USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 18
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When Greencastle was laid ont the site contained 160 acres of land. The old plat is bounded on the north by Liberty street, on
Mr. Dukes came from near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and the county seat of Put- nam County was named by him in honor of that place.
In the deed conveying the castern half of the town, Mr. Dukes reserved to himself Lots
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
No. 193 and 194. Four other lots were re- served as places for the creetion of churches of as many different religious denominations the Methodists, the Baptists, the Presby. terians and the New Lights. The former three denominations became firnily estab- lished in the town and the county, and to the present day are influential bodies of Chris- tians.
It is a matter of interest to know the esti- mate placed by purchasers upon certain parminent lots when the town was laid out. and who were the first owners of favorite selections. At the first sale of lots, which took place on September 7, 1822. Lot No. 91, the same being the south half on the west side of the public squa:c, soll to James Tal- bott for sol: No. 92. lying immediately north of the former, and now ocenpied with the Thornburg Block, sold to Joseph Thern- burg for 860; Ne. 160, the west half on the north side of the public square, sold to Jubal Deweese for 857; No. 113, the next lot vast, sold to Joshua I. Lucas for 861; No. 121, the north half on the east side of the public square, sold to David Matlock for $70; No. 122, lying immediately south of No. 121, sold to Thomas Deweese for $100; No. 112. the east half on the south side of the public square, sold to John Oatman for 868; No. 101, the next lot west, sold to Sammel M. Biggs for 840.
At the second sale, Lot No. 90, the same being outside of the southwest corner of the square, was sokl to Isaac Ash for 841; No. 93, outside of the northwest corner, sold to Abrabun Wooley for 8158; No. 120, occupy- ing a similar position at the northeast cor- ner, sold to Samuel Hunter for $83.50; No. 123, at the southeast corner of the square, now occupied by D. L. Southard's Block, sold for 8111 to James Trotter.
Lots lying at a distance from the public
[ square brought from $8 to 87 apiece. Each of these lots, both those lying adjacent to the public square and those at a distance from the same, constituted an entire quarter of a square.
Business was begun almost immediately upon the sale of lots. The first house built in town after it was laid out was put up by a man called Jug John Wilson. The first house erected on the square was built hy Pleasant Wilson. It stood on or near the lot now ocenpied by the Thornburg Block, at, the northwest corner of the public square.
The first goods sold by a resident merchant near Greencastle were sold by Joseph Thorn- burg, in the year 1823. The first store opened for business in town was owned and managed by General Joseph Orr, who has recently died at La Porte, Indiana. Ho commenced selling goods at Greencasde in the yem 1828, on the north side of the square, near the northwest corner. The next mer. chant in Greeneastle was Lewis HI. Sands. In the spring or summer of the year 1623 Mr. Sands, then quite a young man, brought a box of goods in a one-horse carry-all from Louisville, Kentucky After his arrival at Greencastle he erected a log store-house on the lot east of that occupied by the store of Mr. Orr. In this house Mr. Sands continued to transaet business for a number of years, and his store soon became recognized as one of the prominent features of the town, and indeed of the county.
Members of other occupations and profes- sions soon began to arrive. The first physi- cian who practiced medicine in the town and vicinity was Dr. Enos Lowe. The date of his arrival cannot now be stated with cer- tainty, but it was very soon after the estab. lishment of the town. In the fall of 1826 Dr. L. M. Knight and Dr. A. C. Stevenson eame and engaged in the practice of their
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profession. A Mr. Twigg opened the first blacksmith shop. William K. Cooper was the first saddler, and Jefferson Walls the second.
The first school-house in Greencastle was erected on the lot recently owned by David Teage, deceased, and now occupied by his son, Edward Teage.
The first tavern was kept by JJubal De- weese, in a log house that was afterward (in 1840) used for a postoffice. This house stood on the ground occupied by Edward Hanne- man's opera-house, and it was removed by him to make room for that building, being the last of the old log houses to disappear from the borders of the public square.
The first child born in Greencastle was Columbus D. Seller, son of John F. Seller, on the 11th of October, 1824. Mary Ann Glidewell, daughter of Robert (ilidewell. was the first girl born in the town. She be- came the wife of Isaac Mark, and is still living in one of the Western States.
