THE Lincoln Country O Guide for Tourisis and Pleasure Seekers -. r -?Lu,.^^^ ^- ^ • '^^--f The Lincoln Country of Southwestern Indiana ARRANGED BY Southwestern Indiana Civic Association I. J. Robinson, Chairman Tourist Committee THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Foreword The Publication of this booklet on the Lincoln Country realizes a dream of many years. We have here in southern Indiana an asset of great historical val- ue that only needs publicity to make this part of the state a mecca for all who travel. Brief write ups of the towns in the Lincoln Country, with the road map, have made this publication possible, and our heartiest invitation is extended to all tourists and admirers of Lincoln to come this way. The Southwestern Indiana Civic As- sociation is sponsoring- this publication with the idea of giving publicity to the historic and scenic spots of this section. This is purely a civic enterprise and there is no thought of political, religious, or financial gain involved. For further information or for copies of either the booklet or folder, write to the secretary of the Southwestern Indi- ana Civic Association, Boonville, Indi- ana. Page 5 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Road map of The Lincoln Country including all toums in the Soidh- westem Iv-diana Civic Association and points of interest. Page 6 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY THE LINCOLN COUNTRY From the Atlantic shore to the Pacific coast, from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, a stream of travel- ers pass through Indiana by rail, bus and automobile. If their destination is beyond the borders of the state, many of them, knowing nothing of the places of interest, hurry through without seeing what we have in this part of the old frontier of the North West Territory, It was here that Abraham Lincoln spent one-fourth of his life, in early man- hood, received his schooling, and began the development of mind and character that made him the greatest man in American history. The nine counties sponsoring this folio have qualified by reason of being within fifty miles of the Lincoln home. Knox, the mother county of the states of Indiana, Michigan and Illinois gives us the Old Post, dating back to 1702. The flags of France and Great Britain flew over Fort Sackville prior to its surrender to Colonel George Rogers Clarke in 1779. Vincennes is historically, the foun- tain head of all that great mid-west empire embraced in the states Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michi- gan. The George Rogers Clarke memorial upon which the federal and state goveiTiments are spending $1,750,000.00, the century old cathedral, the home and executive mansion of territorial Governor William Henry Harrison, the old capitol building and the cemetery are only a few of the outstanding places of interest in Vincennes. The organization of Warrick and Gibson counties dates back to April 1st, 1813, the year the territorial capitol was moved from Vincennes to Corydan. The cathedral in Jasper, Dubois County, is one of the fine churches of the state, and its erection was begun more than sixty years ago. The federal government is now working on a plan to include a considerable portion of the county in a self sustaining forest reserve wherein the annual cut of timber will be limited to the amount of timber grown. This is not a part of the 780,000 acres which the federal govern- ment is acquiring in the state, which will be known as the Hoosier National Forest, and in time it will become the finest recreational park in the middle west. New Harmony, the scene of two social experiments, was laid out by George Rappe and his associates in the year 1815 Page 7 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY as a religious community. Robert Owen, a Scotchman, bought the holdings of the Rappe colony, and his scheme of socialism collapsed within the next three years. Descend- ants of the Owenites still live here, and the old Rappite houses, built for the ages, are well preserved. One of the oldest and finest libraries in the state is here. From a his- torical standpoint New Harmony is second only to \'in- cennes. Rockport, the first settlement of Spencer County was at the mouth of Anderson river by Waller Taylor in the year 1802. He entered this land on May 7th, 1807, and tv,o days later. May 9th, 1807, Daniel Grass, the founder of Rock- port, entered 342.17 acres upon which the town was located. Judge Grass was a land agent from Nelson County, Ken- tucky, and later a member of the constitutional convention at Corydon. At the battle of Tippecanoe Waller Taylor was a major on the staff of General \\'illiam Henry Harrison, and in 1814 he was Adjutant General of the Indiana Terri- tory. The river landings had names before the settlements became towns, Hanging Rock became ]\It. Duval, then Rock- port; Owensboro succeeded the Yellow Banks and Hender- son was known as Red Banks. It was from the old lower landing at Rockport that young Abe Lincoln embarked on his first trip to New Orleans. The Lincoln Memorial Village in the city park is unique in its conception, carrying the visitor back to pioneer times with its artistic and historic reproducton of the homes in the Lincoln period. Saint Meinrad's Abbey is a revelation to the passer who stops to see what these Benedictine monks have accom- plished since starting their institution in the wild woods of Spencer County eighty-three years ago. The equipment of the abbey includes its own plants for water, heat, light, power and sanitation, also a modern printing shop. \'isitors are given a courteous welcome and will be well repaid for the time spent here. To Santa Claus, Spencer County, on state road 162. be- tween Gentryville and St. Meinrad, the Post Ofiice deimrt- ment sends extra men and equij^ment to handle the tons of mail sent here at Christmas time to be re-mailed with the Santa Claus postmark. An organization is planned to establish here a toymakers mart for tlie sale of all toys made in the United States. Page 8 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHILE LIVING WITH HIS FATHER ON A FARM ABOUT SEVENTEEN MILES FROM HERE CAME OFTEN TO BOON- VILLE TO HEAR COURT TRIALS AND TO BORROW BOOKS FROM JOHN A. BRECKENRIDGE. FROM THIS CORNER ABRAHAM LINCOLN TRAVELED NORTH BY OX-TEAM ON THE OLD BOONVILLE-PETERS- BURG-VINCENNES ROAD WHEN EMIGRATING TO ILLINOIS IN 1830. Above inscription on Monument erected 1932 on Northeast comer of Boonville court square. Sponsored by the Warrick County Historical Society Page 9 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY BOONVILLE, INDIANA Historically, Boonville is the third county seat of Warrick County. The county was organized April 1, 1813 with one hundred miles of frontage on the Ohio river, extending from the Wabash to Blue river. The first court was held on ]\Ion- day, April 19, 1813, at the house of Bailey Anderson, near the mouth of Cypress creek. The jurisdiction of this court included the present boundaries of Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Spencer, Perry and Crawford counties. Evans- ville was the county seat from June 13, 1814 to October 29, 1814, when Darlington, at the mouths of Cypress and Little Pigeon creeks on the Ohio river became the county seat. The Boonville county seat site was located March 19, 1818, by the commissioners who met at Anthony's Mill (Mil- lersburg) for that purpose. It is said that free whiskey was served to prospective buyers who attended the Boonville lot sale on June 4-5 and 6, 1818, and the first court in Boon- ville was held September 22, 1819. On October 8, 1813, Wm. Prince and G. R. C. Sullivan were admitted as attorneys at law for the county and took the oath. Two presentments of the United States against Green B. Williams were dis- missed. Many of the cases of that day were entitled John Doe vs. Richard Roe. The Lincoln farm was in Perry county and the site of Gentryville was in Warrick County until January 10, 1818, when Spencer County was organized. Ma- jor John Sprinkle settled at Mount Prospect (Newburgh) in June, 1803. General W. Johnson entered the land April ^, 1807 and April 12, 1812 a patent was issued to Sprinkle as the assignee of Johnson. The home of Governor Ratliff Boon (1822) still stands in Boonville just north of the oil station at the corner of First and Main streets. Boon was the political leader and repre- sentative in congress for six terms. He was a Jackson demo- crat, as was young Abraham Lincoln, who doubtless heard many of his political speeches when canvassing the district. It is said that young Lincoln walked bare footed to Boon- ville to hear the law speeches of John A. Breckenridge and John Pitcher. In deference to the