A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 51

Author: William Travis
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 631

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on both sides of pioneer ancestors, and, likewise, a fine representative of the native-born citizens of this part of Clay county, his birth having occurred January 14, 1844, on the homestead where he now lives. His father, James Brenton, a son of William Brenton, was born in Clark county, Indiana, in 1800.

William Brenton migrated from Wilmington, Delaware, to Indiana at a very early day, being one of the original settlers of what is now Clark county, when

"The forests in their grandeur all proud and noble stood,

Ere the woodman's blows rang echoing in the deep and darksome wood."

The forest was the hunting ground of Indians, who had held the country for centuries, and were not pleased with the advances of white-faced strangers. One of his brothers, Frank Brenton, was killed by the Indians on the Pickaway plains in Ohio, and the powder horn which belonged to him is now owned by the subject of this sketch, it having been recovered after his death. William Brenton took part in many of the early skirmishes with the red men, including the capture of Fort Harrison. Improving a farm from the wilderness, he resided there until his death at a ripe old age. His wife, whose maiden name was Fanny Wiley, spent her last years on the Clark county homestead. She reared children as follows: James, William, Frank, Robert, Henry, Elizabeth, Sarah and John.

Coming from Clark county to Clay county in 1837, James Brenton was among the pioneers of Dick Johnson township, where he selected a tract of school land in section sixteen, and also a tract of land in section nine. The land was heavily timbered when it came into his possession, never an axe having touched the giant progeny of the forest. Clearing a small space, he built of sawed logs a house twenty feet square and two stories high, in which his children were born. There were in those days no convenient markets, Terre Haute being the nearest, and the few settlers lived principally on the game found in the woods or the produc- tions of the land. The garments of the household were made by the housewife, who also carded, spun and wove the material from which they were fashioned. Clearing a goodly portion of his land, James Brenton continued his agricultural labors until his death, in 1869, aged sixty-nine years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Webster, was born in Virginia, which was also the birthplace of her father, Daniel Webster. Mr. Webster was one of the first settlers of Dick Johnson township, and on the land, in section fifteen, which he purchased from the government he built a saw mill, the first and for a long time the only mill in this part of the county. He cleared the farm on which he and his wife, whose name before marriage was Rhoda Arthur, spent the remainder of their lives. Mary (Webster) Brenton, survived her hus- band and died in the fall of 1885 on the home farm, at the age of sixty- eight years. She reared four children, Martha Jane, William H., John and James, and of these William H., of this sketch, is the only survivor.

A life-long resident of the parental homestead, William H. Brenton tenderly cared for his parents in their declining years, from his youth up being interested in agriculture. Succeeding to the ownership of the homestead, he has continued the occupation to which he was reared,

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although he has to some extent been engaged in drilling, operating in both Clay and Vigo counties. The house which he now occupies, an attractive brick cottage, has a fine location at the head of a beautiful ravine, through which flows Little Otter creek.

Mr. Brenton married, in 1876, Sarah Hoffman, who was born in Nevins township, Vigo county, Indiana, March 10, 1851, a daughter of Abram Hoffman. Her grandfather, John Hoffman, born in Pennsylva- nia, of good German stock, moved to Ohio in 1812, becoming a pioneer of Pickaway county, his home being near Circleville. In 1818, still con- tinuing his march towards the frontier, he came to Clay county, Indiana, and located about six miles from Bowling Green, on the east bank of the Eel river. He was a man of prominence in local affairs, selecting Bowl- ing Green for the county seat, and afterwards clearing the ground to make room for the court house. He helped dig the first grave in Clay county, and assisted Mr. Croy in making the first coffin. Removing from this county to Vigo county, he was a pioneer of Nevins township, where he resided until his death, in the ninety-fourth year of his age. He was one of a large family of children, twenty-three in number. He was blessed with a remarkable memory, and in his old age told many incidents of his early life. When a boy of seven years he sat in the lap of General George Washington, and the first pair of boots he ever wore were given to him by that revered president. At the time of the war of 1812 he was the butcher for General William Hull's army, and .was a witness of that general's tame surrender of his army and all the terri- tory which he commanded. Mr. Hoffman spent his last years with his son Abram. His wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Harpster, was born in Pennsylvania and died in Vigo county.

