ST. JOSEPH COUNTY INDIANA
PIONEER LIFE
One of the most
interesting phases of national or local history is that of the
settlement of a new country. What was the original state in which the
pioneer found this country? and How was it made to blossom as the rose?
are questions propounded by almost every individual of the country in
which he makes his home, or sojourns in for a time. Pioneer life in St.
Joseph county finds its parallel in almost every county in the- State,
and throughout the entire "West. In. addition to what is given in the
State history, in this volume, we add the following items.
When Pierre
Navarre, Alexis Coquillard, L. M. Taylor and others of that noble band
of pioneers settled here, they found an unbroken wilderness. Wild
beasts, and but little less wild savages, roamed at will over the
prairies, through the forests, and along the waters of the Kankakee or
the beautiful " River St. Joseph of the Lakes." Forests were to be
felled, cabins erected, mills built and the rivers and creeks made to
labor for the benefit of mankind; the beautiful prairies were to be
robbed of their natural ornaments, and the hand of art was to assist in
their decoration. "Who was to "undertake this work ? Are they qualified
for the task ? What will be the effect of their labors upon future
generations?
The St. Joseph
county pioneers had many difficulties to contend with, not the least of
which was the journey from civilization to their forest homes. The
route lay for the most part through a rough country; swamps and marshes
were crossed with great exertion and fatigue; rivers were forded with
difficulty and danger; nights were passed on open prairies, with the
sod for a couch and the heavens for a shelter; long, weary days and
weeks of travel were endured, but finally " the promised land " was
reached.
For several years
the early settlers of the St. Joseph valley were compelled to go to
Logansport or Fort Wayne for their flour or meal, requiring almost a
week's time to make the journey.
The fever and
ague, or " chills and fever,"' was a disease of which every pioneer was
required to have a taste.
The first thing upon arrival was to
set about building the cabin. "While this was being done the family
slept ia their wagons or upon the grass; while the horses or mules
hobbled to prevent escape, grazed the prairie around them. Trees of a
suitable and uniform size were selected, felled and prepared for their
places. The day for the raising is announced, and from far and near
come other
pioneers to assist in this labor. The
structure goes up, a log at a time, those engaged stopping now and then
to " wet their whistles," and soon it is ready for the clapboard roof,
which was held on by huge weight poles. A door and a window is cut
where the " good wife" directs, a chimney built and the building is
ready for the occupants. It is not a model home, but it is the
beginning of a great prosperity, and as such is worthy of preservation
in history, on account of its obscurity and its severe economy. The
window was very small, sometimes glass being inserted, but often
covered with greased paper. The door was made of spliced clapboards and
hung with wooden hinges. It was opened by pulling a leather
latch-string which raised a wooden latch inside the door. For security
at night this latch-string was pulled in, but for friends and
neighbors, and even strangers, it always hung out as a sign of welcome.
These simple
cabins were inhabited by a kind and true hearted people. They were
strangers to mock modesty, and the traveler seeking lodgings for the
night, or desirous of spending a few days in the community, if willing
to accept the rude offering, was always . welcome, although how they
were disposed of at night the reader may not easily imagine; for, as
described, a single room was made to serve the purpose of kitchen,
dining room, sitting room and parlor, and many families consisted of
six or eight members.
Next came the work
of preparing the soil for agricultural purposes. Spring comes and the
ground is prepared for the seed. The father takes his post at the plow,
and the daughter takes possession of the reins. This is a grand scene,
one full of grace and beauty. The pioneer girl thinks but little of
fine dress; knows less of the fashions; has probably heard of the
opera, but does not understand its meaning; has been told of the piano,
but has never seen one; wears a dress " buttoned up behind;" has on
leather boots, and " drives plow " for father.
The character of
the pioneers of St. Joseph county falls properly within the range of
the historian. They lived in a region of exuberant fertility, where
nature had scattered her blessings with a liberal hand. The beautiful
St. Joseph river winding its serpentine way to the lake, the
inexhaustible forest supply, the fertile prairie, and the many
improvements constantly going forward, and the bright prospect for a
glorious future in everything that renders life pleasant, combined to
deeply impress their character, to give them a spirit of enterprise, an
independence of feeling, and a joyousness of hope. They were a thorough
admixture of many nations, characters, languages, conditions and
opinions. There was scarcely a State in the Union that was not
represented among the early settlers. All the various religious sects
had their advocates. All now form one society. Says an early writer: "
Men must cleave to their kind, and must be dependent upon each other.
Pride and jealousy give way to the natural yearnings of the human heart
for society. They begin to rub off mutual prejudices; one takes a step,
and then the other;
they meet halfway and embrace;
and the society thus newly organized and constituted is more liberal,
enlarged, unprejudiced, and of course more affectionate, than a society
of people of like birth and character, who bring all their early
prejudices as a common stock, to be transmitted as an inheritance to
posterity."
The wedding was an
attractive feature of pioneer life. There was no
distinction of life and very little of fortune.
On these accounts, the first impressions of love generally resulted in
marriage. The family establishment cost but
little labor nothing more. The marriage was always
celebrated at the house of the bride, and she was generally left to
choose the officiating clergyman. A wedding, however,
engaged the attention of the whole neighborhood. It
was anticipated by both old and
young with eager expectation. In the
morning of the wedding day the groom and his intimate friends assembled
at the house of his father, and after due preparation, departed, en,
masse, for the "mansion " of his bride. The journey was sometimes made
on horseback, sometimes on foot, and sometimes in farm wagons and
carts. It was always a merry journey; and, to insure
merriment, the bottle was taken along. On reaching the
house of the bride, the marriage ceremony took place, and
then dinner or supper was
served. After the meal the dancing
commenced, and generally lasted until the following
morning. The figures of the dances were three and
four-handed reels, or square sets and jigs. The
commencement was always a square four, which was followed by what
pioneers called "jigging;" that is, two of the four would single out
for a jig, and were followed by the remaining couple.
The jigs were often accompanied with what was called "cutting out,"
that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on
intimation, the place was supplied by some one of the company, without
interruption of the dance. In this way the reel was
often continued until the musician was exhausted. About nine or ten
o'clock in the evening a deputation of young ladies stole off the bride
and put her to bed. In doing this, they had to ascend
a ladder from the kitchen to the upper floor, which was composed of
loose boards. Here, in this pioneer bridal chamber, the
young, simple hearted girl was put to bed by her enthusiastic
friends. This done, a deputation of young men
escorted the groom to the same department, and placed him snugly by the
side of his bride. The dance still continued, and if
seats were scarce, which was generally the case, says a local writer,
every young man when not engaged in the dance, was obliged to offer his
lap as a seat for one of the girls; and the offer was sure to be
accepted. During the night's festivities spirits were
freely used, but seldom to great excess. The affair
was held on the following evening, when the same order of exercises was
observed.
Election days were
observed as holidays. The men went to town, voted, drank whisky,
smoked, swore, wrestled and fought, all for a little fun.
The "little brown jug" was often
brought into requisition as affording a means of enjoyment that nothing
else could supply. No caller was permitted to leave the house without
an invitation to partake of its contents; not to so invite was a breach
of hospitality not to be thought of for a moment. It was brought out
upon all conceivable occasions, and freely dispensed to old and young
alike with no thought of danger. It was a thing of prime importance in
all the assemblages of men at log-rollings, house-raisings, huskings
and elections. It was essential at all births, and
even at funerals.