Vevay 1918

The description of Vevay in 1918, part of an automobile touring guide, is unusual in describing surviving Swiss customs. Its discussion of George Eggleston suggests that he was as famous as his brother Edward at this time. There could probably be a lively debate on the statement of the original models for characters of Edward's books having lived in Vevay.

The automobile blue book

Published by The Automobile blue book publishing co., 1918 Vol. 4

Vevay, Ind. (pop. 1,256, alt. 525 ft.), is finely situated on the Ohio River 20 miles above Madison. It was settled by 30 Swiss families, to whom the United States gave a grant of land in 1796 to patronize the culture of the vine, and who showed their loyalty to their native country by naming the county Switzerland and the town Vevay. The situation of Switzerland county near the states of Ohio and Kentucky makes it more cosmopolitan than the other counties of Indiana. and Vevay has a good site, being half way between the market centers of Cincinnati and Louisville, and is almost entirely dependent on the river for transportation. Many families made a fortune in flatboating here. An interesting description of this industry is given in George Eggleston's "Last of the Flatboats," which pictures localities and personalities of this neighborhood.

Many of the old Swiss customs are still retained; for instance, the reading of the 90th Psalm at funerals. The Mardi Gras celebrations of New Year and New Year's eve are peculiar to Vevay. The citizens, masked and dressed in grotesque costumes, call from house to house. It is not known how or when this custom began.

Vevay was the home of Edward Eggleston, the Hoosier schoolmaster. [As phrased in the original, the word author was not used] The house in which he spent his boyhood is still standing in good repair. It is a two-story brick with a queer little squeezed up vine-covered portico over the front door. A queer tangled old garden adjoins the west side of the house. Here lived the originals of the characters in "Roxy," "Hoosier Schoolmaster," and "Hoosier Schoolboy."

When the "Hoosier Schoolmaster" was brought to Vevay in 1914 on the movie films there were still many who could criticise the truth of the production. The "House with the Lombardy poplars," where Mark Barnaby took his wife, Roxy, to live, resembles an old French chalet and is situated on the outskirts of the town with a chestnut grove adjoining. The queer, rambling, low-circled house of Aunt Lucy Detraz, the mother of "Toinette," in Roxy, is still standing, with its yard jutting out into the sidewalk.

Though Vevay is off a railroad [meaning not on a line], every street is paved with cement, and there are waterworks, electric light, good schools, furnaced houses, several churches and two progressive women's clubs. Vevay has the second oldest newspaper in the State, "The Reveille" which has been published for 97 years.

Switzerland County before the Swiss

The Swiss colony at Vevay gets a lot of attention (as well it should). It was unusual and Jean Jacques Dufour was awfully good at promotion.

But there were settlers in what became Switzerland County before the Dufours and allies showed up, some of whom were displaced when Jean Jacques talked Congress and President Jefferson into giving him a sweetheart deal on 2,000 acres. And some of them weren’t happy about it.

The early settlers included a large group from Nelson County, Ky., who arrived about 1798, although this is more based on tradition than documentation. The 1792 Nelson County tax list includes several men who moved to Switzerland and Jefferson Counties, among them Ralph and William Cotton, Stillwell Heady (who married Rebecca Combs, Hannah's sister), Paul Froman, John Bray, Nicholas Lenz, Johnson Brown, and Jonathan McCarty. Several of these had come from the Shenandoah region of Virginia—McCarty and Froman (McCarty’s brother-in-law) for example. Shenandoah families that showed up later included the Lanhams, Cheeks, Cains and McKays

The Nelson County group included the well-known “Indiana George” Ash, who had been captured in Nelson County by Shawnee Indians in 1782 and lived with them until roughly 1795, when he settled in the Lamb area.

Perret Dufour, whose newspaper articles from the 1870s have been compiled as the "History of the Swiss Settlement, said the Cottons settled on Indian Creek about 1798 and James Stewart also arrived from Nelson County about this time.

McCarty is the easiest to track as on Aug. 6, 1799, he was named justice of the peace for what was then Hamilton County, Northwest Territory, whose western boundary extended to the Greenville Treaty line that reaches the Ohio River at Lamb, opposite the mouth of the Kentucky River. It can’t be proved McCarty was in the Lamb area at this time. But on Dec. 3, 1800, his daughter Lydia married Gershom Lee in Gallatin County, Ky. It can proved that the Lees had lived at the mouth of the Kentucky River from 1790 on.

