A residence is on this location now; a photograph was not taken. You will be able to tell the location from the map. You can tell from the painting and photograph that the home was on a slight rise. It has been leveled to some extent. The house is at the end of Pearson Street (a very short street!).

In 1850 on his return from the California gold fields, John Pearson built what is thought to be the first frame house in Winamac. It was located in front of the log cabin he’d built for his family in 1839 just south of where the first sawmill was later established. 

In this picture (below) taken around 1936, the original water tower can be seen on the north (left) end of the house. Even though the structure was nearly 90 years old, it still looked very much as it had when first built. (Source: A Century of Achievement by John G. Reidelbach and posted on Facebook in December 2021 by Pulaski County Public Library.)

John Pearson

John Pearson built what is thought to be the first frame house in Winamac. Pearson, upon arrival to the area in 1838, moved into a vacated log cabin along the river. Later that year he built a larger log cabin to serve as a home for his wife Edna and their five children. The log cabin was also a trading post and tavern. This frame house was built in front of the log cabin in 1850.

Pearson was a prominent white settler and one of the founders of the town of Winamac, credited with naming the town. He is known as Winamac’s first entrepreneur. He owned the general store, tavern, and sawmill. He also held elected office as Clerk, Recorder, and Auditor.

From Pulaski County Sesquicentennial, Volume I, 1989, “…in 1853, he severed relations with Pulaski County and moved to California where he was killed by Indians one year later.”

Pearson House Becomes Agnew House

The Pearson house is sometimes called the Agnew house. A deed at the Recorder’s Office provides information about the passing of ownership. After John Pearson’s death in California, his widow defaulted on the mortgage, and the State of Indiana took the land. Joseph B. Agnew purchased that SE 1/4 section 11 from the State.

The John Bawcum residence is now at the location of the Pearson-Agnew house, a prominent spot on the west bank of the Tippecanoe River.

All Tour Stops

YOU BEGAN THE TOUR ON THIS PAGE

1. 1. First Brick Block Building in Winamac
   2. Courthouse (1894-95)
      • Sculpture: The Teacher
      • Original Survey Marker
      • Time Capsules
      • War Memorials
   3. Vurpillat’s Opera House (1883)
   4. Winamac Freight Depot
   5. Panhandle Pathway
   6. St. Peter Catholic Church
   7. Location of First Frame House
   8. First United Methodist Church (1901)
   9. ISIS Theatre (1936)
   10. Pulaski County Public Library (a Carnegie library, 1916)
   11. Log Cabin Replica
   12. Artesian Well (1887)
   13. Memorial Swinging Bridge (1923)
   14. Winamac Town Park (former hunting and fishing ground of the Potawatomi)
   15. Park Pavilion (1891)
   16. Kelly Hardware (1898)

You’re back where you started!