Few among the early settlers of Muncie were more active than Mr. Gilbert in the development and improvement of the town.
He was of a race of pioneers, with whom it seemed natural to seek the outposts of civilization, and inaugurate progress in the wilderness.
Such was the history of his grandfather on the mother's side--Capt. John Coffeen--who was the first white settler in the township of Cavendish, in the State of Vermont. In 1768, to save part of a bad debt, he took some land in Vermont, then known as "New Hampshire Grants," having previously enacted the pioneer's part at Rindge, New Hampshire. During this year 1777, Capt. Coffeen's farm sustained great injury from the rapacity of the soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Three hundred New England troops were stationed upon his farm while opening a a road to Crown Point. They destroyed his orchard, and did much other injury. After the surrender of Crown Point and Ticonderoga to the Bristish, the militia, whose time of service had expired, and those who were sent home by Gen. Schuylers for misconduct, passed through Cavendish. They arrived at Capt. Coffeen's farm in a severe storm and immediately filled the house to overflowing. Those who could not get ino the house, built fires outdoors with some boards and shingles which Capt. Coffeen had hauled all the way from New Hampshire to build his house. His hopes and prospects thus blasted, he sent his family to Rindge, and his farm became a common and his house a camp for the vagrant soldiery, several of whom died under its roof. After the close of the war, other families came to Cavendish, and Capt. Coffeen was a prominent man among them. He was first Representative in the General Assembly, and held that position for serveral years.
His grandson, Goldsmith C. Gilbert, was born in Washington County, N. Y., about the year 1795. When he was ten years of age, his mother died, and he was taken to the home of his uncle, Goldsmith Coffeen, with whom he removed to Jefferson County, N. Y.., in 1805, and thence to Lebanon, Ohio, about the year 1814. The journey was made overland, by teams, one of which was driven by Mr. Gilbert. Soon after the arrival of uncle's family at Lebanon, Mr. Gilbert went back to his former home in New York, and was married to Mary Bishop. Following this event, he sought a home in the "Far West," and finally settled on Prairie Creek, in Delaware County, Ind. Subsequently, he removed to the Mississinewa River, in the north part of this county, and began trading with the Indians. One day, during one of their drunken sprees, they set fire to his house and store, and burned up all he owned. The Government Agent deducted the damages from the annuity of the tribe, and, with a portion of this money, Mr. Gilbert purchased the Hackley Reserve, and, at a later date, laid out a portion of this tract into town lots, thus donating the original town plat of Muncie. The date of his settlement in this county was the 1813, and for many years afterward he was a prominent citizen. He dug the race, and erected the "Gilbert Mill," at the northern extremity of Muncie, on White River. This property afterward passed to the ownership of Jack & Russey, and, through various changes, to Wysor & Kline, the present proprietors. He also owned and operated at various times, a saw-mill, a woolen factory, a distillery, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, and was a partner in a dry goods store. So extensive was the trade of both the woolen and grist mills, that it was necessary to keep them in operation day and night. The woolen-mill contained only a carding machine, and it was his intention to add machinery for spinning and weaving, but he died before he could put this plan into execution.
He had enjoyed but a limited education in his younger days, yet, he was a man of sound judgment and a strong character, and was chosen to represent this district in the State Legislature, where he wielded an extensive influence. He was among the earliest of Muncie's railroad advocates, and made very earnest efforts to have a bill passed by the Legislature chartering a railroad from Fort Wayne to Muncie. This was during the legislative session of 1843-44, and had he lived longer, his efforts might have been crowned with success. At that early day, it seemed improbable that Muncie would ever have railroad connection with the outside world, and the advocates of such a project--among whom Mr. Gilbert was on of the most enthusiastic--were called visionary and crazy. At the close of the session of 1843-44, Mr. Gilbert started to return home, in company with Mr. Hodge, then a member of the State Senate, but on the way he was taken with pleurisy, and died at Pendleton, Ind., in January, 1844. His remains were brought to Muncie, and were followed to their last repose by a large concourse of people, among whom he had been so long a prominent, leading citizen. His death caused universal sorrow in the community, for he had long been a public-spirited citizen, and the friend and promoter of improvements. He was man of irreproachable integrity, and was honored and beloved by all.
He was twice married. His first wife died a few years subsequent to his arrival in the county, and was afterward married to Miss Rachel Jewell, who survived him about ten years. He was accompanied to this county by his wife and one child, and six were born in this county, and one now living.
His daughter Mary J., was born at Muncie in 1826, and was the first white child born in the town. She has a vivid collection of events which transpired during her childhood, particulary those in which the Indians were concerned.
Her instinctive fear of their red faces and savage, unnatural actions, probably served to stamp these scenes more indelibly upon her memory. In a converation with the writer, she : "When I was a child, I remember having seen as many as five hundred Indians (men and women) pass our house at one time, on ponies, in single file. The old squaws loved strong tea, and would tell mother to 'make it right from the root,' i.e., very strong; and mother always made it for them as strong as lye. Chief Montsee (or Munsey) was among our visitors. He wore a nice broad cloth suit, with belt and beads, and always wore the feathers which are part of the Indian head-dress.
The dress and habits of the tribe were peculiar. Many of them wore rings in their ears and noses-one in the nose with small tinkling bells, and several in each ear. They were fond of the game called 'moccasin,' and one evening I went into the bar-room (or office) of our hotel, and found eighteen of them sitting on the floor, with their legs crossed like a tailor, playing at this game. They were not boisterous, but were lively and interested, laughing heartily at every turn in the game that pleased them. Chief Meshingomesa as well as chief Montsee, stopped at father's house at various times."
Dr. Daniel H. Andrews, whose portrait appears on this page, was born in Washington County, N. Y., where he acquired ihis early education.
He possessed talents that made him peculiarly adapted to the profession inwhich he afterward engaged, and as it was on of the desires of his boyhood to become a physician, he early bent his energies to securing the means for furthering his plans. He removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and studied medicine with Dr. Mussey, an eminent physician of that city, and afterward graduated at one of the medical colleges of Cincinnati. He then went to Florida, where he practiced successfully until 1842 or 1843. He came to Muncie at that time, and was engaged in the duties of his profession until his death, which occurred on the 17th of March, 1856. He was a man of large soul and brain, honorable and upright in all his dealings. Skillful and successful as a physician, kind, and tender in the sick-room, he possessed the confidence and regard of all who knew him. On the 31st day of October, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J., daughter of Hon. Goldsmith C. Gilbert. This union was blessed by four children, viz., Julia S., Samuel, John E, and George R., all of whom still survive. On the 17th of March, 1858, his widowed wife was married to Joseph W. Edmonds, Esq., who is well known through this city and county as a worthy and honorable citizen. He has been engaged for a number of years as miller at the flouring-mills of Wysor & Kline. (Page 130)