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 43

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 43
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 43
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 43

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).

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

cated for a teacher, and from the age of twenty-one followed that vocation for six years during the winter seasons. He was mar- ried, in 1830, to Lucinda Jennings, who was born in Switzerland county, Ind., in 1815, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Jennings, natives of Kentucky, and distant relatives of Lord Jennings of England. Elias Riley came to Indiana when a boy and located in Switzerland county, where he remained until 1850, when he removed to Clinton county, Ind., and thence to Montgomery county, Ind., where he died in 1880, having been preceded to the grave by his wife in 1852. This couple were the parents of six children, viz: James; whose name heads this sketch; Elizabeth, deceased; Lavina, wife of Philip Miller, of Montgomery county, Ind .; Joseph, deceased; Anna, also of Montgomery county, and Amy, deceased. Mr. Riley was a good and honorable man and was one of the organizers of the republican party.

James Riley, the subject proper of this sketch, was reared on the Switzerland county farm, received a good education, and in 1853 came to Boone county. Here he began busi- ness for himself in 1855, and here, also, in April, 1855, he married Eliza Hysinger, who was born in Maryland in 1840, a daughter of Christian Hysinger, and this marriage was blessed by the birth of the following children: Mary, wife of Perry Rodgers, of Danville, Ill .; Lucinda, deceased; Rosa, married to Howard Meeks, of Montgomery county, Ind .; W. G., of whom notice is made elsewhere; Joseph, Howard J., Walter and Marley, all farmers of this township. The mother of these children died in 1865, and for his second wife Mr. Riley married, November 28, 1888, after a lapse of over twenty-three years, Mary E. Baldwin, who was born in Benton county, Ind., Sep- tember 10, 1853, a daughter of Ira and Phoebe (Atkinson) Baldwin, of whom, also, further

mention will be found in paragraph following. Mr. Riley has achieved a widespread reputation as a poultry fancier and breeder of sheep and swine. He began this industry in 1864, with Chester White swine and Cotswold sheep, which he successfully bred for six years, when he noticed that the breeders of Berkshire swine were quite limited in their number, and, attracted by the many fine qualities of this family, began breeding them in connection with the Poland China family, which he most successfully handled until 1884, when he dis- posed of his herd of Poland China and substi- tuted a more improved Berkshire breed, in- cluding Baron Lee, a World's fair prize hog, and many other thoroughbreds. As far back as 1860 he had begun handling fancy fowls, such as the Partridge Cochin and Plymonth Rock strains, and others, which he exhibited at fairs in many of the states, taking many valuable premiums, though he now breeds only the light Bramah, which he considers the best. His horses are of blooded stock and his cows are Jerseys. On his 108 acres of land he makes a specialty of growing a high quality of seeds, and at the World's fair received the highest award for his corn-(a gold medal) -- showing ten points highest on yellow and eight points highest on white corn. He installed the Indiana agricultural exhibit at the fair and had entire control over arranging it. Mr. Riley is vice-president of the American Berk- shire Breeding association, and is also a faith- ful worker in the Purdue university experimental station, and is likewise prominently identified with the work of the Farmers' institute of the state of Indiana. Mr. Riley showed his patri- otism by volunteering in the late Civil war, and, although his service happened to be but short, it was willing. In 1864 he enlisted in company B, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth In- diana volunteer infantry, for three years, but, the war coming to a close, he was honorably

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

discharged at the end of six months. He is a member of the Society of Friends, and in pol- itics is a republican.

Ira Baldwin, father of Mrs. Riley, was born in Clarke county, Ohio, in 1819; his wife was born in . Greene county, Ohio, in 1828. They were married in the latter county and came to Indiana in 1848, locating in Benton county on land entered by Thomas Atkinson, father of Mrs. Baldwin, who was a pioneer and one of the leading men of his day. He served two terms in the Indiana state legisla- ture, was a strong abolitionist and whig, and a leading member in the Society of Friends. He and wife lived for sixty-six years in con- nubial happiness, reared twelve children, and after death were laid to rest in the same grave. Mrs. Riley was educated in the schools of Oxford, Benton county, Ind., and at the age of sixteen was granted a license for two years to teach, and began this profession in the pri- mary department of the Oxford academy. She was first married, December 25, 1871, to Charles B. Conklin, a farmer of Benton county, by whom she had one child-Maud. Mr. Conklin died September 30, 1876, and after his death she followed dressmaking at Fowler, Benton county, until her marriage with Mr. Riley. Mrs. Riley is an expert but- ter-maker, and at the World's fair received the highest score and two premiums for her prod- ucts of August and September-the score for the two months being ninety-six and one-half per cent., and for her exhibit for October was awarded twenty-four days and nights' lodging at the ladies' dormitory and a gold medal. Mrs. Riley is a lady of fine social as well as domestic accomplishments, and is in full sym- pathy with her husband, not only in the science of making choice butter, but in his raising fine seeds and in poultry raising, and, in fact, is a thorough helpmate in all branches of his agricultural interests.

