Peter VanSlyke, Part II

In the last article of Footprints, I shared the published memory of Ann VanSlyke, widow of Cornelius VanSlyke who had died in 1834. She had remarried and was known as Ann Wines when she shared her memory in the Bloomfield News on March 11, 1881. In the last article of Footprints, she remembered traveling with her father-in-law, Peter VanSlyke, as he journeyed with his family from their home in the Mohawk Valley of New York to Indiana. In 1816 Peter VanSlyke had bought 1,000 acres of land in Indiana, but had returned to New York, leaving behind his son-in-law John VanVorst and his wife (Peter’s daughter) Catherina. In 1818, Peter VanSlyke returned to Indiana with his family, which consisted of not only his wife but also his two sons James and Cornelius, his daughter Sarah, and his daughter-in-law Ann and her children by Cornelius. The VanSlykes’ journey by wagon began on October 3, 1818, and ended on November 14, 1818, at the cabin of John VanVorst in the wilderness, but now known as Bloomfield.

The following includes an edited version of the Bloomfield news article setting forth the recollection of Ann VanSlyke in 1881. At that time Cornelius VanSlyke had died, and Ann had remarried and was then known as Ann Wines.

“The country about here was all forest with but little underbrush. We could drive almost anywhere through the woods with a wagon. The few children we met for years after were dressed in deerskin garments. If shoes were worn, they were made of deerskin also. The manners and conversation of the people were so different from those of the eastern people that I sometimes did not understand what they meant.” After arriving at the VanVorst cabin, “our folks set out on Monday morning to the mill.” Most often the very early pioneers got their flour at Washington or Vincennes and mailed their letters at Washington. The trip to the mill often took three or four days. Ann Wines remembered, “I found that I couldn’t live always on meal and pumpkin bread, much as I had relished it on my arrival.”

Ann Wines remembered the early days after their arrival in Indiana. “First Father VanSlyke’s cabin was built, then ours was built on the south edge of where the VanSlyke cemetery is now situated, but we did not move into it until after Christmas. It was made of split hackberry logs, flat side in.

Our furniture consisted of two three-legged stools and the chest in which I brought my dishes. While my husband cleared a piece of ground he brought in pieces from time to time and I seasoned them on poles laid around the fireplace. From then on rainy days, he made chairs, table and other furniture which was all I had for some time. I had brought my clock without the case, but Mr. John Simpson’s father made a case for it, about two years after and also a bedstead.”

The Bloomfield News article continues: “At one time it was necessary to go to the mill while the river was high. Our only boat was a pirogue, and Mr. VanSlyke planned the following mode of crossing: First he took one of the horses that was a poor swimmer over in the pirogue, another man swam the other horse across. Returning, they took the harness and wagon bed over, and last the wagon. Our crossing point was almost directly west of town and was called the Rock Ford.”

And Ann Wines reminds us of what Greene County once was: “One night when left alone with my children, I thought I heard someone calling for help. I was expecting my brother Louis from Vincennes, and at once thought it was him and that he had lost his way in the river bottom. I went out and called and was answered by a cry of distress. I called again, and the answer came nearer. One of my little ones crying for me, I went in, took a candle, and set it outside, calling ‘come to the light.’ I took up the child and sat down in the house. Soon a very large panther appeared at the door, and giving one fearful scream, passed on. The bright fire and candle doubtless frightened it away. I had not even a door to shut against wild animals. Mr. Carlow, having heard the panther, came over with a gun, but we saw no more of it.”

One year after Peter VanSlyke and his family arrived here from New York, Carpus Shaw proposed to Peter’s daughter Sarah, who was sometimes called Sally. Little is known about when Carpus first met Sally, but we know that Carpus Shaw was born in New York State on February 25, 1797. Perhaps Carpus followed the VanSlyke family to Indiana because he knew Sally and was determined not to lose her. We know Carpus Shaw was an educated man and later became a schoolteacher. When Sally accepted the proposal, Carpus had to travel to Washington, still the county seat, to get the marriage license. He and Sally wed on November 19, 1819. Their first child, Catherine Ann “Kate” Shaw, was born on March 13, 1826. She is thought to have been the first child born of pioneers in Greene County.

During this time, there were no churches, but there were circuit riding preachers, ministering to pioneers thirsting for the Word of God. The preachers often rode for weeks from neighborhood to neighborhood, from community to community, from cabin to cabin. The pioneers didn’t know when a preacher might arrive, but when the preacher arrived, he might stay for days, expecting room and board. The host family would spread the word and a cabin, a stump, or a forest glen would be the site of a preaching. In 1823, in the neighborhood settled by Peter VanSlyke and his growing family, a Cumberland Presbyterian Circuit Riding Preacher Andrew Downey arrived. Perhaps he was well known. Perhaps he wasn’t known at all. Nevertheless, he met with Peter VanSlyke’s two sons-in-law John VanVorst and Carpus Shaw. Soon thereafter people gathered in a grove of trees near a spring and organized a new church. The church was the first in the area, and remains active today, now known as First Presbyterian Church of Greene County.

The country slowly, but steadily improved, many coming from the east and south. As Ann Wines continued her story published in the Bloomfield News, she said that six years from the time they came, the town of Bloomfield was laid out. “The location then appeared to be a desirable one, presenting an entirely different appearance from the present. Strange as it may appear to the young, we were mostly contented and even happy. All were sociable and accommodating and we had many pleasant visits and merry makings. Neighbor always found his neighbor’s latchstring out and general hospitality and good cheer prevailed.”

When Greene County was created--carved out of Knox and Daviess Counties--land donated by Thomas Bradford, Frederick Shepherd, and Zebulon Hogue was selected as the county seat and named Burlington. Bloomfield did not yet exist. Burlington was on the east side of White River in Richland Township, just a few miles north of the present town of Bloomfield. A courthouse and other buildings were built. The courthouse itself cost $250.00. Very soon, however, the inhabitants of the tiny village realized that Burlington did not have sufficient water. County leaders very quickly understood that a new county seat would have to be established. Lobbying began and many thought that Fairplay Township would be chosen as the site for the new county seat. As Uncle Jack Baber relates in his Early History of Greene County, “Fairplay was very strongly urged as a suitable place. It was a high, dry locality, overlooking White River, and in that day appeared to be the most favorable place.” But Peter VanSlyke stepped in. Peter bought several more acres, in addition to the 1000 acres he already owned. He offered to give land to the County if the land was selected as the location. The offer was accepted.

On April 22, 1824, notice of the sale of lots was published in the Indianapolis papers, and stated: “This town is beautifully situated on the east side of the west fork of White River, on a rich, dry soil, plentifully watered by good springs; possessing as many natural advantages as any other new town, perhaps, on this river; surrounded with a very flourishing settlement, contiguous to mills and mill seats. The attention of merchants, mechanics and manufacturers will be particularly excited by the extent of the surrounding country; the conveniences of waterworks, and healthfulness of situation. From the superior natural advantages possessed by this town, and its electricity to the center of the county, it is elevated above, the fear of future relocations.”

Hance Stalcup, one of the earliest settlers, and one of Greene County’s best citizens, surveyed the Town of Bloomfield, and laid it off in lots.

So it began.

“Footprints” is a series of stories about the people, places and circumstances that make up the history of the Town of Bloomfield on the occasion of Bloomfield’s coming bicentennial. David Holt has researched extensively to write these stories we share with you, and we thank him for that.