USA > Indiana > Putnam County > Biographical and historical record of Putnam County, Indiana > Part 19
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TOWNS.
The church here is in a flourishing condi- tion, being composed of about one hundred families. In 1875 the congregation erected the priest's residence on the corner of Wash- ington street and College avenne, adjoining the church. It is an elegant property, and together with the church, is worth about $8,000. A parochial school building is now in process of construction.
EDUCATIONAL.
The public schools of the city are the growth of the last twenty-two years. Prior to .1865 the city had no public-school buildings worthy the name. Her schools, such as they were, were taught in abandoned churches, dilapidated old buildings, curiously called forts, and in old dwellings unfit for human habitation. Since 1865 the city has been awake to this most important interest. Late in that year two citizens of Greencastle procured the passage by the Legislature of the act authorizing cities to issue bonds to aid in building school-houses. Under the benefi- cent operations of this act, three commodious and costly school-houses have been erected, and an excellent system of graded schools established, offering to the children of the city as good an education as can be given in any city in the State.
The public-school property is worth not less than 875,000. The Second Ward build- ing was completed and occupied in the fall of 1867, the one in the First Ward two years later, and the building in the Third Ward in the fall of 1877. The First Ward build- ing is on the north side of Liberty street, the Second Ward building is on the south side of Anderson street, cast of Bloomington, and the Third Ward building is on the south side of Elm street, east of Central avenne. Alvah Brockway is President of the School Board; William E. Stevenson, Secretary; A. T.
Kelly, Treasurer; James Baldwin, Superin- tendent.
CLOVERDALE.
The town of Cloverdale is situated on the L., N. A. & C. Railroad, twelve miles south of Greencastle, and is the largest town in the county, exclusive of the county seat, having a population of 500. It was laid ont by Andrew T. McCoy and Moses Nelson, in 1839, and stands on section 1, township 12, range 4, and section 6, township 12, range 3.
The first store was kept by a man named Fuller, in Nelson's old building. He was followed by Harrison and Richard Grooms and John and William Sandy.
Through the instrumentality of Dr. Dyer a seminary was erected in Cloverdale, in 1850, which was carried on for about three years. Professor William Bray was the first principal, and was followed by N. C. Wood- ward. The institution was chartered and was organized under promising circumstances. Dr. Dyer, Andrew T. McCoy and John Sandy were the largest stockholders. The school finally failed, because a majority of the stock- holders refused to be taxed for its support.
The schools of the township are good. and their wants are well attended to by the efficien. 5 trustee, William Vestal. Cloverdale Sem- inary and Graded School is under the geu- eral management of a board of town trustees. The special object of the seminary is to train teachers for the common school. The course of study and work done are thorough, and the facilities for gaining an education arc good.
BAINBRIDGE.
Bainbridge is a flourishing town on the Lonisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad, in the northeastern corner of Monroe Town . ship, occupying a part of sections 1, 2, 11 and 12. It was laid ont by Levi A. Pearcy, March 5,1831, on land owned by Allen Pearcy;
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
John Elrod, Thomas Gordon and Mason nall was also among the first merchants. D. Catherwood. The town has since been con- U. Donnohne put up the first carding siderably enlarged. The first and second machine in the town, and was also the first additions were made by Mr. Cooper. J. E. justice of the peace there. and D. A. Quin made the next addition, and then came Corwin and Thornton's first, second and third additions.
The first church organization was effected by the Presbyterians. The Methodist church was established there in 1844, and a house of worship was built in the year 1846. The
Adam Feather was the first blacksmith in the place, Joshua Lucas the first tanner, John . founding of the Christian church was a little Cunningham the first merchant, James A. later than that of the Methodist. The Cath- Carter the first saddler. William G. Dar- | olics also have a place of worship.
