A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 80

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > Indiana > A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I > Part 80

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Neely was the first district clerk, and, as such, was instrumental in building the first school-house in Mun- cie. He is now secretary of the board of trustees, who are erecting in that city what is expected to be one of the finest public school buildings in the state. He also planned and assisted in building the Presbyterian Church. He may be said to be instinctively moral and religious, having always been a stanch temperance man, fully alive to the importance of teaching men to make the body subservient to the spirit. For nearly forty years he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, holding during most of that period the office of elder. He was also superintendent of the Sabbath-school for fifteen years. The clang of anvil and hammer had not deadened his ear to more melodious sounds, for he led the musical services of Church and Sunday-school for many years. Mr. Neely cast his first vote, for a Whig candidate, in 1832; and thus, as a member of that and the Republican party, has been an interested witness of the long civil contest, which, beginning with nullifica- tion, ended in secession and war, the results of which were emancipation of the slaves and the restoration of the Union. As one of the pioneers of Muncie, Mr. Neely has ever had at heart the interests of that city and of Delaware County. His influence in the commu- nity has always been salutary, and he is held in high estimation throughout the county. He is a man of fine personal appearance, combining rare social qualities with a disposition that is kind, generous, and just. Mr. Neely has had five children, four of whom are living, two sons and two daughters.

EFF, COLONEL HENRY H., son of John and Susannah (Gray) Neff, was born near Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, June 5, 1815. His educa- tion was acquired in the common schools of his native county, which were good for that day. At the age of seventeen he engaged in the printing business in the office of the Eaton Register, which was owned by Doctor Francis A. Cunningham and John Van Ausdale. The former was afterward elected to Congress. Young Neff went to Connersville with Matthew R. Hull, who had bought the Register, and assisted in starting a new paper at that place, under the name of the Indiana Sentinel. This occurred in 1834. During that year he removed to Winchester, his present home, and two years afterward went to Fort Wayne as a typo and worked on the Fort Wayne Sentinel, the first newspaper started in that place. He returned in 1838, and went into the drug business until 1843, when he began the publication of the Winchester Patriot, which he con- tinued for nine years. Mr. Neff thus had a somewhat extended experience as a journalist in the early days of Indiana. He was elected to the state Legislature in

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[6th Dist.

1847 on the Whig ticket, and in 1852 was elected clerk of the court, serving in that capacity eight years. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he, associated with Colonel Orr, recruited the 124th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, as first major, being soon afterward pro- moted to lieutenant-colonel, a rank which he held until the close of the war. He was with General Sherman until the evacuation of Atlanta, when he returned with Schofield and joined the army under General Thomas, taking part in both the great battles of Franklin and Nashville. His regiment occupied a prominent position in both of these great engagements. Colonel Neff's only son, J. Lawrence Neff, while serving as captain in his father's regiment, was instantly killed at Kingston, dur- ing the last engagement before the surrender of General Johnston. Colonel Neff took an active interest in the building of railroads, in internal improvements, and in the advancement of educational facilities. He organ- ized the first division of the Sons of Temperance in his community, is a Sir Knight in the Masonic Order, and was one of the charter members in the Odd-fellows' lodge at Winchester. Both he and Mrs. Neff are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Carr, deceased, whom he married on July 2, 1839, and by whom he has two surviving daughters. He married Miss Margaret Mitchell, No- vember 7, 1865, who now presides over their beautiful home, in which they are surrounded by the comforts and blessings of life.

EFF, CAPTAIN JOHN, was born in Preble County, Ohio, March 4, 1813. His education as a boy was extremely limited, the schools to which he had access having only one term of three months during the year, to attend which he was obliged to walk three miles. A study of the spelling-book and Testament constituted the required course. At the age of seventeen he began to support himself by his own earnings, engaging in the work of type-setting in the office of the Eaton Register. The next year he went to Centerville, Indiana, and continued the same occupation in the employ of Hall & Brown. Meanwhile, Enoch Edmonson, the editor and proprietor of the Eaton Reg- ister, having been accidentally killed, Mr. Neff and Doctor Cunnington bought the paper, and conducted it in the capacity of editors and publishers. At the ex- piration of the year they sold out, and Mr. Neff resumed his old occupation of type-setting at Liberty, where he remained one year, after which he returned to Eaton, and engaged as a clerk in a store for three years. Meanwhile, in 1837, he married Miss Harriet N. Holmes, by whom he had four children. A son and one daugh- ter are still living. The former was elected Secretary of State on the Democratic ticket in 1876, and still

