Title: A Little Bit About My Town
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Blog Entry: Interesting Tidbits of Harrison County Before the circled star adorned Indianapolis as state capitol, Hoosiers could boast Corydon as Indiana’s birthplace from 1816 to 1825. The only Civil War Battle fought on Indiana soil took place in Corydon. The battle site is known as the Battle of Corydon Memorial Park. 450 members of the Harrison County Home Guard attempted to delay General John Hunt Morgan’s 2,400 Confederate soldiers. Eighteen men lost their lives and more than 50 were wounded during Morgan’s Raid in Harrison County. President William Henry Harrison named the city of Corydon after one of his favorite songs, “ The Pastoral Elegy ”. The sentimental tune laments the death of a young shepherd boy named Corydon. Indiana delegates met under the spreading branches of one of the largest elm trees of it’s kind in the world (spreading 126 feet from branch to branch) to draft Indiana’s first state constitution. The tree became known as the Constitution Elm Tree . The tree died of Dutch elm disease in 1924. Famous People of Harrison County William Henry Harrison – Governor of the Indiana Territory in the early 1800’s Gave Corydon it’s name Became the 9 th President of the United States Frank O’Bannon – Third generation owner of the local newspaper, The Corydon Democrat, served as Lieutenant Governor and later Governor of Indiana. He died unexpectedly during his second term. James Best – Better known as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, from the 1970’s popular sitcom Dukes of Hazard , “Jimmy” (to the locals) was born and raised in Corydon before making his way to Hollywood. Before the “Duke Boys”, James Best appeared in episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and in many westerns. Cousin Willie Wilfred Sieg, owner of Cousin Willies Popcorn in Ramsey, spent most of his life farming and producing popcorn for his family owned business first known as Ramsey Popcorn. As his business grew and he began selling his microwave popcorn in the national market, the name was changed to “Cousin Willies Popcorn” and he became known as “Cousin Willie”. He even had a guest appearance on a popular night time talk show and had an article written about him in the New York Times . Cousin Willie died in 2006. His family carries on the business and the popcorn continues to be sold nation wide. Ken Kercheval – Ken Kercheval was born a Hoosier from Wolcottville, Indiana. He later went to Hollywood and was cast as Cliff Barnes on the TV Series Dallas during the entire run. Kercheval was part owner of the Old Capital Popcorn company through the mid-1980’s until the early 1990’s.
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