formalities he put on his boots at the edge of town. Up to the year 1874 Boonville continued as a typical pioneer county seat town with a popu- lation of less than one thousand, with seventeen saloons, thirteen doctors, a dozen lawyers and five or six general stores. The Saturday street fights furnished ample enter- tainment and the Pumpkin Filly, Blue Gritor, Lady Shel- bark, Claybank and other horses of local reputation raced on the Andy Miller track west of town. When the bully of Page 10 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Ohio township met the bully of Pigeon township in Boon- ville formalities were dispensed with and the parties went into action, the loser admitting defeat and shaking hands with his victorious antagonist. The Boonville of 1935 is a miniature city of 4500. Many of its citizens are descendants of the early pioneers. The past sixty years have witnessed a great change in the town. Before that the Ohio river was the only transportation out- let for the corn, tobacco, pork and live stock shipped out of the county. An immense quantity of produce from Pike, Du- bois and Spencer counties was hauled through Boonville to Newburgh. The Warrick County Central Plank Road Com- pany promoted by Abraham Phelps, a business man of New- burgh, constructed a plank road from Newburgh to Boon- ville in the year 1853, but the tolls failing to maintain it, the project was abandoned in 1860 and a portion of the road is now a part of State Highway No. 62. The Wabash and Erie Canal was constructed through Warrick County to Ev- ansville in 1858, but fell into decay with its abandonment in 1865. From Castle Garden to Evansville the Southern Railway runs over the towpath, and the E. S. & N. Rail- road runs over the berm bank of the old canal. Many of the old trails that led to the site of Boonville are still in use and have become a part of the state or county road systems. From the east we have the old Rockport road and from the west the Mount Prospect, (Newburgh) Peters- burgh, and Vincennes road. The Yellowbanks trail (Owens- boro) intersects the Rockport road and was an important route to the Ohio river in 1807. This trail forks in Boonville, the west branch continuing to Petersburg and Vincennes, and the east fork is the old Corydon road that was the southern boundary of the Lincoln farm. The Boonville peo- ple claim the Lincoln Route should be over these roads be- cause there was no other wagon road from the Lincoln farm, and the descendants of the neighbors of the Lincolns say the route was through Boonville. With miles of shaded as- phalt streets and good sidewalks, three fine school build- ings, ten churches, an adequate court house with modern equipment, and county records back to 1813, central station heating, bathing beach, good fishing in the municipal lakes, Boonville possesses all the requirements of a modern city. Scales State Park of about five hundred acres, donated by Dr. T. D. Scales and his wife, Emma Hart Scales, adjoins the city, and under the state conservation department, with its lakes, fish hatcheries, driveways, paths and trails, it will become the most beautiful recreational park in the state. Page 11 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY CANNELTON, INDIANA County Seat of Perry County r im_ .i 'i? w| # liH^^Bp^ «f rf'wr"^"'' \- -'^^H^H ^W m. »• "w"--? ., •# General Vieio of The City A Short History The discovery of high grade semi-cannel coal in the hills skirting the Ohio river led to the foundation of Cannelton, then known as Coal Haven, about 1837. For the next quar- ter of a century the little city took quite a manufacturing boom and many companies were formed to make various products. Of these The Indiana Cotton Mills have stood the test of time. During the golden age of the river steamers Cannelton was one of the most important Ohio river ports. With the decline of river traffic, and the exhaustion of its coal re- sources, Cannelton lay dormant for many years. However, recent years have brought new capital, new industries, a revival of river transportation, and Cannelton is today one of the best manufacturing small cities of Indiana. Industry The visitor can also spend a few hours profitably in a trip through Cannelton factories. Here you can enjoy every step in the manufacture of sewer pipe and clay products at The Cannelton Sewer Pipe Co.; you can enjoy the weaving of cotton goods from raw cotton at the plant of The Indiana Cotton Mills, and you can see native woods transformed into beautiful children's furniture and useful breakfast suites at the plant of Lehman Co. of America, three thriving ir- dustries. In addition to these large plants you should visit Clark Bros. Pottery and see many useful, many ornamental Dieces of pottery shaped by hand. Page 12 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Diversion For the golfers, a spoii; nine hole course at the Hoosiers Heights Country Club, two miles north of Cannelton, is pro- vided. Guest cards can be obtained from any member. The Ohio river furnishes fishing, boating and swimming. Equip- ment needed for this type of recreation may be rented in Cannelton. The American Legion owns a beautiful athletic field with a natural amphitheatre where you may view athletic con- tests of a various nature. Plans are under way for a swim- ming pool in the same field. The Indiana Cotton Mills also have an athletic field and have a broad program for their employees. To the tourist Wyandotte Cave is an hour's ride north- west of Cannelton on state road 62. This is the second larg- est cave in the world. St. Meinrad's Abbey, one of the larg- est institutions of its kind in America lies just 40 miles northwest of Cannelton. Enroute to St. Meinrad you pass through the town of "Santa Claus, The Toy Capital of Amer- ica." Many other interesting and charming bits of scenery abound near Cannelton, and the tourist can spend days com- fortably exploring. Cannelton offers the convenience and luxury of its beautiful Sunlight Hotel, on the banks of the "Beautiful Ohio". This is southern Indiana's newest and finest hotel, built and operated by Cannelton citizens. European plan. Other smaller hotels are The Union, Witt- mer, and Perry. Sunlight Hotel — On the banks of the Ohio river. Page 13 J H I-: LINCOLN COUNTRY Lafayette Spring is the most historic spot in Perry County. No doubt it is the most historic in the state with reference to the great general whose name it bears. The shrine is owned and cared for by The La- fayette Spring Chapter, Daughters of The Ameri- can Revolution, who per- petuate the name of this great American benefactor. It was during the fourth visit of Lafayette to the United States, while en- route to Louisville from New Orleans aboard the steamer Mechanic, that he was shipwrecked. On May 6th, 1825, the steamer struck one of the many projecting rocks of the Ohio river hazard, "Rock Island," and sank in ten minutes' time. All passen- gers and crew were saved Lafayette Spring Located ■> miles east of Cannelton although Lafayette's personal loss consisted of his carriage, baggage, and about $8,000. Quoting from Thomas de la Hunt's "Perry County, A His- tory", we read : "Here were no triumphal arches, no bands of music, no carefully planned speeches to bid the nation's guest welcome to Indiana. Only the simple log cabin of a sturdy pioneer, James Cavender, offered shelter to the high- born nobleman who had slept under the palace roof of Ver- sailles, but Hoosier hospitalitv gave of its best, then as to- day." At this spring, where Lafayette and his party camped you will also see a sign reading: "Thomas Lincoln family camped here enroute from Kentucky to Indiana, 1816". State highway 66 leading by this point is a part of the "Lin- coln Trail" dedicated by Governor Leslie of Indiana in 1932. The local chapter of the I). A. R. has also erected a beau- tiful bronze plaque to the memory of General Marquis de Lafayette, placing it on the lawn of the court house in Can- nelton. Page 14 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY CYNTHIANA, INDIANA Located in northern Posey county, twenty miles north- west of Evansville, on State Highways No. 65 and 68 and C. & E. I. and Big- Four Railways is a modem town of 600 population surrounded by a productive farming com- munity. Cynthiana was settled in the year 1816 and the founders set aside a square in the center of town for public use which is now a beautiful park. It was in the year 1816 that a colony of about forty per- sons imigrated from the vicinity of Cynthiana, Ky., com- ing by boat to West Franklin, then across country through the wilderness to locate here. On March 6, 1817, the town was laid out by William Davis, giving it the name of his former home town, Cynthiana. Thomas