McCammack exhibit opens Saturday at PCM

An exhibit presentation on the history of the McCammack family of southeastern Putnam County will open Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Putnam County Museum, 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle.

The exhibit opens at 11 a.m. It will be conducted by museum board member Jordan Vaughn and historian Patrick Pearsey. Both individuals are McCammack descendants.

Sometimes spelled “Cammock” in earlier records, the first McCammacks came to southern Jefferson Township as early as 1830.

John Miller McCammack came from Claiborne County, Tenn. When he and his family arrived at the Ohio River with no ferry available, they and another family strapped their wagons together with vines and floated across.

In 1832, Joseph McCammack, John’s nephew, came to western Jefferson Township. While clearing land, Joseph often would have local natives sit and watch. They would only go away after they were given chickens.

John’s brother, Thomas, came from Wythe County, Va., in 1840, settling northwest of present-day Belle Union.

The McCammacks have since become one of the more prominent families in Putnam County, excelling in both agriculture and education over the past two centuries.

The public is welcome to attend. Items may still be loaned for the exhibit during museum open hours.

Museum hours are 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.