INDIANA TRAILS
DISTINGUISHED PIONEERS
(Transcribed from Early Indiana
Trials and Sketches by Oliver Hampton Smith)
his face large, his nose of the Roman
cast, his eye light, his hair
sandy, with a cue hanging down his back, his forehead high and slightly retreating : his nature was
frank, noble, magnanimous and generous.
He was the father of Lawrence M. Vance, of Indianapolis. Capt. Vance died years since, honored and
respected by all who knew
him.
GENERAL JAMES DILL was my preceptor. He was frank and open in his intercourse with others, about the
common height, wore a long cue,
dressed with taste, features good, eyelids heavy, hair thrown back in front. The General married a
daughter of Gen. St. Clair, was
many years Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the Dearborn Circuit Court. The General has long since
left us.
Of General
Harrison I will speak in his proper connection.
About the same
time I became acquainted with Judge Isaac Dunn, of Lawrenceburgh, a native of New Jersey,
one of the prominent men of
the State. The Judge was Speaker of the House of Representatives, and many years Associate Judge of the
Dearborn Circuit Court. He
married a sister of John H. Piatt, of Cincinnati. Judge Dunn was one of the most energetic men the
State ever had in it, good
common sense, clear intellect and sound judgment, with a pure moral and religious character. He still
enjoys a green old age.
JUDGE JOHN WATTS, another of the pioneers of Indiana, I must number with my early friends. Judge Watts
was a Baptist preacher. His
person was large and fleshy. He was the predecessor of Judge Eggleston on the circuit bench; was plain
in his dress and manners, of
a strong, clear mind, hospitable and liberal, friendly to all, and always courteous to the bar. He was the
father of Col. Johnson Watts,
of Dearborn, and Judge John S. Watts, of New Mexico. Judge Watts has years since gone to his
reward, beloved by all who knew
him.
MORRIS MORRIS, of Indianapolis, was one of the prominent early emigrants from Kentucky, that settled in
the woods where the Capital now
stands. The first time the court was held at Indianapolis, I became acquainted with Mr. Morris, then
residing in a small cabin on
Pogue's Run. In person Mr. Morris was tall, over six feet high, fine form, dark complexion, good eye, fine
features. Mr. Morris was many
years Auditor of State, and discharged the duties with great fidelity. He was an ardent Methodist, and
his door was ever hospitably open
to the itinerant ministers who called upon him. Mr. Morris is the father of Austin W. Morris, Col.
Thomas A. Morris, and John Morris,
of Indianapolis. He still lives. I saw him yesterday, venerable and aged, trembling, as it were, on the
brink of the grave.
Let me not forget
my early friend. Colonel THOMAS H. BLAKE, whose residence in Indiana dated back to
the territory. Col. Blake came
to Indiana from Washington City, where his father was at one time mayor. The Col. held the offices of
Judge of the Circuit Court, Representative
in Congress, colleague of mine, Commissioner of the General Land Office, in all of which he
most faithfully discharged his duty.
The person of Col. Blake was fine, very fine, of the first class mold ; six feet high, straight as an
arrow, head erect, grace in every
movement, intelligence beaming from
his countenance, a smile on his
face, and a warm grasp of the hand. In the whole range of my personal acquaintances I never knew a more
perfect gentleman, nor a man
of a higher sense of honor. The Col. died comparatively a young man.
JONATHAN JOHN, of Connersville, can not be forgotten. He was one of my early cherished friends. A word
to his memory. Mr. John was
an early settler, a noble Kentuckian, honest, frank, kind, sincere, a good farmer, his house a
welcome home to all who sought it.
He was the intimate friend of John Conner, the proprietor of the town. Mr. John died years ago; for his
kindness to me, I sketch this
short tribute to his memory.
JOHN CONNER, the proprietor of Connersville, was one of Nature's strong men. Taken by the Shawnee Indians
when a mere youth, he was
raised and educated in Indian life, language, and manners. When dressed in their costume, and
painted, it was difficult to distinguish him from a real savage. On one occasion,
as he told me, he came to
Andersontown, then the lodge of a large band of Indians, under Chief Anderson. He was dressed and
painted as a Shawnee, and
pretended to be a Representative of Tecumseh. As is usual with
the Indians, he took his seat on a
log barely in sight of the Indian encampment, quietly smoked his pipe,
waiting the action of Anderson and
his under chiefs. After an hour he saw approaching the old chief himself, in full dress, smoking his
pipe. I give his language. " As
the old chief walked up to me I rose from my seat, looked him in the eyes, we exchanged pipes, and
walked down to the lodge smoking, without a word. I was pointed to a bear
skin, took my seat, with my
back to the chiefs. A few minutes after, I noticed an Indian by the name of Gillaway, who knew me well,
eyeing me closely. I tried to
evade his glance, when he bawled out in the Indian language, at the top of his voice, interpreted, ' You
great Shawnee Indian, you John
Conner.' The next moment the camp was in a perfect roar of laughter. Chief Anderson ran up to me,
throwing off his dignity. ' You
great Representative of Tecumseh,' and burst out in a loud laugh." Mr. Conner was an active,
prominent, honest man, represented his county in the Senate, and gave the
casting vote in favor of the
ballot system of voting. He was father of William W. Conner, of Hamilton county. He long since departed
this life.
His brother WILLIAM CONNER was taken
and educated by the Indians
at the same time, was intimately acquainted with the great Shawnee chief, Tecumseh. He spoke the
language of many of the tribes,
acted as interpreter at several treaties, was with General Harrison at Fort Meigs, marched up the Maumee with
the army, was in the battle
of the Thames, and was the first man that recognized the dead Tecumseh on the battle-field, after
the action. I have often heard
him tell the story of the battle. To the question, " who killed Tecumseh?" his answer invariably was, "
General Harrison and Col. Johnson,
the commanders; no one ever knew who fired the gun that killed him." This, I have no doubt, was
the truth. Col. Johnson, in
my presence, always avoided the question, and I have yet to learn from any reliable source that he ever said
he shot the Shawnee chief, in
person. William Conner, like his brother John, was a man of great good sense, of indomitable energy
in early life. He was many
years a Representative in the Legislature from Hamilton, of strict integrity and high honor. He was
the father of Richard J. Conner,
and Alexander H. Conner, of Indianapolis. Mr. Conner died a few years since at an advanced age,
highly respected by his numerous
acquaintances.
JUDGE WILLIAM HELM, of Fayette, was another of the first settlers of the Whitewater Valley. I class him
among my most valued early friends.
The Judge was a Kentuckian, deeply imbued with the hospitality of his countrymen. He was a
strong and a good man. The
Judge was many years on the circuit bench of his county; his judgment was sound, and his integrity
above question. He was the father
of Meredith Helm, of Fayette, Dr. Jefferson Helm, of Rush, and Robert D. Helm, of Wabash. The Judge
long since departed this
life.
With these brief
charcoal sketches of individuals, I must ask the reader to excuse me from noticing others.
My space will not permit me
to extend them, as I design hereafter to sketch scenes and persons of more general interest.
