USA > Indiana > Delaware County > A twentieth century history of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 14
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Walling's fortunes varied. Year after year passed, and he was heard of as having a stake, and anon as having lost his all, and at last came rumors that he had forsaken the mines and was meeting with varying success at the gambling table, also that misfortune had led to dissipation which, together with the determination to not return empty handed, kept him until 1852, when he made a stake of $3,000 by a good mine investment and sent $500 home to his wife. Part of these rumors only were true and all were proba- bly greatly exaggerated.
Meantime, his wife had given him up as dead, obtained a divorce, mar- ried twice, and was twice left a widow, and since 1882 had lived on her forty acre farm near Muncie.
Never in all this time had she any word from the absent wanderer, nor had any one any hope of his existence save Mr. Volney Willson, his old time friend. who, broken down by the rheumatism by this time, amused himself by sending numberless letters throughout the west in quest of him long since lost to his friends. At Weatherby, a village postoffice, in Oregon, at the beginning of the present year, the postmaster, Mr. Weatherby, for whom the village had evidently been named, and who was himself a "forty niner" and had not seen his family for twenty years, became homesick, sent for his family, and while he was absent on his long postponed mission, a deputy postmaster distributed the morning mail. Suddenly a postmark
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-Muncie, Indiana .- startled him. He looked at the superscription. It was directed to the postmaster. As deputy he had a perfect right to open it. It was from his home. A sudden thrill pervaded his frame and with . trembling fingers he broke the seal and perused the missive. It was a letter of inquiry from Mr. Willson as to himself. Emotions which he had not expe- rienced, perhaps, for years, came over him in a torrent, and hastening to answer it, he wrote to Mr. Willson a long letter, detailing his trials, his hard- ships and his despair of ever returning to his old home until at last he gave up hope and supposing all who were once near and dear to him had long since died, gave up to remain in his new home. The letter was answered. telling the story of waiting, and of fond hopes blasted, and also of the living wife, twice the wife of others, but again alone, and in return came a letter saying that in all the years, the wanderer had known none who could take the place of Susanah, his early love. Whether he had yielded again to the tender passion did not transpire, but no ties, apparently, bound him to the west, and a series of letters resulted in the determination to come home and throw himself upon the mercy of his wife, and renew old ties, if such might be.
In pursuance of this design, Mr. Walling arrived in the city Tuesday morning, and visited Mr. Willson, his brother Marc, and his old friends of the "forty-niners" and before the day was half gone, his son, Joseph, now a man grown, arrived with a buggy to take him home.
Who can imagine his feeling as he drew nigh the home of her whom he took for better, for worse, forty-three years since, and whom he had not scen for thirty-five years? We draw a veil over the meeting. Suffice it to say that it was affecting in the extreme, and that the wife of '49 welcomed her recreant husband, and that a portion of the old love at least was awak- ened, and when a News man casually dropped in upon them, at a late hour that night, he found them rehearsing the incidents of thirty-five years.
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CHAPTER XIII.
THE PUTNAM DIARY.
F. E. Putnam came to Muncie, according to his own words, "October 19, 1838, and first clerked for Charles F. Willard at $20 per month, with board, washing and mending." He began business for himself in 1842 and with that event he began a daily chronicle of his personal, business, and general affairs, which he continued, with unusual faithfulness, until a few days before his death, nearly sixty years later. Through the kindness of his daughter, Mrs. Olcott, the sixteen books containing this diary were entrusted to the editor for examination, and as a result the following extracts have been chosen which have pertinence to a general history of the county. Naturally the greater part of the record is devoted to weather conditions and personal matters and minor events that would be out of place in this publication, and yet his outlook from day to day, as expressed in these books, is a record of quaint and continued interest, and one that deserves a cherished place in the family possessions.
