My Genealogy Hound

COLONEL DAVID PUTMAN, attorney; P. O. German; we herewith present a sketch of Col. David Putman, whose portrait appears in this work, who is another of the early pioneers of this county; he was born Aug. 4, 1821, on the present site of New Madison, within the stockade, which formerly constituted old Fort Black; he is of Scotch descent; his maternal grandfather—David Gray—emigrated to America in 1802 from Tyrone Co., Ireland, whither his immediate ancestors had been driven from Scotland by the Catholic persecution; he settled first in Shephardstown, Md., from which he emigrated in 1817 to Ohio, locating one mile west of the present place of New Madison, then known as Ft. Black; here he remained until his death, which occurred in 1822; he was one of the first settlers of the county, and had for his only neighbors a family of the Rushes, of whom some of the more remote descendants are still living in the same locality. Our subject is the son of Ernestus Putman, a direct descendant of John Putnam, who came over in the Mayflower. Here we mention the two different manners—interchanging the m and n—of spelling the name, a diversity which still continues in the family and which most probably arose from the early association of the family with the Low Dutch. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and took an active part for a period of seven years and eight months in that great struggle for freedom. Ernestus Putman was born in 1776, soon after his father entered the service; a brother of our subject’s paternal grandfather was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was sent south with Green’s Division; after the close of the war, he located in South Carolina, and raised a family; during our late civil war, our subject accidentally met a rebel prisoner at Camp Chase who was captured at Fort Donelson; and learning his rank—Captain—and name, upon inquiry he found him to be a grandson of his paternal grand-uncle; early in the present century, Ernestus Putman celebrated his first marriage, and in 1809 moved to Madison, Ind.; here he erected the third log cabin built in the place; while here, he was called to mourn the loss of his wife, who died leaving an infant son; this son now resides in Richmond, Ind.; Mr. E. Putman remained here till 1811, when he went to Harper’s Ferry, and entered the Government employ as a gunsmith; he remained at this till the close of the war of 1812, and then went to Washington City. We should mention here, that, while at Harper’s Ferry, he celebrated his second marriage; while at Washington, he was allotted the contract for the iron work of the Capitol and White House, which were then rebuilding; in 1819, he with his family, emigrated to this county, purchasing and settling on the land on which New Madison has since been built; it was then known as Fort Black; on coming to the above place, he brought with him a stock of goods and opened a store, combining with it the gunsmith trade, which was at that time a very lucrative business; in 1831, he laid out the present town of New Madison, and the same year constructed the first flouring mill in the southern part of the county, locating it near Weaver’s Station, where the present mill, known as Otwell’s, stands; in 1842, he retired from active business, having been for a number of years an eminently successful merchant; he still remained at his old home in New Madison, until a few years before his death, when he ceased housekeeping, and, with his wife, went to Winchester, Ind., where they spent the remnant of their days with their eldest daughter. He departed this life, in October, 1865, surviving his devoted wife nearly two years, she having died in February, 1864. Thus two more of the early pioneers passed peacefully away, their life’s work ended, their duties done, leaving a family of loving children to mourn their departure, and revere their memory. As showing the interest which Mr. Putman took in Christianity, we mention that in 1847, he built on his own ground, and at his own expense—with the exception of $80—the Presbyterian Church at New Madison; this church, after he left the place, became disorganized, and the house was no longer occupied by them. A few years ago, the heirs of Mr. Putman, after discovering that the original deed, executed by their father in favor of the Presbyterian Church, was not to be found, and that the property was at their disposal, gratuitously turned it over to the German Reformed Church, giving it a quit-claim deed for the same. Mr. and Mrs. Putman were the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, and all of whom grew up to mature years; their names are as follows: Jane G., born in 1816, married to Edward Edger, and now residing in Winchester, Ind.; John G., born January, 1818, now living in Denison, Tex.; Elizabeth S., born October, 1819, married