serves in that honored position. In 1839 Mr. Neff re- moved to Winchester, Indiana, where he has since lived. At first he was clerk for Michael Acre, in whose employ he remained until the summer of 1841, when he was elected county treasurer for three years. In 1845 he was a candidate for clerk of the court. The Mex- ican War having broken out that year, President Polk sent a commission of captain to Mr. Neff. He after- wards entered the army, was stationed at St. Louis under Colonel Enos Mckay, and served as assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain. His principal duties were to procure forage and furnish transportation between St. Louis and Forts Leavenworth, Scott, and Jefferson Barracks. In that wild country these duties were attended with no little privation, hardship, and danger. On one occasion his colonel wanted transporta- tion for one hundred thousand dollars in gold and twenty thousand in silver to Fort Leavenworth. The wharf at that time was crowded with steamboats, but the navigation of the Missouri River, with its treacher- ous sand-bars, and other perils both by land and water, caused a high rate of transportation to that point. No river captain would take the risk for less than two per cent commission on the money. Colonel Mckay re- garded the price as exorbitant, and resolved not to pay it. He ordered Captain Neff to take this money over- land, and asked him what escort he wanted. "The less the better," was the reply. The gold and silver was then put into iron-bound boxes, loaded into a wagon, and with a guard of four soldiers the Captain started on his long drive of fourteen days. When they had been out two or three days it was found that their muskets were all worthless; not a shot could be fired. By mistake the commander of the arsenal had sent them condemned arms. Notwithstanding this, the money was safely delivered to Captain Clary at Fort Leavenworth, the total expense of the trip being one hundred and thirty dollars. Thus this faithful officer saved to the government the sum of two thousand two hundred and seventy dollars. On the honorable discharge of Captain Neff he returned to Winchester, and after engaging in the grocery business for three years commenced dealing in grain, a business which he has successfully followed for twenty-eight years. Though approaching threescore and ten, he is still actively engaged, thus giving an example of industry that the rising generation might well follow.

ICHOLSON, TIMOTHY, proprietor of a book- store and book-bindery, Richmond, Indiana, was born in Perquimons County, North Carolina, No- vember 2, 1828. His parents, Josiah and Anna (White) Nicholson, were both elders in the Church of the society of Friends, and were also quite influential

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

6th Dist.]

in the community in which they lived. His grandfather was an able minister of the gospel in that sect, yet an owner of slaves. In common with all at that time, he be- lieved such proprietorship Scriptural and right, so slow are men to perceive the true nature of evils to which they have long been accustomed. But in the latter part of his life he became convinced that human slavery was a sin, and, despite the difficulty and unpopularity of the act, liberated all his bondsmen. This noble self- sacrifice was followed by such peace of mind that he declared he "would not again be entangled with slaves for their weight in gold." The Friends, ever in the van of moral progress, were not long in imitating his ex- ample, and soon there remained not a slave-owner among them in North Carolina. It was through an inheritance of this strict regard for right, as well as by reason of the parental moral and religious training he received, that there were begun in the lad, Timothy Nicholson, the foundations of a character which subse- quent years have strengthened and enlarged. Though reared upon a farm he was privileged to attend the best schools, and thus united the advantages of rural life with those of literary culture. He was first instructed near his home, in Belvidere Academy, an institution established and maintained by the society of Friends, after which, at the age of eighteen, he attended the Friends' school in Providence, Rhode Island. After remaining at that institution one year and a half, he returned, and was appointed principal of the Belvidere Academy, a position which he held six years. He then accepted an invitation to take charge of the preparatory department of Haverford College, near Philadelphia, also under control of the Friends, and performed his duties so well that at the close of a period of four years he was advanced to the position of general superintend- ent of the college. At the end of two years he resigned, and in 1861 removed to Richmond, Indiana, and joined with his brother, John Nicholson, in the book and sta- tionery business. He remained in this connection until 1873, and then purchased his brother's interest; since which time he has conducted both the bindery and the store alone. For fifteen years Mr. Nicholson was a trustee of Earlham College, at Richmond, and because of his peculiar fitness for the duties of that office, and his residence in that city, much of the labor devolved upon him. During the years 1865 and 1866 he was a member of the board of trustees of the Richmond City schools. From 1868 to 1875 he was a trustee of the In- diana State Normal School at Terre Haute. Two years afterward, in 1877, a vacancy having occurred in the board, the remaining trustees united in requesting Governor Williams to fill it by the appointment of Mr. Nicholson, which was done, although his political attachments were at variance with those of the Governor and every trustee. From 1872 to 1877 he was also a trustee of the Home