The diary fills a very valuable place in the chronology of Muncie, from ' 1842 to 1882, during which time no newspaper files exist to supply historical data. The diary is not drawn upon during the years following 1882 since the newspapers have furnished the material for these years. The only omission in the diary is the book for the years 1853-57, and with this excep- tion there is a fairly complete contemporaneous record of the principal hap- penings of town and county during the long period when Mr. Putnam was one of the merchants of Muncie.
1842.
Mar. 21-Commenced selling goods this day.
July 4-Guns fired. . Band played on court house square. Supposed to be 1200 people in town.
Dec. 27-Lots of pork in town ; selling for $1.25 (per bbl.).
"In closing this year, I deem it very necessary that some general remarks should be made in regard to the present state of our once prosper- ous country, that the rising generation (if their eyes should chance to mect this 'my log') may warn themselves of the effects of bad government. . There never was known a more fruitful season since the fall of
. man, and why the cause of hard times? No tariff for the protection of 'our home' manufacturers-No uniform currency for the American people excepting depreciated paper, which will not pass two hundred miles from
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home; State Legislature doing nothing to relieve their people, the general government doing all they can, and the I'resident (Tyler) vetoing (six times already )-our character lost abroad, our confidence broken at home, repudiating the prevailing sentiment of some states, and how can we have good times! Indiana state scrip worth 50 cents to the $1 and dull at that ; wheat 25 cents, corn 10, oats 8 1/3, butter 4 cents per lb., eggs 3, apples 25 cents per bushel, and all other things in proportion, no market abroad and none at home, everything prostrate, all are seeking office and not many getting except the favored few."
1843.
March 31-Thus ends month of March, having been one of more severe cold weather, more snow and more continued frozen ground, than any previous since the memory of our oldest residents. It is also remarkable for the visible comet. It is also remarkable as no sugar has been made and sold. And still further remarkable for the sus- tention of men's moral character as well as private by the circuit court of Delaware county. And also for the reduction of prices on goods.
1844.
Jan .- An exhibition of mesmerism in Muncie, mentioned in the diary indicates the time when this phase of the occult was beginning to be culti- vated.
Jan .- Burial of G. C. Gilbert.
1846.
June 13-Grand organization of the militia, volunteer company of sixty raised with Gen. Kilgore as Captain; T. J. Sample and J. S. Garver, first and second lieutenants.
1847.
May 2-Hung court house bell ( see mention of this bell elsewhere).
May 12-Death of Dr. John Allen Clark.
June-Butter, 6 cents; wheat, 60 cents; flour, $2.25 per hundred.
June 26-Great mass meeting for railroad purposes. Great cry and little wool.
Dec .- Small-pox begins in Muncie, a man being taken at Hoon's (site of Patterson Block) with the disease.
Dec. 31-Death of Andrew Kennedy (of smallpox) at Palmer House in Indianapolis.
1849.
July 28-California fever raging strong-little else doing.
Oct. 1-J. H. Wysor, J. H. Jamison, Theophilus E. Burt, Stephen Ham- ilton Sr. and Jr., Arch Hamilton and company, including Thompson Wall- ing, David B. Dowden, Samuel Martin, and others, left for California.
Characteristic and frequently repeated notes refer to the wretched con- dition of roads, which were invariably bad in the spring and early winter ; to chills and fever and ague; to transportation of goods overland from Cin- cinnati.
Dec .- J. L. Russey, J. P. Martin, Josh Lockwood, Warren Stewart start for California.
Dec. 10-John Russey died this morning.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
1850.
Some social events :- Jan. 7-Lecture at court house to-night.
Jan. 8-Cotillon party at Jo Davis's (supper at Neely's). Jan. 10-Musical concert at court house.
March 18-Mr. Wachtel died this morning.
Aug. 4-5-Death of William F. Brady.
Aug. 16-Heard of David Gharky's death.
Sept. 17-Daguerreo car left town (traveling photographers made the pictures of Muncie people in those days). 1851.
July 7-George A. Spilker died.
. Sept. 12-Raised depot ( for the railroad then under construction).
Oct. 9-Railroad celebration at Chesterfield.
