Hunting Tales

With the annual hunting season in full swing, it’s time to look at hunting tales from long ago from the archives at the Marshall County Historical Society. Documents tell us: “The tradition of the last bear that was shot in Marshall County, comes from the lips of John Thomas, who is as familiar with the unwritten history hereabouts for the last 40 years as a draft horse is with the four corners of his feed box.” said John Thomas.

“In the winter of 1865,” says Thomas, “a number of bears wandered down from the woods of Wisconsin and terrified cattle and farmers throughout Northern Indiana. This particular bear was a huge black fellow and had been seen in various parts of the county before he met his doom. I had just come home from town when the women folks ran to meet me and said they had seen the much-dreaded animal run across a field. I rushed to the house but found the hired man had taken the gun before me and started in pursuit. Going to the neighbors, I borrowed another gun, mounted my horse and galloped away on the trail. When I came up to the Whaley place on the Wolf Creek Road, I found the two boys in a very excited mood. They had just shot the bear. They told me that their father had gone to town, and they had been left at home to feed the pigs. Suddenly one of the yelled, 'See that pig on the fence!' The other one looked. Sure enough there was a pig on the fence. But a pig on the fence was absurd. When they took a better look, they saw the supposed pig was a bear. A gun was brought from the house and inside of two minutes the big brute lay dead upon the ground. Many hunters arrived in time to help gloat over the victory. The hide was sold to Jepeth Disher, who paid $8 for it. It was afterward worked up into a fine robe.” Plymouth Democrat – July 31, 1902

“The latest diversion of Bourbon men of affairs is that of racoon hunting. The town, that is the sporting part, is now in the throes of a revival of the art of hunting the animals, that in the early days was a favorite pastime. Whether it is a case of heredity, just now cropping out of the fourth generation, we have no means of knowing, but there is one thing certain, the craze has hit the town hard. As far as we have been able to learn Jonas Rettinger is the only one who has, in the years past, kept up the sport enough to not forget its requirements. Later Samuel Lemlar, Phillip Steinman and Arch Myers formed a company (limited) and purchased a hound after they had sold the one Sam had owned to Rettinger. Lemler then purchased another hound and his deep sonorous voice had been sending cold chills up and down Mr. Racoon’s spine

with painful regularity. When Harl Stewart got the fever, he purchased another dog, and the old days of gentlemen following the hounds is returning. Lemler, Myers & Steinman gave a racoon feast at the Vernette & Fretz restaurant Wednesday evening, and the smacking of lips told the tale, as their friends passed in and out. Harl

Stewart and Otis Thacker went Friday night and so far, hold the palm of good catches. They secured three large, fat young racoons and a skunk. And the beauty of the whole thing is that the skunk wasn’t quick enough to use his defense.” Bourbon News-mirror November 28, 1907