legislature requesting a new county be established. A bill providing for the formation of Brown County was passed by both the House and Senate on February 4, 1836.
Crossing the Ohio River, oxen-driven wagons of homesteaders headed north through dense hardwood forests on narrow Indian trails, the same trails used by generations of native people traveling to the chert quarry where they made arrow points, scrapers, and choppers; going to hunting grounds; or visiting other villages.
Evidence of prior inhabitants of an area includes placenames and local oral traditions.
A survey of Indiana placenames undertaken by the Indiana State University and published in 1975 includes Bean Blossom Creek, a stream whose head is in Brown County. A Miami name for the stream was Ko-chio-au-se-pe, which translates“ Bean River.” Local lore, however, says General Tipton named the stream for a man named Bean Blossom who nearly drowned while trying to swim in the stream.
One of the stories in Tales and Trails of Brown County, Indiana speaks of tribes in that area. Along the waters of Bean Blossom Creek between Helmsburg and Trevlac there is a very steep hill fringed with pine trees that was known to the natives as Echo Mountain. A tragic legend of love and loss has been passed down regarding a native couple, Sun Ray and Dove’ s Bill. It was said they lost their daughter Star Glow during a spring storm that swept the infant from the bluff into the creek below. Dove’ s Bill was said to have mourned the loss of her infant so intensely that she ended her life by jumping from the cliff.
Brown County locals share the story of“ Old Kind- Eye,” a native warrior who escaped torment of an enemy tribe in Ohio by building a home camp on“ Teepee Mountain,” what is now called Bear Wallow.
Carol Lucas Cummins recalls in 175 Years of Brown County of being at the foot of Browning Mountain, a location that has held the curiosity of many citizens:“ There’ s a hill there that has Indian designs in the buildings. As children, we knew this was Indian camp at some time …. We would pick up Indiana artifacts all the time. We picked them up by the handfuls.” •
created by hand
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COMMON GROUNDS
COFFEE BAR It’ s like a coffee shop in a living room( with things to amuse you)
Hot, Cold & Frozen Drinks • Selection of Teas Froothies( our fruit smoothies)
Famous for Cheesy Eggs & Toast • Pastries • Quiche
66 N. Van Buren, Nashville( Molly’ s Lane behind the red door) Opens 8:00 am M-Sat; 9:00 am Sun( Closed Wed) 812-988-6449
38 Franklin St. E. | Nashville, IN | drinkatthecreek. com | Open Every Day
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BROWN COUNTY
Fine arts and crafts by local and area artists
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Open Daily 10 to 5 812.988.7058
62 E. Washington · Nashville, IN · BrownCountyCraftGallery. com
BONE APPETIT BAKERY For Dogs
• Premium, all-natural treats since 1997
• Over 20 varieties from low-fat to grain-free
• Gourmet and seasonal snacks, too
DOGS WELCOME!( 812) 988-0305 Open 7 days
211 S. Van Buren St.( behind Visitor Center)
www. barkingood. com
July / August 2024 • Our Brown County 63