Abram Hoffman, Mrs. Brenton's father, was born in 1815, in Ohio, and at the age of three years was brought by his parents to this state. On attaining manhood he entered a tract of government land in Nevins township, Vigo county, and built for his first domicile a house of sawed logs, which was weatherboarded without and sealed within, a most pre- tentious house for those days. He cleared and improved a good farm, and in 1868 erected a frame house, which he occupied the remainder of his life, dying there at the age of four-score years. He married Hannah Clark, who was born in Hamilton, Ohio, and died in Nevins township at a good old age. Her parents, Samuel and Phebe (Seers) Clark, moved from Ohio to Indiana in 1829, locating first near Terre Haute, but after- wards settled in Nevins township, which they made their permanent home.

Mr. and Mrs. Benton are the parents of four children, namely : Charles H., Bertha F., John C. and Edna R. Bertha, wife of James Davis, has two sons, Claude H. and James Clarence. Edna R., wife of Charles A. Loughmiller, has two children, Edna Ruth and Arthur Bren- ton. Politically Mr. Brenton is an adherent of the Democratic party, and in theory, practice and principle is a strong Prohibitionist. He takes genuine interest in local affairs, and for two terms rendered excellent service as township trustee. Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Brenton are active and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

MORTON BELK .- Among the native-born citizens of Van Buren town- ship conspicuous for their ability and worth is Morton Belk, whose birth occurred August 25, 1870, on the farm where he now resides. He is a

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descendant in the fourth generation of one John Belk, the line of descent being as follows: John (1), William (2), Benjamin Franklin (3), and Morton (4). John (1) Belk, a native of Tennessee, served in the war of 1812, and afterwards took up government land in Russell county, Kentucky, where he followed farming the remainder of his life. The maiden name of his wife was Anna Tackett.

William (2) Belk was born on the homestead in Russell county, Kentucky, in 1801. He worked with his father on the home farm when young a part of the time and a part of the time assisted his brother, who was a cabinet maker. In 1828, accompanied by his wife and three chil- dren, he came to Indiana, bringing his children and goods in an ox-cart, while his wife rode horseback. After spending a year in Clay City he crossed the line into Washington township, where he entered a tract of government land which was then in its primitive wildness. Building a log house for a dwelling, he commenced clearing off the timber, and was there for a number of years engaged in agricultural pursuits. Taking then a contract to build a part of the National Road, he lived for a year in Vigo county. He then removed to Van Buren township, where he resided for some time, from there going back to Putnam county to his own land. When the Vandalia railroad was built he took a contract on that, and with his family removed to Eagles, where a few months later, in June, 1848, his death occurred. He married Elizabeth Bolin, who was born in Adair county, Kentucky, where her parents, Benjamin and Pru- dence (Calico) Bolin, natives of North Carolina, spent their last years. They had a family of nine children.

A native of Putnam county, Indiana, Benjamin F. Belk was born in 1840, in Washington township, and on the homestead which his father cleared from the forest was reared to agricultural pursuits. In 1861, at the first call for troops, he enlisted for three months in the Second Indiana Cavalry, with which he went to the front and served until the expiration of his term of enlistment. Being honorably discharged, he returned home and shortly afterwards re-enlisted for three years in the same regiment. Before the expiration of that time, however, he re-enlisted for another two years, or until the close of the war. He was with his command in all of its marches, campaigns and battles throughout the entire period of the war, and at its close was honorably discharged from the service, having fought bravely for his country. Returning to Indiana, he pur- chased the place where his son Morton now lives. This farm had been sadly neglected during the war, and was grown up to bushes and briars. Clearing these off, he fenced the land, added to the house, built a barn, and made many other needed improvements, residing there until his death April 7, 1896.

Benjamin F. Belk was twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Emeline Siner, was born in Washington township, Putnam county, Indiana, a daughter of William and Nancy ( Hartman) Siner, pioneers of that region. She died in 1876, leaving three children, namely : Sarah; Morton, the special subject of this sketch; and Cora. He mar- ried second Maria Finley, a daughter of James Finley, and of this union two children were born, Mary Lillie and James Arthur. Further history of the Finley family may be found elsewhere in this volume, in connection with the sketch of James Arthur Belk.

