Greencastle Township

Greencastle Township

-^-^r^^^l^IlE (Jcend Assembly r^^^&lfmi of Indiana, at the same session wmen organized the county, appointed Jacob Lowe, !|^'rf^^^^r|Fij of Muiiroc County, Daniel Anderson, of Owen County, and Judge Colman, of Vermillion County, commissioners to locate and name the seat of justice for Put- j |b nam County. After consid- I r< ', . i^5/> ; di'V.y. (>(-(>, isimicl by the examination of several '' ^Wlf'Y^ rival places, pointed out by person^ residing in different parts of the county, each anxious to secure | the location of the county seat in his own neighborhood, the present site of Greencastle | was selected and established as the capital j and seat of justice for the county.

That part <»!' the city which lies between Locust mid Indiana streets was granted by Ephraim Dukes, having been entered by him January 25, 1821, and was deeded by him to Amos Robertson, agent for Putnam County, on the 27th day of September, 1823. in consideration of the location of the county seat at that place.

The west half of the old plat was given by John W. (lark, a son-in-law of Mr. Dukes. This grant was entered by Mr. Clark on the 17th day of September, 1822. The <1,^\ conveying this land to John Laird, agent for Putnam County, was not recorded until June 7, 1825.

No. VJ.\ and P>4. Four other lots were re- j square brought from §3 to $7 apiece, Each served as places for the erection of churches ' of these lots, both these lying adjacent to the of as in any different religious denominations j public square and those at a distance from - the Methodists, the Baptists, the Presby- j the same, constituted an entire quarter of a terians and the New Lights. The former ' square.

three denominations became firmly estab- j Business was begun almost immediately lished in the town and the county, and to the i upon the sale of lots. The first house built present day are influential bodies of Chris- j in town after it was laid out was put up by a tians. ! man called Jug John Wilson. The first

[t is a matter of interest to know the esti- j house erected on the square was built Uy mate placed by purchasers upon certain ! Pleasant Wilson,, it stood on or near She

>y me Thorn burg Block, ;\i \m\ who were the first owners of favorite \ the northwest corner of the public square. selections. At the first sale of lots, which i The first goods sold by a resident merchant took place on September 1, 1822. Lot No, iU, '. near Grecncastlc were sold by Joseph Thorn - the same being the south iiait* on the west ijuro, in the rear 1823. The first store opened for business in town was owned and managed by General Joseph Orr, who has recently died at La Porte, Indiana. Me eommeneed selling goods at Greencastle in the veai 1823, on the north side of thb square, north of the former, and now occupied with the Thornbnrg P>loek, sold to Joseph Thornburg for $b'0; Nt. 100, the west half on the north side of the pubiic square, sold to Juhal i near the northwest corner. The next mer- Deweese for AS?'; No. 1 1 :3, the next lot east, : chant in Greencastle was Lewis II. Sand-. sold to Joshua II. Lucas for *oi; No. 121, ! In the spring or summer of the year 1823 the north haif on the east side o! the public I Mr. Sands, then quite a young man, brought

122, lying immediately south of X<\ 121, | Louisville, Kentucky After his arrival at sold to Thomas Deweese for §100; No. 112, I Greencastle he erected a log store-house on the east half on the South side of the public I the lot east of that occupied by the store of square, sold to John Oat man for £0tf; No. Mr. Orr, In this house Mr. Sands continued 101, the next lot west, sold to Samuel M, \ to transact business for a number of yt-iu^, IJigu-s for §i0. and his store soon became recognized as one

At the second sale, Lot No. 90, the same of the prominent features of the town, and being outside of the southwest corner of the ; indeed of the county.

93, outside of the northwest corner, sold to j sions soon began to arrive. The first physi- Abraham Wooley for $158; No. 120, occupy- I cian who practiced medicine in the town and ing a similar position at the northeast cor- ; vicinity was Dr. Enos Lowe. The date of ner, sold to Samuel Hunter for $83.50; No. ' his arrival cannot now be stated with eer-

123, at the southeast corner of the square, ; tainty, but it was very soon after the estab - now occupied by D. L. Southard's Block, ! lishment of the town. In the fall of 1820 rival for the sent of county government. The location of the National Road through Putnamville was a strong but insufficient argument in favor of that village. The controversy led to bitter feuds between the erected on the lot recently owned by David | inhabitants of Greencastle and those of Put- Teage, deceased, and now occupied by his ! namville. The village grew by degrees and on the ground occupied by Edward flanne- j William II. Thornburg, a native of Washman's opera-house, and it was removed by j ington County, Virginia, brought up in him to make room for that building, being Tennessee, well educated and having a large the last of the old log houses to disappear | experience in steamboating. He came in 1824, from the borders of the public square. I at the age of twenty yea r= to Putnam County,

The first child born in Greencastle was j and engaged for awhile in teaching school Columbus D. Seller, son of John F. Seller, I for the neighborhood settled along Little on the 11th of October, 1824. Mary Ann j Walnut. After tho death of his wile, which Glidewell, daughter of Robert Glidewell, ' occurred in a few years, he returned again to was the first ^irl born in the town. She be- | the river. Coming a second time to the came the wife of Isaac Mark, and is still j county in 1830, lie settled in Greencastle, and, in 1835, erected on the present site of the National Bank building the first brick store in town. About the same time he erected a brick house on the corner of Xndi- The next who died there was Benjamin i ana ami Poplar streets. Captain Thornbun? Akers. lie was buried in the old cemetery, j owning the first money-safe in the county, and his grave was the first in that place of I his store became, in effect, a place of deposit, rest. j where spectators, merchants and tanners

The town is located near the geographical \ alike found a secure place of keeping their center of Putnam County, and is in latitude : surplus funds. The first sidewalk in Greenair 40' 43.2" X. and longitude 80° 51' 49.2" j castle was laid from Captain Thornburgs store west from Greenwich. It is situated upon j to the Methodist church, on the corner of very high ground, somewhat undulating, is ! Indiana and Poplar streets.

cultural country. Its founders mostly came ter of its improvements and the number of from the State of Kentucky, and they laid j its inhabitants; but it is impossible to follow out the town after the style of the towns of i these advancements step by step as they octhcir native State - with a court-house square \ eurred. This must be left to the biograin the center. The town of Putnaraville, ilvc j pliers of the noble few who still linger about miles south of Greencastle, was for a time its j the scenes of their early days.

