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 110

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 110
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 110
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 110

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The next year after his return Mr. Barlow attended the academy at- Danville one year, and then attended Wabash college at Craw- fordsville not quite one year, his health break- ing down. He then taught school during the years 1866-7 to 1878 inclusive, without the omission of one year. He traveled during the summer seasons selling supplies to the Odd Fellow lodges. In 1868 he bought a farm of twenty-four acres in Lincoln township; then bought and sold several farms, and now owns 250 acres and one of the finest farms in Hen- dricks county, with fine improvements. In 1878-9 he was in the drug business in Browns- burg and sold out in 1879, and since has been engaged in farming, in which he has been suc- cessful. He married, May 17, 1871, Sarah E., daughter of Isaiah and Alvina (Hoadley) Hornaday. Mr. Hornaday was one of the orig- inal pioneers of Washington township, being brought by his father, Ezekiel, when but two years of age, in 1822, March 13. They were from Ohio. Isaiah Hornaday was a substan-

tial farmer and left a fine property at his death, which occurred June 30, 1894. He was a member of the Christian church, and in poli- tics a republican. He reared a family of six children: Eliza J., Alva W., Abraham E., Sarah E., Mary S. and Rosella. Mr. Barlow, our subject, is a member of the I. O. O. F., at Brownsburg, No. 188, and has passed all the chairs, including that of noble grand; also a member of Plainfield encampment, and is past patriarch and high priest. He is an Odd Fellow of thirty years' standing, and wears badge 94. grand lodge U. S. Politically he is a stanch republican. Mr. and Mrs Barlow are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has been deacon for a number of years. Mr. Barlow is one of the old educators of Hendricks county, and has. perhaps, taught as many schools as any other teacher in the county, maintaining a high position as an ed- ucator and commanding the largest salary. He was a gallant soldier, and, throughout his life, has been a practical and successful man, standing high for his integrity of character, honor and ability. Mr. Barlow has been pres- ident of the Old Settler's association of Hen- dricks and adjoining counties for many years. He has taken a great interest in these matters and all things pertaining to the early history of the county. While president of this associ- ation he secured some of the best local talent to make their annual address, among them Ex-Gov. Porter and Gov. Matthews. He is one of the charter members of John A. Holly post, G. A. R., of Brownsburg, Ind., and is commander of Virgil H. Lyon post, No. 186, of Plainfield, which post he represented at the twenty-seventh national encampment at In- dianapolis in 1893. Mr. Barlow descends from Revolutionary stock. Six of his great- uncles were with Washington at Valley Forge, and, on the maternal side, they were also sol- diers in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Barlow

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had three uncles in the Civil war, Capt. David Hoadley, Henry C. Hoadley and John Horn- aday, each of whom served three years.

ASCOM S. McCLAIN is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war, and a practical farmer of Hendricks county, and the present trustee of Washing- ton township. He springs from an old col- onial American family of Scotch descent and early pioneers of Kentucky. James McClain, the grandfather of Bascom S., was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in that war. He was a resident of Lexington, Ky. Michael S. McClain, father of Bascom S., was a harness- maker by trade, and married, in Kentucky, Jane Palmer. They were the parents of nine children, all of whom lived to man and womanhood: Mary A., James H., Martha F., Susan J., Sallie, Gilbert D., Bascom S., John W. and Juretta B. Mr. McClain was a pio- neer in Washington township, Hendricks coun- ty, settling here between 1820 and 1830. He was born in 1806 and died in 1856. He had six brothers: James, John, William, Michael, Thomas and Henry, all settled in Washington township. Henry and Richard lived in Ken- tucky; James was a soldier in the war of 1812. Michael McClain was a substantial farmer, owning 302 acres of land, and was in good circumstances at his death, and a respected citizen.

