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 73

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 73
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 73
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 73

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714

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

MOS LINCOLN HIATT, one of the prominent citizens and the principal of the high school of Kirklin, was born near Frankfort on the fifteenth of September, 1861, and comes of sturdy French and Scotch ancestry. His great-grand- father was Tennyson Hiatt, a farmer, who removed to Ohio from North Carolina with his family and died when less than forty years of age. The grandfather, Christopher Hiatt, was the youngest of the family and was born March 27. 1805, in Grayson county, Va. He was married April 1, 1824, to . Martha Stanley, whose birth occurred on the tenth of March, 1803, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: Amos, who was born June 8, 1825; Susan, born July 1, 1826; Lydia, born October 15, 1828; Emily, born Novem- ber 18, 1830; Samuel, born October 10, 1832; Priscilla, born March 17, 1836; and Christo- pher T., born November 18, 1838. The father of this family was a man of five feet and eleven inches in height, weighing 170 pounds. He was active, strong and agile, reached the age of seventy years, and was a man of con- siderable learning, acquired by home reading. His wife passed away at the age of sixty-three. Both were Friends in religions views.

Christopher T. Hiatt was born in Henry county, Ind., and eighteen when he removed to Center township. Clinton county, settled near Frankfort. His educational privileges were quite limited, as during his early child- hood, he suffered much with his eyes, and therefore could not attend school, but in later years, by reading, experience and observation, has become well informed, and, seeing the advantages of a good education, he has pro- vided his children with privileges adapted to that end. On the sixth of November, 1860, he wedded Martha Pyatt who was born Feb- ruary 20, 1842, and is the daughter of An- drew J. Pyatt, but whose mother died when

she was quite a small child. To Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt have been born five children: Amos L. ; George A., who married Mary Moon; Edwin G ; Lydia J .: and Nellie F., who died at the age of five years.

In the usual manner of farmer lads the subject of our sketch spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and to his father gave the benefit of his services until he had attained his majority. He worked at corn husking, hay making, harvesting and other farm pursuits, and spent about three months of each year attending school. When eighteen he spent ninety-one days in school and then received a license to teach. During the winter seasons he would follow this profession, and in the summer months would aid in the work of the farm. On the first of June, 1883, he entered the United States Military academy at West Point, having passed a competitive examina- tion and been appointed by Congressman G. S. Orth. Here he remained until January, 1884, when he returned home and resumed his work at farming and teaching. On the fourteenth of September of the same year, Mr. Hiatt wedded Zorodah C. Lucas, who was born April 22, 1862, and is a daughter of Will- iam and Mary (Black) Lucas. They had three children: Cassius E., born July 10, 1885; Ormsby T., who was born March 1, 1887; and Nellie O., who was born August 18, 1889. and died March 6, 1892. Mr. Hiatt came to Kirklin as teacher in the grammar department. but for the last two years has been principal of the schools of this place. He is an able educator, and his excellent success has won him a high reputation. His wife is a member of the United Brethren church. In politics he is an active republican, and has served as dele- gate to both the congressional and county co 1- ventions, but has never sought office for him- self. Fraternally he is a member of Kirklin lodge, No. 443, F. & A. M.

Reo. Jesse Afile

717

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

EV. JESSE HILL .- Few men of cen- tral Indiana are as widely and favor- ably known to both young and old as the subject of this sketch, whose venerable form for a number of years past has been a familiar figure on the streets of Frank- fort. Rev. Jesse Hill was born in Randolph county. S. C., September 8, 1819, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Wright) Hill, both natives of the state named. The year that Mr. Hill first saw the light of day witnessed the emi- gration of his_parents to Putnam county, Ind., where the father died a few years after locating his family in their new home, in what was then a comparatively unsettled country. The mother, a most excellent lady of much more than ordinary intellectuality, reared the seven dependent children to maturity, although some years after her husband's death she became the wife of Judge John Sigley, of Greencastle: She departed this life in the year 1844, honored and lamented by all who knew her. Thomas Hill was a successful man for that day, and a most exemplary member of the old Christian church, of which his wife was also a communi- cant. The following are the names of the children of Thomas and Sarah Hill: Eliza- beth, Rebecca, Martha, Mary, Celia, Gillie and Jesse, the last named being the youngest mem- ber of the family, and all but him have long since been called from the scenes of their earthly life.

