A New Guide for Emigrants to the West

by John Mason Peck

Morgan.—White river, which is navigable. The mill streams are White Lick, Sycamore, Highland, and Lamb's creeks on the west side, and Crooked, Stott's, Clear, and Indian creeks on the east side. Surface, generally rolling,—some parts hilly; soil, calcareous and clayey,—on the bottoms, a rich sandy loam. Minerals; limestone, and some iron ore.

Orange.—Streams; Lost river, French Lick, and Patoka. Surface, hilly and broken,—limestone rock,—springs of water, of which Half-moon and French Lick are curiosities. On the alluvial bottoms, the soil is loamy,—on the hills, calcareous, and inclined to clay. Excellent stones for grit, equal to the Turkey oil stones, are found in this county.

Owen.—Watered by the West Fork of White river, with its tributaries, Raccoon, Indian, Mill, Rattlesnake, and Fish creeks. The falls of Eel river furnish the best water power in the State. Surface rolling; soil, in some places a dark loam,—in others clayey and calcareous. Minerals; immense bodies of lime rock, and some iron ore.

Parke.—Watered by the Big and Little Raccoon, and Sugar creeks, (with excellent mill sites,) all of which enter the Wabash on its western side. Surface, generally level,—some beautiful prairies, but mostly forest land; soil, a loam mixed with sand and rich. Minerals; lime and sandstone, coal and iron ore.

Perry.—Watered by the Ohio river, with Anderson's, Bear, Poison, and Oil creeks interior. Some level land, with a rich, sandy loam, on the streams,—all the high lands very broken; hilly, with a clayey, sterile soil. Minerals; immense bodies of limestone, grindstone quarries, iron ore and coal.

Pike.—Has White river on the north, and Patoka creek through the centre. Surface all forest land and undulating; soil, eastern part clay and sand,—western, a rich, dark loam, mixed with sand,—some swampy land. Minerals, limestone and coal.

Posey.—In the forks of the Ohio and Wabash, with Big, Mill, and McFadden's creeks interior, and good springs. Surface, rolling, and all forest land; soil, a sandy loam, and produces well. Minerals; sand, and limestone and coal.

Putnam.—Has Raccoon creek, and Eel river, with abundant water privileges, and fine springs. Surface, gently undulating; soil, in places calcareous and clayey,—in other places a rich loam; limestone.

Randolph.—Watercourses, the West Fork of White river and Missisinawa and their tributaries, which furnish good mill sites. Surface, either level or gently undulating; soil, a rich loam,—in some places marshy; a small quantity of limestone, with granite bowlders.

Ripley.—Watered by Laughery and Graham's creek. Surface level, forest land; soil clay,—in some parts inclines to sand,—with limestone abundant.