A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

USA > Indiana > Boone County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 102
USA > Indiana > Clinton County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 102
USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 102

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He immediately engaged in the timber business, pursued the same occupation ten

years, and thereby accumulated the nucleus of the present farm. He married Malinda E. · Adams, April 10, 1878. This lady is a daugh- ter of John C. and Sarah E. (Park) Adams, who were of Scotch-Irish descent, but who were natives of Kentucky. Mr. Adams came from Kentucky with his father and mother, James and Elenor (Sellers) Adams, who set- tled in Putnam county, Ind., in its early his- tory, and carved out a good farm of eighty acres. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Adams were named Malinda E., Sarah J., Francis N. (deceased), John A., Margaret E. (deceased), Dulcina (deceased), James M., Lethe H., and Mary E. (deceased). The mother was a mem- ber of the Christian church and died Septem- ber 7, 1893, having lost her husband, who was a republican, August 3, 1865. Our subject and wife, immediately after marriage, settled on a part of the present farm, already pur- chased by the husband. They here own eighty acres of fertile, well improved land, with a one- story modern brick residence and large new barn. Mr. and Mrs. Shultz have had born to their union two children, viz .: Herman and Iva M , of whom Herman died at the age of six months and two weeks. Mr. Shultz is a strong democrat in politics; his wife is a member of the Christian church, which both aid liberally. They are highly respected by all their neighbors and acquaintances.

J AMES Q. ADAMS, an ex-soldier and the leading blacksmith of Lizton, Hen- dricks county, Ind., descends from the saine family from which John Quincy Adams, formerly president of the United States, also was derived, his paternal ancestors having been from Scotland. His grandfather, John Adams, was a native of Pennsylvania, but while yet a young man was filled with a de- sire for western pioneer life, and he therefore

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OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

sought the territory of Ohio, with a pack-horse as his means of transportation, and settled in - what was later called Ross county, in 1814. entered land, made a home, reared a family, and there passed the remainder of his days. He had been a true American patriot, was a soldier in the war of 1812, married Isabella Murry, was an elder in the Presbyterian church, and died a highly respected citizen. Thomas Adams, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Perry county, Pa., April 22, 1803, and was highly educated for the age in which he lived, being a skillful sur- veyor and an extensive reader. He was sev- eral times honored by the old whig party with the offices of township trustee and township assessor. He married Miss Hannah Kilgore, daughter of William and Margaret (Cochran) Kilgore, and to this union were born the fol- lowing children: John K., Margaret E., Isa- bella J., William, James Q., Mary J , Thomas M., Louisa, Matthew M., Hugh F. and Alice L. The maternal grandfather, William Kil- gore, was a captain in the war of 1812, and died of the dumb plague on the terrible march to the great lakes. Thomas and Hannah (Kil- gore) Adams, were devout members of the Presbyterian church, and lived the major por- tion of their lives in Ross county, Ohio, but in their later years came to Hendricks county, Ind., where the father expired October 22, 1872, and the mother July 4, 1882.

now a clerk in a shoe store in Illinois; Charles F., is with his father in his shop. The father is a strong republican in his politics, and the mother is a pious member of the Christian church. Fraternally, Mr. Adams is a mem- ber of Pittsboro lodge, No. 342, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs and which he has represented in the grand lodge. Mr. Adams owns a good village residence, with an acre of ground, also a fine blacksmith shop, in which he does a lucrative trade, and, beside, thirty acres of farm land near the village.

The military experience of Mr. Adams was long and arduous, but is here briefly summed up as follows: He enlisted October 18, 1861, in company F, Seventy-third Ohio volunteer Infantry, and was assighed to the army of the Potomac, later to the army of the Cumber- land, campaigning in Virginia and West Vir- ginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. In the battle of Port Republic he was chiefly on the skirmish line, and was then in the noted bat- tle of Antietam, in the main line, his company losing thirteen men out of sixty. His next important battle was that of Gettysburg, where his regiment was stationed on Culp's Hill, but later charged and captured the Devil's Den amid a raking and destructive fire. in which he passed within fifteen feet of Gen. Cross. A bullet also shaved off the eyebrow of Mr. Adams in this fight, the mark of which will never leave him. Later, he was captured by Jackson's forces and sent to Libby prison and to Belle Isle, where he was confined for nine months and four days, and during his confinement in these noxious dens was re- duced in weight from 165 pounds to ninety- two. He finally escaped, however, and reached the union lines through the kindly offices of a friendly negro. He also partici-

