdtli the following appointees : Colonel
Le Gras, Louis Ediline, Pierre Gamelin, and Pierre
(Juarez; Le Gras becoming secretary. But it seems
tliat Governor Todd soon tired of this field of labor
and sought greener pastures and a more inviting and
extensive plane upon which liis genius nught disport and
expand, and left this place for Kaskaskia. But, before
leaving, he delegated his powers to Mr. Le Gras, his substi-
tute at the Post, who seems to have had fewer scruples on
the subject of the right to dispose of lands than his supe-
rior. Governor Todd. IN^ot only did he exercise the power
of disposing of public domain, but he delegated it to the
county court, composed of four judges, organized under
the act of Virginia, and which held their sessions at Vin-
cennes. They did a wholesale business in the way of dispos-
ing of the public domain, not only to others, but to them-

—74—

OLD VINC]^]NNP]S. To

solves, iiol (iiilv l)y the avpeut, l)\it l)_y ''leagues." Tlu; way
it is reported to liave l»een (l(nie is this: Three of the four
judges were k^'t on the bench, wliile one retired. The court
then made a grant of so many leagues of land to their
absent colleague, which act of theirs was entered of record ;
he returned as soon as the grant was recorded, and another
of tliese "ennined" gentlemen left the bench, while the
chief justice and the other judges made similar grants to
their absent friend, said friend returuing after such grant
was duly entered of record ; and so with the fourth.'"

But little is recorded of the doings of this court, except
the granting to each other good sized farms belonging to
the domain of Uncle Sam. Of these grants to themselves
and their friends in 1783, 26,000 acres was the sum total,
and by the year 1787 it had reached the figures of 48,000.
The transactions of this court having been reported to the
Washington Government in 1790, Winthrop Sargent, Sec-
retary of the United States for the JSTorthwest Territory,
was ordered to investigate the matter. Calling upon this
court, organized by Governor Todd and given extraordi-
nary powers, for their reasons for their actions in these
matters, the members of this august tribunal, through their
spokesman, replied as follows : "That since the establish-
ment of this country, the commandants have always ap-
peared to be vested with the power to gTant lands ; their
founder, M. de Vincennes, began to give concessions, and
all his successors have given and granted lands and lots.
Mr. Le Gras was appointed Connnandant of Post Vin-
cennes by the lieutenant of the country, and Commander-
in-Chief John Todd, who, in the year 1799 was sent by

■••'Law's History, pii.no, HI.

?() iiis'iM)in(;AL 8Ki^:tc!HES

tlic! State of Virginia to regulate the govoTiniicnt of the
country, and wlio sul).stitute(l ]\Ir. Le Clras with such pow-
ers. In liis absence, Mr. Le Gras, wlio was then command-
ant, assumed that lie liad equal power from the command-
ant in anthority to give lands according tO' ancient usages
of other commandants; and he verl)ally informed the court
of the Post of Yiucennes that when they would judge it
proper to give lots or lands they might do it."

A commission was appointed to examine these claims,
and as a specimen, the claim of a ]\[r. Thomas Flower may
be given. lie claimed an undivided third of a grant made
by Pierre Quarez & Son of a tract of land beginning at the
River Maria, to White river, about ten leagues deep, ex-
cluding from said grant any land that may have been
granted. This claim of Mr. Plower, as assigned to Pierre
Gamelin, amounted to 40,000 acres. The Todd court and
these fraudulent claims having been set aside, Secretary
Sargent proceeded to organize Knox county, Avliich em-
braced the Territories of Indiana and Michigan, and estab-
lish courts having civil and criminal jurisdiction, and they
were proclaimed organized in June, 1700, the first session
l)eing held July 14, 1790, by the judges appointed, to wit:
Antoine Gamelin, Paul Gamelin, Francis Busseron, James
Johnson and Luke Decker. This court was abolished when
the Territoiy was established, May 7, 1800, and William
(Jlark, Henry Vanderburgh and John Griffin were ap-
pointed by an Act of Congress. The first term of this last
court was held in February, 1801, the session being held in
rented property until 1809, in a house owned by L. Baza-
don, comer Second and Broadway streets ; when the brick
court house was erected on the corner of Fourth and Buntin

OLD VINCENNES. 77

streets, the sessions were then lield there. This property
was sold and another buikling erected (on the sqnare on
which the present temple of jnstiee stands), which was con-
tracted for in 1831 and finislied in 1832 ; but it, in turn,
was demolished in 1873, when the present magiiificent
building was erected at a cost of a half million dollars.
The courts prevailing here for half a century or more were
the Circuit, Prol)ate and Court of Common Pleas. The
circuit judges presiding lind jurisdiction in half a dozen
counties, holding court alternately in each, hence the names
circuit judges and circuit courts.

As population and business increased, it was found
necessary to change the district, and in 1872 the law was
changed so that a judge should confine his jurisdiction to
this city, and the Court of Common Pleas was then abol-
ished, the business of that court being transferred to the
Circuit Court and the circuit judge presided over the con-
solidated courts.

The Circuit (*ourt as established at this time is as fol-
lows : Circuit Judge, Orlando F. Cobb ; Prosecuting At-
torney, W. S. Hoover; Circuit Clerk, James F. Lewis;
Sheriff, Andrew Sunnnitt ; and the balance of the county
oflicers arc as follows : Treasurer, C. A. Weisert ; Recorder,
Frank T. Eniison; Auditor, James D. Williams; Assessor,
John M. Stork ; Commissioners, Henry Frederick, John
W. lIcGowen, Isaac Henderson; Coroner, H. W. Held,
M. I^. ; Superintendent Public Schools, Peter Philipi ;
County Physician, Doctor Xorman Beckes, and County
Secretary of the State Board of Health, Toyman M. Beckes,
M. D.

78 HISTORICAL SKETCHES -

TOWN GOVERNMENT— OLD TOWN HALL.

ISTo kind of civil government can be said to have been
established in Vincennes or the Territor}' of the ISTorthwest
prior to the arrival of John Todd, Esq., in June, 1779,
who, it is said, acting under a law passed by the Vir-
ginia Legislature, established civil and criminal courts ;
but they proved to be inefScient and ephemeral in character
to such a degree that Winthrop Sargent, who was sent here
to organize Knox county, said they "eked out of existence
in the summer of 1787."

The county having been organized, the Courts of Quar-
ter Sessions of the Peace and Common Pleas were insti-
tuted, and a probate judge appointed. But the government
instituted by him bore equally on the whole territory as
well as the town. The first town government was not or-
ganized until 1805, approved in 1807, and ordinances not
published until 1809, in the Western Sun newspaper.
The act of incorporating the town occurred on September
6. 1814, and was approved by the Territorial Legislature
February 2, 1815. It embraced all that portion of land
within the bounds of Hart street on the northeast, Eleventh
street on the southeast, Willow street on the southwest, and
the Wabash river on the northwest. The lands outside
these boundaries, called Commons lands (not those em-
braced by donations), were gi^-eu to the town of Vincennes
by Congress, with the sti]>ulati()n that the moneys arising
from the sale thereof should be applied to the drainage of
the swamp east of town, and that any surplus funds left,
after such drainage was paid for, should accrue to the
Vincennes ITniversity Fund (and not be used for town

OLD VINCENNES.

purjioses, as stated by Goodspeed in his History of Knox
County).

These couinion hinds amounted to 4,500 acres. The
town officials sold them in part to the amount of
$24,224.69, but expended only $15,500, retaining and
spending- the l^ahniee of $8,724.69 for town purposes, con-

OLD TOWN HALL, ERECTED IN 1837.

trary to the act of Congress, the University getting nothing.
The l)alance of the lands, if sold, were not accounted for up
to 1870.*

The town organization for a tiine consisted of a board
of trustees, who elected their chairman, secretary and

'■'Extract from the Report of Colonel C. M. Allen to Trustees of Vincennes
University, as Chairman of Committee.

80 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

treasurer. The officers were elected by the people, and
were a president, secretary and treasurer ; all freeholders
and housekeepers being deemed legal voters.

Ground for a market house was purcliased, and a mar-
ket-master appointed and ordered to inclose tlie same with
a fence, with turnsiles at both ends for ingress and egress ;
and market day was to open at daylight and close at 9 a. m.,
the opening being annonnced by the blowing of a liorn.
In 1819 the trustees initiated the first fire company by
providing ''six fire hooks and ladders" and requiring
"every family to provide themselves with two two-gallon
leathern l)uckets ; but where but one chinmey existed only
one was required." Every citizen was constituted a volun-
teer member of the fire brigade. In 1830 a Board of
Health Avas constituted by the appointment of Doctors J.
D. Wolverton, Joseph Somes and William Dinwiddie. In
1831 the General Assembly passed an act granting a city
charter, to be passed on by the voters ; R. P. Price, Judge
John B. Martin and Joseph Poseman, Secretaries." The
vote was small, resulting in twenty-three for and twenty
against it. The charter was not considered legal and was
not granted.

Tlie charter was afterwards amended so that the town
government should he known as the President and Trustees
of the Borough of Vincennes. A toAvfi liall was erected
in 1837, and subsequently liad a market attachment, or
wings added to it, under the same roof, al)out thirty feet
wide and forty feet long, divided in stalls, where market
was held tri-weekly. Greengrocers having subsequently
supplied the place of the market, the old hall was de-
molished and flie ])resent boantifnl sti-netnre was erected
on the old site in 1886.

OLD VmCENNES. 81

This form of govenimeiit ol)taiiiO(l until 1852, when a
city charter was granted, which was amended on January

25, 1855, so as to create the present form for the govern-
ment of the city, embracing the foUowiug officers: Mayor,
Clerk, Civil Engineer, City Board of Health, Police,
Weighmaster and City Attorney. The present incumbents
of office are : ]\Iayor, George W. Rousch ; Treasurer,
Thos. Eastham ; Clerk, Thomas Ilobinson ; Attorney,
Judge W. W. ^[otfatt; City Engineer, Jeremiah Hershy;
President Board of Health, Dr. P. H. Caney ; President
]\retropolitan Police Board. D. S. Bonner. The popula-
tion of the city at present writing is alxnit 12,000.

GOVERX^^IEXTAL INSTITUTIONS— LAND OFFICE.

Xot many of the present generation are aware that the
first land office established in the ^Yest was located at Vin-
cennes by an act of Congress, passed and approved March

26, 1804. As the lands had to be surveyed and other pre-
liminaries attended to before the office could be ]Jaced in
operation, it did not open until 1807. The first Register
appointed was Louis Jean Badollet (April 17, 1804), the
grandfather of our wortliv fellow-citizen, Henrv Badollet,
who held the position, by successive appointments, for
thirty-two years, and until LS36, when his son, Albert
Gallatin Badollet, Avas appointed to succeed him, and held
the position until 1841.

Tl'.ere is a little ronmnce connected with 'the appoint-
iiieut of the elder Badollet. as it was received through the
influence of Albert Gallatin, wlio was then Secretary of
thv Ti't'asury, under President Jefferson. Gallatin and

[61

IITSTORK 'AL SK I<:TCITFS

Badollet were natives; of Switzerland, and when they had
arrived at manhood in their native land, tliev hoth deter-
mined to emigrate to America together, hut when they
eonnted np their savings, it was fonnd that their fnnds

were too small f'>r the ex-
penses of hoth : so thevcast
lots to decide which of the
two shoidd go first, and
the lot fell to Gallatin.
He was to go and send the
first moneys received hv
him after arrivino' in
An:erica, for his friend
Badollet. (lallatin, being
exce])tionally In'i'^ht and
cnterprisiiig, Sdon was so
•^nccessfnlas toaccnnnlate
enongh monev to transnil
to his delaved friend. In
due time the two em-
braced each other on
.Vmerican soil, and for a
time settled in business in Pennsylvania, bnt ere long they
drifted apart. Badollet married and settled down, while
Gallatin entered into politics, and soon became a factor in
national affairs. Bnt they kept in close toiich with each
other, and when ]\Ir. Gallatin was called to the cabinet of
Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Badollet having removed to Vincennes,
the latter, through the efforts of his friend Gallatin, secured
the appointment of Kegister of the Land Office at Vin-
cennes. His faithful service kept him in the same office

JOHN BADOLLET.

OLD VINCENNES. 83

for thirty-two years, and got the appointment of liis son
to succeed him. Dr. H. Decker succeeded Albert G. Badol-
Ict in April, 184^1:, who in turn was succeeded l>y John
^[eyers in 1841 ; he by James S. Mayes, January, 1847 ;
he by John C. Clark, June, 1849 ; he by John R. Jones,
in May, 1853, and he by James S. Mayes, in September,
1856. The office was closed June 12, 1850, but reopened
by executive order April 23, 1853, when Jones received
his appointment, and the office was finally closed December
20, 1801.

l^athaniel Ewing, one of the most distinguished early
settlers, a man of commanding influence and wealth, and
grandfather of our worthy fellow-toA\iisnian. the Honor-
able W. L. Ewing, was the first Receiver of the Land Office,
and was appointed in !May. 1807. He retained office under
four iir five administrations, and until 1824, when he was
succeeded bv J. C S. Harrison, son of Governor Harrison,
February, 1824; he by John D. Wolverton. June, 1830:
lie by James P. Drake, August, 1834: he by John Love.
July. 1838; he by Thomas Scott, :\Lirch. 1841: he by
Samuel "Wise, the imcle of our worthy fellow-citizens,
Louis and John B. Wise, the only living male descendants
of this numerous and prominent family of the early citi-
zens of the town. Mr. Wise was succeeded by R. X. Car-
nan, the father of our fellow-citizen, William Carnan ; he
by John C. Heberd, uncle of the late William Heberd
and closely related to many of our best citizens; ho by
J. H. E. Sprinkle, in ]\Larch, 1858; he by George E.
Green, former editor of the Yincennes Sun, and father of
the ex-Ma vor. George E. Green, and he by Abner T. Ellis,
•Lmunrv, 18(jl, who was. in earlv davs, one of the most

84 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

distingiiislied citizens of Vincennes, and first President of
tlie Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. He held the position
only nntil December 20, 1861, when the office was finally
closed.

In 1853 most of the pnblic domain in Indiana had been
disposed of, and that was the reason assigned for the clos-
ing' of the land office here at that time; bnt some swamp
and hilly lands were yet owned by Uncle Sam, and the
office was reopened Ijv execntive order to make a final dis-
position of them. To facilitate the sale of these waste lands.
Congress passed a special act, redncing the price of them to
twelve and a half cents per acre. There were many supe-
rior small tracts scattered over the State termed ''lost
lands," Avliere no owners were visible, and many swamp
lands that conld easily be reclaimed, hence there was soon
a rnsh to the Vincennes Land Office. And soon there was
done, in this city, triilv "a land office business"; for home-
seekers and speculators crowded the office in real Okla-
homa style, and but a few months elapsed until all the lands
in the State wore entered, and Vincennes ceased to be the
Mecca of land brokers. In less than fifty-five years nine-
tenths of the wild Indian lands of this vast Indiana Terri-
tory have been retrieved by the Caucasian race, through
the hands of industry and thrift, and advanced to the pres-
ent pinnacle of civilization, refinement and power, and
until "Iloosierdom" is at a premium in science, literature
and art. ' '

OLD A^NCENNES. 85

rOSTOFFICE.

Woiulcrful ehaiii^cs liuvcj uccurrc'd in the postiil system
since a postoffiec was first established in Vincennes. The
first conmiunication between this phice and the land of
civilization was through armed convoys, and at long inter-
vals; then .came the "post rider" with his big saddle-l)ags
and his tin li(irn, which he blew stentoriouslj on nearing a
wayside inn, postal station or town. In the early part of
the nineteenth century the post rider gave way, on main or
State roads, to the old stage coach, which continued to be
the vehicle of conveyance of the mail and travelers for a
full half century, and until the steamboat and railroad
supplanted and relegated it to the rear, much to the sorrow
of many of the old inhabitants, who had been accustomed
for so many years to listen to the patter of the hoofs of the
horses pulling the swaying old coach, and listening to the
stageman's horn music as it floated out on the summer
evening's air, sounding over hill and valley. Its music
was the courier bearing good news from the outer world,
and tidings from tlie busy throngs within the hives-
of civilization. I>ut progress marks the westward tide
of empire, and old things and practices must sooner
or later give way to the new in the process of evo-
lution, though they, in so doing, bury forever the sweet-
est memories of earlier years. In the new order of things,
are the people happier now than then ? The elderly say
that those were the happiest days of their lives, when there
was an absence of conventionalism, when everybody knew
everybody else, and society was untrameled, save by the
laws of justice, virtue and love. In the beginning of the

86 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

iiiueteentli century, when regular postal communication
was established with the rest of the world, it required about
six weeks to send and receive a reply to a letter in the
East ; now they are sent and the answers received in about
four days, or less time.

The first postoffice established in Vincennes was when
General W. Johnson, a distinguished and able man, and
who has been noticed elsewhere, was appointed postmaster,
on April 1, 1800. His successors have been the following,
in the order named: Henry Hurst, April 1, 1802; Wm.
B. Coupeland, July 1, 1802 ; William Prince, January 1,
1803; General W. Johnson, July 1, 1803; William
Prince, March 31, 1812; John D. Hay, July 1, 1813;
George K. C. Sullivan, March 8, 1817 ; Samuel Hill, April
5, 1827 ; John Scott, September 7, 1829 ; James W. Green-
how, September 27, 1843; Elilm Stout, August 16, 1845;
Lewis L. Watson, May 12, 1849; James Dick, March 26,
1853; John Moore, April 6, 1857; Hubbard M. Smith,
March 28, 1861; William Is^. Denny, April 8, 1869;
William D. Lewis, Januaiy 30, 1882 ; James E. Kackley,
May 26, 1885 ; Allen Tindolph, June 25, 1889 ; Koyal E.
Purcell, April 8, 1893, and Thomas H. Adams, May 13,
1897, Avho is the present incumbent, and who was reap-
pointed May 13, 1902.

The Vincennes office was a receiving and distributing
depot for the whole jSForthwest for many years ; it received
mail matter from adjacent offices when mail packages were
made up for the important cities in the East. This office
continued to be a distributing one, within circumscribed
boundaries, as the ISTorth and West became settled, until
about 1864, and the postmaster's salary was regulated by

OLD VINCENNES. 8?

llic amount <:>f iiiattoi- liaiidlcil hv liini, he l)eiiig allnwcd
a ])ei' cent, for roceiviiiu' and reniailing tlie postal matter.
Al)oiit this time tlie hiw was cliauged and the office became
a sahiried one, the amomit being reguhited and based upon
the local business, and that law yet obtains. During the
time that Hubbard ]\[. Smith held the position of post-
master, the money order business was established, and the
postmaster was allowed a small per cent, upon the number
of orders issued, this being the only perquisite addi-
tional to his salary. When the office Avas a per cent,
one, unless the sum exceeded $5,000 per annum, the
postmaster received only the per cent., let it be little or
much, without any allowance for clerk hire ; if the business
exceeded $5,000, then he received a $5,000 salary and
clerk hire. This law was unjust and inequitable, and the
postmaster had to pay out sometimes almost as nuich
for assistants as his personal salary amounted to. During
the Civil War, when the mails became heavy, $300 per
annum was allowed for a clerk. The business demanded
two assistants, and the postmaster was expected to make
up the deficiencies for clerk hire from his own pocket.
During the first years of the Civil War, the post
master paid out nearly all he received from the Gov-
ernment for the clerical force of the office, and a
mere pittance remained for his own services. But
about 1867, the postmaster, in making up his quarterly
reports, added to his expense account the sum of $90 and
the Department was kind and considerate enough to allow
same in his annual settlement. This stretch of benevo-
lence and justice did not show itself in all of the depart-
ments of the Government. As a matter of history, the

SS HISTORICAL SKl^TCIIES

writer sliould add an additional word alioiit "sliin plas-
ters," as our postal currency was denominated durini*- the
Civil War. Soine of tlie old inhabitants will remember that
after the war had well commenced, all g'old disappeared
from circulation, and soon followed the disappearance of
silver coin. The people were put to such straits for small
change that a few men issued personal checks, from five
cents up to fifty, one Watson, at Terre Haute, and one
James, at Rockport, I think, supplying the demand. The
Government at last came to the rescue and issued postal
currency of the denominations of five, ten, twenty-five and
fifty cents. A batch of $G,000 was sent to the postmaster
here and he was held responsible for same, in good money,
whether it was burned or stolen. It was to be given out to
business men for greenbacks, as change. It did not prove
a bonanza to the postmaster. But the tale is too long to tell
and I will only cite the reader to what was one of his
"tales of woe" incident thereto. In those days the older
citizens will remember that the only money in circulation
was greenbacks and postal currency, individual promissory
notes, and counterfeit bills were not infrequent ; and all
mutilated bills, whether treasury notes or postal bills, were
required to be accepted for postage stamps by the post-
master, he being ordered so tO' do, and to transmit the same
by mail to the Treasurer of the United States, who was to
return a draft in exchange for same to the postmaster.
Postmaster Smith, by order, was compelled to comply with
this unjust ruling, as will be shown. He was fortunate
in getting equivalents back after transmissions generally,
Init he was "left with the pouch to hold" on one batch sent
off t the amount of $13. Although sent from his office in

OLD VINCENNES. 89

a Ihrough brass Im-k pouch fur Indianapolis, the mail train
was burned on which this ponch was being- carri(;d, and
because UO' speck of the bills was found by the special mail
agent, W. ]^. Tyner, refusal w^as made of payment to the
postmaster. It was proved by witnesses that the money
was mailed, and that it was wholly burned, but because no
vestige of the bills was found, Uncle Sam, who "is rich
enough to give us all a farm," through his overscrupulous
Secretary of the Treasury, Spinner, denied justice to the
postmaster. After many years, wdien principal and interest
amounted to nearly $100, the congressman from the Vin-
cennes district succeeded in getting a bill for reimburse-
ment before the House to the point of having it printed,
and there it stuck. Correspondents all over the country
took up the case, and all said a long deferred just bill was
about to be paid l)y the Government, in which opinion they
lamentably erred. "Corporations have no souls," it is said,
and the only consolation that the then postmaster now has
left to him in his declining years is the knowledge of his
having stock in the father of all corporations — the United
S!;ates Government — and he can advisedly say, "this is
my Government," if he is but a small junior partner.

The writer's first experience in postage tax, Avhere the
amount was paid in money (it being prior to the time of
stamps), and according to the distance the letter was car-
ried, when under GOO miles, and near that, it was tw^enty-
five cents per half ounce. Not having sent letters a dis-
tance exceeding 600 miles, the highest cost to him was that
sum from Kentucky to Missouri. What a drop in post-
age, from twenty -five cents for 600 miles, to five cents
from San Francisco to Euroi)e, a distance of at least 6,000
miles ! Penny postage is the next step in postal progression.

Chapter V.

SCHOOLS— VINCENNES UNIVERSITY.

VINCENNES, being one of the first settled towns
in the West, earlv became an important base for
military operations, and especially during the
close of the eighteenth centur}'. The United States
Government, having permanently possessed this region
through the foresight and brilliant strategy of General
George Rogers Clark, in 1779, it soon became the
seat of the Territorial Government, whose jurisdiction
embraced much of the Northwest, including Illinois
and Michigan. The influx of population, following the
organization of a Territorial Government, at this
point, esj)ecially of the enterprising educated class of
peojjle, brought it into such prominence that the establish-
ment of a seat of learning was soon determined on, and
Congress was petitioned to, and did, on March 4, 1804, set
apart one entire toAvnship of land for th^ benefit of a
seminaiy of learning in the Vincennes land district, and
the Secretary of the United States Treasury, on October
10, 1806, selected and set apart Township ISTo. 2, south
range eleven west, situated in Gibson county. In pursuance
thereof, and to carry out the intention of Congress, the
Territorial Legislature of Indiana passed an act November
29, 1806, and supplemented the same by an act passed
September 17, 1807, incorporating the Vincennes Uni-
versity in the name and style of ''Board of Trustees for the

-91-

i)2 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Vincennes University," and recognized it as the recipient
and beneficiary of the aforesaid gift of huids donated by
Congress. This act of the Territorial Conncil and Honse of
Representatives ordained, "that an university be and is
hereby instituted and incorporated, within this territory, to
be called and known by the name and style of the Vin-
cennes University, and that Wm. Henry Harrison, John
Gibson, Thomas M. Davis, Henry Vanderburgh, Waller
Taylor, Benjamin Parke, Peter Jones, Samuel Johnson,
John Badollet, John Rice Jones, Geo. Wallace, William
Bullitt, Elias McNamee, Henry Hurst, Geo. Johnson,
Francis Vigo, Jacob Kuykendall, Samuel McKee, ISTa-
thaniel Ewing, Geo. Leach, Luke Decker, and Samuel
Gwatluney are hereby declared to be the trustees of said
University, and the said trustees and their successors be,
and they are hereby created, a body corporate and politic
by the name of the Board of Trustees for the Vincennes
University, and are hereby ordained, established, and de-
clared to be forever hereafter a body politic and corporate
in fact and in name and by that name they, and their
successors, shall and may have continual succession and
shall be persons in law capable of suing and being sued,
pleading and being impleaded, answering and being an-
swered, defending and being defended in all courts and
places whatever, and that they and their successors may
have a common seal and make and alter the same at their
pleasure, also that the said trustees shall not at any time
hold or possess more than 100,000 acres of land." This
act emphasized the broad and liberal heartiness with which
the J^egislature entered into and sanctioned the idea of
Congress in its aim to build up at Vincennes a great educa-

OLD VINCENNES. 93

tional institution. The general Government having passed
an act to give a second township of land for the same pur-
pose (locating it in Monroe connty), the Indiana Legis-
lature evidently intended, at that time, to apply the pro-
ceeds of this second township of land to the upbuilding of
the Vincennes University, as evidenced by the provisions
in the act restricting the institution from acquiring more
tlian 100,000 acres of land. This inference is a clearly le-
gitimate and reasonable one. An additional evidence that
the Territorial Legislature intended that this school should
be the leading one of the State may be found in the liberal
and extensive provisions of its charter. It not only pro-
vided for a collegiate course of study, embracing literature
and the sciences, but gave it the right to establish chairs of
law, medicine and theology ; also granting it the right to
confer degrees, in the several departments, to stiidents and
eminent scholars. It also empowered the board of trustees
to establish a grammar school and a female department,
also requiring the board to receive into the institution any
Indian scholars 'Svho, when sent, shall l)e maintained,
clothed and educated at the expense of said institution."
To accomplish this, small donations would have lieen inade-
quate, and hence the inevitable conclusion that both town-
ships of land in Gibson and Monroe counties were intended
for the use of the Vincennes University. Any other con-
clusion must presuppose that the members of Congress and
the Legislature knew" but little of the expensive require-
ments of such an institution, which was certainly not the,
case. In the act incorporating the University, under the
management of a lioard of tnistees, power was given them
by CongTcss to "sell, transfer, convey and dispose of any

94 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

quantity not exceeding 4,000 acres of said lant/' which
they proceeded to do, by sale and lease, after the organiza-
tion of the board of trustees, which elected Governor Wil-
liam Henry Harrison, president ; James Johnson, treas-
urer, and General W. Johnson, clerk, after wdiicli appropri-
ate committees were appointed to carry out the intentions
of Congress and the Legislature by the establishment of
a University. The committee on building selected two par-
cels of land, adjoining, from Henry Vanderburgh and
Colonel Francis Vigo, forming nearly four squares, and be-
ing bounded by Perry, Sixth, Hart and Fourth streets,
the finest and most suitable locality in the borough for the
college ground. At this early period building material was
scarce and expensive, contractors were few and the reve-
nue from the lands slow in being realized ; which facts
greatly handicapped the trustees in their action. It was
not until April 10, 1811, that the large two-story brick
building, located in the center of the plot of ground, was
tcnantablo and available for school purposes, when the
Keverend Samuel T. Scott, a Presbyterian minister, was
selected to open and take charge of an English school
therein. The small revenue from the sale of the lands,
having been consumed in the purchase of ground and the
erection of the building, and more funds being needed to
finish and equip the school, as well as to pay teachers, the
board petitioned Congress, April 16, 1816, to permit it to
sell the remaining 19,000 acres of the Gibson county lands,
liut ihc coiinrnttce to whom the imittcr was referred report-
ed adversely, saying ''it is inexpedient to sell at this time."
In 1818 the trnstees repetitioned Congress for pennission
to sell the lands at not less than $10 per acre (as they

OLD A^NCENNES. 95

needed the funds to build up the school) at public auction,
but the petition \\as rejected. Although hampered by lack
of funds the school was making fair progress, its trustees
and friends being 1 moved up with the hope and ex}3ectation
that at no distant day thev w(nild realize from the renting
of its lands a sutficient endowment fund to meet the ex-
penses incident t(^ its growth and increased educational
necessities, lint, with the passing years and the increase
in population in the eastern and northern parts of the
State, a jealousy sprang up from these sections against the
southern portion of the State which was soon manifested
by legislative action against the Vincennes University, the
same influences acting that caused the removal of the seat
of government of the Territory from Vincennes to Cory-
don. On the I'Otli day of January, 1820, Bloomington
College "was given a charter, and. quickly following this
action, on the 2.')d of January, 1820, the Legislature, as-
suming that the State, in its organized capacity, owned
the Vincennes University lauds, donated to the University
by special act of ( 'ongress, passed an act a]i])oiuting com-
missioners to take possession of said lands and rent them
and turn the proceeds into the State Treasury. Tluis it oc-
curred, without a vestige of legal right, equity or law, that
the remaining 10,000 acres of unsold land of the Univer-
sity were wrested from the trustees by force, under the
claim of State inheritance. But it will be seen that the
solons had some (piahiis of conscience about tliis higli-
iianded procedure of a])i)ro])riating these lands, for they
took stcjis to give the Stat(> tlie semblance of a title to
tliem tlirongh an attempt, by legislation, to olditerate the
University from existence. Tn oi'der tf) acconiplisli this

96 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

purpose, in 1824 an act was passed attempting to trans-
form the University into a new creature under the name
and style of the "Knox County Seminary." By this act
Vincennes University was deprived of its lands, building,
apparatus, furniture, and even its book of record. By this
unjust procedure the University was compelled to give up
all its possessions and be transformed into an institution
entirely foreign to the hind contem]'>lated by Congress, and
thus, for the time l)eiug, tlie Vinconncs University, on
April 24, 1824, passed under the baleful shadow of wrong
and injustice. In this metamorphosis into the ''Knox
County Seminary" it was stipulated by the Legislature
that the institution should be under the control of the old
board of trustees of the LTniversity; but they paid little
attention to the mandate, and an intcr-regiium of four
3^ears exists between the enactment of this law, attempting
to disfranchise the University, and the hrst meeting of the
Knox County Seminary trustees, Avhich occurred October
3, 1828. The blow dealt the University in 1824 gave Vin-
cennes educators a backset, and they did not take kindly
to the new institution. The power, privileges and responsi-
bilities having been taken from the old board of trustees,
they ceased to be active in educational matters, and the
new board (which did not meet until 1828, four years after
dispossessing the old board) acted with very little spirit.
In this connection it would be well to state, for a full un-
derstanding of the conditions existing, that there appears
to have been a dual board of trustees, as will be evidenced
later, the old lioard continuing its existence, although there
are no c<intinuous records to show the fact, their record-
book hnviiiu' l)een taken bv the new board. In the mean-

OLD VINCENNES. 97

time, during' this hiatus, the school building-, having never
been completed, was deteriorating for want of care to s)ich
an extent that squatters took possession and continued to
occupj it at will, tilling it up with household goods, using
the campus for the pasturage of animals and the basement
ac a stable for horses. The State, having appropriated the
incoine of the University to Blooming-ton, said to^ its Knox
County Seminary trustees: ''ISTow, you take possession of
the University building and its property and make the
Seminary flourish." It gave them nothing to endow it, nor
even complete the buildings, yet expected miracles of edu-
cation to be wrought. To show that the ]3icture is not over-
drawn relative to the Knox County Seminary building as
rechristened, I quote from its board's record of a meeting
held on January 22, 1831. On motion of John Holland, a
new trustee, it was "Resolved, That from and after this
date, there shall not be allowed any family, person or per-
sons, to occupy any part of the house except those who
are engaged in the business of teaching, and the scholars.
iS^either shall there be allowed any horse, cow or liofj. or any
otlier animal whatsoever, to run at large in said Seminary
lot, or be kept in any of tlie lower rooms, called the cellar,
to the injury of the lot or cellar rooms." And from tlie
wording- of another resolution offered at the same meeting,
one would infer that the building- contained a pandemo-
nium where blue, white, black and gray spirits often held
liigh carnival. It reads: "And, be it further Resolved,
That a committee of three be appointed Avhose duty it shall
be to visit the Seminary as frequently as the affairs and
business of the institution may require, to hear and de-
termine all uuitters of dispute and to preserve good order

98 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

generally in or about the house and preservation of the
lot." This condition of the institution was but a natural
sequence of ill-advised and unjust legislative action.

"The Knox County Seminary," masquerading in the
habiliments of the Yincennes University, maintained a
] -'ecarious existence during the next few years ; its new
board of trustees having no heart in the project, held no
meetings from October, 1832, until June, 1835, during
which year they met but once, and the next and last meet-
ing was held. on August 25, 1836, when it ceased to be an
active body, although it held control of the Seminary build-
ing and grounds. The new board ceasing to be a factor in
educational work and the State having failed to extinguish
the University, the latter's board resumed the office taken
from them in 1824 and reorganized June 11, 1838. The
Reverend Alexander was elected president and George R.
Gibson secretary. (As they had been robbed of their en-
do'Avment, they had no use for a treasurer.) Having par-
tially recovered from the embarrassment, as a result of the
State's unjust action, the board reasserted itself, and at its
first meeting appointed a committee to recover the old rec-
ords and require the board of trustees of the borough of
Vincennes to render an account of the disposition of the
funds of the commons land (arising from its sale) above
the amount necessary to drain an adjacent pond, authorized
by Congress April 20, 1818. At the next meeting of the
University board of trustees, October 5, 1839, Honorable
A. T. Ellis, a delegate from and in behalf of the "Knox
County Seminary" board, appeared and relinquished all
claim to the ground and building, thereby acknowledging
that his board had no legal right to the property.

OLD VINCENNES 99

During the time the building- was in the possession of
the Seminary board it deteriorated and debts had accumu-
lated against the property, and he then recommended that
the University board of trustees adopt some plan to liquid-
ate the claims against the property and of preventing fur-
ther dilapidation of the building. Thus it was that the orig-
inal University board of trustees, after a lapse of fifteen
years, resumed control of some of its property which legis-
lative action had deprived it of in 1824. In the interval
between the time of dispossession and restoration debts had
accumulated against the Universit}^ to the amount of
$1,830.40, and the assets of the "Knox County Seminary"
were nil. After deliberation on the institution's financial
condition, it was deemed wise to lease or sell the property
to meet the indebtedness. A proposition was received from
the president of St. Gabriel's College to purchase, and the
same was accepted, and for the sum of $6,500 the holdings
of the University passed into the hands of the Catholics of
Vincennes. Upon the receipt of funds, by the sale of the
property, the board of trustees took steps to purchase an-
other lot with a view toward erecting a smaller building in
which to start a grammar school. In the meantime they
rjnted a brick building near the corner of Fifth and Mar-
ket (now ]\rain) streets, and secured the services, July,
1840, of the Reverend B. B. Killikelly, an Episcopal min-
ister, to take charge, with Mr. Chestnut as assistant
teacher. Lot 191, corner Fifth and Busseron streets, on
which the present University building now stands, was
purchased of Dr. Hiram Decker for $500. The Reverend
Killikelly remained in charge of the institution until July,
1842, when he tendered his resignation for the purpose of

100 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

visiting Europe in the interests of his church and uni-
versity. During the legislative session of 1843 a l>ill was
passed authorizing the board doing county business in
Knox county to seize on all the assets of the University.
But it seems that this law proved a dead letter, as no such
procedure was attempted or accomplished. The University
board entered a protest and engaged legal counsel to defend
the institution's rights. Soon after a committee was ap-
pointed, May, 1843, to take steps looking to the erection
of a school Ijuilding, but the matter was subsequently aban-
doned, for the time being, for the want of funds. In the
following June the board met and appointed a committee
whose duty it was to recover, if possible, the Gibson
county lands. Before taking any decisive step the opinion
of Chancellor James Kent was sought, and, in December,
1843, the board authorized the Honorable Samuel Judah
to collate the facts and laws relating to the right of the
University to these lands and send them to Judge Kent for
a legal opinion on the same. The chancellor, after examin-
ing all the acts of Congi-ess and the Ijegislature of Indiana
on the subject, sent an elaborate and exliaustive opinion in
favor of the University's contention, saying, in conclusion :
"I am of the opinion that the Legislature of Indiana is
bound by the most imperious obligations of justice and
honor to indemnify the University for this unconstitu-
tional arrest and detention of their property." Encouraged
by such eminent legal authority, as to the rights of the
University, the board of trustees authorized Samuel Judah
and A. T. Ellis to prosecute its claims to the Gibson county
lauds, and suits were entered against the occupants.
This action created consternation and excitement, as the

OLD VmCENNES. 101

holders were innocent purchasers, and a small rebellion
was inaugurated and violence was threatened to the attcr-
n3ys of the University if they persisted in the prosecution
of the suits, the only recourse left to the trustees for re-
dress, as they could not sue the State. After some prelimi-
nary litigation an understanding was reached between the
contesting attorneys, to the effect that the Senators and
Representatives from Knox and Gibson counties should se-
cure the passage of an act giving permission to the Uni-
versity board to bring suit agaiubt the State in the Marion
County Circuit Court to determine the right of ownership
of said lands. This bill was passed in 1846, and the l>oard's
attorneys were authorized to bring suit at once. The caae
was tried and the Clarion County jury awarded the Uni-
versity $;30,09G.GG for that part of the lands the State had
already sold. The State appealed the case to the Supreme
Court, which reversed this decision at the spring term,
1850. An appeal was then taken to the Supreme Court
of the United States by the attorneys for the University,
and, in 1852, that court set aside the action of the Indiana
Supreme Court, holding that the lands belonged to the
University. In the deliveiy of the opinion of the court, the
Chief Justice said: "The claim is a just one, and if the
reservations of these lands had been judiciously managed
they would have constituted a fund at this time (1852)
of $200,000." After this decision the State of Indiana
made another effort to deprive the University of its charter
and secured the services of five of the best lawyers in the
State to gain its purpose. They attempted to show that the
University board of trustees had lost its chai'ter through
neglect, l>ut it was found tliat there was no evidence to

102 HTSTOEICAL SKETCHES

show that, tlio charter ''had ever been forfeited by any act
or omission of the board/' and that the corporation had
been in a state of continuity ever since the organization,
the University board having been appointed by the Legis-
lature to assume control of the "Knox County Seminary,"
the succession was maintained unbroken. This last attempt
to extinguisli the Vincennes University failed. Having
forcibly seized the lands, lot, buildings, furniture, appa-
ratus and even its records, so if possible to blot it out of
existence ; having tried to discourage, demoralize and scat-
ter, by circumstances and death, the members of the board,
thus seeking to make a break in the succession, and thereby
make void tlie charter, was an act of unjust procedure.