The first death in Greencastle was that of a stranger. His remains lie in or near the or- chard now belonging to heirs of Jacob Daggy. The next who died there was Benjamin Akers. He was buried in the old cemetery, and his grave was the first in that place of rest.
The town is located near the geographical center of Putnam County, and is in latitude 39" 40' 43.2" N. and longitude 86: 51' 49.2" west from Greenwich. It is situated npon very high ground, somewhat undulating, is uiklerlaid with a fine quality of limestone, is well watered and surrounded by a rich agri- cultural country. Its founders mostly came from the State of Kentucky, and they laid out the town after the style of the towns of their native State- with a court-house square in the center. The town of Putnamville, five miles south of Greencastle, was for a time its
rival for the seat of county government. The location of the National Road through Put- namville was a strong but insufficient argu- ment in favor of that village. The contro- versy led to bitter fends between the inhabitants of Greencastle and those of Put- namville. The village grew by degrees and the log huts of which it was composed gave way to a better class of buildings.
One of the earliest to engage in the im- provement of the town was the late Captain William HI. Thornburg, a native of Wash- ington County, Virginia, brought up in Tennessee, well educated and having a large experience in steamboating. He came in 1821, at the age of twenty years to Putnam County; and engaged for awhile in teaching school for the neighborhood settled along Little Walunt. After the death of his wife, which ocenrred in a few years, he returned again to the river. Coming a second time to the county in 1\30, he settled in Greencastle, and, in 1835, erceted on the present site of the National Bank building the first brick store in town. About the same time he erected a brick house on the corner of Indi- ana and Poplar streets. Captain Thornburg owning the first money-safe in the county. his store became, in effect, a place of deposit, where speculators, merchants and farmers alike found a secure place of keeping their surplus funds. The first sidewalk in Green- castle was laid from Captain Thornburg's store to the Methodist church, on the corner of Indiana and Poplar streets.
The town continued to grow in variety and extent of its business enterprises, the charac- ter of its improvements and the number of its inhabitants; but it is impossible to follow these advancements step by step as they oc- eurred. This must be left to the biogra- phers of the noble few who still linger about the scenes of their early days.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
The town not only improved in character and population. but also grew in extent. The first addition made to its territory was a dona- tion of five acres of land on the sontheast, by Isaac Legg, who then owned what is known as the Southern Enlargement of Greencastle. This land was entered by him on April 11. 1823.
What is known as the Eastern Enlarge- ment was sold by Dr. dolu Slavens, who had recently removed from Kentucky, to a com- pans composed of the following-named gen- tlemen: Alexander C. Stevenson. John F. Seller. John Thornburg. Samuel Taylor, Allen B. Lyon. Lewis HI. Sanda, John Standeford, Daniel Siegler, Rev-e Hardesty. William E. Talbott, Hiram E. Talbott and William K. Cooper. By them it was laid out in town lots October 26, 1-35.
Ash. Allen and Peck's enlargement was entered by Masten Hunter, October 17, 1822. and May 19, 1828. and sold by him to James Allen. This addition was laid out by John Allen. administrator of the estate of James Allen, on February 23. 1SBS.
Railroad Enlargement was entered by Na- thaniel and Samuel Talbott, February 13, 1822.
Depot Enlargement was laid out by JJ. P. Sineler, September 5, 1552, on land entered by General Joseph Orr on April 21, 1823.
Other additions to the town of more or less importance have been made at various places and different times, but events of another kind demand notice.
The history of Greencastle for a period of more than fifty years was one of uninter- rupted prosperity. During that time no great calamity of any kind befell the city to mar the general prosperity or happiness of its citizens. No great epidemie or contagion has ever spread within its borders, and the
religions character of its citizens has allowed no moral deformity to rear itself in their midst.
The history of the city up to the memora. ble night of October 28, 1874, shows a re- markable exemption from fires, only four of any note having occurred previous to that date. These were the destruction of Mr. Sinclair's woolen-mill in 1865, Mr. Higert's brewery in 1871, Mr. Gage's flouring-mill in 1872, and the female college in the year fol- lowing. In consequence of this immunity from anything like a general conflagration. the city was totally unprepared for such an emergency when the time of trial came.