ILLIAM GRANT RILEY, a native young farmer of Sugar Creek town- ship, Boone county, Ind., and son of Mr. James Riley, just mention- ed, was born May 20, 1865, and was reared on the home farm, attending the district school until seventeen years old. September 23, 1885, he married, in Sugar Creek township, Miss Mollie Morrison, a daughter of Robert and Percilla (Lovess) Morrison, and born in the same township, September 30, 1864. To this union have been born four children, viz: Ethel P., deceased. Flossie May, Elm .. Maria, and William G., deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Riley are members .of the Methodist church, and in politics Mr. Riley is a republican. He is the owner of 135 acres of fine land, and is known far and wide as a breeder of fine Berk- shire swine. In 1886 he began breeding Poland China stock, but after five years' ex- perience with this breed, gave it up and sub- stituted the Berkshire. He has owned some very valuable animals. among which were Columbus, Dickens, Maud S., Lucy No. 3. Topsy No. 3 and Victor, paying for the latter, in 1894, the sum of $250. He has also thir- teen high grade Holstein, Devonshire and Jer- sey cattle, and also raises poultry by the best strains; his crops are composed chiefly of the small grains. Mr. Riley won seven prizes at the World's fair, in all getting over $500 for his premiums. The attention of the readers is called to the biography of Mr. James Riley, which precedes this brief sketch.

3 AMES W. ROARK, is a native of Boone county. Ind., and is a prosperous farmer of Jefferson township. He served his country as a soldier in the war that threatened dishonor to the flag of the Union and the disintegration of the states. He was born February 1, 1844, and is of English de-

.W. G. RILEY.

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

scent, coming in a direct line from the family that settled in Jamestown, Va., in the early colonial days. His parents were William and Sarah (Hill) Roark, natives of Kentucky, who came to Indiana as far back as 1827, and made their first home here in Montgomery county, whence they came, in 1837, to Boone county. Here the father died in 1883, his wife having taken her departure in 1870. Of the nine children born to these parents, the following are still living: Elizabeth D., wife of Cornelius M. Riggins; John L., of Thorntown, James W., mentioned above; Sarah, married to James Farlow; and Jackson A. The deceased were named Eliza J., Armilda, Mary and Nancy C.

James W. Roark was reared to farming, but at the early age of eighteen, fired with the same spirit of patriotism that had inspired his progenitors, he enlisted, June 1, 1862, in com- pany G, Fifty-fifth regiment Indiana volun- teers, under Capt. Henry Hamilton. His first regular action was at Richmond, Ky., and after taking part in numerous skirmishes he was mustered out in September of the same year, his term of enlistment having expired. But he immediately re-enlisted, this time in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana volun- teer infantry, and bore a gallant part in the battles of Blue Springs, Tenn, ; Walker's Ford and the siege of Knoxville, Tenn., beside all the other engagements and skirmishes in which his regiment had a share. His final muster out was on August 6, 1865, when he returned to his home and resumed his vocation of farm- ing. December 7, 1865. he was united in matrimony with Amanda M. Hiestand, daugh- ter of Manuel and Mary (Shreve) Hiestand, natives of Ohio and of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Hiestand were the parents of two other children beside Mrs. Roark, viz: Asa F., and Eliza, the wife of John F. Routh. Mr. M. Hiestand died November 3, 1888, but his wife still survives. To the union of Mr. and Mrs.

Roark have been born seven children, as fol- lows: Mary L., wife of William Garner; Sadie E .; Manuel O., Jesse E., Burchard H., Ruth and Clarence E., all of whom, of proper age, have received a collegiate education. Mr. and Mrs. Roark are devout members of the United Brethren church, and their daily deportment shows the sincerity of their religious profes- sions. As a member of Advance post, No. 524, G. A. R., Mr. Roark is much respected, as he is in his social affiliations. His political principles are those of the republican party.