Brought up on the homestead, Morton Belk took advantage of all

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offered opportunities for obtaining an education, attending the district school regularly when young. Under his father's instructions he became familiar with the various branches of agriculture, and early selected farm- ing as his life occupation. Succeeding to the ownership of the home farm, he has continued the improvements inaugurated by his father, and in his agricultural labors has met with much success.

Mr. Belk married, in 1897, Anna Palm, who was born in Jackson township, Clay county, a daughter of John A. and Sarah A. (Riddell) Palm. Politically Mr. Belk is affiliated with the Republican party, and religiously Mrs. Belk is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

FERNANDO WOOD WEBSTER .- Standing prominent among the intelli- gent and practical agriculturists of Clay county is Fernando Wood Web- ster, of Dick Johnson township, who is distinguished among other things as being the owner of a farm that has been retained in the family since its original purchase from the government. He was born on the homestead where he now resides August 7, 1855, a son of Joshua and Mary (Kerr) Webster. A more extended parental and ancestral history may be found on another page of this biographical work in connection with the sketch of his brother, Anderson Webster.

Brought up on the homestead and educated in the district schools, Fernando W. Webster began as soon as physically able to assist in the numerous kinds of labor incidental to an agricultural life, while yet a boy helping his father in his almost herculean work of redeeming a farm from the wilderness. After the death of his parents he succeeded to the ownership of the farm on which his entire life has been passed, and in its management has been successful.

Mr. Webster married, in 1887, Charity Ellen Hardesty, who was born in this township, a daughter of Nelson and Elizabeth (Young) Hardesty, early settlers of Clay county.

JOHN HADDON .- Starting out in life with nothing but youth in his favor and his endowments of good health, a vigorous muscle and a clear, cool brain, John Haddon has achieved success in his active career, and is a fine example of what is termed a self-made man. A resident of Van Buren township, he is busily engaged in tilling the soil, his farm being under excellent culture and well improved. A son of William Haddon, he was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, November 17, 1833. His paternal grandfather settled in West Virginia and spent his last years in the city of Wheeling, being upwards of ninety years when he died.

A native of Virginia, William Haddon was born and brought up at Harpers Ferry. When a young man he moved to Ohio, becoming a pioneer of Muskingum county. Although he never owned land, he rented a farm and made a specialty of raising wheat, one season harvesting twelve hundred dozen shocks of prime wheat, a crop that was almost record breaking at that day and place. He died at the age of sixty-five years in Hocking county, Ohio. His good wife, who preceded him to the better land, bore him ten children, as follows: Valentine, William, Mary, Eliza, Ruena, Elizabeth, Catherine, John, Daniel and Jane.

Being given his time when a boy of fifteen years, John Haddon commenced the battle of life for himself without a dollar of ready money. He began life as a farm hand, working by the month. Horses at that

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time were but little used on the farm, the ploughing and teaming being done by oxen, animals which he became an expert in handling and driving. In 1855 he migrated to Iowa, going by steamboat on the Grand river to Union county, where he remained two years, being employed in breaking prairie and in helping to fence a large farm. Starting eastward then, he made the journey to Clay county, Indiana, with two yoke of oxen, a slow mode of travel. The land in this vicinity was at that time covered with a dense growth of timber, through which wild beasts of many kinds roamed at will. He first found employment as a teamster, working for John Zellar, and until after the breaking out of the Civil war worked by the month.

In August, 1861, Mr. Haddon enlisted in Company H. Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, known as Wallace's Zouaves, and going south was with his regiment in all of its marches, campaigns and engagements. Among the more important battles in which he actively participated were those at Champion Hill, Vicksburg and Port Gibson. Receiving his honorable discharge from the army in the fall of 1864, he returned to Clay county and resumed work by the month. Having accumulated some money Mr. Haddon then invested in land, buying twenty acres and com- mencing life for himself as a farmer. Industrious, persevering and a man of good business ability, he met with genuine success in his under- takings, prosperity smiling on his every effort. He has bought additional land and has now one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has made substantial improvements, the greater part of his farm being in a good state of cultivation, with a good set of farm buildings. The homestead now compares favorably with any in the vicinity and his property lies in section thirty-six.

