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A few others came in 1831, including Jacob
Wolf, Henry Hostetter, Sr., and family, Jacob Shobe and family,
Adam Engle and family, Joseph Smalley and family, Henry Miller
and wife, and Leonard Danner. The work of settlement went on
slowly, and in 1836, when the county was organized, it probably
contained less than one hundred families. More than one-half
of these had located in Perry Township, attracted by the superior
advantages of "Perry's Prairie" and the "Haw Patch,"
and it was in that township that the first land was purchased
from the Government, in 1831, Isaiah Dungan, on June 11, that
year, entering the northeast quarter of section 33, and Levi
Perry, on the same date, the east half of the southeast quarter
of the same section. In the same year Jacob Shobe took land in
sections 31, 32 and 33; Susanna Hagan, in section 34; Adam Engle
in sections 27 and 28; Henry Engle in section 27; Jacob Wolf
in section 28; John Iles in section 28; William Engle in section
34; Daniel Harsh in section 33; Joseph Smalley in sections 28,
32, 33 and 34; H. Hostetter in section 34; L. Danner in section
in1831, all in Perry Township, was 2,120 acres. In 1832 the entries
amounted to 3,320 acres; in 1833, 2,280; in 1834, 5,860; in 1835,
18,222; and in 1836, previous to the organization of the county
in March, 1,006 acres, making a total of 33,048 acres entered
before the organization of the county, or about one-ninth of
all the land embraced within its limits.
Probably the largest amount taken was
in the year 1836, when there was a great rush of settlers to
Northern Indiana, of which Noble County received her share. The
genuine settlers were always welcome, and those already on the
ground rendered them every assistance in selecting their land
and putting up their cabins. In addition to these, however, many
speculators came in, who purchased large tracts which they held
for purchase at exorbitant prices, and were generally denominated
as "land sharks" by the pioneers. The vicinity of the
land office at Fort Wayne was also infested by a number of downright
swindlers who would approach an applicant for land and extort
money from him on the false pretence that he, himself, was intending
to enter the same claim, but would give up his intention on payment
of a certain sum. But in spite of these evils, much land was
actually entered and occupied, and the civilizing of the wilderness
had begun.
The first crop planted, if the settler
arrived early enough in the season, was corn; if too late for
corn, potatoes were planted; still later, turnips. The fall arrivals
usually sowed their land with wheat, and were obliged to purchase
supplies for the winter from farmers in LaGrange, Elkhart and
Kosciusko counties, where a quantity of land had already been
cleared. Much hardship was suffered by late comers who were short
of means, as most of the pioneers were, but the neighbors were
helpful, and there is no record of any cases of actual starvation.
A more serious matter was the frequency of disease, for the county
abounded in swamps giving rise to fever and ague, from which
few of the pioneer settlers were exempt. Physicians were not
to be had, and as there were no drug stores, the only resource
was to such simple domestic remedies of which the settlers had
knowledge. The winter months were devoted to chopping and making
preparations for clearing more land in the spring. The frequent
"log-rollings" provided social recreation, as also
did the occasional dances, where all were on the same social
level, equally lacking in wealth or high position, and snobbish
jealousies had little room to intrude.
At that early, there were, of course,
no roads except the wagon tracks marked out by teamsters through
the heavily timbered parts of the country. In such places, where
the soil was soft, the frequent passage of vehicles soon worked
up the ground into a state of mud and mire, when the teamsters
would mark out another course. On the openings the soil was more
sandy and the track first marked out was longer used, though
it was seldom necessary to keep to it, as the ground on either
side was equally available. The burning of the undergrowth by
the Indians each spring not only cleared away obstructions, but
also gave the settler a wider and more extensive view of the
country, uninterrupted except by the larger trees. At that time,
the oak openings, with the tender grass just springing up and
spreading a carpet of green over the landscape, which was further
beautified by multitudes of wild flowers, and perhaps in the
distance a herd of deer, presented a scene calculated to inspire
feelings of delight in every lover of Nature.
But Nature is not always a kind mistress.
The spring of 1838 commenced with heavy rains, which continued
with little intermission until about the middle of June, after
which no more fell during the remainder of the summer and fall.