ARMADUKE L. ROBBINS is one of the most prominent stock dealers and farmers of Boone county, and owns one of the largest and finest farms in the county, excellently improved, up- on which stands a tasteful and substantial brick residence. The Robbins family is of good old stock, and descends from a colonial Virginia family, members of which were early settlers of North and South Carolina. William Robbins, the great-grandfather of our subject, was left an orphan at the age of eighteen years, with one younger brother, Absalom, and two sisters. During the Revolutionary war he was obliged to conceal himself on ac- count of the tories, who were a terror to the settlers. At one time they made a raid upon the house and seized his brother Absalom and spun him around on his heels on a sharpened stake and otherwise abused him. William re- turned home at night from his hiding place to obtain food and shelter, and seeing the condi- tion of his brother, who had been thus cruelly treated to make him divulge the hiding place of William, he made a vow that he would join the patriot force sunder Gen. Gates, and the next day he was in the battle of Cowpens, where he was captured by the British and con- fined in Salisbury jail. His sisters, hearing of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

his confinement, mounted horseback and went to see him after he had been confined about four weeks. His elder sister changed clothes' with him, and he went out with his younger sister disguised as a woman. The elder sis- ter was released as soon as the trick and her sex were discovered. She soon found means to join her sister and they rode home, William walking the entire distance, being three days and nights on the way and nearly perishing for want of food and shelter. He died in De- catur county, Ind., aged eighty-one years. Absalom lived to be 104 years of age. His children were Abel and Nathaniel, the latter a physician of Decatur county, Ind., who owned 1, 200 acres of land and was a prominent man. In 1852 he went with his family to Oregon and they suffered greatly from want of water and food while crossing the plains. He bur- ied two daughters in one grave on the way, and two miles further, on the Big Sandy, he buried a son-in-law, all perishing from want and the terrible exposure. - He was a promi- nent pioneer of Oregon, and one of the framers of the constitution of the state. The remaining children of Wm. Robbins were Marmaduke and Jacob, twins, John, William, Charlotte, Dosia and Elizabeth.

Marmduke, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Kentucky, where his father had settled at an early day, and there married Elizabeth Kiser and emigrated to Bond county, Ill. After which, on January 1, 1822, he set- tled in Decatur county, Ind., on wild land. Here he prospered, made a fine farm on Sand Creek, south of Greensburg, and here his brothers settled around him. His children were Jacob F., John F., William R., Laban, Fountain, Pamelia, Dosia and Polly E. Mar- maduke Robbins passed all his remaining days on his farm and died at the age of forty-eight years from the effects of the severe labor of clearing his farm and frontier life. He at one

time served against the Indians in the Haw Patch in Bartholomew county, Ind.

Jacob F. Robbins, his son, was the father of our subject. He was born in Henry county, Ky., in May, 1817, and gained but a limited education. He married Catherine, daughter of George and Margaret (Harmin) Myers. Mr. Myers was an old settler of Decatur county, Ind., a prosperous farmer and lived to be eighty-nine years of age. Jacob F. Robbins was the father of thirteen children -- Marmaduke L., George H., Allen P., Sarah E., William R., Merrit O. Robbins, deceased aged thirty- four years; and infant, deceased unnamed; Junietta, Margaret, Jeannette, Sophia, Arabella and Adolphus. After marriage, Mr. Robbins settled on Sand creek, Decatur county. Ind., where he became the owner of 400 acres of good land. He met with reverses in the panic of 1873. but is now retired and resides in Hartsville, Bartholomew county, Ind. He was always an industrious man highly respected in his neighborhood and of honorable character.

Marmaduke L. Robbins, our subject, was born July 15. 1837, on his father's farm in De- catur county, Ind., in a log cabin at the forks of Sand creek. He received the limited pio- neer education of his day, but, by experience, has gained a practical business education. He married, at the age of twenty-six years, Mary C., daughter of Dennis and Rebecca (Benner) Marstella. Mrs. Robbins was born in Sharps- burg, Md., and was reared at Harper's Ferry, Va. Her father died in Virginia, and she was left an orphan when young and came to Decatur county, Ind., with her uncle, John Marstella, who was an honored and respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are the parents of eight children: Mary A., Emma J., John E., Annie B., Norah F., Alpha K., Forest C. and Ella E. Mr. Robbins resided in Decatur county, Ind., where he owned 110 acres of good land, until February 23, 1875, when he came to

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

Boone county and engaged in farming and stock raising. Two years later he became a partner with H. T. Dodson, the well-known stock dealer, and continued in partnership for fifteen years, the firm doing a successful busi- ness, and being the most extensive dealers in cattle in Boone county. Mr. Dodson has now retired from the firm on account of his health, and Mr. Robbins conducts the business alone. He bought his present beautiful farm in January, 1888, and now carries on an exten- sive farming business. Mrs. 'Robbins is a de- vout member of the Methodist church. He votes a straight democratic ticket and is a non-affiliating Odd Fellow. He is one of the best known men in Boone county, as he has bought stock in every neighborhood to the ex- tent of $100,000 per annum. He is a practi- cal and successful business man and self-made, as he has accumulated his property by his own exertions, and is known for his integrity and straightforward methods of dealing.