Dec. 12-A plank road meeting at the court house.
1852.
May 13-J. W. Rupey clected depot clerk. Three railroad presidents in town.
May 28-Cars close to town.
May 29-Dinner at Hoon's and Davis's for railroad hands.
May 31-Passenger cars up for the first time.
June 17-Warm and cloudy in the morn with heavy showers in the eve. Railroad celebration and lots of people in town, say 7000, five trains down and six up, and one to York and back. Sample made reception speech and Smith replied.
1853.
Jan. 17-First session of court of common pleas.
Feb. 1-Cars commence running through to Cincinnati .*
1858.
Dec. 15-County sold first bonds for the erection of jail.
Dec. 18-Provisions of all descriptions very scarce. Chickens and turkeys quite plentiful. Eggs in demand at 121/2 to 15; butter, 16 cents a pound; potatoes, none to be had; no apples, dried fruits scarce and high; coon 75 cents.
1859.
July 4-The Glorious old fourth came in very cold, almost ice cold, with the firing of cannon, crackers, ringing of bells, shouting and playing by the band. People commenced arriving about seven o'clock and continued until sundown. Procession formed about ten by soldiers of war of 1812 and Mexican, and then came citizens, led by the Muncie "Sax Horn Band," when we marched to the fair ground under the marshalship of David Nation and Job Swain. . The president, Thomas J. Sample, announced the order of the day to be, music by the band, prayer by chaplain, F. A. Hardin, music by the choir, reading of the Declaration of Independ- ence by Dr. George W. Edgerle, music by the band and choir, tune Hail Columbia, and sung by the multitude, oration by Clark M. Anthony, dinner in pic-nic, toasts regular and volunteer, music and speaking generally- which were all faithfully and energetically carried out.
Oct. 1-Mr. John Jack dicd this morning.
*An omission of book from 1853 to 1857.
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Oct. 8-Patrick Justice died this forenoon.
Dec. 11-Presbyterian church dedicated. Large turn out, $361.50 raised with but little trouble.
Dec. 20-Free schools commenced yesterday, and Mr. Jones, Zimmer- man and myself joined in visiting the school, establishing rules and order in the school.
Dec. 21-Visited lower school district this morning. Eighty scholars in the lower room and forty in the upper room. Mr. Johnson principal, Misses Helen Jack and Mary Kurtz, assistants.
1860.
May 18-Report of nomination of Lincoln and Hamlin gives general satisfaction.
June 25-Report of the nomination of Douglas by the "Rump" con- vention confirmed . also of Breckenridge and Lane by the National Democracy. Douglas faces long, no excitement or enthusiasm, and the Donglas Democrats don't have much to say.
Sept. 9-Preaching at the Universalist church last night, and the church dedicated by Sylvanus Cobb to-day.
Sept. 27-Joshua R. Giddings made a first-rate speech at the court house this evening.
Nov. 6-Election day for the president of the United States, the largest vote ever given in the town was given to-day-634. Everything passed off quietly.
Dec. 17-Schools opened to-day and free. Schools tolerably full- three teachers in Seminary building and seven in the other.
1861.
April 13-Bombardment of Fort Sumter said to have commenced yes- terday morning.
April 15-Great prospects for war, a fight appearing inevitable. Meet- ing at court house this evening-Judge Brady, Walter March, Tom Brady, Newcomb and others spoke.
April 16-Volunteer company made up and Tom Brady captain [later Gen. Thos. J. Brady] ; drum, fife and music all day.
April 17-War excitement and enlisting the order of the day.
April 18-Volunteers left for Indianapolis this morning, escorted by band. large crowd at depot.
April 22-The star spangled banner flung to the breeze on court house square by order of Judge Buckles. Flags going up all over town. July 2-Volunteers from this place, Capt. Luther Willson, and Selma, Capt. Williams, left for Indianapolis to-day.
July 4-The greatest number of people that ever visited Muncie here to-day. The military were out in full force, "Scott Rifles," "Ellsworth Rifles," Horse companies, etc.