Mr. Haddon has been twice married. He married first, in 1860, Ann Palm, a daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Free) Palm. She died the following year, leaving one son, Joseph, who married Alice Hathaway, by whom he has seven children, Clarence, Earl, Eva, Estes, Ray, Dewey and Oscar. Mr. Haddon married for his second wife Eliza J. Haymaker, who was born in 1843 in Richland county, Ohio, which was probably the native state of her father, David Haymaker. Her grandfather, Samuel Haymaker, was a pioneer of Richland county, Ohio, going there from Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and spent his last years on the homestead he improved near Mansfield. About 1846 David Hay- maker came from Ohio to Indiana, becoming an early settler of Clay county. Taking up a tract of wild land from the government, he cut down trees to make room for the log cabin which was to shelter his family, and lived there until his death, about 1858. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Fisher, was born in Ohio, a daughter of John Fisher. She survived him, married for her second husband Philip Boyd. and with him spent her remaining years in Jackson township. Mr. and Mrs. Haddon have six children, namely: Samuel, Mary, Catherine, Eliza, Grace and Anna.

Samuel Haddon, the oldest child, has been twice married. He mar- ried first Alice Bard, by whom he had one child, Bertha. He married second Rachel Denower, and they have four children, Marion and Florence, twins, and William and Roy. Mary Haddon married Summy Johnson, and has four children, Guy, Viola, Charles and Clay. Catherine Haddon married Henry Britton, and they have four children, John,

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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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Jament Halstrad

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Norval, Ralph and Ellen. Grace Haddon married Charles Slack, and has four children, Martin, Cleo, Seibert and Philip. Mrs. Haddon is a con- sistent Christian woman and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Haddon is a Republican.

JAMES NEWSOME HALSTEAD, whose intense and well directed activity is manifest in his capable and successful management of the Eagle Saw and Planing Mills, of which he is proprietor. is numbered among Brazil's valued and representative citizens. He was born in Dusebury in the county of York, England, June 17, 1856, and when three years of age went to live with an uncle, with whom he went to Canada at the age of six years. When eight years of age he became a resident of Pennsylvania, and at the age of thirteen years arrived in Indiana, settling in Harmony, Clay county, in company with his uncle. There he attended school and afterward engaged in keeping books for the firm of Halstead & Pyrah until eighteen years of age, when he returned to England, spending about seven months in his native land. He had, however, formed a strong attachment for the land of his adoption, and on the expiration of that period he returned to Harmony, where he again became bookkeeper for the firm which he had formerly served. He also kept books for the Runser Iron Company at Knightsville, Indiana, and the careful husbanding of his financial resources enabled him at the age of twenty-four years to engage in the drug goods business at Harmony. He carried on that business for about two years, when he withdrew from that department of commercial life and engaged in the planing mill business with C. W. Reed in Brazil, Indiana. He was connected with that enterprise until December, 1880, when he sold out to J. E. Sherfey and in the spring of 1881 be built the mill now conducted under the name of C. E. Wilder & Company. Mr. Halstead remained a partner in that undertaking until 1887, when he again disposed of his interest in the business and went south to Tennessee, where he purchased timber land, intending to engage in the lumber business in that part of the country.

After spending some time in the south, however, Mr. Halstead returned to Brazil. He still owns his timber land in Tennessee, which is today very valuable. When he had again established his, home in Brazil he built the Crusedale Block on the land where the Sourwine Block now stands. In 1888 he erected the Eagle Saw and Planing Mills and has since conducted business in the manufacture of lumber and as a dealer in all kinds of lumber, lath, shingles, moulding and builders' hard- ware, making however, a specialty of mill work. This enterprise has been gradually developed to extensive and profitable proportions and is to-day one of the important industrial concerns of the county. Mr. Hal- stead is a man of resourceful business ability who has never confined his attention to one line but has branched out into various fields of activity, in all displaying an aptitude for successful management and notable capacity in executing well formulated plans. He has been an active and successful dealer in real estate and is to-day the owner of three farms in Clay county, one of which adjoins the corporation limits of Brazil on the south, while one is situated in Posey township and the third in Jackson township. He is also one of the owners of the Greencastle Electric Light Plant, is a stockholder in the Interurban Electric Railway Company, a stockholder and director in the Brazil Trust Company, vice president of

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the Brazil Building and Loan Association and also has business interests in Indianapolis. He was the architect in the building of the county jail and was the contractor and builder of the Carnegie library.