Dr. Rufus Gillpatrick, lately deceased; Col. D., our subject; Mary I., born 1824, married to Dr. Charles Jaqua; Ernestus J., born 1826, now of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Thomas C., born 1828, and deceased in his 21st year; James, born 1830, now residing in Burlington, Iowa; Nancy C., born 1833, married to Gen. J. G. Blunt, and now residing at Leavenworth, Kan.; Mr. P. was a member of the F. & A. M. Our subject, at a very early age, was sent to Eaton, Ohio, to school, being placed under the instruction of Col. George D. Hendricks, and remained there about six months, this being his first school outside his paternal roof; at the age of 13, he was placed in the flouring-mill lately built by his father, and there remained for a period of two years; then he was placed in his father’s store in New Madison. The age of 13 closed his school days. He has a vivid recollection of going, with his father, when quite a small boy, about one mile east of New Madison, where, with the assistance of some of the neighbors, they erected a log schoolhouse, the house being completed in one day, with furniture thereto, the furniture being manufactured on the spot; thus was planted the germ of our present efficient and invaluable school system. Shortly after our subject left the mill, and while in the store, Col. Hendricks, his former instructor, called at his father’s, and, while at the supper-table, remarked that he was then organizing a surveying party to go to Texas, just then recognized as an independent State, and jocosely asked Mrs. Putman if David could accompany him; to this she promised an answer next morning, which was rendered in the affirmative, and she at once set about to prepare him for his journey. Dr. Gillpatrick, who had lately located in New Madison, from Maine, undertook to instruct our subject in practical surveying prior to his setting out on the expedition. On Christmas Day, 1836, Col. Hendricks, with a party of nine, left Eaton, Ohio, for Texas, our subject being the youngest of the number; they performed almost the entire journey to Cincinnati, Ohio, on foot, accompanying the teams of Mr. Putman, the father of our subject, which were loaded with butter, lard and pork, and were about four days on the way; on the last day of the year, they embarked at Cincinnati, on the steamer George Washington, en route to New Orleans; on the next day, just before passing Louisville, they met the steamer on which Santa Anna was a passenger, on his way to Washington City; they were about two weeks on their way to New Orleans, their progress having been much impeded in the early part of the journey by floating ice. The Colonel relates an incident which occurred on the way down, as follows: Wishing to practice economy, their party took lower-deck passage, and among their number was one Parks, an excellent violinist and vocalist, who sang and played “ Billy Barlow,” much to the gratification of the passengers, who listened to it for the first time; this so attracted the passengers in the cabin that they made him up a purse of $25, and, after putting somewhat of an aristocratic finish on him, invited him up to the cabin to amuse them with his songs and plays the balance of the trip. As young as our subject was, he was intrusted by his father with a quantity of lard, butter and pork, to take to New Orleans, to be disposed of to the best advantage; he made a satisfactory disposal of it to the firm of James Landis & Co., and left the proceeds thereof on deposit till his return. Here four of the company left them, the rest immediately embarking on the sail-vessel, William C. Byrant for Texas; the party then consisted of the following persons, to wit: Col. George G. Hendricks, Lot Lee (who afterward became Sheriff of Preble County, and distinguished himself in the Mexican war), John Fall, William Maroney and our subject. They sailed out of New Orleans on a rough sea which had just been severely disturbed by a violent storm; this was rather a severe initiation to sea-life for their party, as it soon produced the unpleasant sensation of seasickness; after a period of eight days, they landed at Marion, the river station of Columbia, the capital of the State; this was on the Brazos River; they there learned that the land office was not open, and that there was no employment to be had in surveying; thus disappointed, they concluded to go into camp in the outskirts of Columbia. Col. Hendricks, not obtaining work as expected, pushed on to San Antonio, leaving the remaining part of the company in camp. At this time, there was a large influx of emigrants to the State, and a great demand for carpenters sprung up. This Lot Lee, who was a carpenter by profession, availed himself of, took contracts and employed Maroney and Fall to assist him; this proved very remunerative, as the demand for such labor was large