Early Hamilton County marriage records, which survive only in a transcription, show that a Jonathan County officiated at the marriage of of Kesiah Pickett to Paul Froman Jr on Nov. 13, 1800 in Hamilton County. Since Kesiah was the daughter of Heathcoat Pickett and Froman was McCarty’s son-in-law, this was clearly McCarty. Jonathan Country, justice of the peace, presided at the marriage of Polly Netherland to David Owen on Oct. 12, 1800. The Netherlands were also proven as Switzerland County records. These were the only two marriages he performed, probably because it was easier for settlers to get marriage into Kentucky than it was for McCarty to take the marriage

Ash may have drawn these families in—he married Hannah Combs in Nelson County in 1802. And his effort to get Congress to approve a gift of lands from the Indians provides other details.

A petition dated Feb. 1802 supporting Ash’s claim was signed by Col. Adam Guthrie, Zachariah Garton, Edward Coombs, Alexander Porter, Captain William Hall and Gershom Lee. Combs was Ash’s brother-in-law (I think) and Lee was McCarty’s son-in-law. Otherwise, the petition does not provide residences.

On July 5, 1802, the government of the Northwest Territory commissioned officers from the second battalion of the second regiment, including William Hull (sic Hall) as captain, Heath Coat Pickett as lieutenant and John Hall (William’s son) as ensign. Some continued in these positions when Dearborn County, which now included Switzerland, was created in 1803. Lee was named lieutenant in the Dearborn militia on Aug. 15 while McCarty was named a justice on Aug. 30.

Some of these men signed an 1804 petition in favor of Ash’s land claims, which described them as being resident of Indiana and Port William [the first name for Carrollton], but didn’t say which was which. Signers included McCarty, Gershom Lee, Nathan Lee, both Halls, Griffith Dickerson (a known Switzerland County resident), Owens and Benjamin Combes. Bernard McLain, who was living in the Saluda area of Jefferson County in 1810, also signed.

Temperance Organization Vevay, 1873

Temperance became a major issue after the Civil War. This account of an organization in Vevay is one of the most detailed given of the actual formation.

Arthur's Illustrated Home Magazine, Edited by T.S. Arthur, Vol. XLI. T.S. Arthur & Son, Editor's Department, Philadelphia, 1873.

A NEW TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.
WE take from a Vevay, Indiana, paper, the following account of a new temperance movement recently Inaugurated in that town, which has so for been remarkably successful

The most formidable organization upon a temperance basis in this pan of the country, is the ' Workingmen's Friendly Society,' headquarters at Vevay, with branches in other parts of the county. Its meetings are held weekly, open to the public, and its pledge simply it requires its members to abstain from the use of liquors for one year, the penalty for violation being the publication of the name in the papers.

The Vevay branch has a membership of over two hundred and fifty, all being men over twenty-one years of age. Ir was organized by drinking men, and hence it derives the name of 'Red Noses,' the title by which the society is generally known and recognized by the public. Repeated efforts have been made to allow females to unite with the society, but owing to the fact that many of the old drinkers have heretofore been ashamed to meet the women face to face, it has been deemed advisable not to enlarge the test of membership at present. "

Nearly every Sunday they hold a public meeting in the Court House, where they have vocal and instrumental music, and an address from public of amateur speakers. They have purchased an organ for their use on these occasions.

Heretofore, the music has been by volunteers; but this method having failed to secure music on one or two occasions, the society have adopted the novel plan of inviting the Sunday schools, and other organizations, to furnish music, alternating each week; each school, or other society, coming with their books, singers and organ placers, and leading the exercises of the day. Last Sunday the M.E. School officiated, next Sunday the Presbyterian School will lead, and so on until every school and other organization has been invited to go through with the musical exercises."

This plan succeeds admirably; there is just emulation enough to secure the bent results— the public becomes more and more interested, and the whole meeting proves a grand success. Long may it wave!

