The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-01-09
"REMINISCENCES.
NUMBER EIGHT.

Our remarks in reference to Tippecanoe
township, IN No. I, were misplaced IN the
printing Office, therefore we will refer in
this article to a few items which may pos
sibly be Of interest to some Of the old in
habitants Of that township, if to none 9TH
ers.
In March, 1912, 4. j. Cruzan, who is
now resident of Oregon, and others pc
| titioned the board to organize a new town
ship seven miles square, in the southeast
corner of the county. The board granted
the prayer of the petitioners, and named
the township Tippecanoe, for the reason
that the river Of that name runs through
the township. Very few persons, if any,
settled there as early as 1896. Among
the first settlers were Wm. Sprout. Tros
Ii. Mckee. Wm. Il. Rockhill, Samuel
Rockhil, James Turner, ~ H Buchanan,
Jacob Barber, AID Thomas WINS. The
first election WAS held at the residene, or
VIM. Sprout. 4. Il. Ruckman was the
first inspector of elections. VIM. Sprout
was the first justice Of the peace in said
township; he was elected, however, when
the territory belonged to Bourbon. In
the year 1856 two miles were taken off
from the west, which left the township on
" five miles east and west, which reduced
it to thirty-ivc square miles, being the
least townshipin TIE county, except Green.
When the indians sold their lands in this
section of country, Stephen Bonacl, re-
served sections six and seven, in township
81 Il / E, several families of the indians
lived there for a number of years after the
township became pretty we'll settled up.
Some of the Peashway family, which are
relatives CT Bonack, own q portion OF the
reserve yet. The writer was at their vii
lage when there were more indians there
than white people in the township.
We rccollcct a capital joke" which oc-
CURED at an carly day in THAI township.
Mr. Thos. IL. Mckee. as many Of the old
settlers of that township well rccollect.
was politically known as - liberty man,
and 10 doubt was conscienciously so; he
profess ed great sympathy for the colored
people Of the south, and, as was his right,
let no good opportunity pass without ex-
pressing his views IN reference to the de-
plorable condition of the negroes, and his
hatred of the :" fugitive slave law" Some
mischievous boys in the neighborhood
concluded TO have a little sport at lIcKee's
expense. Accordingly, they BACKED
their hands and faces one evening and
met at McKee's house and represented
themselves as fugitives from Kentucky,
making their way to Canada. They told
him they understood that he was great
friend Of the colored people, and that they
had travelled hard to reach his house, and
that they were very tired and hungry and
would like to have something to eat, and
to have the privilege of remaining with
him until towards morning. The best
that the house Guild afford was soon set
before them After partaking of a hearty
meal they told their host that they had no
money to pay him for his kindness to
them. In reply Re said they were thous-
and times welcome, and he only regretted
that he was not able to do more for them.
A kind of foreman among them told him
that they could not think of leaving his
hospitabIe mansion without compromising
!, him in some way for his kindness. The
foreman then proposed that they should
dance few rounds before they left. SO
at it they went one of the fellows sang
negro songs and the others danced. Mr..
\ Mckee demonstrated and threatened
lts rid the houne of them, and the more he
threass~.a the more they didn't quit, I'M
til they we're ss..ls exhausted after which
to the great satisfactionss Nr. Mckee and
FAM, they left. He related the above