| for the Friendless, at Richmond. From early life he has been an earnest temperance worker, and for a long time an elder in the Church. During five years he was clerk of the Yearly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, and for twelve years clerk of the Whitewater Monthly Meeting, comprising four congregations. During a pe- riod of four years he was a Sabbath-school superintend- ent, and recently was unanimously chosen superintendent of the Sunday-school in the new Yearly Meeting-house. He is a stanch Republican, and in 1872 was president of the Richmond Grant Club, but is not a seeker for the honors or the emoluments of political life. Mr. Nich- olson was married, August 11, 1853, to Miss Sarah N. White, daughter of John and Mary White, elders in the Church of the society of Friends in Perquimons County, North Carolina. Of the issue of this marriage four chil- dren-three sons and one daughter-are living. Their mother died September 26, 1865. He was married again April 30, 1868, to Miss Mary S. White, sister of his first wife. Two daughters, still living, are the result of this union. Mr. Nicholson's establishment is the oldest book house in Eastern Indiana. He has achieved what men call success, but his aim has been, not so much to amass wealth, as to establish a reputation for perfect honesty. That he has accomplished this purpose is shown in the following testimony, gathered, not from members of his Church, who might be suspected of undue partiality, but from men without the society of Friends. Besides the qualities of energy, perseverance, discretion, and perception necessary for mere gain, his life has been emi- nently marked by perfect probity. Unbounded confi- dence is expressed in him in this respect, and, in proof of his integrity, the fact is cited that he never withholds one penny's worth in submitting the value of his property for assessment-a conscientiousness, alas, quite rare. He is a practical philanthropist, manifesting his regard for humanity chiefly through the channels of the Church and the cause of temperance, and with an interest that amounts to enthusiasm. He has unusual executive tal- ent, and, as an organizer and manager of educational and benevolent institutions, has few superiors in Indi- ana. Mr. Nicholson's manner is very affable and pleas- ing, and, with his intelligent conversation, indicates the effect of class-room culture and business experience. It is needless to add, in view of all this, that he has many friends, and commands the respect of the best classes wherever he is known.

RR, COLONEL SAMUEL, late of Muncie, was born in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, June 9, 1813, and died November 19, 1876. The follow- ing is copied from an obituary published in the Muncie Times, of November 23, 1876: " He emigrated from Ireland with his father and family in 1821. They

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

[6th Dist.

