Greencastle - history items
VARIOUS ITEMS ON GREENCATLE HISTORY
Source: Greencastle Banner 4 February 1857 p 2
Greencastle, it appears is not yet quite finished. The energy of her citizens is not yet subdued. Onward and upward she is determined to go. In a few short years more, she will present quite a different appearance to what she does now. As an evidence of this, we point to the fact that Capt. Thornbugh, in connection with James M. Sloan and James Gillespy, intend commencing early in the Spring the erection of a large and extensive three-story brick building on the Northwest corner of the Public Square, designed to be used as a business house. It is to be large and capacious in every way and an ornament to our young city. Success to all such enterprises.
Source: Greencastle Banner 11 Feb 1857 p2
Capt. Thornburgh has commenced demolishing the old building on the Northwest corner of the Public Square preparatory to commencing the erection of his new brick. We would like to see a few more old buildings go in the same way.
Greencastle Banner, Greencastle, Putnam County, 27 May 1869
Putnam Republican Banner, Thursday
Published on Thursdays, $2.00 per year subscription
Recollections of the Early Settlement of Putnam County,
No. 11
By John S. Jennings
Greencastle -- I came to Greencastle on the first day of November, 1826, being then in my twenty-fifth year. A large part of what was then known as the town was still in the woods. I bought lot 195, being the first south of where Dr. Town now lives, and spent two days in cutting out a wagon road leading to the ground now occupied by the Carriage Factory of Renick, Curtis & Co. I also cut a set of house logs in the immediate neighborhood, on lots now owned by Robert N. Allen and others. At that time there was one small school house in Greencastle, situated on lot 192, where David Teague now lives. It was on the west side of this lot, and was also used as a place of public worship, Revs. Daniel Anderson and Mr. Otwell preaching at times, when they did not preach at private houses. It would be a treat to our young folks now to see the people who then attended church. The female portion of the congregation usually filled up the old school house, while the men and boys were left to sit on logs or stand up around the outside of the doors. When those were standing would become tired it was the custom for those sitting to get up and give them their seat, which accommodation was always acknowledged with a bow. In warm weather many of these men and boys would be barefoot. Well do I recollect when a subscription was started for the first M.E. Church in our town. It was located on the lot east of where Mr. Jon Hammond lives. The body of the house was of hewn logs and we all had something to do with the raising of it. After it was up, the passer by might have observed a man in his bare feet putting on a clapboard roof, and on inquiry would have learned that it was Amos Robinson, a good man, a member of the church, and State Senator! Such as he were the pioneers of the M. E. Church. I will name a few of them: Benjamin Jones, who then owned the farm where John A. Matson now lives; William Talbott, who owned the farm now belonging to T. O. Allen besides these there were Reese Hardesty, James Talbott, William Holland, and many others, the most of whom have been called to a higher and better home.
In those days we had "all things common." There was real friendship, and when a member of our little community died, it was the custom for all to attend the funeral. Our joys and our sorrows were participated in by all--we wept with those who wept, and rejoiced with those who rejoiced.
The first death in Greencastle, was that of a stranger. His remains lie in or near the orchard now belonging to the heirs of our late fellow-citizen, Jacob Daggy. The next death was that of Benjamin Akers. He was buried in the old cemetery, and his grave was the first in that place of rest, where so many of our dear ones lie buried. I can go to that sacred place and point out the last resting place of many who were known and loved in the community at that early day, and would tell of many of their good deeds that are now known to but few. But I must go back to the old log meeting house where I left Amos Robinson putting on the clapboard roof.
When the roof was finished, a door was cut out on the south side, and a floor or rough boards put down. Lynn trees were then cut into the proper length, split open through the middle, and stout pegs driven in holes bored on the round side for legs. The Rev. James Armstrong was then invited to preach. When the day of his appointment came, everybody went to hear him, and he did preach! He was a power--I was going to say in the pulpit, but in those days we had no pulpit; but we had the preaching and no mistake.
After this, having no court house, the church was used for that purpose. Court usually lasted one week. Our resident lawyers were Henry Secrest, Joseph F. Farley, George F. Walterman, John Cowgill and Robert Glidewell, all of whom are dead except Mr. Glidewell. Judge Porter was on the bench. Quite a number of attorneys from a distance attended our courts, among them James Whitecomb, F. H. Blake, Judge Kinney, Craven P. Hester, John Law, Elisha Huntington, Samuel Judah, Hugh Livingston and Thomas Q. Adams. Only two of these are living--Mr. Law and Mr. Hester.
We had but one physician in town when I came--Dr. Enos Lowe. In the Fall of 1826, Dr. L. M. Knight and Dr. A. C. Stevenson, commenced the practice of medicine. We had quite a number of mechanics in town. I had the honor of starting the first cabinet shop in the place. I also made the first wheat fan seen in Putnam County. It was made of wood, running gears and all, and it did considerable work for the neighborhood. I also build the first electrifying machine seen in Greencastle, and with this we had a great deal of sport "shocking" those unacquainted with its power.
