Old Settlers’ Society of Howard County Indiana

Dr. Corydon Richmond

When I first came to this country, we had to sit on logs and stumps; now as the country is cleared up, we have to sit on the ground. In those days, we were acquainted with each other, now we scarcely know anybody; as the country is getting to be so thickly settled. The old settlers are fast passing away and strangers are coming in taking their places. I can hardly realize that I have been here thirty years. When I came here, I was called Old Doctor Richmond, and I go by that name now.

When I first started in this country, we had to go forty miles to the mill; it may seem strange that people located in the vast, unbroken wilderness, but I came here in 1844 on an exploring expedition. As I knew that a rich cultivated country surrounded the vicinity, [I knew] this county would make a nice country. In those days I had to use an axe and the first axe handle that Col. Blanch used, I made.

In 1843 I settled permanently at Kokomo, and built me a clapboard shanty. The next day, when it was finished, the wind blew it down. I then built me a log cabin. It was sixteen feet square and ten feet high. Kokomo was then covered with brush; the following spring after I came here, we cut the trees down where the Public Square is now located.

Col. Willis Blanch

Ladies and Gentlemen – I am apparently yet a younger man and wonder why I should be called out to speak to you today. As I am in very poor health, I cannot speak but a few minutes. I came to where I now live, two miles south of Kokomo, when I was seventeen years old, thirty- three years ago.

This country then was an unbroken wilderness, except a little spot on Mr. Foster’s farm which the Indians had cleared up. The town of Kokomo was then known as an Indian village; there were a few wigwams and tents that the Indians lived in. Not a tree or brush was cut. Abraham Young’s father cut the first road from the boundary line to Kokomo; Mr. Snodgrass cut the road from Russiaville.

This was then an Indian Reserve, the Government reserved all this land for the Indians. This land came inoto market in 1847. Uncle Jo Skeen and John Waggerman cut the road from Alto to where Albright’s Chapel now stands; the road went from Russiaville to Alto, then to Albright’s Chapel, then to the Indian Village, so you see we had a circuit reaching from Russiaville to where Kokomo is now built.

In 1842 Joseph Skeen came to this county; in 1843 Uncle Davy Foster moved from the boundary line, seven miles west of Kokomo and settled in the Indian Village, living in the wigwams and shanties that the Indians had built. This county was located in 1844; the question then came up as to where the county seat should be located – some of the settlers wanting it located at Cromwell’s Old Mill, several miles west of Kokomo. The Governor appointed three commissioners to locate the county seat. Mr. Foster said he would donate forty acres if they would locate the county seat here. This proposition was accepted and the village was called Kokomo.

On the 18th of October, John Gay was appointed Agent to sell the lots; they were sold on four years time without interest. Lots that were situated near where the Court House stands sold for $16 and those on the Square sold for $20; I could not buy a lot then for I had no money. We paid no taxes then; my first tax receipt did not amount to one dollar.

Joseph Skeen and myself erected the first house ever built in Kokomo; it is still standing on High Street, near the residence of Mr. Foster. The first Court ever held in Howard County was held at the house of John Harrison who lived five miles west. "Jack" Wright of Logansport was the judge.

As good a dinner as I ever ate in the early settlement of this country was the day that Dr. Richmond built his log cabin which stood near to where the Kokomo House now stands. Four men raised that house – Judge Lindsay, Jim Barrett, David Foster and myself. While we were working, Dr. Richmond cooked the dinner. It was spread on a clapboard door and consisted of boiled beef, light bread, potatoes and coffee. We had no tablecloth or knives or forks. I helped to raise most of the cabins built then.

The first person who died near Kokomo was on the farm of Widow Sharp. It was a child by the name of Chase, that was thirty-three years ago. David Foster, Mr. Shearer and myself selected the burial ground where the old graveyard is now situated as a suitable place to bury the child. We dug the grave and Mr. Foster and myself carried the corpse from the house to the grave. This was the first person to be buried in the old graveyard. A few days afterward, a child of John Crowsore’s died.

I would say to the young people present - those who are complaining of hard times - that when I came here, I worked for Mr. Skeen two years at $7 a month; clothing and everything else cost more than it does now. I sold the first pork that was sold in Kokomo and I got $2 a hundred net for it. I could not get the money, so I had to take my pay in County Orders; these orders I sold to Mr. Foster at a discount of twenty-five percent on the dollar.

Old Settlers, I have talked much longer than I intended. I do not expect to live much longer as I lost my health in the army; and I thank God that I served my country to perpetuate a free and happy Government that our children will be proud of.

Old Settlers, Ladies and Gentlemen - I came to this county forty years ago; settled at Burlington on the Michigan road on the 13th day of May, 1837. I liked this country then and I like it now. I moved from Burlington to Ervin Township on the Seven Mile Strip in 1840 and from there to the Indian Village where Kokomo is now located. I cut the road from Ervin Township to Kokomo; this is the road that passes by Capt' Kirkpatrick's farm. What Colonel Blanch has told you about the early settlement of this county is true and as he has covered the ground and told you everything that would be interesting to you, I will not take up your time.