History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana

VOLUME I

 

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I.
THE PIONEER SETTLERS — THE GAME ON WHICH THEY LIVED — THE BUFFALO AND WHY IT IS ON THE STATE SEAL — THE FIVE TRIBES OF INDIANS AND WHERE THEY LIVED — THE FIRST DEEDS TO THIS SECTION — HUNTING GAME — EARLY TRAPS — WAYS OF HUNTING GAME — TRICKS OF DEER — PASSING OF THE BUFFALO — FOX HUNTING — WILD BEES — WILD HOGS BEARS 5

CHAPTER II.
THE FIRST PIONEER — PIERRE BROUILLETTE WAS SIMPLY A TRADER — THE ADVENT OF HUGH M'GARY — HOW HE HAPPENED TO LOCATE — THE HOOSIER TONGUE — HOW THE FIRST HOMES WERE BUILT — PRIMITIVE UTENSILS OUR PIONEER MOTHERS — PIONEER CITIZENS — GETTING SALT — EARLY THRESHING AND CORN GRINDING — WORK WITHOUT NAILS FIRST HARNESS AND BRIDLES 20

CHAPTER III.
EARLY EVANSVILLE — THE FIRST STAGE COACH — FIRST STORES AND PROFESSIONAL MEN — ITS APPEARANCE IN 182O — EARLY TRANSPORTATION — THE OLD STAGES — FLATBOATING — HOW THE PRODUCE WAS SOLD 31

CHAPTER IV.
THE FIRST BOOM — ITS FAILURE THE CRISIS OF 1837 — MR. CLARK'S LETTERS — CENSUS OF 1838 — NFLUX OF NEW BLOOD — INCREASED TO 4,000 POPULATION — BECAME A GREAT SHIPPING POINT — THE FIRST WHARF THE CANAL AND ITS FAILURE 43

CHAPTER V.
AS SEEN BY A WOMAN — THE WAY CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT UP — EARLY SOCIETY PURSUED BY WOLVES — HOW THEY RODE — NO SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS — HOW THEY COURTED — THE SIMPLE COSTUMES — THE OLD SHAWLS 52

CHAPTER VI.
HUGH M'GARY — HE WAS THE ACTUAL FOUNDER — HIS PURCHASE OF THE ORIGINAL GROUND — STARTING OF THE FERRY — HIS STORE AND THE FIRST POST-OFFICE — GENERAL EVANS COMES — INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN — M'GARY'S TROUBLE WHY HE LEFT HERE 58

CHAPTER VII.
THE FIRST FARMS AND HOW OBTAINED — HOW THIS PART OF THE STATE WAS DIVIDED — THE TWO FIRST BUYERS — DECREASE IN VALUE OF LANDS — WHAT THE PIONEERS WORE — THEIR RIFLES — HOW CLOTHES WERE MADE — HOW THE WOMEN WORKED — WORK AND FUN — MY OWN REMEMBRANCES — "WHISKY ROW" — THE OLD TIME FIRST STREET — OTHER LOCALITIES FIREMEN'S DAY — KNIGHT ERRANTRY, ETC 65

CHAPTER VIII.
EARLY SPORTS AND PASTIMES — CRACK SHOTS — THE BOONES — TOM JACK HUDSPETH — EARLY DIET — WHY WOMEN WERE HEALTHY — A VISITING DRESS — "HOME-MADE" CLOTHING — DRESS COLORS — SHOES — EARLY ILLUMINATION OUR GRANDMOTHERS' COMBS — OLD-TIME BOYS — THEIR CLOTHING — STRANGE WAYS THE DIFFERENT "TIMES" — FRUIT AND WATERMELONS — THEIR GAMES 82

CHAPTER IX.
EARLY LOUNGING PLACES — WHERE THE OLD CITIZENS USED TO MEET AND TALK — THE OLD RESTAURANTS, CIGAR STORES, AND BILLIARD ROOMS — THE START OF THE LOTTIE — THE FIRST BRASS BANDS — THE COMING OF GEO. W. WARREN — WARREN'S BAND — WM. R. BAKER — HOW THE BANDS STARTED — SUNSET PARK — OLD TIME AMUSEMENTS — THE FIRST THEATRE — EARLY MINSTRELS — THE QUILTING BEE AND THE SEWING SOCIETY — AMATEUR SHOWS — THE CHURCHES WAKE UP — TWO AMATEUR OPERA COMPANIES — THE SECOND PERFORMANCE — OLD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS — PRESENT PLACES 95

