Source:Unknown. Old Bruce Home

THE OLD BRUCE HOME

Major Bruce first built a cabin on the two hundred acres of land he bought in 1805, but in 1811 work was begun on a brick house. Due to trouble with the Indians and the war of 1812, in which Major Bruce took part, the house was not completed until a year later. It is claimed that it is the second oldest brick house west of the Allegheny Mountains and east of the Mississippi River, surpassed in age only by the William Henry Harrison Mansion in Vincennes, which is a few years older.

In pioneer days, this old house was used as an inn and sheltered many noted men. Guests included Abner Ellis, William Polk-one of the framers of the Indiana Constitution, Gen. William Henry Harrison, Gen. George Rogers Clark, and Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln was a guest at the Bruce home in the fall of 1844. He was traveling in company with Abner T. Ellis, a prominent attorney from Vincennes, and was to speak at the little brick school house a short distance up the hill from the Bruce home. It had been widely heralded that Mr. Lincoln would speak to the Whigs of Bruceville on the political issues of the day, and preparations had been made to make the occasion one of great importance, since even then Lincoln had become noted as a speaker of great promise.

Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Ellis were conducted to the school building by their landlord, Major Bruce, who was also an ardent Whig. They found the building filled with friends of the Whig cause, and after a song by the glee club, Mr. Lincoln was introduced and commenced his speech. After he had spoken about five minutes an alarm was given that a large crowd of Democrats had invaded the town and brought speakers for the avowed purpose of counteracting the influence of Lincoln’s speech and breaking up the Whig gathering. Great excitement at once prevailed, Lincoln’s audience quickly dissolved, and he calmly sat down to await the outcome.

The town was filled with people and boiling with excitement. Carr, of Vincennes, was trying to speak from an open buggy, with men holding the bit of his horse, but his vice could scarcely be heard above the tumult. It seemed for a time that bloodshed was inevitable, but finally a wiser counsel prevailed and the invading Democrats retired. Considerable time had elapsed, but Lincoln smilingly completed his speech after the Whigs had reassembled.

After returning to the Bruce home, he was conducted to his room, which still remains and is known as the Lincoln room. His bed is said to have stood in the southwest corner of the room, and the old wooden clock, since removed, in the northwest corner. Abner Ellis had returned to Vincennes that night, and Lincoln resumed his journey to Illinois the next morning.

After the death of Major Bruce, the old Bruce home was owned and occupied by James C. Bruce, seventeenth child of Major Bruce, for more than forty years. James Bruce was married to Rebecca A. Harper, who, at the death of her husband, became the owner of the home and lived in it until she died in 1920. Since then it has been occupied by her nieces.

The house was originally a two-story building. The upper story contained several bedrooms and two large fireplaces. This upper story and two rooms from the west end have been torn away. The rest of the house remains much as it was.

Many relics of the past, including the family Bible and the old clock with the wooden works, have been removed. It is regrettable that these historical treasures have been taken away, but the old house still stands as a reminder of the past which cannot easily be removed.

[Note: This story was transcribed from a volume entitled “”A History of Bruceville, Indiana” a sort of ‘yearbook’ sponsored by Rainbow Class, Bruceville Christian Church, 1954, and it states it covers a period from 1804 to 1954. There is no reference as to who originally wrote it (it is typed in the book). All names, dates, place names and capitalizations, geography references, etc. are as written in the text to the best of my knowledge. Grammar was not corrected.

I have no idea as to any factual accuracies or inaccuracies. I am providing it to the geneology system for others to enjoy and use in their own searches, etc. Please take care when handling this document as any changes to dates, names, etc. may change the context for future readers. Feel free to contact me email ([email protected]) if you are interested in the pictures and other info contained in this book. There are other portions in this book which I hope to include in the system soon.

While this may not be the most appropriate way to handle this document, I don’t feel comfortable sending it out to be physically copied as is. Anyone who has a good idea where this beautiful book might be kept for anyone to reference (library, historical society, etc.?) please let me know of your ideas. It may very well exist there already. Mary Thompson, dated 5/29/2000.]