S_Photographers
DAVID & JAMES SPURGIN
James S. Spurgin was a Civil War Soldier in Company K, 16th Indiana Infantry, leaving his parents, David and Amanda and going off to war. He received a pension as did his wife, Clara Baker Spurgin upon his death. They were married October 30th in 1873 married until his death 24 July 1888 (after a severe stroke that paralyzed his face and the whole right side of his body), born July 26, 1843. He was a photographer in Greencastle from at least 1869 to his death, his specialty being portraits. In August of 1886 in the "When" show window his large portrait of a Miss Hendricks of Terre Haute was on display for quite some time as it was so impressive. An August 1885 Star Press news item noted that he had had a rash of sickness and had lost over 15 pounds but that his "famous homemade turtle soup" would soon make him well again! He is listed as a photographer in the 1870 & 1880 census.
His father David's main concern was jewelry and was apprenticed at age one to a Samuel Hensley in Mt. Sterling KY as a silversmith. He then lived and did his business from 1833-47 in Carlisle, Kentucky and from then to 1852 in Winchester Ky until he came to Greencastle in 1852. He is lived as a Jeweler in 1860 but he was very creative and decided to tackle photographer about that time - listed in the 1868 Greencastle Business Directory as a photographer. Mainly James did that part but they both worked together. After James' death, David mainly worked at his jewelry business in the same building as he'd used for many years. In fact, he passed away there in June 1892. At his death he had one son left, who became a Brigadier General (William Fletcher Spurgin)
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Source: Greencastle Banner 29 Nov 1877 p3
Jim Spurgin has taken large photographs of his father, Dr. Stevenson, Jacob Troutman and Charles Allison that show excellent workmanship.