242. Civil War Letter From Museum Files, Puckett, Huffman, Mincer.

RCHS Blog Post Number 242. 

Civil War Letter From Museum Files, Puckett, Huffman, Mincer.

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Editorial by Mick Holloway

October 17, 2021.  

     This letter was written by Francis M. Puckett who enlisted in the Union Army, first with the 8th Indiana Volunteer Infantry for 3 months service on April 18, 1861. This regiment was the first one organizes containing a Company of Randolph County soldiers and served until Aug. 6, 1861. During this time they took part in the battle of Rich Mountain, Virginia on July 11, 1861, one of the first battles of the Civil War.

     After 3 months were up, nearly the entire regiment re-enlisted in the 8th I.V.I. for 3 years on Sept. 5, 1861.

     They served most of their time along the Mississippi river and then back to Virginia in late 1864. The regiment was finally mustered out at Savannah, Ga. on Aug. 28, 1865, some 4 months after the war had ended.

     The letter was written to George D. Huffman, who was probably still at home in Randolph county. Puckett eventually joined Co B, 119th I.V.I. which contained the 7th Ind. Cavalry. This regiment was mustered in on Oct. 1, 1863 and mustered out at Austin, Texas on Feb. 18, 1866 after serving under Gen. George Armstrong Custer.

     George D. Huffman was the blacksmith for Co B and was captured by the Confederate forces at Okolona, Miss. on Feb. 22, 1864.

     The Anthony Mincer mentioned in the letter also belonged to Co B and was killed in battle at Vicksburg shortly after this letter was written. 

                                                                                                                                                                 mh

Shirleys house during siege of Vicksburg during American Civil War. Photo via <a href="https://www.goodfreephotos.com/">Good Free Photos</a> (2001)

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Puckett's Letter

April 31, 1863. 

Puckett's letter as written:        Vicksburg    Aprile the 31  1863

i am well and i hope that these few lines may find you the same  george i reseved a letter from you the first day of this month  i reseved it at Magnoly hills on the battle field where we made a clean sweepe of the rebbles  george i am a righting this letter in the rear of vicksburg about a quarter of a mile from thare brest-work  we have bin her thirtteen dais and we have bin fighting every day but mostly with they artilery. on the 22 of this month they infantry made a grand charge on the rebble brest-work at vicksburg with our brigade in the lead  We lost a grate menny men  We lost a hundred and fifteen out of our regment and seven out of our Company and then had to fall back but we had the pleasure of planting our flag on thare brest work before we fell back  wod a charged on thru vicksburg if we culd a clymd the dam brest work but it was too steep fur us  they brest work was a bout tenn feet thick and they was on one side and we was on the outher side and narry one could rase a bove the brest work to shoot and so we thout that it wod not pay and so we got to Lighting bum (bomb) shells and throwing them over the brest work by hand and they soon lernt the sam trick and we made the fur fli on boath sides fur a while but the rebbles soon run out of bums and then we gave them hell agane fur a while till we got in a place wher we could yuse our guns and then we went to Shooting and then we kept it up till dark and then we fell back too our brest work We never entend to charge on Vicksburg agane fur we can take it without fur we hav it surroned and they cant get out nor nuthen in  george i hav bin in to fore fights cince the first day of May and i never gave back a foot and dont entend to fur it is Di or go thru me  george you wanted me to write and tell you if Anteny Mincer (Anthony Mincer) had got back  he has and he is as Brave a solder as ever left indina (Indiana)  we hav grubed the rebbles every battle wher we hav fout them and we ar a looking fur a surrender her every day  george i must close fur this time  Wright soon  Derect yore letter to Vicksburg  regment and company  From F. M. Puckett  G. D. Huffman  yourse truly  this is rebble Paper 

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Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

Read page 129-140 to read "Death Records And Cemetery History." Page 131article titled "Franklin Township Cemeteries: 1. Race Street" has a very brief description.

Read page 446 to read the family history of Joab Addington which was submitted by Joanne Moulton.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

__________________

Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
     Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society

Visit the website.
     Here is a link to the website:  https://rchsmuseum.org

Follow the blog.
     Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded.  This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.

