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 62

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 62
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 62
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 62

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).

Dr. Charles Chittick was reared on his father's farm, received his preliminary educa- tion in the district school, and then for three years attended the Frankfort seminary; he next taught one year in the same school, and

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the next year he passed in the high school at Ann Arbor, Mich., also taking a partial course in medicine, preparatory to the study for his chosen profession; after six months of additional study at home, he entered the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati in 1873, gradu- ating therefrom March 2, 1876. He at once entered upon practice at Burlington, Carroll county, Ind., where his mark was soon made and his undoubted ability fully recognized. In November, 1890, he formed a partnership with Dr. Young, of Frankfort, making a specialty of surgery and treatment of women, and disorders of the eye and nose. The doc- tor was most happily married at Crestline, Ohio, July 3, 1878, to Miss Henrietta Thoman, who was born October 9, 1851, a daughter of John and Susan Thoman, and to this feli- citous union have been born three children, viz: William, deceased; Golding and Fred, at home. The doctor and Mrs. Chittick are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally the doctor is a third degree Mason and a Knight of Pythias. His skill in his profession has placed him is very comfortable circumstances, and he now owns a fertile farm in Carroll county, Ind., as well as a half interest in the Young & Chittick block, and other interests.

J ONATHAN K. CLAPPER, one of the old settlers of Ross township, Clinton county, Ind., and a prominent farmer, springs from sturdy German ancestors. His great-grandfather was born in Germany, but was one of the pioneer settlers in the wil- derness of Hundingdon county, Pa. The names of his children were John, Susan, Harvey, George, Daniel, Jacob and Tobias. Mr. Clap- per lived to be a very aged man, and was seen but once by our subject, when the latter was a small boy. He died in Huntingdon county,

Pa. Daniel Clapper, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., and married there a Miss Louer. To them were born the following children: Henry, Daniel, Jacob, George, Emanuel, Sallie, Katie, Susan. Betsy, Polly, Peggy. Mr. Clapper passed his earlier days in Huntingdon county, but finally settled near Altoona, where he had a good farm, and where he died when about seventy years of age. He and wife were members of the Lutheran church, were highly respected and reared a large family of children. The old homestead is still in the hands of his sons. Henry Clapper, son of above and father of our subject, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., September 22, 1797, was reared a farmer and married September 5, 1820, in that county, Catherine Kephart. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clapper were born eleven children: Jonathan K., George, Henry, Samuel (died at ten years), Susan, Mary. Sarah. Rebecca, and three that died as infants. Mr. Clapper lived in Hunt- ingdon county, Pa., some time after marriage, when, the county line being changed, his land fell to Blair, a new county. In 1851 he moved with his family to Tippecanoe county, Ind , settled on eighty acres, and here passed the remainder of his days, dying, aged seventy-six years, on his farm, September 27, 1873. His wife died on the homestead July 8, 1882, aged seventy-nine years. Both were members of the Lutheran church, in which he was a dea- con many years. He was industrious, hard- working and much respected, and, like his father, reared a large family of children.

Jonathan K. Clapper was born July 7, 1821, in Huntingdou county, Pa., received a common education and became a farmer. He married, in Pennsylvania, Susan, daughter of Philip Evers, and to them was born one child- William H. Mr. Clapper came to Indiana with the family in 1851 and settled in Clinton county, Ross township, where his wife died in

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MRS. J. K. CLAPPER.

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

1856; he next married a widow, Matilda Peter, consists of 163 acres of fine fertile land, in a March 9, 1858. She was the daughter of Ja- high state of cultivation, and the fine old cob and Susannah (Boyer) Neyhard. Jacob homestead has been improved with a new roof in modern style, neat and substantial farm buildings have been erected and a large part of the farm cleared. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clapper are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he was a deacon for many years. Mr. Clapper was one of the original republicans of the county, but, having been previously a whig, cast his first vote for William H. Harri- son in the famous log-cabin hard-cider cam- paign. Mr. Clapper is one of the substantial farmers of Ross township, is well known for his integrity of character, and has frequently been on the grand jury. His son, Joseph E., Neyhard was from Lehigh county, Pa., near Al- lentown, and was the father of twelve chil- dren, eleven of whom reached maturity: Han- nah, William, Mary, Moses, Edward, Levi, Owen, Magdalena, Elizabeth, Matilda and William. Mr. Neyhard was a prosperous farmer and came to Indiana in 1836, bringing his family and settling in Carroll county. Mr. . Neyhard died aged seventy-three years, a mem- ber of the German Reformed church, in which he was an elder, at the home of his daughter. Mrs. Clapper, who was first married to Joseph Peter, son of William and Julia Kern) Peter. William Peter came from Butler county, Ohio, , married, May 12, 1886, Carrie J., daughter of but was formerly from Pennsylvania, and set- tled in Indiana in 1833. He entered a large tract of land-2,880 acres-and was one of the original pioneers. In 1836 he built a sub- stantial brick house where our subject lives, which was one of the first brick houses in Clinton county and was a fine residence for those days. Mrs. Clapper was born July 20, 1820, in Lehigh county, Pa., and was five years old when her father first settled in But- ler county, Ohio, and in her sixteenth year when he came to Indiana (in 1836), and can well remember the journey through the wilder- ness, by means of horse and covered wagon, and also remembers that there were but few ! and was superintendent of the shop in the