Andre Michaux Visits Jean Jacques Dufour 1796

Andrew Michaux made an overland trip in Kentucky. Among his visit was one with Jean Jacques Dufour, the founder of the Swiss Colony in Vevay. Michaux gave details of Dufour and the operation of his first Vineyard in Kentucky.

Journal of André Michaux, 1793-1796 ...

Michaux, André, 1746-1802.

CREATED/PUBLISHED
Cleveland, 1904.

NOTES
Translated from the original French journal first published in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical society for 1889, p. 1-145.

About fourteen miles from Lexington I quitted the Hickman Ferry road, turned on my left, and strolled into the woods, so that I did not reach the vineyard till the evening, when I was handsomely received by Mr. Dufour, who superintends the business. He gave me an invitation to sleep, and spend the following day with him, which I accepted.

There reigns in the United States a public spirit that makes them greedily seize hold of every plan that tends to enrich the country by agriculture and commerce. That of rearing the vine in Kentucky was eagerly embraced. Several individuals united together, and formed a society to put it in execution, and it was decreed that a fund should be established of ten thousand dollars, divided into two hundred shares of fifty dollars each. This fund was very soon accomplished. Mr. Dufour, the chief of a small Swiss colony which seven or eight years before had settled in Kentucky, and who had proposed this undertaking, was deputed to search for a proper soil, to procure vine plants, and to do every thing he might think necessary to insure success. The spot that he has chosen and cleared is on the Kentucky river, about twenty miles from Lexington. The soil is excellent and the vineyard is planted upon the declivity of a hill exposed to the south, and the base of which is about two hundred fathoms from the river.

Mr. Dufour intended to go to France to procure the vine plants, and with that idea went to New York; but the war, or other causes that I know not, prevented his setting out, and he contented himself with collecting, in this town and Philadelphia, slips of every species that he could find in the possession of individuals that had them in their gardens.

After unremitted labour he made a collection of twenty-five different sorts, which he brought to Kentucky, where he employed himself in cultivating them. However the success did not answer the expectation; only four or five various kinds survived, among which were those that he had described by the name of Burgundy and Madeira, but the former is far from being healthy. The grape generally decays before it is ripe. When I saw them the bunches were thin and poor, the berries small, and every thing announced that the vintage of 1802 would not be more abundant than that of the preceding years. The Madeira vines appeared, on the contrary, to give some hopes. Out of a hundred and fifty or two hundred, there was a third loaded with very fine bunches. The whole of these vines do not occupy a space of more than six acres. They are planted and fixed with props similar to those in the environs of Paris. Such was then the situation of this establishment, in which the stockholders concerned themselves but very little. It was again about to experience another check by the division of Mr. Dufour's family, one part of was on the point of setting out to the banks of the Ohio, there to form a settlement. These particulars are sufficient to give, on the pretended flourishing state of the vines in Kentucky, an idea very different to that which might be formed from the pompous account of them which appeared some months since in our public papers.I profited by my stay with Mr. Dufour, to ask him in what part of Kentucky the numerous emigration of his countrymen had settled, which had been so much spoken of in our newspapers in 1793 and 1794.

His reply was, that a great number of the Swiss had actually formed an intention to settle there; but just as they were setting out, the major part had changed their mind, and that the colony was then reduced to his family and a few friends, forming, in the whole, eleven persons.

Nuttall Dismisses Vevay Wine 1818

Thomas Nuttall's description of the wine produced by the early vineyards in Switzerland county was one of a number of less than enthusiastic descriptions of the area's product of the vine.

Nuttall's Journal of travels into the Arkansa [sic] territory October 2, 1818-February 18, 1820. Cleveland, Ohio, A. H. Clark, 1905

I descended about 30 miles, and lodged with a very polite and hospitable Frenchman, three miles above the Swiss towns of Vevay and Ghent.

He informed me that he had emigrated the last summer from Grenoble, and had purchased land here at the rate of 10 dollars per acre, including the house and improvements which he occupied. He complained how much he had been deceived in his expectations, and that if he was home again, and possessed of his present experience, he would never have emigrated.

He did not give a very favourable account of the settlement of Vevay, and he and others, particularly a Swiss whom I called upon, informed me that the wine here attempted to be made was of an inferior quality. It sold at 25 cents the bottle, but soon became too sour to drink, and that instead of obtaining the northern vines for cultivation, as those around Paris, they had all along attended to the southern varieties.