241. Wayne Twp. No. 9 School, Lots Of Names,

RCHS Blog Post Number 241. 

Wayne Twp. No. 9 Schools, Lots Of Names.

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An 'Old Timer' Reminisces.

By. S. F. Harter, Winchester Journal Herald.

September 1, 1938. 

  I had just finished breakfast when the lusty blowing of an automobile horn called me to the front door. It was S. Fremont HARTER waiting to take me out to the site of Old No. 9 school house. Notice I say "Old No. 9." That is to prevent us from confusing it with the New No. 9 which was erected much later. So it was Old No. 9 that Fremont Harter began his education in the late 1860's. This takes us back almost to the Civil War period and to us youngsters that was a long time ago.

  We drove south of Union City on state road 227 toward Richmond until we came to the bridge which spans Greenville Creek, near the George Harter gravel pits. There we dismounted from the car and walked west, up a lane on the north side of the creek, then into an open field. Approximately a quarter of a mile from the road, Harter found the exact spot, on the west side of a knoll and about 20 yards from the old creek bed, where old No. 9 once stood.

  Wayne Township as it now stands had been laid out in 1838. Some of the early settlers who had moved into the vicinity were Amos PEACOCK, Abraham Peacock, a Hill family and William CHENOWETH. It was William Chenoweth who entered the land from the government where "Old No. 9" was later to be built. This entry was made about 1817 or 1818, soon after Indiana was admitted to statehood. Chenoweth had come to America from England in 1772.

  The first district school held in the township was probably organized and conducted in the Friends' church at Jericho at a very early date. The first building was made of logs with one log left out for a window, with a puncheon floor and an enormous fireplace in one end of the room. The second was built on the John Hartman farm, back in the woods north of his home. It was called "Round Top" school because of its octagonal shape. Then Old No. 9 made its appearance in the year of 1856.

  As we stood on the spot hallowed by memories of the past, Harter relived some of those days of the "sixties," when the school and grounds furnished a focal point of interest of the whole community. Beyond the building and on west, a large grove of "sugar" trees used to stand, and there Abraham Chenoweth, grandson of the man who entered the land, had established a camp. The old fashioned camp meetings were held there and literally thousands of people turned out to hear the preaching of the Gospel. In the spring of the year Chenoweth tapped as many as a thousand trees to make large quantities of maple molasses. What a treat it was for the students when this gentleman appeared at the door of the school house and said, "School dismissed. Come down to the camp for your treat. There was no hesitation about accepting that invitation. Readin', ritin' and rithmatic were forgotten as the whole school scampered down to the little shed which contained the boiling kettles. The genial Chenoweth stirred off a kettle of delicious wax and rotated about until had collected thereon, then dipped in a bucket of sugar water to cool. Oh boy, what a lollypop!

  On beyond the sugar camp, beside Greenville Creek and a good quarter of a mile from the school building was a spring of clear, cool water. A sycamore gum was placed in this spring and it supplied Old No. 9 with drinking water. When we think of the drinking fountains at the elbows of the students today, seems unbelievable that the pupils of that school carried drinking water in a bucket for a quarter of a mile. And when the teacher sent them after water, they went after water and no monkey business. Harter recalled that some boys received a good "hidin" for tossing a ball back and forth as they went to the spring to get a bucket of water.

  Strange as it might seem, a little exploration on our part disclosed the fact that the old spring was still flowing and that the old gum from the sycamore was still in place doing duty today as it did in the days when the boys came home from the Civil War. Now, said Harter, some of you mathematicians please tell me how many gallons of water have passed through the walls of that sycamore gum since I first knelt there to get my first drink, sixty-nine years ago.

  Perhaps you are wondering as I why they did not locate the buildings out on the roads. Roads did not mean as much then as they do now. Everybody walked to school and went as the crow flies. The Harters came south from their home following foot paths through the woods. Some came straight across from as far east as the state line, and the students from around Bartonia came east to Greenville Creek and followed its banks to Old No. 9.