Baffled in this last effort to destroy the University, the
Legislature in 1855 passed an indemnifying act, for the
benefit of the University, which was less than one-tenth of
its indebtedness.

The Knox County Seminary, having no funds with
which to build a schoolhouse, borrowed some of the money
arising out of the sale of their building from the Univer-
sity trustees, and erected a house on the latter's lot, mort-
gaging the property for payment of same. The mortgaged
debt maturing, the house was sold, and reverted to the
University.

It was in this building the academic department was re-
instated in 1856, with the Keverend R. M. Chapman presi-
dent, since which time the school has been in successful
operation. In the same 3'ear the trustees bought the lot di-
agonally across the street (corner Fifth and Busseron), and
for $2,300 erected a building to be used as a female de-
partment. This building was conducted successfully for

OLD VINCENNES. 103

some time, but several years later the schools were consoli-
dated in the brick building. To resmne the line of history
of the contention of the University with the State, it was
after a half century of enforced litigation by the former,
in defense of its rights, its lands and its franchises, caus-
ing thereby the expenditure of large sums of money in the
way of court and attorneys' fees and the enforced sacrifices
of its buildings and gi-ounds, that the Legislature doled
out, not what the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States declared was due the Vincennes Univer-
sity, i. e., $200,000, but State bonds to the amount of $66,-
565 for lands already sold. This did not account for 2,200
acres of land unsold (and not accounted for to this day),
and was not a tithe of the indebtedness.

After the long and costly fight for its rights it gained a
victory of $41,565, inclusive of the court and attorneys'
fees arising out of the original contract. Subtracting the
amount of court and attorneys' fees in obtaining the latter
settlement, the institution in fact realized not two-thirds
of the award. It will be observed that after nearly half a
century of contention for the magnificent endowment given
by Congress, this small pittance w^as turned into the treas-
ury of the University, as restitution money. In 1878, hav-
ing well husbanded the money received from the State, and
the school having outgrown its home, it was resolved l^y the
trustees to erect a more modern and commodious building
on its ground, the site of the ''Knox County Seminary,"
which would be more suitable to the wants of advanced edu-
cation. The present beautiful structure was completed in
August, 1878, at a total cost of $14,616. The school pros-
pered and the building was soon found inadequate to ac-

104 IIISTOEICAL SKETCHES

conniiodate the patronage of additional students. As a re-
sult, in 1889, and at a cost of $4,180, an addition to the
south and west end was erected. The War Department,
having designated the Vincennes University as one of the
institutions where military science might be taught, an
officer was detailed for this instruction, and, so successful
had this branch proved, that, when war was declared with
Spain, in 1898, he had organized a full company of ca-
dets, well drilled and fidly equipped to enter into the fight
for maintaining the prestige and honor of our country.
This was the first volunteer company to offer its services
to the Governor of the State, and the only full company
of cadets sent by any State institution of leaniing in the
Union to engage in the Spanish War. The company of
University cadets formed a part of the 159th Regiment of
Indiana Volunteers and was in sendee for one year,
although they were not sent to the front on account of the
speedy conclusion of the war. This was the first oppor-
tunity the University had to return in any degi'ee the fa-
vors shown it by the Government for its magnificent dona-
tion in 1806, and the episode will be recorded as one of
the brightest in its history.

From time to time the Legislature has been petitioned
for redress, but without avail until 1895, when an appropri-
ation was made for $15,000, for which the State exacted a
receipt in full of all demands from the University. As
this sum did not pay the debt it was not accepted by the
University, as an adequate settlement of the claim, and the
Honorable Basil Gaither, Knox County's Representative,
entered a formal protest, in behalf of the institution, to
giving a receipt in full, and the protest was recorded in tlie

OLD VINOKNNES. 105

House -lounial of tlio Fiftv-iiinth (leiieral Assembly. In
the Sixtieth General Assembly, 1897, another bill was in-
troduced for an additional sum with a view toward liqui-
datino- the State's indebtedness to the University, but the
appropriatidu \\as defeated by a small majority. Willi the
intention of liquidating the State debt to the University,
the Sixty-first General Assembly, in ^[areh, 1899, passed
a bill authorizing an issue of -i per cent, bonds for $120,-
000, ])ayable in twenty years. This lull was passed by
almost a unanimous vote in the Senate, there being only
four votes against it. The House passed it by 64 ayes. 29
nays. Through some misinfonuatioii, or lack of a full
knowledge of the real merit of the claim. Governor James
A. Mount failed to sign the bill, and in the closing hours
of the session the matter was referred to the next General
Assenddy, and, at the suggestion of the Governor, the presi-
dent of the Senate appointed a conmuttee of three to ex-
amine into the merits of the claim and report the facts to
the next succeeding Legislature.

The committee of the Senate appointed examined the
claims of the University during vacation, and reported
favorably, and the bill came up again the following session,
in ]\rarch, 1901, and passed the Senate by a vote of 30 to
1."). The House connuittee to which the bill had been re-
ferred strangled it, and it was never reported to the House
for fear of its passage. Economy in this case usurped the
place of justice, which must and will eventually prevail.
The indebtedness of the State to the University, when this
bill was presented, amounted to $703,695. It will be seen
from the foregoing facts and figiires, which can not be suc-
cessfully controverted, that the great and prosperous State

Kin HISTOETCAL SKETCHES

of Indiana is indebted to its first born edncational institn-
tion, which it warmed into life, then abandoned, after con-
fiscating its inheritance, and has to the present time held
back the dispensing hand of justice, and hesitates to re-
store its rights npon the score of economy or that the indebt-
edness is too old to pay. Honesty, trnth and right are eter-
nal principles, nninflnenced by time or circnmstances, and
will perish only with eternity. The University does not
ask a donation, bnt pleads for only partial restoration of
what is its due.

The State is not too poor to pay its debts, as it gives
more than $200,000 annually to three institutions of learn-
ing; and, during Governor Mount's term of office, Leopold
Levy paid immatured bonds to the amount of nearly $700,-
000, ignoring for the time an old sacred del)t. Governor
Mount had a laudable ambition in trying to make his ad-
ministration an economical one; but if $120,000 had been
deducted from the amount paid bondholders and applied
toward liquidating the University debt (as recommended
by both the Senate and the House) the sum total of the
canceled indebtedness would have been the same as it now
stands. The State should be just first, and generous when
able to be so.

In 1898, realizing the necessity for more room to accom-
modate the growing patronage, the trustees purchased the
adjoining lot, number 190, facing on Broadway, from A.
Gimbel heirs, at a cost of $7,000, hoping to soon add a
wing to the main building which would contain a large
room suitable for an armory. Besides providing for more
students by this purchase, the grounds are now enlarged
to a full half square, surrounded by and ornamented with

OLD VINCENNES. lOr

l>eaiitiful shade trees, most of which were planted in
1856.

Since the above was written the old Decker property has
been acquired by the University, giving it still larger
gi'ounds for its use, for the sum of $4,350. All that is now
lacking to have the Vincennes University enlarged and
thoroughly equipped is the payment by the gi-eat and rich
commonwealth of Indiana of its just and long-deferred
dues. The University will then assert its power, and, with
dignity, can take up its line of march abreast of the age,
in all the branches of literature and art that beautify and
enrich our civilization and our State. By such payment
the State will have lifted from its shoulders a debt almost
criminal in its effects, and enjoy the sweet peace of con-
science in the act of having performed a long-delayed duty
to tli^ first established educational institution in the West ;
f.nd where our country's flag was first planted and, unfurl-
ing, was first kissed by the glowing lips of American Lib-
erty.

The University, although entitled by its charter to con-
fer degi-ees on its graduates and persons »vho have distin-
g-uished themselves in the field of literature, has been chary
in the exercise of this right, and up to this time only two
honorary degrees have been conferred; the first of D. D.,
in 1842, upon one of its former presidents, the Reverend
Killikelly, and the other, LL. D., in 1857, upon a former
professor in the institution, the Reverend W. H. Carter.
It still withheld printed recognition from its own pupils
until 1874, when four students, having completed success-
fully the course of study allotted to them, received di-
plomas as evidence of their scholarship, and since that time

108 TITSTOETCAL SKETCHES

the custom of g'iviug (li|)l(iiiias lias dhtainc*!. It has a«l-
vanced its staiulard of scliolarsliip, as its funds would per-
mit the employment of qualified teachers, and in 1884 the
board of trustees decided that no gTade of instruction he-
low the academic would be end>raced in its curriculum of
study. As a result of this course, and thorough equipment,
when the pupils receive their diplomas in the classic or
scientific departments they are prepared to and do enter,
without examination, any Western college as a junior.
With the expectation of increased facilities, the Univer-
sity will soon be able to throw off the last of the shackles
which have impeded its progress, and take rank with its
more fortunate sisters, who have not had to walk thi'ough
the valley and the shadow of death. It will then become
what Congress and the Territorial Legislature intended it
should be when its patrimony and charter were given, a
university in the fullest meaning of the word. In closing
this sketch of the Vincennes University much credit is due
— more than they ever will receive — to the competent,
faithful, indefatigable men who have ever formed the
board of trustees.

In their long line of march, covering a period of ninety-
six years, as one would fall along the way, by the stroke
of time or circumstances, another volunteer would take his
place. This with the knowledge that his only remuneration
would be the consciousness of having perfonned his duty
in aiding the advancement of education and civilization,
the beneficiaries being the young of the passing and future
generations. During all these years, amid all the vicissi-
tudes through which the institution has passed, no treas-
urer has defaulted to the amount of a single penny, and the

OLD VmCENNES. 109

funds have been husbanded in the most businesslike man-
ner. Time and talents have been lavished on the institution
which would have brought to acting members of the board
thousands of dollars if employed in business engagements.
Some of the most distinguished men in national affairs
have been on the roll of honor of the University's board
of trustees. On that roll will be found the names of one
President of the LTnited States, several members of Con-
gress, celebrated jurists, judges, clergymen, officials of the
United States Goveniment, authors, physicians, bankers,
merchants, editors, mechanics and capitalists — men from
all walks of life who have kept in close touch with the peo-
ple in the progress of science, art and literature. Xoither
would this sketch be complete without according a place of
honor to the long roll of distinguished men of learning
who have graced and filled so well the o<ffice of president
of the University, from its foundation to this year of grace
1902. In this list there could be named many distinguished
divines and professors of science and literature, who have,
since leaving the institution, filled and are now occu})ying
professorships in many colleges.

In the interests of the present generation and pros-
perity, and as no attem|)t has as yet been made to preserve
many facts unknown to the general public and which soon
would be lost in the flight of tlie passing years, I have as-
sumed the task, in connection with this sketch, to record
statistics relating thereto. I l^elieve them to be practically
correct, although some omission may have accidentally oc-
curred, owing to imperfect records in the misty past.

no HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

PRESIDENTS.

Names of the presidents of Vincennes University and
the time of their inauguration :

1811. Keverend Samuel T. Scott.

1815. Professor Jesse Olds.

1818. Professor Jean Jean.

1823. Reverend Henry Shaw.

1840. Reverend B. B. Killikelly, D. D.

1845. Reverend Geo. B. Jocelyn.

1850. Professor Matthews, A. M.

1855. Reverend R. M. Chapman, D. D.

1867. Reverend O. C. Drake, A. M.

1868. Professor James M. Naylor, A. M.
1870. Reverend Geo. Parrott, A. M.
1872. Professor Louis Prugh, A. M.

1881. Professor E. A. Haight.

1882. Professor Pitt L. McCreary.

1883. Professor Enoch A. Bryan, A. M.
1893. Professor Edward P. Cubberly, A. M.
1896. Professor A. H. Yoder, A. M.

1900. Professor W. H. Hershman, A. M.

1902. Professor James E. Manchester, B.S., D.Sc.

(Jthcers of the board of trustees of the Vincennes Uni-
versity from its foundation, December 6, 1806, to Decem-
ber, 1902, and when elected:

1806. General William Henry Harrison, Presi-
dent.
1806. General George W. Johnson, Secretary.
1806. James Johnson, Treasurer,

OLD VINCENNES. Ill

1811. Benjamin Parke, President.
1813. Reverend Samuel Scott, Treasurer.

1812. George Gibson, Secretary.
1838. A. T. Ellis, President.

1838. Eeverend Thomas Alexander. President.

1839. Samuel Hill, President.
1820. ]\[oses Tabbs, President.

1838. Samuel Judah, Secretary.

1839. William Burtch, Treasurer.
1853. Isaac Mass, Treasurer.

1850. Doctor John R. Mantle, President.

1841. Doctor W. W. Hitt, President.

1853. George D. Hay, Secretary.

1855. Doctor Joseph Somes, Secretary.

1864. Harrison T. Roseman, Secretary.

1865. Doctor J. H. Rabb, Treasurer.
1855. William Burtch, reelected Treasurer.
1867. Doctor R. G. Moore, President.
1878. Smiley K. Chambers, Secretary.
•1889. W. B. Robinson, Secretary.

1888. J. L. Bayard, Treasurer.
1897. Hubbard M. Smith, President.

Present Corps of Teachers :

James Eugene Manchester, B. S. ,D. Sc. (Tue-
bingen) ; President and Professor of Mathe-
matics.

Oscar M. Duncan, B. S., A. M., Professor of N'at-
ural Science.

Thomas J. Davis, A. B., Professor of English.

Charles H. McLawry, A. B., A. M., Professor of
Greek and Latin.

113 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

• Margaret Manchester^ Professor of Modern Lan
giiages.
]^. K. Flint, Principal Bnsiuess Department.
Cecelia Ray Berry, Director of Music.
Ida Margaret Berry, Principal Vocal Department.

Board of Trustees: Hubbard M. Smith, M. D., Presi-
dent ; W. B. Robinson, Attomey-at-Law, Secretary ; J. L.
Bayard, President First National Bank, Treasurer; Wal-
ter M. Hindman, Dental Surgeon; Edward H. Smith,
hardware ; W. C. Johnson, Attorney-at-Law ; Judge Ray
Gardner, Washington, Tnd. ; James W. Emison, Attorney-
at-Law ; Charles Bierhaus, wholesale grocer ; S. ]^. Cham-
bers, Ex-Fnited States Attorney, Indianapolis ; H. A.
Foulks, Esq. ; T. H. Adams, Editor Commercial and Post-
master; Royal E. Purcell, Editor Sun; Major W. P.
Gould, Paymaster Fnited States Army.

ST. GABRIEL'S COLLEGE.

St. Gabriel's College was established in 1837, by the
Reverend John August Vabret, who brought with him to
this town a colony from Rennes, France, called Eudists.
He purchased the Fniversity of Vincennes property in 1839
and used the building as his school. He was succeeded as
president by the Reverend John P. Bellier, in 1840. The
school was maintained until 1845, Avhen it was closed by
an order from the Superior-General of the Eudists. The
buildiug was then occupied as an orphan asylum, and,
afterward, by St. Rose Academy of Providence, under
the management of Sister C^yrilla, until it was replaced by
the present fine and commodious building, accommodat-

OLD VINCENNES. 113

ing 275 pupils. St. Vincent Orphan Asylum being built
two and a half miles south of the city, the orphans were
transferred to it, and one hundred are domiciled there,
under Sister M. Carmel, a Sister of Providence. St. Vin-
cent Orphan Asylum Avas built first in 1847. It was
used at first as a diocesan seminary for boys, but it is now
used also as an asylum for l)oys, since the erection of the
present fine building, wliicli was built in 1864. It con-
tains a chapel and is served by a pastor.

St. Ann's Orphan Asylum for Girls was situated near
the cathedral. In 1849 it was removed to Terre Haute.

In addition to the schools noted, one is connected with
St. Xavier's Church, with one lay teacher and two Sisters
of Providence, and embraces 250 pupils; and another
parochial school connected with St. John the Baptist
Church, ini(k'r tlie supervision of Reverend Aleinrad
Fleischnmn, and fonr Sisters of Providence, by whom
215 pupils arc taught,

COMMON SCHOOLS.

The common school system may be said to have been in-
augurated in \^incennes not before 1850, and then only in
a feeble manner. The sentiment of the State before this
period was against laws levying a tax for the support of
free schools. When the present Constitution of the State
was adopted, the right to inaugurate the common school
system was acquiesced in by the people generally and soon
efficient free school laws were enacted, and then public
schools were established all over the State. The Legisla-
ture, in 1824, made an attempt to blot out of existence

114 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

the Vinceimes University, the first educational iiistitiition
"established in this State, throngh and by its Territorial
Legislature, endowed by Congress with one or more town-
ships of land, by the establishment of a free school in this
county under the title of the "Knox County Seminary."
But as it appropriated the proceeds of the sale of the Uni-
versity lands to establish Blooming'ton College, the effort
proved an utter failure, and the "Knox County Seminary"
died of inanitiou, the Legislature having failed to provide
for the school's support. Hence for nearly a half century,
and not until the State grudgingly had been compelled,
after long and expensive legislation, to^ make a partial res-
titution to the University, was there an effective revival of
education in this town.

In 1853 the public school system was fully inaugurated
here by and through the trustees elected by the people,
composed of George D. Hay, John W. Canon and Lambert
Burrois. For lack of funds the schools were inefficient, and
even in 1855 only three months' tuition was vouchsafed
to tlie pupils. In 1857 the duration of the school year was
extended to five months, with Anson W. Jones as princi-
pal, at a salary of only $50 per month. In 1860 the first
school building was erected (now known as the Central
School) at the corner of Buntin and Seventh streets, at a
cost of $19,000, under the supervision of Trustees John D.
Lander, William Williamson and G. H. Deusterberg. Pro-
fessor A. W. Jones was elected superintendent, succeeding
himself in 1863, and retaining this position until his death
in 1873. This building has for its principal at the present
writing, M. It. Kirk, with nine assistants. Another build-
ing was erected on the south side of this city in 1878.

OLD VINCENNES. 11. -,

E."A. Quigie is now principal, with three assistants. The
third Itiiilding was erected on the north side in 1885, and is
now condncted hv ]\[iss Josephine Crotts, as principal, with
five assistants. The hnilding on the east side was erected in
1891, and is now condncted bv Miss Melvina Keith, as
principal, and fonr assistants. The present High School
bnilding was erected in 1897, at a cost of $30,000, on the
corner of Bnntin and Fifth streets, and is a beantifnl mod-
ern structnre. All of the buildings are of brick, snl:)stan-
tial, commodious, well equipped and furnished.

To the Central School there is attached a kindergarten
department which is conducted by Miss Caroline Pelham
with Mrs. Flora Andrus Curtis as assistant.

The building for colored pupils was erected about
thirty years ago, on the corner of Thirteenth and Hart
streets, with B. L. Anthony as principal, and two assist-
ants as present instructors. The enrollment of pupils in
the public schools of this city in the last report was 1,900.

The High School has a faculty of ten teachers, including
Prdfcssor E. A. Humpke, the present superint<:>ndent.

The o])ir]iot applied to this region by Provisional (lov-
ernur Arthur Sinclair, of the Xorthwest Territory, in his
first report to the United States Congress in 1780, to wit,
"'The Wabash Valley has the most ignorant people on
earth, and not a fiftieth man can read or write", has
long since ceased to have any foundation in truth. When
this expression was uttered, only one year had elapsed
after the Wabash Valley had passed from the hands of
Great Britain into those of Uncle Sam, and but few white
persons, except soldiers, occupied it. The schoolmaster
has been abroad in the land and the Vincennes University

116

HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

did much in the early part of the last century to dispel
the clouds of ignorance that had l^rooded over the Wabash
Valley from time immemorial, and to make this place the
radiating center whence the first streams of knowledge
flowed over the great I^orthwest.

The common schools of Indiana, the sequence of ad-
vanced education, are now the pride, not only of the State,
but of the jSTation, and illiteracy is the exception and not
the rule. Could good old Governor Sinclair but awaken
from his Rip Van Winkle slumbers and view our colleges
and white school houses, which dot hill and valley like the
cattle on a thousand hills, he would be astounded and con-
strained to exclaim, "Great is Hoosierdom ; and her knowl-
edge enlighteneth as the rays of the morning sun." Indiana
claims to have the largest common school fund of any State
in the Union, and possibly has, with the single exception of
the State of Texas, which, upon its admission to the sister-
hood of States, retained all her public domain for the use
and maintenance of her public free schools.

Chapter VI.

(•nrucHEs -CATHOLIC.

TO THE CATHOLICS belong the honor of doing
the first Christian missionary work in Indiana, at
the Piankeshaw village, the site of the city of Vin-
cennes, and the erection of the first house of worship dedi-
cated to God.

It has been said that a Jesuit missionary Father visited
the Indian village Che-pe-ko-ke, on the Wabash river, as
early as 1702, but it has been shown in discussing the early
settlement of this place that this statement is incorrect,
and the mistake arose from an inaccuracy of some of the
earlier explorers of the Mississippi Valley. For a long
time the Ohio and Wabash rivers were confounded, they
believing the former emptied into the latter, hence the
name Ouabache was used for the Ohio. It is not probable
that a mission was established here very much earlier than
the advent of IMorgan de Vincennes in 1731 or 1732.
From that time on a priest was here occasionally until a
church organization was effected and a house of worship
erected, about the year 1749, the resident priest being
the Keverend Louis Meurin. The first entry in the church
records is dated April 21, 1749, "'•■ and embraces the follow-
ing marriage certificate: ''Julian Trotier, of Montreal,
Canada, and Josie Marie, the daughter of a Frenchman
and Indian woman." His last record was made in 1756.

Law's Hist. Vincennes, p. 145. W. H. Smith's Hist. Ind., p. 255.
—117-

OLD VINCENNES. 119

''In a memorial on the affairs of Louisiana by M. Le
Bailey Messager, dated December 17, 1749, a proposition
was made to establish a 'central power on the Wabash.'
In the early part of the same year, 1749, a mission or
churcliwas established at Post Vincennes by the missionary
Sebast. Lud. Meurin."* On quitting the Post he left one
Phillibert, a notary public, in charge,. to keep the records
and to administer baptism to laymen privately during the
absence of a priest. The records of the Catholic church
here make no mention of the missionaries until the year
1749, when Father Meurin came here. For more than
half a century this was the only church in Indiana. f
From the departure of Reverend Louis L. Meurin there
seems to have been no priest at Vincennes until the ar-
rival of Reverend Pierre Gibault, who, upon his ordination
in Canada, had been sent to the "Illinois Country," his
objective point being Kaskaskia, as Vicar-General, by the
Bishop of Quebec. In the line of his duty Reverend
Gibault visited Vincennes first, in February, 1770. "In
March he returned to Kaskaskia, the usual place of his
residence, but for several years continued to pay occa-
sional visits to the Post. He was for a time the only priest
in Indiana. We find from the records of the church that
in July, 1778, he was in Vincennes, exerting himself suc-
cessfully in inducing the French inhabitants to declare in
favor of the United States against Great Britain. ":|: His
mission here at this time was, in some degree, as ambas-
sador of Colonel George Rogers Clark, who had won over

"'" Id 1749 a church or mission was established under the charge of Mission-
ary Meurin at Piankeshaw village, which stood at the site of Vincennes. "-Dil-
lon Hist., p. 403.

t W.H.Smith's Hist. Ind.,p. 255.

t Law's Hist. Vincennes, p. 146.

120 ITISTOEICAL SKETCHES

the .Father to the American cause, after his capture of
Kaskaskia. His services were invaluable, and he should
be held in grateful reniend;)rance by all American citizens.

The English Government being in full possession of the
Northwest • Territory at that time, wdth the exception of
Kaskaskia and Cahokia, Father Gibault, in showing sym-
pathy with and giving active aid to Colonel Clark's army,
showed rare patriotism to the cause of liberty in thus
exposing himself to the risk of capture and trial for trea-
son by the English. His good services prepared the way
for Clark's successful attack and capture of the town and
fort at Vincennes, February 25, 1779. "'In July, 1779,
Father Gil)ault again visited Vincennes, then in the pos-
session of the Americans. He remained three weeks, dis-
charging the duties of his office. Five years elapsed, after
this, wdthout a visit from a priest, when Gibault reap-
peared in 1784, accompanied by the Reverend M. Payet.
In May, 1785, he established himself at the Post as the
resident pastor. He remained here until October, 1789,
when he finally left and settled at Cahokia, and afterwards
at JSTew Madrid, Missouri, where he died in 1804. A lay-
man, Pierre JStallet, acted as guardian of the church, hav-
ing been thus appointed by M. Gibault, until the arrival
of M. Flaget, in 1792."" It is said by the same author
that he remained at this Post two years.

As to the location and character of the first church
building, I will quote from the history of the late Honor-
able John Law, a very intelligent gentleman, who came
to Vincennes in the year 1817, and who had access to the
church library and w^as well qualified to make a true state-

■■■■ Law's Hist. Vincennes, p. 147.

OLD A^NCENNES. 121

iiient on the siibjcci. The tirsL huildiuii,' was doublless
erected diiviiig the pastorate of i\ather Louis L. Meuriu
about the year 1749, as before stated, as the records of the
church then begin to be kept. Law says: "It is not be-
yond the memory of the oldest inhabitant of the Post —
indeed, it is within the recollection of all who dwelt here
forty years sinee^ — that fronting on Water street, running
back to Church street, toward the present cathedral, there
was a plain building with a rough exterior, built of up-
right posts, 'chuncked and daubed', to use an architectural
expression purely western, with a rough coat of cement on
the outside; in width about twenty feet; in length about
sixty feet; one story high, with a small belfry, and an
equally small bell, now used at the more elegant and sym-
metrical building * " * . The building I have described
— placed in the cemetery, where the various mortuary
memorials, which piety and affection had dedicated to
those who had gone before, headed with the symbol of their
faith, and for the most part of wood, the inscriptions, from
moss and time almost illegible — was the ancient church of
St. Francis Xavier * * * and was withoi»t doulit the
only church used here for Catholic worship until the foun-
dations of the new edifice which has superseded it was laid
and the building prepared for worship."*

The History of Knox County, p. 289, has this to say:
''Father Gibault says, in 1784, a new church had been
built, 90x42 feet." Tliis statement is not borne out by the
facts, and it is presumed that the Father has been mis-
represented. If such a building had been erected upon the
Father's advent the last time he came, in May, 1785, where

•■■Law's Hist. Vincennt'i:, p. 141.

133 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

was it in 1792, when Father B. J. Flaget came to serve the
church? He said : ''The biiikling' was poor, open and neg-
lected ; the ahar, a temporary structure, was of boards and
l)adly put together. I found tlie congregation in a worse
state even than the church. Out of nearly 700, but
twelve could be induced to approach holy communion dur-
ing Christmas festivities."* If a new church had been
built in 1784, as alleged, it is not probable that it coiild
have liecome so dilapidated as described by the reverend
Father, in only a few years' time ; and the size of the re-
puted new building, 90x42 feet, does not correspond with
the one described by Law, 20x60 feet, and "one story
high," when he came to Vincennes in 1817. What Father
Flaget said in 1792 about the building goes to show that
it was the same as originally constructed, but possibly im-
proved somewhat by St. Ange, who added a belfry and a
bell, which was used in church service until the erection
of the new cathedral, and, for some purpose, up to the
present time."f

There is a living witness to corroborate Judge Law's
statement, Mrs. Elizabeth Andre, now in her ninety-third
year. She told the writer, May 7, 1902, that she, in com-
pany with the late L. L. Watson and Mr. Vital Bouchie,
now living, took their first communion in the first church
built here, and describes it as built of posts or upright
slabs, and further stated that this old church was used up
to the time of the erection of the present cathedral. She
describes the entrance to the church as facing the river ;
said that sometimes there were long intervals between the
visits of the priests ; that she remembers when two came,

■■■' Hist. Knox County, p. 236.
t Law's Hist. Vineennei^, p. 15.

OLD VINCENNES. 123

having' walked and carried their packs on their hacks a long
distance: and remembers Fatiier Flaget as tlie first bishop
to come to Vincennes. She seems bright in intellect and
memory as ever, and says that her recollection of incidents
in her early years is as clear as it ever was — mnch better
than it is of incidents happening fifty years ago. The
foregoing, statements indicate definitely that the present
cathedral has had bnt one preceding church.

There Avas no regular supply of the church here until
Congress, at the petition of Bishop Carroll indorsed by
President Washington, passed an act giving an annuity to
the church of $200. Then the Bishop appointed Reverend
John Francis Eivet, wdio arrived here in May, 1795. His
first official act recorded was the baptism of Antoinette
Rous, May 3, 1795, when he signed the record ''Rivet
prete missionary." He continued here until 1804. Then
there appears to have been no regularly stationed priest
here for about a period of about two years. Those who
ofiiciated remained heie but a short time and were attached
to missions in Illinois, or to the diocese of Kentucky. M.
Flaget, having been consecrated Bishop of Bardstown, Ky.,
revisited Vincennes in 1814, and again in 1819, 1823 and
1832 "" ^ ^. He was the first bishop wdio served at
Vincennes. He died in Louisville in February, 1850. The
See of Vincennes was erected in 1833 and Reverend Simon
G. Brute was consecrated October 28, 183.4, at St. Louis,
and took up his residence at Vincennes.* As his field of
labor was very extensive and his flocks scattered over a vast
extent of territory, there being only two priests under his
jurisdiction, and they two hundred and tw^enty-five miles

"■ Hist. Knox County, p. 29].

124 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

a])art, lie addressed liis first pastoral letter from St. Louis
after his elevation, that being the only way he could reach
his members. He died in 1839, leaving a distinguished
lecord as a Christian gentleman and a popular bishop, and
was buried in the crypt of the church. Bishop Brute was
succeeded by Bishop Celestin Reno Laureant Gyner de le
Hailandiere, in 1839, who resigned in 1847. He was
succeeded by John Stephen Bazin in 1847, who died April
23, 1848, after a brief episcopate of six months. Bishop
Isaac Maurice de Long d'Assac de St. Palais was ap-
pointed to this diocese in 1849. It then comprised the
whole State, including about fifty churches and a Catholic
population of about 30,000. Bishop St. Palais was an
efficient and popular bishop. During his episcopate the
diocese was divided, and one at Fort Wayne erected, em-
bracing about one-half of the State. He died in 1877.
Francis Silas Chatard, the fifth bishop, succeeded to this
diocese and was consecrated bisliop in Rome, May, 1878,
by Cardinal Franchi. Up to- this time the bishop's resi-
dence had been at Vincennes and his parishoners here were
much concerned to know whether the new bishop would
continue it or not. As this had been the battleground for
the success and advancement of tlie church for more than
a century and a half, they felt a just pride in claiming
priority of domicile for their bishop and had good reasons
for supj)osing that this city would become his home. But
such was not to be, and sacred ties, consecrated by sweet
memories of the past, were to l>e rent asunder for public
policy through the inexorable changes of time and prog-
ress. He was installed in office by Archbishop Purcell, of
Cincinnati, in August, 1878. The brief changing the

SECOND ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH. ERECTED IN 1S26; FINISHED 1854.

136 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

style of the diocese from Vincennes to Indianapolis was
dated March 28, 1878, bnt was not promulgated until
April 20, 1898. The news of the change was received
with gTief by his parishoners here, but was loyally ac-
cepted by them.

St. Xavier Cathedral has for its rector the Reverend
Louis GuegTien, R. D., a most estimable gentleman and
Christian, and the Reverend Frederick Berget, an eloquent
young preacher, as his assistant.

St. John's German Catholic Church, a branch of St.
Xavier, was constituted in 1851, and had for its pastor
Reverend Nicholas Stauber, who erected a brick house for
worship in the same year on a beautiful square between
Eighth and Ninth streets, on Main, the same in re-
cent years being remodeled and enlarged under the super-
vision of the second pastor. Reverend A. Mertz, who faith-
fully administered unto his parishoners for more than
forty years and up to his death. Reverend Meinrad
Fleischman, the present pastor, succeeded him.

The prosperity and status of the Catholic Church may
be judged by the following statistics gleaned from the
reports of its official records for the year 1900, of the
Church in the State: Bishops, 2; priests, 353; churches,
302 ; Catholic population, 184,388.

PRESBYTERIAN.

The first missionary work done in this State by the
Presbyterian Church occurred in the years 1804, 1805 and
1806, by the Reverends Samuel Runnels, Samuel D. Rob-
inson, James McGrady and Thomas Clelland, members of
the Transylvania Presbytery of Kentucky. In 1805 the

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. ORGANIZED lSo6.

128 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

Reverend Clelland visited Vincennes and Governor Will-
iam Henry Harrison's wife, who was a Presbyterian, in-
vited him to preach in the conncil chamber of the Gov-
ernor, which he did ; and this is the first recorded sermon
preached in Indiana Territory by a Presbyterian minister.
The first chnrch was organized (nnder the title of The
Indiana Chnrch) in 1806, by the Reverend Samuel D.
Robinson, of the Transylvania Presbytery, Synod of Ken-
tucky. Missionaries, besides the ones noted, occasionally
visited Indiana Territory, including Reverend Thomas
Williamson, of the Presbytery of South Carolina, but there
was no regular pastor stationed here until 1807, when the
Genei'al Assemldy of the church "ordered that the Rever-
end Samuel T. Scott, of the Presbytery of West Lexington,
Ky., be a missionary for three months in the Indiana
Territory, and especially at Vincennes." The Reverend
Scott had been serving as pastor of Mt. Pleasant and In-
dian Creek churches. He arrived under this resoluti<ui
of the Assemldy in 1807, and became pastor of Indiami
Church,* which was the first Presbyterian Church organ-
ized in Indiana Territory. The Reverend Scott proved to
be an efficient and laborious pastor, meetings being held in
the woods oftentimes. He soon gathered three congrega-
tions, knoAvn as Upper and Lower Indiana and Vincennes
jiortions of the Indiana Church. He was prime factor in
educational advancement in this region and was the first
teacher employed by the Vincennes University trustees.
The impress left on the people by him was elevating and
enlightening to the cause of civilization and the Christian
religion. He ministered to these congregations many years

'•'Indiana Churi-h embraced the churches of Vincennes, I |iper and Lower
Indiana.

OLD VINCENNES. 129

before lie was ordained, that event occurring August 6,
1825, at a meeting of the Salem Presbytery (this body
having been organized and detached from the Synod of
Kentucky in 1823), in the courthouse in Vincennes. This
body consisted of the Keverends William Robinson, John
Todd, Samuel T. Scott, William W. Martin, John M.
Dickey, John T. Crowe and Isaac Reed. Reverend
Samuel Scott died in 1827, and the Reverend Samuel R.
Alexander succeeded to the pastorate of the church in 1828,
being installed in the old court house standing at the corner
of Third and Buntin streets. Up to 1833. the Vincennes
Church was identified with and was a part of Indiana
Church, organized in 1806 ; but after that time it assumed
an individual existence. The other churches issuing from
Indiana Church, the parent church, were Wheatland,
Bruceville, West Salem, Smyrna, Upper and Lower Indi-
ana Churches.