The town not only improved in character i and population, but also grow in extent". The first addition made to its territory was a donation of live acres of land on the southeast, by Isaac Legg, who then owned what is known as the .Southern Enlargement of Greeneastle. j This land was entered hy him on April 11, 1823.

What is known as the Eastern Enlarge- ! incut was sold hy Dr. John Shivens, who had recently removed from Kentucky, to a com- j panv composed of the following-named gen- ! tlemen: Alexander ('. Stevenson, John V. \ Seller, John Thornhurg. Sam uel Taylor, Allen j B. Lyon, Lewis 11. Sands, Join. Standeford, I Daniel Siegler, Ueose llurdesty, William E. I Talbutt, IHram E. Tnlbott and William K. j Cooper. iJy them it was laid out in town j lots October 20, LS35.

entered by Masten Hunter, October .17, 1822, j and May 10. lS23,and sold hy him to James j Allen. This addition was laid out by John j Allen, administrator of the estate of .fames S Allen, cm February 28. 1838.

Other additions to the town of more or less importance have been made at various places and different times, but events of j another kind demand notice.

The history of Greeneastle for a period of j more than fifty years was one of uninter- j rnpted prosperity. During that time no great calamity of any kind befell the city to j mar the general prosperity or happiness of its citizens. No great epidemic or contagion j lias ever spread vt-itjj i/i its borders, and the !

The history of the city up to the memorable night of October 28, 1874, shows a remarkable exemption from tires, only four of any note having occurred previous to that date. These were the destruction of Mr. Sinclair's woolen-mill in 1865, Mr. Ifigert's brewery in 1871, Mr. Gage's flouriug-mil] in 1872, and the female college in the year following, ^n consequence of this immunity from anything like a general conflagration. the city was totally unprepared for such an emergency when the time of trial came.

On the night mentioned, about half-past 10 o'clock, the planing-mill of 0. J. Kimble Oe Son caught lire and was soon enveloped in names. A brisk gale from the southwest carried the horning embers in its course, and in the short, space of four or five hours nearly .>ix squares of the best business blocks and private residences were hud waste. In those few hours were consumed thirty-seven business houses, twelve dwellings, two liverystables, one hotel, one furniture-factory, one express office and the postofh'ce. Added to these, a large number of out-houses and a vast amount of personal property fell a prey to the devouring flames. Both in its suddenness and destructiveuess, the damage done to Greeneastle was greater in proportion to size, population and wealth than that done to Chicago hy the great fire in that city.

At the anniversary meeting held by the citizens one year after the tire, the committee on losses and insurance reported a loss of capital amounting to 8256,134, on which there was an insurance of $110,281. The same committee reported that there should be added to the above sum a considerable amount of unestimated loss, making the total much larger than that presented, and the

On the night of March 8, 1875, another fire broke out, originating in Sherfey's furniture store. The flames were soon communicated to the block of buildings fronting on the south side of the square, the best block remaining in the city. The reported losses by this fire were in the aggregate §4:3.077, on which there was an insurance of §37,627.

Never did the character of Greencastle's citizens show to better advantage than during the year succeeding the tire. Within that time there were made, or ;. early completed, brick and stone improvements to the value of 8252.500, and wooden buildings and repairs worth §98,305, making a total of §350,- 8(35. These works required the consumption of 4,805,000 brick, v\<\ stone valued as it came from the quarry at 830,000. Daring the same period there w«*re made by the city street improvements worth §0,000. Within the same time the s ity had provided two lire-engines, two engine-houses with alarm-bells, eleven cisterns and one pool, having a united capacity of nearly ten thousand barrels, and there was organized a lire department in two companies, already welldrilled and disciplined, to fight the fire-fiend wherever he might show his lurid front.

At the end of the year there were in the city seventy-five mercantile houses, employing a business capital, exclusive of cash and real estate necessary for their various operations, amounting in the aggregate to §355,- 000, doing a business of over §900,000 per annum, employing directly about one hundred and seventy-live persons, and supporting over four hundred and fifty.

There were, also, eighteen manufacturing establishments, having a combined capital of §'100,000, and employing three hundred and fifty-eight operatives. The weekly payments for labor in these were §4,515, and per annum §212.000. The annual products from these factories were worth at first sale §587,400. The value of raw material consumed cannot be given. These estimates for merchandising and manufacturing arc given exclusive of persons indirectly employed, stieli as railroaders, draymen and common laborers.

In the year 1800 the census showed i population of about 2,200, and in the year 1870 nearly 3,400. In 1880 there were 8,644 inhabitants, and there are in ISS7 certainly 4,000. This is exclusive of several hundred students who are here ten months of each year, in attendance on DePauw University.

The city, by reason of being high, has been inaccessible to railroads, and the three roads that have been built have of necessity been placed on lower ground on two opposite sides of it. The result of this has been to cause the dwellings to bo scattered over the intervening space between the depots, a distance of a mile and a half.

The early growth of the city was in extent of territory, causing it to become what is called a scattered place; but the more recent tendency is to fill up the intervening spaces, giving it much more the appearance of a city. Yet there is room within its borders for many more citizens, and by reason of the undulating surface, many elegant buildinglots may be found upon high, eligible sites, near to business and with ample room for all the comforts and conveniences of the most luxurious home.