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AMUEL DARNALL, deceased, was | father in 1790. He was there married to born in Montgomery County, Kentucky, Miss Nancy Higgins, and they had one son December 9, 1501. The first American and seven daughters, the son being the late representative of the Darnall name was a part . Dr. Larkin Yeates. of Winchester. Kentneky. of Lord Baltimore's colony that settled in The youngest of the daughters married Sam- vel Darnall. After five years of married life, Samuel and Maria Darnall moved to the then new State of Indiana, in order to get cheaper land and thus benefit their children. In the fall of 1835 they arrived in Putnam County and stopped at the house of Johnson Darnall, who had moved there two years previous. Putnam was at that time an immense forest. The roads were simply traces ent through the woods. By long continued. persevering toil, Mr. Darnall opened up a large farin and was soon considered one of the most prom- inent and enterprising farmers in the county. At one time there was great opposition to the introduction of blue grass into Putnam County. Samuel, Johnson, and Turpin Darn- all. Colonel A. S. Farron, and some others. were the first to advocate its use. Mr. Daruall was eminently a man of peace. and lived on the best terms with his neighbors. Charles County, Maryland, in 1634. Daniel Darnall, father of Samnel, was born in Mary- land in 1775, and moved to Kentucky with his father, Isaac Darnall, when he was ten years of age. Kentneky was at that time an almost pathiless wilderness. Daniel Daruall married Nancy Turpin, the daughter of an- other pioneer, also from Maryland. They established a home in Montgomery County. and by unflagging industry and economy secured for themselves a competency. They had six children, five sons and one daughter -- Mrs. Emilia Darnall (annt Milly), late of Bainbridge, Indiana. Samuel, who was the fourth child, at the age of twenty-five years married Maria. the daughter of Joshua Yeates and his first wife. Mr. Yeates was of the ok! English stock that settled in eastern Virginia in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was born in Loudoun County, that State, in 1773, and emigrated to Kentucky with his He was domestic in his habits, and loved
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above everything else the quiet of his own home and fireside, in the bosom of his family, where neighbors, friends or strangers, rich or poor, were welcome to a seat. No one ever asked in vain for a meal of victuals or a night's lodging. A bountiful hospitality was ever shown to rich and poor alike. The an- cestors of both Samuel and Maria Darnall were for several generations zealons members of the old Calvinistic or predestinariau Baptist church. In polities Mr. Darnall was originally a Henry Clay Whig, and when the Republican party was organized, he heartily espoused its principles, for he had long been a free-soiler in belief, and when on the death of his father he inherited five slaves, he would have set them free at once, except for the law then in force in Kentucky for- bidding the freeing of slaves. He did the best thing he could do under the circum- stances, which was to let them choose their own master, and hired them to him for one year, on trial. At the end of that time he sold them, at their request, to Dr. Hood, for whatever he was willing to give, which was less than half what a " nigger trader " offered for them. Mr. Darnall was no weak man in politics. Ile was decided in his opinions and always expressed himself firmly but respect- fully. He was no office seeker. Away back in the forties, a committee of the leading Whigs of Putnam County waited upon him, urging him to accept the nomination and make the race for the Legislature, but he firmly declined the honor and suggested the name of David Scott, who accepted the nom- ination. In Kentucky he served as Lieutenant of the Militia, and filled that position until his removal to Indiana. Under the military law of the State, he was Quartermaster on the staff of Colonel James Fisk. At the breaking out of the civil war he gave his in- finence and support to the Government, and
gave three sons to the army. The eldest son, Francis M., made up a splendid company in the fall of 1861, and led them to the field as Captain. Lafayette enlisted the same year in Colonel Lew. Wallace's regiment of Zon- aves, for the three months service, and after a short rest, he joined his brother's company in the Forty-third Regiment, and was made Sergeant. Later he was promoted to Lieu- tenant. In 1863, when Morgan's army invaded the State, a third son, Joshua, a fair- haired, blue-eyed boy of sixteen summers, with patriotic zeal went to the front and laid down his bright young life upon the altar of his country. He had joined the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, a. a recruit, and took part in the arduous campaign to Cum- berland Gap. On the retreat, from that point through the mountains of Kentucky, he lost his life, by contracting a violent cold when recovering from an attack of measles. Samuel Darnall died January 13, 1879, and was buried at Brick Chapel, Indiana. He was a public-spirited, enterprising citizen, ready to assist in every good work, and ready to lend a helping hand to everything that gave rea- sonable promise of being a benefit to the com- munity. He was a kind and loving husband, an affectionate and indulgent father, and a calın, consistent Christian.
TOWARD BRIGGS was born in New- ark, Ohio, December 23, 1833. His father, Benjamin Briggs, was one of the oldest newspaper men in the Buckeye State, having established the Newark (Ohio) Advocate in 1820, and published the same over forty years. He then retired from act- ive pursuits. He had married Nancy Eng- lish, and both are now deccased. They were the parents of four danghters and two sons.