The first building of the Vincennes branch as organ-
ized" stood on the corner of Fifth and Busseron streets, on
Avhich the present Presbyterian Church now stands and was
dedicated April 16, 1831, with Reverend Samuel R. Alex-
ander as supply to it and the other churches up to January
6, 1833, when the Reverend W. W. Martin became pastor,
with a membership of thirty-three persons. He preached
until April, 1835, when he was succeeded by Reverend
John MciSreil, who was succeeded by the Reverend Thomas
Alexander, who remained until January 23, 1817. Rever-
end John F. Smith was then pastor until May, 1858.
Reverend J. W. Blythe succeeded him, who gave way to
Reverend J. F. Jennison, and he in turn to Eli B. Siiiitli

••'The lot was conveyed to the tru.'-tces of the cliiivch by Ji.hn ]!i-uner. for the
sum of §80.
[91

]30 IIISTOKICAL SKETCHES

in 1861, who remained until 1866, when Reverend J. F.
Hendj was called to the pastorate. The church dividing
on the Civil War question, the Second Presbyterian Church
was organized April 20, 1862, with thirty-seven members
who worshipped in the female academy on the comer of
Fifth and Busseron streets until they built a brick church
on Main, near Sixth street, and called as pastor the Rev-
erend E. S. Wilson. He was succeeded by Reverend
Joseph Vance, and he by H. B. Thayer. In 1872 the
asperities of the Civil War having become obliterated or
softened between the First and Second Churches, the two
bodies became reunited, the Reverend Hendy withdrawing
and the Reverend Vance succeeding to the joint pastorate.
Reverend E. P. Whallen succeeded him in August, 1878,
continuing until 1888, when the Reverend Thomas S.
Scott was installed and remained until 1894, when he was
succeeded by the Reverend George Knox.

Under the administration of the Reverend Whallen tlie
old house of worship, built in 1831, was razed and a por-
tion of the new structure was erected at a cost of $15,000,
and completed in 1899, under the successful administra-
tion of the Reverend George Knox, making the total cost
of the present building about $25,000, rendering it a model
of Ijeauty, equipment and convenience, with a seating ca-
pacity of 600. It was dedicated in May, 1899, and the
following hymn was written for and used in the dedi-
catory services b\ the author:

OLD AaNCKNNKS. 1:51

DEDICATION IIY.MX.

Oil, Lord, on this ausincious day,

Thy people in tlieir temple meet
To dedicate it and to lay

The offering at the Savior's feet.

In faith we to the altar bring

Our soul's deyotion, and each voice

Would, with the sweetest accents, sing
Thy praises as we liere rejoice.

Bestow a blessing on us now,

As we adoring look above.
And sanctify each prayer and vow.

And fill our souls with joy and love.

May seed, witliin this vineyard sown.

Be niu'tured by Thy grace divine,
And yield full harvests for Thy throne,

And all the glory shall be Thine.

Keverend Dr. Hunter succeeded to the pastorate in 1901
and the church has a bright future.

At the present time the Church of the State is divided
into eight Presbyteries, with a total of 259 ministers and
320 churches, and a total membership of 42,783. During
the year 1900 the members gave for congregational ex-
penses the sum of $390,360; to home missions, $61,581;
other benevolences, $143,244; making a total of $595,185.
Resident membership, 360.

METHODIST El'lSCOl'AL.

Vincennes circuit a]>pcars upon the minutes of the
District of ^"incenncs in 1810, making three fields of
hd)or, and Air. William Winans, who had been admitted on
trial in the western conference the year before, was sent
here, and his advent nnirked the beginning of the propa-

132

IIISTOEICAL SKETCHES

ii'atioii of Methodism in Vinceimes. The following inci-
dent is recorded as having occnrred at one of his meetings :
He had an appointment to preach in town one night and

>->5^

m If J ? 1^ ??' '^i I

-vf^^hL^.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ORGANIZED IN 1809.

had for his audience Governor William Henry Harrison
and one other person. There was but one candle to give
light and nothing to place it upon. To relieve the diffi-

OLD VINCENNES. i:!:^

cult J the Governor held the candle while the young
preacher read his hymn and text*. He was sent from here
to Mississippi District, Louisiana, the following year. He
became, in time, distinguished and a doctor of divinity.
Tradition gives a little episode in the life of the Reverend
Winans while here. It is stated that while the pow-wow
was in progress between Governor Harrison and Tecum-
seh, when the same had reached an acute stage, the Rev-
erend Winans stood in the front door of the Harrison man-
sion, -with a gun in hand, ready to go to the General's aid,
if attacked by the Indians. This shows that, while he was
a soldier of the cross, he was no less a soldier in the cause
of American liberty.

It is presumed that the church was organized in 1809,
the year preceding the advent of Reverend Winans, he
being the first supply pastor, as the next year, 1810, Vin-
cennes appears on the conference minutes as St. Vin-
cennes.

The first general conference of the church convened in
ISTew Albany in 18:3;3. The State has been divided into
eight conferences, Bloomington, Connersville, Evans-
ville, Indianapolis, ]\[oores Hill, iSTew Albany and Vin-
cennes. It has under its charge 321 ministers; 220 are
on the oifice list. The seventy-first session of the General
Conference was liokl va Vincennes September 16, 1902,
continuing (inc week, and having an attendance of 500
delegates.

Goodspeed, in his llistorv of Knox County, says the
.Methodist ( "hurcli was organized in ISO-j, by the Reverend
William Winans, which is an error, as the Reverend Wi-

'•' lu'liaiiM .MisccllMin-. liy Itcv. W. <_'. Smith, p. 'iJ.

]'M TriSTOKTCAL SKKTCTTES

nans, as seen ali<»ve, did not come to Vinccnnes circuit
nntil the latter part of 1810, where he remained a year and
was sent to Mississippi. lie was, while here, a licentiate,
only, and there is no recorded evidence of the time Avhen
an organization of the church took place. The presumption
is that the church was first organized in 1809, hut did not
hecome a station until 1829. In 1828 lot 132, on the
corner of Buntin and Third streets, was purchased, the
deed being made to David S. Bonner, Richard Posey and
Thomas Collins, and a house of worship was subsequently
l)uilt thereon. A more substantial building replaced the
first one on the same lot about 1854. In 1894 the lot on the
corner of Fourth and Perry streets was purchased with a
view of erecting a stone church on it, the corner stone of
which was laid April 17, 1899. The present building was
completed and occupied later in the same year, and is a
beautiful structure. The cost of the building and lot was
$25,000.

There has been about seventy pastors and junior preach-
ers connected with this church since it was established.
Those Avho have been promoted to the office of presiding
elder were : James Axley, Peter Cartwright, George Lock,
Aaron Wood, Daniel ]\lclntire, Hayden Hayes and John
Kyser, all of whom are now deceased ; and B. F. Rawlins,
William B. Zaring, William McKee Hester, M. M. Hobbs,
W. B. Collins, M. S. Heavenridge and the present popular
official, II. C. Clippinger. The Reverend T. H. Willis is
the present eloquent and efficient pastor. Total membership
is placed at 468. The spread of the church in the State
has been phenomenal.

OLD VINCENNE.S. 13:

EPISCOI'A]..

The Protestant Episcopal Church had a iiiission here
as early as 1823, served by the Reverend Henry M. Shaw.
For a time services were held in the unfinished University
building, which was fitted up for that purpose, under the
direction of Rector Shaw. Subsequently, after, that build-
ing passed into the hands of the Catholic Church, by per-
mission, through arrangements with the town authorities,
a room in the city hall was fitted up for church purposes
and used until St. James Church was erected and conse-
crated.

On the Ytli day of October, 1839, the communicants and
friends interested in the church met at the residence of Mr.
George Davis to consider the matter of organizing a parish.
The Reverend B. B. Killikelly, a missionary priest, was
present and presided. Those present organized a parish,
and named it St. James Church of Vincennes. George
Davis and James W. Greenhow were chosen wardens and a
vestry was elected. After the organization was completed
the Reverend B. B. Killikelly was chosen the first rector,
and accepted the charge, entering upon his duties at once.
In 1840 the oflicers purchased the lot on which their pres-
ent edifice now^ stands, on the southeast corner of Fourth
and Busseron streets, for $400. In 1841 a movement was
made to secure funds for the erection of a building, and
with that object in vieAv their rector, the Reverend Killi-
kelly, made a tour east, going as far as England, where he
received substantial donations for the church erection fund
— one of ten pounds, l)y Queen Adelaide, widow of Will-
iam IV ; and amonc: other distinguished subscribers was

136 rilSTOKICAL SKKTCITKS

Mr. GladstoiiG. On the return of the Reverend Killikelly
the erection of a chnreh building was commenced and
completed in the summer of 1S43, and dedicated on August
2nd in that same year by Bishop Kemper, missionary
bishop of the jSTorthwest. The Reverend Killikelly re-
signed about this time, and was succeeded by the Reverned
Foster Thayer, who in turn was succeeded by the Reverend
Killikelly again, who remained rector some years more.

The next rector, the Reverend A. Varrian, entered upon
liis j)astorate in 1850, and was succeeded by the following
rectors, in the order named : The Reverends F. Elweil, I).
E. Loveridge, John F. Esch, W. H. Carter, A. F. Free-
man, J. F. Gay, Thomas Austin, D. D., William Morrall,
Peter McFarland, A. A. Abbott (now Bishop of Cleve-
land), C. S. Sargent, G. Graham Adams, Edwin Johnson,
George Taylor Griffin and De Lou Burke, the latter being
the present rector. The church, as originally built, did not
include the tower, which was constructed in 1865. The
church roll, while never very large (there being now less
than sixty active members), in influence and standing
maintains a high position in the community, and seems
fairly prosperous. Several young men have been prepared
for the ministry within its sacred portals, and have gone
out into the world to preach the gospel of Christ with suc-
cess.

BAPTIST.

There may have been, and probably was, religious serv-
ices held here by the Baptist denomination at a very early
date, as that denomination had a missionary in the county,
the Reverend James McQuaid, who organized a church in

OLD YINCENXES. 137

Widiier township as early as 1809. ISTo record exists that
preaching- occurred prior to 1861, when the Reverend J. S.
Gillespie came here. He hekl a series of meetino-s in the
]\[ethodist Episcopal (.'hnrch. He returned again in 1862,
leaving a prosperous church at Greencastle to organize one
here, which was accomplished May 1, 1862, in the resi-
dence of Mrs. Woodman, composed of the following mem-
bers : Mrs. W. J. Heberd, JNIrs. David Buck, ]\[rs. William
Floro, Mrs. Eliza Wise, Miss Lou Duree, Mrs. L. Gillespie,
Miss Gillespie, Christian Ealler and the Reverend J. S.
Gillespie. They purchased a lot on the corner of Broad-
way and Sixth streets, and erected a house of worship about
1866 at a cost of $6,000, adding a bell and furnishings
complete in 1868. The Reverend Gillespie resigned in
1867, and was succeeded by the Reverend L. B. Robinson,
who was in turn succeeded by the following pastors in the
order named : The Reverends B. F. Cavens fin 1871), Dr.
Stinson (of Terre Haute), J. Brandenburg (in 1875),
J. H. Butler (1883), the Reverend Patterson, B. F.
Keith, William Thomas, Thomas Wolford and W. G. Law,
the present pastor, who entered upon his duties on January
1, 1901. The present enrollment of members is 234, and
the pastor reports the church well organized and as enjoy-
ing a good degree of prosperity.

CHRISTIAN.

So far as records show, the Christian Church (so desig-
nated to distinguish it from other Protestant branches of
the Christian Church Universal) w^as organized in Vin-
cennes not before the third Sunday in June, 1833. By

13S IITSTOETCAL SKKTCIIES

whom it was ovgaiiizcd is not positively known, ])nt
among the initial nienibers were llenry 1). Wheeler and
Avife, Samuel Piety and wife and Mrs. Harriet Jndali.
In tlie early years of the church the organization possessed
no house of worship and had no pastor, holding their serv-
ices in private residences, the city hall and the court house.
Accessions followed in due time, with substantial God-
fearing citizens, such as Doctor J. R. Mantell, Alplionso
Draper and others, when a building lot was secured on
Second street, between Buntin and Perry streets, and in
1846 a brick structure was commenced, but not completed
and dedicated until October, 1848. For many years the
church was without a regular pastor, the pulpit being sup-
plied occasionally by evangelists having other churches
in their charge for their support. The Reverend Alexander
Campbell, the founder of this branch of the Protestant
Church in the United States, once paid a visit to the Vin-
cennes church, and ministered to the flock with great ac-
ceptability. In 1865 this church called its first pastor, the
Reverend J. J. Holton, wdio was followed, in 1869, by
Elder W. H. Tiller, who was in turn succeeded by the
Reverend J. F. Clark. The latter ministered to his people
for twenty-one years — a deserving compliment to a devoted
and loving minister of Christ. He was followed by the
Reverend J. IST. Jessup, and he by G. M. Weimer. Then
came the present efficient and acceptable pastor, the Rever-
end William Oeschger, March 1, 1901.

The church has prospered, having now enrolled 500
members, and will soon erect a fine massive structure on the
corner of Broadway and Third streets.

OLD A^Nrn^XNKS. 130

«;!:k.\iax ruo ri;sTAN'P

The St. John's Evangelical and the vSt. John's Lutheran
Churches worshipped as one body in 1855, in a chnrch on
the corner of Eighth and Scott streets, and this union con-
tinued until 1859, when a division occurred, the Lutheran
branch purchasing the interest of the Evangelicals for the
sum <d" $400, and l)ccnniing the owners of the church edi-
fice.

LTTIIEKAX.

The St. John's Lutheran Church was served then by the
Reverend Peter Scnel, wdio was installed October 16, 1859.
He was succeeded by the following pastors, in the order
named: The Reverends J. D. F. Mayer, J. W. Mueller;
F. R. Forman, September 26, 1869 ; C. R. W. Huge, Sep-
tember 26, 1880; G. Goessw^ein, January 11, 1885; Carl
Kretzeman, September 12, 1897, the present efficient and
eloquent pastor wdio has for his assistant the Reverend
Martin Kretzeman, who was installed as such assistant Au-
gust 4, 1901.

The old church gave way to the present substantial and
commodious l)uilding in 1876.

A parochial day school and vSunday school are conducted
by the pastors. A parsonage is also erected on the half
square occupied by the church and school buildings. Total
voting membership of this church is eighty-two ; total mem-
bership, 370 ; total scholarships, ninety. The church has
prospered gTeatly and is harmonious.

140 TITSTOETCAL SKKTCTIES

ST. .lOlINS (JKU.MAX EVAN<;KLI(^\L.

This organization separated from tlio Lntheran 1)r;in('li
in Angust, 1859, and had for its pastor the Reverend C.
Hoffmeister. They built a frame church on the comer of
Fifth and Hart streets. In 1886 a commodious brick struc-
ture was erected on the corner of Fifth and Shelby streets.
This congregation has also more recently erected a par-
sonage and parochial school building. They have had as
pastors the following, in the order named : The Rev-
erends F. Durlitz, William Jung, IST. Burkhardt, Peter
Webber, Albert Schorey, O. J. Kuss, Frederick Reller,
Henry Mehl, and again Albert Schorey. The Reverend
Louis Hohmann is now pastor.

The present membership of the church is eighty-eight.
This church has prospered under its several pastors, and is
doing a good work in the interests of Christianity.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

This church was organized by the Reverend W. P.
Quinn, at what period no record exists to show. Samuel
Clark, Cornelius Sims, W. H. Stewart, James Brunswick,
and Henry Ryder were the initiatory members. The first
building erected was in the year 1839, on the comer of
Tenth and Buntin streets. This one was replaced by a brick
structure, 35x50, in 1875. The name of the present pastor
is the Reverend G. H. White.

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN.

This branch of the Presbyterian Church must have held
service in this county sixty years or more ago, as they or-
ganized a cliurch in Palmyra township aliout that time,

OLD VINCENNES. 141

yet no record is given by the pastor of the chnrch in Vin-
cennes that preaching ever occurrred here before the advent
of the Reverend Henry Clay Yates in 1890, when a church
was organized with a membership of twenty-one. The
chnrch bnikling was erected during the year 1890, and was
dedicated in the spring of 1891. The Reverend Yat^s was
its first pastor, continuing six years, when he was suc-
ceedcHJ by the Reverend F. A. Grant, who remained but
six months, being succeeded by the Reverend J. ]Sr. McDon-
ald. The latter was pastor for four years, being succeeded
by the Reverend J. B. Miller, present pastor, in 1901.

Total membership of Vincennes Church is 1Y5. Total
mend^ership in the State, 3,788. Total value of property,
$ls;>,300. Amount contributed for church purposes in
1900 was $17,370. The church seems fairly prosperous
under its energetic pastor,

IVXAI ISKAEL COXGUEiJATION.

This church was organized in 1807, aud for some years
held regular meetings under the lea(lershi]i of a Ral)l>i, but
owing to many removals of its members froui the city,
their synagogue and priest were given up. Its mend>ers
embraced some of the liest l)usiness men of the city. Its
trustees are Benjamin Kuhu, Myron Rindskoph and Vic-
tor Schonfield ; Secretary, Dan Oestricher.

Ete Chaim Lodge, ISTo. 205, I. O. B. B., was organized
1875. J. B. Kuhn, Pr., Dan Oestricher, Secretary.

Chapter VII.

BIO(;KArniE8--FUANCOLS MORGAN. SIEUR DE
VINt^ENNES.

MUCH has been written about the founder of Vin-
cennes, regarding his nationality, genealogy and
age, and the question may not yet be considered
settled ; but the presumption is that all is now known that
will ever be. From the best sources of information obtain-
able it may be stated that he was born in Canada (although
some say that he was a native of France), but at what time
is not positively known. It is recorded that he received an
ensign's commission in 1699. He is believed to be the son
of Louisa Bissot (the sister of Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sieur
de Vincennes), whose husband was Seraphim Morgane.
According to Duboison's narrative, page 9, the subject of
this sketch fought gallantly in defending the fort at De-
troit from a combined Indian attack, May, 1712. He was
subsequently sent West, and was at Mackinaw, and, accord-
ing tO' Law's History, he was engaged in some service on
the lakes toAvard St. Marie in 1725. "At what time he
took possession here is not exactly known ; probal)ly some-
where about the year 1732."

On the death of his uncle, Jean Baptiste Bissot, Sieur
de Vincennes, he assumed liis title of Sieur de Vincennes.
He worked his way west to the Posts Miamis and Ouiate-
non, after which he is known to have been at Kaskaskia,

-142-

OLD VmCENNES. 143

Octdher iio, IT-T, wIumh^ lie uikI Iannis St. Auge, his fel-
low-officer, attended the nuptials of two of the inhabitants.*

The next recorded history of his whereabouts is that of
his being at the Che-pe-ko-ke village in 1733. Law, p. 19,
says: "There are other documents there (Kaskaskia)
signed by him (Vincennes) as witness in 1733-1734,
among them (records) a receipt for one hundred pistoles,
received from his father-in-law on his marriage. From
all these proofs it is clearly evident that lie was here pre-
vious to 1733." That he was at the village previous to that
time is positive; for his letters recently published (1902)
by the Indiana Historical Society, dated ]\Iarch 7 and 21,
1733, Vincennes, show this. In his letter of March 21,
1733, he says, in answer to the inquiry as to his progress
at the post, "I have built a fort and erected two houses, but
need a guard-room and a barracks for lodging soldiers, and
thirty more soldiers and an officer, as it is not possible to
remain in this place with so few troops." It would seem
from this statement of Vincennes that what some writers
have said a1)out the Indians here receiving the priests and
French soldiers Avith open arms is entirely too rosy and
al)surd for credence. The savage Indian can no more
change his nature toward the white man than a leopard
can change his spots. He stated further that he was '"em-
barrassed by the war with the Chickasaws, who have been
here twice this spring."

He continued here as connnandant until 173G, when
his superior officer. Major de Artagette, ordered him to
join his forces in a eam])aign Avar against the Chickasaw
Nation in Louisiana. This wing of the anuy was to bo

'■'.Mason, " Kaska.-^kia audita I'aiish Rcconls," in Aiiieriiau History. \nl
VI, |). 175.

14i HISTORICAL SKETCHES

joined with one from New Orleans by agreement, but,
owing to some blunder or unavoidable cause, a junction
was not formed of the two bodies, and Major Artagette's
force alone attacked the Chickasaws, and, after a bloody,
]5rolonged battle, the French forces were defeated, and
Artagette, Vincennes, the Jesuit Father, and many soldiers
were captured and burned at the stake.

In relation to his death Charlevoix said : "We have just
received very bad news from Louisiana and our war w'ith
the Chickasaws. The French have been defeated. Among
the slain is JMonsieur de Vincennes, who ceased not until
his latest breath to exhort the men to behave worthy of
their religion and their country."

Thus ignobly perished the hero-patriot and founder of
our city. He Avell deserves a beautiful monument from his
countrymen, whose shaft should perpetuate his noble and
valiant deeds of patriotism.

Vincennes! Thy name will live in story,
Wliilst others, writ on brass and stone,

Will lose, in passing time, a glory

Tliat round them once in brightness shown.

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

The subject of this sketch, being the prime factor in
the capture of Vincennes in the cause of American lib-
erty, occupies an important position in the annals of the old
town, which would be incomplete without the mention of
his nolde life, character and eminent services — a life full
of startling incidents and stirring events, which impressed
themselves indelibly upon the early history of the great
West, although only a brief notice of them can be recorded
here.

OLD VINCENNES.

145

George Rogers Clark, who has been called the ''Han-
nibal of the West," was born in Albemarle County, Vir-
ginia, on the 19th day of Xovember, 1752, within one and
one-half miles of Monticello, the celebrated resting place
of President Thomas Jefferson. He was of Scotch-English
descent, his mother being a lineal descendant of the cele-
brated John Rogers,
who was burned at the
stake for his inflexi-
ble religious opinions.
Some members of the
family, like himself,
have been notable
characters; one of his
brothers, W i 1 1 i a m .
having been asso-
ciated with Mr. Lewis
in the celebrated ex-
pedition of Lewis and
Clark to the Pacific
Ocean. George did not
receive a classical edu-
cation, his tastes be-
ing inclined to mathe-
matics and surveying,

although he was under the tutelage of a noted educator,
Daniel Robertson, and had for a time as a classmate James
Madison, who afterward became President. When l)nt
nineteen years of age Clark started West with a surveying
party, and was at Steubenville, 0., in 1770, and also in
Kentuckv. He soon returned to Virginia, but was back

GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK.

[10]

146 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

and forth for the next few years ; and, when there was an
Indian ontbreak_, he joined a company in Ohio to oppose
the hostiles. In 1775 he was engaged in snrv eying in Ken-
tncky, and located some lands near Frankfort. Bnt he
was also about Ilarrodsbnrg and other places, familiarizing
himself Avith the country and the settlers. In 177G he went
to Virginia and settled up his business with a view of
making Kentucky his home, and induced his parents to
emigTate thither. About this time he developed into a poli-
tician, as well as a military expert, and, finding the people
of the settlements unorganized, he impressed upon them
the need of union of action, and the importance of sending
delegates to the Legislature of Virginia. At his instance
two delegates, himself and Gabriel Jones, were sent, who
were to impress upon the parent State the duty of caring
for and helping the far-away colony. When they presented
themselves at Williamsburg, the capital, the Legislature
had adjourned, and the State officers could not la^vfully
make any advances to buy materials of warfare for the pro-
tection of the settlements. Jones returned, but Clark re-
mained, and ])lea(k'd so successfully witli tlic Governor,
Patrick Henry, that the latter issued an order for tive hun-
dred pounds of powder, to be delivered at Pittsburgh sub-
ject to Clark's order. He wrote to the settlers at Harrods-
burg to send for it, but the letter was lost, and later in
the year he found the powder still at Pittsburgh. He had
remained to meet with the Legislaure at its next session,
and Jones, returning to act with him, they were then recog-
nized as delegates. Learning that the powder had not yet
been sent for, they took the river route home, and, having
secured some boatmen, they sailed down the river and

OLD VINCENNES. 147

laiided at a point near where Maysville, Kv., is located,
and there hid the powder, finding' that they did not have
enough force to transfer it to Ilarrodshurg. On their re-
turn home a company was sent for the powder, and suc-
ceeded in delivering it at its destination. Clark had so
endeared himself to the settlers that he was looked up to as
their leader, and he proceeded to organize them, thus form-
ing- the foundation for the great connnonwealth of Ken-
tucky. Having formed the male portion of the little com-
munity into a militia, he equipped them with material for
defensive warfare, and his ambition then went out in a
desire to take the offensive against the English, who held
certain points, and gave encouragement io Indian out-
hreaks. He, as a preliminary, sent out two spies to visit
Ivaskaskia and Vincennes posts, and to learn their strength
and the temper of the French people living at these places.
'J'he messengers returned with encouraging news, hut, as
he had no aiithority to make an aggressive move, nor the
means to sustain him if he did, he determined to lay his
scheme hefore the Assembly, and, accordingly, returned
to Virginia. He presented his plans to Governor Henry,
who, being favorably impressed with them, called in coun-
sel Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe and George Mason,
to consider the matter. This eminent triumvirate, in coun-
cil with the great Governor Henry and the dashing young
luM'o of the West, Clark, proved themselves worthy of the
task of evolving the magnifieent scheme that bronght to
\'irginia's door the gift of th(> N'orthwest Territory. The
counselors readily adopted ( lark's plans, and he was
supplied with £1,S50 and authorized to raise seven com-
panies of lifty men each t(v further the scheme, trust-

148 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

ing to the Legislature to legalize their action. The Gov-
ernor issued two sets of instructions to Clark for his
guidance, one of a secret nature and the other for the pub-
lic* The one for the public merely authorized Clark to
raise seven companies of militia in any county of the
State and proceed to Kentucky, they to be under the
orders of Clark. The secret order was to advance on Kas-
kaskia or Vincennes, and set forth in detail as to pro-
cedure and advice as to his actions with any conquered
enemies and friends joining the American cause. Gather-
ing his troops together at the Falls of the Ohio, he consoli-
dated them at "Corn Island, "f which he fortified. Having
supplied himself with boats for descending the river, the
day before his departure he, for the first time, informed
his troops of their destination. Captain Dillard's com-
pany at once mutinied, and about tliirty of them escaped
that night to the Kentucky shore. Clark sent troopers
after them, with instructions to capture or kill the desert-
ers. Only ten were returned to the fort ; the others
reached Harrodsburg after enduring hardship^: and suffer-
ing. The news of their desertion having preceded them,
they were denied admittance to the fort for some time.
The troops had been promised l)y the Governor, Jefferson,
Wythe and Mason that if they were successful they would
be given 320 acres each of land in addition to their salaries.
This promise was faithfully kept, and 149,000 acres of
land were set apart for these soldiers and officers. These
lands were located in Clark, Kloyd and Scott counties, and
were known as "Clark's Grant." All things being in readi-

■•■■ For the plans of Clark to succeed, perfect secrecy was necessary, and hence
the matter was not placed before the legislature.

t So called because it is said that corn was first raised there in Kentucky.

OLD VINCENNES. 119

ness, on the 24tli clay of June, 1778, the boats ladened
witli cargo and 175 troops started. Clark says: "We left
our little island and ran about a mile up the river in order
to srain the main channel, and shot the falls at the verv mo-
ment of the sun being in a great eclipse." This circum-
stance was calculated to add solemnity to the occasion, and
awe and forebodings to the superstitious. He had first con-
templated an attack upon Vincennes, but, learning it was
well garrisoned, he steered down the river, with Kaskaskia
i-.o his objective point, and, after a four days' run, he landed
on a small island at the muutli of the Tennessee river.
While resting there they captured a boat containing six
hunters who had left Kaskaskia eight days before, and
who gave much iuformation and expressed a desire to join
Clark's force, which offer was accepted, after a consulta-
tion. Hiding tlieir boats up a creek, the next morning
they started for a hundrod-aud-twenty-mile tramp through
the wilderness, prairie and swamps. On the third day of
their journey one of the new accessions, a man named San-
ders, who essayed to guide them, got bewildered and got off
the right course, and the suspicion was at once formed that
he was playing traitor. ( "hirk gave hiui one hour to find
the road or be shot as an alternative. After circling about
some time, he succeeded in findiug the road, and then all
went well. The man proved to be a true patriot and was
of much value to the army. On the itli day of July the
army got within three miles of Kaskaskia, and, after night-
fall, they marched up the Kaskaskia River one mile to a
farm house, taking the family prisoners, who informed
Clark that the garrison was not expecting an attack, and
no sentries were out. Finding plenty of boats, the soldiers

150 HIvSTORICAL SKETCHES

soon crossed the river in silence. Clark says: "I dividcMl
my little anny into two divisions and ordered one to snr-
round the town. With the other I broke into the fort, se-
cured the Governor, Mr. Rochblave, in fifteen minutes,
and had every street secured ; sent runners through the
town, ordering the people, on pain of death, to keep close
to their houses, which order they observed, and before day-
light had the whole town disarmed."* Thus ended the
splendid, though hazardous, campaign of Clark's little
army, which was but the earnest of the more brilliant
achievement that was to culminate in the overthrow of
the British army in the ]S[(>rtliwest Territory, and give to
Virginia a small empire, in tlie capture of Vincennes,
seven months later.

Up to this time Kaskaskia was the ]S[ew France, and was,
to the French in America, what Paris was to France. In
1721 the Jesuits erected a monastery and college there,
and it was the center of gayety, and fashion, and liappiness.
"For many years," Governor Keynolds of Illinois, in liis
history, says, ''Kaskaskia was the largest town west of
the Allegliany mountains, and was a tolerable one before
the existence of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati or 'New Orleans,"
and was the capital of Illinois during its territorial exist-
ence, after its capture by the Americans."

"It is marvelous that the town, being so well fortified,"
says Major Bowman, "and able to have fought successfully
a thousand men, should be so easily captured by less than
two hundred half -starved and foot-sore soldiers." The gar-
rison on that night must have given themselves over to
revelry, as they were taken wholly unawares, which con-

■■' Clark's letter tu Mason.

OLD VINCEN-NES. l-H

dition of affairs, through hick and l>oklness, OLirk happily
took advantage of. Having been taught by the British
that the Americans killed all j)risoners, the people were in
despair, and offered tO' become slaves to their captors if
theii lives and those of their families would only be spared.
To meet the exigency and to disabuse their minds, Clark
ordered the assendiling of all the principal men of the town
who were lamenting their misfortune, and explained to
them the object of their mission, and that it was not to
enslave them, l)ut to win their zeal and attacliment to the
cause of the Americans, and that they could enjoy their
pro]ierty and be protected in their liberty if they gave their
allegiance to America. "jSTo sooner had they heard this than
the}' fell into transports of joy that surprised me," says
Clark, "and they told me that they had alwaj's been kept in
the dark as to the dispute between America and Great
Britain, and had been prejudiced against the Americans;
that they were now persuaded that they ought to, and did
that night, espouse their cause, to the number of 1U5, by
taking the oath of allegiance to the States." Before starting
on his campaign to Yincennes Clark captured Cahokia.
His advance on Yincennes and its capture by him are nar-
rated fully in another chapter of this work.*

Immediately after the capture of Yincennes, General
Clark conceived the desire to advance on Detroit, and the
gi'eat importance of such a move caused him to at once
commence preparing for it, but there were so many ob-
stacles in the way that the scheme was finally abandoned.
His troops were worn out, money became depreciated, the
failure of promised additions to his army and a strengthen-

- 8ee Chapters III and IV.

152 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

ing of Detroit's defenses, all tended toward au abandon-
ment of the project. On Augnst 5, 1779, lie issned an
order establishing his headquarters at the Falls of the Ohio,
and soon moved the garrison there to the mainland, on the
Kentucky side, and drew a plan for the town of Louisville,
then took up his quarters there.

The Indians having made frequent raids from Ohio into
Kentucky settlements, Clark got together about 1,000 men
and moved to the mouth of the Licking river and started
for an Indian town, Chillicothe. The Indians having been
apprised of his coming, fled and Clark destroyed the town
and crops and moved on to Piqua, where he fought a battle,
defeating the Indians, when he burned their huts, de-
stroyed their crops and retreated, having taught the sav-
ages a lesson. He soon afterwards went to Virginia to
advocate an attack on Detroit. Whilelie was there Benedict
Arnold made a raid into Virginia, but was compelled to
retreat by Clark, at the head of a company, with a loss of
seventeen. He was a Brigadier-General of the State
troops, but he did not like it because the State officers did
not have equal rank with those of the Federation. His com-
plaint was of no avail, and he was compelled to remain
under State orders. He a'gain made an appeal to Wash-
ington for aid to carry out his plans against Detroit, Init,
owing to the stress of money matters and the dearth of
troops, the President could lend no aid, but joined Gov-
ernor Jefferson in approval of the plan. The Governor
was anxious for Clark to make the trial and issued orders
for troops and supplies, but, instead of 2,000 men, only
400 reported at Pittsburgh. He started down the river
with these, hoping that some others would follow ; one com-

OLD VINCENNES. 153

pany did, but was ambuscaded aud destroyed. This disaster
had such a discouragiug eft'ect upou both Clark aud his
troops that the advance was abandoned. After returning'
to the Falls he had some gunboats made at his own expense
for the purpose of plying the waters between that place and
Cincinnati, which materially aided in preventing Indian
raids both on land and on water. The Miamis still con-
tinuing to cross into Kentucky, he headed another army
and marched on their settlements at Chillicothe and Piqua,
in Xovember, killing many savages, burning their houses
and destroying their crops, leaving their women and chil-
dren unsheltered, with winter coming on and nothing to
eat. The demoralizi^ig eft'ect of the loss of their property
resulted in keeping the Indians on the north side of the
Ohio river. A cessation of hostilities occurred between the
Colonies and England, September 3, 1783, and Congress
ratified the treaty of peace on January 1-1. 1784. On
March 1, 1784, Congress accepted the gift of the Territory
from Virginia, and Clark, seeing no future for him, as he
was a State officer, sent in his resignation and he was re-
leased from his comnuind. After Virginia had ceased to
care for the Xorthwest Territory iind the United States
becoming neglectful of their interests iu their new pos-
sessions, tilings began to be badly managed, mostly on ac-
count of the nonpayment of troops and failure to provide
them with sufficient provisions and the existence of worth-
less scrip, which the people had at first taken at par and
which fell to 1,000 per cent, discount. The murmurs of
discontent became so loud that there existed great danger
of the loss of the prestige gained by Clark only a few years
before. The people petitioned the Kentuckians for the

154 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

return of Clark, and in 1786, by authority of the Ken-
tucky Council, assembled at Danville, and under sanction
of Governor Henry, (Jlark congregated his troops at the
falls and started for the Wabash region. Upon his arrival
at Vincennes he was hampered by the nonarrival of stores,
which had been spoiled and delayed by river transporta-
tion. Finally he marched up as far as Ouiatenon. The
Indians had retreated. About this time mutiny was rife
in the camp; pleadings by Clark, even to tears, availed
notliing, and several hundred deserted. Desertions and
lack of provisions caused him to return to Vincennes, when
he detailed 130 men for the garrison. This act, although
sanctioned by a council of officers, for the protection of the
local and general interests of the country, was misjudged
and criticised by his enemies, and when he returned to
Kentucky he was relieved of all autliority. About this
time the United States Government assumed command and
garrisoned Vincennes, by sending Major Hamtranck with
a company of soldiers here.

General Clark being relieved of militarj^ autliority,
unfortunately for his reputation, accepted a Major-Gen-
eralshij^ in the French service against Spain. That country
held possession of the Mississippi river to the great detri-
ment of the American trade, and Clark thought it would be
a great benefit to the States if he could break the power of
Spain by the capture of l^ew Orleans, and made a propo-
sition to raise 2,000 men to accomplish this. His enemies
immediately reported this item to the Washington Govern-
ment and steps were taken to stop the contemplated raid
against a friendly ( ?) government. Clark, finding his mo-
tives being misconstrued and obstacles placed in his "way,

OLD VINCENNES. 155

abandoned the enterprise and permanently retired to civic
pnrsnits in Indiana, and settled at (Jlarksville, a town laid
oil' where Jeffersonville now stands, on a thousand-acre
tract resei-ved from the ""Clark Grant" for that purpose by
the United States Government. Here he lived in quiet re-
tirement and finally became paralyzed in 1809 ; and one
day, being alone, he fell into an open fireplace, when one
of his limbs was frightfully burned before assistance
came. After this accident he was removed to the residence
of his lirother-in-law, Major William Croghan, near Louis-
ville, Ky., where he remained during the balance of his
life. He never married. In 1812 Virginia voted him a
sword and a pension of $400 per annum. He died Feb-
ruary 13, 1818, and was buried at Locust Grove, a private
burial ground at the country seat of his brother-in-law,
Major Croghan, situated a few miles above the city of
Louisville, Ky. The court in Louisville adjourned upon
hearing of his death, and the l)ar appointed Honorable
John Rowan to deliver an eulogy upon his life and services,
and passed resolutions of condolence and resolved that the
members should wear crepe for thirty days as a token of
respect for the departed. Thus ended the eventful and
grand career of one of the most remarkable characters in
American history ; one who deserved more and received
less than any public man, measured l)y the results obtained
through his patriotism, energy, foresight and skill. Had
he received the encouragement and aid to enable him to
have consummated his advance on Detroit, as proposed and
urged by him, especially soon after the capture of Vin-
cennes, the mainstay of English influence would have been
stricken down, which w'as the feeder and energizer of the

REVEREND PIERRE GIBAULT.