On the night mentioned, about half-past 10 o'clock, the planing-mill of C. J. Khable & Son caught fire and was soon enveloped in flames. A brisk galo from the southwest carried the burning embers in its course, and in the short space of four or five hours nearly six squares of the best business blocks and private residences were laid waste. In those few hours were consumed thirty-seven busi- ness houses, twelve dwellings, two livery- stables, one hotel, one furniture-factory, one express office and the postoffice. Added to these, a large minber of out-houses and a vast amount of personal property fell a prey to the devouring flames. Both in its sudden- ness and destructiveness, the damage done to Greencastle was greater in proportion to size, population and wealth than that done to Chicago by the great fire in that city.
At the anniversary meeting held by the citizens one year after the fire, the committee on losses and insurance reported a loss of capital amounting to 8256,134, on which there was an insurance of $116,281. The saine committee reported that there should be added to the above sum a considerable amount of unestimated loss, making the total much larger than that presented, and the
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historical committee placed their estimate at the sum of $400,000.
On the night of March 8, 1878, another fire broke out, originating in Sheriey's furni- ture store. The names were soon communi- cated to the block of buildings fronting on the south side of the square, the best block remaining in the city. The reported losses by this fire were in the aggregate 843,077, on which there was an insurance of 837,627.
Never did the character of Greencastle's citizens show to better advantage than during the year succeeding the fire. Within that time there were made, or nearly completed, brick and stone improvements to the value of 8252.500, and wooden buildings and re- pairs worth $08.305, making a total of 8850,-
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Within the same thne the city had provided two fire-engines, two cugine-houses with alarm-bells, elever cisterns and one pool, having a unitel capacity of nearly ten thou-, sand barrels, and there was organized a fire department in two companies, already well- drilled and disciplined, to fight the fire-fiend wherever he might show his Jurid front.
At the end of the year there were in the city seventy-five mercantile houses, employ- ing a business capital, exclusive of cash and real estate necessary for their various opera- tions, amounting in the aggregate to $355,- 000, doing a business of over $900,000 per annum, employing directly about one hundred and seventy-five persons, and supporting over four hundred and fitty.
There were, also, eighteen manufacturing establishments, having a combined capital of 8306,000, and employing three hundred and fifty-eight operatives. The weekly payments
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for labor in these were 84,515, and per anmmnn 8212,000. The annual products from these factories were worth at first sale 8587,400. The value of raw material consmined cannot be given. These estimates for merchandis- ing and manufacturing are given exclusive of persons indirectly employed, such as rail- roaders, draymen and common laborers.
In the year 1800 the census showed i population of about 2,200, and in the year 1870 nearly 3,400. In 1880 there were 3,644 inhabitants, and there are in 1SS7 ver- tainly 4,000. This is exclusive of several hundred students who are here ten months of each year, in attendance on Del'anw Uni- versity.
The city, by reason of being high, has been 805. These works required the consumption ; inaccessible to railroads, and the three roads of 4,865,000 brick, and stone valued as it ; that have been built have of necessity been came from the quarry at 830.000. Daring ; placed on lower grond on two opposite the same period there were made by the : sides of it. The result of this has been to city street improvements worth $6.000. cause the dwellings to be scattered over the intervening space between the depore, a dis- tance of a mile and a half.
The early growth of the city was in extent of territory, causing it to become what is called a scattered place; but the more recent tendeney is to fill up the intervening spaces, giving it much more the appearance of a city. Yet there is room within its borders for many more citizens, and by reason of the undulating surface, many elegant building- lots may be found upon high, eligible sites, near to business and with ample roon: for all the comforts and conveniences of the most Inxurious home.
INCORPORATION.
The town of Greencastle was incorporated under charter of the Legislature of the State of Indiana, on the 9th day of March, 1849. The charter was written by Delana R. Eckels, who was chosen first town mayor. Henry
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Daniels was the first clerk. The first com- mon council were: For the First Ward, Russell L. Hathaway; for the Second Ward, Isaac Ash; for the Third Ward, Albert G. Preston; for the Fourth Ward, Hiram Mar- shall; for the Fifth Ward, Joseph F. Farley.
