Indiana,
One of the north central States of the
United States, extends from the
Ohio River, which separates the
State from
Kentucky on the south, to
Lake Michigan and the
State of Michigan, which bound it on the north.
Ohio lies to the east and
Illinois bounds it on the west.
It is limited in lat. by 37° 47′ to 41° 46′ N., and in long.
by 84° 49′ to 88° 2′
W. Area, 36,350 square miles, in ninety-two counties.
Population, 1890, 2,192,404; 1900, 2,516,462.
Capital,
Indianapolis.
Robert Cavalier
de la Salle and
Henri Tonti, with a party of thirty-three, ascend the
St. Joseph River to the site of
South Bend, thence by portage to the
Kankakee and down the
Illinois River......December, 1679
La Salle, returning from
Montreal with supplies for
Tonti at
Fort Crevecoeur, makes the portage from the
St. Joseph to the
Kankakee......November, 1680
Mention made of one Sieur Dubinson as commandant at a post near the site of
Lafayette, called Ouiatenon......1719
Sieur de Vincennes mentioned as commandant at the poste de Ouabache (
English,
Wabash), now
Vincennes......1727
[Supposed to have been settled about 1722.]
Mission established at Post
Vincennes by
Sebastian L. Meurin......1749
Garrison at Ouiatenon, under
Lieutenant Jenkins, surrenders to
Indians, who distribute the
English prisoners among neighboring French traders......1763
On a proclamation by the
British commandant,
Edward Abbott, many inhabitants of Post
Vincennes swear allegiance to
Great Britain......May, 1777
Inhabitants of
Vincennes throw off allegiance to
Great Britain and declare themselves citizens of the
United States at the suggestion of
Col. George R. Clarke......July 18, 1778
Captain Helm placed in charge of Post
Vincennes by
Colonel Clarke and his garrison of one man surrenders, “with the honors of war,” to British force under
Gov. Henry Hamilton......Dec. 15, 1778
Governor Hamilton surrenders
Vincennes to the
Americans under
Colonel Clarke......Feb. 24, 1779
Court of civil and criminal jurisdiction organized at
Vincennes......June, 1779
An expedition against
Detroit organized by La Balme, a Frenchman of
Kaskaskia, who plunders British traders at site of
Fort Wayne, is dispersed by an attack of
Miami Indians......September, 1780
One hundred and fifty thousand acres of land in
Indiana opposite the falls of the
Ohio presented to
Colonel Clarke and his regiment by Virginia legislature......Oct. 3, 1779, and Oct. 5, 1780
Spaniards under
Capt. Eugenio Puerre march across
Indiana from
St. Louis, and capture Fort St. Joseph......1781
Indiana included in the
Virginia act of cession, Dec. 20, 1783; deed conveying to the
United States the territory northwest of the
Ohio executed......March 1, 1784
General Clarke makes an unauthorized seizure of Spanish property at Fort Vincennes, which he garrisons......1786
By resolution of Congress, the
Secretary of War is directed to order the
commanding officer on the
Ohio to dispossess “a body of men who had, in a lawless and unauthorized manner, taken possession of Post
Vincennes” ......April 24, 1787
Indiana part of Northwestern Territory created by law......July 13, 1787
Maj.-Gen. Arthur St. Clair elected by Congress governor of the
Territory northwest of the
Ohio......Oct. 5, 1787
By act of Congress, 400 acres are granted to each person who, in 1783, was head of a family at
Vincennes......March 3, 1791
Brigadier-General Scott, with 800 men,
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sent against
Wea Indian towns on the
Wabash, destroys Ouiatenon......June 1, 1791
Second expedition against the
Indian villages on the
Wabash under
Brig.-Gen. James Wilkinson, who leaves
Fort Washington, Aug. 1, 1791, destroys the
Eel River Indian village near
Logansport, and over 400 acres of corn, and reaches the rapids of the
Ohio......Aug. 21, 1791
Treaty of peace and friendship with the Indians at
Vincennes, by
Brig.-Gen. Rufus Putnam......Sept. 27, 1792
Fort Wayne, on the site of an ancient
Miami village and an English fort erected 1764, built and garrisoned......Oct. 22, 1794
Northwestern Territory divided: that part west of a line from the mouth of the
Kentucky River to
Fort Recovery, and thence north to be called
Indiana Territory, and
Vincennes the seat of government, by act approved......May 7, 1800
William Henry Harrison, appointed governor of
Indiana Territory, May 13, 1800, arrives at
Vincennes......Jan. 10, 1801
General court of the
Territory first held.
