The Exemplary Life of General Tootle By Diana Vice   This sketch by Artist George Winter was of a prominent Lafayette black man. Some historians believe this was General Tootle, who was the most popular African American during the time this was created. General Tootle Takes a Stand His name was General Tootle.   He lived up to that name throughout his life as a respected community leader and conductor on the local Underground Railroad. Indiana was a free state when it came to slavery, but the Slavery Act of 1850 made it possible for Southern slave catchers to enter free states to capture freedom-seekers who had escaped from bondage. The unwelcome law also made it illegal for anyone to assist runaway slaves, which included fines of $1,000 for officials caught disobeying the law.   General Tootle took a stand against the unfair Act and secretly helped many fugitives navigate their way through Lafayette, Indiana, and surrounding areas. One hot summer day in ...

  The last words of Jennie L. Dugan were poignantly expressed in recently discovered poetry written by  Rebecca Gordon Ball in the form of historic sheet music.   The poetry was put to music by Composer Chandler Robbins and published by Oliver Ditson & Company after the death of Jennie Dugan in 1860.   A copy of the sheet music was found among the Ball artifacts in the historic Lafayette home that was built in 1869 for Cyrus and Rebecca Ball.   The iconic house has remained in the family since that time and is currently occupied by a direct descendant and member of the General de Lafayette Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.   Jennie Dugan, a 22-year-old woman from Delphi, Indiana, was tragically killed in 1860 when her dress caught fire as she was carrying a lampstand while bidding her parents good night.   Her father was severely burned in attempting to rescue his only child.   It was a devastating blow to Joseph and Miranda ...