Lincoln, father of President Abraham Lincoln, according to land grant records at Vincennes, once owned for a short time a farm just southeast of Cynthiana, now known as the Martin homestead. After a short ownership Mr. Lincoln traded this farm for land in Spencer county and as far as records go the Lincoln family never lived here. Thus Cynthiana is included in the Lincoln Country. From time to time new tracts of land were added to Cyn- thiana, the Whiting Enlargement in 1819. In 1876 the Mont- gomery Enlargement, Redman Addition in 1885 and the Pretoria in 1895, and recently the Wilkinson Addition. The Cynthiana State Bank, The Cynthiana Argus, a week- ly newspaper and commercial printing plant equipped with modern machinery, two large grain elevators, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Christian Churches, general stores, groceries, bakery, lumber yard, meat market, ga- rages, filling stations, and the home of Cynco Washing Pow- der, compose the business enterprises of our community. A township consolidated grade and commissioned high school is modem and efficiently equipped. Electricity is fur- nished to Cynthiana by the Public Service Company, and pure wholesome water by a municipal owned water system. Cynthiana is noted for its borrowed Southern hospitality from her Kentucky forefathers and for the good cooking of their fair ladies. A visit to Southwestern Indiana is not complete without a visit to Cynthiana. The Cynthiana Business Men's Association has functioned successfully for many years and the citizens invite visitors to Southwestern Indiana to pay us a visit and enjoy our hos- pitality. Cynthiana Business Men's Association, Floyd F. Oursler, Director. Page 15 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY DALE, INDIANA A foi'ward looking town located at the junction of State Roads 45, 62 and 68, you will find about everything that a small town should have. Here you will find 744 happy citi- zens who revere the memory of Lincoln and are striving to make the community one of which he would be very proud could he visit it today. The town has four churches, two schools, many stores, service stations, garages, dustless streets, well-kept homes and a splendid civic spirit. Among the firms whose continuous operation has con- tributed largely to the present prosperous condition of the community are the following whose civic interest made this page possible : THE ACME CANNING COMPANY— Packers of Indale Brand food products. BROWN BROS. LUMBER COMPANY — Manufactures Lumber Millwork and Dimension Stock. DALE CREAMERY ASSOCIATION— Known throughout Southern Indiana. DALE ELECTRIC HATCHERY— Quality Baby Chicks. DALE REPORTER — A newsy weekly newspaper. I. R. FULLER— Dale & Chrisney— Funeral Director & Am- bulance service. KRAFT-PHENIX CHEESE CORPORATION PLANT— A nationally known institution. ANDREW SCHUM, SR. — Fine monuments. Serves all Southwestern Indiana. THE DALE STATE BANK— One of the few banks that never restricted withdrawal of deposits. J. WINKLER & SON— Wholesale Grocers and Produce— A million dollar business a year. WITTE MILLING COMPANY— Manufacturers of Purity Products. C. W. WEDEKING & COMPANY— Wholesale and Retail Seeds and Grains — Hardware — Farm Implements, Etc. — Horses and Mules. Page 16 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY EVANSVILLE, INDIANA Nestled in the southwestern corner of Indiana, at the juncture of U. S. Highway 41 with the Ohio River, is Evans- ville, a thriving city of more than 106,000 persons. Evansville boasts of its industrial firms, approximately 235 in number, which manufacture, in round numbers, a hundred million dollars' worth of goods yearly. Half of its citizens own their own homes. There are 39 schools, seven public libraries, 113 churches, one liberal arts college and one business college. Within its area of 91/^ square miles are 130 miles of paved streets. It is the site of a new river-rail terminal. Several large modem hotels are lo- cated there. Main Street at Second Evansville is a city more than 100 years old. Near at hand and to be reached over a system of excellent roads are nu- merous little settlements, villages and hamlets, some with historical significance. In all directions, at varying distances, are scenes of interest and beauty. Particular pride is taken by Evansville in her park sys- tem. Fostered by public officials, private individuals and civic associations, the park, zoo and recreational facilities of the city are feature attractions. The Evansville-Henderson bridge opened on July 7, 1932, has been a source of convenience to thousands of motorists. Revenue from the span, up to May 31, 1935, totaled $514,- Page 17 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY 885.70. During that period 1,421,738 vehicles crossed over the bridge. Located in the downtown section of Evansville is the Temple of Fine Arts and History, which contains numerous collections of pioneer, Lincoln, and other historical relics, as well as paintings and art objects, Indian, war, furniture, antique and hand-craft exhibits. On U. S. Highway 41, about three miles north of the city, is the municipal airport, a completely equipped, modern fly- ing field. Among the products manufactured in Evansville are automobiles and auto bodies, infant foods, grain products, electric and gas refrigerators, gas engines, agricultural im- plements, tools, beer, electric headlights, brick and tile, brooms, stoves, furniture, cigars, casters, clothing and tex- tiles. Many of these products are known and used the world over. The city's location is considered ideal for manufacturing ; near the center of population, with abundant labor supply, small labor turn-over, cheap fuel, good rail and water trans- portation, and proximity to large markets make it an ex- cellent industrial center. It is situated in the center of a very fertile and productive agricultural district. In addition to being a great grain-pro- ducing area, the district also produces thousands of dollars' worth of stock each year. Dairying, sheep and hog raising, and poultry raising, are important phases of the agricultural industry. A large percentage of the stock output finds ready market at the Evansville stockyards. The Mead Johnson terminal, one of the largest inland terminals on the Mississippi river and its tributaries, serves for loading and trans-shipment of all kinds on the Ohio River. Evansville is the retail buying center of the Tri-State area, composed of southern Indiana, southeastern Illinois and western Kentucky. It is equipped with three large gen- eral service hospitals, the Marine hospital and Boehne tu- berculosis hospital. It has a number of banks and building- and-loan associations. The early history of Evansville is clothed in obscurity. The name of Hugh McGary, the founder, too, is shrouded in mystery and his deeds have been the subject of tradition. McGary, the son of the founder of Herrodsburg, Ky., who also bore the name of Hugh, was an Indian fighter of con- Page 18 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY siderable repute. It was while returning from Indian en- gagements at Vincennes that he noticed the site of what is now Evansville. He proceeded home, but later returned to the spot to lay claim to the land. This was in 1812. In the same year he bought the site of Evansville and established a ferry which he operated until 1820. On July 27, 1817, McGary and Robert Evans platted the town. Evans, after whom the town was named, was an in- fluential citizen in the southwestern part of the Indiana territory. Today, Evansville stands as a permanent monu- ment to the memory of McGary and Evans, who, along with the early pioneers of the Mississippi Valley, prepared the way for the coming of a new civilization. But to return to the Evansville of today — there one will find about 50 park areas of varied size, from small boulevard triangles to the vast 220 acres of Mesker Park. These 50 designated parks under control of the board of park com- missioners total nearly 1000 acres. Among the larger ones, in addition to Mesker, are Sunset, on the river front ; Garvin, at the north end of Main Street ; East Side, near Evansville College; Bayard Park, West Franklin, Howell, Reitz High Lookout, overlooking the river and the city, and Aiken. Golf Helfrich Field with its 178 acres, adjoining Mesker park, has the City Muni Golf course which is one of the sportiest 18 holes in the country and to which visitors have access at all times, at the minimum fee charged all. Mesker Park Mesker Park, the largest of the city controlled parks, is in the country, on the northwest edge of the city limits, a ten-minute trip from the heart of the city. It is divided into four sections. "Playland" the part