Bascom S., our subject, was born July 1, 1840, in Washington township, Hendricks county, Ind., on his father's farm, two and one-half miles south of his present residence. He was brought up a farmer and received a .common education, and enlisted, on August 28, 1862, at Plainfield, in company K, Seven- ty-ninth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, under Capt. J. W. Jordan and Col. Fred Nephler. He served three years and was

honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., May 27, 1865. He was in the battles of Stone River, and several severe skirmishes. He was captured at Stone River, and taken across the James river on the Natural Stone bridge, to Richmond, Va., and confined in Libby prison twenty-seven days, and then exchanged at City Point, and rejoined his regiment after a short furlough. . He was sick in hospital at Nashville, Tenn., two months with chronic diarrhea, and was so much weakened that he was placed on detached service at the Soldier's Home at Nashville, Tenn., and then at hos- pital No. 21, Nashville, as assistant clerk, and in this capacity wrote his own discharge. He was on some hard marches, especially in 1862, from Louisville, Ky., to Camp Yates, and suf- fered a good deal from exposure, being sun- struck; he was greatly reduced by other hard marches. Mr. McClain was an active, effic- ient soldier, and engaged, until sick, in all the battles, skirmishes and marches of the regi- ment. After his return home, he married, September 7, 1865, Rhoda J., daughter of James and Rachael (Jessup) Ritter.

James Ritter was an old settler of Guilford township from North Carolina, and the father of seven children: John, Martin, Levi, Eli, Eliza J., Rhoda J. and Melissa R. Eli Ritter was a captain in the Civil war, in company C, Seventy-eighth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, and in many battles. James Ritter was born in 1804 and died in 1863. He was a large farmer in his day, and a good citizen. After marriage Mr. McClain settled in Wash- ington township, and in 1872 settled on his present farm, which then consisted of ninety- six acres, to which he has added by thrift and industry until he now owns 180 acres, which is a fine farm, well improved. To Mr. and Mrs. McClain four children have been born: Mary O., died at four years; Ethel, Hoyt N., Glen Roy. Mr. McClain and wife are mem-

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bers of the Methodist church, in which he was trustee and steward. He is now township trustee, and was supervisor two years. He is a member of Joseph C. Miller post, No. 492, G. A. R., Avon, and is post commander. Mr. McClain is a public-spirited man, and has taken an active interest in having good schools and good roads, and is giving his children good educations. Hoyt M. is a graduate of DePauw university, and graduated from both the class- ical and military departments, and was mus- tered out as adjutant of the military depart- ment. He is unmarried, and is assistant prin- cipal of the high-school of Danville. Ethel has taught three winters in Washington town- ship. The entire family have the respect of all who know them. Mrs. McClain was also a teacher in this township, and is highly edu- cated.

ENRY H. GIBBS, one of the old, practical and substantial farmers of Washington township, Hendricks county, is from an old American family of North Carolina. His grandfather, Thomas Gibbs, settled in Washington town- ship, Hendricks county, about 1831, bringing his family. His wife was Tabitha Jordan, and they were the parents of three children: George, Nancy and Jane. Thomas Gibbs was a well known pioneer and died aged sixty-eight years in 1855 or 1856. George Gibbs, son of above and father of our subject, was born in North Carolina, in 1824, and was seven years of age when brought to Hendricks county, Ind. He was a substantial farmer, owing 270 acres of land within one-half mile of the farm owned by Henry H., now owned by his heirs. He was a member of the Methodist church and held prominent offices, and in politics he was a democrat until 1856, when he became one of the original republicans of Hendricks county.

He was a hard-working and practical farmer, and held the confidence and respect of the people. He died at sixty-five years of age, in 1889.

Henry H. Gibbs was born in Washington township on his father's homestead, February 12. 1845. He received the common district education of his day and was reared a farmer. He enlisted af the age of seventeen years, at Cartersburg, for six months, in August, 1863, in company A, One Hundred and Seventeenth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, and served nearly seven months, and was honor- ably discharged at Indianapolis, Ind., in Feb- ruary, 1864. His service was in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was detailed with others, at one time, to drive 3,000 head of cattle from Lexington, Ky., to Knoxville, Tenn., a dis- tance of 200 miles, and was seven weeks on the road. He suffered a great deal from ex- posure, and while on duty guarding rebel pris- oners at Indianapolis, contracted asthma and has since suffered from this dread disease, and at times for weeks can sleep but little, being obliged to sit up all night. After his return he settled down to farming and married, January 16, 1868, Ellen, daughter of Silas and Lucinda (Clark) VanTruce, and to their union have been born fourteen children, twelve of whom are now living: Charles, Ella [died August 9, 1894], Effie, George, Clarence, Melvin, Addie, Min- nie, Grace, Irena, Floyd and Annie. After marriage, Mr. Gibbs first settled on the home farm and then bought eighty acres of his pres- ent farm, and five years later bought eighty more, and two years since bought fifteen acres more, and inherited seventeen and one-half acres of his father's estate, so that, by thrift and industry, he now owns 193 acres of good farm land. He has bought a tasteful resi- . dence and has a pleasant home. In politics he is a republican. He and wife are members of the Methodist church of Plainfield, and be

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has been class-leader and steward, and has contributed liberally of 'his means to assist the organization at all times; he is also a member of the G. A. R., Virgil Lyon post, Plainfield. Mr. Gibbs is a prosperous farmer and subtan- tial citizen and stands high in his community. He is a self-made man and has worked hard, assisted by his faithful wife, and besides caring for his family has accumulated a handsome property.

