One Township's Yesterdays Chapter XV  

THE TRAVELER LOOKS AROUND

"As he had travail'd to some new-found land." ... Doctor Merrie Man, 1609

THE TRAVELER, CAME to look around a bit, prying into things here and there, prowling about, a rather odd visitor to the; wilderness in most cases. He desired to see what this strange country was like. Mostly he came seeking information, and if possible the facts. He was in quest of the truth maybe. And sometimes he found what he sought. Sometimes he saw clearly, and sometimes he saw through prejudiced eyes. But what he saw was, in most instances, unusual to him, and interesting, to say the least.

During the first half century following the Revolutionary War many travelers came from Europe to visit the New Republic and to explore the frontiers of America. The interior was of interest to Americans also, for during the early decades of the 19th Century a goodly number of travelers from the Atlantic Coast states journeyed to Indiana to learn of the possibilities in the newer regions.

Prominent among the American travelers who visited this part of the world in the early days were HUTCHINS, the first civil geographer of the United States and the originator of the land platting system; IMLAY, a captain in the American army during the Revolution; THOMAS, agriculturist; BROWN, publisher; CUTLER, soldier and topographer; DARBY, surveyor; DANA, guide; PELHAM and TEAS, scholars; MASON, soldier and doctor; COFFIN, banker; FLINT and REED, missionaries; and ATWATER, "Ohio's first historian."

The Europeans who came to this region as travelers were chiefly English, among whom were ASHE, explorer; MELISH, merchant; BRADBURY, botanist; BIRKBECK, Quaker farmer; Forster, another Quaker; BLANEY, gentleman; FAUX, farmer; HEBERT, sociologist; and COBBETT, the famous soldier-sociologist. Also came WARDEN, French-Irish author, and MACKENZIE, Scotch journalist and historian. The French travelers included VOLNEY and DUCLOS. Prominent also among the foreign travelers who visited Indiana were DUKE BERNHARD of SaxeWeimer, and POSTEL, an Austrian writer.

Way Impassable.
GEORGE IMLAY appointed commissioner for laying out lands in the "Back Settlements." In 1793 he published "A Topographical Description of the Western Territory of North America." In it he tells of what was seen "on our line of march," (of course he was a soldier). The distance traveled between certain points, located not far from our township area, was increased by the "traverses we were obliged to make to avoid impassable morasses." He said that "in several places, the prospect was only bounded by the natural horizon, the uniformity of which was here and there broken by the distant looming of a grove on the edge of the plane, which strongly resembled the projecting points of a coach clothed with wood, and seen by mariners at a distance from the shore." At another time, he said, "The numerous breaks, and intermixture of woodland and plains, give the whole an air of the most perfect taste."

Judging from the descriptions those early travelers gave, one would say, if one were a habitant of the period, that they "were getting pretty close to home." The quaint descriptions tallied quite precisely, so far as one can surmise, considering the scenery that is left. The resemblance checks even today in some odd spots `round about.

SAMUEL R. BROWN's description of the aspect of the country also tallies. He evidently knows whereof he speaks, and indicates that this part of the country had been roughly surveyed and mapped by white men prior to 1817. He says: "The northern half of the state is a country of lakes 38 of which, from two to ten miles in length, are delineated on the latest maps; but the actual number probably exceeds one hundred-many of these, however, are mere ponds, less than one mile in length. Some have two distinct outlets; one running into the northern lakes; the other into the Mississippi."

Navigable Streams.
"The several expeditions against the Indians, during the late war," says BROWN, "enabled many of our officers to become extensively acquainted with the geography of the Indiana and Michigan territories." One officer, who had opportunities of seeing and exploring the country between the Wabash and Lake Michigan, described it as a land "admirably calculated for the convenience of inland navigation. The sources of the rivers are invariably in swamps or lakes, and the country around them perfectly level. A trifling expence would open a navigable communication between Eel river, and a branch of the Little St. Joseph's; the two St. Joseph's.; the Raisin of lake Erie, and the Lenoir (Black river) of lake 'Michigan. Small lakes are discovered in every part of this extensive and romantic country. We found them covered with ducks, and other water fowls. For the diversion of fishing, we had no leisure; consequently, I am not able to inform you whether they abound with fish, but presume they do, as many of their outlets empty into the tributaries of the great lakes."

THOMAS SCATTERGOOD TEAS came afoot to Indiana on two different occasions and by different routes, from Philadelphia. He knocked about in the wilderness around Fort Wayne in the year 1821. He visited some of the settlers, and found their life tough and uninviting. He came across some comfortable cabins in clearings, however, including some of "six acres in very fine looking corn." One man had "deadened about 30 acres more." TEAS enjoyed a typical early settler's meal, though it was "served up in a curious style." He found the drinking water not so good. The settlers suffered much from fevers and agues.

The travelers had many fascinating things to tell about after visiting this country. But to retell their stories would require a book in itself, and we must hasten on with our own story.