Incorporation

The town of Greencastlc was incorporated under charter of the Legislature of the State of Indiana, on the 0th day of March, 1849. The charter was written by Delana I*. Eckels, who was chosen first town mayor. Henry

Daniels was the first clerk. The first common council were: For the First Ward, Russell L. Hathaway; for the Second Ward, Isaac Ash; for the Third Ward, Albert G. Preston; for the Fourth Ward, Hiram Marshall; for the Fifth Ward, Joseph F. Farley.

The following-named persons appear of record to have served as mayor under the town government: Delana K. Eckels, from March 9, 1849, to May 2, 1850; Russell L. Hathaway, from May 2, 1850, to March 13, 1851; John Hanna, from March 13, 1851, to March 7, 1^54; Hiram Marshall, from March 7, 1851, to October 2, 1850; Dillard C. Donnohue, from October 2, 1850, to March 5, 1857; Joseph F. Farley, from March 5, 1857, to October 0, 1859; Keuben S. Ragan, from October G, 1859, to March 15, i860; J.. S. Baehelder, from March 15, 1860, to January 3, 1861 ; from. January 3, 1801, to March 7, 1861, Henry J lough, recorder, filled the office of mayor pro tempore; Edward It. Kerchival, from March 7, 1861, to August 9, of the same year. This last-named date jnarks the close of the town government.

At the last named date the city charter superseded that of the town, and the city government went into operation under the following corps of officers: Mayor, Edward R. Kerchival; Clerk, Henry G. Hough; Treasurer, William Atherton; Marshal, Benjamin Prichard. Since that time the followingnamed persons have held the office of mayor: Edward R. Kerchival, from the date of organization to May 12, 1862: Marshall A. Moore, from May 12, 1862, to May 7, 1866; Milton A. Osborn, from May 7, 1866, to May 11, 1868. During this term, the name of Eli .1). Anderson frequently appears as mayor pro tempore. The next mayor was II. W. Daniels, who held the office from May 11, 1868, to May 5, 1870, and was succeeded by William A. Brown, from the last-named date to May 13, 1872, when he was followed in office by .Mayor William D. Allen, until May 8, 1876, and Lucius i\ Chapin, from May 8, 1876, to the 13th of May, 1880. Then John II. Miller was mayor until the 8th of May, 1884, when Joseph Wr. McClary, the present mayor, came into office. The other city officers in 1887 are: Clerk, Elislia Oowgill; Treasurer, James A. Jackson; Marshal, Emory Starr; Councilmen, First Ward, D. L. Peters and. Jacob Ratliff (deceased); Second Ward, F. P. Nelson and II. C. Darnall; Third Ward, Charles Callender and Patrick Martiii.

Cii Chores

The building of the first church in Greencastle by the Methodist;-^ and the early history of that denomination, as well as the account of the first organization of the Presbyterian church, has already been given as belonging to the early history of the county. The old log church continued in use as a, place of worship until the year 1833, when the congregation erected a square brick church on lot 126, at the corner of Indiana and Poplar streets. After the old log church ceased to be used as such, it was removed by John Hammond, and rebuilt near his residence for a wash-house, for which purpose it continued to serve until it was consumed in the great fire of October 28, 1871.

The church on the corner of Indiana and Poplar streets was the home of the congregation until the erection of Roberts Chapel, when it was remodeled and furnished as a parsonage, for which it was occupied until it fell a prey to the flames on the memorable 28th of October, 1874, at which time it was occupied by Rev. Samuel Beck and family.

Roberts Chapel, on lot 155, fronting on College avenue at the crossing of Poplar street, was built in the year 1847, and for thirty-one years has been a place of worship.

Upon the change of the first Sunday-school in Greencastle to the Presbyterian chnrch, the Methodists organized an independent Sunday-school in their church, on the corner of Indiana and Poplar streets, March 27, 1835. In 1847 it was removed to Roberts Chapel, where it has ever since continued its regular meetings.

The Second Charge Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1850, and Simpson Chapel, a commodious, well-constructed twostory brick edifice, was built at the corner of College avenue and Seminary street. This charge remained in the Northwest Indiana Conference until the year 1852, when it was transferred to the Indiana Conference, in which connection it continued until its retransfer in 1868. It remained a separate congregation until 1871, when it and Roberts Chapel congregation were consolidated. In the year 1875 Simpson Chanel was given to the Locust Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and the materia] was rebuilt into the edifice of that church.

The year 1872 marks the establishment of the Greencastle Mission, under the pastoral charge of Rev. William C. Davidson. For the next two years it was known as South Greencastle Charge, and under the ministry of Rev. IE. A. Rnchtel rapidly grew into an influential congregation, which, in the year 1875. was organized into Locust Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and its present house of worship, occupying the old site of the Female College at the corner of Locust :m<\ Anderson streets, was erected. This charge was transferred to the Indiana Conference in the fall of 1877.

After the dissolution of the First Presbyterian congregation in Greencastle, the Rev. James Shields, while a missionary in Putnam County, about the year 1831, labored a part of the time in Greencastle. A new organization was effected July 14, 1833, by .Rev. S. G. Lowery and Rev. W. W. Woods; but no elders were elected until 1834, when John S. Jennings and James S. llillis were chosen to that office. This congregation erected a brick church on lot 23, in the year 1830. This house is now occupied as a residence. The next house of worship of this church, a two-story brick edifice, was begun and put in a state to be occupied in the year 1853; but it was not completed and dedicated until 1864. This building was destroyed by lire, on the 16th of April, 1870. The congregation then worshiped in Brown's Hall until the erection of the present handsome brick church in 1879, at the corner of College a enue and Poplar street, The first resident minister of this church was Rev. James 11. Wheelock, who, in turn, was followed by ll-,-. James II. Shields, Rev. Ransom Ifawley, Rev. Thomas H. Milligan and Rev, T. M. Oviatt.