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Of the latter, Murray Briggs is the editor : through all the harl marching and retreats, and proprietor of the Sullivan (Indiana) sometimes taking till midnight to catch up with the army. At the close of the war the Captain took the pig, raised many pigs, giv- ing one to each member of the company. In this way father Long got his start in life as a hog-raiser. The grandfather of our subject was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Long was reared a farmer, and Democrat, and Howard is the subject of this : biographical notice. He received a limited amount of schooling, and while of very ten- der years received his first introduction to newspaper work, to which he was reared un- der his father's care, and to which he has devoted his life since. At the age of twenty- : four he established the Press at Greencastle, educated in the subscription schools that
and published the same until 1552. Ile then sold to F. A. Arnold, of the Star. en- tering into an engagement not to follow journalism in this place for two years. He was during this specified period the proprie- tor of the " City News Mart:" and in 'April. 1584, started the Democart as before stated. Mr. Briggs has taken an active and influen- tial part in polities, but not for his own advancement. He at present holds the hon- orable position of trustee of the State Insti- tution for the Education of the Blind at Indianapolis. Mr. Briggs is a member of but one secret order, the Knights of Labor. He was united in marriage in May, 1566. with Mrs. Margaret A. Campbell, of Green- castle, and they have two sons- Edwin M. and John P. By a former marriage Mrs. Briggs has one son, James Noble Campbell.
were held in the primitive log cabin, fur- nished with split pole seats, puncheon floors and desks, and greased paper for windows. There was also a huge tire-place and a mind- and-stick chimney in one end of the room. Mr. Long came to this county in January, 1-54, settling in Jackson Township, which was his home until November, 1SS1, when he removed to Bainbridge. He owns 160 acres of land on sections 31 and 32, Jackson Township. He was married November 21, 1×39. to Miss Martha Maddox, daughter of Nelson and Martha ( Beacham) Maddox, and to this union nine children have been born, six of whom are living James P .. Elizabeth F., Amanda D., Christian A., Everett and Julia P. The deceased are Eliza A. Thomas F. and John W. Mrs. Long was born in Spencer County. Kentucky, July 14, 1822. James P. married Elizabeth Gorden. now deceased, and lives in Coal Bluff, Indiana: he has three children Charles. Alice and Oren. Elizabeth married James M. Haller. now deceased, and has had two children- Channey, and Cora, who died at the age of eight years; Amanda married Wright Kay, now deceased; Christiana is the wife of Charles Meler, of Coal Bluff and Julia is the wife of Andrew Campbell, of Bainbridge. Mr. Long served as village marchal one term, and has been deputy collector for the past twenty-five years. Himself and wife
HOMAS LONG, retired farmer, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, October 12, 1516, son of Thomas Long, deceased, a native of Virginia, who came to Woodford County, Kentucky, when an infant, where he was reared and married Nancy Jackson, and removed to Shelby County. He was a soldier in the war of 1512, and participated in some of the hardest fought battles of that war. During that war a pig came to his company and followed it are members of the Missionary Baptist
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church, as are also Amanda D. and Chris- tiana.
LISHA P. COWGILL, an early settler of Putnam County, and a resident of Greencastle Township, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, July 4, 1819, son of Elisha and Ann S. (Tarvin) Cowgill, who were natives of Virginia and settled in Ken- tneky in 1794. IIe traces his ancestry back to four brothers who came from England and settled in Peunsylvania prior to the Revolu- tionary war. They were Quakers. In 1832 his parents came to Putnam County, settling on section 15, a short distance east of the present city of Greencastle. There the father purchased 160 acres of land, which was slightly improved. He lived there until 1854, when he removed to the farm now owned and occupied by our subject. IIe died in 1855, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He was one of the representative men of the county, and greatly esteemed by all. In his demise Putnam County lost one of her best citizens. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a liberal supporter of the same. He was originally a Jackson Democrat, but in 1844 was a strong supporter of Henry Clay. He reared a large family of children, three only surviving-Saralı, wife of Lucius R. Chapin, of Greencastle, Dr. Henry E., of Kansas, and Elisha P. The latter was reared to man- hood in this county, having come here with his parents when in his thirteenth year. He was educated in the schools of the early day, and has always been a farmer. He was a member of the first class formed in Asbury University, and attended that institution about eighteen months. August 1, 1839, he was married to Mary F. Talbott, born Au-
gust 19, 1820, in Shelby County, Kentucky. Iler parents, William and Sarah Talbott, set- tled in Putnam County in 1824, and were among the early settlers of the county. Her mother was born in a fort in Kentucky, dur- ing the Indian war. Her father was born near Baltimore, Maryland. Her grandfather, Edward Talbott, was one of the first licensed Methodist preachers in the United States. Her parents and grandparents are interred in the cemetery at Greencastle. Mr. and Mrs. Cowgill have had a large family, five of whom are living-William H., Mary J., wife of John Ziner, of Kansas, Elizabeth M., wife Stacy R. Dicks, of Montgomery County, this State, and Susan C., wife of Fletcher H. Tal- bott, of Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1855 Mr. Cowgill was elected a commissioner of Putnam County, serving a term of three years, and was again elected in 1885, which office he still holds. Immediately after his election he was chosen president of the board of commissioners. Ile has served as assessor of both Putnam County and Greencastle Township. In 1847 he was deputy census enumerator of Marion and Jefferson town- ships. He owns 110 acres of good land, in a high state of cultivation. ' In politics he is a Democrat, and himself and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Cowgill has served as deacon and trustee. He has lived to see his children well settled in life, and he is reaping the fruits of a life of usefulness and well doing.