The early years of Jesse Hill were spent in Putnam county, and while still quite young, owing to the death of his father, he was obliged to contribute of his small earnings, as a common laborer, to the support of his sis- ters and widowed mother. From his youth he manifested a profound interest in religion, and early became identified with the Methodist church, the local ministry of which he entered before his twenty-first year, and shortly there- after engaged in the active work of the itiner-

ancy in the Northwestern conference. His first regular work as an itinerant was on the old North Salem circuit, which he served one year, and from there he was transferred to the Vigo circuit, over which he exercised pastoral con- trol for the same length of time. Additional to the above, Mr. Hill, during the course of his long and useful ministry, extending over a period of fifty years, had charge of the fol- lowing circuits: Rock Creek, Burlington, Frankfort, Camden, Lebanon, Darlington and Dayton, in all of which his work was most ac- ceptable, resulting in the building up of local congregations, and in inducing hundreds of persons to abandon the ways of sin and seek the higher way leading to peace and holiness.

Mr. Hill was married in Frankfort on the twenty-eighth of August, 1853, to Mary E. Barner, who was born in the county of Clin- ton in the year 1836, the daughter of John Barner-a union blessed with the birth of four children: Emma, Earl, Maria and William, all deceased but the last named, who is a boot and shoe merchant of Frankfort, and ex- county surveyor. While a resident of Pine Village, Warren county, Ind., when an order came from Gov. Morton to a couple of resi- dents of that place to recruit a company for the Union service, and whose efforts in that direction resulted in failure, Mr. Hill took charge of the matter, and within three days had one hundred men enrolled and in readiness to go forth and battle for the nation's honor. These men were organized into a company at La Fayette, and Mr. Hill was unanimously elected captain. a position he held a short time, being compelled to resign his commission in about two months by reason of an injury re- ceived by a fall. He was then chosen chap- lain of the regiment, and as such served about seven months. when he resigned and returned to his home. In every relation of life, Rev. Hill has been characterized by integrity of pur-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

pose and kindness of heart, thus chaining to him by his genial traits those with whom he has corne in contact. His work in the minis- try was marked by an enthusiasm which showed him to be fully alive to the responsibility of the sacred calling; his pulpit efforts were able and convincing, and the amount of good ac- complished during the years consecrated to the service of the Master will only be known in that Great Day when every man will be re- warded "according as his works shall be." Mr. Hill was also a remarkable singer, and he at- tributes a portion of his success in the ministry to this fact.

AVID T. HILL, the efficient sheriff of Clinton county, was born July 25, 1854, in Shelby county, Ind., and is a son of William C. and and Eme- line Hill. His paternal ancestors were of En- glish origin and settled many years ago in Vir- ginia, from which state his grandfather, Philip Hill, came to Indiana in an early day and lo- cated in Bartholmew county. Philip Hill re- mained in that county until 1857, at which time he emigrated to Kansas, where his death occurred the latter part of the same year. He was a man of means and an influential citizen wherever his lot was cast. His son, William C. Hill, father of the subject of this sketch. was born in Virginia, accompanied the family to Bartholmew county, Ind., where he lived under the parental roof until 1850, at which time he located at Norristown, Shelby county, and engaged in the blacksmithing trade. He married, in Shelby county, Emeline McCain, daughter of Absalom and Mary (Winterowd) McCain, and became the father of four chil- dren-Peter C., merchant of Frankfort, Ind .; Emeline, deceased; David T., and one that died unnamed. The father died in the year 1855, and the mother's death occurred on Oc- tober 18, of the year previous.