Some wheat sown that fall did not germinate until after snow
fell. The intense heat of summer rapidly evaporated the water
in the over-filled swamps and marshes, and fever and malaria
prostated [sic] practically the entire population. Physicians
were scarce, and the few who were in the settlements were themselves
ill with the prevailing disease. Many of the settlers died, and
many lay sick with none to care for them. In one house at Rochester
thirteen persons were ill, and there were but two people in the
village-Dorus Swift and Miss Achsah Kent-who were able to go
from house to house and minister to the suffering, but these
two did their duty right nobly. With the coming of the autumn
frosts the disease was checked and the settlers began to recover,
though a few old persons had been so enfeebled that they died
during the ensuring fall and winter.
In addition to the evils due to natural
causes, there were others of man's own contriving. Favored by
the wild nature of the country-its dense forests, tangled thickets,
its numerous lakes and swamps, the thinness of the settlements,
and the difficulty of communication, owing to the lack of roads-gangs
of outlaws had arisen who carried on their nefarious operations,
not only in Noble and the adjacent counties, but also throughout
Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. The horses of the settlers
and Indians were stolen, houses were burned, people were robbed,
and counterfeit money was manufactured and put into circulation.
The gangs were well organized and had stations at various places
where they concealed their stolen property until they had a chance
to dispose of it, and in some cases the places of concealment
was the house of some apparently respectable citizen and farmer,
who was himself, unknown to his neighbors, one of the miscreants,
or in confederation with them. Horse stealing was a particularly
odious offence in those days, as upon his horses the pioneer
settler depended largely for the support of his family. These
crimes went on until the people realized that extraordinary measures
must be taken to suppress them, as the ordinary processes of
law seemed insufficient. Men dared not keep fine horses, and
many were contented with animals too worthless to be bothered
by thieves. Those who took any active part in attempting to apprehend
the outlaws, were rewarded by having their barns burned, and
men were attacked in their own cabins, and compelled at the muzzle
of pistols to hand over their ready money. Peddlers were especially
to be robbed, and there was even talk that murder had been committed.
When any public meetings were held to devise measures for putting
a stop to the evil, they were attended by some of the outlaws,
several of whom took part in the proceedings and were the loudest
in denouncing the outrages and demanding protection for life
and property.
Every township had some of these rascals
residing within its borders, but perhaps the most notorious place
was in and about Rome City, and a little farther north, at a
spot known as "The Tamarack." It was there that the
counterfeiters had their principal rendezvous, though another
place was also suspected, in Noble Township, and it was known
that several citizens in that township were well supplied with
counterfeit money, which they passed upon travelers and others.
One of the most prominent, when approached by a man who wanted
to borrow money of him, replied, "Yes, come over; I have
plenty of it. I know it's good, because I made it myself."
It is also stated that he bought a piece of land of the government
agent at Fort Wayne, paying for it with bogus silver coin. Speaking
of this transaction, he said, "The money was so damned hot
it burned my fingers." In Noble Township there also resided
an engraver of bills; also a signer of the same. These practices
resulted in a general relaxation of public morality. The crimes
of the outlaws were so daring that the name of "blackleg"
became possessed of a sort of romantic glamour, such as the names
of pirate, bucanneer and highwayman have had for easily impressionable
youths in this and other generations, and hundreds of young men
became associated more or less directly with the criminals. Even
older men, who would not themselves manufacture counterfeit money,
had little scruple in passing it at par value when they had procured
it for perhaps 25 cents on the dollar.
It is strange that for so many years the
people suffered this state of lawlessness to continue. Honest
men were not wanting, but they lacked any definite plan and unity
of action. The outlaws, too, were cunning. Crimes of bodily violence
were comparatively few. The law was broken stealthily rather
than openly and boldly opposed. The situation was not like that
which existed in California during the early god mining days,
when frequent murders necessitated the formation of vigilant
committees and the drastic measures presided over by Judge Lynch.
Yet the situation was sufficiently bad and called for organized
effort on the part of the law-abiding portion of the community.