OLD VINCENNES. 157

Indians, and tliousands of lives wonld have been spared,
millions of money saved, and Canada swallowed np by
the Union, and English prestige forever driven from the
Western Continent. The debt of gratitude and honor that
is yet due him by America has still to be paid, and his
memory fittingly embalmed on the roll of honor as one de-
serving immortal fame. To George Eogers Clark, next to
George Washington, the father of his country, is due the
iireatness of the Union.

REVEREND PIERRE GIBAULT.

In the history of Nations we find generally that heroic
deeds of valor are awarded to military actors in the great
drama of life, as it passes in review before the gaze of the
people, but civic actors have achieved victories no less
worthy of renown gained in quieter ways than amid the
din of battle, through life's duties well performed.

The subject of this brief sketch. Reverend Pierre
Gibault, was born in April, IToT, in the Dominion of
Canada, and was educated for the priesthood, and in early
manhood evinced a desire to give his services to the church
in the western wilds, as a missionary to the pioneers and
Indians, who were mthout the light of the Gospel which
leads to higher life and civilization. As soon as he was
ordained, in 1768, he started for the West along the Can-
adian border to his objective point, Kaskaskia, where he
arrived the latter part of the year, and it is said that he
dedicated the first church erected in the city of St. Louis,
in 1769. His mission was to the "Illinois Country" and
hence his labors were confined not alone to Kaskaskia. In

158 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

the year 17Y0 he visited the village of Vincemies. He was
no ordinary man, and wherever liis mission took him he
very soon, by his intuition of human character, affability,
simplicity and sweetness of manners, gained the confidence
of the settlers and Indians. During his first visit to Vin-
cennes he was received with the utmost cordiality and he
soon became a favorite with all classes. In March he re-
turned to Kaskaskia, his usual place of residence, but for
several years he continued to pay occasional visits to the
''Post." He was for a time the only priest in Indiana.
His zeal and energy were wonderful, liis labors almost sur-
passing belief.* We find from the records of the church'
that, in July, 1778, he was at Vincennes (having been won
over to the American cause at Kaskaskia by Colonel
Clark), exerting liimself successfully in inducing the
Frencli inhabitants to dcchire in favor of the United States
against Great Britain. At this time he had gone to Vin-
cennes at the instance of Colonel George Rogers Clark,
in company with Doctor LaFonte as civil magistrate, (^ap-
tain Jjconard Helm representing the military of Virginia,
ami Moses Henry, interpreter and envoy to the Indians.
At Ixeverend Gibault's request a meeting was called at the
church — the English conmiandant. Governor Abbot, hav-
ing gone to Detroit and left the garrison of French militia
under St. Maria Racine — and. througli the Reverend
Father's persuasive eloquence, the inhal)itants took the
oath of allegiance to the American cause and the garrison
and fort were delivered over to C^aptain Helm. Tlius it
was that the first capture of "Fort Sackville" (and the
village of Vincennes) was without bloodshed, and wholly

■■' Law's Hist. Viiueiuic?, p. IK).

OLD VINCENNES. 159

tliroiigli the instTunientality of tlie patriot priest-ally, that
hero of astute diplomacy — Pierre (libault. Clark, not
having troops to maintain the advantage gained, and being
rendered thereby incapable of garnering the fruits of this
glorious victoi*y of Father Gibault, the village and fort
were soon retaken by the Englisli commander, Governor
Ileniy Hamilton. But the seed of liberty had been sown
and had taken deep root, and as soon as opportunity under
the protection of Clark's little army offered, the plant sent
forth its flowers in perpetual bloom, to bless the people
in all time with their fragrance. The influence of Father
Giliault's labors were more than local and his name should
be cherished by American citizens with an ardor fully
equal to that displayed for LaFayette or Rochambeau, for
the lieneficent results following Gil)aidt's patriotic zeal,
his tenacious fidelity to the American cause of liberty, will
give measure for measure with those great French Gen-
erals.

Following the capture of Vincennes Keverend Gibault
became pastor of St. Xavier's church liere in 17S5 and
remained until 1789.

''In 1788 Father Gil)ault had ah'eady requested the
l)ish()]) (if (Quebec to recall him from Vincennes, where, at
that time, he had taken up his residence. When his peti-
tion, addressed to Governor St. Clair, for a piece of land in
Cahokia was granted, or seems to have been granted,
Bislio]) Carroll immediately ])rotest(Ml against this attciu])!
to alienate church pro})erty to an individual clergyman."
'Apparently, in consequence,'' says Shea, 'the Keverend
Gibault left the diocese of Baltimore and retired to the

■■- ];i.'ttfr (>r F.iihrr S<-liiniilf. Oi''ulier ir., l.S<.):>, Eiirlibli CiMiucst of Noitliucst,
p. 1S8.

160 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Spanish Territory beyond the Mississippi.' " He finally
settled in ]^ew Madrid, Mo., where he died early in 1804.
Of Father Pierre Gibault it may well be said :

For duties well performed, on earth,

In measure full lie gained renown;
Wliicli, but in feeble type, presaged

For him. Heaven's glorious crown.

FRANCIS VIGO.

Colonel Francis Vigo was one of the notable and dis-
tinguished citizens of the old town the last quarter of the
eighteenth and the first third of the nineteenth centuries,
and his name should ^er be held in grateful remembrance
by the country at large. He is spoken of by some writers
as of Spanish birth, but others contend that he was a native
of Sardinia,* but went into Spain's military service at a
very early age ; but finally he left the army and drifted
into the trade of furs and hides and general merchandis-
ing after coming to America. From JSTew Orleans he came
to St. Louis about the year 1775. As a trader he became
well and favorably known among the Indians and the
French inhabitants of all adjacent settlements, and by his
friendly demeanor and just treatment of the Indians in
his intercourse with them, they became attached to him
and trusted liim implicitly. Being asked once by an old
citizen whence his great influence with the Indians, he
replied: ''Because I never deceive an Indian." After
Colonel Clark had captured Kaskaskia and through strat-
egy had gained possession of Post Vincennes, and Colonel

•■■ It i- more iirobablc that he wns of Spanish birth, nnd caiiio from the city of
Vigo, situnteJ on the bay of Vigo, in the south of Si>ain.

OLD VINCENNES.

161

Hamilton had retaken it, thus making Clark's position at
Ivaskaskia precarious, if not untenable, with his small
army, the expirations of many of the enlistments of his
troops occurring at this time, Clark determined to make a
bold strike at Hamilton's position. Before doing this, how-
ever, it was important to learn, through spies, the situation
at the Post. In his dilem-
ma, it is related by some
writers, Colonel Clark
made Colonel Vigo, his
diplomat and agent, go to
Vincennes and ascertain
the strength of Lieutenant-
Governor Hamilton, the
quality of the defenses, and
the feeling of the French
citizens, before determining
the next step in his cam-
paign. And it is said that
Vigo was captured while
on that duty, at the mouth
of the Embarrass river,
eight miles below Vin-
cennes, but subsequently re-
leased by Hamilton, through the intluence of citizens, noth-
ing incriminating having been found upon him indicating
tb.at ho was a spy. The condition of his release was that he
was to return directly to his home in St. Louis, which was
then a possession of Spain. Ii is said that he adhered to
his promise, but inmiediately after his arrival he delayed
no longer than was necessary to get a relay, before pro-

[ii]

COLONEL FRANCIS VIGO.

162 HISTOEICAL SKKTC'HES

ceediiig to communicate with Clark at Kaskaskia. That
he was the medium of the information to Clark there is no
doubt, because the latter alludes to the arrival of Colonel
Vigo from Vincennes, bringing the information desired ;
whether Vigo was in possession of this infonnation for
Clark as special envoy or not is not positively known.

Following in the wake of the capture of Hamilton's
forces, Colonel Vigo appears on the scene as Colonel
Clark's friend and helper in times of need. He cashed
Clark's vouchers for necessary expenses of the army, as the
latter had failed to receive funds from Virginia to pa}' the
soldiers, or for his commissary supplies for the army.
Colonel Vigo, having accumulated much wealth by trad-
ing, he dealt it out with a liberal hand to .sustain the credit
of the Virginia forces and keep that State's credit at par.
And yet, to the shame of that State and this United States
Government, which became in a few years afterwards the
beneficiary of the whole Northwest Territory, Colonel Vigo
died a poor man, not having received a cent's remuneration
from either Government for his lavish advances of
many thousands of dollars, through his generous and patri-
otic impulses in behalf of the American cause. Petitions to
Congress for his reimbursement proved futile for many
years; he died March 22, 1836, before the scales of justice
had assumed an equilibrium. Colonel Vigo married a
Miss Elizabeth Shannon, who was born in Vincennes,
March 23, 1770, but she died in early life. So when he
died, having no relatives, he left his claim against thj
Government to his nephews, Arehiliald 13. McKee and Vigo
McKee, children of Sarah Shannon, who married Dr.
Samuel McKee, Surgeon United States Army at this

OLD VINCENNES. WS

Post, and perhaps to Captain R. Buntin's family, as they
were connected through Mary Shannon, wife of the Cap-
tain. Those interested continncd to prosecute the chiim,
until it was iinally referred to a court of claims, which gave
judgment in 1875 for $8,616 principal, and interest to the
amount of $41,282.60, making a total of $49,898.60.

During Colonel Vigo's prosperity, in the closing days of
the eighteenth century, he built a most elegant residence
in the town. It stood on a lot near, or on the site of the
present Odd Fellows' hall. It was surrounded by a veran-
da painted white, its blinds the purest tint of green. Its
large parlors with their high ceilings, imported mantels,
its floors inlaid with diamond-shaped pieces of black wal-
nut and white oak, highly polished, made it a marvel of
beauty in those days. It was this beautiful parlor that
Governor William Henry Harrison occupied as his first
residence upon his arrival in January, 1801, at the invi-
tation of Colonel Vigo, it having been just completed; and
the Governor, not finding a suitable house for a residence,
accepting the invitation. Colonel Vigo filled the otfice of
Colonel in the 1st Reg'iment in the Territorial militia
in the early part of the last century ; he resigned May 5,
1810. In 1805, February 16th, he was granted a license to
keep a ferry from his land on the northwest side of tha
Wabash river and opposite to the town of Vincennes across
said river." Some writers have doubted that Colonel Vigo
ever resided in Vincennes. Nothing is more susceptible of
proof than that he was a resident here for (piite fifty years.
ITc^ o\vne(l, in addition to his town property (he was pos-
sessed of considerable property adjoining town), a farm

"'■■Executive Journal of the Territory, i>. 12(5.

IC-i

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

three miles southeast of the town, the residence of his
nephew, the late A. B. McKee, where he resided many
years. But, before the close of his life, he resided in town,
and died in a frame building on Main street, between
Fourth and Fifth streets, adjoining the old W. J. Heberd
house, a few doors west of the Bishop block, attended by his
faithful friend, who had been his ward in early days,
'^Aunt" Betsy La Plante. To this fact the writer has had
oral testimony of living witnesses, on the 8th day of May.
1902, to wit: Mr. Eibridge Gardner, undertaker; Mr.
Vital Bouchie and Mrs. Elizabeth Andre — the latter being
now about ninety-three years of age. Colonel Vigo was
Inu'ied in the city cemetery, where the grave is marked by
a simple slab of sandstone, with the inscription :

COLONEL FRANCIS VIGO.

DIED 22ND DAY MARCH 1835*
AGED 96.

lie was probably a CJatholic in his youth, but according
to Z. T. Emerson, in the History of Knox County, p. 70,
he did not die in that faith, although a trustee of St.
Francis Xavier church from 1818 to 1821. lie was loved
and honored by his felloAV-citizens, as few men have been.
The city honored him by naming one of her principal

•■' Note.— The dare of 1835 is an error; it was really 1836, as the record of the
undertakers, Andrew Gardner & Son, .shows. The junior member of thi? firm,
Mr. Eldridgre Gardner, who is yet living;, remembers all the eircumstanres con-
neeted with the death and burial. Mrs. Doo'or W. W. Hitt,just across the street,
being buried the same day, and the inscription on her grave's shaft bears the date
of Marjh 22, 1836. Colonel Vigo was born about 1740, and calculating from this'
he would have been ninety-six years old at the time of his death.

OLD VINCP^NNKS. 165

streets after liiiii, and the eoiintv has named one; of her
townships in honor of him to perpetuate liis memory. The
Vincennes University has the only oil painting of this hero
and patriot; and it is the writer's recollection that one of
the first notes of the old State Bank of Indiana, chartered
in 1836, had upon it a vignette likeness of him. I think
he presented the bill either to the Vincennes Antiquarian
Society or to the University. In the lapse of time it has
been lost, l)nt may turn up some day as a valued relic in a
coming age. When Indiana Territory became a State it
named one of the principal northern counties in his honor;
and to show his appreciation of the compliment, a stipula-
tion was embodied in his will that a sufficient sum required
to purchase a bell for the court house should be paid to
Vigo county. This stipulation was complied witli and the
bell provided thereunder is still in use on tlie court liouse
at Terre Haute, to call the solons of justice to render jus-
tice that was denied its giver during life by his Govern-
ment.

!N"o more fitting epitaph need be placed over the tomb of
Colonel Francis Vigo than the eulogy passed on his life
and character by General St. Clair, Governor of the
Xorthwest Territory, in his report to the Secretary of
War, in 1Y90, in which he said:

''To Mr. Vigo, a gentleman of Vincennes, the United
States are much indebted, and he is, in truth, the most
distinguished person I have almost ever seen."

Brave patriot, noble, good and wise!

Let all who view thy lonely tomb,
Remember that beneatli there lies

One worthy spring's perpetual bloom.

KWi IIIS^roiMCAT. SKKTCITKS

KltANCIS TUISSKKON. THE FOSTWIl FATHER OF ATJTE
OF OLD VI N( 'EN NFS.

Another notable personage who figured most creditably
in the early days of Vincennes, was Francis Busseron.
He it was who joined Father Gil)ault in winning over the
French people to the American canse, upon the advent of
Captain Leonard Helm, Colonel Clark's commissioner to
Vincennes on August Q, 1778. When Father Gibault re-
turned to Kaskaskia and informed Colonel Clark of the
interest and loyalty M. Busseron had displayed in winning
over the French from the English, he sent him a commis-
sion as Captain, made him district commandant and au-
thorized him to raise a company of militia to aid the
Americans. When Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of the
Territory in 1790, made inquiry of the citizens and act-
ing authorities by what right they had been disposing of
the public domain. Captain F. Busseron was chosen at the
head of a committee appointed by the citizens, to formulate
an answer, which showed tliat he was considered one of the
leading men of the town. It was Captain Busseron who
gave shelter to Mary Shannon, whose father it is said had
been murdered by the Indians, and who had sought him as
a friend of her father. He became her foster father and
raised her to womanhood, when she was united in marriage
to Captain Bobert Buntin, a leading citizen. She is the
character, now celebrated as "iVlice of Old Vincennes,"
to whom Maurice Thompson gave the honor of raising the
American flag over Sackville upon its capture by Colonel
Clark. The anachronism is excusable in the author, as he
must have a heroine for the dramatic scene of the sur-

01. 1) VINCENNKS. 167

roiulci'. Had she Ix'cii Ixini ;i little cnrlicr tlinu Mav 1,
1777, the event might have been historically correct in all
particulars, since Captain Bnsseron was the officer of the
town and a captain of the militia, as the reputed foster
father, Gaspard Roussilon, appeared to have been. His-
tory furnishes evidences that the old citizens honored Cap-
tain Busseron and the succeeding generations have perpetu-
ated his memory by naming one of the principal streets of
the city after him, and tht^ county its most northern town-
ship in his honor. And many of his descendants have oc-
cupied honorable positions, one of whom is Judge Charles
Busseron Lasselle, of Logansport, Ind., now an octoge-
narian. General Hyacinth Lasselle, who was a resident of
Vincennes early in the beginning of the nineteenth cen-
tury, built the Lasselle Llotel, that stood on the corner of
Perry and Second streets, where Bierhaus Brothers' large
new building now stands. This hotel was built in 1812,
contained tifteen rooms, and was noted as the official "head-
quarters" of Gen. Thomas Posey, who succeeded Harrison
in 1813. The building was Imrned October 23, 1871.

Chapter VIII.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES CONTINUED— GENERA T>
WILLI A:M henry HARRISON.

THE niuth President of the United States was Will-
iam Henry Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison,
an opnlent and distinguished citizen of Berkley,
Va., and a close friend of President Washington, and was
horn Fehrnary 9, 1773. His father was a memher of the
Continental Congress and was svibsequently Governor of
Virginia. Young Harrison had all the educational ad-
vantages Hampden Sidney college could impart, and
his mind was not slow^ to reap the wealth of knowledge.
After concluding his collegiate course he became a pupil
of the celebrated Doctor Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia,
with the intention of becoming a physician. But his pa-
triotic and adventurous disposition caused him to throw
down the scalj^el and medicines and seek a position in the
army, when he received the office of Ensign from Washing-
ton. He reported to the commander at Fort Washington
and the first duty assigned him was the care of a pack-train
bound for Fort Hamilton, on the Miami river, forty miles
from Fort Washington.

Although but a youth, and rather delicate in appearance,
he performed his duty like a veteran, instilling into his
subordinates the value of temperance, which would enable
them to bear hardships they othei"wise could not. He was
soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and joined the

-1G8-

OLD X'lNCENNKS.

109

army placed under the eonnnand of General Wayne, who
was appointed to reclaim the region lost by General Arthur
St. Clair.

On the Maumee river the Indians were encountered in
large numbers, estimated at 2,000, and the battle ensuing
was long and bloody, but they were so badly defeated that
they pleaded for peace. Here Harrison's service was so
valuable and conspic-
uous he was promoted
to the rank of Captain
and given command at
Fort Washington.

The British posts in
the jN'orthwest about
this time were surren-
dered and he was oc-
cupied in supplying
them. While thus en-
gaged he married a
Miss Symes, a daugh-
ter of John Cleaves
Symes, a frontier resi-
dent on the Maumee.

In 17 9 7 Captain

Harrison resigned his

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

commission in the

army and was appointed Secretary of the IsForthwest Ter-
ritory, and ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor, General St.
Clair being Governor. At that time no one could purchase
tracts of land in less quantity than 4,000 acres, and Harri-
son, in spite of violent opposition, had the law rescinded

170 HISTOETCAL SKETCITP^S

for tlic l)Oiiofit of poor settlors wiio had liitlierto to pur-
chase their lands second-handed, often at exorhitant prices.

In 1800 the liorthwest Territory was divided, the east-
ern portion embraced in the State of Ohio, and called
the Territory of Ohio ; and the Avestern portion, inclnding
that region which is now the States of Indiana, Michigan,
Illinois and Wisconsin, bnt then called Indiana T-erri-
tory. Harrison, then at the age of twenty-seven, was ap-
pointed Governor of Indiana Territory, and immediately
after also Governor of Upper Louisiana by John Adams,
President. When he was appointed Governor there were
bnt three white settlements embraced in his jurisdiction,
one on the Ohio river at the Falls, Vincennes on the Wa-
bash, and a French setttlement on the Kaskaskia river. He
arrived at his seat of government, Vincennes, January,
ISOl, his Secretary, John Gibson, having preceded him
and entered upon the formation of a Territorial Govern-
ment.

Governor Harrison's services were invaluable to the
Washington Government, and during his administration,
thirteen treaties were made with the Indians, and all of
them were confirmed by Congress. His administration had
been so clean and satisfactory to the powers that be, that he
received reappointments by Jefferson and Madison.

During Governor Harrison's administration of the Ter-
ritory, that which gave him the most reno^vn was the vic-
tory he gained over the Indian Confederacy, headed by
Tecumseh and his brother Ollimacheca, the Prophet, at
the battle of Tippecanoe, which occurred November 7,
1811,* about seventy-nine miles above Vincennes near the
site of LaFayette.

'■The episode leading up U> this buttle will he fdiind ichi eil in the chapter re-
lating to Harrison's mansion.

OLD VrNCENNKS. Ill

Til IS12 lie w'lis ;i|)|i(iiiil(Ml hy I'rcsidciit Madison ('oiii-
iiiaiider-iii-C'liicf of tlu' Xoi'tliwcsrcrn ariiiv, with orders to
retake Detroit, Avliicli had recently ignoniinioiisly l)ecn sur-
rendered by General Hull. Upon this appointment he
resigned the office of (Governor and set ahont raising an
army to accomplisli his orders. Before he was ready to
advance, General Winchester liad taken tlie initiative
against orders, and was defeated, with a loss of his whole
command, in killed and eaplnred, amonnting to ahont
1,000 men.

This premature attack and disaster following it delayed
the -advance on Detroit, and on acconnt of the swamps to be
crossed to reach it, General Harrison, wdio had now been
appointed Connnander-in-Chief of the army, suggested
that the attack lie delayed nntil the winter, or, if sooner, by
water, wdiich was done; and on the 10th of September,
('ommander Perry, with his gallant sqnadron, met the Brit-
ish Heet and at the close of a heroic struggle found the
American navy victorions. General Harrison now crossed
the lake, took possession of Sandwich, the British retreating
before him, and sent a In'igade which seized Detroit. The
British and Indian allies retreated, bnt made a stand on
the banks of the Thames river, bnt this Avas of short dnra-
tion, and General Proctor's forces snrrendered ; bnt the
Indians fonght longer, before retreating, leaving their
great Chief, Tecumseh, slain on the battlefield. This great
battle gave peace to the Northwestern frontier, victory
again perching on American arms, and Harrison receiving
the plaudits of his countrymen.

Soon after this, owing to want of harmony between tlie
Secretary of War and himself. General Harrison resigTied

173 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

his commission, much to the regret of President Madison.
He, however, remained in his country's service as com-
missioner, to treat with the Indians, until 1816, when he
was chosen a Representative to Congress from Ohio.
Charges having been made, by some of his enemies, of cor-
ruption, in relation to the commissariat of the army, a com-
mittee of investigation was appointed, who completely vin-
dicated his character, and paid a high compliment to his
patriotism, honesty and devotion to public service. In
1819 he was elected to the United States Senate from Ohio,
where he ably served his State. In 1828 President John
(i^uincy Adams appointed him Minister of the Republic of
Colombia, but upon the inauguration of General Jackson,
a bitter foe of Harrison, in 1829, General Harrison was
recalled, when he returned to private life at North Bend,
Ohio.

General Harrison was accused of being pro-slavery, but
he replied to the accusation as follows :

'Trom my earliest youth, and to the present moment, I
have been an ardent friend of human liberty. At the age
of eighteen I l)ecame a member of an abolition society
established at Richmond, Va., the object of which Avas to
ameliorate the condition of slaves and procure their free-
dom by every legal means. The obligations which I then
came under I have faithfully performed. I have been the
means of liberating many slaves, but never placed one in
bondage. I was tlie first joerson to introduce into Congress
a proposition that all the country above Missouri sliouhl
never have slavery admitted into it,"

In 1836 the friends of General Plarrison advocated his
claims for the presidency, but the opposition to the de-

OLD VINCENNES. 173

mocracy was divided and Martin Van Buren was elected ;
but at the close of Van Buren's administration General
Harrison was the unanimous choice of the A\^iig party,
and he was triumphantly elected to the presidency. He
entered upon his duties with the brightest prospects of a
successful administration, having selected an able Cabinet,
with Daniel Webster as Secretary of State; but in one short
month he was stricken with pleurisy, and after a brief ill-
ness he died April 4, 1841, honored and beloved by his
countrymen. His remains were interred at ISForth Bend,
Ohio.

GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.

l*i"esi(k'nt Zachary Taylor, tradition has it, once lived
here early in the nineteenth century, and occupied the
Benjamin Parke cottage, just south of Governor Harrison's
residence, corner Hart and Water streets, and it may have
been true, as he is said to have participated in the battle of
Tippecanoe. History* tells that he was stationed at Fort
Harrison (Terre Haute) in 1812.

He w;is boTu in Virginia, but came to Kentucky in his
infancy, his father settling on a farm near Louisville. His
ancestry were distinguished patriots. He was the grand-
son of Zachariah Taylor, son of James Taylor, the second,
who was born in 1674, and died in 1729. His gi-and-
father's sister, Frances Taylor, was the mother of Presi-
(..ent James Madison, as the writer learns from his family
tree of genealogy in his possession. He received such edu-
cation as the country schools affordc*!, but early developed
a patriotic feeling and a desire to tight llic Indians, who

'■■■Abbott's lli.'^tory Presidents I'liited States, p. :!*io.

174

HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

Avcre often niakiijg- raids into the State, llis father, Richard
Tajlor, succeeded in. getting him a commission as Lieuten-
ant in the United States Army. He was first stationed in
ISTew Orleans. Having risen to the office of Captain, he
was assigned to Fort Harrison, a fort General Harrison
had hastily constructed while on his way (at Terre Haute)
to the Prophet's town, near Lafayette, to engage the head

of Tecumseh's confed-
*eracy and overthrow
it. The year follow-
ing the building of the
fort it was attacked by
Indians, but C^aptain
Taylor nobly defend-
ed his position and
beat back his assail-
ants ; and f(n' his gal-
lant conduct was pro-
moted to the office of
Major. At the termi-
nation of the war with
England the a r m y
was curtailed, and he
was reduced in office
to that of Captain, when he resigned. But he was re-
stored to his majorship and sent to Fort Crawford, on
Fox River, which empties into Green Bay. During his
service there he was appointed Colonel, and subsequently
participated in the Black Hawk War, one episode of which
is worth recording. He had in his force a large number of
militia who had volunteered for service in Illinois only —

GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.

OLD AaNCENNES. 175

Black Hawk liavinu' crossed liock Kiver, then supposed to
be the dividing line of the State — and they declined to go
fnrther, and a council of M'av was held ; many speeches
were made, when finally Taylor was called on for his
opinion. He gravely rose and said : "Gentlemen and fel-
low-citizens, the word lias been passed on tn iiic from
Washington to follow Rhick Hawk, and to take yon with
me as soldiers. I mean l<> do both. There are the flatboats
drawn up on the shoi'o ; there are Uncle Sam's men drawn
up behind ynu (in tlie ])i'airie." The argument was con-
clusive, and, in ;i few hours, they were all across the i'i\c'r
and in hot pursuit of their foe.

In 1836 he was sent to Florida to assist in suliduing the
Seminoles. The Avar was long and bloody, but he came out
conqueror. In ^Fay, 1838, he was commissioned General.
After two years of hard, wearisome service in the Ever-
glades, and at his request, he obtained a command endu-ac-
ing Louisiana, Mississip]u, Alabama and Georgia, wath
headquarters at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, in 1810. In the
spring of 1845 Congress passed the act annexing Texas
to the Union. This brought on the war with Mexico over
a boundary question, and General Taylor Avas called into
active service. The first serious encounter witli the Aiexi-
cans was in the battle of Palo Alto, when he met an army
of 3,000, who were aiding an attack on Fort Brown. With
a less nundjer Taylor, after a day's battle, forced the enemy
to retire, but they took up a position three miles distant,
at a place called Resaca de la Palma. Here he won an-
other victory, and Fort Brown was relieved. Aflcr these
battles the title of Brevet Major-General was contVrrcd on
him. His next victory was at Monterey, where ihc Mcxi-

176 IIISTOEICAL SKETCHES

can General, Ampudia, capitulated after severe fighting.
General Scott, shortly after this, assumed command of all
the American forces in Mexico, and Taylor was left at
Monterey Avith only about 5,000 troops for the garrisoning
of the surrounding posts. But in February this army
was raised to 6,000 and a forward movement made. Fifty
miles south of Monterey he received word that Santa Anna
was advancing on him, near the village of Buena Vista,
with 20,000 troops. Santa Anna sent an aide with a flag
of truce, demanding his surrender. General Taylor's reply
was, "General Taylor never surrenders ;" and, as he rode
along liis ranks, he said : "I intend to stand here not only
so long as a man remains, but so long as a piece of a man
is left." The battle then commenced, February 22, 1847,
and lasted ten hours. The night following the enemy re-
treated. American loss, 700 in killed and wounded; Mexi-
cans, 2,000.

These battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palnia, Mon-
terey and Buena Vista brought General Taylor imperish-
able renowm, and such popularity that he was given the
presidential chair in 1850 by a grateful people; but he
prematurely died in July of the same. year. His remains
were interred at Frankfort, Ky.

TECUMSEH.

The war chief, Tecumseh, may well be rated as one of
the foremost leaders of his race. He was a chief actor on
battlefields from Louisiana to Canada, and his fame was
coeval with the Northwestern country. His warwhoop was
as magic to his fellow-countrymen who dared to follow
where he led. He was a member of the Shawnee tribe, and

OLD VINCENNES. 177

tradition gives the coast of the Gulf of Mexico as the home
of his ancestry; but in tlie evolution of time the tribe be-
came denizens in the Lake Region, at the head of the Wa-
hash Kiver. In the early exploration and settlement of this
part of the Western Continent his tribe was found the most
implacable the v^hites had to contend with. They, in many
ways, seemed to 1)C iu advance of the surrounding Indians,
and their skill and strategy were superior in battle, and
foes not easily placated in peace or conquered in war.

l^othing of Tecuniseh's boyhood is known, nor how soon
he visited the village Che-pe-ko-ke, of the Pinkeshaws;
but the probability is that it was at an early day, as this
was a large trading post. His brother, the Prophet, exer-
cised such influence over the tribes in this region, in a
spiritual ^^'ay, that Tecumseh gained additional favor
thereby, and occupied as high a position in the temporal
affairs of the adjacent tribes as the Prophet did in spirit-
ual matters. Being thus exalted with his race, he sought
to form a confederation of all the tribes with a view of
heating back the eucroachments of the whites and annul-
iug the treaties that had been made, from time to time,
and especially those entered into between Governor Har-
rison and themselves. His plans were deep-laid ones, and,
had a consolidation of the tribes, ISTorth and South, been
consunnnated before the Prophet's forces were attacked,
in his absence on his federating mission, disaster might
have occurred to the whites in all this country.

His visit to General Harrison, in the summer of 1811,
on which occasion he denied the right of the separate tribes
to make treaties, and intimated that they were held to bo
\'oid Ity the Indians, and that they would not live up to

[12]

178 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

them, convinced Harrison of his danger, and he immedi-
ately commenced perfecting plans to circnmvent Tecumseh
and the Prophet. Having received additional troops in the
fall of 1811, he started for the Prophet's headqnarters, np
the Wabash, determined to force a settlement, hj treaty or
battle. The result of this campaign was the battle of Tip-
pecanoe, on N^ovember 7, when the Prophet's and Tecnm-
seh's power was broken, and the proposed alliances with
other tribes in the Sontli were frustrated. After this dis-
aster Tecnmseh returned to his tribe in the northern part
of the State, but the prestige of his warriors, left after the
battle, was gone, and his scheme of confederation was aban-
doned ; but for several years afterward he gave trouble
to adjacent settlements. Being disgusted, he quitted the
northern part of tlie State, and allied himself to the tribes
in Michigan, and joined hands with the English, whose
headquarters were at Detroit.

After Commodore Perry's notable victory over the Brit-
ish fleet in a naval battle on Lake Erie, on the 10th of Sep-
tember, 1814, General Harrison crossed the lake, took pos-
session of Sandwich, the British forces retreating. Proctor
leading the English and Tecumseh the Indians. They
made a stubborn stand on the banks of the River Baison,
but the battle was short and decisive. Proctor surrendering
the English forces, but the Indians, under Tecumseh, re-
treated ; but, after a little longer fighting, they fled, leaving
their chief slain on the field.

It seems the irony of fate that the two greatest Indian
warriors of the time, the Prophet and Tecumseh, his
brother, should meet complete disaster under the leader-
ship of General William Henry Harrison. The question

OLD VINCENNES. 179

who killed Tecumseh has ever been an unsolved connn-
dnim.

Among the Kentucky troops at the battle when he was
killed was Colonel Richard M. Johnson, who claimed to
have been the slayer of the gi-eat Indian hero ; but many
of his comrades doubted his claim, and said that the fight
was so fast and furious, of the pell-meli fashion, that it
would have been impossible to positively know the soldier
who did the deed. The writer knew well and conversed
with an intelligent gentleman who was engaged in the bat-
tle who doubted the accuracy of Johnson's claim. I^ever-
theless he got the credit of it, and was elevated to the vice-
presidency, by the euphonious refrain, during the can-
vass of the presidential election, of ''Rumpsy-dumpsy, Old
Dick Johnson killed Tecumseh." The writer heard often
the catchy phrase in his boyhood days, which no doubt exer-
cised a potent influence upon many voters.

In after years similar phrases, as ''Tippecanoe and Tyler
too" and ''Old Rough and Ready," were made to do good
service in presidential campaigns.

Had Tecumseh been surrounded by other environments,
where education and civilization exert noble and elevating
influences, hd might have been a benefactor to his race and
his memory cherished coeval with time. He was astute,
brave, broad in intellect, and not devoid of noble impulses.
As it is, he was known to his race only as a brave and
heroic leader, and to the white man as a dauntless, intrepid,
and astute warrior, fitly ranking with Osceola, Black
Hawk and other famed Indians. And yet, if his memoiw
is perpetuated, it must be by his foes wlio will not with-
hold such praise as is justly due him.

180 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

JOHN DHFFIELD HAY.

The subject of this sketch was a notable character in old
Vincennes. He was born in Dauphin County, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1775 ; settled in this town in 1803, and engaged
in the mercantile business, which he continued until he
died, November 5, 1840. He was married in 1804 to Miss
Sarah Harvey, of Maryland. In 1813 he was postmaster
of Vincennes, and Recorder of the County of Knox. On
January 29, 1814, he met the misfortune of having his
house and store burned, with all the records of the Re-
corder's office, the postoffice, and three children. In this
conflagration, besides his family loss, goods and valuables
to the amount of $20,000 were consumed. To make the dis-
aster more horrible, an explosion of three hundred pounds
of gunpowder in the cellar occurred, killing one man and
injuring another so that he subsequently died of his inju-
ries, and doing great damage to adjacent property.

He Avas a volunteer captain in the army with Governor
Harrison, and was aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief
in 1812. He w^as in the battle of Tippecanoe, and I will
here record a letter written by him just after his return
home from the battle, as a historical contribution of that
memorable event. It was written to his father, Colonel
William Hay, of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania:

"Vincennes, Novcml)er 20, ISI 1.

■^'Dear Father — On the 15th of October last I was ordered
to join a troop of cavalry to wliich I belonged. It was then
with the army on its march against the hostile Indians up
the Wabash. I set out, and in three days overtook the army

OLD VINCENNES. 181

on the 21st at Fort Harrison, eighty iiiik's north of this
place. Eight days after my arrival the army took up the
line of march, and on the 6th day of this month we got in
sight of the Prophet's town. The Indians, seeing our ap-
proach, sent out a flag of truce, and begged of the Governor,
who was commander-in-chief, to retire to a creek one-half
mile back, and they would meet him in council the next
day. He did so, and we encamped for the night on the
ground which they had pointed out. Our troops consisted
of one regiment of United States troops, 450 strong; three
troops of horse, amounting to 120 men ; two companies of
mounted riflemen and about oOO militia on foot. The
enemy were said to be 700 warriors. The night was dark
and rainy. At half past four in the morning the Indians
commenced their attack by shooting down our sentinels,
after which they raised the warwhoop and made a violent
onset ; they attempted to force our lines. Our men one and
all behaved with great spirit. The battle lasted four hours
and five minutes. It is said to be the hardest battle that
has been fought since the revolution. We had fifty-four
men killed and 125 wounded, together with a great many
horses. During the action the Indians drove off forty-six
head of beef cattle, which was all we had. x\t daylight
the Indians retreated and left us to bury our dead and to
take care of the wounded, which took up a whole day. We
had the satisfaction of finding in and around our camp
fifty -four Indians killed and saw trails of blood where a
great number had been carried off during the action. On
the 8th we reconnoitered the to^vn of the Indians and found
they had fled and left an iinmense quantity of com, beans,
kettles, guns, and a variety of other things, all of which

182 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

we destroyed, except what was necessary for the army. We
then hnrned the town, which consisted of about two hun-
dred houses. On the 9th we took up the line of march for
home, and arrived at this pLace on the 17th, safe, and
sound, and unhurt.