Vincennes......March 3, 1801
Memorial to Congress by a convention called at
Vincennes, Dec. 20, 1802, by
Governor Harrison, Nov. 22, asks repeal of the sixth article of the organic act, which prohibits slavery......1802
Congress establishes land offices at
Kaskaskia,
Vincennes, and
Detroit......March 15, 1804
Western sun, edited by
Elihu Stout, first published at
Vincennes as the
Indiana Gazette......July 4, 1804
By treaty at
Vincennes, the
Delaware Indians cede to the
United States land between the
Wabash and
Ohio rivers, and south of the road from
Vincennes to the falls of the
Ohio, Aug. 18, and the
Piankeshaw Indians relinquish their claim to this territory......Aug. 27, 1804
Indiana given jurisdiction over that part of
Louisiana Purchase west of
Mississippi River and north of thirty-third parallel......March, 1805
Michigan Territory created out of a part of
Indiana......1805
First General Assembly of
Indiana Territory meets at
Vincennes......July 29, 1805
Delaware, Pottawattomie,
Miami,
Eel River, and
Wea Indians cede to the
United States land in
eastern Indiana by treaty at Grouseland, near
Vincennes......Aug. 21, 1805
Laws of
Indiana published at
Vincennes by
Messrs. Stout &
Smoot......1807
Illinois Territory set off from
Indiana, comprising all west of the
Wabash River and a line drawn north from Post
Vincennes......Feb. 3, 1809
Property qualifications of 50 acres, or a town lot valued at $100, required of electors in Territory by act of Congress......Feb. 26, 1809
Great political contest over slavery won by friends of free labor......1809
By treaty at
Fort Wayne, Sept. 30, 1809, the
Delaware, Pottawattomie,
Miami, and
Eel River tribes cede to the
United States about 2,900,000 acres south of the
Wabash; treaty confirmed by the Weas, who meet
Governor Harrison in council at
Vincennes......Oct. 26, 1809
“An act for the introduction of negroes and mulattoes into the
Territory of Indiana,” approved Sept. 17, 1807: repealed......Dec. 4, 1810
Property qualification for voters abolished by Congress......March 3, 1811
Fort Harrison, on the
Wabash, near the site of
Terre Haute, completed......Oct. 28, 1811
Battle of Tippecanoe; a sudden attack before sunrise of Indians under the Prophet, a brother of
Tecumseh, on
General Harrison's camp at
Burnet's Creek, about 7 miles northeast from
Lafayette, in Tippecanoe county.
Loss to the
Americans, thirty-seven killed, 151 wounded. Indians defeated......Nov. 7, 1811
Prophetstown, deserted by the Prophet, is destroyed together with a quantity of corn......Nov. 8, 1811
One man and twenty-one women and children massacred at the
Pigeon Roost settlement,
Scott county, by
Shawnee Indians......Sept. 3, 1812
Night attack of Indians on
Fort Harrison successfully resisted by the garrison under
Capt. Zachary Taylor......Sept. 4-5, 1812
Fort Wayne invested by the Indians about Sept. 1, and the garrison relieved by 2,000
Kentucky troops and 700 citizens of
Ohio under
General Harrison......Sept. 12, 1812
Deserted Indian villages in the vicinity
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of
Fort Wayne destroyed by detachments of troops......Sept. 13-19, 1812
Expedition under
Lieut.-Col. John R. Campbell leaves
Dayton, O., Dec. 14, 1812; burns the
Indian villages on the
Mississinewa River......December, 1812
Seat of government fixed at
Corydon, Harrison county, by act approved......March 11, 1813
Books, papers, and records destroyed by the burning of the office of the recorder of
Knox county......January, 1814
One thousand
Miamis, reduced to destitution, assemble at
Fort Wayne to obtain food......January, 1814
Settlement of Harmony, on the
Wabash, 50 miles from its mouth, formed by a German community under
Frederick Rapp, from
Pennsylvania......1814
Farmers and Mechanics' Bank of Indiana at
Madison, incorporated by legislature......Sept. 6, 1814
Bank of Vincennes incorporated......Sept. 10, 1814
Congress passes an enabling act for
Indiana; the northern boundary a line drawn east and west 10 miles north of the southern extremity of
