The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-27
AN OLD INDIANA TOWN.


'
Written for the Journal.
To one fond of modern antiquities Charles
town is an interesting place and we'll worth a
visit. 1t lives in its history. for its present is
nothing and It's future hopeless so far as growth
and business are concerning; but the past has
been a worthy one, and the good men sent out
from here have left lasting impress ouF
State affairs. One can reach it best from Louis
vile. whore the j., NJ. G. T. and the finely
equipped Monon route terminate, and days
visit will reveal quaint aud typical old-fash-
Toned Indiana town. 1t was put in the most IN
likely place for town, back from the Ohio
river, and on the toughest ground in the vcin-
ity so its streets and yards wander up and
down i'll way that would drive mad city coun-
Gilman of dead-level proclivites. But there will
never be street-grading here, unless natural gas
revivifes everything, for it has been struck"
few miles above, and there is no reason on the
surface why the same thing may not be done
here. But, aside from this possible initiation by
gas, there is no reason why Charlestown should
not always he the 'sfiavor of mild decay"
Mind you it is ,ne of the dirty, clay-washed
towns so conn .rougbout southern Indiana,
but it is filled kindly, intelligent people, Of
most excellent antecedents, and the only thing
that Expresses a stranger.is the absolute dull
nass. Square, old-fashioned brick houses stand
flush upon the sidewalks with steps and porti-
Goes running out in friendly way to greet q
guest or trip an unwary night promenader. The
architecture is Southern-plain and dura-
bile aud sociable. One can call upon
all his friends these pleasant evenings
by sauntering along the sidewalks and
stopping and then at the groups collected
about the various Stops" 1t is refreshing to
come away from driving city and see the mer-
chants sitting about their front DOORS or quietly
locking everything up to spend an hour at din
per or hoeing in their gardens. And splendid
gardens they have; none finer anywhere and no
one without them
That the past is more important here than
any other period of time is well shown by the
fact that old settlers meetings are the grand oc
casions, when the busy days of years ago are
lived over, and the pioneers come together to
talk Of the hum of trade that was once here be-
fore the railroad came, and the hustle of county
business before the courthouse was taken away.
For the railroad has carried trade to Louisville,
and the court house has found resting place in
Jacksonville, not so pleasant and wholesome,
but probably the court had better live among
the criminals it has to deal with. And now
we are stopping in the Jail, converted into COM
Portable hosiery, where willing guests come and
go at their pleasure. The adjoining courthouse
has become the school, whore better things are
taught and practiced. A sturdy temperance SEN
tlment mas Qrlven out the last SOl0On, ana IL the
good citizens do live in dull and sleepy sown it
is moral one. This would be good place for
a sanitarium for shattered nerves if pure air and
absolute freedom from excitement are needed.
Here was where the great Judge Dewey made
his record, which carried him to the Supreme
Court. One of the pioneer Governors of Indi-
ana, Governor Jennings hes buried here, and
his grave is unmarked and lost. An old settler
pointed out spot to us which he said was with
in six feet of the place. 1t lies just
in the edge of town upon a rocky
slope. and should be marked before it becomes
absolutely lost but his name will always survive
in Jennings county. Gen. John Carr, so
prominently connected with the early history Of
the State, and for long time Representative
in Congress- had his home farm within hailing
distance Another Congressman, Hon. Thos. j.
Henly, claimed Charlestown as his home Col
Sam Wilson studied law here with Judge Dewey
and afterward removed to Charlottesville. Gen.
John Clark gave name to this county, most of
which was granted to him and his men as the
'Ilnois grant" Nearly three hundred sections
OF five hundred acres each were laid out
to square with the of the river, and so, TO
to this day. the whole county is covered with an
abominaton of quartering lines, which run
towards no cardinal point of the compass and ft
with no survey. But all the farms and the roads
lie in the same way, it cannot be changed,
and to this day there is nothing in the landscape
to tell one direction, and even the Oldest inhab-
liant must stop to think if he Is suddenly asked
(which way is north"
Inere was q Famous Scno0l mere once, UNDER
the charge of Zebulon Sturgis, a nephew of
Judge Barton Parke. of the Supreme Court. and
his boys are scattered everywhere over the coun-
try, but there is not one Of them who does not
delight to honor his old master Professor
Sturgis was afterwards called TO Washington,
and for years has been filling important posi-
ton in the Interior Department, but the present
administration finally supplanted him, and he is
back again in the old town. 1t is to be hoped
that the incoming Republican administration
will reinstate so useful and distinguished serv-
ant. He is remarkable for his memory of men
and events. and any amount of unwritten his
tory could be cleaned from him.
So it is seen that if men make place note
worthy, Charlestown is not the least notable Of
places.
Political matters are being discussed here Wig
orously, and with two rival Democratic factions,
each putting it's man forward for Congress. and
each so bitter against the other that compro-
mise is at present thought of, the Republicans
are quietly waiting for the plum to drop into
their mouths, and it would not be the strangesl
thing, even if 1t has been unheard of, if a Re-
publican should represent this district c..