CHAPTER X.
OLD TIME BALL GAMES — TOWN BALL — HOW THE STAID MERCHANTS PLAYED — THE FIRST SEMI-PRO TEAM — FIRST REAL TEAM — AN OLD BATTERY — OLD FIGHTERS — BAD MEN AND BRAVE MEN — COOL NERVE — ENOUGH MEANT ENOUGH — MILK SICKNESS, THE TERROR OF THE PIONEERS — A VERITABLE POISON FROM WHICH THERE WAS NO ESCAPE 106

CHAPTER XI.
PIONEER WEDDINGS — THEIR CRUDENESS — HUMBLE START IN LIFE — THE WEDDING DANCE AFTER THE FEAST — HOW THEY STARTED FOR HOME — HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF — CHANGES IN PLOWS — THE FATHER OF THE PLOW INDUSTRY, "FATHER URIL" — THE INCREASE OF THE VULCAN WORKS — WHAT MR. BLOUNT HAS DONE AND MY TRIBUTE TO A MAN WHO DESERVES IT — STEAMBOATS OF THE OLD TIME — RISE AND FALL — THEIR GREAT FUTURE — HAPPY TIMES ON BOATS THE WITCHERY OF NIGHT 119

CHAPTER XII.
BEGINS TO GROW — THE PASSING OF LAMASCO — HARD TIMES — THE BIG ROLLING MILL — THE CUSTOM HOUSE — THE ST. GEORGE HOTEL AND THE BIG DANCE — THE FIRST BOOMERS, HEIDELBACH AND ELSAS — A BUILDING BOOM — THE 1880 CENSUS — BORING FOR GAS — THE WONDERFUL LUMBER MARKET, THE GREATEST IN THE WORLD — WHAT WE PRODUCE — THE BIG RAFTS — THE PIONEER LUMBER KING — PLANTING FOR THE FUTURE — THE WONDERFUL FURNITURE TRADE — THE BIG CONSOLIDATION 133

CHAPTER XIII.
THE FIRST STREET CARS — THEIR SIMPLICITY — HORSES GIVE WAY TO MULES, THEN TO ELECTRICITY — ASPHALT FROM TRINIDAD PITCH LAKE — THE WHOLESALE TRADE — HOW IT PROSPERED DURING THE WAR — OLD TIME DRUMMERS — DECLINE OF JOBBING TRADE — HOW WE COLLECTED DEBTS — OLD COUNTY FAIRS AND HORSES — GOLDSMITH MAID AND JUDGE FULLERTON — THE FIGURE EIGHT TRACK — THE BIG FAIR GROUND — THE HOOSIER 152

CHAPTER XIV.
SLAVERY DAYS — THE UNDERGROUND — CONDITION OF SLAVES — THE TRICKS OF THE SLAVE THIEVES — SEVERAL STOLEN NEAR HERE — THE NEGRO QUESTION HANDLED WITHOUT GLOVES — HE BELONGS ON THE FARM AND NOT IN TOWN — A LITTLE EDUCATION OFTEN MAKES HIM A FOOL 164

CHAPTER XV.
COURT HOUSES AND JAILS — CRUDENESS OF THE FIRST ATTEMPTS — TWO NEW COURT HOUSES — HUME REDMON'S DEATH — SITE OF THE PRESENT COURT HOUSE — THE JAILS — SOME OF THE INMATES — A NEGRO FIEND AND A JACK-LEG LAWYER — THE FIRST RAILROADS — SLICK WORK — RAILROAD WIND — P. D. & E. SHOPS — THE SMOOTH-TONGUED VENNER 183

CHAPTER XVI.
EARLY FIRE ENGINES — THE POLITICAL SYSTEM — ADVENT OF METROPOLITAN SYSTEM — FIRE HORSES AND HOW THEY ARE TRAINED — NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT — OLD-TIME OFFICIALS — THE AUTO WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF THE HORSE — PUBLIC PARKS — THE FIRST ATTEMPTS — HOW SUNSET PARK HAS GROWN — "MODESTY FORBIDS" — COOK'S PARK — CHANCES FOR THE FUTURE I99

CHAPTER XVII.
THE HOSPITABLE CITY — SO KNOWN EVEN IN THE LONG AGO — HALF NORTH AND HALF SOUTH AND REALLY A SOUTHERN CITY — OPEN ARMS AND OPEN HEARTS — NO ISOLATION HERE — VIEWS OF MISS RUNCIE — MY ANGEL MOTHER 219

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE FOURTH OF JULY — SHOOTING THE ANVIL — PARADES AND BARBECUES — DECLINE OF THE ODIOUS FIRECRACKER — BANKS OF EVANSVILLE — THE OLD CANAL BANK — NEVER A FAILURE HERE — THE NEWSPAPERS — THE EARLY PRESSES — THE JOURNAL AND ITS FORTUNES — THE COURIER OTHER PAPERS 23O