  Who were the school examiners and trustees, the teachers and the students? Many of them have been forgotten in the accumulation of years, and some of the records have been lost, but other old timers will remember some of the school examiners such as Jeremiah SMITH, George W. MONKS, Samuel D. WOODWORTH, Moorman WAY, Carey S. GOODRICH, Isaac F. WOOD, William A. PEELE, J. J. CHENEY, Pleasant HIATT, J. G. BRICE and A. J. STAKEBAKE.

  During the term of A. J. Stakebake the office of examiner was changed and converted into that of county superintendent, thus he was the first superintendent of Randolph County. Other superintendents have been Charles W. PARIS, Daniel LASLEY, V. H. BOWERS, John W. DENNY, Lee L. DRIVER, O. H. GREIST, Russell WARRENS and the present incumbent, Glen O. Chenoweth.

  The first township trustee of Wayne was Robert MURPHY, a quiet, unassuming man of sterling character. Names of others are Aleck GULLETT, Jacob MACY, John M. TURNER, Robert B. McKEE, Effie SHOCKNEY and Louis O. STUMP, present trustee.

  Summer and winter terms were taught in the early days . Teachers who taught at Old No. 9 were J. H. CAMMACK, Jacob Macy, Emma WIGGS, Solomon Hartman, P. H. CLEAR, George Clear, Fannie MOIST CHAMNESS and Dock BARNES.

  Some of the scholars still living who went to Old No. 9 are as follows; John W. MORTON, Ida Harter, Lefa ANDERSON, George Harter, William EBLING, Charles Ebling, Riley JONES, Henry Macy, S. F. Harter, and Leander FOULTS, all of Union City and vicinity. Those living away are Perry LEAVELL, Red Key, William JORDAN, Richmond, Emma WHELLEN, Richmond, E. E. Macy, Versailles, Ohio, Laura FLEMING COVOLT, Dayton, Ohio,Mattie EARHART, Eaton, Ohio, Maggie BLAIR, Hamilton, Ohio, John DUNN, Bluffton, Ind., Clyde W. HARTMAN, Cincinnati, Zelma Hartman, Whipany, N. J., Charles MILLER, Greenville, and Harry Jacobs, Grayesville Tennessee.

  At the very close of the Civil War in 1865, the scholars from Old No. 9 took up a collection to buy some supplies for Union soldiers who were at the front. Before the donations could be sent in, the war had closed, so the money was used to purchase a bell for the school building. On Sunday, September 4, in the John Harter grove, four miles south and one-half mile west of Union City, that same bell will ring out to call the scholars of the school reunion and it is planned to consolidate with the other reunions of the other school districts after this year. The memories which the tones of this historic bell will revive in the minds and hearts of the old timers will bring tears to their eyes, for after all, these are the memories from a long time ago. Old No. 9 represents a pioneer work nobly done.

__________________
Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

Read page 129-140 to read "Death Records And Cemetery History." Page 131article titled "Franklin Township Cemeteries: 1. Race Street" has a very brief description.

Read page 446 to read the family history of Joab Addington which was submitted by Joanne Moulton.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

__________________

Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
     Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society

Visit the website.
     Here is a link to the website:  https://rchsmuseum.org

Follow the blog.
     Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded.  This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.

240. Winchester Jaycees Organized, Dwiggins, Kabel, Leonard Drugs, Etc.

RCHS Blog Post Number 240. 

Winchester Jaycees Organized, Dwiggins, Kabel, Leonard Drugs, Etc.

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Winchester Jaycees

Published in 1949. 

     In December, 1946. the Winchester Jaycees was organized with Don Ridgway as president, Bill Huddelston first vice-president, Dick Price second vice-president, Bob Wallace secretary and J. H. Ditslear treasurer.

  The charter directors were Bill Hunter, Frank Billiter, John Irish,H. F. Lepley, Cecil Bolinger and Karl B. Wood.

  The charter banquet was held at the Friends church on December 16, 1946. There were 36 charter members against a present membership of 86. (1949)

  The second administration inaugurated the now famous Turtle Derby in Winchester. Harley Mutzfeld was the first chief turtler.

