Spelling bee craze, unusual Civil War soldier and more from Greensburg

<p>Could the <strong><a href= "https://www.fords.org/blog/post/a-brief-history-of-spelling-bees-in-america/">spelling bee craze</a></strong> that swept the country beginning in the 19th century have been kicked off in <a href= "https://www.cityofgreensburg.com/"><strong>Greensburg</strong></a>, Indiana? The city in <strong><a href= "http://www.decaturcounty.in.gov/">Decatur County</a></strong> claims to have hosted the first citywide spelling bee. And there's a direct link to "<strong><a href= "https://iupress.org/9780253203243/the-hoosier-school-master/">The Hoosier Schoolmaster</a></strong>", a best-selling novel in 1871 that was set in the county and includes a riveting episode with a spelling match; it is credited with causing the popularity of bees to boom.</p>