The Second Presbyterian Church was rganized in 1849, and a church, was built on. lot 171, at the corner of Washington street and College avenue. This building was occupied until about the year 1808, when a substantial two-story brick was erected at the corner of Locust and Anderson streets, on the site now occupied hy the Locust Street Methodist Episcopal Church. After the union of the two branches of Prosbyterianism, March 9, 1870, this building passed into the hands of the Female College of Indiana, hy which it was occupied until it was burned in the fall of 1873.

The lirst Sunday-school in Greencastle was organized April 13, 1834, hy Miss Myra Jewett, the present wife of John S. Jennings, Esq., in a private school-house on th.a lot where Dr. A. G. Preston now lives. It was afterward made a union school, and Esquire Jennings became, the first Sunday-school superintendent in Green castle. This school was finally transferred to the Presbyterian church, and has had a continuous existence of over fifty-three years.

The Baptist church was established in Greencastle at a very early day, and a brick church was built west of the square, which was occupied for a number of years. Another was then erected on lot 179, the site of their present building. It was blown down by a hurricane in the winter of 1867. The house now in use was built soon after the destruction of the former one. and stands at the corner of Poplar and Water streets.

For a number of years the Christian church of Greencastle worshiped in the courthouse- Their present church building dates from the year 1855.

There are three colored churches in Greencastle - the African Methodist Episcopal Church, on Locust street, the Ilanna Street African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Baptist Church, at the south end of town.

The Catholic church (generally called the Mother Church) was the pioneer church of Indiana, missions having been established among the Indians long before the settlement of the country by tiie white race, by her missionaries, who traversed the country from the Ohio River to Jie great lakes preaching salvation to the red man, and teaching him the great truths contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Wherever a tribe was found, there the humble priest of the Catholic church erected the altar of God and celebrated the sacrifice of the mass, speaking words of love and peace to the poor, untutored sons of the forest. Many of those noble men yielded up their lives at the hands of those they came to save, but at last devotion to the cause of Christ conquered the barbarian, and love for the "black robe" (as the priest was called

The Catholic church was not established in Putnam County as early as in the other parts of the State. Father Larimer, a French priest located at Terre Haute, celebrated the j first mass, and preached the first sermon, in i a small private house near the Vandalia j depot, about the year 1850. After him came i Father William Doyle, a missionary, who ] established a church on Locust street in i 1853, and named it St. Benedict. This building was used until 1869 or 1870, when the Presbyterian church was purchased. The ! Catholics enlarged and improved this build- | ing, which was then dedicated by the Rt. j Rev. Maurice DePallias, Bishop of Vincennes, : in which diocese Greencastle is located, and | received the mime of St. Paul's Catholic i Church, in honor of that great apostle. After | Father Doyle came Father O'FIaherty, who | was located at Crawfordsville. The next was I Father Highland, who presided over the ' church in Putnam, Parke and Owen couni ties. Owing to the scarcity of priests, one J often had jurisdiction over several counties. j Father Mogin. also of Crawfordsville, and j officiating in Montgomery, Putnam, Parke, i Monroe, Lawrence and Fountain counties, ! was the next pastor of this church, and the | purchaser of their present house. He was followed by Fathers Clement, Bischof O'Don - ovan and Thomas II. Logan, the present incumbent, all located at Greencastle.

The church here is in a flourishing condition, being composed of about one hundred families. In 1875 the congregation erected the priest's residence on the corner of Washington street and College avenue, adjoining the church. It is an elegant property, and together with the church, is worth about $8,000. A parochial school building is now in process of construction.

Educational

The public schools of the city are the growth of the last twenty-two years. Prior to ,1865 the city had no public-school buildings worthy the name. Her schools, such as they were, were taught in abandoned churches, dilapidated old buildings, curiously called forts, and in old dwellings unlit for human habitation. Since 18G5 the city has been awake to this most important interest. Late in that year two citizens of Greencastle procured the passage by the Legislature of the act authorizing cities to issue bonds to aid in building school-houses. Under the beneficent operations of this act, three commodious and costly school-houses have been erected, and an excellent system of graded schools established, offering to the children of the city as good an education as can be given in any city in the State.

The public-school property is worth not less than $75,000. The Second Ward building was completed and occupied in the fall of 1867, the one in the First Ward two years later, and the building in the Third AVard in the fall of 1877. The First Ward building is on the north side of Liberty street, the Second Ward building is on the south side of Anderson street, east of Bloomington, and the Third Ward building is on the south side of Elm street, east of Central avenue. Alvah Brockway is President of the School Board; William E. Stevenson, Secretary; A. T.

Source changes here: from Weik's History of Putnam County, Indiana, by Weik, Jesse William, published 1910; 4,748 words in this source stream.

Greencastle Township

The history of Greencastle, especially the earlier part of it, is so thoroughly inter\vo\-en with that of the county that much of it has already been recorded in these pages. But there came a time, in later years, when the city, apart from its importance as the center of county government, began to have a histor\- of its own and thus it happens that some things yet remain to be noted.

Greencastle was a village or town operating under authority of the county commissioners until March 9. 1849, when it was incoq^orated as a town by special act of the Legislature. The charter was written by the late D. R. Eckels. When the election of town officers was held Judge Eckels was chosen mayor and Henry W. Daniels, clerk. The following were also the first councilmen: first ward. Russell L. Hathaway; second ward. Isaac Ash; third ward. Albert G. Preston: fourth ward, Hiram Marshall: fifth ward, Joseph F. Farley.

