The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-10-09

old settlers. Indeed, I sometimes think that
they do not dearly see and appreciate the ex-
traordinary results OF their own labors in In
diana, nor the wonderful greatness of the work
that has been done, in a snort perivd of time
by the pioneer settlers of that part OF our coun-
try which lies westwardly of the AlIe-
gheny mountains, and extends to the Pacinc
ocean.
What was the condition of this vast region
in ITO, at she time when some men and some
women whOare now alive were little children3
A few pioneer settls rs were living on the bor-
ders of the Monongahela river, in The vicinity
of Old Redstone fort which stood at the pres
emit site OF Brownsville; anu where the city OF
P1ttsbdrg now stands there was a small village
ana some old forufcatiOns; there was Mo-
ravian missionary station among the Indians
who lived on tie upper borders of the river
ments and Indian trading posts at Vincennes,
kaskaskia, Caholkia, st. Louis, Detroit Mack
NAV, ian Francisco and Santa Fe; and there
were few Catholic missionary stations at
o1her places among the Indian tribes At
that time the total civilized population of the
IL English colonies in America was not as
great as is the population OF the state of Ohio
at the present time.
Then In 1770, in the immense region lying
between the Allegheny mountains and the
Pacific ocean, there was no Organized state,
there was no county, there was no republican
form of government, there was no civil court
Tor the administration of justice, there was no
printing Office, there was no public school.
Now, In this vast wilderness region, in the
course of the lifetime of some persons who are
very old, the western pioneer settlers have or
gained nineteen states and eight territories,
viz: West Virginia, Kentucky Tennessee,
indiana nois Mc6 aiasas resfs oeiO
Minnesota, colorado, Nebraska, Oregon,
Nevada, Iowa, Utah, Montana. Da-
arizona, California aud New Mexico. In
these strong and enlightened states and grow
ing territories, where the principles OF vii
ana religious liberty have been established,
there are at the present time many large cities,
countless numbers OF towns villages and
farms, thousands of those mighty engines
which move the Rvnr1d-T me 81 ri nd
PRINTING Pap presses great numbers OF un,versi-
nevoent Institutions, at least 10000 teachers
OF public schools, of whom about 1900 are en-
ployed in the public schools of Indiana.
THESE interesting and Iemai kable facts prove
that the persevering laDors OF patriotic pio-
neer settlers of the region lying Westwardly of
the Allegheny mountains have produced
of time. We may look I'm vain through the
records of the past for another instance in
which mankind have made works great as
these in a period so brief.
The earth covers the mortal remains of
thousand OF those who were pioneer settlers
of the west, and who, in their stations in life,
were great and good men and women, accord
ing to their opportunities.
Before the time of the decla alton of Amer
icau inde dependence an organized body of west
ern pioneer settlers agreed to maintain the
principles of religious freedom in the west.
On the 9th OF May, l775. at Boonesborough,
in Kentucky, political organization, which
assumed the name of the Legislature of the
colony of Transylvania, unan' mousiy adopted
dSOmpdSb, AIOhh hAACn bnC lOAlONluS 10 du cA-
tract:
az. That there be perfect religious freedom
and general liberation: provided that the
propagators OF any doctrine or tenetS evident
" tending to the subyersion of our laws. shall,
for such conduct, be amenable to and, pun
tshed by the civil courts
A declaration SO universally in favor of
'perfect religious freedom" has no precedent
in the proceedings of any legislative body that
ever met on the continent OF America.
uttwO hundred and thirteen settlements,
which were called stations, ""forts" or "block-
houses" were established in Ken ucky be-
tween the years liza and 1895. Collins Ken
tuckyD
In the summer of l77s, Zebulon Horton and
John Parish, who were good Quakers of Penn
some of the Indian villages on the northwest
side Of the river Ohio On their Journey home
ward they passed oy the wy OF OF Port PITT
Lsutel Hill, and a pioneer house which was
called Mores tavern. OF this tavern MIR. Her
from home, and the landlady proud aud ILL.,
natured woman: so that we had an unpleasant
time" (His. Mag, Feb, 1901
Daniel Boone, in an account Of his adven-
lures, written by himself says: MANY dark
and sleepless nights have 1 spent. separated
the summers sun and plnehed by the winter
cold, an instrument ordained to settle the
wilderness" On the subject of buffaloes
in Kentucky, Boone says: "The buffsloes were
more numerous than cattle in the settlements,
browsing ON the leaves OF the cane or cropping
the heritage on these extensive plains. We
saw hundreds in a drove, and the numbers
about the salt springs Were amazing"
At the time TO which Boo ne refers, and for
some years afterwards, White river, which
flows by the city of Indianspo is, was regarded
by the Indians as good stream on which 10
catch beavers.
The names of early pioneer settlers of the
west indicate that they, or their ancestors,
were emigrants chiefly from England, Ire and,
Germany, Scotland, France and Holland.
From 1870 TO the present time about 100000
emigrants from European nations have arrived
in the United States. IL is SAID, and the state
ment may be true, that at the city of Chicago,
few weeks ago, on Sabbath day, reli-
gious services were conducted in the diff
ferent languages of the English, Germans,
French, Italians, Dutch, ; wedes, Welsh, Norwe-
gians and Spaniards. The names OF towns I'm
Europe have been given to towns founded by
western pioneer settlers. and We have Lon
dons LiSSeeapools, Pn s1,' hmerieks hdin-
dams, Parises, Romes, Madrids, Genevas, War
saws, Moscows, etc, etc And the names of
early western sett ers, and the names OF dif,
rocks, have been fixed upon townships, towns,
creeks, springs, lakes, hills, valleys, plains and
groves There are many Eagle creeks. Turkey
creeks, Duck creeks, Pigeon creeks, Deer
creeks, Wild Cat creeks Raccoon creeks, Otter
creegs and Beaver creeks
In 1873 George Rogers Clark, the conqueror
of the British forces at KasRasxla and AT VIM
cenneS, made long and lonesome journey, in
condition OF poverty, from the west through
arrival at that place he addressed tn Governor
Benjamin Harrison letter, of which the fol-
lowing is copy. The letter probably, has
never been printed:
"RIcHMoND, 2lst May, I7sS.
"SIR-Nothing but necessity could induce
me 10 make he folio request to your ex-
cellency, which is 10 grant me "a small sum of
money on account; as l can assure you, sir,
that / am exceedingly distressed for the want
of necessary clothing, etc. and don't know of
any channel TIN ougu which L could procure
any except of the executive: The state, be-
ieve, will fall considerably In my debt. Any
which