Stephen Saalman
Troy, Indiana, once the county seat of Perry County, is a picturesque and quaint town located on the Ohio River. West of Troy is Anderson River and the Lincoln Ferry site, and further to the west is "Mound Hill," thought to be an Indian mound, though its situation is unique.
Just above the town is Fulton Hill known as a site where Robert Fulton landed the "Orleans" the first steam boat that ever plied the waters of the ancient Ohio. Here Fulton and his crew of steamboat men landed away back in the beginning of the 19th century about 1810, or thereabouts to gather wood to proceed on their perilous journey down the river. Robert Fulton, as far as known, was the first white man to climb the summit of the old hill, and after him it has been named.
Long years before the war, Abe Lincoln the rail-splitter, ran a ferry on Anderson river, off sand hill. Abe, the rail-splitter, ferryman, later a lawyer and last and best of all president of this great nation, was then a boy and worked hard to support his family. Later the family moved to Spencer county, where Nancy Hanks Lincoln, Abe's mother, died, and the remains were buried in a little, lonely spot, some 16 miles from Troy, which is now known as Lincoln City. There are still some old settlers in this vicinity who can recall the days.
But, I am anxious to call attention to the citizens of Perry county to a log house, now in good preservation, in the second oldest town in the state of Indiana. I refer to a residence built at Troy, Indiana, in 1807 by Major John Daniel.
The material in the building was all sawed by whip saws, and the old frame today would be a curiosity to carpenters. A four-room house at that time was considered a mansion. The house has a history attached to it, which makes it not only interesting, but valuable. It was the sheltering place of many of the great men in this country, men of historical renown and national repute, men whose names are honored.
On the 8th day of June, 1825, a steamboat was stranded 2 miles above Troy on the Kentucky shore. It had on board one of the great men of the day, a man that did such valiant service for this country when our forefathers fought for their independence. I refer to Marquis De Lafayette. He took shelter and dined in this famous house at Troy, this historical house. After dinner Lafayette visited the spot where the Fulton residence was built and, standing on a hewn log, remarked: "On this spot a monument should be erected to the memory of the great man, Robert Fulton."
The great emancipator, Abraham Lincoln has many times sheltered and dined in the same building. Abe rose to prominence by being lucky enough to be in the presidential chair when the war broke out. He attained his popularity and prominence, because when the true test came Abe was equal to the test and today his memory is revered by all Americans. He was a man with only ordinary education but had a barrel of common sense. It again proves that education is not all that is needed; he also needs energy and a force of character. I believe that great men are born, and that it is not necessary to have wealth, or royal blood coursing through their veins. Greatness that is born in a child will show sometime during the life of that child.
The next great man that has enjoyed the hospitality of this ancient house was General George Rogers Clark, who did more to open the great Middle West than any other man. General Clark would frequently float down the Ohio river to where Troy is now, in his canoe fleet, which ran regularly between Troy and the Falls, (now Louisville), when on periodical outing. He was a splendid entertainer and he would often get a crowd into this historical house, and tell them of the many hardships experienced by his men and himself on the famous march from Kaskaskia to Vincennes. He was popular with the people and made many friends while sojourning at this point.
A large elm which was situated near the Bergenroth coal mines, was known as the Clark Elm, being named after the famous General. Under this tree he often entertained the people in telling his exploits with the Indians. Under the spreading branches of this beautiful tree General Clark enjoyed many a drink of what may now be termed "Kentucky's best." This tree was killed a few years ago by a band of gypsy's, building a fire at the roots of the tree. Right at this point we want to call the attention to the carelessness of the people for not preserving this famous tree. Many a pleasant hour was spent under this tree by the writer. I fear this old house now in a state of preservation, standing on Main street in Troy, the second oldest town in the state, will meet the same fate as met the George Rogers Clark elm. The state should do something towards saving these historical spots, if not the state, the local people should arouse their own pride and consider it.
The first man to visit this was the man that did much to Christianize the world, Robert Fulton, who was accompanied by his brother Abe, then came along Thomas Lincoln who worked in the shipyards. Abe Lincoln, his son, then a mere stripling of a boy, who later on proved to be one of the greatest statesmen this country ever had, then General Lafayette, also Governor Jonathan Jennings, the first governor of Indiana. His brother, Edmund, lived and died at Troy. Then came General William Henry Harrison, who frequently visited Major John Daniel, who was a member of Harrison's Army and participated in the Indian Wars in 1811 and was also in that much spoken of Battle of Tippecanoe. They were fast friends.
Harrison was in the pork packing business in Vincennes with Colonel Bossaron, and Troy was the shipping point for the Vincennes people. One or the other came about every 6 months. I remember sitting on Harrison's knee and playing with the epaulettes and the silver eagle on his cock hat. Both these men always wore their military uniforms and made the trip to Troy on horseback.
Robert Fulton named Troy, at least I have often been so informed, and it is a known fact that Fulton intended to make Troy his future home. Troy at that time was considered the coming city below the Falls. Fulton built an old log house on the hill just above Troy, and many a time do I remember as a boy that we boys would go to this log hut and with bow and arrow kill the lizards that were sunning themselves. I have worked faithfully since 1848 to have a monument erected on this place.
The next senator from this district is a friend of mine and I'm going to persuade him to introduce a bill in the senate to see whether the state will not do something towards commemorating this historical spot. Being a river man I consider Robert Fulton the greatest man since the days of our Savior and would like to see something done for him along the lines above suggested. The state of Indiana should be generous and show to the world that they honor great men. It might not be proper to ask congress to help erect a monument such as Fulton is entitled to.
I am almost getting away from my subject to historical house. Richard Johnson, who was vice president with William Henry Harrison, Robert Dale Owen who organized New Harmony, and many other lesser lights, visited this old house. It may not be generally known that Henry Clews, the great financier of New York, has slept under the roof of this house, in fact has occupied the same bed with me. This house is at present owned by Captain James Gardner, an old soldier of the 99th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Near this house stood a beech tree and in the bark were cut the initials, "R. Fulton August 18__," and the balance of the year was disfigured and no one could tell what year it was. In 1897 an old house in Upper Troy was torn down which used to be the location of the light-house by which pilots on the Ohio river steamboats guided their course.
Capt. W.H. Daniel
Postscript: Captain W.H. Daniel, formerly of Troy, is one of the few people of who has seen Halley's Comet pass the earth twice, having seen it in the year 1835. At that time he saw it in broad daylight from the bottom of a 45 feet well.
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