David T. Hill was but an infant when his parents died, after which he was taken by his grandmother, Mary McCain, with whom he made his home until twenty years of age. He attended the common schools, in which he ob- tained a fair education, and, at the age of twenty-one, began life for himself as a farmer, renting land in Shelby county, where he lived until 1877. In February of the above year, Mr. Hill changed his residence to Clinton county, Washington township, where for three years he cultivated a 'farm for a part of the proceeds, and in 1879 opened a meat market in the city of Frankfort, which business proved highly satisfactory financially. He continued the butcher business until 1892, in November of which year he was elected by the republican party sheriff of Clinton county, after which he disposed of his meat market and gave his en- tire attention to the duties of his office. Mr. Hill was married in Shelby county, Ind., Oc- tober 16, 1875, to Mary Phillipp, the result of which union was one child: William C., whose death occurred February 16, 1879. Mrs. Hill died April 15, 1878, and on the twentieth of October, 1881, Mr. Hill entered into the mar- riage relation with Miss Alloda Phillipp, a sis- ter of his former wife. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the U. B. church and fraternally he belongs to the I. O. O. F., I. O. R. M. and the order of Maccabees. Politically he is a republican and takes an active interest in the deliberations of his party in Clinton county. Mr. Hill's official record is without blemish, and his popularity is great with all classes of people in Clinton county, irrespective of party affiliation. He has two deputies, viz: J. W. Burrough, and E. T. Michaels. Mr. Hill has removed to within one-half mile of town on a farm which he had purchased, and is now act- ively engaged in making a comfortable and beautiful home for the future. He is essen- tially a self-made man and had but little of

JESSE HINDS.

HARRIET L. HINDS.

723

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

the world's goods with . which to begin the struggle of life. His efforts have been very successful and he is now in comfortable finan- cial circumstances, with a promising future before him.

ENJAMIN F. HILLIS, the wealthiest resident land owner in Johnson town- ship, Clinton county, Ind., his place of birth, was born December 26, 1857. His grandfather, John Hillis, was a resident of Fayette county, Ind., and his son, Anderville Hillis, the father of Benjamin F., was born in Fayette county, March 27, 1827. Anderville Hillis was educated in the old-fash- ioned log school-house, and in turn taught a year in a house of the same description. He married Mary A. Frazier, a daughter of Will- iamson and Clarissa (Thatcher) Frazier. Tothis union the following children were born: John, Elizabeth, Benjamin F., George and Clara Belle, of whom, Benjamin F. and Clara Belle alone are living. Anderville Hillis was a member of Herman lodge, No. 184, F. & A. M., was a Methodist in religion and a demo- crat in politics. At the time of his death. which occurred in 1878, he was the owner of over 800 acres of land, which he had acquired with the aid of his industrous and economical helpmate, who is still living on the old farm.

Benjamin F. Hillis has been closely identi- fied with the progress of Johnson township ever since he has been old enough to form a conception of the meaning of the word. He married Caroline McDora Pruitt, daughter of John and Nancy (Stewart) Pruitt, whose his- tory appears on another page, and this union has been made the happier by' the birth of four children, viz; Mabel D., Myrl A., Mand E. and Colonel. The farm of Mr. Hillis com- prises 670 acres of very fertile land, which is in a very high state of cultivation, and is im-

proved with three good farm residences and proper outbuildings. He has made a specialty of breeding registered short-horned cattle, and during the past fifteen years has done more to elevate the grade of cattle in his township than any other breeder within its limits. He does not breed for mere pleasure or stock- show pride, but from a business point of view. Mr. Hillis is a stanch democrat, but is in no sense an office seeker. £ It may be incidentally

remarked that Hillisburg is named for his uncle, John E. Hillis. The family is one of the oldest and most opulent in the township and is most highly respected.

J ESSE HINDS, one of Frankfort's most popular citizens, and a representative gentleman of the old school, is an Ohio man, and a descendant of sturdy ancestors who settled at a very early period in Vermont, of which state his parents, Solomon and Mary (Ward) Hinds, were both natives. Solomon Hinds and wife were married in Rut- ledge county, Vt., and later emigrated to Muskingum county, Ohio, where Mr. Hinds followed the blacksmith:'s trade until he re- moved, in the year 1819, to Clark county, Ind. After settling in Indiana he purchased town property and engaged in various kinds of speculation, which he carried on until 1843, when he became a resident of the county of Jefferson, where his death occurred ten years later; his wife died at the same place in 1866. They were the parents of a large family, thir- teen children in all, only two of whom are liv- ing; Lovissa, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and Jesse, whose name appears at the head of this men - tion. The following are the names of those deceased : James W., Elizabeth, William, Sarah J., Solomon, Hugh, Rufus, and four that died in infancy.