CHAPTER XIX.
OUR SCHOOLS — THE FIRST ATTEMPTS — COUNTRY LOG SCHOOLS WITH WANDERING TEACHERS — FIRE HOUSES USED IN EVANSVILLE — "DADDY KNIGHT" — PRIVATE SCHOOLS — THE MORE MODERN SCHOOLS — A BEAUTIFUL AND THOROUGH SYSTEM — DIFFERENCE IN TEACHERS 252

CHAPTER XX.
THE LABOR QUESTION — ADVICE FROM AN OUTSIDER — LABOR DAY — LABOR TROUBLES PRACTICALLY — UNKNOWN MORALS OF EVANSVILLE — IT IS REALLY A GOOD CITY — A MORAL WAVE OVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY — WORK OF HON. JOHN W. BOEHNE AND HON. JOHN J. NOLAN — "CHARLIE" HEILMAN MEANS RIGHT — HEATING AND LIGHTING — ADVANTAGE OF GAS FOR COOKING — THE NEW HEAT AND LIGHTING CO., AND WHAT IT WILL MEAN 265

CHAPTER XXI.
EVANSVILLE IN THE WARS — ALWAYS READY TO RESPOND — THE MEXICAN WAR — FIRE EATING (?) BANDS — SUTLERS WHO FOUGHT AND BLED (?) AND NOW DRAW PENSIONS — THE CIVIL WAR HOME GUARDS — THE OLD HOSPITAL STILL STANDING — NEWS OF THE WAR — THE SURRENDER — THE DEATH OF LINCOLN — EXTRACT FROM COL. JAMES SHANKLIN'S SPEECH — THE DIFFERENT EVANSVILLE COMPANIES — A LIST OF THE NAMES — SEVERAL WAR RECORDS — SOME PLAIN TRUTH — THE MAINE, AND SOME PLAIN TALK FOR WHICH THE AUTHOR IS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE 273

CHAPTER XXII.
OUR CHURCHES — HOW THEY SPRANG FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS — EVERY CREED NOW REPRESENTED — THE OLD CIRCUIT RIDERS — THE METHODISTS WERE FIRST — THE OLD LOG CHURCH — THE VARIOUS SHIFTS FOR HOLDING MEETINGS — THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ITS MISSIONS — THE JEWISH TEMPLES AND OTHER CHURCHES 31O

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE MAYORS OF EVANSVILLE — THE COMMON COUNCILS — COUNTY OFFICIALS — VARIOUS SERVANTS (?) OF THE PEOPLE — A COMPLETE LIST — COUNTY WORK — A MISTAKEN IDEA — SOME OF THE OLD "FAIRIES" WHOM I KNEW — PEANUT POLITICS 327

CHAPTER XXIV.
FRATERNAL AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS — THE BEGINNING OF MASONRY AND ODD FELLOWSHIP — OTHER ORDERS — ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL — THE ORPHAN ASYLUMS — THE OUTING FARM 355

CHAPTER XXV.
OUR CEMETERIES AND THEIR BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS — CARE OF THE POOR — VARIOUS ATTEMPTS AT FARMING THE POOR — OLD TIME METHODS 371

CHAPTER XXVI.
POULTRY AND PET STOCK ASSOCIATION — THE HUMANE SOCIETY — EVANSVILLE POULTRY AND PET STOCK ASSOCIATION 377

CHAPTER XXVII.
HOW EACH TOWNSHIP WAS STARTED — THE SMALL EARLY SETTLEMENTS — INFLUX OF ENGLISH AND GERMAN FARMERS — HOW EACH SETTLEMENT HAD ITS CHURCH — POOR AND HAPHAZARD FARMING — THE FLIGHT OF THE SQUATTERS — THE ADVENT OF HIGH-CLASS FARMING — THE PRODUCTIVE SOIL BACK OF EVANSVILLE — INCREASE IN VALUES 381

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE GREATER EVANSVILLE — "THE CITY OF OPPORTUNITIES" — HOW SHE HAS PASSED THE DIVIDING LINE — WE HAVE ONLY TO WAIT — HOW EARLY INDUSTRIES HAVE GROWN — INFLUX OF NEW ONES — THE CHEAPEST FUEL ON EARTH — THE GREAT GATEWAY TO THE SOUTH — WHAT THE LOCKS AND DAMS WILL DO — THE PANAMA CANAL — EXTRACTS FROM SPEECHES OF VARIOUS WELL-POSTED MEN 4OO

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VOLUME II

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In all histories of Evansville that are extant it seems to be assumed that Hugh McGary came from some point in Kentucky in a canoe, and landed at the old Elm Tree which stood near the foot of what is now Division street and first saw the site of the Evansville of today.