Delaware County, Indiana - Chapter 13: The Putnam Diary, 1908

F. E. Putnam came to Muncie, according- to his own words, "October 19, 1838, and first clerked for Charles F. Willard at $20 per month, with board, washing and mending." He began business for himself in 1842 and with that event he began a daily chronicle of his personal, business, and general affairs, which he continued, with unusual faithfulness, until a fewdays before his death, nearly sixty years later. Through the kindness of his daughter, Mrs. Olcott, the sixteen books containing this diary were entrusted to the editor for examination, and as a result the following extracts have been chosen which have pertinence to a general history of the county. Naturally the greater part of the record is devoted to weather conditions and personal matters and minor events that would be out of place in this publication, and yet his outlook from day to day, as expressed in these books, is a record of quaint and continued interest, and one that deserves a cherished place in the family possessions.

The diary fills a very valuable place in the chronology of Muncie, from ' 1842 to 1S82, during which time no newspaper files exist to supply historical data. The diary is not-drawn upon during the years following 1882 since the newspapers have furnished the material for these years. The only omission in the diary is the book for the years 1853-57, and with this exception there is a fairly complete contemporaneous record of the principal happenings of town and county during the long period when Mr. Putnam was one of the merchants of Muncie.

"In closing this year, I deem it very necessary that some general remarks should be made in regard to the present state of our once prosperous country, that the rising generation (if their eyes should chance to meet this 'my log') may warn themselves of the effects of bad government. . . . There never was known a more fruitful season since the fall of man, and why the cause of hard times? No tariff for the protection of 'our home' manufacturers - No uniform currency for the American people excepting depreciated paper, which will not pass two hundred miles from home; State Legislature doing nothing to relieve their people, the general government doing all they can, and the President (Tyler) vetoing (six limes already) - our character lost abroad, our confidence broken at home repudiating the prevailing sentiment of sonic states, and how can we have good times! Indiana state scrip worth 50 cents to the $1 and dull at that - wheat 25 cents, corn 10, oats 8 1/3, butter 4 cents per lb., eggs 3, apples' 25 cents per bushel, and all other things in proportion, no market' abroad and none at home, everything prostrate, all are seeking office and not many getting except the favored few."

1843. March 31 - Thus ends month of March, having been one of more severe cold weather, more snow and more continued frozen ground, than any previous since the memory of our oldest residents. . . . ' It is also remarkable for the visible comet. ... It is also remarkable as no sugar has been made and sold. And still further remarkable for the sustention of men's moral character as well as private by the circuit court of Delaware county. And also for the reduction of prices on goods.

1844. Jan. - An exhibition of mesmerism in Muncie, mentioned in the diary indicates the time when this phase of the occult was beginning to be cultivated.

1846. June 13 - Grand organization of the militia, volunteer' company of sixty raised with Gen. Kilgore as Captain ; T. J. Sample and J. S. Garver, first and second lieutenants.

June - Butter, 6 cents; wheat, 60 cents; flour, $2.25 per hundred. June 26 - Great mass meeting for railroad purposes. Great cry and little wool.

1849- July 28 - California fever raging strong - little else doing. Oct. 1 - J. H. Wysor, J. H. Jamison, Theophilus E. Burt, Stephen Hamilton Sr. and Jr., Arch Hamilton and company, including Thompson Walling, David B. Dowden, Samuel Martin, and others, left for California.

Characteristic and frequently repeated notes refer to the wretched condition of roads, which were invariably bad in the spring and early winter; to chills and fever and ague; to transportation of goods overland from Cincinnati.

1850. Sonic social events : - Jan. 7 - Lecture at court house to-night. Jan. 8 - Cotillon party at Jo Davis's (supper at Neelys). Jan. 10 - Musical concert at court house. March 18 - Mr. Wachtcl died this morning. j

June 17 - Warm and cloudy in the morn with heavy showers in the eve. Railroad celebration and lots of people in town, say 7000, five trains down and six up, and one to York and back. Sample made reception speech and Smith replied.