J UDGE JOHN V. HADLEY, of Danville, Ind., the present judge of the Fifty- fifth circuit, is a native of Guilford town- ship, Hendricks county, Ind., and was an officer in the Civil war. He was born on his father's farm, October 31, 1840, and is the son of Jonathan and Ara (Carter) Hadley, who were pioneers of this county, Jonathan being the son of Jeremiah Hadley, who was the son of Joshua and Ruth (Lindley) Hadley, of North Carolina. (See history and genealogy of the Hadley family.)

John V. Hadley was hardly twenty-one years of age when he enlisted in company B, Seventh Indiana infantry, August 21, 1861, under Capt. W. C. Banter, Col. Ebenezer Du- mont, for three years, or during the rebellion. He served out his enlistment, was six months longer on detached service, and was honorably discharged at Washington city, in March, 1865. He was in the battles of Greenbrier, Winches- ter, Front Royal, Port Republic, second battle of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and the Wilderness (where he was promoted to be first lieutenant). He was wounded at the second Bull Run fight, being shot through the hip, and was in hospital four months, and two months on furlough. (He was then promoted second lieutenant and was · detailed as an aid to Gen. J. C. Rice.) On far- tial recovery he rejoined his regiment, and

during the battle of the Wilderness his horse was shot from under and fell upon him, while on the run, breaking two of the lieutenant's ribs. He was left senseless upon the field, and after regaining. his senses, found himself in a Confederate hospital. He was seven months a prisoner, and after the war described his cap- ture, adventures, and escape in a book of 180 pages, which is well and graphically written. At the battle of the Wilderness Mr. Hadley had been promoted first lieutenant, and the following extract from his book describes the situation, prior and at the time of his capture:

"The morning of the 5th day of May, 1864, opened up very fair. A few guns reported early three or four miles to the southwest, where Gen. Crawford lay with his division. Rumors were current that Lee was falling back to Gordonsville, and the firing was supposed to be on his rear guard, but events that fol- lowed soon proved that this supposition was wrong. At an early hour we moved out in the road in the di- rection of Crawford, but had not gone more than two miles before we met an aid hurrying from Craw- ford with the news that the enemy was advancing through the Wilderness, close upon us. Our regiments were at once doubly-quicked into line, batteries thrown into position, wagons sent to the rear, and in five minutes everything presented the appearance of work. In the meantime Gen. Rice directed me to cover the brigade with skirmishers, which I did, by taking five companies of the Seventy-sixth New York and two companies of the Ninety-fifth New York, and deploying them 400 or 500 yards in the front. We were now fairly in the ill-omened Wilderness. So dense was the foliage that the skirmish line was en- tirely obscured from the line of battle. Matters went on until 11 o'clock a. m., without any appearance of the enemy, and Gen. Warren, commanding corps, somewhat doubting the correctness of the report, rode up and said: 'Gen. Rice, you will advance your brigade skirmishers two miles southwest, and if you find the enemy before reaching that distance, hold all the ground you gain until the line of battle gets up, you moving your line forward as soon as the firing begins.' Similar orders had been given to all the brigades of our division, and Gen. Rice, turning to me, said: 'Lieutenant, you will see that these orders are executed.' I replied by calling for my horse, but at the same time looking significantly at my friend Chisman, who was lying at ease on the ground. He well knew that I had been in the saddle

