A New Guide For Emigrants To The West Part 15

_History._--The first permanent settlement of Ohio, was made at Marietta, on the 7th day of April, 1788, by 47 persons from Ma.s.sachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. This was the nucleus around which has grown up the populous State of Ohio. Amongst the most active promoters of this colony, were those called then "The Ohio Company." The next settlement was that of Symmes' purchase, made at Columbia, six miles above Cincinnati, in Nov. 1789, by Major Stiles and twenty-five others, under the direction of Judge Symmes. A colony of French emigrants settled at Gallipolis in 1791. In 1796 settlements were made by New England emigrants at Cleaveland and Conneant, on the southern sh.o.r.e of lake Erie. The intermediate country gradually filled up by emigration from various parts of the United States. Some slight diversity exists, in different sections of the State, in manners, customs, and feelings, amongst the people, in accordance with the States or countries from which they or their fathers emigrated. These shades of character will become blended, and the next generation will be _Ohians_, or, to use their own native cognomen, _Buckeyes_.

In Sept., 1790, the first territorial legislature convened at Cincinnati. The governor having exercised his right of _veto_ in relation to the removal of a county seat, an unhappy collision followed, and, upon framing the State Const.i.tution, in Nov., 1802, the convention prevented the governor of the State from ever exercising the _negative_ power upon acts of the legislature.

DATE OF ORGANIZATION OF SOME OF THE OLDEST COUNTIES.

Was.h.i.+ngton, July 27th, 1788 Hamilton, Jan. 2d, 1790 Adams, July 10th, 1797 Jefferson, July 29th, 1797 Ross, August 20th, 1798 Trumbull, July 10th, 1800 Clermont, December 6th, 1800 Belmont September 7th, 1801

These were all organized under the territorial government.

INDIANA.

Length 240, breadth 150 miles. Between 37 48' N. lat.i.tude, and 7 45'

and 11 W. longitude. Bounded north by the State of Michigan and lake Michigan, east by Ohio, south by the Ohio river, which separates it from Kentucky, and west by Illinois. It contains about 37,000 square miles, equal to 23,680,000 acres.

It is naturally subdivided into the hilly portion, bordering on the Ohio; the level, timbered portion, extending across the middle of the State; the Wabash country, on that river; and the northern portion bordering on the State of Michigan and the lake. The two last portions include nearly all the prairie country.

For civil purposes, this State has been divided into counties, and those subdivided into towns.h.i.+ps.

TABLE.

------------+----------+------+----------++-----------------+------------- Bearing and Date of Square Population distance from COUNTIES. Formation. miles. 1830. SEATS OF JUSTICE. Indianopolis.

------------+----------+------+----------++-----------------+------------- Allen, 1823 720 1,000 Fort Wayne, Bartholomew, 1821 588 5,800 Columbus, Boon, 1830 400 622 Lebanon, Carroll, 1828 450 1,614 Delphi, Ca.s.s, 1829 460 1,154 Logansport, Clark, 1802 400 10,719 Charlestown, Clay, 1825 360 1,616 Bowling Green, Clinton, 1830 450 1,423 Frankfort, Crawford, 1818 350 3,184 Fredonia, Daviess, 1816 460 4,512 Was.h.i.+ngton, Dearborn, 1802 448 14,573 Lawrenceburgh, Decatur, 1821 400 5,854 Greensburgh, Delaware, 1827 400 2,372 Muncietown, Dubois, 1817 420 1,774 Jasper, Elkhart, 1830 576 935 Goshen, Fayette, 1818 200 9,112 Connersville, Floyd, 1819 200 6,363 New Albany, Fountain, 1825 400 7,644 Covington, Franklin, 1810 400 10,199 Brookville, Gibson, 1813 450 5,417 Princeton, Grant, 1831 415 ---- Marion, Greene, 1821 540 4,250 Bloomfield, Hamilton, 1823 400 1,705 n.o.blesville, Hanc.o.c.k, 1828 340 1,569 Greenfield, Harrison, 1808 470 10,288 Corydon, Hendricks, 1823 420 3,967 Danville, Henry, 1821 440 6,498 Newcastle, Huntington, 1832 400 ---- Jackson, 1815 500 4,894 Brownstown, Jefferson, 1809 400 11,465 Madison, Jennings, 1816 400 3,950 Vernon, Johnson, 1822 300 4,130 Franklin, Knox, 1802 540 6,557 Vincennes, La Porte, 1832 420 ---- La Porte, Lagrange, 1832 380 ---- Mongoquinon, Lawrence, 1818 460 9,237 Bedford, Madison, 1823 420 2,442 Andersontown, Marion, 1821 440 7,181 INDIANOPOLIS, Martin, 1818 340 2,010 Mount Pleasant, Miami, 1832 330 ---- Miamisport, Monroe, 1818 560 6,578 Bloomington, Montgomery, 1822 500 7,376 Crawfordsville, Morgan, 1821 530 5,579 Martinsville, Orange, 1815 378 7,909 Paoli, Owen, 1818 380 4,060 Spencer, Parke, 1821 450 7,534 Rockville, Perry, 1814 400 3,378 Rome, Pike, 1816 430 2,464 Petersburgh, Posey, 1814 500 6,883 Mount Vernon, Putnam, 1821 490 8,195 Greencastle, Randolph, 1818 440 3,912 Winchester, Ripley, 1818 400 3,957 Versailles, Rush, 1821 400 9,918 Rushville, Scott, 1817 200 3,097 Lexington, Shelby, 1821 430 6,294 Shelbyville, Spencer, 1818 400 3,187 Rockport, St. Joseph, 1830 740 287 South Bend, Sullivan, 1816 430 4,696 Merom, Switzerland, 1814 300 7,111 Vevay, Tippecanoe, 1826 500 7,161 La Fayette, Union, 1821 224 7,957 Liberty, Vanderburgh, 1818 225 2,610 Evansville, Vermillion, 1823 280 5,706 Newport, Vigo, 1818 400 5,737 Terre Haute, Wabash, 1832 380 ---- Warren, 1828 350 2,854 Williamsport, Warrick, 1813 412 2,973 Boonville, Was.h.i.+ngton, 1813 550 13,072 Salem, Wayne, 1810 420 23,344 Centerville,