given over to amusement devices and rides, is just north of the golf course. Across the street is the immense area where picnics hold forth with 17 ovens built by the Kiwanis Club. These may be used free of charge, free wood is provided, reservations are made by tele- phoning 4505, the Golf club house. The name of the party and hour reserved for will be placed on the oven. All ovens are numbered and easily located. At the south end of this section is the children's playground with much apparatus placed there also by the Kiwanis Club. The section east of St. Joseph Avenue which has been undeveloped now houses a large C.C.C. camp and by whom this section and others will be developed. Page 19 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Mesker Zoo The fourth section of Mesker Park is the 90 acres devoted to Mesker Zoo. This is one of the finest zoos, for a city of the size of Evansville, in the country. On rolhng- ground it lends itself to fine landscaping as well as providing for unique and naturalistic homes for many of the animals. This is the only zoo between St. Louis and Cincinnati and between Memphis and Chicago. It attracts large sized delegations, and indi- vidual parties the year around, for the zoo is open all year. The nucleus for this zoo was a pair of lions which were presented to Karl Kae Knecht, cartoonist of the Evansville Courier, by a circus friend in 1928. The zoo grew, especially when the Courier and Journal raised a fund whereljy the children of the entire tri-state area gave their pennies and nickels, from which an elephant was purchased in 1929, vC'i.*: Top — Mo)ikt jt Sliip Replica of "Santa Maria", Built by Rotary Oub of Evansville About one-third nctuiil size Bottom — Rock Grotto for Puma Adjoining are Prairie Dog Village, the Barless Lion Den and African Veldt Page 20 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Inhabitants of the zoo include, 20 Primates; monkeys, apes, baboons and a chimpanzee. Several hundreds of the Aves; birds, wild, water and fowl, odd domestic, geese, swans, eagle and the like. A 24 foot regal python features the snake display. A dozen alligators, some very large, are in a fine big pool. California sea lions in a wonder sunken pool, which permits of being viewed from above, is one of the favorite spots in the zoo. A barless bear pit presents black bear. The barless lion den is a unique feature. There the lions are shown with no bars between the spectators and the big cats. Large, wide and deep moats and huge rock for- mations keep the lions confined. To the rear of their open den may be seen zebra and like animals making a repre- sentative African Veldt scene, a moat separating them from the lions. A rock grotto houses the pumas and a barless open-air prairie dog village, adjoining, makes a most in- teresting exhibit. The monkey ship, a replica of the "Santa Maria" of Colum- bus' fleet, is manned by a crew of rhesus monkeys and is the center of attraction. The Rotary Club provided for building the ship. A central group of paddock houses the Aoudad, Llama, Deer and such animals. The elk and bison (buffalo) paddocks are in the northeast corner of the zoo, along St. Joseph Avenue, on the new route of highways 65 and 66. The main animal building atop the hill at St. Joseph and Bement Avenues houses "Kay" the elephant, tigers, the apes, baboons, chimpanzee and odd monkeys, odd carnivor, leopard, ratel, porcupine, wild cats, ocelot, badger, coate mundi, and other animals. Animals to be found exhibited on the grounds include raccoon, possum, skunks, ground hogs, coyotes and others. An open air stage, with a natural amphitheater, permits of giving exhibitions by animals such as the elephant and chimpanzee, band concerts and other staged events. This stage was presented to the zoo by the Kiwanis Club which also built a house for six varied-height drinking fountains which are cooled by a Servel-Electrolux refrigeration unit. Three lakes within the zoo grounds are the homes of the swan and wild fowl and add to the beauty of Mesker Zoo. Organizations responsible for these five pages on EvansviUe are — Evansville Chamber of Commerce EvansviUe Junior Chamber of Commerce Kiwanis Club Civic Club President's Organization Woman's Rotary Club, Inc. Page 21 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY THE TOWN OF FERDINAND, INDIANA Nestled in the hills and native oak forests of Dubois County, surrounded by nature's own resources and environ- ments, is the town of Ferdinand, Indiana, located on State Road No. 162, between State Roads Nos. 62 and 64. In early pioneer days this little town was known as a haven of rest for weary travelers, as all freight and passen- ger traffic was routed through this town from Troy, the old shipping point on the Ohio River, to Jasper, Loogootee, Shoals and Washington. On January 8, 1840, this town was laid out by Father Joseph Kundeck, who held the first di- vine services here. In 1841 Father Kundeck built a log church and in 1846 work was begun on the present stone church which is now the oldest stone church in the County. The Chapel of Our Lady of Dolors on Mt. Calvary, in the woods just east of town was erected in 1874 and hundreds of tourists visit this famous chapel every year. In 1934 a vast tract of dense forest land near the town was turned over to the State, mostly through donations by liberal land-owners, on which property the State is con- structing a dam which will result in a lake covering over 55 acres, and on which there are also other important pro- jects under construction. This lake and forest, which will be completed in the near future, will be the most scenic and recreational spot in this section of the country and will, indeed, be worthy of the consideration of visitors from every part of the United States. Convent and Academy of the Immaculate Conception, This Benedictine educational institution, located in pic- turesque southern Indiana, at Ferdinand, on the Indiana State Highway 162, was founded from St. Walburg Convent, Covington, Kentucky, on August 20, 1867. The primary mis- sion of this sisterhood is to serve God and their country in the instruction of youth. At present the Sisters conduct Page 22 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY an Academy and a Normal School at the Motherhouse. They are in charge of thirty-five parish schools in the Diocese of Indianapolis and of one Indian Reservation, with headquar- ters at Belcourt, in North Dakota. Birdseye Vieiv of Convent and Academy The Academy, a boarding and commissioned high school for girls, is distinguished for its characteristic thoroughness in sound moral, mental, and physical training. The institu- tion offers a College Preparatory Course, a Two-year Com- mercial Course, and Complete Courses in Music and Art. This boarding school is known for its healthful location, as well as, for its historic and scenic surroundings. The St. Meinrad Benedictine Abbey is situated five miles to the southeast. Fifteen miles to the south lies the famous Nancy Hanks Lincoln Indiana Homestead, which today holds a worthy place among the renowned National Parks in the United States. Corydon, the first State Capital, and the "Old Post" — Vincennes — additional places of historic merit and interest, are conveniently reached by state highways. Page 23 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY HUNTINGBURG WELCOMES THE TRAVELER As you come to Huntingburg we want you to feel, that you are approaching the south, or, if coming from the south, you are still moving in a southern atmosphere ; you will find the citizens of Huntingburg desirous of showing you every courtesy and consideration; we are anxious to sei've the traveler and send him happily upon his way. If you are a lover of nature; if you love to wander over an Indian country, come to Huntingburg and follow the banks of the Patoka River as it lazily winds its way to the west. It is along its shores, that the Miamis, one of Amer- ica's finest races of Indians lived, hunted and fished and you will find the evidences of their sojourn along the shore- lines. If you travel for just a few miles to the west you will come to a covered bridge, built high to let the flat-boats of yesterday pass, an old land-mark known as Ressner's Bridge. If fishing is your hobby, visit our city lakes, that cover an area of one square mile. Having an average depth of fifteen feet and being well stocked with game fish, you will find your visit to these lakes both enjoyable and profitable. And while at the lake visit the new filtration plant, one of the most up-to-date plants in the state. It may be interesting to the traveler to know, that Hunt- ingburg owns and operates its own utilities, the same hav- ing a valuation of $453,267.00. The