houses in LaFayette when she rode through. She was twenty-three years of age when she married Mr. Peter, and by him had two chil- dren, both of whom died in infancy. She can well remember the old pioneer days when the deer and wolves and wild turkey were plentiful and the streams were full of fine large fish. To Mr. and Mrs. Clapper has been born one son, Joseph E. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clapper settled on the old Peter homestead and have since resided there. The farm now

Jacob and Caroline (Kurtz) Bowers. Two children have blessed this union-Eugene E. and Mabel J. Joseph Clapper is a practical farmer and manages the hotne farm. As a republican he is active in politics, was a mem- ber of the republican central committee two terms, also a member of the election board of Ross township three terms, and in the fall of 1894 was elected assessor of Ross township. He is a K. of P., Imperial lodge, No. 240, at Mulberry, and he and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He graduated from Union Business college, LaFayette, attended Purdue University, LaFayette, three years, mechanical department the last year. He is a young man of practical business experience, and is also a practical engineer.

A UGUSTUS F. CLARK is one of the most prominent farmers of Ross town- ship, Clinton county, Ind., and a highly honored citizen. On his father's side he sprang from English stock and on the maternal side is of German ancestry.

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His great-great-grandfather, Elder John Clark, was born on Long Island, N. Y., in 1710, and was twice married. By his first wife, whose name is forgotten, he was the father of three children: Jeremiah, Stephen and Keturah; by his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Hart, five children were born: Sam- uel, John, Abigail, Susannah and Sarah. He died aged eighty years. Samuel Clark, great- grandfather of Augustus F., was born in 1755 in New Jersey, married Jane Osborne, and was a merchant and justice of the peace. By his first wife were born five children: Samuel S., David C., Stephen, Polly and Sibyl, the last named of whom died an infant. For his second wife he married Darnaris Day, to whom were born Abraham and Martha D. Mr. Clark lived and died in the neighborhood of Trenton, N. J., aged seventy years. Stephen Clark. grandfather of Augustus F. Clark, was born in Trenton, N. J., in 1778; was a justice of the peace, and married Johanna, daughter of Jacob Miller. Mr. Clark moved to Ohio in 1804 and settled on the Miami river at Hickory Flat, Butler county, near Trenton, where he entered 120 acres of land and cleared up a farm, the state at that time being an almost unbroken wilderness. His children were four in number: Jonas P., David C., Jane and one that died unnamed. Mr. Clark died on his farm at thirty-two years of age, in the faith of the Christian church. David C. Clark, father of Augustus F., was born January 15, 1804, in New Jersey, and was brought through the wil- derness to Ohio, when an infant, the journey being made by wagons. He was brought up among the pioneers and received the common education of his day, and became a farmer, brick-layer and plasterer. He married Mary M., daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Flein- ard) Stipher. Stephen Stipher was of German descent and settled in Butler county, Ohio, in 1804, where he became a prosperous

farmer. His wife's parents were born in Ger- many and were also early settlers of Butler county, Ohio. To David C. Clark and wife were born ten children: Elizabeth, Augustus F., Stephen S., Isaac N., Eliza J., Jonas D., Tillman H., William A. and David A. (twins). and George W. This wife died, and he mar- ried Rebecca White, whose maiden name was Ivins. She is still living in Nebraska. He lived in Butler county, Ohio, until 1832, on his farm, and that year came to Indiana and settled on the farm now occupied by William Rose. He entered 400 acres in that neighbor- hood and his wife had 160 acres, which her father gave her. He had entered one-fourth section five miles east of his, making 1,280 acres in Madison township, to which he moved in 1854, and where he died in 1869, aged eighty-eight years. He was a member of the Luthern church, and was a man of integrity and thrift. Mr. Clark cleared up his home farm and divided the land among his children; he gave them all a good education, and died at the age of seventy years, a member of the Missionary Baptist church, in which he was a deacon. He was trustee of Ross township by appointment, and served as county commis- sioner for nine years at an early date. He was a man of high character much respected by the people.