and supply meager. Our subject performed the part of cook for the company, receiving for it his board and $1 per day; in addition to this, he served as clerk in the grocery store of Capt. Ives, late of Texan War, for which he received $2 per day; while here, he made the acquaintance of Samuel Houston, President of the Republic. After remaining here about three months, Fall, Maroney and our subject determined to return home, and concluded to foot it across the State to Red River; before the time for their departure arrived, Fall abandoned the pedestrian tour which they had planned, and took sail for New Orleans; this, however, did not defeat the resolution of the other two. On the 24th day of March, 1837, they called at the office of the Secretary of State, and obtained a passport, which is now before the writer, and which was given under the hand of J. Pinckney Henderson, Secretary of State, at the town of Columbia, the 24th day of March, 1837. After disposing of the surplus articles on hand, and packing their knapsacks, they sallied forth on their journey, on the morning of the 27th of March; on the evening of the first day, finding themselves on the bank of Cow Creek, unable to cross, they spread down their overcoats, and, using their knapsacks for pillows, lay down and slept soundly and undisturbed till morning. Early next day, they stopped at a farmhouse, which proved to be the home of Dr. Parrott, formerly of Ohio, who was much delighted to see the boys, and minister unto them in such a manner as to give a new impetus to their journey. After fourteen days’ traveling, they arrived at Natchitoches, having crossed the famous Games’ Ferry, on Sabine River, the land route into Texas; they took a steamer at Natchitoches, for New Orleans. Here our subject invested the proceeds of the goods previously stored there, in molasses, sugar and coffee for his father’s store. This investment exhibited great business sagacity, as it proved to be a very profitable expenditure for his father. From here they took steamer direct to Cincinnati, from which place they transferred the goods, by canal, to Hamilton, Ohio, taking packet themselves for same place; next day, they walked to Eaton, Ohio, where our subject remained one day with his uncle and his companion Maroney; on the subsequent day he walked home, a distance of eighteen miles; thus ended the first eventful period of his life. We narrate thus fully this journey as being remarkable for one of such young years to venture. In about three months after arriving at home, he was employed as clerk in the dry-goods store of D. W. Skidmore, of Hamilton, Ohio; in the following spring, his father and uncle established a new store in New Madison, and gave him charge of it as clerk; his uncle died in the fall of 1839, leaving the store entirely in his charge up to 1842; his father retired from active business in the spring of 1842, leaving him and his brother in charge of the two stores, which they consolidated and jointly managed. On the 15th of the following November, he celebrated his nuptials with Miss Sarah Mills, daughter of Col. Mark T. Mills, and grand-daughter of Col. James, Mills; the latter gentleman was one of the early pioneers of this county, coming here in 1816 and settling on land two miles north of New Madison; he was a native of New Jersey, and emigrated to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, in 1798, and was one of the first settlers in the county, and Colonel of the 1st Ohio Militia, 3d Detachment, in the war of 1812; he left Hamilton, Ohio, Feb. 5, 1813, in command of the 1st O. M., and marched to Dayton; from there to Piqua, Loramie, St. Mary’s, and finally, April 7, was ordered to Ft. Meigs, where his regiment remained on guard duty till discharged from service. We find the following entry in his regimental book:
GENERAL ORDERS.
“Col. Mills, with a portion of his command, having honorably served out the period for which they were called into the service of their country, are hereby discharged and permitted to return to their respective homes. Events not within the control of the present Commander-in-chief of this army, or of our Government, have rendered it necessary that the militia of Western States should compose a considerable portion of the Northwest army. Ohio stands conspicuous for the great zeal and promptness with which her citizens have yielded the comforts of private life for the toils and privations of the camp. In the return of this detachment of Ohio troops to their families and homes, it is due to Ohio and her sons to record their honorable service.
“To Col. Mills and his staff, and his respective commissioned and non-commissioned officers and privates, whose term of service has expired, and to whose promptness in the discharge of every duty he has been an eye-witness, the Commanding General gives his sincere thanks.