724

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Jesse Hinds was born November 17, 1817, in Licking county, Ohio, and grew to manhood in Clark county, Ind., where his parents mov- ed when he was less than two years of age. He remained on the home place until his eighteenth year, received an education such as was usually imparted by the common schools of that time, and began life upon his own re- sponsiblity as a brick-layer, which, with vari- ous other kinds of employment, he followed until 1865. In the meantime he turned his attention to the mercantile business for some years, and dealt very extensively in cooperage material, lumber, etc., in all of which his success was most gratifying. his earnings enabling him to retire from active life in the above year. and devote some time to leisure and travel. In 1892 he was elected justice of the peace in Frankfort, of which city he became a resident in 1874, and has since filled the office in a manner most satisfactory to the public and creditably to himself. Mr. Hinds possesses a well balanced mind. excellent judg- ment, and by years of contact with all classes of men in business and other capacities, has become the possessor of a vast fund of practi- cal knowledge, which makes him one of the best informed and most intelligent men of the city where he resides. His political views are in harmony with the republican party, and he stands high in Masonic circles, having been an active member of that order for a number of years. Mr. Hinds was first married in 1843, in Zanesville, Ohio, to Johanna Cope, a native of New York, who died in the year 1883. She bore the following children: Robert M., a con- tractor and builder of Noblesville, Ind. ; Frank K., a builder of Frankfort; Sibley, wife of H. H. Freedly, of Indianapolis, and Jesse, wife of James McNicle. In the year 1888, Mr. Hinds was united in marriage to Mrs. Harriet L. Fetter, who was born in March, 1830, in the city of Frankfort, the daughter of John

Pence, and the widow of the late Peter Fetter. Mr. and Mrs. Hinds are members of the Methodist church.

ILLIAM R. HINES. - No more con- spicuous or highly honored charac- ter ever formed a factor in the his- tory of Frankfort or Clinton county than the gentleman whose name introduces this biographical mention. William R. Hines was born in the city of New York, September 4, 1849, and is a son of William and Julia Hines, both parents natives. of Ireland. The father came to the United States when about fifteen years of age, and met in the above city Miss Julia Redmond, who also came from the Emerald isle when young, and they were mar- ried in the year 1843. Soon after coming to the new world, Mrs. Hines when about sixteen years old became a member of the family of Gen. Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief of the United States army, as waiting maid to his daughter, which place she retained for three and a half years, and until her marriage to William Hines, the father of our subject, who was a ship carpenter of a packet line between New York and New Orleans, and in 1851 met with an accident. Mr. Hines, shortly after his injury, returned to Ireland, and died there among his friends in the year 1851. Mrs. Hines then made her home in New York. To Mr. and Mr. Hines were born four children, viz: Daniel, killed in a railroad accident while acting as conductor on the Pennsylvania line; Thomas, William R., and Julia, deceased. Mrs. Hines, after three and one-half years of widowhood, married James Harrigan, of Phila- delphia. a well-known landscape gardener, who in 1861 enlisted in a New York regiment and lost his life in the service of his adopted coun- try. Mrs. Harrigan, in the capacity of nurse, accompanied the company of which her hus-

Mr. R. Hinz

727

OF CLINTON COUNTY.

band was a member, and for one year devoted her attention to alleviating the sufferings of the sick and wounded soldiers. She remained in New York city until 1888, at which time she was brought to Frankfort by her son, the sub- ject of this sketch, and here her last years were spent, surrounded by everything which loving hands could devise for her comfort, and laid to rest in the beautiful Green Lawn ceme- tery of Frankfort, of which the subject has been president since its organization.

