A New Guide for Emigrants to the West

by John Mason Peck

Hamilton.—The streams are White river, and Cicero, Coal, Stoney, and Fall creeks. Generally forest,—some few prairies; soil, in places, clay,—more generally, a sandy loam. Minerals; lime, and some soft sand rock.

Hancock.—Watered by Blue river, Sugar and Brandywine creeks, with excellent mill sites, and well supplied with springs. Surface, either level or gently undulating; soil, a rich loam, mixed with sand,—heavily timbered.

Harrison.—Watered by Big and Little Indian, and Buck creeks, and Blue river. Surface various,—some parts hilly and broken,—some parts undulating,—some parts level; soil, in the low grounds, a rich loam,—on the high grounds, calcareous and gravelly. A large tract of "barrens" in the west. Minerals; a quarry and several caves of black flint, salt licks, limestone.

Hendricks.—The waters are White Lick, and branches of Eel river, with good mill sites. Surface, gently rolling, and timbered with the varieties of the Wabash country; soil, a mixture of clay, loam and sand.

Henry.—Watered by Blue river, Flat Rock and Fall creeks. Surface, in some places, broken,—in most parts, level; soil, a mixture of sand with loam and clay. Plenty of springs and mill sites. Mostly timbered, but several tracts of prairie.

Huntington.—The streams are Salamania, Little river, and Wabash. Surface, on the rivers, level,—back, gently undulating; soil, loam and clay, with a slight mixture of sand. Several tracts of prairie, but generally forest land.

Jackson.—Watered by Indian, Driftwood, White, Muscatatack, and Gum creeks. Surface, rolling and in places hilly; soil, clay and loam, mixed with sand. In the forks of the creeks, sand predominates. On the west and north-west, inclined to clay.

Jefferson.—Watered by the Ohio river, Indian, Kentucky and Big creeks. Surface various; along the river and creeks, low alluvion; soil, loam mixed with sand. The bottoms are bounded by precipitous bluffs, with towering cliffs of limestone. The table lands are undulating, and the soil inclined to clay. Timber various. Abounds with limestone, masses of freestone, and scattered granite bowlders.

Johnson.—Watered on the eastern side by Blue river, and Sugar and Young's creeks,—on the western side by Indian, Crooked, and Stott's creeks. Surface, gently undulating; soil, a rich, black, sandy loam; timbered. Minerals; masses of freestone, and scattered granite bowlders.

Jennings.—Watered by Graham's Fork, and the North Fork of the Muscatatack. Surface, in some parts level, some parts very hilly; soil, calcareous, rich and productive; timber of all varieties; abounds with limestone.