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my full share that morning, and well read my wishes, for he sprung to his feet with: # General, with your permission, I will assist in advancing the skirmish- ers.' 'I would be very glad if you would, sir,' was the answer, and he joined me before I reached the line. We moved in conjunction with the skirmishers of the first brigade on our right, carefully feeling our way through the woods. We crept along for a mile as noiselessly as possible, making or hearing no sound louder than the cracking of a bush, when sud- denly an owl in our front went, 'hoot, hoot, hoot.' ' Hello,' says Chisman to me, 'that owl is not used to his song, or he could do better than that.' 'Hoot, hoot, hoot ' went another way off to the right, and we hurried along the line and told the boys to keep a sharp lookout. A few rods further on and the next signal was-bang, whiz, spat, from a rebel musket. The enemy was at hand; and whether we fired the first guns on that great campaign is no matter, but right here began the bloody battle of the Wilderness. A brisk firing at once began in our front and soon it extended along the whole line; the results were vari- ous, charging and being charged, advancing and re- tiring; two or three times our line was broken like a reed, and hurled back several hundred yards; and it was in trying to withstand one of these violent onsets that my horse received a shot in the hip, which made him almost unmanageable. For fifteen minutes we had it hot, and got no signs of the brigade coming up. We had no protection on our left, and the rebels overlapped us on that flank, we knew not how far. For a slight protection we swung back fifty men at right angles with the front, yet with this, 1,000 men might have marched around to our rear and swept off the last man. A volley of musketry broke forth to our right, probably in the rear of the first brig- ade. Roar after roar came rumbling through the forest, shaking our hearts with fear, for the thought came into our mind that it might be our brigade that had mistaken the direction, or the whole line had borne too much to the right and left us without sup- port. At this time Liet. Mitchell rode up and con- firmed our fears. * * * 1 soon galloped off to the right in the direction of the battle to see what was the matter. I rode as fast as I could, dodging under the limbs and from the trees. # # # I found the battle was raging in its fury. Col. Miller had just fallen, and the major but a few minutes before had been carried back. Bullets were hitting and hissing everywhere. My horse was wild as a ranger, and I headed him northward, gave him the rein, and he went flying through the timber, squatting, dodging at the bullets and trees. While in full speed a ball struck him, near my leg-saw him fall-saw his nose plough along the ground and double under his breast -I saw or remember no more. Boardman, of the

One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York, after- wards told me how it was. In the rear of their regi- ment my horse was killed while in full speed, and in . falling threw me against a tree, then plunged head- long upon me. Soon after my misfortune, our battle line gave way, and the enemy possessed the place and me. I awoke, as if from sleep, about 7 o'clock in the morning, of the 6th of May, 1864, at Parker's store, around which lay 1,000 Confederate and fifty Federal soldiers, bleeding and dying. I tried, but failed, to get up. My left eye was entirely closed, and I had misery in my left breast and shoulder. I was hurt, but knew not how or how much. The first . thing that attracted my attention was a column of troops hurrying along the road silently. I said, . What ! Have they grey clothes on ? No, it is my in- jured sight.' I rubbed my eyes and tried it again, with the same result, then I turned on my elbow and looked around me. Those immediately near had on the blue, as had also a soldier bending over a pros- trate form with a canteen. 'Soldier, come here. Am I a prisoner?' 'Yes!' "

Lieut. Hadley made two attempts to es- cape; the first immediately after his capture, accompanied by Lieut. Shelton of the First New York light artillery, who was badly wounded in the leg below the knee. They had no difficulty in escaping from the field hospital in the confusion existing so soon after the battle, and after a series of adventures in the darkness, came upon the battle ground, where the fight had been thickest.

"We lingered in the society of the dead for an hour and verily it was a task to leave them. Like the dog on the plains that finds society and will starve by his dead master's side. For, as ghastly as the decaying bodies appeared in the moonlight, there were spirits that seemed to arise from them and to hold commun- ion with us. They were all strangers to me at this point, but had I known where the bones of Thomas Ashley, John Horniday, of Henry Hoadley, of Capt. Clayton and many other friends who were resting, I should have been constrained to see them before leav- ing the field."

After several days of wandering they found shelter with a Virginia woman of Union senti- ments, although her son Charles was in the Confederate army. This patriotic and kind hearted woman fed them, dressed their wounds and concealed them in her garret, for several

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OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.

days, although the house was frequently visited by rebel soldiers. Her son Charles visited the house several times without discovering their whereabouts, but finally did so and speedily betrayed them to the rebels, much to the dis- satisfaction of his mother, who protested strongly against the outrage. They were left at the house several days on parole, but were soon taken back to the rebel lines, the good woman having supplied them with several articles of clothing and comfort. Lieut. Had- ley, was soon taken south through Lee's army by the way of Gordonsville, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville, Jamestown, Augusta and Macon, to camp Oglethorpe-whence they were taken to Savannah-thence to Charles- ton and from there to Columbia, where they were confined at a place they nicknamed Camp Sorghum, of which the following is a descrip- tion.