Judge Eckel's term as mayor ended May 2. 1850. when he was succeeded by Russell L. Hathaway, who served till March 13. 185 1 : John Hanna, who .served till March 7. 1854: Hiram Marshall, till October 2. 1856: Dillard C. Donnohue. till March 5, 1857; Joseph F. Farley, to October 6, 1859; Reuben S. Ragan. till March 15. i860; J. S. Bachelder. till Januar>- 3. 1861 ; Henry Hough, (town recorder) f^ro tciii till March 7. 1861 ; E. R. Kercheval till August 9. 1 86 1, when the town government closed.

From Town' To City

The proposition to incorporate as a city having carried, provisions were at once made to hold an election .\ugust 3, 1861, for the purpose of selecting "the following citv officers to serve until the annual eIecti(Mi in May, 1862:

A[ayor. clerk, marslial. assessor, treasurer, engineer and two councilmen from each ward." The number of wards was reduced from five to three and the boundaries of the same fixed as follows: "All that part of said town lying west of Ephraim street and north of Hanna street shall constitute the first ward. All that part lying east of Ephraim street and north of Hanna street to the east end of said street, thence by a line due east to the corporation line, shall constitute the second ward. All that part lying south of Hanna street and a line due east from the east end of Hanna street shall constitute the third ward." The voting places were: First ward, court house; second ward. Cowgill's law office; third ward, West End German church.

The result of the election was: E. R. Kercheval, mayor; Harry G. Hough, clerk ; P. H. ^IcCamy, engineer ; Thomas J. Johnson, assessor ; William Atherton. treasurer; councilmen, first ward, James D. Stevenson and William S. Mulholn; second ward. Gasper Renick and Otho Ward; third ward, Gustavus H. Voss and Austin M. Puett. Since then the following persons have held the office of mayor: E. R. Kercheval, till 1862; Marshall A. Moore, till 1866; Milton A, Osborne, 1868; Henry W. Daniels, 1870; William A. Brown, 1872; William D. Allen, 1876; Lucius P. Chapin, 1880; John R. Miller, 1884; Joseph S. McClar}^ 188S; Elisha Cowgill, 1890; Charles B. Case, 1894; Jonathan Birch, 1902; John H. James, 1904, and James McD. Hays, 19 ID. The present incumbent of the office is John R. Miller, who was elected in November, 1909, to serve from January i, 1910. for a period of four years.

Coming Of The Railroads

The importance of Greerxastle as a commercial point dates from about 1850. At that time the long-discussed project of uniting Indianapolis and Terre Haute bv rail began to be reahzed. The Terre Haute & Richmond (now the Vandalia) railroad, which was planned to parallel and run in sight of the National road - the great highway connecting Baltimore with St. Louis - between Indianapolis and the Wabash river at Terre Haute, was forced to make a detour of several miles from its bee-line course in order to reach Greencastle. Building of the road began simultaneously at Indianapolis and Terre Haute and the two sections were joined about midway between Greencastle and Fillmore on February 18. 1852, after which regular trains were run. Meanwhile the New Albany & Salem (now the Monon) railroad was in process of construction through Greencastle with the design of connecting the Ohio river at New Albany with Lake Michigan at Michigan City. The track-Iavers reached Greencastle ^Larch 17. 1854. and in a few w-eeks regular trains were run. In its issue March 22, 1854. noticing the completion of the road, the Banner says : "The track of the New Albany & Salem railroad from the north was finished to our place on last Friday. The whistle of the locomotive in that part of the town is now daily heard. We have not learned when the passenger trains will commence running. There is now ready at this place ready for shipment by this road via Detroit to New York some fifteen or twenty thousand barrels of pork, lard, etc. A good beginning."

The completion of these railroads* gave a great impetus to the business of Greencastle as the following comparative statement of hogs packed in the winter of 1853-54 will indicate: Madison, 122,450; Terre Haute, 78.169: Indianapolis, 44.900: Greencastle, 22.400: Lafayette. 21.000; Connersville, 21.- 000; Vincennes. 19.202: Princeton, 17,207; Logansport, 16.000: Evansville, 13.356; Crawfordsville, 12,000; Richmond, 10,000.

The trade of the town has so increased in volume that a bank of deposit and exchange was necessary to meet the growing demands of business and accordingly, in February, 1856, the Exchange Bank of Greencastle (under the acts of the Legislature of May, 1852, and March. 1855) was organized. William D. Allen was president, A. D. Wood, cashier, and the concern numbered among its stockholders, John S. Allen, Jehu Hadley, Jacob McGinness, Thomas O. .Allen, John Wain, Russell L. Hathaway. J. D. Stevenson. John Gilmore, and David L. Southard. In every respect the town was abreast of the times.

It is, however, somewhat refreshing to read in the files of the early papers of the crude and primitive methods of doing business and the lack of comforts and conveniences in the few public utilities of that period. Thus, for several years after the railroads began operations the mail was still carried o\erland by horse-power, as this editorial notice in the Baiuicr in the fall of 1856 will indicate: "We do hope the government will make an arrangement with the railroad to carry the mail between Terre Haute and Indianapolis, if for no other reason, to save the poor horses now employed in the service from being run to death this hot and dry weather."

First Telegr.Xph Line

Even the telegraph lines were not used by the railroads for several years after the latter were put into operation. The first telegraph line connecting

*The Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroarl, or rather that part of it between Indianapolis and Terre Haute, was completed July 11. 1870. This made the third railroad thro\)!;h Greencastle. Since that time the Indiana. Decatur & Western, now a part of the Cincinnati. Hamilton * Dayton Railroad, has been built through the northern part of the county, ami the Terre Haute. Indianapolis & Eastern, an electric line, has been built through Greencastle. There ar?, therefore, four steam roads and one electric road through the county.