"I never in my life felt so grateful to Providence as the
morning after the battle. A great many balls passed very
near me; they appeared to be like a shower of hail. Sev-
eral men were shot about me and a great many of my in-
timate acquaintances were killed on the spot. The yells
of the savages and the groans of the dying were truly dis-
tressing.

"I am in haste, our town is quite in a bustle and I have
not time to add more. JOHN" D. HAY."

When the Presbyterian Church was organized here in
1806 he became one of its first elders.

Subsequent to the loss of his children he was blessed
with three other children — Mary Ann, born in 1815, who
married Doctor Joseph Maddox, a physician of Vincennes,
each of whom died early; Nancy Ann, born in 1817, mar-
ried John W. Maddox, the latter a prominent merchant
(succeeding his father-in-law) and a stanch church mem-
ber, dying in March, 1879 ; and George Duffield Hay, who
was a prominent merchant in Vincennes many years, but
who removed to Philadelphia, where he died in September,
1895, leaving one son, Henry Gurley Hay, a prominent
banker and financier of Cheyenne, Wyo. The relict of Mr.
Maddox died in February, 1902, aged eighty-five years, in
Chester, Pa., leaving only one daughter, Mrs. Sarah Hay
Vance, relict of the late Reverend Joseph Vance (who was

OLD VINCENNr:S. 183

a worthy pastor of Vincennes Presbyterian Church for
many years), now a resident of Cheyenne, Wyo.

The old Hay building stood on the corner of First and
Main street*;, the site of the old American Hotel, which
gave way to the La Plante Hotel of today.

NATHANIEL EWING.

l^athaniel Ewing, the subject of this sketch, was born
April 10, 1772, in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Na-
thaniel Ewing, was born in Colerain County, Ireland, and
emigrated to America to escape persecution in 1725. His
father emigrated to Pennsylvania and died there in 1785.
His son, Nathaniel Ewing, followed farming and trading
on the Ohio and Wabash rivers, and his first trip to Vin-
cennes, with a pirogue loaded with apples, salt, etc., was
made in 1788, when he was only sixteen years old, and he
finally settled here in 1807, having received the appoint-
ment of Receiver of the Land Office at this place, which
office he efficiently held through seveTfal administrations,
and until the year 1824.

He was elected president of the first bank established
in Vincennes. It was a private institution, but, subse-
quently, it was adopted with four other banks, and given a
charter by the Legislature. Like many similar institutions
in the early days of the State, this bank went into liquida-
tion in 1824.

Mr. Ewing was engaged, during his early career, in poli-
tics, having been elected to the Legislature, and was a mem-
ber when the Territory became a State in 1816. In the
controversy upon the slavery question, which was then

IS-i

HISTORICAL skp:tches

niucli discussed, I13 espoused the cause of freedoui. After
retireuieut froui office, in 1824, to his fann, Mout (JLair,
ho spent the reniaiudev of his days quietly until his death,
August n, 1S46.

NATHANIEL EVVING.

Mr. Ewing was a notable figure in business and social
life here, in the first years of the past century, and occupied

OLD \'INCENNES. 185

a leading position as a successful financier. lie married
Miss Ann Breading on October 1, 1793. Eiglit children
were the result of the union. His eldest daughter, Mary,
married Doctor William Carr Lane, of St. Louis ; Caroline
married Doctor Geo. \Y. Mears, who settled at Indianapo-
lis ; Rachel, who married Daniel Jencks, of Terre Haute ;
Harriet married James Farrington, of Terre Haute, and
Sarah married the Honorable John Law, who was a
prominent attorney and member of Congress from this
town. His sons were George W. Ewing, who became a
prominent attorney and banker; William L. Ewing, a mer-
chant, who, in early life, emigrated to St. Louis, and be-
came a prominent and successful financier; and James,
who occupied the old family mansion until his death. He
was the grandfather of our fellow-citizen, the Honorable
W. L. Ewing, ex-Mayor of St. Louis, but now occupying,
during the summer months, the old family residence, ]\Iont
Clair, which has been in possession of the family for nearly
a century. It is situated four miles east of the city, is a
most beautiful suburl)an liome, and gains in picturesque
b-i'auty under the skillful liand of its present occupant, with
the passing years, and presents an ideal site, embowered
with forest trees and carpeted with swards of blue grass
for picnicing in the summer days.

The patriarch of the family lies entombed in the city
cemetery, but is still represented by thrifty and honored
venerations.

186 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

NICHOLAS SMITH.

One of the most notable persons the writer became ac-
quainted witli when he came to Vincennes, more than half
a century ago, was the subject of this brief sketch. He was
bom in 'New Jersey in September, 1790, and located in
Vincennes in 1817, engaging in the hardware and tinning
business, preferring this place to either Cincinnati or St.
Lauis as one for successful business. His first visit to Cin-
cinnati was about 1810, but he returned East; finally set-
tling in Vincennes. Soon after coming here he was mar-
ried to Miss Hannah Foster, of Jefferson County, this
State. Mr. Smith combined with his business trading be-
tween this place and New Orleans. He died in 1871, leav-
ing six children — Foster and Charles, who engaged in
business in Terre Haute ; Parmelia, Sarah, John, and Ed-
ward H. remaining at the old homestead, corner of Fifth
and Main streets, built in the year 1833.

Mr. Smith was left an oi*phan at two vears of age, and
when little more than a youth started out in the world to
seek his fortune. The West then oft'ered inducements to
energetic young men, and he soon found himself in the
business whirl of life. Being a genial man, of good habits,
and having an extraordinarily retentive memory, success
followed his business ventures. His sons followed his call-
ing in Terre Haute and Vincennes, and have built up a
flourishing and profitable trade, retaining the old firm
name of fifty years ago of jST. Smith & Sons, reminding
one of the names of firms seen in the Eastern cities, where
the style of them is the same as they were a hundred or
more years ago, and where the sons have followed closely

OLD VINCENNES.

187

in the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers. Such
families are a credit to their race and city in buihling
it np and giving character and prosperity to its general
business.

.TORN WISE.

Among the honored old citizens of Vincennes mnst be
numbered Mr. John Wise, born in October, 1706, who was
conspicuous as an ac-
tive business man for
more than fifty years.
He was a native of
Pennsylvania and of
stanch, patriotic Ger-
m a n descent. His
mother lost part of her
scalp in an Indian raid
upon the family settle-
ment. His father and
mother dying the same
day, Mr. Wise, being
the eldest, was left to
care for the minor chil-
dren. He came to Vin-
cennes in 1816, and en-
gaged in the saddlery
business, and as he
prospered he sent, annually, for a member of the fam-
ily left at the old homestead, until all were brought
here. His business enlarged, and soon he became eon-
tractor for carryino- the United States mails from Lou-

JOHN WISE, SR.

188

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

isville, Ky., to St. Louis, Mo., and, following that, he en-
tered into merchandizing with his younger brothers, Sam-
uel and William, under the firm name of J. S. & W. J.
Wise, and added to their business pork packing, mostly for
the Southern trade, by means of flatboats, and after-
ward steamboats in the New Orleans trade. Mr. Wise mar-
ried Miss Hannah McCall, of Kentucky ; the fruit of this
union being Mary, who married a merchant, Mr. Jedediali
Heberd, and Arabella, who married R. J. McKinney, who
became a successful banker and Mayor of the city during
his career, each surviving their husbands to the present
time. Mr. Wise purchased the Judge Benjamin Park resi-

PAKK-WISt KISlUhNLK. SAID TO HAVE BhhN BLll.l IN 1S15.

OLD VINCENNES. 189

deuce, situated just below the Harrisou mansion, on the
river, and which, it is said, was built the same year as the ^j.,^
latter. He bought it in the earliest years of the past cen- ' \^ v^
tury, and resided in it until his death in 1884. This resi-
dence, in former days, was a picturesque, as well as a
stately -looking, building, and is one of the few old houses
left in the city of a former age. Mrs. Schultz, a florist, now
ornaments the old garden with beds of beautiful flowers —
lit tribute, as if in memory of the dead but glorious past;
but the building's corridors have ceased to echo l)aek the
happy voices once vocal in their labyrinths.

Mr. Wise was a broad, enterprising business man, and
was honored and respected by all who knew him. lie was
wise enough, as he prospered, to enter large tracts of public
lands, and left to his heirs many valuable fanns in this and
adjoining counties. He died at the good old age of eighty-
eight years.

The Wise family were all notable, stanch business men,
and some of their worthy descendants still reside in the
city.

SAMUEL .TUDAH.

Mr. Samuel Judah settled in Vincennes earl}' in the
nineteenth century, and assiduously devoted himself to the
]]ractice of law, and must be classed as one of its older
American citizens. He early rose to distinction as a learned
and astute attorney, and not many suits were instituted
in which he did not cither represent the phiintiff or de-
fendant. But his fame as a successful lawyer was not alto-
gether local, as clients from other States sought his legal
opinions. But, probaldy, the greatest triumph he ever

lUO

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

achieved in forensic debate was in the case of The Uni-
versity of Vincennes vs. the State of Indiana, and it is
very doubtfnl if this institution wonld be now in existence
had it not been for his shrewdness, indomitable energy and

:"4iLv;nt'it<!.fe"..'»-"^ Suf;

SAMUEL JUDAH.

his excellent attainments in legal lore. The State had ar-
bitrarily, and without legal right, sold the lands belonging
to the University, and had appropriated the proceeds of
the sales. Suit could not be instituted against the State

OLD VINCENNES. 191

for the recovery of tlie property without the permission of
the Legislature. Mr. Judah procured the passage of a bill
granting this authority, the suit was brought in Marion
County, and the trial resulted in a verdict for the Univer-
sity. An appeal was taken by the State to the Supreme
Court, which reversed the verdict of the lower court. Mr.
Judah then appealed the case to the Supreme Court of
the United States. In this last tribunal he was victorious.
Before this the State tried to show, by various ways and
schemes, that the charter of the University had lapsed, and
employed six of the most noted members of the Indiana
bar to accomplish this result; but they were defeated on
eveiy point. This contest presented the most crucial test
of Mr. Judah's legal abilities possible, and he emerged
from it with the highest honors. He was learned outside
of the law, and maintained his love for science and the
classics during his long career. He was a man of aesthetic
tastes, as was manifested in his efforts to advance agricul-
ture and floriculture. Having selected and purchased a
piece of land two miles east of the town, susceptible topo-
graphically of rare possibilities in art improvement, he
proceeded to lay the foundation for a beautiful suburban
home of rare picturesqueness. He not only preserved the
forests in their nascent state, but added to their stock trees
and shrubs from other localities. Happily the homestead
has been kept intact by his son, the Honorable ISToble B.
Judah, a prominent attorney of Chicago, under whose
skillful and vigilant eye it has been transformed into one of
the most beautiful and picturesque country residences in
the county.

192 IIISTOIUC'AL SKKTCHKS

Mr. Jiidali was born in the City of New York in 1798,
and was of distinguished parents, who emigrated to Amer-
ica in 1Y50, and espoused the cause of the patriots in the
Revolution. He settled in Vincennes in 1818, and was
married to Miss Harriet Brandon, of Corydon, Ind., in
1825. He was honored by the citizens of Knox County
with a seat in the Legislature in 1828, 1836-38-39 and
1840. He died at Vincennes in 1869. Mrs. Judah's family
was no less distinguished than her husband's, having
sprung from patriotic revolutionary ancestors. Mr. Judah
had six children to arrive at maturity, to wit : Caroline,
the wife of Dr. John R. Mantel ; Catherine, the wife of
General Lazarus ISToble, both now deceased, and the present
living ones — Alice, the widow" of the late Franklin Clarke ;
Samuel B., Deputy Internal Revenue Collector for this
district; John M., a prominent attorney of Indianapolis,
and ]i[oble B., a distinguished attorney and politician of
Chicago.

.JEKEMIAII L. ("OLEMAN.

One among the early settlers in Vincennes, who helped
to build it up, is the subject of this sketch.

He was born in England in 1788, and, emigrating to
this country, landed in Vincennes in 1811. He was a
trader, and engaged in general merchandizing, and at first
bought his goods at Pittsburgh and brought them here l\y
boat. With his first stock of goods he started with a crew
who, after bringing the boat up the Wabash River as far as
the mouth of Embarrass River, hearing of the battle of
Tipj)ecanoe, after taking it up that stream a few miles.

OLD VINCENNES. 193

left Mr. Coleman and fled to Vincennes tlirongli fear of
the Indians.

While on one of his trading trips to Pittsbnrgh after
goods he married Miss Elizabeth ISTichols, and In-ought her
to his Western home. Mr. Coleman was a man of remark-
able genins and skill, and soon turned his attention to va-
rious kinds of business. Among others was that of a mill-
wright, and he built a mill, probably the first in the town,
about where the present gas works stand, and it was there
as late as 1855. About the time Mr. Coleman abandoned
milling he built a little steamer and named it after his
daughter Amanda, who became the wife of our worthy
fellows-citizen, Mr. Charles Methesie, and is yet living.
His residence, when the writer knew him, was a two-story
frame house that stood on Main street, adjoining the city
hall lot, where the drug store of H. Wat j en now stands.

Several Ijrothers came to this place about the same time
Mr. Coleman did, and William, a prominent man, married
the late William Burtch's sister; but he was lost with a
trading boat of produce between Vincennes and l^ew Or-
leans, leaving a wife and daughter, the latter an estimable
lady, the present Mrs. Caroline Lusk. Her widowed
mother married Captain John D. Martin, who held many
oflicial positions during the early years of Territorial Gov-
ernment of Indiana.

Besides Mrs. Methesie, Mr. Coleman leaves behind him,
yet living, Captain John T. Coleman, wlio valiantly
answered his country's call during the early part of the
Civil War, and served through it. During his service he
contracted a disease from which he is disabled from active
business.

[13]

194 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

Mr. Jeremiali L. Coleman died February 5, 1865, leav-
ing behind him a spotless record for honesty and good citi-
zenship.

.JOHN LAW.

Among the bright young New Englanders who migrated
to the West in the early part of the nineteenth century
was the late Judge John Law, who became a resident of
Vincennes in 1817. The acquisition of the great North-
west Territory and the establishment of its capital here
drew some of the brainiest, best educated men from their
Eastern homes to this town. Contention for fame and
honor produced a rivahy worthy of emulation, and, as the
fittest survive competition only, the meed of praise is due
the subject of this sketch, since he became the recipient of
public favors seldom exceeded by popular favor. His
natural and legal ability, liis genial disposition, suavity of
manner, ready wit and bonhomie made him a general favor-
ite with the people, the source of all power ; no wonder,
then, that he was honored by his fellow-citizens. His legal
lore soon elevated him to the bench, where he presided with
digiiity and rare discrimination in balancing the scales of
justice.

He was United States^ Commissioner to adjust land
titles in tliis district, but never filled the office of Receiver
of Public Moneys for this land district, as some have as-
serted, as will be seen from the list of said officers given
elsewhere.

The manifest evidences of statesmanship in due time
caused his elevation to Congress from this district ; he was

OLD VmCENNES. 195

subsequently elected to the same office and proved himself
a valuable and influential member. He married Miss
Sarah Ewing, daughter of Honorable Nathaniel Ewing.
In later life he removed to Evansville and died there,
October 7, 1873.

Judge Law was a fluent and graceful writer and gained
a national reputation for his contributions to the Colonial
history of the Territory of Indiana, and especially of this
city. His son, the Honorable Edward Law, of Evansville,
survives the father.

WILI.IA:\i BURTCH.

In relation to the early settlers of Vincennes, no one
is more fruitful of interesting incidents than the subject
of this sketch. lie was born in Rutland, Vt., in 179'3, and
losing his father, he being then the head of the family,
left in indigent circumstances, determined to seek his for-
tune in tlie great West, and arrived with his mother and
several sisters and a brother in Cincinnati, O., in 1811.
The Indian War detained liim there until IS 14, when lie
and family arrived in Vincennes.

Mr. Burtch was small of stature, but was remarkaldy
versatile in intellect, and although his education was lim-
ited, li(^ early demonstrated his aptitude in the transaction
of business. Starting with a very small capital, his atten-
tion to business and strict integrity and thrift so<5n placed
him in the front nxuk of the business men of the town. l>ut
in a few years his strict attention to business made inroads
upon his constitution, and his health giving way he sought
respite in the country and Ijuilt the large, fine residence.

196 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

for those days (about 1835) three miles east of the town
(now owned by the widow Emison), and a little rural life
so restored his health that he returned to his mercantile
business, and he then built a fine residence on the half
square on the site of Mr. B. Kuhn's residence, corner of
Fourth and Buntin streets. Mr. Burtcli engaged in trad-
ing South, as well as merchandizing, and was soon ac-
counted the wealthiest man in the county. lie was public
spirited and did as much as any man in the town to ad-
vance its general interests, and early became a factor in all
that was calculated to elevate the people morally, socially
and intellectually. Early he became a member of the
Presbyterian Church and was its steadfast supporter; a
member of the Board of the Vincennes University, and
became its treasurer and held the office until he retired
from business on account of his declining years. He was
also an officer in the old State Bank of Indiana as long as
it existed.

Besides the buildings named he erected a business block
at the corner of First and Main streets, opposite the old
American Hotel, the present site of the La Plante Hotel.
But Mr. Burtch's prosperity failed him in his declining
years through the lack of correct methods of his partners
in business and loss by the payment of security debts for
friends who failed in business, and he died comparatively
a poor man.

Mr. Burtch's first wife was Miss Margaret Hanna, by
Avhom he leaves one daughter living, Mrs. Lansing Heberd,
of Evansville. By the second wife, Mrs. Eunice Hanna
Docker, two daughters survive liini, ]Mrs. Margaret
McLaughlin, of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Laura Lewis, of

OLD VINCENNES. 197

Indianapolis. One of his sisters married Mr. William Cole-
man, the father of Mrs. Caroline Lusk, now residing in
this city; he dying, she married Captain John 1). Martin.
Another sister married Wm. J. Heberd, for a long time a
leading merchant of this city. Members of the familv
still reside here and in Terre Haute.

He died abont the year 1880, honored and lielovod by
all who knew him.

ANDREW GARDNER.

^Vbont the year 1816, Vincenncs received many substan-
tial citizens from the East, they anticipating Horace
Greeley's advice, given at a later jieriod, to young men to
'"go West and grow up with the country" ; and Andrew
Gardner, the father of our worthy fellow-citizen, Elbridge
Gardner, was one of the many enterprising young men to
seek a home here at that period, 181G. He was born in
Springfield ]\[ass., in 1792, where he learned the cabinet
business. He arrived here in advance of his wife, Hanna
Gardner, nee Hanna Swift, who was born in Camden, JST.
J., in 1Y99.

He beffan business in a frame l)uildin<i' on Third street,
near and south of Main, about where Thuis' pop establish-
ment now stands. In those days all furniture was made
by hand, the undertaker's business being combined with it ;
and for many years it was a valuable calling.

Mr. Gardner was prominent in business, church and
Masonic circles, and the author has often had the pleasure
of sitting with him at fraternal gatherings. He was a
valual)le and stanch member of the Methodist church.
When his oldest son, Elbridge, the head of the present

198 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

undertaker's establisliment of Gardner & Sons, arrived at
manhood, the firm was changed to that name, and the
father in a few years retired from business on account of
advanced age. He died during the year 1860, his wife
preceding him a few j^ears to her resting place in the city
cemetery. Andrew Gardner was honored and loved by
all who knew him.

LEWIS L. WATSON.

The recent death of Mr. Watson tells the living that
one more link in the chain that connects the past long gone
to the' present has been broken, leaving behind only two
living persons in this city born as early as 1810, Mr. Vital
Bouchie and Mrs. Elizabeth Andre.

Mr. Watson was born April 13, 1809, in the village of
Vincennes ; his career has been a checkered one, but his tire-
less energy and business foresight have served him well
and always kept him advancing to the front. In his youth-
ful days he and Mr. Bouchie footed it to St. Louis and be-
came apprentices to the tailoring business. In after years
he returned to Vincennes and, forming a partnership with
the late Samuel R. Dunn, opened a tailoring establishment.

He married Miss Lydia Fellows, daughter of Captain
Louis Fellows, who built the large grist and sawmill called
the White Mill, on the site of the west end of Harrison
Park. A distillery was subsequently attached to it. He
continued in the tailoring business until 1849.

jMr. Watson filled many ofiices of trust. He received the
appointment under President Taylor of Postmaster at this
place in 1849, and held the same until 1853, when he re-
ceived the appointment of collector, at the dam of the

OLD VTNCENNES. 199

Wabash T^avigatinn ('(»iii])aiiy at the grand ra])i<ls. He
subsequently served as passenger conductor of the E. &
T. H. R. R. Co., after Avhich he became their agent at Vin-
cennes. ^'\^lile acting in this capacity he and the late
Charles Dawes conducted a lumber yard. Leaving this
business he became fuel agent of the O. & M. R. R., which
place he resigned to commence hotel business with the late
Captain Isaac Mass, and subsequently built tlu^ Union
Depot hotel, which is still conducted by his son, Mr.
Edward Watson. Some years ago he retired from active
business and died recently at the good old age of 93 years,
dying in May, 1902.

Mr. Watson left behind him six living children: Mrs.
Jane Reynolds, Mr. Edward Watson and Mrs. Ruth
Davenport, of this city; ^Irs. Ida ]\bd)onald, of New
York; Mr. William Watson, of Aurora, 111., and Mr. Rob-
ert Watson, of Torre Haute. The deceased were Samuel,
of Jndiana])olis, and Mrs. Laura Heinly, Danville, 111.

.TOHN MOORE.

One of the early settlers of Vincennes was the Honorable
John Moore. He was a native of Virginia and born in the
town of Staunton in the year 1788. At an early age he
became a citizen of Vincennes and may have participated
in Harrison's campaign against the Prophet at the battle
of Tippecanoe, but there seems to be no positive evidence
existing to that effect ; the records of the Territorial Execu-
tive proceedings show, however, that on May 10, 1812,
he was appointed an ensign in the first regiment of the
Indiana militia. After his service in the Territorial
Arniv he assumed the occupation of contractor and builder

200 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

and lie had much to do with the erection of the old court-
house, town hall, Episcopal church, and many others, be-
sides his own large brick residence, now one of the oldest
buildings in the city. He filled many offices of trust, hav-
ing been Judge of the first Probate Court, President of the
Board of Trustees of the Borough from 1820 to 1823, was
a director in the Vincennes branch of the old State Bank of
Indiana, and filled otlier positions of trust in the city with
ability and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He re-
ceived the appointment of Postmaster at this city under the
administration of President Buchanan in 1856, and served
until his successor was appointed in 1861.

He died December 23, 1864, leaving his consort and two
cliildren, yet living, Mrs. Ella Smith, wife of Mr. E. H.
Smith, a worthy gentleman of this city, and ]\rrs. W. B.
Chadwickj of Chester, Pa.

CYRUS Mccracken allen.

In commencing to Avrite of Old Vincennes it was in-
tended to deal with matters occurring only previous to the
latter half of the nineteenth century, but as a link should
be left between Old and JSTew Vincennes, so that the thread
between the past and present may be taken up by some fu-
ture historian, the writer knows of no fitter character to
perform that office than the subject of this sketch, and his
name will be included in the present volume.

Cyrus McCracken Allen was born in Clark county, Ky.,
April 2, 1817, of revolutionary ancestry, and was reared
to manhood on his father's farm, when he entered the mer-
cantile business with his elder brother. While thus en-
gaged he conunenced the study of law and finally quit his

OLD VmCENNES. 201

store to enter the law department of the Transylvania Uni-
versity, Lexington, Ky.,from which he graduated ahout the
year 1837, soon after which he married Miss Mary Lander,
daughter of Mrs. ISTancy Lander, in 1838, proprietress of
the Winchester hotel, and set his face westward to find a
home. His first stop was at Paoli, Ind., 1841, whence he
drifted to Petershurg, Ind. He came to Vincennes in
184-4. He soon became a leading member of the bar ho re.
LTis genial disposition and faculty of forming ac(|u:nut-
ances was such that
he soon became
exceedingly popular
with the masses. His
knowledge of law
was great, and his
retentive m e m o r y
served him to great
account, as he could, ..-f^-'

witli alacrity, refer
to decisions and ad-
duce points of law,
when his conferees
for the same matter
had to delve into the

tomes of the law at colonel c. m. allen.

the expense of time.

In the days of the Whig party he was a stanch mend)er
of the same, but when the Republican party had its birth,
he became affiliated with it, and formed a close alliance
with Abraham Lincoln, with whom he was a personal
friend ; and was one of the first to advocate his nomination

202 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

to the l^i'csidciiev in tlio old ]'inc(')ni('s Gnzette ; and for
wliicli ai<l and friendslii]) ^\v. Lincoln, after lie became
President, intimated that he conld have almost any office
desired in his gift ; but, with thanks, he declined to accept
any. He was twice elected to the Legislature and was
elected Speaker of the House one session. He was the nom-
inee of the Republican party in 1866 for Congi*ess, but was
defeated by the Honorable W. E. Niblack, the district
being overwhelmingly Democratic, and many of the Re-
])ublicans being away in the army. In the beginning of
the (Jivil War he was a powerful factor in raising the first
regiments in this city and county to go to the front.

Having lost his consort, he married Miss Sarah Lander,
who survives him. But it was in his relation to the city of
Vincennes, in a commercial and material way, that endear
him particularly with the people. He was one of the fore-
most in all tlie enterprises that promised the city prosperity.
He became a factor as advocate in the building of the O. &
M., E. & T. H., and Cairo Railroads. What money he
made in these enterprises he did not invest in stocks or
bonds, l)ut ])nt it into houses, to aid in building up the city.
He built the first large brick raihvay depot at the head of
Second, reaching t<> Water street, and adjacent houses,
inclnding the Slinkard residence and some business houses
on Second street. Besides these he built the brick cottages
on Seventh street, between Perry and Seminary, and the
large two-story frame house that once occupied the corner
of Sixth and Shelby streets, and others not now remem-
bered by the writer. He purchased the Bonner Mansion,
corner Fifth and Main streets. He was several times a
mend)er of the citv council and aided that bodv with his

OLD VINCENNES. 203

finul (if knowledgo nnd matured jndgineiit ; \vas a nicnilx'i'
of the Board of University Trustees and lent his influence
in wresting from the State its ill-gotten funds taken from
that institution.

Soon after the close of the war his health commenced
failing and he became incompetent to resume his law
practice, having given it up for railroad enterprises aiu]
politics ; and ere long he was numbered witli the licroes nud
worthy men of a past generation.

Had all the citizens of Vincennes possessed the ])ush,
benevolence and enterprise of Colonel Allen, the city
could boast a population of 50,000 people.

Of his children only two survive : Ex-Lieutenant ( "yrus
M. Allen, .Tr., United vStates Army, and Louis Allen.

JOHN FRA.NCIS BAYARD.

Among the elder citizens living in Vincennes when the
writer came here, more than half a century ago, was a
French officer once counted among hosts the great Xa])<>
leon marshaled in battle ari-ay. John Francis Bayard
was born under military environments at (li-eiioble,
France, September 11, ITsii, where there was an arm of
the army. He was owv of the soldiers who led the attack
on Moscow, liussia, when the French army met a signal
disaster. On the rc^treat he became so exhausted he fell
by the wayside and but for following comrades would
have perished there. Fpon the downfall of his great com-
numder he resigned his connnission, eniigrate(l to .Vmcrica
in 1S17, and finally settled in N'incennes. On dnlv 7.
1S2^^, he marrie(l ]\Iiss Mary .\nn i>oneau, a member of a
prominent ]>ioneer family, which emigrated here from

204

HISTORICAL SKETC^HES.

( 'aiuula. He engao'ed in inereliandizing and dnring the
most of his life lived in a frame house on the corner of
]\rain and Third streets. His wife having inherited much
land acquired under the commandant, St. Aiige, during

SAMUEL BAYARD.

his reign here, he raised much produce, which, with
pelfry taken in his store, he sold in l^ew Orleans and at
other points on the Mississippi river. He was successful

OLD VINCENNES. 205

in business. He was nnol)tnisive ami nKtdest in manner, bnt
proved a good financier, a faculty tliat seems to have been
bequeathed to liis sons. He died ratlier prematnridy, on
February 14, 1853, leaving his beloved consort to care for
and raise nine children; but slie proved equal to the task
imposed by Providence, ^frs. Bayard was a I'cmarkable
personage, modest, gentle, yet assertive when <x'casion re-
quired; petite in stature, but was fairly active, though af-
flicted witli heart disease for many years, at the age of
ninety, at her demise. The impress she and her husband
made upon their children, and the town for good, has been
quite notable. All of their sons became l)ankcrs. The
eldest, Samuel, commencing as deputy clerk in tlic Knox
County Circuit Court; but he soon relincjuished that office
to become a clerk in the Evansville branch of the Old State
Bank of Indiana in 1851, and so proficient did he prove,
in Xovember of the same year he was promoted to be teller
and held the position until the bank went into final
liquidation. The old bank having lived its appointed time
he was made cashier of the Bank of the State of Indiana,
and in 1865, when the national banking system was in-
augurated, that bank was reorganized under the name of
the Evansville Xational Bank, which c(»ntinued under
that name until 1885, when it asstimed tlie name of the
Old National Bank. Upon the reorganization of this l)ank
Mr. Bayard was promoted to the presidency <»f it.

Although Mr. Bayard was a self-made man he became
one of the most influential citizens of his city, lie was a
generous donor to all charities and proved a wise coun-
selor and promoter of all public enterprises inaugurated
to benefit the town's interest, and when he died, Septem-

206

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

ber o, 181)8, he was sincerely inourned and has been since
hekl in renienibranee by the general pnl)lic.

The second son, John F., was a snccessfnl l)ank('r, bnt
died early in life. Joseph J>., now a resident of the city,
is the snccessfnl })resident of the prosperous First Na-
tional Bank of Vincennes.

Of the daughters, Susan married M. A. Pilard ; Mary
Louise, Prosper Elnere ; Adelia, Marcelle 1). J.acroix ;
Eleanor P., Charles Weisert ; Alary Elizabeth, Ex-Mayor
ir. V. Somes, Sr. ; JMargaret Clotilda, II. S. Cauthorn,
Esq., all yet living in this city.

Chapter IX.

SO( 'I KT1P:S— MASONIC.

THE tirst lodge of Free Masons instituted in the great
West was at Vincennes, Marcli 13, 1809, under a
dispensation issued by the Grand Lodge of the State
of Kentucky. A dispensation was issued August 27, 1807,
hut owing to untoward circumstances the l)rethren of the
craft here then could not avail themselves of its provisions
before the term for which it was issued had expired. A
second one, upon ap])lication, was granted September 1,
1808, and a lodge was organized under it ]\[arch I'l, 1809.
The following members were present at this organization,
to wit : Jonathan Taylor, P. M., of Abraham Lodge, Xo.
8 ; John Caldwell, W. M., late of Union Lodge, ^o. 92 ;
Charles Fisher, W. Al., late of Brownsville Lodge, ISTo. GO ;
John Gibson, F. C., of Lancaster, Pa., Lodge; Henry Van-
derberg, W. J\L, Army Traveling Lodge, 'New A^ork. John
Gibson, F. C, was raised to the degree of a Master. The
first applicauts for membership were Parmenas Beckes,
William Prince, John Duflield Hay and Hezekiah Brad-
ley, U. S. A., on the 17th day of March, 1809, when they
all took the E. A. degree. To Parmenas Beckes belongs the
honor of becoming the first initiated in the Indiana Toi-ri-
tory. Unfortunately a little time after this he came to an
untimely end through a duel. Captain Beckes lieard of a
report reflecting on tlu> honor of his step-daughter, a dash-

-207-

208 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

ing and accomplislied girl, emanating from Dr. Scull, and
inmiediately called liim to account. The doctor admitted
that he had said : "If she is as good as she is pretty, she is
a jewel." A duel resulted from the altercation, in which
the Captain lost his life. All honor is due our deceased
brother for the vindication of the honor of his family ! ISTo
man dies in a better cause. The false code of honor
bronght on the sad catastrophe.

The Vincennes Lodge, at its first institution, was mim-
l)ered 15, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of tlie
State of Kentucky. Wlien Indiana Territory was organ-
ized into a State, the Vincennes Lodge took the initiatory
step looking to the organization of a Grand Lodge, and
called a meeting at Corydon, July 17, 1817 ; the local lodge
being represented by General W. Johnson. This conven-
tion took the initial steps toward the organization of the
Grand Lodge, and adjourned to meet again at Madison,
January 12, 1818. At the Madison convention this lodge
was represented by Captain Benjamin V. Beckes, and
upon an organization being effected, the Captain was
elected Grand Junior Warden. He suri-endered the char-
ter of Vincennes Lodge, ISTo. 15, to the Grand Lodge of the
State of Kentucky, and received in its stead the new char-
ter of Vincennes Lodge, 'No. 1, dated January 13, 1818,
under the Grand Lodge of the Territory of Indiana. Gen-
eral W. Johnson was appointed proxy of the Grand
Master, by the Grand Lodge, to institute the new Vin-
cennes Lodge, which duty he formally performed on Janu-
ary 1, 1818, installing the following officers: Elihu
Stout, W. M. ; John B. Drennon, S. W. ; John Decker, J.
W. ; llcnry Euble, Treasurer ; Volney T. Bradley, Secre-
tary ; Jacob Catt, S. D., and H. Dubois, J. D.

OLD VINCENNES. 209

Among tlie important events connected with the early
history of Vincennes Lodge was a visit by the Grand
Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Kentucky,
Colonel Joseph H. Davies. He presided at the meetings of
the lodge on the 18th, 19th and 21st days of September,
1811, and conferred the second and third degrees npon
many of the brethren, which work was probably the last
lodge work of this distinguished Mason and soldier. He
was then in command of a corps of mounted rangers, on
their way to help the Indiana troops under Governor
Harrison, who was preparing to settle the Indian question
with the Prophet, Tecumseh's brother. x\t the battle of
Tippecanoe he was killed in leading a brilliant charge on
his savage foes. With him fell Thomas Randolph and
Colonel Isaac White, both members of Vincennes Lodge,
and for whom the lodge members wore crepe for thirty days
in token of their sorrow for their patriot brethren. If the
members of the Masonic Lodge distinguished themselves
as patriots upon the field of battle in behalf of their coun-
try, those in the civil walks of life were none the less fa-
mous. General W. Johnson, the founder of Vincennes
Lodge, a native of the State of Virginia, was one of the
most distinguished members of the Order. He was the
first attorney-at-law admitted to practice before the Terri-
torial bar; was the first postmaster of the Northwest
Territory, which embraced Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois
and Michigan. He was Auditor of Indiana Territory
in 1813 ; was afterwards commissioned Treasurer, which
office he held until a State Government was fonned in
1816. He and John Rice Jones compiled the first revision
of the laws of Indiana, which was bound and publislicd in

[14]

210 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

this city hj Elihii Stout, wlio was at the time conducting
The Western Sun. He was several times elected Legislator
and was chairman of a committee to give answer to a peti-
tion of the pro-slavery element of the population of the
Territoiy, who memorialized Congress to legalize slavery
in the Territory. This committee advised against said
grant and the whole subject was then and there buried
forever.

Colonel Thomas H. Blake, a member of this lodge, was
prominent in military circles, and became a member of
Congress, and Alexander Buckner, another member, was
Grand Master of the State in 1818, and after emi-
grating to the State of Missouri he became a member of
the United States Senate from that State. John Gibson,
another member, was a distinguished citizen and was Sec-
retary, by appointment, at the same time that General
Harrison was appointed Governor of the Temtory, from
the State of Pennsylvania, by Thomas Jefferson. He ar-
rived here in July, 1800, and in the absence of Governor
Harrison (who did not reach here until January, 1801),
he set about organizing the Territory, it having been cre-
ated an independent one. He continued his duties until
1812, when he then became Governor, ex-officio, after Har-
rison's resignation, and held the office until Thomas Posty
became Governor in 1813, when he again assumed the du-
ties of Secretary, and held that office until the State was
admitted into the Union in 1816. Governor Gibson re-
tired from office with the love and esteem of all the factions
then in the Territory, having kept aloof from all entang-
ling alliances that might hinder him from dealing out
justice to all citizens alike.

OLD VINCENNES. 211

Benjamin Vincenncs Beckes, who is said to have been
the first native born citizen of this town in 1786, was of
American parentage, a soklier at the l)attle of Tippecanoe,
and commanded a company in the Bhick Ilawk War , he
was a mendjer several times of the Territorial Legislatnre,
was elected twice as sheriff and was generally pojonlar with
the people.

Waller Taylor was elected by the first session of the
State Legislatnre as a United States Senator from Indiana.
He was also a Major in Harrison's army at the battle of
Tippecanoe. The gallant John Davies and Thomas Ran-
dolph, who fell in this battle, were, under the direction of
Taylor, buried side by side ; and he took a pin from Ran-
dolph's bosom, clipped a lock of his hair, and transmitted
them to Randolph's wife ; he also cut the initials of the
dead soldiers' names npon a tree beside the grave so that it
might be known, should occasion occur, to locate and re-
move the bodies.