FILLIAM R. ROBERTS, now of Jef- ferson township, Boone county, Ind., was born in Nicholas county, Ky., March 13, 1825, and is a son of Reden and Isabella (Harney) Roberts, na- tives of the saine state. The father of Reden was Henly Roberts, a native of Virginia and a pioneer of Kentucky; Reden was a tanner by trade. His death took place in 1826 and that of his wife in 1867, and of the three children, one, William R., is still living, and two, Henly W. and Nancy, are deceased.

William R. Roberts came to Boone county in 1855 and here lived on rented land until 1861, when he bought his present fine farm. He has been very successful, and although his house was destroyed by fire a few years ago, he immediately replaced it with a much finer one, and is now in most prosperous circum- 21

stances. His marriage took place, in 1846, to Miss Emerine Miller, daughter of James and Mary (Davidson) Miller, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts has been blessed by the birth of seven children, of whom four are living, as follows: Robert W., a fire insurance agent of Lebanon; Millard W., a farmer; Nannie, wife of Andrew B. Huck- step, and Permelia F., wife of Thomas Mc- Kern. The three deceased children were Bur- ton L., James R. and Andrew D. Politically, Mr. Roberts is a democrat, and for thirteen years served his fellow-citizens as justice of the peace. With his wife he is a faithful member of the Baptist church, and is much respected for his steady-going and moral deportment.

S YLVESTER H. ROBERTSON, of New Brunswick, Boone county Ind , is one of the old settlers and ed- ucators of Harrison township, and is of Puritan descent. His forefathers came to America in the early history of the seventeenth century with the Pilgrim fathers and settled in Massachusetts. Later the family name again appears in Virginia. His great-great-grand- father, Beverly Robertson, was speaker of the houses of burgesses of that state, and David, great-grandfather of our subject, was the son of Beverly; Ezra, grandfather, son of David, was born in Maryland, on his father's farm, and was married to Elizabeth Trotter, and to this union the following children were born: Elizabeth, David, John T., William, Hannah, Benjamin and Delilah, all of whom lived to rear families of their own. The grandfather and grandmother were members of the Baptist church, and moved to Ohio in 1794, and set- tled in Warren county, where they owned a large farm, especially well improved, which was their homestead, and another farm of less

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

dimensions. Beside farming, Ezra was en- gaged in transporting merchandise from Cin- cinnati for the use of dealers. He died sud- denly. While at a sugar camp, in charge, he. sent his boys home, and when they returned to camp they found him sitting by a tree, with a bucket in his hand. He had probably died of apoplexy. He was a Jeffersonian democrat, took great interest in school work, and was much respected. His widow survived him several years and died at the ripe age of eighty- five. Benjamin Robertson, son of Ezra and father of Sylvester H., was born in Warren county, Ohio, December 10, 1806, on his father's farm, near Fort Ancient. He worked on this farm until his father's death, and after that for his mother. He married Mary Mas- terson, a native of Kentucky, born December 10, 1808, and of English parentage. Two of her uncles were in King George's life guards. Her parents were named Moses and Kysander (Villers) Masterson, he being a planter, but not a slaveholder. The children of Benjamin and Mary Robertson were born and named as follows: Sylvester H., September 26, 1830; John T., December 13, 1832; Elizabeth A., December 16, 1834: Delilah F., December 30, 1836; William J., February 2, 1839; Duncas G., March 28, 1841; Susan C., July 5. 1843, and Ara P., September 2, 1845.

Sylvester H. Robertson lived on his grand- mother's farm in Ohio until he came to In- diana, March 17, 1840, where he lived in Bartholomew county on an uncle's farm until his father bought forty acres for himself, abont 1842, in the same county. March, 1847, his mother was called from earth, and later on his father married Catherine Critser, of German descent and daughter of William and Hannah Critser, the former being a wealthy farmer, miller and millwright, and to Mr. and Mrs. Robertson's union were born two children : Mary F. and Emma. In 1866 Mr. Robertson

and family moved to Ste. Genevieve county, Mo., bought 270 acres of farming land, modestly improved, and on this farm both ended their days. The daughter Emma was burned to death by her clothes catching on fire, also on this farm. Mr. Benjamin Robertson was first a Jeffersonian and then a Douglas democrat; was a well-read man, although self-educated; was a plain but intelli- gent farmer and was honored and respected by all his neighbors as a man of worth and in- tegrity.