settled at Greenbrier County, Virginia, where they remained until 1836, when they removed to Greene County, Ohio. There the subject of this sketch was married to Miss Jane Moore, September 28, 1837. In October of the same year they all removed to Delaware County, Indiana, where Samuel settled on his farm, three miles north of Selma, in Liberty Township. Here they lived together in peace and harmony for many years, converting a portion of the wilderness into a beautiful home, and seeing a large family of intelli- gent and worthy sons and daughters grow up around them. In 1846, and for two consecutive years follow- ing, he was chosen a member of the House of Repre- sentatives, where he represented his county with credit to himself and constituency. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he tendered his services to his country, and was made lieutenant-colonel of the 84th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, being mustered September 8, 1862, a position which he filled with honor and fidelity until December, 1863, when he was compelled to resign on account of his health. An unfortunate estrangement having arisen between him and his wife, they were finally legally separated, when he subsequently married Miss Nancy J. Morrison, June 26, 1871, with whom he lived happily till the time of his death. His funeral occurred at the Sharon United Presbyterian Church, near his old home, on Tuesday, at eleven o'clock, Rev. Mr. Beattie preaching the discourse to a large multitude of his old friends and neighbors, who were anxious to pay him the last tribute of respect. He was a ruling mem- ber of this Church at the time of his death, and for many years previous. His virtues and his faults have been matters of public notoriety, he having been a pub- lic and prominent man in the history of the county. Among his shining and praiseworthy traits were in- dustry, economy, promptness in business obligations, and a kind, merry Irish heart. No man, perhaps, practiced more untiring industry, and he was a rigid, though not parsimonious, economist. This, together with his strict regard for his obligations and his sagacity, greatly conduced to his abundant prosperity in worldly goods. His political career is well known to the peo- ple of the county, and, whatever criticisms have been made upon it, no opponent has ever questioned his loyal devotion to his country. There was no taint of treason in him; while his political life has been some- what checkered, his intimate friends give him credit for acting at all times from conscientious motives. He was an effective political speaker, and until recently has never failed to take a leading part in the campaign, his health alone restraining him now. In the late cam- paign he advocated the election of Mr. Cooper, on the financial question, but frequently asserted his preference for Republicanism rather than Democracy. So ends the earthly career of another of Indiana's prominent citizens."

ARRY, WILLIAM, president of the Cincinnati, Richmond and Fort Wayne Railroad, was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Seventh Month 20, 1810, and he is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Webster) Parry. His opportunities for obtaining an education were limited. His mind was to be disciplined and instructed in the real duties of life; and perhaps such training is most healthful, and the knowledge thus acquired most permanent and useful. In 1827, at the age of seventeen, he set out for that land of promise, the West, and finally stopped at Richmond, Indiana. There he learned the trade of plasterer, and followed it until 1844, when he bought, near that city, the farm on which he still resides. For several years prior to this he was a member of the city council, and one object in his removal to the farm was to escape the duties thus imposed at every succeeding election. From 1849 to 1851 he built the turnpike from Richmond to Williamsburg, in the same county, and was elected president of the company. In 1858 he was chosen president of the Wayne County Turnpike Company, which office he retained till 1871, when the pressure of other business compelled him to resign. In 1853, when the office of township trustee was created, Mr. Parry was elected to that position, and, by re-elec- tion, held it nineteen and a half years, and during that long period fulfilled its important duties-the care of the roads, the schools, and the poor, and the assessment and disbursing the taxes-so faithfully that not the slightest error appeared in his accounts-a shining ex- ample that should be held up to view in the moral darkness of the official corruption of the age. In the year 1868 he was elected president of the Cincinnati, Richmond and Fort Wayne Railroad. For sixteen years it had been slowly building, being badly managed the while, and at times abandoned, until finally Mr. Parry was urged to accept the responsibility of its con- struction. He shrank from the thought of failure, and hesitated to undertake this great task, because success seemed almost hopeless, but at length consented, and went East to enlist more capital. Such was the confi- dence reposed in his known energy, capacity, and truth- fulness that the necessary aid was soon secured. Re- turning then to Indiana, work on the road was resumed with new vigor, and steadily continued until its com- pletion. The road still remains under his control, and he has proved as capable in its management as in its construction. Mr. Parry was made a member of the committee appointed by the Indiana Yearly Meeting of the society of Friends, of which he is a member, to take charge of the Omaha tribe of Indians, the purpose being to civilize and christianize them. He is also one of the delegates of the Seven Yearly Meetings, which convene annually at Baltimore, and have control of the Northern superintendency, composed of the following

REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF INDIANA.