The following-named persons appear of record to have served as mayor under the town government: Delana R. Eckels, from March 9, 1849, to May 2, 1850; Russell L. Hathaway, from May 2, 1850, to March 13, 1851; John Hanna, from March 13, 1851, to March 7, 1854; Hiram Marshall, from March 7, 1854, to October 2, 1856; Dillard C. Don- nohue, from October 2, 1856, to March 5, 1857; Joseph F. Farley, from March 5, 1857, to October 6, 1859; Reuben S. Ragan, from October 6, 1859, to March 15, 1860; J. S. Bachelder, from March 15, 1860, to Jannary 3, 1801; from January 3, 1861, to March 7, 1861, Henry Hongh, recorder, filled the office of mayor pro tempore; Edward R. Kerchival, from March 7, 1861, to August 9, of the same year. This last-named date marks the close of the town government.
At the last named date the city charter superseded that of the town, and the city government went into operation under the following corps of officers: Mayor, Edward R. Kerchival; Clerk, Henry G. Hough; Treas- urer, William Atherton; Marshal, Benjamin Prichard. Since that time the following- named persons have held the office of mayor: Edward R. Kerchival, from the date of organ- ization to May 12, 1862; Marshall A. Moore, from May 12, 1862, to May 7, 1866; Milton A. Osborn, from May 7, 1866, to May 11, 1868. During this term, the name of Eli D. Anderson frequently appears as mayor pro tempore. The next mayor was H. W. Daniels, who held the office from May 11, 1868, to May 5, 1870, and was succeeded by William A. Brown, from the last-named date
to May 13, 1872, when he was followed in office by Mayor William D. Allen, until May 8, 1876, and Lucius P. Chapin, from May 8, 1876, to the 13th of May, 1880. Then John R. Miller was mayor until the 8th of May, 1884. when Joseph W. McClary, the present mayor, came into office. The other city officers in 1887 are: Clerk, Elisha Cowgill; Treasurer, James A. Jackson; Marshal, Emory Starr; Councilmen, First Ward, D. L. Peters and Jacob Ratliff (deceased); Second Ward, F. P. Nelson and II. C. Darnall; Third Ward, Charles Callender and Patrick Martin.
CHURCHES.
The building of the first church in Green- castle by the Methodists, and the early history of that denomination, as well as the account of the first organization of the Presbyterian church, has already been given as belonging to the early history of the county. The old log church continued in use as a place of worship until the year 1833, when the con- gregation erected a square brick church on lot 126, at the corner of Indiana and Poplar streets. After the old log church ceased to be used as such, it was removed by John Hammond, and rebuilt near his residence for a wash-house, for which purpose it continued to serve until it was consumed in the great fire of October 28, 1874.
The church on the corner of Indiana and Poplar streets was the home of the congrega- tion until the erection of Roberts Chapel, when it was remodeled and furnished as a parsonage, for which it was occupied until it fell a prey to the flames on the memorable 28th of October, 1874, at which time it was occupied by Rev. Samuel Beck and family.
Roberts Chapel, on lot 155, fronting on College avenue at the crossing of Poplar street, was built in the year 1847, and for thirty-one years has been a place of worship.
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Upon the change of the first Sunday-school in Greencastle to the Presbyterian church, the Methodists organized an independent Sunday-school in their church, on the corner of Indiana and Poplar streets, March 27, 1835. In 1847 it was removed to Roberts Chapel, where it has ever since continued its regular meetings.
The Second Charge Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1850, and Simpson Chapel, a commodious, well-constructed two- story brick edifice, was built at the corner of College avenue and Seminary street. This charge remained in the Northwest Indiana Conference until the year 1852, when it was transferred to the Indiana Conference, in which connection it continued until its retransfer in 1868. It remained a separate congregation until 1871, when it and Roberts Chapel congregation were consolidated. In the year 1875 Simpson Chapel was given to the Locust Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and the material was rebuilt into the edifice of that church.
The year 1872 marks the establishment of the Greencastle Mission, under the pastoral charge of Rev. William C. Davidson. For the next two years it was known as Sonth Greeneastle Charge, and under the ministry of Rev. IL. A. Buchtel rapidly grew into an influential congregation, which, in the year 1875, was organized into Loenst Street Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and its present house of worship, ocenpying the old site of the Female College at the corner of Locust and Anderson streets, was erected. This charge was transferred to the Indiana Conference in the fall of 1877.
