The Indianapolis journal., 1901-12-09
HOTEL LOBBY GLEANINGS
THE STORY OF THE NAMING OF THE
TOWN OF WINGATE.
Work of an Indiana Man Who Was
Postmaster for Minute-sun-
day Visitors at Hotels.

The story Of how Col John c. Wingate
happened 10 have "A town named after him
was brought out in an interesting way in
a cOnversat ton in the lobby of the Denison
Hotel the other evening. Wingate, viii
lage of about five hundred people, is situ-
ated in prosperous district of MontgOm-
cry county, on the line of the Glover Leaf
Railroad. 1t is there that Colonel Wingate,
of the State Tax Board, has his home, and
it is there that the colonel has lived for a
good many years.
Back in the eighties, when the Glover
Leaf was first built. it was made a narrow
gauge road, and Colonel Wingate was one
of those who took an active part in its pro-
motion. The town where Colonel Wingate
lives was then known as Pleasant Hill. 1t
so happened that the line of the Glover
Leaf touched town in Ohio of the name
of Pleasant Hill, and the officials of the
road decided to change the name Of the
Montgomery county town. The question
was, what should the town be named? 1t
was decided to name the place after John
c. Wingate as a sort of recognition OF his
services in behalf of the road. 1t has been
intimated since that the naming of the
town was about the only remuneration Col.
Wingate ever received for the interest he
took in the road. General Corse was pres
ident of the road at that time. Eli Mar
win, of Frankfort, was a director, and
Capt. w. II. Hart, who then resided at
Frankfort, was also director. AT length,
when the road was finished far Pleas
ant Hill, Ii was decided to have gala day
at Wingate in honor of the event. a day
was selected. and a train was run down
from Frankfort carrying great crowd or
excursionists. Eli Marvin brought with
him telegram from the president OF the
road announcing that he should make
known to the people gathered there that 1t
had been decided to adopt the name for
Pleasant Hill that had been suggested. Mr.
Marvin called Colonel Wingate aside and
informed him of the contents of the tele-
named in his honor. The colonel was very
modest about the matter and reluctantly
consented, but finally allowed Mr.. Marvin
to make a speech and announce the news.
OF course, there was great cheering, and
Colonel Wingate made a happy response.
Subsequently, however. the Democrats of
the locality kicked up a rumpus over the
naming of the town, and the matter was
made a political issue. 1t finally reached
Washington, and the Postoffice Department
changed the name of the postoflce at Win
gate TO Whtlock. For a time the postof-
flee and the town had different names.
During General HarrisOn's administration
the postoffice was changed back to Win
gate in rather unusual way. An Indiana
man, happening TO be in Washington, called
at the POstoffice Department and was
asked by Mr.. Clarkson, of that depart
ment, what he could do to better the serv-
Ice in Indiana. The Indiana citizen re-
marked that he knew what he would 90
If he were postmaster for just one minute.
WELL" responded Clarkson, "I'n make
you postmaster for one minute" "All
right" said the Indiana citizen, and he
then asked for the papers in the Wingate-
Whitlock muddle. After hurriedly going
through the documents he wrote an order
declaring that the postoffice at Whitlock
was to be changed TO conform with the
name of the railroad stauon-Wingate.
Your times up said Clarkson. ''All
right" replied the Indiana man, I've ac-
complished all want TO, and am ready to
be private citizen again" Thus took
place the metamorphosis of the postoffice Of
Nhitlnck