Posted on: Adams Co. Indiana Biographies
Reply Here:
http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/In/AdamsBios/10045
Surname: BEACH, FRENCH, HALL, HILL, HORNADA, MAJUICA, REYNOLDS, RUNYAN,
SIMISON, STUDEBAKER
-------------------------
Items concerning the French family, pioneer settlers in Adams County, furnished
by Miss Melissa FRENCH and Mrs. Elizabeth HORNADA. Compiled by Mrs. J.D.
FRENCH for the FRENCH Reunion at Washington Park, Bluffton, Sept. 1, 1929.
Little is known of the FRENCH family of a hundred years ago. That is disappointing
to a would be Historian but it must be gratifying, in a way, to the family.
It indicates that they were peaceful, law abiding citizens whose movements
were not interesting to the courts.
The first FRENCH of whom we have record is one Joseph, Sr., who migrated
from Massachusetts to Midison (sic) Co., New York. We do not know the year
of his migration but we have the record of the birth of his son Joseph
Jr. in 1794. The Mother, Great-Grandmother died leaving but one child.
Her husband remarried and had quite a numerous family by the second wife.
Joseph Jr. migrated to Dearborn Co. Ind. He probably came down the Ohio
River to Madison, Ind. as that was quite a metropolis for that time and
not far distant from Deaborn County. The river, too, was a safer and pleasanter
route than the Wilderness Road. We do not know the year the Grandfather,
Joseph Jr. came to Indiana, but he was married to one Eliza Beach in 1818.
We do not know how long Grandfather French remained in Ind., but at least
three children, Aunt Philena, Uncle Joel, Uncle John were born there. Uncle
William, (Lissa's and Douglas' Father) perhaps was born there also. Grandfather
and his family returned to New York and several children were born there.
Probably Grandfather Joseph Sr. felt the need of more land for his growing
family. At any rate he drove from N.Y. to Indiana in a one horse wagon,
with money enough to buy a large tract of land. In 1837 he bought 1,144
acres of land and 76 acres in 1838, making a total of 1,220 acres according
to the record at Decatur.
That trip from Madison Co., N.Y. to Adams Co., Ind. was a tedious, tiresome
dangerous trip. Grandfather drove over mountains, through dense forests,
where he occasionally had to clear a passage way; crossing unknown and
some swollen rivers; with Indians and wild beasts a constant menace. It
probably took almost as many months to make the trip then as it would now
take days to make the trip over our fine roads. The comforts and luxuries
we now take as a matter of course come to us because of the hardships and
labors of such sturdy old pioneers as those in whose memory we are gathered
today.
Great Grand-father French bought land about two miles north west of what
is now known as Linn Grove, on the west side of the Wabash River in present
French Township, which was named for him. He soon returned to New York
for his family.
Cousin Libbee HORNADA says that Joseph Sr. and Joseph Jr. with his family
returned to Indiana reaching their land on the banks of the Wabash late
one evening in Dec. 1835. The time of year and of day sounds gloomy and
lonely to us. There must have been several small, tired children. There
was no warm, comfortable, house for them; no good bed; no appetizing meal
to sit down to; no friends to bid them welcome. They needed health, courage
and patience and resourcefulness. They did not spend much time in self
pity but built fire beside a large log, we are told and prepared supper.
This spot where they camped, they selected for their building site. It
is now known as the Dave RUNYAN farm. As the days passed, the men and boys
cut logs and built cabins. Libbie thinks Great Grand-father's second wife
and her children did not come when her husband and Joseph Jr. came as they
were not supposed to be so well able to endure the rigors of pioneer life
as Joseph Jr.'s family was. Joseph Jr. himself was in his prime and several
of his sons were well grown, sturdy fellows.
Great Grand-father's house was built a little distance from the river on
what is now known as the A.J. REYNOLDS's farm. Grandfather's house was
very close to the river. The river furnished the water supply for the family.
On wash day they went to the river's edge and rubbed the clothes between
their hands to clean them. then hung them on bushes to dry.
There is a small island at this place. This being easier to prepare for
a garden than the mainland they planted their seeds there and vegetables
grew rapidly and to an immense size.
Grandmother brought apple seeds with her, which she planted. These seeds
grew into quite a nursery which furnished trees for many homes between
Portland and Bluffton.