ALTER K. PRICHARD, M. D., a practicing physician of Cloverdale, was born in that township, January 4, 1860, son of Lewis and Joanna (Ross) Prichard, also of this county. He was reared in his native township, and received his
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early education in the common schools, com- pleting it at the Hendricks County Normal School at Danville. He studied medicine under his father, and attended a course of lectures in Virginia University, receiving the degree of Medical Jurisprudence. He after- ward graduated at the Miami Medical Col- lege, March 10, 1581, and then took a post graduate course at the Polytechnic College in New York City. Since that jtime he has been engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. He is secretary of the board of pension examining surgeons at Greencastle, and has been physician of Cloverdale Town- ship ever since his graduation. The doctor was married March 10, 1884, to Miss Vir- ginia Remley, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1861. They have had one child, now deceased. Dr. Prichard is a member of Cloverdale Large. No. 132, A. F. & A. M .. at Cloverdale, in which he holds the office of junior warden. He is a strictly temperance man, and while attending college in Virginia united with the Good Templars fraternity. He is a man of superior ability, and has been quite a traveler, having visited the West and Southwest, including New Mexico, Old Mex- ieo and Arizona. He is affable and pleasant, and a great favorite wherever he is known. As a physician and surgeon he has been emi- nently successful, and by being a very close student, expects to stand at the head of his profession.
ILLIAM A. MCFADDEN, proprietor of Bainbridge saw and planing mills, was born in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, December 18, 1848, son of Alex- ander McFadden, deceased, who was a native of Ireland. He was reared and educated in Jackson, Louisiana, and in 1866 came to this
county, where he worked a few years on a farm. He then came to Bainbridge and bought a small planing-mill of Foxweather Brothers, to which he built an addition and operated until 1884, then purchased the saw- mill of Mead Brothers. In 1855 he built his present large establishment, and now carries on a large business, employing thirty men the entire year. He was married November 15, 1874, to Miss Laura B. Brown, daughter of James Brown, of Bainbridge. Their chil- dren are -. - Paul B., Sarah E .. Mary 1., James D. and Anna. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school. In politics he is a Republican.
FRAMES W. HADDAN, deceased, was born in Owen County, Kentucky. in June, 1818, son of John and Rebecca Hladdan. When six years old he came to this county with his parents, his father hay- ing previously entered land in Jefferson Township, and the family settled in the wild woods. The father erected a log cabin and began the work of clearing his land. James was reared to manhood in this county, amid the scenes of pioneer life, and remained here until his decease, with the exception of a short time spent in the West. He died An- gust 14, 1884. He was married April 21, 1864, to Miss Emily Hobbs, who was born August 26, 1844, in Louisville, Kentucky, and a daughter of James and Elizabeth Hobbs, who removed to Jeffersonville, Indi- ana, in 1852, where the father was engaged in the drug business for a short time and did business in Louisville, Kentucky: he is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Haddan had seven children, five of whom are living -- William W., Henry C., John O., Margaret A. and
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Jesse E. Elizabeth R. and James are de- ceased. Mr. Haddan left 294 acres of good land. He was identified with the Cumber- land Presbyterian church, and in politics was a Republican. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and at his death was buried with Masonic honors. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish. He was a loving hus- band, a kind father and an obliging neighbor. Ilis wife, who resides ou the homestead, was formerly an Episcopalian. Her father was born in England and came to America when he was nearly thirty years of age. He first located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was engaged in the manufacture of starch. Hle then removed to Louisville, where he conducted a drug store, thence to Jefferson- ville, Indiana, where he died in December, 1862. Ilis wife was formerly Elizabeth Howell, a native of Kentucky, and they had seven children, four of whom are living. Orlando, Emily, William D. and Anna. Both parents were members of the Episcopal church. The father was a public-spirited man, and kind and generous to the poor. Ilis wife resides at Jeffersonville.