net profits of the power plant in the year 1933 were $27,422.02, the net profits of the water plant were $6,970.40. These earnings contribute directly to the cost of city government, so that since the year 1931 there has been no city tax levy in the City of Huntingburg, the only city in the State of Indiana and one of the very few in the United States that can boast of this distinction. We invite the traveler to inspect our public utilities. Some of the finest clay mines in the world are situated in and near Huntingburg. If you want to see one of the largest potteries in the U. S. A. in operation, drive one block off the highway and visit the Uhl Pottery. Or stop at the local brick-yard and see the manufacture of fire-clay bricks that have and are going into some of the finest buildings in your metropolitan centers. Think of the Old Testament story of the potter and the clay and then come and see the modern potter at his wheel, turning out his beautiful designs of pot- Page 24 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY tery. You owe it to yourself and your family to visit a pot- tery, it will be a visit you will not soon forget ; the prepara- tion of the clay, the turning, the glazing, the burning in kilns. If you are a lover of flowers visit the Peter Morgen Green House, the largest of its kind in Southern Indiana. Here you will see thousands of rose bushes under cultivation or in bloom. You may have been told, that buggies and wagons are obsolete. Disillusion yourself, for in Huntingburg is situated the largest wagon and buggy factory in North America. Pay the wagon works a visit ; it will remind you of the days when you stood in- the door of the blacksmith's shop and watched the smithy ply his trade. Wagons and buggies that roll over the plains of the west and south and over the mountains of Mexico, you can see them in the process of manufacture at the Huntingburg Wagon Works. There is an old saying among traveling men, that they keep off the streets of Huntingburg on Sunday morning or there is danger of them being run down by the church-going crowds. Huntingburg is proud of its seven churches, that can seat the population of towTi and countryside at one time. Huntingburg has the largest small town church and parish hall edifice in the State of Indiana, an edifice which in size is matched by but few congregations in the metropolitan centers. The city also boasts of modern school facilities, which you will find situated along the highway. Having traveled extensively over the highways of the states, we know, that one of the things the traveler looks for are reasonable and wholesome lodging facilities. The Ideal Hotel of our community will afford you the typ^ of lodging you are looking for, quiet, clean, wholesome, with some of the best meals served in this part of the state. If in doubt, ask the traveler. So when you are visiting French Lick or West Baden, if you've become weary walking along the beautiful trails of Nancy Hanks Lincoln Park, which is situated just 15 miles distant from Huntingburg, or if you've enjoyed a rugged hike through the Dubois County State Forest, nine miles distant from our city, and are long- ing for a good night's rest, and meals that will make you want to return, just drive to Huntingburg and stop at a hotel that has not been misnamed when called "Ideal." Huntingburg bids her friends, the American public, a hearty welcome. Ccmtributed by Rev. J. C. Klirigeberger Page 25 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY JASPER, INDIANA William H. Herndon tells us in his "Life of Lincoln," that "no feature of his backwoods life pleased Abe so well as going to the mill." The Enlow and Lincoln families had been friends for years, even before either family had left Kentucky. They had continued that friendship while the Enlows were living at Rockport and the Lincolns were at their farm near Gen- tryville. Enlow Mill on Patoka River In 1820 Benjamin Enlow established a mill on the Patoka River ; it was the first grist mill to be built in this section of the country. People from a great distance, even as far away as the Ohio River district, were in the habit of bringing their com to Enlow's Mill, at the present site of Jasper, for the grinding. It is said that Abraham Lincoln after he became president made frequent mention of the thrills he got from his trips to the old mill. At the old mill is a ford, crossing the Patoka River, which many historians claim the Lincoln family used in their historic journey from their Indiana farm home to Illinois in 1830. The historic Enlow Mill is standing to this day. Jasper has long been associated with Lincoln lore and it provides an attractive locality for any visitor interested in the territory that was so dear to Lincoln as a youth, grow- ing into manhood. The population of Jasper is now 4,800. Jasper is the largest desk manufacturing city in the world. Page 26 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY MT. VERNON AND POSEY COUNTY, INDIANA "Posey County just naturally has everything needed to make human beings happy. It lies just next door to Para- dise," one prominent Posey County citizen enthuses. Mt. Vernon, the county seat, is on the Ohio river and a view of the beautiful stream from the river front is a sight never to be forgotten. The city has a population of more than 6000 inhabitants. Among the industrial plants are the Keck-Gonnerman Manufacturing Co., covering ten acres and employs 200 skilled mechanics who manufacture traction engines, trac- tors, wheat, bean and seed separators. The Garment Cor- poration of America which occupies an immense, modern, daylight factory employs 600 women and men in the manu- facture of overalls and pants; three large flour mills, the Fuhrer-Ford Milling Co., Home Mill and Grain Co., and the Sunlight Milling Co., employ about 100 men and manufac- ture high grade soft wheat flour. The Fuhrer-Ford mill is rated as the cleanest soft wheat mill in the United States; the Mt. Vernon Milling Co., is one of the largest com mills in the Mid-West. It employs 100 men and women and makes a complete line of corn goods. Two handle factories, the Whitmore Handle Co., and the Mt. Vernon Handle Co., employ 40 men and manufacture from native hickory and ash timber a complete line of tool handles and base ball bats; The Mt. Vernon Canning Co., pack the crop of to- matoes from 800 acres annually and employ 200 men and women during the canning season. Among the smaller manufacturers are the Staples Manu- facturing Co., oil burners, novelties and castings; the Mt. Vernon Creamery Co., the Mt. Vernon Cheese Factory. Posey County is rich in historical lore and the visitor to the Lincoln Country should not fail to visit historical New Harmony, the Old Dam resort on the Wabash River; Grand Chain; West Franklin hills and Hovey Lake, the largest bayou lake in Indiana, mecca for scientists and nim- rods. A beautiful court house is fronted by a magnificent sol- dier and sailors monument, the work of Rudolph Schwartz, designer of the Indianapolis monument. To the south the memorial coliseum erected at a cost of $250,000. To the east a stately federal building, the Masonic Temple, former home of Governor Alvin P. Hovey, north the Elks Club and Odd Fellows building. Page 27 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY NE\5v'BLRGH SETTLED IN 1803 The same year the great Louisiana Purchase was trans- ferred from France to the United States, John Sprinkle, "The Village Blacksmith," settled in Xewburgh. The homes (built from 1839-1870) of the people (namely Phelps, Bethel. Sargeant, Miner, Petit, Gunnel, Gray, Gar- wood, ^IcKinney, ]\IcGill and Weis) that made Xewburgh the largest industrial center in Southwestern Indiana and the largest shipping point between Cincinnati and New Orleans, (from 1856-1870) increasing its population from 37 to 2,000 (from 1830-1868) may be seen from the two highways run- ning through Xewburgh. The old Tavern, which was being used as a hospital for soldiers, at the time of the capture of Xewburgh by ]\Ior- gan's raiders during the Civil War, may be seen on the southwest coiTier where Highway Xo, 261 intersects Xo. 66. At the left of the intersection, the Methodist Church marks the spot of Xewburgh's first business place. Dam No. Jt7 on Ohio River at Neicbiirgh Dam Xo. 47 on the Ohio River as seen from the Wonder- land Way Highway Xo. 66 at the east edge of Xewburgh. A few hundred feet from the Dam on Highway Xo. 66 is the open gateway to Thoraton Home. This Presbyterian institution for retired ministers and missionaries is one of the three largest in the United States. Page 28 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Newburgh has many things estimable, especially, its three public