Thomas Randolph, born at Roanoke, Va., who fell in
this same battle, was Attorney-General of the Territory,
having been ap]i<iinte<l by Governor Harrison.

William Prince, another member, was a representative
in Congress, and a member of the committee which located
the capitol at Indianapolis.

Elihu Stout, who was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge
of the State in 1827, was bom in ISTewark, jST. J., April 16,
1782, and emigrated to Lexington, Ky., when quite young;
learned the printer's trade and came to Vincennes in 1S()4,
and issued tlie first newspaper in the ISTorthwest, -Tuly 4 of
that year, called the Indiana Gazette. He was one of the
alilc men of the new empire just forming. A further notice
of liiiu will be found in (ho press article.

212 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

Henry Yanderburgii was a Captain in tlie regular army
in the Revolutionary War and became a member of the
Legislative council of the l^orthwest Territory, appointed
by President Adams, in 1779, and was elected president of
the coimcil. He was subsequently one of the Territorial
judges and Vanderburgh county was named after him. He
was the grandfather of our fellow townsman, Mr. Harry
V. Somes, Sr.

Robert Buntin was a Captain of the United States
Army and participated in the Indian Wars of the North-
west. He was Clerk and Surveyor of this county and
Buntin street was named in honor of him. He married
Mary Shannon, the heroine of Maurice Thompson's ro-
mance, "Alice of Old Vincennes."

Robert Evans was a Territorial attorney, a member of
the State Legislature, and a General in the Territorial
Army,

Ephriani Jordan was a distinguished ofhcer in the War
of 1812 ; and he and two other magistrates, James Johnson
and Antoine Marichall, laid off the first township in 1801,
and many others of equal distinction to the foregoing might
be mentioned, avIio were Masons and who played an im-
portant part in the early settlement of Indiana Territory.
Lack of space only renders it necessary for the writer to
forego the pleasure of any further detailed mention in the
wav of individual recognition.

Vincennes Lodge, No. 1, remodeled, refitted and re-
furnished its hall in the most sumptuous, commodious and
magnificent manner, with storage, kitchen and banquet
attachments, and where all the fraternity, from Counnand-
ery to Blue Lodge, find delightful homes. There is none

OLD VINCENNES. 313

superior to it in the, Stiite. It was dedicatod on Ascension
Day in May, 1890, when adjoining lodges participated
in the work, and at the banquet, the following song of wel-
come was written l)y the author and used on the occasion:

wel('o:mf; song.

Welcome, Knights, with heart and hand,

From the country, far and near,
Coming as a joyous band,

Like Judean pilgrim-seer,
Who, in garments travel-worn.

Looking for a star to shine.
When the Savioiir slionld be born,

First miglit worship at His Shrine.

Lo ! He came, and meekly died,

To redeem mankind and save;
On a cross was crucified.

And was laid within a grave.
But in triumph He arose

Upward to His throne to reign:
For, though murdered by His foes,

He came not to earth in vain.

Let all people praises sing ;

And ye hosts, angelic, give
Adoration to our King,

Sacrificed that we might live.
Yes, sweet anthems sound abroad,

And bring forth rich diadem
For the Clu-ist, our risen Lord,

Blessed star of Bethlehem.

Masonry, from its establishment in Vincennes, has been
antagonized to a greater extent than in most towns ; never-
theless it has grown and will continue to grow, ever exert-
ing a wholesome influence when opportunity offers. Being
non-sectarian and having for its foundation the principles,

214 _ HISTORICAL SKETCHES

equality, brotherly love and cliarity, and being governed
by a patriotic devotion to country, under divine guidance,
it has kept apace with the passing years, and no earthly
j)ower can stay its progress. The present officers of Blue
Lodge, 'No. 1, are Edward Bierhaus, W. M. ; W. C. Kelly,
S. W. ; E. F. Tindolph, J. W. ; J. T. Boyd, Treasurer ; C. L.
Haughton, Secretary; E. H. Buck, S. D. ; W. H. Weed,
J. D. ; F. D. Foulks, T. ; membership 124. Vincennes
Chapter, No. 7, was instituted May 20, 1857 ; membership
70. Vincennes Council, ISTo. 9, was instituted May 20,
1857 ; membership 44. Vincennes Commandery, No. 20,
was instituted February 8, 1869, with the following char-
ter members : Gardiner H. Plummer, Samuel R. Dunn,
John T. Freeland, John Kyger, Albert Hayward, W. F.
Pidgeon, Hubbard M. Smith, James li. Baird, Charles
Temple and A. J. Colburn. The following are the present
officers : G. W. Donaldson, E. C. ; E. J. Julian, General ;
H. J. Foulks, C. G. ; DeLou Burke, Prelate; C. L. Haugh-
ton, S. W. ; E. F. Tindolph, J. W. ; J. T. Boyd, Treasurer ;
G. W. McCoy, Recorder; W. H. Weed, S. T. ; O. M. Willis,
S. B. ; W. M. Gilmore, W. ; F. D. Foulks, S. ; membership
seventy-two.

ODD FELLOWSHIP.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a fraternal,
benevolent and social institution, and has exerted a good
influence in this community. Wabash Lodge, No. 20, I.
O. (). F., was instituted by dispensation February 5, 1845,
and was regularly chartered October 20, 1845. The char-
ter members were: William Newell, T. Lemk, A. C.
Liston, Isaac N. Coleman, Jacob Dunkle and John H. Mas-

OLD VINCENNES. 215

sey. The first officers were: Theopliilus Lemk, P. G. ;
Isaac N. Coleman, N. G. ; John H. Massey, Y. G. ; Will-
iam ISTewell, Secretary; Jacob Dunkle, Treasurer; Aaron
Foster, Warden. The first initiations were S. W. Draper
and John W. Cannon. In 1866 the Order erected their
present fine hall, a rather stately building, three stories
high, the third floor being used for lodge room, the neces-
sary ante-rooms, etc. Mt. Olive Encampment, No. 18, was
established September 13, 1849, by Special Grand Deputy
Patriarch Jared C. Jocelyn, but the charter was not issued
until January 9, 1850. The charter members were: J.
W. Cannon, Jchn Caldwell, J. P. Crickmeur, Jedediah
Heberd, George B. Jocelyn, M. P. Ghee and J. B.
La Plante.

Old Post Lodge, :N'o. 332, was instituted July 30, 1869,
by W. H. DeWolf, Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of
the State of Indiana. The charter members were : Lazarus
I^oble, Bernhard Kuhn, Jr., George Parrott, Alfred Pat-
ton, William Davidson, H. J. Watgen, John Loten, Jolm
II. Massey, Winfield M. Stoddard, B. F. Johnson and
J. 11. E. Sprinkle. The first ofiicers were: Lazarus
I^Toble, ]S[. G.; J. H. E. Sprinkle, V. G. ; H. J. Wat-
gen, S.

Liebig Lodge, IsTo. 441, was instituted March 4, 1874,
by Charles Schaum, D. D. G. M. The following were
charter members : H. J. Watgen, B. Baswitz, C. F.
Pecker, Emil Grill, P. Schumacher, Fred Hellert, J. A.
Rische, Chris. Huffman, H. Myers, W. Hassinger, John
H. Piel, G. Weinstein, Moses Wile and John Osweiler.
Officers were: M. Baswitz, IsT. G. ; C. F. Pecker, V. G. ;
Emil Grill, P. S. ; H. J. Watgen, Secretary, and Phil
Schumacher, Treasurer. These latter lodges were subse-

216 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

quently cons(»li(late(l Avitli the parent lodge, Wabash ; Old
Post Lodge being absorbed by the Wabash in 1878, and
the Liebig in 1880.

The present officers of Wabash Lodge are: E. A.
Burnet, ^. G. ; William Humphrey, V. G. ; A. H. Rose-
man, R. S. ; W. A. Hartwell, F. S. ; and H. A. Foulks,
Treasurer.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

Among the more recently formed societies or lodges is
Dioscouri Lodge, No. 47, of the Knights of Pj^thias, a fra-
ternal, l)enevolent organization which was organized June
4, 1874. The charter members were: A. J. Thomas, D.
T. Patton, Isaac Lyons, O. II. Cobb, R. J. Greenliow,
C. M. Allen, Jr., 11. Q. Ashley, D. B. Hamaker, II. H.
Hackman, E. M. KeUum, H. J. Watgen, M. Baswitz, J. C.
Beeler, E. L. Ryder, F. B. Posey, F. W. Beard, Simon
Payne, King H. Malone, Peter McCarthy, C W. Jones,
H. A. Foulks, ]\Iorris Fields, Thomas Dayson, J. E. Blair
and John Dofar. The first officers were: D. T. Patton,
C. C. ; O. II. ( \.b]), V. C. ; H. A. Foulks, M. of E. ; 11. Q.
Ashley, K. of R. and S. ; James C. Beeler, P. ; Thomas
Dayson, O. G. ; E. L. Ryder, I. G. ; C. M. Allen, Jr., M.
of A. The present officers of the lodge are : Fred Miller,
M. of W. ; Sam W. Emison, C. C. ; Frank E. Henry, V.
C. ; William Brown, P. ; George Borrowman, K. of R. and
S. ; James F. Lewis, M. of E. ; H. S. Latshaw, M. of F. ;
W. R. Thurgood, O. G. ; A. Grant McKr.y, I. G. ; Jas. S.
Pritchett, W. R. Thurgood and C. C. Winkler, Trustees.
The present membership of the lodge is eighty-four.

OLD VINCENNES. 21 T

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

This organizatiuii is composed only of the iiiiicii veterans
of tlie Civil War and was instituted to perpetuate the
scenes and exploits of army life and bring closer together
tliose who had gallantly fought to prevent the dismember-
ment of the Union formed by our fathers of the United
States. The name of the institution is Jeff C. Davis Post,
1^0. 16, Department of Indiana, and was organized March
26, 1880, with the following members: James Ostrander,
C. ; John Hack, S. V. C. ; J. C. Beeler, J. V. C. ; Joseph
Roseman, Q. M. ; John i^elson, O. D. ; David Agnew, A. ;
J. J. Cunningham, O. G. ; T. D. Mitchell, C. The present
officers of the Post are : Abe S. Keel, C. ; Grover Ayres,
A. ; Joseph liosemau, S. V. C. ; Jerre Hersliy, J. V. C. ;
John ^^Telson, O. D. ; S. F. Johnson, C. ; George Penning-
ton, Q. M. ; Louis Mallet, O. G.

BEN-HUR LODGE.

The Malluch Court, J^o. 45, T. B. H., was organized
December 4, 1895, by R. E. Hayes, of Crawford sville,
Ind., with a charter membership of eighty -one. The fol-
lowing officers were chosen and installed : Chief, H. S.
Latshaw ; Judge, A. S. Laue ; Teacher, J. K. Jessup ;
Scribe, Will L. Tewalt; Keeper of Tribute, John T. Boyd ;
Captain, Samuel Thompson; Guide, E. S. Sparrow;
Keeper of Outer Gate, John Hurst ; Keeper of Inner Gate.
C. B. Calloway.

This institution is benevolent, fraternal and beneficiary
in its character, exceedingly popular with many, and has a
goodly membership. The origin of its name was suggested

218 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

l)y the noted and world-wide read book "Ben-Hnr," written
by General Lew Wallace, an Indiana man, and had its con-
ception at Crawfordsville, Ind., the home of General
Wallace, the distinguished author. Its present member-
ship is 388, and is officered by the following: Chief, A. T.
Cobb; Assistant Chief, J. C. Wise; Judge, Mrs. Shugert;
Teacher, Mrs. Evans ; Scribe, Will L. Tewalt ; Keeper of
Tribute, Mrs. Latshaw ; Guide, Gertrude Scott ; Captain,
Winfield Robinson; Keeper of Inner Gate, James Hens-
ley ; Keeper of Outer Gate, T. J. Burrell.

ORDER OP^ ELKS.

The character of the Elks is benevolent, protective and
social. The Order is comparatively of recent origin, it
having been instituted in 1868, by a few gentlemen of the
theatrical profession, but it has long since outgrown its
original environments and embraces in its membership now
gentlemen of all professions and industrial callings ; the
only standards for membership being that of age and wor-
thiness. The Order has grown rapidly and promises much
good to the brotherhood of mankind in building up a gTeat
fraternity, irrespective of "country, creed, doctrine or
belief." ^

The local lodge was instituted ISTovember 1, 1894, as
ISTo. 291, by District Deputy James M. Healy, assisted by
Indianapolis Lodge, No. 13, in I. O. O. F. hall, with
thirty-five initial members, and the following gentlemen
were elected to fill the offices, to wit : W. A. Reiman, E.
R. ; C. B. O'Donnell, E. L. K. ; Geo. E. Greene, E. L. K. ;
E. J. Julian, E. L. K. ; S. Liebshultz, Secretary ; I. Lyons,
Treasurer; Geo. Schwenk, Tiler; E. E. Shores, Esquire;

OLD VmCENXES. 219

Charles Langel, I. G. ; Trustees, M. Reindskopli, P. R.
i\rcCarty, F. W. Bloom.

The present officers, 1902, are: P. R. McCarty, E. R. ;
H. J. Foulks, E. L. K. ; C. C. Gosnell, E. L. K. ; Jos. V.
Hershj, E. L. K. ; E. J. Julian, Secretary ; Geo. Frendrick,
Treasurer ; Jas. Sowden, Tiler ; W. JST. Robeson, Es-
quire; J. C. Wagiior, I. G. ; C. A. Weisert, Chaplain ; E. A.
Beacher, Organist; Trustees: R. B. Jessup, H. Eberwine,
Jas. Gatton. Past Exalted Rulers: W. A. Reiman, 1894;
C. B. O'Donnell, 1895; Geo. E. Greene, 1896; E. J.
Julian, 1897; F. W. Bloom, 1898; E. L. Ryder, 1899;
S. E. Beard, 1900 ; I. Lyons, 1901.

If charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity are its
watchwords, humanity must be the recipient of many of
i.s courtesies calculated to lift up and make glad the hearts
of many in times of need and comforting sympathy.

RED MEN.

The Piankeshaw Tribe, Imperial Order of Red Men,
ISTo. 108, was instituted July 1, 1890. The first ofiicers of
the order were : C. H. DeBolt, Prophet ; S. W. Williams,
Sachem ; E. Bierhaus, Senior Sagamore ; PL S. Latshaw,
Junior Sagamore; George H. Turner, Chief of Records;
Isaac Lyons, Keeper of Wampum. The order is fraternal
and co-operative in character, and takes its name from a
tribe of Indians who founded the village Che-pe-ko-ke
(Brushwood), where the city of Vincennes is now located.
It is said that these Indians were always friendly with the
white people, and allotted the southern part of their village
for the habitation of the early traders and missionaries.
The fraternal, unselfish and noble qualities of this tribe

220 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

of Indians, no doiilit, sng'gested the name for tlie local
lodge, Piankesliaw. The Order is also benevolent in its
character, caring for its sick members and attending to
the disposition of those who depart "to their happy hunt-
ing ground."

The Order is unicpie in dress, imitating their illustrious
namesakes, are veritable "^rough riders," and well drilled
in the warwhoop of the lied Men of "ye olden tyme," and,
while on parade, rival Buffalo Bill's Wild West show.

The present officers are : John L. Interreiden, Prophet ;
Oliver P. Glass, Sachem ; William II. Long, Senior Saga-
more; George E. Oshea, Junior Sagamore; Frank A.
Thuis, Chief of Records ; David H. Byers, Collector of
Wampum ; H. S. Latshaw, Keeper of Wampum ; P. R.
McCarthy, Great District Deputy Grand Sachem.

CATHOLIC KNIGHTS OF AMERICA. BRANCH No. 533.

This is a uniformed rank of a benevolent, social, secta-
rian institution of the St. John's German Church, and was
organized June 17, 1888. The older is fraternal and pro-
tective in its character, is composed of some of the leading
men of the church, and, wlien on parade on special occa-
sions, make a creditable appearance in military drill and
display. The following were the charter members : The
Reverend Agedius J. Merz, Spiritual Director ; Henry
Sclieff ers, President ; Wilhelm Hehmann, Vice-President ;
Frank Reiter, Recording Secretary ; Peter Kiefer, Finan-
cial Secretary; Gerard Reiter, Treasurer; Bernhardt
Scheifers, Sergeant ; Henry Keller, Sentinel ; John Hoff-
man, Henry Hoffman and John Heller, Trustees. Addi-

OLD VINCENNES. 221

tional charter members were Anton Krack and Bernard
Jensen.

This Order now has a membership of sixty-live, and their
insurance fnnd amounts to $82,000. Two of the mem-
bers of this society have held high and lionorable positions
in the national organization. Our worthv fellow-citizen,
the Honorable Gerard Reiter, enjoyed the high distinction
of being Grand Treasurer of the national organization for
several years, and, but for the edict promulgated that all
grand officers should make their residence in the city of St.
Louis, Avhere the Grand Lodge is located, he probably
w^ould now be the Grand Treasurer. Another member of
this local organization, John W. IvTordons, was chosen
Grand Connnander for several successive years. The pres-
ent officers of this branch are : The Reverend M. Fleisch-
nian. Spiritual Director; Gerard Inciter, President;
Joseph Clausmann, Vice-President ; Frank Reiter, Record-
ing Secretary ; Joseph Hans, Financial Secretary ; Joseph
Sclieffers, Treasurer ; Bernard Anton, Sergeant ; Joseph
Sumniick, Sentinel; Henry Schetfers, Llenry Heusterberg
and Jose]>h Ohnemns, Trustees.

MEDICAL.

There is little to be said of the earliest physicians lo-
cated here, since no record exists giving their names or
labors. It is said a Doctor Tisdale was here as early as
1792, and that Samuel jMcKee, Surgeon United States
Army, was here as early as 1800, and Doctor Scull, a
little later, who was with General JIarrison at the l)attle of
Ti])pecanoe. Knox ('oniity liistory says a medical society

232 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

was organized in 1817, and met again in 1819 for the last
time, bnt no names are given of the members.

The first medical society of Vincennes, of which any an-
thentic record exists, was organized June 5, 1827, with the
following named members and officers : President, Doctor
E. McISTamee ; Secretary, Hiram Decker ; Treasurer, J.
Kuykendall ; members, Philip Barton, J. D. Wolverton
and Doctor O'Haver. Doctor James Porter was elected
a member at the same meeting, paying a fee of $5 for a di-
ploma.

It is presumed that the society was organized under the
provisions of the charter of the Vincennes University,
which permitted the conferring of the degree of doctor of
medicine. The society was called "Tlio First District
Medical Society of Indiana." As the years went by
Doctors A. Elliot and J. W. Davis became members ; the
latter subsequently went into politics and became a United
States Minister abroad. In May, 1830, Doctors W. Din-
widdle, Joseph W. Posey, Hezekiah Holland, Dr. Pen-
nington and Joseph Somes were admitted to membership.
In ISTovend^er following Doctor IST. Mears joined. In ]\Iay,
1831, Doctors W. W. Hitt, H. Davidson and O. G. Stewart
were admitted.

In years following, up to 1853, there appear on the roll
Doctors G. G. Barton, Thomas ISTesbit, Joseph Brown,
Joseph Maddox, Daniel Staid, F. IL McJenkin, F. F.
Offatt, William Warner, J. S. Sawyer, John Barry, in
June, 1839; B. J. Baty, March, 1840; Alexander Leslie,
ISTovember, 1843; William Fairhurst, N'ovember, 1842;
John E. Mantle, ^NTovember, 1844; James P. DeBrulcr,
November, 1842; Thomas B. Thompson, 1841; Hubbard

OLD VINCENNES. • 223

M. Smith, May, 1849; George B. Shumard, June, 1849;
R. B. Jessiip, February, 1854.

The first session of the General Assembly of the Terri-
tory of Indiana passed a law regulating the practice of
medicine, and each judicial district had a medical board
whose duty it was to regulate the practice of medicine and
surgery. In 1828 this society met again, and among other
business passed a resolution recomn)ending tlie formation
of a State society, and also forwarded a petition memo-
rializing CongTess to pass an act for the formation of a
medical pharmacopea. This society's meetings are recorded
up to March 23, 1835. The officers were then changed,
and the secretary's books, giving further data, seem to
have been lost. But the treasurer's books contain records
lip to February, 1854, the last three members admitted
being Hubbard M. Smith, G. G. Shumard and R. B.
Jessup, Sr.

In tlie charter of the Vincennes University a medical
department was provided for by the General Assembly of
Indiana Territory, and, in 1839, the physicians of Vin-
cennes organized a school of medicine, and petitioned the
University board of trustees to grant them a room in their
building in which to teach medicine. At that time the
property of the University was in litigation, the State hav-
ing seized it and diverted it to the Bloomington College,
and the doctors must have given up their project, as no
further records exist of the proposed school of medicine.
The charter provision still authorizes the establishment of
such a school, and some day in the distant future, when tlie
University is recouped by the State of Indiana ftu- the un-
just seizure of its onditwment by some of the State's earliest

224 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

Legislators, and our city's population, wealth, intelligence
and needs justify, another school of medicine may be or-
ganized under it, which may he more successful.

The writer has in his possession the seal of the society,
the inscription hearing the words, "Vincennes Medical
Society of Indiana, 1832," around the margin, the center
being occupied by a beautiful fountain throwing up spray
from its uppermost basin, while two dolphins are spouting
spray from the sides. This society continued in existence,
with occasional meetings, until 1875, when an organization
was effected called the "Knox County Medical Society,"
which became subordinate to the Indiana State Medical
Society, upon its organization. On October 26, 1875, the
Tri-State INIedical Society was organized in this city, com-
posed of representatives from the States of Kentucky, Illi-
nois and Indiana, as follows : President, Joseph Thomp-
son, of Paducah, Ky. ; Vice-Presidents, W. A. Smith, of
Illinois, J. K. Letcher, of Kentucky, and J. B. Armstrong,
of Indiana ; Recording Secretary, George W. Burton,
Mitchell, Ind. ; Corresponding Secretary, F. W. Beard,
Vincennes, Ind. ; Assistant Secretaries, E. 11. Luckett,
Kentucky, and F. 'N. Rafferty, Illinois ; Treasurer, Alfred
Patton, Vincennes, Ind. Other attending members w^ere:
John R. Mantle, Hubbard M. Smith, W. W. Hitt, J. C.
Beever, W. H. Beeson, R. B. Jessup, Vincennes; J. S.
Dukate, Wheatland ; J. T. Freeland, Freelandsville. and
W. Withersj^oon, Bruceville, Ind.

The society was organized for helpfulness to each other
and to bring the physicians of these States in closer touch
Avith each other ; but, in a few years, it expanded so as to
embrace the Middle Western States, when its name was

OLD VIXCENNES. 225

changed to that of ''The Mississippi Valley Medical So-
ciety;" and, finally, its membership embraced doctors
from all parts of the United States, and rivaled in mend3ers
and talents the American Medical Association.

The present Knox County Medical Society Avas organ-
ized April 25, 1875, by electing for President J. W. Pugh;
Secretary, F. W. Beard ; Treasurer, Alfred Patton ; Cen-
sors, O. C. Fairhurst, IIul)l)ard M. Smith and A. J.
Haughton. The society now has thirty-five members, and
meets bi-monthly at Yincennes. The present officers are:
President, J. P. Eamsey ; Vice-President, George Knapp ;
Secretary, J. W. Smadel; Treasurer, C. E. Stewart; Ju-
dicial Council, ISTorman Beckes, J. W. Smadel, J. P.
Caney, B. F. Chambers, C. W. Benham.

BAR ASSOCIATION.

The first legal courts of Indiana were established here
when Knox County was organized, in 1790, and from that
period to the present the legal fraternity have been promi-
nent in matters pertaining to county, State and general
government.

Some of the brightest legal lights of the country have
made this town the fonun of their forensic eloquence and
astute acumen in legal lore, and some have risen to be
judges, authors, statesmen. Congressmen, United States
Senators and even to the highest office in the ISTation.

Early in the nineteenth century Vincennes could boast
of learned lawyers, such as George W. Johnson, Alexander
Buckner, Benjamin Parke, Thomas Pandolph, John John-
son, Isaac Blackford, John Rice Jones, Henry Vander-
berg, John Gibson, and later Sanmel Judali, John Law,

[15]

226 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

C. M. Allen, B. M. Thomas, W. E. Niblack, F. W. Viehe,
Thomas R Cobb, N'athaniel Usher, :N'. F. Malott, Geo. G.
Riley, and others of like repute. With this talent, so far as
history and tradition go, up to a very recent period, no bar
association was formed. It remained for Attorney S. W.
Williams to take the initiative in the matter, when a meet-
ing was called and held at the Union Depot, November,
1900, at which time the Honorable B. M. Willoughby was
elected President ; L. A. Meyer, Treasurer, and Robert G.
Cauthorn, Secretary. A constitution and by-laws were
adopted and approved by the court and spread upon its
records.

The objects of the organization are mutual improvement
and benefit of its members; to encourage a fraternity of
feeling and social intercourse ; helpfulness to each other in
sickness or distress, and to prevent, if possible, the enact-
ment of bad laws.

The following are charter members: Samuel W. Wil-
liams, H. S. Cauthorn, Sr., J. P. Haughton, Arthur T.
Cobb, John L. Buckles, James M. House, Samuel M.
Emison, John T. Goodman, Duncan Beckes, William S.
Hoover, Oscar B. Williamson, Robert L. Buckles, Jona-
than Keith, W. C. Johnson, H. W. Alexander, A. Camp-
bell, James S. Pritchett, James W. Emison, George W.
Shaw, O. C. Philips, W. A. Cullop, Orlando H. Cobb, W.
H. DeWolf, C. E. Dailey, W. F. Calverly, Louis A. Meyer,
Thomas B. Coulter, Henry S. Cauthorn, Jr., Joseph T.
Randolph, Alvin McClure, Charles G. McCord, Richard
F. Davis, John Wilhelm, Elmer E. Smith, Clarence B.
Kessinger, E. H. DeWolf, C. B. Judah, B. M. Willoughby,
James A. McClure, Joseph Ross, George B. Hazelton and
Robert G. Cauthorn.

OLD VINCENNES.

227

The meetings of the association will be held annually,
on the day following Thanksgiving Day, and, after looking
after the ethics and good of the association in general, the
members will look after the condition of the inner man
in a sumptuous banquet, worthy of their illustrious and
distinguished predecessor, Blackstone, of "ye olden tynie."

The present officers are : President, James W. Emison ;
Secretary, Robert Erank Weems; Treasurer, Louis A.
Meyer.

YINCENNES HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

This society was reorganized in 1899. Present officers:
Judge George Shaw, Presidei t ; Hubbard M. Smith,
Vice-President; Louis A. Meyer, Secretary; W. H. Pen-
nir.2i:on. Treasurer.

Chapter X.

MISCELLANEOUS— THE PRESS.

THE newspaper men of this town have had their ups
and downs, as is the case in many other places, es-
pecially those who commenced publishing papers
early in the nineteenth century. The first newspaper pub-
lished in Vincennes was the Indiana Gazette, July 4,
1804, by Elihu Stout. The press and type were brought
here on horseback from Frankfort, Ky. In about eighteen
months the plant was consumed by fire, but, phoenixlike, it
appeared again in 1807, but under the title of The West-
ern Sun, Democratic in politics, and continued publication
until 1817, when its name was changed again, under other
influences, to that of Western 8un and General Adver-
tiser. In the forties this paper was sold to John R. Jones,
Avho, with his brother, W. A. Jones, continued its publica-
tion until the former received an appointment in Wash-
ington, whereupon its publication was suspended. When
Jones returned to Vincennes the paper was started again
under the name of Jones' Vincennes Sentinel. This pub-
lication had a short life, and was followed by the Fin-
cennes Indiana Patriot, published by J. Mayes. This same
year (1853) J. and M. A. McClaugherty published The
Cow-ant, and soon the two papers united, the name being
changed to the Courant and Patriot. This paper was sus-
pended in 1856, when George E. Green came into posses-
sion of the plant, and at once revived the old name, West-

—228-

OLD VINCENNES. 229

ern Sun, after its effacement for about ten years. Mr.
Green continued the publication until his death, in 1870.
It next passed into the possession of R. C. Kise and A. J.
Thomas. On the death of Kise, in 1873, Doctor Alfred
Patton became part owner, and in 1876 Royal E. Purcell,
the present o^\^ler, bought the plant, and has placed it
upon a firm and paying- foundation. It is now issued as
an afternoon daily, and has a weekly edition also.

About the year 1880 W. W. Bailey published for a
while a Single Tax paper ; and recently Mr. Harbinson
started a paper called Tlie Era.

Tradition has it that another paper was started in 1818,
but there is no record of any other paper printed here until
the establishment of the Vincennes Gazette, by R. Y. Cad-
dington, about the year 1829, as an organ of the Whig
party, who published the paper for about twenty-five years,
at which period it was sold to James A. Mason, G. R. Har-
vey and M. P. Ghee, who started the first daily paper ever
published in the city, when its Whigism was changed to
Republicanism.

After a few" years the plant passed into the hands of
Doctor Hubbard M. Smith, M. P. Ghee being retained as
local editor. In 1861 Doctor Smith, having been appointed
postmaster at Vincennes, gave very little attention to the
paper, and in a few succeeding years the plant was leased
and sold several times to adventurers, who possessed neither
money nor braius enough to make it flourish. It reverted
to Doctor Smith for non-i)ayment of purchase money,
who, in 1865, disposed of it to J. M. Grifiin, who published
the paper for a year or two, when he removed the plant
from the city, and the Gazette ceased to exist.

230 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

During the Civil War several papers were launched for
public favors, such as the Neivs of the Day, by J. G. Hutch-
inson; the Old Post Union, by the same publisher; The
Vincennes Times, by E. Y. Caddington and General Laz.
Noble, which latter was sold to Malachi Krebbs. When
failure was made to pay the balance of the purchase
money on the plant, it passed into the hands of J. J.
Mayes, John Mallet and A. G. V. Grotts, and in a short
time ceased publication. There have been two German pa-
pers, of Democratic proclivities, published here, one by Mr.
Rosenthal many years ago. The latter was called The
Post, edited by Louis Meyer, about ten years ago, but both
these papers were short lived.

The Vincennes Commercial was established in March,
1877, by S. F. Horrall & Sons, and was Republican in poli-
tics. On February 15, 1881, it was sold to the Commer-
cial Company, with J. C. Adams as editor and manager.
In April, 1882, it changed its editor and proprietor, be-
coming the property of T. A. Adams, who still continues
its publication in daily and weekly editions. The paper has
been placed by him upon a sound financial basis.

The Knox County Democrat, now edited and published
by Messrs. Garrard & Quittle, was started about the year
1891, by Mr, Allen Campbell, who published it for a few
years and then disposed of the plant. Like many other
junior enterprises, it met with reverses, as it had keen com-
petition in older established papers. The present proprie-
tors seem to understand their business, and no doubt pluck
and energy will finally crown their efforts with success.

The last paper published here was established by a stock
company, advocating RejJublican principles and seeking

OLD VINCENNES. 231

popular favor. It is the Capitol, and was edited by George
Cook. Its first issue was on February 4, 1899. In March,
1902, Mr. Cook withdrew from the Capitol, and the paper
is now published and edited by F. W. Curtis, Periy C.
Green and Ralph Dukate.

LIBRARIES-THE VINCENNES UNIVERSITY LIBRARY.

In the year 1808 there was organized the Vincennes
Historical and Antiquarian Society following the organi-
zation of the Vincennes University, and it was originally
intended to be an adjunct to this latter institution. This
society flourished for some years, during which time many
valuable books and paleontological specimens were accumu-
lated. But just as the university was preparing to build
up a flourishing institution, the newly fledged State of
Indiana presiuned that she owned eveiything in sight, and
proceeded to confiscate the university's property, which had
been acquired by that institution under act of Congress,
and to give the proceeds to Bloomington College. This un-
just and unprecedented procedure not only paralyzed the
school, but gave a death blow to the Historical and Anti-
quarian Society, as it was to rise or fall with the university.
It had accumulated many rare books and specimens of
value, but from this time forward it eked out a sickly
existence, and finally gave up the ghost, and much of its
property was lost. Many years afterwards a few persons
of a younger generation, bought up all the shares of stock
that were in existence, and, for a small consideration, con-
veyed the remaining assets of the society to the resuscitated
university, which owns the library and antiquarian speci-

233 . HISTORICAL SKETCHES

mens. The latter has not received many additions, but the
library has been increased in numbers of volumes until it
now exceeds 5,000 ; these books are accessible to the
public upon proper application. If the conscience of
the State of Indiana is ever pricked to a realizing sense of
the injustice practiced on its first educational institution
even to pay one-fourth of its indebtedness to said institu-
tion, this library will be increased and enlarged in the scope
of its benisons, until the university will become what its
founders designed it should be in fact as well as name.
For the quickening of her conscience let us, together with
all lovers of justice and righteousness, devoutly pray.

CATHOLIC CHURCH LIBRARY.

The church doubtless commenced the collection of books
at an early period of its existence, perhaps with the advent
of its first stated supply in 1794, but no great accumulation
of them occurred until the arrival of Bishop Brute, after
the See of Vincennes was formed, in 1834. The Bishop's
residence became then fixed here, and the nucleus of the
library immediately received large accessions of rare and
valual:)le books, printed in all the European languages, some
dating as far back as 1476. Many large volumes, 14x18
inches in size, some numbering ten volumes, the text of
same being in Arabic, Syrian and Samaritan languages.
There is a bible in the French language, printed in Ger-
many in 1062 ; others of the date of 1476. Some of these
books are slightly illuminated ; it is said large illuminated
books were once in the library, but were lost. ISTothing
positively is known on the subject, so the Rector, Father

OLD yiNCENNES. 233

Guegen, informed the writer. Bishop Brute was a scholar,
and had started well the foundation for a magnificent
library, and, had he lived a few years longer, would no
doubt have added to it largely. This library has grown,
with passing years, until il. now numbers about 10,000
volumes, many of them rare in this country.

CITY LIBRARY.

Alx)Ut 1850 a philanthropic gentleman by the name of
McClure bequeathed to each county of Indiana a fund of
$500 that should form a basis for a libraiy in each county,
to be called the ''McClure Township Library." Under its
provisions a tovmship library was fonned a half century
ago. As no special provision was made to keep it up or
care for it, the books became scattered, and Avere about to
become worthless to the public, when, in April, 1889, the
city took up the matter and gave it a home in the city hall,
and has added to it annually, thus metamorphosing it into
a city library, by which name it is now designated. Upon
the reorganization of it, under the present title, provision
was made for a librarian, a fund for the purchase of new
books, regiilations regarding the circulation of them, the
times of the day when books can be had, etc.

This library now contains about five thousand volumes,
and has been conducted in such a manner as to give much
benefit and pleasure to the public. The librarians have been
competent, faithful and accommodating. Miss Myrtle M.
Ruddy, the present efficient librarian, having succeeded,
two years ago, Mrs. Judge George Shaw. It is to be hoped
that the interest in the city library will not wane, but that
the citizens will lend it liberal aid, whether some million-
aire comes to their aid or not.

234 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

THE BANKS.

The first banks established in Indiana were at Vin-
cennes, but by whom and at what time is not known, as no
record exists here of them, or even of the banks of later
years ; hence the task of gathering statistics relating to the
first banking institutions has been found difficult.

In 1816, when the State of Indiana was admitted to
the Union, there were but two banks in the State, one at
Madison and the other located in Vincennes, both of which
were chartered by the Territorial Legislature. The old
Constitution, that of 1816, prohibited the establishment
of any bank of issue except the Legislature might charter
a State bank and branches, "not exceeding one branch for
any three counties.

The first Legislature passed an act establishing a State
bank, with branches at Corydon, Brookville and Vevay,
and adopting the banks at Vincennes and Madison. "Ow-
ing to bad management and speculation, all of the banks
failed in 1821, three years after their establishment. For
several years after that date there was not a bank of issue
in the State." (Bankers' Magazine, 1902, p. 107.)

It is not known to the writer who conducted the first
bank, nor the amount of capital it was based upon. Tradi-
tion tells of a distillery and mill that were located up the
river, opposite the park. There is no other record of any
legitimate bank being established until 1836, when the
Legislature of the State chartered The State Bank of In-
diana, with thirteen branches, one of which was located
here, with John Ross President and George Rathborn
Cashier, the latter being succeeded by Benjamin F.

OLD YINCENKES. 235

Wheeler, who was succeeded by John F. Bayard. This
was the only bank here from that period of time until
its charter expired, December 31, 1856. January 1,
1857, the Bank of the State of Indiana came into exist-
ence, with John Ross President and John F. Bayard
Cashier. On the death of the latter, Joseph L. Bay-
ard succeeded to that position in 1859. In 1863, after the
national law became operative which taxed State and pri-
vate banks 10 per cent., the Bank of the State closed its
affairs, and The Vincennes National Bank was organized,
and succeeded the old bank with the following- officers:
John Ross, President; W. J, Williams, Cashier. Mr. Ross
continued President of this institution until his demise in
1873, after a brilliant and faithful service of thirty-seven
years, no patron losing a dollar on account of his banks.
A better eulogy than this one fact, telling of his integrity
and sagacity, could not be passed upon his career as a
correct business man.

