The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26

original form. AS was usual in the first settle
ment of the West, every summer the number of
the sick was much in the majority, and every
August there were hardly enough well people to
care for the sick and bury the dead Under these
discouraging circumstances the Harmonists be-
gan to grow disconnected and homesick. They
wanted to return to Pennsylvania. So in 1924 they
sold their Indiana possessions to Robert Owen,
the Scotch Socialist, who desired to experiment
with his theory in the New World. and they
returned to Pennsylvania. The survivors. few
in number, now live at Economy Beaver
county, Pa, on the Ohio river, seventeen miles
northwest of Pittsburg Their property has in
creased to many millions, and the question is
already being asked, as the survivors are very
old What will the last man do with it all?"
There is queer graveyard in New Harmony.
There are no tomb-stones; the ground, except
for two or three Indian mounds is as fiat as a
floor. In this great number of the Rappites
or Harrnonists were buried. 1t is said the rea-
son no stones were erected is because the dead
were SO numerous it was feared it would have a
depressing effect on the survivors So
the graves were made fiat, and the
green grass covered all. There is nigh
brick wall inclosng the graveyard which
probably contains three acres of ground. Every
year or so one of the old men comes from Penn
sylvania to lock at the place and return with the
report to the community.
The health of the place grew better as time
went on, under Robert Owen and his settlers.
With Owen came many of the most intelligent
men and women of the world New Harmony
soon became an acknowledged center of litera
ture and science. VIM. Mcclure was one of the
great men attracted there. He was one Of the
foremost literary characters and scientists of his
day-a philanthropist, too. Associated with him
was Thomas Say, the great naturalist; C. A.
Leseuer. ichthyologist and artist protege of
the great Napoleon. His drawings are remarka-
BILE for their vigor and accuracy With the Owens,
Robert Owen and his talented sons were closely
associated all the literary and scientific people
of this country at that day These men were
the pioneer biologists and scientists, not only Of
Indiana, but of America, and their writings and
teachings have not only covered the continent of
North America, but have had their influence
upon the world. David Dale Owen was the first
Indiana geologst. Mcclure was continental
geologist, having travelled over every accessible
part of North America
Under these great teachers the subsequent
biologists of the West took lessons. Among
these were Troost. Cox, Worthen, McChes-
ney, Norwood, Shumard, Ltton. Whit
tlesey, Locke Meek and others. This
present day by Prof. Richard Owen and Mr..
James Sampson, who still survive. John Chap
pei Smith, the artist and engraver, as well as
mineralogist. is another, but he returned long
ago to England.
The soil of Posey country is unrivaed in the
production of corn, wheat oats and fruits. The
region has become healthful, and it holds great
promise for the future. Indiana is one of the
banner States of the Union for wheat produc-
ton, and Posey county is the banner county of
the State for wheat. 1t was formerly the Gus
tom to slur Posey county by ambiguous illusions
to hoop poles and pumpkins, coupled with re-
marks as to her greenness and ignorance At
the very time these very slurs were most
in use the settlement at New Harmony held the
most highly cultivated population in the West
and it is day one of the most enlightened and
beautifully orderly little towns in the United
States"