Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-10-31
History Of the Philosophers Char
nOnial ,, Free.Love Association
in Indiana.
He Establishes and Engineers
House OF Narlotry in War
rem County.
The Place Cleaned Ouf by Successive
Grand Juries-A snit Now in Pro-
gress Against Horace Greeley
for the Recovery of the
8ssrs.raT Property.
williamsport und9 Cor. Missouri Democrat.
590r-- 2UI .

Williamsport (Ind) Cor. Missouri Democrat
This quiet, finished little town is the
county seat of Warren county, one of the
richest Gin proportion to its area) counties in
Indiana, and one which did not owe dol
lar during the war. In this county there
ers Of the New York WeekIg Tribune.
Among these was a simple old farmer
named John 0. Wattles, who owned quite a
large tract of land situated in Pine township,
few miles west of Walnut Grove, in the
most beautiful and fertile region in the
county. Wattles was
A READEg Of THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE,
and when the editor of that paper announced
his belief in the doctrine of communism and
spiritualism, Wattles was carried away with
the doctrine. Wattles had been regarded bv
his neighbors as g harmless lunatic and
therefore but little surprise was occasoned
when he announced his belief that the con-
stitution of God and mankind made eyerv-
thing in the universe to be used in common,
not excluding wives and husbands. Some
little stir followed his assertion that he had
SIS much claim upon the wife of his neigh
Dor as ne had upon his own, but as he was
thought to be harmless, and was really so,
they allowed him to talk, as he made no
converts.
After time th Re old man felt that he had
Investigated the subject fully, and wrote to
Horace Greeley, toe editor of the Tribune
asking him if the theory could not DO put in
practice, and stating that he was ready to
put his property into the common fund
About this time he became so obnoxious to
the community that he thought it best to
remove to j. yette, Tippecanoe county.
After the g nge of several letters with
Mr.. Gree nat philosophical gentleman
dispatched enc Thomas Truesdeu to Indi-
ana to
WORK Up THE OLD MAN,
and if possible get the property transferred
to aim. When Truesdell appeared in Indi-
ana, ne found that Wattles had been adyis-
ing with his attorney, Col. James R. NJ.
Bryan, who had tried to convince him of
his folly. Finding that nothing could part
tie old man from his theory, he asked to be
made one ofthe trustees to whom the property
should oe conveyed. To this Wattles con
scented, and added the names oil Edgar RYAN
and Charles High. Mr.. High was a WELL
known citizen OF large wealth and but littlee
educat on, but q ready believer in isms''
OF all kinds, being then an active SPIRITUAL
list.
Mr.. Greeley gave many direct assurances
to Wattles that if ne would start the ball
rolling, by giving his property to the good
work, the society would be literally endowed
by parties in the East, and that through the
influence of his paper, he could induce hun
dreds OF people in the East to " go West"
aid locate with them; and that especially
would the surplus of women in the New
England States be glad of such an oppor-
tunity to find home.
Relying upon these representations from
SO high 8 source, Wattles consen ted to sign
the following deed, which embodies the con-
stitution fthe first free-love society planted
IL the United States.
HARMoNIAL observation-disclosures DrYIsroN)
Because the Government of God is eter-
nal, unchanging, and universal, and because
the constitution of man was designed to
harmonic with the Government of God, or
laws of nature. And because as the phys
biological evils, which mankind suffer, are
the consequences of the violation of physical
laws and the mental evil consequent upon
the violation of the mental laws, SO the
social evils which have filed the earth with
misery, degradation and crime are the re-
suits Of the violation of social laws. And
because those evils can never be removed
out by obedience to those laws, the violation
OF which has caused them. And because the
laws OF nature are divided into two classes,
physical and mental, and the nature of man
was designed to correspond thereto. And
because the laws of our being are comprised
IN the two classes physical and mental, cor
responding with the two grand departments
OF nature. And because these principles
enter as constituents into the nature of all
human beings, thus laying the foundation
Tor the unity of the race in the elements of
their constitution. And because in the con-
stitutlon of Deity these first principles are ell
involved, showing that man was made to be
N harmony with Him. And because all the
principles IN nature are embodied in the
constitutions OF man and of God, all beings
intermediate must necessarily possess the
same therefore, man was made to be in
harmony with the whole universe of mind.
And because the constitution of God,
tee constitution of nature, and consti-
tuition of man are designed to be in
harmonious level. Because this unity and
harmony cen only be enjoyed by unity
and harmony eff interests, and where love
and friendship are the only bonds that bind
IN golden chains the willing spirits OF social
kife. Therefore, in consideration of these
fscts, and to afford an opportunity to those
VINO are deslrous. Of liyln ing harmonious life,
ana viii establish a school wherein shall be
studied the nature of man, with view to
harmonlze man with man, and with nature,
and with God, and who will admit the follow
ing sentiments, with appended constitution
and bylaws for their rules and regulations,
will give, grant, and convey the hereafter
described property enlisted in the cause of
God and humanity, we voluntarily unite
our Interests, ali that we possess, both pecu-
niarily and physically, intellectually and
spiritually, one indissoluble bond of unity,
AID adopt for our mutual understanding of
good order the subjoined rules and regula-
tons as a form of constitution
Know all men by these presents that we,
John Q. Wattles, and Ester Wattles, his wife
OF Tippecanca county, State OF Indiana, in
consideration Of the promises, and one dol
lar to US in hand paid, the receipt whereof
Is hereby acknowledged, do hereby give,
grant, convey, bargain, and sell to Horace
Greeley, of New York city Thomas Trues-
6en, OF Brooklyn, New York; Edgar Ryan,,
0aarles Hlgh, and R. NJ. Bryant, of Warren
county, Indiana, trutees, and to their heirs
and assigns, the following real estate,
" The northeast quarter of section Eve.
township twenty-three north, Of range nine
west, containing one hundred sad sixty
nine acres, more or less.
Also, the northwest quarter of the
southeast quarter of same section. con-
tanning forty acres. ~ 4a =.
Also. the east three quarters of south