On the 24th of December, 1879, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Halstead and Miss Hattie B. Wilder, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Christopher E. and Lucinda Wilder. Mr. and Mrs. Halstead have become the parents of four sons and three daughters: William E., who married Miss Essie Wehrle; George E., who is attending Purdue Uni- versity ; Ethel A., who is a graduate of De Pauw University ; Earl W .; Myrtle; James; and Dorothy A. Mr. Halstead is a member of Centen- nial Lodge, No. 541, A. F. & A. M., with which he has been identified from the age of twenty-one years. He likewise belongs to Brazil Lodge, No. 30, K. P., and to the Elks Lodge, No. 762, B. P. O. E. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. His business career has been marked by steady advancement. Opportunities which others have passed by heedlessly he has recognized and improved. He knows that the present and not the future holds the chance for every individual and, never waiting for more favorable advantages, he has utilized the opportunity of the moment and has become a forceful and honored factor in business circles.

GEORGE GREEN PELL .- The substantial and well-to-do citizens of Van Buren township have no better representative than George Green Pell, who stands high among the keen, progressive and business-like farmers who are so ably conducting the agricultural interests of this part of Clay county. He was born in this township October 17, 1853, being the eldest son of Richard Dudley and Eliza (Mckinley) Pell. In connection with the sketch of his mother, which appears elsewhere in this book, further parental and ancestral history may be found.

In his youthful days George G. Pell received excellent educational advantages, attending first the public schools of his district and afterward continuing his studies at the Friends' School at Bloomingdale. For two years during his early life Mr. Pell was a weigher at the mines, but otherwise has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, carrying on general farming and dairying after the most approved modern methods. For awhile after his marriage he lived on the National Road, in the old "Stage Tavern," and then took possession of the farm on which his parents commenced life for themselves and which he now owns and occupies. This farm, located on section thirty-five, contains four hun- dred and seventy-eight acres of good land, the greater part of which is in use, being devoted to general farming and hay raising. The house is beautifully situated in a fine grove of walnut trees, and with its environ- ments invariably attracts the attention of the passer-by.

On May 15, 1877, Mr. Pell married Catherine E. West, who was born at Cloverland, Posey township, Clay county. Her father, Marcus L. West, and her grandfather, James West, were both natives of Clermont county, Ohio. Migrating with his family to Indiana at an early day, James West settled in Harrison township, where he entered a tract of government land. He was a carpenter by trade, and followed that occu-

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pation until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted, and died while in service, giving his life for his country. His wife, whose name before marriage was Keziah Dunham, survived him and died at the age of eighty-two years. Born in 1827, Marcus L. West was eleven years old when he came with his parents to this county. Growing to man- hood in Harrison township, he entered the service of the United States when his father did, enlisting in the same company, and served through- out the Mexican war. Returning home at its close, he was for a time employed at a saw mill, and then bought land, cleared and improved a farm, and for several years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is now living retired from active labors at Cloverland. The maiden name of his wife, mother of Mrs. Pell, was Maria Carpenter. Her father, George Carpenter, a native of Pennsylvania, was a pioneer of Clay county, and in early days kept a stage station at Cloverland, where he spent his last years. Mr. Carpenter's wife, Elizabeth Anderson, was born in Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Anderson, who emigrated from Germany to this country, locating first in Pennsylvania and from there came to Williamstown, Indiana, where he too kept a stage station in early times, afterwards spending his declining days at Cloverland. Mrs. Marcus L. West, mother of Mrs. Pell, died August 30, 1905, at Cloverland, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Pell have eight children, namely: Seth, Letha A., Jacob A., Francis J., Katherine E., Richard Dudley, Grover Mckinley and George R.

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A History of Clay County Indiana (Volume 2), Part 51

Author: William Travis Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Number of Pages: 631

Author: William Travis
Publication date: 1909
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 631