July 5-The Fourteenth Indiana Regiment passed through here to-day . on their way to Virginia-basket dinner prepared for them and they were pleased.
Aug. 20-Captain Brady and his company left for Indianapolis this morning.
Aug. 21-Capt. Alfred Kilgore's company left for Richmond this morn- ing.
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Sept. 21-E. C. Anthony's company left for Indianapolis.
Sept. 26-Fast day by act of Congress and proclamation of President and Governor, and very universally kept and especially in Muncie, business suspended.
Nov. 11-Dr. George W. Edgerle died this afternoon.
1862.
March 7-Last day of free schools. (Free schools began in December, so it will be seen the sessions were very brief.)
May 16-Rev. W. S. Bradford died to-day. [Bradford was Captain of Co. F, 57th Ind. Vols.]
July 16-A large company of our town boys left for Indianapolis for services to the government for 30 days, making everything look dull.
July 19-Indiana invaded by the rebels (under Morgan) last night.
Aug. 4-Good deal of excitement on account of volunteering for T. S. Walterhouse's company ; speeches by Judge W. A. Bickle and Judge Joseph S. Buckles.
Ang. 8-John Trimble died to-day, he being among the first settlers of this town and county. T. S. Walterhouse elected captain and David Nation first lieutenant of company just formed.
Aug. 11-Great excitement on account of grand procession from the Mississinewa river in wagons with volunteers for Capt. John H. Ellis and Taylor.
Aug. 22-Volunteering for Dr. Henry Kirby's and Kilgore's companies.
Sept. 22-Reported death of G. H. Richardson, teacher and member of 19th Regiment. [Richardson was superintendent of the Muncie public schools when he enlisted. He was killed at South Mountain only a few days after his enlistment. G. W. H. K.]
1863.
April 7-Passenger depot burned last night, supposed accidental.
April 30-All business houses closed for the day and fast day was strictly observed.
May 12-Joseph Walling Sr. died night before last and buried to-day.
June 24-Corner stone of Masonic Hall laid by Dept. G. M. Caleb B. Smith and a very large assemblage of Masons, said to be over four hun- dred.
Aug. 21-55th Mass. Regiment went through and were fed here to-day.
Oct. 8-Very large crowd in town caused by Union meeting. The Home Guards out in large numbers.
Oct. 29-Some little secession fuss in Monroe township at a religious meeting.
Dec. 4-Grand dance at opening of Walling's Hall last night.
News of the army movements from day to day, the passing of the various regiments through Muncie, a trainload of rebel prisoners, a visit from an escaped Libby prisoner, the frequent event of a father, relative or friend bringing home a soldier's corpse for burial, fairs and sociables for the benefit of the army, and many similar notices indicate the progress of the great war, though these references are so brief and so detached that it would be impracticable to record more of them than are here set down.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
1864.
April 19-20th Indiana passed through on their way to Washington. April 20-8th Indiana veterans returned this evening looking fine.
April 25-The government calls for 20,000 One Hundred day men- great excitement among the boys, volunteering fast.
July 4-John A. Klein died this morning.
Nov. 21-Edward G. Keasby, formerly captain in the Florida War, dicd.
Nov. 24-Thanksgiving day appointed by the President in all the states-meeting in Methodist church morn and eve. . Men turned out and chopped wood for the poor, subscription in cash $140.
1865.
April 10-Glorious news from General Grant. General Lee surren- dered with his North Virginia army. Great rejoicing, firing of cannon, guns, crackers, burning boxes, barrels, etc., marching in all shapes, people drunk and happy.
April 15-Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States, died this morning at o'clock from pistol shot from the hand of an assassin at his private box in Ford's thicatre last night. By order the business houses were closed at one o'clock to-day. The assassin of President Lincoln is reported to be Booth.
April 19-The day appointed by governor as a day of fasting and prayer. The day very strictly observed, preaching at the church, all business houses draped in mourning.