Weik S History Of

Greencastle with the outside world was constructed by tlie Cincinnati & St. Louis Telegraph Company in 1850. The line ran from Cincinnati via Hamilton, Ohio. Connersville. Rushville. Shelbyville, Indianapolis, Danville, Greencastle. Terre Haute, Indiana. Paris. Charleston. Hillsboro, and Alton, Illinois, thence to St. Louis. For a time the office in Greencastle was over a store on the southeast corner of the public square, then was removed to the upper story of a room on the north side of the square. The operator was the late Henry \V. Daniels, who likewise had charge of the maintenance of the line between Manhattan, where it struck the National road, and Danville, Indiana. The line only touching the larger places, the service was somewhat limited and it wa.s a long time before sending messages by telegraph became very general.

Late in the forties, before lines were built or offices opened for business, men traveled over the country explaining the "magnetic telegraph" and enlightening the people as to its operation and use. They were doubtless selling stock in some of the lines then being promoted. A citizen of Greencastle, who was a toy then, relates that he remembers seeing the experiments conducted by one of these men in the old Presbyterian church in the west part of town. The stranger placed one instrument in the pulpit and another in the opposite end of the room, connecting the two by a wire running outside through a window, then around the building and back in through another window. The operator not only transmitted messages by sound, but ignited and exploded a handful of gunpowder by means of the electric spark. The house was filled with people, all of whom were impressed if not actually awed, at the contemplation of the possibilities of this wonderful mysterious power.

In 1859 the old highway line was abandoned and thereafter all business was done over the railroad lines, which prompts the Banner in August, 1859, to admonish the public that "a reliable telegraph operator and a telegraph in first-class working order running from Terre Haute to Indianapolis over the Terre Haute & Richmond railroad has i-ecently been erected. A battery has been located at the depot at this place for the benefit of the company and the public. The New Albanv & Salem railroad will also install a telegraph along their road in a short time, when the public will have the privilege of sending dispatches to all points of the compass." It is recalled that in July, 1861, an eager, impatient throng filled the little telegraph office in the "depot" of the St. Louis. Xew Albany & Chicago railroad at the foot of Jackson street during the greater part of the night anxiously awaiting the meager and unsatisfactory news as it slowly dripped from the wires indicating the rising or falling of the tide at the distant battle of Bull Run.

But in many things we of today are not much in advance of our fathers after all; and when we think of their crude appliances and primitive equipment we wonder they were ever able ti5 effect the little history tells us thev accomplished. The traveler wlio hoards the richly upholstered, vestibuled, gas-lighted train at the noon hour in Greencastle and by virtue of a bee-line route, a smooth track and the fewest possible stops rolls into Chicago by six o'clock, often wonders what the past generation would think could it but witness or realize the magnitude of the accomplishment. Here is the time table of the Xew Albany & Salem railroad published within a year after the first train ran over it : Chicago and Detroit Express : Leaves Greencastle. 12 :io p. m. ; Crawfordsville, 1:45; Lafayette. 3:30: Michigan City. 7:30, and Chicago. 9 :30 p. m. To make this journey within the prescribed time and with the rude macliinery in vogue almost sixty years ago required numerous stops, a change of trains entire at Michigan City and that. too. with twentveight more miles of track to cover than the present route!

Ax E.Xterprisixg Spirit

Xor can it be said that w ith all our present commercial ad\-antages we are more enterprising or aggressive than the Greencastle of fifty years ago. Merchants' associations and other commercial bodies, to advertise and develop the material and industrial resources of our city are not original with us of the twentieth century. As early as 1857, the Board of Trade - an institution designed to call the "attention of outside capital to our natural advantages for manufacturing purposes" - was organized in the old court house. John A. ^Nlatson was elected president; G. W. Ames, secretary; R. L. Hathawav, treasurer; and Dr. A. C. Stevenson. W. H. Thornburgh, D. L. Southard. Doctor Cowgill, Basil Brawner. Dan. S. Place. Addison Daggy. John S. Jennings. T. C. Hammond and W. H. Coates. directors." The Banner of the period indicates a purpose of raising a fund of from ten to fifteen thousand dollars with which to encourage well-established firms or companies to construct factories in Greencastle.

As indicative <>f the commercial growth and industrial status of Greencastle fifty years ago the following article by Doctor Stevenson, entitled "Greencastle Thirty Years Ago." was published in the Banner January 4. i860:

"Thirty years ago there were three small dry goods stores in Greencastle and five or six groceries. The latter contained each about one barrel of whisky and a dozen tin cups. Now there are about thirteen large dry goods stores, two large drug stores, two heavy hardware and tin establishments, two exclusively tin and stove stores, and four heavy clothing establishments. Thirty years ago there was one saddler who put new seats in old saddles. There were two cabinet shops, t\vo smith shops, a few carpenters and a brick layer. Now there are two saddler shops, doing a large business, two cabinet shops, one of them propelled by steam. There are now five or si.x smith shops, a large number of carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers and painters; two shops by steam for planing or dressing lumber, making doors, sash, etc. ; two woolen factories, three steam grist-mills and one foundry; two plow factories, two wagon shops, and one carriage factory doing a large business. Thirty years ago, there was one six-months school. Now there is one flourishing college, one femafe seminary and a numlier of common schools and probably some two or three high schools. There was but one church - an inferior log building. Now there are two large brick Methodist churches, two Presbyterian churches and one each of the Christian, Baptist and Catholic denominations. There is now one bank.

"These are some of the very striking differences between now and then, to which may be added now two railroad depots within our town. Circuit court ^vas then held in a small room of a dwelling house and presided over by Judge Porter. The leading attorneys were Robert F. Glidewell and George F. Waterman. Henrv Secrest was then looked upon as a promising beginner. A few others attended from other points, viz : Thomas Blake and Judge Kinney, from Terre Haute; Thomas Adams, from Spencer; James Whitcomb and Craven P. Hester, from Bloomington. Now there is a good court house : but whether there has been an improvement in the bar we will not undertake to decide, as that might be considered invidious. Then the "overjoyful' was not feared as now and we very well remember several little frolics that the young men had in those days. Apple toddy till midnight and then a moderate upheaving till morning.