Lake Michigan......April 19, 1816
Ordinance accepting the enabling act passed by a convention which meets at
Corydon, June 10......June 29, 1816
State constitution adopted by convention......June 29, 1816
Jonathan Jennings inaugurated first governor at
Corydon......Nov. 7, 1816
Indiana admitted into the
Union by act approved......Dec. 11, 1816
Act to appoint superintendents of school sections authorized to lease school lands, every lessee required to set out 100 apple and 100 peach trees within four years......Dec. 14, 1816
Bank of Vincennes adopted as State bank of
Indiana, empowered to adopt the Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Indiana as one of its branches......Jan. 1, 1817
Thomas Lincoln, the father of
Abraham Lincoln, with his family, moves from
Kentucky to what is now
Spencer county......1817
By treaty at
St. Mary's, O., the
Delaware Indians cede to the
United States all claims to land in
Indiana......Oct. 3, 1818
Site for capital of
Indiana located by a committee, which met at the house of
William Conner, on the west fork of the
White River, May 22, 1820, accepted and confirmed by the legislature, and the capital named
Indianapolis......Jan. 6, 1821
First general school law of
Indiana in revised statutes of 1824, drawn by committee appointed by legislature......Jan. 9, 1821
Proceedings against the State bank for fraudulent management, which results in forfeiting its franchise, begun......Dec. 31, 1821
Indiana University at
Bloomington, chartered 1820, opened......1824
Mr. Rapp and associates sell their property at Harmony to
Robert Dale Owen, of
Scotland, a philanthropist, who attempts to establish a community, naming the place New Harmony......1825
State road from
Lake Michigan to
Madison on the
Ohio begun......1830
Thomas Lincoln, with his family, removes to
Macon county, Ill......1830
Indiana Historical Society incorporated......1831
Wabash and
Erie Canal in
Indiana begun......Feb. 22, 1832
State bank chartered......1834
Internal improvement law, a State loan of $10,000,000 to be expended by a board of internal improvement......January, 1836
Madison and Lafayette Railroad commenced......1836
Indiana Asbury University (since 1884
De Pauw), at
Greencastle, chartered and opened......1837
University of
Notre Dame (R. C.), at
Notre Dame, chartered 1844, and opened......1845
State failing to pay its interest on the public debt for several years, compromises with creditors, who take property for one-half of the indebtedness and onehalf in bonds......1846
Constitution, framed by a convention which met at
Indianapolis, Oct. 7, 1850, adopted......Feb. 10, 1851
New constitution, ratified by vote, 109,319 to 26,755, goes into operation......Nov. 1, 1851
Butler University, at
Irvington, chartered in 1850, opened......1855
State Senate refused to go into an election of
United States Senator, creating a vacancy, in 1845, and a second time rerefuses......1855
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Great frauds in sale of swamp lands, whereby State lost about $1,500,000, exposed......1859
D. C. Stover, clerk in
Agent of State's office, issues $2,500,000 of forged State securities......1859
Lieut.-Gov. A. A. Hammond succeeds
Governor Willard, who dies at
St. Paul, Minn......Oct. 3, 1860
Governor Lane elected
United States Senator;
Lieutenant-Governor Morton succeeds......January, 1861
Caleb B. Smith appointed
Secretary of the Interior......March 5, 1861
Six regiments raised and mustered in within a week after the call of the
President for troops, made......April 15, 1861
Jesse D. Bright expelled from United States Senate for treason......March 2, 1862
Legislature broken up by Republicans to prevent passage of “military bill” ......1863
John P. Usher appointed
Secretary of the Interior......Jan. 8, 1863
Second Kentucky Cavalry, Confederate,
Captain Hines, cross the
Ohio at Flint Rock, and are captured......June 16, 1863
Confederates under
Morgan cross the
Ohio at
Brandenburg, Ky., July 8, pursued by Federals under
General Hobson.