"No suitable enclosure could be found for us at Col- umbia and we marched across the Broad river two miles south of the city. to an old barren field that had been abandoned fifteen years and was now sparsely overgrown with pine bushes from ten to fifteen feet high. These bushes were our only wood supply, and with a few exceptions, the second day saw their ashes scattered to the winds. This camp was large enough, probably six acres in all. There was no stockade, no fence, no water but branch, no shelter-not even for the sick the first ten days. The well men never had any only what they contrived with their blank- ets, etc. Around us here was a row of pins from twelve to fifteen inches high, standing fifty feet apart. The line marked by these pins was the famous dead line, which the prisoner passed at the peril of his life. Outside this line thirty feet was the guard line maintained by sentinels fif- teen steps apart. Such was Camp Sorghum at Co- lumbia where the rebels reduced us to a condition as nearly to the level of beasts as it was possible for them to do. I would not wrong them much if I were ,to say that they did not give us anything here but air, branch water and room, but I will do them full justice and add, that they did also give us each, daily, a pint of unsifted cornmeal mixed with cobs and beans pulver- ized and mixed with sorghum molasses. I am faith- ful to the fact, when I say that during the month that I stayed with them at Columbia they did not give us

.one board or tent for shelter, nor one ounce of meat or bread, and if I would except a half pound of flour they gave us each two or three times and a couple of spoonfuls of salt as often, then with the meal and molasses I have told it all. Noteven a pan or skillet, bucket or kettle in which to save or cook our rations, and had it not been that a few of these articles were clandestinely carried away from other prisons, it is hard to imagine how we would have got along. As it was, if we put in the count, flat rocks, pieces of tin, scraps of old iron, etc., we had a cooking utensil for about every twenty-five mnen. The most valuable of anything I saw in use was a slab of cast iron 2 x 3 feet, that would turn off at a single baking cakes enough for six men. This thing was kept in the fire nearly all the time and accommodated more than 100 men. Meal for five, and once for nine days, was is- sted at one time, and if it rained the next day we had one dough kneaded for four days to come, and if it was sour for the last three days, it was only our misfortune. We received our meal anyway we could. Some were driven to the extremity of cutting off their pant's legs, others, more fortunate, got along by tear- ing the lining from their coat sleeves, or by appro- priating a spare garment. Anything and everthing that could be used was brought out on ration day. The sorghum molasses was given to us in such abun- dance that it was a source of much merriment.

The escape was made by taking advantage of the custom of permitting the prisoners to go out of the camp for their fire-wood. A party of fifty men were each morning taken out of camp on a written parole of honor not to es- cape; then they were turned loose with liberty to go one-half mile from camp without guard. It was something like freedom to get wood, and there was always a general rush to get on the detail. The guards were instructed to be very vigilant to prevent any other prisoners from going through the guard line with those on parole. Upon the fourth of November, 1864, it rained and snowed incessantly, and Lieut. Hadley resolved to escape from his mis- erable condition. Counseling his friend Chis- man, it was planned to escape by means of the parole party, and with a few implements and a little corn bread, some salt, matches, thread, and tobacco in their haversacks, and with thin blankets over their shoulders they started for

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the scene of action: As a parole party ,of eight or nine men approached the dead line from the outside, Lieut. Hadley signaled them and they gathered in a knot at the dead line. Seeing that no guard was looking in his direction, he hastily slipped over the dead line and mixed with the parole men, and was soon in the woods with the party. He was soon joined by his friend Chisman who had followed the same tactics. Two other officers, Lieut. Baker, of the Sixth Missouri, and Lieut. Good, of the First Maryland cavalry, joined them. They assisted in cutting wood until night, and when the evening drum beat and the parole men went back to prison they concealed them- selves in the brush pile. After tattoo had sounded they crawled out in the dark and struck through a South Carolina forest for freedom. They suffered a great many hard- ships and privations, and had many adven- tures. They were thirty days in the woods and mountains, traveling a distance from Columbia to Knoxville, Tenn., 200 miles, and had many a hair-breadth escape. Their escape would not have been possible were it not for the friendly assistance of the negroes. To show the fidelity of the colored man to the Union cause and his faithfulness to the escap- ing prisoners, we will quote the following from Judge Hadley's book:

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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