548 llOARt) OF AGRICtJLTiJRfi. 



of his iiiothor's Bible were reinforced by the footsteps of Jesus, became 

 converted, joined the Indiiiiia conference as a preacher and went to his 

 re\v:inl In heaven as Ilev. Samuel T. Gillette. 



Tlie report of the army officers was false in another way. The notes 

 that they furnished of the survey between Columbus and Jeffersonville 

 were tiled in the office of the Secretary of State at Indianapolis, and when 

 the JefTersonville Railroad was incorporated in 1849, William G. Arm- 

 strong, the President, remembering the former report went to the office of 

 the Secretary of State, found the notes, and the road from Jeffersonville 

 to Colunibus was laid on the same route, saving three miles in the wind- 

 ings of ilie MuscntitacU River. 



The building of the Madison road bankrupted Indiana. After about 

 four years, tl)e State turned it over to a corijoration of individuals. It 

 toolc one year to extend the road to Columbus, another year to Edinburg, 

 and fifteen months from Edinburg to Indianapolis where Jerry Johnson, 

 standing on a pile of lumber where the Old Madison Depot stood on South 

 Street, seeing the train coming out of the valley of Pleasant Run, ex- 

 claimed, "Here she conies, hell on wheels." 



September, 1847, your speaker was on the first passenger train tliai 

 came to Greenwood. There was a turntable at Franklin. The train was 

 reversed, and we were backed up to Greenwood. There the stage met us, 

 took us to George Noble's, the stage stand, where we had a delightful 

 Hoosier dinner. This over, Samuel Merrill, President of the Madison 

 railroad, started for the railroad grades, a hundred yards east. We called, 

 "Mr. Merrill won't you go with us on the stage".'" 



Uis reply was, "John, the boys are laying the track on the road. I 

 must walk up and see how they are getting on." Honor to the name of 

 Samuel Merrill, President of the Madison Railroad, whose obligations to 

 duty made him walk ten miles on the roadbed to see "how they were get- 

 ting on." What president of 1903 would do so? When the railroad was 

 finished the fare was $4.50, time four hours; now $3.20, time three hours. 



Concord stages, in late spring, summer, and early fall months, and 

 mud wagons in other months. 



An experience, January, 1848: Indianapolis, Indiana, 10 a. m. Mud 

 wagon for Greencastle; three miles gravel road to Eagle Creek. One 

 thousand pounds mail. Husband, wife, two children and your speaker 

 passengers. Four Kentucky horses drawing; way-bill instructions, "Put 

 rhis coach through in good style and time." 



Just beyond Eagle Creek, first mud-hole. Pried the coach out. Freezing 

 weather; mind made up easier to walk than pry. Left Uncle Sam's mail 

 coach, called mud wagon, walked to Bellville, got there just as supper 

 was called. Went in, ate, and was ready when the coach came. Stage 

 stand west, one mile east of Stilesville, twenty-eight miles from Indian- 

 apolis, time 9 p. m. Eleven hours on the way. Awful. (I use this word 

 in its original signification.) Roads freezing, letting the horses go in half- 