schools and eight churches. Four of the churches are Historical. The Methodist, for being first to have preaching in Newburgh ; Zion's Evangelical, for its early struggle and success of its descendants; St. John's Roman Catholic, for organizing the first Ladies' Aid and for its loyal member, Eldora Miner Raleigh, who gave to the Indiana Historical Commission, the History of early Newburgh ; Presbyterian, for having built the first church in 1841. The present build- ing was erected in 1853. The Presbyterian church obtained a charter from the State Legislature in 1842 for Delaney Academy which was considered the educational center until past the middle six- ties when by a vote of the Synod it was transferred to Lin- coln, 111., in consideration for a large amount of money and property. INDIAN GRAVEYARD Two miles east of Newburgh on SCENIC WONDERLAND WAY HIGHW^AY Newburgh's first ferry license was granted by Warrick County to Jacob Keele in 1818. According to tradition and early history, there was an Indian village at Cypress Beach composed of some hundred artless, rustic wigwams and six hundred Shawnee Indian braves with their families. These Indians were generally friendly and peaceable. The only white man known to have been cruelly murdered by them was Atha Meeks in 1811. He was shot to death by Settedown, the chief, called "Big Bones," because of his size and muscular strength. William Meeks, a son, immediately rushed out and shot "Big Bones", but he got away and crawled to the fork of a big tree before he died. A year later his bones were found by a member of the Meeks family who used his skull as a drinking cup and his other bones as hammers and mallets. On the hillside above Cypress Beach, it is yet almost im- possible to dig a hole large enough to plant trees and shrub- bery without removing the rock tombs and skeletons from the shallow graves. Page 29 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY WE INVITE YOU to HISTORIC NEW HARMONY Founded by the Rappites in 1814 Buildings erected by them are still well preserved. Scene of the famous Owen Community. See THE WORKINGMEN'S INSTITUTE LIBRARY THE OLD FAUNTLEROY HOME THE SPLENDID ART GALLERY THE INTERESTING MUSEUM THE OLD FORT THE RAPPITE CEMETERY WM. MACLURE MANSION OWEN HOME RAPPITE COMMUNITY HOUSES MURPHY PARK Situated as it is on the banks of the Wabash River and surrounded by a row of scenic hills, New Harmony presents a picture long to be remembered. Our town is located on three state highways: Nos.66, 68 and 69. Page 30 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY RICHLAND, INDIANA Richland City was laid out in April 1861. We are located in the heart of a good farming country and produce com, wheat, hay, tobacco, potatoes, soy-beans, cattle, hogs, alfalfa as well as considerable fruit and truck such as peaches, strawberries, watermelons, cantaloupes, etc. Also many acres of beautiful peonies, likewise, considerable poultry, eggs, cream and whole milk are produced and shipped from here by truck and traction. We have an inexhaustible supply of pure water which can be economically obtained by merely driving a pipe some 20 feet into the ground. The Atha Meeks family, noted in Spencer County History because of the Indian Massacre, settled on Pigeon Creek, north of our town. Atha Meeks, Sr., was killed by "Big Bones" and his son Atha Jr. and Mrs. Meeks were severely wounded. This occurred in 1810 or 1811. Our town is located on State Highway No. 161 and just 2 and V2 miles north of State Road 66 which is the most scenic, beautiful and wonderful route in Indiana and we have a very good system of county gravel roads. We are justly proud of our schools, our High School hav- ing the second highest enrollment in Spencer County and an equally large grade school and we have two good churches, the M. E. and the Christian. We have a first class bank, a good flour mill, hardware store, four general stores, two garages, a blacksmith shop, oil stations and a commercial truck line, also, one physician, W. P. Jolly. Our community is underlaid with many types of the best grades of moulding sand not to be found anywhere else in America. Hundreds of car loads of this sand (clay) is being shipped from our town to all parts of the U. S. A. and Can- ada each year. The latch string is always out to travelers passing through. When you move, move to Richland. Page 31 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY HISTORIC ROCKPORT, INDIANA The Bluff Rockport, Indiana is an historic old town, built on high bluffs overlooking the winding Ohio and is unexcelled for its beautiful scenery. Rockport is the County Seat of Spen- cer County, known as the heart of the Lincoln country. The town was settled in 1807 and at that time was called Hang- ing Rock, a name given it by the Indians. About the year 1818 it was named I\It. Duval in honor of William Duval of Kentucky. Sometime before the year 1823 the name was again changed to Rockport. Tradition says that before 1807 when Daniel Grass be- came the first land owner of Rockport and Spencer County, that James Langford and family made their home, for a winter, in a cave below the bluff. To a spot seventeen miles from Rockport Abraham Lin- coln came as a boy of seven years with his father, mother and sister to make their home. Here he lived the fourteen formative years of his life, from childhood to young man- hood. In Spencer County he learned the lessons of life, secured what schooling was available, leanied from the sturdy pioneer neighbors courage, bravery, honesty and kindness. In Spencer County he had the first great sorrow of his life in the death of his mother and later his sister Sarah died and both of these loved ones lie buried in Spencer County, From Rockport he left on the first great adventure of his life, a flatl)oat trip with Allen Gentry from Rockport to New Orleans, Louisiana. Page 32 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Flat Boat Landing Tourist Camp The admirers of Lincoln may visit with pleasure the scenes of his boyhood and young manhood in Spencer County. Splendid roads lead in all directions through the County, the scenery is unexcelled and the Ohio River Wonderland Way winds along through beautiful hills and valleys over- looking the majestic Ohio and brings the traveler from Ev- ansville over Route 66 into Rockport and its historic Rocky Side Park and Tourist Camp. In this tourist camp is the old boat landing (picture above) where Lincoln left, at the age of eighteen years, as oarsman on Gentry's flatboat for southern markets. Historic cave of the Langfords (picture below). An outdoor oven and a sheltered eating house have been erected for the many tourists who visit this spot. TJie Cave Page 33 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY The Grave of Nancy Hanks Lincoln at Lincoln City Within a half hour motor trip of Rockport over Highway No. 45 are located the graves of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, the mother of Abraham Lincoln and that of his sister, Sarah, and the site of the former family home. It was early in 1816 Thomas Lincoln moved his little fam- ily from the valleys of Kentucky to the wilds of Indiana. The first cabin, a three sided one was erected near what is now Lincoln City. Later a four sided cabin was built. It was about three years later that Lincoln's mother died and the body was tenderly laid to rest on the top of a knoll about one-half mile away. In 1879 Mr, Peter Studebaker, an admirer of Lincoln, learned that the grave was unmarked. He soon erected the old fashioned monument that still stands marking the place where the brave pioneer mother was buried without any ceremony save the shedding of tears. Lincoln's sister, Sarah, died in 1828 and was buried in Old Pigeon Creek Burying Ground near Lincoln Park. The Park, called Nancy Hanks Lincoln Park, is reached on hard surfaced roads from Rockport. It is the mecca of thousands of tourists each year. The entire county abounds in Lincoln traditions and each spot is easily accessible from Rockport as a starting point. What better way to spend a vacation trip than to visit these scenes of historic interest connected with Lincoln's life in southern Indiana. Tlie towering bluffs, the winding river, great forest trees and nature's beauty remain as when Lincoln's eyes looked upon them. Travelers following the Ohio River Wonderland Way will enjoy the comforts of to-day amid the scenes of yesterday. Page 34 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY The Old Tavern When Lincoln returned to Rockport in 1844 as a Clay elector, he remained over night in the old brick tavern pic- tured above and now known as the Sargent House. He was met by William Jones, an old friend, and was asked to