Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-19

never citizen oil the county, ne reSlCeu mere Tor
several months during each year for several years.
He had an establishment for curing ginseng on
Gen. Milroy's farm, and purchased large guam
tity of that root, for which he annually paid out
of dollars, and it is a well known fact,
that many of the early pioneers, from this source
alone, raised sufficient amount of money to en-
able them to purchase their land from Govern
ment Mr.. B. was a man of marked influence
with the first settlers and they had the most un-
bounded confidence in his integrity. Strictly
piOus, honorable and straightforward in all his
dealings, he made decided and most favorable
impression upon the people. He attended the
first sale of lots in Delphi, and on the day of the
sale, he headed subscription for the erection of
the school house, (used afterwards rs n court
room.) The contract for the building was made on
the spot, and ia about ten days the house was up
and completed. He Immediately organized
Sunday School, over which he took the suDerv-
sion on all occasions during his stay in the county
and the weight of his character and inhuencew was
felt most sensbly on the side of rel gion, morality
and virtue. He assisted the good men who first
came here, to give the young community start
in the right direction, and that influence is seen
up to the present day.
Mr.. Blake was born in the county of York,
Pennsylvania, on the Sd day of March, 1871. In
his elrly years, at time when nearly all the
goods that were consumed in the valley of the
Ohio, were brought by wagon across the noun
tains, he drove u slx-hOrse team from Philadel-
phia to Pittsburg. He continued thus occupied
from 1913 to 1918. During the war, at the time
the British army was threatening Baltimore, he
volunteered in the company of Capt. Bishler, and
marched to that city. He remained in the army
until the danger was over, period of about
three months, at which time the troops were dis
banded. He proceeded to Washington with his
team, and hauled a cannon from that city to
Perth Amboy, New jersey.
In the summer of 1918, such were the finan-
cial embarrassments of the country, and its ef
fects upon all branches of business, that teaming
became quite dull and Mr.. B. accordingly sold
out.
In the fall of 1918 he sat out for an extensive
tour through the Western country on horseback.
He passed through Pittsburg, Beaver, Canton,
New Philadelphia, and at Springfield, Ohio, spent
a week or two with some old friends. Thence by
way of Xenia and Lebanon to Cincinnati The
Queen City at that time was nothing but small
village. He then proceeded to Louisville, XIV,
by way of Lawrenceburg, Vevay, Madison and
Charlestown. From Louisville he went to Cory
don, ,Ind at which place he arrived between Christ
mas and New Year. The Legislature of the new
State was then in session, and Mr.. b. made many
acquaintances and friends which have lasted
through life.
;,
and on the way made the acquaintance of Judge
Blackford and Thomas II. Blake The country
was wilderness, the road nothing but Indian
trace, and for a considerable distance the party
carried their pistols in their hands looking out for
robbers, by whom they expected to be attacked,
judging from the awful reports they had heard as
to that part of the country,
He remained at Vincennes two or three days.
At that time the "Old Post" (as Vincennes was
generally designated) was much the most flour
ishing town in Indiana. 1t contained between
thirty and forty stores, and an immense business
was done. particularly by the Ewings.
From Vincennes to Terre Haute: found rude
Court-house and the Clerks Office in cabin, but
no tavern, and he had to ride up to Fort Harri-
son, about three or four miles above the little
village, to procure lodging for the night. Major
Churh and several other United States officers
were there at the time. He crossed the Wabash
river at Terre Haute, and returned by way OF
Palestine to Vincennes. He then went to ST.
Louis, which at that time did not contain single
public house, and nothing in the shape of one ex
cept boarding house. After remaining a day or
two, he went to Kaskaskia and found the Illinois
Legislature in session, being its first. He was
very much disgusted with things about kaskaskia
From the Governor down to the lowest official
all were playing cards and drinking whisky. He
remained about twenty-four hours and set out
again for Misunderstanding but a dim trace for
a road, and in some places from forty TO sixty
miles between cabins. Mr.. b then returned to
his home in Pennsylvania by way of New Albany
Louisville, Frankfort. Lexington, Maysvlle
Chillcothe, Lancaster, Wheeling, Washington
and Pittsburg. He arrived at home on the 4t
day of April, 1919, having started on his journey
the 2lst day of the proceeding November.
While at Corydon, Indiana, he had heard oil
the new purchase, and he then determined thai
wherever the seat of Government should be To-
Gated he would immigrate there. Having learned
that indianapolis had been selected, he left Penn
sylvania with the view of making that place hi:
home, on the 25th day of May, 1921. At Pitts
burg he took the steamer Henry Baldwin fOl
Louisville, at which place the boat arrived il
nine days. He crossed over to New Albany OF
the 9Th day of June. and remained there until the
middle OF July. Having purchased horse il
company with his friend W est, who was the owne
of wagon. the two set out for indianapolis, n
which place they arrived on the 25th day of July
1921. The sales of land wis then progressing a
Brookville and the lots in indianapolis were sole
the ensuing October.
| Mr.. Is. followed surveying until the fall o
| 1888, at which time he entered into partnership
with Samuel Henderson in the hotel business
and the two kept the Washington Hail." III,
pursued this business two or three years, at tn,
end of which time a Dr. Helm visited 1ndianapo
lis and formed a partnership with him in the pur
chase and cure of ginseng. Their first location
was in Putnam county, at place which took th'
name of Blakesburg They carried on that es
tablishment four or five years, and it was at tina
time, by paying Major Isaac G. Elston (who thel
had little store in Charlottesville cash for gin
seng. he was enabled to give that enterprisin:
gentleman start, which many think laid tn
foundation for the fortune afterward acquired b
| him.
the ginseng becoming scarce in the region O
country around Bakesburg, Mr.. B. started per
sons out to look for place where it could b
found in greater abundance. These persons re
ported that they saw plenty Of the root abou
Wildcat north Of Lafay e)-in fact such quan
titles were dug in that location that wagon load
were brought to Blakesburg, from there.
In May, 1927, Mr.. B. took tour to the Uppe
Wabash. Longley "a French trader. married t
an Indian woman. about three miles above La
fayette informed him as to the best places to fin
ginseng, and particularly spoke of the Deer Cree
country. Mr.. b. came up to Daniel Baum u
who kept tavern in the bottom below where De
phi was afterward located. He visited Gen. Mi
roy. and remained in the neighborhood a weel
He leased n tract of a few acres of land from Ger
J NJ, and entered into a contract with Joseph No
Cain for the erection of the necessary building
, The ensuing winter Gen. NJ. went TO Indian;
polls with view of urging the pa sage of n
act for the organization Of the new county.
this matter he received the active co-operation
! Mr.. Blake, and the two blocked out the countiC
! on the upper Wabash, that the county Sc
/ would necessarily be located on the river TIL
) wise arrangement was subsequently adopted
the Legislature with the most beneficial result
7 In August, 1897, he commenced the purcha.
2 and cure of ginseng at his factory on Gen. Mi
! roy's farm, and remained there until late in Il
J fall, his brother Jesse, in the meantime oversee
ing the Blakesburgh establishment. In Angus
2 1893. he was again at his post He attended Il
first sale of lots in Delphi, and not only inaugur
ted the building of schoolho as hen etofo
named, but also the erection of house for Il
Rev. James Crawford, a Presbyterian minist
: recently located in the settlement The schoo
house was the first, and Mr.. Crawford's the Sc
ond house built on the new town plat