Denman - Jackie - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

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.