“By command of Gen. Greene Clay.”

Col. J. Mills served in both branches of the Ohio Legislature; he died of cholera in 1833, at Ft. Jefferson, and is buried on the land he first settled; his wife was a physician of much note in the early history of this county. Col. Mark T. Mills, son of the former, was one of the early Sheriffs of this county, and while serving his second term was elected a member of the Legislature; he was continued a member of this body for four or five years by the suffrage of the people. He was married to Miss Lydia Burdge, March 29, 1821, who still survives him, he having died in March, 1843; she is the wife of Henry Hutton, one of the early pioneers of Butler Township. Our subject continued business in New Madison till June, 1845, when he sold out his interest in the store to his brother, purchased a stock of goods and residence in Palestine, where he moved and commenced business next day, here he engaged with success for three years in dry goods, grain and pork; in 1848, he suffered a heavy financial loss in the pork business, this being a disastrous year to pork merchants; he then exchanged his stock of goods for a farm in Preble Co., Ohio, and lived on it two years, when he disposed of it, discharged all his financial obligations, and returned to Palestine; in the two succeeding years, engaged in the insurance business, and then was proprietor of a hotel for one year; after the act of Congress granting land-warrants to the soldiers of the war of 1812, he turned his attention to this business; in the fall of 1855, he, with his wife, went to Iowa and remained there till the following spring; in the meantime, he entered about 1,000 acres of land with the land-warrants which he had purchased, traveling over the State extensively; he returned to Palestine in the spring and engaged in the grocery business, which he continued till the spring of 1861, when he closed out his stock; in the meantime, he disposed of his Iowa lands and invested in real estate in this county, soon after the commencement of the civil war, being an ardent supporter of Lincoln, he offered his services in defense of his country, and, on the 10th of October, 1861, was mustered into the United States Army; he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant of the 69th O. V. I., with authority to recruit a company. On the last day of the month, he reported to Col. Campbell, at Hamilton, Ohio, with thirty-one men; on the next day, he returned in company with Col. Campbell to this county, to recruit more men for the company; on the 19th of December, having completed the enlistment of the company, he was elected to office of Captain; they remained at Hamilton till the 19th of February, when the regiment was ordered to Camp Chase (the 1st of March, Gen. Buckner, with entire staff of officers, was brought to camp as prisoner, from Ft. Donelson); his regiment remained here on guard duty till the 19th of April, when they received orders to report at once to Nashville, Tenn.; they arrived there on the 22d of April, and were shortly put in charge of the railroad from Nashville to Columbia, where they remained till June 8; they then accompanied an expedition under Gen. Dumont to Pikeville, by way of Nashville, Murfreesboro, McMinnville, and over the Cumberland Mountains; returning to Nashville, Col. Campbell was appointed Provost Marshal, and the regiment detained as Provost Guard of that city. About this time the rebel General, Morgan, made a raid upon Gallatin, capturing Col. Boone with 4th Kentucky; the 69th O. V. I., 11th Michigan and section of a battery, attacked Gen. Morgan and drove him out, the 69th losing one man killed— the first killed of the regiment. When Gen. Bragg made his flank movement on Louisville, the 69th was left to guard the city of Nashville, which, owing to the scarcity of troops, was regarded as rather perilous; while here, our subject was detailed as member of general court-martial, and remained on this duty 100 days; from this he was relieved on the 26th of December, and joined his regiment at Nolinsville, on its way to Murfreesboro; the regiment participated in most of the hard fighting which immediately followed at that place. On the morning of the 31st of December, Col. Cassilly, having succeeded Col. Campbell in command, was dismissed for unbecoming conduct, when the regiment was left for a time without a commander, in the midst of a hard fight, which soon reduced it to confusion and disorder. Our subject being ranking Captain of the regiment on the field, distinguished himself by taking command of the regiment, and bringing it into line again, which position they held, till ordered to fall back by Gen. Negley—the regiment suffered severely in killed and wounded during the day; on next day they were not engaged, but on the 2d of January they took