Sylvester H. Robertson never attended school until he was ten years of age, and was mostly self-taught, studying by chip-light and hickory-bark light at night, and working by day at $8 per month, until he had saved suffi- cient money to go to high school to qualify for teaching, in which he succeeded. He attend- ed the high school for two years, and then, when twenty years old, taught his first school and received $40 per term of sixty-five days; for the next two sessions he received one dollar per day; he then engaged in mill-build- ing and milling for two years, when he resumed teaching, which for twenty-one years he has followed without missing a year, eleven of them in New Brunswick, where he now lives. Of course he has seen much difference in con- struction of school buildings since he began. His first school he taught, in Bartholomew county, in a log cabin, 16 by 20 feet, with a log cut out of the side to admit light and glass inserted, and when one of these was broken greased paper was glued in as a substitute; for seats, logs were split open, the flat side turned upward and pins driven into auger-holes on the rounded sides for the legs; for writing desks. broad poplar puncheons, hewed down and smothed, were laid on pins driven into the wall, and slightly sloping. Mr. Robertson has made hundreds of quill pens with his own hands, and still uses one himself.

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

Mr. Robertson was first married March 21, 1852, to Elizabeth Robertson, a distant rela- tive and a daughter of Ezra and Mary (Yeley) Robertson. The Yeleys were of German de- scent, came from Pennsylvania, and were sub- stantial farmers of Bartholomew county, Ind. The children born to our subject by this mar- riage were Addison S., April 5, 1854; Mary Delilah, March 21, 1859, and died April 22, 1860, The death of the mother of these took place April 24, 1859. She was a pious mem- ber of the Christian church, was a fine musi- cian, both vocal and instrumental, taking great delight in church and home music, and was be- loved by all who knew her. Mr. Robertson's second marriage took place February 21, 1861, to Mary E. Pierson, daughter of Wesley and Martha (Galloway) Pierson-the former a good farmer, and an old-line whig in politics at first, but later a republican; both parents were leading members of the Methodist church, the father being a class leader; he now lives in Winfield, Kans., at the age of eighty-three. Mrs. Robertson's grandfather and grand- mother were Benjamin and Alsie (Galloway) Pierson, and were both also devout members of the Methodist church. To this second marriage children were born as follows: George J., September 4. 1861 ; Martha A., October 31, 1863; Laura A., November 1, 186 ;; William G., June 24, 1867; Oliver P. M., November 1I, 1869; Lucy J., April 22, 1871; David A., June 26, 1873; Ira H., March 26, 1878, and Arthur B., March 19, 1883. Of the above, Laura A. died September 12, 1866; and Lucy J., September 5, 1878. The children that survived were all well educated; David A., however, who was sent to the Normal college at Danville, Ind., could not stand the confine- ment on account of ill health.

In 1862 Mr. Robertson bonght 223 acres of the farm on which he now lives, and which, by good management, he has increased to 100

acres. He has it well cultivated and fenced and improved with a comfortable dwelling and substantial farm buildings, and has shown him- self to be a model farmer. In politics he is a republican and has served as justice of the peace; has belonged to several temperance or- ganizations, and has always been an active tem- perance worker, while in religion both he and his wife are ardent members of the church, which they aid liberally with their means and influence, and socially they deservedly hold a very high position.

He has kept a diary or journal from No- vember, 1858, up to the present date, Septem- ber 26, 1894, and can tell the days that rain, hail and snow fell; each day that was frosty; where he was, and the business he was each day engaged in, and other important events of his location.

0 ANIEL W. RONK .- The ancestors of the subject of this mention were Germans, the great-great-grandfather having emigrated from the old country to the United States and having settled in Pennsylvania at a period ante-dating the Revo- lutionary war. His great-grandfather was born, reared and married in the Keystone state, and later emigrated to Virginia, where his death occurred. John Ronk, the subject's grandfather, also a native of Pennsylvania, moved to Virginia a number of years of ago and there married Elizabeth Marcy, a relative of Gov. Marcy of New York. By occupation John Ronk was a farmer and followed his chosen calling in Virginia, in which state both he and wife died. Samuel Ronk, son of the above, and father of Daniel W., was born in Botetourt county, Va., in the year 1803, mar- ried Nancy Feather, daughter of Henry P. Feather, of Bedford county, Va., and became the father of the following children: Daniel

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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