The Second Removal of Natives from the JPG Lands:

A rare volume entitled "Vawter Family in Indiana owned by the Madison - Jefferson County Library contains an historical record left by one James Burns. He wrote that upon his reaching this stronghold, situated on what was called Harbert's Creek named for a William Harbert who built his cabin there in 1811, people ran out and closed the gates, thinking we were Indians.

Burns went on to say that the blockhouse near Wirt, was a square enclosing about a 1/2 acre. In each of four corners were log houses. Four or five families were living inside the Blockhouse

Wirt Station Blockade

Eventually the Indians left and the settlers located inside the proving ground grew to some 500 pioneer families when they were moved out by the government in 1941.

The animals came to Indiana first. The Indians roamed through the woods and were replaced by the farmers. The farmers were replaced by the Army. The Army was replaced by the animals in the "Refuge", "a true circle of life". Harberts Creek runs thru the southern part of Jefferson Proving Ground, flowing from Kruger Lake, now a county park. Harberts Creek empties into Grahmn Creek west of Volga. During an interview with Risk Bentley at his home in 1988 near the Madison Railroad and the JPG fence (Wirt Station), he pointed out that the ruins could still be found.