part in the brilliant charge across Stone River, our subject commanding the left wing of the regiment; this was a desperate charge, and, with some slight skirmishing, closed the battle. The 69th had the honor of capturing the famous Washington Battery of New Orleans, the finest in the army (Sergt. Wilson, of our subject’s company, deserves meritorious notice for his bravery in this charge; being disabled in the left arm, he was using a breech-loading carbine, and with it succeeded in capturing a regimental flag of the Nashville Regiment, while crossing the river.) From exposure previous to and during this battle, our subject, after wading the river waist-deep, which was floating with ice, fell prostrate to the ground, and was carried to a house nearby; he remained here till the 10th of January, having been prostrated on the 5th, and then was taken to Nashville, remained here till the 6th of February, and then went to Murfreesboro, where he remained till the 20th of June, with, the exception of thirty days, which time he spent at home on furlough. On the 20th, the army was examined, and all who were unfit for active duty were placed in the invalid corps; our subject, being examined, was reported unfit for active duty, and was offered the command of Ft. Thomas, but, his health being poor, he thought best to resign and return home; his resignation was accepted on the 21st of June, 1863, and, after some delay, arrived home July 12. On the 24th of July, a company of O. N. G. was organized in Palestine, and our subject elected Captain; in the following August, the 28th O. N. G. was organized, and he was elected Colonel; he took an active part in the Brough-Vallandigham campaign, and also assisted Col. Browne in the recruiting service. May 2, 1864, the O. N. G. were called out, by order of the Governor, and, although his health was still much impaired, his unflagging interest for his county led him to take his place as Colonel of the 28th O. N. G.; after arriving at Camp Dennison, their ten companies were consolidated into eight, and two were assigned them from Springfield; they were then organized into the 152d O. N. G., and, on the 12th of May, they were sent to New Creek, W. Va., and from there, on the 30th, to Martinsburg; they left there on the 4th of June, with a supply-train of 209 wagons, and orders to reach Gen. Hunter, who was then somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley, at all hazards; they were joined by five companies of 161st O. N. G., 2d Md., and sixty men of 15th N. Y. Cavalry, all under the command of our subject; they overtook the rear of Hunter’s army on the 10th, at Staunton, and his army next day at Lexington; here, under Hunter’s command, the famous mills and military institutions of Lexington were destroyed by fire; at the latter institution was found a statue of George Washington, life size, erected in 1788, which was turned over to our subject with special instructions to deliver it to the Governor of West Virginia, at Wheeling; these instructions he carried out; they continued with Hunter’s army till the 17th, when Gen. Hunter turned his prisoners, sick and wounded, and 200 wagons, over to the Colonel and ordered him to “get out;” they marched in advance of Hunter’s retreating army, arriving at Beverly on the 27th, being under fire more or less every day; arrived at Cumberland, Md., the 2d of July, and remained there till the 25th of August, participating in several skirmishes in the vicinity; they were then ordered to Camp Dennison where they were mustered out of service on the 2d of September, and on the 5th received their pay and final discharge. After returning home the regiment resumed its old name, of 28th O. N. G., and our subject continued its Colonel till the close of the war; he received three honorable discharges from the United States service, one from the 69th O. V. I., 152d O. N. G., and 28th O. N. G. Immediately after the close of the war, he engaged in the study of law under the direction of A. R. Calderwood of Greenville, and was admitted to practice at the May term of the District Court of Ohio, 1866; since then he has been engaged in the practice of law, giving his attention for several years particularly to the collection of soldiers’ pensions. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1870 and served a term of three years; he is a member of the F. and A. M. Lodge of New Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Putman, have no children of their own, but have raised from infancy a cousin’s child, by the name of M. P. Simison; his paternal grandfather was the first white settler at Ft. Recovery, then a part of Darke Co and one of his aunts was the first settler of Jay Co., Ind.; he is now engaged in the drug business at Palestine, and is one of the promising young business men of the place.