So the vineyards of Vevay, if not better supported, will probably soon be transformed into corn-fields. The wine which they have produced is chiefly claret, sometimes bordering on the quality of Burgundy, for the preservation of which their heated cabins, destitute of cellars, are not at all adapted; we do not, however, perceive any obstacle to the distillation of brandy, which could be disposed of with great facility and profit.

The quantity of wine said to be yielded to the acre, is about 500 gallons, which, if saleable, ought to produce a considerable emolument, and materially benefit the country, by diminishing the foreign demand. Several gentlemen of science, wealth, and patriotism in Kentucky and Mississippi Territory, are now also beginning to devote their attention to this important and neglected subject, and are commencing by the cultivation of improved varieties of the native species of vine, which promise, above those of Europe, every requisite of fertility, hardihood, and improved flavour.

A Darker View of George Ash

There have been a number of stories about George Ash, who was captured by Shawnee Indians, lived as an Indian for years, and then left them and later moved into Switzerland County, Ind.

There are several different versions of his life story, as told by George. Most downplay his involvement in attacks on whites. However, a dramatically different account published in the Vevay (Ind.) Reveilles of March 14, 1874 and March 21, 1874. These were published as having come originally from the Madison Progress.

The account of George's capture states that a little boy and girl were killed immediately. These two are not mentioned in other stories. Another girl, mentioned in other accounts, was taken with George, but was finally tomahawked when she wouldn't keep quiet

The first newspaper episode contains a story of George's being a Shawnee by virtue of surviving a gauntlet run and then being adopted by an older warrior and his wife.

At some time after he was 18, the Shawnees camped on low ground just north of the site of Madison, Ind. He detailed how he stood on the shore and hailed a passing flat boat, telling them he had escaped from the Shawnees. The boat eventually landed and its crew members were slaughtered. Shortly after this, he and the Shawnees fought in a battle against Creek Indians, apparently in Indiana.

He then participated in a raid in Kentucky, in which his brother Henry was reportedly killed. He then again surveyed as a decoy to lure a ship to the Ohio River banks, but failed. The Shawnees were then defeated by the Creeks, losing 100 out of 150 men.

They returned to Indiana, hiding their boats on the Indian-Kentuck Creek, just upstream from the site of modern Brooksburg, Ind. They lured four more boats to the shore and killed the crews and seized the goods.

Ash then resolved to return to his family. And here is where the account different dramatically from others, which picture his father as welcoming George, but his second wife as not wanting him. The Progress/Reveille account says the wife (erroneously called Ash's mother) was willing to accept George, but the father was not, because the settlers knew about George's participation in the raid in which Henry was killed.

This account does not mention Ash's Indian wife, She Bear. It does state that his bride (not named, but known to be Hannah Combs) continued to deal with George in spite of her father's opposition and that they ran away to be married.

One final interesting note is that the March 21 installment states George built a shack in Indiana, before he built the brick house that still stands. It states that "Col. Ash was born in the shanty spoken of..."

George's son, George Col. Ash was born in 1812 and this suggests that the house was built a few years after the dates previously claimed.

John Hay Captured by Indians 1790

John Hay’s description here places two Indian and settler confrontations in Indiana across from the mouth of the Kentucky River. The first, given the date of this entry, took place in the spring of 1789, when settlers killed several Indians. The other took place in the fall when the Shawnees captured the prisoner, who Hay saw on this day.

Hay, John Journal from Detroit to the Miami River,

December 9, 1789-April 3, 1790.

Saturday Feb. 13,1790

This morning about 1/2 past 10 oClock a Party of warriors of the Shawanies Nation brought in a Prisoner- They took him on this side of the Ohio at the mouthe of Kentuck.

The Party that took him were out hunting last Spring, during which time some Miamis went to war and returned a different road they went & passed by this hunting party, the Americans pursued them & fell in with the Hunters & killed several of them women & Children &c. one Joseph Sovereigns who had been a Prisoner from his infancy was killed at that place;-

These People went out last fall to revenge themselves & took this Prisoner who was out hunting much about the same place w[h]ere their own people were killed. Mess. Leith, Ironside & myself went down to the Chilicothe village of Shawaneses- They were then in council- that is the young man who took the Prisoner was given a very minute Report of all what passed- which they are obliged to do- This party is not of this village, they belong to the Messessinoue Village. The Reason for bringing him here is, that he's given to a man of this village.