For three years the river did not overflow; but on March 10, 1838 the youngest
child in the French family, whom we remember as our dear Aunt Melissa HALL
(HILL?) was born. She was the first white child born in French Twp. That
day the river began to rise and soon water surrounded the house. Imagine
that. Quite a difference between then and now with our hospitals and sanitation.
When the baby was three days old the river was so high that Grandfather
was alarmed. He took their Indian canoe and took them to his Father's house,
about a half mile away through the woods. They remained there till the
water subsided.
There were Indians near the French homes. They were friendly and often
visited their white neighbors. When Aunt Melissa was about four months
old, an old Indian Squaw and her baby about the same age came calling.
Grandmother asked the squaw if she would trade babies. The squaw looked
at the white baby a while then asked, "Is he a man baby?", Grandmother
said, "No". "Ugh," said the squaw, "Me no trade, MAJUICA like man
baby.
He no like woman baby."
Lissa says the same squaw saw Grandmother trying to make moccasins for
her baby. The squaw watched a while then she laughed at Grandmother's efforts.
Grandmother asked if she could do better. The Indian woman motioned for
materials and shears. She cut out a pair of moccasins and gave one to each
of her daughters who were with her. They soon made them and the baby had
a perfectly fitting pair of moccasins.
Uncle Joel told of a time he was invited, indeed urged for a visit to the
Indians and to eat with them. They had a deer for dinner. When it was served,
the head and eyes were conspicuous. He said it seemed to him that whichever
way he looked, he could see those eyes. He was urged to eat heartily but
he said the one meal with the Indians was sufficient for him.
The Indians were very fond of vinegar and when they found that Grandmother
had some they drank almost all she had. She was obliged to hide the small
amount remaining.
After a few years, Grandfather's half brothers, George and Smith came to
Indiana but they never suffered the real pioneer experiences that came
to the earlier arriving families.
Grandfather's nearest neighbors, when they moved to Ind. were Robert SIMISON
and Peter STUDEBAKER, who lived, Livvie says about two miles north of where
Geneva now stands. Mr. Simison's daughter, Mrs. Kate SLAWSON gave some
interesting information regarding old times. Her Father was such an authority
around Linn Grove that once when a boy was asked who discovered America
he said "Uncle bobbie SIMISON." Mr. and Mrs. SIMISON were the first couple
married in Wells Co. There was not a person within the county qualified
to perform a marriage ceremony so a Justice of the Peace was called from
Ft. Wayne to perform the ceremony. The bride lived at Murray and on the
appointed day the Wabash River was so high that the officiating Justice
and the bride groom had to swim across to the Bride's home.
Lissa says that soon after Great Grandfather FRENCH, Joseph Sr., settled
on his land he dug a mill race and built a mill, a little south of the
old nursery. The river did not flow swiftly enough to turn the wheel so
the mill was abandoned. Remains of the mill and abutments are still to
be seen. The nearest place where settlers could have grinding done was
at Richmond. That was a long distance. Roads were bad and in some places
there were no roads. Oxen were slow and some times the streams were so
swollen that it was necessary to wait till the water receded. Once it took
Grandfather so long to make the trip that the supply of flour was exhausted
and for several days the family subsisted on boiled wheat. No doubt they
gave thanks for the wheat.
Because, as had been said before, Grandfather was a strong man and in the
prime of life and he had several sturdy sons, he and his family were chosen
to accompany his father to the new country. Great Grand-father promised
him the choice of the tract of land owned but promises are easily made
and easily broken. Joseph Jr. died before his father did and for some reason
Joseph Sr. did not keep his promises to his son. He left nothing to Joseph's
family except a dollar to each child. The estate went to the second wife
and her children, the ones who had been sheltered and not made to bear
the brunt of life as pioneers in the wilderness. Grandfather's children,
among whom were Uncle John, Uncle Will, Aunt Melissa, Uncle Joel, spurned
such a bequest and never accepted the dollar each.
These few reminiseces(sic) of the French's past generations give us very
dim ideas of their lives; but possibly we may have more sympathy and understanding
of them. We may wonder if we are doing out work as well as they did theirs.
They do not need our pity nor our condescencion(sic). They had good minds.
They were clever and resourceful.