The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-14
A GATHERING OF PIONEERS.
Old Settlers Meet at Broad Ripple to
Compare Past and Present,
The Earthquake of 1S12-Reminiscences of
the Campaign of 1SiO-Recollection
of Life on the Frontier.


time, have voted for William Henry Harrison,
seen Clay, shaken hands with Jackson and
heard Weosters thrilling words; who remember
wnen both the first news of Perry's victory over
the British on Lake Erie, and the battle of New
Orleans were announced, was truly gratifying to
those who had believed that the last pioneer had
been laid in his grave.
!Aong the more notable persons the
ground were James Hubbard, the centenarian;
Samuel Morrison, aged eghty-seven years, and
the oldest living settler in the State and DIR.
Ryland T. Brown, who was a landshower to
spectators when Indiana was a vast unsettled
forest. Mr. Hubbard was hundred years old
last March, born IN 1885 in the State of Della
ware, and emigrated to this State in the early
part of the century. He believes that strictly
temperate habits, and an adherence to a very
simple diet, have contributed very materially to
lengthen the tenure OF his life Hundreds Of
visitors surrounded him on the grounds, and he
shook hands with curious people until literally
tired out. He has ten children, five OF Hfhom
are living, and fully half hundred of grand
children. Mr.. Hubbard served as a scout in the
war of 1872, and distinctly remembers all the
presidential administrations up to date, nclud
ing Washington's
The Tippecanoe Club went in body by the
way Of the canal being tow I'd up and back II IN
excursion barge by a steam tug Large nm
bers also went from the city by the way of the
| railroad and in vehicles of various kinds.
The meeting was presided over by Emsly
Wright, chairman Of the association. The music
for the occasion furnished by the Carmel
brass band, which played at intervals through
out the day. At IL o'clock Rev. John Bowers
opened the formal meeting with prayer, after
which the death roll Of old settlers was read. The
following have died since Aug. IA, 1884 Hilary
Silver, lived in the State since 1872; George
Bruse came to Indiana in 1927; Dewey Bruse,
emigrated to this State in 1919; Mrs. Ellis, lived
in the State since 1876 thrown from a buggy
and killed. Aaron Watts and August Grittery,
both residing in Indiana since 1872, and Patsy
Medsker who has lived in the State since 1913.
Short speeches were made by Jonah Fertich, of
Hamilton county, Luke q. Buttertield and John
Barner, of Frankfort, Ind. Mr.. Barner said that
he came to Indiana fifty seven years ago, when
the State was an infant only twelve years old.
Indianapolis then had 1000 inhabitants The
merchants we're John Given, n McCarty Alfred
Harrison, L. n. Phipps and Yandes & Porter.
I There were then three hotels in the city, the
Hawkins, Henderson and Buchanan. There
were no school buildings constructed,
but Father Sharp, and his son
Thomas taught in the old frame Presby terian
Church. The churches, Of which there were
only two at that time, called in their congrega-
tons with a tin born. The speaker closed with
humorous and interesting description OF the
pioneer school-houSe.
DR.. Wishard next spoke of aye Olden Times"
| He said the first school houses in the State were
of log, having holes cut in the sides of the build
| ing for windows, which in winter closed
with newspapers, and creased to let III the light.
| The schoolmaster was tyrant, generally, who
did not spare the rod, but received in his turn
| occasional peltings and drubbngs from pupils.
The first hotel between Shelby county and " hite
river was built about thirteen miles south Of
Indianapolis. It was double log cabin, having
owned by Nathan Bell Whisky was then an
important factor in politics, and the candidate
who could not furnish it to the people stood no
chance of being elected. On election days there
| were not enough sober men to count the vote.
There was no log rolling or house raising without
whisky and The digger boss" Distil!eries came
before schools or churches. The first distillery
| in central Indiana was erected in Indianapolis
| by Samuel Watts in 1923. He gave out notice
| that a certain day he would give a mash, and
all who wanted whisky must bring
| meal in exchange Yellow meal being
| richer, brought moro whisky in return than
| white. The old settlers made their own clothing
| material by gathering nettles, which, by q pro-
| cess of rottening and thorough beating, yielded
| the lint out of which the garments were woven
| and fashioned
| Mrs. Margaret Abbott seventy years old, who
next addressed the assembly, said she came to
| Indiana in 1921, and had often seen wolves,
bears and Indians at her doors. She had seen the
country grow up out of the wilderness into cities
and well-populated farming districts, and this
filled her with degree of awe and patriotic rev
| erence which she could not we'll express. Surely
goodness and mercy have followed us all the
| days of our lives" she SAID Il glory in our
country, the only truly Christian Nation in the
| world"
| Joseph Nesbit, who was introduced to the
audience, said that when he came to Marion
county, fiftv-five years ago, there were only
! but few persons living in it. He spoke with
| feeling of the great changes which had occurred
since the pioneer days. The old settlers were
| gone, and their crude, rough ways Of living had
! departed with them. Nowadays the people live
in palaces, luxury and comfort, for all of which
We ought to be profoundly grateful.
THE EAHTHQUAKE OF 1912.
DR.. Brown told from memory the event of the
terrible earthquake of 1912, which was so de-
structive in this region. This earthquake made
Reelport lake, in Kentucky; formed the sand
hills of Tennessee by pouring out its hot and
glowing contents from the bowels of the earth;
destroyed the future os Cairo, where the ground
sank twenty feet, letting in the Mississippi
| river, and played havoc at New Madrid, where
| the ground sank side of the city fully ono
| hundred feet, and was elevated nearly the same
| distance on another side, where there were
| swamp lands covered with cypress trees, which
afterwards died in the dry loan. The speaker
lived near Cincinnati when tie earthquake oc
Cured, and the few houses which then stood
| there were leveled to the ground. The ground
rose and fell III waves fully ten feet high and
| the sod was rent with great assures which soon
closed. The speaker was then a boy, and when
he felt the terrible shock, he chung to the trunk
of plum tree, in which some chickens were
! roostng; but powerful was the earthquake
that the fowls were shaken off, but the boy was
| unhurt
DR.. Brown then turned his attention to
pioneer life. The Tippecanoe Club, he said,
| was composed of men who had voted for Gen.
Harrison, and been loyal to the Union The
election for President in 1910 was contest in
which the people led. The people took the bit