James Q. Adams was born.in Ross county, Ohio, April 18, 1839, and came to Hendricks county, Ind., with his parents. He was well educated, and December 18, 1867, married Sarah J. Thompson, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cundiff) Thompson, and there were born to this union children in the follow- ing order: William T., who gained his edu- cation at the Danville Normal college, and the State Normal college, attained much success as a teacher in Hendricks county, Ind., and is pated in the Lookout Mountain fight, and was

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

honorably discharged in 1865, having served forty-five months. Mr. Adams is a member of George A. Kendall post, No. 499, G. A. R., has filled the position of post commander, and receives a pension of six dollars per month as a reward for his bravery and suffering.

ARION BAILEY is an enterprising and thrifty farmer of Union town- ship, Hendricks county, Ind., and is of German extraction. Peter Bailey, his grandfather, was a native of Penn- sylvania, in which state he grew to manhood. He engaged in farming and owned and oper- ated an old-fashioned water grist-mill. Hc later moved to Ohio, and then settled in De- catur county, Ind., engaging in the same busi- ness as in his native state. John Bailey, son of above, and father of our subject, was born in Ohio, September 19, 1832, and was reared in the old grist-mill and on the farm. He married Catherine Emdy, and became the father of the following children: Elizabeth, Eva A., and Marion. Mrs. Bailey died in 1865, and his second marriage was with Re- becca Reed, who bore him children in the fol- lowing order: Mary M., George W., Peter M., Ellen, Nettie Nora, Edward and John. John Bailey, the father is a Jackson democrat, and he and wife are consistent members of the Christian church. He owns a good farm of eighty acres, with good buildings and other improvements, in Union township, where he settled in 1860. He is now numbered among the early settlers of this county, and during his life-time the land has been redeemed from its wild and primitive state.

Marion Bailey, our subject, was born in St. Paul, Ind., December 1, 1854. From infancy he has been identified with the farm and its in- terests. He received a good common educa- tion for his age, the new brick and frame school-

houses just beginning to replace the rude log huts when his education commenced. He married Rachael C. Young, daughter of Mil- ton and Susan B. (Parrish) Young. Milton Young is one of the successful farmers of Boone county. Our subject's children, in order of birth, are: Harry E., Artie M., Lula A., Goldie V. Mr. Bailey has been suc- cessfully engaged in farming and stock trading, and by his and the family's industry and good management he has accumulated 218 acres. He has a new and modern farm residence and barn, wind-mill and improved farm machinery, and is the happy owner of two thorough-bred pacing horses: Little Jeff, record of 2:22}, and a full brother of Ziegler, and Chestnut Boy, both valuable animals, yet young. Our subject has been twice elected township trustee on the democratic ticket, and is now filling the office. His wife is a member of the Christian church. He aids several churches financially, and is a liberal, big-hearted man. He has taken.a great interest in building up a modern and practically useful school system the nine years he has filled the office of trustee, and he has enjoyed the confidence and co-operation of all friends of the school system. He is a member of K. of P. lodge, No. 342, at Liz- ton, and is keeper of the seals and records. He is a progressive, enterprising citizen, and few stand higher in the esteem of the com- munity in which he lives.

R OBERT W. BLAKE is a leading and prominent farmer citizen of Union township, Hendricks county; Ind. His grandfather, Joseph Blake, a na- tive of England, settled in the state of North Carolina, and made himself a substantial planter. John Blake, father of our subject, was born May 5, 1790, in North Carolina, and his life ever after was on a farm. He married

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OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

Nancy Goslen, and two children were the fruit of this union, Nancy and Lucinda. After her death he married her sister, Elizabeth Goslen, born August 20, 1803. To this union the following children were born: Robert W., William H., Elizabeth, John A. and Richard B. The father and both wives were consistent members of the M. E. church, and for many years he was honored by the office of steward, or of class leader, and minor offices. In 1829 our subject's father and mother emigrated to the new county of Putnam, Ind., entered land and commenced to make a home, clearing and improving eighty acres of land. The cabins were few and far between, most of the road was only blazed out, and game was plentiful. The father and mother both lived to a ripe old age. He died April 26, 1857, and she died January 5, 1883.