Augustus F. Clark was born December 26, 1828, in Butler county, Ohio, on the old home- stead, and was four years old when he came to Indiana with his parents; he received a com- mon education, and became a fariner, brick- layer and plasterer. He married Mary E., daughter of David and Mary A. H. (Wilt) Le- Fever. David LeFever was from Pennsyl- vania and ol French descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born three children, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Clark died May 1, 1857, and Mr. Clark married Catherine, daughter of David and Mary (Hines) Swaid-

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

ner. Mr. Swaidner was from Maryland, of German descent, settled in Clinton county, Ind., in 1834. on a farm, and lived to be an old man. To Mr. Clark by this wife eight children were born: William N., Laura A., Mary J., George . S., Edwin A., Ida M. (died an infant), Rosa J. and Herbert R. Mrs. Clark died November 13, 1890, and for 'his third wife Mr. Clark married Mary E. Arm- strong, nce Moore, daughter of Lytle and Des- demona (Pierce) Moore. Mr. Moore was of German descent and came from New York, was a farmer and the father of eight children: Sophronia, John, Adelia, Henry, Mary, Fran- cis, Franklin and Elmer. Mr. Moore moved to Licking county, Ohio, was a pioneer, a sub- stantial farmer and a member of the Methodist church. He lived to be sixty-three years of age and died in Indiana. Mrs. Clark's first husband was Robert Armstrong, who was a carpenter by trade, and moved to Indiana from Licking county, Ohio, and located in Ross- ville, but moved to Peru, where he died, aged fifty-eight years. He and wife had two sons -Edmond and Elmer. Mr. Clark settled on a farm three miles south of town, consisting of 172 acres, and by thrift and industry pros- pered. He lived on this farm until he moved to Rossville in 1892, and built a substantial and tasteful residence. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Baptist church, of which he has been deacon six years; he is a demo- crat, and was township trustee one term, and is a man of more than ordinary ability; has always been hard-working and industrions, pos- sesses a remarkable memory, and is well known for his integrity of character and sterling worth, and has reared a highly respectable family.

The Clark family have maintained their high character throughout their long residence in the township of Ross, and few families in Clinton county can excel it in the hold it has on the affections of the citizens in general.

J EROME CLARK, a farmer of more than local note in Johnson township, was born in Clinton connty, Ind., March 4, 1855, and still retains his resi- dence here, and has always been engaged in farming. October 7, 1875, he married Miss Martha E. Jackson, who was born February 10, 1854, and who is the daughter of Henry and Mary E. (Stinson) Jackson. Henry Jack- son was an early settler of Johnson township, was a prominent farmer, owning 140 acres, was a leading member of the Baptist church, in politics was a stanch republican, and his death took place in the army in March, 1864. When married, Mr. and Mrs. Clark settled on their present farm, which now contains ninety acres of choice land, improved with one of the best barns in the county. The residence is modern in construction and convenient in all its details. His marriage has been blessed by the birth of one child-Herschel L. In poli- tics Mr. Clark is a democrat; fraternally, he is a member of Hillisburg lodge, No. 550, F. & A. M., and has passed all the chairs of his lodge; he is also a dormant member of the I. O. R. M., and his wife is a member of the New Light church. Mr. Clark takes great pride in the appearance of his farm and build- ings, and their tidiness and beauty are the ad- miration of all who view them-be they neigh- bors or strangers.

J OHN IRWIN CLARK, of Moran, is widely and favorably known in Clinton county, and in this volume well de- serves representation. The record of his life is as follows : A native of the Key- stone state, he was born in Juniata county, March 8, 1830, and is of Irish and English de- scent. His grandfather, Robert Clark, was born in New York, and was a tailor by trade. In those days, when each family spun and

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

wove its own cloth, he went from house to house making garments. When a young man he removed to Huntingdon county, Pa., where he married Nancy Alcorn, and they became the parents of the following children : Will- iam, Jane, Mary; Matthew, Robert, Richard, Nancy and George. The father of this family served in the war of 1812, and at its close wrote that he had been mustered out and would soon be at home, but it is supposed that he was murdered by the Indians, for no news was ever received from him afterward. His father had been murdered by a Spaniard in New York when Robert was a lad of twelve years.

