Indiana's Constitutional Elm Tree...
In June 1816, 43 delegates met in Corydon, Indiana to draft Indiana's Constitution. The stone Capital building was too hot so they worked under shade of a huge elm tree, now known as "Constitution Elm." The tree died in 1925 of Dutch Elm disease and was cut down in August of that year. Part of the trunk was left standing. The September 1930 view shows a roof built over the top of the trunk. Seven years later, a sandstone memorial surrounding the trunk was completed by Works Progress Administration labor. (Indianapolis Star file photo)
The tree is in the front yard of a log home that was built by Hiram Westfall in about 1810. The log home now has a 2 story frame addition (see last photo). The white frame house in the background is the house next to the property where the trunk of the Elm tree is located. The log house is to the left of this photo.
The log home now has a 2 story frame addition. Hiram later moved to Gibson County. My wife is a descentant. Hiram Westfall & his wife Mary are buried in Antioch Cemetery, Montgomery Township of Gibson County, Indiana.
The two people in the photos above & below are my wife, Susan Westfall Weiss, ggg granddaughter of Hiram Westfall and my daughter, Katie Weiss Newell, gggg granddaughter of Hiram Westfall.
Log cabin built by Hiram Westfall about 1810.[An interesting side bar to this story. The Ohio Valley Chapter of the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution bought their meeting gavel about 40 years ago made from the wood of this Constitution Elm Tree! - JGWest]
- Article & photos submitted by Joe Weiss
