New Madison was platted by Zadock Smith in 1817 for purposes of land speculation, but his efforts failed; he was unable to sell any of the lots. Two years later, he sold the land to Ernestus Putnam, who replatted the village and began to sell lots in 1831; unlike Smith, Putnam saw the establishment of a successful community. The village was named after Madison, Indiana by Ernestus Putman. Ernestus Putman previously lived in Madison, In. and he named it New Madison after he bought the village. The first church in the community was a Presbyterian congregation. While the community's first school was founded in its early years, the building was replaced by a substantial two-story structure in 1870; it in turn was replaced by a larger built in 1897.
Passages that mention New Madison, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county1880 · page 293Read the page →
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ner House, offers excellent acommodations to guests ; and the city and county support three newspapers. Postal facilities, fire department and other agencies for business, comfort and safety are well supplied. The incorporated towns are New Madison, laid out in 1817, incorporated. 1841. and situated ten miles southwest of Greenville, near the site of old Fort Black ; it is a fine thriving place. Versailles, platted in 1819, and duly incorporated in 1855, and located in Wayne Township ; Union City, a flourishing place on the State line, platted in 1838, and incorporated in 1853, and a lively railroad center ; Gettysburg, incorporated in
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The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county1880 · page 470Read the page →
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There are two steam saw-mills and a stream grist-mill in New Madison all doing a good business; one of the former has attached to it a flouring department, also a planing, flouring and bracket-manufacturing branch, and nearly every branch of mercantile and professional pursuit is represented. The village enjoys all the advantages of a railroad town, and is surrounded by a country that can hardly be surpassed and is very seldom equaled as to beauty and productiveness.
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History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ..1914Read the page →
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es; New Madison charge, including New Madison and Yankeetown ; besides separate stations at Greenville, Union City, Arcanum, Ithaca and Castine. The above data indicate that this is one of the most active denominations in the county and bids fair to exercise a strong and salutary influence for many years.
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History of Darke County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time ..1914 · page 497Read the page →
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David Putnam was l)orn in 1821 on the present site of New Madison within the stockade, which formerly constituted old Fort Black. He was reared in New Madison and obtained his school privileges in a log building and at the age of fourteen went into his father's mill where he was employed for two years. In 1836 he started for Texas walking to Cincinnati. After successful commercial transactions in the south, Mr. Putnam was in business successively at New Madison
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Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →
From Wikimedia Commons (6), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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