The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-24
ONCE A CAPITAL CITY
PICTURESQUE FEATURES OF CORY
DON AND HARRISON COUNTY.
A Land Of Romantic Scenery, Inhabit-
ed by a Brave, Thrifty, Cultured
and Hospitable People.

tells US that Harrison county was named
for Gen. William Henry Harrison. who
founded Corydon as the seat of territorial
government in 1873; that the county COM
prises over four hundred square miles; that
1t is one of the pocket Counties bounded
east, southeast and south by the Ohio river;
that it boasts a population of about 5000.
He gives to an inch the dimensions of the
old Statehouse, locates a few ancient land
marks. and his brief sketch is done. The
writer will follow his general direction. but
will go through by-paths known best to the
natives of the old county.
1t is told that while Gen. william Henry
Harrison was Territorial Governor at Vim
cennes he was wont to travel about the
country a great deal. thus acquainting him.
self with its needs and its possibilities. On
these excursions east he often stopped at the
cabin of a family named Smith, who had
located at the foot of the hill near the great
spring that now waters the Corydon fair
grounds. The young ladies of the family
were vocalists Of no mean order, and after
the evening repast had been served they
entertained their distinguished guest with
songs, sacred and sentimental. His special
favorite of these selections was entitled
Old Corydon." When the site of the cap
AoA was CSt0O tPOh tAC AOh4
ored his young hostesses with the privilege
of naming it. They christened it Corydon.
THE TOWN AMI ITS LOCATION.
The main part-the original town-l.es be-
tween and just east of the confluence of two
large streams, Big Indian and Little Indian
creeks. But in the last few years there is
a disposition to cross the limits, and sew
eral nice homes nave been built south of
Little Indian, and this locality is known as
South Corydon. Bending about the entire
town like the emblem of good luck are
wooded hills and verdant slopes. The clean,
wide streets are shaded by large old elms,
old as the town itself. One of these giant
trees is known as the constitutional Elm"
since. under its spreading branches, the p!o-
neer delegates in 1916 drafted the Constitu-
ton OF the State. preferring the comfort 1t
afforded IN midsummer 10 the halls of the
new stone Capitol.
Many modern homes. surrounded by we'll
kept grounds, adorn the residence streets.
Corydon is connected with the Fails
Cities by twenty miles of the finest turn
pike In the world, the eastern half of which
winds through scenery rivaling In grandeur
the famous Horseshoe bend in the Allie
gheny mountains. Over this road hundreds
Of tourists come annually to visit the an
cient capital and the wonderful Wyandotte
cave.
In addition to the turnpike the Airline
railroad affords the practical. pushing peo-
pie quick connection with the outside world.
In the early dawn of Indiana's history,
when 1.-The hero of Tippecanoe' proclaimed
Corydon the future seat Of legislation,
hither iocked many Eastern young men OF
education and high social standing, and the
culture and intellect Of the State centered
at the capital. 1t is due to this fact that
Corydon boasts a society that to-day re-
tains undated its exclusiveness, wearing
a dignity and cold reserve that the busy
work-a-day world has ceased to care to pen
citrate. To those outside the charmed circle
these grand old families, like the old cap
ital. seem to live in the past, listening ever
to the echo Of dead footballs. Refined. cul-
tured and pious, they are given to church
work. and are noted far and wide as the
promoters OF Sabbath schools.
THE,COUNTY IN GENERAL
Harrison county presents with each of its
four hundred square miles a new and
charming landscape. It's countless creeks,
supplied from the limpid springs that flow
from the cedar-crowned hills that border
them. wind through fertile valleys. Forests
Of giant oaks, towering poplars. interspersed
with hickory, gum and fragrant, low-grow-
ing and bright-fowering shrubs. are a strik-
ing feature Of almost every alternate quar-
ter section Of land. In springtime the face
Of the cliffs are yelled with wild
and every roadside the summer long is
gay with wild sweet pea, lace flower and
golden rod. In the deep recesses of the fern
scented woods the pink-lipped lady slipper
HfAac urAsla as%f;or l,.r - -z- -
green covert to another, the redbird, the
bluebird, the scarlet tangier, the Baltimore
oriole, the mouse-colored catbird, with the
robin for leader, constitute an orchestra
that holds spellbound the lover of nature
Though this latitude is subject to short
sharp attacks Of severe weather in winter
many Of these beautiful songsters refuse tc
migrate.
Eighty years ago the bear prowled abou,
the settlers cabin and the panther screamed
in "the clearing row the night echoes
occasionally to the music of the pack as
they trail the fox or bay the raccoon.
Harrison county natives imbibe patriotism
with every breath of it's perfume-lade
breezes. During the late war this county
responded to every call for troops with lie.
gions. the bravest Of the brave, and ever,
great battle field of that war was baptiset
in Harrison county blood. When Morgai
crossed the Ohio, July 8. 1863, he found 8
handful OF boys and grandsires to oppos.
him-the able-bodied men being at the front
Five of the gray-haired heroes fell befor.
the raider, defending their homes.
PROSPEROUS AND HOSPITABLE.
When the contest ended in victory tn,
remnant Of Harrison county heroes returned
to homes that bore evidence of four Ions
years of neglect and they at once set abou
repairing and improving them. With i'm
proved machinery and an intelligent system
Of fertilization the old county is to-day 8
veritable garden. A stock law has mad,
general fencing unnecessary and the weedy
fence row is a thing Of the past. The dark
red roofs of tall, white farmhouses peel
out over surrounding orchards whenever the
vision rests Inside these homes the luxu.
ries Of thirty years ago are now classed al
common necessities. The farmers family
dresses stylishly. is accomplished and a
home IN polite society.
The objectionable sin in this locality is tt
fan in hospitality. The stranger whose bust
ness or pleasure brings him this way never
sees this offense committed.
Outside the old capital Harrison county
-