Weik's history of Putnam County, Indiana

All life and achievement is evolution; present wisdom comes from past experience, and present commercial prosperity has come only from past exertion and sacrifice. The deeds and motives of the men that have gone before have been instrumental in shaping the destinies of later communities and states. The development of a new country was at once a task and a privilege. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the present conditions of the residents of Putnam county, Indiana, with what they were one hundred years ago. From a trackless wilderness and virgin prairie it has come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of wealth, systems of intersecting railways, grand educational institutions, numerous industries and immense agricultural productions. Can any thinking person be insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the incentives, hopes, aspirations and efforts of the early pioneers who so firmly laid the foundation upon which has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days. To perpetuate the story of these people and to trace and record the social, political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception is the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts and personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the present to the past, is the motive for the present publication. The historical chapters, from the able pen of Jesse W. Weik, compose a valuable collection and will prove not only of interest to the present generation, but of inestimable worth to future historians, being the result of patient toil and earnest research. In this labor. Mr. Weik has conscientiously endeavored to make his work authentic, and this fact, together with his recognized literary ability, gives a definite value to the history.

In placing this History of Putnam County before the citizens, the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out the plan as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical sketch in the work has been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch was prepared. We express gratitude to those who gave this work their support and encouragement, and trust that our efforts to please will fully meet with their approbation.

 

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I — BEGINNING OF INDIANA HISTORY AND FORMATION OF PUTNAM COUNTY 17
CHAPTER II — ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 33
CHAPTER III — COURTS, COURT HOUSES AND THE BAR 52
CHAPTER IV — EARLY SETTLERS AND INCIDENTS 70
CHAPTER V — EDUCATION IN PUTNAM COUNTY 86
CHAPTER VI — CHURCH HISTORY — RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES 106
CHAPTER VII — FRATERNAL SOCIETIES AND CLUBS 123
CHAPTER VIII — BANKS AND BANKING 131
CHAPTER IX — JOURNALISM IN PUTNAM COUNTY 133
CHAPTER X — INCIDENTS OF EARLY HISTORY 139
CHAPTER XI — THE TOWNSHIPS OF PUTNAM COUNTY 151
CHAPTER XII — PUTNAM'S MILITARY RECORD 194
CHAPTER XIIX — NOTED MURDER TRIALS 224
CHAPTER XIV — CITY OF GREENCASTLE 235

 

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The treaty of Greenville, which was intended to "put an end to a destructive war, settle all controversies and to restore harmony and friendly intercourse between the United States and Indian tribes," may, strictly speaking, be considered the beginning of Indiana history. It was executed at Greenville. Ohio, August 3, 1795, the contracting parties being Gen. Anthony Wayne on the part of the United States and ninety "sachems and war chiefs" representing the Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawatomie, Miami, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, Piankeshaw and Kaskaskia tribes of Indians.