The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
Ear,y Ipai.na Hi.torx.

A book recently published entitled 1.-The
History. of Early Terre Haute," by Rev.
DR.. Blackboard Condit, contains some inter-
esting information concerning the first set
Element and early history of one of the old
est counties and towns in the State. 1t
is greatly to be regretted that more of this
kind of history of a local and personal
character was not collected in past years
before much of it was irreparably lost, but
it is not yet too late to rescue some in
teresting local records and traditions from
oblivion. He who does this in whatever
degree is public benefactor since there
is no nobler record in history than that
made by the pioneers of this and other
Western States.
The history of early Terre Haute pos
sesses peculiar interest because the first
settlement of the town dates back to terri
torial times, and the county of Vigo, in
which Terre Haute is situated, was one
of the first created after the admission of
Indiana as a State. There is evidence that
the site of Terre Haute was occupied and
frequented by Indians long anterior to
it's first settlement by whites. The lat
ter occurred, if fort can be called set
William Henry Harrison established Fort
Harrison at the present site of the city
and made it a base of operations against
the Indians. In 1872 Captain Zachary Tay-
lor afterwards President of the United
States. was in command of the fort. In
dian hostilities continued till 1885, and dur
ing that period few white families set
tied in the vicinity OF Terre Haute, most
of whom came from the East by the usual
route, down the Ohio and up the Wabash
by "keelboat." The county of Vigo was
created and the town of Terre Haute laid
out in 1918, three years before indianapolis
was laid out. Fort Harrison, to which
Terre Haute owed its location, continued
to be a military post till 1922. The county
derived its name from Francis Vfgo, a
soldier Of fortune who came to this coun-
try in Spanish regiment and remained
to become a successful Indian trader and
ardent American. In 1873 he provided ra-
lions for Gen. George Rogers Clarke's ex-
petition for the recapture of vincennes,
taking in return Gen. Clarkes drafts on
the agent of Virginia to the amount of
81, $3.50. This sum was not reimbursed by
Congress till 1876, when the principal and
| interest, amounting to $4,000, was paid to
Colonel Vigo's heirs. He died at Vincennes
In 1886, and although he must have felt
keenly the injustice of not repaying him
money advanced to the government he
never wavered in his loyalty. Terre Haute,
as is generally known, is French for high
ground, and was applied by the French
fur traders as they passed in their pirogues
up and down the Wabash to all the high
banks along the river. AS the new town
was located on somewhat high, rolling
ground it naturally fell under the French
designation It's early settlers were mostly
superior class of people from the East
hardy, enterprising and intelligent. The
author of this book gives interesting
sketches of some of them and pays just
tribute to their virtues, as their descend
ants and the community in which they
lived and died should do. They reached
their new home after great difficulty and
encountered new ones after arriving there,
but they were equal TO them. The pioneer
| lexicon of those days knew no such word
as fail The new town soon began to take
root and develop the characteristics of a
frontier American town, with its court
| house, taverns, churches. business houses,
| professional men, etc. Its early settlers i'm
pressed characteristics on the town which
| cling to it and have always made Ii as town
and city one of the most soundly conserva-
| tive and literally progressive communities
in the State: Terre Haute was rising
center of trade when Indianapolis was a
| struggling hamlet. The old national road
| furnished it good communication with the
| East and the Wabash river with a water
way for scows, fatboats and later for
steamboats,. The author says:
| The beginning of the end of the hatboat
| trade was when the first steamboat ap-
| peared at our wharf. which Is said 10 have
been in 1872 The captain aru MS boat
Were welcomed by a concourse OF villagers
| gathered on the banks of the river anc by
| the booming of the town cannon Another
boat followed In lS26. In due time regular
| packet boats had their appointed days Of
arrivals and departures 1t was a glad
| sight to see a fleet of steamboats, vending
| its way up the river. laden With sugar, salt
| and other merchandise. These were the
days OF village prosperity. when our river
| front was graced with steamboats,, loading
and unloading freight; when wagons and
drays crowoed upon each other In cartiuS
barrels, boxes ard casks through the heavy
sand and up the long hill into the town.
| The natboat trade, however, was TOO firmly
establish - "a entirely supplanted In