Mr. Putnam is one of the surviving pioneer merchants of Muncie. He
was born February 11, 1818, at Charlestown, N. H., and, like many of the
substantial, successful men of the West, was subject, in his boyhood, to the
inconvenience of being poor. He acquired a fair education at the common
schools of his nativetown, finishing with a course at an academy.
The West offered advantages to a young man of energy that be could scarcely
hope to attain at home, and, on the 19th day of October, 1838, he left home,
with the town of Muncie as his objective point. There were but few railroads
in the East, and none in Indiana, and various methods of conveyance were
resorted to by him in order to reach his�destination. From his home he
went to Lowell, Mass., by stagecoach; thence to Hunter�s Point, Mass., by
rail; to New York City and Amboy by steamer; to Philadelphia by rail; thence
by rail to Little York, Penn.; to Pittsburgh by canal packet; to Massillon,
Ohio, by stage; thence to Newark, Ohio, by canal; from Newark to
Jimtown, Ohio, on the Cumberland National road, by a two-horse hack; thence
through Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, to Richmond, Ind., bystage; and from
Richmond to Economy, in Wayne County, Ind, by private conveyance.� At Economy,
he met Mr. James L. Russey, with whom he came to Muncie in a two-horse
carriage. This carriage was the property of Mr. Russey�s brother in law, Lot
Bloomfield, of Centerville, Ind, and was probably the first vehicle of its
kind that ever came to Muncie, and certainly the only one in the town at that
time.
Mr. Putnam accepted a position as clerk in the store of
Charles F. Willard, one of the early merchants of Muncie, and, about a year
later, became a partner with him. This relation continued for a year, and, at
the end of that time (March 1, 1842), Mr. Putnam purchased a stock of general
merchandise and engaged in business alone, continuing until�
October 1, 1849.� He then thought of going to California, but abandoned the
idea, and formed a partnership with John A. Wachtell, under the firm of Putman
and Wachtell, which continued two years.
In 1852, Mr. Putnam was elected Treasurer of DelawareCounty, taking charge of
the office in 1853, and serving in this capacity until 1857, having been
re-elected at the expiration of his first term. From 1857 to 1860, he was
Assistant Auditor of Delaware County, and, in the latter year, formed a
partnership in the hardware trade with John M. Kirby, under the firm
name of Putnam and Kirby, which relation still exists. They have conducted a
satisfactory and lucrative business for nearly twenty-one years and the only
change in the firm during that period was the induction of a new member,
Edward Olcott, in 1879.�
��
In 1841, Mr. Putnam was united in marriage to Miss Susan J., daughter of Col.
Benjamin Sayre. Of the four children who came to bless this union, two
daughters only now survive�Mary F., wife of John M. Kirby, and Margaret E.,
wife of Edward Olcott.
Mr. Putnam has long been recognized as one of the leading citizens of Muncie
in all matters of public interest.� In the church, in politics, in measure of
reform and in business, he is ever found ready for consultation and action. He
is in robust health, and at the zenith of a prosperous, active business life.
His actions are prompt, his habits and methods exact and reliable.
He has repeatedly been called to fill public trusts. In addition to those
heretofore mentioned, he has served as School Examiner for two years, as
School Trustee of Muncie for nine years, and is now a member of the City
Council. He is the Secretary of four Masonic societies, a Director of Muncie
National Bank, and Secretary of the Republican�Central Committee of
Delaware County.
He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church of Muncie for twelve years,
and has served as Trustee of the church for eleven years, and as Librarian of
the Sunday school for twenty-eight years. He has a comfortable fortune,
amassed, not by large speculation investments, but by careful
economy, closes attention to business, and a steady substantial increase.
Little things are sometimes valuable as illustrating the peculiarities or
character of a man; and the following extracts, culled from a diary kept by
Mr. Putman, demonstrate the attention he has ever paid to passing events of a
political, social and personal nature:
September 22, 1842. �Gave a concert. Receipts, $5. What a town!
October 1, 1842. �Saw Clay, Crittenden and Metcalf, and heard them speak; also Raridan, Parker and Smith.
October 9, 1842. �Rev. Irwin preached in court house.
December 31, l842. ----Crops abundant; seasons never more fruitful, but hard times; and why No tariff for protection; no stable, uniform currency; Congress attempting, but the President vetoing (six times already!). Character lost abroad, confidence destroyed at home! Indiana State scrip, 50cents, and dull at that! Wheat, 25 cents; corn, 10 cents; oats, 8 and one-third cents; butter, 4 cents; eggs, 3 cents; pork, almost nothing! No market abroad, and none at home.