They move eastward, covering 700 miles in twenty days (
Morgan's raid)......July, 1863
Hugh McCulloch appointed
Secretary of the Treasury......March 7, 1865
Law making colored people competent witnesses......1865
Convention of colored citizens of
Indiana at
Indianapolis to devise means to obtain full citizenship......Nov. 6, 1866
National convention of the Grand Army of the Republic held at
Indianapolis......Nov. 20, 1866
Governor Morton resigns, being elected
United States Senator, and is succeeded by
Lieut.-Gov. Conrad Baker......January, 1867
Legislature ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution......Jan. 29, 1867
Robbers of an express car on the Jeffersonville Railroad, May 22, 1868, are arrested, and on their way to Brownston for trial the train is stopped by a so-called vigilance committee of
Seymour, a confession extorted from the prisoners, who are hanged, July 20. Four other prisoners, lodged in jail at New Albany, are hanged by seventy masked men......Dec. 12, 1868
Schuyler Colfax elected
Vice-President......1869
Democrats break up the legislature to prevent ratification of Fifteenth Amendment......March 4, 1869
Legislature ratifies the Fifteenth Amendment to the
Constitution......May 13-14, 1869
Seizing and hanging of certain negroes suspected of the murder of a family in
Clark county by a mob of disguised persons calls forth a proclamation from
Governor Baker, expressing his determination to suppress mob violence......Nov. 23, 1871
Indiana State grange organized......1872
Portion of the northern State prison at
Michigan City, in erection from 1863 to 1870, is destroyed by fire......July 13, 1872
Amendment to the constitution, providing that “no law or resolution shall ever be passed that shall recognize any liability of this State to pay or redeem any certificates of stock” issued in 1846 for the completion of the
Wabash and Erie Canal, ratified......Feb. 18, 1873
Second annual meeting of the national congress of agriculture at
Indianapolis, 200 delegates from twenty-five States......May 28, 1873
Jeffersonville depot of the Quartermaster's Department of the
United States completed......1874
Purdue University, the land-grant college of
Indiana, at
Lafayette, chartered 1862, opened......1874
Commission appointed by the legislatures of
Indiana and
Kentucky, governed by the
United States survey of 1806, determine that
Green Island, near
Evansville, belongs to
Kentucky......July. 1875
James N. Tyner,
Postmaster-General......July 12, 1876
Richard W. Thompson,
Secretary of the Navy......March 12, 1877
Senator Morton dies......Nov. 1, 1877
Office of mine inspector created by act of legislature......1879
Corner-stone of new State-house at
Indianapolis laid......Sept. 28, 1880
Governor Williams dies......Nov. 20, 1880
Nine amendments to the
State constitution adopted by the people.
The second and fourth making the constitution
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conform to that of the
United States as to the rights of colored citizens......March 14, 1881
National convention of the Grand Army of the Republic held at
Indianapolis......June 15, 1881
Walter Q. Gresham,
Postmaster-General......April 3, 1883
Monument to
Senator Morton unveiled......1884
Walter Q. Gresham,
Secretary of the Treasury......Sept. 24, 1884
Hugh McCulloch,
Secretary of the Treasury......Oct. 28, 1884
Monument to
Schuyler Colfax unveiled......1885
Thomas A. Hendricks,
Vice-President, dies......Nov. 20, 1885
First Natural Gas Company in
Indiana chartered......March 5, 1886
Legislature appropriates $200,000 for a soldiers and sailors' monument in Circle
Park,
Indianapolis (corner-stone laid Aug. 22, 1889; completed in 1901)......1887
State normal school at
Terre Haute burned......April 9, 1888
Australian ballot system substantially adopted by law......1889
Offices of State geologist, mine inspector, and State inspector of oils abolished, and a department of geology and natural resources created......1889
Benjamin Harrison elected
President......1889
Secret organization of so-called White Caps in
southern Illinois is investigated by the government of the
State in 1888, and a law passed to suppress riotous conspiracy......1889
William H. Miller appointed
Attorney-General......March 5, 1889
Monument to
Vice-President Hendricks unveiled at
Indianapolis......July 1, 1890
Supreme council of the farmers' alliance convenes at
Indianapolis......Nov. 17, 1891
Governor Hovey dies at
Indianapolis, Nov. 23;
Lieutenant-Governor Chase acting......November, 1891
State female reformatory destroyed by fire......March 1, 1892
John W. Foster,
Secretary of State......June 29, 1892
Walter Q. Gresham appointed
Secretary of State......1893
Popular welcome at
Indianapolis to
ex-President Harrison on his arrival at the close of his administration......March 6, 1893
State home for soldiers established at
Lafayette......1895
National Democratic party meets at
Indianapolis (declares for the gold standard)......Sept. 3, 1896
National Monetary Association meets at
Indianapolis......Jan. 12, 1897
Daniel W. Voorhees, ex-
United States Senator, dies at
Washington, D. C.......April 10, 1897
The monetary convention meets at
Indianapolis......Jan. 25, 1898
Ex-Governor Matthews dies suddenly while making a speech......Aug. 28, 1898
George W. Julian dies at
Irvington,
Ind......July 7, 1899
Ex-Secretary of the Navy Richard W. Thompson dies at
Terre Haute......Feb. 9, 1900
Ex-Governor Mount dies......Jan. 16, 1901
Ex-President Harrison dies......March 22, 1901
Iowa