Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-22
CENTURY-OLD LOG
HOUSE STANDS AS
YEAR IT WAS BUILT
Structure Frequently Shell
tered Cen. William Henry
Harrison When He Was
Governor of Indiana.

| OWENSV1LLE, Ind, Sept 22.-On the
farm of Miller Montgomery, one mile
south of this city. stands an abandoned
| two-story frame house 100 years old, a
building that sheltered General William
| Henry Harrison on many occasions when
| he was Governor of Indiana. Although
| only short distance from the road. the
| house is almost hidden from view by
| trees. The century's wear and tear have
had little effect on the house because II
Is kept in good repair. 1t contains a
good flight of stairs by which visitors
| ascend to the two large rooms above
where many articles of furniture in use
lOo years ago can be seen standing about
In careless disorder.
The house was built by Mr.. Montgom-
ery's father, Walter Crockett Montgom-
cry, and the present owner was born in
1t. Directly in front of the house Is the
family cemetery. in which are buried
left the borders of civilization in Virginia
to begin life anew in what was then a
dense forest and wilderness
"PURTY OLD TOM HIS FATHER.
Walter Crockett Montgomery was born
in Roanoke Springs, Va, In 1884. He
was the last of five sons. He had three
sisters. His father. Purity Old Tom
Montgomery. was the seventh son of
Hugh Montgomery, Sr., and took part
in the Revolutionary War. Walter Crock
EFT Montgomery came with his father to
Gibson County in 1906. The father had
made a visit the previous year and
marked an oak tree on the farm now
owned by c. B. Smith. When he re-
turned the following year. accompanied
by his son, man was living in a rail
pen on the quarter section OF land where
Purity Old Tom had previously marked
the tree They moved a short distance
north and made settlement, but were
not satisfied and moved again, perma-
nently settling on the land which later
descended to his son, Walter Crockett
Montgomery. The farm then passed into
the hands of Miller Montgomery, the
present owner.
The Montgomerys were among the first
white settlers to arrive and settle per-
manently in Montgomery township, for
whom the township was named. The
first home of the Montgomerys was built
in 1907. This was their home until 1909.
After his marriage Walter Crockett
Montgomery set about to build a home
house that still stands, Timbers were
cut and when ready to be placed In posi-
tion he invited every white man between
Pato1a ~and Mount Vernon to the first
house raising in Montgomery township
and probably the first OF the kind in Glib
son County.
METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION.
First long logs were cut and placed
as sills sleepeTs were placed on these
and on the sleepers rough puncheons,
which were to serve as floors, were laid
The logs were then built to the height
of the caves then poles We're placed at
the ends Of the building. These poles We're
longer than the other logs and projected
about is inches over the sides and were
called buttlng pole sleepers. On the pro-
jecttng ends of these were placed the but
ting poles, which served to give line to
the tiIst row of clapboards. These were
split and as the gables We're built up |
We're laid to lap third of their length. |
They were often kept in place by the |
weight OF heavy pole laid across the |
roof parallel to the ridge pole. The |
spaces between the logs were then chinked |
with a coarse mortar
A fireplace was built at one end of the |
house which served for heating and
cooking purposes. Creased paper was
used in the windows. A log was left out
along one side and sheets of strong pa
per. well creased with coon grease or
bear oil, were tackled in. The house was
built principally as a rendezvous for the
settlers in the event of an attack from
the Indians.
MI montgomery and General William
Henry Harrison were close friends in
and when the general was an
pointed Governor OF Indiana Territory |
the friendship was renewed The Gov
ernor stopped overnight with Mr Mont
somery many times during his voyages
rom Vincennes to Mount Vernon Mr.
Montgomery was a soldier during the
War of lslI-l2 Walter Crockett Mont
Somery died In 1856 and was buried In
he old family graveyard where his father
vas buried in ISIS Miller Montgomery
S the 18th and last of the children of
Walter Crockett Montgomery.