make a speech, to which Lincoln replied, that he would, that evening in the Court House, if they would come to hear him. That night he was introduced to the audience by his boyhood friend, John Pitcher, one of Indiana's most noted lawyers. As a youth Abraham Lincoln had borrowed many books from Pitcher, walking from his home seventeen miles away and back again in a single day. From the windows of the court house and also from the tavern windows Lincoln could look across the street and see John Pitcher's office where he had spent many happy hours in that long ago time of his childhood. Today a magnificent court house stands on the same site of the one where Lincoln made his memorable address. This court house of today is the fifth one erected in the county. The first, a log cabin, was built in 1818, the second a brick structure was finished in 1822 and was destroyed by fire in 1833, a third court house was erected in 1838 and a fourth in 1865. This stood until 1919 when the present one was finished. It was in the third one that Lincoln spoke to his old friends and former neighbors. Rockport is an ideal spot in which to live and a delightful summer resort for travelers or tourists. There are good schools, many churches, sound banks, splendid water and light system, trolley and steam train service, some factories and many up-to-date stores. The hospitality of its citizens is known far and wide. Page 35 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Administration Buildings THE LINCOLN PIONEER VILLAGE It is a memorial to Abraham Lincoln and his pioneer neighbors in Spencer County, Indiana. Located in the County Seat of Rockport, (Old Fair Grounds). The Village consists of eleven log houses inside of a log stockade and surrounded by century old trees. The Park with its old, beautiful trees, good drinking water, and large seating capacity is a delightful place to picnic amid the scenes of bygone days. All tourists are invited to camp here and view the beautiful scenes. Page 36 Jones' Store, Where Lincoln Clerked. THE LINCOLN COUNTRY ST. MEINRAD'S ABBEY In the hills of Spencer County is located a world-famed place of reverence and learning. It was started over eighty years ago when Benedictines from the thousand-year-old Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln in Switzerland came to America to found a house of Benedictines in Indiana. The tourist traveler is astonished when he reaches this little city of stone buildings, just a bit southward off Highway 62, fifty- three miles east of Evansville. This home of Monks gives the utilitarian-minded man of today some food for thought. Here he finds men living in the world, yet not for the world. All these Monks, be they priests or lay-brothers, consecrate their lives to God by the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. The priests spend most of their time in the vast school on the hill where young men are prepared for the Catholic priesthood. The brothers devote their time to the performance of manual labors and the management of the many departments of this little city. The Abbey has its own quarry for supplying the building stone. A large farm helps to provide the necessities of life. The Abbey has its own power plant, water works, dairy, meat packing plant, poultry department. Visitors are welcomed and will enjoy the sight of something so unique as a Benedictine Abbey. Page 37 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY BRIEF HISTORY OF TELL CITY Among all the countries of Europe, none can boast a prouder heritage of history than little Switzerland, and none has shared with America a finer strain of national blood than that which the gallant Republic of the Old World sent across the Atlantic to mingle with the growing Repub- lic of the New World. November 16th, 1856, saw the birth of the Swiss coloniza- tion Society at Cincinnati, Ohio, whose purpose was to fur- nish mutual aid in founding homes and business enterprises in what was then known at "The West". Committees were sent out to seek locations, and efforts were made to engage large tracts of land along the Ohio River in Indiana and Kentucky. An extensive tract of land below Hawesville, Kentucky, was looked upon with favor by the Committee, but the Society held that it would appear inconsistent with their ideals of liberty to plant their com- munity in a slave-holding state. Some unknown consideration dictated their choice of land lying directly opposite upon the Indiana shore, where the surrounding hills, no doubt, reminded these Swiss pioneers of their native Alps, and on July 29th, 1857, for $2,800.00, "Mistletoe Lodge", Judge Huntington's 700 acre estate, for- merly owned by Nicholas J. Roosevelt, and for many years later by the heirs of Robert Fulton, was purchased for a townsite. Eventually, in all, a total of 4154 acres were pur- chased, for a total price of $85,364.00. The site was irregular hill-land covered with dense forest growth, but the laying out of a regular city plat was suc- cessfully accomplished. The plat was laid off into 392 town blocks, containing 7,328 lots, and in 294 garden blocks hav- ing 794 lots. Based on a conservative estimate of six persons to a lot, this provided for a city of 90,000 inhabitants, an optimistic outlook, the realization of which still remains in the future, for at this time Tell City has a population of ap- proximately 5,000. Page 38 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY The site was laid out into streets exactly rectangular with the points of the compass. The streets running North and South are 80 feet wide, and were numbered from 1 to 32. The streets running East and West are 70 feet wide, and a peculiarly interesting example of street nomenclature, one of striking originality for its time, is to be noticed in these 70 foot wide intersecting streets which run from East to West. Such names as Winkelried, Payne, Blum and Herrmann served to recall their homeland to the sturdy pioneers ; while to peiTDetuate the spirit of liberty, the names of Lafayette, DeKalb and Stuben were bestowed on other streets. From these, it was a natural transition to America's own heroes of the Revolutionary period, so the names of Washington, Jefferson and Franklin were utilized. Since the new settle- ment was designed to become a manufacturing community, the power of steam found recognition under the names of Watt and Fulton. Education was commemorated through Pestalozzi ; Humboldt received the choice as a representative of natural science; Schiller recalled the wealth of literature possessed by the German language ; Rubens paid tribute to the art of painting ; while Mozart bespoke a love for the best in music. The name "Tell City" was bestowed upon the settlement to commemorate the Swiss legendary hero, W^illiam Tell, and today, recognition is taken of this Swiss legend through the adoption as a trade mark by the manufacturing plants and business houses, of an apple pierced by an arrow, this being emblematic of the apple which William Tell shot from his son's head. On March 13th, 1858, the first boat-load of settlers ar- rived from Cincinnati, and probably the first industrial un- dertaking was the saw-mill established April 1858 to supply the lumber to build the homes that sprang up like mush- rooms everywhere in the woods. Thus, Tell City was founded in a very romantic manner. The settlers were a group sent out by the Swiss Colonization Page 39 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Society, and the traditions of centuries of men skilled in the art of woodworking- was bred into them. It is reflected today in the predominance of woodworking industries in Tell City. Today, Tell City has 3 Chair Factories, 1 Furniture Fac- tory, 1 Desk Factory, 1 Hame Factory, 1 Seat Factory, and 1 Planing Mill. Within the corporate limits are also a Can- ning Factory, Flour Mill, Distillery, Bottling Works, Ice Plant, 2 Creameries, and a Sand and Gravel Plant. Just out- side of the city limits, a Brick Plant. There are more double cane seat chairs made in Tell City than anywhere else in the world. The weaving of the cane seats is done in the homes of the workers, and this industry aff"ords employment to approximately 500 women. Tell City also enjoys the dis- tinction of manufacturing more wood hames than are made anywhere else in the world. Tell City has 4 modem school buildings, 2 Banks, 4 Church Buildings, and an imposing City Hall. Three fra- ternal organizations have their own buildings. Main Street, one and a half miles in length, is a beautiful concrete thor- oughfare. The community has historical background through its close proximity to Anderson River, where Abraham Lincoln conducted a ferry while a young man. It is also located about seven