William R. Hines, at the tender age of two and one-half years, was placed under the charge of the aid society of New York city, then lo- cated on Randall's island, in the East river, near Long Island, and was thus cared for until 1860, at which time, being then ten years of age, he was, with many others as unfortunate as himself, sent westward and found his home at Frankfort, Ind .; where he secured a place with one Adam Blinn, with whom he remained until attaining his majority. Mr. Blinn did well by his young charge and gave him a good education, by means of which Mr. Hines was enabled to secure a license entitling him to teach in the common schools of Clinton county. He followed the teacher's profession during winter seasons about four years, worked at anything to which he could turn his hand dur- ing the rest of the year, and at the age of twenty-five became a resident of Frankfort, of which city he was soon afterward elected clerk by the republican party. He discharged the duties of his office very creditably for four years and four months, and in the meantime devoted his leisure to the study of law, with the princi- ples of which he soon became familiar. He was regularly admitted to the Clinton county bar during his official term, and immediately thereafter engaged in the practice of his profes- sion in partnership with O. E. Brumbaugh, which firm lasted for a period of five years. Mr. Hines's next venture was contracting rail-

roads, and street constructing, and gravel road building, to which he has since devoted the greater part of his attention, and in which his success has been most flattering, the reputa- tion being accorded him at this time as one of the most prominent contractors of the county. Since engaging in this line of work Mr. Hines has been interested in the construction of thirty- two miles of the Clover Leaf railroad in Indi- ana and Illinois, also ten miles of Iron Moun- tain system in Arkansas; the Frankfort & Mid- dle Fork gravel road and other contracts in Indiana and other states. He has made over $100,000 worth of street improvements in the city of Frankfort; about $20,000 worth in Al- exandria, and $102,000 in Anderson, these last being brick pavement, and at this time he is engaged in constructing the sanitary sewerage system at Indianapolis, which work represents a capital of some $90,000. He also has on hand a number of other contracts in different places, both of a public and private nature, and keeps in daily communication with the leading cities of the country, in which such im- provements are likely to be needed. In 1884, in partnership with John L. Young, Esq., Mr. Hines opened a real estate, abstract and pro- bate office in Frankfort, a business which proved financially remunerative, and which is still continued, the business being very exten- sive, and not confined to the limits of Clinton county alone, but extends to other parts of the state as well.

In the growth and development of Frank- fort Mr. Hines has ever been prominently identified, and the city has no more energetic and public-spirited citizen than he. He is connected with the Frankfort Improvement company, of which he has been a director since its organization. Politically, Mr. Hines wields an influence for the republican party, with which he has been connected ever since attain- ing his majority. He was the last nominee of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

the republican party for prosecuting attorney of the counties of Boone and Clinton while they yet comprised the Twenty-second judicial circuit, and was defeated with the remainder of the ticket. The following winter, when Clinton county was made a separate circuit by the legislature, he was appointed by Governor Porter prosecutor of Clinton county, being the first to hold that office. He was a candidate for elector in the Ninth congressional district in 1892, but failed to secure the honor.

In all business and professional relations, Mr. Hines has ever been actuated by motives of the highest integrity, and by strictly honor- able methods he has met with success such as few attain in a much longer life. Financially, he is quoted as among the most substantial and reliable men of Clinton county; his accumula- tions of real estate and other property going far up in the thousands in value. His business has frequently called him to many and remote parts of the United States, having made six trips to New York city, and at one time he went to California, and also spent nearly a year in the state of Kansas. Fraternally, Mr. Hines is a prominent member of the Masonic order, in which he has taken a number of de- grees, including that of Sir Knight. He ac- companied his commandery to Washington city in 1889, to Denver, Colo., in 1892, and his activity in behalf of the fraternity has brought him into favorable notice throughout the state of Indiana. The Presbyterian church, of which he has been an earnest member for some years, represents his religious creed, and at this time he holds the office of deacon in the congregation worshiping in Frankfort.

Mr. Hines was happily married in Clinton county on the 4th day of September, 1877, to Miss Eliza Jenkins, the accomplished daughter of William and Clara (Pauley) Jenkins, a union blessed with the birth of three children, viz .: Lilah L., Frank J. and Harry. Mrs. Hines

was born June 24, 1854, in the county of Clin- ton, and is one of the popular ladies of Frank- fort. In his various relations of domestic, civil and professional life, Mr. Hines's actions - have been characterized by the same intelli- gence and cordiality which have deservedly gained for him a high position in the regard of the community, and measured by the usual standard his life has indeed been a most grati- fying success. He is a true type of. the pol- ished gentleman, and his career affords a strik- ing example of what a young and friendless boy, without means and surrounded by obstacles very discouraging in their nature, can accom- plish when endowed with the proper powers of mind and heart and actuated by pure and ex- cellent motives.

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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