The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-02-28
MEL AND HENRY.
Pleasant "Reminiscences Of the Ferry
ON th. wabash.
CHAPTER

CHAPTER I.
In tho bosom of those prairies which
border the Wabash. on the boundary Of
Indiana and Illinois is a small market
town called Weedsvillc formerly called
"Wondersville" This name was given,
We are told, by old pioneers. who, wan
dering from the East to the West. would
seek this place to cross the unfordablc
river
am inclined to think that it was SO
called because the pioneers often Won
dered when approaching it whether it
was an English town or q deserted In
dian village
There was scarcely a thing To note the
existence of town. except a half score
of log huts dotted here and yonder
among the wild sunfowers which seemed
20 have more To say about the streets
and the paths the traveller should tread
than the inhabitants themselves and a
sort Of store where one Of their wealth.
lest men carried on business with the
citizens. squatter fashion. l say squat
ter fashion because it took on the air
of not being very certain of it's claims
to permanent ownership and SO not
eager to make improvements beyond
such as We're necessary to its immediate
wants.
This feeling about permanency Of title
may have been owing TO the fact that
the Wabash was a river of unsteady
habits and liable to get on a rampaged
Tor drunk as The citizens called it, at
periods more or less frequent. depending
somewhat upon the state of the weather
at the head of it. At times it would
seem calm and as innocent as a lamb
while again il would overflow its banks
and surge To and fro like a raving sea.
As for their rights, why they were the
peared to consist principally of sitting
around discussing the probabilities OF
another rise i'm the Wabash. and occa-
sionally going out to a corn field on the
outskirts and spend a half day chasing
squirrels or chipmunk dcpTedatOrs. It
was not an unfrequent sight to see the
boys coming in Indian file through the
sunfiowers carrying a dozen squirrels, or
hear the yelping hounds chasing a hair
l never knew for certain why the town
remained there. Maybe, after all. il had
clear title to the sight in which it
stood Although the river often made
attempts to drive il away and the sun
flowers made an attempt to cover 1t be-
meath their green foliage every spring.
but they never succeeded. The town
grew and prospered in spite of the river
the sunfiowers and chipmunlc depreda-
tors.
Looking back at it now. am more
than half inclined to think that what
made the town remain was the ferry.
This might seem to have furnished a
good reason why it should not remain.
since it cOu.- evidently have gotten
away by means of the ferry if it wanted
to- May be il would have done so if it
had thought of it, but if so il was evil
dent that the thought had never come
to it: the town was not greatly giving to
thinking. but l do not really believe the
reason it stayed was because il never
a that cprld hx~ bo
way of the ferry if it wanted to. Pos
sibly it expected the Wabash to rise
high enough some time TO take il away
and save the cost Of transportation. L
cannot say positively as to that: I am
inclined to think it stayed because it
liked the location. And why not2
There was the river which afforded
abundance OF fish; the woods upon the
river banks filed with game; the rich
prairie spread before it, where abundance
of crops could he raised and pasture for
their cattle and swine. and there was
the ferry-the ferry. which gave dignity
and Importance TO the town and a repu-
tation throughout the country for miles
on both sides of the river. Yes, ! think
It was the ferry that kept the town con-
tented and happy and prevented any
disposition on its part to run away.
Now the ferry belonged 70 a person by
the name Of Jones. Mr.. Jones he was
called and he was the only person in
town that was permitted to be hOEored
by prefxng Mr.. to his name. which facts
argues that MI. Jones was man of
Importance and influence in the cOmmu-
nifty as indeed he was.
For was he not the owner of the ferry?
And had he not been honored by the
governor of Indiana and Illinois by grant
ing him a charter. printed in three or
four different types. signed by the sec
rotary OF state, tied with red ribbon
and sealed by the great seal of the
states Of Indiana and Illinois, declaring
that having confidence i'm the integrity
OF Mr.. John n. Jones he is hereby grant
ed authority. etc. etc. to run across the
Wabash river. etc. etc. This charter
Mr. Jones had framed and hung on the
porch above the door of his log cabin.
which is near the river bank.
As the children passed by they would
often stop and wonder what good man
Mr. Jones surely had been and
what great things nc had done TO he
honored by the governors Of two states.
Being contented with the honor aud
the poaition In society in which he held,