November 10, 1842. �Snow on the ground; 24:th, sleighing very brisk
March 6, 1843. �Left for Cincinnati in a one-horse wagon. March 11, left Cincinnati for home in a two-horse wagon.
March 31, 1843. �Coldest and longest winter ever seen in this country; no signs of spring until now.
April 21,1843. �Farmers think of some plowing and sowing.
May 3. �Have plowed very little.
June 29. �Corn scarce; 12&189; cents.
July 11. �Great call for corn; 15 cents.
July 15, 1843. �Presbyterian Church dedicated.
October 15, 1843�Charles and myself walked five miles in fifty minutes, coming from Cincinnati.
November 8, 1843. �Old Mr. Gilbert (Revolutionary pensioner) died; buried next day with martial honors.
January 23, 1844--Hodges returned with Gilbert a corpse. "Citizens went to meet him."
April 15, 1844. �Sold coon-skins, etc., $148.25.
July 27,1844. �Grand Whig Convention, 3,000 strong! September 16. �Democratic mass meeting, about fifty.
May 30, 1846. �Sons of Temperance started this evening.
June 30, 1846. �A company of sixty formed for Mexico; officers, Kilgore, Sample and Garner.
August 9, 1846. �Butter scarce; wheat, 31 cents; oats, 8 cents; corn, 12&189; cents.
December 15, 1846. �Received President�s message in eight days.
December 18. �Hogs very brisk, $2 net.
February 13, 1847�Butter scarce, 8 cents; Seminary commenced with Farris. "Lots of fellows found guilty of gambling."
June 26, 1847. �Railroad mass meeting. July 14-12,000 to 15,000 cattle passed.
December 9, 1847. �F. E. P. had the small-pox; 18th, Legislature adjourned at Indianapolis for small-pox; 31st, Hon. A. Kennedy died of small-pox at the Palmer House, Indianapolis; small-pox bad in Muncie �many cases.
May 1, 1848. �Day for opening railroad books.
November 13, 1848. �Went to Richmond, found "Old Zach" elected.
(Page 227)
James Russey was born in Virginia, and came to Wayne County, Indiana, where he
married Caroline Talbott, sister of Mrs. John Jack, in 1831. He was for a time
a merchant at Richmond, Ind, and came to Muncie in 1836. He was engaged with
John Jack, his brother-in-law, during his entire residence in Muncie. His
family consisted of seven children, most of whom are deceased.
In the fall of 1849, in company with J. H. Wysor, he went to California, and
was killed by the Indians in the winter of the same year. Shortly after his
arrival, he left the camp, in company with Capt. Woods, on a prospecting
expedition, and, as they did not return, a search was instituted, and, three
weeks later; their bodies were found, washed up from the river. They appeared
to have been killed by arrows, and scalped. Mr. Woods was recognized by his
long black beard, which had become fast to a rock by which the body was lying,
while Mr. Russey was identified by his high cheekbones and other marks. He was
tall and slender, straight in person, with dark hair, and eyes of a deep blue;
full of��vivacity, genial in his intercourse with his associates, energetic
and persevering in his business undertakings, a friend to all, and
universally beloved, and a generous helper to those in need. Although he was
not himself a professor of religion, his wife was a�member of the Methodist
Church, and ministers of all denominations found at his house a hospitable
borne and a cordial welcome. Quakers from Michigan; on their way to and from
the Richmond Yearly Meeting, were often his delighted guests. All of his
surviving children reside at Muncie. His only daughter wife of the Hon. Marcus
C. Smith, State Senator from the district of which Delaware County is apart.
A considerable number of active public spirited, enterprising men made the
town of Muncie their place of abode in early times, prominent among whom,
during his life, must be reckoned the subject of this sketch. Most of his
early comrades and compeers in pioneer life have followed him into the spirit
land. A few of those who yet breathe the�vital-air are still engaged in
business as of old, though their brows are covered with wrinkles and their
heads crowned with locks of silver gray; but more have laid aside the burden
of business life, and are passively awaiting the hour of their final
release, leaning trustingly for guidance and support upon the Giver of all
good, and humbly joining in��the prayer of the aged Psalmist: "Now, when I am
old and gray-headed, O God! Forsake me not." (Page 229)
��������
The ancestors of this gentleman were of English descent, although
natives of the United States. His grandfather, John Shipley, was born near the
city of Philadelphia, Penn., and owned a small farm adjoining the present site
of Girard College. He continued to cultivate this farm until his decease.