Robert W. Blake, subject of this sketch, was born in Stokes county, N. C., December 8, 1825. From his youth up his life has been that of a farmer, and he acquired the rudi- ments of an English education by attending the old log school-house. He married Sarah F. Spears, May 21, 1854, daughter of John and Martha (Mitchell) Spears. Two children, Ben- jamin K. (deceased) and Narcissa M., blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Blake. The wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and she died June 1, 1867. Her de- mise was a sad loss to the home, church, and her many friends. Our subject's second wife, Lettie Harbert, was born June 2, 1838, daugh- ter of R. J. and Mary A. (Zumwalt) Harbert. The children of this union were Wilmetta (deceased) and George R. Mr. Harbert was a native of Maryland, and the major portion of his life was spent in Linn county, Ia., where he was honored by the democratic par- ty and elected mayor of Marion city. When the Civil war commenced he allied himself with the republican party, and was elected

sheriff of Linn county. He enlisted in the Gray Beard regiment, company A, Thirty- seventh Iowa volunteer infantry, not a man being less than fifty years of age. He was dis- charged, after three years of honorable service for his country's flag, serving in Iowa, Mis- souri, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee. The mother died at the old home, October 2, 1888. The father died in Walla Walla, Wash., April 10, 1889. Our subject settled on his present farm in October, 1854. It comprises . 160 acres, and has a modest farm residence and barn. He and the family have made the major portion of the farm, and the improvements thereon, by good management and hard work. He is an active, leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has held the office of class-leader and steward many years. He is among the leading men, financially and socially, in the church, and his wife is also a devout member of the same. He is a life-long republican in politics, and stands for progress; is public spirited, and is the owner of a fine library.

HOMAS DAY, owner of the general merchandise store at Montclair, Union township, Hendricks county, is of Irish descent. His great-great-grand- father. Elijah Day, came from Ireland to America before the American Revolutionary war and settled in North Carolina and engaged in farming, and thus our subject springs from an early American colonial family. Thomas Day, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Buncombe county, N. C., and was a planter of large means. He emigrated to Tazewell county, Tenn., before that state was admitted to the Union, and when it was ad- mitted, entered large tracts of land. He lived in this county seventeen years and then moved to Parke county, Ind., entered 160 acres of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

land and made a good farm. He was a Jack- son democrat and was very prominent in the Missionary Baptist church. He married a Miss Copeland and died in 1878, his wife sur- viving until 1882. Elijah Day, father of our subject, was born in Buncombe county, N. C., August 31, 1809. He was a self-educated man and taught school in Boone county, Ind., many years. He married Nancy Canada, daughter of Col. David and Martha (Strick- land) Canada, of Boone county, and to this union were born the following children: Thomas, David, Cornelius, Margaret, Jane and Susan A. The father and mother lived the major part of their lives in Jackson township, Boone county, Ind., where the mother still re- sides. He was honored by the democratic party with election as township assessor twen- ty-two consecutive years, and was also elected county assessor. He had many stanch friends among the prominent men of Boone county, and died August 20, 1890.

Thomas Day, the subject of this sketch, was born in Parke county, Ind., February 23, 1845, was reared on the farm, and received a good common education. He enlisted in November, 1863, in company G, One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana volunteer infantry, Capt. R. W. Harrison, of Lebanon, and was transferred to the army of the Cumberland and was in the campaigns of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. He took part in the battles of Walker's Ford and Blue Springs, was in the main line of battle, and did his duty valiantly, although later on he was sick in the hospital at Knoxville and Tazewell, Tenn. He was honorably discharged in February, 1864, and re-enlisted in company E, Forty- second Indiana volunteer infantry, army of the Cumberland, campaigning in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Ala- bama, Georgia and Maryland. He fought in the battle of Bentonville, N. C., and was then

on Sherman's skirmish line several weeks, in which they fought more or less every day. He was again honorably discharged July 28, 1865, and was not afraid to sacrifice his per- sonal interests to the old flag. He is enjoy- ing a lucrative trade and owns a modern vil- lage residence. He is also postmaster, and he has been notary public for twenty years. Socially he is a member of Antietam post, G. A. R., at Jamestown, Ind. After the war he married Sarah Corty, daughter of James and Hannah Corty. The two children of this union are named Alonzo and Eva. Mrs. Sarah Day was a devout member of United Brethren church, and died April 11, 1882. Mr. Day's second marriage was to Nancy J. Flinn, daughter of Alford and Artemisia Flinn, and this union has been blessed with three children : Katie M., Charlie and Lessie.

