Plum Tree (Ghost Town)

Originally known as Yankeetown, the hamlet of Plum Tree was never officially platted. A church that operated from 1866 until 2018 was the longest lived evidence of settlement. The former church is located on the southeast corner of the intersection. On the northwest corner is the former Simpson’s family business. The Simpson’s had, at various times, a Blacksmith shop, auto garage, and a lumberyard. Plum Tree had a post office from 1876 until 1904.

From Township by Township:

 “In 1872, a post office named Plum Tree was established in a small settlement that had sometimes been known as Yankeetown. The name was derived from William Smith’s trek to the bear pod to get his cow. From the soft ground at the pond he pulled up a small plum tree, which he used as a switch. When he and the cow arrived home, he stuck the young tree in the ground, where it proceeded to grow.

It stood in front of Whitelock’s store, where it provided copious amounts of plums for the residents for many years. Plum Tree once had a tile mill, Blacksmith shop and several stores.

The Plum Tree United Church of Christ was organized in 1866, and the present building was constructed in the 1870s. … [the church closed its doors in late 2018]

The Wabash Primitive Baptist Church congregation was organized in 1866, and has a long and interesting history. It is located on 200S near the Star of Hope Cemetery. The Barnes Chapel Cemetery was relocated and stands across the road.”

The Simpson’s business had its roots in a lumberyard founded in 1878 by Doris Simpson’s grandfather, Charles Smith, and passed to his son Carl in 1920, before becoming Doris & Herschel’s in 1950. Traffic along IN-124 kept the business going until they retired and auctioned off the assets in 1983.

Across from the Simpsons, on the south side of IN-124, Henry Hackett operated an antique store for a number of years. The original building was destroyed by a tornado on April 3, 1974 (part of a huge super outbreak that also destroyed the town of Xenia, Ohio). They rebuilt the business with wood reclaimed from area barns.

Another business that was built by Carl Smith was leased to Butterfield Canning Co. where they canned tomatoes. It was sold to Hunt’s, then Red Gold. The canning operation closed and Red Gold began using the space as a warehouse. That became Rock Leasing, which became Plum Tree Warehouse.

1. Ancestry.com. U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com, 2010. Original data: Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28. Washington, D.C.: National Archives
2. Huntington County, Indiana History: Township by Township. 2004-2005. Jean Gernand.
3. Combination Atlas Map of Huntington County, Indiana. 1879. Kingman Bros.
4. History of Huntington County, Indiana: A Narrative Account. 1914. Frank Sumner Bash. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., p161
5. “’Fair local trading point’ now just a cluster on the road.” 4 Nov 2010. The Tab. Huntington, Indiana.