The Vincennes National Bank continued after the death
of Mr. Ross. W. J. Williams succeeded to the presidency
and W. M. Tyler was elected Cashier. Some years later,
on the death of W. J. Williams, W. M. Tyler became Presi-
dent, mth Hiram Foulks as Cashier. A few years after
this, the bank having ceased to do business on sound bank-
ing principles, heavy losses followed, which resulted in the
winding up of its affairs, causing great distress to deposi-
tors and stockholders.

The First National Bank of Vincennes was organized
in September, 1871, with a capital stock of $100,000;
J. II. Rabb, President; J. L. Bayard, Cashier. This bank
continues to do business. President Rabb continued at the

236 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

head of the institution until his death, being considered
the shrewdest and safest financier in the city. J. L. Bayard
succeeded to the presidency, which position he still holds ;
P. M. O'Donnell^ Cashier; H. V. Somes, Jr., Assistant
Cashier; J. L. Bayard, Jr., Bookkeeper.

The German jSTational Bank of Vincennes, with a capi-
tal of $100,000, was organized August 5, 1888. Its officers
were : Seleman Gimble, President ; Garret Reiter, Vice-
President; George P. Alsop, Cashier. Upon the death of
the President, William Baker was elected to that position.
The officers at this time are: President, William Baker;
Vice-President, Garret Reiter ; Cashier, G. R. Alsop ;
Assistant Cashier, H. J. Broeckman.

The Second ISTational Bank of Vincennes was organized
in August, 1893, its officers being Allen Tindolph, Presi-
dent; George W. Donaldson, Cashier; W. J. Freeman,
Assistant Cashier. Capital, $100,000. On the death of the
President, George W. Donaldson succeeded to that office.
The present officers are : President, George W. Donaldson ;
Cashier, W. J. Freeman; Assistant Cashier, J. T.Boyd;
Bookkeeper, J. F. Hall.

In 1859 a bank was organized under the title of The
New York Stock Bank, wdth Samuel Bayard, President;
J. F. Bayard, Cashier. This was about the time the free
bank craze was beginning to affect Indiana people, soon
after which "yellow dog banks" became as thick as black-
berries in June; when "counterfeit detectives" were in use
as much as a day book with a business firm, to tell them
"where they were at," in the financial world, each day.
The officers of this institution, reading the signs of the
times correctly, being honorable gentlemen r.nd not willing

OLD VINCENNES. 237

to be classed with the ''wikl cat" institutions, hastened to
wind up its affairs, having been operative less than two
years.

To give the present generation an idea of the character
of these institutions, the writer will give a bit of his expe-
rience with them. He had a nice little pony he had bought
for his son, which became so fat, saucy and gay that, for
fear of broken bones to set, he concluded to sell it. Farmer
P. came along about this time. He wished to buy just such
an animal and a bargain was struck. He took the animal,
and the writer took currency in full for same. Not having
to use the "shinplasters" until the next day, the writer was
somewhat surprised to find a goodly part of them uncurrent
with the merchants. I happened not to see Mr. P. that
day. When I saw him afterwards, I called his attention to
the worthless bills ; but, ''Oh !" said he, "they were good the
day I paid you." I could not swear they were not current
at that time, and so I had to pocket the loss. A more in-
famous law to defraud the people was never enacted than
the Indiana Free Banking Law. Uncle Sam stepped in
pretty soon and saved the people from general bankruptcy
with a national law.

The foregoing have been all the banks of issue organized
in this city. There were other private banks, one conducted
by P. J. McKenney, called McKenney's Deposit Bank,
and one other, the Vincennes German Bank, established
by J. L. Bayard and Henry Knirhm, in 1869, and which
was succeeded by the First National Bank in 1871, J. L.
Bayard becoming Cashier of the latter bank.

W. F. Pidgeon and W. H. H. Terrell opened and started
the Bank of Vincennes about 1800, but did little if anv

238 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

business, and soon closed it. Abont that time George R.
Swallow and a Mr. Black opened a bank in Judah's row,
on Second, between Main and Busseron streets. Its busi-
ness was insignificant and soon closed. Swallow is now
president of a bank in Denver, Col.

And there was once a deposit bank located here, when
and by whom no record exists to tell. The writer has a
bill or note, of the denomination of ten dollars, bearing the
superscription: "The Wabash Insurance Company will
pay to bearer ten dollars, on demand, for that amount re-
ceived on deposit. Vincennes 18.." Vignette,

centrally ; at top of note, the three graces ; on the right
hand end the portrait of Jefferson ; on the left end, Receipt
■ — Deposit. No signature or date. This may have been the
issue of the milling company.

The three national banks of Vincennes, noted in the fore-
going statement, are all sound, and doing a large legitimate
banking business; and the character and standing of the
officers give a sure guarantee of their permanency and pros-
perity in the future. '

BOARD OF TRADE.

Although it has been the author's aim to deal with mat-
ters pertaining mainly to transactions and persons of the
early part of the nineteenth century, and those incident-
ally connected therewith, yet so important an institution of
modern times as the Board of Trade must not be slighted,
since it is the bone and sinew of young Vincennes.

The Vincennes Board of Trade was organized in 1883,
when N. F. Dalton was elected President, Edward Watson
Vice-President, George M. Ockford Secretary, L. A. Wiao

OLD VINCENNES. 239

Assistant Secretary and Joseph L. Bayard Treasurer. The
Board of Directors were J. H. Rabb, G. Weinstein, P. E.
McCarty, E. M. Thompson and E. H. Smith. A constitu-
tion and by-laws having been adopted, the fee of admission
was placed at $5 for certificate and monthly dues at 25
cents, the meml)ership being unlimited.

This institution has done, and is doing, a good work for
the city, and has added to its population and wealth more
than all the other influences and agencies combined, and
its power increases as time passes by. At its foundation it
had many difficulties to contend with, as it was something
new and an innovation for the old mossbacks of the city.
They could not see in advance from where the benefits were
to be reaped for the outlay of their money and labor. They
were not willing to ''cast bread upon the waters" of trade,
trusting to Providence and zeal of the workers for a re-
turn therefor. But patience, zeal and labor, with intelli-
gent foresight and faith were theirs, and the rewards fol-
lowed in due season. The days of their adversity has
passed, and they have set the ball of prosperity rolling at
greater speed than ever before, as the many late industries
added to the general business of the city Avill attest. Where
there was one industry twenty years ago, a dozen or more
dot the outskirts of the city, and it is almost daily inquired
of by corporations and capitalists who desire good locations
for investments for their money. This organization has
developed a boom unknown during the past of the city, and
if all the citizens will put their shoulders to the wheel,
while it is at high tide, it will "lead to fortune and suc-
cess."

340 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

The present membersliip exceeds two hundred, with
weekly accessions, under the leadership of its intelligent
and energetic officers.

The following are the present able and progressive offi-
cers: President, Edward Watson; Vice-President, Anton
Simon; Treasurer, Joseph L. Bayard; Secretary, H. T.
Willis, and Assistant Secretary, H. J. Foulks.

EPIDEMICS.

The history of Vincennes would not be complete w^ithout
recording something of the epidemics that have visited it
during its one hundred and seventy years of existence,
during which time some episodes occurred that embraced
ludicrous as well as serious phases. Some histories of Vin-
cennes tell of a traditional epidemic occurring in the
eighteenth century in this village, but it will be seen, in
another part of these sketches, that that epidemic occurred
at Juchereau's Fort, at the mouth of the Ohio river. While
we know nothing but what tradition tells us, of a first epi-
demic occurring here, those of subsequent years are re-
corded in the history of the times.

The Epidemic of 1820.

]^ot many of the present generation of citizens, prob-
ably, have ever heard of this terrible scourge from sickness
during the earlier history of this to^^ai. In 1820 an epi-
demic occurred here, as related by the old settlers, that
almost depopulated the village. During the summer
months a fatal disease prevailed, resembling yellow fever,
and the strong presumption is that this disease was the

OLD VINCENNES. 241

yellow malady. This fever liad often prevailed further
north, and its presence in the to\vn at the time was not very
surprising. During the early times communication he-
tween the Old Post and New Orleans was much more fre-
quent than now, and, as yellow fever existed in the latter
city during the summer months, it was not an uncommon
occurrence for the germs to be introduced in the North.
It was only necessary that favorable conditions should
exist for its pro^Dagation in the Valley of the Wabash, and,
at this time, such conditions existed at Vincennes. The
season was exceedingly dry, the river low, and the waters
about the town were stagnant, the home of the mosquito.
Recent discoveries, especially those brought out by experi-
ments in Cuba, where yellow fever was for many years a
common disease, owing to the transmission of its cause
through one species of mosquito, stegomyia fasciata, will
explain the nature and virulence of the fever which marked
this epidemic. If only one case had been introduced here
from the far South, where this species of mosquito was
propagated, in stagnant pools of water surrounding the
town, the disease could and would be readily communi-
cated to the inhabitants. The writer doubts not that the
disease, so fatal here in the summer of 1820, was yellow
fever. This mosquito is represented as darker in color
than the less virulent ones, its notes are loAver in the scale
of sound, and it is these fellows with the basso voice, es-
pecially, whose serenades we should object to. The trans-
mission of malarial disease by the mosquito was established
many years ago by Italian physicians at Rome, where ma-
larial diseases often exist to an alarming extent.

[16J

243 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

The year in question the river got so low that the grass
grew in great luxuriance far out from the shores, and the
opinion prevailed that this was the cause of the virulent
fever, and the city authorities had this grass mowed, ex-
pecting it to float away with the current, but, on the con-
trary, it remained where cut, decayed, and became the hot-
bed of malaria and the breeder of the mosquito. It hav-
ing been frequently demonstrated that malaria is often in-
troduced into the human system by the bite of this insect,
it was not to be wondered at that fevers prevailed alarm-
ingly at Vincennes at that period. Tlie numerous fatalities
attending this scourge gave the town a notoriously bad
rejjutation, and emigrants from the East, seeking homes
in the far West, "passed by on the other side," leaving the
sick city for other good Samaritans to lend it a helping
hand, and lift it to its feet again. That day long since went
hj. Having learned that the best of water underlies the
city, and that it could be easily and cheaply reached
through driven wells, a water absolutely free from con-
tamination of malarial and typhoid germs, at a depth of
twenty-five feet, and having had the country adjacent thor-
oughly drained and placed in cultivation, Vincennes now
stands in health superior to many and inferior to no city
of its size in the West.

The Cholera.

Although a model city for health, owing to aseptic soil,
pure water, sweet air and healthy topographical condi-
tions, yet like all other towns, it may have visitations of
contagious diseases, as its citizens fully realized in the
summer of 1850, when cholera invaded the borough, with

OLD VINCENNES. 213

i^TCiit. fatality. Froni the fact that this awful scoiirgc liad
prevailed in the United States in 1832, and at the time did
not affect this town, the people here were lulled into the
belief that Vincennes was proof against its invasion. Peo-
ple generally, in fact tlic medical profession, were ignorant
of the cause of the disease, it being before bacteriolog;y had
been perfected, so far as to enable the microscopist to iso-
late the germ, and physicians understood the way it was
])]'(i])agatc'(l. When tlic lirst cases occurred here, the wise
ones of the town ridiculed the idea of cholera being the
disease, and the public arose as one man in denying its ex-
istence and inveighing against the physicians who had
made what was termed ''such a foolish declaration." For-
tunately, or unfortunately, as some may view the matter,
tlie writer of this was the first one to diagnose the disease
and proclaim the true nature of it, and, on account oi this
l)oId declaration, his scalp rested uneasily on his head for
some time. He was ostracised, and threats were freely
made against this medical interloper, who was paralyzing
all kinds of business by his wild assertions concerning the
nature of the first cases. The writer regrets to state that
but one other physician of the borough. Doctor John R.
Mantel, coincided with him in his diagnosis, although he
extended an urgent invitation to a number of the older
members of his profession to visit his patients and investi-
gate the matter for themselves. The foremost citizen of
the borough, at that time, Avas a very intelligent, but self-
willed gentleman, who, in addition to being President of
the borough, was President of the then incipient Ohio &
Mississippi Railway Company, President of the Wabash
jSTavigation Company, and President of the Knox County

244 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

Live Stock Insurance Company, Of course this gentleman
was an influential man in town, and his dictum was held as
law and gospel, from which no appeal could be taken. He
stated that the disease, which had been pronounced Asiatic
cholera, was nothing more than cholera morbus, such as
he had seen in his native ]^ew England, and he forthwith
proceeded to lecture the young disciple of Esculapius, and
vehemently remonstrated with him for giving out false
alarms, to the great detriment of the borough's commercial
and general interests. The young physician was obdurate,
and boldly stood his ground, and, after a warm discussion,
the Judge and Chief Magistrate of the town departed,
with a very bad opinion of, and a good slice of ill will for,
the youthful doctor of medicine. The latter was com-
pelled to endure the gibes and slurs of many of his fellow-
citizens as best he could, and, as he was then comparatively
a stranger here, he found his daily pathway not a bed of
roses, nor were the thorns lacking. But he felt that this
state of things could not, and it did not, endure long, as
cholera is no respecter of persons, and the high and the low
who came into immediate contact with the dread scourge
had to take chances alike in attempting to cope with its ma-
lignancy. Some days following the outbreak of the disease
in the family of Mr. J. D. Watjen (the father. of our
worthy fellow-townsman, H. J. Watjen, who can vouch
for the truth of the main facts presented), by its introduc-
tion through an emigi-ant from Germany, a young married
man named 'Whitney, from the East, had been installed
here as an expert in insurance matters by the President of
the Live Stock Insurance Company. This young man, the
protege of the chief executive of the company, sought to

OLD VINCENNES. 245

make himself particularly obnoxious to the young physi-
cian who had been so bold as to pronounce the disease
cholera. The offices of the latter and those of the insurance
company were not far apart, in the old Judah Row, on
Second street. As the clerk passed the door of the doctor
on his way to his office, he would, occasionally, stop kt his
own door, and, placing his hands to his mouth sidewise,
halloo derisively, in stentorian tones, "How's the chol-
era ?". then dart in, laugliing at what he thought was a cap-
ital joke at the doctor's expense. Poor, misguided, unfor-
tunate man ! He then little dreamed of what was in store
for himself. In less than two weeks from that time he
complained of not feeling well, and, going immediately
home, sent for his doctor, G. G. Shumard, a very intelli-
gent gentleman, but one who had a deadly horror of chol-
era. He at once diagnosed the case as one of cholera, went
to his office for some medicine, and, upon his return to
the home of the young clerk, calling his wife to the
door (fearing to go in), gave her the medicine and
then, after a few directions, given hurriedly, left the
young man to his fate. Ere the shades of night had
enfolded mother earth in her mantle of darkness, he,
too, was numbered among the victims of the terri-
ble scourge. A little time after this Doctor Shumard called
at the writer's office and asked to be permitted to lie in the
student's bed, for that day, as he did not wish any one to
know his whereal>outs, "For," he remarked, "every case
of cholera I hear of brings on me symptoms of the disease.
What shall I do?" The writer answered that there were
but two things to do, in his estimation, to wit: either leave
for a healthier region, which, if he did, would ruin his

246 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

medical reputation, or stay and take his chances with the
balance of his profession, which, if he did, would cause his
death, so great ^vas his fear. He chose the former horn of
the dilemma, and immediately departed, and remained
away until cold weather had set in, when he returned, set-
tled up his affairs and went back to his former home in
the State of Ohio. As before stated, this gentleman, not-
withstanding his fear of cholera, was a good physician and
surgeon, and subsequently became Captain Marcy's sur-
geon and geologist in his Western exploring expedition in
the United States sendee in the early fifties. He after-
ward became the Surgeon-General of the Ohio Volunteer
Militia, and lost his life during the Civil War.

About this time, that is, during the earlier stages of
this epidemic, when doubting Thomases ornamented every
block corner, a man by the name of Lempk, who lived
on Hart street, and who had nursed the old German emi-
grant who died with the disease at the Watjen resi-
dence, on Water street, in a brick house opposite the Ameri-
can hotel (now La Plante House), was taken ill. He was
an Odd Fellow, and ^oble Grand John Caldwell called to
his aid an eminent French physician. Doctor John Batt}^,
then residing at Vincennes, who at once pronounced the
disease to be cholera. And then wdiat did that cholera mor-
bus president and some of the malig-ners of the young doc-
tor do ? They incontinently fied east to the springs and
elsewhere, and remained away until "the frost was on the
pumpkin, and the fodder was in the shock," fearing to face
the music of Old Vincennes sooner. This is but a brief and
softened sketch of a phase or two of the cholera epidemic,
as many laughable and tragic scenes enacted during

OLD VINCENXES. 247

that period are worthy of record. Of all the men who
abused the young physician who had boldly stood his
ground and pronounced the disease to be cholera, and who
had tried to make life unpleasant for him in the borough,
but one had the manliness and courage to make amends to
him for the wrong inflicted ; that was none other than the
noble gentleman, William J. Heberd, Sr., who came to him
and said in a frank, honorable manner : "Doctor, I had
said I would never employ you for injuring, as I conceived
you were doing, the business of our town. I find that I
was wrong, and, as a slight way of repairing the wrong in-
flicted, I now ask you to become hereafter my family physi-
cian." He kept his word, and the writer was his family
physician up to the day when he fell a corpse in Peck's
drug store, years afterward.

In conclusion of the subject of epidemics, the writer will
say that it is best for doctors to meet them squarely and
fearlessly and do their full duty, and they will l)e the bet-
ter prepared to combat them, trusting in an allwise Provi-
dence to reenforce their skill and energy. In thus meet-
ing them they will be better equipped to achieve a victory
over them. With the advanced knowledge of bacteriology
and its application in the cure of diseases, the physician of
today is more competent to stay the ravages of disease
than ever before.

Chapter XI.

MISCELLANEOUS, CONTINUED— THE PASTIME CLUB
HOUSE.

AMOI^G the old buildings of pretentions character,
erected nearly three-quarters of a century ago, situ-
ated on Second street, between Busseron and Broad-
way, is the old Ellis mansion, constructed of sandstone
and brick, with massive stone columns supporting the roof
of the vestibule, the floor and steps of which are of like
material, the product of a quarry situated some distance
above the city on the banks of the Wabash river. Another
old building, of like character, now nearly, if not wholly,
hidden from view by the buildings erected in front of it,
is the building of the Vincennes branch of the old State
Bank of Indiana, whose pillars were razed, following the
sale of the property, and worked into stepping stones, which
may yet be seen in many parts of the city. The old Ellis
mansion is fittingly occupied by the Pastime Club, a social
society organized December 4, 1885, and incorporated De-
cember 23, 1889. The charter members numbered fifty,
who were among the leading citizens. The first officers
were: Robert B. Jessup, President; Mason J. Niblack,
Vice-President; H. J. Foulks, Secretary; E. J. Julian,
Treasurer ; Board of Directors : C. B. Kessinger, P. M.
O'Donnell, E. P. Busse, B. B. Jessup, Jr., and H. J.
Foulks. The club has prospered and enjoys an enviable
reputation. The society offers pleasant social opportuni-

-248—

OLD VINCENNES. 249

ties through the latest papers and magazines, innocent
games at cards, billiards and music, to its members; and
invited guests, both at home and from abroad, have spent
most delightful "past times" there.

The present officers are: E. J. Julian, President; Ger-
ard Reiter, Vice-President; W. J. Freeman, Secretary;
H. V. Somes, Treasurer, and Guy McJimsey, Sergeant-
at-Arms. The membership of the club is limited to 150.

THE FORTNIGHTLY CLUB.

This is strictly a ladies' literary association, and was
organized at the residence of Mrs. Helen B. Bayard, No-
vember 11, 1881. The membership was limited to fifty
originally, but subsequently was increased to sixty. Tag
first officers were: President, Mrs. Helen B. Bayard;
Secretary, Mrs. Alice J. Clark. Other members present at
the organization were: Mrs. Ellen Gould, Miss Lloyd
Allen, Mrs. E. A. Bryan, Miss Ray Berry, Miss Sabra
Gather, Mrs. Ruth Davenport, Miss Katharine McElvaine,
Miss Clara DeWolf, Miss Anna DeWolf, Miss Ida Lusk,
Mrs. John Steven Horton, Mrs. Reuben G. Moore, Miss
Albertine Moore and Mrs. William Glover. The society
was incorporated by the following members, June 23,
1901 : Mrs. Helen B. Bayard, Miss Katharine McElvaine,
Miss Clara DeWolf, Miss Alics J. Clark, Miss Ida Lusk,
Mrs. J. S. Horton, Mrs. R. G. Moore and Miss Albertine
Moore. The present officers are : President, Mrs. M. A.
Bosworth ; Vice-President, Mrs. Alexander ; Secretary,
Mrs. Albert Shepard ; Treasurer, Mrs. Charles Bierliaus ;
Executive Committee: Miss Lusk, Mrs. Doctor Man-
chester, Mrs. H. B. Bayard, Miss McElvaine and Mrs. M.
A. Bosworth.

250 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

COLUMBIA READING CLUB.

The St. Francis Xavier Reading Clnb, a branch of the
National Columbia Reading Club, whose headquarters
are in New York City, is a literary society, and was organ-
ized in January, 1890, at the residence of Mrs. Helen
Burk Bayard, with the following officers : President, Mrs.
William Berry ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. Helen B.
Bayard ; Directors, Mrs. J. B. La Plante, Miss Katharine
Green and Miss Anna Flynn. This society contained orig-
inally eighteen active members. Subsequent to its organ-
ization it combined with its labors benevolent work and
has recently undertaken the noble labor of building a hos-
pital for general use in this city. Through the indefatigable
efforts of its members and the aid of the public their funds
for the hospital have gone beyond the thousand dollar mark.
Their idea in assuming this herculean task of love and
mercy was to honor and perpetuate the memories of Gen-
eral G«orge Rogers Clark, who, through his strategy, skill
and indomitable will secured the great jSTorthwest to- the
Union from the British Government, and Father Pierre
Gibault, who rendered General Clark invaluable services
in giving him information and winning over the French
inhabitants to the American cause. Each one of these dis-
tinguished and noble patriots deserve imperishable monu-
ments erected to their memory in this city.

Through the vicissitudes of time this society's numbers
have fallen to fourteen. The present officers are: Presi-
dent, Mrs. J. B. La Plante ; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss
Clementine Weisert ; Directors, Mrs. Schuyler Beard, Mrs.
John D. LaCroix and Mrs. Helen B. Bayard.

OLD VINCENNES. 251

TALACE CLUB.

The Palace Club was organized March 1, 1897, with a
list of sixtj^-one subscribers, when the following officers
were chosen : President, A. G. Meisa ; Vice-President,
H. G. C. Pornil ; Secretary, F. W. Tweitmeyer ; Treasurer,
E. H. Frigge; Sergeant-at-Arnis, TI. J. Piel. The char-
acter of this institution is social and literary, and offers
a pleasant retreat for young gentlemen when not engaged
in business. Its reading room is supplied with journals
and magazines, current literature, and a piano for exer-
cise in miisical compositions. Other rooms are fitted up
for liilliards and lighter games, for amusement to while
away idle hours, and for rest to the mind after weary hours
of absorbing, wearing toil, battling with the problems of
life. This association has proven a success, as its influence
has been elevating in its tendency and character, and leads
to the higher walks of life.

The club is domiciled in a pleasant, commodious luiild-
ing, on the corner of Hart and Second streets, and ac-
cessible to all parts of the city by the street railway. The
present officers are as follows: President, C. F. Scheid ;
Vice-President, TI. G. Aliller; Secretary, H. F. IToifmau ;
Treasurer, J. L. Baker ; Sergeant-at-iVrms, W. C. Techner ;
Directors, Ed. H. Frigge, L. E. Thuis, H. 'N. Rellcr.
Present membership, forty-four.

252 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

AMERICAN HOTEL.

The site of the present La Plante Hotel, on the corner of
Main and Water streets, was formerly oecupied by the
American Hotel, which hostelry was conducted by Mr.
John C. Clark, from about 1825 to 1852. One of his
daughters, Mrs. Sheridan Isaacs, is living in Edmund,
Oklahoma, and many of his grandchildren, prominent in
society, are residing here. It was the leading hotel in the
town for many years. Shortly after the writer came to this
city, in 1849, the wife of the landlord was thrown from her
buggy, on the country road between this town and Law-
renceville. 111., and fatally hurt. She was as genial and
pleasant a lady as the writer ever met. While the writer
was eating supper at the hotel, one evening during the sum-
mer of 1849, a full grown deer, supposedly being chased by
hounds, jumped over the yard fence, facing Main street,
ran back through the premises, leaped the back fence and
fled beyond the city limits. This episode served to demon-
strate the fact tliat^ game was plentiful about the town in
those days. This old hotel corner was a memorable spot
to old inhabitants who resided here fifty years ago, by rea-
son of its having been the scene of a conflagration. It was
the site of a store, occupied by John D. Hay, a merchant
who emigrated hither in the year 1803, who was one of
Governor Harrison's troops at the battle of Tippecanoe.
This corner was the principal public place in the city, and
whenever the militia mustered, which they frequently did
in early years, they made their best maneuvers in front of
the old American Hotel, as is shown in the illustration. On
an elevated porch, at the side of the building on Water

254 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

street, can be seen an elderly gentleman, "Deacon" Taylor,
with little Lanra, a child of the landlord, in his arms. This
occnrrence took place more than sixty years ago. Waller
Taylor was a Major in Harrison's army at the battle of
Tippecanoe, and w^as at the side of Colonel Joe Daviess
and Thomas Randolph Avhcn they fell mortally wonnded ;
he was the one who had these two gallant patriots bnried
side by side ; and he it was who cnt their initials on the side
of the tree nnder which they found their last resting place,
in order that the spot might be known if fntnre occasion
required. Randolph was a cousin of the celebrated John
Randolph, of Roanoke, Va. Major Taylor was chosen one
of the first United States Senators who went from Indi-
ana, upon its admission to the Union in 1816.

The old hotel was located within a block, and on the
north of where the old fort stood, and commanded the
Main street ferry landing on the Wabash river, and was
at one time headquarters for merchants and traders from
all parts of the country.

PRISON.

During the first period of our (Jivil Government, prisons
and jails were used not only to incarcerate criminals, but
for the imprisonment of debtors ; however, the latter class
were not exactly incarcerated in the jails, but were con-
fined to certain boundaries, beyond which they were not
permitted to go. In 1808 an order was passed that,' "no
objection being made by the creditors, and the debtor mak-
ing oath that he possessed neither personal or real property,
he should be released," and then and there imprisonment
for debt was accordingly abolished in the Territory. The

OLD VINCENNES. . 355

records disclose a description of one of these "debtm-'s lim-
its," as it were, and it is a curiosity and nniqne, to say the
least, and is worthy of mention here. It reads as follows:
"Befiinning" at low water mark on the Wabash, on the
street between Antoine Maricliall and Margaret Game-
lin's ; thence down said street to the lower corner of James
Purcell's; thence up to St. Louis street; thence up said
street, including the same, to the corner of John Ochil-
tree's house, next tO' Thomas ('oulter's; thence up the
street, between Coulter's and Ochiltree's to James Krelly's
lot ; from thence to the corner of the lot opposite the widow
Brouillette's ; thence down that street leading to 11. Van-
derburg's, to the place of beginning, including the
streets." It is supposed the delinquent debtors knew the
deviations of the boundaries outlined and governed them-
selves accordingly.

Criminal prisoners were first incarcerated in the case-
mate at Fort Knox, and later on in a temporary jail until
a permanent structure was erected in 1803, on the corner
of Third and Buntin streets, wliere the residence of B.
Kuliu now stands. Robert Slaughter was placed in this jail
for the murder of Joseph Harbin, and was executed in
1805, it being the first execution under the civil rule.

LTpon the removal of the court house to its present loca-
tion, a new jail and residence for the sheriff was built on
the northwest corner of the court square, on Seventh
street.

256 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

OLD COTTON FACTORY.

One of the notable buildings still standing is the Old
Cotton Factory, erected by David S. Bonner about the year
1825. The building has withstood the storms of time and
the vandalism of man, and after passing through many
and varied vicissitudes, still stands a monument to the
enterprise of its builder, after the lapse of nearly a cen-
tury of time. It stands on the half -square facing southwest,
on Bamett street, between Second and Third streets.

Many of the present generation, now resident in this
city, are unaware of the fact that not only cotton manu-
factures, but the cultivation of the staple itself, were
among the important industries of this place at one time.
One of our old citizens, Mr. Elbridge Gardner, now passed
into the eighties, informed the writer that one of the pretti-
est cotton patches he ever saw was on the lot now occupied
by the Vincennes University. He said that the white
bursting from the bolls of the densely set green plants was
a beautiful sight, and it made a lasting impression on his
mind that can be eradicated only by death.

Cotton raising, spinning and weaving were the order of
the day at one time in this town, and were the chief in-
dustries of the people. But as the Sovith became settled
and greater yields of the fleecy staple were reported from
that section of the country, in connection with the increased
facilities for manufacturing in the East, the old factory's
spindles and looms were diverted to the manufacture of
woolen goods. In later years the building ceased alto-
gether to be used for its original purpose, and became the
domicile of the !N^ovelty Manufacturing Company, by

1171

258 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

which industry it was used until the erection of its own
present building, on the outskirts of the city, to the west
and near the river, and on the site where George Rogers
Clark maneuvered when about to attack Fort Sackville
in "ye olden tyme." The Old Cotton Factory building is
now being utilized as a general storage room.

Mr, Bonner, the builder of the Old Cotton Factory,
erected a large three-story brick building on the corner of
Second and Main streets, using the lower roi^ms for stores
(and for which purpose they are still used), more than
three-quarters of a century ago, and yet, today this build-
ing is in a good state of preservation.

BONNER MANSION.

What is now known as the Allen House, corner of Fifth
and Main streets, and owned and occupied by Mrs. Sallie
Allen, widow of the late Colonel C. M. Allen, Sr,, a distin-
guished attorney of this city and who contributed much to
its growth during his life, was built by David S. Bonner,
about the year 1840, which was then considered the finest
and costliest house in the town. The building sets back
thirty feet from the street, the premises originally occupy-
ing a quarter of a block and are today adorned by beautiful
shade trees of maple and European linden of forty-five
years' growth. This house is three stories in height, exclu-
sive of basement, and is embellished with a large portico,
rising above the basement, with sandstone floor and steps,
supporting large ornamental fluted columns, which in turn
support the roof of the portico. The building is command-
ing in appearance, contains a large hallway with large airy
rooms opening intO' the same, and the ceilings are unusu-

OLD VINCENNES. 259

ally high. Although three-quarters of a century old, it
looks as if, with care, it would withstand the corroding ele-
ments of time for another three-quarters of a century.

MOUNDS.

It has been said when Vincennes was first settled, that on
its site was a large mound and that it contained a vault in
which skeletons of human beings were found closely packed
together. As no authentic evidence can be found of this
mound, it is presumed the report originated when the orig-
inal burying-place of the Catholic church was changed.
Then skeletons were found, after excavations were made,
when they were given new sepulture.

However this may be, there are three notable mounds
in the vicinity of the city that are deemed worthy of record.
They are doubtless many centuries old, as the composition
of them would indicate from the strata, as many years
must have elapsed while they were being built; and these
strata may have marked eras in their formation. The
names given to these mounds are "Pyramidal Mound,"
"Sugar Loaf Mo mid" and "Terraced Mound." The di-
mensions of Pyramidal Mound are, from east to west three
hundred feet and from north to south one hundred and
fifty feet. The area of the level summit is fifteen by fifty
feet, and it is fifty-seven feet high. Sugar Loaf Mound is
two hundred and sixteen feet by one hundred and eighty
feet, and has a heig-ht of forty-four feet. The Terraced
Mound is the largest one, having a diameter at its base of
three hundred and sixty feet, from east to west, and two
hundred and eighty feet from north to south ; its altitude is
sixty-seven feet. There is a winding path to the summit,

260 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

which commands a beautiful view of the city and the
surrounding country for many miles in Indiana and across
the river into Illinois. The purpose for which these
mounds w^ere made is only conjectural. They may have
been intended for points of observation.

The strata of these mounds are composed of alternate
layers of sand, charcoal and bones. Or, as these mounds
seem to be centrally located and much larger than adjacent
ones in this county, and those in adjoining counties, they
may have been the theater of ceremonials indulged in by
congregated hosts of a great confederacy once existing in
this part of the l^orthwest. The exploration of them and
the results achieved do not warrant the conclusion that
they were simply places of sepultvire. And yet who knows
what their deepest depths might reveal? But for what
purpose they were designed and made will likely be to the
end of time an unsolved problem. The unique character
of them, containing the elements of methodical purpose,
conspires to invite a close and exhaustive examination by
the antiquarian.

Chapter XII.

GOVERNOR WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON'S RESIDENCE,

HIS POWWOW WITH TECUMSEH, AND HIS

TIPPECANOE CAMPAIGN.

THIS old territorial house has been a prolific theme of
romances of writers. Traveling correspondents
have viewed it from a passing railroad train, gained
a little misinformation, and forthwith indited lengthy arti-
cles giving minute descriptions, often with an engraving of
the house, as veritable historv, when in fact much of their
lucubrations were but fictions. Some writers have told of
a subterranean passage leading from the house to the river
— under a "bluff;" others of a magazine in the basement
for storing munitions of war, and a dungeon for the safe-
keeping of criminals and prisoners of war ; and of a council
chamber where the Territorial solons met to discuss grave
matters of state ; and loopholes for sharpshooters to use in
case of an attack by Indians, etc.

It seems timely that the fictions relating to the building
should be brushed aside and the light of truth turned on
it. With this end in view I have availed myself of all the
facts of current histories and from a few aged people who
yet survive, that were born in the city in the early part of
this century and are possessed of facts observed and tra-
ditions handed down to them from their ancestors, to get
all the information I could relating thereto and now submit
the same.

-261-

sV.to.'^^ - -^ ' •

GOVERNOR W. H. HARRISON'S RESIDENCE, BUILT IN 1804.

OLD VINCENNES. 263

General William Henry Harrison, having been appoint-
ed Governor of Indiana Ten-itor)^, arrived in Vincennes
in the spring of 1801. There being no suitable building
for himself and family to occupy, on his arrival, it is re-
corded and generally believed, that Colonel Francis Vigo,
a wealthy and stanch friend of the Government, who
had just completed a fine frame house near the center of
the block on Second street, v/here the opera building now
stands, tendered his house to General Harrison for his
occupancy until a suitable residence could be obtained or
built, but the latter refused to accept any but the large
parlor. It is not known whether he continued to remain
in this building until his own was completed or not, the
same being contracted for in 1805, but not completed imtil
1806. The main building is a two-story brick, with base-
ment, square on three sides, being oval on the west side,
facing the Hiver Wabash and is located inland about 600
feet ; there being a gradual descent from it to the bank.

