WINGATE ARTICLES
WINGATE ARTICLES
Source: Sunday Star, Sept 2, 1901 p 4
The Sunday Star is sorry to learn that it was misinformed as to the status of affairs at the Wingate Canning Factory. There have been current reports to the effect that all the canning factories would lose a vast amount of money by the failure of the corn and tomato crops for the present year. Prior to the rains this might have been true; but then came the floods. This report, with some information that was unreliable, led to an item of new reflecting on the credit and status of the Wingate factory. We are reliably informed, however, that the information was incorrect and the factory is now running and employing a full force of hands. The company expects to put up several thousand cases of corn and an average crop of tomatoes, so that instead of losing money as stated in the article recently published, they will in fact clear something like $5,000 at present prices when the crop has been packed and disposed of. The changed condition is most gratifying to the company and to the Sunday Star. The men connected with the Wingate Canning Factory are personal friends of the SS and men of the highest honor and strict integrity in a business way. This is published in the way of an explanation of an article that was based upon general report of crop failure and upon some unreliable information, and is cheerfully given credit to CC Township and the SS is hopeful that it will be successful in all the backers may undertake
Source: Crawfordsville Star, Oct 27, 1881 p 5
Saturday morning dawned bright and clear and at an early hour, the people of the surrounding country began coming in in wagons, buggies horseback and on foot to see the first passenger train come in on the famous narrow gauge railroad and help celebrate the event. The train arrived promptly on time 10:30 a.m. and the speakers and visitors were escorted to the Wingate Grove by the Crawfordsville Band. The programme of exercises was as follows: The Rev. ER Johnson called the meeting to order and in a few appropriate and well times remarks introduced Gen. MD Manson who made the address of welcome; response by Eli Marvin of Frankfort. After the response came dinner, which was a regular old fashioned basket dinner. The ladies of Pleasant Hill and vicinity had made provisions for all the visitors, and spread out a feast fit for a king to sit down to. After dinner the audience were called together by the band, which played several appropriate selections. Relations of Railroads to Journalism, response by Col. JB Maynard, editor, Indianapolis Sentinel. Toast: “Montgomery County after Railroads “ – response by Hon. PS Kennedy. “The City of Frankfort,” response by Hon. EH Staley, editor, Frankfort Crescent. After Mr. Staley closed his speech Hon. Eli Marvin arose addressed the audience, stating that he wished to read a telegram from Mr. Craig, general manager of the road. The telegram state that, owing to there being another station on this road by the name of Pleasant Hill, it would be necessary, in order to avoid confusion and annoyance to change the name of this station, which would hereafter be known on the line as “Wingate.”
That he gave it that name as a slight token of the appreciation of the services of JC Wingate in behalf of the town of Pleasant Hill and also the services rendered the road. The announcement was received with applause, and calls for Wingate, Wingate, who came upon the sand and in a few modest but appropriate words, assured the audience that Mr. Marvin’s announcement was entirely unexpected to him and entirely unsought, and that he would not accept the change or allow his name and unless the people of this place and vicinity were willing it should be so, and asked those present what should be done in the case. Cries of “the matter is decided,” let the case alone, “Wingate is good enough,” you deserve it … etc. were heard; wherepon he thanked his friends and neighbors for their appreciation of his efforts to get a railroad through this place. So ended the grand jollify, glorify ratification meeting at Pleasant Hill. Since writing the above we have talked with a good many of the best citizens of Coal Creek and there is a very general feeling of satisfaction that the authorities on the railroad have shown that they appreciated JC Wingate’s efforts to get a railroad through our township.