6th Dist.]

tribes : Santa Sioux, Winnebagoes, Omahas, Pawnees, Otoes, and Iowas, of Nebraska, and the Sacs and Foxes, of Missouri, numbering in all about six thousand. In the discharge of these important trusts, he has made several visits to Washington and to the Indians, and subserved the purposes of the society in a most efficient manner. On the fourth day of the ninth month, 1833, he married Miss Mary Hill, by whom he has had twelve children, of which number seven are living. Mr. Parry is a man of great energy and determination, and in whatever engaged instinctively becomes a leader, though not ostentatious; and he has the ability to conceive and carry out important enterprises. He is not easily daunted by difficulties, and his enthusiasm, bouyancy of spirit, and fertility of resource, enable him to succeed in spite of discouragement. Warm-hearted, unselfish, always good-humored, and possessing strong self-control, he never gives way to anger, though keenly sensitive to injustice. Morally, he is without reproach, and though sometimes brought into collision with others, because of his utter fearlessness in the prosecution or the defense of right, he is deservedly one of the most popular men in that part of the state.

AXSON, JESSE E., a merchant of Union City, In- diana, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on the 23d of August, 1810. He is the second of six children of Isaiah and Lydia Paxson, whose maiden name was Mendenhall. His parents were both natives of the Keystone State. His father was a shoe- maker, but kept a tollgate on the Gap and Newport Turnpike until Jesse was eight years of age, when he removed to Columbiana County, Ohio. Mr. Paxson was one of the first ministers of the Christian Church, and after removing West bought a few acres of land, on which his son was employed until he was about sixteen, when he began at the carpenter's trade. For four years he was em- ployed at this occupation in the neighboring counties, when he went to Canal Dover on the Tuscarawas River, engaging with S. A. Towner in a general store. He con- tinued in this two years, when he removed to Brookfield, two miles west of Massillon, Ohio, laboring as carpen- ter, cabinet and chair maker. In this town he was married in 1833, but had the misfortune a few years after to lose his wife and both of his children, the oldest being about two years of age. The blow was almost overwhelming, and he determined soon after to seek a new home. After a visit to his father and mother, who in the mean time had removed to Richland County, he went to Sandusky and Toledo by boat, stop- ping a few days, then proceeded on foot to Logansport, Indiana, riding part of the way on canal-boats. From that place he journeyed to Indianapolis, and after a

short time to North Vernon, where he crossed the first railroad which had been constructed in the state. Taking the train he rode twenty-four miles to Madison, in which place the cars then went no further than to the top of the hill. He proceeded to Cincinnati by steamboat, and after looking about a week or two con- tinued on to Clermont County. Here he married his second wife, removing with her to Richland County, where he stayed until her death and that of her only child, in 1845. A second time stripped of his home, he began wandering again. At Springfield he was em- ployed for a short period as a cabinet-maker, thence pro- ceeded to Fairfield, Dayton, Piqua. Here he wrought as a carpenter upon the new Episcopal church, under Rankin Walkup, and the fine work he did then was much admired, especially that on the chancel rail and pulpit. He was united at this place to his present

wife, in May, 1848. The succeeding January he left Piqua for Camden, Indiana, where he labored as a car- penter, and in July, 1854, in driving with his wife to Piqua, to see their friends, they passed through the then very small village of Union City. It seemed very attractive to them, and they returned there to live. The last work he had at his trade was to build a store- house for Benjamin Hawkins. When it was completed that gentleman bought a stock of dry-goods, boots and shoes, etc., giving the keys to Mr. Paxson, and telling him to take charge of it, which he did with great suc- cess. He also had charge of the first post-office and the first grain-house of the place. He had been keep- ing the accounts of the grain house by single en- try, but as the owner desired them kept by double entry, Mr. Paxson bought a work on bookkeeping and after a month's study opened a new set of books. This he did unaided and alone. He began on his own account as a boot and shoe dealer in October, 1856, with a small stock of goods, since which time he has acquired a competency. He has sometimes bought as high as eight thousand dollars' worth of goods at one time, and his honesty is so well known that he can com- mand almost unlimited credit. He is now independent, and possesses a good business, and the evening of his life bids fair to be serene and joyous.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A biographical history of eminent and self-made men of the state of Indiana : with many portrait-illustrations on steel, engraved expressly for this work, Volume I, Part 80

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1038

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Cincinnati, Ohio : Western Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1038