In the fall of 1838 two alleged horse
thieves were captured in the Haw Patch, and having narrowly escaped
lynching, and being in fear of their lives, they agreed to assist
the officers of the law by giving up the names of some of their
comrades. As a result of their revelations, warrants were issued
for about twenty persons, some of whom were arrested, but others
escaped by leaving the country. Those arrested were tried at
Stone's Tavern, three miles south of Ligonier, before Nelson
Prentiss, J. P., the trials lasting ten days. A large number
of citizens were present, and precautions were taken to prevent
any attempt at rescue. The cases were prosecuted by an attorney
from Piqua, Ohio, who happened to be passing through the county,
and two lawyers from Fort Wayne, defended the prisoners. Nine
were held to appear at the next term of the Circuit court, and,
as none of them was able to find bail, seven of the number were
sent to Fort Wayne and two to Goshen to be imprisoned, there
being as yet no jail in Noble County. Those sent to Fort Wayne
succeeded in breaking jail and escaping, while the two sent to
Goshen secured their release through alleged irregularity in
the papers. These proceedings put a temporary stop to the depredations,
but the trouble was not yet over. About 1841 or 1842 a meeting
was held at Kendallville by a large number of citizens, to devise
means for mutual protection, and to raise funds for the execution
of the law; but a number of years elapsed before anything effective
was done. In 1862 the legislature passed an act authorizing the
formation of companies for the detection and apprehension of
horse thieves and other felons. The companies were to consist
of not less than nor more than one hundred, who were to sign
articles of association, giving the name of the company, the
name and residence of each member the organization to be approved
by the county commissioners and put on record. The members were
given the powers and privileges of constables, and were empowered
to call for aid upon the regularly constituted officers of the
law. It was not until September 20, 1856, however, that the people
of this region took advantage of this law. Then the first company
was organized in Milford Township, LaGrange County, and within
the next three years thirty-six other companies were organized
in Northern Indiana. Nine of these were formed in Noble County,
namely: the Albion Rangers, Jefferson Regulators, Lisbon Rangers,
Noble County Invincibles, Port Mitchell Regulators, Perry Regulators,
Swan Regulators, Sparta Guards and Wolf Lake Sharpers; and possibly
there were several others. Altogether they numbered in this country
about five hundred men.
In January, 1858, the regulator companies
held a meeting at Wright's Corners, LaGrange County, and passed
a resolution, which was published in the LaGrange Standard, alleging
that LaGrange and Noble counties were infested with blacklegs
and thieves to such a degree that the property of the citizens
was very insecure; and also charging that the tavern kept by
B. F. Wilson at Wright's Corners was believed to be a rendezvous
for these "infernal banditti," and that Wilson was
their accomplice. One hundred and thirty citizens signed resolutions
pledging themselves to use every endeavor to bring the offenders
to justice, and Wilson was warned that in case he harbored any
of the depredators he would be dealt with as being one of their
number. The next week, on January 16, 1858, the regulator companies
of Noble and LaGrange counties held a meeting at Kendallville,
and paraded through the principal streets, carrying banners with
suggestive mottoes indicating their firm purpose to restore law
and order. One of these banners had a scene representing the
capture of a criminal, with the words, "No Expense to the
County." Some of the criminals took alarm and immediately
fled, but the next day the arrests began, nine of the ringleaders
being taken at Rome City, and conveyed to Ligonier. Among them
was Gregory McDougal, a young married man, but one of the mot
notorious blacklegs throughout this region. Some of the prisoners
voluntarily confessed their crimes, but from others a confession
was extorted by threats of lynching. As a result of their revelations
a number of other arrests were made, some of men of hitherto
irreproachable character. McDougal, the chief offender, owned
to having within a year or less stolen thirty-four horses, robbed
four stores and two tanneries, had broken two jails, taken the
entire loads of two pedlars, besides a large amount of other
property of a miscellaneous description, and had passed large
amounts of counterfeit money. From the deputy United States marshal
of Michigan the committee learned that a reward had been offered
in Canada for the arrest and conviction of McDougal for robbery
and jail breaking at Chatham, and the murder of a jailor's wife,
whom he had killed in order to free his brother from confinement.
The same witness and others testified that McDougal had robbed
and murdered a school teacher on the ice in Canada; and another
that McDougal, with some companions had tortured an old Scotchman
with fire to make him give up his valuables. The committee, after
having carefully examined the evidence, found McDougal as guilty
of murder, and recommended his execution by hanging on Tuesday,
January 26, 1858. The captains of the several companies in Noble
and adjoining counties, were requested to appear at Ligonier
with their companies, to be present at the execution and preserve
order.