After the dissolution of the First Presby- terian congregation in Greencastle, the Rev. James Shields, while a missionary in Pntnamn County, about the year 1831, labored a part of the time in Greencastle. A new organiza-
tion was effected July 14, 1833, by Rev. S. G. Lowery and Rev. W. W. Woods; but no elders were elected until 1834, when John 6. Jennings and James S. Hillis were chosen to that office. This congregation created a brick church on lot 23, in the year 1836. This house is now occupied as a residence. The next house of worship of this church, a two-story brick edifice, was begun and put in a state to be occupied in the year 1858; hnt it was not completed and dedicated until 1864. This building was destroyed by firo on the 16th of April, 1876. The congrega- tion then worshiped in Brown's Hall netil the erection of the present handsome brick church in 1879, at the corner of Collyre ne- mue and Poplar street. The first realont minister of this church was Rev. James R. Wheelock, who, in turn, was followed by Res. James H. Shields, Rev. Rausom Hawley, Rev. Thomas H. Milligan and Rer. T. M. Oviatt.
The Second Presbyterian Church was t- ganized in 1849, and a church was bait on lot 171, at the corner of Washington street and College avenue. This building was oc- cupied until abont the year 1868, when a substantial two-story brick was erected it the corner of Locust and Anderson streets, on the site now occupied by the Locust Street Methodist Episcopal Church. After the union of the two branches of Presbyterianism, March 9, 1870, this building passed into the hands of the Female College of Indiana, by which it was occupied until it was burned in the fall of 1873.
The first Sunday-school in Greencastle was organized April 13, 1834, by Miss Myra Jewett, the present wife of John S. Jennings, Esq., in a private school-house on the lot where Dr. A. G. Preston now lives. It was afterward made a union school, and Esquire Jennings became the first Sunday-school
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superintendent in Greeneastle. This school was finally transferred to the Presbyterian church, and has had a continuous existence of over fifty-three years.
The Baptist church was established in Greencastle at a very early day, and a brick church was built west of the square, which Was occupied for a number of years. Another was then erected on lot 179, the site of their present building. It was blown down by a hurricane in the winter of 1867. The house now in use was built soon after the destruc- tion of the former one, and stands at the cor- ner of Poplar and Water streets.
For a number of years the Christian church of Greencastle worshiped in the court- house. Their present church building dates from the year 1855.
There are three colored churches in Green- castle --- the African Methodist Episcopal Church, on Locust street, the Hanna Street African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Baptist Church, at the south end of town.
The Catholic church (generally called the Mother Church) was the pioneer church of Indiana, missions having been established among the Indians long before the settlement of the country by the white race, by her missionaries, who traversed the country from the Ohio River to the great lakes preaching salvation to the red man, and teaching him the great truths contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Wherever a tribe was found, there the humble priest of the Catholic church erected the altar of God and celebrated the sacrifice of the mass, speaking words of love and peace to the poor, untutored sons of the forest. Many of those noble men yielded up their lives at the hands of those they came to save, but at last devotion to the cause of Christ conquered the barbarian, and love for the " black robe " (as the priest was called
by the Indians) took the place of hatred in the breast of the savage. Ever afterward the Catholic priest was a welcome visitor, his habit being his only defense. IFis coming was made a time of rejoicing, and the Indians gathering around, listened eagerly to the words of truth as he spoke them forth. All this was changed by the dishonesty of the white traders, which turned the Indian's love to hate, and ever since he has remained the foe of the white man.
The Catholic church was not established in Putnam County as early as in the other parts of the State. Father Larimer, a French priest located at Terre Haute, celebrated the first mass, and preached the first sermon, in a small private bouse near the Vandalis depot, about the year 1850. After him came Father William Doyle, a missionary, who established a church on Locust street in 1853, and named it St. Benedict. This build- ing was used nutil 1869 or 1870, when the Presbyterian church was purchased. The Catholics enlarged and improved this build- ing, which was then dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Maurice DePallias, Bishop of Vincennes, in which diocese Greencastle is located, and received the name of St. Paul's Catholic Church, in honor of that great apostle. After Father Doyle came Father O'Flaherty, who was located at Crawfordsville. The next was Father Highland, who presided over the church in Putnam, Parke and Owen conn- ties. Owing to the scarcity of priests, one often had jurisdiction over several connties. Father Mogin. also of Crawfordsville, and officiating in Montgomery, Putnam, Parke, Monroe, Lawrence and Fountain counties, was the next pastor of this church, and the purchaser of their present house. He was followed by Fathers Clement, Bischof O'Don- ovan and Thomas II. Logan, the present in- cumbent, all located at Greencastle.
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