TATILLIAM C. HARRIS, physician and surgeon at Carpentersville, was born" in Knoxville, Tennessee, September 5, 1827, son of Simcon Harris, deceased, a native of the same place. He was reared on a farm and edneated in Waveland High School. He attended lectures at Rush Medical College, in 1847-'48, graduating at the Central Med- ical College of Indianapolis, in March, 1881. He first came to Fountain County and began practice in 1848, at Jacksonville. In 1850, he went to Butte City, California, where he practiced eight years, then came to Carpenters- ville, where he has been in constant practice
ever since. IIe is frequently called for counsel in various parts of the State. March 23, 1861, he was married to Miss Jane Dodd, daughter of Woodson P. Dodd, now deceased, and they have two living children-Melvina, who married John L. Bridges, and has two children-Hettie and Chasie, and Ida, who married Dr. William F. Batman, of Roach- dale. The doctor is a member of the Indiana Medical Society, and of Putnam County Medical Association. Ile is a member of the Masonie chapter at Greencastle, and also be- longs to the Odd Fellows fraternity. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has hell the office of steward, trustee, and Sunday-school superintendent. He has been school trustee of Carpentersville for twenty years, and is the present incumbent. In politics he is a Republican.
ANIEL BOONE, a prominent farmer and pioneer of Putnam County, resides on section 2, Washington Township, where he owns 200 acres of land. He was born in Harrison County, this State, April 12, 1814, son of Moses and Hannah Boone. ITis father was a son of Squire Boone, of Ken- tueky, a brother of the celebrated woodman, Daniel Boone. Moses Boone emigrated to this State in 1805, and to this county in 1834, where he remained until his death, which oc- curred in 1853, at the age of eighty-four years, three months and six days. He was a farmer by occupation, and reared thirteen children, only two of whom are now living. Our subject was reared to the occupation of farming. Ile was married in this county in 1839, to Melinda Miller, daughter of John and Nancy Miller, who was born in Sullivan County, this State, in 1828, and brought to this county by her parents when eight months
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old. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Boone are-Elvira, who is the wife of Lycurgus Stoner, and has six children; Emily, who married Luther Pollom, of Clay County, In- diana, and has five children; Hannah, wife of George Busbey, has five children; Lennox, Moses, John M., George, Nancy. wife of John Risk, has four children; Lanra, wife of J. W. Landes, has one child; Julia, wife of Daniel Goodrich, has six children, and Alice, wife of J. M. Oliver. The sons are all married and have families. Lennox has seven children, Moses has three children, John has five and George has three. making a total of forty-five grandchildren. and they have a great-grand- child. Politically Mr. Boone is a Republican. He is a self-made man, and earned this prop- erty by the " sweat of his brow." Ile never sued any person and has never been sued in his life. He is of a retiring disposition and respected by all who know him.
FTOIIN BUTLER, deceased, an early set- tler of Putnam County, was born in Virginia, January 25. 1791, a son of Charles and Frances Butler. He came to this county in 1826, locating in the wild woods on Big Walnut Creek, where he lived until 1843, then removed to section 36, Greencastle Township, where he passed the remainder of his life. His death ocenrred October 9, 1854. Ile was married in Flem- ing County, Kentucky, May 17, 1825, to Miss Hannah Smith, daughter of John and Mary Smith. She was born in Kentucky May 25, 1802. Mr. and Mrs. Butler had nine children, of whom six are living-Mar- garet, John T., Mary, Joseph, Owen, William F. and Emily. The deceased are-James II .. Charles and Frances C. Margaret married Pleasant F. Johnson; Joseph married Ange-
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