68 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



this all were squatters — The settlers having now began 

 to raise bread stuff, found it no fool of a job to go 40 

 miles to mill. But they had to do it. 



There were a good many improvements made this year, 

 for these were the days of "Wildcat" Money. The tavern 

 house at Liverpool was completed, and a line of daily 

 stages run upon that road ; though upon reflection, I be- 

 lieve they were in operation the year before. Mr. Eddy 

 completed his house and moved his family into the county 

 some time in the summer of this year. 



The selection of lands in this county for the Wabash 

 Canal was made in June of this year. Col. John Vawter, 

 was one of the commissioners & preached in the court 

 room while here, to a very respectable congregation. 



The Methodist Episcopal Church may be considered as 

 regularly organized in this county from this time, form- 

 ing with Porter County a circuit, and supplied with 

 preaching at stated times. 



The drouth of this year was the cause of setting a great 

 number of persons to digging wells. Heretofore they had 

 depended upon water in ponds and marshes, the drying 

 up of which put them to great inconvenience, particularly 

 for stock water after winter set in. One circumstance 

 worth noticing in connection with this subject, may be 

 mentioned in regard to Cedar Lake. This beautiful sheet 

 of water was so affected that all around the edge of the 

 water it was covered with a thick scum so offensive that 

 no one could use the water without being disgusted. 



The health of the settlers the two last seasons goes to 

 prove that a dry season will always be found far more 

 sickly than a wet one. 



On the first of January, 1839, my brother Milo died of 

 consumption. This was the first death that occurred in 

 the vicinity of Crown Point. It ever has been considered 

 a remarkably healthy place. In fact the strongest induce- 

 ment with me to settle here, was, that I heard that it was 

 a favorite summer residence of the Indians, and a spot to 

 which they always resorted for recovery of health which 