The people of Pleasant Hill and vicinity know that he has done more toward getting the road than any three men in the township and that it was only by his unceasing, untiring efforts that the road was diverted from its original route to the one it is now built upon. He has spent much time and money to get the road here, and now that it is about completed, let us not forget to “give honor to whom honor is due.” The railroad meeting at Pleasant Hill Saturday last was a success in every way. Addresses were given by Gen. Manson, Hons. White and Kennedy of Crawfordsville; Col. Maynard of Indianapolis; Col. Clark, Eli Martin and E.H. Staley of Frankfort; ER Johnson as Chaplain. The Crawfordsville band made good music; plenty of dinner. - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Star, Oct 27, 1881 p 8
Like a comet that suddenly bo’sis ioio (sic) sight, lighting up the filament with its edulgeace (?), John C. Wingates’s name has become a household word; but, unlike a comet, John will stay with us both in person and in name. The Superintendent of the Toldeo Delphis & St. Louis RR telegraphed to the people at the Pleasant Hill RR Section meeting on last Saturday that on account of there being another Pleasant Hill on the line of the road in Ohio, the station by that name in this county would be changed to Wingate - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Star, Nov 3, 1881 p 5
In the letter from Pleasant Hill last week we notice one or two of the speakers were omitted, unintentionally we suppose. The list of speakers was as follows: Rev. ER Johnson, Chaplain; Gen. Manson; Hons. MD White and PS Kennedy of Crawfordsville; Col. Maynard of Indianapolis; Col. Clark, Eli Marvin and EH Staley of Frankfort; and Col. JC Wingate. (note from kbz – this is quite odd as every one of these WAS mentioned)
Source: Indianapolis Journal 10 May 1889 p 4
The next issue of the US Postal Guide will announce a change of name of Whitlock, Montgomery County, Indiana to Wingate. Thereby hangs a little tale. Wingate is a railroad station and that being the original name of the village, the post office was very properly called the same. But the name was that of a leading Republican citizen and when Mr. John Lamb went to Congress he and Senator Voorhees agreed that it would never do to boom the Republican party that way and they had the name changed to Whitlock. Thus, while the railroad station was Wingate, the post office was Whitlock, which, of course was a very inconvenient arrangement. The change back to Wingate harmonizes the names and puts the Republicans on top again. The matter has been a subject of controversy in Montgomery County for several years. – thanks to Andy R for both of these pieces
The story of how Col. John C. Wingate happened to have a town named after him was brought out In an Interesting way in a conversation in the lobby of the Denton Hotel the other evening. Wingate, a village of about five hundred people, Is situated in a prosperous district of Montgomery county, on the line of the Clover Leaf Railroad. It Is there that Colonel Wingate, of the State Tax Board, has his home, and it is there that the colonel has lived for a good many years. Back in the eighties, when the Clover Leaf was first built, it was made a narrow gauge road, and Colonel Wingate was one of those who took an active part In Its promotion. The town where Colonel Wingate lives then known as Pleasant Hill. It so happened that the line of the Clover Leaf touched a town in Ohio of the name of Pleasant Hill, and the officials of the road decided to change the name of the Montgomery county town. The question was, what should the town be named? It was decided to name the place after John C. Wingate as a sort of recognition of his services in behalf of the road. It has been intimated since that the naming of the town was about the only remuneration Col. Wingate ever received for the Interest he took in the road. General Corse was president of the road at that time. Eli Marvin, of Frankfort, was a director, and Capt. W. H. Hart, who then resided at Frankfort, was also a director. At length, when the road was finished as far as Pleasant Hill, it was decided to have a gala day at Wingate in honor of the event. A day was selected, and a train was run down from Frankfort carrying a great crowd of excursionists. Ell Marvin brought with him a telegram from the president of the road announcing that he should make known to the people gathered there that It had been decided to adopt the name for Pleasant Hill that had been suggested. Mr. Marvin called Colonel Wingate aside and informed him of the contents of the telegram, telling him that the town was to be named in his honor. The colonel was very modest about the matter, and reluctantly consented, but finally allowed Mr. Marvin to make a speech and announce the news. Of course, there was great cheering, and Colonel Wingate made a happy response. Subsequently, however, the Democrats of the locality kicked up a rumpus over the naming of the town, and the matter was made a political Issue. It finally reached Washington, and the Postoffice Department changed the name of the postofflce at Wingate to Whitlock. For a time the postoffice and the town had different names. During General Harrison's administration the postoffice was changed back to Wingate in a rather unusual way. An Indiana man. happening to be in Washington, called at the Postoffice Department and was asked by Mr. Clarkson, of that department, what he could do to better the service in Indiana. The Indiana citizen remarked that he knew what he would do if he were postmaster for just one minute. "Well," responded Clarkson, "I'll make you postmaster for one minute." "All right," said the Indiana citizen, and he then asked for the papers in the Wingate-Whltlock muddle. After hurriedly going through the documents he wrote an order declaring that the postoflice at Whitlock was to be changed to conform with tho name of the railroad station Wingate. "Your time's up," said . Clarkson. "All right," replied the Indiana man, "I've accomplished all I want to, and am ready to be a private citizen again." Thus took place the metamorphosis of the postoflice of Whitlock.