The total population in 1830, was 341,582. The estimated population in the message of Gov. n.o.ble to the legislature, December, 1835, was 600,000.

The counties in which the population has not been given in the foregoing table, have been formed since 1830. Probably other new counties, along the waters of the Wabash and Kankakee, have been formed recently, of which no intelligence has been had by the author. The counties in the northern portion of the State have increased the most in population since 1830.

For electing representatives to Congress, the State is divided into seven electoral districts.

For judicial purposes, it is divided into eight circuits, in each of which there is a circuit judge, who, together with two a.s.sociates in each county, holds the circuit courts.

POPULATION AT DIFFERENT PERIODS.

Population. Increase.

In 1800,(excluding Illinois,) 2,641 From 1800 to 1810, 21,879 " 1810, 24,520 " 1810 to 1820, 122,658 " 1820, 147,178 " 1820 to 1825, 74,822 " 1825, 222,000 " 1825 to 1830, 119,582 " 1830, 341,582 " 1830 to 1835, 119,582 " 1835,(estimate,) 600,000

In 1825, the number of voters was 36,977, and the number of paupers 217!

_Face of the Country, &c._--The counties bordering on the Ohio river are hilly;--sometimes abrupt, precipitous, stony, occasionally degenerating into k.n.o.bs and ravines. Commencing at the mouth of White river on the Wabash, and following up that stream on its east fork, and thence along the Muskakituck, through Jennings and Ripley counties to Lawrenceville, and you leave the rough and hilly portion of Indiana, to the right. Much of the country we have denominated hilly is rich, fertile land, even to the summits of the hills. On all the streams are strips of rich alluvion of exhaustless fertility. The interior, on the two White rivers and tributaries, is moderately undulating, tolerably rich soil, and much of it heavily timbered with oaks of various species, poplar, beech, sugar tree, walnuts, hickory, elm, and other varieties common to the West.

There is much level, table land, between the streams. Along the Wabash, below Terre Haute, is an undulating surface, diversified with forest and prairie, with a soil of middling quality, interspersed with some very rich tracts. Along the Wabash and its tributaries above Terre Haute, the land in general is first rate,--a large proportion forest, interspersed with beautiful prairies. The timber consists of oaks of various species, poplar, ash, walnut, cherry, elm, sugar tree, buckeye, hickory, some beech, sa.s.safras, lime, honey locust, with some cotton wood, sycamore, hackberry and mulberry on the bottom lands. The undergrowth is spice bush, hazel, plum, crab apple, hawthorn and vines. Along the northern part of the State are extensive prairies and tracts of barrens, with groves of various kinds of timber and skirts of burr oak. Towards lake Michigan, and along the Kankakee and St. Joseph rivers, are lakes, swamps and marshes.

_Rivers._--The Ohio meanders along the southeastern and southern parts of the State for 350 miles. The east and west forks of White river, and their tributaries, water the interior counties for 100 miles in extent.

They are both navigable streams for flat boats during the spring and autumn floods. The Wabash river has several heads, which interlock with the waters of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's, which form the Maumee of lake Erie. It runs a south-westwardly course across the State to Warren county,--thence southwardly to Vigo county, where it becomes the boundary between Indiana and Illinois, along which it meanders to the Ohio, which it enters 12 miles above Shawneetown. The St. Joseph of lake Michigan, already noticed under the State of Michigan, makes a curve into Elkhart and St. Joseph counties, forming what is called the _South Bend_. The Kankakee, which is the longest branch of Illinois river, rises in Indiana, near the South Bend. Some of its head waters interlock with those of Tippecanoe, a prominent tributary of the Wabash.

SKETCH OF EACH COUNTY.

The following sketch of each county,--its streams, surface, soil, and minerals,--has been made and collated with much labor, from an excellent Gazetteer of this State, published in 1833, by Dougla.s.s and Maguire of Indianopolis,--from personal observation of many of the older counties,--and from an extensive correspondence.

