DUKES, Ephraim - Putnam

In this connection it may not be amiss to explain that the writer, in obedience to the apparent interest manifested in the career of Ephraim Dukes, has been unremittingly exhaustive in his efforts to learn the latter's antecedents as well as his later history. The commonly accepted tradition that Dukes gave Greencastle its name after the town in Pennsylvania by that name, where he originated, has not thus far been verified. Extensive correspondence with old settlers in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and also in Shippensburg where the Duke family is somewhat prominent and numerous, fails to shed any light on the existence or origin of Ephraim. The family there spell their name without the final s. In the absence of any more definite information than has thus far been obtainable there can be no good reason to reject the theory that Ephraim Dukes emigrated hither from Kentucky. The family is more or less numerous in Virginia and near the close of the 18th Century several of its members moved into Kentucky. Inasmuch, therefore, as at least 75 % of the early settlers who came to our county hailed from Kentucky, it is not improbably Ephraim Dukes originated there also. His later history is equally nebulous and uncertain. He remained in Putnam County till about 1835, when, in company with the later Gen. Joseph Orr, he removed to LaPorte County, Indiana. He was living there in July, 1836, as shown by a deed executed by him at that time and soon after forwarded here to be recorded. Beyond this last item of information it has been impossible to find any trace of him. General Orr, with whom he emigrated to LaPorte was a well known character and continued to reside there till his death, about 30 years ago, but the most persistent and thorough inquiry fails to elicit any information as to Dukes. The probably is that his stay in LaPorte County was brief and that he eventually moved farther westward, leaving scarcely a footprint behind. While still a resident of Putnam he filled several minor places of the grade of constable and court bailiff and was finally promoted to the office of coroner. His names was perpetuated by his fellow townsmen in one of the principal streets of Greencastle which was for years called Ephraim, after him, but which unfortunately, was recently changed to the more fashionable and euphonious College Avenue.

Another mention of Dukes - In the year following the organization of the county, Greencastle began to show some signs of life. Before the close of 1822 Ephraim Dukes had erected a cabin on the lot at the corner of Washington Street and College Avenue where Dr. Ayler's office now stands.

The County seat not having been established and no suitable building in which to hold court having been erected, the next term was held, as the record discloses, "at the home of James Athey," which, it will be recalled, stood at or near the Forks of Eel river, on September 2, 1822. The judges were all present and the same officers of the court as before, with the addition of Samuel Judah, the prosecuting attorney. The grand jury was impanelled and duly sworn. As nearly as their names can be deciphered they were Benjamin Bell, McCoy, Abraham Lewis, Mathew Cole, Richard Moore, Henry Williams, Ephraim Dukes, Joseph Thomas, William Dole, Chance, Luke Dyer, Sr., Isaac Anderson and John Stagg. The first license or permission to practice law was issued at this term of court.

Also under the Township of Greencastle Weik says:

The County seat not having been established and no suitable building in which to hold court having been erected, the next term was held, as the record discloses, "at the home of James Athey," which, it will be recalled, stood at or near the Forks of Eel river, on September 2, 1822. The judges were all present and the same officers of the court as before, with the addition of Samuel Judah, the prosecuting attorney. The grand jury was impanelled and duly sworn. As nearly as their names can be deciphered they were Benjamin Bell, McCoy, Abraham Lewis, Mathew Cole, Richard Moore, Henry Williams, Ephraim Dukes, Joseph Thomas, William Dole, • Chance, Luke Dyer, Sr., Isaac Anderson and John Stagg. The first license or permission to practice law was issued at this term of court.

And under "First Settlements"

Meanwhile the commissioners designated by the Legislature for that purpose had met, as required, at the house of John Butcher and agreed upon a location for the seat of County government. The site chosen was a hill overlooking Walnut creek and almost in the exact geographical center of the County. As an inducement towards the location there and in consideration thereof, Ephraim Dukes and Rebecca his wife conveyed to Amos Robertson, designated as "agent for Putnam County,"seventy acres of land in the northwest quarter of section 21. township 14 north, range 4 west. The deed was executed September 2, 1823, and recites that the land is donated in consideration that the County seat is located at the "town of Greencastle." The tract thus conveyed includes that part of the city of Greencastle which lies between Locust and Indiana streets. June 7, 1825, Duke's son-in-law, John Wesley Clark, and Elizabeth his wife, for the same consideration mentioned in Duke's deed, conveyed to John Baird, "agent for Putnam County," eighty acres, being the west half of the northwest quarter of the same section and adjoining the tract Dukes had donated two years before. The land conveyed by this last deed comprises that part of the city of Greencastle which lies between Indiana street and the western limits on Gillespie street.