  Under the capable chairmanship of Ivan Thompson, the first Mardi Gras and pumpkin auction started. (1947) From this growing activity comes the Randolph county Rheumatic fever fund. 

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Buena Vista Church bell

Published in 1886. 

     A five hundred pound brass bell of the best quality, has been ordered through the C. E. Magee  Hardware store of Winchester from Cincinnati and will be, soon as it comes, put up on the Buena Vista church.

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Jackson - Lincoln Basketball Game

Published in 1933. 

     Financial report of the Jackson - Lincoln basketball game Nov. 18, 1933;  Receipts $6.35, referee $5.00, net proceeds $1.35; division of proceeds, Jackson 65 cents, Lincoln the home team, 70 cents.

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Philip Kabel's collection

Published in 1913.

     Philip Kabel has added the first brick burned in Randolph county to his collection of curious items. The brick was given to him by Calvin Edwards whose grandfather bought it from the maker, David Heaston, in 1825. While the brick was drying and being made ready for the kiln a pack of wild wolves ran across it and the footprint of one of them can be seen on the brick. 

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Dwiggins Trio

Published in 1933.

     The Dwiggins Trio of Winchester will play a concert at the Methodist Episcopal church in Winchester next Sunday evening at 7 o'clock.

  Robert, Thelma and Donald Dwiggins, children of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Dwiggins of near Winchester, make up the trio. They are pupils at the McKinley school and are members of the Jack Karowski Xylophone band of Richmond. 

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Leonard Drugs

Published in 1947.

     Leonard Drugs.  Forrest Leonard came from Elkhart to Winchester in 1940 and started in the drug business by buying the Lewis and Elliott store located at 114 West Washington street. In February, 1942 the store was almost completely destroyed by fire and he moved to 107 South Main into the rooms formerly occupied by the Miller-Jones Shoe Store.

  Employees in 1947 were Mrs. Edith Magner, Miss Mary Norris and Keith White.

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Cora and Ella Day Graves

Published in 1886.

     The remains of the late Miss Cora Day, which were interred at the Friends Cemetery east of Winchester in December of last year, were taken up and buried in the same grave with her sister, Miss Ella, at Fountain Park Cemetery, April 27.

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New Township of Union.

Published in 1950.

     Trustees Paul Cates and Casey Strickler conferred with school Superintendent Paul Beck on the school budget for the new township of Union. The trio was combining brain work to figure out how much money it was going to take next year to run the Modoc, Losantville and Huntsville schools, all three of which will be in Union township. There will be no Nettle Creek or West River townships after December 31, 1950.

__________________
Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

Read page 129-140 to read "Death Records And Cemetery History." Page 131article titled "Franklin Township Cemeteries: 1. Race Street" has a very brief description.

Read page 446 to read the family history of Joab Addington which was submitted by Joanne Moulton.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

__________________

Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
     Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society

Visit the website.
     Here is a link to the website:  https://rchsmuseum.org

Follow the blog.
     Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded.  This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.

239. Harry Lewis Remembers, "Wicks" Opens (1950s)

RCHS Blog Post Number 239. 

Harry Lewis Remembers, "Wicks" Opens (1950s)

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Harry Lewis Remembers

Published in the Journal Herald on January 21, 1954. 

    The name 'Harry (H. Kay) Lewis' undoubtedly brings back memories to a number of Randolph countians. A vaudeville entertainer for a great many years, Mr. Lewis was born and reared in the old "Mull" (Lickskillet) community northwest of Winchester. For the past several years he has lived in the west and with his wife still travels the showman's circuit around the country.

  In a recent letter to Mrs. Grace Fisher of Winchester, written in answer to one from her, Mr. Lewis tells of his family, recollections of old friends in Randolph county and his current activities in show business. The letter follows;

  "Dear old time friend Grace- Your very nice and welcome letter read, glad to hear from you with such an informative batch of news all at one time.

  You pardon me please for being so neglectful in my old days to not write to you more often.

