The reader will readily perceive that the first and old "settlers" of Indianapolis were generally men of distinction, if we should judge by the handle or title prefixed to their names, especially in the military line.  There were none of the lower grades--but few less than a major; colonels and generals we had without number, although military honors were not so cheap as at the present day.

    Major Carter was a major in every sense of the word.  He was what John Givens called a forty-gallon Baptist.  He was more conscientious about every other vice than that of drinking, yet he did not indulge in the use of the ardent to excess himself.  He thought it much more excusable in a person to take a "wee drap of the critter" now and then than it would be to dance, sing worldly songs or play the fiddle.  He had a perfect horror of fiddles, and thought the devil incarnate lay in the bowels of one.  Under no circumstances would he allow one about his house.

    Major Carter was about the first to start a tavern in Indianapolis.  He built a double cabin on Berry's trace, early in 1821, and called it a tavern.  This cabin lay between Washington and Market streets, just east of Illinois.  Subsequently he built the "Rosebush," just in front of the log house, on Washington street.  The "Rosebush" was a one and a half story frame building, and, at that day, made a very imposing appearance.  While at the "Rosebush" my father and mother took tea with the worthy major and his wife.  The old lady always had an apology ready for any deficiency of variety on the table.  On this occasion she "was out of all kinds of garden sass except ham and eggs," and the only fruit she could get was "dried pumpkins."

    Mr. Carter did not remain long at the "Rosebush," but build a third tavern on Washington street, opposite the Court House.  Here he was very unfortunate.  About two weeks after the Legislature convened, in January, 1825, this house burned.  It took fire from a keg of ashes, about nine o'clock at night, and was burned entirely to the ground.

    In the spring he purchased a two-story frame house of Jacob R. Crumbaugh, that stood on Washington street, west of the canal.  This house he moved along Washington street to the site of the burned building.  The removal of this building occupied several weeks, and caused more stumps and logs to be burned and removed from the street than anything that had yet happened.  In this last house the Major continued some time and seemed to prosper.  This house in after years was, perhaps, the scene of more ludicrous incidents than any other house in town.  After Carter left it, it was kept by persons of both high and low degree, among whom were John Hays, Jordan Vigus, Peter Newland, Pruett, and General Robert Hanna.  It was at this house in which was held the first mechanics' ball in Indianapolis, and which created so much dissatisfaction at that time.  There were no police officers then to keep down the uproarious and on this occasion the dissatisfied parties behaved in a manner very detrimental to the furniture of the dining-room and glassware of the bar.

    At this house, when kept by Carter, the first theatrical performance took place in this city, an account of which I wrote some years since, and which was published in several papers in the State.  In order to show Mr. Carter's aversion to fiddles I will copy it at the close of this sketch.  While Governor Ray kept this house he had painted on one side of the sign, "Travelers' Ray House Cheap."  On the reverse was "Travelers' Ray House Cash."  It was while keeping this house the Governor made the prediction that there were then persons living who would see the State checkered with railroads in all directions.  It was in this house he proposed a plan for building a railroad from Charleston, South Carolina, to the Northern lakes.  It was from this house emanated many projects of State policy that were ridiculed at the time, but which were afterwards adopted and successfully carried out.  It was then thought they were the production of a disorganized and demented brain.  Although not more than thirty-five years have elapsed since these predictions were made, our State is truly checkered over with railroads, with eleven entering into this city, and direct railroad communication from Charleston, South Carolina, with the Northern lakes, although the Governor's plan was not carried out in the construction of the roads.  One of his plans was to cut the tops of the trees off in the valleys to bring them on a level with the hills, and run the track over them to save grading and excavation.

    While Mr. Carter kept this house, and "during the session of the Legislature, in the winter of 1825 to 1826, a strolling player by the name of Crampton visited this place for the purpose of giving the denizens of the Hoosier metropolis the benefit of his entertainments of legerdemain, hocus pocus, etc.

    "As there was not public hall or room (as now) suitable for such an entertainment, he applied to the proprietor of the largest tavern in the place for the use of his dining-room.

    "Mr. Carter had no kind of objection to his having his dining-room for the purpose.  But the shows that usually came into the 'settlements' always had music on the fiddle, and he could not think of suffering the fiddle to be played in his house.

    "Mr. Crampton assured him that he (Crampton) was as much opposed to the fiddle as Carter could possibly be, and that the only music he required or ever tolerated was the violin, and under no circumstances should a fiddle be introduced at the performance.  With this understanding Carter consented to let him have the room.

    "Accordingly due notice was given that upon a certain evening Monsieur Crampton, just from Paris, would give a series of entertainments in the dining-room of Carter's Hotel.

    "Nothing more was wanting to congregate the entire population of Indianapolis within the walls of that room, about twenty by thirty feet in size.

    "All things being ready the doors were opened, whereupon a well-known named "Bill Bagwell' struck up the tune of 'Leather Breeches' upon the fiddle.

    "But suddenly the entertainment, that but a few moments before bid so far to go off without molestation, was brought to a dead halt.  Mr. Carter appeared, cane in hand, and demanded that the music should be stopped; that it was the understanding between him and Monsieur Crampton that there should be no music except on the violin.  

    "Monsieur Crampton assured Mr. Carter that he was mistaken, as this was a violin he had brought with him from Paris.

    "'No,' says Carter, 'I can't be mistaken, for Bill Bagwell can't play on anything else than a fiddle.'

    "Bill speaking, says, 'Major, just bring in a bottle of Bayou Blue and see how I'll play on it.  You are mistaken, Major; this is nothing but a violin.'

    "Major Carter for a while seemed inexorable, but finally consented that, inasmuch as the congregation had assembled, he would permit the performance to go on with the fiddle if they would play nothing but Psalm tunes.  'But,' says Carter, 'Bill Bagwell can't play Psalm tunes; he never heard one, much less played on.'

    "Here he was again at fault, for Bill assured him he was raised at the 'Great Crossing,' in Kentucky, and that he then and there was a member in good standing in the Baptist church, and learned many Psalm tunes, and as an evidence of the truth of his assertions, struck up the tune of 'Jesus my all to heave is gone.'

    "This, to Carter, was a clincher, and made all right.  So the performance went on, and was closed with 'Yankee Doodle' from the orchestra, by request.  All seemed well pleased with the entertainment, and none more so than Mr. Carter himself, especially with that part of it under the immediate charge of Professor Bagwell.

    "Major Carter has long since been gathered to his fathers, and died in full hope of a blessed reunion with his friends hereafter.

    "The last the writer remembers to have seen of Bill Bagwell was on a coal boat at the Louisville wharf, playing the violin.

Nowland, John H. B., Sketches of Prominent Citizens of 1876, with a Few of the Pioneers of the City and County Who Have Passed Away, A Sequel to “Early Reminiscences of Indianapolis.” 1820-’76, c. 1877, Indianapolis, Tilford & Carlon, Printers., p. 46-49.