Matthew Clark, father of our subject, was born in Huntingdon county, Pa., April 11, 1800, and became a teacher, which occupa- tion he followed in the winter. In 1825, he married Elizabeth A. McFeaters, who was born August 23, 1798, and was a daughter of James and Mary (Armstrong) McFeaters. Their eight children were: Mary A., born in 1827; William A., born in 1828; John I., born in 1830; Margaret N., born in 1831; James C., born in 1833; Matthew S., born in 1835; Sarah E., born in 1837; and Cyrus, born in 1840. In 1852 the father brought his family to Owen township, Clinton county, Ind., and purchased eighty acres of partially improved land, which he transformed into a good farm. He and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian church. He voted with the democracy, and here served as township asses- sor, and while in Pennsylvania was captain of militia for five years. Six years previous to his death he received a stroke of paralysis, and at the age of seventy passed away. His life was a busy and useful one, and those who knew him held him in high regard. Mrs. Clark suffered greatly from rheumatism, and for twenty-eight years could not walk. She survived, however, to the age of seventy-three.

John Irwin Clark was reared on a farm, worked in the fields, and attended the public schools until attaining his majority. In 1851, with his brother, William A., he came to Clinton county, Ind., and made arrange- ments for securing the land which his father purchased the following year. Wishing for further educational privileges, he went to Frankfort, and with several other young men received instruction from John P. Crothers, the county auditor. Later he taught for thirty years in the winter seasons, and in the summer months farmed until 1867, when he embarked in carpentering, which he followed several years. On the 31st of March, 1857, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Mary E. Bate, who was born in Clarke county, Ohio, December 21, 1832, and is a daughter of Josiah and Hannah A. (Jones) Bate. Four children have been born to them-Milton, who was born January 21, 1858, and died at the age of three years; Laura M., who was born Septem- ber 23, 1862, and died September 30, 1864; Cynthia E., who was born in September, 1864, and was married November 2, 1887, to W. H. Wilson; and Llewellyn, whose birth occurred April 8, 1868.

Mr. Clark came to Indiana without capital. but was determined to win success. Going to Iowa he entered eighty acres at $1.25 per acre, and after two years sold it for $3 per acre. Purchasing three-quarters of an acre of the old home farm, he built thereon a good frame residence and barn. Later he purchased forty acres, and now has a thrifty and well devel- oped farm as the result of earnest and untiring efforts. It is pleasantly situated a mile and three-quarters from Moran, and thus the com- forts of the town are easily obtained. In social circles, Mr. and Mrs. Clark hold an enviable position, and both are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as elder for ten years. In politics he is

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OF CLINTON COUNTY.

a democrat, and for five years filled the office of township trustee; he has also been adminis- trator of estates and has acted as guardian, and the confidence and trust reposed in him have never been misplaced.

ARTIN L. CLARK, a very suc- cessful and progressive young farm- er, was born in Johnson township, Clinton county, and is a son of Lewis and Julia ( Cole ) Clark, and has always been a farmer. His great-grandfather, Abra- ham Clark, was a citizen of Chester county, Pa. William, the son of Abraham, was born in Chester county, and by trade was a steam- fitter and miller ; he married Sydney Wood- ard, and he and wife were early settlers of Fayette county, Ind., and were members of the Christian church. Mrs. Sydney Clark died in January, 1839, and William Clark died in October 1867. Lewis Clark, the father of Martin L., was fourteen years of age when his father settled in Fayette county, Ind., coming by way of Cincinnati, and then by hired team, to convey their household goods, and the father, after paying the teamster, had fifty cents left with which to begin life in the new country. Lewis Clark first married Irena Vickery, daughter of Martin and Margaret (Galbreth) Vickery. She was a member of the Christian church and died April 22, 1862. Mr. Clark then married November 1, 1865, Julia Cole, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Miller) Cole. Lewis Clark came to Miller county in 1850, has since continuously resided in Johnson township, and now at the age of seventy-four, is hale and hearty.