Dec. 18 - Provisions of all descriptions very scarce. Chickens and turkeys quite plentiful. Eggs in demand at I2>^ to 15; butter, 16 cents a

July 4 - The Glorious old fourth came in very cold, almost ice cold, with the firing of cannon, crackers, ringing of bells, shouting and playing by the band. . . . People commenced arriving about seven o'clock and continued until sundown. Procession formed about ten by soldiers of war of 1812 and Mexican, and then came citizens, led by the Muncie "Sax Horn Band," when wc marched to the fair ground under the marshalship of David Nation and Job Swain. . . . The president, Thomas J. Sample, announced the order of the day to be, music by the band, prayer by chaplain, F. A. Hardin, music by the choir, reading of the Declaration of Indcpend- ,' ence by Dr. George W. Edgerlc, music by the band and choir, tune Hail Columbia, and sung by the multitude, oration by Clark M. Anthony, dinner in pic-nic, toasts regular and volunteer, music and speaking generally - which were all faithfully and energetically carried out.

Dec. 20 - Free schools commenced yesterday, and Mr. Jones, Zimmerman and myself joined in visiting- the school, establishing rules and order in the school.

Dec. 21 - Visited lower school district this morning. Eighty scholars in the lower room and forty in the upper room. Mr. Johnson principal, Misses Jk'lcn Jack and Mary Kurtz, assistants.

June 25 - Report of the nomination of Douglas by the "Rump" convention confirmed . . . also of Breckcnridge and Lane by the National Democracy. Douglas faces long, no excitement or enthusiasm, and the Douglas Democrats don't have much to say.

Nov. 6 - Election day for the president of the United States, the largest vote ever given in the town was given to-day - 634. Everything passed off quietly.

April 15 - Great prospects for war, a fight appearing inevitable. Meeting at court house this evening - Judge Brady, Walter March, Tom Brady, Xcwcomb and others spoke.

April 17 - War excitement and enlisting the order of the day. April 18 - Volunteers left for Indianapolis this morning, escorted bv band, large crowd at depot.

April 22 - 'The star spangled banner flung to the breeze on court house square by order of Judge Buckles. . . . Flags going up all over town. July 2 - Volunteers from this place, Ca'pt. Luther Willson, and Selma, Capt. Williams, left for Indianapolis to-day.

July 4 - The greatest number of people that ever visited Muncie here to-day. The military were out in full force, "Scott Rifles," "Ellsworth Rifles," Horse companies, etc.

July 5 - The Fourteenth Indiana Regiment passed through here to-day on their way to Virginia - basket dinner prepared for them and they were pleased.

Sept. 26 - Fast clay by act of Congress and proclamation of President and Governor, and very universally kept and especially in Muncie, business suspended.

Aug. 8 - John Trimble died to-day, he being among the first settlers of this town and county. T. S. Walterhouse elected captain and David Nation first lieutenant of company just formed.

Aug. 11 - Great excitement on account of grand procession from the Mississinewa river in wagons with volunteers for Capt. John H. Ellis and Taylor.

Sept. 22 - Reported death of G. H. Richardson, teacher and member of 19th Regiment. [Richardson was superintendent of the Muncie public schools when he enlisted. He was killed at South Mountain only a few days after his enlistment. G: W. H. K.]

June 24 - Corner stone of Masonic Hall laid by Dept. G. M. Caleb B. Smith and a very large assemblage of Masons, said to be over four hundred.

News of the army movements from day to day, the passing of the various regiments through Muncie, a trainload of rebel prisoners, a visit from an escaped Libby prisoner, the frequent event of a father, relative or friend bringing home a soldier's corpse for burial, fairs and sociables for the benefit of the army, and many similar notices indicate the progress of the great war, though these references are so brief and so detached that it would be impracticable to record more of them than are here set down.

1864. April 19 - 20th Indiana passed through on their way to Washington. April 20 - 8th Indiana veterans returned this evening looking fine. April 25 - The government calls for 20,000 One Hundred day men - great excitement among the boys, volunteering fast.

Nov. 24 - Thanksgiving day appointed by the President in all the states - meeting in Methodist church morn and eve. Men turned out and chopped wood for the poor, subscription in cash $140.

April 10 - Glorious news from General Grant. General Lee surrendered with his North Virginia army. Great rejoicing, firing of cannon, guns, crackers, burning boxes, barrels, etc., marching in all shapes, people drunk and happy.