miles distant from Lafayette Spring, where Lafayette stayed over-night when the steamboat was wrecked on which he was traveling up the Ohio River during his visit to this country after the Revolutionary War. No mention of Tell City is complete without some refer- ence to the William Tell Hotel, an excellent 40-room hotel, which is favorably known to the traveling public through- out Indiana and the neighboring States. Tell City is located on the Ohio River, which affords wholesome recreation during the summer months, provid- ing boating, bathing and fishing, and the Hoosier Heights Country Club within one mile of the city limits, provides an excellent golf course. Page 40 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY VINCENNES, CITADEL OF THE OLD NORTHWEST By Francis Marion Van Natter Vincennes, Indiana, ancient cross-roads of western Ameri- ca, pulsates with memories of Abraham Lincoln, George Rogers Clark, William Henry Harrison, Chief Tecumseh, Father Gibault, Francois Vigo, Aaron Burr, Zachary Taylor, Paul Dresser. For centuries herds of buffalo, searching for saltlicks, forded the Wabash river at Vincennes, lumbered eastward into what is now the Indiana Lincoln Country, following the high land, wearing a trace or trail through the wilderness. Indians set up a village where the trace crossed the river. Thus began Vincennes. Down the Wabash came French adventurers and planted the fleur de lis of Franch at the Indian village about 1702. So France laid claim to the Old Northwest. Jesuit mission- aries followed the adventurers and planted the Cross of Christianity. Next Francois Morgan Sieur de Vincennes All Photos by Read George Rogers Clark Memorial Site of Fort Sackville and ancient Buffalo crossing. Approach to Lincoln Memorial Bridge. Page 41 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY established a military post at the village, a refuge for French trappers and fur traders. Indians captured Sieur de Vincennes, lashed him to a frame and slowly burned him to death over a slow fire. The Old Post has ever since borne the name Vincennes. With the victory of General Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham, 1763, Great Britain won from France the Old Northwest and attached it to the British Province of Que- bec. King George III at once proclaimed the vast and fertile country west of the Allegheny mountains a hunting ground for the Indians. By 1775 the American Revolution in the East was under way. George Rogers Clark, a 26-year old Virginian, became convinced that the assurance of American liberty depended on carrying the Revolutionary War into the West, taking possession of Vincennes and the Wabash valley. Clark, lead- ing a band of Big-Knife frontiersmen, captured first Kas- kaskia on the Mississippi river, July 4, 1778, and made friends with the French-Canadian priest. Father Pierre Gibault. At Clark's request Gibault came to Vincennes late in July and called his French parishioners to the little log church, a stone's throw from the British fort. He persuaded them to renounce Great Britain and swear allegiance to America. Immediately the British at Detroit sent General Hamilton and an army of regulars and Indians down the Wabash to Vincennes, re-took the village, and forced the in- habitants to renounce America and re-swear allegiance to King George HI. Now begins one of the most heroic epics in world history. Francois Vigo, a rich Sardinian trader, whom Hamilton had held captive in Vincennes, went to Kaskaskia and gave Clark full details of the military situation on the Wabash. Vigo told of Ham- ilton's plans to get rein- forcements in the spring in order to drive the white Americans out of the Northwest. Clark at once Old Cat In (I ml Library left contains ancient book baptismal font. Clark Memorial ri s and fiht. Page 42 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY decided to crush Hamilton. Leaving- Kaskaskia, February 5, 1779, Colonel Clark, with his handful of Big-Knife frontiers- men, started for Vincennes, Through 200 miles of hostile Indian-infested wilderness ; through water knee-deep, shoulder-deep, full of ice and melting snow those men marched. Clark at times plunged ahead and cut away the Lincoln Memorial Bridge Commemorating Lincoln family's crossing Wabash River 1830. ice with his sword I Half-starved, half -frozen this band of liberty-minded Americans reached Vincennes the night of February 23rd, and instantly attacked the powerful British garrison in the bastioned fort. Next morning, during a lull in the battle, the French women of Vincennes back of the log church (now the Cathedral) served hot breakfasts to Clark's hungry men. On February 25, 1779, Clark forced Hamilton to surrender, and thereby made possible America west of the Allegheny mountains. The tiny bell in the church belfry rang out the news to the wilderness, while Madame Godare, a Vincennes woman, hastily made the flag which was hoisted over the fort. The tiny Libert}' Bell of the Old Northwest is still in sei'\'ice, daily ringing out the Angelus from the Old Cathedral spire — a living reminder of the heroic days of '79. A mile north of the site of Clark's victory, now the Clark Memorial, is an acre of ground which if not hallowed in a religious way is surely consecrated in a patriotic sense. Here lived William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Old Page 43 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Northwest Terntory and hero of Tippecanoe. Here, in Aug-ust, 1810, came the mighty Indian Chief Tecumseh to inform Harrison that the Indians were determined never to give up their lands. Tecumseh had planned a powerful In- dian confederacy. He would hurl the whites out of the Northwest Territory. Here in 1830 Abraham Lincoln, who had been in \'incennes about 1820 with his Indiana boyhood associate, Henry Brooner, to buy a rifle-gun, now camped on that acre of ground — Harrison's backyard and site of Te- cumseh's wigwam. Three indomitable leaders: Harrison, greatest builder of the Union west of the Alleghenies; Te- cumseh, mightiest chieftain of the redmen; Lincoln, savior of the Union and emancipator of an enslaved race. William Henry Harrison "Grousland" mansion White House of the West. During nearly forty years Abraham Lincoln intermittent- ly visited Vincennes. Here, in the Western Sun oflice, Lin- coln saw for the first time a printing press. Here Lincoln conferred with prominent Indiana and Illinois politicians. Here Cyrus M. Allen built in his own home a bed eight feet long in order that his friend, "Long Al)e", could sleep comfortably. Here brass cannon on City Hall square boomed out the word that Lincoln had been nominated for the Presidencv. Page 44 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY Vincennes is a city of na- tional memorials. Already memorials have been built to Clark and Lincoln. Now Harrison, Indian conqueror and civil government build- er, founder of Vincennes University, is to be hon- ored by combining into one great memorial group the old Territorial Legislative Hall, Harrison's Grousland mansion and the new cam- pus and buildings of Vin- cennes University. The gen- eral Assembly of Indiana, March 12, 1935, granted a charter for that purpose to the William Henry Harrison Memorial Association. Memorial Boulevard, on the levee along the Wabash, now connects the Clark and Lincoln Memorials with the Harrison-Territorial group. Such is Vincennes, city of national memorials: Citadel of the Old Northwest. Old Territorial Capitol Entirely restored to its 1800-1813 period. Great Seal of the State of Indiana Page 45 THE LINCOLN COUNTRY WINSLOW, INDIANA Located in the center of Pike county, Indiana, with a population of near 1,500. In the center of the Lincoln Country's soft coal belt. Thousands of tons of the finest soft coal leave this community each month. On the banks of the Patoka and it was at this point the Lincolns crossed this turbulent stream on their journey from Spencer county to Illinois. State Highways 61 and 57 go up Winslow's Main street, with the junction with 64 just south of town and the junction of 56 just north, giving a full and complete outlet in every direction. The Southern Railway, main line from Louisville to St. Louis, runs through the town, with a full complement of truck and bus lines making regular trips. Every facility of modern type is to be found in this small town. A modern filtration plant, fire fighting apparatus, extra school facilities, churches, lodges and clubs. Our scenery is worth seeing and our new state park will be, when completed, the largest of its kind in the state. Traveling through the "Lincoln Country" don't miss stop- ping in Winslow where Hoosier hospitality abounds. The Winslow Covimercial Club. Page 4(5