Martin L. Clark was married, August 28, 1873, to Miss Maggie Dunn [see biographies of Dunn family elsewhere ], to which union the following children have been born : James R., Marshall E., and Gillie Bell. After his 30

marriage Mr. Clark settled on his present farm, which now comprises 100 acres of land. This is a very fertile farm and is well im- proved with an elegant residence and good. modern barn, and is also under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Clark has given much atten- tion, the past five years, to breeding Chester White hogs, which he considers to be more hardy and prolific than any other breed. He sold, the past spring, 114 pigs from fifteen brood sows. He is a democrat in politics, and has filled the office of township trustee to the full satisfaction of the people. He is a member of Hillsburg lodge, No. 550, F. and A. M., and has passed all the chairs ; he is also a dormant member of the I. O. R M. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are consistent members of the New Light church, to which he is a liberal contributor, and the family is much esteemed.

N. CLARK, editor and proprietor of the Mulberry Reporter, Madison township, Clinton county, Ind., was born in the township Ross, same county, November 1I, 1857, and is a son of A. F. and Ann Catherine (Swaidner) Clark, the former of whom was a pioneer of Clinton county, coming from Butler county, Ohio, in 1832, and now residing in the town of Ross- ville in retirement; the latter bade farewell to earth November 13, 1890.

W. N. Clark is the eldest in a family of eight children, of whom all are still living with the exception of one sister, who died in infancy. He was reared on the home farm until eighteen years of age. In 1876, having received an excellent education, he began teaching school, and has taught every year since, being now one of the oldest educators of note in Clinton county, and the duties per- taining to this position he finds time to per- form without interference with his editoral

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labors. The marriage of Mr. Clark was solemnized April 20, 1887, with Rose V. Carver, the accomplished daughter of Miles A. . Carver of Perry township, Clinton county, and this union has been blessed by the birth of two children-Raymond R., born January 7, 1888, and Bernice, born April 12, 1891. In 1888, Mr. Clark moved to Mulberry to become principal of the Mulberry schools, a position he has since filled in a most satisfactory man- ner. May 6, 1890, he established the Mul- berry Reporter, this being the first successful attempt to establish a journal on a substantial basis in the town, all other efforts having re- sulted in failure.

J AMES H. COAPSTICK, a well-to-do farmer of Michigan township. Clinton county, Ind., and an ex-soldier. was born September 26, 1844, and was reared and educated in Clinton, the county of his nativity. His father, Samuel Coapstick, was a native of Ohio and of German extrac- tion. He came to Clinton county, Ind., about 1840, and settled in Owen township, where he passed the remainder of his days as a farmer. He married Elizabeth Concannon, of Ohio. by whom he became the father of five children. Before he had reached the age of eighteen, James H. Coapstick enlisted, August 26, 1862, for three years, in company H, Third cavalry, or Forty-fifth regiment Indiana volunteers, which was assigned to the army of the Cum- berland, and placed under the command of the renowned cavalry general, Kilpatrick. His first action was at Stone River, where he was in the saddle almost constantly for five consec- utive days and nights, without rest or proper rations; he was next in a cavalry fight down the Shelbyville pike, where the Confederate cavalry commander, Jo Wheeler, attempted to ambush the Federals in front, while Forrest

was to flank the rear, but the rebels were badly beaten. Mr. Coapstick was also at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. He was next in a number of skirmishes in east Tennes- see, at this time acting as orderly for regimental commander; he then acted with Sherman's army as rear guard immediately after the At- lanta campaign, and was constantly engaged in skirmishing, scouting and fighting. He next aided Kilpatrick in destroying stores, etc., at Jonesboro. During the Jonesboro battle, Mr. Coapstick, in company with 100 picked cav- alrymen, was sent to cut telegraph lines and tear up railways twenty miles away from the field, in the midst of the enemy's country. With Sherman he made the march to the sea, and was honorably discharged at Greensboro, S. C., June 8, 1865. He now receives a pen- sion of eight dollars per month.

October 7. 1869, Mr. Coapstick married Miss Caroline Young, daughter of John and Isabel (Benard) Young- the former a pioneer farmer of Clinton county, and an elder in the Presbyterian church. Mr. Coapstick's children are named Josephine, Brant, Earl and Harvey. Mr. Coapstick settled on his farm of eighty acres in 1879. This farm is beautifully situ- ated on the pike, one-half mile south of Michi- gantown, and is well improved with a modern dwelling and fine barn. He is a stanch demo- crat and a hard worker for his party, and is a strictly self-made man.

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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