A LFRED FOWLER, Hendricks coun- ty, Ind., is one of the progressive young citizens of Union township. His grandfather, Robert Fowler, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1794, and was engaged in the manufacture of woolens in Bradford. Stephen Fowler, son of above and father of our subject, was also born in Brad- ford, England, February 7, 1836. He came to Pennsylvania at the age of twenty-one years and engaged in the manufacture of worsted goods in Philadelphia till 1859, when he came to Indiana and engaged some years in mercantile business at Rainstown, Hendricks county, and since then has been occupied with his present model farm of Iso acres. He is a strong republican in politics, and fraternally an Odd Fellow, being a member of Pittsboro lodge, No. 129, and of Royal Arcanum coun- cil. Mr. Fowler enlisted in company G, One Hundred and Forty-eighth regiment Indiana infantry, and was in the service seven months

977

OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

guarding railway property along the Nashville & Chattanooga line, and was then discharged. He married, September 12, 1856, in England, Sarah Wise, daughter of John and Mary (Mor- timer) Wise, to which union were born the fol- lowing children: Cora A., Alfred, Robert P., Louisa, Margaret and John W. The wife and mother died in September, 1875, and the second marriage of Mr. Fowler was to Josie Lincoln, who also died; the third marriage was with Unity Richmond.

Alfred Fowler was born in Marion county, Ind., August 13, 1860. Since his infancy he has been identified with the progress and pub- lic spirit of this county. He married, Febru- ary 17, 1890, Myrtle Hedge, daughter of Chester B. and Sarah F. (Gott) Hedge, of this township. Her brothers and sisters were born in the following order: Cora E., Myrtle R., Mary E. (deceased) and Charles O. Mr. Hedge is a stanch republican and deacon in the Christian church, of which church his wife is also a member. Chester B. Hedge was born in Pulaski county, Va .: March 1, 1840. When only four years old he came to Indiana with his father, and settled in Hendricks coun- ty, in 1843. He enlisted, in March, 1862, in company F, Fortieth Indiana infantry, army of the Cumberland, and took part in the cam- paigns of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, and the battles of Resaca, Jonesboro, Mill Springs, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, Dallas, Rocky Faced Ridge, Atlanta, Lost Mountain, Franklin (where he was cap- tured, but escaped by plunging into the river and diving, but was shot at several times), and at Nashville. He was honorably discharged in 1865. He is now a member of George A. Kendall post, No. 499, G. A. R. Our subject's children are named, Bessie (died December 6, 1894), and Sarah. Alfred Fowler is the junior meniber of the firm of Fowler & Son, pro- prietors and operators of a saw-mill at Lizton.

He also owns and operates a tile factory and also a threshing machine, both in his own right; also a farm of forty acres and a modern, sub- stantial, well furnished village residence. He has been industrious, honest and a hard worker. He is a self-made man, both he and his wife are devout Methodists, and he is a trustee in the church. He is a member of Luther lodge, Jamestown, No. 227, I. O. O. F., and he is interested in our common schools, the churches, and all that stands for progress and advance- ment in the county or township.

B EUBEN J. FOSTER is an enterpris- ing and successful farmer of Union township, Hendricks county, Ind., and is of Scotch extraction. His grandfather, James Foster, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated in early life to Butler county, Ohio, and was numbered among the successful early settlers. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 under Gen. Wayne, was a de- voted admirer of the noted warrior, and died in Butler county, an honored and respected old citizen. Joshua Foster, son of above and father of Reuben J. Foster, the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia. From his youth up he was engaged in farming, and was cap- tain of the old muster company. He married Aletha Johnson, of Butler county, Ohio, but they immediately moved to Decatur county, Ind., and settled on new land, improving it and finally making a choice farm of 200 acres, residing there till their deaths. He was a lo- cal democrat of note and took a leading part in politics. The father was inclined toward the Baptist faith, while the mother was a mem- ber of the Methodist church. He died in 1845 and she died in April, 1858.