" 'Ramp creek' and the 'Forks' in those days met weekly on the public square to drink whisky and crack jokes and sometimes fists. The girls and boys did their courting in the same chimney corner where the old folks sit, as there was commonlv but one room to the dwellings - still it was well done and soon through. A sociality pervaded S(:K:iety then which is not found now, as the following instance of kind attention will illustrate :

Pttxam Colxtv. Ixdiaxa. 24I

first temperance meeting was called ant! we had the honor of being speaker. John S. Jennings. Colonel Sands and friends manifested their good feeling for the cause by drinking the health of the speaker frequently, during the speech, from a large bottle of brandy."

Commercial Activity

The periofl following the close of the Civil war was one of great commercial and industrial activity everywhere and in no place were the improx'ed conditions more marked than in Greencastle. As one means of promoting the city's growth, a street railway to connect the two railroad stations and traxersjng the residence section was proposed. On Monday, September 25, 1865, a meeting of citizens to consider the project was held in the Exchange Bank. A railroad builder named Sheldon was present and explained how the road could be Ixu'lt and i~)perated. "propelled by a dum engine, etc.," for thirtv thousand dollars. A stock company was proposed and can\'assers were sent out to secure the requisite subscriptions. 'Tf this enterprise is pushed forward t(i completion." says the Banner, "it will mark an epoch in the historv of our city of the utmost importance. It will be but the beginning of the work which shall raise Greencastle to a position in point of wealth, enterprise and notoriety inferior to none of our sister cities in Indiana. It will give an impetus to our onward march in growth and prosperity which shall sweep awav all obstacles and render us one of the most thriving and commanding communities in the state. Other and vaster improvements and enterprises will follow upc^n the heels of this one; manufactories of every character will spring up and the immense wealth of Putnam county in undeveli^ped material will he brought into requisition and we shall march on as the leading countv rif the state."

In due season the re([uired thirty thousand dollars of stock was subscribed and the company dul_\- organized. At the meeting of the stockholders the following directors were chosen: W. D. .\llen. Lee \V. Sinclair, G. H. Voss, E. T. Keightley. Melvin ^[cKee. Reuben Slavens and William Dagg}-. The road was promptly built antl successfully operated for many years, the cars being drawn by horses. In 1895 a new franchise permitting the road to substitute electricitv for horses was granted h\- the city council, but owing to the removal of the \'andalia passenger station and the probable entry into the city of an interurban electric road from Indianapolis the further operation of the horse-car line was deemed unprofitable and the enterprise was abandoned.

street railway was the Greencastle Iron and Nail Company. The organization was formed in the spring of 1867. After sixty thousand dollars worth of stock had been taken the concern was organized as follows : J. F. Darnall, president; A. S. Bryant, secretary and treasurer; F. P. Nelson, R. M. Hazlett. William Bridges, John Lundy, Samuel Catherwood. Andrew ^I. Lockridge and Oliver P. Badger, directors. The factory was built near the Terre Haute & Indianapolis depot and was operated under the supervision of John Lundy, who had come from near Pittsburg and was familiar with the iron industry in all its branches. It at once began the manufacture of nails and employed in the neighborhood of one hundred fifty hands. By virtue of a commendable policy on the part of the management, it was free from labor troubles and rarely ever shut down save for necessary repairs. It was in continuous operation for over twenty years. When natural gas was discovered in northeastern Indiana, the stockholders accepted an offer from the city of Muncie of free fuel, free factory site and immunity from taxation for five years and moved (the plant there. It was the greatest and most profitable industrial enterprise, so far as the interests of the people were concerned, Greencastle harl ever had. In January, 1868, the prosperity of Greencastle had evidently reached high tide, as the following item in the Banner at that time will indicate : "Greencastle is becoming a place of importance. We have one iron and nail factorv. one foundry and machine shop, two flouring mills, one pump factory, one carriage factor\-, four wagon shops, seven blacksmith shops, six saloons, eight churches, thirty-five clergymen, one college, one high school, one young ladies' school, a number of other schools with efficient teachers, ten physicians, twentv-four lawyers, a population of five thousand, and more handsome ladies than any other town in Indiana."

Distinguished Citizens

Greencastle has been the home and in some cases the birthplace of many persons of distinction. Among the persons who have thus attracted public attention are Edward W. AIcGaughey, John Hanna and Courtland C. Matson, who have represented this district in Congress ; Andrew J. Hunter, congressman from Paris, Illinois, who was born in Greencastle; Joseph E. Mc- Donald, late United States senator from Indiana; Newton Booth, United States senator from California; James Harlan, United States senator from Iowa and a member of President Lincoln's cabinet; Daniel W. \'oorhees, L'nited States senator from Indiana, who graduated from Asbun,- University and was married in Greencastle; Albert J. Beveridge, United States senator from Indiana, who likewise was educated and married in Greencastle ; Albert G. Porter, late governor of Indiana and a graduate of Asburs^ University; Delana R. Eckels, late chief justice, supreme court Utah Territory; Delano E. Williamson, late attorney-general of Indiana; Dr. Hiram E. Talbott, auditor of Indiana; Thomas Hanna. lieutenant-governor of Indiana; John Clark Ridpath. the eminent historian, born near Fillmore; Amelia Kussner, the famous miniature painter, born in Greencastle; Robert Hitt, late congressman from Illinois, who lived and attended college here : William C. Larrabee and Miles J. Fletcher, late superintendents of public instruction for Indiana; W. R. Mc- Keen. late president of the V'andalia railroad, who attended college here, and Matthew Simpson, Thomas Bowman, Isaac W. Joyce and Edwin H. Hughes, bishops of the Methodist Episcopal church, all of whom were residents of Greencastle.

