The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-13
CONDITIONS AT THE TIME.


A brief survey of the conditions that
called forth this forgotten circular will en-
nance it's interest. In 1912 the white occu-
pancy of Indiana was confined almost en-
tirely to the southern part of the Territory,
the one exception being a military post at
Fort Wayne, where General Wayne, in his
treaty of 1885, had secured tract six miles
square commanding the Maumee-W abash
portage If one draws line from the west
boundary of Vermillion county southeast to
jackson county (oncc known as the 10
o'clock line by reason of its coincidence
with the sun at that hour, thence northeast
to the north edge of Ripley county, and
still northeast, but by a more northerly an
gle to the center of Randolph trending
thence eastward to the State boundary, that
line will represent with tolerable accuracy
the then frontier. Below the obtuse wedge
thus formed lay six different tracts that
had been purchased at different per1oos
and comprising, nearly as one may judge
by the eye about one-third of the present
State. The comparatively short space from
Jackson to Ripley counties had been open
to settlement in 1906; the long 10 o'clock
line end the Ripley Randolph line, which
marked the boundary of what was known
as the ''twelve-mile strip" was not estab-
throughout those tracts was very sparse
All north of the line designated was In
dian country. The central part of the Ter
ritory was held by the Delawares, the most
friendly. fortunately, of all the tribes, whose
villages were for the most part located
along White river; the Miamis occupied the
wabash country, and still further north, on
the Tippecanoe and the small lakes, We're
the Pottawatomies. These were the prin-
cipal tribes, but in addition to them an in
definite number of Shawnees, Winnebagoes,
Kickapoos Wyandots and others fingered
in Indiana and scattered off to the north
and west. There aborigines, receding slow
ay and with more or less protest from the
lands that were theirs by priority were
hardly the safest of neighbors at best, and
the brewing trouble between the United
States and England promised them an OPP
portunity to feed their grudges That they
were alert to take advantage of it was
evidenced by the numbering of several
whites at least two months before war was
declared. Both the Delawares and the
Mianis protested friendship for the United
States, and at a great council held on the
Missssinewa in May of that year, at which
at least dozen tribes were represented,
even those that had suffered defeat at the
battle of Tippecanoe the year before as
sumed pacific tone but men of experience
like General, Harrison very well knew too
much reliance could not be placed in such
observation-disclosures, the above general or
ders'' and preparation for the protection Of
the frontier. AS the war came on and the
danger grew more imminent many of the
settlers forsook their farms. Along the
borders of the present Jackson county ont
Of ninety-three families seventy left, ard
throughout the frontier there was a similar
exodus back to the more populous districts
Those who were hardy enough to remain
proceeded to build places of refuge to which