Dupont, Ind., 1881

This account was printed in the Madison Weekly Courier of June 8, 1881, after having been originally printed in the Vernon Banner

Dupont is a thriving little village in Jefferson County, on the railroad, two miles from the Jennings county line, and is eight miles south of the heart of the world. The town was laid out in 1839 by Dr. Tilton, father of Mark Tilton, pension agent at Washington, assisted by John Abbott, and was named by William Griffin in honor of a town in Ireland. Although the town was commenced in an early day it did not get its full growth, and was not completed till a few years ago.

There are three general stores here, kept by L.E. O'Neal, B. W. Hughes and T.S. Williams.

We have three doctors and no coffin-maker. Dr. Geo. B. Lewis practices medicine, carries on a drug store and a postmaster, and has farming carried on besides. Very few men can carry on so many kinds of business without spreading them out and making them to thin, but Dr. has his son J.F. Lewis, helping him heal the sick. Dr. J.F. Flanders also comes in for his share of the practice.

G.W. Graston runs a saw and grist mill. W.A. Guthry buys and ships large quantities of timber at this point.

The Methodists have a strong class here and a good brick house with bell and organ; and a Sabbath school that continues all the year round. Rev. Wm. Barton is the preacher in charge.

The Baptists have a large membership and a frame house with bell, organ, etc. and a Sunday school set to run world without end. Their house is tolerably good, but they are determined to tear it down and build a greater. In years gone by this church was blessed with the labors of such men as Taylor Stott, M.B. Ferris and Thomas Hill, father our our Allen Hill, who served nobly their generation. For the last ten years Rev. J. F. McCoy has been pastor most of the time. He is the biggest preacher in Southern Indiana to the scales drawing 233 pounds and still growing. His souls is as large as his body, and he is chuck full of music from top to bottom. He and his wife present a striking contrast--she is small, delicate and rather inclined to be good-looking and weighs less than one hundred pounds.

The morals of Dupont are good and the people are industrious and thriving, but the boys are exceedingly numerous and rough about the cuffs when they stop. No whisky sold and very little drunk in and around Dupont. They have a good school and are abreast of the times generally.