Only two casualties worthy of record - and neither of them attended by a single death - have ever visited Greencastle. The first was a tornado - or cyclone as it is now called - which struck the city at eight o'clock in the evening, November 8, 1867. The current issue of the Banner contains a detailed account of the disaster which is too elaborate for insertion here. The storm, which came from the southwest, after blowing over dwellings, barns and everything else in its path, "next struck Asbury University, smashing in the windows, tearing the bricks from the walls and starting the immense roof, which for a wonder it did not carry off. Had the roof gone, two hundred students who were in the building at the time would have been buried beneath the ruins. Simpson Chapel and the Old Seminary were next struck and almost entirely unroofed and parts of the walls carried away. The upper room in Simpson Chapel was a complete wreck - furniture, chandeliers, evervthing, in fact, broken to pieces. The roof was precipitated into the yard of Mr. Westerfield, doing considerable damage. The old Seminary is injured beyond repair. A part of it was carried across the street and landed in the vard of J. F. Duckworth. * * * * ^he Baptist church was then struck and entirely destroyed. It was a brick building, erected only a few years since at a cost of five thousand seven hundred dollars. It seems impossible that a building apparently- so strong could be so utterly destroyed - the walls torn down within a few feet of the ground. * * * _4^g j^g-jj- ^g ^.^^^ j^g gathered the loss will exceed thirteen thousand dollars."

The second misfortune or casualty which visited the good little city of Greencastle was the noted fire of October. 1874; and as no better storv of it is extant than the account by Gilkim Ridpath. the hberty is taken to incorporate it in these columns. It was prepared five years after the fire occurred and is as follows :

"The history of Greencastle for a period of more than fifty years was one of uninterrupted prosperity. During that time no great calamity of any kind befell the city to mar the general prosperity or happiness of its citizens. No great epidemic or contagion has ever spread within its borders, and the religious character of its citizens has allowed no moral deformity to rear itself in their midst.

"The historv of the city up to the memorable night of October 28. 1874, shows a remarkable exemption from fires, only four of any note having occurred previous to that date. The.se were the destruction of Lee W. Sinclair's woolen-mill in 1865, R. L. Higert's brewery in 187 1, Mr. Gage's flouringmill in 1872, and the Indiana Female College in the year following. In consequence of this immunity from anything like a general conflagration, the city was totally unprepared for such an emergency when the time of trial came.

"On the night mentioned, about half past ten o'clock, the planing-mill of C. J. Kimble & Son caught fire and was soon enveloped in flames. A brisk gale from the southwest carried the burning embers in its course, and in the short space of four or five hours nearly six squares of the best business blocks and private residences were laid waste. In those few hours were consumed thirty-seven business houses, twelve dwellings, two livery stables, one hotel, one furniture factory, one express office and the postoffice. Added to these, a large number of outhouses and a vast amount of personal property fell a prey to the devouring flames. Both in its suddenness and destructiveness, the damage done to Greencastle was greater, in proportion to size, population and wealth, than that done to Chicago by the great fire in that city.

"At the anniversary meeting held by the citizens one year after the fire, a committee on losses and insurance reported a loss of capital amounting to two hundred fifty-six thousand one hundred and thirty-four dollars, on which there was an insurance of one hundred sixteen thousand three hundred and eio-hty-one dollars. The same committee reported that there should be added to the above sum a considerable amount of unestimated loss, making the total much larger than that presented, and the historical committee placed their estimate at the sum of four hundred thousand dollars.

"On the night of ]\Iarch 8. 1875. another fire broke out, originating in Sherfey's furniture store. The flames soon communicated to the block of buildings fronting on the south side of the square, the best block remaining in the citv. The reported losses by this fire were in the aggregate forty-three

Pl'Txa.M County, Ixdiaxa

"Never did the character of Greencastle's citizens show to better advantage than during the year succeeding the fire. Within that time, there were made or nearly completed brick and store improvements to the value of two hundred fifty-two thousand five huntlred dollars and wooden buildings and repairs wonh ninety-eight thousand three huntlred and five dollars, making a total of three hundred fifty-nine thousand eight hundred and five dollars. These works required the consumption of four million eight hundred sixty-five thousand brick, and stone valued as it came from the quarr>' at thirty thousand dollars. During the same period, there were made by the city, street improvements worth six thousand dollars. Within the same time, the city had provided two fire engines, two engine houses with alarm bells, eleven cisterns and one pool, having a united capacity of nearly ten thousand barrels, and there was organized a fire department in two companies alrearly well drilled and disciplined, to fight the fire fiend whenever he might show his lurid front.

"At the end of the year there were in the city seventy-five mercantile houses, employing a business capital, exclusive of cash and real estate necessary for their various operations, amounting in the aggregate to three hundred fifty-five thousand dollars, doing a business of over nine hundred thousand dollars per annum, employing directly about one hundred and seventy-fi\e persons and supporting over four hundred and fifty.

"There were, also, eighteen manufacturing establishments, having a combined capital of three himdred six thousand dollars and employing three hundred and fifty-eight operatives. The weekly payments for labor in these were four thousand five hundred and fifteen dollars and per annum two hundred twelve thousand dollars. The annual products from these factories were worth at first sale five hundred eighty-seven thousand four hundred dollars. The value of raw material consumed cannot be given. These estimates for merchandising and manufacturing are given exclusive of persons indirectly eniphjyed, such as railroaders, draymen and common laborers."

What has taken place in Greencastle since the incidents just related are matters of such recent occurrence no part of their history has, thus far, escaped the attention of the average reader of this volume. To recount them, therefore, would be a needless repetition. Some items may have been overlooked, but they are of minor importance and their omission in no degree mars the outline of the story. Of her people and her achievements Greencastle is justly proud. She rejoices in her past prosperity and her future is full of promise.