April 15 - Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States, died this morning at . . . o'clock from pistol shot from the hand of an assassin at his private box in Ford's theatre last night. By order the business houses were closed at one o'clock to-day. The assassin of President Lincoln is reported to be Booth.

April 19 - The day appointed by governor as a day of fasting and prayer. The day very strictly observed, preaching at the church, all business houses draped in mourning.

Nov. 10 - Great excitement over the robber)- of George H. Baxter's bank safe, which he found broken open and completely robbed of bonds, monev, etc., loss about $16,000.

Mar. 11 - Dramatics to-night (probably one of the early private theatricals mentioned elsewhere in this work ; these "dramatics" continued, in the Universalist church, to be mentioned, and they were probably rehearsals).

Oct. 10 - Perhaps the grandest day in every respect Muncic ever had. At five o'clock A. M. Hackleman's Battery announced General Fremont's [ arrival, and from that time until after one o'clock P. M. there was a con- I stant stream of people in every conceivable conveyance until they numbered upwards of thirty thousand, being by much the largest number ever here. - Speaking at the fair grounds by Fremont, Morton and others.

Xov. (3 - Dr. William C. Willard, one of the oldest practicing physicians of the county, died to-day, aged about 60 years; much respected for his eminent medical ability.

July 4 - Old Settlers meeting at the Fair ground largely attended considering everything. Speeches made by Asahel Thornburg, John Simmons, Job Swain, James Hodge, John Richey, Samuel Gregory, William G. Williams, Thomas J. Sample, William J. Moore, Warren Stewart, and others. The oldest lady present, Mrs. George Turner, having been in the county over fifty years.

June 11 - Muncie improving more this, than any former year, and (improvements) are of a substantial character - Wysor's opera house, Brady and Mellette printing office, Mark Walling's dwelling, Hummel's front part three-story.

Sept. 3 - Considerable building in town, Wysor's Opera House (at Main and Walnut), Odd Fellows, and Davis, Willard and Huffer arc laying brick.

Nov. 5 - Presidential election between U. S. Grant, Republican, and Horace Greeley, Liberal Republican and Democrat. Total vote in Center township, mo, 21 less than at state election.

Nov. 9 - F. E. Putnam's house lit with gas this eve. (Several items had appeared concerning the erection of the gas works during this fall).

March 25 - R. and I. Mecks commenced tearing down the old Jere Howell tavern (built in 1838). Mrs. Livcrmore gave a grand lecture at the opera house last night and at the M. E. church this morning. Twelfth prayer meeting and twenty-sixth crusade.

May 16 - The Women's Crusade of this city laid the cornerstone of the house of R. & I. Mecks on the south side of Main between Walnut and Mulberry, and deposited various articles in the sealed box.

"Tliis was the "Women's Crusade," which swept over Ohio ami Indiana. I now have in my possession a small handbill, which rends ns follows: "Temperance War! The friends of temperance are requested to meet nt Simpson Chapel, M. E. Church, at 3 o'clock this afternoon, to express their sympathy with the noble women who, in this state ami Ohio, are resisting the whisky traffic, and to take steps to prevent the granting of licenses in this city."

iS75- Jan. 9 - Public library opened this morning, free. March 2 - Asher Storer, an old citizen, buried to-day. May 26 - James W. Heath died last evening.

July 4 - The 100th anniversary of our American Independence. All the bells of the city commenced ringing at ten o'clock, firing of all kinds of powder, noise and confusion all night. Grand parade.

March 20 - James L. Stephenson died this morning. April 22 - Joseph A. Walling died this morning. April 29, - Job Swain, one of our oldest citizens, died this morning. June 26 - Calvin Breese, an old settler, buried yesterday. Nov. II - Rev. Wm. M. Stryker, the second pastor of the Presbyterian church in this city, preached with us to-day - first time since 1852.

Oct. 22 - Commenced laying iron on the L. E. & W. R. R. (on 20th) and are up to Liberty street this evening. (This was the so-called Toledo road, from Muncie northeast to Albany, for which a tax had been voted by the county a short time before.)

March 24 - Commenced tearing down the old Keasby property on the southeast corner of Main and Jefferson streets, once occupied as a dwelling and postoffice kept by Edward G. Keasby years ago.