Reuben J. Foster, our subject, was born in Butler county, Ohio, March 22, 1836. He received a common education in the pioneer

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

log school-house, so well known to the frontier of his early day and so often described in the . pages of this volume, as being constructed of round logs, with clap-board roof held down by weight poles, puncheon or clay floor, stick and cat chimney, and fire-place reaching across the entire end of the room; furnished with seats constructed of small logs split in two, the flat sides of which were turned upward to be sat upon and the round sides turned down- ward and holes bored in for the insertion of pegs for legs; the desks formed by similar pegs being driven into the wall, on which pegs split puncheons were placed for writing upon, and over which light was shed through aper- tures in the wall covered with greased paper. He has been constantly on the farm all his life, and married Margaret Gentry, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Gentry, of Hendricks county, Ind. He has been in the county since 1858, and has seen it improved from its original state to its present incomparable condition. His children were named, in order of birth, as follows: Sarah J. (deceased), Isaac W., David, Edgar, Iva and Harry J., all living, except the eldest. He and the family have accumulated, altogether by industry, a choice farm of 200 acres of fertile lands, highly improved with modern farm house and barn, etc., that will compare favorably with any in the county. He is a progressive and enterprising agricultur- ist, and has been a local politician of note, having been nominated by the democratic party some years ago for township trustee and county treasurer. He is a deacon in the Regular Baptist church, and is truly religious. His sons, Edgar and David (firm name, Foster Bros.), own Pocohontas Sam, Jr., sired by J. K. Henry's famous horse of the same name, and a full brother to Bailey's horse, of the import- ed four-year-old chestnut sorrel stallion, Tim, 2:153. Out of nine races this summer he took first money six times.

J OHN H. HALFAKER, of Middle town- ship, Hendricks county, Ind., is one of its leading farmers and prominent citi- zens. His grandfather, Henry Half- aker, was a native of Strausburg, Germany, who came to Maryland, and later moved to Virginia and engaged in farming. The last twenty years of his life were spent in Johnson county, Ind., in which county he entered a farm, and died September 2, 1850. Jocob Halfaker, father of our subject, was born in Washington county, Va., August 12, 1800. He married Ruth Campbell, the daughter of John and Ruth (Perkins) Campbell, of Scotch descent. Mr. Campbell was the first white man who settled in Johnson county, Ind., and Edinburg was founded on his farm. The father and mother, when married, entered their farm of 176 acres from the government, and lived there the remainder of their lives. Our subject's mother was the first white child who had a home in that county. The father and mother were both members of the Chris- tian church, and in politics he was first an old- line whig, but later a stanch republican, under whose auspices he was township trustee. Both lived to a ripe old age.

John H. Halfaker, our subject, was born in Bartholomew county, Ind., October 26, 1835. He attended the old log school-house and Edinburg academy, and was qualified to teach, but preferred farming. He married Louisana VanDever, daughter of James and Sarah E. (Tucker) VanDever, of whom men- tion is made on page 509 of this volume. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Halfaker were named as follows: Ida MI., died March, 1863; Hilda R., the wife of C. O. Palmer; Logan S., Bessie A., Mary S., Riley T., Margaret, Jane, Ruth, Harriet and James V. Our sub- ject lived fifty years in Clark township, John- son county, but for nine years has resided on his present farm of 169 acres. He has a good

JOHN H. HALFAKER.

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OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

farm residence and as good a new barn as can be found in the township. He is a progressive and modern farmer and is quite successful also in stock-raising. Mr. Halfaker is a strong re- publican and was elected township assessor of Clark townshrp, Johnson county, in a demo- cratic township. He and wife are members of the Christian church, in which he formerly held the office of deacon twenty years, and also held all the offices in the Sunday school. He is likewise a dormant Mason. October 1 3, 1862, Mr. Halfaker enlisted in company F, Fifth Indiana cavalry, and was immediately appointed quartermaster-sergeant for the regi- ment, which office he continuously filled until discharged. However, the details of the office were performed by others, and, while never commissioned, he superintended the gathering of the forage for the horses, going as far as fifteen miles when necessary. The regiment was engaged in fighting, scouting and skirmish- ine most of the time in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, making the collection of the for- age doubly dangerous. In rebuilding the great railroad bridge above Knoxville. he was ap- pointed superintendent of eighteen teams, and the timber was collected under his supervision. He was often waylaid, day and night, by bush- whackers, and had many thrilling and danger- ous experiences.

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Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080