It must be here remarked that this momentous
decision of the committee was only reached after two weeks of
careful consideration and examination of the evidence. The state
had given no power to the regulator companies to inflict the
sentence of death, but only to ferret out crime and criminals
and make arrest. But the ordinary machinery of the law had proved
powerless, and most of the people felt that a stern example was
necessary. McDougal, who up to this time had been careless and
defiant, when informed that he was to die on the following day
at 2 o'clock P. M., became confused and affected, and made some
wandering remarks. He asked for a clergyman and asked that his
wife be sent for. She arrived at seven o'clock the next morning,
accompanied by their little child, and first learned from her
husband's lips of the fate to which he had been doomed. The scene
was a most affecting one. Both wept bitterly, and the child,
without fully knowing the cause cried from sympathy with its
parents' grief. McDougal had denied that he had ever committed
murder, and his wife, on her knees, with streaming eyes, begged
the regulators to wait until someone could go to Canada and procure
evidence that would establish his innocence. But the regulators
refused to wait, and McDougal, when the final hour had come,
kissed his wife and child a last goodbye, and was hurried away.
He was placed in a wagon that contained his coffin, and was driven
to near Diamond Lake, accompanied by a large crowd. On arriving
at the place of execution, he was allowed to make a speech, in
which he denied that he had ever committed murder, but admitted
to having stolen much property. He justified the action of the
regulators, advised young men to take warning by his fate, and
finally said that he believed God had forgiven his sins. His
face was then covered, the rope was placed about his neck, and
the prop having been knocked from under the plant on which he
was standing, in a few minutes he was pronounced dead. He was
buried in the little old Northport cemetery. Later, by night,
some time after his wife had returned to Canada, a headstone
was put up at his grave reading: "Gregory McDougal,"
with the date of his birth and death, showing him to be a little
past 24 years of age, and the further inscription "At Rest
with Jesus." It was stated by Henry Winton, of Rome City,
that some time afterward, his remains were removed by some of
his relatives, who came here for that purpose, and were taken
to Canada. In 1875 the grave was viewed by M. F. Owen, also of
Rome City, who found it in a very sunken condition, with the
headstone lying flat on it, the inscription uppermost. Some unknown
person, several years later replaced the headstone in an upright
position. McDougal's execution produced a profound impression
throughout this region. The power of the blacklegs was finally
broken, and they scattered in all directions. A few were caught
and served terms in the penitentiary.
William D. Latta, who built and ran the
saw mill at the head of the reservoir near Rome City, William
D. Hill, and George T. Ulmer, were among the pioneers and leaders
of the banditti of Northern Indiana. Hill was supposed to be
the man who under the name of Townsend, organized in Canada a
like branch of these bandits, sworn upon peril of life to defend
each other in every emergency. The headquarters of Hill was for
some years the old farm, with large house and buildings, a few
miles east of the mill, just south and east of the old plank
road, where Maple Street-the street leading east and south from
old Northport-connected with the plank road. He it was who organized
at Cauga Fairs, Canada, a band of young men, who robbed many
stores, stole horses, and committed one murder. The band was
at last dispersed by Dominion officials. Two were hanged, one
was shot in the wild ice fields near Windsor in an effort to
reach the state line. In 1856-57, while Hill was absent on one
of his trips to unknown parts, a man was arrested in Kent county,
Canada, where McDougal came from, who was thought to be Townsend,
but the court was unable to prove his identity, though it was
testified to by a young man, one of his gang, who had been arrested
and who was sent to prison for life. Hill was arrested in 1858,
but escaped from the Noble County jail and disappeared. Many
years afterward he was discovered by one of his old time friends,
in the state of Missouri, where he was living a well to do and
respected farmer.
The lawless era once brought to an end,
the moral influences in Noble County took on a new and stronger
growth. Schools, churches and newspapers were established, wealth
increased, and all branches of industry and the professions lent
their aid to the development of a fuller and more perfect civilization,
as exemplified in present day conditions. The foundation had
been laid by the pioneers, and their sons and grandsons have
erected the superstructure.
Source: Robert M. Waddell, History
of northeast Indiana: LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties,
Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1920, 1,230 pgs., pgs. 319 - 324 |