  I presume when one is getting up around three score and ten years, we are not so thoughtful as we once were.

  Don't expect such a fine long letter as you are able to write about the old home news.

  We are about as when you last saw us, just Berdie and I left to do our show, but we sure been doing it the past two years with our own personal business agent to make dates for us to play. And we have been very busy and successful for which we are very thankful. In fact, there very few of the oldtimers left in our business with a record of over fifty years on the road. This is forty-six years Berdie and I have been together in our profession. Suppose we may die on the road somewhere if not lucky enough to make it to a home port.

  As I see it the good Lord has been very good to us, for which we are very thankful again,and to whom we give all praise and credit. You realize all of us do not see alike, the same as the different religions of the many peoples.

  We are now spending the holidays with the daughter and family. She has the one girl, four years old. Our son, Thayer and family, live in Fort Sill, Okla. He is at the air base there doing his job of entertaining the servicemen with his radio and television work. He has one boy 10 years old and an adopted boy 15 years.

  It sure has been lovely here this fall, just like Indiana in June but we may get it colder later on in the winter.

  We just completed a year tour of 30 states, 21,000 miles. Leaving about January 10 for an eastern and southern tour this year. We hope to see all our good friends and relatives once again as we go through Indiana.

  The oldtimers of our generation are getting very few so I see by the papers and what you wrote.

  The papers from Farmland I just got from May Williams, who used to be May McGuire, John McGuire's girl. We went to school together at old No. 7.  May is 73 years. She lives here, also Mary Borther's nephew. Delmas Dull is here only a few blocks away.

  I wanted to write you this letter while everything was fresh in my mind before getting busy on the job. Will try to keep in touch with you, for we enjoy your nice long letters.

  Berdie joins with kind regards to all old friends and relatives and our best personal love and best wishes to you and yours.

  As ever, your old friend, Sincerely Harry Lewis."

  Mr. and Mrs. Lewis now live at 980 East Second Street, San Bernardino, Cal.

New Eating Establishment

Published in the Journal Herald in April 1957. 

  A new restaurant for Winchester is "Wicks," located at 209 South Main street.

  It is owned by Duane and Ruby Wickersham, the latter being manager.

  There are a special noon lunch, short orders, sandwiches, soups and soda fountain. A feature is the home made bakery department.  

  

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Notes from RCHS Volunteer Thursa.

Wick’s Pies is a county destination for many folks for breakfast, lunch, and the discount pie area where you stock up for a gift of food or for holiday meals.

Sugar Cream Pie is the official state pie of Indiana. And it’s thanks to the hard work of Wick’s.

The couple behind the business are laid to rest facing north with a view of the historic sections of Fountain Park Cemetery in Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana.

Where the factory offices are is what was the funeral slipper factory for the McCamish Family who have the large white column monument in the distance for the Kitselman-McCamish family if now tge offices of Wicks Pies.

The Kitselman brothers are well known for working hard for their fortune manufacturing a woven fence business in Muncie. The family was born and raised in the Ridgeville area. Their parents are buried at the base of the columns. Their sister and her family are there also, The McCamish family.

The two businesses are also tied in their product was an extremely profitable business from the women of the family.

Strong women with husbands who helped with the product and marketing to build empires in their market niche. In eras where women are often spoken of as being at home morally supporting their husbands, these women were the power couples.

And as Wicks’s says… when you are in the area, ‘don’t forget to try the pie.’ 

__________________
Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

Read page 129-140 to read "Death Records And Cemetery History." Page 131article titled "Franklin Township Cemeteries: 1. Race Street" has a very brief description.

Read page 446 to read the family history of Joab Addington which was submitted by Joanne Moulton.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

__________________

Want to learn more?
Visit The Museum.
     Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.
Facebook group: Randolph County Indiana Historical and Genealogical Society

Visit the website.
     Here is a link to the website:  https://rchsmuseum.org

Follow the blog.
     Scroll to the right or below the article to click "FOLLOW" to get email updates as soon as a blog is uploaded.  This is a great feature to share with family and friends who are not active on social media.