Little Raine & Sleete this afternoon, turned out Snow this Evening. not to hurt him; which they did not. The Chiefe who was out hunting heard of a prisoner being taken sent word immediately that he should not be hurt. Its about fifteen days ago since he was taken.

They have washed his face, but not his boddy, which will be done & also cleanly dressed when the Chiefe Black (Bairde) arrives, a Belt of Wampums is now making which will be thrown over his head when he's adopted & which he'll ware.

He's being lately from Virginia shews very plainly that he was not in the action last Spring, and that some evil minded people who wanted to hurt him in the mind of the Indians. He's quite a young man, his name is McMullen.

Indiana Historical Society

Publications, vol. 18.

1811 Switzerland County and Vevay. Niles Register

Dated Oct. 9, 1811, this account of Vevay is among the earliest accounts published about the Swiss Settlement. It is also one of the most detailed accounts available that covers a wide range of activities before 1820.

Niles Weekly Register, Baltimore, Vol. 1, No. 8.

By the politeness of a Swiss gentleman, residing at Vevay, Indiana territory, we have been favoured with the following sketch of the Swiss settlement; New Swisserland is situate on the right bank of the Ohio river, in Jefferson county, Indiana territory, about seven miles above tire mouth of the Kentucky.

This settlement was began in the spring of the year 1803 by some Swiss of the canton of Váud, formerly a part of the canton of Bern, their principal object is the introduction of the culture of the grape vine in this country. This settlement, or rather the place down the river to the mouth of the Venoge Creek, known by the name of Indian creek, about four miles and a half fronting the river, and extends back for the quantity of about 3700 acres of land—2500 of which they have purchased under a law in favor of J. James Dufour and his associates, allowing them twelve years to pay for it from 1802, the time of the purchase; the remainder they have bought as other purchasers, and paid for it.

The lower end, about two miles along the river, is occupied by thirteen Swiss families, containing sixty-six individuals, of every age—10 of those families have successively come to join the three first who had began the settlement. Had it not been for the difficulties in crossing the ocean, it is believed the whole distance of four and a half miles would have been filled up with as many more of those indubious people.

The improvements of the of the Swiss are considerable, Considering the time when they began, the few hands employed in them and their inexperience in the way of improving lands in this country. They have now about 140 acres in cultivation, about 8 or 9 acres more planted in vines, which are not yet bearing; and they continue planting more every year. The crop of wine of 1810 has exceeded the quantity of 2400 gallons, the quality of which has been thought, by judges of wine, superior to that of the claret of Bordeaux.

Out of the quantity about 120 gallons was white or yellow wine made out of Madeira grapes. These two kinds of wine are the only two which have hitherto succeeded, but others are going to be tried and it is very probable that some of them will also produce good wine.

When the vines are older and the vine dressers are able to let their wine acquire age before they sell it, the quality will certainly will be greatly superior to what it is now, and there is no doubt that, in the course of the number of years, the United States will be able to do without imported wine. The precious culture of the vine will be tried in different parts of the union and will undoubtedly multiply with rapidity. The Swiss will encourage it with all their power. They give vine slips gratis to whoever will plant them with instructions and directions for their cultivation

The Swiss also cultivate Indian corn, wheat, potatoes, hemp, flax and other articles necessary farmers, although in small quantities. Some of their women make straw hats, which they sell in Cincinnati and on the river to trading boats, which usually stop there to purchase them to carry to the Mississippi country where they are very ready for sale.

They are made quite different from the other straw-hats, by tying the straws together, instead of plaiting and sewing the plaits. One of Mr. J.F. Dufour's sisters first brought the art to this country, from Swisserland. As the Swiss, enlarge their vineyards every year more and more, their settlement will of greater consequence to the United States, not only in producing good and wholesome wine, but also in being a model for those who may establish new vineyards in other parts of this comment which may be found suitable for their culture.

