My Genealogy Hound

WALTER PUTNAM, junior partner of the firm of Dietrich & Putnam, proprietors of Galesburg Mills, situated on Spring River at Galesburg. The mill is centrally located in the most superb wheat regions of southwest Missouri. This establishment has a water-power of almost unlimited extent, being quite as valuable as any on the above river. The building is 40x60, and three stories high, frame structure, with a twelve foot stone basement, with wareroom attached 22x32, and five run of stone for wheat and middlings; also having all the late improved machinery, such as middling mills, purifiers, bran-dusters, brush and smutter machines, etc., with a capacity of one hundred barrels every twenty-four hours, consuming yearly about 100,000 bushels of wheat. Near the mill is a warehouse 26x102 with twelve foot post, completed in first-class style; capacity 25,000 bushels. The above firm do an exchange business and have an extensive wheat trade in Texas. They employ three millers, two packers, one book-keeper and cashier, four roustabouts, and three teamsters. Their office is connected by telephone with all the leading points in the county, and they estimate their property worth $25,000. Mr. Putnam is a native of Berkshire, Massachusetts, and was born in 1847, being a son of John and Flora M. (Hawley) Putnam, both natives of Massachusetts. They have five children; viz., Ophelia, Flora M., Walter, James and Mary. In 1857 the family moved to Christain county, Illinois, and settled on a farm. In that county Walter received a good education, and in 1863 enlisted in Company M, Third Regiment Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama. After peace was declared he spent some months with his regiment on the frontier after the Indians; was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, in 1865, and returned to his home the following fall, then went to Laclede county, Missouri, and remained until 1868; then he entered the employ of Ruffin & McDonald, merchants at Carthage, Missouri, and continued with them until March, 1878, when he entered into partnership with Mr. A. Cowgill and purchased the Galesburg mill. Their partnership continued until 1882, when Mr. Dietrich purchased Mr. Cowgill’s interest. Mr. Putnam took a partner for life in the person of Miss Sarah E. Harrison and celebrated the event October 14, 1876. She was born, reared, and educated at Springfield, Ohio, and was the child of Hon. P. A. and Elizabeth (Williams) Harrison, both of Ohio. The father is now a prominent member of the Jasper county bar. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam are both members of the Congregational Church at Carthage where they reside. Their family consists of two children; a son, Henry, and a daughter, Katie.