Denman - Absalom
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, 3 July 1896
Absolom J. Denman, of Fountain county, Ind., died June 27, 1896. His parents were natives of the South, his father, William Denman, being born in Georgia, and his mother, Polly Hicks Denman, being a Tennessean by birth. Their son, A. J. Denman, was born in Butler county, Ohio, April 20, 1811. Montgomery county, Ind.. was the location chosen by his parents, they coming here during his infancy and settling in the heavy timber near where the village of Alamo now stands. Absolom Denman was anxious to gain all the knowledge he could of books and attended the district school by day and studied diligently at home through the long winter evening. He progressed rapidly and was able at an early age to begin the struggle of life as a teacher. For seven years he unweariedly pursued his chosen profession. Many of those taught have now passed away. In 1837 he married Miss Nancy Smith and the two continued their residence in Montgomery county many years and there had many true friends. In 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Denman came to Fountain county, Ind., and made their permanent home until death removed them. Mr. Denman at the time of his death owned 275 acres of valuable land under a high state of improvement. He and his wife reared a family of ten children, six boys and four girls. Five boys and one girl still remain to mourn his loss. They all were present at the funeral and followed him to his last resting place. Upon the political question deceased was always a thorough Democrat. A. J. Denman was known and valued for his integrity of character displayed in all the daily events of his rounds of official work. He served for over twenty years as township trustee and justice of the peace and also was justice of the peace just before his death - thanks to Kim H
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 24 July 1896 Edition
A short time ago old Jackie Denman, as his neighbors dubbed him, died. He had reached a ripe old age and had grown quite wealthy. He was termed a miser and held on to every dollar that came his way with the tenacity of a bull dog that had just been set upon an unruly pig. As he grew older his greed of gain increased and it is said he fondly fingered his coin for hours at a time. Since his death it is recalled by those waiting by his bedside that he constantly talked of a walnut tree and with wild eyes and excited featured implored the watchers not to allow the tree to fall upon him and kill him. His actions were then considered very strange and the neighbors could not understand many of his queer antics and unnatural talk. It is plain enough now. As soon as the old man died a search was made for money, as his near relatives knew he had a disposition to hoard up his money. Between the leaves of dusty old books, in stand and in bureau drawers, under the house, stored away in old boxes and tin cans was found all kinds of money—gold, silver and paper. More than a thousand dollars have been unearthed already and the neighborhood is wild with excitement. The farm is being literally dug up and turned upside down on account of the find. Everyone says now that the old miser’s talk about the walnut tree was on account of a treasure he had buried there, and claim his relentless, cold hearted and miserly disposition kept him from telling his relatives about the money, for they say he never dreamed he would be called to his last reward. This statement is borne out by the facts, as several years ago he got from the estate of William Denman a pantaloons leg full of gold and silver that the old ancestor had saved for a rainy day. This money was always scrupulously and superstitiously held on to by the new miser of the family, partly because of his disposition to keep it and because of the way he got possession of it. Other relatives claimed an interest in this coin, and a suit was brought here in our own court some years ago by Ed Compner, but for some reason old Jack beat the case, claiming he did not have the money. Naturally he said little of this ill gotten gain afterward and now the people of this neighborhood—near Mill Creek, across the line in Fountain County in an old fashioned Pennsylvania looking house nestled among the great trees where old Jackie lived—are much wrought up over the probably finding of this treasure which must amount to several thousand dollars. The ground under all the walnut trees within old Jackie’s possession is being most industriously dug at present.