ALLEN.--Streams; St. Joseph's and St. Mary's, which form the Maumee of lake Erie, navigable for small keel boats,--and numerous creeks; generally heavily timbered; soil, clay,--sandy on the rivers.

BARTHOLOMEW.--Streams; Driftwood, Clifty, Flat Rock, and Salt Creeks,--all mill streams. Surface, level; soil, a rich loam, mixed with sand and gravel; the western part hilly, with clay soil. Minerals; limestone, coal, iron ore, red ochre.

BOON.--Watered by the tributaries of Racc.o.o.n and Sugar Creeks.

Surface, level,--soil rich.

CARROLL.--Streams; Wabash river, Deer, Rock, and branches of Wildcat creeks. Considerable timber,--some prairies, of which Deer prairie is the largest and most beautiful. Considerable quant.i.ties of limestone on the surface; a remarkable spring near Delphi,--the water reddish.

Ca.s.s.--Streams are Wabash and Eel rivers, which unite at Logansport,--the head of steamboat navigation of the Wabash, and termination of the W. and E. ca.n.a.l. Surface, generally level, rolling towards the rivers with abrupt bluffs; soil, near the rivers, a mixture of loam and sand; at a distance from them, flat and clayey. Large proportion, forest land,--some prairies.

CLARK.--Silver and Fourteen Mile creeks furnish excellent mill sites. Ohio river on the south. Surface, rolling and hilly; soil, loam, mixed with sand. Minerals; limestone, gypsum, water lime, marble, salt, iron ore, copperas, alum.

CLAY.--Eel river and tributaries. Surface moderately undulating; soil various, chiefly clay and loam, and a mixture of sand, in places; timber predominates,--some prairies.

CLINTON.--Watered by the South, Middle, and Kilmore's Forks of Wildcat creek. Surface, moderately undulating, or level: Twelve Mile prairie extends from S. W. to N. E. 12 miles, and is three fourths of a mile wide. The remainder timbered land. Soil, a rich sandy loam, and exceedingly fertile.

CRAWFORD.--Waters; the Ohio and Blue rivers,--plenty of water power, and excellent springs. Surface, hilly and broken; in places, tolerably productive; in others, soil thin and rocky. A timbered region, and abundance of limestone.

DAVIESS.--Streams; Forks of White river, with its tributaries, Smother's, Prairie, Veal, Aikman's and Sugar creeks. Level bottoms on the rivers--sometimes inundated; undulating on the high grounds. Soil on the West Fork, sandy; much timber,--an extensive tract of sugar tree; some prairies. The county dest.i.tute of rock near the surface; plenty of lime and sandstone in the bed of West Fork of White river, at the rapids. Plenty of coal.

DEARBORN.--Watered by the Great Miami, Whitewater, Laughery, Hogan's and Tanner's creeks. Surface, hilly and broken, with rich, level, bottom lands, on the Miami. Soil, one fourth first rate, one fourth second rate,--remainder inferior. A timbered region.

DECATUR.--Flat Rock, Clifty, and Sand creeks, are all good mill streams. Surface, generally level,--some parts undulating; soil, loam, with a substratum of clay; well adapted to grain--timbered. Minerals; limestone, some iron ore and coal.

DELAWARE.--Streams; Missisinawa, and West Fork of White river; surface tolerably level; soil, loam, mixed with sand. Minerals; some limestone, and granite bowlders scattered over the surface.

DUBOIS.--Streams; East Fork of White river, Patoka and Anderson creeks. Surface rolling,--some parts hilly and broken,--some level tracts; soil rich and sandy loam near the streams. Minerals; sand rock and coal.

ELKHART.--Watered by St. Joseph of lake Michigan, Elkhart and tributaries. Surface, generally level,--a portion undulating; soil various, but generally rich; forest and prairie, both wet and dry.

FAYETTE.--Watered by the West Fork of Whitewater, and a small lake in the north. Surface, undulating; soil, on the high ground, clayey, and a mixture of sand,--on the bottom lands, a rich, sandy loam.

Limestone found in ma.s.ses and quarries.

FLOYD.--Watered by the Ohio river, Silver creek, and some head branches of Big and Little Indian creeks. Surface various,--a range of k.n.o.bs,--east of these k.n.o.bs, it is gently undulating; soil inferior.

Minerals; shale, soft sandstone, limestone, freestone, iron ore, and some traces of coal. A boiling spring, from which is emitted an inflammable gas.

FOUNTAIN.--Watered by the Wabash river, and Coal and Shawnee creeks, with numerous mill sites. Surface, gently undulating; soil, a black loam, mixed with sand, and very rich. Minerals; coal, and some sandstone.

FRANKLIN.--Watered by the East and West Forks of Whitewater.

Surface, on the eastern part level,--western, rolling; soil, in the central and northern parts, a black loam,--in the south-west, thin and clayey.

GIBSON.--Watered by the Wabash, White, and Patoka rivers.

Surface, rolling and timbered; soil, generally a sandy loam, and productive.

GRANT.--Watered by the Missisinawa and tributaries. Surface level,--generally heavily timbered; soil, clay and loam on the table lands,--sandy on the river bottoms.