New Swisserland has the advantage of two roads —one is a fork from the road leading from Lawrenceburg to Port William, taking off to the right, about one mile and half before arriving at Venoge, or Indian creek, and leads to Dufour's ferry. The other leads from the upper end of Jefferson County, down to Madison, all along the river. There is a post office, by the name of Vevey, which is the name of the town intended to be shortly laid off, for the accommodation of mechanics.

* On account of the great number of creeks in the United States called by the name of Indian the Swiss, who own its mouth, have thought proper to alter its name to that of Venoge, a small river in the Pays de Vaud, on the banks of which some of the Swiss spoken of here were raised.

John Woods Visits Vevay 1821

John Woods was on his way to the English settlement inn Albion, Ill. His was one of several accounts of the town that touched upon the Ohio River Valley. Besides giving a brief, first-hand account of Madison, he repeated hearsay about the quality of wine in Switzerland County.

Wood's Two years' residence in the settlement on the English Prairie--June 25, 1820-July 3, 1821

27th. At dusk we passed the Kentucky, a river of the state of the same name, and navigable some distance up the country. After dark we passed Vevay and New Switzerland, and soon after got stuck on a sand bank; some of us got into the water and turned the ark

around, and then we floated off again, and about midnight anchored. This day, twenty-five miles. I regretted passing Vevay after it was dark, as I much wished to land to inspect the vineyards belonging to a Swiss colony settled there, who cultivate the vine on a considerable scale, in the manner of their native country. In the twilight we had a glimpse of their vineyards, but too far off to see much of them.

I have since learnt that a few Swiss emigrants settled at New Switzerland in 1805, and in 1810 they had eight acres planted with vines, and in full bearing, and from which they made two thousand four hundred gallons of wine, then said to be very good. Since that time their vineyards are considerably extended, but their wine of an inferior quality. They also cultivate wheat, Indian corn, hemp, and flax. They are represented to be a sober, industrious people, and much respected in the country. They speak the French language, most of them having come from the frontiers adjoining France.

28th. We landed at Port William, Kentucky, a small place, and procured some very excellent bread. As we proceeded slowly I landed on the Indiana side, and went to two or three cottages; at one of them I got a peck of fine peaches, for which the inhabitants would not take any money. They were hardly ripe, but made very good puddings; as the settlements were new, none of the trees were six years old. At one cabin a man showed me a tree on which there was then growing at least a bushel of peaches; he had planted the stone from which this tree sprung in the spring of 1816. We landed at a cabin in Indiana, where there were a few vines cultivated after the [Note Port William, now Carrollton, is situated at the mouth of the Kentucky River. In 1789-90, General Scott built a blockhouse at that point, which was occupied until 1792, when the town of Port William was laid out.--Ed.] [RWS note: This editor's note is from the 1904 publication, apparently. The narrative was first published in 1822.]

29th. Early in the morning we reached the town of Madison in Indiana, capital of the county of Jefferson, of sixty or seventy houses, a mixture of brick, frame, and log; it has a steam-mill, &c. The country less settled, and on the banks a much less number of horses, cows, sheep, pigs, geese, &c. to be seen.

Presbyterian Church 1826

This letter, requesting a French-speaking minister for Vevay, contains details about early Vevay, and commentary about the use of French in the city. There is a question as to whether the date is 1826, as shown on the title page, or 1829, as shown in three places in the printed letter.

Minutes of the Presbyterian Church of the United States With A. D. 1826. Vol. Vi. Philadelphia: Printed by Jesper Harding.1829

LETTER IV.
To the Reverend St. Pilot Joly, Pastor of the French Walloon Church of Frankfort en the Maine, and the Committee appointed to promote the preaching of the Gospel in Vevay, tic.

Dear Brethren in Christ,
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, in the United States of America, received your kind letter, dated Morges, Feb. 3d, 1829, with great satisfaction; and we now hasten to inform you, that Vevay is a post-town in Switzerland county, in the state of Indiana, and is pleasantly situated on the river Ohio. The town contains about two hundred dwelling houses, a court-house, a jail, a printing-office, a library of three hundred volumes, a Sabbath school, and the means of affording the rising generation a common education. The inhabitants, in general were, as you know, emigrants from Switzerland; and their vineyards, which are the chief source of their wealth, lie at the distance of half a mile from the town.