When Greencastle was first laid out it was one half mile square, and contained one hundred and sixty acres. That part of the city which lies east of Indiana Street was donated by Ephraim Dukes, and was entered by him January 25, 1821. Mr. Dukes came from near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and our town was named after that place by him. The west half of the old plat was donated by John W. Clark, and had been entered by him September 17, 1822. Four lots were reserved for churches for as many different religions denominations--the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and New Lights. The latter at that time had considerable strength in the town and county. Mr. Dukes also reserved lots 193 and 194. A donation of five acres of land was next made to the town on the Southeast corner, by Isaac Legg, who then owned what is now known as the Southern Enlargement of Greencastle. This land he entered April 11, 1823. What is known as Eastern Enlargement of Greencastle was sold to a company of gentlemen by Dr. John Slavens, who had recently removed to this place from Kentucky. By them it was laid out in lots and sold. What is known as the Railroad Enlargement was entered by Nathaniel and Samuel Talbott, February 29, 1921 and February 13, 1822. That part of town known as Depot Enlargement was entered by Gen Joseph Orr, April 21, 1823. Ash, Allen and Peck's Enlargement was entered by Mastern Hunter, and sold by him to James Allen. It was entered October 17, 1822, and May 19, 1823. All these men are now dead, except Gen. Orr.
It will probably interest the reader to know what some of our best town lots sold for in those days, and I will mention a few sales: At the first sale, lot No. 91, on the southwest corner of the Public Square, sold to James Talbott for $61. No 92, now known as Thornburg Block, sold to Joseph Thornburg for $60. No 100, known as the Ash lot, sold to Jubal Dewese for 87. No. 101, now occupied by Wernske's Shoe Shop, to Samuel M. Biggs for $42. No. 112, now occupied by Eli Kahn's building, to John Oatman for $68. No. 113 now owned by Col. J. H. Mahan and others, to Joshua H. Lucus for $61. No 121, now occupied by the First National Bank, to David Matlock for $70. No. 122 to Thomas Dewese for $100.
At the second sale, No 123, now occupied by Southard & Bowman's Store, was taken by James Trotter at $111. At the third sale, No 62, now owned by T. C. Hammond, was sold to Matthew W. Bussey for $3.40. No 63, now owned by R. S. Ragan, sold to W. B. Evans for $5.56. No 93, then called "eye tooth lot," to Abraham Wooley for $158. No 120, now occupied by Kramer's shop, to Samuel Hunter for $83.50. Many of those lots were afterwards sold at private sale for less than had been given for them at the public sale. The lots where Drs. Ellis and Pitchlyon now live were sold to me at private sale for $7. Sometime afterwards what is now known as the Parsonage of Roberts Chapel was erected and occupied as a church, and a committee of the members called on me to buy the Pitchlyon lot. They offered me ten dollars for it, but as I asked $13, we failed to trade. This shows how we regarded town property at that day.
When I came to Greencastle, our county business was all done by Justices of the Peace. We had one Justice of the Peach in town, Arthur Mahorney, who held the office about two years and then resigned. Isaac Mahan was then elected and held the office 10 years. David Dudley was elected soon after Esq. Mahan, and served a short time. From this time up to 1840, Reese Hardesty, John Cowgill, James M. Grooms, Samuel Taylor, Joseph F. Farley, John J. Taylor, Wesley White, and some others who remained in office but a short time, served in the order named. Mr. John Lynch, who I found living about two miles west of town, was a constable when I came to Greencastle, and has served most of the time since.
At this period we had a State militia law, and during the Fall of each year, the Putnam county regiment would meet at Greencastle for general muster. On these occasions every man and boy in the county would be present. A number of soldiers of the war of 1812, were then living in the county, and they were always present. We also had several Revolutionary soldiers who attended these yearly musters, and it seemed to afford them much enjoyment. It was a great treat to sit down and listen to the story of their trials while in the war for independence. Will Cornell, who had been Fife Major in the regular army of New York for 7 years. He would bring his old fife to these musters, on which he would play Yankee Doodle and other airs for hours, to the great delight of the boys who would gather around him. We would also meet at these musters John A. Miller, Peter Stoner, John Walls, Mr. Burlingame, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Routen, Mr. Hammers, Mr. Slavens, Mr. Hall and Mr. Robert Whitehead. I had the pleasure of marrying Mr. Whitehead to the widow of the Mr. Slavens mentioned above. All the persons I have mentioned were Revolutionary pensioners, and Mr. Whitehead and his wife were the last in Putnam county. The most of their pensions passed through my hands at times. Mrs. Barbara Whitehead died but a short time since.
The first man who settled where Greencastle is located was Ephraim Dukes. He moved here in 1822, and lived near where James T. Gifford's shop stands. The next was Silas G. Weeke and family. He was a man near seven feet in height, and lived on the lot now occupied Goodbar's stable. The next was Jubal Dewese. He kept tavern in the old log house where James Talbott kept the first Post Office in 1840. Next came John F. Sellers. He built a house on lot 112, Cohn's old corner, and moved into it December, 1823. His son, Columbus D. Sellers, was the first child born in Greencastle. This occurrence took place October 11, 1824. He afterwards became a ..?.. and died October 4, 1853. The first female child born in the place was Mary Ann Glidewell, daughter of Robert Glidewell. She became the wife of Isaac Mark, and is still living.
The first sale of lots in Greencastle took place September 7, 1823. The first Presbyterian Sunday School was organized April 13, 1834, by Miss Myra Jewett, in a private school house on the lot where Dr. Preston now lives. It was afterwards made a union school, and was quite interesting. The Methodists organized the present Sunday School of Roberts Chapel, March 27,1835. These two schools have worked harmoniously side by side ever since, and it used to be the rule for one to meet in the forenoon and the other in the afternoon. I assisted as a humble teacher in the first school, and had the honor of being the first Sunday School Superintendent in Greencastle.
Perhaps I have already said more than I ought, and will close this article. I have tried to avoid writing this as much as I told, and if any of my friends should think I have made myself too personal, I hope they will excuse me.