Aug. 8-John S. Hutchings died Sunday and buried to-day by the Masons and Odd Fellows.
Oct. 21-Remains of Lieut. George Olcott Willard arrived from near Atlanta, Georgia (Oct. 22). Buried in honors of war.
1866.
Oct. 3-Henry C. Wachtel died to-day.
Nov. 10-Great excitement over the robbery of George H. Baxter's bank safe. which he found broken open and completely robbed of bonds, money, etc., loss about $16,000.
1867.
Jan. 8-O. S. Fowler, the phrenologist, in town.
Feb. 22-Last day of free school.
Mar. 11-Dramatics to-night (probably one of the early private theat- ricals mentioned elsewhere in this work; these "dramatics" continued, in the Universalist church, to be mentioned, and they were probably rehear- sals ).
April 3-(Judge) Joseph Anthony died yesterday.
May 22-Jeremiah Wilson died yesterday.
May 25-Barnum, Van Amberg and Frost menagerie here.
1868.
Jan. 9-Moses L. Neely died to-day.
March 23-Commissioners granted donation of $100,000 to railroad (the road from Fort Wayne).
May 30-Soldiers' graves decorated (probably the first formal observ- ance of that now annual custom).
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
June 2-John A. Gilbert died this morning.
June 5-James Truitt, an old citizen of the county, died to-day.
Oct. 10-Perhaps the grandest day in every respect Muncie ever had. At five o'clock A. M. Hackleman's Battery announced General Fremont's arrival, and from that time until after one o'clock P. M. there was a con- stant stream of people in every conceivable conveyance until they numbered upwards of thirty thousand, being by much the largest number ever here. Speaking at the fair grounds by Fremont, Morton and others.
Oct. 22-Absalom Perdieu died to-day.
Nov. 3-Splendid triumph of the Republican party in the election of Grant and Colfax.
1869.
Sept. 1-Second day of Fair. Balloon ascension and lady velocipede riding.
Sept. 4-Junction of the Newcastle road with the Bellfontaine this P. M.
Sept. 19-William Buffington died to-day.
Sept. 29-Garret Gibson Sr. dead.
Oct. 17-Passenger cars on the Junction Railroad arrived to-day.
Nov. 6-Dr. William C. Willard, one of the oldest practicing physicians of the county, died to-day, aged about 60 years; much respected for his eminent medical ability.
1870.
July 4-Old Settlers meeting at the Fair ground largely attended con- sidering everything. Speeches made by Asahel Thornburg, John Simmons, Job Swain, James Hodge, John Richey, Samuel Gregory, William G. Wil- liams, Thomas J. Sample, William J. Moore, Warren Stewart, and others. The oldest lady present, Mrs. George Turner, having been in the county over fifty years.
Oct. 10-First train from Indianapolis to Fort Wayne to-day.
1871.
Jan. 26-Dr. Samuel W. Mitchell died this morning.
Nov. 16-Dr. Jer. Dynes of Smithfield buried to-day. James Carter of Eaton died this morning.
Nov. 23-Charles F. Willard died last night. Came to Muncie in Feb- ruary, 1831. (Was a partner of F. E. Putnam.)
1872.
April 8-John C. Helm died this morning.
May 30-Decoration day and very generally observed, for the first time.
June 11-Muncie improving more this, than any former year, and (improvements) are of a substantial character-Wysor's opera house, Brady and Mellette printing office, Mark Walling's dwelling, Hummel's front part three-story.
June 18-Last night property of J. A. Maddy, Huffer Bros., Charles F. Willard and Volney Willson, on Walnut street, burned, a total loss.
June 25-James E. Wilcoxon died this morning.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Aug. 8-The laying of the cornerstone by the Odd Fellows of their new hall.
Ang. 30-John Wright died at the Jo Davis house this morning.
Sept. 3-Considerable building in town, Wysor's Opera House (at Main and Walnut ), Odd Fellows, and Davis, Willard and Huffer are lay- ing brick.