In our country, the civil law neither licenses nor restrains any one from preaching to all who are willing to hear him. The religion of Jesus Christ is supported only by the power of the truth, and the omnipotent grace of its divine author. This will account to you for the fact, that some religious meetings give occasion for, "ridiculous details" of occurrences; for some travelling preachers of some denominations, are both ignorant and extravagant; and until the people of Vevay have some well-informed, pious, stated preacher, it may be expected that they will not unfrequently hear declaimers of little worth. In the town of Vevay, during the past winter, a Presbyterian Church was organized; which is under the care of the Presbytery of Cincinnati. The church, however, has no Pastor, but is visited at intervals by regularly ordained Presbyterian Ministers, who preach in purity the Gospel of the great God our Saviour, Jesus Christ. On these Ministers of the Gospel, during their temporary visits, the inhabitants generally attend; but until they enjoy the stated ministrations of some able and faithful pastor, we cannot expect the young people to be instructed in the truths of the Bible; nor the vicious to be converted from their evil ways; nor the few truly pious people in the place to shine as lights in the world, with a divine brilliancy.

A large portion of the Swiss inhabitants of Vevay can understand the English language, in which the Gospel is preached by the members of the Presbytery of Cincinnati ; but it would be of immense service for the pastor who may be settled with them, at some future time, to be able to speak French ; and such a pastor we think it probable that the Presbyterian Church will be able to furnish them with in less than a year. The inhabitants of Vevay would be able and willing, we think, to contribute in money and provisions, about two hundred and fifty dollars a year, towards the support of a pastor; and he would be obliged for his maintenance to receive an equal sum from some other source.

The pious, influential laymen in Vevay and its vicinity are few. Dear Brethren of the Committee, we rejoice that God has put it into your hearts to seek the salvation of your countrymen, our fellow-citizens, on the banks of the Ohio and we will strive together with you for their everlasting good.

Any communication which you may make to us, through our Stated Clerk, at Philadelphia, will be received with fraternal love.We wish you, and the people of God in Switzerland whom you represent, the richest blessing of our common Lord and Redeemer.

In the name, and by order of the General Assembly,

B. H Rice, Moderator.
John M'Dowell, Permanent Clerk.
Philadelphia, June lst, 1829.

William Cobbet 1818

William Cobbet’s 1818 trip down the Ohio River produce one of the highest praises for the wine of Switzerland County. He went on to Louisville without stopping in Jefferson County.

A year's residence, in the United States of America. Treating of the face of the country, the climate, the soil, the products, the mode of cultivating the land, the prices of land, of labour, of food, of raiment; of the expenses of house-keeping, and of the usual manner of living; of the manners and customs of the people; and of the institutions of the country, civil, political, and religious... By William Cobbet. 1828. First edition. New York, 1818.

June 16th.--Left Cincinnati for Louisville with seven other persons, in a skiff about 20 feet long and 5 feet wide.

492. June 17th.--Stopped at Vevay, a very neat and beautiful place, about 70 miles above the falls of the Ohio. Our visit here was principally to see the mode used, as well as what progress was made, in the cultivation of the vine, and I had a double curiosity, never having as yet seen a vineyard. These vineyards are cultivated entirely by a small settlement of Swiss, of about a dozen families, who have been here about ten years. They first settled on the Kentucky river, but did not succeed there. They plant the vines in rows, attached to stakes like espaliers, and they plough between with a one-horse plough.

The grapes, which are of the sorts of Claret and Madeira, look very fine and luxuriant, and will be ripe in about the middle of September. The soil and climate both appear to be quite congenial to the growth of the vine: the former rich and the latter warm. The north west wind, when it blows, is very cold, but the south, south east, and south west winds, which are always warm, are prevalent. The heat, in the middle of the summer, I understand, is very great, being generally above 85 degrees, and sometimes above 100 degrees.

Each of these families has a farm as well as a vineyard, so that they supply themselves with almost every necessary and have their wine all clear profit. Their produce will this year be probably not less than 5000 gallons; we bought 2 gallons of it at a dollar each, as good as I would wish to drink. Thus it is that the tyrants of Europe create vineyards in this new country!