The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15
THE GOSHEN COMMUNITY
A sOCtALISTIC EXPERIMENT THAT.
FOR 4 TIME, WAS IDYLLIC.
Later Financial Mishaps Caused Dis
appointment and the Little
Society Disbanded.

The failure of the sOcialistfc experiment
at New Harmony, under the leadership of
Robert owen, rather served to convince
many persons that cOmmunistic life is feas-
ible than TO discourage further attempts
ir that direction. and like those adventur-
Gus spirits Of our own day who have faith
ln the Ultimate possibility of reaching the
north pDle and are willing to back their
judgment by their efforts to attain what is
generally regarded as the unattainable. so.
not few Of the pioneers Of this portion OF
Indiana iwere stimulated by a desire prac-
ticaIy TO demonstrate the fact that COM
muuity life Is not only feasible. but profit
able as well The question had been dis
cussed during the long winter evenings as
the families gathered about the fresides,
and the conclusion generally reached was
that It was workable. provided certain feat
ures Of the owen system We're eliminated
and mutual cooperation and equality in all
things substituted for autocratic govern
meut, which Mr.. Owen had established
out OF this discussion was evolved a
scheme for a cooperative community,
which was located one mile north Of the
site Of the thriving town Of PoseyvilIe in
POsey county. All it's members were related
either b blood or marriage to Jonathan
Jaquess, an old revolutionary soldier, who,
with his family. had emigrated from Ken
lucky in1S15 and who, like a true patriarch
had gathered his sons and daughters and
focks ard herds about him. and having ac-
quired by purchase and entry a large body
OF fertile land, lived in the enjoyment Of
that Teuose and authority which comes
with thrifty management, wisdom, expert
ence and sterling worth. 1t was upon this
estate that site was selected, in 1898, for
the village OF Goshen. AS they were all ear
nest Bible students there was something
very suggestive to them of that fertile spot
which Pharaoh generously rendered Jacob
through his son Joseph: I'm the best OF the
land maze thy father and brethren dwell,
in the land Of Goshen let them dwell"
The location chosen for the village pos
sessed great natural advantages which
commenced it to each one as a favored
spot for a home. The gently undulating
stretches Of fertile land which opened be-
fore them in every direction; the majestic
forests OF oak. hickory. maple. walnut, ash
and other valuable woods; the innumerable
small yet useful varieties of trees and com
parauveIy small amount of underground "a
peculiarly OF Posey county noted by Sir
Charles 1yen. the eminent English geolo-
gist. who visited New Harmony in 1870,
the vista views which opened in various
directionc. the quiet and peaceful environ
ment ana the profusion Of wild flowers
al combined to render it a veritable Ar
cadia.
AN IDEAL EXISTENCE.
The members of the Goshen community
were at peace with one another and with
I'll mankind so that they dwelt in harmony
with the great heart of nature whose quick
ening pulse-beat was a reflex Of their own
lives. To them dame nature was a bounti-
ful mother, and her gifts were poured out
with a lavish hand. Game abounded, bees
seemed To store away the most delicious
sweets for their especial use and the sugar
maple yielded I'D it's sap most freely, so
that nothing was wanting to complete their
happiness and render life a perpetual fes-
tival. But they could not live on poetry,
and. shoUldering their axes. they set about
clearing their lands and erecting dwellings,.
The first building was erected and occupied
by James Rankin. who had but recently re-
turned from the owen community at New
Harmony. with which he was associated
FOR a time, and where he had gained much
valuable experience. After completing Ran
kin's house they began to move their dwell
ings from their farms and it was not long
until the town assumed a sort of metropoli-
tan aspect. There were no drones or gen
tlemen Of leisure I'm that community. Ev-
erything was ION the move" and a veri-
table boom was at hand.
The first census Of the new town shows
the following named persons with their
families residing in the city" prop
o.: James Rankin, Rev. John Schra-
der. Wesley JaQuess and Christopher
Ashworth ogden and Garretson Jaquess
remained lat their original homes, which
were near. enough to make them suburb
an" Jonathan JaQuess, the father and
venerable patriarch" with his two sons
Fletcher and Asbury, both single, remained
at the old homestead.
Most Of our recent literature which treats
OF the "Hoosier" character typifes it as
rude and uncOuth. yet in every community
from the earliest permanent settlement Of
the Statei there was a goodly number Of
well-infOrined people-people Of lofty anC
noble idee!ls, and who fully realized the
value of education and endeavOred TO sur
round themselves with all the refining IN
fueuces and comforts which characterize
high degree Of civilization. Many Of these
early settlers had brought well-stOcked Ii
braries with them and "Plutarch's Lives.
Addison's Spectator" Popes TRANSLATION
OF the Iliad," Shakspeare's dramas anC
similar wOgks were read and studied with ;
degree of diligence that would put to blusl
our present boosted superiority along thi
line Add 20 this the large fund of usefu
Information which the circuit rider scat
tered throughout his parish and we find tn
seeds OF trat intellectual hunger which ha
blossOmed into our magnificent school sys
TEN.
THEY DID NOT QUARREL.
As the various families composing the VII
laee OF Goshen lived together on the mos
amiCable terms being bound by tina
stronger bond than hooks Of steel or chain
O. gold. namely, the Golden Rule, their do
nestle life could not have been otherwis
than happy The cOnventiOnalities an
fashionable frivolities Of modern social III
We're unknown TO them. Their lives wer
spent in useful labor, amid the quiet
their forest home. The birds fitted IN tn
bright sunshine. chanting their widest
sweetest melodies After the days wor
was over each family gathered about IN
hearthstone 10 recount the events OF IN
day. while to the musical hum OF the SPIN
ming wheel, was united the weird melody o
the imprisoned songs OF the woods
they were released by the tongues OF nam