His maternal ancestors, who were of English parentage, were natives of
Vermont, and emigrated to Jefferson County, N. Y., where his grandfather was
engaged in agricultural pursuits during life.
His father, William Shipley, was born December 25, 1798, at the home near
Philadelphia. About the time he reached the age of seventeen years, his father
died, and he removed to the town of Carthage, Jefferson County, N.Y., engaging
in mercantile pursuits. During his residence in that town, he formed the
acquaintance of Miss Abigail Lynde, with whom he was subsequently united in
marriage. He conducted his business at Carthage until his store was destroyed
by fire, after which he removed to Philadelphia and engaged in the wholesale
and retail hardware trade.
Eleven children came to bless his wedded life,
viz., Eugene W., Addison L., Canton E., Caroline, John, James G., Ann, Thomas,
Joseph, Mary and Emma E.
In 1840, the father removed with his family to
Shamokin, Penn., where he accepted a position with the Shamokin Coal and Iron
Company as Superintendent. Subsequently, he engaged in the manufacture of
charcoal iron, and, in 1843, decided to move still farther West.� A one-horse
wagon conveyed himself and family to Pittsburgh, where they took a
steamer for the port of Cincinnati.� At that point they resumed their journey
by wagon, with Muncie as their destination. Reaching this point, the father
renteda farm near this city, which he cultivated until 1846 or 1847, when he
removed to the adjoining county of Blackford, settling upon a farm near
Hartford.� There his wife died in 1850, and, within a brief period thereafter,
he returned to Muncie, where he died March 2, 1854, honored and esteemed by
all who knew him.������������
Carlton E., his son, and the subject of this sketch, was born March 2, 1827, in the city of Philadelphia. His
mother united with the Orthodox Society of Friends shortly after her removal to that city,
and his, early education was acquired at the Friends� School, on New Street,
where he made rapid progress. His mind early turned upon a professional
career, which he developed into a well-defined purpose, as he matured in years
and judgment. He accompanied his father�s family during their several changes
of location until April, 1844, and finally, at Muncie, obtained employment as
a clerk in thes tore of Charles F. Willard.
Having definitely decided upon adopting legal profession as his road to
fortune, and whatever of fame might be achieved through its practice, all his
leisure time after 1842 was devoted to the study of appropriate textbooks. In
1847, he left the employ of Mr. Willard and was afterward engaged in the
performance of clerical duties for Joseph Martin, Frederick E. Putnam and John
C. Helm, respectively.� In 1851, he began to devote his time exclusively to
the study of law, under the guidance of Judge Joseph S. Buckles, and, in March
1852, was admitted to the bar of Delaware County, after an examination
according to the rules then in force. In the same month, he was
united, in marriage with Miss Clara A., daughter of Jeremiah Jackson,
an early settler and highly respected citizen of this county, and, in May of
the same year, removed to Tipton, Ind, and engaged in the practice of his
profession. He soon gained the confidence of his clients, and established
a good practice, which failing health caused him to abandon in 1854.�
During
his residence at Tipton, he was called, for the first time in his life, to
fill a public office. The revised constitution of the State, which was adopted
in 1852, created the office of District Attorney, which was abolished in 1873.
Mr. Shipley was nominated by the Democratic Convention of that district, and,
at the ensuing election, in October of the same year, was the
successful contestant for the honor of being the first officer in
that district under the new constitution.
In December 1854, he returned to Muncie, and, as his health improved, resumed
the practice of his profession, which he continued alone for one year.� At end
of that time he formed a partnership with his former preceptor, J. S. Buckles,
which relation existed until the latter was elected Judge of this (then the
Seventh) Judicial Circuit three years later. Mr. Shipley then formed a
partnership with Alfred Kilgore, with whom he was associated until 1868, and
subsequently practiced alone until 1870. In the latter year, he formed
partnership relations with his former pupil, R. S. Gregory, which continued for
one year, since which timer he has been alone in the practice; but, from 1871
to 1875 he was associated with George W. Spilker, in insurance brokerage and
real estate transactions.
Few who knew him are unfamiliar with his standing as an attorney, and the
uniform esteem in which he is held by members of the bar and citizens of the
community at large.
To bless their wedded life there were three children, all of whom now
survive.� Ella is the wife of Mr. A. L. Wright, while Fannie and Blanche
remain at home with the parents. (Page 229)