McGAUGHEY, Arthur O. - Putnam

The first clerk of Putnam county was Arthur McGaughey, whose term of service extended from the time of the organization of the county in 1822 until April, 1843.

At the September, 1828, term of the commissioners' court we find an order that "the agent of the county be and he is authorized to pay over as fast as he can collect, the money that may become due to Amos Robertson on the last payment on the court house contract, "and at the May term, 1829, a committee consisting of John Reel, Eli Brackney, Alexander Galbreath, Isaac Alahan and John Denny make the following report: "We, the undersigned, being your committee appointed to examine the situation of the court house, have proceeded to examine the same and beg leave to report that we find the same in an unfinished situation." The committee was further directed to meet in Greencastle on the "first Saturday in June next to settle with Amos Robertson; to estimate the amount of money that may probably be expended on the court house during the present year; to engage workmen on the best terms to finish the house and to make any necessary arrangement in relation to the partial or total continuance of the work." Meanwhile it would seem as if Robertson had failed to complete the building or in some other way had defaulted in his contract for, in July, 1829, the record shows that the commissioners entered into a contract with Arthur McGaughey who for six hundred ninety-nine dollars and ninety-three cents had agreed to finish the court house by September, 1830. Of this sum, one hundred fifty dollars was advanced to McGaughey before the close of the July term.

So far as can be determined, the first white child born in the County was Mary Jane McGaughey, the daughter of Arthur McGaughey, the first County clerk. She first saw the light of day February 10, 1822.

It is related by Arthur McGaughey that after he was elected clerk of the county he was in the habit of putting all the money he received in one of his wife's blue stockings and keeping it under the bed. When remonstrated with by a neighbor for his carelessness with the funds intrusted to his care, he answered: 'Tut. tut, man; there is no vault in America as safe as my wife's stocking.' "

This was the third church building which the Methodists had erected in Greencastle. The first one. built of logs, stood at the corner of Ephraim and Franklin streets on a lot which had been given to the church by the county commissioners in May, 1833. It was the first church building in Greencastle. As is always the case in a new community, certain of the rougher element, actuated not only by base motives but by a spirit of mischief, had in various ways annoyed the new congregation. One of their methods of interrupting the meeting has come down to us. Arthur McGaughey, the county clerk, with the connivance of Washington Walls, David Rudisill and other characters, found about the court house, one Saturday evening, a fresh coon skin, singed the hair and about three o'clock in the morning of the following day, attached a string to it and, starting from the church, dragged it over the ground, making a circuit of a mile or two, and returning to the church where they threw the pelt out of sight among the rafters overhead. Later in the day during services at the church, they led a pack of hounds to a point southwest of town and unleashed them. Almost instantly the dogs struck the trail and, with the requisite amount of noise ten or fifteen such animals on a fresh scent of game could make, they followed the circuit, growing more and more demonstrative as they neared town. Reaching the church, they dashed into the open doorway, panting, yelping and producing a commotion on the part of the congregation so complete and instantaneous that the meeting adjourned without the formality of a benediction.

The parents of Edward W. McGaughey were Arthur O. and Sarah (Bell) McGaughey. His father was born on March 3, 1788. and came from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, to the West when a very young man, with a company of "Rangers" — I presume a military company, armed for protection. At Corydon. Indiana, in about 1810, he married Sarah Bell, who was born in Kentucky on June 11, 1790. Their family consisted of six children — William B., Edward W., Thomas D., Mary Jane, John and Harriet. [Arthur arrived in Putnam County in 1821 - Jeff Scism] Mary Jane McGaughey was the first white child born in Putnam county. The records of Putnam county show that the first term of court held in that county was at a private house about sixteen miles south of town, on the 3d of June, 1822. and that Arthur McGaughey was clerk of the court, and that the first case taken to the supreme court was by Arthur McGaughey. He held this office for twenty-three or four years and lived on a farm about three miles south of Greencastle up to the time of his death, May 2, 1857. His wife was a woman of strong character and keen intellect, and was well known for her independent and fearless frankness and energy in the discharge of her duties. She was a stanch member of the Baptist church, and was a familiar figure, mounted on her gray mare, on her way to attend meetings and associations, in sunshine or rain. During one of her absences on Sunday an old soldier made a visit to her husband, who was very fond of a practical joke. He drew the man out on his favorite subject of conversation — his war experiences — and about the time he expected his wife's return he said to the soldier: "Now take a piece of charcoal and mark out on the floor the plan of the battle of Lundy's Lane, so I may know just the position of the British and American forces." The old man obeyed, and was so absorbed in his work, explaining it as he drew the heavy lines on the clean, white boards, that he did not notice the exit of his host, nor the entrance of the host's wife, till he heard her indignant tones demanding the cause of his defacing her floor, and ordering him to desist at once.