The New Albany, Indiana Ledger, December 24, 1866
Obituary
Mr. Robert LaFollette whose death was chronicled a few days ago was the earliest settler
of Floyd County. It was the ring of his axe that vocalized the unbroken wilderness, then
inhabited by the Indians and wild beasts, with the prelude of that civilization which
worked such wonderful and almost magical changes about him, before his death. He was born
in Culpepper county, Virginia on the 17th day of January 1778. At the age of nineteen, he
emigrated to Kentucky and settled near Louisville in what was then called, and is yet
known, as the Pond settlement. At this time Louisville was a rude frontier village; there
was not a brick house in that now large and rapidly growing city. He saw the first one
constructed. After remaining about seven years in Kentucky, he visited this State, and
built near the mouth of Knob Creek, a cabin which was the first house constructed in this
county. Having completed his cabin he returned to the Pond settlement and on the 4th day
of November, 180!
4, was married. This was the day upon which Thomas Jefferson was elected President, for
whom he voted. On the day following, he crossed over into Indiana, and domiciled himself
and wife in the cabin built on his previous visit to this State. His nearest neighbor was
over ten miles distant. The site where this now flourishing and beautiful city stands was
a dense forest. The knobs near the city were covered with caves, from which fact they
received the name of Cavey Knobs, which name they still bear. The present site of New
Albany was the favorite hunting ground of the red men at that time. Bears, deer, wolves,
and panthers were abundant. For some time Mr. LaFollette was compelled to take the little
corn he raised to a mill at the falls on the Kentucky side of the river. This mill was
known as the Tarascon mill and was the only one within many miles of Louisville. There
being no ferry at New Albany or Clarksville, he went to mill in a small canoe. One winter
after he had cro!
ssed the river in his canoe and had reached the mill with his bag of corn, the ice, which
was gorged above the falls, gave way, and prevented his return home for over ten days. In
the meantime, his wife was alone at home in her little cabin near the mouth of Knob Creek
suffering the most intense anxiety and agony on account of his absence, not knowing what
fate had befallen her husband. During his absence she subsisted on parched corn. The
savages were the only persons she saw while he was gone.
In consequence of the unhealthiness of the river bottom, he moved over the knobs and
squatted upon a tract of land and built another cabin which was the second one built in
this county. He cleared twenty acres of this tract, which, about this time, was thrown
into market by the government, and was entered by another man, who compelled him to vacate
it without recompensing for the improvements made upon it. He then squatted on a
neighboring tract where he resided for fifty-five years, until the time of his decease,
which occurred on the 14th day of December at 7 o'clock. Apple trees that be planted
fifty-five years ago are still growing upon the farm where he recently resided. During the
early settlements in this country, massacres of the whites by the savages were not
unfrequent. Mr. LaFollette was always warned by faithful Indians of these outbreaks in
time to enable him to remove his family across into Kentucky for safety. He was a man of
urbane manners and genial disposit!
ion, and by his kind treatment of the red men, made many warm friends among them. While
residing on the farm where he died, he was taxed to build three court houses by reason of
the changes in county lines. He was taxed to build a court house in Charlestown, this
being then a part of Clark County. Afterwards his residence was transferred to Harrison
County and he assisted in building a court house in Corydon. Finally Floyd County was
formed and he was taxed to build a court house in New Albany. Before these court houses
were built, court in the summer season was held in some grove near the county seat. He
frequently sat on juries that wrangled all night under a tree, before bringing in a
verdict. Mr. LaFollette was among the first, if not the first, to cross the ferry
established by John Paul at New Albany. This ferry was a rough flat boat propelled by
oars. A man by the name of Wood was the ferryman, having leased the ferry from Paul. Wood
also erected the first house const!
ructed within the present limits of this city. Although a cripple and not subject to
military duty, Mr. LaFollette was out in many of the expeditions against the Indians and
made many a red skin bite the dust. He was a noted marksman. Several years after removing
to Indiana he joined the Baptist church of which he was an exemplary member over
fifty-five years. Both he and his wife joined the same church at the same time, and both
were members at the time of their death. They at the time of Mrs. LaFollette's death
had been married over sixty-one years.
Robert LaFollette was a modest man, always preferring a quiet, unobtrusive life. Although
frequently urged to accept places of honor and profit, he studiously avoided them, never,
we believe, having held a public office. He was tenacious in all his opinions. Yet he was
not a partisan. He subscribed for the first paper published in the county and he always
sustained by his patronage the county paper. When he could not get one consonant with his
political views, he took one on the other side if any such was published. He believed it
the duty of every citizen to take at least a county paper, a duty he owed alike to
himself, his family, to civilization and to learning. He was a liberal, high-toned
gentleman, respected and loved by all who knew him. The death of this early pioneer has
been deeply lamented, not only by a large family connection, but by all his neighbors and
friends. Robert LaFollette, whose courage and daring prompted him to blaze the way for the
immense populatio!
n that now throngs Floyd County has gone to the grave full of years and full of
usefulness. Peace to his ashes.
Submitted by Bill and Barbara