Sept. 21-John W. Burson died this morning.
Nov. 5-Presidential election between U. S. Grant, Republican, and Horace Greeley, Liberal Republican and Democrat. Total vote in Center township, 1110, 21 less than at state election.
Nov. 9-F. E. Putnam's house lit with gas this eve. (Several items had appeared concerning the erection of the gas works during this fall).
Nov. 13-Isaac Shideler died to-day.
Dec. 26-Samuel W. Harlan buried by Delaware Lodge No. 46.
1873.
Aug. 29-Charles Parker Sample died suddenly.
Dec. 15-Wysor preparing to open his opera house this evening.
1874-
Feb. 10-Women's Temperance organization chief topic of conversa- tion. Great excitement .*
Feb. 23-Second crusade of the women against the rum holes. "Butcher Smith" turned his (liquors) into the gutter.
Feb. 28-Seventh crusade; a tremendous outpouring of people from city and country.
March 1-Dr. George W. Garst buried to-day.
March 13-Seventeenth crusade. Topers getting scarce.
March 25-R. and I. Meeks commenced tearing down the old Jere Howell tavern (built in 1838). Mrs. Livermore gave a grand lecture at the opera house last night and at the M. E. church this morning. Twelfth prayer meeting and twenty-sixth crusade.
April 10-Thirty-ninth crusade. . Whiskey spilled in the - gut- ter by crusade.
May 5-Election for city officers. 46th all-day prayer meeting. Whiskeyites glad over the election, although it is no victory to them.
May 16-The Women's Crusade of this city laid the cornerstone of the house of R. & I. Meeks on the south side of Main between Walnut and Mul- berry, and deposited various articles in the sealed box.
May 22-(69th and last crusade).
July 12-John Wilcoxon died this morning.
. Oct. 2-Joshua R. Lockwood died last evening.
Oct. 21-The steam fire engine "Delaware Chief" on trial this even- ing.
*This was the "Women's Crusade," which swept over Ohio and Indiana. I now have in my possession a small handbill, which reads as follows: "Temporanee War! The friends of temperance are requested to meet at Simpson Chapel, M. E. Chureb, at 3 o'clock this afternoon, to express their sympathy with the noble women who, in this state and Ohio, nre resisting the whisky traffie, and to take steps to prevent the grant- ing of licenses in this city."
Dated, "Muncie, Saturday, February 7, 1874." (G. W. H. K.)
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
Nov. 5-Rev. Robert Irwin Sr. died last night. Nov. 18-Citizens Bank commenced yesterday.
1875.
Jan. 9-Public library opened this morning, free.
March 2-Asher Storer, an old citizen, buried to-day.
May 26-James W. Heath died last evening.
Sept. 9-James Collier, an old citizen, died this morning, and George H. Baxter, another old resident, died this afternoon.
1876.
Jan. 29-River very high, higher than it has been since January, 1847.
May 29-The old Jo Davis House (which had been damaged by fire previously) disappearing fast, down to top of first story.
July 4-The 100th anniversary of our American Independence. All the bells of the city commenced ringing at ten o'clock, firing of all kinds of powder, noise and confusion all night. Grand parade.
July 22-Samuel P. Anthony died this morning; eighty-three years old and one of the oldest citizens as well as the wealthiest.
Sept. 3-The Episcopal church opened and preached in for the first time, by Rev. Root. Church on North Walnut street.
.Sept. 15-Jacob Calvert, an old citizen, died on his farm near town to-day.
1877.
March 20-James L. Stephenson died this morning.
April 22-Joseph A. Walling died this morning.
April 29-Job Swain, one of our oldest citizens, died this morning.
June 26-Calvin Breese, an old settler, buried yesterday.
Nov. 11-Rev. Wm. M. Stryker, the second pastor of the Presbyterian church in this city, preached with us to-day-first time since 1852.
1878.
Jan. 25-William McConnell, one of the old settlers of the county, died yesterday, aged 77.
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