By one historian its cost is said to have been $20,000,
a sum probably in keeping with the cost of skilled labor
and material used to construct it, prevailing at that early
day on the border of civilization. The walls of the base-
ment are twenty-four inches thick, the upper ones eighteen
inclies ; it has been stated that the brick of which it was
built were imported from Pittsburgh, but it is a generally
agi-eed fact that they were manufactured a few miles east
of the city by the Thompson Brothers, one of the party
being the grandfather of our fellow-citizen, Samuel Thomp-
son, they receiving for their labor two half sections of land.
The doors, sash, mantels and stairs were either made at
Chillicothe, O., or Pittsburgh, Pa., it being a matter of

2G4 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

dispute as to the place where they were manufactured. Be
that as it may, the material was of walnut and its work-
manship in the. highest style of art of that day and will
compare favorably with that of the most costly residences
of the present time. The timbers of the house are twice
the dimensions of those used in modem buildings, giving
it a most substantial character. Between the flooring and
joists there is a three or four inch thickness of a mortar
composed of straw and clay to deaden sounds. The base-
ment contains a dining-room, a kitchen in which hangs
the old fashioned crane of Colonial times ; a storeroom, one
seemingly built for a detention cell, without a window,
supposedly for unruly servants, and four servants' living
rooms. There is no evidence existing to show that there
was a subterranean passage from the basement to the river
under the "bluff," and there is no evidence to indicate
that a bluff ever existed at or near the house, as has been
printed. The underground passage is therefore as myth-
ical as the alleged "bluff." I have been somewhat familiar
with the mansion and premises for nearly fifty years, hav-
ing had patients in it when it was used as a boarding house
by James Gatton and having recently talked with his sur-
viving widow, who was at an early date familiar witli every
nook and corner in the building for years, and I can not
obtain any tangible evidence that a subterranean passage
ever existed leading from the building. And as to the
alleged portholes, in the basement, through which small
cannons might be fired at attacking forces, no evidence
exists, and the only opening observable are the windows
used for light and ventilation. The storeroom is doubt-
less the one alluded to by a recent historical contributor

OLD VINCENNES. 265

who said, ''Another room was a wine cellar. The Harri-
sons were good livers and were surrounded hy French
settlers who were experts in wine making." The inference
to be drawn from this statement is that Vincennes, at an
early date, boasted of its splendid vineyards; but if it pos-
sessed them, neither history nor tradition leave us any au-
thentic record of the same. Fifty years ago there were
not more than a few hundred grapevines cultivated in the
country, and these were of the Catawba variety and existed
only in a few gardens, Judge John Moore and Honorable
Cy. Poullet having the most. Besides, this grape makes
only an indifferent sour wine and is now quite out of date.
Frenchmen and wine-growing experts are not quite syn-
onymous ; and if that class of people here were experts in
wine-making, and the country once contained fine vine-
yards, the process has Ix'come a lost art and, as Ex-Presi-
dent CUeveland would say, it has fallen into "inocuous
desuetude." The same authority says that "in it (the
wine room of the mansion) was stored, for several years,
all the Territorial powder, bullets and flint-lock and smooth
bore rifles and other weapons of defense." The idea or
thought of any man making his domicile over a magazine,
where combustibles were stored, which might be exploded
at any time, by accident or design, is too incongruous for
belief and too horrible to contemplate. What was the fort
for but to contain stores, munitions of war and soldiers to
uje the same when neoded I On the first floor, above the
basement, is a connnodious hallway communicating with
rooms adjoining and with ones above by an easy, broad
Stairway of the finest make and finish. On entering the
hall, the first room to the left is tlie parlor, having been

2GQ HISTORICAL SKETCHES

incorrectly, I think, called council chamber. It is spa-
cious, its dimensions being 32|x22^ feet, with a thirteen
foot ceiling ; the west wall being oval in form and facing
the river. This room was doubtless the Governor's re-
ception room, and where he often entertained many guests,
who were then, or became distinguished and historical per-
sonages in after times ; but it is not to be supposed, or is it
probable, that this room was ever used for Territorial
legislative purposes. All of the other rooms are spacious
and finished in the same high style of art of that period.
Inside and outside shutters or blinds were fitted to all the
windows, of the same walnut material and finish. A slat,
in one of the shutters in a room facing the south, about
five feet above the floor, has a bullet hole in it, said to have
been the result of a ball fired from a gun by an Indian one
night, with the intent of assassinating the Governor, while
he was walking the room with his little son in his arms.
Its sight calls up pictures and memories of the savage past,
and the perils that our forefathers underwent at that early
period. The house contains a total of twenty-one rooms
exclusive of the garret, which, although never finished,
commands some beautiful natural pictures from its out-
look, which those of aesthetic tastes would enjoy if viewed
therefrom. There are two verandas, one attached to the
side of the building facing the east, and the other to the
front, looking southwest ; and it was in front of this portico,
under the shade of some trees a hundred and fifty feet
away, that Harrison and Tecumseh, the noted warrior
chief, held their exciting and memorable pow-wow. Just at
this point in the history of the old building it would seem
pertinent to advert to the circumstances that led up to the

OLD VINCENNES. 267

holding of the council. Evidences had been manifested
that the adjacent tribes of Indians were ill at ease and dis-
posed to turbulence and attacks. The Shawnee village, lo-
cated near where LaFayette now is, and where the battle
of Tippecanoe was fought, was under the control of the
Prophet, a brother of Tecumseh and the recognized spirit-
ual leader of that and adjacent tribes; and to his machina-
tions the disturbances were attributed. Early in the year
of 1811 Governor Harrison, with a view to ascertaining
the cause of the dissatisfaction of the Prophet and, if pos-
sible, pacify him, deputed one of. his most sagacious and
trusty advisers, with a competent interpreter, t<3 hold a
council with him and his chiefs, embracing his brother
warrior chief, Tecumseh. It is learned from history that
these gentlemen arrived at the village one evening and were
received in an apparently friendly manner by the Prophet
and assigiied a tent for the night, with an agreed appoint-
ment for a council the next morning. It is said the
Prophet's wife was considered a queen among the Indian
women, as well as by her husband. Before retiring for
the night the interpreter observed an unusual stir among
the squaws, and motions made toward their tent, and
caught menacing glances and gestures toward them, and
so told the ambassador, but he made light of the matter and
the interpreter's suspicions that treachery Avas intended,
and when night came he was soon asleep in peace and quiet.
But not so with the vigilant interpreter, who kept awake,
and had his guns near at hand. About midnight a tap was
heard at the door and his name, in the Shawnee language,
was called. He found Tecumseh at the door. He had
called to warn him of impending assassination by the

268 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Queen and squaws, wliO' had held a council and determined
on their death in spite of the protests of himself and
others, who told them it would be base treachery to kill
messengers of peace, who were their visitors. He told the
visitors to rise and go with him. They went silently
through the village and down into a wooded ravine near the
river, when a noise was made, as if to call wild turkeys,
sounds well recognized by all hunters in early days; an
answer was returned, and soon two men appeared with
the ambassador's horses, which they speedily mounted and
rode swiftly away, accompanied by the two guides fur-
nished by Tecumseh, and were soon well on their return
trip to Vincennes. Although Tecumseh hated the whites
and would have delighted to slay them in battle, he was
too brave and noble in character himself to permit his fol-
lowers to commit cold-blooded murder, and so the messen-
gers of the Governor were saved from a cruel death by his
foresight and magnanimity. Subsequently the Governor
sent word to the Prophet to send Tecumseh and other chiefs
to meet him in council with a view to establishing lasting
friendly relations; and about the 1st of August following
Tecumseh appeared in the vicinity of Vincennes, and sent
word to the Governor he would meet him in council. One
account placed his followers at three hundred ; other ac-
counts of his arrival placed the number at less than one
hundred. The latter doubtless approximates the correct
number of warriors who accompanied him. The Governor
appointed the following day for the meeting. In the
meantime he notified his friends, and a company of sol-
diers, to be present as a guard, and having placed another
hundred fully equipped in his parlor, to meet contingen-

OLD VINCENNES. 269

cies, should the council prove treacherous and l)ec(inie bel-
ligerent, he proceeded to have seats placed in a grove front-
ing the residence, about two hundred feet away. By meas-
urement and calculation I find the room fully large enough
to contain the secreted company. At the appointed time
Tecumseh arrived and found the Governor seated on one
of the benches, prepared for the council, and some histo-
rians say that he extend(^d to the chief a cordial greeting,
inviting him to take a seat beside or near him, saying to
him it was the wish of the Great Father, the President of
the United States, that he should do so. Tecumseh, it is
said, glancing around at the soldiers drawn up near by,
looked furtively at Harrison and then, looking upward,
said : ''My Father ! The Sun is my father, the Earth is
my mother, and on her bosom I will recline;" and, so say-
ing, cast himself on the green sward. Whether tliis grand-
iloquent speech was actually uttered by the Indian chief,
or was the emanation of some ardent admirer of him, will
never be known ; however, there are reasons to doubt its
reality. But, as the reputed episode is a pretty conceit, for
that reason it should maintain a place in the history of
the transaction. Yet as to the main facts about what oc-
curred at the meeting and its locality, there can be but little
doubt, as ample testimony exists to establish the point at
issue to any reasonable seeker after truth. What occurred
at this meeting was related to me nearly fifty years ago by
Esquire Robert McClure, a native and a very intelligent
and observing gentleman, long since dead. He said the
council was held under the shade of some walnut trees in
front of the Harrison mansion, two hundred feet away.
He said he was a mere lad then, but he remembered not

270 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

only the place of the meeting, but many things that then
transpired. He represented the scene as dramatic from
the beginning, when Tecumseh refused to be seated by
the side of the Governor, preferring one on the green
sward. After the preliminary compliments of the actors,
Harrison told Tecumseh that he had heard that dissatis-
faction obtained with the Indians, and for that reason he
desired a conference with him, and had invited him and his
chiefs to meet him in council, in order to disabuse his mind
as to the feelings and intentions of the white settlers and
that of the Government of the United States. He said the
Government had ever been the friend of the Indians, and
had always treated them kindly and justly. In reply, Te-
cumseh, through the interpreter, Barron, told the Governor
in an excited manner that he lied ; when as quick as a flash
Harrison arose to his feet and drew his sword to resent the
insult, but his friends, surrounding him, prevented the
blow. Terrible excitement prevailed for a while, and a
general battle seemed imminent between the Indians, sol-
diers and citizens. Wlien the tumult had somewhat calmed,
the Governor summarily dismissed Tecumseh, telling him
his language was such that he would hold no further con-
versation with him ; and the chief retired with his braves
up the river to his camping ground. On the following day
Tecumseh, repenting his rashness, sent a messenger to
the Governor requesting another meeting, t^ which he ac-
ceded provided the chief would apologize for the insulting
language he had used, and come only with a few braves.
The meeting was held but the principals parted without
perfect agTeement on a peaceful basis. That the council
was held in front of the veranda looking southwest under

OLD VINCENNES. 371

some shade trees about two hundred feet away there can
be little doubt. The venerable A. B. McKee, a nono-
genarian,* told the writer that his opinion, based on infor-
mation gained from an eye witness, many years ago, is
that the meeting of Harrison and Tecumseh occurred at
the point named above, and in the shade of some walnut
trees. Mr. Vital Bouchie, a native Frenchman of this
city, now upward of ninety years old, coincides with the
opinion of Mr. McKee.

The testimony of Judge John Law, a distinguished law-
yer and an ex-member of Congi'ess from this city and con-
gressional district, who settled here in 1817, shortly after
the famous council was held, and while yet its place
and transactions were fresh in the memory of the citizens,
agrees with the two former witnesses, and should be held
as conclusive as to the locality, but he does not state the
kind of trees under which the meeting took place. In his
published history of Vincennes he says : "The council was
held in an open lawn before the Governor's house, in a
grove of trees which then surrounded it. But only two of
these, I regret to say, are now remaining." John Law's
residence for many years was only a few hundred feet
southwest of the Harrison residence.

The door in the southwest side opens into a hall which
communicates with the lower rooms and stairway ; the door
on the east side is less pretentious and communicates with
a single room ; and, hence, it must be concluded that the
front of the house faced southward, looking in the direction
of the locality where the pow-wow^ was held, as that was
"before the Governor's house."

'Recently died,

272 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

On my arrival in this city a little more than fifty years
ago, I remember to have noticed two trees, which were al-
luded to by Judge Law. In that year the title to the Harri-
son premises passed to B. C. Armstrong, who, it was said,
during his brief ownership of the property, acted the van-
dal, in slaying the historical and other trees merely for
firewood, when fuel could have been then purchased for
about one dollar per cord prepared for immediate use. The
spot having been verified where the conference took place,
I sought to ascertain the character of the trees, and, with
that object in view, I visited the present owner of the
property, and asked him if he had ever seen any evidence
of a grove of trees about where his paper mill stands. His
reply was that, in clearing away and leveling the ground,
preparatory to erecting the buildings, the stumps of three
trees were noticed forming a triangle, being about forty or
fifty feet apart. A pick was obtained and the stump of a
tree was found just in front of his office, fifteen feet away ;
in a moment it was laid bare, and parts of two of the roots
were unearthed and broken off. The roots were sawed in
twain to observe the color and character of the grain. Those
present pronounced the roots to be walnut timber. An ex-
pert dealer in woods, Mr. Heathcote Mcllvaine, had a like
opinion, and, in cleaning them of clinging sand, the dark
walnut stain, a crucial test, was in evidence so abundantly
as to turn the water to ink black color.

Hence I think it follows, from the evidence adduced,
that the location of the spot where the famous Harrison-
and Tecumseh council was held, and the character of the
grove have been clearly and fully demonstrated.

OLD VINCENNES. 273

Tlie <tl<;l iiiaiisioii, under the light of truth, will lose none
of its beauties and fascinations by dispelling- from it the
nebulie of gauzy fables, thrown antund it by fancy-weav'-
ing. peripatetic corres])< indents. It is a historical relic
which has an intrinsic value of its own^ and needs no
veneering or furbishing to make it ever dear to those who
cherish memories of the fading past. As a matter of his-
tory, pertinent in this connection, and a result of this fa-
mous council which cidminated in the battle of Tippecanoe
and the final overthrow of the Prophet's and Tecumseh's
power in Indiana Territory, it would l)e well to state the
main point of the controversy which led up to it. Some
time previous the Government had made treaties and pur-
chased lands from some of the Indian tribes. Tecumseh
claimed that a confederacy existed, of the varioiis tribes,
and that neither one could alienate its lamls without the
consent of the whole. Governor Harrison dissented from
the contentions of the chief, and hence a peaceful under-
standing was impossible. So at the conclusion of the second
council Tecumseh and ahout twenty braves started south
in their canoes down the i'i\-cr. Before coming to Vincennes
it is said he had exacted a promise from his brother, the
Prophet, that he would not engage in a war with the whites
in his absence. Harrison, suspecting that Tecumseh's trip
south boded evil (and it so turned out that his mission was
afterward learned to be to form alliances with the tribes
along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers), deter-mined, after
considering the outcome of the council, and the preceding
episode, when his ambassador to Prophet town barely es-
ca])ed assassination, to jircpare for a visit to the Prophet
and secure an amicable or an enforced peace, if needs be,

[18]

274 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

by battle. Before starting to the Tippecanoe village, he re-
ceived accessions to his little army from Kentucky, aug-
menting it to about seven hundred efficient men. Being
thus prepared to cope with any hostile force he would likely
encounter, he left for the Tippecanoe village about Octo-
ber 1, stopping at Terre Haute to build a fort (naming it
Fort Harrison), after which he proceeded north on his
mission, arriving at the mouth of Vermillion creek October
31, where he built a block-house for the reception and pro-
tection of stores.

On the night of JSTovember 6 he arrived in tlie vicinity
of the village, still maintaining a friendly demeanor to-
ward the Indians, and, meeting the Prophet's ambassadors,
assured them of his peaceful intentions, and a council was
agreed on, to be held the next day. That night passed off
quietly until 4 o'clock a. ni. (if the Ttli, when his forces were
attacked without warning, and the battle of Tippecanoe
was fought, against odds (the Indians numbering eight
hundred and on their chosen ground), and won, breaking
tlie power forever of the Indians in this part of the West,
and bringing peace to the long suffering settlers. Tecum-
seh, returning from the South after the battle, was so cha-
grined that he went N^orth and joined the English, and
was slain in the battle of River Kaisin.

The vicissitudes through which the old mansion has
passed, during the j_,ast seventy-five years, have been many
and varied. After the Harrisons left it, the building was
used as a dwelling, as a school house, warehouse for storing
grain, and for a hotel, and much of the time it remained
unoccupied, and was a great resorting place for imagina-
tive, idle youths, fond of adventure, who, amid the dark

OLD VINCENNES. 275

labyrinthian cellars, conjured up spooks and subterraneous
passages, upon which they could dilate upon in rehearsals
to their less favored but credulous friends.

The lands on which the Harrison residence was built
comprised lots JSTo. 1, 2, 3 and 4 in upper prairie survey,
which embraced all of the river front, from Hickman to
Hart street, running back to the Highland foot-hills, and
contained 280 acres. The ground on which the house
stands, and that constituting originally the yard, garden
and outlots, embraced all of that which is bounded by the
river on the west, Scott street on the south, by Park on the
east and by what is nov' called Harrison street on the north,
this latter street being known originally as Perry. In Sep-
tember, 1815, the plat of Harrison's addition was made
and legalized by an act of the Legislature on January 3,
1817. This plat embraced that portion of the land reaching
from the river to Seventh street, then called Trotier street.
The remaining portions of this land is embraced in Coch-
ran's, ]\lalott's and Shepard's additions to the city of Vin-
cennes.

On June 26, 1821, Governor W. H. Harrison deeded
the property to his son, John Cleaves Symes Harrison.
From his estate it passed into the possession of David C.
Armstrong. He sold it to James Ewing, and he to W. E.
Pidgeon. Elavius Pidgeon inherited and sold it to the
present o^vner, Mr. Edward Shepard, who has expended
much time and money in making repairs and trying to
restore to the old mansion some of its former beauty and
attractiveness, for which all lovers of historic places and
memories of pioneer days should be truly thankful. We
hope its pristine glory may be regained and it continue to
be an interesting relic in our city for ages to come.

Chapter XIII.

FACTS AND LEGENDS-POPULATION.

HAVING often been asked about the population of
tlie town, especially in its early existence, tlie
author subjoins the following, believing it sub-
stantially sets forth the facts:

The first census recorded was taken in 1Y69.

1769. Wlien it was 69

1777. Lieutenant-Governor Edward Abbot's report

gives 250

1800. The nest report was by United States Govern-
ment: Males, 373; females, 338; slaves, 8;
total 714

1810. Males, 336; females, 329; slaves, 5; total 670

The census in the next three decades gives the town and
county together, the town being estimated at one-fifth of
the total population.

1820. Wliole county.. 5,315. Town estimated at. . 1,029.

1830. Wliole county.. 6,557. Town estimated at. . 1,311.

1840. Wliole county.. 10, 657. Town estimated at. . 2,131.

1850. Vincennes population, separately taken, was 2,070.

1860. Vincennes population, separately taken, was 3,960.

1870. Vincennes population, separately taken, was 5,438.

1880. Vincennes population, separately taken, was 7,680.

1890. Vincennes population, separately taken, was 8,850.

1900. Vincennes population, separately taken, was 10,249.

It will be observed that the increase of the population
for the four last decades has advanced with increasing

-276-

OLD VINCENNES. 277

impetus, and the increase during 1901 and 1902 will be
one hundred per cent, greater than the late preceding years,
and the outlook is promising for a greater increase in the
immediate future. Xot a house is for rent, buildings are
rapidly going up, and the population, estimated on the
school enumeration, now exceeds 12,000.

VINCENNES" FIRST THEATRE.

History tells us that a theatre was built here about the
year 1806, on the corner of Broadway and Water streets,
by John Rice Jones, an attorney, official and politician.
It was first occupied in 1807, when the play was "Drown-
ing Men Catch at Straws."* A singular coincidence hap-
pened on the evening of the opening, in the drctwning
of a citizen, Robert M. Douglas.

That a theatre should be started in this place in the long,
lone' as'o davs, environed bv the wilderness of the Xorth-
west, far away from civilization, need not be wondered at,
since all the world's a stage, as some one has said, and in
every day life people are but the actors. If this phrase
were transposed to read, 'Tn all the world there is a stage,"
the aphorism would be equally true ; as in savage and
heathen lands, people may be found acting the various
roles, from serio-comic to veritable tragic, — from the In-
dian war-dance to the refined tragedies and comedies of
modern times. Human nature is the same with all peoples
and in all climes, and the craving for recreation, novelty
and variety seems innate in the Innnan creature. "A little
nonsense now and then is relished bv the best of men ;" "All

■ History of Knox County, p. 214.

278 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," and "Variety is
the spice of life/' are axioms voiced all along upon the
waves of expressed thought. Excessive labor and serious,
prolonged study are inimical to man's terrestrial happi-
ness. The bow, long over-bent, loses its elasticity, and
ceases to respond to the light touch of the skilled archer.
After diving into serious problems of everyday life, sub-
jects of lighter vein bring rest to the mind and zest to the
passing hours.

It seems that the playwrights of the olden days did not
seize upon the episode of the raising of the first flag over
Sackville as one suitable to the times, and it was left for
others to exploit the reported act, in the play of "Alice of
Old Vincennes."

The lighter vaudeville plays were in vogue in rural dis-
tricts in those early days.

Evolution has wrought some changes in the character of
them, but light comedy roles will continue to be favor-
ites with the masses as long as a good, hearty laugh is en-
joyed.

It is a singular fact that the present McJimsey's
(Green's) Theatre should occupy an adjoining lot to the
first one, built nearly a century ago.

THE OLD FERRY.

One of the oldest and most important institutions of the
city sixty years ago was the ferry. Originally the canoe
was the chief mode by which the citizens crossed the Wa-
bash, but, very early in the nineteenth century, a way was
devised far superior to the canoe or pirouge, in ease, celer-
ity, safety and accommodation, as horses, carriages and

OLD VINCENNES. 279

stock of all kinds could be transported by a boat propelled
bv self-adjusting apparatus, which created a water power.
The first license for a ferry was granted to Colonel Francis
Vigo, February 16, 1805, "from his land on the north-
west side of the Wabash river and opposite to the town of
Vincennes, across the said river."* There were two ferries
three-quarters of a century ago^ — one at the foot of Main
street and the other at the foot of Broadway street. These
boats were probably forty feet in length and ten feet wide ;
the sides were of single pieces of broad, thick timbers,
shaped at the ends like a canoe, with flat bottom of thick
planks. The machinery of the motive power was simple,
but not very easily described. A buoy was anchored a hun-
dred or more feet above the track of the boat, in the middle
of the stream, to which a stovit wire cable was attached,
running from the center of the boat ; another wire was at-
tached to the one up stream, one end being unattached,
reaching to the boat, which could be changed to either end.
A broad movable plank was connected at each end, on the
upper side, which could be lowered below the boat, or raised
to the surface of the water, at will, by a lever. By heading
one end of the boat up stream, and shortening the loose
reversible wire, keeping it taut, and lowering the plank at
the other end, the current of the stream gave impetus to
the boat and carried it silently and swiftly to the opposite
shore. The return trip was made as quickly by a reversal
of the appliances.

Esquire James Gibson kept the lower ferry and Esquire
Thomas Bailey ran the Broadway street ferry. The latter
lived on the opposite side of the river, just below the B.

'•'Indiana Territorial Journal, p. 126.

280 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

& O. S, W. railway bridge, opposite Hart street, in a brick
house. Tradition tells of an amusing episode, with a tragic
side, connected with the latter ferryman. Being a widower,
Bailey took it into his head to get himself a second better
half.

In those days charivaris were common following wed-
dings with widowers, and especially so with those who mar-
ried again before the conventional time had elapsed after
the death of their consorts. If the groom in this case had
violated custom it is not known, but if he had, he perhaps
had heard of that precedent set by Father Whitaker, a
rather eccentric and celebrated Methodist circuit rider,
which had occurred about this time in Kentucky.

Father Wliitaker was blessed with a good-sized family
of small children, and, having had the misfortune of losing
his helpmeet, and his labor of circuit rider taking him
from home a great deal of his time, when his little family
were left without protection or help, he concluded it was
his duty to take unto himself a "better half" who could
look after their wants in his absence, remembering, no
doubt, the divine injunction, '"He who will not provide for
his household is worse than an infidel." So in a very short
time after the demise of Mrs. W. he found a good Samari-
tan woman who was willing to share his troubles and joys
with him, and they were married. Some of the sisters and
brothers of the church Avere shocked at the hastiness of the
preacher, and, when Conference next met, he was cited to
appear and show cause for his unseemly behavior, which
was calculated to bring scandal on his church. When ar-
raigned by the prosecutor for his action, Brother Whitaker
pleaded, first, that he was compelled to be absent from his

OLD VINCENNES. 281

helpless children while serving his church much of the
time, who needed care; second, that he was too poor to
hire a housekeeper, and, lastly, that "Sookev Honey" was
just as dead in three weeks as she would be in three years.

These arguments appealed with such force that convic-
tion was out of the question, and the brother was g-iven a
clean bill of acquittal.

So, on the eventful evening, while the bridal party was
at the height of its enjoyment, some French boys crossed
over to the house to give the groom and bride the usual
charivari. Becoming too annoying, the gTOom introduced
his old fowling piece and fired into the midst of the revel-
ers. Although none were seriously injured by the charge,
the merrymakers became incensed, recrossed the river and
procured an old smooth-bore cannon, loaded with powder
and ball, and, placing it in position, blazed away at the
house of the groom. A truce was then declared, a protocol
signed, and the white-winged dove of peace again hovered
over the crystal waters of the Wabash, the dance was
resumed, and the bridal festivities proceeded without fur-
ther disturbance.

THE PRIMEVAL CONVEYANCE.

The memor)' of the oldest inhabitant, nor even tra-
dition, runneth back to the time when the old "French
cart," the primitive mode of conveyance, first made its ad-
vent in Vincennes. It was unique in its character and ap-
pearance, and its model may have been one of the relics
saved from I^oah's ark, which rested on Ararat at the sub-
sidence of the flood. This cart was the first mode of con-
veyance introduced to lessen the burthens of the French
pioneers, soon after the first settlement of the village, in

282 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

1732. The present two-wheeled cart and old gig have some
resemblance to its size, shape and capacity, save that its
body was of gTcater size, and it was uncovered and un-
seated. It seems to have been designed by its patentee, if
its originator could be so called, to act as a family carriage,
as well as a truck and wood carrier. When used as a car-
riage, chairs and stools were set in it for the occupants,
which could be removed when a load of corn or wood was
to be hauled. Its composition was entirely of wood, in-
cluding wheels, body and shafts, and the Canadian pony,
its motor power, was rigged with a bridle and harness of
ropes. In reference to this old mode of conveyance. Judge
Law, in his article describing worshippers coming from
church, has this to say : "On 'fast' days might be seen the
patriarch of his flock, with blanket capot, a blue cotton
handkerchief around his head, with a pipe in his mouth,
and with his family seated in chairs, in his untired cart,
w^hich had never known the use of iron, drawn by a Cana-
dian pony, and conveying his generation, as his fathers be-
fore him had done in theirs," etc.

The use of this cart and its equipment obtained, with
slight alteration, up to the middle of the nineteenth cen-
tury, and its appearance is embalmed in the writer's first
recollections of the Vincennes of fifty years ago. Just when
it made its first appearance and its final exit is not exactly
known, but, like many other things and customs, it gave
way in the evolution of time, to something better and more
in accordance with the thought and genius of the age. The
old ox cart followed "the one-horse shay" ; next, the light
two-horse wagon, and that by the ponderous six-horse
wagon, with top ribbed and covered, not very unlike a
river schooner. These wagons were the carriers of goods

OLD VINCENNES. 283

from the mercantile depots, which obtained until the mid-
dle of the past century, when they gave Avay to the iron
horse and cars. And now steam seems to be gradually giv-
ing way to the mightier motor power, electricity. As to the
advance in the construction of wheeled conveyances, in-
cluding the newcomer, the automobile, the writer would
say that half a century ago there were only two or three
carriages, and not exceeding half a dozen buggies in the
town, horseback and wagons being the almost universal
mode of land conveyance. jSTow every family has its car-
riage or buggy, and even the old French patriarch drives
to the city from his country seat in his landau behind a
span of blooded thoroughbreds.

THE DONOVAN BOULDER LEGEND.

Though not a President of the United States, Jefferson
Davis was elected President of one portion of our country,
which was called for a while "The Southern Confederacy,"
and was quite an able and notable man. In early life he
was a Lieutenant in the American Army, and while in the
service of his country tradition says he was stationed at
Post Vincennes, about the time Captain Zachary Taylor, of
the United States Army, was, in the line of his duty, occu-
pying this place. Many years ago a legend obtained cur-
rency here to the effect that Captain Taylor had a charming
young daughter. Miss Sarah, who captivated the young
Lieutenant with her charms, and, while the courtship was
going on, they frequently took rides to the country beyond
the high lands. About this time Mr. Jeremiah Donovan,
a worthy and intelligent young gentleman who lived here,
had a sweetheart in the same neighborhood, by the name of

284 HISTORICAL SIvETCHES

Wyant, and, while out sparking, would often see liis friend
Davis and Miss Taylor sitting on a large boulder lying
in the woods, resting after their jaunt hither; and it seemed
to be a favorite tryst ing place, where the passing winds
wafted the aroma of the clover around and the merry
songsters poured forth their love songs to their mates in
the green swaying branches just above their heads. But
those halcyon days were not to last always, and ere the
climax was reached, by love's fruition. Captain Taylor
and family became domiciled at anotlier post. After their
departure, Donovan, more fortunate than Davis, wooed and
won his fair country maiden, and soon became a benedict.
Love ran not so smoothly with the other couple, as the
Lieutenant's aspirations met with opposition from the
young lady's father, and they only succeeded in realizing
the joys of love's young dream years afterward, by an
elopement. Davis soon left the army and drifted into poli-
tics, and subsequently became the chief factor in the revolt
of the Southern States, and was chosen their President.

Many years before Mr. Donovan died (in memory of his
old friend Davis, and the episodes on the boulder, and his
admiration of him and his sweetheart. Miss Taylor, and
perhaps his own visits to that trysting spot) he had it re-
moved to his residence in the city, and placed it in the
front yard, on the corner of Sixth and Broadway streets.
After his death the property was purchased by Doctor John
H. Rabb, President of the First l^ational Bank, who let
it remain there perhaps on account of the romantic associa-
tion with it, and it still lies today on the same spot, after
the lapse of more than half a century.

It has been said that this legend has no foundation in
fact; that the lady in question was too young to many at

OLD VINCENNES. 285

t]:e time her father's alleged residence was here. But what
has this problem to do with the romance ? It is said Davis
was once stationed here, and Miss Sarah (not Jessie, as
some have it) Taylor may have visited here subsequently
to the reported time her father occupied this post ; and the
episode may have occurred just as related by Mr. Donovan,
and the fact that the young lady and the Lieutenant did
have a courtship, and did consummate the same by an
elopement, gives color to the truth of the legend. And the
well-established fact that the narrator of this romance did
woo, win and marry Miss Wyant at the country farm al-
luded to ; did subsequently bring his bride to the city, and,
years aftenvard, transfer the old trysting stone to his front
yard, also gives color to the probability of the truth of the
foundation of the legend. Xow, let me ask what object ]\Ir.
Donovan had in going to the trouble and expense of remov-
ing an unprepossessing-looking, unshapely boulder to his
front yard, if some romance or some pleasing reminiscence
was not connected with it which he wished to pei*petuate ?

The writer thinks tbe romance stands on a better founda-
tion than one-half of the fal)les that have been palmed off
here on the people the past few years as veritable history.

Many passers-by, on viewing the rude monumental stone
of i*S^ature's handiwork, may query as to the reason why
that ugly rock is kept there. If it could only speak it would
vindicate its right of presence, with the "old, ohl story,"
rehearsed to the willing ears of some who have long ago
gone to dreamland.

Nature coixld oft a tale unfold

Of mem'ries past and things to be,

If we had vision, to behold,

And hands to use her mystic key.

286 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

LEGEND OF "ALICE OF OLD VINCENNES."

In writing his superb romance, Maurice Thompson had
to have a heroine worthy of the thrilling episodes occurring
in the gi'eat I^orthwest during the Revolution, and no fault
can be found with him if she were obtained from the realms
of fancy, if the impossible is not too gi-eatly trenched upon.
Where fiction takes upon itself the habiliments of reality,
criticism is impotent of harm, when success is the goal
aimed at. In cogitating over the threads of romance out
of which the woof and warp of the story of "Alice of Old
Vincennes" was to be constructed, Maurice Thompson
little dreamed that the wiseacres of this town would at-
tempt to materialize Alice Roussilon, and identify her with
a dashing Creole of a past age ; nevertheless, such has been
attempted, and with some claims of success, for a while;
but an image-breaker came along and dashed our fondest
hopes. We were hopeful when we read the following seem-
ingly authentic piece of information pertaining to ancient
history in the Yincennes Commercial, being copied from
the Terre Haute Express, which last paper derived its in-
formation from a Logansport paper. Here it is, verbatim :

"The only man living today who can explain the charac-
ters in the book, 'Alice of Old Vincennes,' lives here, in the
person of Charles B. Laselle, Judge of the Probate Court
and dean of the Logansport bar. His grandfather was
the foster-father of 'Alice,' whose real name was Mary
Shannon, daughter of William Shannon, Captain of a com-
pany in George Clark's regiment. Mr. Laselle was born in
Vincennes, over eighty years ago, and knew 'Alice' well;
her son, who was named William Shannon, was a playmate

OLD VINCENNES. 387

of Mr. Laselle. The Shannons lived on the Avest side of
the river at Vincennes, and, dnring an Indian raid, all the
members thereof, except 'Alice,' were massacred. In this
Mr. La Salle explains why the girl was not killed, a
point which the author of the book, Maurice Thompson,
fails even to attempt. The old man says that the girl, while
running from the savages, cried, 'Mon Dieu ! mon Dieu !'
and the Indians, believing that she was of French descent,
allowed her to live. She found a boat ready to cross the
river, was taken aboard, and afterward cared for by the
residents of the town. Her foster-father, known as Gaspard
Roussilon in the novel, was no other than Francis Bus-
seron, the grandfather of Mr. Laselle."

In the foregoing extract, it will be obsen^ed, the state-
ment is made that Mary Shannon (Alice Roussilon) was
the only one of the family who escaped in the massacre of
Captain William Shannon's family, and that she did so by
crying as she ran, '"Mon Dieu ! mon Dieu !" and that the
Indians, understanding the expression, and, being friendly
toward the French, let her escape across the river. Follow-
ing this publication, Mr. H. A. Foulks, our esteemed fel-
low-citizen (whose wife is the daughter of the late A. B.
McKee, whose grandmother, Sarah Shannon, was a sister
of Mary Shannon, the alleged Alice Roussilon), drew the
old Vigo Bible in contradiction, and in which are regis-
tered two other sisters, one of whom, Elizabeth Shannon,
married Colonel Francis Vigo. This old record, in fact,
shows that there were six children, five Shannon girls and
a son, named William Shannon. Elizabeth was born March
23, 1770, Sarah in 1775, and Mary (Alice Roussilon) in
1777. So it appears that the old Vigo Bible record destroys

288 HISTOEICAL SKETCHES

the identity of Mary Shannon with Thompson's heroine.
While this is so, the author had some foundation for some
of the characters introduced in his book. At the time of
the capture of Vincennes by Clark there was a Frenchman
here who was Mayor, or Chief Civil Officer of the old to^vn,
by the name of Francoise Busseron, after whom a street in
the city and a township in the county have been named,
and who was commissioned a Captain in the militia by
Clark, before or just after the capture of the town. The
positions he held and the name are so much like that of
Gaspard Roussilon that it might have been taken by
Thompson as the basis of the latter character. Another
item in the make-up of the plot is the significant one that
Mary Shannon (Alice) was an orphan child and an
adopted daughter of Captain Busseron. The drawing of
the record on Mary Shannon bars her from actual partici-
pation in the flag-raising over Fort Sackville, as she was
just two years old on that memorable occasion. But I
doubt not at that particular time she was cooing "Yankee
Doodle" in her little cradle and keeping time with her
chubby feet to the music of the fife and drum. So, if
she did not perform all the heroic and patriotic acts
attributed to her, it was no fault of hers. Father Time
had just delayed her birth a few years too long for that
episode. As to Mary Shannon, the reputed Alice, the au-
thor (Thompson) does not claim great beauty for her,
when she was "sweet sixteen," but the reason for that was
doubtless owing to a traditional view handed down by a
discarded lover, or one whose aesthetic taste could not
appreciate the highest types of beauty. A gentleman of
discernment, yet living, who knew Alice when he was a

OLD VINCENNES. - 289

bov, says, in relation to this subject: "Judging from her
appearance in middle age, she must have been a beautiful
girl. The most prominent features of her character were
that she was very independent and kindly. She was, in
fact, such a woman that the men would have called her 'a
grand old lady,' and the women, ^a sweet old lady.' " The
anachronism committed by the author in making out the
case of Alice was justifiable, as life is often prosy without
the spice of romance added to it to give it zest. It must be
taken for granted that she was all the poet's fancy painted
her, in the portraiture given of her physique and character.
She was a dashing beauty, an expert with a foil, a crack
shot with a pistol or rifle, and a full match with Cupid in
wielding his bow and arrow, in his skirmishing raids for
trophies of the genus homo.

290 HISTOKICAL SKETCHES

ALICE OF OLD VINCENNES.

In the village, Clie-pe-ko-ke,

111 the times long past and gone,
Nestled on the Ouabache river,

Lived brave Alice Roiissiloii.
Not a flower in valley blooming,

Not a songbird in the glens
Was so fair and sweet as Alice,

Pretty maid of Old Vincennes.

II.

Oft she winged the grouse and partridge.

As from covey up they flew;
Or, disporting on the water,

Oft she sculled her bark canoe.
And by arrow, swiftly speeding,

As to mark it straightly wends.
Doe and fawn were often trophies

Alice bagged, near Old Vincennes.

III.

Ere the battle's smoke o'er Sackville

By the winds were rolled away,
Lithely sped the maid, unhindered,

Witli her flag to crown the fray ;
Then, to mast rope tightly fastened.

Up Old Glory high ascends.
Waving back a kiss to Alice,

Heroine of Old Vincennes.

IV.

Meni'ry, often, us will carry

On the wings of busy thought
Back to early years, when Freedom

'Gainst its foes in triumpli fought;
Not a spot should now be dearer

To the hearts of Freedom's friends
Than the village, Ohe-pe-ko-ke,

Home of Alice — Old Vincennes !